[Call to Order by Chair] [00:00:04] GOOD MORNING AND WELCOME TO THE REGULAR MEETING OF THE SAINT JOHN'S COUNTY BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS. THERE ARE MATERIALS FOR THIS MEETING AVAILABLE ON THE COUNTY WEBSITE UNDER AGENDAS AND MINUTES. ONCE YOU FIND THE MEETING AGENDA, YOU CAN CLICK ON THE AGENDA ITEM TO ACCESS ALL THE SUPPORTING MATERIALS. THE PUBLIC WILL BE ABLE TO COMMENT ON ANY AGENDA ITEM DURING PUBLIC COMMENT. PUBLIC COMMENT IS LIMITED TO THREE MINUTES AND SHOULD THE PRESENTER HAVE ANY EXHIBITS OR PHOTOGRAPHS, PLEASE PROVIDE THOSE MATERIALS TO THE CLERK OF COURT FOR THE INCLUSION INTO THE RECORD. SO IF WE COULD PLEASE HAVE A ROLL CALL BY THE CLERK OF COURT CHAIR. COMMISSIONER KRISTA JOSEPH. PRESIDENT VICE CHAIR COMMISSIONER CLAY MURPHY, PRESENT. COMMISSIONER CHRISTIAN WHITEHURST, PRESENT. COMMISSIONER SARAH ARNOLD PRESENT, AND COMMISSIONER ANN TAYLOR PRESENT. AND I'M SO PROUD TO ANNOUNCE THAT SERGEANT KYLE OF THE SAINT JOHNS COUNTY SHERIFF'S OFFICES WILL GIVE US OUR INVOCATION THIS MORNING. GOOD MORNING. COLOSSIANS 323 SAYS THIS WHATEVER YOU DO, DO YOUR WORK HEARTILY, AS FOR THE LORD, RATHER THAN FOR MEN, KNOWING THAT FROM THE LORD YOU WILL RECEIVE THE REWARD OF HIS INHERITANCE. SERVE THE LORD CHRIST. LET'S PRAY. DEAR LORD, THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR THIS DAY, LORD, AND THIS TIME THAT WE CAN COME TOGETHER AND FREELY IN THIS ROOM. GOD AND I JUST PRAY FOR THESE COMMISSIONERS UP HERE. LORD, THIS MORNING. LORD, I PRAY THAT YOU WOULD JUST GIVE THEM WISDOM THIS MORNING. GIVE THEM PEACE, LORD, THAT THEY WOULD LEAN INTO YOU. JUST AS SOLOMON ASKED FOR WISDOM, LORD. AND AND EACH AND EVERY DECISION THEY MAKE. LORD, I THANK YOU FOR THIS. THE CITIZENS THAT ARE REPRESENTED HERE, LORD, AND ALL THAT THEY DO FOR THIS COUNTY. GOD. AND I JUST PRAY FOR THEM. LORD, I PRAY FOR GUIDANCE IN THIS COUNTY. LORD, WE THANK YOU FOR THIS GOVERNMENT, LORD, AND THAT YOU'VE BLESSED IT. LORD, I PRAY THAT YOU WOULD CONTINUE TO BLESS THIS COUNTY, THIS STATE, AND THIS NATION. LORD, AND I PRAY THAT WE WOULD JUST REMEMBER WHAT YOU'VE DONE FOR US, LORD, IN SENDING YOUR SON TO DIE ON THE CROSS FOR OUR SINS. GOD AND I PRAY THAT WE WOULD JUST IN ALL THINGS REMEMBER THAT LORD, AS WE GO. LORD, KEEP US SAFE THIS WEEK. LORD, WE ASK ALL THIS IN JESUS NAME. AMEN. AND THEN I'M PROUD TO ANNOUNCE UNITED STATES NAVY COMMANDER JOHN LESLIE WILL SAY 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. SO I'M EXCITED FOR THE PROCLAMATION TODAY. [Proclamation Recognizing 2026 as the 250th or Semi Quincentennial Anniversary of the United States of America] AND IT IS REGARDING THE 250TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA. AND IF ALL THE COMMISSIONERS COULD COME UP WITH ME, THAT WOULD BE GREAT. AND IT'S SO EXCITING BECAUSE THE DA IS THE DAUGHTERS OF AMERICAN REVOLUTION. ARE HERE AND THERE DRESSED AS COLONIAL. AND LET'S GO. A PROCLAMATION BY THE BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS, SAINT JOHNS COUNTY, FLORIDA. WHEREAS ON JULY 4TH, 2026, OUR NATION WILL COMMEMORATE AMERICA 250, THE 250TH OR SEMI CENTENNIAL ANNIVERSARY OF THE ADOPTION OF THE DECLARATION OF INDEPENDENCE. AND WHEREAS FLORIDA PLAYED A ROLE IN THE AMERICAN REVOLUTION, WITH FOUR BATTLES OCCURRING ON FLORIDA SOIL, AND IN MAY 1780, 63 PATRIOTS IN EXILE AND THE ENSLAVED AFRICAN MEN AND WOMEN WHO SERVED THEM WERE TRANSPORTED AND DETAINED IN SAINT AUGUSTINE. AND BY YEAR'S END, THE EXILES INCLUDED THREE SIGNERS OF THE DECLARATION OF INDEPENDENCE THOMAS HEYWARD, HAYWARD JUNIOR, ARTHUR MIDDLETON, AND EDWARD RUTLEDGE. AND WHEREAS THE NATIONAL SOCIETY DAUGHTERS OF THE AMERICAN REVOLUTION IS A WOMEN'S SERVICE ORGANIZATION ESTABLISHED IN 1890 WHOSE MEMBERS ARE LINEARLY DESCENDED FROM PATRIOTS OF THE AMERICAN REVOLUTION. AND WHEREAS FROM THE 250TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE BOSTON TEA PARTY IN 2023 UNTIL THE 250TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE SIGNING OF THE TREATY OF PARIS IN 2033, THE DAR IS CELEBRATING OUR NATION'S RICH HISTORY AND DIVERSITY OF EXPERIENCE BY HONORING ALL MEN AND WOMEN WHO ACHIEVED AMERICAN INDEPENDENCE. AND NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT PROCLAIMED BY THE BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS OF SAINT JOHN'S COUNTY, FLORIDA, THAT JULY 2025 BE COMMEMORATED AS THE BEGINNING OF THE 250TH OR SEMI CENTENNIAL ANNIVERSARY OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA CALLING UPON ALL CITIZENS TO RECOGNIZE AND PARTICIPATE IN THE SPECIAL OBSERVANCE PASSED AND ADOPTED BY THE BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS OF SAINT JOHN'S COUNTY, FLORIDA. THIS 22ND DAY OF JULY, 2025. I'M SO EXCITED TO HAVE ONE OF PROBABLY THE LARGEST DA GROUP IN [00:05:09] FLORIDA. I THINK THAT WE HAVE 150, 176 MEMBERS, AND IF THERE'S ANYONE ELSE IN THE AUDIENCE WHO IS A DA MEMBER, PLEASE COME ON UP BECAUSE YOU'RE WELCOME. HERE YOU GO. THANK YOU. THANK YOU SO MUCH. FIRST I WOULD LIKE TO SAY MY NAME IS. MY NAME IS BETH PELZER, AND I AM THE CURRENT REGENT OF THE MORIAH JEFFERSON CHAPTER HERE IN SAINT AUGUSTINE. AND FOR THOSE OF YOU WHO DON'T KNOW WHO MORIAH JEFFERSON IS, SHE WAS THE GREAT GRANDDAUGHTER OF THOMAS JEFFERSON. AND HER HOME IS WE HAVE OUR PLAQUE THERE ON BRIDGE STREET. SO IT'S WHERE THE LA NOUVELLE IS, WAS THE ORIGINAL SITE OF HER HOME. I WANT TO THANK THE COUNTY COMMISSION. WE HAVE BEEN EMBRACED. I HAVE MET. WE HAVE MET WITH THREE DIFFERENT COMMISSIONERS HERE. ALL THE WOMEN. SORRY, GUYS, BUT WE'VE MET WITH THE THREE WOMEN COMMISSIONERS AND THEY HAVE ALL BEEN SO SUPPORTIVE. SO MANY PEOPLE IN OUR AREA DO NOT REALIZE THAT WE ARE CONSIDERED THE 14TH COLONY. WE HAD THREE MEMBERS, THREE SIGNERS OF THE DECLARATION OF INDEPENDENCE THAT WERE IMPRISONED IN OUR FORT. AND WE HAVE SUCH A RICH HISTORY HERE. WE HOPE TO BE PUTTING A PLAQUE AT THE SITE OF COOK'S TAVERN, WHICH THERE MAY HAVE BEEN A LITTLE BIT OF SUBVERSION TAKING PLACE THERE AT COOK'S TAVERN. AND THAT COOK'S TAVERN IS WHERE TRINITY EPISCOPAL CHURCH HAS THEIR THRIFT SHOP. WE HAVE PARTNERED WITH 20 AT LEAST 20 OTHER ORGANIZATIONS SO FAR. WE'RE STILL GATHERING PEOPLE IN SAINT AUGUSTINE TO HELP CELEBRATE AMERICA 250. WE HAVE A LOT OF ACTIVITIES GOING ON IN OUR IN OUR COUNTY, AND WE HOPE THAT YOU WILL VISIT OUR WEBSITE. IT IS AMERICA 250 SAINT. ORG.ORG. WE HAVE LOTS O F L. I'M SORRY AMERICA 250 SAINT. ORG F L.ORG. AND WE HAVE LOTS OF ACTIVITIES. WE'VE GOT THE COLONIAL DAMES. WE'VE GOT THE SA. WE HOPE THAT ALL OF YOU WILL TAKE THE TIME TO LOOK AT THE WEBSITE, COME OUT AND HELP US CELEBRATE THIS WONDERFUL MILESTONE. IT'S NOT GOING TO OCCUR AGAIN IN OUR LIFETIMES. SO THANK YOU SO MUCH AND THANK YOU VERY MUCH. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. AND IF YOU HAVE TIME TO O GO AHEAD. IF YOU HAVE TIME TO LOOK AT THE BANNER OUT THERE AND THEY HAVE BUTTONS, A BUTTON MAKING MACHINE AND COMMISSIONER MURPHY. NO, I WAS JUST GOING TO MOVE THIS OTHER WAY SO WE CAN TAKE A PICTURE. I'VE GOT A LOT TO SAY, BUT. SO IS THERE A MOTION TO ACCEPT THE PROCLAMATION? [Acceptance of Proclamation] I'D BE HONORED TO MAKE THAT MOTION. SECOND. ALL RIGHT. ALL IN FAVOR? AYE AYE AYE. OKAY, GREAT. WE'RE GOING TO MOVE ON TO THE DELETIONS TO THE CONSENT AGENDA. [Deletions to Consent Agenda] COMMISSIONER WHITEHURST. I HAVE NONE, MADAM CHAIR. COMMISSIONER ARNOLD, I HAVE NONE. COMMISSIONER TAYLOR, I HAVE NONE. COMMISSIONER MURPHY AND I HAVE NONE, MADAM CHAIR. OKAY. SHOULD WE OPEN THE FLOOR? I HAVE NONE ALSO. SHOULD WE HAVE OPEN UP THE FLOOR FOR PUBLIC COMMENT? AT THIS TIME, THE BOARD WILL HEAR PUBLIC COMMENT ON MATTERS THAT ARE NOT ON THE REGULAR AGENDA. WHEN ADDRESSING THE BOARD, PLEASE COME TO ONE OF THE THREE PODIUMS. STATE YOUR NAME AND ADDRESS. EACH PERSON WILL BE PROVIDED THREE MINUTES TO SPEAK. WE ASK THAT YOU SPEAK DIRECTLY INTO A MICROPHONE THAT HAS A LITTLE GREEN LIGHT ON IT. SPEAKERS WILL COMPLY WITH THE BOARD'S RULES OF CIVILITY AND DECORUM. ANY PERSON THAT FAILS TO COMPLY WITH THESE RULES MAY BE REMOVED FROM THE AUDITORIUM. AND FINALLY, ANY SPEAKER THAT WOULD LIKE TO PRESENT MATERIALS, PLEASE USE THE CENTER PODIUM AND PLACE THE MATERIALS ON THE X FOR OUR OVERHEAD CAMERA TO [00:10:03] DISPLAY, AND A LAPTOP WILL BE SET UP FOR ANYBODY WHO HAS A USB PRESENTATION. AND ALSO, PLEASE PROVIDE THOSE MATERIALS TO THE CLERK SO THAT WE CAN ENTER THEM INTO THE RECORD. THANK YOU. COME ON UP, BILL. COME ON UP, MR. FISHER. COME ON UP, BILL. YEAH, YEAH. COME ON. WE'RE READY. THANK YOU. MY NAME IS DR. WILLIAM FISHER. I'M PRESIDENT OF FLAGLER ESTATES ROAD AND WATER CONTROL DISTRICT. AND ON THE WEST SIDE OF FLAGLER STATES. ONE OF THE FARMERS HAD JUST CLEARED PROBABLY 5 OR 600 ACRES. IT'S GOING TO BE A DRAINAGE PROBLEM BECAUSE THE TREES THAT THEY TOOK OFF KEPT DEEP CREEK FROM FLOODING. THE WATER IS NOW HEADED INTO FLAGLER ESTATES, INTO DEEP CREEK, AND WE GET NO RESULTS FROM THE US ARMY DEPARTMENT ENGINEERS WHO ACTUALLY TOOK CARE OF THE CREEK AND HIS DRAINAGE. WHEN YOU GET A A HIGH TIDE ON THE OCEAN, THE CREEKS AND RIVERS HAVE NO PLACE TO GO EXCEPT UP. AND WE'RE GOING TO HAVE FLOODING ISSUES TREMENDOUSLY IN FLAGLER ESTATES. THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME. THANK YOU SIR. GOOD MORNING. GOOD MORNING. DOCTOR ELIZABETH MARK, 74, OCEAN DRIVE. AND I'M HERE TODAY TO TALK BRIEFLY ABOUT EPICURE. JUST TRYING TO KEEP IT ON YOUR RADAR. WE'RE 100% VOLUNTEER ORGANIZATION FORMED IN 2018 WITH DEEP ROOTS HERE IN SAINT JOHN'S COUNTY. OUR PRIMARY MISSION IS TO ADDRESS FOOD WASTE BY TURNING FOOD SURPLUS INTO A THE SOLUTION TO FOOD INSECURITY WITHIN OUR COMMUNITY. AND WE SERVE A LOT OF COMMUNITIES HERE IN NORTHEAST FLORIDA. WE HAVE DISTRIBUTED MORE THAN $73 MILLION WORTH OF FOOD SINCE OUR INCEPTION IN MAY OF 2019. OUR MEAL COUNT TO DATE IS 30.1 MILLION MEALS TO UNDERSERVED COMMUNITIES, AND THIS IS HOW WE DO IT. WE SOURCE OUR DONATIONS FROM RESCUED FOOD. OUR FOOD IS SOURCED FROM GROCERIES MANUFACTURERS, TRUCKING INDUSTRY DISTRIBUTORS, LOGISTICS AND LOCAL FARMS. NOW, HOW DO WE GET TO GET IT TO THE FOLKS THAT NEED IT? WE WORK AS A FOOD BANK AND A FOOD PANTRY, SO WE PROVIDE FOOD TO OTHER FOOD PANTRIES HERE IN SAINT JOHN'S COUNTY. WE HAVE 22 DISTRIBUTION SITES IN NEIGHBORHOODS WHERE THE NEED EXISTS. SO ADDRESSING IT SO THAT THEY CAN COME TO US. WE DO NOT REQUIRE ID SCREENINGS OR ANY KIND OF QUALIFICATIONS. AND OUR DISTRIBUTIONS USE THE CHOICE MODEL WHERE OUR PATIENTS ARE. OUR PATRONS SHOP FOR WHAT THEY WANT. WE ALSO HAVE UNDER THIS UMBRELLA. WE HAVE A COOKING CLASS WHERE WE TEACH SELF-RELIANCE AND COOKING CLASSES TO MIDDLE SCHOOL SINGLE MOMS AND VETERANS. ANOTHER EXCITING NEW PROGRAM THAT WE'RE STARTING IS FOOD IS MEDICINE, AND THE IDEA THAT FOOD AND NUTRITION PLAY AN IMPORTANT PART IN OUR HEALTH AND CONDITIONS. SO I'M HERE TO JUST STRENGTHEN THOSE ROOTS. MAKE SURE THAT WE ARE ON YOUR RADAR. WE WANT TO EMPHASIZE THE DUAL BENEFIT THAT WE DO BY REDUCING WASTE AND ADDRESSING FOOD INSECURITY. WE WANT A SENSE OF BELONGING. WE KNOW WE ARE PART OF THIS COMMUNITY. WE'D LIKE FOR YOU TO HELP US SPREAD THE WORD ABOUT WHAT WE DO AND TO YOUR FRIENDS. NEIGHBORS MAYBE ONLY JUST NEED AT ONE TIME. BUT ALSO KEEP US IN YOUR MIND FOR FUTURE BUDGET TALKS. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. THANK YOU. I'VE ACTUALLY MADE A MISTAKE. THIS IS. THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR YOUR TIME. YOU'RE GOOD. I'M NOT. THANK YOU. OKAY. YEAH, YEAH. THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME. WHAT I DID WAS, IS I OPENED IT FOR PUBLIC COMMENT FOR THINGS NOT ON THE AGENDA. THIS IS PUBLIC COMMENT FOR THE CONSENT AGENDA. I APOLOGIZE FOR THAT. THAT'S MY FAULT. SO CONSENT AGENDA ONLY. THANK YOU FOR CATCHING THAT MISTAKE. SO STEP TO THE PODIUM, SIR. YES. BECAUSE YOU WAS THROWING ME OFF COURSE HERE TOO. ALRIGHTY. I GOT A PRESENTATION. CAN I BRING IT UP, PLEASE? [00:15:01] THIS IS FOR ITEM 35 ON THE CONSENT AGENDA. BRINGING VERY MUCH CONCERN ABOUT WHAT'S GOING ON AND HOW IT'S BEING OPERATED HERE IN SAINT JOHN'S COUNTY. IF EVERYBODY REMEMBERS THE BIG FCC FIASCO THAT WENT ON LAST YEAR. ALL RIGHT. AND THE QUICK MANNER OF WHICH WAY THE THE SEAT OR THE CHAIR TOOK TOOK PLACE AND MADE SURE EVERYBODY WAS TOLD AND INFORMED. UP INTO ALMOST A WEEKLY OR DAILY BASIS. AS A CLOSER, IT GOT. BUT NOW AS WE GET HERE 11 MONTHS GOING ON 12 IT IT REALLY IT REALLY DOES BRING CONSIDERATE CONCERN ABOUT IF THE PUBLIC IS BEING KEPT AWARE OF WHAT'S GOING ON WITH THAT CONTRACT, EVEN THOUGH THE BOARD UNANIMOUSLY, UNANIMOUSLY. ELECTED TO. CUT CONTRACT. IS IT STILL GOING ON? WELL, OBVIOUSLY. LOOK AT THIS. THEY'RE LOOKING TO COME IN NEXT MONTH AND TO INCREASE THE MONTHLY OR EXCUSE ME, THE WAGES FROM ON THE PROPERTY TAXES. AND THERE WE GO. THE INSPECTOR GENERAL REPORTS VALIDATES THE IMPORTANCE OF SAINT JOHN'S COUNTY STRENGTHENED OVERSIGHT AND THE TRANSPARENCY. OKAY. EVEN THOUGH THE LAST THING WAS HAS A LITTLE BIT OF A DIFFERENT ISSUE OF A COMMENT OR, EXCUSE ME, OF AN ARTICLE ABOUT THE OLD COUNTY ADMINISTRATOR AND WHAT HE'S DONE. BUT WHAT I'M LOOKING AT IS THE WHOLE PICTURE. OKAY, THE WHOLE PICTURE. IF THE INSPECTOR GENERAL CAN COMMENT ON AN ARTICLE OR ISSUE THAT TOOK OVER TWO YEARS AGO, THAT WENT OFF TWO YEARS AGO, WHERE IS THE OPEN AND TRANSPARENCY OF THAT AGENDA ITEM RIGHT THERE? AND IT'S TO PLAY OUT THE CONTRACTS. IT'S PAY. WE PAY THIS MUCH MONEY, Y'ALL PAY THIS MUCH MONEY, EVERYTHING'S GOOD TO GO. OKAY. I'M SURPRISED THAT IT WASN'T BROUGHT UP. I'M REALLY AM SURPRISED THAT IT WAS NOT BROUGHT UP, CONSIDERING ALL OF THE LITTLE VIDEOS THAT ARE STILL ON YOUTUBE ABOUT HOW MUCH IS HURTING THE COMMUNITY, HOW MUCH THAT WHAT WENT ON FEELING BAD FOR THE DECISIONS MADE, AND YET IT'S STILL GOING ON IN A VERY, VERY SECRET MANNER. OKAY. IS THERE ANY TRANSPARENCY? BUT LADIES AND GENTLEMEN, LET ME REMIND YOU OF TRANSPARENCY. LOOK AT IT LIKE THIS ISSUE. IT'S WINDOW TINT. IT'S ONLY AS TRANSPARENT AS YOU NEED IT. THANK YOU SIR. I AGREE. GOOD MORNING. WELCOME BACK. ED SLAVIN, BOX 304. ED SLAVIN. PLEASE TAKE THAT ITEM OFF THE AGENDA, OFF THE CONSENT AGENDA, AND HAVE IT BE A REGULAR AGENDA ITEM ON A FUTURE MEETING WITH A PRESENTATION BY THE COUNTY ATTORNEY AND ANSWERS TO OUR QUESTIONS THAT WE'VE BEEN ASKING ABOUT THIS. THERE WAS ONLY ONE COMMISSIONER, ONE COMMISSIONER CHAIR JOSEPH, WHO VOTED AGAINST THIS FCC CONTRACT WITH A MULTINATIONAL CORPORATION OUT OF EUROPE. AND THE DISCUSSION THAT WAS HELD UNDER THE PRIOR CHAIR. I THOUGHT WE HAD CANCELED THIS CONTRACT. SO SUDDENLY IT APPEARS ON THE CONSENT AGENDA THAT WE'VE GOT A SETTLEMENT AGREEMENT, AND THERE'S NOT EVEN A PRESENTATION BY THE COUNTY ATTORNEY AND THE COUNTY ATTORNEY. LET THE RECORD REFLECT. IT'S NOT ACTUALLY HERE TODAY. AND HE'S WITH A CORPORATE LAW FIRM, AND HE SHOULD NEVER HAVE BEEN HIRED, AND HE SHOULD BE FIRED. HE'S NOT EVEN HERE TO DISCUSS IT. TO BE CONTINUED. BUT PLEASE TAKE THIS OFF THE CONSENT AGENDA. PLEASE HAVE IT BE A REGULAR AGENDA ITEM IN A FUTURE MEETING. AND REQUIRE THE COUNTY ATTORNEY TO BE HERE TO ANSWER QUESTIONS AND TO EXPLAIN THE SETTLEMENT INSTEAD OF JUST STICK IT UNDER YOUR NOSE AND SAY, HERE, SIGN IT, BOYS AND GIRLS, OR ELSE THAT'S WRONG. THANK YOU. ANYONE ELSE FOR CONSENT AGENDA? PUBLIC COMMENT. SEEING NONE, WE'LL CLOSE. PUBLIC COMMENT. ALL RIGHT. WE'RE BACK TO THE BOARD. IS THERE ANY DISCUSSION? MAYBE. KEELEY, WOULD YOU LIKE TO MAKE SOME PUBLIC COMMENTS? NO, NOT WE'RE NOT. YEAH. OKAY. COULD YOU JUST SAY WHERE WE ARE WITH. SURE. SO ITEM NUMBER 35 IS THE FCC. AS WE'RE AWARE, BACK IN AUGUST, THERE WAS A ISSUE AND THE BOARD DID VOTE TO SEEK TERMINATION UNDER THEIR CONTRACT, THE SOLID WASTE CONTRACT, WE WERE REQUIRED TO ENTER INTO MEDIATION. AND SO, THROUGH AN INFORMAL MEDIATION AND THE CONTINUAL GROWTH AND EFFICIENCY OF THE COMPANY, THE COUNTY HAS REACHED AN AGREEMENT WITH THEM. AND SO THAT IS WHAT IS BEFORE YOU TODAY. IT RESCINDS THE TERMINATION, AND IT ALSO MAKES MONETARY CONTRIBUTIONS TO THE COUNTY BASED ON THE ACTUAL COSTS THAT IT INCURRED TO PROVIDE SERVICES IN AUGUST, AS WELL AS LIQUIDATED DAMAGES. AND SO THAT IS WHERE WE ARE TODAY. IT'S BEFORE YOU. [00:20:03] MISTER CALDWELL'S HERE. IF YOU HAVE ANY FURTHER QUESTIONS ABOUT FCC IN THE CURRENT LEVEL OF SERVICE THEY ARE PROVIDING. YES, MADAM CHAIR, IF I MAY. COMMISSIONER MURPHY. THANK YOU SO MUCH. YEAH, GREG, I WAS POINTING AT YOU SO YOU. COULD YOU GET ON UP HERE? JUST A COUPLE OF QUESTIONS. I KNOW THAT MISS WEST JUST SAID THAT WE GOT RESOLUTION FROM THE MONIES THAT WE SPENT TO HELP THEM IN THEIR ENDEAVORS TO PROVIDE SERVICE TO THE COUNTY. LAST YEAR IS THAT. CAN YOU ELABORATE ON THAT A LITTLE BIT? YES. GREG CALDWELL, PUBLIC WORKS DIRECTOR. LAST YEAR IN AUGUST, WE OBVIOUSLY HAD A VERY DIFFICULT START OUT OF THE GATE WITH FCC, THE BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS, AND THE COUNTY HAD TO SPEND MONEY TO SUPPORT FCC DURING THE MONTH OF AUGUST. ALL THOSE FUNDS ARE GETTING PAID BACK BY FCC THROUGH THIS AGREEMENT. SO ANY DOLLAR SPENT FROM THE COUNTY AT THAT POINT WILL BE PAID BACK AT THIS POINT, AS WELL AS ADDITIONAL COSTS, WHICH LIQUIDATED DAMAGES OR PENALTIES FOR THEM NOT PROVIDING SERVICE. SO THAT IS ANOTHER THING ABOVE AND BEYOND WHAT THE COUNTY SPENT LAST YEAR. WE WERE ACTUALLY GETTING PENALTIES THAT ARE GETTING PAID BACK TO THE COUNTY THROUGH THIS AGREEMENT. OKAY. JUST JUST TWO MORE QUESTIONS. HAS SCC MET THEIR OBLIGATIONS UNDER THEIR CONTRACT NOW? HOW ARE THEY? I'M PROUD TO REPORT. RIGHT NOW THEY ARE OVER 99.9% OF PICKUP AND THROUGHOUT SAINT JOHN'S COUNTY THROUGH ALL STREAMS. WE ARE MONITORING THEM EVERY DAY. WE WORK WITH THEM CLOSELY TO MAKE SURE THAT THEY'RE ADHERING TO IT. EVEN IF THERE IS A MISSED PICKUP, THEY STILL HAVE A WINDOW OF TIME TO MEET THEIR OBLIGATIONS. AND THAT'S WITHIN YEAR, THE SAME DAY OR 12 HOURS AFTERWARDS. THEY ARE MAKING ALL THOSE AGREEMENTS, ARRANGEMENTS TO MEET THEIR REQUIREMENTS. OKAY, ONE LAST QUESTION. IF WE WENT BACK OUT FOR AN RFP TO PUT THIS OUT FOR BID WHAT IS YOUR ESTIMATION OF IF WE CANCEL THIS CONTRACT WITH SOMEONE ELSE, THE INCREASE IN FEES WOULD BE FOR THIS CONTRACT WE DID. AS PART OF THIS PROCESS, WE WENT OUT AND WE DID RECEIVE PRICING, AND WE SELECTED FCC BASED ON QUALIFICATIONS AND PRICING. THIS IS ALMOST TWO YEARS OLD. THE SECOND PRICE WAS ALMOST DOUBLE WHAT WE'RE PAYING RIGHT NOW. YEAH. WHAT WOULD THAT BE MONEY MONEY WISE FOR ON A YEARLY BASIS WE'RE LOOKING 5 OR $600 PER RESIDENT FOR PROVIDING THESE SERVICES RIGHT NOW. WE ARE COMING BACK TO THE BOARD IN AUGUST WITH A PROPOSED INCREASE TO BE ABLE TO PAY FOR WHAT WE'RE HAVING UNDER OUR CONTRACT RIGHT NOW. BUT WE DO EXPECT IF WE WENT BACK OUT THERE ON THE STREETS, A MAJOR INCREASE TO PROVIDE THESE SERVICES BASED ON THE NUMBERS THAT WE RECEIVED ALMOST TWO YEARS AGO. AND WHEN YOU SEE MAJOR INCREASE, MAJOR INCREASE RIGHT NOW, MILLIONS, MILLIONS RIGHT NOW, WE WOULD EXPECT BASED ON TWO YEARS AGO PRICES, IT WAS $1 MILLION PER MONTH INCREASE. SO $12 MILLION A YEAR. AGAIN, THAT WAS TWO YEARS OLD. SO WE EXPECT THAT TO EVEN BE HIGHER IF WE WENT BACK OUT ON THE STREET AND ADVERTISE THIS AGAIN. THANK YOU. THANK YOU, MADAM CHAIR. ANYONE ELSE FOR COMMENT? I JUST WANTED TO ASK ONE MORE THING. ARE WE FINISHED WITH NEGOTIATIONS OR ARE WE STILL IN NEGOTIATIONS? SO THIS CONCLUDES THE NEGOTIATIONS REGARDING TO THE DISPUTE FROM AUGUST 2024. AS MISTER CALDWELL HAS SAID, THE MOVING FORWARD, THE CONTRACT STILL REMAINS INTACT. WE STILL MONITOR THEM DAILY FOR MISSED PICKUPS, INCOMPLETE ROUTES, PROPERTY DAMAGE, SO THEY STILL HAVE TO ADHERE TO ALL OF THE CONDITIONS OF THE CONTRACT. WE ARE NOT REOPENING THE CONTRACT. I DO HAVE A MOTION. I JUST WANT TO MAKE A QUICK, BRIEF STATEMENT JUST TO ADDRESS SOME OF THE COMMENTS THAT WERE MADE IN PUBLIC COMMENT. YOU KNOW, LAST AUGUST WHEN THEY FAILED US IN THE MULTIPLE WAYS THAT THEY FAILED US FOR, YOU KNOW, THE SEVERAL MONTHS THAT THEY FAILED US. OBVIOUSLY, I WAS I WAS FURIOUS, AND I MADE THE MOTION TO TERMINATE THEIR CONTRACT. HERE I SIT A YEAR LATER. IT'S NOT THAT I'VE FORGOTTEN THE AWFUL JOB THAT THEY DID WHEN THEY ROLLED OUT HERE IN SAINT JOHN'S COUNTY. I'M NOT SURE THAT I'VE FORGIVEN THEM FOR THE AWFUL JOB THEY DID WHEN THEY ROLLED OUT HERE IN SAINT JOHN'S COUNTY. BUT WE ARE FACED WITH THE DECISION WHETHER OR NOT WE WANT TO CHARGE THE RESIDENTS OF SAINT JOHN'S COUNTY DOUBLE TO REPLACE THE COMPANY THAT IS CURRENTLY PICKING UP NEARLY 100% OF THEIR CONTRACTUAL OBLIGATIONS. IT'S 99.7 OR 7 OR 9, OR IT'S ABOVE 99.5% OF THEIR CONTRACTUAL OBLIGATIONS. SO JUST A WORD TO OUR STAFF. I WOULD ASK THAT YOU CONTINUE TO KEEP THE PRESSURE ON FCC. A YEAR IS NOT THAT LONG AGO. WE NEED TO KEEP THEM UNDER SCRUTINY AS MUCH AS IS POSSIBLE, AS MUCH AS IS REASONABLE. YOU KNOW, SHOULD THEY SHOULD THEY FAIL THIS COUNTY? OBVIOUSLY, I'M PREPARED TO, TO MAKE THE MOTION TO TERMINATE AGAIN. BUT I THINK THE BEST MOVE FOR OUR COUNTY TO SAVE THE TAXPAYERS MILLIONS AND MILLIONS OF DOLLARS IS TO IS TO REMAIN WITH FCC FOR THE MOMENT. SO THOSE ARE MY COMMENTS. COMMISSIONER MURPHY. YEAH. I'D LIKE TO MAKE A MOTION TO APPROVE THE CONSENT AGENDA. [Approval of Consent Agenda] SECOND, WE HAVE A MOTION AND A SECOND GO AHEAD AND VOTE. [00:25:02] THAT PASSES UNANIMOUSLY. UNANIMOUSLY. EXCUSE ME. SO NEXT, WE'RE ON THE ADDITIONS TO DELETIONS TO THE REGULAR AGENDA, AND I DO HAVE AN ANNOUNCEMENT TO MAKE. [Additions/Deletions to Regular Agenda] DUE TO THE THE THE DEATH OF THE FIRE CHIEF, BOBBY HALL, HIS FUNERAL SERVICES ARE THIS MORNING. AND I DON'T THINK IT WOULD BE FAIR TO GO OVER THE BUDGET, ESPECIALLY WITH THE FIRE DEPARTMENT AND THE SHERIFF'S DEPARTMENT. PART OF THAT BUDGET. SO WE ARE GOING TO MOVE THAT TO THE END OF THE DAY. IF SOMEONE IS HERE TO DISCUSS THE BUDGET, YOU MAY GO AHEAD AND DO THAT DURING GENERAL PUBLIC COMMENT. I ALSO LET OUR ADMINISTRATOR, JOY ANDREWS, IF SHE'D LIKE TO GO TO THE FUNERAL. WE HAVE A LOT OF REGULAR GROWTH MANAGEMENT THINGS TO START WITH. IF SHE WANTS TO DO THAT, THAT WOULD BE WONDERFUL FOR OUR COUNTY. ANY OTHER COMMENTS, COMMISSIONER WHITEHURST? I HAVE NO ADDITIONS OR DELETIONS, MADAM CHAIR. COMMISSIONER ARNOLD. NONE. MADAM CHAIR. COMMISSIONER TAYLOR. I HAVE NONE. COMMISSIONER MURPHY. I HAVE NONE, MADAM CHAIR. SO, A MOTION WITHOUT AMENDMENT. SO MOVED. AND A SECOND. [Approval of Regular Agenda] ALL IN FAVOR? AYE AYE AYE AYE. ALL RIGHT, SO THE AGENDA IS SET. THANK YOU, MISS ANDREWS. JOSEPH, THAT MEANS A LOT TO US. THANK YOU. WONDERFUL. ALL RIGHT. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. AND WE'RE NOW GOING TO GENERAL PUBLIC COMMENT. [Public Comment] NOW WE HAVE PUBLIC COMMENT GENERAL PUBLIC COMMENT AT THIS TIME. BOARD WILL HEAR A PUBLIC COMMENT ON MATTERS THAT ARE NOT ON THE REGULAR AGENDA. IS THAT RIGHT? AM I RIGHT? OKAY, GOOD. I GOT IT THIS TIME. HE TOOK A VACATION. I KNOW I WAS. I'M STILL ON VACATION MODE. WHEN ADDRESSING THE BOARD, PLEASE COME TO ONE OF THE THREE PODIUMS. STATE YOUR NAME AND ADDRESS, PLEASE. EACH PERSON WILL BE PROVIDED THREE MINUTES TO SPEAK AND WE ASK THAT YOU SPEAK DIRECTLY INTO THE MICROPHONE. YOU WILL COMPLY WITH THE BOARD'S RULES OF CIVILITY AND DECORUM. PLEASE ADDRESS YOUR COMMENTS TO THE BOARD AS A WHOLE. NO PERSON WILL ADDRESS THE BOARD WITH PERSONAL, IMPERTINENT OR SLANDEROUS REMARKS OR WITH BOISTEROUS BEHAVIOR. MEMBERS OF THE AUDIENCE WILL REFRAIN FROM ANY DISRUPTIVE DEMONSTRATION OF APPROVAL OR DISAPPROVAL. ANY PERSON THAT FAILS TO COMPLY WITH THESE RULES MAY BE REMOVED FROM THE AUDITORIUM. AND REMEMBER, IF YOU HAVE THINGS THAT YOU WOULD LIKE TO PRESENT, PLEASE COME TO THE CENTER PODIUM, PUT THEM ON THE X AND THEN PRESENT THEM TO THE CLERK TO BE PUT INTO THE RECORD. THANK YOU. GOOD MORNING SIR. GOOD MORNING. NAME IS BILL HENNESSEY, 5460 ONE FOURTH STREET. WINDSWEPT ACRES COMMUNITY. WELL, I'M HERE ONCE AGAIN, YOU KNOW, TO TRY TO FIGURE OUT WHAT'S GOING ON WITH THE PALMETTO ROAD BOAT RAMP. IT APPEARS WE HAVE ANOTHER REGIME THAT'S MOVED IN THERE. I LEFT A MESSAGE ON YOUR PHONE ABOUT WHAT'S GOING ON, AND THEN THE. I CALL HIM AYATOLLAH. ROB. I DON'T EVEN BRING HIS FIRST NAME UP. HE PULLED OVER AND THREATENED ME WHILE I WAS WALKING MY DOG. SO ME AND HIM ARE ON VERY GOOD TERMS, AND IT'S LIKE THAT WITH ALL THREE OF THESE PEOPLE AT THE END OF THE ROAD. THEY KNOW I'M TRYING TO BUST THEIR BUBBLE AND THEY THINK THAT THEY CAN BUST MINE, WHICH IS A BUNCH OF BULL. I'VE BEEN LIVING IN THAT HOUSE 30 YEARS. THESE PEOPLE SHOW UP OUT OF NOWHERE AND THINK THEY RUN SOMETHING. AND I GOT ENOUGH EVIDENCE TO SHOW THAT THEY DON'T. AND THAT Y'ALL ARE WORKING IN COLLUSION BY NOT DOING ANYTHING. THEY WERE SUPPOSED TO PUT BARRIERS ON THEIR PROPERTY LINE SO THAT WE KNOW WHAT WE CAN USE. THAT NEVER GOT TAKEN CARE OF. DID PEOPLE PUT A MAILBOX THERE THAT THAT PEOPLE WITH NO AUTHORIZATION, A DRIVEWAY AND A MAILBOX. AND THESE GUYS, WILL SMITH AND ERIC CLARK, HAVE NO AUTHORIZATION WHATSOEVER TO DO A BUILDING CODE THING THAT THEY THEY SKIP TRYING TO GET A PERMIT OR A VARIANCE. THEY JUST SKIPPED THAT. SO THESE PEOPLE GOT A DRIVEWAY THAT THEY CAN RUN YOU OVER. I GAVE YOU THIS STUFF, MR. MURPHY. I LEFT IT AT YOUR OFFICE. THAT WOMAN CAN HARDLY SEE. SHE ROLLS OUT OF THAT DADGUM DRIVEWAY, AND IT'S JUST LIKE A BOWLING ALLEY OUT THERE. YOU'RE OUT THERE WALKING YOUR DOG OR YOUR KID OR YOUR GRANDCHILDREN, AND SHE COMES BARRELING OUT IN THAT BIG OLD CADILLAC OF HERS. SHE. IT'S DANGEROUS, MAN, AND Y'ALL DON'T REALIZE IT. YOU PUT A DRIVEWAY WITHIN A CORNHOLE THROW FROM A COUNTY BOAT RAMP AND A COUNTY PARK AND DON'T DO A DAMN THING ABOUT IT. I MEAN, IT'S JUST RIDICULOUS THAT Y'ALL SIT THERE JUST TWITTER YOUR THUMBS. YOUR EYES ARE USELESS. IF YOUR MIND IS BLIND, YOU TAKE THAT TO THE STORE. COME ON. THANK YOU FOR THOSE COMMENTS. I DID RIGHT BY THE BOAT RAMP JUST A COUPLE OF DAYS AGO, AND TOOK A LOOK AT THAT WASHING OUT AND WHAT WE JUST PAID. YEAH, YEAH, I KNOW, WE JUST, I, I JUST GOT YOU. I JUST WANT YOU TO KNOW THAT I DID IT RIGHT OUT THERE. I TOOK PICTURES OF THE WASHOUT, AND WE HAD DISCUSSIONS ALREADY ABOUT THAT. SO THANK YOU FOR YOUR COMMENTS. I APPRECIATE YOU NEED TO DO SOMETHING ABOUT THE THE REGIMES DOWN THERE. THANK YOU. YES, SIR. GOOD MORNING, COMMISSIONERS. MY NAME IS KEN TINKLER WITH THE CARLTON FIELDS LAW FIRM, 4221 WEST BOY SCOUT BOULEVARD IN TAMPA, FLORIDA, HERE TODAY TO TALK ABOUT THE GRAND OAKS RESCUE PLAN. [00:30:02] MY FIRM WAS HIRED BY DOCTOR DENNIS SMITH THIS PAST WINTER. DENNIS AND HIS FAMILY ARE LONGTIME MEMBERS OF THE COMMUNITY AND OWNED THE LAND FOR DECADES THAT LATER BECAME GRAND OAKS. DENNIS IS A RETIRED MEDICAL DOCTOR AND SPECIALIST. HE'S ALSO AN AUTHOR OF MANY POEMS AND NOVELS ABOUT THIS BEAUTIFUL PART OF FLORIDA. HE'S NOT A DEVELOPER HE NEVER CLAIMED TO BE. HE PUT HIS TRUST IN A DEVELOPER NAMED SOUTHEAST DEVELOPMENT PARTNERS. THAT TRUST IS PROVEN TO BE GREATLY MISPLACED. SINCE WE WERE HIRED THIS PAST WINTER. SOUTHWEST. SOUTHEAST HAS BEEN TERMINATED FROM THE PROJECT AND IS NO LONGER INVOLVED. THEY'VE ALSO BEEN SUED FOR THEIR ACTIVITIES. NOW, WHY AM I HERE TODAY? I'M HERE TODAY TO ASK YOU FOR YOUR MOST VALUABLE COMMODITY, YOUR TIME AND YOUR ATTENTION. HOPEFULLY, YOU'VE READ OUR RESCUE PLAN. YOU'VE SEEN THE DETAILS WITHIN IT. YOU'VE SEEN OUR REQUEST FOR AN AGENDA ITEM TO BE ABLE TO GO THROUGH ALL OF THIS IN DETAIL. I'VE ALSO ASKED TO MEET WITH EACH OF YOU AND THAT INVITATION STILL STANDS. WE BELIEVE THE RESCUE PLAN PROVIDES AN ALTERNATIVE TO THE PATH THAT GRAND OAKS IS ON RIGHT NOW. IT'S ON THE PATH TO BANKRUPTCY. THE CD BONDS ARE ALREADY IN DEFAULT. THERE ARE MORE THAN 440 TAXPAYING HOUSEHOLDS WHO ARE RIGHTFULLY UPSET. THEY'RE WORRIED ABOUT THEIR INVESTMENT IN THEIR COMMUNITY, THEIR DECISION TO LIVE HERE IN SAINT JOHN'S COUNTY. NUMEROUS VENDORS AND CONTRACTORS HAVE NOT BEEN PAID, DESPITE THE FACT THAT THEY LIVE AND WORK HERE AND HAD ALREADY PERFORMED THEIR ACTIVITIES. THE RESCUE PLAN PROVIDES AN ALTERNATIVE TO THIS PATH. IT PROVIDES A WAY TO MOVE FORWARD. WE'VE WORKED WITH FDOT ON CREATIVE SOLUTIONS TO HELP SPEED UP THE STATE ROAD 16 PROJECT. WHAT WE NEED IS YOUR TIME AND ATTENTION. I'LL BE SPEAKING WITH THE GRAND OAKS RESIDENTS AGAIN A WEEK FROM TODAY AT THE GRAND OAKS AMENITY CENTER AT 5:30 P.M.. I'D LIKE TO INVITE ALL OF YOU TO ATTEND. I'M SURE YOUR COUNTY ATTORNEY CAN MAKE IT A PUBLIC MEETING AS NEEDED. WHAT I'D LIKE YOU TO HEAR IS FROM YOUR CONSTITUENTS. I'M SURE THEY WOULD LOVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO TALK WITH ALL OF YOU, TO DISCUSS THE RESCUE PLAN. AND ALL WE'RE ASKING FOR IS YOUR TIME AND ATTENTION. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. I WOULD WANT TO ADD COMMISSIONER MURPHY. YES. THANK YOU. COMMISSIONER MURPHY. YES. JUST. PLEASE. WE CAN'T COMMENT ON EVERYTHING. OKAY, THANKS. OKAY. NO, I, I JUST WANTED TO ADD THAT THAT WE ADDED DISCUSSIONS ON THE BUDGET HEARING FOR PEOPLE WHO CAN'T STAY FOR THE LATER MEETING TO THIS PUBLIC COMMENT. DIDN'T WE? YEAH. AND I FORGOT TO MENTION THAT I APOLOGIZE. YES, MA'AM. THANK YOU. SIR. SORRY. GOOD MORNING, I'M MAUREEN O'CONNOR. 4260, MYRTLE STREET, SAINT AUGUSTINE. THIS MORNING, I'D LIKE TO SPEAK ABOUT THE PROPOSED RV PARK DIRECTLY ON A1A. HAVING RECENTLY ATTENDED. DID I DO THAT RIGHT? SORRY. HAVING RECENTLY ATTENDED A MEETING, AN ATTORNEY FOR THE PLANNED RV RESORT SPOKE ABOUT GROWTH AND DEMAND FOR RV CAMPING GROUNDS IN AMERICA. YES, THE DEMAND IS UP, BUT THE EXPLANATION WAS A BIT CONTRARY TO THE ACTUAL TYPE OF RESORT BEING PLANNED. THE FUTURE OF LANDSCAPE OF RV PARKS AND CAMPGROUNDS IS SHAPED BY THE BLEND OF ECOLOGICAL AWARENESS, TECHNICAL ADVANCEMENTS, AND CHANGES IN LIFESTYLE. THE PROPOSED RV RESORT ON A1A, WHICH WILL EXTEND AND FROM THE INTRACOASTAL TO AND INCLUDING THE BEACH DEFINITELY DOES NOT REFLECT ANY ECOLOGICAL AWARENESS. THE CAMPGROUND RESORT WILL HAVE 170 PARK MODEL UNITS, NOT THE TRADITIONAL CAMP TRAILERS OR CLASS A MOTOR. COACHES. THE SURFACE WILL BE PAVED OVER. ELEVATION MUST BE INCREASED TO CONFORM WITH THE REGULATION. THE PARK WILL HAVE A SWIMMING POOL, LIGHTED PICKLEBALL COURTS, GOLF CART STORAGE, UTILITY BUILDING AND SUNDRY SHOP. HOW DOES THIS NEGATIVELY AFFECT THE QUALITY OF THE RESIDENTS? ONE INCREASED TRAFFIC A1A IS A TWO LANE HIGHWAY LEADING ONTO A TWO LANE BRIDGE. THE ONLY FORM OF INGRESS AND EGRESS ONTO THE LONG BEACH WITH 170 PARK MODELS, WHICH CAN HOUSE UP TO FIVE PEOPLE, WILL GREATLY INCREASE THE NUMBER OF VEHICLES ON A1A, WHICH IS OFTEN ALREADY AT A STANDSTILL. WATER AND SEWAGE. MOST OF THE AREA IS NOT HOOKED UP TO SEWERS, BUT SEPTIC SYSTEM. CURRENTLY, THERE IS NOT SUFFICIENT WATER SUPPLY AVAILABLE AND RESIDENTS HAVE BEEN WAITING FOR SEWERS FOR MANY YEARS. [00:35:03] THE ENJOYMENT OF RESIDENTIAL PROPERTY INCLUDES POPULATION WILL BE PUT MORE STRESS ON OUR BEACHES AND ACCESS TO THEM. SHOPPING AND NEWSLETTERS A SWIMMING POOL, LIGHTED PICKLEBALL COURT, STORAGE FACILITIES AND EYESORE ARE NOT FOUND IN RESIDENTIAL AREAS, AS WELL AS A PLANNED CLUBHOUSE WHOSE USAGE IS STILL UNDEFINED. THESE PARK MODELS, IN ALL LIKELIHOOD, WILL BE SHORT TERM RENTALS. SAFETY ISSUES. INCREASED FLOODING FROM THE HIGHER ELEVATIONS REQUIRED FOR NEW CONSTRUCTION. THESE ARE PICTURES FROM THE IAN AND NICOLE FLOODING JUST TWO YEARS AGO. AND HERE'S A PICTURE OF THE BLUE HOUSE ON STILTS SHOULD EXCAVATION. EXCUSE ME. SHOULD EVACUATION BE REQUIRED DUE TO A HURRICANE OR MAJOR STORM? AGAIN, A TWO LANE HIGHWAY ONTO A TWO LANE BRIDGE. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. MA'AM. OH, SORRY. SORRY, SORRY. OKAY, SORRY. GOOD MORNING. GOOD MORNING. HELLO, COMMISSIONERS. MY NAME IS DEBBIE DICKINSON. I'M THE PRESIDENT OF NORTH BEACH COMMUNITY ALLIANCE, AND I LIVE AT 413 16TH STREET, SAINT AUGUSTINE, FLORIDA. THE CALL TO ACTION TODAY IS AN APPEAL TO COMMISSIONERS TO ACKNOWLEDGE THAT THE BEACHCOMBER PROJECT THAT MAUREEN WAS JUST DESCRIBING AT 3450 AND 3455 COASTAL HIGHWAY, IS NOT APPROPRIATELY PERMITTED FOR THE PROJECT ANNOUNCED BY ITS CURRENT DEVELOPERS. AND PLEASE TAKE THIS MATTER UNDER THE AUTHORITY OF THE BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS, STATE OFFICIALS AND PRIVATE LEGAL EXPERTS WHO HAVE CLOSELY REVIEWED THIS PROJECT AGREE. IN FACT, THEY WERE THE FIRST TO RAISE THE QUESTION OF WHY A PERMIT FOR A SAND AND GRAVEL RV CAMPSITE IS BEING USED TO BUILD A HORIZONTAL HOTEL, AS DESCRIBED BY THE DEVELOPERS. COUNCIL HAS A LETTER FROM THE NBA ATTORNEY OUTLINING THESE ISSUES, AND COPIES ARE PROVIDED HERE FOR YOU TODAY. NBA WOULD NOT BE HERE RAISING CONCERNS IF THE TRADITIONAL PULL IN AND OUT RV PARK DESCRIBED OF SAND AND GRAVEL WERE ACTUALLY BEING BUILT. IT IS NOT. COUNTY HANGS ITS HAT ON THE FACT THAT PARK MODELS ARE CURRENTLY CLASSIFIED AS RVS BY THE STATE. HOWEVER, WHETHER OR NOT AN RV PARK MODEL HAS A LICENSE PLATE OR NOT IS NOT THE ONLY ISSUE, BUT USAGE, AND HOW LONG A PARK MODEL IS OCCUPIED BY ANYONE. CHANGING FACES DOES NOT NEGATE ONGOING OCCUPANCY, AS THE COUNTY SUGGESTED TO THE DEVELOPER IN A LETTER. IN ADDITION, STAFF GRANTS VARIANCES AND CALLS ALL DECISIONS MINOR. WHY? THE PROJECT IS A TEXAS SIZED NIGHTMARE FOR NORTH BEACH RESIDENTS WHO LIVE, WITH FLOODING DUE IN NO SMALL PART TO THE PROBLEMATIC DEVELOPMENT IN THE COUNTY. I ASK THAT NO COUNTY OFFICIALS BE ALLOWED TO STEP UP AFTER US TODAY TO DEFEND THE SANCTION OF THIS INAPPROPRIATELY PERMITTED PROJECT. THIS HAS HAPPENED WITHOUT ACCOUNTABILITY NUMEROUS TIMES. CAN THE PARK MODEL STYLED RVS BE EVACUATED IN FOUR HOURS, AS DESCRIBED IN THE 2021 PERMITTING PROCESS? NO, OF COURSE NOT. THEY CANNOT. IMPERVIOUS SURFACES WOULD HAVE TO AT LEAST TRIPLE AND DISPLACED HIGH DOWN PARK MODELS, WHICH INCREASES FLOODING. AS MAUREEN JUST EXPLAINED, PAVER PADS ARE NOT SECURE ENOUGH TO HOLD A PART DOWN IN THE EVENT OF A HURRICANE. WOULD YOU RISK YOUR HOME AND YOUR LIFE GUARANTEEING THAT THEY WON'T BE SWEPT AWAY. PLEASE, COMMISSIONERS, YOU HAVE THE AUTHORITY. PART OF THE SGC, THE OUR ORG CHART. THERE ARE GOOD AND SOUND WAYS TO DEVELOP THIS PROPERTY. AND THIS CURRENT PLAN, IS NOT IT? COMMISSIONERS DO. PLEASE DO NOT BE PERSUADED TO ENDANGER THE LIVES AND PROPERTY OF VOTERS FOR THE SAKE OF INAPPROPRIATE DEVELOPMENT. CODES AND ZONING EXIST FOR A REASON, AND THIS PROJECT IS NOT APPROPRIATE FOR THE RURAL COMMERCIAL ZONING AND ITS CURRENT CONDITIONS IN NORTH BEACH. THE CHANGES FROM THE EXISTING PERMIT TO THE PLANNED DEVELOPMENT ARE NOT MINOR. THEY WILL HAVE A MAJOR AND POTENTIALLY DEVASTATING IMPACT. PLEASE, COMMISSIONERS, STEP UP. WE NEED YOU. THANK YOU. JILL. HELLO, I'M JOE RYAN, SIX NINE, NINE STANDISH DRIVE, SAINT AUGUSTINE, FLORIDA. I WAS STRUCK BY THE INVOCATION TODAY TO MAKE A COMMENT BECAUSE WHAT WAS SAID IS THAT THERE'S A MORAL DUTY OF THIS COMMISSION TO UPHOLD THE COMMON LAW RIGHTS OF PEOPLE IN THIS COMMUNITY. AND SO I WOULD ASK YOU TO WEIGH EVERY DECISION THAT YOU MAKE AS HOW WOULD IT AFFECT THE CURRENT [00:40:02] RESIDENTS OF THIS COUNTY AND IMPACT ON THEIR LIVES GOING FORWARD? IT'S MAYBE NOT. IT'S NOT A LEGAL DUTY, BUT I THINK IT'S A MORAL ONE THAT YOU RESPECT THE RIGHTS OF CURRENT RESIDENTS AND NOT HAVING THEM NEGATIVELY IMPACT BY ANY DECISIONS THAT YOU MAKE. THIS IS PART OF THE LAW, AND YOU GUYS ARE THE LAW OF THIS COUNTY. THANKS. JOHN. MORNING, SIR. YEAH. FIRST OF ALL, MY NAME IS WILLIAM FISHER, AND I SPOKE EARLIER, AND I WANT TO APOLOGIZE BECAUSE IT WASN'T THAT SPOT ON THE AGENDA. NOW, WE. I HEARD BOBBY HALL'S NAME. BOBBY HALL AND RAY ASHTON LURED ME FROM MARION COUNTY FIRE RESCUE TO COME UP HERE WITH A GUY NAMED VICTOR PROVENZA. WHO WAS A LIEUTENANT ON THE CITY FIRE DEPARTMENT TO START THE MAINTENANCE DEPARTMENT THAT FIRE RESCUE HAS TODAY. OUR SHOP, WHICH WAS A LITTLE SHACK, WAS BEHIND STATION 12 NEXT TO THE MORGUE. AND FROM THERE, WE STARTED AND LEARNED HOW TO MAINTAIN FIRE TRUCKS, TANKERS, AND HOW TO SHOW NEW RECRUITS, HOW TO USE THE PUMPS ON THE TRUCKS. AND I ENJOYED THAT. AND I WAS HAD A REPUTATION AND KNOWING WHAT I WAS DOING. THANK YOU AGAIN AND I APOLOGIZE AGAIN. THANK YOU. ANYONE ELSE FOR GENERAL PUBLIC COMMENT? GOOD MORNING. ED SLAVIN. ED SLAVIN BOX 3084. FIRST OF ALL I'M A CANDIDATE FOR ANASTASIA MOSQUITO CONTROL DISTRICT OF SAINT JOHNS COUNTY IN THE ELECTION ON NOVEMBER 3RD OF 2026. SEAT FOUR. WELCOME BACK, COMMISSIONERS. WE'VE GOT A LOT TO DISCUSS TODAY, SO LET'S GET STARTED. LET'S START WITH WHAT ROBERT KENNEDY JUNIOR CALLED ENVIRONMENTAL CRIMES AGAINST NATURE IN HIS 2004 BOOK, CRIMES AGAINST NATURE. WE'VE HAD QUITE A FEW OF THEM IN THIS COMMUNITY, STARTING WITH THE CLEARCUTTING THAT WE'RE HOPEFULLY GOING TO ADDRESS TODAY IN YOUR AGENDA. REMEMBER THE TIME 19 YEARS AGO WHEN OUR CITY OF SAINT AUGUSTINE DUMPED A LANDFILL IN A LAKE? THE OLD CITY RESERVOIR, WHICH WAS A PRIME BASE FISHING SPOT WITH APPLE SNAILS, AND THE CITY MANAGER, WILLIAM BARRY HARRIS, DID IT IN SECRET, AND HE THOUGHT HE'D GET AWAY WITH IT. AND HE'D DONE IT BEFORE. IT WAS AN ENVIRONMENTAL CRIME. SO I CALLED THE NATIONAL RESPONSE CENTER OF THE COAST GUARD, AND GUYS WITH GUNS AND BADGES CAME FROM EPA AND DEP, AND THE CITY OF SAINT AUGUSTINE HAD TO PAY A FINE. MR. HARRIS WASN'T INDICTED, BUT HE SHOULD HAVE BEEN. THANKS TO MY FRIEND SHERRY BADGER, WE CAUGHT THEM RED HANDED, AND WE HAD THE VIDEOTAPES, AND WE HAD THE RECEIPTS AND WE HAD THE DOCUMENTS. THE CITY'S OUTSIDE ATTORNEY, WILLIAM PENCE, FROM A FANCY LAW FIRM, NEVER WAS ASKED ABOUT THE CITY DUMPING A LANDFILL IN A LAKE. AND I SAID TO HIM ONCE AT AN EVENT. I SAID, BILL, FOR $300, YOU WOULD HAVE TOLD THEM NOT TO DO IT. AND HE SAID, NO. FOR $75, I'D HAVE TOLD THEM NOT TO DO IT. BUT THEY NEVER ASKED. THEY NEVER EVEN ASKED. OUR CITY ATTORNEY, JAMES PATRICK WILSON, LATER TOLD OUR SAINT AUGUSTINE BEACH CITY COMMISSIONERS, WHICH HIRED HIM ON MY RECOMMENDATION TO BE THE SAINT AUGUSTINE BEACH, CITY ATTORNEY JIM WILSON TOLD THE CITY OF SAINT AUGUSTINE BEACH CITY COMMISSIONER. WELL, I WORKED THERE FOR 14 YEARS. THEY DUMPED A LANDFILL IN THE LAKE, AND THEY DIDN'T ASK ME AND THEY DIDN'T TELL ME. SO I FIGURED IT WAS TIME TO MOVE ON. I LOOK FORWARD TO OUR 1 P.M. DISCUSSION TODAY ON AN ENHANCED TREE PROTECTION ORDINANCE. AND WE JUST HEARD EARLIER FROM WILLIAM FISHER OF FLAGLER ESTATES THAT SOMEBODY CUT 600 ACRES OF TREES, AND I HOPE. ENVIRONMENTAL CRIMES AGAINST NATURE LIKE THAT ARE GOING TO BE REMEDIED IN THE FUTURE WITH A STRONG TREE PROTECTION ORDINANCE. AND LET ME REMIND Y'ALL. WELL, MAYBE YOU DIDN'T KNOW ABOUT IT. THE 1957 CIVIL RIGHTS ACT. NOBODY EVER EVEN HEARD OF AT THE TIME. BUT IT WAS THE FLOOR UPON WHICH THE 1964 CIVIL RIGHTS ACT IN THE 1965 CIVIL RIGHTS ACT, IN THE 1968 CIVIL RIGHTS ACT WERE BUILT. SO LET'S LET'S GET MOVING. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. [00:45:06] YES, SIR. CHUCK LEBANON, 1748 NORTH CAPITOL. I'M GOING TO BE VERY BRIEF, AND I WAS HOPING SOMETHING WAS GOING TO BE ON THE AGENDA AGAIN FOR THIS MEETING. WE'RE TALKING ABOUT E-BIKES. WE'RE STILL NOT GIVING ANYTHING TO THE SHERIFF TO SINK THEIR TEETH IN TO ENFORCE THE E-BIKE REGULATIONS. WE'RE CONSIDERING E-BIKES AS BICYCLES. WE CAN'T CONTINUE GO BACK IN HISTORY IF YOU LOOK. E-BIKES ARE REALLY MOPEDS. THAT'S WHAT FIRST CAME OUT TO BE. WE NEED TO DO SOMETHING TO GIVE THE SHERIFF SOME ENFORCEMENT. REGULATIONS OUT THERE TO CONTROL THE E-BIKE SITUATION. THANK YOU. GOOD MORNING. GOOD MORNING, GERRY BADGER. 2772 SOUTH COLLINS AVENUE. MISSED THE LAST MEETING, BUT THINGS ROLL ON, SUCH AS THREE AIRPORT COMMISSIONERS INDICTED FOR INCITING A SON IN VIOLATION OF THE SUNSHINE LAW. I'VE BEEN WARNING Y'ALL THAT THIS HAS BEEN GOING ON AT THE AIRPORT EVER SINCE. THE TWO BEFORE THEM GOT REMANDED. IT SEEMS TO BE LIKE Y'ALL. Y'ALL HAVE A RIGHT TO COMMENT ON ANYTHING ANY OF US SAY. MAYBE WHAT YOU'VE BEEN PROGRAMED TO HEAR IS WHAT YOU'RE HEARING. BUT YOU HAVE THE RIGHT. YOU ARE OUR ENFORCEMENT. Y'ALL SET UP HERE AND ACT LIKE YOUR EMPLOYEES DON'T DO ANYTHING WRONG. HOW COME THIS THESE ISSUES AREN'T BEING ADDRESSED? SEMI'S STILL ROLLING OUT MY ROAD. OKAY, Y'ALL JUST SEEM TO SET UP HERE AND THINK LIKE Y'ALL ARE SET UP PRETTY OR WHAT? BECAUSE PEOPLE IN THE TOWN ARE GETTING SICK OF IT, AND THEN YOU'RE GONNA DOUBLE OUR TRASHES. Y'ALL NEED TO GET A GRIP BECAUSE PEOPLE ARE GETTING VERY FED UP WITH Y'ALL NOT EVEN CARING. Y'ALL DON'T EVEN CARE WHAT HAPPENS TO OUR NEIGHBORHOODS. Y'ALL JUST LIKE WITH MR. HENNESSY OUT THERE AT THE BOAT RAMP. WHAT ARE THOSE PEOPLE DOING? CLAIMING A PUBLIC EASEMENT. AND YOU HAVE DONE NOTHING. MR. HENNESSEY, THE SAME THING. WHY IS FLAGLER STATES PLAYING A DOUBLE TAX AND NOTHING BEING DONE FOR THE FLOODING? THE COUNTY SAYS THAT IT'S NOT THEIR RESPONSIBILITY TO DRAIN DEAD DEEP CREEK. THE US COAST GUARD RECOGNIZES DEEP CREEK IS INEVITABLE CREEK, AND NOBODY CLEANS IT. WHAT'S. WHAT ARE Y'ALL DOING? WHAT ARE Y'ALL HERE FOR? Y'ALL HAVE AUTHORITY. Y'ALL HAVE AUTHORITY TO INVESTIGATE THE AIRPORT AND THE SHENANIGANS GOING ON OUT THERE, BUT IT FALLS ON DEAF EARS. JUST LIKE THE PLANE CRASH, Y'ALL. Y'ALL HAVEN'T HAD TO LISTEN TO A LADY SCREAM FOR HELP FOR 35 MINUTES WHILE HER PLANE WAS UPSIDE DOWN IN THE MARSH. I HAPPENED TO BE THERE THAT DAY. THAT LADY SCREAMED FOR HELP FOR 35 MINUTES, AND THAT THERE WAS NOTHING, THAT THEY STOOD ON TOP OF THE FIRE TRUCKS LOOKING INTO THE MARSH. THE LADY FINALLY DROWNED IT WHEN THE TIDE CAME IN. Y'ALL REALLY NEED TO WAKE UP AND SMELL THE COFFEE. THANK YOU. GOOD MORNING, CHARLIE HUNT. MILL CREEK ESTATES. WITH ALL THE CONTROVERSY THAT WENT ON WITH THE TITLE PULLED OFF OF 210 BEHIND OTHER OTHER DEVELOPMENT THAT'S OUT THERE AND EVERYTHING. TO HAVE MR. JOHN PAYTON COME IN AND SIT IN THE FRONT ROW AND THE STRESS OF WHAT WILL HAPPEN IF IT GOES TO ANOTHER WAY OF IF THEY CAN MAKE IT MORE OF THE APARTMENTS THAT'S GOING IN THERE TO MAKE IT MORE CONCENTRATED. ALL RIGHT. TO LIVE LOCAL ACT. WE'LL USE THAT AS A, AS OUR GO TO IF WE DON'T GET IT DONE. AND ALL ALL THE STRESS THAT IT SEEMED TO BE UNDER AND THEN SEEING THE NOTICE THAT IT GOT, HE SOLD IT TO MCKINNEY HOMES FOR $13 MILLION. SO REALLY? IT SEEMED LIKE THEY USED IT. THEY GOT IT. AND THE CONCEPT OF LIVE LOCAL WAS IN THEIR BACK POCKET, BUT IT DIDN'T MATTER. [00:50:03] IT DIDN'T MATTER. THEY THEY PLAYED THE BOARD AND THEY WON. AND THEY MADE MILLIONS OF DOLLARS OFF OF THE MAYBE OF A LIVE LOCAL. MAYBE WE CAN MAKE IT BIGGER. BUT THAT REFLECTS THE BOARD'S DECISIONS ON THINGS. OKAY. THE INTEGRITY. IS QUESTIONABLE. THE HONESTY IS ALWAYS QUESTIONABLE. YOUR ACTIONS ARE QUESTIONABLE. BECAUSE JUST BECAUSE YOU SAY IT DOESN'T MEAN YOU'RE NOT GOING TO DO IT. YOU'RE NOT. IT'S JUST FOR THE IT'S JUST FOR THE NEWS OR WHATEVER. AND MAYBE FOR THE, THE TRANSPARENCY TO MAKE IT LOOK TRANSPARENT, BUT IT'S NOT OKAY. WITH ALL OF THE INSIGHT FROM THE PEOPLE WHO'S OUT THERE AND FINDING ABOUT THAT TITLE DEED THAT WAS WANTING TO GO IN THERE AND EVERYTHING LIKE THAT, AND THE INFAMOUS LIVE LOCAL ACT IS IN OUR BACK POCKET, AND WE CAN USE IT IF WE WANT TO. WHAT A FUNNY AND FUNNY OUTCOME THAT IT WAS SOLD FOR $13 MILLION SHORTLY AFTER IT WAS APPROVED BECAUSE OF THE FEAR OF THE LIVE LOCAL ACT. OR WE CAN INCREASE IT. HOW MUCH MONEY HE MADE OFF OF THAT IS A LAUGH TO THE BOARD. THANK YOU. MR. TOM. BJ WEST, CITY OF SAINT AUGUSTINE. MY UNDERSTANDING, ACCORDING TO MISS JIMERSON AT THE SHERIFF'S OFFICE, THE ONLY WAY TO OBTAIN MUG SHOTS OF INMATES IN JAIL IS TO KNOW THEIR NAME. IN 2024, AN INMATE, BRIAN HOUSTON HOUSTON, TOOK MARICOPA COUNTY TO COURT IN ARIZONA AGAINST POSTING MUG SHOTS OF INMATES. SOME OF THE COUNTIES IN FLORIDA STILL POSTING MUG SHOTS OF INMATES WHO CHOOSE TO BREAK LAWS ARE BREVARD, CLAY, COLLIER, LEE, PUTNAM AND VOLUSIA WITH THE MUG SHOTS. THEY PROVIDE A DISCLAIMER. I'LL READ THAT LATER. AND IT SAYS ON THE DISCLAIMER, SUCH AS PREVIOUSLY SUCH AS SUSPECTS PRESUMED INNOCENT UNTIL PROVEN GUILTY. SOME MUG SHOTS ARE POSTED WHICH DISCRIMINATES AND CAN SEND THE MESSAGE SOME CRIME IS NOT WRONG. MANY INMATES HAVE BEEN VIOLATING LAWS MANY TIMES BEFORE THEY ARE ARRESTED. AS PREVIOUSLY STATED, THE FAILURE OF THE SHERIFF'S OFFICE TO POST MUG SHOTS WITH A DISCLAIMER JEOPARDIZES THE SAFETY OF EVERYONE IN SAINT JOHN'S COUNTY. AND I'M GOING TO READ THIS. THE LEE COUNTY SHERIFF'S OFFICE, AS A COURTESY TO THE COMMUNITY, PROVIDES THE MUG SHOTS THAT'S IN FORT MYERS. IN CASE YOU DON'T KNOW WHERE LEE COUNTY IS. THE INFORMATION? IT HAS NO CONNECTION TO THE FINDINGS OF GUILT OR INNOCENCE, OR THE ACQUITTAL OR DISMISSAL OF A CRIMINAL CHARGE. SO THERE'S A WAY TO PROTECT THE INMATES, AND THERE'S A WAY TO PROTECT THE COMMUNITY. WAS THERE A CIVIL RIGHTS PLAQUE AT 32 AVENIDA MENENDEZ ON JUNE 19TH, 2025? AND I WILL CONTINUE TO SAY THIS. AND WE GOTTA PAY ATTENTION, PEOPLE, BECAUSE VOTING TIME IS COMING UP. THANK YOU FOR MOVING PUBLIC COMMENT BEFORE THE FIRST AGENDA ITEM THAT HELPS THE COMMUNITY COME IN AND SPEAK. AND THEY'RE NOT LIKE THE LAWYERS AND DEVELOPERS WHO CAN SIT HERE FOR HOURS AND GET PAID. THANK YOU. ANYONE ELSE FOR PUBLIC COMMENT? SEEING NONE, WE'LL CLOSE THE PUBLIC COMMENT. YEAH. IF ANYONE CAME TO SPEAK ON THE BUDGET, IT WAS GOING TO BE AND CANNOT WAIT TILL THIS AFTERNOON. IT'S PROBABLY GOING TO BE LATER OR MID-AFTERNOON BEFORE WE GET TO THAT. SO IF YOU'D LIKE TO MAKE A COMMENT NOW, YOU'RE WELCOME. IF NOT, YOU'RE CERTAINLY MORE THAN WELCOME TO WAIT. SEEING NONE, WE'LL CLOSE. PUBLIC COMMENT. ALL RIGHT. WE'RE BACK TO THE BOARD FOR AGENDA ITEM NUMBER ONE. GOOD. NUMBER TWO. I'M SORRY. NUMBER ONE WILL BE NINE. [00:55:02] AND NUMBER TWO IS OUR FIRST ITEM. AND THAT IS A QUASI JUDICIAL COMMISSIONER. [2. Public Hearing * WH 2024-03 Andre Land Holdings Workforce Housing. Request to rezone approximately 11.37 acres of land from Open Rural (OR) to Workforce Housing (WH), located at 3165 County Road 208, Unit F. The Planning and Zoning Agency (PZA) heard this request at their regularly scheduled public hearing on June 5, 2025. The Agency recommended denial with a vote of 6-0, supported by members Perkins, Matovina, Hilsenbeck, Spiegel, Green, and Labanowski. Members discussed several issues, including specimen trees, pricing, number of units, housing types, area compatibility, and proposed density. Public comments addressed existing rural uses in the area such as livestock management, poultry, equine activities, fishing ponds, and recreational shooting. Discussions included potential impacts on area school overcrowding, as well as opinions that townhomes may not be suitable for the area, noting that there are currently too many unsold townhome units in the County. More information is provided in the Staff Report.] WHITEHURST. THANK YOU, MADAM CHAIR. I HAD A MEETING WITH JEREMIAH MULLIGAN AND STEPHEN BRAMBLE. THEY ARE OPPOSED TO TO THE DEVELOPMENT IN OUR SECOND AGENDA ITEM. COMPATIBILITY WAS THEIR PRIMARY CONCERN. BUT ALSO THE THE CONCERN ABOUT TRAFFIC UP ON STATE ROAD 16 WAS WAS DISCUSSED. SO WE DISCUSSED THE SITE LOCATION, WHAT WAS BEING PROPOSED, THE PTA VOTE AND IN TRAFFIC. MY QUASI SAYS I HAVE NO EMAILS, BUT I DID RECEIVE SEVERAL EMAILS THAT WERE OPPOSED TO THE PROJECT, WHICH ARE A MATTER OF PUBLIC RECORD. COMMISSIONER ARNOLD, THANK YOU, MADAM CHAIR. I ALSO HAD SEVERAL EMAILS AND HAD A MEETING WITH JEREMIAH MULLIGAN AND STEPHEN GRANVILLE, WHO WERE OPPOSED TO THE PROJECT WE DISCUSSED, MUCH LIKE COMMISSIONER WHITEHURST, THE TRAFFIC, THE THE COMPATIBILITY ISSUES, AND THE HISTORY OF THE PROJECT THUS FAR. COMMISSIONER TAYLOR, I GUESS I ALSO RECEIVED SEVERAL EMAILS REGARDING THIS IN OPPOSITION. AND ALSO I HAD A MEETING WITH JEREMIAH MULLIGAN AND STEPHEN BRAMBLE AND STAFF COMMISSIONER MURPHY THE SAME MEETING WITH JEREMIAH MULLIGAN, STEPHEN BRAMBLE AND STAFF THAT WERE OPPOSED TO THE PROJECT AND ALSO MANY EMAILS IN IN OPPOSITION TO THE PROJECT. AND I TOO HAD THE SAME MEETING WITH THE JEREMIAH MULLIGAN, STEPHEN RANDOLPH AND STAFF THAT WERE OPPOSED, AND A FEW EMAILS ALSO. WHO IS READY TO GO? GOOD MORNING. GOOD MORNING. GOOD MORNING, COMMISSIONERS. FOR THE RECORD, DOUG BURNETT, SAINT JOHN'S LAW GROUP, 104 SEAGROVE MAIN STREET HERE IN SAINT AUGUSTINE, FLORIDA. I REPRESENT THE APPLICANT IN THIS MATTER. IT'S A WORKFORCE HOUSING PROJECT. I THINK THE CHALLENGE THAT WE HAVE WITH PROJECTS THESE DAYS IS IT'S GETTING EVER INCREASING. TO GET THEM APPROVED, REGARDLESS OF WHAT THE COMPREHENSIVE PLAN OR LAND DEVELOPMENT CODE MAY STATE. AND WHERE THAT'S NOWHERE MORE CHALLENGING IS IN WORKFORCE HOUSING AND SOMETIMES A STIGMA THAT GOES ALONG WITH IT, ALTHOUGH THAT MAY OR MAY NOT BE JUSTIFIED. YOU KNOW, FROM THE APPLICANT'S PERSPECTIVE, I THINK IT'S PROVEN THAT THIS TYPE OF PRODUCT FITS VERY WELL INTO OUR COMMUNITY. THERE'S A REASON THAT THE COUNTY HAS ADOPTED REGULATIONS TO NOT ONLY PROVIDE FOR WORKFORCE HOUSING, BUT THE FLAT OUT ENCOURAGE WORKFORCE HOUSING AND ENCOURAGE THESE TYPES OF REASONINGS. AND IF YOU LOOK AT THE REQUIREMENTS FOR WORKFORCE HOUSING, MOST OF THE TYPICAL REQUIREMENTS FOR A REZONING ARE ELIMINATED IN THIS PROCESS BECAUSE THE COUNTY WANTS WORKFORCE HOUSING. SO WITH THAT, I'LL GET INTO SOME OF THE DETAILS RELATED TO THIS PARTICULAR PROJECT LOCATION WISE, PRETTY MUCH IN THE MIDDLE OF THE COUNTY. I'LL COME BACK TO THIS LATER. BUT THE GREAT THING ABOUT THIS IS IT'S PRETTY MUCH IN THE MIDDLE OF THE COUNTY, WHICH MEANS IT'S RIGHT IN THE MIDDLE OF WHERE ALL OF OUR EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITIES OPTIONS ARE DIRECTLY IN THE COUNTY, NOT IN THE NORTH PART OF THE COUNTY, WHERE EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITIES MAY ACTUALLY BE GREATER ACROSS THE DUVAL COUNTY BORDER. BUT ACTUALLY IN THE MIDDLE PART OF OUR COUNTY, LOOKING AT THE LOCATION A LITTLE MORE CLOSELY, IT'S I-95 JUST WEST OF THE OUTLET MALLS. YOU CAN SEE STATE ROAD 16 GOING UP TO THE NORTH NEXT TO I-95, AND THEN YOU CAN SEE COUNTY ROAD 208, AND YOU CAN SEE THE LOCATION OF THE PROJECT. DRILLING DOWN INTO THE LOCATION, YOU CAN SEE AN AERIAL OF THE PROPERTY OFF OF 208. YOU CAN SEE SILVER HAWK DRIVE WHERE YOU'VE GOT SOME HIGHER DENSITY. DENSITY SINGLE FAMILY TO THE NORTH, AND THEN YOU CAN SEE MOST OF THE OR DEVELOPMENT THAT IS EXISTING AROUND THIS PROJECT. IT'S VERY CLEARLY IN RESIDENTIAL BE AND MORE IMPORTANTLY THAN JUST SIMPLY BEING IN RESIDENTIAL BE. AND I KNOW YOU'RE GOING THROUGH THE COMPREHENSIVE PLAN AMENDMENT UPDATE AND LOOKING AT SOME NEW LANGUAGE RELATED TO THAT. ONE OF THE THINGS THAT YOU'VE HEARD ME SAY HERE DURING PROJECTS AND TALKING ABOUT DEVELOPMENT IS NOT PULLING THE FUTURE LAND USE MAP FROM IMAP, BUT ACTUALLY PULLING THE APPROVED LAND USE MAP FROM YOUR GIS DEPARTMENT, BECAUSE WHAT'S LACKING IN IMAP AND THE MAPS YOU LOOK AT A LOT OF THE TIMES IS BECAUSE IT'S NOT EASY FOR THE SYSTEM TO BE ABLE TO SHOW YOU THIS, BUT IS WHERE THAT RED LINE IS. THAT RED LINE THAT'S GOING AROUND THAT YOU SEE ON THE SCREEN IS THE DEVELOPMENT AREA BOUNDARY. AND IF YOU'RE WITHIN THAT RED LINE, THAT'S WHERE THE COUNTY WANTS TO CONTROL, DEVELOP OR PROMOTE DEVELOPMENT, [01:00:03] ENCOURAGE DEVELOPMENT. WE KNOW IT'S NOT LEAPFROG, SPORADIC. ANY ONE OF THOSE OTHER URBAN SPRAWL LANGUAGE, IF IT'S WITHIN THE DEVELOPMENT AREA BOUNDARY. THIS SITE IS VERY CLEARLY IN THE DEVELOPMENT AREA BOUNDARY IN THAT NODE OF STATE ROAD 16 AND I-95. LOOKING AT HOW TO CONTROL URBAN SPRAWL. YOUR COMPREHENSIVE PLAN SPECIFICALLY TALKS ABOUT WE WANT TO PROMOTE INFILL DEVELOPMENT WITHIN THE DEVELOPMENT AREA BOUNDARY, AS SHOWN ON THE FUTURE LAND USE MAP, WHICH IS WHAT I WAS JUST SHOWING YOU. AGAIN, DEVELOPMENT AREAS. AND IT'S GOT MANDATORY TYPED LANGUAGE. INTERESTINGLY ENOUGH, IN THE COMPREHENSIVE PLAN, IT'S AN UNUSUAL THING TO HAVE IN YOUR COMPREHENSIVE PLAN. IT'S GOT SHALL IN THERE NOT MAY OR COULD BUT SHALL IT'S MORE THIS IS REALLY WHAT THE COUNTY INTENDS TO DO IS DEVELOPMENT AREAS. ARE THOSE ONES DESIGNATED ON THE FUTURE LAND USE MAP. AND THIS IS WHERE WE WANT DEVELOPMENT SHOW ENCOURAGE INFILL DEVELOPMENT. INFILL DEVELOPMENT IS DEVELOPMENT ON VACANT PARCEL OR PARCELS OF LAND WITHIN THE DEVELOPMENT AREAS SURROUNDING BY AN EXISTING BUILT AREA. WE'RE PRETTY MUCH DEAD SET IN THAT AREA OF WHERE YOU CAN SEE QUITE A BIT OF OR ALREADY HAS BEEN BUILT. COUNTY SHALL CONSIDER IDENTIFYING AREAS INFILL WITHIN THOSE AREAS. I'LL SKIP THROUGH THE SANITARY SEWER. AGAIN, IT JUST MIRRORS THAT SAME KIND OF LANGUAGE WITHIN DEVELOPMENT AREAS. TAKING A LITTLE CLOSER LOOK AT THE AERIAL AND WHAT'S AROUND THE SPECIFIC LOCATION, I WANT TO DRILL DOWN ON THIS PARTICULAR LOCATION. THE THE AREA IS OR BUT OR ACTUALLY ALLOWS FOR SOME PRETTY INTENSIVE USE. AND I THINK THAT MOST PEOPLE, WHEN THEY THINK OF TRACTOR TRAILERS, THEY THINK OF MORE INTENSE USE. UNLESS IT WERE SOME SORT OF TRACTOR TRAILER THAT'S HAULING HAY OR HAULING PRODUCE OR THE LIKE. YOU THINK OF THAT AS A LITTLE MORE INTENSIVE USE. AND SO JUST DRILLING DOWN ONE MORE LOOK ON THE SAME PARCEL, YOU CAN SEE THERE'S ACTUALLY A COMMERCIAL OPERATION ON THIS ONE PARCEL. IT'S FROM WHAT I COULD RESEARCH. IT'S H2 OLOGY. THE PROPERTY ACTUALLY HAS A PROTECTED ON THE PROPERTY APPRAISERS DATABASE. IT PROTECTS WHO THE OWNER IS OF THE PARCEL, I PRESUME, BECAUSE THE GENTLEMAN WHO OWNS IT MAY BE FORMER LAW ENFORCEMENT. I'M NOT SURE, BUT IT IS A RATHER COMMERCIAL OPERATION. THERE'S SOME INTERESTING INFORMATION ABOUT THAT H2 OLOGY ONLINE THAT VERIFIES THE FACT THAT IT DOES APPEAR TO BE A COMMERCIAL OPERATION. THERE ARE A NUMBER OF MOBILE HOMES. AND JUST TO POINT OUT, THE MOBILE HOME USES AND NOT HOMESTEAD. ALSO IN SOME OF THESE PROPERTIES, HERE'S ANOTHER ONE ON THE OTHER BOUNDARY. AND THERE'S A PRETTY BIG, CLEAR AREA OF SEPARATION BETWEEN OUR PARCEL AND I THINK THE OTHER FOLKS AROUND IT. WORKFORCE HOUSING. IT'S THE MISSING WORKFORCE HOUSING IN SAINT JOHN'S COUNTY CAPABLE OF BEING PURCHASED OR RENTED BY A HOUSEHOLD WITHIN THE UPPER LOW TO MODERATE INCOME CATEGORIES. AS YOU SO WELL DEFINED IN YOUR CODE. IT TALKS ABOUT A MAXIMUM INITIAL SALES PRICE. OBVIOUSLY YOU GUYS REVISIT THIS EVERY YEAR, EVERY OTHER YEAR TO LOOK AT WHAT THOSE VALUES ARE AND HOW THOSE SHOULD BE REFLECTED IN THE COUNTY. AND THEN IT TALKS ABOUT A MINIMUM OF DEED RESTRICTION UNIT SHALL BE 30%. YOU KNOW, LOOKING AT WORKFORCE, I DON'T NEED TO TELL YOU ALL THIS. YOU'RE FAMILIAR ENOUGH WITH THE COUNTY. YOU CERTAINLY WHEN YOU RUN FOR COUNTY COMMISSIONER, YOU TRAVEL THE COUNTY ENOUGH TO KNOW WHERE EVERYTHING'S AT AND KNOW WHERE THE COMMERCIAL CENTERS ARE, WHERE THE WORKFORCES ARE, WHERE THE BASE IS. BUT THIS IS JUST FROM YOUR COUNTY'S WEBSITE, WHAT'S PREVIOUSLY BEEN POSTED UP THERE TALKING ABOUT 31 MAJOR EMPLOYERS IN THE COUNTY, 25 OF THEM APPEAR TO BE WITHIN 15 MILES OF THIS LOCATION. MANY ARE LOCATED WITHIN FIVE MILES OF THIS LOCATION. IT REALLY IS IN THE HOTBED OF WHERE YOUR EMPLOYMENT CENTERS ARE. PGA DID VOTE. AND DISCUSSED SEVERAL ISSUES. IT'S INTERESTING THERE ISSUES. AND THIS IS DIRECTLY FROM THE STAFF REPORT BEFORE YOU TODAY. SPECIMEN TREES, PRICING, NUMBER OF UNITS, HOUSING TYPES, AREA COMPATIBILITY, AND PROPOSED DENSITY. THE ISSUES RELATED TO DENSITY, SETBACKS, ALL OF THOSE THINGS VERY CLEARLY IN THE STAFF REPORT ARE ONES THAT WOULD BE ADDRESSED AT THE TIME OF CONSTRUCTION PLAN APPROVAL, BECAUSE YOU'RE NOT REQUIRED IN A WORKFORCE HOUSING STRAIGHT REZONING TO ACTUALLY PROVIDE A SITE PLAN. I DO HAVE A SITE PLAN, AND I'LL SHOW YOU WHAT THAT WOULD LOOK LIKE. LIVESTOCK MANAGEMENT. POULTRY. EQUINE ACTIVITIES, FISHING PONDS AND RECREATIONAL SHOOTING. YOU KNOW, RECREATIONAL SHOOTING IRREGARDLESS OF WHAT'S ALLOWED UNDER LAW, YOU STILL HAVE TO BE CAUTIOUS ABOUT WHAT YOUR BACKDROP IS, [01:05:03] WHERE YOU'RE FIRING, THE DIRECTION YOU'RE FIRING, THOSE KINDS OF THINGS. SO EVEN IF YOUR PARCELS AROUND THIS SITE WOULD BE ALLOWED TO SHOOT YOU KNOW, IT'S PROHIBITED TO BE A GUN RANGE. IT'S, YOU KNOW, FOR THE OWNER'S SHOOTING PURPOSE, FOR EXAMPLE AREA SCHOOL OVERCROWDING, TOWNHOMES MAY NOT BE SUITABLE FOR THE AREA. SO LOOKING AT THAT AND LOOKING AT THE ORDINANCE THAT IS IN YOUR PACKET AT PGA, WE HAD TALKED ABOUT AND PREVIOUS TO THAT HAD TALKED ABOUT LIMITING THE OVERALL DENSITY, LIMITING IT TO SINGLE FAMILY ONLY, AND LIMITING THE MAXIMUM NUMBER OF UNITS TO 30. SO THOSE WOULD BE CONDITIONS THAT WOULD GO IN HERE. YOU'VE DONE CONDITIONAL ORDINANCES MANY TIMES IN THE PAST, AND THE APPLICANT IS WILLING TO ADD A CONDITION TO THAT TO LIMIT THE DENSITY, WHICH YOU WOULD THINK WOULD ELIMINATE MOST, IF NOT ALL OF THE CONCERNS, BECAUSE AT SINGLE FAMILY IT MAKES IT SINGLE FAMILY WITH MOST OF THE USES AROUND IT. AND OBVIOUSLY LIMITING THE TOTAL NUMBER OF UNITS FAR LESS THAN WHATEVER THE PURPORTED MAXIMUM AMOUNT WAS. IF YOU COMPLETELY DEVELOP THE SITE AND WITH THAT, I'LL SHOW YOU A SITE PLAN. THIS IS FROM A PRIOR APPLICATION RELATED TO THE SAME PROPERTY. AND THIS WOULD BE A 22 UNIT LAYOUT, FOR EXAMPLE, WITH SINGLE FAMILY LARGE LOTS. AND THEN JUST PUTTING THAT TO PAPER TO WHERE YOU COULD SEE IT'S ACCESS COULD ACTUALLY LINE UP PERFECTLY WITH SILVER HAWK DRIVE ACROSS THE STREET AND FITS NICELY IN THE AREA WITH SOME PERIMETER BUFFERING WITH REAR YARDS BACKING UP AROUND THE PROPERTY. SO WITH THAT THAT'S IN MY PRESENTATION, I KNOW WE'VE GOT A NUMBER OF PUBLIC COMMENT AND I'LL COME BACK UP IN REBUTTAL. THANK YOU, COMMISSIONER WHITEHURST. THANK YOU, MADAM CHAIR. MR. BURNETT. THANK YOU FOR THE PRESENTATION. ARE YOU LIMITING THE SITE TO 22 UNITS? IS THAT WHAT IT WAS? 30 WAS THE NUMBER THAT I PUT UP THERE ON THE SCREEN. I UNDERSTAND THE SITE PLANNER DIDN'T SHOW YOU THE SITE PLAN THAT SHOWS 22. TECHNICALLY, THAT SITE PLAN COULD BE 24. IF YOU LOOK AT THERE'S TWO PARCELS NEXT TO THE 22, WHICH WOULD BE A 23 AND 24. IT LAYS OUT PRETTY WELL FOR THAT NUMBER. LET ME SEE IF I GO BACK A SLIDE. RIGHT THERE YOU CAN SEE PROPOSED OPEN FIELD PROPOSED. SO IT WOULD LAY OUT FOR 24 PRETTY EASILY. OKAY. I'VE HEARD THREE NUMBERS NOW. YOU SAID THAT THERE'S 30 UNITS. IT SHOWS 22. BUT THIS COULD LAY OUT FOR 24. DID PGA HEAR A DIFFERENT NUMBER OF UNITS? I SHOWED THEM THIS. YOU SHOWED THEM? THEY WANTED TO SEE A SITE PLAN. WE DID SHOW THEM THE SAME SITE PLAN. THIS IS THE SAME PRESENTATION WITH A LITTLE BIT OF A MODIFICATION TO IT. BUT THIS IS THE SAME. THEY SAW THE SAME SITE PLAN. THIS IS FROM A PRIOR PROJECT AT THE PROPERTY. YES, SIR. I THINK IT WAS WITHDRAWN AND NEVER DENIED. IT WAS FROM A COUPLE OF YEARS AGO, MAYBE THREE YEARS AGO. NOW. IF THIS WERE APPROVED TODAY, WHAT ARE THE MAXIMUM NUMBER OF UNITS THAT YOU COULD BUILD IF WITHOUT A CONDITION ON IT? UNDER THE CONDITIONAL ZONING, YOU WOULD TAKE THE ACREAGE AND POTENTIALLY AT THE WORKFORCE HOUSING LEVEL SIX UNITS. SO 66 WOULD SEEM MAYBE 67 WOULD WOULD BE MATHEMATICALLY POSSIBLE IF YOU BUILT ON EVERY INCH OF THE LAND. THE PRACTICAL REALITY IS THAT'S WHY WE WERE COMING TO A SMALLER NUMBER, YOU KNOW, CUT THAT IN HALF. YOU GET 30 OR LESS. GO BY THE SITE PLAN OF WHAT'S POTENTIAL AND SINGLE FAMILY. YOU GET 24. OKAY. I'D HEARD THE NUMBER 66, WHERE I'M SEEING 22 AND WE'RE HEARING 24. YEAH. AND AND FROM THE BEGINNING, WE'RE NOT SEEKING 66 OR 67 UNITS. SO JUST SO, FOR WHAT THAT'S WORTH. AND IN FACT, I PRESENTED THAT AT THE PGA. THAT'S NOT WHAT THIS APPLICATION WAS FOR. BUT WE'LL HAVE WORKFORCE HOUSING IN 30% OF THESE UNITS. THE 22 OR 24. YES, SIR. OKAY. THANK YOU, MR. BURNETT. COMMISSIONER MURPHY. YEAH, THAT WAS MY QUESTION. 30% OF WHATEVER NUMBER WE'RE GOING TO USE WOULD BE IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD OF NINE NINE UNITS. WORKFORCE HOUSING. IS THAT RIGHT? OR OR THE 24. 30 OR LESS? EIGHT. YOU YOU'RE GOING TO GET SEVEN IF IT'S SEVEN. OKAY. WHAT ARE THEIR WORKFORCE? HOUSING RESTRICTIONS ON RESALE? IS THAT TWO YEARS? FIVE YEARS? 20 YEARS? DO WE HAVE A RESTRICTION ON THEM AT ALL? YEAH. UNDER WORKFORCE HOUSING. TYPICALLY IT'S TWO YEARS. I'VE SEEN APPLICATIONS HERE WHERE THEY'VE AGREED OR PROPOSED AGREEING TO THREE AND FIVE YEAR LIMITATIONS. OKAY. DOES THE. DOES THE APPLICANT UNDERSTAND HOW IMPORTANT IT WOULD BE TO THE BOARD WITH A DIFFERENCE OF 2 [01:10:02] TO 5 YEARS AND IN RESALE ABILITY? HEARING THE COMMENTS FROM THE BOARD. YES, SIR. OKAY. THANKS. YEAH. SO, COMMISSIONER, I GUESS TO ANSWER THAT MORE DIRECTLY, IF THAT'S THE DIRECTION THAT THE COMMISSION WANTS TO TAKE. A LIMITATION ON THE UNITS, A LIMITATION THAT ALSO INCLUDES A LONGER TIME PERIOD THAN TWO YEARS ON THE RESALE. THEN I THINK THOSE CONDITIONS ARE ONES THAT WOULD BE ACCEPTABLE TO THE APPLICANT. HOW MANY CAN WE BUILD RIGHT NOW? THAT'S A THAT'S A GOOD QUESTION AS WELL. OR AT ONE ACRE LOT IN REZ B, I THINK YOU COULD GET TO MAYBE 11 AND YOU PUT INFRASTRUCTURE IN, MAYBE IT'S TEN. WITH THE INFRASTRUCTURE CHEWING UP SOME OF THE AVAILABLE ACREAGE. WELL, I MEAN, THAT'S KIND OF WHAT THE AREA THAT'S A LOT EVEN FOR THAT AREA. BUT THAT, TO ME IS MORE COMPATIBLE THAN ANYTHING ELSE. THERE'S NO INFRASTRUCTURE IN THERE. AND. BUT 11 POSSIBLY BE A NICE LITTLE NEIGHBORHOOD. YEAH. I THINK THE INFRASTRUCTURE COST WOULD PROBABLY MAKE THAT COST INEFFECTIVE. WELL, THEY WOULDN'T BE WORKFORCE THEN, RIGHT? TRUE, TRUE. AT 11, YOU COULD HAVE WORK WORKFORCE HOUSING. NO, I'M SAYING NO. YEAH. ALL RIGHT. THANK YOU. LOOKS LIKE PUBLIC COMMENT. OKAY, WE'LL NOW HEAR PUBLIC COMMENT ON, WHAT'S ON THE AGENDA AS AGENDA ITEM NUMBER TWO. PLEASE COME FORWARD. THANK YOU. GOOD MORNING, CHARLIE HUNT, MILL CREEK ESTATES. OKAY. WE'RE ARE THE HARD NUMBERS OKAY. WHEN IT COMES UP AND PRESENTS A PLAN THAT WAS FROM YEARS AGO AND SAYING, OH, SPECULATIVE ABOUT HAVING THIS, HAVING THIS, HAVING THIS, WHAT IT'S WRITTEN UP IS IT CAN BE UP TO 30% OF THE WORKFORCE HOUSING. OKAY. WELL, THERE'S NO HARD NUMBERS SHOWING. WHAT'S THE TOTAL AMOUNT OF DWELLINGS WOULD GO ON THERE? WHY NOT? WHY NOT? OKAY. NOT BE SPECULATIVE OF SAYING, WELL, WE COULD HAVE THIS OR WE COULD HAVE THIS OR WE COULD HAVE THIS. ALL RIGHT. THAT'S WHAT'S KIND OF GETTING GOING ON HERE IN SAINT JOHN'S COUNTY. ALL RIGHT. SHOW THE HARD NUMBERS AND QUIT ALL OF BEATING AROUND THE BUSH TO TRY TO GET SOMETHING TO PROVE THAT IT'S NOT GOING TO WORK OUT RIGHT NOW, AS HE SHOWED 260 K THE BASE PRICE FOR THAT HOUSE. ALL RIGHT. BUT WHAT HE DIDN'T SHOW UP THERE IS THE UP TO 3% ADDITIONAL COST. AND FOR THE BUILDING I CAN'T THINK OF THE NAME RIGHT OFF THE TOP OF MY HEAD. I THE AGENCY THAT ADDS 3% UP TO 3%, WHICH WOULD BE ABOUT $7,800. THEY CAN ADD ON TO THAT AND THAT'S THAT'S MANDATORY. AND THEN FROM THAT, THERE CAN BE AN ADDITIONAL UP TO $7,000 ADDED ON FOR CLOSING ADMIN, YADA YADA, ALL THOSE THINGS RIGHT THERE. SO ALMOST UP TO $274,000 THAT THOSE UNITS WILL BE AT. NOT NOT NOT THAT LITTLE 260 K. ALL RIGHT. SO WHY AREN'T HE SHOWING THOSE HARD NUMBERS? ALL RIGHT. THE SAME INSTANCE IS GOING DOWN OFF A POSITIVE ROAD. ALRIGHT, BUT THERE ARE SHOWING HARD NUMBERS. THEY'RE ACTUALLY TRYING TO, YOU KNOW. HEY, THEY THEY PUT THE PANTS ON. THEY'RE SHOWING HARD NUMBERS. THIS, THIS IS, IT'S WE COULD ADD THIS OR WE COULD ADD THAT THE WORKFORCE HOUSING. YES I BROUGHT THAT UP MANY TIMES. THAT NEEDS TO BE UPDATED TO THE INITIAL SELL TO IN THE WORKFORCE. HOUSING SHOULD BE FIVE YEAR OCCUPATION. A TWO YEAR IS A FLIP. BY ALL MEANS. THAT'S THAT'S THAT'S EASY MONEY TO MAKE OFF OF IT AND EASY MONEY TO GET THEM SOLD. OKAY. MAKE IT FIVE YEARS NOW, DOES HE SAY ANYTHING ABOUT RENTING THESE. BECAUSE THAT'S ALSO BROUGHT UP AT RENTON WORKFORCE HOUSING, WHICH I DON'T UNDERSTAND OF WHO BUYS IT BECAUSE DO THEY HAVE TO BE IN THE WORKFORCE HOUSING CATEGORY TO BUY THE HOUSE TO RENT IT OUT? RIGHT. THAT'S THAT'S A POLICY THAT THE COUNTY NEEDS TO STRAIGHTEN OUT. BUT THIS YOU DON'T HAVE THE HARD NUMBERS THEN? THAT'S IT. THANK YOU. YES, MA'AM. GOOD MORNING, COMMISSIONERS. MY NAME IS VICKI PEPPER. I LIVE ON HARBOR VISTA CIRCLE IN SAINT AUGUSTINE, AND I'M HERE TODAY REPRESENTING MYSELF AND CARE COMMUNITY ADVOCATES FOR [01:15:04] RACIAL EQUITY. WE'RE AN INFORMAL, INDEPENDENT CIVIC ACTION GROUP THAT GREW OUT OF SAINT AUGUSTINE'S COMMUNITY. CONVERSATION AFTER CARE'S PURPOSE IS TO SERVE BLACK AND OTHER UNDERSERVED COMMUNITIES IN SAINT JOHNS COUNTY BY IDENTIFYING RESOURCES, INCLUDING FUNDING SOURCES, AND LINKING THEM WITH COMMUNITY NEEDS AS IDENTIFIED BY COMMUNITY LEADERS. WE NOTE FIRST, THE PCA UNANIMOUSLY RECOMMENDED DENIAL OF THIS REQUEST LAST MONTH. WE NOTE, SECOND, THAT THE CURRENT DEFINITION OF WORKFORCE HOUSING ENCOMPASSES HOUSEHOLDS WHOSE INCOME IS 80 TO 120% OF AMI. MATERIALS SUPPORTING THIS AGENDA ITEM INDICATE THE DEVELOPER PLANS TO DEVELOP 30% OF THE PROPOSED UNITS TO SELL FOR A MAXIMUM OF $267,000, OR RENT FOR NO MORE THAN THE RENT LIMITS FOR 70% AMI. CURRENT REQUIREMENT IS AFFORDABILITY FOR ONLY TWO YEARS, BUT WE NOTE THE UPDATED COMP PLAN WILL REQUIRE AFFORDABILITY FOR TEN YEARS. THIRD, CARE IS ADVOCATED FOR MORE AFFORDABLE HOUSING. SINCE ITS INCEPTION, WE'VE LONG SAID THAT GIVEN OUR NEED TO INCREASE AFFORDABLE HOUSING STOCK IN SAINT JOHN'S COUNTY, WE CANNOT AFFORD TO STOP DEVELOPMENT. ONE OF THE FEW WAYS WE HAVE TO FACILITATE DEVELOPERS MAKING HOUSING MORE AFFORDABLE IS TO INCREASE ALLOWABLE DENSITY. SO WE NEED TO ENCOURAGE ENGAGE IN SMART GROWTH. WHERE AND WHEN DEVELOPMENT MAKES SENSE. WE'VE ALSO SAID THAT AS A COMMISSION, AS COMMISSIONERS, YOU SHOULD LEVERAGE USE THE LEVERAGE YOU HAVE WHEN DEVELOPERS SEEK COMP PLAN OR ZONING CHANGES TO GET A GOOD DEAL FOR OUR COMMUNITY WHEN IT COMES TO INCREASING OUR HOUSING STOCK. WE'VE NOTICED THAT NIMBYS SEEM TO COME FORWARD TO OPPOSE VIRTUALLY EVERY DEVELOPMENT THEY'RE CONCERNED SHOULD BE CONSIDERED, BUT NOT NECESSARILY BECOME DETERMINATIVE. YOU ARE ALL ELECTED ON A COUNTYWIDE BASIS, AND YOU MUST MAKE DECISIONS FOR THE GOOD OF OUR ENTIRE COMMUNITY, AND OUR COMMUNITY NEEDS MORE AFFORDABLE HOUSING. WE'RE GOING TO HAVE TO MAKE SOME TRADE OFFS WHEN IT COMES TO INCREASED DENSITY AND TRAFFIC, TO FIND SOLUTIONS TO OUR AFFORDABLE HOUSING CRISIS. BUT IF WE ARE GOING TO MAKE TRADE OFFS, PLEASE BE SURE THAT YOU'RE GETTING A GOOD DEAL FOR THE PUBLIC. WHEN YOU CONFER BENEFITS ON DEVELOPERS, CARE HAS EVEN GONE SO FAR TO SUGGEST THAT IN AN ERA OF SLOW GROWTH, YOU SHOULD NOT APPROVE ANY NEW DEVELOPMENTS UNLESS THE DEVELOPMENT WILL PROVIDE A SIGNIFICANT QUANTITY OF AFFORDABLE HOUSING FOR HOUSEHOLDS WHOSE INCOMES ARE NO MORE THAN 80% AMI OR BELOW. UNDER OUR NEW DEFINITION OF WORKFORCE HOUSING, OBTAINING SIGNIFICANT AFFORDABLE HOUSING AT A RANGE OF LOWER INCOME LEVELS MAY BE ABLE TO JUSTIFY THE NECESSARY TRADE OFFS WITH RESPECT TO THIS AGENDA ITEM. WE'RE NOT STEEPED IN ALL THE DETAILS OR NUANCES OF THE PROPOSAL, BUT WE DO HAVE QUESTIONS AND CONCERNS. SO KERRY'S QUESTION TO YOU IS SIMPLE. IS THIS WORTH IT? THANK YOU. GOOD MORNING. HI THERE. MY NAME IS BRITTANY SEIBOLD. I LIVE AT 2385 PELLISSIER ROAD, WHICH WOULD BE RIGHT BEHIND THIS DEVELOPMENT. RIGHT AROUND WHERE THAT CUL DE SAC THERE WOULD BE. WE HAVE ALL OF US, THE NEIGHBORS BASICALLY ALL AROUND THIS HAVE SOME SIGNIFICANT CONCERNS ABOUT DRAINAGE. OBVIOUSLY YOU KNOW, AN INVASION OF OUR PRIVACY YOU KNOW, THINGS LIKE THAT. YOU KNOW, THE BIGGER ITEMS, OBVIOUSLY WOULD BE THE TRAFFIC. I THINK THAT THE INFRASTRUCTURE IS NOT QUITE READY FOR THAT AT THAT AREA, 208 IS ALREADY GETTING BUSIER AND BUSIER. THE DRAINAGE IS THE MOST SIGNIFICANT CONCERN THAT WE HAVE. HAVING TO BUILD UP THIS NEIGHBORHOOD HERE IT BEING A LITTLE BIT OF A CONCRETE JUNGLE. BASICALLY COMPARED TO WHAT WE HAVE RIGHT NOW YOU KNOW, THE DRAINAGE IN THAT AREA IS ALREADY NOT VERY GOOD. AND WE SEE ALL OF THAT DRAINAGE COMING ONTO OUR PROPERTIES, BASICALLY. AND SO THAT'S SORT OF YOU KNOW, ONE OF THE BIGGER CONCERNS, YOU KNOW, WE HAVE A NEIGHBOR WHO HAS A POND THAT HE FISHES OUT OF THAT HE FEEDS HIS FAMILY. EXCUSE ME. AND BASICALLY WATER FROM THIS NEIGHBORHOOD WITH THIS, YOU KNOW YOU KNOW, WHATEVER PESTICIDES AND THINGS THEY USE WOULD BE FLOWING INTO HIS POND THINGS LIKE THAT. WE HAVE TURKEYS THAT COME IN OUR YARDS REGULARLY. DEER, OTHER WILDLIFE THAT I'M CONCERNED, OBVIOUSLY, THAT THIS WOULD DEVELOP AND OBVIOUSLY IMPACT THEM. YOU KNOW, BUT ALSO THE BIGGEST THING IS, IS THAT THIS JUST DOES NOT FIT THE CHARACTER OF THIS AREA, WHICH IS OPEN RURAL YOU KNOW MULTI WE HAVE TWO AND A HALF ACRES YOU KNOW I KNOW COMMISSIONER JOSEPH SORRY HAD MENTIONED THAT YOU KNOW MAYBE 11, A MAXIMUM OF 11, 10 OR 11. WE WERE EVEN DISCUSSING AS THE NEIGHBORS, FIVE WOULD, YOU KNOW, FIT, YOU KNOW, KIND OF MORE WITH WHAT WE'VE GOT GOING ON OVER THERE. BUT YOU KNOW, BASICALLY FOR THE APPLICANT TO SAY, OH, THAT'S NO LONGER FEASIBLE JUST SAYS TO ME THAT THEY'RE BEING GREEDY. BECAUSE I THINK THAT 5 TO 11 UNITS IN THAT AREA IS PERFECTLY FEASIBLE. AND AND THAT THAT SHOULD BE THE MAXIMUM THAT'S ALLOWED THERE. THANK YOU, THANK YOU. [01:20:09] I'D LIKE TO GIVE THIS TO COMMISSIONER. IT'S A COPY OF WHAT I'M GOING TO BE SAYING. THANK YOU. OKAY. MY NAME IS RICHARD BOUCHER, 2405 BALESTIER ROAD. RIGHT AT THE END OF THAT PROPERTY. THIS IS A RURAL AREA, NOT COMMERCIAL FOR SINGLE FAMILY HOUSE WITH LAND TO RAISE FARM ANIMALS. MANY OF US HAVE A SHOOTING RANGE. WE DON'T WANT AN HOA TELLING US WHAT TO DO. 208 IS NOT ADAPTED TO RECEIVE ANY OF THIS AMOUNT OF TRAFFIC. I DON'T WANT ANY OF THAT WATER COMING TO MY LAND. DIRECT OR INDIRECT WAYS, I DON'T. MY POND HAS FISH THAT I FEED AND I EAT THEM. SO IT'S A IT IS A FOOD SOURCE FOR ME, MY FAMILY AND FRIENDS. AND I TAKE CARE OF THE ALGAE IN MY POND BY HAND. I DON'T USE CHEMICAL ON MY LAND OR IN MY POND. IF ANY OF THOSE CONSTRICTIONS ARE GOING ON THAT PROPERTY. I WANT A TWO FOOT BERM. AFTER THE RAISE OF THE LAND THEY'RE GOING TO DO. AND THE SIX FOOT FENCE. PRIVACY. FOR THE INDIRECT WATER. IF THERE'S SUCH A PROJECT, EVEN IF THEY SEND THE WATER TO THE DITCH BESIDE 2 OR 3, THE WATER TURNS BACK FROM 208 THREE LOTS WEST OF IT. IT COMES BACK TO THE BACK OF MY PROPERTY. I HAVE ONE AND A HALF ACRES TO TWO ACRES OF WETLAND OR KIND OF SWAMP. HAVING ALL THAT WATER COMING TO MY LAND. I WILL LOSE ANOTHER 2 TO 3 ACRES OF LAND. SO WHO'S GOING TO COMPENSATE FOR THAT LOST? ALSO, THERE IS AN ALTERNATIVE THAT I WILL SUGGEST THAT I MADE, THAT I TALK TO A LOT OF MY NEIGHBORS. HE CAN PUT FORTH A LOT WITHOUT HAVING TO DO ANY DEVELOPMENT. HE'S GOT ALREADY TWO DRIVEWAYS. THE LAW IS TO HOUSE PER DRIVEWAY, SO THIS WAY HE CAN SELL THOSE FOUR LOT OR BUILD A NICE BIG HOUSE WHERE PEOPLE CAN HAVE EITHER FORM OR EQUITY STRENGTH FORM. ALSO, THERE'S QUITE A FEW CENTENARIAN TREES ON THAT THAT PROPERTY. I WOULD LIKE FOR THEM TO STAY ALIVE. ALSO, THERE IS A LITTLE WETLAND. HE CAN USE THAT WETLAND BECAUSE IT'S ALMOST IN THE MIDDLE OF THE PROPERTY, AND I DON'T SEE ANY RETAINING POND ON HIS DESIGN THERE. SO WHERE IS THAT WATER GOING TO GO? BACK IN THE BACK OF MY PROPERTY. PROBABILITY. THAT'S WHAT I GOT TO SAY. THANK YOU. YES, MA'AM. SHERRY BADGER, 2772 SOUTH COLLINS AVENUE. THIS SOUNDS LIKE A NO BRAINER. WHY DO Y'ALL EVEN HAVE A PLANNING AND ZONING BOARD IF Y'ALL DON'T TAKE THEIR RECOMMENDATIONS? AND THE WAY IT USED TO BE IS EVERY ONE OF YOU UP THERE HAD THE RIGHT TO PICK ONE PERSON TO BE ON THE PLANNING AND ZONING BOARD. ONE TECH WHO HAS GOTTEN RID OF ALL THIS, AND Y'ALL HAVE TURNED OVER CONTROL TO THEM INSTEAD OF Y'ALL BEING IN CONTROL. BECAUSE THIS IS NOT RIGHT. Y'ALL CHANGE THE USE LAND USE. YOU LET THEM BUILD WHATEVER THEY WANT THEY CALL LOW INCOME HOUSING. SO TEACHERS DON'T MAKE MORE THAN 80 $90,000 A YEAR AND THIS HAS BEEN PROVEN TO Y'ALL. THEY SAY, OH, LOW INCOME AND DOESN'T MEAN WORKFORCE. WORKFORCE IN THIS TOWN IS THE PEOPLE WHO FEED YOUR KIDS, TEACH YOUR KIDS THE THE FIRE, THE POLICE. THEY'RE THE WORKFORCE. AND I HAD IT MISTAKEN. BUT YOU KNOW, Y'ALL YOU COMMISSIONER DEAN SCHOOLED ME ON THAT. SO Y'ALL NEED TO DETERMINE HOW MUCH THIS WORKFORCE HOUSING THAT Y'ALL CAN 200 AND HOW WHAT WOULD THAT MAKE YOUR MORTGAGE LIKE EIGHT, SEVEN, $1,800 A MONTH WITH CURRENT RATES, MAYBE MORE. THIS ISN'T LOW END. THIS ISN'T WORKFORCE HOUSING. THIS IS A WAY FOR THEM TO USE WORKFORCE HOUSING AS TO GET Y'ALL TO APPROVE IT. [01:25:01] GOD BLESS AND HAVE A GOOD DAY. YES, SIR. HI THERE. ROB GREER, 2385 PELLISSIER ROAD. THE BACK OF MY PROPERTY BUTTS UP TO THIS PROPOSED DEVELOPMENT, AND WE'VE LIVED OUT THERE ABOUT FIVE YEARS. WE'VE BEEN THROUGH, OBVIOUSLY, A FEW GOOD TROPICAL STORMS, A FEW HURRICANES, THAT ENTIRE AREA OUT THERE. THERE'S HARD PACK ABOUT THREE FEET DOWN, EVEN A GOOD AFTERNOON THUNDER SHOWER 3 OR 4 DAYS IN A ROW. THE BACK OF MY PROPERTY ALMOST HOLDS WATER WITH THIS RUNOFF AND THIS PROPOSED DEVELOPMENT, THE BACK OF MY PROPERTY IS PRETTY MUCH GOING TO BE UNUSED. IT'LL BE JUST ABOUT FLOODED WITH WITH THE RUNOFF. AND AGAIN, THERE'S NO HOLDING POND OR ANYTHING BUILT INTO THIS. AND I KNOW A LOT OF THE OTHER NEIGHBORS THAT LIVE VERY CLOSE TO ME ALL FEEL THE SAME WAY. WHERE THERE'S THIS IS JUST MORALLY IT'S JUST WRONG. IT DOES NOT FIT THE NEIGHBORHOOD. AND, YOU KNOW, MOST OF THE LOTS IN THE AREA ARE ANYWHERE FROM 1 TO 3 TO EVEN 5 OR 10 ACRES. TO TO THROW THIS RIGHT IN THE MIDDLE OF, OF THAT NEIGHBORHOOD, I THINK IS JUST IT'S A NO BRAINER. IT SHOULD NOT BE APPROVED. THANKS. THANK YOU. YES, SIR. GOOD MORNING. THANK YOU FOR LISTENING TO ALL OF US. MY NAME IS GARY DUNLAP. I LIVE AT 3205 COUNTY ROAD 208. I AM RIGHT NEXT TO THAT PROPERTY. THE ENTIRE TREE LINE THERE, THAT'S 1860 FIVE FEET ON MY PROPERTY ON THE EAST SIDE. ALL THAT WILL BE GONE. ALL THOSE TREES, THE OAKS, THE PINES, THE SAGEBRUSH, WHATEVER YOU WANT TO CALL IT, THAT IS GIVING ME PRIVACY AT THIS POINT, WHICH IS ONE OF THE REASONS THAT I BOUGHT THE PROPERTY TO BEGIN WITH, BECAUSE EVERYTHING WAS OPEN RURAL AROUND IT. I ASSUME SOMEBODY WOULD COME IN THERE AND BUY THAT AND MAYBE BUILD 2 OR 3 HOUSES. TWO ACRE, THREE ACRE PARCELS MAKE SENSE TO ME. THAT'S WHAT I'M ON. THREE AND A HALF ACRES. THIS IS THIS IS THE THIRD TIME THAT THIS PROPOSAL HAS BEEN BROUGHT TO THIS COMMISSION ALREADY. AND IT'S BEEN MADE CLEAR TWICE THAT IT WAS NOT APPROVED. THAT IT WAS NOT CONDUCIVE TO OUR AREA. LIKE MANY OF MY NEIGHBORS, I CHOSE THIS AREA FOR THE QUIET, FOR THE SPACE, THE FREEDOM THAT RURAL ZONING ALLOWS. WE RAISE ANIMALS, WE VALUE OUR PRIVACY. AND MANY OF US, AS YOU ALREADY HEARD SAFELY USE OUR LAND FOR RECREATIONAL FIREARMS. THAT'S PART OF RURAL LIFE. THAT'S WHY WE MOVED OUT THERE. WHAT'S BEING PROPOSED NOW? REZONING TO WORKFORCE HOUSING. HIS COMMENTS CHANGE ALL THE TIME. IT WAS 68 HOUSES, 66 HOUSES. NOW WE CAN DO 24. OH, MAYBE WE CAN JUST DO 11. THEY JUST WANT TO REZONE SO THEY CAN COME IN AND MAKE IT EASY FOR THEM TO BUILD HIGHER UP. MAYBE BUILD A CONDO, MAYBE BUILD APARTMENTS NEXT. SO WE DECIDED TO DO THIS INSTEAD. TO ME IT'S JUST A PLOY AND IT DOESN'T FIT. THIS IS CRITICAL TO MY PRIVACY. ALL OF A SUDDEN 1860 FIVE FEET OF MY PROPERTY WILL BE OPEN. THAT'S EXPOSES MY ENTIRE THREE AND A HALF ACRES PRACTICALLY TO WHOEVER WANTS TO LOOK OUT THEIR BACKYARD AND INTO MY LAND. THAT'S JUST NOT JUST NOT RIGHT. I DON'T OPPOSE BUILDING, BUT IT NEEDS TO STAY IN THE OPEN, RURAL FORMAT. THREE OR 4 OR 5 HOUSES, MAYBE TWO ACRE PARCELS WITH ROOM FOR SOME ANIMALS WOULD FIT INTO OUR PROPERTY AND THEY WOULD BE WELCOME NEIGHBORS. THIS THIS STUFF HAS JUST GOT TO STOP. I'M SORRY, I HAVE MORE TO SAY, BUT IT JUST DOESN'T MAKE SENSE THAT WE'RE EVEN CONSIDERING THIS A THIRD TIME AS FAR AS I'M CONCERNED. AND YOU HAVE A LOT OF NEIGHBORS BEHIND ME THAT HAVE THINGS TO SAY. THEY'RE ALL AROUND THAT WHOLE PROPERTY. SO THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR LISTENING, AND WE HOPE YOU DENIED THIS REQUEST. THANKS. THANK YOU. NEXT. GOOD MORNING. GOOD MORNING. RON SMIRKE. OVER 2480 PELLISSIER ROAD. I LIVE ON THE OTHER SIDE OF THE STREET OF WHERE ALL MY NEIGHBORS ARE GOING BEHIND HERE. I'M JUST GOING TO START OFF AND SAY NEVER TRUST A PAID LAWYER. OKAY. WE'RE THE PLANS. I MEAN, WE'RE SITTING HERE LOOKING AT THIS. THIS IS A PLAN FROM TWO YEARS AGO. WHERE'S THE PLANS FOR 66 HOUSES I KEEP HEARING ABOUT? THAT'S MULTILEVEL STUFF. WHERE'S THE DRAINAGE? WHERE'S THE RETENTION POND? THERE'S NOTHING. ALL THEY WANT IS TO GET IN THERE. BECAUSE ONCE THEY'RE IN, THEY'RE IN. AND THAT'S IT. I THANK ALL OF Y'ALL FOR TURNING IT DOWN THE FIRST TWO TIMES. I DON'T KNOW WHY WE'RE HERE AGAIN. IT MAKES ZERO SENSE. LOOK AT CABBAGE HAMMOCK. ALL RIGHT. THEY'RE DOING. AT THE BEGINNING OF THAT, THE DEVELOPER CAME IN. CUT IT UP. 2 TO 3 ACRE LOTS. EQUESTRIAN LOTS. NICE LOTS. THERE'S $900,000 HOUSES GOING IN THERE. THAT'S A LOT OF TAX MONEY. WHAT'S WRONG WITH THAT? WHY NOT CUT THAT? THEY WANT TO DO 4 OR 5 LOTS IN THERE. [01:30:04] WHAT'S WRONG WITH THAT? EVEN ONE HOUSE PER ACRE. ALL RIGHT, YOU'RE STILL WITH INFRASTRUCTURE? MAYBE NINE HOUSES. ALL RIGHT. THERE'S. THERE'S NO ROOM FOR WORKFORCE HOUSING. ONCE HE GETS IN THERE, IF HE WANTS TO DO HIS 66 HOUSES. WHAT'S GOING TO HAPPEN IS THEY'RE GOING TO SELL OUT IN FIVE YEARS. YOU KNOW, YOU KNOW THE RULES. YOU CAN BUY IN OR SELL OUT. YOU'RE GONE. WE'RE STUCK WITH MULTILEVEL STUFF. SO 208 IS TEN MILES LONG. WE'RE GOING TO BE STUCK WITH A MULTIPLEX IN THE MIDDLE OF THE WOODS. THAT ALL THESE NEIGHBORS HERE HAVE BEEN LIVING THERE SINCE THE 70S, THE 80S, THE 90S. AND THEY'RE GOING TO BE LOOKING AT THREE STORIES UP. I MEAN, HOW IS HOW IS THAT RIGHT? YOU KNOW, YOU JUST CAN'T DO THAT. SO AGAIN, THANK YOU. THERE'S NO PLAN. I MEAN, IT'S JUST HE'S JUST TRYING TO GET IN. THAT'S ALL IT IS. THIS GUY JUST WANTS TO GET IN. GET HIS THING. BECAUSE ONCE Y'ALL SAY YES, THAT'S IT. IT'S OVER. SO AGAIN, THANK YOU FOR SAYING NO THE FIRST TWO TIMES AND I HOPE YOU DO IT AGAIN. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. THANKS. I AGREE. ED SULLIVAN, FOX 3084. ED SLAVIN, CANDIDATE FOR MOSQUITO CONTROL SEAT FOR I HEARD A TERM USED BY THE FIRST SPEAKER OR ONE OF THE FIRST SPEAKERS NIMBYS. IT WAS A PEJORATIVE. IT STANDS FOR NOT IN MY BACKYARD. THESE ARE THE NEIGHBORS WHO LIVE HERE AND DO THE WORKING AND THE DYING AND THE. AND WE'RE GOING TO CALL THEM NIMBYS. REALLY? THAT IS SO RUDE. IN FACT, I THINK THAT OUGHT TO BE CONSIDERED AS A POSSIBLE VIOLATION OF OUR CIVILITY RULES. LABELS ARE FOR JARS. I FONDLY REMEMBER SENIOR SPECIAL AGENT ROBERT E TYNDALL, AN EPA CRIMINAL INVESTIGATOR FOR THE EPA INSPECTOR GENERAL'S OFFICE. I WAS HIS ATTORNEY BACK WHEN I WAS AN ATTORNEY. A PAID ATTORNEY, NOT MUCH IN A CASE AGAINST THE EPA INVOLVING $100 MILLION WORTH OF ACID RAIN RESEARCH FRAUD. AND THEY'RE TELLING A SENIOR SPECIAL AGENT THAT HE COULD NOT RECUSE HIMSELF, AND THAT HE WAS SUPPOSED TO TAKE A DIVE ON AN INVESTIGATION OF $100 MILLION WORTH OF ACID RAIN. RESEARCH FRAUD. BOB AND LINDA TYNDALL RETIRED, AND THEY MOVED TO A SMALL COMMUNITY NEAR WILLIAMSBURG, VIRGINIA, NEAR COLONIAL WILLIAMSBURG. AND THEY AND THEIR NEIGHBORS WERE OPPOSED TO A GARGANTUAN PROJECT. AND I DON'T KNOW IF ANYBODY CALLED THEM NIMBYS, BUT THEY WERE GOOD PEOPLE. SALT OF THE EARTH. THE LAWS ARE WRITTEN FOR PEOPLE, NOT FOR CORPORATIONS, OR SO WE WOULD HOPE. SO WE WOULD HOPE. AND I THINK THIS LOOKS LIKE ANOTHER DENIAL. BUT WE NEED A CHIEF SCIENTIST FOR SAINT JOHN'S COUNTY. WE NEED AN ELECTED COUNTY ATTORNEY FOR SAINT JOHN'S COUNTY. WE NEED AN INDEPENDENT INSPECTOR GENERAL. WE NEED PRESENTATIONS BY COUNTY STAFF ON THESE ITEMS. INSTEAD OF HAVING A SALES PITCH BY A DEVELOPER MOUTHPIECE ON EVERY SINGLE AGENDA ITEM. THE VERY FIRST SPEAKER AT A MEETING IN A SAINT JOHN'S COUNTY COMMISSION MEETING ON A DEVELOPMENT PROPOSAL SHOULD BE FROM A SCIENTIST. LET'S HEAR ABOUT THE WILDLIFE. LET'S HEAR ABOUT THE WATER. LET'S HEAR ABOUT THE DRAINAGE. LET'S NOT HEAR ANY MORE DOGGONE SALES PITCHES. AT THE BEGINNING OF EACH COUNTY COMMISSION DEVELOPMENT APPLICATION BY THE DEVELOPER. IT USED TO BE A FEW YEARS AGO, UNTIL ABOUT 2019, THAT THE STAFF WOULD GET TO TALK AND THEY'D MAKE A PRESENTATION AND GIVE YOU, HOPEFULLY, SOME OBJECTIVE ADVICE. WE DON'T HAVE THAT ANYMORE. WHY NOT? NIMBYS LABELS ARE FOR JARS. MY FRIEND VICKI PEPPER, WHO'S A LAWYER, USED THAT TERM AT THE BEGINNING OF HER DISCUSSION. I HOPE SHE DOESN'T SAY THAT AGAIN, AND I HOPE I NEVER HEAR ANOTHER DEVELOPER LAWYER USE THE TERM NIMBY, BECAUSE I ALWAYS THINK IT'S SPECIAL AGENT TYNDALL. ANYWAY, ON THIS PROPOSAL, JOHNNIE COCHRAN, PAID LAWYER HAD A GOOD LINE. IF IT DOES NOT FIT, YOU MUST ACQUIT. THE PEOPLE IN THIS COMMUNITY NEED TO BE HEARD AND HEEDED AS THEY HAVE BEEN. AGAIN AND AGAIN AND AGAIN. AND WE NEED TO START LISTENING TO THE PEOPLE INSTEAD OF THE MOUTHPIECES SO MUCH. THANK YOU, LADIES AND GENTLEMEN. GOOD MORNING. HI. GOOD MORNING. MY NAME IS DONNA. LENDERS, 2720 PALAESTRA ROAD. ON THIS DIAGRAM, HE'S SHOWN UP HERE. ACCORDING TO THE COUNTY WEBSITE, THERE'S 1.1 ACRES OF WETLANDS. WHAT'S HAPPENED TO THAT? I DIDN'T KNOW YOU COULD BUILD ON WETLANDS. WHAT ELSE ARE THEY GOING TO BE DOING? WE'RE ENTIRELY NOT IN FAVOR OF THIS AT ALL FOR THE WHOLE COMMUNITY IN HERE. AND WHAT HAS HAPPENED IN THE 70S. YOU COULD BUILD ONE HOUSE LIKE FIVE ACRES, 100 ACRES, ONE HOUSE. YOU FOLKS WEREN'T COMMISSIONERS THEN. [01:35:02] BUT THAT'S WHAT'S HAPPENED IN THIS COUNTY. NOW YOU'RE TAKING ALL THE FARMLANDS AND LETTING THEM BUILD WHATEVER THEY WANT TO DOING AWAY WITH THE TREES. WHAT HAPPENED TO THE TREE COUNT THAT YOU FOLKS REQUIRE FOR EACH HOME TO HAVE? YOU DON'T HAVE THAT. YOU LET THESE BUILDERS GET AWAY WITH IT, AND ALL YOU'RE DOING IS OVERPOPULATED. THIS WHOLE COUNTY. LOOK AT THE TRAFFIC CONGESTIONS WE'VE HAD. LOOK AT THE CRIME THAT WE HAVE. YOU WERE JUST ON NATIONAL NEWS HERE THE OTHER NIGHT WITH A GUY IN THERE GRABBING A GIRL OUT OF THE STORE BECAUSE HE WAS IN THERE STEALING STUFF. YOU'RE GOING TO HAVE MORE CRIME. AND OUR TAXES. LOOK AT THAT. WHAT'S HAPPENED HERE? HOW CAN PEOPLE AFFORD TO KEEP GOING THE WAY YOU GUYS ARE LETTING EVERYTHING GO. YOU SEE WHAT I'M SAYING? AND YOU FOLKS PAY TAXES. ALONG WITH THE REST OF US. WHY IS THIS HAPPENING? YOU KNOW, THAT'S WHAT I'VE SEEN. AND ALL YOU SEE IS MORE CRIME, HIGHER TAXES AND MORE CONGESTION. THANK YOU. GOOD MORNING. GOOD MORNING, LADIES AND GENTLEMEN. MY NAME IS ALAN PIERCE. I LIVE AT 2375 PELLISSIER ROAD. AND THERE'S REALLY NOT A WHOLE BUNCH MORE TO SAY. YOU KNOW, BECAUSE THESE FOLKS ARE RIGHT. BUT THE THE PROPERTY THAT IS THERE, IF THEY PUT ALL THEM HOUSES, THEY'VE GOT TO HAVE SEWER REMOVAL, WHICH THE LAWYER DIDN'T WANT TO TALK ABOUT. WHICH MEANS YOU'RE GOING TO HAVE TO ELEVATE ALL THAT PROPERTY WHICH CAUSES DRAINAGE PROBLEMS. SO THEY'RE GOING TO HAVE TO HAVE A LIFT STATION TO PUMP THE SEWAGE OUT. THERE'S NO RETENTION POND. YOU KNOW, PROPOSED. SO IT'S THIS IS MY BACKYARD LOOKING ON TO THE PROPERTY BEHIND ME WHERE THEY WANT TO PUT ALL THESE HOUSES. IT'S STUPID. THE TRAFFIC IS STUPID. IT SAYS A DEFICIENT ROADWAY MAP. IT SAYS WITHIN THE FOUR MILE RADIUS STUDY AREA THAT ARE CURRENTLY OVER 100% OF CAPACITY DEFICIENT BASED ON TOTAL COMMITTED TRAFFIC, AND ARE IMPACTED BY PROJECT TRAFFIC AT 1% OR GREATER OF THE APPROVED MAXIMUM SERVICE VOLUME. YOU PUT ALL THAT THERE BEHIND MY HOUSE. YOU KNOW, THAT'S JUST GOING TO INCREASE THE TRAFFIC. IT'S JUST ALL STUPID. AND I, I DON'T KNOW, I THINK IT'S IT'S GOING TO BE A BAD SITUATION IF ALL THEM HOMES GO IN THERE. AND I THINK MR. BOUCHARD SAID IT. ALL RIGHT. SO I THANK YOU FOR LISTENING. THANK YOU. GOOD MORNING. GOOD MORNING. SUZANNE. 109 LAUREL WOODWAY UNIT 102. AND IF I GET CAUGHT UP IN EVERYTHING AND FORGET, VOTE NO ON THIS. NOW, I'LL TELL YOU WHY. OKAY. I DON'T KNOW IF YOU. OH, YEAH. I DON'T KNOW IF YOU'VE HAD A CHANCE TO LOOK AT THE PC. IF YOU HAVE. GREAT. GREG MARINO, I THINK, SAID IT BEST. I DON'T ALWAYS AGREE WITH GREG, BUT IN THIS INSTANCE HE WAS SPOT ON. HE THIS REALLY IS SPOT ZONING. IF YOU LOOK AT WHAT'S AROUND THIS, IT'S ALL TO TWO HOMES PER ACRE UNTIL YOU GET OVER TO THE AREA WHERE THEY'RE DOING ALL OF THIS, WHICH I DON'T KNOW IF YOU CAN SEE IT. THOSE ARE EITHER NOT BUILT YET OR ARE IN PROCESS. THERE'S TWO 320 UNITS OF APARTMENTS AND 420 UNITS OF TOWNHOMES. WE'VE ALREADY GOT BUCKO APARTMENTS AND TOWNHOMES IN THIS COUNTY RIGHT NOW. WE'VE TAKEN THAT PENDULUM FROM NOTHING ALL THE WAY OVER TO THE OTHER SIDE. TO NOW WE HAVE THEM BEGGING FOR PEOPLE. A FRIEND OF MINE WAS OFFERED FOUR MONTHS FREE RENT, PRORATED OVER 12 MONTHS. THEY DON'T WANT TO DROP THE UNIT COSTS, AND THAT'S THE WAY THEY DO IT. OH, BUT WE CAN GET YOU IN AND WE CAN GET YOU QUALIFIED. [01:40:03] THE PROBLEM IS, EVEN IF THEY JUMP AT THAT IN A YEAR, THE PRICE YOU'RE IN, OKAY. YOU DON'T EVEN HAVE TO QUALIFY ANYMORE. YOU GET YOUR RENTAL NOTICE AND GUESS WHAT? WE'RE PAYING. AND NOW WE'RE PACKING OUR BAGS AND GOING SOMEWHERE ELSE. YOU KNOW, THAT AREA UP THERE IS JUST A TRAIN WRECK RIGHT NOW? IT'S TOTALLY INCOMPATIBLE WITH EVERYTHING AROUND IT. THERE'S A GENTLEMAN THAT'S GOING TO SPEAK SOME TIME AFTER ME. HE WAS AT A PC. IF YOU SAW IT, YOU SAW HIS PICTURES. HE'S GOING TO SHOW ONE TOO. BUT I THIS WAS THE ONE THAT MADE ME GUESS. HE SAYS THERE'S TWO OF THOSE ON THIS PROPERTY. YOU SAW ONE ROAD IN, ONE ROAD OUT. THESE ARE RIGHT IN THE MIDDLE. THE DRAINAGE IN THAT AREA IS TERRIBLE. THEY HAVE PERMISSION TO DEVELOP THERE. THEY CAN DO SOMETHING WITH THAT PROPERTY. THEY JUST WANT TO GET MAXIMUM OUT OF IT. PLEASE VOTE NO. THANK YOU. YES, MA'AM. VIJAY KHILADI, WEST CITY OF SAINT AUGUSTINE DENY REZONING. MR. RICHARD AND ALL THE NEIGHBORS SAID IT ALL BOILS DOWN TO THE SAME THING. GREED VERSUS THE QUALITY OF LIFE. AND THANK YOU TO ALL THE NEIGHBORS WHO CAME IN HERE AND SPOKE. THEY'RE SPEAKING IS NOT, I REPEAT, NOT CLAMOR OF THE CROWD. THAT'S A LITTLE TECHNICAL WORDS THAT ARE USED BY SOME TECHNICAL PEOPLE. THEY KNOW WHAT'S GOING ON. THEY HAVE RIGHTS TO JUST LIKE THE DEVELOPER. THERE'S A WAY TO FIT INTO A COMMUNITY AND BE A GOOD NEIGHBOR. BUT ALL IS BOILING. BOILING DOWN TO GREED VERSUS QUALITY OF LIFE. HOPEFULLY THIS WILL BE A DENIAL OF FIVE OF YOU. THANK YOU. ANYONE ELSE FOR PUBLIC COMMENT? GOOD MORNING. GOOD MORNING. MY NAME IS DENNIS DAVIS. I LIVE AT 2458 PALLISER ROAD. AND I THINK MY NEIGHBORS HAVE PRETTY MUCH STATED OUR FEELINGS. OUR AREA IS VERY RURAL AND LARGER LOTS, AND THIS DEVELOPMENT WOULD BE INAPPROPRIATE FOR OUR AREA. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. ANYONE ELSE? GOOD MORNING, ROBERT MANLEY. I LIVE AT 120 SWEETGRASS TRAIL, SAINT AUGUSTINE. AND AS MANY PEOPLE HAVE SAID BEFORE, THIS IS JUST NOT APPROPRIATE FOR THIS AREA. COUNTY ROAD 208 IS MOSTLY FARMLAND, HORSES, AND WE RUN A LOT OF, YOU KNOW, TRACTORS AND EVERYTHING DOWN TO 208. AND THIS HAS MADE IT INCREASINGLY MORE DANGEROUS. SO I JUST SAY NO TO IT AND THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME. THANK YOU. YES, MA'AM. GOOD MORNING. MAUREEN O'CONNOR, 4260, MYRTLE STREET, SAINT AUGUSTINE. I JUST WANT TO START OFF. THIS IS OFF THE CUFF. I JUST WANTED TO START OUT BY THANKING ALL OF YOU FOR QUESTIONING AND ACKNOWLEDGING THE DIFFERENCE IN NUMBERS AND SCOPE OF DEVELOPMENTS. FROM OTHER MEETINGS I'VE GONE TO, AND IT'S BEEN A RECENT EVENT FOR ME. I'VE NOTICED THAT OUTDATED PLANS ARE BEING PRESENTED AND APPROVED. IN MY OPINION, AN OUTDATED PLAN IS EQUIVALENT TO A DATING PROFILE PICTURE FROM 20 OR 30 YEARS AGO. PROJECTS ARE APPROVED BASED ON OUTDATED PLANS. DEVELOPERS GET IN. DO WHAT THEY WANT AND OFTEN WILL SELL IT. FLIP IT TO SOMEONE ELSE AND THEIR PLANS ARE ENTIRELY DIFFERENT. THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR LISTENING TO THE PEOPLE AND HOPING THAT YOU VOTE NO FOR THE THIRD AND FINAL TIME. THANK YOU SO VERY MUCH. THANK YOU. ANYONE ELSE? GOOD MORNING. MY NAME IS GARRETT DUNLAP. THREE 205 COUNTY ROAD 208 DIRECTLY. THE ENTIRE PROPERTY LINE ON THE RIGHT HAND SIDE IS WHERE I'M AT. MY SON LOVES TO WRITE HIS FOUR WHEELER ON THE PROPERTY. BE OUTSIDE. BE A KID, BE FISHING. THE BACK ACRE IS HIS ATV TRAIL. THIS GETS APPROVED. WE'RE GOING TO HAVE AS THE. [01:45:03] WE DON'T EVEN KNOW WHAT THE OFFICIAL PLAN IS BECAUSE IT KEEPS CHANGING. BUT ORIGINALLY, IT WAS SUBMITTED AT 68. MR. BURNETT SAID HE DOESN'T KNOW WHERE THAT NUMBER CAME FROM, EVEN THOUGH THAT'S WHAT IT WAS FILED AT. THIS WAS THE ORIGINAL PLAN FROM TWO YEARS AGO. WITH NO RETENTION POND. IF IT SITS THE WAY IT SITS NOW, THAT WOULD PUT 11 NEIGHBORS AS IT SITS, POSSIBLY TWO STORIES LOOKING INTO THE PROPERTY. WE CURRENTLY HAVE THREE NEIGHBORS AS IT STANDS NOW. TWO OF THEM, WHICH I CAN SEE. AND THE OTHER ONE, I CAN'T. THAT'S HOW ISOLATED IT IS. WHATEVER GETS PUT THERE MIGHT AGAINST GROWTH. BUT WHEN THE PROPERTY WAS ORIGINALLY SOLD, I BELIEVE SIX YEARS AGO. SEVEN YEARS AGO, SOMETHING LIKE THAT, IT WAS LISTED AS PERFECT PLACE TO BUILD YOUR FAMILY COMPOUND. RACE HORSES HAVE FARMLAND. EXACTLY WHAT THE AREA IS NOW. NOT TURN IT INTO A HIGH DENSITY NEIGHBORHOOD. I'M NOT AGAINST GROWTH, BUT I THINK IT SHOULD BE FOR HOUSES. CABBAGE HAMMOCK IS A GOOD EXAMPLE. I'M NOT A FAN OF IT. HOWEVER, THERE ARE AT LEAST ON TWO ACRE LOTS DOWN CABBAGE HAMMOCK. THAT'S WHAT SHOULD BE PRESENTED HERE. NOT TO MENTION THE MASSIVE OAK TREES. I DON'T HAVE THE SAME PRINTED, BUT IT'S. YOU WILL HAVE IT IN THE FILE. THAT SAME OAK TREE THAT WAS PRESENTED EARLIER IN CIRCUMFERENCE, IF YOU TAKE A TAPE MEASURE AROUND IT IS MEASURING OVER 15FT IN DIAMETER. IN CIRCUMFERENCE. THERE ARE TWO OF THOSE TREES ON THAT PROPERTY LIKE THAT. SO ACCORDING TO MY RESEARCH, THAT TREE IS WELL OVER 100 YEARS OLD, AND IT SHOULD NOT BE CHOPPED DOWN TO BUILD A NEIGHBORHOOD. WE DO HAVE A LOT OF US HAVE ANIMALS, HORSES, GOATS. I HAVE CHICKENS, 18 OF THEM. AND THE ROOSTER START CROWING AT 5:00 IN THE MORNING. I CAN REST ASSURE YOU THAT WHOEVER BUILDS RIGHT THERE IN A HIGH DENSITY NEIGHBORHOOD IS NOT GOING TO BE HAPPY WITH CHICKENS CROWING AT 5:00 IN THE MORNING. PEOPLE COME IN AND GO INTO AN OPEN RULE NEIGHBORHOOD ON THREE ACRE LOTS. YOU'RE PROBABLY NOT GOING TO MIND CHICKENS CROWING AT 5:00 IN THE MORNING. SO THAT'S ALL I HAVE TO SAY. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. ANYONE ELSE? GOOD MORNING. MY NAME IS STEPHANIE. I LIVE AT 3205 COUNTY ROAD 208. I'M HERE TODAY. I APPRECIATE YOUR TIME. AND I APPRECIATE THE CONSIDERATION THAT YOU ALL HAVE GIVEN. BUT WE ARE HERE FOR THE THIRD TIME TODAY TO HAVE THE SAME DISCUSSION. IT SEEMS A LITTLE SENSELESS TO ME. I'M STRONGLY OPPOSED TO THE PROPOSED 68 UNITS OF WORKFORCE HOUSING ON THE PROPERTY DIRECTLY ADJACENT TO ME. WE LOSE OUR PRIVACY. WE LOSE SO MUCH THAT WE'RE THERE FOR MY FAMILY AND I LIVE ON THE PROPERTY. WE'VE LIVED THERE FOR NINE YEARS. EMBRACING THE RURAL LIFESTYLE, AS MY PARTNER SAID. WE HAVE LIVESTOCK, WE HAVE CHICKENS, WE HAVE HORSES, WE HAVE WORKING DOGS, WE HAVE TURKEYS ALL OF WHICH ROAM FREELY ON OUR PROPERTY. OUR CHILDREN RIDE FOUR WHEELERS, AS WAS SAID, DIRT BIKES ON THE TRAILS THAT WE BUILT ON OUR LAND. AND WE ALSO MAINTAIN AND PROVIDE OR HAVE A PRIVATE GUN RANGE WE SAFELY AND RESPONSIBLY SHOOT ON. THIS WAY OF LIFE IS SIMPLY NOT COMPATIBLE WITH A HIGH DENSITY COMMUNITY. THE LAND IN QUESTION WAS NEVER INTENDED FOR SUBURBAN STYLE EXPANSION. THE OPEN RURAL DESIGNATION EXISTS TO PROTECT LOW DENSITY, AGRICULTURAL FRIENDLY LIVING, AND THE PROTECTION MUST REMAIN IN PLACE. A PARTICULAR PRESSING CONCERN TO ME IS THE STRAIN ON THE STRAIN THIS DEVELOPMENT WOULD PLACE ON OUR ALREADY OVERBURDENED LOCAL SCHOOLS. MY CHILDREN HAVE TO BE RELOCATED TO 45 MINUTES NORTH IN JACKSONVILLE TO PRIVATE SCHOOL TO RECEIVE AN EDUCATION THAT THEY DESERVE. WE STRUGGLED IN SAINT JOHN'S COUNTY BECAUSE THE CLASS SIZES ARE OVERPOPULATED ALREADY. ADDING MORE HOMES WITHOUT A PLAN IN PLACE TO SUPPORT THE SCHOOL INFRASTRUCTURE IS IRRESPONSIBLE AND IT'S NOT SUSTAINABLE. SUSTAINABLE. AS I MENTIONED, WE'VE WE'VE PROPOSED THIS HERE A FEW TIMES ALREADY. PLEASE DENY THIS THIS DEVELOPMENT. I THINK THAT'S ALL I HAVE TO SAY. THANK YOU ALL. THANK YOU. ANYONE ELSE FOR PUBLIC COMMENT? GOOD MORNING. GOOD MORNING I'M STEVE BRAND. 3233 COUNTY ROAD. 208. AND I RISE IN OPPOSITION TO THIS DEVELOPMENT. I'D LIKE TO POINT OUT THAT THIS EXACT DIAGRAM WAS SHOWN TO PGA APPROXIMATELY FOUR YEARS AGO, [01:50:03] AND IT WAS TURNED DOWN UNANIMOUSLY. ONE OF THE PGA MEMBERS HAD A SERIOUS CONCERN ABOUT A CUL DE SAC AND THE ABILITY OF FIRE AND RESCUE AND SHERIFF'S OFFICE TO GO DOWN THAT CUL DE SAC AND THEN HAVE TO TURN AROUND AND COME BACK. THERE WAS NO OTHER ACCESS, AND THIS SEEMED TO RESONATE VERY STRONGLY WITH THAT. THAT MEMBER, AS WE ALL KNOW, ONCE OPEN RULE ZONING HAS CHANGED, IT NEVER COMES BACK. I, LIKE MANY, MANY OF YOU HERE, I THINK ARE KIND OF CONFUSED AS TO HOW MANY UNITS ARE GOING TO GO IN THERE. ORIGINALLY IT WAS 68. NOW WE'RE HERE IN 66. WE'RE SEEING 24. 22. 11. MAYBE. MAYBE 12. WHO KNOWS WHAT THEY'RE GOING TO DO. BUT ONCE THIS ZONING IS CHANGED FROM OR IT'LL BE ASKED TO BE MODIFIED TIME AND TIME AGAIN UNTIL THE DEVELOPER GETS WHAT THEY WANT. THIS IS SIMPLY NOT COMPATIBLE WITH THE ENTIRE NEIGHBORHOOD. AS YOU COMMISSIONERS ARE CERTAINLY MORE WELL AWARE THAN I AM. THERE ARE THOUSANDS OF UNITS THAT HAVE BEEN APPROVED IN THIS AREA EVEN BEFORE COVID, THAT HAVE YET TO EVEN BREAK GROUND. I'D ALSO LIKE TO POINT OUT THAT FOUR YEARS AGO, PGA DENIED THIS UNANIMOUSLY, AND APPROXIMATELY A MONTH AGO, THEY DENIED THIS REAPPLICATION UNANIMOUSLY. THERE'S A HAMMOCK AT THE BACK OF THAT PROPERTY THAT COLLECTS THAT RUNOFF, AND IT ACTUALLY FLOWS IN TO A POND AND THEN FLOWS DOWN TOWARDS CABBAGE HAMMOCK, WHICH IS A WETLANDS. THIS IS GOING TO ELIMINATE THAT WETLANDS BY WHAT THEY DO WITH THAT WATER. I'M GOING TO MENTION SOME OF THE WILDLIFE THAT I'VE SEEN PREVIOUSLY. EXCUSE ME THERE ATTORNEY FOUR YEARS AGO BROUGHT UP A ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT STUDY THAT SAID THERE WAS NO DAMAGE OR THREATS TO ANY KIND OF ENVIRONMENTAL ISSUES. I ROSE IN OPPOSITION TO THAT TO REBUT HIS REBUTTAL, AND THE CHAIR ALLOWED ME TO REBUT TO THE POINT WHERE SHE SAID, NO, I WON'T ALLOW YOU TO TO REBUT. BUT I GOT MY POINTS IN. THERE'S TURTLES, THERE'S TURKEYS, THERE'S DEER, BOBCATS, OTTERS, BALD EAGLES AND FOXES. AND I'VE GOT PICTURES OF ALL OF THEM ON MY PHONE. IF ANY OF THE COMMISSIONERS WOULD LIKE TO SEE THEM, I'D ALSO LIKE TO SAY THAT IF THE DEVELOPER IS INTERESTED IN SELLING THE PROPERTY, PLEASE TALK TO MY ATTORNEY. SO I'LL BE HAPPY TO CONSIDER MAKING AN OFFER FOR IT. THANK YOU ONCE AGAIN FOR YOUR TIME AND WE WOULD APPRECIATE YOU VOTING AGAINST THIS PROJECT. THANK YOU. ANYONE ELSE FOR PUBLIC COMMENT? GOOD MORNING. GOOD MORNING COMMISSIONERS. MY NAME IS KIRSTEN SCHWEIGER. I LIVE AT 2575 PELLISSIER ROAD. MY PROPERTY DOES NOT BORDER THIS PROPOSED DEVELOPMENT. BUT I STILL HAVE MANY CONCERNS WITH WHAT THEY WANT TO DO HERE. I KNOW HOW WE ALL FEEL IS IMPORTANT, BUT I KNOW YOU ALL ARE ALSO BOUND BY WHAT THE CODE SAYS AND WHAT THE LEGAL DIRECTION IS FOR FOR THIS DEVELOPMENT. SO I JUST WOULD LIKE TO POINT OUT A FEW THINGS TO CONSIDER, AND ALSO TO SUPPORT THE PLANNING AND ZONING AGENCY, WHO WE ALL KNOW VOTED SIX ZERO AGAINST IT FOR THE SECOND TIME, I GUESS, AND ASK THAT YOU DENY THIS REZONING APPLICATION. SO ACCORDING TO THE CODE IF IT'S UNREASONABLE AND IF THERE IS AN UNREASONABLE AND INCOMPATIBLE IMPACT ON THE SURROUNDING AREA. THAT'S ONE OF THE THINGS THAT SHOULD BE CONSIDERED WHEN DETERMINING WHETHER OR NOT YOU WOULD APPROVE SOMETHING LIKE THIS. AS YOU'VE HEARD, MANY OF MY NEIGHBORS SAY, THIS IS ALL OPEN RURAL AGRICULTURAL RESIDENCES PRIVACY. AND THERE'S A REASON FOR THAT. I THINK ABOUT THE LIGHTING THAT THIS PROPOSED DEVELOPMENT WILL CREATE AND THE INTRUSION ON THE THE BORDERING HOMES, INFRINGING ON THE SURROUNDING HOMES, THE TRAFFIC FLOW, THE PROXIMITY TO THE PROPERTY TO WHISPER RIDGE AND THE TRAFFIC COMING OUT OF THERE. NOT TO MENTION PALLISER ROAD AND THE TRAFFIC COMING OUT FROM PELLISSIER ROAD. THE PROXIMITY IS VERY CLOSE. SO IT JUST SEEMS LIKE A DISASTER TO ME. IT ALSO UNREASONABLY AND UNDULY IMPACTS THE NATURAL ENVIRONMENT. IT SEEMS CURIOUS TO ME THAT UNDER THE CURRENT ZONING, THEY COULD TECHNICALLY, I SUPPOSE, PUT 22 HOMES ON THEIR TWO PER ACRE. IF I'M IF I'M CORRECT. NO. OKAY. I THOUGHT I SAW THAT IN ONLY 11 OR ONLY 11. [01:55:02] OKAY. SO IT JUST SEEMS LIKE A BACKDOOR WAY TO CHANGE THE ZONING ON THIS PROPERTY. AND ONCE THE ZONING IS PASSED, THEN THEY CAN MOVE FORWARD WITH WHATEVER THEY WANT. WHY DON'T THEY FOLLOW THE NORMAL CHANNEL? WHY DON'T THEY GO THROUGH THE NORMAL PROCEDURES AND NOT CHANGE THE ZONING ON THE PROPERTY? IT JUST SEEMS LIKE THEIR INTENT IS NOT A POSITIVE ONE FOR THE COMMUNITY. NOT TO MENTION THE CHARACTER OF THE NEIGHBORHOOD. AGAIN, AS MANY OF MY NEIGHBORS HAVE SAID, YOU KNOW, IT'S OPEN, RURAL, IT'S SPACIOUS. DRAINAGE IS A HUGE ISSUE. THIS IS NOT A LOT OF IT IS WETLANDS, BUT EVEN THE AREAS THAT AREN'T WET OR WET, WHERE ARE THEY GOING TO GO WITH ALL OF THIS WATER? WHERE WILL IT BE DIVERTED TO? AND LASTLY, I KNOW MY TIME IS ALMOST UP HERE. JUST GOING BACK TO. THEY BEAR THE BURDEN OF PROOF UNDER THE LAW, AND I DON'T THINK WHAT THEY'VE PROVIDED HERE SUPPORTS THAT BURDEN OF PROOF. SO I WOULD ASK THAT YOU DENY THAT THERE. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. JUST FOR CLARIFICATION, FOR ME, THIS IS NOW ZONE RECIPE. RIGHT. IT'S RECIPE. OPEN OR OLD RECIPE. OPEN A ROLL. OKAY. FUTURE LAND LIFTS THE FLAME. SAYS RECIPE. RIGHT? YES. RECIPE. WHICH WHICH WOULD BE. WHICH WOULD ALLOW YOU TO 2 OR 2 UNITS PER ACRE. OKAY. YOU HAVE 30 MINUTES, SIR. GO AHEAD. SORRY. JEREMIAH MULLIGAN, MAORI LAW FIRM 2801 NORTH THIRD STREET. THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME. THANK YOU FOR ALL THE NEIGHBORS AND EVERYBODY WHO CAME OUT TO PARTICIPATE TODAY. I COUNTED 19 THAT SHOWED UP IN OPPOSITION TO THIS TO THIS ITEM. COMMISSIONER, TO YOUR POINT, YES. THIS IS FUTURE LAND USE RECIPE. THAT WOULD BE THAT WOULD PERMIT TWO UNITS PER ACRE. I THINK THAT'S WHY THE 22 UNIT PROJECT WAS, WAS PRESENTED IN IN 2021, BECAUSE AT THAT POINT, THE THE APPLICATION WAS FOR PUD, THE MAXIMUM ALLOWABLE UNDER THE PUD MATCHING WITH THAT, THAT LAND USE WOULD HAVE BEEN 22 UNITS. AND SO THAT'S WHY WE'RE LOOKING AT THIS 2021 DRAWING. AGAIN, WE'VE HEARD NOW THAT MAYBE IT'S 24 OR MAYBE IT'S 30. WE KNOW THAT IF IF THIS IS JUST A STRAIGHT REZONING WITH NO CONDITIONS, THAT IT IS 66 UNITS THAT WOULD BE POSSIBLE TO BE PUT ON THIS, ON THIS, ON THIS PARCEL. AND THE NEIGHBORS HAVE, HAVE, YOU KNOW, PRESENTED THE EVIDENCE AND THEY'VE, THEY'VE GIVEN YOU THE INFORMATION THAT YOU NEEDED. THEY'VE GIVEN YOU THE PROVERBIAL HOOK TO HANG YOUR HAT ON. BECAUSE WHAT YOU'RE DOING HERE TODAY IS YOU'RE HAVING A QUASI JUDICIAL HEARING, RIGHT? AND YOU'RE HERE TO HEAR EVIDENCE. AND THE EVIDENCE SEEMS PRETTY, PRETTY COMPLETE. AND THE EVIDENCE IS THAT THIS DOES NOT FIT IN THIS NEIGHBORHOOD. THIS PROJECT DOES NOT FIT. I WAS THINKING ABOUT IT AS I WAS SITTING THERE. I LIVE OVER ON THE BEACH, AND IF SOMEBODY DECIDED THEY WANTED TO COME PUT A TEN ACRE FARM NEXT TO MY HOUSE WITH THEIR CHICKENS AND THEIR GUN RANGE AND, YOU KNOW, THEIR THEY'RE ANIMALS AND THEY'RE GOATS. WE WOULD ALL LOSE OUR MINDS BECAUSE THAT WOULDN'T FIT IN MY NEIGHBORHOOD, RIGHT? MY NEIGHBORHOOD'S BEEN THERE FOR A LONG TIME. AND THAT WOULD NOT WORK. JUST AS THIS DOESN'T WORK IN THEIR NEIGHBORHOOD. THESE FOLKS HAVE BEEN OUT HERE. THEY'VE TESTIFIED. THEY'VE BEEN OUT HERE SHOOTING GUNS, RAISING CHICKENS, GOATS, FISHING PONDS, DOING THINGS THAT YOU DO ON OPEN RURAL. THEY'RE THERE FOR A REASON. THEY MOVED OUT THERE BECAUSE THEY WANTED OPEN RURAL. THEY MOVED OUT THERE FOR THIS LIFESTYLE. AND NOW WHAT THIS APPLICANT IS PROPOSING IS TO PUT SOMETHING IN THE MIDDLE OF THEIR NEIGHBORHOOD THAT DOESN'T FIT. AND THIS, THIS APPLICATION AND WHAT YOU'RE HERE FOR TODAY, YOU ARE 100% RIGHT TO DENY THIS BECAUSE IT DOESN'T FIT. WE'VE HEARD LOTS OF OTHER GOOD THINGS. WE'VE HEARD ABOUT DRAINAGE. WE'VE HEARD ABOUT TRAFFIC. WE'VE HEARD ABOUT LIGHTS. WE'VE HEARD ABOUT ALL THESE OTHER GREAT REASONS. BUT THIS DOESN'T FIT. THIS IS A COMPATIBILITY ISSUE. THIS IS NOT A COMPATIBLE USE IN THIS NEIGHBORHOOD AND THEREFORE IT SHOULD BE DENIED. SO THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR YOUR TIME I APPRECIATE IT YOUR YOUR LISTENING AND I'D APPRECIATE IT NOW. THANK YOU. ANYONE ELSE FOR PUBLIC COMMENT? SEEING NONE WE'LL CLOSE PUBLIC COMMENT. ALL RIGHT. WE'RE BACK TO MR. BURNETT. I'M GOING TO START IN A LITTLE BIT OF A UNUSUAL MANNER FOR ME TO BE UP HERE OF ANYTHING THAT I'VE EVER ADVOCATED OR A METHOD THAT I'VE EVER ADVOCATED. BUT I'LL START OUT BY SAYING THIS SHAME ON PGA FOR PUTTING YOU IN THIS POSITION, BECAUSE THIS APPLICANT MEET THIS APPLICATION MEETS ALL OF YOUR TECHNICAL REQUIREMENTS. YOU KNOW, IT'S FUNNY, WE LOOK AT THIS ISSUE OF TWO UNITS AN ACRE AND RAISE B TYPICALLY WHEN WE HAVE AN OR PARCEL [02:00:01] ZONING, WE LOOK AT OKAY, IT'S OR THEN THE FUTURE LAND USE MAP. IS RURAL SILVICULTURE THE FUTURE LAND USE MAP IS AGRICULTURE. IN THIS CASE, THE FUTURE LAND USE MAP IS BE TWO UNITS AN ACRE, BECAUSE YOU'RE FILTERING OUT YOUR USES FROM THIS COMMERCIAL NODE AT THE INTERCHANGE. BECAUSE OF THAT, THAT'S WHY WE HAVE THE TWO UNITS AN ACRE. THAT'S WHY WE HAVE A SITUATION WHERE REGARDLESS OF THIS APPLICATION, YOU CAN PUT 11 UNITS ON THIS PROPERTY BECAUSE YOU'RE GETTING AT LEAST ONE UNIT PER ACRE IN OR THAT WHOLE DENY THIS OUTRIGHT. THERE WON'T BE ANY DEVELOPMENT, IT WILL STAY OVER AND THE DENSITY WILL REFLECT WHAT'S AROUND. IT IS NOT REALISTIC. YOU'RE GOING TO GET ONE UNIT AN ACRE ON THIS PARCEL. AND THE INTERESTING THING TO ME IS PGA HAS A, I THINK, A DUTY TO FOLLOW YOUR CODE. THEY'RE NOT THERE TO HAVE THE POLITICAL INFLUENCE ON THEM. I UNDERSTAND IT GOES ON IN THIS ROOM FOR ALL OF THE APPROPRIATE REASONS. I'M NOT EVEN SAYING THERE'S ANYTHING WRONG WITH IT, BUT YOU'RE TASKING PGA TO FOLLOW YOUR CODE AND APPLY YOUR CODE NOT TO BE POLITICAL. AND SO I WOULD SUBMIT TO YOU, YOU EITHER WANT WORKFORCE HOUSING OR YOU DON'T. YOU'RE VERY CLEARLY IN AN AREA WHERE WORKFORCE HOUSING IS NOT ONLY NEEDED IN OUR COUNTY, BUT ACTUALLY THIS IS THE AREA WHERE WE WANT IT. THIS IS THE AREA WE'VE DIRECTED IT. THIS IS WHERE THE COUNTY HAS DRAWN THE DEVELOPMENT AREA BOUNDARY TO SAY, PUT DEVELOPMENT HERE. AND IT'S WRONG OF PGA TO PUT YOU IN A POSITION WHERE THEY'RE JUST DENYING IT FOR DENYING IT. AND THEN YOU HAVE FOLKS COMING IN TODAY THAT HAVE ALL OF THESE IDEAS ABOUT WHAT WE'RE REQUIRED TO DO IN THE APPLICATION, BECAUSE IT'S A STRAIGHT REZONING AND IT'S A STRAIGHT REZONING UNDER YOUR WORKFORCE HOUSING CRITERIA THAT DROPS ALL OF THE TYPICAL REQUIREMENTS. THIS SITE PLAN THAT WAS PART OF A PUD APPLICATION THAT WENT TO PGA FOUR YEARS AGO. NOW, 3 OR 4 YEARS AGO THAT PGA RECOMMENDED A DENIAL. SO IT WAS WITHDRAWN, NEVER WENT ANYWHERE. ALSO PREDATED YOUR MODERN WORKFORCE HOUSING ORDINANCE OF WHERE WE'RE AT TODAY AND WHERE THESE APPLICATIONS ARE COMING FROM, BECAUSE THE COUNTY NEEDS WORKFORCE HOUSING. IT'S INTERESTING ALL OF THESE KINDS OF REQUIREMENTS JUST AREN'T SOMETHING THAT WE DEAL WITH. AND A LOT OF THE THINGS THAT ARE RAISED TRAFFIC, NOT THERE'S NO TRAFFIC STUDY REQUIRED AT THIS STAGE. WETLANDS ALL OF THOSE THINGS. SET BACK SITE PLAN. ALL OF THOSE THINGS AREN'T DEALT WITH AT THE STATE REZONING LEVEL. THEY'RE TYPICALLY PUD REQUIREMENTS. BUT YOU'VE ELIMINATED THE PUD COMPONENT FROM WORKFORCE HOUSING ZONING. SO AND I'LL JUST POINT OUT A FEW OTHER THINGS. THIS IS A SITUATION WHERE YOU WIND UP WITH 11 UNITS REGARDLESS. HECK, YOU CAN YOU CAN EVEN SERVE UP TO WHAT, TEN WITH AN EASEMENT? RATHER THAN EVEN STANDARD ROAD SECTIONS. TRAFFIC. THIS IS A MINOR PROJECT BECAUSE IT'S 44 UNITS OR LESS, EVEN IF YOU WERE IN A TRAFFIC SITUATION. BUT IT DOESN'T EVEN REQUIRE A TRAFFIC STUDY. DRAINAGE ISN'T A FACTOR BECAUSE AGAIN, PRE AND POST, THE DRAINAGE ISSUES ARE GOING TO BE DEALT WITH BY YOUR ENGINEERING DEPARTMENT WHENEVER PLANS COME IN. AND I'LL JUST PUT SOMETHING OUT OR ELSE I'LL JUST POINT SOMETHING ELSE OUT. I DID A SEARCH WHILE WE WERE, WHEN I WAS LISTENING TO PUBLIC COMMENT, AND THERE WAS A GRAPHIC UP THERE FROM YOUR STAFF REPORT ABOUT WHAT'S IN THE AREA, WHAT'S APPROVED FOR WORKFORCE, HOUSING AND RENTAL RATES. THE RENTAL RATES ARE 1600 TO $2500 IN THAT AREA. FROM WHAT I'M SEEING OF NEW PRODUCT, YOU CAN SEARCH IT ON YOUR OWN COMPUTER IF YOU'D LIKE. IT'S INTERESTING BECAUSE AND I USED APARTMENTS.COM AND YOU KNOW, 1595 TO 2485 1444 TO 2600 APARTMENTS IN THAT AREA. THERE'S A NUMBER OF LISTINGS ARE ALL IN THAT RANGE. WHAT'S INTERESTING ABOUT THAT IS IF YOU LOOK AT A WORKFORCE HOUSING PRODUCT, SINGLE FAMILY HOME AT $260,000.30 YEAR MORTGAGE, 6.5% INTEREST RATES, I THINK SIX AND A HALF IS PRETTY STANDARD RIGHT NOW FOR WHAT'S GOING ON IN THE ECONOMY. IT'S GOING DOWN, WILL PROBABLY WILL GO DOWN EVEN MORE. BUT WE'RE IT'S I THINK WE'RE AT SIX AND A HALF MAYBE BETTER FOR FIRST TIME HOMEBUYERS. YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT $1,643 FOR A MORTGAGE PAYMENT. I MEAN, THIS IS THE SWEET SPOT OF WHAT YOU WANT IN THE AREA YOU WANT IN. AND SO I WOULD JUST SAY THAT I'M NOT THE GUY THAT GETS UP HERE AND MAKES THREATS. WE'LL SUE AND ALL THAT STUFF. THAT'S NEVER BEEN A HALLMARK OF MY CAREER. BUT TO JUST STATE THE OBVIOUS, IF THIS WERE A SITUATION WHERE IT WENT ON AND IT GETS DENIED AND IT GOES ON TO AN APPEAL AT 11 ACRES, AT SIX UNITS AN ACRE ON THE WORKFORCE HOUSING, YOU'RE BACK WITH 66 UNITS, NO RESTRICTION ON WHETHER IT'S FOR RENT OR FOR SALE, NO RESTRICTIONS ON WHETHER IT'S MULTIFAMILY, SINGLE FAMILY, NO RESTRICTIONS ON HEIGHT AND STORIES. I MEAN, WE'VE SHOWED THIS SITE PLAN BECAUSE IT WAS DEVELOPED BEFORE WHEN THERE WAS A PUD APPLICATION. IT MAKES GOOD SENSE THAT YOU COULD HAVE A SINGLE FAMILY PROJECT HERE WITH 24 UNITS. [02:05:02] AND SO. I JUST WANTED TO SAY THAT THOSE CONDITIONS THAT WE WERE OFFERING MADE A LOT OF SENSE, AND WE OFFERED THEM AT PGA. WE WERE OFFERED THEM AT THE BEGINNING. WE'VE TALKED ABOUT THEM WITH STAFF PREVIOUSLY WAS 24 UNITS TOTAL, SINGLE FAMILY FOR SALE. AND I KNOW ONE COMMISSIONER POINTED OUT A FIVE YEAR LIMITATION, IF THAT'S THE ONLY WAY YOU CAN GET AROUND IT. AND OR THAT'S WHAT WE GOT TO LIVE WITH. I THINK MY CLIENT WOULD ACCEPT THAT THAT THAT LIMITATION AS WELL. 24 UNIT SINGLE FAMILY FOR SALE IN A FIVE YEAR LIMIT ON THE SALE. BUT OTHERWISE, I THINK YOU'RE IN A SITUATION WHERE WE WIND UP RUNNING THE RISK WHERE THIS WINDS UP BEING 66 UNITS UNDER THE WAY. YOUR CODE AND YOUR IN YOUR COMPREHENSIVE PLAN IS. AND THE SHAME OF THIS IS WHAT YOU DON'T HEAR ENOUGH OF FROM PGA IN THE DENIAL FOR DENIAL BECAUSE PEOPLE SHOW UP TO DENY IT. THEY DON'T SAY WE WOULD RECOMMEND DENIAL EVEN THOUGH IT'S NOT APPROPRIATE IN THIS SITUATION. WE THINK YOU THE COMMISSION SHOULD CHANGE THIS LANGUAGE. AND HERE'S SOME RED LINE LANGUAGE OF WHAT SHOULD BE CHANGED. AND IT'S INTERESTING BECAUSE WE'RE IN A SITUATION WHERE YOU HAVE A PTA MEMBER WHO GETS UP, TRIES TO GET 600 UNITS OF WORKFORCE HOUSING APPROVED IN AN AREA WHERE IT'S NOT MAYBE APPROPRIATE, AND THEN TURNS AROUND AND DENIES A PROJECT THAT IS APPROPRIATE. SO THAT'S MY $0.02 ON IT. YOU KNOW, I WON'T EVEN GO INTO THE CASE LAW ON THIS ABOUT LAY TESTIMONY AND PRIOR SAINT JOHN'S COUNTY APPELLATE CASES IN THE DECISIONS. BUT THIS IS ONE WHERE I REALLY BELIEVE THAT IT HAS ALL THE HALLMARKS FOR BEING A SUCCESSFUL, POTENTIALLY SUCCESSFUL APPEAL OF THIS DECISION. AND YOU WIND UP WITH SOMETHING WORSE THAN YOU COULD GET. RIGHT NOW, IT'S BEING OFFERED. I THINK YOU'VE GOT A WORKFORCE HOUSING PROJECT THAT FITS VERY NEATLY INTO THE CODE. SO WITH THAT, I'LL BE QUIET AND ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS IF YOU HAVE ANY. ANY QUESTIONS FROM THE BOARD OR MOTION? COMMISSIONER WHITEHURST. MR. BURNETTE I APPRECIATE THE POSITION YOU'RE IN. YOU'RE VIGOROUSLY ADVOCATING FOR YOUR CLIENT, AND THIS IS A LANDOWNER YOU KNOW, WHO CLEARLY WANTS TO CAPITALIZE ON THEIR ASSET, WHICH IS THEIR LAND. AND I RESPECT THAT. I THINK YOU KNOW THAT I RESPECT THAT. I THINK FOR ME, IT'S ALL ABOUT COMPATIBILITY. MAKE THE CASE FOR COMPATIBILITY. I'M LOOKING AT A MAP THAT HAS NOTHING LIKE THAT AROUND IT. AND I GUESS IF WE. AND AND BY THE WAY, AS I GET THERE, I JUST WANT TO SHOW THE ORDINANCE, YOU KNOW, THERE'S NO CONDITIONS REQUIRED ON A ON THIS TYPE OF PROJECT. ALL OF THOSE OTHER ISSUES ARE THINGS THAT GET DEALT WITH AT CONSTRUCTION PLAN APPROVAL LEVEL, WHICH IS ADMINISTRATIVE, OBVIOUSLY GOING THROUGH YOUR STAFF PROCESS. SO I GUESS LOOKING AT FOR EXAMPLE, THIS SITE PLAN, OBVIOUSLY YOU HAVE ACROSS THE STREET, BUT AS YOU LOOKED AT DRILLING DOWN TO THESE INDIVIDUAL LOCATIONS, YOU ACTUALLY SEE MULTIPLE MOBILE HOMES ON PARCELS. YOU'LL YOU'LL SEE TO THE EAST OF US, TO THE WEST OF US. IT'S NOT LIKE ONE PARCEL IS ALL THAT'S ON THERE. AND YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT THIS LOT, ALTHOUGH IT LOOKS LIKE 11 ACRES WITH 1 OR 2 MOBILE HOMES ON IT. THE REALITY IS IT'S 11 HOMES, NO MATTER HOW YOU CUT IT FOR ENTITLEMENT RIGHT NOW, THAT COULD BE BUILT ON IT. AND MAYBE IF YOU TAKE AWAY SOME OF THAT AND YOU SAY, OKAY, WELL, YOU'RE JUST GOING TO SERVE IT WITH AN EASEMENT SO YOU CAN REDUCE THE INFRASTRUCTURE COST ON THE ROADWAY. AND NO SIDEWALK AND THOSE KINDS OF THINGS. THEN MAYBE YOU GET DOWN TO TEN UNITS THAT YOU SERVE WITH AN EASEMENT. SO BUT YOU'RE LOOKING AT TEN UNITS ON THERE RIGHT NOW AS IT IS, WITHOUT ANY APPROVAL NEEDED FROM THE BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS. AND SO I WOULD JUST RESPECTFULLY SUBMIT TO YOU THAT THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN TEN AND AND 24 FOR WORKFORCE HOUSING WHERE IT'S LOCATED. YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT THE DIFFERENCES TEN WITH NO WORKFORCE HOUSING VERSUS SEVEN OF THE 24 ARE GOING TO BE WORKFORCE. THANK YOU, MR. BURNETT. I ACKNOWLEDGE THAT WITH THE STRAIGHT REZONING, YOU DO NOT HAVE TO SUBMIT A SITE PLAN. AND AND OBVIOUSLY, THAT'S NOT WIDELY UNDERSTOOD. A LAYPERSON LIKE MYSELF WOULD NEVER KNOW WHAT ALL THE PROCEDURAL REQUIREMENTS ARE OF A STRAIGHT REZONING. SO I, I ACKNOWLEDGE THAT YOU'RE CORRECT. JUST SOME COMMENTS TO THE BOARD. I THINK IT'S INTERESTING THAT MR. BURNETT OPENED HIS REMARKS BY CITING THE MANY DENIALS THAT THIS BOARD HAS ISSUED OVER THE PAST, YOU KNOW, 3 TO 4 YEARS. AND AND WE'RE CONSTANTLY, OF COURSE, BEING CONFRONTED WITH THIS THOUGHT THAT WE SOMEHOW RUBBER STAMP ALL THESE DEVELOPMENTS. I MEAN, WE'VE DENIED A GREAT MANY DEVELOPMENTS OVER THE LAST 3 TO 4 YEARS, ESPECIALLY IN THIS AREA. SO I JUST I THOUGHT THAT WAS INTERESTING. THE THE CONTRAST BETWEEN WHAT WE'VE DONE AND WHAT THE PERCEPTION IS IN THE COMMUNITY. JUST THE POINTS OF CLARIFICATION. 11 UNITS ARE ALLOWED BY RIGHT. THEY HAVE A LEGAL RIGHT TO BUILD 11 RESIDENTIAL UNITS ON OUR ZONING. SO JUST I DIDN'T KNOW THAT BEFORE I BECAME A COMMISSIONER. THERE'S NO WAY THAT YOU SHOULD KNOW THAT. IT'S JUST A FOOD FOR THOUGHT. THEY CAN BUILD 11 HOMES ON THIS PROPERTY. JUST SO Y'ALL ARE AWARE. [02:10:02] WE GOT CREDIT FOR DENYING THIS APPLICATION TWICE. I THINK IF YOU WANT TO GIVE SOMEBODY CREDIT FOR THAT OUT THERE IN THE COMMUNITY, PCA HAS DENIED IT TWICE. AND THAT'S WHY IT'S COMING BEFORE THE BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS, BECAUSE I DON'T BELIEVE WE'VE SEEN THIS APPLICATION. SO JUST WHY ARE WE HERE A THIRD TIME? I HEARD THAT COME UP SEVERAL TIMES. WE HAVE NOT YET SEEN OR VOTED ON THIS APPLICATION. MY FINAL COMMENT TO TO THE MEMBERS OF THIS COMMISSION, THIS IS THE ONLY TIME WE CAN DISCUSS IT. THIS IS ALL ABOUT COMPATIBILITY FOR ME. AND I'VE GOT CONCERNS ABOUT THE COMPATIBILITY OF THIS PROPOSED APPLICATION. COMMISSIONER ARNOLD, THANK YOU, MADAM CHAIR. I WANT TO THANK EVERYBODY FOR COMING OUT TODAY. I APPRECIATE SEEING ALL THE PUBLIC COMMENT. I DRIVE THIS ROAD EVERY DAY. I DRIVE TWO, EIGHT EVERY DAY BACK AND FORTH TO WORK IN VARIOUS OTHER PLACES. IT'S THIS THIS PROJECT, IN MY OPINION, IS INCOMPATIBLE WITH THE AREA. IT ALSO LACKS THE NECESSARY INFRASTRUCTURE. AND FOR THAT, I'M GOING TO BE MOVING TO DENY IT. ANY OTHER COMMISSIONERS HAVE ANY COMMENT? OKAY. MOTION TO DENY. MOTION TO DENY. WORKFORCE HOUSING 2020 403 ANDRE LAND HOLDINGS. WORKFORCE HOUSING, BASED UPON FIVE FINDINGS OF FACT IS PROVIDED IN THE STAFF REPORT. I'LL SECOND. MOTION AND A SECOND ON ON THE TABLE. PLEASE VOTE. AND THAT'S UNANIMOUS. FIVE ZERO. ALL RIGHT. WE'RE ON TO AGENDA ITEM NUMBER [3. Public Hearing * NZVAR 2025-08 The Beach at Vilano. Request for a Non-Zoning Variance to Section 6.04.05.C of the Land Development Code regarding Access Management Driveway Design to allow for a one-way, exit only driveway measuring 14.5 feet in width, and a two-way driveway measuring 24 feet in width along Coastal Highway to provide access for a proposed Mixed Use development.] THREE. THANK YOU. THERE'S A QUASI JUDICIAL COMMISSIONER, WHITEHURST. YES, MA'AM. I HAVE OVER FIVE EMAILS ABOUT THIS NON ZONING VARIANCE. I ALSO TOOK A MEETING YESTERDAY HERE IN THE OFFICE WITH VIVIAN BROWNING. SHE DISCUSSED THE HISTORY OF DEVELOPMENT ESPECIALLY COMMERCIAL DEVELOPMENT IN VILLANO BEACH. AND SHE SHARED HER THOUGHTS WITH ME ABOUT THE NECESSITY OF THESE DRIVEWAYS BEING SO CLOSE TO ONE ANOTHER. COMMISSIONER ARNOLD. YES. THANK YOU. I HAD FIVE, SIX, MAYBE PLUS EMAILS ON THIS ITEM. I IT SAYS I HAD NO MEETINGS, BUT I ALSO HAD A MEETING YESTERDAY WITH MISS VIVIAN BROWNING, WHO WE WE DISCUSSED A LOT OF ISSUES IN VILLANO, BUT IN PARTICULAR THIS PROJECT. COMMISSIONER TAYLOR, I GUESS I'VE RECEIVED OVER FIVE EMAILS ON THIS PROJECT, AND I DID HAVE A PHONE CALL WITH VIVIAN BROWNING THAT DOES SUPPORT THIS COMMISSIONER MURPHY. I DID. I DID HAVE A MEETING WITH MISS VIVIAN BROWNING ABOUT THIS, AND I DON'T RECALL ANY EMAILS ON IT. AND I, TOO HAD A MEETING WITH VIVIAN BROWNING, AND I DID RECEIVE A COUPLE OF EMAILS. OKAY. YOU'RE ON. GOOD MORNING. MY NAME IS CAL. I'M WITH MATTHEWS DXM, REPRESENTING RICK JOHNSON, THE APPLICANT FOR THIS NON ZONING VARIANCE. HE COULD NOT ATTEND TODAY. HE HAD SOME PERSONAL MATTERS HE HAD TO ATTEND TO. RIGHT HERE. THANK YOU SIR. YES, SIR. THANK YOU. I'D LIKE TO MOVE ON TO THE NEXT SLIDE. THIS PROPERTY IS CURRENTLY LOCATED WITHIN THE VILLANO BEACH TOWN CENTER OVERLAY DISTRICT. ITS FUTURE LAND USE IS MIXED USE DISTRICT WHICH MATCHES ITS CURRENT ZONING. THIS PROPERTY IS 2.39 ACRES CURRENTLY ZONED TO ALLOW FOR MIXED USE DEVELOPMENT. IT CURRENTLY PROPOSES 20 MULTIFAMILY UNITS WITH PRIVATE RECREATION AND 11,437FT² OF COMMERCIAL SPACE ALONG THE FRONTAGE COASTAL HIGHWAY. OUR APPLICANT IS REQUESTING RELIEF FROM LDC SECTION 6.04. 05C ACCESS MANAGEMENT DRIVEWAY DESIGN THIS PARCEL IS ALLOWED TWO ACCESS POINTS IN COASTAL HIGHWAY DUE TO HAVING OVER 200FT OF FRONTAGE. IN ADDITION TO THE EXISTING AND PREVIOUSLY APPROVED 20 FOOT FOUR FOOT DRIVE WHILE THE APPLICANT PROPOSES AN ADDITIONAL 14.5FT ONE WAY ACCESS POINT ONLY, OR EXIT ONLY TO THE RIGHT ONTO COASTAL HIGHWAY. SAINT JOHNS COUNTY LAND DEVELOPMENT CODE WOULD REQUIRE THAT SINGLE DRIVE ISLE TO BE A MINIMUM OF 16FT WIDE AND OFFSET 20FT FROM THE ADJACENT DRIVEWAY TO THE NORTH, LOCATED AT THE PROPERTY LINE TO THE NORTH. THERE ARE LOTS OF DIFFICULTIES EXPERIENCED ATTEMPTING TO PROVIDE THIS SECOND DRIVE ISLE, INCLUDING THE EXISTING FPL SWITCH BOX NORTH OF THE EXISTING 24 FOOT DRIVEWAY [02:15:10] AND THE EXISTING DRIVEWAY ENTRANCE ITSELF WOULD BE LIKE TO MAINTAIN THAT DRIVEWAY. THE PROPOSED BUILDING OR PROPOSED LOCATION OF BUILDING SIX AND PROXIMITY TO COASTAL HIGHWAY AND VILLANO ROAD INTERSECTION. SHOWN IN THE PRESENTATION IS THE PROPOSED DRIVEWAY FLOW PATH, AS WELL AS PROPOSED MATERIAL SELECTION TO CREATE A VISUAL DIFFERENCE BETWEEN THE TWO. ARM GATES HAVE ALSO BEEN PROPOSED TO LIMIT TRAFFIC THROUGH THIS DRIVE ONLY TO THOSE GRANTED ACCESS BY THE COMMERCIAL OFFICE SPACE OCCUPANT, AND ENSURE NO ONE TURNS INTO THE ONE WAY DRIVE OFF THE COASTAL HIGHWAY. THE PROPOSED EXIT ONLY DRIVEWAY WILL ONLY BE OPEN TO TRAFFIC GIVEN THOSE ACCESS. NINE TOTAL PARKING SPACE WILL BE REQUIRED BY THE BUILDING, AND EIGHT OF THOSE ARE PROVIDED ADJACENT TO THE BUILDING IN FRONT OF IT, AS WELL AS UNDERNEATH THE BUILDING. THE INTENDED RESULT IS TO MITIGATE POTENTIAL CONFLICT WITH POINTS BETWEEN VEHICLES AND PEDESTRIANS. I'M GOING TO GO BACK TO THE PREVIOUS SLIDE. SORRY. WE HAVE A TURNING ANALYSIS HERE SHOWING MANEUVERABILITY OF THE PROPOSED LAYOUT. IT IS A TIGHT LAYOUT, BUT WE'VE PROVIDED SOMETHING THAT WILL WORK FOR THE OCCUPANT. REORIENTING TWO DRIVEWAYS IN THE COASTAL FRONTAGE WOULD RESULT IN A MEDIAN CHANGE IN COASTAL HIGHWAY. THE ADDITIONAL DESIGN WOULD BE TIME CONSUMING AND CREATE NEGATIVE IMPACTS DUE TO THE CHANGE IN DRIVER EXPECTANCY. WHICH IS SHOWN HERE. THAT MEETING WOULD HAVE TO BE REVISED. AND THEN HIGHLIGHTED BY THE STAR IS THE EXISTING LOCATION OF THAT FPL SWITCH, WHICH WE HAVE AN ISSUE RELOCATING AS WELL AS THE NORTHERN PROPERTY LINE WHICH THE ADJACENT PROPERTY OWNER HAS THEIR DRIVEWAY ADJACENT TO THAT PROPERTY. IN ORDER TO AVOID IMPACTS AT THE INTERSECTION AND MAINTAIN THE EXISTING DRIVE, THE NEW DRIVEWAY WILL HAVE TO BE LOCATED WITHIN THE YELLOW STRIPE SHOWN ON THE PRESENTATION TO AVOID ANY CONFLICTS. HERE'S A RENDERING OF THE PROPOSED BUILDING, AS WELL AS THE ADJACENT DRIVEWAYS WITH SIGNAGE TO PREVENT ANY SORT OF CONFUSION FROM SOMEONE PULLING OFF A COASTAL HIGHWAY. HERE WE SHOW A STREET VIEW IMAGE. THAT'S JUST NORTH OF OUR PROPOSED SITE. THAT SHOWS A SIMILAR SCENARIO AS TO WHAT WE'RE PROPOSING. THE POINT OF THIS IS TO MINIMIZE ACCESS AND ENTRY LOCATIONS OFF OF COASTAL HIGHWAY. IT'S RECOMMENDED IN THE CODE OR ENCOURAGED. SO TO COVER OUR FINDINGS OF FACT. THE EXISTING DRIVEWAY LANDSCAPE, MEDIAN AND FPL SWITCH BOX, AS WELL AS ADDITIONAL ADDITIONS TO PROXIMITY TO COASTAL HIGHWAY AND VILLANO ROAD INTERSECTION, HAVE LIMITED THE POTENTIAL LOCATIONS OF AN ADDITIONAL DRIVEWAY ALONG COASTAL HIGHWAY FRONTAGE. THIS NON ZONING VARIANCE REQUEST IS NOT BASED ON DESIRE TO REDUCE COSTS. THERE WILL BE ADDITIONAL COSTS ASSOCIATED WITH THE STRUCTURAL DESIGN OF PROVIDING PARKING UNDER THE BUILDING, AS WELL AS THE SIGNAGE AND GATE ARMS. TO CONTINUE, THE PROPOSED LAYOUT IS NOT EXPECTED TO INCREASE CONGESTION, CONGESTION ON PUBLIC STREETS AND AVOIDS A CHANGE IN DRIVER EXPECTANCY APPROACHING THE COASTAL HIGHWAY AND INTERSECTION. THIS DOES NOT INCREASE DANGER OF FIRE OR OTHER HAZARD TO THE PUBLIC. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT DOES NOT HAVE ANY CONCERNS AS ACCESS IS MAINTAINED FROM COASTAL HIGHWAY AND VILLANO ROAD. AND. THE PROPOSED LAYOUT IS NOT EXPECTED TO DIMINISH NEARBY PROPERTY VALUES OR CHARACTER OF THE SURROUNDING AREA. OF THE SURROUNDING AREA. THE PROPOSED PROJECT REVITALIZES A PROMINENT CORNER WITHIN THE MIXED USE MOLANO TOWN CENTER OVERLAY DISTRICT, AND WE BELIEVE THIS LAYOUT IS IN HARMONY WITH THE CODE AS REFERENCED IN THE PRESENTATION. [02:20:04] THE USE OF COMBINED DRIVEWAYS TO PROVIDE ACCESS TO THE ROAD COASTAL HIGHWAY IS PERMITTED AND ENCOURAGED FOR ADJACENT PROPERTIES. THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME. ANY QUESTIONS FROM THE BOARD? I JUST HAD ONE QUICK QUESTION. YOU SAID UNDERGROUND? YES, MA'AM. HOW'S THAT NOT GOING TO FILL UP WITH WATER? IT'S NOT UNDERGROUND. IT'S JUST DIRECTLY UNDERNEATH THE SECOND STOREY. SO THE FIRST FLOOR PARKING. SECOND STORY. OKAY. AND THEN THE NEIGHBOR. HOW DOES THE NEIGHBOR FEEL? THEY WERE NOTIFIED. I'M NOT SURE IF THERE'S ANYONE HERE FROM THE FROM THE PUBLIC TO OPPOSE. OKAY HOWEVER, I'D LIKE TO WAIT AND SEE. WELL, THEN WE'LL GO TO PUBLIC COMMENT. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. WE'LL NOW TAKE PUBLIC COMMENT ON AGENDA ITEM NUMBER THREE. IT WILL NOW BE BY THE END OF TODAY. MAUREEN O'CONNOR 4260 MYRTLE STREET, SAINT AUGUSTINE. I'M COMMENTING ON COLONIAL, FORMERLY KNOWN AS THE BEACH AT VILLANO DEVELOPMENT AND THE VARIANCE REQUEST. THE PROJECT CURRENTLY THERE ARE 50 OR 53 CONDO UNITS PLANNED FOR THE COLONIAL DEVELOPMENT, DEPENDING ON WHICH SITE YOU REFER TO, AND TWO MULTIPLE PURPOSE BUILDINGS WHICH HAVE TO DATE NOT BEEN APPROVED, AND ITS APPLICATION PHOTO DOES NOT SHOW EXIT ONTO COASTAL HIGHWAY. THE DRIVEWAY WOULD FLOW OUT ONTO THE EXIT. DIRECTLY ON TO EXCUSE ME, COASTAL HIGHWAY. THIS EXIT IS THE ONLY EXIT OUT OF VILLANO ROAD, VILLANO BEACH AS WELL AS PORPOISE POINT. ALL TRAFFIC WOULD FLOW OUT ON THIS DIRECT STREET, WHICH IS ONE LANE WITH, AS YOU CAN SEE, THE YELLOW LINE FOR A TURNING. THE POPULATION OF THE AREA CODE IN THREE, TWO, EIGHT, FOUR AS OF 25 IS 16,000. ALL ARE WITHIN DISTANCE OF OUR BEACHES IN RECENT YEARS, TRAFFIC BOTH ENTERING AND EXITING NOT ONLY VILLANO BEACH AND PORPOISE POINT, BUT PUBLIX AS WELL. A VOLUMES OF COMMENTS ON NEXT DOOR. THE TOPICS MANY CONVERSATIONS SUCH AS TAKING 20 MINUTES OR MORE TO GET OUT OF THE PUBLIC PARKING LOT. I DON'T GO TO THE BEACH OR PUBLIX OR VILLANO CENTER ON THE WEEKENDS, ETC. RECENTLY I DROVE DOWN TO VILLANO ROAD TO HAVE DINNER. FINDING NO PARKING AVAILABLE, DECIDED TO LEAVE AND TRY ANOTHER RESTAURANT. IT TOOK 45 MINUTES TO DRIVE TO AND AROUND FROM THE PIER ROUNDABOUT AND DRIVE OUT OF VILLANO. THE TURN SIGNAL ON THE VILLANO BRIDGE ALLOWS ABOUT THREE CARS AT A TIME. THE VILLANO MAIN STREET ASSOCIATION IS WORKING WITH THE COUNTY TO CONDUCT A TRAFFIC AND TRAFFIC LIGHT SEQUENCE STUDY. THIS BEING SAID, THE FACT THAT THIS VARIANCE FOR AN EXIT ONLY DRIVEWAY MEASURING 14.5FT IN WIDTH AND TWO WAY DRIVEWAY MEASURING 24FT. PROPOSED FOR THE PROPOSED MIXED USE DEVELOPMENT DIRECTLY ONTO THE COASTAL HIGHWAY IS A TRAFFIC DISASTER IN THE MAKING. I PERSONALLY DON'T KNOW HOW YOU ARE GOING TO BE ABLE TO EXIT DIRECTLY, AS YOU CAN SEE WHERE THIS SUV IS. THAT IS THE LANE. HOW THIS WILL NOT INTERFERE WITH THE TRAFFIC IS BEYOND ME. THE DECISION ON GRANTING THE VARIANCE PERMIT SHOULD BE DELAYED UNTIL AFTER TRAFFIC STUDY IS COMPLETED, AND THE BUILDING HAS BEEN APPROVED. ONCE GIVEN, IT CANNOT BE TAKEN BACK. THANK YOU AGAIN. THANK YOU. YES, MA'AM. HI. DEBBIE DICKENSON, 413 16TH STREET, SAINT AUGUSTINE, FLORIDA. ALSO LOCATED IN NORTH BEACH. AND THIS IS MY ONLY IN AND OUT ALSO. SO MY COMMENT ON THIS PROJECT IS TO REINFORCE WHAT MAUREEN JUST SAID BEFORE A VARIANCE IS GRANTED. LET'S PLEASE COMPLETE THE TRAFFIC STUDY. YOU GUYS HAVE HEARD MANY STORIES ABOUT HOW BACKED UP WE ARE AND HOW WE CAN'T GET ACROSS THE BRIDGE, HOW EMERGENCY SERVICES CANNOT GET THROUGH. WHETHER IT'S A FLOODING, AN A1, A CAVING IN, AND THE HIGH RISK THAT WE'RE ALREADY AT, OR JUST THE SIMPLE WEEKEND CONGESTION OR HOLIDAY CONGESTION THAT WE HAVE, WE DO NEED TO FIGURE THOSE PROBLEMS OUT. WE NEED THAT TRAFFIC STUDY. WE UNDERSTAND THIS DEVELOPMENT IS GOING TO NEED TO BE ABLE TO PEOPLE GOING TO NEED TO BE ABLE TO COME IN AND OUT. BUT TO SAY THAT THERE'S NO IMPACT ON TRAFFIC WHEN YOU'RE ADDING THESE HOMES AND THE MIXED USE THAT IS PLANNED ALSO AS PART OF THIS DEVELOPMENT WITH SOME RETAIL SPACE AND SO FORTH, OF COURSE IT'S GOING TO CHANGE AND INCREASE THE TRAFFIC EVEN MORE. SO LET'S FACE THAT REALITY. GET THE TRAFFIC STUDY, FIGURE OUT WHAT TO DO, AND THEN FIGURE OUT HOW THE PEOPLE GET IN AND OUT THERE, [02:25:06] WHAT'S THE BEST AND SAFEST WAY TO DO SO FOR THE PEOPLE WHO WIND UP RESIDING THERE OR SHOPPING THERE AND ALL OF US WHO LIVE AROUND THERE, THANK YOU. THANK YOU. ANYONE ELSE? I AGREE. ED SLAVIN, BOX 3.4.COM. PLEASE DENY THE VARIANCE OR AT LEAST CONTINUE THIS ITEM TO A FUTURE TIME WHEN WE CAN HAVE THE TRAFFIC STUDY. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. ANYONE ELSE? GOOD MORNING. WELL, I'M GETTING THERE. TAKE YOUR TIME, MAN. WHEN I WAS 50, I WALKED FASTER UP HERE. I'M VIVIAN BROWNING. I'M THE FOUNDING CHAIR OF THE LONG BEACH TOWN CENTER AND FOUNDING CHAIR OF MAIN STREET AND PAST PRESIDENT OF NORTH SHORE IMPROVEMENT ASSOCIATION. AND A LIFELONG TEACHER. I'M HERE TODAY. I'M IN SUPPORT OF THIS SMALL DRIVEWAY TO A SMALL DEVELOPMENT THAT DOESN'T THAT SHOULDN'T IMPACT THE REST OF THE STREET. ONLY TO THE EXTENT OF THE DENSITY IN THAT AREA. THIS IS A I PUT ON THE MAP HERE. THIS IS THE TOWN CENTER. I HOPE FROM NOW UNTIL THIS DEVELOPMENT IS COMPLETED THAT WE CONSIDER THIS AS A DISTRICT AND NOT TRY TO STOP EACH DRIVEWAY OR EACH DEVELOPMENT FROM BEING BUILT. THIS THE COUNTY COMMISSION BACK IN 99 VOTED THIS A TOWN CENTER, VOTED IT A CRA. WE'RE PAYING THE TAXES GENERATED HERE. A PORTION OF THEM PAYS FOR THIS INFRASTRUCTURE. I WOULD LIKE TO SAY, WHEN THE DRAWBRIDGE MOVED FROM THE DRAWBRIDGE TRAFFIC MOVED FROM HERE TO THE NEW BRIDGE IN 95, 9000 CARS A DAY WERE TAKEN OFF THIS ROAD. SO I THINK WE'RE WAY DOWN. IN THE USE OF IT. ALSO, THIS PIECE OF PROPERTY IS A PIE SHAPE, AND 100 YEAR OLD PLAT FROM THE 1920S. ONLY ALLOWS 70FT TO GET ON AND OFF THIS PROPERTY. ALTHOUGH THE NEXT DOOR PROPERTY HAS A DRIVEWAY, SO IT DESERVES A DRIVEWAY THAT UTILITIES BROAD UNDERGROUND UTILITIES TO THIS AREA. WE WOULD NOT HAVE THE PUBLIC'S WITHOUT UNDERGROUND UTILITIES. SO WHAT I WANT TO POINT OUT IS CONSIDER THE DISTRICT. AND ANOTHER THING, THOSE OF US WHO WERE LIVED HERE IN THE 1980S AND 90S AND EVER SINCE IS THAT WE LIMITED THE HEIGHT TO THREE STOREYS. NOW, IF WE HAD SAID WE FORGOT TO MENTION. OR SOMEBODY COMES IN AND WANTS A 70 STOREY HIGH RISE. YOU CAN'T GO BELOW. UP ABOVE THREE STORIES, WHETHER YOU'RE A HOTEL OR A RESIDENT. SO WE'VE LIMITED THE HEIGHT AND WE'VE CUT DOWN THE ABILITY TO BUILD NEW HOTELS TO ONLY 30% OF THE DISTRICT. NOW WE HAVE RESIDENTIAL. THIS WILL BE THE FIRST NEW RESIDENTIAL BUILT IN THE TOWN CENTER SINCE SINCE. OF 50 TO 60 YEARS AGO. AGAIN. THINK OF THE WHOLE DISTRICT. AND I'M HERE MAINLY FOR EDUCATIONAL PURPOSES. BUT I DO SUPPORT THIS DRIVEWAY TO MOVE FORWARD WITH THE WITH COMPLETION OF THE TOWN CENTER AND PAY OUR CRA DEBT. I'LL LOOK OVER HERE AT THE BUDGET, MAN. SO THANK YOU. THANK YOU. MA'AM. ANYONE ELSE? HOPE WE GET LUNCH SOON. I THINK I NEED IT. SUZANNE, 109 LAUREL WOODWAY UNIT 102. WHEN MISS BROWNING SPEAKS, I LISTEN. AND THE CRAS HAVE A PURPOSE, AND WE NEED TO LISTEN WHEN WHEN THEY DO ALL THIS LEGWORK AND ALL THIS HARD WORK, THEY KNOW THEIR NEIGHBORHOODS. THEY KNOW WHAT THEY NEED. AND I THINK SHE DID A GREAT JOB IN HER PRESENTATION. VILLANO HAS A LOT OF PROBLEMS BECAUSE OF TRAFFIC, THERE'S NO DOUBT ABOUT IT. BUT WHETHER THIS DRIVEWAY COMES OUT THERE OR SOMEWHERE ELSE, STILL THE SAME AMOUNT OF CARS AND THEY'RE ALL GOING THE SAME PRICE. SO I DON'T SEE A PROBLEM WITH THAT. AND I THOUGHT THAT SHE DID A REALLY GOOD JOB OF EXPLAINING HER POSITION. SO LOOKS LIKE A NICE LITTLE DEVELOPMENT. SOMETHING'S GOING TO GO THERE, AND LET'S MOVE ON SO I CAN [02:30:09] HAVE LUNCH. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. ANYONE ELSE FOR PUBLIC COMMENT? SEEING NONE, WE'LL CLOSE. PUBLIC COMMENT. WE'RE BACK TO THE BOARD. ANY COMMENTS? YES, COMMISSIONER TAYLOR, I DO THANK YOU VERY MUCH. JUST BECAUSE THIS IS DISTRICT FIVE. MY QUESTION IS ACTUALLY FOR STAFF, AND I WAS A LITTLE BIT CONCERNED. WE OBVIOUSLY KNOW TRAFFIC IS A CHALLENGE THERE, BUT I WOULD LOVE TO KNOW ONLY THREE CARS AT A TIME. WHAT IS GOING ON WITH THAT LIGHT. WHEN WILL WE BE LOOKING AT THAT? AND THAT'S A LONG TIME FOR PEOPLE TO WAIT. IF ONLY THREE CARS ARE ABLE TO TO MAKE IT THROUGH. YES. CLINT LYNCH GROWTH MANAGEMENT, CHIEF ENGINEER. THREE CARS AT A TIME, LEAVING THE A1 A INTERSECTION, RIGHT? I DON'T KNOW IF THAT'S MAKING A LEFT. I ASSUME THAT'S MAKING A LEFT TO GO BACK OVER THE BRIDGE, BUT IT SOUNDS LIKE TRAFFIC IS BACKED UP AND NOT ENOUGH CARS ARE GOING THROUGH. YEAH, WE CAN LOOK INTO THAT. THAT'S THE FIRST I'VE HEARD. IT'S IT'S THAT BAD. BUT WE CAN WORK WITH DOT AND. LOOK AT THAT. GREAT, GREAT. I'M JUST I APPRECIATE ALL THE COMMENTS. AND I DO WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT WE DO WE DO HEAR WHAT'S BEING BROUGHT UP. THANK YOU. ANY OTHER COMMENTS? BECAUSE WE CAN'T REALLY TALK OR SPEAK BETWEEN. I'M JUST CURIOUS. COMMISSIONER TAYLOR, WHAT ARE YOUR THOUGHTS ON THIS? NO. WELL, I MEAN, I I'M OKAY WITH APPROVING IT, BUT I DO WANT TO LOOK AT THAT THAT LIGHT MORE. BUT I AM FINE. AS LONG AS WE CAN GET STAFF TO AGREE THAT THAT THAT CAN BE LOOKED AT AND THAT WE CAN ADJUST THAT LIGHT BECAUSE WE, WE DO NEED MORE THAN THREE CARS TO BE ABLE GOING THROUGH THAT INTERSECTION, GOING THROUGH THAT LIGHT. DO YOU HAVE A MOTION? I DO, I MAKE A MOTION TO APPROVE AND ARE 20, 25, ZERO EIGHT THE BEACH AT MILANO BASED UPON SIX FINDINGS, FACT AND FOUR CONDITIONS AS PROVIDED OF IN THE IN THE STAFF REPORT. SECOND MOTION AND A SECOND. ANY OTHER COMMENTS? LET'S VOTE. AND THAT PASSES UNANIMOUSLY FIVE ZERO. THANK YOU. AND JUST SO EVERYONE KNOWS THAT IN ONE HOUR WE WILL BREAK ACTUALLY FOR LUNCH AT 1220 SO THAT WE'LL HAVE ONE MORE AGENDA ITEM AND THERE WILL BE A FOOD TRUCK, AND THE FIVE AND SIX WILL GO AFTER THE BUDGET. AFTER THE TIME CERTAIN. AND THEN AT THE VERY END. ANY QUESTIONS ON THAT? OKAY. SO WE'RE ON FOUR, AND THERE'S QUASI JUDICIAL. [4. Public Hearing * PUD 2024-15 Powers Center. Request to rezone approximately 1.88 acres of land from Industrial Warehousing (IW) to Planned Unit Development (PUD) to allow for a maximum of 36,000 square feet of non-residential uses, specifically located at 9990 US-1 North. The Planning and Zoning Agency heard this request at their regularly scheduled public hearing on June 5, 2025. The motion to recommend approval by the Agency failed with a 2-4 vote (Motion by Perkins, second by Green; Spiegel, Hilsenbeck, Matovina, Labanowski dissenting - 1 vacant seat).] COMMISSIONER WHITEHURST. I MET WITH SIGN OF VENUS AND JUSTIN CLARK OR THE APPLICANT. I DON'T BELIEVE I RECEIVED ANY EMAILS REGARDING THIS APPLICATION. DURING MY MEETING WITH MR. VENUS AND CLARK. WE DISCUSSED THE SITE LOCATION. THE SURROUNDING PROPERTIES, AND WHAT THEIR PROPOSED USE FOR THIS PROPERTY WAS. COMMISSIONER ARNOLD, THANK YOU, MADAM CHAIR. I GUESS I HAD THE SAME. NO EMAILS AND I HAD A MEETING IN THE OFFICE WITH THE APPLICANT. SIGN OF VENUS AND JUSTIN CLARK. COMMISSIONER TAYLOR? YES. THANK YOU THE SAME. NO EMAILS AND MEETING WITH VENUS, JUSTIN CLARK AND STAFF COMMISSIONER MURPHY. AND THE SAME MEETING WITH VENUS AND JUSTIN CLARK. THE APPLICANTS AND NO EMAILS. AND THE SAME FOR ME. ALL RIGHT, LET'S GO. THANK YOU. OKAY. THANK YOU. GOOD MORNING. STILL MY NAME IS JUSTIN CLARK. JUAN PABLO DRIVE AND PONTEVEDRA. 53 YEARS OLD AND A 43 YEAR RESIDENT OF SAINT JOHN'S COUNTY. I NO RELATION TO ERIC CLARK. SOMEONE MENTIONED HIM EARLIER. I AM PROBABLY THAT DEVELOPMENT MOUTHPIECE. GUY. BUT WE DO HAVE SCIENCE BEHIND US. WE ARE INCREASING TAX COFFERS WITH OUR SUGGESTION AND REQUEST. AND SO WITH THAT, I, ALONG WITH SHEENA, VENUS, ARE THE AUTHORIZED AGENT FOR THE OWNER IN THIS ZONING REQUEST. FOR THIS, IT'S A 1.88 ACRE INFILL SITE LOCATED AT 9990 US ONE. NORTH. IT'S ACTUALLY ABOUT TWO MILES NORTH OF THE SOUTH ENTRANCE OF NAKA ON PINE ISLAND ROAD AND LESS THAN A MILE FROM NICE HIGH SCHOOL. YOU SEE IT IN RED ON THE SCREEN. THE POWERS CENTER. THE WAY A CROW FLIES. ABOUT TWO MILES, TWO AND A HALF MILES FROM BEACH WALK AND KNOCK IS ALL AROUND US. SO THIS IS VERY MUCH A SMALL INFILL SITE. AS WE ZOOM IN. YOU'LL SEE. TO OUR SOUTH IS HILTON ROAD, AND TO OUR NORTH IS STIRLING PLAZA. [02:35:01] WE ARE REQUESTING A REZONE FROM THE CURRENT E-W ZONE. WE'RE JUST GOING TO GO DOWN HERE. I W WHICH IS INDUSTRIAL WAREHOUSE TO A PUD. PLANNED UNIT DEVELOPMENT WITH THE USE CATEGORIES UNDER THE LDC SECTION 2.0301 TABLE OF THE CMU TOWN CENTER. MIXED USE AND THE E-W BOTH BY RIGHT AND EXCEPTION AND ALONG WITH A FEW WAIVERS. YOU WILL SEE ON THE MAP, WE ARE BASICALLY AN ISLAND OF I W IN A SEA OF PUD. AND THE WE'RE NOT REQUESTING A A COMPREHENSIVE PLAN CHANGE. IT'S ALREADY IN LINE WITH THE COMPREHENSIVE PLAN. SO I'LL GO BACK UP. THE FINDINGS OF FACT. SO TODAY, I HOPE TO PRESENT YOU COMPETENT, SUBSTANTIAL EVIDENCE THAT SPECIFIC, RELIABLE, AND FACT BASED, SUPPORTING ALL NINE FINDINGS OF FACT WHICH ALIGN WITH SAINT JOHN'S COUNTY GOALS AND OBJECTIVES. RATHER THAN GOING THROUGH EACH BULLET POINT ON THE FRONT END, WHAT I'D LIKE TO DO IS JUST SHOW YOU ALIGNMENT BY WHAT'S AROUND US, AND THEN TO SHOW THAT THERE'S PRECEDENT FOR WHAT WE'RE DOING, AND THEN ALSO THAT PERFORMANCE BASED EVIDENCE, WHICH BASED ON THAT ZONING, WHAT PROJECTS CAME OUT OF THAT ALL MET WITH POSITIVE MARKET RECEPTION AND COMMUNITY INTEGRATION ALSO ALIGNING WITH COUNTY GOALS AND OBJECTIVES. THIS IS THE LEGAL SUFFICIENCY. IT'S SMART GROWTH IS JUST SMART PLANNING. AND HOPEFULLY IT'LL RESULT IN THE REQUIRED FINDINGS OF FACT FOR YOU TO SUPPORT THIS REZONING REQUEST. ONE COMMENT I WOULD LIKE TO MAKE JUST IN LISTENING. FIRST OF ALL, WE'RE NOT RESIDENTIAL. THIS IS A COMMERCIAL INFILL ZONE AND A SITE THAT'S ALREADY ZONED, ACTUALLY ALREADY DEVELOPED. IT'S JUST IT'S DEVELOPED AS KIND OF A LAYERED. BUT I DO WANT TO COMMENT ON ON THE PGA. WE HAD A PGA MEETING AND IT WAS 2 TO 4. NOT IN FAVOR, BUT THE SCORE DID REALLY NOT MATCH THE GAME. IN IN THAT THE OUTCOME DIDN'T REALLY REFLECT WHAT WAS OFFERED. WE HAD ONE MEMBER OF PGA WHO RAISED TWO PRIMARY CONCERNS. AND IT WAS REALLY KIND OF AT THE LAST MINUTE, WE DID NOT GET A CHANCE TO RESPOND, BUT IT WAS A GENUINE CONCERN AND WE TOOK IT SERIOUSLY. IT REVOLVED AROUND ONE THE HEIGHT THAT WE WERE REQUESTING WHICH, BY THE WAY, I W AS IT STANDS RIGHT NOW, INDUSTRIAL WAREHOUSE DOES NOT HAVE A HEIGHT RESTRICTION. AND THEN THE OVERALL SQUARE FOOTAGE ALLOWED. SO IN RESPONSE, WE'VE SUBSTANTIALLY REVISED OUR PROPOSAL TO BETTER REFLECT THE SCALE AND CHARACTER OF THE SURROUNDING DEVELOPMENT. THIS MODIFICATION TO THE ZONING REQUEST REDUCES THE MAX BUILDING BUILDING HEIGHT FROM WHAT WE REQUESTED IN PCA, FROM 60FT DOWN TO 35FT, IN LINE WITH THE NEIGHBORING DEVELOPMENT, AND THE TOTAL SQUARE FOOTAGE FROM 57,000 TO 36,000FT². AND FURTHERMORE, WE DID REMOVE A A PARTICULAR USE ALTOGETHER FROM THE PUD REQUEST. SO THERE WILL BE NO VERTICAL CONDITION MINI STORAGE FACILITY ON THIS SITE, WHICH IS A USE THAT IS CURRENTLY PERMITTED UNDER THE I W ZONE. SO THAT SAID, I'LL TRY TO BE CONCISE. I JUST WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT ALL CONCERNS ARE CLEARLY ADDRESSED. SO LET'S START WITH PRECEDENT. SO THE PUDS POWER CENTER IS THE SITE THAT WE ARE REQUESTING THE REZONE, AND IT SITS IN THE MIDDLE OF TO THE NORTH. PUD 2020 103. IT WAS REZONED FROM THIS EXACT SAME ZONING I W TO A PUD PLANNED UNIT DEVELOPMENT BASED ON THE CMU YOU AND IWU USES IDENTICAL TO THIS APPLICATION WITH VERY SIMILAR WAIVERS TO THE EAST. IS THERE A LASER WELL TO THE EAST PUD. STERLING PLAZA, PHASE TWO. THAT'S PUD 20 2196. THIS ONE. THE COUNTY FIRST ADOPTED A FUTURE LAND USE AMENDMENT FROM AGRICULTURE, [02:40:04] SILVICULTURE, TWO MIXED USE, AND THEN APPROVED THE REZONING FROM A TO A PUD. AGAIN WITH THE CORE OF IT AT WITH CMU AND E-W USES BY RIGHT AND EXCEPTION WITH WHICH IS VERY SIMILAR ALONG WITH WAIVERS ALMOST IDENTICAL TO THIS REQUEST. BY THE WAY, I JUST THINK IT'S WORTH NOTING, ESPECIALLY I THINK. I THINK IT WAS. IS IT BEVERLY BROWN? VIVIAN. BROWN. ONE OF THE FOUNDING MEMBERS OF CMU. OBVIOUSLY, WE REALIZE WE ARE NOT IN THE VILLANO BEACH DISTRICT. THE POINT OF THAT ZONING, I THINK SHE COULD EVEN ATTEST, WAS REVITALIZATION THROUGH FLEXIBILITY AND ADAPTIVE USE. THE THE WHAT WE ARE TRYING TO REFLECT ARE THOSE TYPES OF USES. AND AND THAT'S WHY WE CHOSE THAT AS OUR BASE. IT WAS ACCEPTED ON THE NORTH AND THE EAST. AND SO WE'RE JUST KIND OF FALLING IN LINE WITH WHAT WE HAVE DONE PREVIOUSLY. TO THE SOUTH IS PD 2007 11. IT WAS DONE BACK WELL, 2004 AND 2007. IT WAS AN OPEN RURAL PUD OPEN RURAL SITE THAT WAS REZONED TO PUD, AND IT'S A MIX OF BOTH RETAIL AND WAREHOUSE. SO THE ONLY DIFFERENCE WITH THAT PUD AND WHAT WAS DONE ON THE NORTH AND THE EAST IS THAT THAT PD AT THE TIME IT SEPARATED THE WAREHOUSE FROM THE RETAIL. OUR MODEL RECOGNIZES THE DISRUPTION OF ENTRENCHED SILO BASED DEVELOPMENTS AND BLENDS WAREHOUSE AND RETAIL CONCEPTS WHICH REALLY LEADS US TO THE KIND OF THE SECOND CORE PRINCIPLE OF OF THE REQUEST, WHICH IS HOW DID THESE ZONES PLAY OUT? WHAT OCCURRED OUT OF THESE ZONES ON THE GROUND? AND DID THEY ALIGN WITH COUNTY GOALS AND OBJECTIVES? SO BY THE WAY THESE DEVELOPMENTS JUST TO POINT OUT, I MENTIONED THAT I'M A 43 YEAR RESIDENT OF SAINT JOHN'S COUNTY. I WENT TO NEASE HIGH SCHOOL. MY BUS STOP WAS ON NECK ROAD, AND MY BELOVED BUS DRIVER, MRS. GAINEY, WHO LIVED ON NEC ROAD, WOULD SOMETIMES PICK KIDS UP BY HORSEBACK ON THAT DIRT ROAD AT THE TIME. LOTS HAVE CHANGED. I ALSO WANT TO POINT OUT THAT WE HAVE A TRACK RECORD. WE ARE THE DEVELOPERS WHO BROUGHT THE PUD TO THE NORTH AND THE EAST TO THE COUNTY AND HAVE DEVELOPED FIRST OF ALL, WHAT WE CALL STERLING PLAZA. AND WHAT YOU'LL SEE IN THE PICTURE IF YOU SEE IT, WE'VE GOT A VERY UNIQUE BLEND THAT'S BECOME A DESTINATION FOR COMMERCE, RECREATION, LIGHT ASSEMBLY, RETAIL, WAREHOUSING. THESE USES IS ACTUALLY REDUCE COMMUTE TIMES. IT ALLEVIATES TRAFFIC CONGESTION ON US. ONE, IN THE CASE OF THE FLEX SPACE, ALSO SUPPORTS LOCAL OWNERSHIP AND IMPROVED COMMUNITY. IN ADDITION TO THOSE USES, THERE'S A GOLF CART, CART SERVICE AND SALES, A FURNITURE DESIGN STUDIO. TO THE EAST. AND AGAIN, THE EAST IS BEHIND US, PD PLAZA, PHASE TWO. THIS IS A CONCEPT DRAWING. IT SAYS WEST OF STERLING PLAZA PHASE TWO. THAT SHOULD BE EAST. BUT ANYWAY, THAT IS A A CONCEPT DRAWING FOR A PLAN TO DO MORE OF THE SAME. AND WE HAVE HAD THE PRELIMINARILY BEEN VERY WELL RECEIVED. WE ALREADY HAVE CIVIL PLAN APPROVAL FOR THAT SITE AND WORKING ON ARCHITECTURAL APPROVALS NOW AND THEN TO THE SOUTH YOU'LL SEE THE NORTH SHOPS OF SAINT JOHN'S. THAT IS A AGAIN, THAT'S THE RETAIL SIDE OF THE WAREHOUSE RETAIL CONDO PROJECT. PHASE ONE AND TWO OF THAT SITE WERE VERY WELL RECEIVED. AND IT ACCOMPLISHED THE GOALS OF VISION OF A VISIONARY LARRY WALSALL, WHO WAS REALLY PIONEERED [02:45:01] FLEX OFFERINGS IN NORTHEAST FLORIDA. AND WE'RE TRYING TO CONTINUE IN THAT LEGACY. SO THE ONLY DIFFERENCE BETWEEN WHAT WE'VE ALREADY THE PUDS TO THE NORTH AND THE EAST, THE ONLY DIFFERENCE IS THAT WE'RE REQUESTING ONE ADDITIONAL USE, WHICH IS FOR CAR CONDOMINIUMS AND PRIVATE GARAGE UNITS. IT'S ANOTHER TYPE OF FLEX PRODUCT THAT'S BEEN VERY WELL RECEIVED IN THE MARKET. AND WITH ALL OF THE DEED RESTRICTED COMMUNITIES, IT'S BECOME A VERY BIG OFFERING. WHAT YOU SEE ON THIS PICTURE IS A PARTICULAR BRAND CALLED THE WHEELHOUSE. THIS IS ONE OF THEIR FIRST ONES IN KNOCKOUT. THEY JUST FINISHED ANOTHER ONE. THEY HAD 49 UNITS AVAILABLE IN JUST DELIVERED THOSE UNITS A FEW MONTHS AGO. AND THOSE UNITS WERE FOR SALE. AND DO YOU KNOW HOW MANY UNITS ARE REMAINING AVAILABLE? ZERO ZERO. SO IT'S A IT'S ALSO A POPULAR PRODUCT, VERY WELL RECEIVED. AND IT'S IT'S A GOOD LOOKING PRODUCT AS WELL. SO THE, THE US ONE CORRIDOR IS. TRANSITIONING FROM LEGACY OPEN RURAL INDUSTRIAL TO SMALL BUSINESS ORIENTED, FLEX COMMERCIAL, EVEN RETAIL SPACE. AND THIS REZONING REQUEST KEEPS PACE WITH THAT CHANGE. WE'RE REDUCING CONGESTION, PROMOTING INFILL AND SUPPORTING LOCAL ECONOMIC VITALITY. IF THERE AREN'T ANY QUESTIONS, I'D LIKE TO MOVE ON TO THE WAIVERS THAT WE'RE REQUESTING, PLEASE. OKAY. SO TO START WITH NUMBER ONE, THE BEER AND WINE EXCEPTION. THIS IS BECAUSE WE HAVE WE ARE NOT WITHIN AN AREA, THE DISTANCE THAT REQUIRES US TO DO THIS, BUT WE'RE TRYING TO GET OUT IN FRONT OF IT BECAUSE WE DO HAVE BEER BREWERIES THAT HAVE APPROACHED US IN THE PAST. AND IT COULD BE A USE IN THIS DEVELOPMENT. THE SECOND REQUEST IS THE OPEN SPACE REQUIREMENT. AND WE ARE REQUESTING THAT THE THAT THE POND AREA, THE RETENTION POND SHOWN AS NUMBER TWO, ALSO BE ACCEPTED AS AS A OPENS AS PART OF THE OPEN SPACE REQUIREMENT. THE TWO PREVIOUS PUDS DID REQUEST THIS AND AND ACHIEVE THAT WAIVER. THE POND CAN ENHANCE VISUAL CAN BE ENHANCED WITH VISUAL AND USABLE AMENITIES LIKE BENCHING, LIGHTING AND LANDSCAPE. AND WE'RE REALLY MEETING THE THE CODE, THE INTENT OF THE CODE BY PROVIDING ATTRACTIVE, ACCESSIBLE COMMUNITY SERVING OPEN AREAS. IT'S A SMALL AREA. IT'S A SMALL SITE, INFILL SITE WITH. AND IT'S KIND OF A FUNKY DESIGN. THAT WEDGE UP AT THE CORNER IS VERY DIFFICULT TO DO CONTEND WITH. THE BUILDING SETBACK AND PARKING REQUEST IS REALLY AGAIN THIS IS ACTUALLY JUST NOT A BUILDING SETBACK REQUEST ALONG US ONE. IT'S JUST A PARKING SETBACK BACK REQUEST ALONG US, ONE THAT IS FROM THE 20 FOOT TO TEN. THERE'S ALREADY A 30 FOOT GRASS MEDIAN BETWEEN THE ROAD AND OUR SITE, AND THEN THERE WOULD BE ANOTHER TEN FOOT. SO YOU HAVE 40 FOOT. BUT BEFORE BETWEEN US AND US ONE AGAIN, THAT WAS A WAIVER THAT WAS REQUESTED AND ACHIEVED. ACTUALLY, WE GOT IT. IT WAS DOWN TO EIGHT FOOT IN ONE SECTION OF THE 20, 21, 23 PUD. THE OTHER REQUEST IS THE FOURTH REQUEST IS FOR THE SUBMISSION OF THE BUBBLE PLAN. AND YOU KNOW, JUST A COMMENT ON THAT. IF I COULD GO BACK FOR A SECOND, SOMEONE ELSE MENTIONED, YOU KNOW, THEY THEY JUST WANT TO GET IN AND MAKE A CHANGE. THE REASON THAT WE SUBMIT THE BUBBLE PLAN IS THAT SOME OF THE USES THAT WE EVEN WANT TO SITE PLAN ARE NOT CURRENTLY PERMITTED. AND WE HAVE BEEN SITE PLANNING, WE HAVE MET WITH DRC ON A PLAN. WE HAVE SPENT MONEY ON ENVIRONMENTAL AND GEOTECHNICAL AND ARCHEOLOGICAL AND SURVEYING. WE'RE SPENDING THE MONEY AND WE'RE TRYING TO MOVE THIS ALONG. BUT THIS IS NOT REALLY THE PLACE TO LOCK IN ON A ON A SITE PLAN THAT WE'RE STILL TRYING TO FIGURE OUT FEASIBILITY. AND THAT'S THE POINT FOR THE BUBBLE PLAN. AND IN THE BUBBLE PLAN. [02:50:11] THIS IS AN INDUSTRY STANDARD PLACEHOLDER. IT HAS PRECEDENT AND OTHER APPROVALS IN THE AREA. BOTH OF THE THE SITE TO THE NORTH AND THE EAST WERE DONE THIS WAY. AND AGAIN, WE ACKNOWLEDGE THE FULL SCOPE OF MDP REQUIREMENTS. WE WILL ADDRESS THEM THROUGH DETAILED INCREMENTAL MASTER DEVELOPMENT PLAN AT THE TIME AS WE CONTINUE DEVELOPMENT SUBMITTALS CONSISTENT WITH COUNTY PRACTICE. THE LAST ONE THE 5% NATURAL VEGETATION. WE ARE ALL FOR CONSERVING NATURAL VEGETATION. WE WOULD NOT EVEN ASK FOR THIS. IF IT WEREN'T FOR THE FACT THAT THE SITE AND I'VE GOT AN APPENDIX THAT GOES THROUGH THIS IS ALREADY DEVELOPED. THERE IS NO NATURAL VEGETATION ON THE SITE. THE AREAS ON THE AERIAL ON THE LEFT THAT EVEN LOOK LIKE NATURAL VEGETATION. IN PARTICULAR, THERE'S A SITE ON BOTTOM LEFT THAT LOOKS LIKE TREES. THOSE ARE POTTED PLANTS FOR INSTALL ON JOBS. THERE ARE NO THERE'S NO NATURAL VEGETATION REMAINING. THAT'S WHY THAT WAIVER WAS REQUESTED. AND I THINK WE'VE GOT SUPPORT BY STAFF ON, ON ON THAT ISSUE BECAUSE THAT WAS ONE THAT CAME UP AND THEY JUST WANTED TO DOUBLE CHECK. BUT I COULD BE WRONG, BUT I BELIEVE THAT'S THE CASE. SO IN CLOSING. GO BACK TO THE FINDINGS OF FACT. I HOPE THAT I'VE PRESENTED TO YOU COMPETENT, SUBSTANTIAL EVIDENCE FOR YOUR APPROVAL OF OUR ZONING REQUEST AND WAIVERS. HOPEFULLY HAVE DEMONSTRATED A PRECEDENT OF PRIOR ZONING, ACTUAL IMPACTS OF THOSE ZONING ON OUR COMMUNITY, WHICH REDUCE TRAFFIC, ITS HIGHER PROPERTY UTILIZATION AND VALUE, INCREASED LOCAL ECONOMIC ACTIVITY. IT'S A DEVELOPMENT VISION THAT REFLECTS TODAY'S REALITY AND TOMORROW'S OPPORTUNITIES. IT'S A SMALL INFILL COMMERCIAL TRACT. IT'S COMPATIBLE WITH NEIGHBORING USES. IT'S ALIGN WITH COUNTY GOALS AND OBJECTIVES. IT FITS AND HOPEFULLY I'VE MADE A CASE SHOWING COMPATIBILITY AS WELL. WE ASK FOR YOUR APPROVAL FOR THE POWER CENTER PUD 20 2415, PLEASE. ANY QUESTIONS? COMMISSIONER TAYLOR? YES. THANK YOU. I WOULD JUST LIKE TO MAKE A COMMENT THAT I GREATLY APPRECIATE THAT YOU WENT BACK TO THE TABLE AND REALLY TOOK TO HEART WHAT THE PCA DID SAY. I GREATLY, YOU KNOW, YOU LOOKED AT HEIGHT, YOU LOOKED AT SQUARE FOOTAGE WHAT NOT TO PUT THERE. SO THANK YOU. THANK YOU FOR LISTENING. THANK YOU, COMMISSIONER MURPHY, I'M JUST READY FOR PUBLIC COMMENT. PUBLIC COMMENT? WE'LL NOW ACCEPT PUBLIC COMMENT ON AGENDA ITEM NUMBER FOUR. YES, MA'AM. THANK YOU. PAUL. THAT'S MY MANTRA. DON'T FALL. THAT'S THE DOWNFALL OF THOSE OF US OVER 70. TRUST ME. SUZANNE, 109 LAUREL WOODWAY, UNIT 102I WAS A PCA WHEN THIS CAME BEFORE PCA AND HEARD ALL THE DISCUSSION THERE. AND I STILL HAVE THE THE SAME PROBLEM WITH THIS THAT BASICALLY THEY HAD THIS IS THE FIRST PROJECT I'VE SEEN COME WHERE THEY WANT TO WAIVE THE OPEN SPACE AND USE THE RETENTION POND AS THE OPEN SPACE. AND WHEN YOU LOOK AT WHAT HE PUT UP THERE, THEY OWN ALL THE OTHER THREE PARCELS. I DIDN'T SEE ANY OTHER RETENTION POD. MAYBE THERE WAS ONE THERE I DIDN'T SEE, BUT I THINK MAYBE THEY GOT A WAIVER NOT TO HAVE THAT. IS THIS GOING TO BE LIKE THE ONLY DRAINAGE POND THERE? AND THEN WE'RE USING IT ALSO AS THE OPEN SPACE. YOU DIDN'T START THE CLOCK. YOU LIKE ME? THANK YOU. WELL YOU'RE NORMALLY QUICK, AND THEN, BECAUSE THERE'S NO NATURAL VEGETATION THERE, WE DON'T NEED TO BRING IN SOME VEGETATION TO BE NATURAL VEGETATION, I DON'T KNOW. TO ME, IT JUST LOOKS TO ME LIKE THIS IS ONE LITTLE SMIDGEN OF PROPERTY THEY HAVE LEFT, AND THEY'RE DOING PRETTY WELL WITH WHAT THEY'VE ALREADY GOT THERE. [02:55:04] AND NOW WE'RE TRYING TO SQUEEZE THE LAST PENNIES OUT OF WHAT WE HAVE, AND I JUST AT LEAST DON'T LET THEM USE THE RETENTION POND AS THE OPEN PLAN, BECAUSE ONCE YOU START THAT, THEN EVERYBODY ELSE IS GOING TO GET WIND THAT THEY GOT THIS WAIVER AND WE'RE GOING TO HAVE A PARADE OF PEOPLE COMING UP HERE ASKING FOR THE SAME KIND OF WAIVER. SO I DON'T HAVE A PROBLEM WITH THE PROJECT. WHAT HE'S PLANNING ON PUTTING THERE WHERE IT'S AT, IT'S THE IT'S A VERY SMALL PIECE, AND WE'RE JUST TRYING TO CRAM SO MUCH IN THERE AND THEN ASK FOR ALL THESE WAIVERS. THANK YOU. I AGREE. ED SLAVIN BOX 3.4. ED SLAVIN I AGREE WITH MISS CLUELESS. I DON'T THINK WE HAVE EVER ALLOWED A RETENTION POND TO BE COUNTED AS OPEN SPACE. DON'T DO IT PLEASE. AND I ALSO AGREE WITH MISS CLUELESS ABOUT NATURAL VEGETATION. SO PLEASE DENY THE REQUEST. THANK YOU. ANYONE ELSE FOR PUBLIC COMMENT? SEEING NONE, WE'LL CLOSE. PUBLIC COMMENT. BACK TO THE BOARD. I DO HAVE A QUESTION. ON ON. I DON'T KNOW IF I DO FEEL COMFORTABLE WITH THAT. DO YOU HAVE ANY OTHER OPTION? I'M SORRY. THAT THE OPEN SPACE IS THE RETENTION POND. WELL I THINK WE CAN GO BACK TO STAFF TO. I THINK ON FIGURE FIVE, IT SHOWS THAT THE WAIVER WAS FOR THE OPEN SPACE BEING USED AS AN AMENITY. POND WAS A WAIVER THAT WAS ACCEPTED BOTH ON THE 20 2123, THE PUD TO OUR NORTH. AND THEN THERE'S THE POND. YOU CAN SEE IT IN THE BACK THERE. WE HAVE A BENCH ON THE POND. AND IT'S YOU KNOW, IT'S IT'S A NICE ASSET FOR THE, THE COMMUNITY. AND THEN THE ONE PD THE ONE IN THE BACK. ALSO SAME THING. WE DID RECEIVE A WAIVER TO USE THE POND AS THE OPEN SPACE REQUIREMENT. I BELIEVE THAT'S THE CASE IS THAT. CAN WE GET SOMEONE TO COMMENT ON THAT? MR. ROBERSON, DUDE, CAN YOU EXPLAIN ALL THAT? DO WE DO THAT OR. AND THEN WHILE HE'S LOOKING AT THAT JUST TO COMMENT ON VEGETATION, WE ARE NOT PLANNING ON CONCRETING EVERYTHING. THERE WILL BE PLENTY OF VEGETATION ON THE SITE. IT'S JUST THIS REQUIREMENT WAS FOR NATURAL VEGETATION. THERE IS NO NATURAL VEGETATION ON THE SITE. THERE IS A LANDSCAPE REQUIREMENT THAT WILL REQUIRE US TO PUT IN PLENTY OF TREES AND SHRUBS AND AND GRASS. SO WE ARE NOT PROPOSING THAT THIS IS JUST A LAST SITE. CONCRETE JUNGLE. THROW IT ALL IN THERE. IT'S OUR LAST DEAL. IN FACT, WE'RE JUST THE AGENT FOR THIS OWNER. WE? I'M NOT AN OWNER IN THIS PROJECT. I WAS AND WASN'T AN OWNER ON THE ONE ON THE NORTH. I AM A PARTICIPANT ON THE ONE TO THE EAST. BUT THIS ONE THIS IS NOT JUST US TRYING TO CRAM EVERYTHING WE CAN INTO. WE'RE REALLY TRYING TO BE SMART WITH IT. THANK. THANK YOU. LET'S LET'S LET'S HEAR WHAT YOU HAVE TO SAY. THANKS. EVAN WALDEN, MATCH PLANNER WITH GROWTH MANAGEMENT. I WAS THE PLANNER ASSOCIATED WITH THIS PROJECT. KIND OF GOING THROUGH THE THE WAIVER PORTION OF IT. STAFF HAVE STATED WITHIN THIS STAFF REPORT THAT WE ARE THAT'S PLANNING STAFF IS OPPOSED TO THE WAIVER ITSELF BECAUSE WE DO BELIEVE THAT THEY CAN MEET THEIR REQUIREMENT OF THE 25% OPEN SPACE WITHOUT THIS WAIVER. BUT THERE ARE TWO PADS IS DIRECTLY ADJACENT TO IT THAT HAVE BEEN APPROVED WITH THIS EXACT WAIVER AS PART OF THEIR PUD. SO THERE IS PRECEDENT. AND WE WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT WAS ESTABLISHED, THAT THERE ARE OTHER ONES IN THE AREA THAT THEY HAVE BEEN APPROVED WITH THAT. BUT JUST, YOU KNOW, THERE'S THOSE TWO FACTS OF STAFF ISN'T EXACTLY IN FAVOR OF IT, BUT IT IS ONE THAT'S BEEN APPROVED HISTORICALLY IN THE AREA. SO. I DON'T KNOW, I, I FEEL LIKE I WOULD APPROVE THIS, BUT IF. OH, GO AHEAD, COMMISSIONER TAYLOR, THANK YOU VERY MUCH. YOU KNOW WHAT? AFTER JUST HEARING WHAT YOU JUST SAID JUST BECAUSE IT WAS DONE BEFORE, THAT DOESN'T MAKE IT OKAY. SO IF IT CAN, YOU KNOW, IF THEY CAN STILL DO WHAT THEY LIKE TO DO AND STILL KEEP THAT OPEN SPACE, I'M ALL FOR THAT. BUT I AGREE, JUST BECAUSE THAT WAS WAY BEFORE THAT. I DON'T THINK THAT MAKES IT RIGHT THAT IT SHOULD BE DONE AGAIN. THANK YOU, COMMISSIONER WHITEHURST. THANK YOU, MADAM CHAIR. THIS IS WHAT I'VE BEEN TALKING ABOUT WITH WITH PAST ITEMS. [03:00:01] AND I KNOW WE HAVE SOME FUTURE ITEMS COMING UP IN THIS AGENDA WHERE GOVERNMENT REGULATIONS CAN STAND IN THE WAY OF SOMETHING THAT THEY CAN. WE HAVE A DEVELOPER WITH A PROVEN TRACK RECORD, BUILDING COMMERCIAL DEVELOPMENTS THAT THE COMMUNITY IS CLEARLY ENGAGING IN, AND WE'VE GOT THIS POND REQUIREMENT TO KEEP THE WATER ON SITE SO WE DON'T HAVE DRAINAGE IMPACTS OFF OF THIS PROPERTY, WHICH IS GOOD WATER MANAGEMENT, DISTRICT REQUIREMENTS FOR THEM TO KEEP THE WATER ON THEIR PROPERTY. SO IT DOESN'T HAVE NEGATIVE IMPACTS OFF THE PROPERTY. GOOD REGULATION. BUT THEN WE HAVE A SMALL PARCEL. SO NOW WE'RE GOING TO ASK THEM TO PRESERVE ANOTHER 25% OUTSIDE OF WHAT THE STATE REQUIRES FOR WATER PRESERVATION AND DRAINAGE. THESE REGULATIONS HAVE A COMPOUNDING EFFECT ON SMALL BUSINESS. I'M OKAY WITH THE WAIVERS. THEY WEREN'T APPROVED BECAUSE WE WEREN'T PAYING ATTENTION. THEY WERE APPROVED BECAUSE IN ORDER TO MAKE THESE COMMERCIAL DEVELOPMENTS THAT WE NEED IN THIS COUNTY WORK, SOMETIMES YOU HAVE TO SAY GOVERNMENT NEEDS TO GET OUT OF THE WAY AND LET THE SMALL BUSINESSES EXIST. AND SO I DON'T HAVE A PROBLEM WITH THE WAIVERS. IT'S NOT BECAUSE I DON'T CARE ABOUT OPEN SPACE. IT'S NOT BECAUSE I DON'T CARE ABOUT CONSERVATION OF NATURAL VEGETATION. BUT THIS PARCEL IS SO SMALL THAT THE PROJECT WON'T WORK. HE'S CLEARLY MADE CONCESSIONS. HE'S LISTENED TO FEEDBACK. HE'S REDUCED SQUARE FOOTAGE. HE SAYS NO STORAGE UNITS. HE'S DOING EVERYTHING HE CAN. AS A LOCAL RESIDENT WHO'S IN THE DEVELOPMENT BUSINESS, TRYING TO BRING COMMERCIAL PROJECTS TO OUR COUNTY. I'M FOR THE PROJECT. I THINK YOU'VE DONE A GREAT JOB OF OF, YOU KNOW, DEVELOPMENT GETS BEAT UP IN THIS AUDITORIUM FROM TIME TO TIME, AS YOU'VE SEEN. BUT BUT YOU'VE DONE A GOOD JOB OF MAKING THIS AS COMPATIBLE AS POSSIBLE. SO I'M A YES ON IT EVEN WITH THE WAIVERS. SO THOSE ARE MY THOUGHTS AS ONE COMMISSIONER. JUST ONE MORE QUESTION. SO EVEN WITH THE POND, HE CAN STILL CAN THE 25% COME WITH JUST THE BUFFER AROUND THAT HE WAS GOING TO KEEP OR PUT IN THE BUFFER THAT'S GOING TO BE REQUIRED ALSO AS DIFFERENT FROM THE OPEN FROM THE STORMWATER MANAGEMENT POND. THE BUFFER IS USUALLY INCLUDED AS WELL AS PART OF THE OPEN SPACE REQUIREMENT. SO. SO COMMISSIONER JOSEPH, PART OF THE PROBLEM WITH THAT I'D LIKE TO VOTE FOR THIS. THAT'S WHY I'M TRYING TO. YEAH, I APPRECIATE THAT. THANK YOU. AND IT'S A FAIR COMMENT. I JUST WANT TO POINT OUT A COUPLE OF THINGS. ONE, THIS IS A VERY SMALL SITE. THE AND IT'S IN AWKWARD SHAPE. THE OTHER SITES WHERE WE ALSO AMENITIES, THOSE PONDS WERE MUCH BIGGER. AND SO IT WAS EVEN AN EASIER THING TO ACCOMPLISH ON THOSE. THIS IS MUCH MORE DIFFICULT ON TOP OF THAT. AND NOT THAT MONEY IS THE IS HOW WE MAKE OUR DECISIONS AROUND HERE. BUT AND IT GOES BACK TO COMMISSIONER WHITEHURST COMMENT AT THE END OF THE DAY, WHEN YOU TALK ABOUT FEASIBILITY AND THIS PROPERTY, THE AMOUNT OF MONEY PAID FOR THE PROPERTY IN MANY CASES DEMANDS A PARTICULAR DENSITY THAT ALLOWS US TO BE ABLE TO MAKE THE NUMBERS MAKE SENSE. AT THE END OF THE DAY, CONSTRUCTION COSTS ARE UP, THE EVERYTHING IS UP. SO IT'S NOT LIKE WE'RE TRYING TO LINE OUR POCKETS AND GET GREEDY AND MAKE MORE MONEY. IT LITERALLY IS THIS PARTICULAR SITE, SO I'M HOPING THAT YOU COULD STILL VOTE IN FAVOR FOR IT OF IT, WITH THAT BEING AN ORGANIZED POND, BECAUSE THAT 25% DOES PUT A PRETTY GOOD STRANGLEHOLD ON ON THE DENSITY THAT WE'RE TRYING TO ACCOMPLISH. COMMISSIONER MURPHY. YOU KNOW, THAT'S THAT'S BEEN ONE OF MY CONCERNS. YOU KNOW, I I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT THAT WE DO EVERYTHING WE CAN TO CONSERVE AS MUCH AS WE CAN. I'M MORE OF A CONSERVATIONIST THAN I AM AN ENVIRONMENTALIST, BUT YOU KNOW, A SMALL PIECE OF PROPERTY LIKE THIS, WITH THE CONSTRAINTS THEY HAVE THAT THESE ISSUES. DON'T LOOK AT THE OTHER THINGS THAT HAVE BEEN DONE AS LONG AS THEY'RE COMPATIBLE, THAT I DON'T HAVE A PROBLEM AT ALL WITH THIS AT ALL. I WOULD BE SUPPORTIVE OF IT. IS THERE A MOTION? MADAM CHAIR, IF YOU'D LIKE. I'D BE HAPPY TO MOVE. THANK YOU, COMMISSIONER WHITEHURST. THANK YOU, MA'AM. I'LL MAKE THE MOTION TO ENACT ORDINANCE 2025, DASH 17 APPROVING PUD 20 2415 POWER CENTER BASED ON NINE FINDINGS OF FACT AS LISTED IN THE STAFF REPORT. SECOND. GOT A MOTION AND A SECOND. PLEASE VOTE. THAT PASSES 4 TO 1. THANK YOU. AND LET'S SEE WHAT OUR TIME IS. MAYBE WE COULD DO AMY RING. SHE AVAILABLE? OH, GOOD. BECAUSE I THINK THIS IS A SECOND READING. CORRECT. OKAY. THANK YOU. GOOD AFTERNOON, COMMISSIONERS. AMY RINGWOOD, GROWTH MANAGEMENT. [5. Public Hearing * Second Reading - LDCA 2024-03 Land Development Code Updates. Updates to Land Development Code (LDC) Articles II, III, V, VI, IX, and XII, and the Table of Contents, to maintain consistency with Florida Statutes and to better organize existing parts of the code. The Planning and Zoning Agency voted on May 15, 2025, to recommend approval of this item 5-0. The Board of County Commissioners heard this item for first reading on June 17, 2025. The Board had no questions and no members of the public spoke during public comment.] I AM PRESENTING AGENDA ITEM NUMBER FIVE. THIS IS LDK 2403 LAND DEVELOPMENT CODE UPDATES. [03:05:05] THERE WE GO. SO THIS ITEM WAS BROUGHT FORWARD TO THE PLANNING AND ZONING AGENCY ON MAY 15TH AND RECEIVED A RECOMMENDATION, A RECOMMENDATION FOR APPROVAL 5 TO 0 AT THAT TIME. THIS ITEM WAS ALSO HEARD BY THIS BOARD ON JUNE 17TH. AT THAT TIME, THERE WERE NO MAJOR QUESTIONS AND NO PUBLIC COMMENT. SO THE CHANGES PROPOSED IN THIS AMENDMENT ARE NOT RELATED TO THE 2050 COMPREHENSIVE PLAN UPDATE. JUST TO BE CLEAR AND WILL NOT INTERFERE WITH THAT PROCESS. THE CHANGES INCLUDED IN THIS AMENDMENT ARE DIVIDED INTO TWO CATEGORIES. THE FIRST IS TO MAINTAIN CONSISTENCY WITH FLORIDA STATUTE, AND THE SECOND IS TO PROVIDE GENERAL CLARIFICATION WITHIN THE CODE ITSELF. SO THE NUMBER OF ACRES USED WHEN ESTABLISHING A COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT DISTRICT, WHEREBY CERTAIN CRITERIA APPLY, CHANGED FROM 1000 TO 2500 ACRES IN FLORIDA STATUTE. SO WE'D LIKE TO MIRROR THAT CHANGE IN SECTION 5.06 OF THE LAND DEVELOPMENT CODE. THE QUALIFYING ACREAGE AMOUNT FOR A SMALL SCALE COMPREHENSIVE PLAN AMENDMENT CHANGED FROM 10 TO 50 ACRES IN FLORIDA STATUTE. AND AGAIN, WE WOULD JUST LIKE TO MIRROR THAT CHANGE IN SECTION 9.04. WE WOULD LIKE OR WE PROPOSE TO REMOVE A REFERENCE TO THE BIANNUAL COMPREHENSIVE PLAN ADOPTION CYCLE. THAT LANGUAGE WAS REMOVED FROM FLORIDA STATUTE. SO THAT WOULD CHANGE IN SECTION 9.05. STATE STATUTE CHANGED IN REGARD TO ELECTRIC SUBSTATIONS. STATUTE NOW DEFINES THE PHRASE, AND IT ALLOWS JURISDICTIONS TO ADOPT LAND DEVELOPMENT REGULATIONS TO ADDRESS ESTHETIC BASED STANDARDS LIKE SETBACKS OR SETBACKS AND LANDSCAPING. AND THE STATUTE ALSO SPECIFIES THAT ELECTRIC SUBSTATIONS ARE A PERMITTED USE IN ALL LAND USE CATEGORIES EXCEPT THE THREE LISTED ON THE SCREEN. SO WE PROPOSE ADDING SECTION 6.08.45 TO THE LDC TO INCORPORATE THE STANDARDS THAT ARE ALLOWED BY STATUTE. AND ALL THOSE CHANGES ARE INCLUDED IN THE RED LINE IN THE STAFF REPORT. SO MOVING ON TO CHANGES IN REGARD TO GENERAL CLARIFICATION. WE'D LIKE TO CORRECT A CODE REFERENCE IN SECTION 2.03.06 FOR OTHER ANIMALS IN SECTION 2.0, 3.10 FOR LAND EXCAVATION AND BORROW AREAS. WE WOULD LIKE TO CLARIFY THAT AN ENGINEERED SITE PLAN IS REQUIRED AT THE TIME OF CONSTRUCTION PLAN APPROVAL, AND NOT AT THE TIME OF SPECIAL USE PERMIT APPLICATION. WE PROPOSE TO REMOVE THE REQUIREMENT FOR STAFF TO ONSITE OFFICES AT A PERSONAL PROPERTY. MANY WAREHOUSE FACILITIES AND RECREATIONAL VEHICLE BOAT STORAGE FACILITIES, WHILE RETAINING THE CURRENT SECURITY REQUIREMENTS THAT RESTRICT FACILITY ACCESS. WE HAVE IDENTIFIED AN INCONSISTENCY IN TABLE 2.03.01, SO WE'D LIKE TO FIX THAT BY CLARIFYING THAT RESTAURANTS WITHOUT DRIVE THRUS ARE ALLOWED AS A NEIGHBORHOOD BUSINESS AND COMMERCIAL USE. WE WOULD LIKE TO FIX TABLE 6.19, WHICH IS THE TABLE OF INTENSITY FOR BUFFERS AND SCREENING, TO CLARIFY THAT MULTIFAMILY GREATER THAN OR EQUAL TO SIX UNITS PER ACRE BELONGS IN GROUP THREE. WE WOULD ALSO LIKE TO OR WE PROPOSE RELOCATING SOME DESIGN STANDARDS FROM ARTICLE TWO TO ARTICLE SIX TO PROVIDE MORE LOGICAL ORGANIZATION WITHIN THE CODE ITSELF. AND WE WOULD LIKE TO PROVIDE A QUICK REFERENCE GUIDE TO TABLES IN THE TABLE OF CONTENTS FOR THE LDC. SO AGAIN, I WENT OVER AT THE BEGINNING HOW THIS HAS BEEN HEARD IN THE PAST. AND TODAY IS THE SECOND HEARING. SO THE MOTION IS AVAILABLE TO THE BORDER ON THE SCREEN AND WE'RE AVAILABLE FOR QUESTIONS. COULD YOU JUST GO BACK TO NUMBER B OR LETTER B. SORRY. SURE. FOR ALL AREAS. YEAH. COULD YOU EXPLAIN THAT JUST REAL QUICK. MADAM CHAIR MIKE ROBERTSON, GROWTH MANAGEMENT. THANK YOU SIR. SURE. AS IT STANDS, WE DON'T REQUIRE ENGINEERING PLAN APPROVAL FOR SOMETHING AT REZONING OR SPECIAL USE PERMIT. WE ALWAYS HAVE IT AT THE WHEN IT COMES IN LATER ON, THE APPLICANT CAN CHOOSE TO DO IT, BUT IT'S NOT SOMETHING WE WOULD REQUIRE UPFRONT. AND SO WE'RE CLARIFYING THAT IT'S NOT DONE DUE UP FRONT. IT'S STILL DUE, BUT IT'LL GO THROUGH THE SPECIAL USE OF APPROVALS SIMILAR TO REZONING OR SOMETHING LIKE THAT. AND THEN IT WOULD COME IN WITH BORROWED ENGINEERED PLANS. SO JUST DID I JUST DIDN'T KNOW IF IT WAS GOING TO SIT, YOU KNOW, CLEAR CUT OR WHATEVER. IT THIS DOESN'T HAVE AN EFFECT ON IT. OKAY. THANK YOU. YES, MA'AM. ANY OTHER QUESTIONS? PUBLIC COMMENT WILL NOT ACCEPT PUBLIC COMMENT ON AGENDA ITEM NUMBER FIVE. [03:10:10] GOOD AFTERNOON. GOOD AFTERNOON. THIS IS A GOOD PLACE TO ASK THIS, SINCE I DIDN'T MAKE IT FOR THE PUBLIC HEARING THIS MORNING. THE PUBLIC COMMENT YOU KNOW, WE HAVE THAT NEW LAW THAT WAS JUST SIGNED INTO EFFECT FOR COMPLIANCE. I THINK IT'S SENATE BILL 180. I REMEMBER. RIGHT. AND I THINK I SENT YOU ALL OR AT LEAST SPOKE TO SOME OF YOU IN PERSON ABOUT IT. WHAT HAPPENS? YOU KNOW, THIS IS CHANGING OUR COMP PLAN. THIS PARTICULAR ONE IS I GUESS COULD BE CONSTRUED AS MAKING IT A LITTLE MORE DIFFICULT FOR PEOPLE THAT WANT TO DEVELOP A BURROW AREA. WE'RE GOING TO PUT THIS IN THE COMP PLAN. WE'RE GOING TO CHANGE IT. BUT IF AND WE CURRENTLY IF I UNDERSTAND THIS RIGHT, FALL UNDER NEATH OF THE LAST HURRICANE EMERGENCY, BLAH BLAH BLAH. SO ANYTHING THAT WE CHANGE FROM IF I UNDERSTOOD. RIGHT A YEAR BEFORE AND THEN WE'RE HERE. WE'RE MAKING ALL THESE CHANGES. AND THEN THIS AFTERNOON WE'RE GOING TO GO THROUGH THIS AGAIN. WHAT HAPPENS WHEN SOMEONE COMES AND SAYS, WELL, YOU CAN SAY, I NEED TO DO THIS. WHATEVER. I'M NOT GOING TO DO IT BECAUSE THE STATE LAW SAYS THIS NOW SEEMS LIKE WE'RE SPINNING OUR WHEELS AND SPENDING A LOT OF STAFF TIME MAKING CHANGES. AND NOT ONLY STAFF TIME. YOUR TIME, OUR TIME THAT ARE GOING TO BE MEANINGLESS. I JUST THOUGHT I WOULD BRING THAT UP AND ASK, WHAT ARE WE GOING TO DO? THANK YOU. THIS IS ANYONE ELSE FOR PUBLIC COMMENT? SEEING NONE, WE'LL CLOSE PUBLIC COMMENT, AND I WOULD ASK THAT QUESTION, MR. MURPHY. THIS IS THIS IS LAND DEVELOPMENT CODE AND NOT COMPREHENSIVE LAND PLAN. CORRECT. THIS IS THIS IS PROPOSING CHANGES TO THE CURRENT CODE. AND AGAIN, IN ON THIS PARTICULAR POINT, WE'RE JUST TRYING TO CLARIFY WHAT'S ALREADY IN THE CODE. THIS ISN'T CHANGING ANY OF THE CRITERIA THAT ARE INVOLVED WITH THE BORROW AREA OR LAND EXCAVATION APPROVAL PROCESS. THANK YOU. BUT WITH HER QUESTION, IS THERE ANYTHING IN THIS ONE THAT WE'RE APPROVING THAT THEY CAN SAY BECAUSE OF THE NEW LAW? WE DON'T HAVE TO PAY EXTRA TO DO THAT. MADAM CHAIR, MIKE ROBERTSON HERE. NO, I DON'T THINK WE WOULD LOOK AT ANYTHING IN HERE. THIS IS TO MAKE IT ACTUALLY EASIER AND CORRECT MISTAKES. THERE'S NOTHING IN HERE THAT I THINK ANYBODY WOULD HAVE TAKE ISSUE WITH. WITH REGARD TO SENATE BILL 180. GREAT. THANK YOU. COMMISSIONER MURPHY, I'D LIKE TO MAKE A MOTION. I'D LIKE TO MAKE A MOTION TO ENACT AN ORDINANCE. 2025 DASH 18, APPROVING THE PROPOSED AMENDMENTS TO THE LAND DEVELOPMENT CODE. I'LL SECOND MOTION AND A SECOND. PLEASE VOTE. THAT PASSES UNANIMOUSLY. NOW, MY QUESTION IS, CAN WE DO THE NEXT 1 IN 10 MINUTES OR DO WE BREAK? OKAY. OKAY, GO. GOOD MORNING, LISA BROWN. GROWTH MANAGEMENT. [6. Public Hearing * First Reading - LDCA 2025-05 Land Development Code Update - Plats. This amendment amends Land Development Code Section 5.01.00 Subdivisions to maintain consistency with changes to State Statute that went into effect on July 1, 2025, with the enactment of Senate Bill 784. The bill requires administrative approval of a plat or replat submitted pursuant to F.S. 177.091 according to certain processing criteria. The bill also requires passage of an ordinance designating an administrative authority to manage plat and replat submittals and render approval decisions. The amendment designates the Director of Growth Management Department as the administrative authority. This change to Florida law went into effect on July 1, 2025. The Board may choose to waive the second hearing required by St. Johns County Board of County Commissioners Rules and Policies Rule 3.103 (Introduction of Legislation) through implementation of Rule 1.103 (Suspension of Standing Rules). Such Board action requires a motion and vote of a majority plus one of the Commissioners present.] SO THIS IS AGENDA ITEM NUMBER. I GUESS SEVEN NOW. SIX. SORRY. STILL SIX. CHANGES TO THE LAND DEVELOPMENT CODE SECTION 50100. AND THESE CHANGES ARE STRICTLY TO COMPLY WITH STATE STATUTE RELATED TO SENATE BILL 784, WHICH WAS SIGNED BY GOVERNOR DESANTIS ON JUNE 20TH. AND THE BILL REQUIRES ADMINISTRATIVE APPROVAL OF PLATS AND PLATS WITH CERTAIN PROCESSING CRITERIA. IT REQUIRES US TO PASS AN ORDINANCE DESIGNATING AN ADMINISTRATIVE AUTHORITY TO MANAGE, PLAT, AND REPORT SUBMITTALS AND RENDER APPROVAL DECISIONS. ESSENTIALLY, IT ESTABLISHES ADMINISTRATIVE APPROVAL OF PLATS AND PLATS WITHOUT ACTION OR APPROVAL BEING REQUIRED BY THE BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS, AND IT REMOVES THE NOTICING REQUIREMENTS FOR REPLACE AND REPLACES WITH ADVERTISING REQUIREMENTS FOR PLAT VACATIONS. SO WE DO HAVE AN OPTION FOR A SECONDARY DATE. HOWEVER, WE WERE REQUESTING THAT THE BOARD WAIVE THE SECOND HEARING BECAUSE THIS DID GO INTO EFFECT JULY 1ST, AND THIS WOULD REQUIRE A MOTION AND A VOTE OF THE MAJORITY PLUS ONE OF COMMISSIONERS PRESENT. SO THERE IS SOME RECOMMENDED MOTIONS FOR YOU ON THIS. DID ANYONE HAVE ANY QUESTIONS? YES. SO WE NEED TO PICK A PERSON TODAY. [03:15:05] YES. SO WE HAVE DECIDED TO, IF EVERYONE IS OKAY WITH IT, TO GIVE ADMINISTRATIVE APPROVAL TO OUR DIRECTOR, MIKE ROBERSON. OKAY. MIKE, NOT AGAINST YOU OR ANYTHING. I WAS JUST WONDERING WHY WE WOULDN'T DO THE COUNTY ADMINISTRATOR. BECAUSE THAT PERSON IS PUT IN CHARGE OF THE ADMINISTRATION BY THE BOARD. SO THAT WOULD BE AT THE WILL OF THE BOARD. JUST A QUESTION. I DON'T KNOW HOW YOU ALL FEEL ABOUT THAT. THROUGH THE CHAIR. JUST SOME BACKGROUND INFORMATION. THE WAY PLOTS ARE DONE RIGHT NOW. MR. ROBINSON'S SIGNATURE IS ALREADY ON THE PLAT. HE'S REQUIRED TO SIGN OFF AS THE ADMINISTRATIVE HEAD AND THEN THE CHAIR SIGNING. SO THE ONLY THING THIS DOES IS REMOVE THE CHAIR AND JUST MAKE MR. ROBINSON, NOT MR. ROBINSON, THE DIRECTOR OF GROWTH MANAGEMENT, WHOEVER THAT MAY BE. THAT PERSON, BECAUSE HIS SIGNATURE IS ALREADY ON THERE. WELL, I GUESS MY POINT IS, IS THAT I DON'T HIRE OR MIKE ROBINSON, BUT THE THE COMMISSION HIRES THE ADMINISTRATOR. SO WOULD IT NOT PASS THROUGH JOY FIRST OR. I DON'T KNOW, THAT WAS YOU KNOW, THIS IS JUST A THOUGHT I HAD SO CLEARLY THROUGH THE SENATE BILL AND THE CHANGES TO THE STATUTE, THIS IS NO LONGER A FUNCTION OF LOCAL ELECTED BOARDS. THEY HAVE MADE IT AN ADMINISTRATIVE. SO THEY SPECIFICALLY REMOVED A GOVERNING BOARD FROM DOING THIS MATTER AND MADE IT OVER TO THE ADMINISTRATION. SO THAT WOULD BE A DECISION FOR ADMINISTRATION. BUT JOY COULD BE THAT PERSON OR OUR ADMINISTRATOR COULD BE THAT PERSON. THEY COULD BE OKAY. COMMISSIONER WHITEHURST, THANK YOU, MADAM CHAIR. I THINK WHAT'S BEING PROPOSED WOULD JUST BE MORE EFFICIENT. AND I THINK THAT'S THE SUGGESTION. THAT'S WHY IT'S BEING SUGGESTED THIS WAY. MIKE'S ALREADY GOT HIS HANDS ON THIS. IT WOULD JUST BE MORE EFFICIENT TO ALLOW HIM TO DO IT. OBVIOUSLY, WE HOLD THE COUNTY ADMINISTRATOR RESPONSIBLE FOR WHO HE OR SHE HIRES AND FIRES AS DIRECTORS. THERE'S STILL ACCOUNTABILITY IN PLACE FOR THE BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS THROUGH THE ADMINISTRATOR. I KIND OF JUST WANTED THAT DISCUSSION. SO. GOOD. OKAY. ANYBODY ELSE? DO WE HAVE A MOTION? OH, WAIT. MOTION. OH, NO. NO PUBLIC COMMENT. WELL, NO. OH THAT'S RIGHT. OKAY. PUBLIC COMMENT ON AGENDA ITEM NUMBER SIX. SEEING NONE, WE'LL CLOSE. PUBLIC COMMENT. SO THROUGH THE CHAIR TO THE BOARD, IF YOU ARE WILLING TO GO AHEAD AND WAIVE THAT SECOND READING, THE FIRST MOTION WOULD BE TO SUSPEND THE RULE WHICH REQUIRE MAJORITY PLUS ONE VOTE. I WOULD MAKE A MOTION TO SUSPEND THE RULE. SECOND, THE RULE IS SUSPENDED OR NO, WE VOTE. VOTE. YOU CAN DO A VOICE VOTE. VOICE VOTE. VOTE. ALL IN FAVOR? YES. OKAY. ALL RIGHT. AND THEN YOU GO ON TO YOUR MOTION. NOW, I'D LIKE TO PROPOSE A MOTION, IF YOU DON'T MIND, TONIGHT. ORDINANCE NUMBER 20 2519, APPROVING THE PROPOSED AMENDMENTS TO THE LAND DEVELOPMENT CODE FOR PLATS AND PLATS, AND DESIGNATING THE DIRECTOR OF GROWTH MANAGEMENT AS ADMINISTRATIVE AUTHORITY TO OVERSEE THE PLAT AND REPLANT SUBMISSION AND APPROVAL PROCESS. MOTION. SECOND. SECOND. WE HAVE A MOTION AND A SECOND. PLEASE VOTE. THAT PASSES UNANIMOUSLY. UNANIMOUSLY. FIVE ZERO. AND WE'RE GOING TO BREAK FOR LUNCH. AND THERE IS A FOOD TRUCK. ALL RIGHT. WE'RE BACK FROM LUNCH. HOW'D EVERYONE LIKE THE FOOD TRUCK? GOOD. OKAY. OKAY. AGENDA ITEM NUMBER SEVEN. TIME CERTAIN 1:00. [7. Public Hearing * First Reading - Proposed Amendments to the Land Development Code - Tree Ordinance. First Hearing by the BCC on proposed Land Development Code, considering proposed "red-line" changes with regards to updates to the method of measuring and designating Specimen trees (LDC Article IV), increasing the per-inch Tree Deficiency Charge from $25.00 to $100.00 (LDC Article IV) and increase of the minimum preservation of upland natural vegetation required for certain Planned Urban Developments from 5% preserved to 10% preserved (LDC Article V). Also, a change to the definition of Specimen Tree is proposed in Article XII for consistency with the relevant change in Article IV.] THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE. AND APPRECIATE. I'M NOT SURE, MR. LAGASSE. OR WHO'S MAKING THE PRESENTATION. WELCOME BACK. JOY. REALLY? YEAH, SURE. AS I GO THERE. IT WAS GREAT CEREMONY. AND ON BEHALF OF THE BOARD, I TOLD THEM THAT, YOU KNOW, THEY COULDN'T BE HERE, AND MAYBE WE'LL DO SOMETHING ON THE 5TH OF AUGUST. EXCELLENT. FAMILY WAS VERY APPRECIATIVE. GOOD. OKAY. THANK YOU. THANK YOU, MADAM CHAIR. MIKE ROBERTSON, GROWTH MANAGEMENT DIRECTOR. JUST REAL QUICK. DAVID HENNING WILL GIVE THE PRESENTATION ON THIS. THIS IS FOR THE TREE ORDINANCE. AND THE CHANGES PROPOSED THAT HAVE GONE THROUGH, AS YOU CAN SEE UP ON THE SLIDE. MANY ITERATIONS. LOOKING FOR FEEDBACK HERE, IF ANY. AND THEN TO MOVE FORWARD FOR THE NEXT MEETING IN AUGUST TO POTENTIALLY MOVE FORWARD WITH THOSE LAND DEVELOPMENT CODE CHANGES. SO WITH THAT, I'LL INTRODUCE DAVID FROM INSPIRE. THANKS. THANK YOU ALL. DAVID HENNING FROM INSPIRED PLACEMAKING. BACK TO PRESENT ON THE TREE ORDINANCE. ON THAT TIMELINE THAT YOU SEE. WE'VE PRESENTED RECENTLY TO YOU THE PROCESS BY WHICH WE KIND OF WENT THROUGH FURTHER REFINEMENT HERE IN FRONT OF THIS BODY. WE ALSO ON JULY 17TH, WE'RE IN FRONT OF PGA TAKING THE FURTHER REFINEMENTS BASED ON YOUR GUIDANCE TO THEM FOR THEIR RECOMMENDATION. THE FRAMEWORK THAT WE USE, THE LAST TIME THAT WE WERE UP AND THAT WE SHARED AGAIN WITH THE PLANNING AND ZONING AGENCY WAS THE, YOU KNOW, BUILDING A REGULATION AND A STANDARD THROUGH, YOU KNOW, FROM THE PURPOSE OF THE STANDARD THROUGH THE MECHANISM OF WHAT THE ACTUAL [03:20:05] REGULATORY FEATURE IS, THE THRESHOLD VALUES FOR THOSE REQUIREMENTS AND ULTIMATELY EXCEPTIONS, WE WILL BE SHARING THE SAME SLIDES THAT WE SHARED WITH YOU ALL AND THAT WE SHARED WITH PIAGET, AS WELL AS IN THE BRIGHT RED BOXES, ARE THE INSTRUCTION THAT WE RECEIVED FROM THIS BODY AT THAT TIME. AND THEN SHOWING YOU THE RED LINE CHANGES THAT YOU SHOULD HAVE AS WELL. ON EACH ONE OF THESE REMAINING GOALS. SO ON THE SPECIMEN TREE MEASUREMENT STANDARDIZATION, THIS GOAL WAS MEANT TO BETTER PROTECT OUR IRREPLACEABLE TREES AND ULTIMATELY LANDED ON SCALING THE ACTUAL SPECIMENS INCH SIZES AND ADDRESSING SPECIMEN TREES BY JUST THE DIAMETER AT BREAST HEIGHT. THE INSTRUCTION THAT WE RECEIVED FROM THIS BODY WAS TO FIND A MIDDLE GROUND ON THE SPECIMEN TREE THRESHOLDS, LOOKING AT WHAT WAS BRINGING IN THE MOST ADDITIONAL SPECIMEN TREES ON THIS LIST. AND POSSIBLY UNEXPECTEDLY, WAS THAT ALL OTHER CATEGORY ON THAT LIST UNDER THE KIND OF YELLOW COLUMN THERE? AND SO WE ADDED ADDITIONAL SPECIFICITY BASED ON YOUR EXISTING STANDARDS TO SHOW YOU WHAT THAT LOOKS LIKE. WE ARE STILL SIMPLIFYING THE TREE MEASUREMENT AND STANDARDIZING THE WAY THAT IT'S MEASURED. AND SO RATHER THAN THIS VERY TECHNICAL SET OF MEASUREMENTS BASED ON THE CHAMPION TREE. WE'VE GONE AHEAD AND DONE THE CALCULATIONS AT THE DIAMETER, AT BREAST HEIGHT AND INCLUDE THOSE IN THE TABLE. SO NOW THE DEFINITION OR THE DESIGNATION IS BASED ON THE THRESHOLDS WITHIN A TABLE. AND THIS IS THAT TABLE. YOU KNOW, IT REPRESENTS THE TREES THAT ARE WERE IN WORKING WITH YOUR STAFF KIND OF MOST LIKELY TO BE SEEN HERE WITHIN THE COUNTY. SOME OF THESE YOU KNOW, THERE ARE PLACES HERE WHERE THERE WAS A NUMBER ALREADY IN WHAT WE BROUGHT BEFORE YOU, LIKE WITH THE LIVE OAK, WHICH WAS AT THE 50 INCH MARK WITH THE OTHERS, WE WENT AHEAD AND TOOK THE EITHER 50% OR 70% THRESHOLDS, AS WE'RE USED TO IN ANCHORING THIS, TO CHAMPION TREES AND APPLIED THEM TO THE CURRENT CHAMPION DIAMETER AT BREAST HEIGHT. AND THAT PRODUCED A FURTHER LIST THAT WAS MORE REFINED THAN THAT. ALL OTHER TREES CATCH ALL. SO THIS SHOULD CAPTURE WHAT YOU WOULD EXPECT TO BE A SPECIMEN TREE NOW, AND MAKE IT MUCH SIMPLER TO IDENTIFY THEM AND THUS PROTECT THEM. THE SPECIMEN TREE EXCEPTIONS ARE THERE. THERE'S STILL AN OPTION THERE FOR WHERE YOU CAN CONSULT WITH A OR YOUR STAFF CAN CONSULT WITH A CERTIFIED ARBORIST AND USE THOSE PRINCIPLES TO EXCLUDE SOMETHING FROM BEING A SPECIMEN TREE WHERE THE HEALTH OR LOCATION POSE A DANGER. BECAUSE WE HAVE SIMPLIFIED THAT DEFINITION, THE SPECIMEN TREE POINT CALCULATION AND ALL THE KIND OF EXTENSIVE EXAMPLES WITHIN THAT CAN BE STRUCK FROM THE LAND DEVELOPMENT CODE. AND THE DEFINITION CAN ALSO BE SIMPLIFIED TO BEING A QUALIFYING SPECIES OF A PROTECTED TREE IDENTIFIED BY THE COUNTY ADMINISTRATOR ADMINISTRATOR OR DESIGNEE, ACCORDING TO THAT SECTION. THE NEXT ITEM THAT WE'VE CARRIED THROUGH IS THE TREE BANK FUND INCREASE. THIS WAS THE INCREASED TO $100 PER MISSING TREE INCH, RATHER THAN THE CURRENT VALUE OF $25. OUR INSTRUCTION THE LAST TIME WE WERE HERE WAS THAT MAKING THAT CHANGE FROM $25 TO $100 WAS THE ACCEPTABLE RANGE TO LOOK AT. AND SO WE HAVE KEPT THAT FORWARD AND HAVE IMPLEMENTED THAT THROUGH RED LINE CHANGES. THAT MEANS IN THE CODE WHERE IT TALKS ABOUT COMMERCIAL BUILDING SITES AND SUBDIVISIONS, THAT VALUE GOES UP TO 100 INSTEAD OF $25. THAT MEANS THAT WHERE IT TALKS ABOUT LOT AREAS FOR SUBDIVISIONS, THAT VALUE GOES UP FROM $25 TO $100. IN THE SECTION ON DEVELOPMENT OF INDIVIDUAL RESIDENTIAL LOTS. THIS FEATURE IS NOT IN THERE CURRENTLY, SO THERE'S NO CHANGE TO MAKE. AND THEN FOR THE RIGHT OF WAY OR UTILITY CONSTRUCTION PROJECTS, THE VALUE INCREASES FROM $25 TO $100. THE THIRD PIECE IS THE UPLAND VEGETATION PROTECTIONS WITHIN PLANNED UNIT DEVELOPMENTS. THE PURPOSE OF THIS ONE WAS TO PROTECT ADDITIONAL TREES AND DEVELOPMENTS WHERE THERE MAY BE MORE FLEXIBILITY FOR ON SITE DEVELOPMENT, GIVEN THE NATURE OF PUDS. AND SO THE INITIAL PIECE THAT WE BROUGHT FORWARD WAS POTENTIALLY INCREASING THAT VALUE TO 20% FROM THE CURRENT FIVE. THE INSTRUCTION WE RECEIVED FROM THIS GROUP WAS THAT A MORE REASONABLE NUMBER WOULD BE TO INCREASE TO 10% ON PUDS THAT ARE 40 ACRES OR LARGER, RESERVING THE 5% FOR ALL THOSE THAT DON'T MEET THAT THRESHOLD. AND SO WE HAVE GONE AHEAD AND IMPLEMENTED THAT. THE MINIMUM PERCENT IS NOW THAT LESSER 10% CONSERVATION FOR PROPERTIES 40 ACRES OR LARGER. [03:25:01] AND THIS ENTIRE SECTION IS WITHIN A PUD STANDARD SECTION WITH THE MINIMUM OF 5% FOR THOSE PROPERTIES UNDER 40 ACRES. WHILE WE HAVE SOME OTHER SUPPORTING DOCUMENTATION IF NEEDED. EXCUSE ME. SORRY. ON SOME OF THE OTHER PIECES THAT WERE DISCUSSED. THOSE ARE THE LAND DEVELOPMENT CODE PIECES THAT HAVE BEEN BROUGHT THROUGH IN THAT RECEIVED RECOMMENDATION, INCLUDING A MINOR SCRIBNERS ERROR THAT HAS BEEN CORRECTED ON THE REFERENCES THAT WERE RECOMMENDED BY THE PLANNING AND ZONING AUTHORITY. SO DOES THIS HAVE THE THE THINGS THAT WE ALL AGREED WITH AHEAD OF TIME ON THIS OR THIS IS JUST THAT WILL BE ON THE FUTURE. SO SO THIS REPRESENTS THE THINGS WHERE WE GOT EITHER A CONSENSUS OR A32 VOTE ON THE LAST MEETING. ALL OF THAT IS INCLUDED WITH THESE THREE PIECES. PLUS THERE WAS A DISCUSSION OF A PARTICULAR LAND CLEARING PERMIT, WHICH IS NOT A PART OF THE LDC, AND SO HAS BEEN TAKING CARE OF ADMINISTRATIVE. SO WE STILL ARE DOING THAT. YEAH OKAY. ARE THERE ANY QUESTIONS? SURE. PUBLIC COMMENT. OH WELL NO. ACCEPT PUBLIC COMMENT ON AGENDA ITEM NUMBER SEVEN THROUGH THE CHAIR TO THE VICE CHAIR. YOU HAVE A DESIGNATED REPRESENTATIVE ON THIS ONE. YEAH WE DO. ALL RIGHT. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. OKAY. THERE WERE OH, THERE YOU ARE. JUST ONE ON THIS. YES. MR. AUSTIN NICHOLS AND I BELIEVE SPLITTING TIME WITH BETH BREEDING. SO, SASHA, WE HAVE SOMEONE FIRST FOR TEN MINUTES. SO YOU PROBABLY SHOULD HAVE A SEAT A LITTLE BIT. YEAH. SORRY, BUT THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE. I DON'T MIND IF SHE GOES. YEAH. NO, NO, YOU HAVE TO GO FIRST BECAUSE SHE'S NOT DESIGNATED. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. KELLY, WE'LL HAVE A REPRESENTATIVE FROM NEPA, AUSTIN AND BETH FOR TEN MINUTES. YES. AUSTIN. NICHOLAS. WITH THE NORTHEAST FLORIDA BUILDERS ASSOCIATION, 6747 SOUTH POINTE PARKWAY, JACKSONVILLE, FLORIDA. THANK YOU, CHAIR JOSEPH, FOR GIVING US A LITTLE TIME TO SPEAK ON THIS. FOR THE SAINT JOHN'S COUNTY TREE ORDINANCE, WE DO STILL HAVE SOME SIGNIFICANT CONCERNS WITH SOME OF THE CHANGES. IN SUMMARY, WE BELIEVE IT'S A TAKING TO SAY A LANDOWNER ISN'T ALLOWED TO CUT DOWN A TREE THAT THEY OWN. THE COUNTY HAS EVEN INCLUDED WATER OAKS ON THIS LIST, WHICH ARE WIDELY KNOWN TO FALL DURING STORMS AND HURRICANES AND CAN PRESENT A DANGER TO CITIZENS AND THEIR PROPERTY. IT ALSO WITH THE 5% TO 10% CHANGE AND PRESERVING UPLANDS, THAT ALSO REDUCES PROPERTY TAXES FOR THAT PROPERTY ONCE DEVELOPED BECAUSE THERE ARE LESS HOMES, BUSINESSES, ETC.. THAT EXTRA 5% WILL ALSO LIKELY END UP AS A WIDER, UNDISTURBED BUFFER AGAINST WETLANDS, WHICH MEANS IT WILL ESSENTIALLY NEVER BE USED OR ENJOYED. THIS EXTRA 5% WOULD ALSO BE IN ADDITION TO THE UPCOMING CLEAN WATERWAYS ACT REGULATIONS THAT MAY INCREASE THE SIZE OF STORMWATER PONDS FROM ROUGHLY 15% OF A PROJECT SITE TO 30% OF A PROJECT SITE, DEPENDING ON WHICH OPTION IS USED FOR NUTRIENT REDUCTION. ALSO, THE SPECIMEN TREE SIZE IS BEING PROPOSED IN THIS UPDATE ARE BETWEEN 50% AND 70% SIZE OF CHAMPION TREES, DEPENDING ON THE SPECIES. AS I MENTIONED EARLIER, WE BELIEVE WATER OAKS SHOULD BE REMOVED FROM THE SPECIMEN TREE LIST DUE TO THEIR TENDENCY TO FALL DURING STORMS. AS FAR AS THE OTHER GOAL, THOUGH, NFPA DOES SUPPORT INCREASING THE TREE BANK FUND PAYMENT FROM 25 TO $100. WE THINK THAT'S REASONABLE AND WILL HELP SAINT JOHN'S COUNTY PLANT MORE TREES, BUT I'LL GIVE THE REST OF MY TIME TO BETH READING. HI. SO ONE THING I WANTED TO POINT OUT, I DIDN'T THINK IT WAS APPROPRIATE FOR THERE TO BE A DISCUSSION OF PRESERVATION OF UPLANDS AND THE TREE ORDINANCE. THIS IS A TREE ORDINANCE. THAT'S WHAT THE LAND DEVELOPMENT CODE IS FOR. AND THAT'S ALSO WHAT THE COMPREHENSIVE PLAN IS FOR. SO I DON'T THINK THAT SHOULD BE ANYTHING TO DO WITH THE TREE ORDINANCE. WITH ALL THE RESILIENCY REQUIREMENTS THAT ARE FORCED UPON LANDOWNERS, THAT THEY ARE FORCED TO RAISE THEIR SITE. AND WHEN WE RAISE OUR SITE, WE HAVE TO CUT THE TREES. SO TO HAVE A LIST OF TREES THAT WE'RE NOT EVEN ALLOWED TO MITIGATE FOR. HOW DO YOU PLAN AROUND THAT? YOU HAVE SOMEONE THAT OWNED 20 ACRES OF LAND, AND THEY HAD THESE BEAUTIFUL CATTLE, AND THEY WANTED THE CATTLE TO HAVE SHADE. SO NOW I GO AND TALK TO THEM ABOUT DOING SOMETHING WITH THEIR PROPERTY SO THEY CAN CASH OUT THEIR OLD THEY WANT THEIR CHILDREN TO, TO HAVE THE BENEFIT OF THEM PAYING TAXES FOR ALL OF THAT TIME. AND I TELL THEM, OH, I'M SORRY, YOUR SITE'S UNDEVELOPED. YOU'VE GOT SOMETHING FROM THIS LIST OF TREES, AND I'M NOT EVEN ALLOWED TO CUT AND MITIGATE FOR IT. AND I THINK IF YOU LOOK AT, LIKE, WORLD GOLF VILLAGE, YOU LOOK AT MIRABELLA. MIRABELLA WAS A SIDE FARM. IT'S GORGEOUS. NOW. THE TREES HAVE GROWN UP. TREES ARE A RENEWABLE RESOURCE. THAT'S WHAT WE KEEP FORGETTING. IF YOU CUT A TREE AND PLANT ANOTHER ONE, IT'S GOING TO GROW. I LIVE IN SAN MARCO. IF YOU LOOK AT HISTORICAL DATA AND PHOTOS, YOU SEE THAT? IT LOOKED LIKE A BOMB WENT OFF AND THERE WASN'T A TREE TO BE HAD. [03:30:01] YOU COME THERE NOW. EVERY TIME WE HAVE A STORM, A ROAD GETS BLOCKED. BECAUSE A TREE CAME DOWN. BECAUSE IT'S SO OLD AND IT'S BEAUTIFUL. AND SO WE CAN REPLANT THESE TREES. I DON'T THINK WE SHOULD HAVE A LIST OF TREES THAT WE CAN'T MITIGATE FOR. IN ADDITION, THE MORE LANDS YOU TAKE FROM EACH PARCEL PROMOTE SPRAWL BECAUSE THE SAME NUMBER OF HOMES NEED TO BE BUILT. AND SO IF YOU KEEP TAKING MORE AND MORE OF OUR LAND AND MAKE IT UNDEVELOPED, THAT PROMOTES SPRAWL. SO THEN YOU HAVE TO GO TO THE NEXT PIECE AND THE NEXT PIECE. BUT YET OTHER THINGS IN THE CODE PROMOTE COMPACT AND CONTIGUOUS DEVELOPMENT. SO THE COUNTY HAS PROVISIONS WITHIN ITS OWN CODE THAT DON'T MESH AND ARE COUNTERPRODUCTIVE TO EACH OTHER. SO WE JUST ASK THAT WE TAKE THESE THINGS INTO CONSIDERATION. THANK YOU. COULD I JUST THANK YOU? IS RICHARD GROSSO THIS LIST I HAVE. RIGHT. SO THAT'S WHERE AGENDA ITEM EIGHT DO YOU ONLY HAVE ONE FOR AGENDA ITEM? THANK YOU. SO NOW GENERAL PUBLIC COMMENT. NOW WE'LL OPEN UP FOR COMMISSIONER TAYLOR. YES. THANK YOU, THANK YOU. I JUST HAD A QUESTION. IF EVERYONE WHEN THEY DO COME UP, I KNOW SOMETIMES WE WILL JUST HEAR AN ADDRESS. BUT IF YOU COULD SPECIFY WHAT COUNTY YOU ARE IN WITH THE ADDRESS, I DON'T KNOW EVERYBODY'S ADDRESS OR WHAT COUNTY IS IN, BUT I WOULD APPRECIATE THAT ADDITIONAL INFORMATION. EXCELLENT. THANK YOU. OKAY. WE'RE NOW ACCEPT PUBLIC COMMENT ON AGENDA ITEM NUMBER SEVEN. GOOD AFTERNOON MA'AM. I MAY GO OVER BY ONE SENTENCE SO I'M GOING TO GET TO THAT POINT. I'LL LET YOU KNOW. OKAY. OH, YOU ALREADY STARTED MY TIME. THAT'S NOT FAIR. SASHA MARTIN, 133 COASTAL HOLLOW CIRCLE. I ATTENDED THE JULY 17TH PTA MEETING AND CAME AWAY WITH CONCERNS AND QUESTIONS. I WAS DISAPPOINTED THAT THERE ARE STILL LOOPHOLES WHICH INCLUDE ENCOURAGE CLEARCUTTING AND WHERE IS A COMPARISON TO TREE ORDINANCES FROM OTHER COUNTIES. THE TABLE OF TREE SPECIES AND ASSOCIATED INCHES IS NOT ALL ENCOMPASSING. IT HAS NO PALMS, NO PINES ON IT. HELLO. ASKED THE ORIGIN OF THE LIST. THE ANSWER WAS IT'S THE LIST WE HAD BEFORE. INCHES CAME FROM COMPARISON TO SO-CALLED STATE CHAMPION TREES, 50% OF THAT FOR FOUR ON THE LIST AND 70% FOR THE REST. OUR TREES ARE NOT THE SAME AS IN TALLAHASSEE. AN INCH MEASURE CALLED DBH IS NOT DEFINED. MY BREAST HEIGHT IS NOT THE SAME AS YOURS. JUST SAY SO MANY FEET OFF THE GROUND. BY THE WAY, SAND OAKS ARE NOT REPLANTED. REGARDING PERCENTAGE OF NATURAL RESOURCES TO BE PRESERVED. ONLY CERTAIN PUDS OF MORE THAN 40 ACRES ARE CONSIDERED. MANY OF OUR NEIGHBORHOOD PUDS ARE MUCH LESS. AND THEY'RE EXCLUDED. NATURAL RESOURCES OTHER THAN TREES ARE NOT CONSIDERED. AND AN INCREASE FROM 5 TO 10% ONLY MEANS FOUR OUT OF 40 ACRES FOR PRESERVATION. THE EFFECT ON BUSINESS. WHAT IS THE REAL EFFECT ON BUSINESS? UNLESS THE TOTAL PENALTY CAN BE UNDERSTOOD TO MEAN FOR THE INCREASE FROM 25 TO $100 AN INCH. OR WILL IT JUST BE A SLAP ON THE WRIST AND COST OF DOING BUSINESS TO BE PASSED ALONG? THE DEVELOPMENT PLAN APPLICATION WAS JUST FLASHED UP ON THE SCREEN IN THE PRESENTATION BY THE CONSULTANT. ARE THERE CHANGES TO THAT? A PROPERTY OWNER DOESN'T HAVE TO SUBMIT AN ACTUAL DEVELOPMENT PLAN. JUST A TREE SURVEY. AN EXEMPTION IS QUOTE, UNLESS THEY TOOK ADVANTAGE OF FLEXIBILITY IN THE PUD APPLICATION PROCESS TO ORGANIZE THE SITE. SO AN OWNER IS FREE TO CLEAR CUT AND SELL TO A NEW OWNER AT A PROFIT, LEAVING THE LAND BARREN. HOMEOWNERS WHO MONITORS WHAT HAPPENS AFTER THE FACT? STAFF SAID THERE ARE 130 COMMERCIAL DEVELOPMENT APPLICATIONS ANNUALLY. PGA MEMBERS SAID 300 DEVELOPMENTS HAVE BEEN CLEARCUT. WHAT ARE THE CORRECT NUMBERS FOR THOSE AND HOW MANY? WE STILL REMAIN BARREN. AND HERE'S MY LAST SENTENCE. DO WE CONCLUDE THAT PROPERTY RIGHTS AND PROFIT MAKING ABILITY EXCEEDS THE RIGHTS OF MOST OF OUR COUNTY RESIDENTS FOR QUALITY OF LIFE AND ENJOYMENT OF OUR PROPERTY, TO HAVE NATURAL RESOURCES. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. YOU DID GOOD. NEXT. YEAH, IT WOULD REALLY BE THE [03:35:07] PROCESS UP IF WE COULD, IF WE'RE GOING TO HAVE A LOT OF PEOPLE, IF YOU'D STAND UP AND GET IN LINE AT LEAST THE NEXT COUPLE SO THAT WE'D HAVE SOMEBODY COMING UP. WE GOT A LOT TO GET THROUGH. CAN THEY ADD THEIR COUNTY? YEAH. OH, AND AND ADD YOUR COUNTY, PLEASE? YES. GOOD AFTERNOON. I'M MAUREEN O'CONNOR, 426 OLD MYRTLE STREET, SAINT AUGUSTINE, SAINT JOHNS COUNTY. I ATTENDED LAST WEEK'S PTA MEETING ON REVISIONS TO THE LDC CLASSIFICATION OF TREE ORDINANCE. LAST WEEK'S PCA ITEM ON THE TREE ORDINANCE REVISIONS WERE FOR PLANNED UNIT DEVELOPMENTS AND NOT SMALLER RESIDENTIAL LOTS. AS YOU SEE HERE, ALL TREES, REGARDLESS OF THEIR SIZE, MEETING THESE SPECIFICATIONS SHOULD BE PROTECTED. BESIDES THEIR BEAUTY, THERE ARE MULTIPLE ADVANTAGES OF TREES WILDLIFE HABITATION SUPPORT, ENVIRONMENTAL BENEFITS, TEMPERATURE REGULATIONS AND WIND RESISTANCE. SHADE PROVIDING OVERALL COOLING AND THE ADDITIONAL BENEFIT OF POTENTIALLY LOWERING OUR ENERGY BILLS. THIS YEAR HAS SEEN THE HIGHEST NUMBER OF 90 PLUS TEMPERATURES IN YEARS TO DATE. STRIP THE LAND AND PAVE THE SURFACE. HEAT INCREASES AND THE WATER IS NOT ABSORBED AND FLOODING OCCURS. CLEARCUTTING OF LAND HAS BECOME THE NORM. OFTEN, LOPS LIE DORMANT AND UNDERDEVELOPED FOR LENGTHY PERIODS OF TIME. THERE ARE PENALTIES IMPOSED SHOULD TREES BE REMOVED WITHOUT OBTAINING THE NECESSARY PERMITS. FINES ARE IMPOSED. FINES AND MITIGATION TO REPLACE TREES DO NOT REPLACE THE MAGNIFICENT 100 TO 250 YEAR OLD TREES. THEY ARE REPLACED WITH SAPLINGS THAT MAY, IN 30 OR 50 YEARS, BECOME ONCE WELL-ESTABLISHED BENEFIT TREES. LAST WEEK, A BUILDER IN DEFENSE OF CLEAR CUTTING TALKED ABOUT THE MAGNOLIA TREES DYING AND REPLACED BY LIVE OAKS ON MAGNOLIA STREET. SHOWN WAS THE CURRENT PICTURE OF MAGNOLIA STREET WITH THE LUSH TREE CANOPIES. WHAT HE FAILED TO MENTION IS THAT THE TREES WERE REPLACED ALMOST 100 YEARS AGO. SOME OF THESE TREES ARE OVER 200 YEARS OLD. I URGED THE COUNTY IN THE FUTURE THAT THE MODIFICATIONS TO THE TREE ORDINANCES WOULD BE ENHANCED WITH INCREASED PROTECTION AND LESS APPROVAL OF TREE REMOVALS, REGARDLESS OF THE LAND AND THE SIZE OF THE LAND. THANK YOU. GOOD AFTERNOON. HELLO. JOHN METCALFE, US 7549, STATE ROAD 13, SAINT AUGUSTINE, FLORIDA, 32092. IT'S IN SAINT JOHNS COUNTY. I WHAT I WANT TO DO TODAY IS JUST CALL YOUR ATTENTION TO SOME CASE LAW. AND I BROUGHT COPIES FOR YOUR ATTORNEY, AND I WOULD ASK YOU TO HAVE YOUR ATTORNEYS ANALYZE THIS. THE THE PRINCIPAL CASE THAT I WANT TO TALK ABOUT IS FP DEVELOPMENT, LLC VERSUS CHARTER TOWNSHIP OF CANTON, MICHIGAN. IT'S A UNITED STATES SIX CIRCUIT COURT OF APPEAL CASE, AND IT WAS DECIDED IN 2021. AND IN THAT CASE THE COURT HELD THAT A TREE ORDINANCE VERY SIMILAR TO THE SAINT JOHN'S JOHNS COUNTY TREE ORDINANCE. THE REQUIRED MITIGATION, IN THE FORM OF EITHER PLANTING TREES OR PAYING INTO A TREE BANK FUND, WAS HELD TO BE AN UNCONSTITUTIONAL TAKING AS A CONDITION. THAT DID NOT HAVE A ROUGH PROPORTIONALITY TO THE HARM. AND IN FACT, IN THAT CASE, CANTON MADE NO EFFORT TO INDIVIDUALLY DISCOVER ANY HARM THAT WAS CAUSED BY THE TREE CUTTING IN THAT PARTICULAR CASE. AND NOR DOES SAINT JOHNS COUNTY'S ORDINANCE. IT'S JUST YOU CUT THE TREES, YOU EITHER REPLACE THEM OR YOU PAY. IN ADDITION TO THAT CASE, THERE WAS ANOTHER RELATED CASE STATE COURT CASE, CHARTER TOWNSHIP OF CANTON VERSUS 446 50 INC. IN THAT CASE, IT WAS PART OF THE SAME ORIGINAL TRACT AS IN THE FORMER CASE AND THIS LANDOWNER HAD PURCHASED A 16 ACRE TRACT BECAUSE THEY WANTED TO HAVE A CHRISTMAS TREE FARM. THEY PAID ROUGHLY $400,000 FOR THE TRACT. THEY CLEARCUT. IT TOOK DOWN ALL THE TREES WHICH DID. THE CASE RECITES THAT A LOT OF THOSE, THE TREES THAT WERE TAKEN DOWN WERE EXOTIC SPECIES AND SO FORTH. [03:40:02] CANTON MADE NO EXCEPTION. TREES WERE TREES. THEY REPLANTED THEM WITH CHRISTMAS TREES. DID NOT OBTAIN A PERMIT. THE MITIGATION REQUIRED BY CANTON WAS $446,000, WHICH EXCEEDED WHAT THE LANDOWNER HAD PAID FOR THE PROPERTY. AND AGAIN, THE COURT HELD IT WAS AN UNCONSTITUTIONAL TAKING. THE ONLY OTHER CASE THAT I WANT TO TALK ABOUT IS THE UNITED STATES SUPREME COURT CASE SHEETS VERSUS THE COUNTY OF EL DORADO, CALIFORNIA. AND THAT'S 60. I'M SORRY. 601 US. 237. AND IT WAS DECIDED. WELL, IT'S DECIDED WITHIN THE LAST THREE YEARS. AND IT'S NOT ABOUT TREES, BUT IT'S ABOUT IMPACT FEES. AND IT AND IT HOLDS THAT REGARDLESS OF WHETHER IT'S A LEGISLATIVE ACT OF THE, OF THE LOCAL GOVERNMENT OR AN ADMINISTRATIVE ACT, EITHER WAY, THE ROUGH PROPORTIONALITY TEST WHICH THE TREE ORDINANCES FAILED IN THESE OTHER CASES. YEAH. I'M YOUR TIME. I APOLOGIZE, YOUR TIME HAS EXPIRED. THANK YOU SO MUCH, I APPRECIATE IT. YEAH. HERE'S THE CASES. OKAY. RIGHT THERE. THANK YOU SO MUCH. JOE, COME ON UP. I AM JOE RYAN, SIX NINE, NINE STANDISH DRIVE, SAINT AUGUSTINE, FLORIDA AND SAINT JOHN'S COUNTY. I SENT YOU ALL AN EMAIL ABOUT THE PROBLEMS WITH CLEARCUTTING. MOSTLY IN THIS COUNTY WE HAVE LAND THAT IS BEING DEVELOPED AND APPROVED. YOU KNOW, THERE'S APPROVAL FOR LARGE, LARGE DEVELOPMENTS. AND GOING DOWN THE 5% IS, IN MY OPINION, CLEAR CUTTING. NOW, I'M THE LAST PERSON WHO WANTS REGULATIONS ON PEOPLE'S PERSONAL PROPERTY. BUT WHEN IT AFFECTS THE ENVIRONMENT OR YOUR NEIGHBORS, THEN THERE IS A LEGAL PRECEDENT, A LEGAL OBLIGATION ACTUALLY PROTECT PEOPLE WHO ALREADY LIVE HERE, AS OPPOSED TO DEVELOPERS WHO MIGHT DEVELOP 5% MORE OF THEIR LAND. I UNDERSTAND THAT THAT IS AN IMPORTANT THING THAT WE DO PROTECT OUR ENVIRONMENT, BECAUSE I WANT TO POINT OUT I'M A, YOU KNOW, AMATEUR SCIENTIST ON STAN, WHAT HAPPENED TO ANCIENT CULTURES? AND I WANT TO POINT OUT THAT THE ANASAZI, WHICH ACTUALLY DID NOT EVEN CALL THEMSELVES ANASAZI AND THE MAYAN CULTURES, WERE COMPLETELY ANNIHILATED BY CLEARCUTTING. YOU MAY NOT KNOW THAT BECAUSE THEY LIVE IN A RAINFOREST RIGHT NOW, BUT THEIR CIVILIZATION DIED BECAUSE OF LAND CUTTING. IT WAS VERY RELATIVE CONDITIONS THAT MADE THAT POSSIBLE. RELATIVELY UNPRODUCTIVE LAND ON FERTILE LAND THAT WAS CLEAR CUT AND THE CROPS COULD NOT MAINTAIN THE WATERSHED. WE HAVE THAT SAME SITUATION HERE IN SAINT JOHN'S COUNTY. I DON'T KNOW IF IT'S CALLED A TAKING, BUT I THINK IT'S YOU'RE APPROVING WHAT? YOU'RE APPROVING A PUD OR A DRY. SOME CONSIDERATION SHOULD BE MADE TO MAINTAINING THE ECOSYSTEM OF THE COUNTY. POLLUTED WATER DEAD, YOU KNOW, SENTIMENT GOING INTO OUR CREEKS ALL THAT IS DEVASTATION THAT I DON'T THINK WE NEED TO DEAL WITH. AND IF YOU CAN DO ANYTHING TO PREVENT THAT, IT WOULD BE GREATLY APPRECIATED. THANK YOU. MY NAME IS ROBERT MCVEIGH OF EIGHT TARPON ROAD IN PONTE VEDRA BEACH. IT'S BEEN A COUPLE OF YEARS SINCE I'VE BEEN DOWN HERE. IT'S NICE TO SEE SOME NEW FACES. IT'S NICE TO SEE SOME OF THE OLD FACES. I REPRESENT THE NEIGHBORS OF GOLF AND COVE, WHICH IS ON A1A WHICH GOT RAVAGED BY GATE PETROLEUM'S CLEAR CUTTING EFFORTS A COUPLE OF YEARS AGO. AND THIS IS WHAT HAPPENED TO OUR NEIGHBORHOOD. WITHOUT TREE BUFFERS, WITHOUT TREE SALVATIONS. AND THIS IS GOING TO HAPPEN TO YOU GUYS. THAT HAPPENED TO US. AND I JUST TOOK A PICTURE TODAY. IT LOOKS THE SAME AS IT DID IN 2022. SURE. ALL RIGHT. SO. WE HAD TO, YOU KNOW, YEARS OF DEALING WITH THE ECOSYSTEM CHANGES THE ENVIRONMENT. THE WIND IS RELENTLESS. PEOPLE'S POOLS FILTHY, NOT USABLE. [03:45:04] THE TREES DO A LOT. IT BREAKS UP. THE WIND COMING OFF OF THE BEACH OBVIOUSLY HOUSES ALL THE NATIVE WILDLIFE OUT THERE. ALL OF THAT'S GONE. YOU KNOW, THEY COME BACK, THEY SPRINKLE IN A COUPLE OF TREES HERE OR THERE, BUT JUST THEY KILLED OUR PROPERTY VALUES OUT THERE AS WELL. AND YOU KNOW, IF YOU WANT TO SEE TWO IN REAL TIME. YOU KNOW, THIS IS YOU KNOW, I FILMED I HAVE A WHOLE TIME LAPSE OF THEM JUST INCHES RIGHT UP TO THE PROPERTY LINE. NO BUFFER, NO NOTHING. RIGHT WHERE MY KIDS PLAY. NO FENCE, NO PROTECTION. HERE'S A MASSIVE EXCAVATOR DOING ITS THING, RIPPING IT DOWN. NOBODY CARES. BUT WE KNOW WHO FILLS THE COFFERS OF CAMPAIGNS. SO I ASK. OBVIOUSLY THIS IS REACTIVE AND NOT PROACTIVE. WE TRY TO BE PROACTIVE, BUT JUST DO SOMETHING TO PREVENT THIS FROM THE NEXT NEIGHBORHOOD. SOME OF Y'ALL RAN ON CAMPAIGNS ABOUT TREE PROTECTIONS. BUFFERS LIVE UP TO THOSE PROMISES. THIS IS NOT A GOOD LOOK FOR PONTEVEDRA BEACH. WHAT IF THIS WAS YOUR NEIGHBORHOOD? WHAT IF THIS WAS YOUR YARD? IS THAT WHAT YOU WANT TO SEE WHEN YOU COME HOME FROM WORK ONE DAY. I DON'T THAT'S REALLY ALL I HAVE TO SAY. TO JUST ANYTHING WE CAN DO TO ENHANCE THE QUALITY OF LIFE IN THE PRESERVATION OF THE CHARACTER OF THE NEIGHBORHOODS IS ALL I CAME HERE FOR TODAY. I APPRECIATE YOUR TIME, KRISTA. GOOD TO SEE YOU. I LOVE THE NEW SEAT. IT'S FANTASTIC. AND I WISH YOU ALL A GREAT DAY. THANK YOU. AND GOOD AFTERNOON, CHRIS. SHE'S 6490 NASSAU STREET, SAINT AUGUSTINE, SAINT JOHNS COUNTY. I KNOW THIS IS A VERY EMOTIONAL ISSUE. I DON'T THINK THERE'S A PERSON IN THIS CROWD, INCLUDING DEVELOPERS, THAT WOULD TELL YOU THAT A STAND OF OLD MATURE OAKS ISN'T BEAUTIFUL. THEY ARE. THE REALITY, THOUGH, IS THAT WHEN YOU BUY A PIECE OF PROPERTY, THE REAL PROPERTY THAT YOU BUY IS THAT PIECE OF PROPERTY DOWN TO THE CORE OF THE EARTH. IT ALSO INCLUDES THE AIRSPACE ABOVE IT. IT INCLUDES THE MINERALS THAT ARE IN THE GROUND, AND IT INCLUDES THE TREES THAT ARE ON THAT PROPERTY. FOR THE COUNTY TO TELL ME OR ANYONE ELSE THAT I CAN'T CUT DOWN A TREE BECAUSE OF HOW WIDE THE DIAMETER IS, IS IT TAKING? AND I KNOW A COUPLE OF PEOPLE HAVE MENTIONED THAT BEFORE, BUT IT'S IT'S ILLEGAL. IT SHOULD NOT BE ALLOWED TO. THE GENTLEMAN THAT WAS UP HERE BEFORE THAT DOES LOOK BAD, YOU KNOW, TO HAVE A CLEAR CUT PIECE OF PROPERTY. BUT IT'S HIS REAL PROPERTY THAT HE CAN PLANT HIS OWN REAL TREES AND CREATE THE BUFFER THAT HE WANTS. SO THANK YOU, THANK YOU. NEXT. ORDER, PLEASE. GOOD AFTERNOON, CHARLIE HUNT, MILL CREEK ESTATES ONCE A OWNER GOES OUT, GETS THE PROPERTY AND HE'S SAYING, CAN'T, YOU KNOW, IT HAS TO GO THROUGH THE COUNTY TO CUT DOWN THE TREE OR THAT THEY'RE GOING TO BE PROTECTED. BUT IF THEY DON'T, THEY CUT THE TREE. THEY CLEAR CUT IT. THEY CLEAR EVERYTHING OUT. THEY DIDN'T WANT TO BUILD SOMETHING AND ALL THOSE REGULATIONS ON WHAT THEY HAVE TO BUILD, WHAT GOES WITH IT, WHAT WHAT TYPE OF STRUCTURE IT IS. WHAT WHERE'S THE ELECTRICAL? WHERE'S THIS WATER, WHERE'S THIS? AND WHERE'S ALL THESE OTHER CONCEPTS OF BUILDING WHAT THEY WANT TO BUILD ON THAT PROPERTY THAT THEY BOUGHT AND THEY CLEARCUTTING IT SO NOW THEY CAN GO AND THEY HAVE TO GO THROUGH ALL THE REGULATIONS OF BUILDING WHAT THEY WANT TO BUILD. THEN WHY EVEN MAKE THEM DO THAT? BECAUSE IT'S THEIR PROPERTY. THEY BOUGHT IT. IT'S THEIR RESPONSIBILITY TO BUILD WHAT THEY WANT. BUT IF YOU COME IN AND TELL THEM YOU CAN'T CUT DOWN THIS TREE. WELL, IT'S MY PROPERTY. THERE'S THERE'S THAT THAT THAT A LOT OF THEY ONLY WANT TO GO WITH WHAT'S WHAT THEY DON'T LIKE. OKAY. IF THERE'S REGULATIONS SHOWING WHAT CAN AND CAN'T BE BUILT ON THAT PROPERTY, THEN WHY DO THEY BUY THAT PROPERTY? TO CUT DOWN EVERYTHING. IT'S VERY IT'S VERY CONFUSING THAT THEY'RE TRYING TO MAKE IT SAYING THIS IS MY PROPERTY. I DON'T WANT NO TREES ON IT, BUT I WANT TO BUILD THIS. WELL, YOU CAN'T HAVE THAT SIZE OF A STRUCTURE. YOU CAN'T HAVE THIS. YOU CAN'T HAVE THIS. OKAY. [03:50:01] OKAY. BUT I CAN STILL CUT DOWN EVERYTHING ON IT, RIGHT? SURE. CLEAR IT. SO WHERE IS THE CONFUSION? OR THEY'RE TRYING TO SYMPATHIZE ABOUT? THAT'S THEIR PROPERTY. THEY CAN DO WHATEVER THEY WANT UNTIL IT COMES TIME TO BUILD OR PUT WHATEVER ON THAT PROPERTY. THEN THEY HAVE TO FOLLOW ALL THE REGULATIONS. SO MAYBE, MAYBE IT'S A LITTLE BIT OF PRACTICALITY THAT THERE'S THAT THEY'RE MISSING. IF YOU WANT TO BUY THAT, YOU HAD TO GO THROUGH THE REGULATIONS OF BUYING. YOU HAD TO GO THROUGH THE PROPER LEGAL MEANS OF BUYING IT. BUT YOU CLEARCUT IT. NOW, I WANT TO PUT THIS TYPE OF STRUCTURE. WELL, WE CAN'T HAVE THAT TYPE OF STRUCTURE. IT'S TOO HIGH. IT'S TOO BIG. YOU DON'T HAVE THIS. YOU DON'T HAVE THIS. WELL, IT'S MY PROPERTY. WHY CAN'T I DO THAT? THAT IS WHAT'S GOING ON. THEY'RE TRYING TO MAKE IT LOOK SO RIDICULOUSLY SILLY OF SAYING IT'S MY PROPERTY, I OWN IT. YOU CANNOT TELL ME WHAT TO DO ON MY PROPERTY. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. WHO'S NEXT UP ON UP? I'M NADINE HUEY. I LIVE AT 175 ATLANTA AVENUE IN SAINT AUGUSTINE, SAINT JOHNS COUNTY. AND I'M REPRESENTING MYSELF IN CARE, WHICH IS COMMUNITY ADVOCATES FOR RACIAL EQUITY. STUDIES HAVE SHOWN THAT TREE INEQUALITY EXISTS IN THE US. AND ALTHOUGH IT'S BEEN IDENTIFIED AS A BIGGER ISSUE IN URBAN AREAS, THE FACT THAT LOWER INCOME AND MINORITY NEIGHBORHOODS IN THE UNITED STATES GENERALLY HAVE BEEN FOUND TO HAVE FEWER TREES PRESENTS AN ISSUE OF FAIRNESS. TREES HAVE MANY ENVIRONMENTAL AND HUMAN HEALTH BENEFITS, INCLUDING REDUCING TEMPERATURES AND IMPROVING AIR QUALITY. TREES ARE GOOD FOR EVERYONE IN OUR COMMUNITY, WHATEVER THE INCOME LEVEL, SO WE ARE ALL FOR THE PROTECTION OF TREES WHEREVER POSSIBLE. WE'VE ALSO RECOGNIZED THAT THERE CAN BE TENSION BETWEEN THE GOALS OF TREE PRESERVATION AND INCREASING OUR STOCK OF AFFORDABLE HOUSING AT THE 80, 80%, 50%, 30% OF AN AREA MEDIAN INCOME LEVEL OR BELOW. SMART GROWTH IS GOING TO REQUIRE US TO MAKE SOME DIFFICULT TRADE OFFS OF COMPETING VALUES. IF WE'RE EVER GOING TO INCREASE OUR AFFORDABLE HOUSING STOCK IN SAINT JOHN'S COUNTY. IT'S ALL ABOUT ACHIEVING THE RIGHT BALANCE IN THE INTERESTS OF OUR COMMUNITY. WE'RE ALL FOR SAVING AS MANY TREES AS POSSIBLE FOR AS MANY PEOPLE AS POSSIBLE, INCLUDING PEOPLE LIVING IN SAINT JOHN'S COUNTY AT THE LOWER END OF THE INCOME SPECTRUM. THE MODEST CHANGES PROPOSED SEEM LIKELY TO PRESERVE MORE TREES, BUT WE'VE ALSO ASKED THE COUNTY TO TAKE STEPS TO ASSIST LOWER INCOME HOUSEHOLDS, WHICH OFTEN LIVE ON SMALLER LOTS. WHEN THEY FIND THEMSELVES IN SITUATIONS IN WHICH THEIR INSURANCE COMPANIES REQUIRE THEM TO REMOVE TREES THAT THEIR BUILDERS HAVE PRESERVED UNDER THE TREE ORDINANCE. INSURANCE COMPANIES MAY THREATEN TO DROP COVERAGE IF HOMEOWNERS DON'T REMOVE TREES THAT HAVE DIED, OR THAT ARE CLOSE TO THEIR HOMES DUE TO HURRICANE RISK. AN UNEXPECTED EXPENSE OF SEVERAL THOUSAND DOLLARS MAY RISK LOWER INCOME HOMEOWNERS HOMEOWNERS LOSING THEIR HOMES. SO IN ADDITION TO PASSING A REVISED ORDINANCE THAT WILL PRESERVE MORE TREES, WE REQUEST THAT YOU TASK COUNTY STAFF TO EXPLORE THE IDEA OF EITHER CREATING SUCH A FUND OR AMENDING THE PERMISSIBLE USES OF THE EXISTING TREE BANK FUND TO PROVIDE THIS TYPE OF ASSISTANCE FOR NECESSARY TREE REMOVAL TO LOW INCOME HOUSEHOLDS. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. NICOLE CROSBY, 1169 NECK ROAD IN SAINT JOHNS COUNTY. IT'S BEEN 25 YEARS NOW THAT WE'VE HAD THIS TREE CODE, I THINK MAYBE ONE TINY TWEAK WAS DONE TO IT IN 25 YEARS. I MEAN, THE DEVELOPERS HAVE HAD A FANTASTIC RUN. THERE HAVE BEEN ADVOCATES TRYING PRETTY AGGRESSIVELY SINCE 2018 TO GET A REVISED TREE CODE. HERE WE ARE TODAY IN 2025, AND NOW WE'RE STILL TRYING THIS LAST ROUND. I THINK I COUNTED 19 MONTHS SINCE OUR CHAIR BEGAN THIS THING. I MEAN, IT'S BEEN A LONG RUN OF JUST TRYING TO GET FAIRLY MINIMAL CHANGES IN A CODE THAT IS WELL, COMPARED TO OTHER COUNTIES IN, AROUND US. OUR CODE IS NOT ALL THAT PROTECTIVE. I MEAN, I REALLY WISH THAT OUR CONSULTANT HAD DONE A COMPETITIVE ANALYSIS. I THINK WE REALLY DESERVED TO KNOW WHAT THE COUNTY IS AROUND US ARE DOING. [03:55:03] WE SHOULDN'T HAVE TO DO THAT RESEARCH. I MADE A COUPLE OF PHONE CALLS. I DID LEARN THAT IN VOLUSIA COUNTY THEY HAVE 15% TREE PRESERVATION COMPARED TO OUR 5% IN AMELIA ISLAND. 25% OF TREES HAVE TO EITHER BE REPLACED OR PRESERVED. SO, YOU KNOW, IF YOU LOOK AT OTHER COUNTIES, YOU KNOW, WE'RE NOT ASKING FOR MUCH. I, YOU KNOW, DUVAL COUNTY IS PRESERVING ITS LONGLEAF PINES, WHICH IS A NATIVE TREE, VERY STRONG NATIVE TREE THAT CAN WITHSTAND HURRICANES AND FIRES. WE DON'T EVEN COMPARE THAT WELL WITHIN OUR OWN COUNTY TO HOW WE'RE DOING. YOU KNOW, I KNOW THAT THERE'S THIS NORTHERN OVERLAY DISTRICT THAT HAS A BETTER TREE CODE THAN THE REST OF THE. EXCUSE ME, THE REST OF THE COUNTY. I THINK SAINT AUGUSTINE HAS A BETTER TREE CODE. WE'RE REALLY NOT ASKING FOR MUCH. WE REALLY AREN'T. AND, YOU KNOW, I DON'T UNDERSTAND WHY. AND I'M GLAD THERE ARE A BUNCH OF DEVELOPERS IN THIS ROOM, BECAUSE I'D REALLY LIKE TO ASK THEM TO THINK ABOUT WHY THEY HAVE TO BE SO RIGID ABOUT TRYING TO UPHOLD THE STATUS QUO AND NOT FINALLY, AFTER 25 YEARS, GIVING A LITTLE BECAUSE, YOU KNOW, IF YOU GUYS GAVE A LITTLE, PEOPLE LIKE US WOULD BACK OFF. I MEAN, I WOULD LOVE NOTHING MORE THAN TO JUST FOLD MY FACEBOOK PAGE AND SAY, GOOD, THIS COUNTY IS IN BALANCED HANDS. THINGS ARE, YOU KNOW, BUT IT'S A FIGHT. EVERYTHING'S A FIGHT. FIGHT. AND WHY CAN'T THE DEVELOPERS CONSIDER MAYBE COMPROMISING A LITTLE? JUST THINK ABOUT IT. THANK YOU. NEXT SEEING NONE, WE'LL CLOSE PUBLIC COMMENT. IF YOU WANT TO COME FOR A PUBLIC COMMENT, YOU HAVE TO COME. OH. REALLY? GOOD AFTERNOON. GOOD AFTERNOON. FOR THE RECORD. ELLEN AVERY SMITH, ROGERS TOWERS, 100 WHETSTONE PLACE, HERE IN SAINT AUGUSTINE. AND ALSO A RESIDENT OF SAINT JOHN'S COUNTY. SO EVERYONE UNDERSTANDS WHAT I'M TALKING ABOUT. I'M GOING TO PUT THE CODE REVISIONS UP THAT ARE PROPOSED. SO WHAT I'M GOING TO TALK ABOUT TODAY ARE THE PROPOSED REVISIONS TO LAND DEVELOPMENT CODE SECTION 5.03.03 RELATED TO LAND UNIT DEVELOPMENT ZONING. AND SO, AS YOU WILL SEE ON THIS OVERHEAD THE PUDS IN SAINT JOHN'S COUNTY ALREADY REQUIRE ESSENTIALLY A 40% SET ASIDE OF LAND THAT INCLUDES 20 A MINIMUM OF 25% OPEN SPACE, A MINIMUM OF 10% OF SIGNIFICANT NATURAL COMMUNITIES HABITAT, AND A MINIMUM OF 5% UPLAND NATURAL VEGETATION. NOW, THE COUNTY IS PROPOSING TO INCREASE THE MINIMUM 5% UPLAND NATURAL VEGETATION PRESERVATION TO 10% FOR PUDS LARGER THAN 40 ACRES IN SIZE, WHICH MOST OF THE PUDS IN SAINT JOHN'S COUNTY ARE LARGER THAN 40 ACRES, WHICH WILL EVENTUALLY WHICH WILL RESULT ESSENTIALLY IN A 45% SET ASIDE OF LAND WITHIN PUDS 45%, UP FROM 40%. SO I WANT EVERYBODY TO TALK TO UNDERSTAND THE AMOUNT OF LAND WE'RE TALKING ABOUT. IT'S NOT 5%, IT'S 45%. ATTACHMENT FOUR TO YOUR STAFF REPORT, WHICH IS A BUSINESS IMPACT ANALYSIS REQUIRED BY SECTION 125 .66 SIX. SUBPARAGRAPH THREE. FLORIDA STATUTES NOTES THAT THE ECONOMIC IMPACT OF THE CODE CHANGE WILL RESULT IN FEWER HOMES BEING DEVELOPED WITHIN PUDS. THIS WILL RESULT IN A SPRAWL PATTERN OF DEVELOPMENT AND LEAD TO HIGHER HOME PRICES, SINCE FEWER HOMES WILL BE AVAILABLE. BOTH ARE DETRIMENTAL TO LANDOWNERS AND RESIDENTS OF SAINT JOHN'S COUNTY, PARTICULARLY PROPONENTS OF AFFORDABLE HOUSING. A FEDERAL CIRCUIT COURT HAS RULED THAT THE ACTION DOCTRINE PROTECTS THE FIFTH AMENDMENT RIGHTS OF PROPERTY OWNERS TO JUST COMPENSATION WHEN THE GOVERNMENT DEMANDS PROPERTY IN EXCHANGE FOR LAND USE PERMITS. THE COURT SAID GOVERNMENTS MAY IMPOSE CONDITIONS ON THE ISSUANCE OF PERMITS THAT, QUOTE, MITIGATE THE IMPACTS OF PROPOSED DEVELOPMENT, END QUOTE. BUT THERE MUST BE A, QUOTE, ESSENTIAL NEXUS AND ROUGH PROPORTIONALITY BETWEEN THE CONDITIONS IMPOSED AND THE IMPACTS MITIGATED. IN THAT CASE, WAS CITED BY MR. METCALF EARLIER AND PROVIDED TO YOUR COUNTY ATTORNEY. THE PROPOSED INCREASE AND REQUIRED UPLAND NATURAL VEGETATION PRESERVATION IS NOT ROUGHLY PROPORTIONAL TO THE MITIGATION OF IMPACTS FROM PROPOSED [04:00:08] PUDS, SO IT IS A VIOLATION OF THE FIFTH AMENDMENT AND ESTABLISHED CASE LAW. AND I WILL GIVE THE REST OF MY STATEMENT TO THE CLERK FOR THE RECORD. THANK YOU. ED SLAVEN, BOX 3084. ED SULLIVAN THERE'S A SHERLOCK HOLMES STORY BY SIR ARTHUR CONAN DOYLE ABOUT THE DOG THAT DID NOT BARK. REMEMBER THAT ONE? OUR COUNTY ATTORNEY'S HERE AND HE HASN'T SAID A WORD. HE'S A CORPORATE LAWYER, Y'ALL. HIRED BY A 3 TO 2 VOTE, A COUNTY ATTORNEY WHO IS A CORPORATE LAWYER OF A LAW FIRM WHOSE SENIOR PARTNERS REPRESENT DEVELOPERS, INCLUDING AS LOBBYISTS IN THE FLORIDA LEGISLATURE. LET ME QUOTE FROM THE SHEETS CASE, WHICH MR. METCALF QUOTED. THE STATES HAVE SUBSTANTIAL AUTHORITY TO REGULATE LAND USE. SEE VILLAGE OF EUCLID VERSUS AMBLER REALTY COMPANY, 1926. SO THEY DON'T WANT TO FOLLOW THE LAW THAT THE SUPREME COURT LAID DOWN UNDER A VERY CONSERVATIVE SUPREME COURT IN 1926, AND THEY'RE WILLING TO MISREPRESENT THE LAW TO Y'ALL, HOPING THAT THE COUNTY ATTORNEY WON'T DO A LEGAL MEMO, WHICH, TO MY KNOWLEDGE, I DON'T THINK HE EVER HAS. WE DON'T GET ANY LEGAL SCHOLARSHIP FROM THE COUNTY ATTORNEY ANYMORE. WHEN PATRICK FRANCIS MCCORMICK WAS THE COUNTY ATTORNEY, HE WOULD GIVE SAGE LEGAL ADVICE. RIGHT NOW, WE HAVE A COUNTY ATTORNEY WHO COUNTS TO THREE LIKE TOO MANY COUNTY AND CITY ATTORNEYS IN FLORIDA. DO CONTINUING TO QUOTE FROM THE SHEETZ CASE THAT MR. METCALFE, QUOTED FROM A STATE, MAY MERELY THAT A STATE LAW THAT MERELY RESTRICTS LAND USE IN A WAY REASONABLY NECESSARY TO THE EFFECTUATE OF A SUBSTANTIAL GOVERNMENTAL PURPOSE, IS NOT A TAKING UNLESS IT STEPS TOO MUCH, SAPS TOO MUCH OF THE PROPERTY'S VALUE, OR FRUSTRATES THE OWNER OWNER'S INVESTMENT BACKED EXPECTATIONS, CITING CASES. WE HAVEN'T HEARD ANY LEGAL SCHOLARSHIP HERE FROM ANY OF THE WITNESSES FOR THE DEVELOPERS, NOBODY'S EVEN CITED TO THE BURCH HARRIS JUNIOR PRIVATE PROPERTY PROTECTION ACT AND MY LATE FRIEND AND MENTOR, LARRY TUCKER, WHO WAS A LOBBYIST AND HE WAS A JOURNALIST AND A FINE, FINE SCHOLAR. LARRY TUCKER HELPED LOBBY FOR THAT LAW AS A LOBBYIST IN TALLAHASSEE REPRESENTING THE FARM BUREAU FEDERATION. AND LARRY TOLD ME THAT THERE WILL COME A TIME IN SAINT JOHN'S COUNTY WHEN YOU ALL WILL BE ABLE TO USE THE BIRCH HARRIS JUNIOR PRIVATE PROPERTY PROTECTION ACT TO PROTECT THE RIGHTS OF HOMEOWNERS. THESE PEOPLE IN THIS ROOM WHO WANT TO SEE THE TREES PROTECTED. THERE'S NO PRINCIPLED REASON, AND THERE IS NO STRONG, COMPELLING GOVERNMENTAL INTEREST NOT TO PROTECT THE TREES. IT INCREASES THE VALUE OF THE PROPERTY. IT INCREASES THE ENVIRONMENT AND THE QUALITY OF LIFE. WE HAVEN'T HEARD ONE SHRED OF EVIDENCE FROM ANY OF THE ASTROTURF GROUPS, REALLY? I MEAN, THE NORTHEAST FLORIDA BUILDERS ASSOCIATION. THE KID WHO TESTIFIED FOR THEM. HE'S NOT EVEN AN ECONOMIST. I DON'T EVEN KNOW IF HE'S A LOBBYIST. OF COURSE, YOU GUYS DON'T EVEN REQUIRE A LOBBYIST TO REGISTER. WHY NOT? HOW MANY LOBBYISTS ARE IN THIS ROOM AND THROUGH THE CHAIR? COULD WE ASK? I'M FROM SAINT JOHN'S COUNTY, BUT HOW MANY PEOPLE IN THIS ROOM ARE LOBBYISTS CARRYING WATER FOR SOMEBODY OR SOME FOREIGN, MULTINATIONAL CORPORATE INTEREST? I'D LIKE TO KNOW. THANK YOU. LADIES. ANYONE ELSE FOR PUBLIC COMMENT? SEEING NONE, WE'LL CLOSE. PUBLIC COMMENT. ALL RIGHT. WE'RE BACK TO THE BOARD. ANY COMMENTS? YOU KNOW WHAT I. FIRST OFF, THANK YOU. THANK YOU FOR EVERYBODY'S COMMENTS. AND I HAD A QUESTION FOR MR. LAGASSE REGARDING THIS. I KNOW BUFFERS ARE A BIG PART, AND I DID NOT SEE ANYTHING REGARDING BUFFERS IN YOUR PRESENTATION. HI. MICHAEL AGASSI, ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT, ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGER FOR GROWTH MANAGEMENT. YOUR QUESTION IS ABOUT BUFFERS. BUFFERS? SO THAT WHAT WE PRESENTED ON TODAY WAS WHAT WE WERE GIVEN DIRECTION TO PRESENT ON AT THE LAST MEETING, WHICH WAS THESE THREE ITEMS FOR RED LINE CHANGES. AND SO WHAT WE WERE DIRECTED TO DO WAS THE 5% TO 10% UPLAND VEGETATION, THE TREE BANK FUND INCREASE AND THE MIDDLE GROUND FOR THE SPECIMEN TREE TABLE. OKAY. BECAUSE BASED ON A LOT OF THE PHOTOS THAT WE LOOKED AT, I THINK THAT WE CAN ALL AGREE THAT WE THAT IS DEFINITELY SOMETHING THAT WE NEED TO ADDRESS. SO THAT THAT I IN FACT, I HAVE SOME PICTURES THAT I WOULD LIKE TO TO SHARE AS WELL. BUT I DON'T KNOW WHERE EVERYBODY'S AT WITH THAT. BUT WE'VE GOT TO ADDRESS BUFFERS AS WELL. WELL, I WAS WONDERING BETWEEN A COMMERCIAL BUILDING AND RESIDENTIAL, WHAT IS THE SIZE OF A BUFFER? WELL, THERE'S A LOT OF STANDARDS ACROSS THE COUNTY. AND SO I THINK YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT LIKE A LIKE A THE NON NORTH NORTHEAST SECTOR. RIGHT. I'M I'M HONESTLY NOT PREPARED TO ANSWER THAT FOR YOU AT THIS MOMENT. [04:05:04] EXACTLY. BUT WE MAY HAVE SOME OTHER FOLKS. THANK YOU MADAM CHAIR. MIKE ROBERTSON DIRECTOR OF GROWTH MANAGEMENT. WE HAVE WHAT'S CALLED AN INCOMPATIBILITY OR COMPATIBILITY TABLE THAT THAT IS BASED OFF OF THE DIFFERENT ZONING DISTRICTS AND THEN ALSO USES, DEPENDING ON WHAT IT IS. FOR EXAMPLE, YOU ASKED ABOUT COMMERCIAL VERSUS RESIDENTIAL. IT DEPENDS ON THE LEVEL OF COMMERCIAL. SO IF YOU HAVE SOMETHING THAT BASED ON OUR CODE, YOU KNOW, IF YOU HAVE GENERAL COMMERCIAL, A HIGHER LEVEL KIND OF RIGHT, THAT MIGHT BE A 20 B 20FT B SCREENING. THAT JUST MEANS WHAT LEVEL OF TREES AND PLANTINGS NEED TO BE IN. SOMETHING THAT'S LESS INTENSE WOULD HAVE A LESS OF A BUFFER, FOR EXAMPLE, MAYBE 10FT OR 15FT. FEET, INDUSTRIAL TO RESIDENTIAL, YOU CAN IMAGINE, WOULD HAVE PROBABLY THE MOST. SO THERE'S DISTINCT SCREENING STANDARDS THAT APPLY TO FOR RESIDENTIAL OR ANY OTHER USE AGAINST THE OTHER USE, DEPENDING ON THE LEVEL OF INTENSITY, THE HIGHER THE BUFFER THROUGH THE, THROUGH THE CHAIR. SO AT YOUR JUNE 17TH MEETING, BUFFERS WERE DISCUSSED. THERE WAS A COUPLE OF THOSE UNDER YOUR GOALS. HOWEVER, THERE WAS NOT CONSENSUS TO MOVE THOSE ITEMS FORWARD. AND SO THAT'S WHY THEY'RE NOT BEFORE YOU AGAIN TODAY, THEY FAILED EITHER BY VOTE OR BY CONSENSUS. OKAY, GREAT. WELL, I APPRECIATE THAT. I, I STILL WANT TO SHARE THIS BECAUSE AGAIN, WHEN WE LOOKED AT WHAT HAPPENED IN DOLPHIN COVE, IF WE WOULD HAVE HAD BUFFERS THAT WE WOULD THEY WOULD NOT BE GOING THROUGH WHAT THEY'RE GOING THROUGH. AND I WANT TO SHARE THIS PROPERTY. THIS IS RIGHT BUTTS UP RIGHT UP AGAINST A RESIDENTIAL NEIGHBORHOOD. THIS IS A VIEW FROM A RESIDENCE BACKYARD. EVERY TREE WAS CLEAR CUT. AND AS YOU CAN SEE, WHEN THEY LOOK OUT, THAT'S THAT'S THE VIEW. YOU GOT THE BRIGHT ORANGE. HARDLY ANY, ANY TREES AT ALL THERE. SO IF WE WOULD HAVE JUST LEFT A FEW OF THE MATURE TREES, THEY WOULD NOT HAVE TO LOOK OUT AND SEE THAT. AND I UNDERSTAND EVERYBODY'S TALKING ABOUT PROPERTY RIGHTS AND THIS AND THAT, BUT HOW COME NOBODY IS TALKING ABOUT HOMEOWNER'S PROPERTY RIGHTS? THEY'VE ALREADY SPOKEN TO A REALTOR. THEY CANNOT SELL THAT HOME. HOW IS THAT OKAY FOR THEIR PROPERTY TO BE DIMINISHED IN VALUE? I DON'T I MEAN, IT'S BUT IF WE DID HAVE MATURE TREES THAT COULD BE LEFT, THE COMMERCIAL COULD HAVE STILL BEEN BEEN BUILT, BUT YET THEY DON'T HAVE TO LOOK RIGHT AT IT. AND MIND YOU, BEFORE THIS WAS DID GO UP, THERE WERE MATURE, MATURE TREES THERE. SO THAT DID NOT NEED TO TO LOOK LIKE THAT. DO YOU WANT TO SHARE THE OTHER. THIS IS WHAT IT LOOKS LIKE NOW ON THE OTHER SIDE. SO THE FEW TREES THAT WERE LEFT AND THEN THERE'S THE BUILDING AND THAT. BUT SOD IS HARDLY A BUFFER. THAT IS NOT A BUFFER. AND THEN THEN THE OTHER ONE AND THEN I THINK IT'S THIS IS REALLY AN IMPORTANT THING TO LOOK AT. IF YOU LOOK AT. SO THERE'S A TREE THAT WAS TAKEN DOWN, THEY PLANT THAT. HOW DOES THAT TREE LOOK. I MEAN COME ON. SO THEY'RE TEARING DOWN MATURE TREES AND THAT'S WHAT'S BEING PLANTED. HOW IS THIS OKAY. HOW CAN THIS BOARD SIT THERE AND TELL THESE RESIDENTS THAT LIVE NEARBY OR ANYWHERE ELSE IN OUR COUNTY, AND THOSE PEOPLE IN DOLPHIN COVE, THAT THAT'S OKAY. AND YOU KNOW WHAT? AND BEFORE I DO END THIS HAS COME UP BEFORE TOO. AND I'M SO PASSIONATE ABOUT OUR BUFFERS. AND I DO WANT TO REMIND COMMISSIONER MURPHY OF A MAILER THAT HE DID SEND OUT. AND ONE OF THE ITEMS THAT HE PUT WAS THAT WE NEED TO REDUCE CLEAR CUT POLICIES TO PRESERVE MORE TREES AND BUFFERS BETWEEN DEVELOPMENTS. THAT IS WHAT YOU RAN ON, AND THAT IS WHAT I RAN ON. AND THAT IS WHAT WE HEARD SO OFTEN THROUGHOUT RESIDENTS IN OUR COUNTY. AND I APPRECIATE THOSE OF YOU THAT ARE, THAT ARE FOLLOWING AND AND THAT ARE PAYING ATTENTION, THAT I AM ACTUALLY DOING WHAT I SAID I WOULD DO, AND THAT IS TO LISTEN TO THE RESIDENTS IN OUR COUNTY. I HEAR YOU. I CARE. AND THIS IS NOT ACCEPTABLE. AND I MEAN, I UNDERSTAND THAT WE DIDN'T GO FORWARD WITH THE BUFFERS, BUT AGAIN, IF THERE'S ANY WAY TO BRING THAT BACK, I DON'T UNDERSTAND HOW THAT'S OKAY. COMMISSIONER MURPHY, ANY CONSENSUS FOR BUFFERS? MY UNDERSTANDING IS THAT WE'RE TALKING ABOUT THREE THINGS TODAY, RIGHT? WE'RE TALKING ABOUT THE TREE DEFICIENCY CHARGE. WE'RE TALKING ABOUT PUDS OVER 40 GOING FROM 5% PRESERVE TO 10%, AND A CHANGE OF THE DEFINITION OF THE SPECIMEN TREE. AM I AM I RIGHT? OKAY. THANK YOU. I DON'T KNOW IF I CAN DO THIS, BUT CAN [04:10:05] I ASK TO ADD LONGLEAF PINE TO THE TO THE SPECIMEN LIST? IT IS ON DUVAL COUNTY, CITY OF SAINT AUGUSTINE. THEY LIVE THERE 150 YEARS OLD. HALF OF THEM. AND THEY DON'T BURN DOWN. AND THEY HAVE EAGLES NESTS AND OSPREY NESTS. AND I KNOW A LOT OF THE DEVELOPERS LIKE GREENBRIAR HILO LEFT A WHOLE LOT THERE. I MEAN, THAT WAS AWESOME. ANYTHING WE CAN'T ADD THAT IT'S AT THE PLEASURE OF THE BOARD TO WHAT YOU WOULD LIKE TO DO, MADAM CHAIR. WE DID DISCUSS, I THINK, AT ONE OF THE MEETINGS, LONGLEAF PINES, WHETHER THEY WOULD COME IN AND IT WAS NOT MOVED FORWARD. HOWEVER, WE STAND READY FOR WHATEVER THE BOARD WISHES TO DO. COMMISSIONER WHITEHURST, ANY ANY INTEREST? OH, NO, I DON'T HAVE. OKAY. I DON'T HAVE ANY COMMENTS. MR.. COMMISSIONER. YEAH, WELL, MY ONLY QUESTION ABOUT LONELY PINES IS THAT THERE WOULD HAVE TO BE A PROVISION FOR AGRICULTURAL USES. ONE OF THE THINGS THAT I WAS CONTACTED BY PEOPLE WHO GROW TREES, THEY SAID THAT THERE ARE A, THAT THERE IS A COMMERCIAL APPLICATION FOR LONGLEAF. AND AS LONG AS THERE'S AN EXEMPTION FOR PEOPLE WHO GROW THOSE TREES TO BE HARVESTED, I DON'T HAVE A PROBLEM WITH IT. I THEN CAN WE GET CONSENSUS OR A VOTE ON THAT? DO YOU WANT TO MAKE THAT AMENDMENT? YOU WOULD NEED A MOTION ON THAT, MA'AM. COMMISSIONER MURPHY. I DON'T MIND. I YOU HAVE CONSENSUS FOR ME, AS LONG AS THERE'S A PROVISION FOR AGRICULTURE DOES. IS THAT A GOOD ENOUGH MOTION? NO, NO, NO. I THINK I HAVE TO MAKE A MOTION. SO MY CHAIR. YOU WOULD NEED TO MAKE A MOTION, HAVE IT SECOND, AND IT WOULD HAVE TO BE VOTED ON. OKAY. WELL, I WOULD MAKE A MOTION TO ADD LONGLEAF PINES TO THE TO THE LIST AS LONG AS THERE'S A PROVISION FOR AGRICULTURAL USE. SECOND. ALL RIGHT. WE HAVE AND THIS IS THIS IS A MOTION A SECOND ONLY FOR TO ADD THIS TO THE LIST. RIGHT. OKAY. YEAH. I DON'T HAVE A PROBLEM, COMMISSIONER WHITEHURST. OH. THEN WE HAVE TO HAVE PUBLIC COMMENT, MADAM CHAIR, FOR FOR CLARIFICATION ON THAT MOTION, IF I MAY. SURE. WHEN YOU SAY ADD TO THE LIST, WE'VE TALKED ABOUT SPECIMEN TREES. WE'VE ALSO TALKED IN THE PAST ABOUT TREES THAT ARE CANOPY PROTECTED TREES. I'M SORRY, I COULDN'T NAME IT. SAVE ME. WE'RE TALKING ABOUT PUTTING LONGLEAF PINES AS PROTECTED TREES, I THINK IS WHAT THE BOARD INTENDS IN THIS. I MEAN, IF WE HAD THAT, IT REALLY WOULD HELP WITH BUFFERS BETWEEN RESIDENT AS WELL AS COMMERCIAL AS WELL AS. I MEAN, OBVIOUSLY WITH THE THERE ARE PLACES WHERE THEY LOOK BEAUTIFUL. I KNOW ALONG US ONE THEY'VE LEFT THEM ALONG THAT ONE HOUSING BY THE TRAIN TRACK GOING NORTH. I MEAN, IT REALLY, THEY'RE THEY'RE GREAT. THEY DON'T HAVE TO REPLACE WITH LITTLE TEENY TREES. THEY'RE ALREADY THERE. SURE, SURE. SO, IF I MAY, MY WHAT WOULD BE THE REQUIREMENTS FOR SIZES FOR AT WHATEVER BREAST HEIGHT WE WANT TO USE? AT THIS POINT, I DON'T THINK WE KNOW WHAT THAT WOULD BE. MAYBE MIKE CAN ADD SOMETHING I'LL SAY IF I REMEMBER THE DISCUSSION CORRECTLY THERE. JUST SO YOU'RE AWARE, BEFORE YOU VOTE. THERE IS A CHALLENGE IN IDENTIFICATION, AS YOU KNOW, BECAUSE THEY'RE VERY HARD, I THINK, EVEN FOR EXPERTS TO IDENTIFY OUT THERE. I'M NOT SAYING THEY CAN'T BE DONE. I'M NOT TO SAY THAT IT CAN'T BE DONE. I'M JUST SAYING THAT'S PART OF THE. THAT WAS PART OF THE DISCUSSION. SO ANYWAY, WITH THAT, I'LL LET MIKE EXPLAIN. I MIGHT MAKE A SUGGESTION. OUR CODE AS IT EXISTS AND HOW IT'S BUILT FOR THIS POTENTIAL CHANGE, HAS CONSIDERED 70% OF THE CHAMPION TREE THAT EXISTS, AND THAT'S HOW THAT TABLE WAS BUILT, OR 50% FOR, LIKE, FOR SPECIES. SO PERHAPS IF IF YOU GUYS DECIDE TO GO FORWARD, WE COULD LOOK AT IT AS EITHER A 50% OF THE CHAMPION OR 70%. A 50% WOULD BE LARGER, 70% WOULD BE, I MEAN, 70% WOULD BE LARGER. 70% IS WHAT I'D BE COMFORTABLE WITH. OKAY. SO IF YOU WANTED TO MAKE THAT CLEAR. THANK YOU. OKAY. PUBLIC COMMENT THEN. OKAY. PUBLIC COMMENT ON THE MOTION TO INCLUDE LONGLEAF FUNDS WITH AN EXEMPTION FOR AGRICULTURE. ADDED SLAB AND BOX 3.4 AT NEARLY 25 YEAR RESIDENT OF SAINT JOHN'S COUNTY POST OFFICE. BOX THROUGH IT FOR. I APPLAUD THE MOTION. I SALUTE THE MOVEMENT AND THE SECONDER. AND FOR THE FOLKS WHO ARE WATCHING AT HOME AND THE FOLKS IN THE AUDIENCE, IN THE WORDS OF OTTO VON BISMARCK OR THE MUSICAL HAMILTON. THIS IS HOW THE SAUSAGE IS MADE, FOLKS. THIS IS HOW LEGISLATION IS SUPPOSED TO WORK. COMPROMISE. WE LISTEN TO EACH OTHER. WE NEED IT. WE NEED TO DO THAT MORE IN THIS COUNTY AND IN THIS COUNTRY. AND I APPLAUD THE MOTION AND THE MOVEMENT. THANK YOU SIR. THANK YOU. LADIES AND GENTLEMEN. THANK YOU. YES, MA'AM. BETH BREEDING, DUVAL COUNTY. BECAUSE I CAN'T AFFORD TO LIVE IN SAINT JOHNS COUNTY, EVEN THOUGH I'VE BEEN WORKING HERE SINCE 1998. ORDER, PLEASE. AS FAR AS THE THE MOTION THAT COMMISSIONER MURPHY HAS MADE. [04:15:06] CAN THE CLARIFICATION ON THE AG LANGUAGE BE BROUGHT BACK AT THE NEXT MEETING BEFORE ANYTHING IS ENACTED FOR US TO. BECAUSE THIS IS NEW FOR SOME OF THE FOLKS IN THE AUDIENCE, WE WE'D LIKE TO SEE THAT BEFORE THIS BECOMES THE LAW OF THE LAND, SO TO SPEAK. AND ALSO BUFFERS ARE ADDRESSED IN THE LAND DEVELOPMENT CODE, NOT THE TREE ORDINANCE. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. THROUGH THE CHAIR TO SPEAK TO THAT MATTER. SO THIS IS A MATERIAL CHANGE FROM YOUR FIRST READING. SO NOW YOU'LL HAVE TO READ NOTICE AND HAVE ANOTHER READING BEFORE YOU CAN GO INTO ENACTMENT. IT'S FINE IF IT PASSES BECAUSE I ASKED THAT BEFORE AND IT SAID IT'S JUST A TREE, RIGHT. BUT IT'S A SEPARATE SECTION OF THE CODE THAT WASN'T NOTICED FOR A CHANGE. AND SO BY THE TITLE, IT'S NOT IN THERE. AND SO WE WOULD HAVE TO ADD THAT SECTION THAT WE ARE NOW CHANGING TO THE LDC TO THE TITLE AND REPUBLISH THAT NOTICE TO PUT EVERY TO CONFORM WITH STATUTE. SO WE'D HAVE TO DO ANOTHER READING AFTER THAT FOR A SECOND READING. CORRECT. SASHA MARTIN 133 COASTAL HOLLOW CIRCLE. GO AHEAD. WHAT ABOUT PALM TREES? THERE ARE NO PALM TREES ON THE LIST. AND RIGHT NOW THERE ARE NO PINE TREES ON THE LIST. THEY HAD THE THE OAK LIVE OAK AT 50IN, BUT THEY HAD AN EASTERN RED BUD ON THE LIST AT SEVEN INCHES. WHO HAS AN EASTERN RED BUD ON THEIR PROPERTY? THANK YOU. CAN WE MAYBE GET SOME CLARIFICATION BEFORE WE GO ON? YES, SIR. SEEMS THERE THERE THERE MAY BE A COMPROMISE. IF YOU'LL GIVE ME JUST A SECOND. SURE. AND I WANT TO CLARIFY WITH MR.. MIKE SAID REGARDING THAT WE'RE TALKING ABOUT PROTECTED TREES, NOT SPECIMEN TREES. AND SO THE TABLE HE WAS TALKING ABOUT WAS SPECIMEN TREES. AND SO THESE WOULD BE PROTECTED TREES. ACTUALLY, I THINK I THINK I'D RATHER NOT HAVE TO NOTICE THIS MEETING AND HAVE ALL THESE PEOPLE COME HERE AGAIN AND DOWN THE ROAD, WE COULD MAKE A CHANGE LATER FOR LONGLEAF PINE, BECAUSE I DON'T WANT TO HAVE THEM COME TWO MORE TIMES WHEN IT'S REALLY ONE MORE TIME. I WOULD WOULD WITHDRAW MY MOTION. THANK YOU. SORRY. I MEAN, CAN I STILL SAY, LET'S NOT LOSE WHAT WE ALREADY HAVE? YEP. I LIKE GOING FORWARD. I'LL PUT IN MY $0.02. NICOLE CROSBY, 1169 NECK ROAD. PONTE VEDRA BEACH. IF THAT'S WHAT YOU NEED TO DO, THAT'S FINE. TO, YOU KNOW, MAKE THIS HAPPEN DOWN THE ROAD. I'M OKAY WITH THAT. I JUST WANT TO SAY, IF YOU WERE TO GOOGLE LONGLEAF PINES, FLORIDA, YOU WILL SEE ARTICLE AFTER ARTICLE AFTER ARTICLE OF COUNTIES STATEWIDE THAT ARE REPLANTING THEIR LONGLEAF PINES. THESE STANDS OF LONGLEAF PINES ARE SO PRECIOUS TO OUR WILDLIFE. THEY ARE KEYSTONE SPECIES FOR SO MANY SPECIES OF PLANTS AND ANIMALS. IT'S UNBELIEVABLE. BIRDS, YOU NAME IT. SO I'M JUST ASKING YOU, YOU KNOW, WHATEVER IT TAKES TO BRING THIS BACK AND RECONSIDER IT. PLEASE DO. THANK YOU. EVEN IF IT CAN HAPPEN TODAY. THANK YOU. OKAY. THANK YOU. I HAVE WITHDRAWN MY MOTION SO WE DON'T HAVE PUBLIC COMMENT ANYMORE. THAT'S CORRECT. OKAY. ALL RIGHT. SO WE'RE GOING TO AGENDA ITEM NUMBER EIGHT. [8. Public Hearing * 2050 Comprehensive Plan - Transmittal Hearing. The County's Comprehensive Plan requires an update pursuant to Florida Statutes 163.3184 and 163.3191. After performing extensive analysis of data collected from the public, County staff, and local agencies and organizations, the County's consultants, Inspire Placemaking Collective, prepared the 2050 Comprehensive Plan in the form presented today. The 2050 Comprehensive Plan was heard at the Board of County Commissioners' meetings on May 20, 2025, and June 3, 2025. Both the Board of County Commissioners' recommendations and public input from these meetings are incorporated into this Transmittal item. The Planning and Zoning agency heard this item on June 26, 2025, and voted 5-0 to recommend transmittal.] YES YES THAT'S TRUE. WHAT DO WE NEED TO DO HERE. SO THIS IS THE FIRST READING. SO THERE'S NO THERE'S NO ACTION, NO PRESENTATION. IT'S JUST A PRESENTATION. SO OUR NEXT OUR SECOND READING IS A VOTE. CORRECT. KEELY. CORRECT. YOU'LL BE AT THE SECOND READING. CORRECT. OKAY. SO YOU GUYS ALL HAVE TO COME ONE MORE TIME. THANK YOU. ARE YOU READY, MADAM CHAIR? THANK YOU SIR. YES, MA'AM. MIKE ROBERSON, GROWTH MANAGEMENT DIRECTOR. JUST REAL QUICK. THIS IS THE COMPREHENSIVE PLAN TRANSMITTAL MEETING. SHOULD THE BOARD APPROVE THE CHANGES. WE WOULD THEN SEND THEM TO THE STATE AND THE STATE AGENCIES. LOOKING FOR COMMENTS BACK FROM THE EVALUATION AND APPRAISAL REPORT. SO WITH THAT, I THINK GEORGE KRAMER, WHO'S THE PRINCIPAL FOR INSPIRE, WILL GIVE OUR PRESENTATION. AND WE'RE HERE FOR QUESTIONS. THANK YOU. GOOD AFTERNOON. GOOD AFTERNOON AND THANK YOU AGAIN. MY NAME IS GEORGE KRAMER. I'M A PLANNER AND PRESIDENT OF INSPIRE. CHRIS DOREY, WHO YOU NORMALLY SEE HERE TONIGHT. COULDN'T COULDN'T BE HERE. HE'S HE'S OUT THIS WEEK, SO I'M PINCH HITTING. ALONG WITH ME IS OUR DEPUTY PROJECT MANAGER GABRIELLA CASTRO. [04:20:03] IF YOU ASK VERY DETAILED QUESTIONS, I'LL PROBABLY BRING HER UP FOR ASSISTANCE. BUT AGAIN, I APPRECIATE THE OPPORTUNITY TO BE HERE. IT'S BEEN IT'S BEEN QUITE A JOURNEY, STARTING BACK IN AUGUST OF 2023 THROUGH THIS PROCESS WORKING THROUGH VISIONING THROUGH MUCH OF 2024 AND THEN REALLY GETTING IN INTO THE MEAD AND DEVELOPING THESE DRAFT GOALS, OBJECTIVES AND POLICIES. REALLY APPRECIATE THE COOPERATION. YOU KNOW, OBVIOUSLY WITH THE, WITH THE BOARD, BUT BUT WITH STAFF AS WELL. IN, IN ADVANCING THIS EFFORT AND AND TO GET TO THE POINT WHERE I THINK WE ALL RECOGNIZE REQUIRED BY STATUTES TO TRANSMIT THESE UPDATES BY AUGUST. AND SO HERE WE ARE AT THE END OF JULY. WITHIN THAT TIMEFRAME. SO, AGAIN, COMPLIANCE WITH STATUTES. WE DID SEND THAT EVALUATION AND APPRAISAL LETTER TO THE STATE BACK IN AUGUST OF 2024, THE MINIMUM REQUIREMENTS. THOSE TEN AND 20 YEAR PLANNING PERIODS, WE WERE LOOKING AT A MINIMUM HORIZON OF 2045. BUT WE FELT THAT PLANNING OUT TO 2050. CONSISTENT WITH THAT LONG RANGE TRANSPORTATION PLAN MADE SENSE. AND AGAIN, PART OF THAT STATUTORY REQUIREMENT IS LOOKING AT THOSE MEDIUM PROJECTIONS, INCLUDING BOTH THE PERMANENT AND SEASONAL POPULATIONS. SO SO THAT IS REFLECTED IN THESE UPDATES. AGAIN, I WANTED TO REITERATE WE HAD A REALLY GOOD DISCUSSION. LAST TIME WE WERE ALL HERE AT THE BEGINNING OF JUNE FOR THAT WORKSHOP. AND THAT THAT ALLOWED US TO GO THROUGH AND I THINK, AGAIN, HAVE HAVE A REALLY GOOD DISCUSSION AND GET THROUGH THOSE POLICIES. WE MADE WADE SOME REVISIONS THAT I WANT TO GO THROUGH TODAY. I'D ALSO LIKE TO POINT OUT THAT THE LPA ON JUNE 26TH UNANIMOUSLY RECOMMENDED THESE CHANGES. SO PROCEEDING HERE TODAY. SO WHAT I WANT TO DO TODAY IS TO GO THROUGH THOSE CHANGES SINCE THE LAST THE LAST PACKET YOU SAW. THERE'S JUST A FEW CHANGES TO THAT, AND I WANT TO REVIEW THOSE QUICKLY. AND THEN AGAIN, HAPPY TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS. SO THE FIRST WAS REVISING THE CLARIFYING LANGUAGE REGARDING THE EXPANSION OF THE DEVELOPMENT BOUNDARY AREA. AND YOU'LL SEE THAT THE 200 ACRES IS IN THERE. ALONG WITH THOSE OTHER CRITERIA LISTED. THE SECOND IS WE HAD, I THINK, AGAIN, A POSITIVE DISCUSSION REGARDING BUILDING HEIGHT. AND SO REMOVE THAT FROM A .1.2.7. NEXT REALLY WANTED TO ENCOURAGE THAT MISSING MIDDLE HOUSING TYPES. AND PROVIDED SOME SPECIFICS FOR, FOR THOSE DENSITY FACTORS. SO YOU CAN SEE THE LANGUAGE THERE. 8.1.1.5 ADDED A NEW POLICY REGARDING RESILIENCY FACILITIES A POINT. ONE POINT 13.1. WE'RE REVISING THE LENGTH FOR WORKFORCE HOUSING ZONING DISTRICT REQUIREMENTS AGAIN AND CLARIFYING THAT MISSING MIDDLE HOUSING DENSITY BONUS. A .1. 14.7 IS A NEW POLICY REGARDING PUBLIC ART. AGAIN, I THINK ANOTHER POSITIVE DEVELOPMENT FROM THE WORKSHOP. AND THEN JAY, .1.2.7 WE HAVE A NEW POLICY ON MANUFACTURING, ESTABLISHES MANUFACTURING ZONES. A LOT OF GOOD CONVERSATION ABOUT THE IMPORTANCE OF JOB CREATION WITHIN THE COUNTY. SO THAT POLICY ADDRESSING THOSE SO NEXT STEPS IS, AGAIN YOU KNOW, WE WERE ON THE CLOCK TO TRANSMIT THESE CHANGES BY AUGUST OF THIS YEAR. SO THIS TRANSMITTAL AND AGAIN, THAT SIMPLY ADVANCES THE PROCESS. WE'RE GOING TO GET COMMENTS FROM THE STATE. AND THEN AND THEN THESE CHANGES WILL COME. COME BACK TO THIS BOARD FOR ADOPTION. WE'LL BE FOLLOWING A 60 DAY STATE AGENCY REVIEW PERIOD SO THAT WE'LL ANTICIPATE, YOU KNOW, GETTING THOSE COMMENTS BACK WITHIN THAT 60 DAY PERIOD. AND AGAIN YOU KNOW, WITH THE ADOPTION HEARING AND THEN THE NOTIFICATION LETTER DEMONSTRATED CONSISTENCY WITH STATE STATUTES. AND WITH THAT, I'D BE HAPPY TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS. AND AGAIN, I APPRECIATE THE OPPORTUNITY TO PRESENT TO YOU TODAY. COMMISSIONER WHITEHURST. THANK YOU, MADAM CHAIR. ON 1.2.3 F THE PRESERVATION OF 40% LAND. THIS DOES NOT INCLUDE SO THE [04:25:01] 40% OF LAND THAT'S REQUIRED TO BE AN OPEN SPACE. THIS DOES NOT INCLUDE STORMWATER PONDS. AM I UNDERSTANDING THAT CORRECTLY? EXCUSE ME. WHAT PAGE IS THAT? I'M SORRY. AND THE STAFF REPORT. IT'S RIGHT AT THE TOP. IT'S THE FIRST SET OF CHANGES THAT WE'RE DISCUSSING TODAY. IT'S 8.1.2.30. OKAY. IT'S IN THE BLUE. THANK YOU. YES, MA'AM. IT'S HIGHLIGHTED IN BLUE. AND THEN THERE'S A THROUGH G UNDERNEATH THAT I'M TALKING ABOUT F WHICH WOULD REQUIRE 40% OPEN SPACE. I'M WONDERING IF THAT INCLUDES POND SITES STORMWATER PONDS OKAY. I THINK WE'RE JUST GOING TO LOOK FOR CLARIFICATION ON THAT. THAT MAY DEFER TO HOW IT IS ADDRESSED IN THE LAND DEVELOPMENT REGULATIONS. SO THAT'S A GOOD QUESTION. I DON'T KNOW THE ANSWER OFF THE TOP OF MY HEAD, BUT WE CAN ALLOW ME TO MAKE A COMMENT WHILE PEOPLE ARE LOOKING FOR THE ANSWER. SO TO TO THE FELLOW MEMBERS OF THE COMMISSION, MY CONCERN HERE IS THIS THE STATE OF FLORIDA HAS PASSED A NEW LAW THAT WILL CAUSE THE SIZE OF STORMWATER PONDS TO ESSENTIALLY DOUBLE FROM 15% ON AVERAGE OF A PARCEL TO 30% ON AVERAGE. SO IF STORMWATER PONDS ARE NOT ALLOWED TO BE INCLUDED IN THE OPEN SPACE, THEN WE WILL HAVE 30% OF A PARCEL BEING USED FOR STORMWATER, WHICH IS A WATER MANAGEMENT DISTRICT REQUIREMENT, PLUS 40% OF OPEN SPACE, WHICH WILL MEAN 70% OF ANY GIVEN PARCEL WILL BE UNUSABLE. I THINK THAT'S HIGHLY RESTRICTIVE. I'M NOT SURE IT'S EVEN CONSTITUTIONAL, BUT I JUST THAT'S WHY I'M RAISING THE QUESTION. DO WE HAVE AN ANSWER? THROUGH THE CHAIR JACOB SMITH WITH GROWTH MANAGEMENT DEPARTMENT TO COMMISSIONER WHITEHURST QUESTION THIS SECTION A12, THREE IN PART READS EVALUATION AND APPRAISALS OF THE PLAN. THE COUNTY MAY CONSIDER THE BENEFITS AND POTENTIAL DEVELOPMENT WITH THE FOLLOWING ONE OF WHICH, PART F IS PRESERVATION OF NATURAL SYSTEMS INCLUSIVE OF 40% OPEN SPACE. SPACEX JUST WANTED TO CLARIFY THAT IT'S NOT A REQUIREMENT TO PROVIDE 40%. IT'S TO WEIGH THE BENEFIT OF SOMETHING LIKE A 40% OPEN SPACE. BUT IN THAT CONTEXT, NO, WE DO NOT CONSIDER STORMWATER SYSTEMS PART OF OPEN SPACE. MR. SMITH, I WANT TO MAKE SURE I'M UNDERSTANDING THERE IS NO REQUIREMENT FOR A PUD OR ANY DEVELOPMENT TO KEEP 40% IN OPEN SPACE. THAT IS CORRECT. THIS POLICY IN HERE IS CONSIDERATIONS THAT THE BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS CAN USE TO ANALYZE WHETHER A COMPREHENSIVE PLAN WOULD, MIGHT, MIGHT BE APPROPRIATE. THANK YOU, MR. SMITH. THAT ANSWERS THAT QUESTION ON A .1.2.3. WATER AND SEWER BEING WITHIN A QUARTER MILE. DOES THIS MEAN THAT IF WATER AND SEWER WERE NOT WITHIN A QUARTER MILE, EVEN IF THE DEVELOPER WERE WILLING TO PAY TO BRING IT THE REST OF THE WAY, THAT THE DEVELOPMENT WOULD BE PROHIBITED FROM CONSIDERATION. SO I THINK WHAT THIS IS, IS DOING IS, IS RECOGNIZING THAT IN THE FUTURE THERE MAY BE REQUESTS TO, YOU KNOW, EXTEND THAT DEVELOPMENT BOUNDARY. AND THESE ARE OUTLINING STANDARDS BY WHICH YOU WOULD EVALUATE THOSE. SO IT MAY CONSIDER THE BENEFITS, YOU KNOW, HAVING INFRASTRUCTURE, WATER AND SEWER LINES WITHIN A QUARTER MILE IS OF BENEFIT AND MAYBE A CONSIDERATION FOR EXPANDING. SO I THINK TO TO YOUR QUESTION, I THINK THERE'S THERE'S A LOT OF OTHER THINGS THAT MAY NOT BE LISTED ON HERE THAT YOU MAY WANT TO INCLUDE, BUT THAT THIS IS JUST SORT OF SOME GUIDEPOSTS FOR WITHIN THAT KIND OF HELP. WHEN YOU WOULD CONSIDER THOSE CHANGES IN THE FUTURE. OKAY. WELL, AGAIN, THAT SEEMS AWFULLY RESTRICTIVE. I KNOW THAT A LOT OF SAINT JOHN'S COUNTY'S INFRASTRUCTURE, WHETHER IT BE ROADS, DRAINAGE, WATER AND SEWER, HAVE BEEN BUILT BY BY NEW DEVELOPMENT. SO I'VE GOT AN ISSUE WITH NOT EVEN ALLOWING THE DEVELOPER TO PAY FOR ALL THIS INFRASTRUCTURE AT THEIR COST. SO THOSE ARE JUST TWO THINGS I WANTED TO MENTION UPFRONT. I'M SURE I'LL HAVE A FEW MORE THAT I'LL BRING UP LATER. OKAY. ALL RIGHT. I HAVE A FEW THINGS. BACK TO TO THE BLUE THAT I CAN HARDLY READ ON A PLUS ONE PLUS TWO PLUS THREE. WHEN DID IT GO FROM THE AREA BOUNDARY OF 200 ACRES OR MORE? I DON'T SEE THAT IN THE LAST RED LINE OR GREEN LINE. SO I THINK THAT'S THE LATEST REVISION, RIGHT? THAT WE ADDED THE 200 ACRES. BUT WHO LIKE DO WE VOTE ON THAT? WHO CAME UP WITH THAT? I DON'T I DON'T UNDERSTAND I THOUGHT WE'RE JUST AGAIN, A POINT ONE. .2.1 SAYS THE COUNTY SHALL ESTABLISH A DEVELOPMENT AREA BOUNDARY. WE HAVE ONE, RIGHT? WE AREN'T ESTABLISHING ONE. WE HAVE ONE. YES. SO THAT WORD ESTABLISH PROBABLY SHOULD BE THE DEVELOPMENT BOUNDARY. YOU DON'T HAVE LIKE A DEFINED ONE. YOU HAVE AN AREA THAT'S CONSIDERED THE DEVELOPMENT BOUNDARY. [04:30:04] DON'T WE HAVE A DEVELOPMENT BOUNDARY? MIKE ROBERTSON FOR THE RECORD. YES, MA'AM. WE HAVE A DEVELOPMENT AREA BOUNDARY THAT IS HIGHLIGHTED ON OUR STATIC FUTURE LAND USE MAP THAT SHOWS A LINE AROUND ALL OF THOSE AREAS THAT ARE NOT RURAL SILVICULTURE AND AGRICULTURAL INTENSIVE LAND USE CATEGORIES. SO WE DON'T NEED TO ESTABLISH ONE. RIGHT? NOT AS SUCH. AND YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT POINT ONE, .2.1. SO TO SAY THE DEVELOPMENT AREA BOUNDARY. WOULD THAT BE ALL RIGHT? I THINK I BELIEVE SO, MA'AM, BECAUSE WE DO HAVE ONE. OKAY. IF THAT'S OKAY, EVERYBODY. AND GET RID OF THE 200. WELL, I HAVEN'T GOTTEN TO THE 200 YET, BUT I THAT 200. I DON'T KNOW WHERE THAT CAME FROM. CAN WE NOT DO THAT? JUST. JUST EXPANSION OF THE DEVELOPMENT AREA BOUNDARY. YEAH, THAT'S WHAT WE HAD ORIGINALLY. I DON'T KNOW WHY THAT 200 GOT PUT IN THERE. ARE YOU GUYS OKAY WITH THAT? YEAH. I MEAN, CLAY'S NOT HERE, BUT. YEAH, I DON'T KNOW WHERE THAT CAME FROM. YEAH. HE'S HERE. I CAN HEAR HIM. IF I MAY. MADAM CHAIR I BELIEVE THAT 200 HERE WAS PROBABLY THERE WAS SOME CONCERN OF THOSE ADDITIONAL CRITERIA THAT WOULD BE REQUIRED HIGH WAGE JOBS, WORKFORCE HOUSING AND SO ON. SO IF YOU IF YOU WERE GOING TO PUT THAT ON, THEN YOU INCREASE THE SIZE OF THE DEVELOPMENT THAT MIGHT BE ABLE TO HANDLE IT. I BELIEVE THAT WAS PROBABLY WHAT WAS THE SUGGESTION. AGAIN, IT'S THE BOARD'S PURVIEW TO TO DO WHATEVER. CAN WE JUST NOT HAVE 200 ACRES IN THERE? I THINK IT APPLIES TO EVERYTHING. WE DON'T. YEAH. WE DON'T. COMPLETELY UP TO YOU. IS THAT OKAY? WELL, IT'S IT'S NOT OKAY IF WE'RE GOING TO ASK THEM TO CREATE 50 OR MORE HIGH WAGE JOBS IN A DEVELOPMENT THAT'S BUILDING TEN HOUSES RIGHT ON TEN ACRES. THAT WOULD BE UNREASONABLE. I DON'T THINK THAT YOU WOULD WANT TO DO THAT. I JUST I GUESS MY QUESTION IS WHERE IT CAME FROM BECAUSE WE HAD TALKED ABOUT ALL THIS, BUT. OKAY, WELL, EITHER WE ELIMINATE A THAT THEY DON'T HAVE TO CREATE 50 OR MORE HIGH, HIGH WAGE JOBS OR WE ELIMINATE THE ACREAGE. BUT I DON'T THINK WE CAN HAVE BOTH OF THOSE THINGS. I DON'T THINK WE CAN ELIMINATE THE ACREAGE AND CONTINUE TO KEEP A AND B FOR THAT MATTER. I MEAN, THERE ARE CERTAIN THINGS THAT ONLY A LARGE DEVELOPMENT COULD ACCOMPLISH. THAT'S FINE. I JUST WANTED TO BRING UP WHERE IT CAME FROM. YEAH, I AGREE, I, I THINK THAT WAS THE PROVISION IS BECAUSE WE'RE IF WE'RE GOING TO. ASK FOR JOBS, ASK FOR JOBS, THEN IT NEEDS TO BE A BIG A BIG DEBATE. SO IF FOR TEN HOMES WE CAN'T GET 50 JOBS OUT OF IT. GOOD JOB. OH, YEAH. OKAY. AND THEN I WANT TO GO TO YOU KNOW, I WANT TO. I WANT TO TOUCH ON THE MIDDLE. HOUSING TYPES. I DON'T REMEMBER TALKING ABOUT THIS AT ALL. I CAN'T REMEMBER EVER TALKING ABOUT IT, BUT OUR COUNTY. I AGREE THAT, YOU KNOW, THE MIDDLE MISSING MIDDLE IN THE CITY OF SAINT AUGUSTINE IS ONE THING, BUT ACTUALLY MAKING IT PART OF THIS, YOU KNOW, LIKE, A MUST KIND OF KIND OF SCARED ME BECAUSE I DON'T KNOW WHERE IT CAME FROM, AND I DON'T THINK WE VOTED ON IT OR DISCUSSED IT. SO I JUST WANT TO MAKE SURE. THAT WE TALK ABOUT IT BECAUSE IT SAYS, IF I CAN READ THIS, THE COUNTY SHALL ENCOURAGE THE DEVELOPMENT OF MISSING MIDDLE HOUSING TYPES. MISSING MIDDLE HOUSING TYPES INCLUDE SMALL SCALE MULTI-UNIT HOMES, E.G. ATTACHED SIDE FAMILY TOWNHOMES, APARTMENT HOUSES, COTTAGE COURTS, DUPLEXES, AND PROVIDE AFFORDABLE, DIVERSE OPTIONS BETWEEN SINGLE FAMILY HOMES AND LARGE APARTMENT AND SOMETHING APARTMENTS. BUT I MEAN, I GET THAT. BUT ALL THOSE THE MIDDLE HOUSING TYPES CAN BE CONFUSED WITH A LOT OF DIFFERENT THINGS THAT I DON'T KNOW. I MEAN, IN CITY OF SAINT AUGUSTINE THAT MAY BE GREAT, BUT OUTSIDE OF THAT, I DON'T KNOW IF THAT GOES INTO OUR WHOLE COMMUNITY. ANY COMMENTS ON THAT? I THINK IT SAYS HERE THAT WE HAVE TO DO IT. YOU DON'T HAVE TO DO THAT. THAT IT WAS FOR TO ESTABLISH THE DENSITY BONUSES THAT ARE IN THE C AND D FOR WORKFORCE, AFFORDABLE AND MISSING MIDDLE HOUSING. SO TO GET THE BONUSES, YOU HAVE TO YOU COULD PROVIDE MISSING MIDDLE AS ONE OF THE OPTIONS. WHY DON'T DO WHAT DO WE WANT TO DO. WE WANT TO DO THAT. I MEAN IS THAT OKAY WITH YOU GUYS? I MEAN THAT'S HARD ON A RESIDENT RESIDENTIAL NEIGHBORHOOD THAT DIDN'T KNOW THAT WAS COMING. I DON'T KNOW. I JUST. LOOK, I CAN'T TALK TO YOU GUYS IN MY OFFICE, SO I'M. I'M UP HERE ASKING THOSE QUESTIONS. AND PAGE 37 HAD THAT OTHER, LARGER PARAGRAPH. YEAH. OH, YEAH. 37. THAT'S RIGHT THERE. IT'S UP ON THE SCREEN NOW. [04:35:02] HEY. 113 ONE. YEAH. SO THAT'S IT RIGHT THERE. WELL THIS THIS IS THE IF I COULD COULD I SPEAK CHAIR. I'D LOVE TO I'D LOVE THAT BECAUSE I DON'T KNOW. THIS IS MY YOU KNOW, I, I UNDERSTAND. AS FAR AS THE MISSING MIDDLE, WHAT MY CONCERN IS REGARDING THIS WORKFORCE, HOUSING. HOUSING IS THAT WE DO NOT HAVE ANYTHING IN PLACE TO FOLLOW UP AND TO ACTUALLY ENSURE THIS IS OCCURRING. JUST TO GIVE YOU AN EXAMPLE, I DID GO TO ONE OF THE TO TO A DEVELOPMENT, AND THERE IS NOTHING THAT SAYS SOMEBODY WITH PLENTY OF MONEY CAN'T COME IN AND BUY 3 OR 4 PROPERTIES IF THEY QUALIFY, SO THERE IS NONE. THERE'S NO FOLLOW UP. YOU KNOW, WE TALK ABOUT ALL OF OUR TEACHERS, OUR FIRE DEPARTMENT, OUR SHERIFF. WE ARE. MANY OF THEM ARE NOT GOING TO THOSE PEOPLE. SO THAT IS MY MY MY CHALLENGE IS THAT WE WE DON'T HAVE ANY KIND OF A, ANY KIND OF CONTROL OR FOLLOW UP REGARDING. IS THAT TRULY WHAT THIS WHAT THAT'S FOR. SO I WOULD LOVE TO SEE HOW WE, YOU KNOW, HOW HOW CAN WE HOW CAN WE DO THAT. I MEAN, WE'RE INCREASING ALL THIS DENSITY AND DOING ALL THESE THINGS, AND WE'RE NOT EVEN FIXING THE TRUE PROBLEM THAT'S OUT THERE. I GUESS THAT'S REALLY NOT ANYTHING FOR THE TRANSMITTAL, I GUESS. BUT I WAS JUST SORT OF WANTING TO KNOW. I DIDN'T KNOW IF THEY I DON'T KNOW. WELL, ON PAGE 24 OF THE COUNTY SHOW ESTABLISH A MIXED USE ZONING DISTRICT IN ITS LAND DEVELOPMENT CODE. IT WAS INVESTIGATOR CONSIDER I THOUGHT AND AND IT STILL WENT BACK TO ESTABLISH THAT WAS. SO WHAT IS THAT JUST THAT WAS TO CLEAN UP. THERE IS A FUTURE LAND USE CATEGORY THAT SAYS MIXED USE. SO IT WAS JUST KIND OF TO THINK, WELL, WE WENT FROM WHEN WE I SEE I'M GOING BACK TO WHAT WE DID THE LAST MEETING AND WE SAID THAT WE WOULD CHANGE IT TO CONSIDER. AND IT'S STILL ON, IT'S STILL ESTABLISHED OR INVESTIGATE. WE WERE IF YOU ESTABLISH THAT, WHAT DOES THAT MEAN? I HAVE JACOB RIGHT THERE. SO I MEAN WHERE IS THAT GOING TO BE. THANK YOU, MADAM CHAIR, AGAIN, JACOB SMITH FOR THE RECORD. SO ON THE THE IDEA OF CREATING OR ESTABLISHING A MIXED USE ZONING DISTRICT, THE INTENT FOR THAT IS TO ALLOW FOR FLEXIBLE DEVELOPMENT OF DEVELOPMENTS UNDER 40 ACRES IN SIZE. A BIG COMPONENT OF THIS COMP PLAN CHANGE IS TO REDUCE THE RELIANCE ON PLANNED UNIT DEVELOPMENTS. AND SO EITHER AN UPDATED ZONING DISTRICT OR AN ESTABLISHMENT OF A NEW DISTRICT WILL BE NECESSARY SO THAT WE CAN WE CAN BUILD CONSISTENT WITH THIS COMPREHENSIVE PLAN. CAN I JUST CHANGE IT TO CONSIDER. AND THEN WE CAN STILL DO THAT. I MEAN, WHAT'S THE DIFFERENCE? BUT IF WE ESTABLISH THAT'S A LAW, I MEAN, IT BECOMES A LAW, RIGHT? WE WILL ULTIMATELY HAVE TO CREATE IT THROUGH THE WE WILL HAVE TO ULTIMATELY CREATE IT THROUGH THE LAND DEVELOPMENT CODE. SO IT WOULD COME BACK TO YOU ONE WAY OR THE OTHER, BUT YOU TO THE TO THE WILL OF THE BOARD. WE CAN CERTAINLY CHANGE IT. COMMISSIONER JOSEPH, I, I THINK WE DO NEED TO ESTABLISH AND IT WOULD GIVE US ANOTHER MECHANISM BY WHICH TO DEVELOP THINGS THAT WOULD FIT INTO A MIXED USE DISTRICT. RIGHT NOW WE DON'T HAVE THAT ABILITY. SO WE HAVE TO OPEN A PUD AND PUDS GET VERY CONFUSING. THIS WOULD MORE CLEARLY DEFINE MIXED USES WITHIN THE COUNTY. I JUST WORRY RIGHT NOW WE DON'T HAVE THAT DISTRICT. WE DON'T HAVE A ZONING FOR MIXED USE. NO, BUT I JUST WORRY THAT IT'S GOING TO BECOME IN AN AREA WHERE WE DON'T WANT IT AS WELL AS IT'LL BE USED, LIKE THEY USE THE LIVE LOCAL ACT. WE HAVE THE LIVE LOCAL ACT RIGHT NOW. WE DON'T EVEN KNOW WHERE THEY'RE GOING TO BE BUILDING THOSE HOMES. WE DON'T KNOW TOMORROW WHERE THEY'RE GOING TO BE BUILDING THOSE. BUT THE OBVIOUS DIFFERENCE HERE IS THAT WE DON'T GET PREEMPTED BY A MIXED USE DISTRICT. YOU WOULD STILL HAVE TO VOTE UP OR DOWN ON WHETHER OR NOT TO APPROVE IT. SO LIVE LOCAL PREEMPTS US COMPLETELY. SO CAN WE. SO IT'S NOT LIKE THE LIVE LOCAL ACT. CAN WE JUST CONSIDER THERE. I WOULD LIKE TO ESTABLISH. I WOULD LIKE TO ESTABLISH BECAUSE I THINK WE NEED THIS FOR THE FUTURE DEVELOPMENT OF THE COUNTY. IT WOULD MORE CLEARLY DEFINE USES IN THOSE DISTRICTS. BUT THE BOARD, THE BOARD WOULD NEVER HAVE TO VOTE FOR IT. IT WOULDN'T BE BY RIGHT. IT WOULD BE AN UP OR DOWN VOTE. OKAY. THAT'S OKAY. ANYBODY ELSE? PARDON ME. ON TEN. CAN YOU PUT THAT UP ON THE SCREEN? I THINK IT'S ON. YEAH. YEAH. PAGE 24. 8.1.1, 1.1. IT'S LIKE TOWARDS THE BOTTOM. IT'S A ONE SENTENCE. I JUST I'M JUST LOOKING AT THINGS THAT WE DID THE LAST TIME AND HOW THEY CHANGED BY THE TIME THIS GOT TO US. AGAIN, I'M JUST POINTING THAT OUT. I DON'T KNOW HOW THIS WORKS. WHAT WAS THE VERBIAGE YOU WERE LOOKING FOR? IT SAYS THE COUNTY SHELL. IT SAYS ESTABLISH A MIXED USE ZONING DISTRICT IN ITS LAND DEVELOPMENT CODE. WE HAD CHANGED IT TO CONSIDER IN THE MEETING. BUT IT'S BACK TO ESTABLISHED. AND I'M JUST SAYING TO KEEP IT OPEN BECAUSE IT IS A LAW THAT ALL OF A SUDDEN WE GOT TO ESTABLISH THAT. [04:40:01] AND I DON'T KNOW IF THAT'S THE RIGHT WAY. OUR COUNTY SHOULD BE GOING. BECAUSE I THINK THE LOCATION OF SOME OF THESE UNITS SHOULD BE OFF THE FREEWAY OR NEAR CITY OR NOT. JUST WHAT WAS THE WORD YOU WERE LOOKING FOR? CONSIDER? YEAH. IS THAT GOOD I THINK. BUT BY SAYING CONSIDER, YOU COULD SAY ONE DAY DOWN THE ROAD IT COULD BE A ZONING DISTRICT THAT THE BOARD, I MEAN, IT BASICALLY DOES NOTHING TO SAY. CONSIDER BY SAYING ESTABLISH IT WOULD CREATE A ZONING USE THAT APPLICANTS COULD THEN USE TO BRING FORWARD PROJECTS. AND THE BOARD COULD SAY, HEY, THAT DOESN'T BELONG HERE, IT'S INCOMPATIBLE AND VOTE NO LIKE WE DID EARLIER TODAY WHERE WE DEEMED SOMETHING WAS INCOMPATIBLE AND WE VOTED NO. IT DOES NOT MANDATE ANY DEVELOPMENT. IT JUST GIVES US A NEW ZONING MECHANISM FOR CONSIDERATION. SO WE WOULD CONSIDER A MIXED USE DISTRICT ZONING LIKE WE WOULD ANY OTHER ZONING. AND WE VOTE UP OR DOWN. SIMPLE. BUT IT GETS USED BY ATTORNEYS IN A DIFFERENT WAY. SO THAT'S THE ONLY REASON I ASKED FOR THAT. ARE YOU INTERESTED OR. NO. I DON'T HAVE A THAT'S THAT WASN'T ON MY LIST OF ISSUES. SORRY. I KNOW IT'S A LITTLE ONE, BUT. YEAH. ALL RIGHT, LET'S KEEP GOING. AND THEN AT THE END, WE CAN FIGURE OUT WHAT WE WANT TO DO. OKAY. IF I, IF I MAY, I COMMISSIONER MURPHY. YEAH, THANKS. A .1.2.6. ONE OF THE THINGS THAT I HAD, AND A CONCERN ABOUT THAT IS, AS IT SAID, THE COUNTY SHALL PRIORITIZE INFILL DEVELOPMENT. BUT THEN AT THE BOTTOM IT SAYS EXCEPT IN AREAS THAT HAVE BECOME RURAL CIVIL CULTURE OR, OR ARE ENCLAVES ENCIRCLED BY THE DEVELOPMENT AREA BOUNDARY. COULD WE CHANGE THAT? WOULD DO IT? WOULD EVERYBODY BE RIGHT TO SAY LIKE BORDER OR FLANK OR SOMETHING LIKE THAT? DIFFERENT WORD. IT DOESN'T HAVE TO BE ENCIRCLED COMPLETELY. I YES, BUT JUST BORDERS OR BORDERS. A GOOD WORD TO ME, IF THAT'S ALL RIGHT. WE ARE ENCIRCLED AS TOO RESTRICTIVE. OKAY. SO WE HAVE THAT, IF I MAY. D .1.3.4 OVER ON, I THINK IT'S PAGE. ONE, THREE, FOUR, FIVE AND 40. I THINK IT'S PAGE FIVE. PAGE FIVE. ONE OF THE THINGS THAT THEY WERE TALKING ABOUT IS .1.3.4 SAYS THE COUNTY SHALL REQUIRE WASTEWATER DISPOSAL OR POTABLE WATER AGREEMENTS, WHEREBY PACKAGE TREATMENT PLANTS MAY BE INTERCONNECTED AND REPLACED BY REGIONAL TREATMENT FACILITIES IN ORDER TO IMPROVE OPERATING EFFICIENCIES. SUCH AGREEMENTS SHALL STATE THAT AT THE TIME DEEMED APPROPRIATE BY THE COUNTY, AND THE SYSTEM SHALL BE CONVEYED TO THE COUNTY FOR OPERATION AND MAINTENANCE. CAN SOMEBODY KIND OF HELP ME OUT WITH MIKE? MIKE, IS THAT YOU? WHY THE CHANGE? IT SEEMS TO BE A REALLY, REALLY BIG CHANGE. WHY? WE'RE. WHY WOULD WE DO THAT? D .1.3.4 RIGHT THERE AT THE TOP. INSTEAD OF ACQUIRED BY IT SAYS CONVEYED TO. THAT'S A THAT'S A BIG CHANGE. NEIL. HELP ME. COMMISSIONER NEIL SINCLAIR, UTILITIES DIRECTOR. THE WAY I UNDERSTAND IT, THE REASONING FOR THIS IS HISTORICALLY TO BE CONSISTENT. WE'VE NOT BEEN FAN FAVORITES OF DEVELOPMENTS COMING THAT THAT REQUIRE INSTALLATION OF PACKAGE PLANTS BEING PUT IN AWAY FROM OUR SYSTEMS. WHEN THAT HAPPENS, THERE'S BEEN A LOT OF INCONSISTENCY ABOUT THE QUALITY OF TREATMENT SYSTEMS THAT HAVE BEEN PUT IN, WHICH GET PUT IN BY DEVELOPERS OR DEVELOPMENTS, AND OVER TIME THE COUNTY HAS TO ABSORB THESE AND GET THEM BACK. WE'VE HAD MANY EXAMPLES OVER THE PAST. IT BECOMES VERY DIFFICULT FOR US TO I'M FAMILIAR SORT OF ACQUIRE THESE TO EITHER ACQUISITIONS OR THROUGH RECEIVERSHIP. SO ONE OF THE THOUGHT PROCESSES WHERE WE HAVE CERTAIN SET OF QUALITY AND IN THE BEST CASE WHERE THE COUNTY CAN MAINTAIN THESE. SO OUR PREFERENCE WOULD BE THAT THE THERE WOULD BE SOME QUALITY BEING PUT IN FOR THAT FOR THE TREATMENT. SPECIFICALLY, WHEN WE HAVE A LOT OF REGULATIONS COMING UP AND WE DON'T WANT NEW DEVELOPMENTS TO GO THAT ARE BEING PUT IN BY DEVELOPERS THAT HAVE MINIMAL STANDARDS, WE WANT THEM TO BE A HIGHER STANDARD. THAT'S THE REASONING. IS THERE A WAY TO PUT THIS IN THE LAND DEVELOPMENT CODE INSTEAD OF THE COMPREHENSIVE LAND PLAN, OR DOES IT OR DOES IT MATTER? BECAUSE, YOU KNOW, I AGREE THAT WE SHOULD HAVE HIGHER STANDARDS OR THAT THAT WHATEVER'S PUT IN SHOULD BE TO THE STANDARD OF THE COUNTY? IF WE'RE EVENTUALLY GOING TO END UP HAVING TO HAVE A TAKEOVER? [04:45:04] I DON'T HAVE A PROBLEM WITH THAT, BUT I'LL DEFER THAT TO MIKE. BUT FROM OUR STANDPOINT, AS LONG AS THERE IS A STRONG RECOMMENDATION FOR I PROBABLY FALLS OUTSIDE MY PURVIEW OF EXPERTISE TO KNOW IF IT'S LAND DEVELOPMENT OR COMPREHENSIVE PLAN. BUT AS LONG AS THOSE STANDARDS ARE REQUIRED, WE'RE OKAY WITH IT. SO I HAVE TO DEFER THAT. IS THIS SOMETHING WE CAN DO IN THE LAND DEVELOPMENT CODE OR IN THE IN THE RULES? BUT I THINK YOU COULD CERTAINLY DO IT IN LAND DEVELOPMENT CODE. I DON'T WANT TO SAY FOR SURE, BECAUSE I JUST DON'T KNOW IF THE STATUTE REQUIRES THAT THIS BE IN THE LAND USE I'LL LOOK TO. I'M NOT SURE IF OUR CONSULTANT KNOWS THAT EITHER, SO WE'D WANT TO VERIFY THAT TO GIVE YOU A CORRECT ANSWER. ALL RIGHT. THANK YOU. AND LET'S SEE. SO ONE MORE. LET ME SEE. OVER ON PAGE I THINK IT'S PAGE TEN. I'LL MAKE SURE I GOT THE RIGHT ONE. F .1.6.2 I THINK IS WHAT IT IS. YOU FIND IT? I'LL FIND IT. HELLO. 1.6.2. OKAY. I THINK IT'S PAGE 13. .1.3 C AND YOU FIND IT THREE. OKAY. I'M LOOKING AT SOMETHING DIFFERENT. OH, I'M F SORRY. OH MY FAULT. MY BAD. NOT A F. F .1.6.2. SOMEBODY MAY HAVE TO FIND IT FOR ME. IT'S AN FF162. THAT'S PAGE NINE AND TEN. IS THIS THE ONE THAT CREATES A REDUNDANT WATER MANAGEMENT? YEAH. OVERSIGHT. THERE'S THIS IN THE IS IT'S COVERED BY THE FEDERAL LAWS. COVERED BY STATE LAW. IT'S COVERED BY WATER MANAGEMENT. BY FISH AND WILDLIFE. IS THERE IS THERE A REASON FOR US TO ADD F TO THAT AT ALL? CAN WE CAN WE SAY THAT THE FEDERAL AND STATE GOVERNMENTS HAVE ALREADY BEAT THIS HORSE DEAD? ANY PROBLEM WITH THAT? NO. I MEAN, WE IT'S LIKE. IT'S LIKE SAYING DRIVING OVER THE SPEED LIMIT IS DISCOURAGED WHEN IT'S ALREADY IN THE LAW. SAYING YOU CAN'T DRIVE OVER THE SPEED LIMIT KIND OF SEEMS REDUNDANT TO ME. THAT'S THE ONLY THING I CAN RELATE TO. COMMISSIONER MURPHY, I SUPPORT YOU IN STRIKING THIS FROM THE PROPOSED COMP PLAN. IT IS A REDUNDANCY. IT'S ANOTHER WE'RE DOING IT AT THE COUNTY LEVEL WITH ALREADY DOING IT AT THE STATE LEVEL. I MEAN, WE'RE WE'RE WE'RE LAYER AFTER LAYER AS IT IS. I DON'T SEE ANY REASON TO HAVE THAT. IT'S IT SEEMS SMALL, BUT TO ME IT'S JUST A REDUNDANCY THAT WE NEED TO STRIKE. THAT WOULD BE MY SUPPORT AND MY IN MY COMMENTS. I WOULD SUPPORT THAT. CONSENSUS. YEAH. YEAH. GOOD. THANK YOU. WE'LL STRIKE THAT, IF YOU WILL. YEAH. YEAH F DOT. AS SOON AS WE'RE DONE. DISCUSSION, WE'LL HAVE PUBLIC COMMENT. I KNOW, BUT, COMMISSIONER, BUT WE'RE NOT DONE YET. WE'RE NOT DONE YET. HANG ON. NO, THAT WAS THAT WASN'T A VOTE. THAT WAS A CONSENSUS. YEAH. F .1.6.2. AND IT WOULD BE F TO BE STRICKEN. BECAUSE OF REDUNDANCY. NO, MAN. SORRY. ALL RIGHT, SO WHAT WE'LL DO IS LET'S DO PUBLIC COMMENT. I KNOW WE HAVE AT LEAST FOUR, TEN MINUTE DESIGNATED SPEAKERS? 4 OR 5. WE HAVE FOUR. OKAY. SO MISS WEST, WOULD YOU START THOSE, PLEASE? [04:50:07] SURE. AFTER CLAY. OKAY. WE'LL NOW HAVE PUBLIC COMMENT ON AGENDA ITEM NUMBER EIGHT. WE HAVE DESIGNATED REPRESENTATIVES IF WE CAN HAVE THE NFPA REPRESENTATIVES AUSTIN AND BETH, PLEASE. FIRST FOR TEN MINUTES. OKAY. GOOD AFTERNOON. AFTERNOON, COMMISSIONER. AUSTIN NICHOLAS, 6747 SOUTH POINTE PARKWAY, JACKSONVILLE, FLORIDA. THANK YOU, AS ALWAYS, FOR ALLOWING ME TO SPEAK. I'M JUST GOING TO DISCUSS SOME OF THE MAIN CONCERNS NFPA HAS WITH THIS UPDATE TO THE COMPREHENSIVE PLAN. AND I'LL START WITH SECTION 8.1.2.3, BECAUSE THE MAPS, THE FUTURE LAND USE MAPS HAVE NOT BEEN UPDATED IN 25 YEARS. THERE WILL BE MANY REQUESTS TO MODIFY THE COMPREHENSIVE PLAN MAP DUE TO THE CHANGES IN GROWTH PATTERNS OVER TWO AND A HALF DECADES. WHILE STAFF HAS SOFTENED THIS LANGUAGE SOME, IT IS STILL OVERLY BURDENSOME IN OUR OPINION, AND SEEMS LIKE A POTENTIAL TAKING OF LAND WHICH COULD BE IN VIOLATION OF THE BURT HARRIS ACT. IT IS ALSO STILL VERY OPEN TO INTERPRETATION, AND OUR OPINION, SUBSECTIONS EIGHT THROUGH F ARE ALL BEING ADDED TO PROVIDE EVEN MORE REASONS TO REJECT PROJECTS. FOR EXAMPLE, SUBSECTION SUBSECTION A SAYS THE CREATION OF 50 OR MORE HIGH WAGE JOBS. WHAT IS THE DEFINITION OF A HIGH WAGE JOB? THIS ONLY SEEMS APPROPRIATE IF THIS CHANGES TO MIXED USE. I'M NOT SURE HOW A RESIDENTIAL DEVELOPMENT, AS WAS POINTED OUT EARLIER, COULD ACHIEVE THAT. SUBSECTION B SAYS THE CREATION OF 100 OR MORE WORKFORCE OR AFFORDABLE HOUSING UNITS. EVERY WELL, EVERY PROJECT THAT COMES FORWARD WITH WORKFORCE OR ATTAINABLE HOUSING GETS DENIED. WITH PGA MEMBERS SAYING RESIDENTIAL IS NOT COMPATIBLE WITH RESIDENTIAL POTENTIAL. HOW WOULD A DEVELOPER EVER GET OVER THAT HURDLE? AND SUBSECTION C SAYS INFRASTRUCTURE CAPACITY EXISTS TO SERVE THE DEVELOPMENT. WITH THE WAY SAINT JOHN'S COUNTY'S RULES ARE CURRENTLY WRITTEN. IT IS A PAY AND GO SYSTEM, SO THIS SHOULDN'T MATTER OR BE RELEVANT. ALMOST EVERY ROAD IS OVER CAPACITY. COLLECTOR OR MAJOR COLLECTOR ROAD IS OVER CAPACITY, SO THIS SEEMS LIKE A WAY TO CRUSH NEW PROJECTS. IT WILL ALSO END ANY POTENTIAL IMPROVEMENTS BY DEVELOPERS TO INFRASTRUCTURE, POTENTIALLY COSTING THE COUNTY MILLIONS OF DOLLARS. SUBSECTION D ASKS FOR WATER AND SEWER TO BE AVAILABLE WITHIN A QUARTER MILE OF THE PROJECT. WHAT IF THE DEVELOPER IS WILLING TO PAY TO BRING THESE SERVICES SO THAT THE UTILITY DEPARTMENT DOESN'T HAVE TO? THAT SAVES THE COUNTY UTILITY A LOT OF MONEY IF THEY'RE WILLING TO DO THAT. SO THEY DON'T HAVE TO EXTEND THE LINES IN THE FUTURE. AND THEN SUBSECTION F IS OUR LARGEST CONCERN. AND THAT ASKS FOR THE PRESERVATION OF 40% OF LAND. THIS IS AN OUTRIGHT TAKING IT, ESPECIALLY CONSIDERING THOSE STORMWATER PONDS ARE NOT COUNTED AS OPEN SPACE. WAS MY UNDERSTANDING OF THAT. ALSO, THE NEW STATE LAW TO CLEAN UP FLORIDA'S WATERWAYS MAY CAUSE THOSE PONDS TO DOUBLE FROM 15% TO 30% OF THE ENTIRE PROJECT SITE. THEN I'LL MOVE ON TO SECTION F .1.2.3, THREE, SUBSECTION B THAT REQUIRES 100% FLORIDA FRIENDLY LANDSCAPING. THESE CHOICES ARE SO LIMITED AND NOT VERY COLORFUL. WHY CAN'T WE JUST LEAVE IT THE CURRENT 50%? MODERN NEIGHBORHOOD NEIGHBORHOODS ARE ACTUALLY EXTREMELY EFFICIENT IN CONSERVING WATER. IT'S ALL THE OLDER NEIGHBORHOODS THAT WASTE THE MOST WATER BY FAR. NAFTA ALSO HAS CONCERNS ABOUT THE HOUSING DATA USED IN THIS COMP PLAN UPDATE BECAUSE IT RESULTED, IN OUR OPINION, INACCURATE GROWTH PROJECTIONS. THIS IS BECAUSE SAINT JOHN'S COUNTY USED THE ENTITLED LOT COUNT, WHICH IS NOT AN ACCURATE REPRESENTATION OF THE TRUE NUMBER OF BUILDABLE LOTS. NFPA HAS PROVIDED DETAILED DATA ON THIS ISSUE FROM MULTIPLE EXPERT SOURCES, AND IT WAS EVEN REPORTED ON IN THE JACKSONVILLE BUSINESS JOURNAL. THERE ARE ALMOST 50% FEWER BUILDABLE LOTS THAN THE COUNTY NUMBER, AND THE COUNTY EVEN INCLUDES EXPIRED PUD LOTS AND THAT NUMBER. AND IF I COULD JUST REAL QUICK GIVE US AN EXAMPLE. YEAH, YOU GOTTA GET A CORE IT. JUST LEAVE IT. WE'LL GET THERE. SO THIS IS FROM THE REPORT THAT WE'VE PROVIDED HERE. THIS IS MY CODE. THIS IS FROM THE REPORT. SORRY ABOUT THAT. THIS IS FROM THE REPORT WE PROVIDED TO THE COUNTY AND THE COMMISSIONERS. AS YOU CAN SEE HERE, WE PULLED THIS IS ACTUALLY FROM THE SAINT JOHNS COUNTY WEBSITE. THIS IS THE GOVERNMENT WEBSITE DATA. THIS WE DIDN'T MAKE THIS UP. SO THE SAWGRASS PUD EVERYONE'S FAMILIAR WITH SAWGRASS. THIS SAYS IT'S 17.4% BUILT OUT. DOES ANYONE HERE ACTUALLY BELIEVE THAT SAWGRASS IS ONLY 17% BUILT OUT? PER SAINT JOHNS COUNTY, AS I SAID, AT 17.4% BUILT OUT. AND IT HOLDS THE SECOND LARGEST AMOUNT OF UNBUILT LOTS AT 5748. AND THAT'S JUST A PRIME EXAMPLE OF THIS. AND THERE ARE OTHER EXAMPLES LIKE THIS WHICH I'LL PROVIDE TO STAFF. [04:55:06] AND THEN LASTLY, LASTLY, I'LL JUST SAY THE FACT THAT THIS COMP PLAN UPDATE DIDN'T INCLUDE CHANGES TO THE FUTURE LAND USE MAP IS ALSO A SIGNIFICANT ISSUE BECAUSE IT HASN'T BEEN UPDATED IN ABOUT 2025 YEARS. EXCUSE ME. I THINK WE CAN ALL AGREE SAINT JOHN'S COUNTY HAS CHANGED SUBSTANTIALLY IN 25 YEARS, SO THE FARM SHOULD TOO. THANK YOU. YOU'RE NOT GOING TO BELIEVE I'M GOING TO SAY THIS, BUT I AGREE WITH NICOLE CROSBY ON THIS POINT. 25 YEARS IS A LONG TIME TO NOT UPDATE A CODE. SO IF IT WORKS FOR NEEDING TO UPDATE THE TREES, IT WORKS FOR NEEDING TO UPDATE THE DEVELOPMENT MAP. THAT BEING SAID, IF NEW DEVELOPMENT IS NOT APPROVED, HOW WILL THE COUNTY FUND INFRASTRUCTURE PROJECTS WITH NO IMPACT FEES COMING IN THE TWO LARGE PROJECTS THAT CURRENTLY HAVE RESIDENTIAL LOTS? BOTH HAVE SO MANY TRANSPORTATION CREDITS THEY WILL NOT BE PAYING DIRECTLY INTO THE COUNTY. THEY PREBUILT THEIR ROADS. SO WHERE'S THE COUNTY GOING TO GET THEIR MONEY TO COVER THEIR BONDS? SO YOU'VE GOT THE BUDGET HEARING COMING UP. THAT'S SOMETHING TO CONSIDER. AND THAT'S A REASON WHY AN A ONE, TWO, THREE, WE SHOULD NOT MAKE IT SUCH A BIG HURDLE FOR NEW PROJECTS TO BE ABLE TO COME IN. THE COUNTY NEEDS FUNDING, AND THAT'S THE ONLY WAY THAT YOU'RE GOING TO GET IT. VERY, VERY IMPORTANT A ONE, TWO, SIX, BECAUSE SO MANY SMALLER PARCELS ARE CLASSIFIED AS RURAL SILVICULTURE AND ARE SURROUNDED BY DEVELOPMENT, THIS PROVISION IS EXTREMELY IMPORTANT. SO WE DO APPRECIATE THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR COMING UP WITH A DIFFERENT WORD. I THINK IT'S VERY IMPORTANT THAT THOSE PEOPLE ARE ABLE TO DO SOMETHING WITH THEIR LAND AND BE SURROUNDED BY PROJECTS, BUT NOT BE ALLOWED TO DO ANYTHING WITH THEIRS. THIS IS FURTHER EXACERBATED IN A ONE, THREE, THREE. BASICALLY, THIS SAYS IF YOUR LAND IS RURAL CIVIC CULTURE OR ART AND YOU DON'T HAVE A HUGE PARCEL SUCH AS A FARM AS PART OF IT, YOUR LAND IS WORTHLESS. SO MANY PARCELS IN THIS COUNTY ARE RURAL CIVIC CULTURE AND ARE ONLY 2 TO 30 ACRES. IF YOUR LAND IS RURAL CIVIC CULTURE, TO BUILD ONE SINGLE FAMILY HOME, YOU MUST HAVE 40 ACRES, 40 ACRES FOR ONE SINGLE FAMILY HOME. SO IF YOU OWN 2 TO 39 ACRES, YOUR LAND IS WORTHLESS BECAUSE THE LANGUAGE SAYS THAT YOU'RE NOT ALLOWED TO DO ANY COMMERCIAL UNLESS YOU HAVE SOMETHING BEHIND YOU THAT IS SUPPORTIVE OF WHATEVER YOU'RE DOING. SO IF YOU HAVE A FARM AND YOU WANT TO SELL YOUR FARM GOODS OUT FRONT, THAT'S FINE. BUT THERE'S A PROJECT THAT WILL BE COMING BEFORE YOU SHORTLY. IT'S ASKING FOR RV AND BOAT STORAGE, SEVEN ACRES, RURAL CIVIC CULTURE. AND IT WENT IN A BAD WAY WITH A PGA. AND THAT'S ONE THING I WANT TO ASK. IF YOU'VE WATCHED A COUPLE OF THE RECENT PGA MEETINGS, CAN WE PLEASE HELP EDUCATE THOSE PGA MEMBERS? THEY HAVE SAID IN PUBLIC DURING THE MEETING THAT THEY DID NOT UNDERSTAND THE CODE, THAT IT WAS TOO LONG. THEY HADN'T READ IT. SO IF THEY'RE SUPPOSED TO BE IMPLEMENTING THE CODE THAT HAS BEEN ENACTED BY THIS BOARD, WHY ARE THEY NOT EDUCATED AND WHY ARE THEY NOT READING THAT? THAT'S WHY YOU'RE GETTING ALL THESE CRAZY VOTES THAT ARE COMING TO YOU ON THE PGA, BECAUSE THEY'RE VOTING WITH WHAT THEY THINK PERSONALLY, AND NOT WITH THE CHARGE THAT THEY'RE GIVEN TO VOTE BASED ON THE RULES FOR THIS COUNTY. AND IN ADDITION, AFTER SITTING THROUGH TODAY AND HEARING SO MUCH TESTIMONY FROM THE GENERAL PUBLIC, I THINK THEY THINK WE DEVELOPERS GET AWAY WITH MURDER, THAT WE DON'T HAVE ANY RULES. I THINK IT WOULD GO SO FAR IF THIS COUNTY WOULD HOLD WORKSHOPS IN THIS ROOM, AND LITERALLY USE THE LAND DEVELOPMENT CODE TO EXPLAIN WHERE THESE CODES COME FROM, TO SHOW THE MULTIPLE LAYERS, AS WAS MENTIONED BY COMMISSIONER MURPHY, THAT WE'VE GOT ALL THESE FEDERAL AGENCIES, WE'VE GOT THE COUNTY AGENCIES, WE DON'T GET AWAY WITH ANYTHING. WE HAVE SO MANY LAYERS. AND I THINK THIS IS EXACTLY THIS IS EXACTLY WHY I'M SAYING THIS WORKSHOP IS SO VITAL. THEY HAVE NO IDEA HOW STRINGENT THE COUNTY IS ON US AND THE LAYERS AND LAYERS AND LAYERS. AND I JUST THINK IT MIGHT HELP BE A HEALING PROCESS TO HOLD THESE WORKSHOPS AND TO EDUCATE EVERYBODY. THANK YOU. THANK YOU SO MUCH. WE'LL NOW HAVE RICHARD GROSSO FOR TEN MINUTES. OR JEN. SORRY, JEN. LONG BACK PLEASE. FOR TWO MINUTES. YOU GOT THE TECHNOLOGY. EXCELLENT. I LOVE IT WHEN TECHNOLOGY COOPERATES. JEN LUNDBERG, MATANZAS RIVERKEEPER, 291 BRIDGE ROAD. PROUD RESIDENT OF SOUTHERN SAINT JOHN'S COUNTY. FIRST AND FOREMOST, THANK YOU ALL SO MUCH FOR THE TIME AND ENERGY AND EFFORT THAT YOU HAVE SPENT ON THE REVISIONS TO OUR COMPREHENSIVE PLAN. THIS IS SUCH AN IMPORTANT PROCESS, AND I APPRECIATE THE OPPORTUNITY TO SHARE SOME OF MATANZAS RIVER KEEPERS RECOMMENDATIONS. [05:00:05] BUT BEFORE I JUMP INTO THOSE RECOMMENDATIONS, I WOULD LIKE TO KIND OF SET THE STAGE FOR WHY WE FEEL THESE RECOMMENDATIONS ARE SO NECESSARY. SO INSPIRED DID A REALLY FANTASTIC JOB OF GATHERING COMMUNITY FEEDBACK OVER THE PAST TWO YEARS, AND THEIR COMMUNITY FEEDBACK SHOWED US SOMETHING THAT I THINK ALL OF US ALREADY KNEW, AND THAT IS THAT CONSERVING AND PROTECTING OUR NATURAL ENVIRONMENT AND WILDLIFE HABITATS IS THE HIGHEST PRIORITY FOR SAINT JOHNS COUNTY RESIDENTS. AND FRANKLY, WE'VE GOT A LITTLE BIT OF WORK TO DO ON THAT FRONT. SO I WANT TO APPLAUD YOUR DECISION FOR MAINTAINING THE DEVELOPMENT AREA BOUNDARY IN THE LOCATION THAT IT CURRENTLY IS, KEEPING. THE DEVELOPMENT AREA BOUNDARY WHERE IT IS, IS GOING TO KEEP NEW DEVELOPMENT FOCUSED, WHERE INFRASTRUCTURE ALREADY EXISTS, IT'S GOING TO PREVENT EXPENSIVE URBAN SPRAWL, AND IT'S ALSO GOING TO PREVENT DEVELOPMENT FROM ENCROACHING INTO OUR WETLAND AREA. SO THIS MAP THAT I'M SHOWING HERE SHOWS THE EXTENSIVE WETLAND LANDSCAPE THAT EXISTS OUTSIDE OF OUR DEVELOPMENT AREA BOUNDARY. AND I KNOW THAT NOT EVERYBODY GETS AS EXCITED ABOUT WETLANDS AS I DO, BUT THEY DO PROVIDE REAL ECOSYSTEM SERVICES. THEY PROVIDE POLLUTION FILTRATION, THEY PROVIDE FLOOD WATER RETENTION. THEY PROVIDE HABITAT FOR WILDLIFE. AND UNFORTUNATELY, ACCORDING TO A REPORT BY THE U.S. FISH AND WILDLIFE SERVICE, WETLAND ACREAGE IS BEING LOST ACROSS OUR NATION AND FLORIDA IS ONE OF THESE STATES WITH THE MOST SIGNIFICANT LOSSES. I ALSO WANT TO SHARE THIS MAP WITH YOU. SO THIS IS A MAP THAT IS DEVELOPED USING DATA FROM THE FLORIDA DEPARTMENT OF ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION SHOWING IMPAIRED OR POLLUTED WATER. SO WATERS THAT ARE NOT ATTAINING THEIR WATER QUALITY STANDARDS THAT THE STATE HAS SET FOR THEM. SO THE GREEN POLYGONS HERE SHOW ALL OF THE WATERWAYS THAT THE STATE HAS DETERMINED TO BE FAILING THEIR WATER QUALITY CRITERIA. THE GRAY POLYGONS ARE WATERWAYS WHERE THE STATE HASN'T COLLECTED ENOUGH DATA TO MAKE A DETERMINATION ONE WAY OR THE OTHER. AND YOU'LL NOTICE THAT THERE AREN'T ANY WATERWAYS ON HERE THAT THE STATE HAS ACTUALLY VERIFIED AS ATTAINING ALL OF THEIR WATER QUALITY STANDARDS. AND I'M SHARING THIS WITH YOU, NOT TO DISCOURAGE YOU, BUT TO SHOW YOU THAT WE NEED TO CHANGE HOW WE ALLOW DEVELOPMENT TO AFFECT OUR LANDSCAPE, BECAUSE IT IS ALREADY HAVING TANGIBLE IMPACTS ON OUR WATER QUALITY. SO MOVING INTO SOME OF THE RECOMMENDATIONS THAT WE HAVE STARTING AT THE BEGINNING OBJECTIVE A11. SO THIS OBJECTIVE DIRECTS THE COUNTY TO DESIGNATE FUTURE LAND USES BASED ON ENVIRONMENTAL CONDITIONS. SO THINGS LIKE VEGETATION AND SOIL CONDITIONS AND WILDLIFE HABITAT. AND THEN THE ACCOMPANYING POLICIES PROVIDE DIRECTION ON HOW TO PROTECT NATURAL RESOURCES. HOWEVER, THE POLICIES REALLY FOCUS ON THINGS LIKE COLLABORATION AND DATA SHARING AND RESEARCH WHICH, WHILE LAUDABLE, ARE NOT ACTUALLY ENFORCEABLE. SO WE FEEL THAT THIS SECTION COULD BE STRENGTHENED BY ADDING A POLICY THAT INCLUDES SPECIFIC LAND USE PROTECTIONS FOR SOME OF OUR MOST ENVIRONMENTALLY SENSITIVE AREAS. SO OUR RECOMMENDATION WOULD BE TO PROHIBIT LAND USE INTENSIFICATION IN THE COASTAL AREA, IN ENVIRONMENTALLY SENSITIVE LANDS, AND IN SIGNIFICANT NATURAL COMMUNITIES HABITATS, UNLESS IT IS REQUIRED TO EITHER MEET A PUBLIC SAFETY REQUIREMENT OR REMEDY A DEFICIENCY IN THE PLAN'S ABILITY TO ACCOMMODATE THE COUNTY'S POPULATION PROJECTIONS OVER THAT TEN YEAR PLANNING HORIZON THAT WE'RE LOOKING AT. AND SO PLEASE NOTE THAT THIS WOULDN'T PROHIBIT DEVELOPMENT IN THESE AREAS. IT WOULD PROHIBIT MORE INTENSE DEVELOPMENT THAN WHAT IS CURRENTLY ALLOWED. IN THAT SAME VEIN, POLICY A134. THIS OUTLINES CRITERIA THAT IS CONSIDERED WHEN REVIEWING A COMP PLAN AMENDMENT, AND SO IT CONSIDERS THINGS LIKE ADJACENT TO THE DEVELOPMENT AREA BOUNDARY, WHETHER INFRASTRUCTURE ALREADY EXISTS, WHETHER IT'S GOING TO CAUSE SPRAWL, ETC.. AND SO THE LANGUAGE, THE INTRODUCTORY LANGUAGE IN THIS POLICY TALKS ABOUT NOT ADVERSELY IMPACTING NATURAL RESOURCES. HOWEVER, NONE OF THE CRITERIA THAT'S LISTED ACTUALLY SPECIFIES WHAT IS BEING CONSIDERED TO DETERMINE WHETHER THOSE NATURAL RESOURCES ARE BEING IMPACTED. SO OUR RECOMMENDATION HERE WOULD JUST BE TO ADD SOME LANGUAGE THAT WOULD BE CONSIDERED TO DETERMINE WHETHER OR NOT A PROJECT WOULD ADVERSELY IMPACT NATURAL RESOURCES. SO THINGS LIKE WETLAND PRESERVATION, TREE CANOPY, STORMWATER, ETC.. AND AGAIN, THESE ARE JUST THINGS TO CONSIDER. NOT EXPLICIT PROHIBITIONS. NOW SWITCHING GEARS TO FLOODING, WHICH IS UNFORTUNATELY AN INCREDIBLY TIMELY TOPIC THROUGHOUT OUR NATION RIGHT NOW. SO THIS INSPIRED DIDN'T PROPOSE ANY CHANGES TO THIS POLICY, BUT WE FEEL THAT THIS POLICY COULD BE STRENGTHENED TO HELP US COMBAT FLOODING WITHIN OUR COMMUNITY. SO THIS ONE CURRENTLY READS. THERE SHALL BE NO REDUCTION IN FLOOD STORAGE CAPACITY OR THE OTHER NATURAL FUNCTIONS AND VALUES OF THE FLOODPLAIN IN AREAS DESIGNATED AS REGULATORY FLOODWAY, AS UPDATED BY FEMA. AND WHILE WE FEEL THIS IS A GOOD START, THAT NO REDUCTION IN FLOOD STORAGE CAPACITY REQUIREMENT COULD BE EXPANDED TO COVER A LARGER AREA WHERE WE'RE ALREADY DEALING WITH [05:05:09] CHRONIC FLOODING LIKE THE ENTIRE COASTAL AREA. SO OUR RECOMMENDATION HERE WOULD JUST BE TO ADD THE COASTAL AREA TO THE AREAS WHERE THERE IS A PROHIBITION AGAINST A REDUCTION IN FLOOD STORAGE CAPACITY. AND THEN SIMILARLY, THE PROPOSED CHANGES IN POLICY F 148, THOSE ALSO AIM TO REGULATE DEVELOPMENT WITHIN FLOOD PRONE AREAS, BUT IT DOESN'T PROVIDE ANY GUIDANCE ON HOW TO IMPLEMENT THAT POLICY. SO WE FEEL THAT THIS POLICY COULD BE STRENGTHENED WITH MORE SPECIFICITY. SO OUR RECOMMENDATION HERE WOULD BE JUST TO ADD A SENTENCE THAT READS THE COUNTY SHALL REGULATE DEVELOPMENT IN THE COASTAL AREA, SUCH THAT THERE SHALL BE NO REDUCTION IN THE FLOOD STORAGE CAPACITY OR THE OTHER NATURAL FUNCTIONS AND VALUES OF THE FLOODPLAIN. AND THEN MOVING ON TO MY FAVORITE TOPIC WETLANDS. SO THIS POLICY, D3 117 REQUIRES A VEGETATED BUFFER BETWEEN WETLANDS AND DEVELOPED AREAS IN ORDER TO PROTECT WATER QUALITY AND INSPIRE. DIDN'T PROPOSE ANY CHANGES TO THIS SECTION, BUT I WANTED TO UNDERSCORE THE FACT THAT THERE'S CURRENTLY A LOOPHOLE IN OUR LAND DEVELOPMENT CODE THAT UNDERMINES THIS POLICY BY PROVIDING AN EXEMPTION TO THE BUFFER REQUIREMENTS WHENEVER A STATE OR FEDERAL PERMIT IS ISSUED. SO OUR RECOMMENDATION HERE WOULD JUST BE TO ADD LANGUAGE TO CLARIFY THAT THE VEGETATED BUFFER IS REQUIRED IN ADDITION TO STATE AND FEDERAL PERMITS, NOT AS AN ALTERNATIVE TO THEM. AND THEN FINALLY POLICY F162. SO THIS IS THE ONE THAT YOU GUYS JUST REMOVED. SO INSPIRE HAD RECOMMENDED ADDING THIS SUB POLICY F, WHICH IS ABOUT THE FILLING AND DESTRUCTION OF WETLANDS SHALL BE MINIMIZED. WE ACTUALLY HAVE THE OPPOSITE OPINION. WE FEEL THAT THIS SHOULD BE STRENGTHENED TO BETTER PROTECT OUR WETLANDS. WE WOULD RECOMMEND STRONGER LANGUAGE THAT READS THE FILLING AND DESTRUCTION OF WETLANDS SHALL BE PROHIBITED, EXCEPTING CASES WHERE NO PRACTICAL ALTERNATIVE EXISTS, OR TO AVOID A VIOLATION OF PRIVATE PROPERTY RIGHTS. AND I WANT TO UNPACK THAT A LITTLE BIT HERE. SO WE'VE HEARD THE PUSHBACK THAT THIS IS ALREADY REGULATED BY THE STATE AND FEDERAL GOVERNMENT. THIS IS DUPLICATIVE AND SO ON AND SO FORTH. BUT AS IS EVIDENCED BY THAT U.S. FISH AND WILDLIFE SERVICE REPORT THAT I REFERENCED EARLIER, WE ARE LOSING WETLANDS. AND IF THOSE REGULATIONS WERE ADEQUATELY PROTECTED, WE WOULDN'T BE LOSING WETLANDS. OUR WATER QUALITY WOULDN'T BE DECLINING. WE WOULDN'T BE DEALING WITH THESE FLOODING ISSUES, WHICH REALLY UNDERSCORES THAT THESE THESE STATE AND FEDERAL WETLAND PROTECTIONS ARE NOT PROTECTIVE ENOUGH. IN FACT, I BELIEVE IT WAS YOU, COMMISSIONER WHITEHURST, THAT ASTUTELY POINTED OUT AT A MEETING A COUPLE OF YEARS AGO WHEN WE WERE DISCUSSING BALD EAGLE PROTECTIONS MEANS THAT IT IS WELL WITHIN A COUNTY'S RIGHTS TO HAVE STRONGER ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTIONS THAN THE STATE AND FEDERAL MINIMUMS. AND IN FACT, A LOT OF COUNTIES DO HAVE STRONGER WETLAND PROTECTIONS THAN WHAT THE STATE AND FEDERAL GOVERNMENT REQUIRE. AND SO THAT IS ESSENTIALLY WHAT WE ARE ASKING FOR HERE, BECAUSE A LOT OF TIMES THE THE WETLAND CREDITS THAT ARE BEING PURCHASED TO OFFSET THE HARM TO WETLANDS IN OUR COMMUNITY, A LOT OF TIMES THEY ARE PURCHASED MILES AWAY FROM WHERE THE IMPACTS ARE HAPPENING. SO WE ARE EXPERIENCING FLOODING RIGHT HERE IN SAINT JOHN'S COUNTY, AND THESE CREDITS ARE BEING PURCHASED IN OTHER COUNTIES. AND SO A LAW WAS ACTUALLY JUST PASSED THAT EXPANDS THE AREA WHERE YOU CAN BUY WETLAND CREDITS TO IMPACT WETLAND LOSSES. SO WE'RE FEELING THOSE LOSSES RIGHT HERE IN SAINT JOHN'S COUNTY AND OTHER PLACES ARE GOING TO CONTINUE TO GET THE BENEFITS OF THOSE MITIGATION CREDITS. SO THESE PHOTOS I WANT A PHOTO. I WANT A VIDEO WE'RE TAKING NEAR MAJOR INTERSECTIONS IN OUR COMMUNITY, NOT DURING A HURRICANE, NOT DURING A NOR'EASTER, JUST DURING AN AFTERNOON THUNDERSTORM. SO SAINT JOHN'S COUNTY IS BLESSED WITH A REALLY EXTENSIVE WETLAND LANDSCAPE, BUT WE HAVE GOT TO DO A BETTER JOB OF PROTECTING IT. ONE ACRE OF WETLANDS CAN STORE A MILLION GALLONS OF FLOOD WATERS. THAT IS ONE OF MY FAVORITE WETLAND. FUN FACTS. ONE ACRE OF WETLANDS CAN STORE 1 MILLION GALLONS OF FLOOD WATER. SO EVERY TIME WE AS A COUNTY ARE ALLOWING OUR WETLANDS TO BE FILLED AND DESTROYED, WE ARE GIVING AWAY NATURAL STORMWATER INFRASTRUCTURE. WE ARE OBLIGATING COUNTY TAXPAYERS TO PAY FOR EXPENSIVE STORMWATER AND DRAINAGE PROJECTS, RATHER THAN PRESERVING THE GREEN INFRASTRUCTURE THAT WETLANDS ALREADY PROVIDE. SO I'LL WRAP UP THERE. WE ARE BLESSED IN SAINT JOHNS COUNTY WITH BEAUTIFUL NATURAL RESOURCES, AND WE HOPE THAT YOU WILL CONSIDER ADOPTING SOME OF OUR RECOMMENDATIONS TO BETTER PROTECT THEM. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. I'M AFRAID I'LL HAVE TO DO THAT. STEVE. GOOD, GOOD GOOD. GOOD AFTERNOON, CHAIRWOMAN JOSEPH. MEMBERS OF THE COMMISSION. MY NAME IS RICHARD GROSSO. I'M AN ATTORNEY. I'VE BEEN DOING LAND USE LAW IN FLORIDA FOR ABOUT 40 YEARS. FRIENDS OF SOUTHERN SAINT JOHNS COUNTY HAS ASKED ME TO TO WORK WITH THEM THROUGHOUT THIS PROCESS TO REVIEW THE THE CONSULTANT'S FEBRUARY REPORT, TO LOOK AT THE DRAFT POLICIES AND REVISIONS TO THE COMPREHENSIVE PLAN. THIS KIND OF WORK I'VE DONE FOR A VERY LONG TIME. [05:10:03] I STARTED ON LAND USE PLANNING. WHEN THE STATE STARTED DOING THAT IN THE LATE 80S, I WAS IN ON THE GROUND FLOOR THAT WAS NEVER QUITE ABLE TO GET TO TO GET AWAY FROM LAND USE PLANNING BECAUSE IT'S SO IMPORTANT AND SO CENTRAL TO PRESERVING RURAL AREAS, OUR ECOSYSTEMS, AND PROTECTING HUMAN HEALTH. YOU KNOW, THE I HAVE SEEN SO MANY CHANGES IN LAND USE PLANNING OVER THE YEARS, AND SO MUCH OF IT HAS TO DO WITH THE PLAN AMENDMENT CHANGES. I WAS, I WAS I WAS ACTUALLY SURPRISED TO HEAR THAT THE COUNTY HASN'T CHANGED ITS LAND USE MAP IN 25 YEARS. THAT. I DON'T. I WASN'T. I HAVEN'T BEEN WORKING HERE, SO I DON'T KNOW IF THAT'S TRUE OR NOT, BUT IT SEEMS LIKE IT'S A REGULAR OCCURRENCE EVERYWHERE THAT APPLICANTS COME AND ASK TO AMEND THE FUTURE LAND USE MAP FOR THEIR PARTICULAR PROPERTY, AND THOSE ARE FREQUENTLY GRANTED. SO IT WOULD BE VERY SURPRISING IF THAT HASN'T HAPPENED AT ALL IN IN 25 YEARS IN THIS COUNTY. BUT BUT WHATEVER THE CASE MAY BE ON THAT YOU'RE DOING A MAJOR REVISION, AS ARE A LOT OF LOCAL GOVERNMENTS RIGHT NOW IN FLORIDA. I READ A LOT OF THESE PLANNING REPORTS THAT CONSULTANTS AND PLANNING STAFFS DO FOR LOCAL GOVERNMENTS, THE THE THE REPORT THAT IS THE BASIS FOR THE REVISIONS THAT ARE IN FRONT OF YOU RIGHT NOW IS ONE OF THE BEST I'VE READ IN ALMOST 40 YEARS OF DOING THIS. ONE OF THE KEY FUNDAMENTAL REQUIREMENTS OF LAND USE PLANNING LAW AND PROPERTY RIGHTS LAW IS THAT YOU DON'T DO THINGS ARBITRARILY. YOU DON'T DO THINGS WITHOUT STUDY IN SCIENCE AND AND POLICY ANALYSIS THAT GOES INTO IT. THE RECOMMENDATIONS IN THE FEBRUARY REPORT. AND I HAD WRITTEN A LETTER TO YOU ALL. I THINK WE SENT IT YESTERDAY THAT IT GOES INTO THIS IN A LITTLE MORE DETAIL. IT'S SOME REALLY, REALLY EXCELLENT ANALYSIS OF DATA AND STRONG SUPPORT FOR THE THINGS THAT THIS REVISION IS TRYING TO DO. PROTECTION OF RURAL LANDS, PROTECTION OF WETLANDS AND FLOOD PROTECTION, ARTICULATING HOW YOUR NATURAL RESOURCES ARE. WHY A LOT OF PEOPLE COME HERE TO LIVE AND TO VISIT, TO SPEND MONEY HERE LOCALLY BECAUSE OF THE GREAT NATURAL RESOURCES. AS SOMEONE WHO'S DONE WORK FROM THE PANHANDLE TO THE KEYS THROUGHOUT THE ENTIRE STATE OF FLORIDA, THIS IS ONE OF THE MOST SPECIAL AREAS IN FLORIDA. WHEN WHEN I COME AROUND HERE AND VISIT AND PEOPLE THAT I KNOW, THIS STANDS OUT. SAINT JOHNS COUNTY IS ONE OF THE MOST BEAUTIFUL PLACES. IT'S ATTRACTIVE. IT'S BECAUSE YOU'VE DONE A PRETTY GOOD JOB OF PLANNING OVER THE YEARS WHEN THESE REVISIONS ARE SUGGESTED TO YOU. A CONTEXT THAT IS THAT IS REALLY IMPORTANT HERE IS, IS THAT REVISIONS TO A COMPREHENSIVE PLAN ARE HIGHLY DISCRETIONARY BY A LOCAL GOVERNMENT. YES. YOU HAVE TO COMPLY WITH ALL THE STATE LAW REQUIREMENTS. BUT AND I WANT TO ADDRESS SPECIFICALLY THE WHOLE CONCEPT OF, OF PROPERTY RIGHTS AND WHAT YOU'RE DOING WITH PLAN AMENDMENTS. EVERY LANDOWNER I'M A LANDOWNER, BUT EVERY LANDOWNER WANTS TO HAVE MAXIMUM FLEXIBILITY, MAXIMUM OPTIONS. THAT'S VALID. THAT'S RATIONAL. THAT MAKES SENSE FOR THEM. BUT PRIVATE PROPERTY RIGHTS, WHETHER WE'RE TALKING ABOUT THE CONSTITUTIONS OF FLORIDA OR THE UNITED STATES OR UNDER THE HARRIS ACT, THERE'S IT'S REALLY CLEAR THERE'S A LOT OF GRAY AREA AND PROPERTY RIGHTS LAW, BUT THIS IS NOT REALLY ONE OF THEM. THERE'S NEVER BEEN A PROPERTY RIGHT. LEGAL ENTITLEMENT TO CHANGE THE RULES, TO CHANGE THE LAW. TO GET MORE THAN YOUR CURRENT ZONING OR YOUR CURRENT LAND USE DESIGNATIONS ALLOW. SO WHILE IT'S RATIONAL THAT I WOULD ALWAYS WANT THAT IF I'M A LANDOWNER, THERE IS NO PRIVATE PROPERTY, RIGHT, TO GET AN INCREASE. AND SO WHEN A LOCAL GOVERNMENT AND THE CASES HAVE BEEN VERY CLEAR IN FLORIDA ON THIS FOR DECADES, WHEN A LOCAL GOVERNMENT IS BEING ASKED TO PLEASE CHANGE THE PLAN, CHANGE MY LAND USE MAP TO ALLOW ME TO CONVERT RURAL LAND OR WHATEVER IT IS I GOT NOW TO ALLOW ME TO DO MORE. THE LAW IS REALLY CLEAR THAT THERE'S NO ENTITLEMENT, NO PROPERTY RIGHT TO THAT. IT'S A POLICY DISCRETIONARY DECISION BY THE LOCAL GOVERNMENT. IT CAN'T SAY NO ARBITRARILY. THERE HAS TO BE SOME REASONABLE LAND USE BASIS OR SCIENTIFIC BASIS, ECONOMIC BASIS. THERE'S GOT TO BE SOME REASON BASED ON SOUND PLANNING PRINCIPLES TO SAY NO, AND YOU'VE GOT THAT AS LONG AS YOU'RE NOT JUST ARBITRARILY SAYING NO TO YOUR PLAN. AMENDMENT. WE'VE GIVEN IT TO EVERYBODY ELSE. YOU'RE THE ONE LEFT IN THE MIDDLE OF AN URBAN AREA. WE'RE GOING TO MAKE YOU HOLD ON TO FIVE ACRES OF FARMLAND OR WHATEVER. EVEN THOUGH IT'S NO LONGER VIABLE, YOU CAN'T DO STUFF LIKE THAT. BUT YOU ABSOLUTELY CAN SAY WE'VE GOT ENOUGH LAND ALREADY PROJECTED TO MEET OUR TEN YEAR OR WHAT? PROJECTED PROJECTED POPULATION. THE LAND THAT YOU'RE ASKING US TO CHANGE HAS GOT IMPORTANT FUNCTIONS RIGHT NOW. DOING WHAT YOU DO, THERE IS STILL AN ECONOMICALLY VIABLE THING AND IT'S DISCRETIONARY. YOU'RE NOT REQUIRED TO SAY YES. AND SO WHEN YOU MAKE YOU PUT INTO YOUR COMP PLAN THE KINDS OF POLICIES THAT THAT FRIEND SUPPORTS, [05:15:09] WHERE IT SAYS FOR FUTURE CHANGES, WHEN PEOPLE COME TO US AND ASK US TO MAKE CHANGES TO THEIR FUTURE LAND USE MAP TO CHANGE THEIR MAP DESIGNATION OR TO ALLOW AN INCREASE OF DENSITY OR INTENSITY, HERE'S HOW WE'RE GOING TO APPROACH THAT. NOW WE'VE SUGGESTED SOME ADDITIONAL, MORE SPECIFIC LANGUAGE IN THOSE. BUT AND I'LL SPEAK ABOUT THAT IN A MINUTE. BUT CATEGORICALLY, THERE'S NO RIGHT TO THAT PLAN AMENDMENT. SO WHEN YOU DO WHAT WE THINK IS A REALLY APPROPRIATE ACTION, LIKE IS BEING RECOMMENDED TO YOU BY YOUR CONSULTANT TO SAY WHEN PEOPLE COME AND ASK US TO CHANGE THE LAW FOR THEM, BECAUSE A COMP PLAN IS LAW, HERE'S THE THINGS THAT ARE GOING TO WE'RE GOING TO BASE THAT DECISION ON THAT CATEGORICALLY CAN'T BE TAKING OF PRIVATE PROPERTY RIGHTS BECAUSE THERE'S NO ENTITLEMENT TO GET THAT CHANGE IN THE FIRST PLACE. WHAT YOU'RE DOING INSTEAD IS YOU'RE GIVING CLARITY TO EVERYBODY. YOU'RE GIVING CLARITY TO FUTURE COMMISSIONS. YOU'RE GIVING CLARITY TO LANDOWNERS. THEY'RE CONSULTANTS. YOU'RE GIVING CLARITY TO THE NEIGHBORS THAT WHEN PEOPLE COME AND ASK US TO CHANGE THE RULES FOR THEM DOWN THE LINE, WHEN YOU START THINKING ABOUT WANTING TO CONVERT YOUR LAND, WHEN YOU START THINKING ABOUT WANTING TO CHANGE YOUR LAND, USE MAP. HERE'S THE RULES. IT'S VERY CLEAR WE'LL DO IT UNDER THESE CONDITIONS. IT'S NOT A TAKING. IT'S SMART PLANNING. AND, YOU KNOW, I HAVE JUST BEEN AROUND SO MANY YEARS OF DOING THESE KINDS OF THINGS WHERE YOU'VE GOT. AND COMMISSIONER WHITEHURST, YOU SAID SOMETHING THAT REALLY I THOUGHT WAS REALLY SMART EARLIER TODAY. AND I THINK IN THE CONTEXT OF ANOTHER DISCUSSION THAT CONSIDER DOESN'T REALLY SAY MUCH AS A, YOU KNOW, LEGAL WORD IN A COMP PLAN. AND THAT'S REALLY TRUE. IT'S BETTER THAN NOTHING. BUT WE'VE SUGGESTED LANGUAGE WHERE CONSIDER MEANS KNOW THESE ARE YOU GOT TO DO THESE THINGS. THAT'S WHEN WE'LL SAY YES TO PROPOSALS. YOU MUST DO THESE THINGS CONSIDER ISN'T AS GOOD AS REQUIRED. MAY CONSIDER IS NOT AS GOOD AS SHALL CONSIDER. ENCOURAGED IS KIND OF MEANINGLESS. A COMP PLAN THAT SAYS WE ENCOURAGE THIS IF IT'S SOMETHING YOU WANT, IF IT'S IMPORTANT, THEN THEN YOU REQUIRE IT. SHALL IS WAY BETTER THAN SHOULD. PROHIBITED MEANS SOMETHING DISCOURAGED DOESN'T MEAN ANYTHING. SO MUCH OF THIS, YOU KNOW, WE TRY TO BE HIGH LEVEL WITH COMP PLANS, BUT WHEN YOUR STAFF IS DEALING ACROSS THE TABLE FROM PEOPLE AND THEY'VE GOT TO DEAL WITH PRECISE LANGUAGE, SO PRECISE LANGUAGE MATTERS, IT'S KIND OF DRUDGERY TO SIT UP HERE AND DEAL WITH PROPOSED SPECIFIC LANGUAGE. I KNOW THAT I'VE BEEN DOING IT FOR SO LONG, BUT IT'S REALLY NECESSARY BECAUSE WHEN PEOPLE COME IN FOR APPLICATIONS AND YOUR STAFF HAS TO INTERACT WITH THEM, YOU WANT TO GIVE THEM REALLY CLEAR STANDARDS THAT THEY CAN HANG THEIR HAT ON. AND AGAIN, IT'S IMPORTANT FOR THEIR PRIVATE SECTOR TO TO KNOW THAT AND SO THEY CAN PLAN. SO WE REALLY STRONGLY ENCOURAGE THE SLATE OF CHANGES WE'VE SUGGESTED TO YOU BECAUSE IT GIVES CLARITY. IT GIVES RELIABILITY. EVERYBODY KNOWS WHAT THE RULES ARE GOING FORWARD AND IT AVOIDS CONFLICTS. THE MORE PRECISE YOUR LANGUAGE IS, IT AVOIDS PEOPLE GETTING UP. AND I HAVE A DIFFERENT INTERPRETATION OF THAT LANGUAGE THAN YOU DID. AND WE CAN HAVE ALL SORTS OF CONFLICTS AND LAWSUITS AND HELP ANYBODY. THAT'S WHY I'M MAKING A STRONG PLEA ON BEHALF OF FRIENDS TO MAKE THE COMP PLAN LANGUAGE JUST AS CLEAR AS YOU CAN, FOR THE BENEFIT OF EVERYBODY MOVING FORWARD. AND, AND AND WITH THAT, I WANT TO ADDRESS SOME VERY SPECIFIC CHANGES. YOU KNOW, WE SUGGESTED WITH AN APPENDIX YESTERDAY TO OUR BRIEF LETTER THAT I WROTE TO YOU THAT LAYS OUT A LITTLE BIT MORE LEGALESE, DETAIL, SOME OF THE POINTS I'VE MADE HERE. WE DO THINK THAT THE THE SLATE OF CHANGES. AND WE'VE GOT THE VERY THREE WHERE I'VE PUT IN WRITING TO YOU AND HAND IT OUT TO YOU. AND I'D LIKE TO PUT IN, FOR THE RECORD TO POLICIES A ONE, TWO, THREE AND POLICY A ONE, THREE, FOUR, AND POLICY A ONE, TWO, FIVE. TO ME, THE MOST. WELL, I THINK ANYONE WHO DOES THIS KIND OF WORK FOR A LIVING KNOWS THE MOST IMPORTANT FUNCTION, THE ONE FUNCTION THAT UNDER LAW, NO STATE AGENCY HAS THE AUTHORITY. NO FEDERAL AGENCY HAS THE AUTHORITY. ONLY THE LOCAL GOVERNMENT HAS THE AUTHORITY UNDER THIS LAW, THE COMP PLANNING LAW, TO DECIDE WHAT A FUTURE LAND USE MAP DESIGNATION IS. YOU ONLY YOU GET TO DECIDE WHAT COULD BE BUILT ON PROPERTY AND HOW MUCH OF IT THAT IS THE MOST IMPORTANT THING YOU DO IN A COMPREHENSIVE PLAN YOUR FUTURE LAND USE MAP. AND SO THOSE ARE THE MOST IMPORTANT POLICIES IN THIS PLAN. EVERYTHING ELSE HELPS TO TO SMOOTH OUT THE ROUND EDGES AND TO MAKE SURE THAT THE DEVELOPMENT YOU HAVE SAID IS APPROPRIATE IN THIS LOCATION CAN WORK FOR COMPATIBILITY AND NATURAL RESOURCES. BUT BY FAR THE MOST IMPORTANT PART OF ANY COMP PLAN IS THAT ONE THAT DETERMINES THIS IS WHEN WE'RE GOING TO CHANGE THE MAP. UNDER WHAT CONDITIONS? THAT'S THE AUTHORITY YOU HAVE. IT'S REALLY STRONG AUTHORITY. IT'S REALLY DISCRETIONARY AUTHORITY. WE ASKED YOU TO MAKE THOSE CHANGES TO BE AS SPECIFIC AS YOU CAN. WE'RE PLEASED WITH THE WORK THAT HAS BEEN DONE ALREADY AND REALLY PLEASED WITH THE POSITIVE DIRECTION. AND WE APPLAUD EVERYBODY. WE'RE ASKING FOR A LITTLE MORE DETAIL. I THANK YOU VERY MUCH AND GRATEFUL FOR THE TIME I WAS GIVEN TO SPEAK HERE TODAY. [05:20:03] THANK YOU. THANK YOU SO MUCH. IS MR. REGAN HERE? JOHN REGAN. THANK YOU. GOOD TO SEE YOU AGAIN. GOOD AFTERNOON. GOOD MORNING, CHAIR JOSEPH AND COMMISSIONERS, I'M HERE REINFORCING A FEW OF THE KEY POSITIONS OF THE SOUTH ANASTASIA COMMUNITIES, ASSOCIATIONS AND FRIENDS OF SOUTH SOUTH SAINT JOHN'S COUNTY. ONE OF THE THINGS THAT I WANT TO REINFORCE WAS SOME OF THE LANGUAGE WHICH WASN'T NECESSARILY ARTICULATED BY RICHARD WHICH SPEAKS TO IF IF SOMEONE COMES IN FOR AN AMENDMENT TO THE DEVELOPMENT AREA BOUNDARY REQUIRING AN ANALYSIS OF FINANCIAL NEUTRALITY, I'LL SPEAK TO THAT IN JUST A MINUTE. BEFORE I BEGIN, I'D LIKE TO PROVIDE YOU A LITTLE BIT OF MY PROFESSIONAL BACKGROUND. I HAD JOINED THE CITY OF SAINT AUGUSTINE IN 1998 AND RETIRED IN 2025. I'M SORRY. 2023 AS CITY MANAGER. MY FINAL 13 YEARS OF MY CAREER WITH THE CITY WAS THE CITY MANAGER. I TOOK OVER AT THE HEIGHT OF THE GREAT RECESSION, AND MUCH OF MY TIME AS CITY MANAGER THROUGHOUT THE 13 YEARS WAS FOCUSING ON THE FINANCIAL MANAGEMENT OF THE CITY SO THAT WE COULD ACCOMPLISH ALL OF OUR GOALS IN OUR STRATEGIC PLAN. SOME OF THE HIGHLIGHTS THAT WE ACCOMPLISHED AT THE CITY DURING MY TENURE, PARTICULARLY EARLY DURING THE GREAT RECESSION, WAS A POLICY NOT TO DRAW DOWN RESERVES FOR OPERATIONS, REDUCING THE CITY WORKFORCE BY 15%, ELIMINATING THE FINANCIAL DRAIN OF AN ENTERPRISE FUND AND HISTORIC PRESERVATION THAT WAS LOSING $1 MILLION A YEAR. RETHINKING THAT AGREEMENT WITH THE STATE OF FLORIDA AND THE UNIVERSITY OF FLORIDA, FOR WHICH I SERVE ON THE BOARD OF TRUSTEES TODAY. WE ALSO ESTABLISHED FINANCIAL RESERVE POLICIES TO MAINTAIN EMERGENCY FUNDS, MAKING IT VERY DIFFICULT FOR THE COMMISSION TO DRAW DOWN BELOW THOSE ESTABLISHED LEVELS THAT WERE ABOVE INDUSTRY THRESHOLDS. AND THEN WE LOOKED FOR FINANCIAL OPPORTUNITIES THAT WERE IN DEVELOPMENT AND REDEVELOPMENT THAT CONTINUED TO IMPROVE THE FINANCIAL HEALTH OF THE CITY. WE HAD A FANTASTIC TEAM, AND WALL STREET RECOGNIZED ALL OF OUR PROACTIVE MANAGEMENT BY GIVING THE CITY THE HIGHEST CREDIT RATING IN THE HISTORY OF THE CITY. I BELIEVE THAT THE COUNTY HAS ALL THE TEAM, THE POLITICAL WILL AND BRIGHT FUTURE TO ME TO MOVE US INTO THE FUTURE. THAT FUTURE WILL LARGELY BE DEFINED BY YOUR POLICY DECISIONS IN THIS 2050 COMPREHENSIVE PLAN UPDATE. AND AND MORE IMPORTANTLY, HOW YOU IMPLEMENT THAT PLAN THAT REFLECTS THE MAJORITY OF SAINT JOHN'S COUNTY RESIDENTS. MY SUMMARY OF THE DESIRE OF SAINT JOHN'S COUNTY RESIDENTS IS A DESIRE FOR FISCAL POLICY THAT PRIORITIZES ESSENTIAL SERVICES, INFRASTRUCTURE DEVELOPMENT WHILE ADDRESSING AFFORDABILITY CONCERNS AND PROTECTING OUR NATURAL RESOURCES, PROTECTING OUR QUALITY OF LIFE. WE KNOW THAT THROUGH A VARIETY OF ISSUES OVER THE LAST FEW DECADES. WE HAVE AT LEAST A $500 MILLION BACKLOG IN ROADS, PUBLIC SAFETY, PARKS, LIBRARIES AND OTHER CAPITAL NEEDS. THIS BACKLOG IS DUE TO A VERY COMPLEX INTERRELATIONSHIP OF ISSUES THAT RANGE FROM FINANCIAL POLICY DECISIONS OF THE CITY PROPERTY TAX REFORM, COVID IMPACT IMPACT, THE RECESSION AND SO FORTH. BUT THE CENTRAL ISSUE, THE ROOT CAUSE ISSUE OF THIS IS THE PATTERN OF DEVELOPMENT THAT HAS CREATED THIS BACKLOG OF URBAN EXPANSIONISM, ESPECIALLY INTO REZONED AGRICULTURAL LANDS THAT HAVE LED TO WHAT I'M GOING TO CALL FISCAL NEGATIVE IMPACTS TO THE COUNTY THAT CUMULATIVELY HAVE REACHED $500 MILLION. WE JUST HAVEN'T BEEN ABLE TO KEEP UP WITH GROWTH. IT WILL. AND ALSO, THE NATURE OF OUR GROWTH IS WE'VE BEEN ATTRACTING BUSINESSES AND COMMERCIAL DEVELOPMENT WHILE REDUCING IMPACT FEES. THAT REALLY ARE JUST ADDING TRIP COUNTS. I LOVE THE BEEF JERKY AT BUCKY'S, BUT THAT IS AN INTERSECTION THAT'S QUITE PROBLEMATIC. AND THE TOOL THAT WE'VE HAD GOING BACK TO 1987 TO, TO ADDRESS INFRASTRUCTURE HAS BEEN IMPACT FEES. AND THIS TOOL HAS FAILED US SINCE 1987, DESPITE THE BEST EFFORTS TO TWEAK AND TUNE IT. IMPACT FEES BEGAN IN 87. THEY WERE MODIFIED IN 1990, 1991 92, 2000, 2008, 2011, 2018 AND YOU ARE CURRENTLY CONSIDERING A 232 PAGE DOCUMENT OF CHANGES TO IMPACT FEES IN 2025, SO THESE MAJOR TWEAKS AND TUNES ARE STARTING TO BE MEASURED IN SEVEN YEAR INCREMENTS. WHILE WE ARE CUMULATIVE, DEFICIT IS GROWING. IN 2022, THE VOTERS DECIDED AT 63% MAJORITY TO [05:25:08] REJECT THE IMPLEMENTATION OF A LOCAL $0.01 SALES TAX TO CATCH UP IN A 10 TO 15 YEAR HORIZON. ABSENT THE $0.01 SALES TAX, WE'RE PROBABLY FACING A 30 TO 50 YEAR HORIZON IN TRYING TO CATCH UP ON WHAT WAS IDENTIFIED IN THAT HALF BILLION DOLLAR DEFICIT. I THINK THE COMMUNITY IN THIS VOTE IS PRETTY CLEAR WHAT THEY WANT. ONE NO NEW TAXES, TWO, NO EXTRANEOUS SPENDING, AND THREE GOOD FISCAL MANAGEMENT. WE WANT OTHER SOLUTIONS IS WHAT THE POPULATION IS SAYING. AND WE WANT THINGS. BUT DESPITE THAT, WE STILL WANT ALL THE THINGS IDENTIFIED IN THE 20 2425 STRATEGIC PLAN. WE NEED A DEVELOPMENT PATTERN THAT BREAKS THE CYCLE SO THAT WE DON'T GO FROM HALF A MILLION TO 750 MILLION OR $1 BILLION. WE THINK THAT IT'S VERY IMPORTANT THAT WE CONTROL THE EXPANSION OF THE DEVELOPMENT AREA BOUNDARY. THAT WE FOCUS ON INFILL DEVELOPMENT WITHIN THAT URBAN BOUNDARY, AND WE CONTROL URBAN SPRAWL. MOST IMPORTANTLY IS THAT WHEN WE LOOK FOR DEVELOPMENT, WE NEED TO MAKE SURE THAT WE HAVE A FINANCIAL ANALYSIS FOR YOU TO CONSIDER, WHETHER IT IS FISCALLY NEUTRAL, FISCALLY POSITIVE, OR FISCALLY NEGATIVE. IT'S REALLY A VERY SIMPLE CONCEPT. IT'S DONE IN OTHER COUNTIES, SUCH AS MARTIN COUNTY AND SARASOTA COUNTY. AND THAT GOES VERY SIMPLY IDENTIFYING WHAT YOUR REVENUES ARE, IDENTIFYING WHAT YOUR LONG TERM COSTS OF SERVICES ARE, AND LOOKING AT WHETHER OR NOT IT MAKES FISCAL SENSE OR IS A NEGATIVE OR IS CERTAINLY AT LEAST NEUTRAL. BUT, YOU KNOW, IF YOU LOOKED AT A AN EXAMPLE, LET'S SAY A HYPOTHETICAL DEVELOPMENT, REGAN ESTATES HALF A HALF A MILE OUTSIDE THE BOUNDARY, THAT PROJECT IN ITS FINANCIAL ANALYSIS, WILL LOOK VERY DIFFERENT FOR THE COUNTY OVER THE LONG HAUL. WHETHER IT'S INSIDE OR OUTSIDE THE BOUNDARY, IF IT'S INSIDE WHERE WE'RE TAKING ADVANTAGE OF EXISTING ROADS, EXISTING INFRASTRUCTURE, THE ABILITY TO RECOVER COST, RECOVER STRANDED INFRASTRUCTURE, OR CERTAINLY BEING ABLE TO DIRECT THOSE IMPACT FEES TO EXPAND THAT INFRASTRUCTURE THAT SERVES THE MOST PEOPLE. I WOULD THINK AS A DEVELOPER WOULD PROBABLY BE FOCUSED ON FINDING PROPERTY WITHIN THE URBAN THE DEVELOPMENT BOUNDARY, WHICH WE'VE IDENTIFIED ALREADY HAS QUITE A BIT OF SPACE AND IS AVAILABLE. INTERESTINGLY, YOU KNOW, WHEN YOU LOOK AT THAT HALF BILLION DOLLAR DEFICIT, HALF OF IT IS IN ROADS. AND INTERESTINGLY, IF WE COULD TURN ON THE OVERHEAD. THANK YOU. 20% OF IT IS JUST TO IMPROVE TO 209 FROM THE COUNTY LINE TO 208. AND, YOU KNOW, THAT MAKES SENSE. THAT WAS AN OBLIGATION THE COUNTY MADE TO THE STATE TO TO OFFLOAD I-95, PROVIDE ACCESS DOWN TO PALATKA ACROSS THE RIVER. BUT WHAT? AND THAT'S ABOUT A NINE MILE SEGMENT, ROUGHLY NINE MILES. BUT WHAT WE'RE IDENTIFYING IN THE TRANSPORTATION CAPACITY IMPROVEMENT MAP IS ALMOST TEN MILES OF BRAND NEW ROAD. THAT IS, THERE'S NOTHING. I'VE BEEN THROUGH ALL OF THE TRANSPORTATION FORECASTS. THERE'S NOTHING ABOUT THE GROWTH COMING INTO THAT AGRICULTURAL REGION THAT WOULD SUPPORT BUILDING A TEN MILE ROAD. ABSENT SOME FORM OF LOAD, SOME FORM OF DEVELOPMENT WHICH IT'S IT'S OUR POSITION TO PROTECT THE AGRICULTURAL INTERESTS OF SOUTHERN SAINT JOHNS COUNTY. AND SO WHEN YOU THINK ABOUT IT EVEN THE STATE OF FLORIDA WITH I-95, DOESN'T EVEN IDENTIFY WITHIN A NEAR TERM HORIZON EXPANSION OF I-95 SOUTH OF 208. SO WHAT ARE WE REALLY TRYING TO BUILD WITH THIS ROAD? IS IT QUICK ACCESS TO ORLANDO? TO SOUTH FLORIDA? WHEN THERE'S CAPACITY AND AN ALTERNATIVE PLAN ALREADY IDENTIFIED USING I-95? I JUST DON'T THINK IT MAKES SENSE. UNLESS THE ROADS ARE REALLY ABOUT OPENING UP SOUTHERN SAINT JOHNS COUNTY FOR DEVELOPMENT. THE OTHER THING IS THAT WE ALL OF THIS NEED HALF $1 BILLION OF OR HALF, 220 MILLION IS NEEDED FOR ROADS JUST UP WHERE DEVELOPMENT IS OCCURRING. WE SHOULD STAY FOCUSED ON THAT. AND I THINK THAT THIS ROAD SEGMENT OF EXTENSION 305 SOUTH SO FAR IN THE DISTANT FUTURE, BEYOND OUR LIFETIMES, MOST LIKELY THAT I DON'T THINK IT SHOULD BE ON THIS MAP, BECAUSE WHEN SOMETHING'S ON THIS MAP, IT SAYS IT'S A PRIORITY. AND THE NORTH FLORIDA TPO SAYS THAT ROAD SEGMENT IS A PRIORITY BECAUSE IT'S ON THE LIST, YET IT DOESN'T REALLY PLAY A FUNCTIONAL ROLE WITHIN ANY TYPE OF DECADES OF TIME. SO I WOULD ENCOURAGE YOU TO JUST TAKE IT OFF THE MAP. [05:30:04] IT DOESN'T MATERIALLY CHANGE YOUR ABILITY TO BUILD A ROAD, BUT IT SENDS A VERY STRONG SILENT MESSAGE THAT WILL RESONATE LOUDLY WITH OUR COMMUNITY. AGAIN THE MOST IMPORTANT THING IS INFILL DEVELOPMENT. GIVE YOURSELF THE TOOL, BASED ON OUR LANGUAGE, TO LOOK AT FISCAL NEUTRALITY IN YOUR DECISION MAKING MATRIX AND MAKE IT HARD TO VOTE FOR DEVELOPMENT. THAT DOESN'T MAKE FISCAL SENSE. AND WITH THAT, I'D LIKE TO CONCLUDE AND SAY THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR YOUR TIME. THANK YOU SIR. THANK YOU. DAMN GOOD. ED SLAVIN, FOX 38 FOR ED SLAVIN. COM I SALUTE MR. REGAN AND EVERYTHING HE JUST SAID. I THINK MY FRIEND CHARLIE HUNT CALLS 209 HUDSON HIGHWAY AND THAT'S WHY IT'S THERE. IT'S LIKE BILL CLINTON SAID, IF YOU'RE DRIVING DOWN A ROAD AND YOU SEE A TURTLE SITTING ON A FENCE POST, YOU KNOW, SOMEBODY PUT HER THERE. WELL, I THINK WE KNOW WHO PUT IT THERE. AND MR. REGAN IS ABSOLUTELY RIGHT, AND WE SHOULD DELETE THAT. TWO 209 IN STAUNTON, CALLING YOUR ATTENTION TO THE ARTICLE THAT I WROTE, AND IT'S ON MY BLOG RIGHT NOW@SLAVEN.COM, I PUT IT AT THE TOP OF THE BLOG. IN 2006, I WROTE AN ARTICLE CALLED THE MATRIX WETLANDS OF MASS DESTRUCTION WHY FLORIDA'S WETLANDS ARE BEING DESTROYED AND WHO BENEFITS? AND I TOTALLY AGREE WITH PROFESSOR RICHARD GROSSO AND ATTORNEY JAN LOMBORG IN WHAT THEY SAID ABOUT WETLANDS. LET'S KEEP THE WETLANDS PROVISIONS IN SAINT JOHN'S COUNTY LAW. THERE'S NO PRINCIPLED REASON TO DELETE IT, AND I THINK IT WOULD BE AN AFFRONT TO THE PEOPLE OF THIS COUNTY TO DELETE IT. YOU LOOK AT WHAT THE ARMY CORPS OF ENGINEERS DOES. YOU LOOK AT WHAT THE SAINT JOHNS RIVER WATER MANAGEMENT DISTRICT DOES. NO, IT'S NOT REDUNDANT. WE KNOW OUR WATERWAYS. WE KNOW OUR WETLANDS. WE KNOW OUR COUNTY. I'VE LIVED HERE ALMOST 26 YEARS. AND WHEN YOU COME TO COUNTY COMMISSION MEETINGS AS OFTEN AS I DO, AND YOU HEAR MEETING AFTER MEETING AFTER MEETING, AND I THINK WE'RE UP TO LIKE 35 COMMUNITIES WITH CONSTANT FLOODING BECAUSE OF BAD DESIGN AND BAD DEVELOPMENT DECISIONS. WELL, I DON'T WANT TO TRUST THE ARMY CORPS OF ENGINEERS TO DECIDE WHETHER PEOPLE GET FLOODED OUT OF THEIR HOMES IN SAINT JOHNS COUNTY. AND SEVERAL OF Y'ALL HAVE PASSIONATELY TALKED ABOUT YOUR AGAINST STATE LAW PREEMPTION. SO WHAT WE'RE GOING TO HAVE FEDERAL LAW PREEMPTION BY THE ARMY CORPS OF ENGINEERS, WHICH CAN'T EVEN BE TRUSTED TO GET THE WETLANDS RIGHT, WHICH WASTES WASTE A LOT OF MONEY, WHICH IS GUILTY. I THINK FREQUENTLY WASTE, FRAUD AND ABUSE. AND THEN YOU LOOK AT THE SAINT JOHNS RIVER WATER MANAGEMENT DISTRICT. THERE'S A LOVELY ARTICLE IN FOLIO WEEKLY ABOUT 10 OR 12 YEARS AGO ABOUT A REALLY COURAGEOUS GENTLEMAN, RICHARD HAMMOND, WHO WAS A LAW PROFESSOR AT THE UNIVERSITY OF FLORIDA AND A MEMBER OF THE WATER MANAGEMENT DISTRICT BOARD. HENRY DEAN, OUR FORMER COMMISSIONER, WILL TELL YOU THE CURRENT SAINT JOHNS RIVER WATER MANAGEMENT DISTRICT, UNLIKE THE ONE THAT HE RAN, IS NOT WORTHY OF DEFERENCE. NOT WORTHY OF RESPECT. AND PLEASE DON'T DO THIS. HOW MANY OF THE PEOPLE IN THE ROOM ARE LOBBYISTS FOR PEOPLE WHO WANT TO DESTROY WETLANDS? READ THE ARTICLE. WETLANDS OF MASS DESTRUCTIONS. SOMEBODY SAID SOMETHING ABOUT CRAZY DECISIONS BY THE PCA. THAT'S DISRESPECTFUL. AND LET ME JUST POINT OUT THE CASE LAW ON IMPACT FEES. THE HINSDALE SUBURBAN SANITARY DISTRICT CASE IN ILLINOIS. THANK YOU. MY LATE COLLEGE ROOMMATES GRANDFATHER WAS THE HEAD OF THAT DISTRICT, AND HE HELPED TO GET THAT PASSED. THANK YOU. IT'S NOT TOO MUCH TO ASK TO HAVE IMPACT FEES. AND LET'S MAKE IT RIGHT. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. NEXT, PLEASE, PLEASE COME FORWARD. IF YOU'RE GOING TO SPEAK ON THIS MATTER, PLEASE LINE UP. LET'S LET'S TRY TO SAVE SOME TIME. GO AHEAD. SIR. HI, I'M JOE RYAN. 699 STANDISH DRIVE, SAINT AUGUSTINE, FLORIDA AND SAINT JOHNS COUNTY. I'M COMING UP HERE TO SPEAK. YOU KNOW, MOSTLY I APPROVE OF THIS PLAN. CHANGES. IT WAS KIND OF STRANGE BECAUSE WHEN THEY FIRST PROPOSED THIS THING BACK IN JUNE, WHEN I HEARD IT, THEY SAID THAT THEY. WELL, WE TALKED TO A LOT OF PEOPLE IN COMPLETING THIS PLAN, YOU KNOW, THIS PLAN. AND FIRST WE TALKED TO THE DEVELOPERS AND THEN LASTLY, WE, YOU KNOW, TALKED TO IT GOT IMPACT FROM THE PUBLIC. I THINK THAT'S A LITTLE BACKWARDS. I MEAN, I DON'T KNOW WHY THE DEVELOPER SHOULD HAVE SUCH A SAY IN WHAT OUR LONG TERM COMPREHENSIVE PLAN IS, BUT THAT'S THAT'S BEEN CORRECTED. I THINK, IN A LOT OF CASES, THANKS TO THE WORK OF SOME OF OUR COMMISSIONERS. BUT WHAT REALLY GOT ME UP HERE IS THERE WAS SOMEBODY REPRESENTING THE BUILDERS WHO SAID THAT, [05:35:07] OH, WE HAVE TO DO MORE DEVELOPMENT TO PAY FOR THE CURRENT DEVELOPERS TO PAY FOR MORE DEVELOPMENT, BECAUSE WE'RE BEHIND ON OUR HIGHWAY CONSTRUCTION. AND THEN WE HAD PEOPLE COME UP HERE TALKING ABOUT 209 OR 209 WAS BUILT BY HUDSON COMPANY, AND THEY GOT FREE CREDITS FOR A LARGE PORTION OF THAT. AND THAT'S WHY WE'RE BEHIND IN OUR CONSTRUCTION. THAT'S WHY WE HAVE A HALF $1 BILLION IN AND SHORTFALLS FOR FUTURE PROJECTS. THAT 209 DID NOT EXIST. IT WAS ALL SILVER SERVICE STRUCTURE SILVICULTURE IN THERE, AND IT WAS BUILT BY HUDSON. IT MADE THAT DEVELOPMENT POSSIBLE. IT WOULD NOT BE POSSIBLE. WHY ARE WE GIVING IMPACT FREE CREDITS FOR THINGS LIKE THAT AND ADDING TO MORE DEVELOPMENT IS NOT GOING TO PAY IT, ESPECIALLY IF WE'RE GIVING IMPACT FREE CREDITS FOR CREATING THE DEVELOPMENT ITSELF. THE BIG THING IS WE GOT TO CONTROL THE DEVELOPMENT, PAY FOR THE INFRASTRUCTURE WE NEED, AND WE'RE IN A HOLE. WE GOTTA STOP DIGGING. SO I APPROVE A LOT OF THE THINGS THEY SAY, AND I THINK WE SHOULD KEEP THE THE VERBIAGE THAT COMMISSIONER JOSEPH SAID IS CONSIDER INSTEAD OF ESTABLISH, BECAUSE WE'RE ACTUALLY MAKING LAW WITH THIS. AND IT WOULD BE WITHOUT CONSIDERING THE IMPACT OF THAT LAW CREATING A NEW, YOU KNOW DESIGNATION. I THINK WE SHOULD HAVE MORE CONSIDERATION. AND JUST LEAVING IT LIKE IT WAS, BECAUSE I REMEMBER IN JUNE SHE ASKED FOR THAT CHANGE. AND I GO FOR THAT CHANGE TOO. I WOULD THINK IT WOULD BE A GOOD IDEA. THANK YOU. THANK YOU MA'AM. GOOD AFTERNOON BOARD. MY NAME IS JUDY SPIEGEL. I LIVE AT 101 GREEN WILLOW LANE. I'M FEELING REALLY STUPID. WE HAVE HAD SOME REALLY SMART PEOPLE UP HERE TALKING WITH SOME REALLY, REALLY GOOD POINTS TO SAY. I'VE BEEN INVOLVED IN THIS PROCESS, AT LEAST IN THE OUTSKIRTS. NOT DEEP DIVING LIKE THESE FOLKS HAVE RIGHT FROM THE BEGINNING. AND IT'S BEEN VERY AND A VERY EXCITING THING. ONE OF THE TOP PRIORITIES, I THINK, IN ALL THE COMMUNITY MEETINGS WAS AFFORDABLE HOUSING. AND I THINK THAT TO DISMISS THE IDEA OF MISSING MIDDLE HOUSING IS SORT OF A IT'S JARRING TO ME THAT IDEA. DENSITY IS GOING TO BE NECESSARY IN CERTAIN DESIGNATED AREAS IN ORDER TO BE ABLE TO BUILD HOUSES. MISSING MIDDLE HOUSING JUST MEANS IT DOESN'T HAVE TO LOOK LIKE A HIGH RISE. IT DOESN'T HAVE TO LOOK LIKE A SECTION EIGHT. IT COULD BE A DUPLEX HERE, A TRIPLEX HERE IN THE MIDDLE OF OTHER SINGLE FAMILY. WE'RE SO STUCK IN THIS. COMPATIBILITY MEANS SINGLE FAMILY NEXT TO SINGLE FAMILY. AND THAT'S NOT NECESSARILY. I THINK WHAT MISSING MIDDLE IS TRYING TO SAY IS THAT THERE CAN BE A BLEND, AND THERE CAN BE A WAY TO SQUEEZE IN A COUPLE OF MORE RESIDENCES IN A WAY THAT'S AFFORDABLE AND ATTRACTIVE AND, AND JUST LOOKS LIKE EVERYTHING ELSE. SO I JUST WANTED TO MAKE THAT POINT FOR AFFORDABLE HOUSING. IT'S REALLY, REALLY IMPORTANT. AS FAR AS THE DEED RESTRICTION, I THINK THE TEN YEAR DEED RESTRICTION IS REALLY A GOOD STEP. WE DID ASK, INSPIRED TO LOOK INTO HOW OTHER COUNTIES ARE OVERSEEING THAT. AND I THINK IT'S ESSENTIAL THAT WE FIND OUT HOW THIS IS OVER OVERSEEN, AND THAT'S A BIG PART OF OUR PROBLEM. WE HAVE ALL THESE RULES, BUT WE DON'T HAVE ENOUGH BODIES TO GO OUT AND CHECK UP AND FOLLOW THROUGH ON EVERYTHING. I VERY MUCH APPRECIATE JEN LAMBERT'S COMMENTS. WETLAND PRESERVATION. IF THERE IS NO SUCH THING AS AN ISOLATED WETLAND, IF ONE ACRE OF WETLAND CAN HOLD A MILLION GALLONS OF WATER, YOU KNOW, THEY ALL FUNCTION. THEY ALL SERVE A FUNCTION. SO I LIKE THAT. THE REFERENCE TO THE PGA MEMBERS NOT READING THE COMP PLAN WAS A I TRIED TO LIVE BY THE MANTRA OF AVOID EVENTS OFFENSE LIKE THE PLAGUE, SO I'M NOT GOING TO TAKE OFFENSE. I REALLY ADMIRE THE WOMAN WHO SAID IT. I LIKE HER A LOT, BUT WE I CANNOT TELL YOU THE NUMBER OF HOURS THAT ARE SPENT READING THROUGH. I'VE READ THROUGH THE ENTIRE COMPREHENSIVE PLAN THREE TIMES. I SIT THERE AND I READ EVERY WORD OF THOSE APPLICATIONS. THIS IS NOT SOMETHING THAT WE TAKE CAPRICIOUSLY AND JUST SHOW UP AND MAKE A DECISION BASED ON OUR EMOTIONS. PCA IS A REALLY SERIOUS BOARD AND WE REALLY DO DO A GOOD JOB. MAYBE SOME SOMEBODY MADE A COMMENT, MAYBE WITHOUT REALLY THINKING WHAT THE PERSON WAS SAYING, BUT I SORT OF REALLY DON'T WANT TO TAKE OFFENSE TO THAT COMMENT IF I CAN SAY THAT. SO YOU'LL HAVE SUCH A HARD TASK. YOU'VE WORKED SO HARD ON THIS. THIS IS SO GOOD, AND I ADMIRE ALL OF YOU SO MUCH. NOBODY IS HERE TRYING TO SCUTTLE ANYBODY OR RUIN EVERYONE'S LIFE. WE JUST HAVE DIFFERENT WORLDVIEWS, AND DIFFERENT THINGS ARE IMPORTANT TO US SO WE CAN WORK TOGETHER FOR THE SAKE OF OUR COUNTY. [05:40:05] THANK YOU. THANK YOU. YES, MA'AM. GOOD AFTERNOON ONCE AGAIN. MY NAME IS VICKI PEPPER. I LIVE ON HARBOR VISTA CIRCLE IN SAINT AUGUSTINE, AND I'M HERE TODAY REPRESENTING MYSELF AND COMMUNITY ADVOCATES FOR RACIAL EQUITY. AS WE SAID WITH THE SECOND DRAFT, WE SEE SOME CHANGES IN THE TRANSMITTAL VERSION OF THE UPDATED COMP PLAN THAT WILL MOVE SAINT JOHN'S COUNTY IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION FOR THE FUTURE. YOU MAY RECALL FROM JUNE 17TH, WE ESPECIALLY LIKE THE PLAN'S NEW DEFINITION OF WORKFORCE HOUSING BECAUSE THAT WILL ENCOMPASS ALL OUR VITAL WORKERS WHOSE HOUSEHOLD INCOMES DO NOT EXCEED 80% OF SAINT JOHN'S COUNTY'S AREA MEDIAN INCOME. WHEN THAT CHANGE GETS TRANSLATED INTO THE LAND DEVELOPMENT CODE, IT WILL PROVIDE A TOOL IN OUR AFFORDABLE HOUSING TOOLKIT TO FACILITATE INCREASING OUR STOCK OF HOUSING THAT'S TRULY AFFORDABLE. BUT IN THIS VERSION, WE'RE NOT SURE WHAT HAPPENED WITH THAT NEW DEFINITION OF WORKFORCE HOUSING, IT SEEMS TO HAVE GOTTEN MIXED UP WITH THE DEFINITION OF AFFORDABLE HOUSING, AND WE HOPE THAT THIS WILL GET CORRECTED. WE ALSO NOTE THAT THE DEFINITION OF AFFORDABLE HOUSING COMPLEX ENCOMPASSES EXTREMELY LOW, VERY LOW, LOW AND MODERATE INCOME HOUSEHOLDS AS DEFINED BY HUD. THAT WOULD RANGE ALL THE WAY FROM 30% OF OUR AMI OR BELOW UP TO 120%. THAT'S QUITE A RANGE. OUR BIG CONCERN IN THIS REGARD RELATES TO THE OPTIONAL DENSITY BONUS FACTORS, AS REFLECTED IN THE TABLE ON PAGE 36 OF THE LAND USE ELEMENT. CHRIS, MOST CONCERNED ABOUT OUR LACK OF HOUSING AFFORDABLE FOR THOSE AT THE 80, 50, 30% OF ARMY INCOME LEVEL AND BELOW DENSITY BONUSES SHOULD BE CONFERRED IN A MANNER THAT WILL SERVE TO MEET OUR GREATEST HOUSING NEEDS. BUT THIS TABLE LUMPS AFFORDABLE WORKFORCE AND MISSING MIDDLE HOUSING ALTOGETHER WITHOUT ANY DISTINCTIONS AS PRESENTED IN THE TRANSMITTAL DRAFT. ANYTHING THAT FALLS WITHIN THAT BROAD CATEGORY WOULD BE ELIGIBLE FOR 100% OR 50% DENSITY BONUS, DEPENDING ONLY ON HOW THE LAND IS ZONED. WE RECOMMEND INSTEAD THAT YOU DIRECT STAFF TO DEVELOP AND PRESENT MORE DETAIL HERE, USING A SLIDING SCALE APPROACH TO OPTIONAL DENSITY BONUSES. IN OTHER WORDS, WE THINK THIS NEEDS TO BE BROKEN DOWN IN SUCH A WAY THAT THE MORE AFFORDABLE HOUSING AND DEVELOPER PROVIDES THAT LOWER INCOME LEVELS, THE GREATER THE BONUS CAN BE CONFERRED, ESPECIALLY IF HE OR SHE CAN DO SO, PROVIDING MISSING MIDDLE HOUSING OPTIONS. AS WE SAID BEFORE, IN THE INTERESTS OF SLOWER, SMARTER GROWTH, WE'D LIKE TO SEE YOU REQUIRE A SIGNIFICANT WORKFORCE HOUSING COMPONENT UNDER OUR NEW DEFINITION IN ANY DEVELOPMENT BEFORE YOU'LL APPROVE DEVELOPER REQUESTED CHANGES. WE RECOGNIZE THIS MAY LEAD TO MORE MIXED INCOME, MIXED USE DEVELOPMENT, BUT THAT'S A NATIONAL TREND AND THIS MAY BE THE BEST, IF NOT THE ONLY, WAY WE'LL BE ABLE TO INCREASE OUR STOCK OF AFFORDABLE WORKFORCE HOUSING IN ANY MEANINGFUL WAY. AND WE DO NEED TO ESTABLISH A MIXED USE ZONING CATEGORY. WE BELIEVE MUCH ADDITIONAL WORK REMAINS TO BE DONE, AND CARE LOOKS FORWARD TO WORKING WITH YOU, COUNTY STAFF, AND OTHER STAKEHOLDERS ON OUR COMPREHENSIVE PLAN AND LAND DEVELOPMENT CODE MOVING FORWARD. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. YES, MA'AM. GOOD AFTERNOON, COMMISSIONERS, FOR THE RECORD. ELLEN AVERY SMITH, I AM A LAND USE ATTORNEY WITH ROGERS TOWERS, 100 WHETSTONE PLACE. I AM ALSO A RESIDENT OF SAINT JOHN'S COUNTY. I HAVE THE PLEASURE OF REPRESENTING A NUMBER OF LANDOWNERS IN SAINT JOHN'S COUNTY AND HAVE FOR YEARS. SO ONE THING I WANT TO START OFF WITH A PROCEDURAL MATTER IS I'D LIKE TO MAKE A PUBLIC RECORDS REQUEST FOR THE LETTER THAT WAS SUBMITTED BY MR. GROSSO BECAUSE THAT IS NOT PUBLIC INFORMATION AT THIS POINT. AND SO THE PUBLIC HAS NOT HAD A CHANCE TO REVIEW THAT. BUT GOING TO MY MATERIAL COMMENTS, YOU ARE PROPOSING AN OBJECTIVE 8.1.2 REGARDING THE DEVELOPMENT AREA BOUNDARY. YOU IT SAYS THAT YOU ARE THAT DEVELOPMENT AREA BOUNDARY HAS TO BE CAPABLE OF ACCOMMODATING A MINIMUM OF TEN YEARS OF PROJECTED POPULATION GROWTH, AND ALSO REQUIRES THE COUNTY TO EVALUATE THE DEVELOPMENT AREA BOUNDARY TO DETERMINE ITS AVAILABLE CAPACITY FOR ACHIEVING THE APPROVED POPULATION PROJECTIONS. AT LEAST TO DATE, THE BOARD HAS NOT HAS DECIDED NOT TO EXPAND THE DEVELOPMENT AREA BOUNDARY. IN THESE AMENDMENTS, AND THE POPULATION PROJECTIONS THAT ARE BEING BROUGHT FORWARD ARE, IN THE OPINION OF MANY PEOPLE I WORK WITH, WHO ARE MUCH MORE EXPERT THAN I AM, ARE VERY CONSERVATIVE, TO SAY THE LEAST. WE OBVIOUSLY HAVE HAD A HUGE INFLUX OF PEOPLE FROM OUT OF STATE MOVING HERE, WHICH HAS DRIVEN UP THE COST OF HOMES IN SAINT JOHNS COUNTY, MAKING IT VERY DIFFICULT FOR LONG TERM RESIDENTS AND THEIR FAMILIES TO STAY HERE, AND ALSO FOR BUSINESSES AND EVEN THE COUNTY TO BRING PEOPLE HERE BECAUSE PEOPLE CAN'T AFFORD TO MOVE HERE UNLESS THEY'RE WEALTHY. SO I WOULD PROPOSE THAT IF YOU ARE DETERMINING OR DETERMINED TODAY OR WHATEVER YOU TRANSMIT TO NOT EXPAND THE DEVELOPMENT AREA BOUNDARY, I WOULD RESPECTFULLY REQUEST THAT YOU INCREASE THE PERMITTED DENSITY WITHIN THE RESIDENTIAL DIAZ AND DOG MIXED USE DISTRICT AND INTENSIVE [05:45:08] COMMERCIAL FUTURE LAND USE CATEGORIES FROM 13 UNITS PER ACRE TO 20 UNITS PER ACRE IN THE MAINLAND AREA. AND I WANT TO BE CLEAR ABOUT THAT, BECAUSE I UNDERSTAND THERE'S A WHOLE NOTHER DISCUSSION ABOUT THE COASTAL AREA, BUT THAT IS MY REQUEST. AGAIN, 20 UNITS PER ACRE. FOR RESIDENTIAL, DE IS IN DOG MIXED USE DISTRICT AND INTENSIVE COMMERCIAL, WHICH WILL ALLOW. HIGHER DENSITY DEVELOPMENTS IN THOSE AREAS WITHIN THE EXISTING DEVELOPMENT AREA BOUNDARY. IF YOU DETERMINED NOT TO EXPAND IT, THAT WILL ALLOW MORE AFFORDABLE HOUSING, THAT WILL ALLOW WORKFORCE HOUSING AND SOME OF THE GOALS THAT SOME OF THE ENVIRONMENTAL FOLKS HAVE TALKED ABOUT TODAY. BUT I REALLY DO THINK THAT WE ARE GOING TO GET MORE OF A POPULATION GROWTH THAN IS BEING PROJECTED. AND SO I JUST REQUEST THAT YOU RESPECTFULLY ALLOW PEOPLE TO BE ABLE TO AFFORD TO MOVE HERE TO WORK, NOT JUST TO RETIRE. SO I'M HERE TO ANSWER WHATEVER QUESTIONS YOU MIGHT HAVE. THANK YOU. MY NAME IS BILL HAMILTON. I LIVE AT 7000 CHARLES STREET, SAINT AUGUSTINE. I'M HERE TO SPEAK ON BEHALF OF THE AGRICULTURAL SECTOR AND THE FARMING COMMUNITY. I'VE BEEN INVOLVED IN AGRICULTURE. MY WHOLE LIFE. WORKED ON FARMS FROM SOUTH FLORIDA ALL THE WAY TO CANADA. I HAVE A DEGREE IN AGRICULTURE FROM THE UNIVERSITY OF FLORIDA. I SIT ON THE OVERALL ADVISORY BOARD FOR THE AG CENTER PARTNERSHIP BETWEEN THE UNIVERSITY OF FLORIDA EXTENSION AND SAINT JOHN'S COUNTY IN THE UNITED STATES TODAY, WE VIEW FOOD AS ENTERTAINMENT. THE LATEST RESTAURANT, THE NEWEST RECIPE, THE NEWEST DIET. AND WE TAKE FOOD SECURITY AS A GIVEN. WE DON'T WORRY ABOUT WHERE OUR NEXT MEAL IS GOING TO COME FROM. FOR THE MOST PART, THERE ARE PEOPLE WHO ARE HUNGRY IN THE UNITED STATES, BUT THIS COUNTRY IS MORE FOOD SECURE THAN ANY COUNTRY IN THE HISTORY OF THAT WE KNOW OF, AND IT HASN'T ALWAYS BEEN THAT WAY. MY GRANDPARENTS DIDN'T KNOW FOOD SECURITY THE SAME WAY WE DO, AND NEVER THREW AWAY GREEN BEANS IN THEIR LIFE. I'M. I'M SUGGESTING TO YOU THAT MAINTAINING THE DEVELOPMENT BOUNDARIES TO PROTECT THE AGRICULTURAL SECTOR OF SAINT JOHN'S COUNTY IS A GREAT IDEA. IT'S IMPORTANT THAT WE CONTINUE TO BE ABLE TO PROVIDE FOOD FOR OURSELVES. AND BRIEFLY THE TOTAL ACREAGE OF FARMLAND IN THE UNITED STATES HAS BEEN DECLINING, WITH A DROP OF OVER 20 MILLION ACRES BETWEEN 2017 AND 2022, ACCORDING TO THE USDA NATIONAL AGRICULTURAL STATISTICS SURVEY. THE UNITED STATES HAS SHIFTED FROM AN AGRICULTURAL EXPORT COUNTRY TO AGRICULTURAL IMPORT COUNTRY AFTER BEING POSITIVE FOR NEARLY 60 YEARS, THE US AGRICULTURAL TRADE BALANCE HAS SHIFTED TO BEING A DEFICIT. 2023. THE US EXPERIENCE A RECORD AGRICULTURAL TRADE DEFICIT. THERE ARE MAJOR THREATS TO GLOBAL AGRICULTURE, INCLUDING CLIMATE CHANGE. JUST ONE OF THE MAIN ONES AS WE HAVE WITNESSED IN 100 PLUS DEGREE DAYS. IT'S ONE THING TO TO BE A CHEERLEADER FOR AGRICULTURE. IT'S ANOTHER ONE TO COME UP WITH POSITIVE SUGGESTIONS TO HOW TO PROTECT IT. OF COURSE, THE RURAL, THE FLORIDA RURAL AND FAMILY LANDS PROTECTION PROGRAM, WHICH IS. AGRICULTURAL LAND PRESERVATION PROGRAM, DESIGNED TO PROTECT IMPORTANT AGRICULTURAL LANDS THROUGH THE ACQUISITION OF PERMANENT AGRICULTURAL LAND CONSERVATION EASEMENTS. YOUR PAST CHAIRMAN JEB SMITH AND HIS FAMILY HAVE BEEN THE RECIPIENTS OF THAT AND BENEFITED FROM IT. I ENCOURAGED THE COUNTY COMMISSION TO REACH OUT TO THE STATE AND ASK THEM TO FUND THAT. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. GOOD AFTERNOON. GOOD AFTERNOON. THIS IS VIVIAN BROWNING. I'M HERE TO TALK ABOUT, OF COURSE, THE LONG BEACH TOWN CENTER THAT I TALKED ABOUT THIS MORNING. I'M WAS FOUNDING PRESIDENT. AND FOR THIS LOCATION IN THE COMP PLAN, Y'ALL ARE CONSIDERING TRANSMITTING, AND I HOPE YOU DO. THE THIS AFTERNOON, WE'RE ON PAGE 105 TO 110, AND WE'VE BEEN THERE FOR ABOUT 25 YEARS WITH OUR LONG BEACH TOWN CENTER DISTRICT. [05:50:05] THE WAY WE DID THAT IS WE VISIONED 98, 99, AND WE ADOPTED THE TOWN CENTER CONCEPT, WHICH WAS IN THE GROWTH MANAGEMENT ACT OF 1985. SO WE ARE FOLLOWING A PLAN AND WE'RE STILL FOLLOWING THAT PLAN. AND YOU CAN SEE THERE'S BEEN DEVELOPMENT AND THERE'S BEEN PRESERVATION AND WE'RE WANTING TO MOVE ON. WHAT IS EXCITING TO ME AFTER THIS TWO YEAR ATTENDING MEETINGS IS THAT WE SEEM TO BE ON THE RIGHT TRACK. THINGS LIKE INFILL DEVELOPMENT. EVERY SQUARE FOOT OF OUR DISTRICT IS INFILL DEVELOPMENT ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT. WE DIDN'T WAIT FOR THE BOAT TO COME IN FOR THE COUNTY TO FIND US. PUBLIX. WE WENT OUT AND TRACKED HIM DOWN OURSELVES, AND WE'RE SO THANKFUL THEY'RE THERE. PLUS SOME OTHER DEVELOPMENT. PARKS AND REC, I WOULD LIKE TO THANK PARKS AND REC FOR CHOOSING OUR AREA. NOT MANY TOWNS OR COMMUNITIES HAVE A PARK 300FT IN THE MIDDLE OF THE TOWN CENTER THAT WE WERE ABLE TO GET A $5 MILLION FLORIDA FOREVER GRANT TO KEEP THAT IN THE PUBLIC HANDS. AND THAT'S WHAT SEASIDE DID, THE FIRST TOWN CENTER IN FLORIDA. AND THEY IT WORKED WELL FOR THEM. WE WERE BLIGHTED. WE WERE THE HENNY YOUNGMAN OF THE BEACHES BACK IN THE 90S. BUT I THINK IF YOU VISIT, YOU'LL SEE A LOT OF CHANGE. I WANT TO THANK THE STAFF FOR WORKING WITH ME FOR THESE TWO YEARS. CRAZY QUESTION OR GOOD QUESTION. THEY WERE HELPFUL AND KEEPING US WORKING THE PLAN. THANK THE COMMISSIONERS. ALL THE WAY BACK TO THE TURN OF THE CENTURY. AND I WOULD HOPE THAT WE WOULD BE ABLE TO KEEP MOVING WITH OUR SECTION AND EVEN MAKE IMPROVEMENTS IN THE NEXT 5 TO 7 YEARS ONCE THE PLAN IS ADOPTED. SO I'M, I'M URGING Y'ALL TO MOVE THE TRANSMISSION ALONG. I THINK COMMISSIONER JOSEPH HAS KEPT SAYING WE GOTTA KEEP MOVING. WE GOTTA GET THIS DONE. AND THANKS TO COMMISSIONER TAYLOR FOR CHECKING WITH ME. THESE LAST DAYS. BUT I DO THINK THAT EDUCATION IS GOING TO BE THE KEY FOR OUR LOCALS AND EVERYONE ELSE THAT WE'RE WORKING A PLAN GREATER THAN WE ARE. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. MA'AM. SUZANNE 109 LAUREL WOODWAY. I LIVE IN SAINT JOHNS COUNTY. I THINK THIS HAS BEEN A REALLY GOOD DISCUSSION TODAY. WE I THINK WE'VE HEARD A GOOD BROAD BASED SOME GOOD INFORMATION WAS SHARED BY SOME WONDERFUL PEOPLE. I THOUGHT JOHN REGAN DID A GREAT JOB. PERSONALLY. LANGUAGE IS IMPORTANT. WORDS ARE IMPORTANT. THE WORDS THAT YOU PUT IN THIS THING MATTER. MAY VERSUS SHALL VERSUS MUST ESTABLISH VERSUS. CONSIDER. BECAUSE THOSE WORDS ARE GOING TO BE THERE FOR A REALLY LONG TIME. AND YOU WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT YOU'RE USING WORDS THAT DON'T HAVE A GRAY DEFINITION. AND I APPLAUD YOU ALL FOR REALLY LOOKING CAREFULLY. LOOKING, LOOKING. LOOKING VERY CAREFULLY. I REALLY LIKED THE GENTLEMAN THAT CAME UP BECAUSE I'VE THOUGHT THIS FOR A LONG TIME. I, YOU KNOW, WE TALK ABOUT PROPERTY RIGHTS. PROPERTY RIGHTS ARE VERY IMPORTANT TO ME, TOO. BUT YOUR PROPERTY RIGHTS. YOU DON'T HAVE PROPERTY RIGHTS THAT GIVE YOU ENTITLEMENT TO HAVE MORE THAN WHAT YOU HAD IN HAND WHEN YOU GOT WHAT YOU GOT. AND MANY PEOPLE GET UP HERE, AND I THINK THEY'RE A LITTLE BIT CONFUSED ABOUT WHAT THEIR RIGHTS ARE AND WHAT THEIR RIGHTS REALLY ARE UNDER THE CONSTITUTION. I LIKED. IDENTIFY THE FINANCIAL BENEFIT TO THE COUNTY WHEN WE REVIEW THESE UPCOMING DEVELOPMENTS. I THINK THAT'S AN EXCELLENT IDEA. THE MATANZAS RIVER KEEPER I THOUGHT HER MAP WAS GOOD, SHOWING WATER QUALITY WHERE OUR WATERSHEDS ARE NOW. PEOPLE KEEP SAYING WE DON'T. THEY HAVEN'T SEEN A MAP THAT SHOWS OUR DEVELOPMENT. [05:55:08] AND I DON'T KNOW WHY WE CALL IT A BOUNDARY BECAUSE I WAS SO MIXED UP FOR SO LONG ABOUT THAT. IT'S BOUNDARIES. IT'S NOT ONE LINE. IT LOOKS LIKE THAT. IF YOU CAN BRING THAT UP TO SHOW THEM AND IT'S AREAS THAT CAN BE POCKETS LIKE HASTINGS DOWN HERE SITS ALL BY ITSELF. BUT IT'S A DEVELOPMENT AREA THAT IS HASTINGS. AND THIS MAP IS A I DON'T I HAD A HARD TIME GETTING THIS MAP. BUT IT'S DEFINITELY SAINT JOHNS COUNTY. IT DEFINITELY SAYS FUTURE LAND USE ON IT. SO YOU MIGHT WANT TO TAKE A LOOK AT THAT. AND I DON'T THINK WE SHOULD CHANGE IT. NOT NOW. GIVE IT TEN YEARS. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. MA'AM. DO WE NEED TO FIX SOMETHING SO THAT WE CAN SEE WHEN SOMEBODY IS PRESENTING, BECAUSE I HAD NO IDEA WHAT SHE WAS TRYING TO SHOW. SO IT TAKES A SECOND FOR THEM TO HONE IN ON IT. SO IT SHOULD HAVE JUST STAYED ON THE PODIUM A LITTLE BIT LONGER. YEAH, WE WE COUNTED. IT WAS MORE THAN ONE SECOND. THANK YOU. CAN YOU BRING THAT UP AND JUST LEAVE IT UP THERE SO WE CAN SEE WHAT YOU WERE TALKING ABOUT? THANKS. YEAH, I JUST FEEL LIKE. YEAH, I FEEL LIKE WE MISSED SOMETHING. THAT MAP. THERE YOU GO. THANKS. JUST GIVE US JUST A SECOND. I PROMISE NOT TO START THE SEA. THAT'S THE BOUNDARY OF THE ACT. THAT'S THE BOUNDARY. I HAVE IT IN ELECTRONIC FORM TO I DON'T KNOW. I KNOW WHO GAVE IT TO ME, BUT I DON'T WANT TO SAY THANK YOU. B.J. WEST, CITY OF SAINT AUGUSTINE AND SAINT JOHNS COUNTY. YOU'RE WORKING VERY HARD, AND WE'RE TRYING TO LISTEN VERY HARD. AND I HATE TO TELL YOU THIS, BUT PEOPLE ARE LEAVING NOTHING PERSONAL. IT ALL BOILS DOWN TO THE SAME OLD, SAME OLD. BUT I REALLY APPRECIATE WHAT'S HAPPENING TODAY. AND I KNOW YOU'RE GOING TO HAVE TO TRANSMIT THIS BECAUSE YOUR TIMELINE IS GETTING SHORTER AND SHORTER. ONCE AGAIN, IT'S GREED VERSUS QUALITY OF LIFE. IT WILL CONTINUE. IT WILL CONTINUE ITS DEVELOPERS VERSUS THE RESIDENTS WHO ARE NOT PAID TO CONTINUE TO COME TO THESE MEETINGS. I THINK WE NEED TO TAKE THAT INTO CONSIDERATION. AND A LOT OF LAWYERS GET UP HERE AND OTHER PEOPLE TOO, AND USE BIG OLD WORDS. AND YOU KNOW WHAT? I DON'T GET SCARED. YOU TRY TO SCARE YOU ALL. AND OUR STAFF, YOUR STAFF WHO TRY TO DO THEIR JOBS WITH WORDS LIKE TAKING, TAKING. WE'RE NOT TAKING. YES WE ARE. AND I AM TAKING OFFENSE. BUT I LET IT GO BY. BUT I'M GOING TO SAY IT OUT LOUD. THE PC MEMBERS NEED TO BE EDUCATED. HERE'S MY OPINION. YOU NEED TO EDUCATE DEVELOPERS IN A WORD THAT I HAVE NOT SPELT IN A LONG TIME. R E S P E C T. THE WORD IS RESPECT AND WE SHOULD BE IN THIS ROOM, ESPECIALLY SINCE PEOPLE ARE WATCHING US AND TRYING TO SEE IF WE'RE GOING TO TAKE CARE OF THIS COUNTY OR TAKE CARE OF SELFISH NEEDS. THAT'S HOW I FEEL. YOU PROBABLY KNEW THAT WITHOUT ME SAYING IT. AND ARE WE GOING TO TAKE THE WORDS OF DEVELOPERS AND LAWYERS OVER. OUTSIDE LAWYERS. OUTSIDE LAWYERS, NOT THOSE OVER THERE THAT'S OURS OR COUNTY STAFF WHICH ARE HERE TO WORK FOR US AND TO TAKE CARE OF US. WE NEED TO LOOK AT WHO'S TALKING AND WHO WE'RE LISTENING TO. IT'S VERY IMPORTANT. AND I'M JUST WONDERING, SOMETIMES I SEE EVERYBODY UP THERE KIND OF LOOKING DOWN AND LOOKING UP AND LOOKING DOWN AND LOOKING UP AND COMING UP WITH SOMETHING AND COMING UP WITH SOMETHING ELSE. OUR COMMISSIONERS ON CELL PHONES DURING THESE DISCUSSIONS, I KNOW YOU DON'T HAVE TO ANSWER ANYTHING, BUT I'M REALLY WONDERING IF THERE'S COMMUNICATION AND PEOPLE TELLING YOU WHAT TO SAY OR WHAT NOT TO SAY. I'M NOT SAYING THAT'S HAPPENING, BUT I'M JUST KIND OF WONDERING ABOUT THESE THINGS. OH, THAT'S NICE. AND SEE, THE OTHER THING. AND IT'S ALMOST TIME FOR YOU TO DECIDE. I'M SURE YOU'RE GOING TO PROBABLY TRANSFER THIS. THANK YOU. ANYONE ELSE FOR. OH THANK YOU. HI THERE. KETO BURN 6857 EQ COVE AVENUE. I NORMALLY AM ADDRESSING THIS BOARD ON BEHALF OF SACCA. [06:00:01] SACCA HAS BEEN SPOKEN FOR TODAY. JUST TALKING AS A RESIDENT AND A LOCAL BUSINESS OWNER. I'M A REAL ESTATE BROKER HERE. I'M ON THE GROUND SHOWING PEOPLE OUR BEAUTIFUL AREA, AND PEOPLE ARE COMING TO TOWN ALL THE TIME. I'M NOT AGAINST GROWTH. IT'S JUST THAT WE NEED TO BE SMART, AND WE DON'T WANT IT SPRAWLING TO WHERE IT'S NOT ECONOMICAL FOR THE COUNTY. INFILL DEVELOPMENT IS WHAT WE NEED, AS WE'VE HEARD A LOT TODAY. OUR COMMUNITY IS MADE UP OF A LOT OF DIFFERENT PERSPECTIVES ON A NATIONAL POLITICAL LEVEL, BUT THERE'S A LOT OF CONSENSUS ON WHAT WE SHOULD DO LOCALLY, WHICH IS PROTECTING OUR NATURAL RESOURCES AND PRESERVING OUR QUALITY OF LIFE. AND IN TODAY'S DIVISIVE NATIONAL ENVIRONMENT, POLITICALLY, IT'S NICE TO SEE A CONSENSUS. IT'S REFRESHING TO SEE A COMMUNITY COME TOGETHER LIKE THIS. WE HEARD A LOT OF REQUESTS BY THE COMMUNITY FOR CHANGES TO THIS COMP PLAN. WE HOPE THAT YOU TAKE A UP AND DOWN VOTE ON EACH ONE OF THOSE AND AND TALK THROUGH THOSE WHEN WE'RE DONE HERE. THE FACT THAT THIS COMMISSION THE FACT THAT EXCUSE ME THAT THIS CURRENT PLAN DOES NOT HAVE THE DEVELOPMENT BOUNDARY BEING PUSHED OUT, IS A CLEAR INDICATION THAT THIS WHOLE COMMISSION VALUES PRESERVING AGRICULTURE IN OUR COUNTY, AND WE REALLY APPRECIATE THAT. I WANT TO THANK THE CONSULTANTS WHO HAVE WORKED FOR TWO YEARS AND THE STAFF, EVERYBODY HAS WORKED THEIR BRAINS OFF ON THIS. AND AND THANK YOU GUYS FOR BEING COMMISSIONERS. IT'S PROBABLY EXHAUSTING BEING UP THERE, HAVING RELENTLESS PUBLIC COMMENT, PEOPLE LEANING ON YOU IN ALL DIRECTIONS. I COME TO SOME MEETINGS. I'LL ADMIT THAT I DON'T SAY FOR ALL OF THEM, AND IT STILL TAKES ALL OF THE BANDWIDTH I HAVE TO FOCUS FOR ONE OF THESE THINGS. SO THANK YOU GUYS FOR DOING WHAT YOU DO. IT'S IT'S A IT'S A LOT. SO YOU GUYS TAKE OUR MEETINGS, YOU TAKE OUR CALLS, YOU ENGAGE WITH US. AND THAT'S ALL WE CAN ASK FOR AS A GROUP OF CITIZENRY. SO THANK YOU GUYS FOR WHAT YOU'RE DOING. AND WE HOPE YOU TRANSMIT IT WITH A COUPLE OF THE CHANGES THAT WERE MADE. THANK YOU. ANYONE ELSE FOR PUBLIC COMMENT? SEEING NONE WE'LL CLOSE. PUBLIC COMMENT. ALL RIGHT, WE'RE BACK TO THE BOARD. CAN I? CAN I JUST MENTION ONE THING ABOUT THE PGA? TWO OF THE MEMBERS HAVE BEEN SITTING HERE, AND THEY'RE AT EVERY SINGLE MEETING EVERY TIME. AND THEY WORK FOR NO MONEY, AND THEY I THINK THEY GET $75 FOR A MONTH FOR, I DON'T KNOW, GAS OR SOMETHING, BUT THEY REALLY WORK HARD AND I KNOW WHAT THEY DO. AND I JUST THANK THEM FOR THEIR VOLUNTEER. REALLY? REALLY. OKAY. YES. COMMISSIONER MURPHY, THANK YOU. ONE OF THE THINGS THAT I THAT I NOTICED DURING OUR DISCUSSION IS THEY TALKED ABOUT MISS JEN CAME UP AND TALKED ABOUT SUGGESTED CHANGES TO POLICY A ONE, TWO, THREE AND TO ADD D IN THERE WHERE IT SAYS THAT THE AD VALOREM REVENUE EXPECTED TO BE GENERATED BY THE POTENTIAL DEVELOPMENT EQUALS OR EXCEEDS THE PHYSICAL COST TO THE COUNTY. ARE WE DO WE HAVE THE ABILITY TO. WITHOUT BREAKING THE BANK. DETERMINE THAT WHEN THESE DEVELOPMENTS COME FORWARD. OR IS THIS LANGUAGE THAT WE NEED TO ADD? I'D LOVE TO ADD LANGUAGE TO THAT IF WE NEED IT. MIKE ROBERTSON THROUGH THE CHAIR. COMMISSIONER MURPHY, IF YOU REPEAT, I THINK YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT FISCAL ANALYSIS. YEP. IS THAT ACCURATE? YEAH. ZERO SUM ANALYSIS. SO WE'RE GOING TO MAKE SURE THAT THAT WHAT WE'RE GOING TO RECEIVE IN IMPACT FEES IS GOING TO PAY FOR WHAT WE'RE, WHAT WE'RE GETTING. SO. SO THAT IS FISCAL IMPACT ANALYSIS. THE COUNTY HAS NOT DONE THAT BEFORE. I HAD CONVERSATIONS WITH JESSE AT ONE TIME ABOUT A LONG TIME, A LONG TIME AGO ABOUT A DEVELOPMENT COMING IN AND WHETHER OR NOT IT PAID FOR ITSELF. RIGHT. YEAH. WE'VE NEVER BEEN GIVEN DIRECTION TO GO DOWN THAT PATH. THAT WOULD BE SOMETHING THAT ALMOST IT'S A SEPARATE TOPIC IN ITSELF THAT IF WE WERE GIVEN DIRECTION TO DO AND KIND OF POTENTIALLY DO IT OURSELVES, OR GET A CONSULTANT OR FIGURE OUT A WAY TO DO IT. BUT ANYWAY. WELL, ONE OF THE THINGS THAT I DON'T WANT TO DO IS I DON'T WANT TO HOLD UP THE TRANSMISSION BECAUSE WE CAN MAKE CHANGES TO THIS ANYTIME WE WANT TO. BUT IT'S SOMETHING THAT I WANT TO EXPLORE BECAUSE I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT THAT WE UNDERSTAND THE PHYSICAL, THE PHYSICAL RESPONSE IMPACTS TO OUR NOT ONLY OUR COMMUNITY WHEN IT COMES TO THE ENVIRONMENTAL THING, BUT ALSO THE, THE MONEY, OR IS IT GOING TO PAY FOR ITSELF? AND IS THERE A ECONOMICAL WAY TO DETERMINE THAT THAT'S NOT GOING TO ADD MORE LAYERS OF CRAP. IS THIS IS IT IS IT CAN CAN WE CAN WE GET CONSENSUS TO ASK THEM TO LOOK INTO THAT FOR FOR DISCUSSION FOR LATER? OKAY. SO CLARIFICATION SHALL OR SHALL EXPLORE. I'M THINKING I'M THE ESTABLISHED. YEAH. CONTIGUOUS OR BORDERING. NO. I WOULD LOVE TO SEE AN ANALYSIS FROM THE STAFF ABOUT IF THIS WOULD BE SOMETHING THAT THAT WOULD BE THAT WOULD NOT BE ONEROUS FOR THE STAFF TO DO GOING FORWARD. BECAUSE IF IT'S NOT OWNERS FOR US, I WOULD LOVE TO ADD THIS LANGUAGE THAT WE MAKE SURE THAT WE'RE THAT WE'RE ZERO SUM, [06:05:06] THAT WE'RE GETTING WHAT WE'RE PAYING FOR FAIR, WHICH WOULD HELP CONTROL THE INFRASTRUCTURE AND HAVE THE INFRASTRUCTURE. SO WHAT I'M HEARING IS YOU WOULD LIKE MAYBE LANGUAGE IN HERE THAT SAYS STAFF WILL EVALUATE FISCAL IMPACT ANALYSIS. I WOULD LIKE THAT IF I CAN GET CONSENSUS FOR THAT. CAN WE PUT THAT IN THERE OR IS IT'S NOT IS IT TOO LATE TO PUT THAT SENTENCE IN THERE. WE CAN PUT THAT IN THERE AND TRANSMIT. YEAH. OKAY. GREAT. WONDERFUL. EVERYBODY'S OKAY. THAT WAS EASY. YES, MA'AM. OKAY. ANYTHING ELSE? WELL, THERE'S A WHOLE BUNCH OF STUFF, BUT I'LL I'LL. I'LL THINK ABOUT IT. COMMISSIONER TAYLOR. YES. GREAT. I JUST HAVE A HUGE THANK YOU TO ALL THE SPEAKERS AND EVERYONE THAT CAME UP. I REALLY APPRECIATED WHAT JEN LIMBACH SHARED. ESPECIALLY REGARDING GOING BACK TO THE STATE, OUR COUNTY, HOW MUCH WE ARE LOSING WETLANDS. I KNOW WE DID TALK ABOUT REMOVING THAT, BUT I THINK THAT .1.6.2, I MEAN, I'D BE I WOULD MUCH RATHER I'M OKAY WITH US HAVING STRONGER PROTECTIONS THAN THE STATE. I THINK THAT'S A GREAT IDEA. BUT WHEN SHE SHARED ONE ACRE OF WETLAND CAN STORE 1 MILLION GALLONS OF WATER. THAT'S HUGE. THAT IS. THAT'S A LOT. AND I APPRECIATE THAT. BUT I DEFINITELY THINK THAT SHOULD STAY. IN FACT, I LIKE THIS WORK, AND I VERY MUCH APPRECIATE MR. GROSSO AND ALL THAT, ALL THE TIME AND EFFORT THAT HE SPENT INTO HIS DETAILED INFORMATION THAT HE SHARED. BUT I, I LOVE GOING BACK TO THIS WORDING. FILLING AND DESTRUCTION OF WETLANDS SHALL BE PROHIBITED, NOT MINIMIZED, BUT PROHIBITED EXCEPT TO THE EXTENT REQUIRED TO AVOID A VIOLATION OF PRIVATE PROPERTY RIGHTS. WHERE NO OTHER PRACTICAL ALTERNATIVE EXIST. SO IT'S GOING TO BE VERY DIFFICULT TO ENFORCE. MY OPINION IS THAT A MOTION IS IT? WHAT DO WE NEED TO DO? I'LL SECOND THAT. OKAY. WELL, WE HAVE TO PROBABLY WAIT TILL THE DISCUSSION. AND THEN THE OTHER THING. ONE SECOND. I REALLY APPRECIATED WHAT WAS SHARED AS FAR AS THE RIGHTS AND HOW WELL, THE PROPERTY RIGHTS WAS VERY INTERESTING, BUT ALSO THE WORDS THAT WE USE IN EVERYTHING AND HOW IMPORTANT THAT IS, YOU KNOW, DON'T SAY CONSIDER DON'T USE WORDS LIKE ENCOURAGE. FOR EXAMPLE, IN 8.1.2.5, THE COUNTY SHALL ENCOURAGE GROWTH TO TO THE DEVELOPMENT AREA. HOW ABOUT THE COUNTY SHALL DIRECT GROWTH TO THE DEVELOPMENT AREA BOUNDARY. WHERE PUBLIC FACILITIES AND SERVICES EXIST. BUT I REALLY APPRECIATE, YOU KNOW, THINGS LIKE THAT, ESPECIALLY WHERE WE'RE TALKING ABOUT THE BOUNDARY. AND SOMETHING LIKE THAT IS JUST SO IMPORTANT. I THINK THAT WAS FROM JEN LOMBOK. YEAH. DO YOU. OKAY. ARE YOU OKAY WITH THAT? THE UTILITY ONE. WELL, I'M STILL STUCK ON THE PROHIBITED WETLANDS. I HAVEN'T BEEN ABLE TO MOVE ON BECAUSE I'M JUST. I THINK THAT'S GOING TO BE VERY DIFFICULT TO ENFORCE. SO IT SAYS FILLING. FILLING AND DESTRUCTION OF WETLANDS SHALL BE PROHIBITED, EXCEPT IN CASES WHERE NO OTHER PRACTICAL ALTERNATIVE EXISTS OR WHERE THERE IS AN OVERRIDING PUBLIC BENEFIT THAT KIND OF COVERS BOTH SIDES OF IT. I'D BE INTERESTED TO HEAR OUR ATTORNEY'S OPINION ON THAT. THAT'S ALL I WANT IS AN ATTORNEY'S OPINION. SO THROUGH THE CHAIR. SO RIGHT NOW FOR FILLING OF WETLANDS, YOU HAVE TO GET A STATE PERMIT OR CORP OR A FEDERAL PERMIT FOR THOSE MATTERS SO YOU CAN BE MORE RESTRICTIVE. BUT WE WOULD CERTAINLY HAVE TO HAVE ENFORCEMENT MECHANISMS WITHIN OUR CODE. AND THEN I GUESS I WOULD NEED CLARIFICATION. SO YOU'RE SAYING PROHIBITED? UNLESS WHEN IT'S ON PAGE HER PACKET SHE GAVE TO YOU, IT'S F .1.6.2. F. FILLING AND DESTRUCTION OF WETLANDS SHALL BE PROHIBITED, COMMA, EXCEPT IN CASES WHERE NO OTHER PRACTICAL ALTERNATIVE EXISTS OR WHERE THERE IS AN OVERRIDING PUBLIC BENEFIT. THAT THAT WOULD REALLY KEEP OUR WETLANDS INTACT AND OR USE, DEPENDING ON. GO AHEAD. THANK YOU, MADAM CHAIR. NOBLE FOR SURE. COMMENTS. I WORRY ABOUT THE ABILITY OF STAFF TO MAKE THOSE DETERMINATIONS. ON WHETHER OR NOT SOMETHING THERE IS AN ALTERNATIVE. STAFF ARE NOT DEVELOPERS. WE DON'T KNOW. WE TRY OUR BEST TO LOOK AT THOSE TYPES OF THINGS. BUT AND WE COULD POINT OUT CERTAIN THINGS, BUT THAT MAY BE DIFFICULT TO ENFORCE. AGAIN NOT SAYING THOSE COMMENTS OR THAT CODE ISN'T A GOOD IDEA IN GENERAL, WOULDN'T YOU? WOULD YOU DO IT BEFORE YOU ENFORCE IT OR LIKE, YOU KNOW, AS APPROVALS USE THAT? WELL, THEY WOULD COME IN, FOR EXAMPLE FOR CIVIL CONSTRUCTION PLANS AND THEY WOULD SHOW THEIR IMPACTS ON THOSE ENGINEERING PLANS. AGAIN, IF THE STATE ALLOWED THEM AGAIN, YOU COULD YOU'RE SAYING WE'D BE MORE RESTRICTIVE? [06:10:07] IT WOULD BE STAFF SAYING, WELL, WE DON'T THINK, YOU KNOW, YOU SHOULD DO IT HERE OR YOU SHOULD IMPACT THESE WETLANDS. WHY DON'T YOU TRY OVER HERE? WE CAN SAY THOSE THINGS, BUT THAT'S THAT PUTS STAFF IN A VERY DIFFICULT POSITION. AND WE DON'T KNOW THE LAY OF THE LAND AS GOOD AS THE DEVELOPER WOULD IN THAT CASE TO MAKE THOSE KIND OF. IF I MAY. THAT'S ONE OF THE REASONS WHY I THOUGHT THAT THE LANGUAGE SHOULD BE STRUCK IN THE FIRST PLACE. IF IT'S SOMETHING THAT WE WANT TO REVISIT, I THINK THAT I WOULD BE MORE THAN HAPPY TO REVISIT THAT. BUT I DON'T THINK IT SHOULD BE TRANSMITTED. I WOULD SUPPORT IT. ALL RIGHT. SO WE'LL LOOK. LOOK AT THAT DOWN THE ROAD. OKAY. SO YOU DON'T HAVE A MOTION ANYMORE. ARE YOU GOING TO WITHDRAW YOUR MOTION? OKAY. ALL RIGHT. ALSO, I WAS WONDERING, CAN WE TAKE 305 SOUTH OFF THE MAP? I KNOW, I KNOW, COMMISSIONER MURPHY ASKED THAT AT ONE TIME. BECAUSE THAT'S RIGHT IN THE MIDDLE OF THE AG LANDS. THERE'S NO REASON TO HAVE IT WHEN IT'S WAY, WAY, WAY, WAY IN THE FUTURE. DO WE DO WE KNOW WHERE THE WHERE IT CAME FROM? WAS IT FROM THE TPO? IS THAT SOMETHING WE CAN ADDRESS? SO THE WHAT THE REFERRING TO IS ONCE A YEAR WE HAVE STAFF HOLD A MEETING WITH CITIZENS AND STAFF AND GOES OVER THIS LIST SORTS OF LIST OF PRIORITY ROADS IN THE COUNTY, LOCAL AND STATE. AND WE SAID, WE BRING THIS TO THE COMMISSION. THE COMMISSION VOTES ON THAT AND SENDS THAT LIST TO THE TPO, WHO THEN IN TURN TAKES THE ALL OF THOSE PRIORITIES FROM THE OTHER COUNTIES, AND THEN THEY MAKE THEIR LIST. THE COUNTY ROAD 305 IS LAST ON THE LIST. BUT IT IS ON YOUR LIST, AND I THINK THAT'S WHAT THEY WERE REFERENCING. YOU ALSO SAW THAT THAT ROAD WAS WAS SHOWN ON THAT LAND USE TRANSPORTATION MAP. CAN WE TAKE IT OFF? CAN WE VOTE TO TAKE IT OFF? PROTECT OUR AG LAND. IT'S PART OF THE COMP PLAN. I THINK YOU POTENTIALLY COULD TAKE IT. TAKE THAT OFF. WHAT ARE WE TRYING TO ACCOMPLISH BY TAKING IT OFF? BECAUSE WHEN THERE'S A THERE'S A ROAD RIGHT THERE AND IT'S IN THE MIDDLE OF THE AG LAND. FUTURE DEVELOPMENT. WE'LL BE LOOKING AT THAT GOING, OH, THAT'S WHERE I WANT TO GO. INSTEAD OF TRYING TO KEEP THE AG LAND IN ONE PIECE DOWN THERE. SO THERE'S A LONG RANGE PLAN TO TAKE 22 AND NINE FROM RACETRACK ROAD NEAR THE DUVAL COUNTY LINE ALL THE WAY DOWN TO I-4, AND IT HAPPENS TO GO RIGHT THROUGH THE SOUTH PART OF SAINT JOHNS COUNTY, THROUGH FLAGLER COUNTY, AND INTO VOLUSIA COUNTY. SO THIS IS A FLORIDA STATE OF FLORIDA PRIORITY AS MUCH AS IT IS A COUNTY PRIORITY. AND SO I DON'T KNOW THAT THAT'S PRODUCTIVE TO TRY AND TAKE IT OFF THE MAP. I'M NOT SURE THAT WE'RE GOING TO STOP ANYTHING. IT MIGHT CONFUSE PEOPLE, FRANKLY. WHEN THE WHEN THE ROAD GETS BUILT 20, 50, A HUNDRED YEARS. WELL, I DON'T THINK WE'LL BE ALIVE ON THE ROAD GETS BUILT. SO THAT'S HOW FAR IN THE FUTURE IT IS. AND IT JUST IS GOING TO TELL WHERE TO BUY THE LAND TO BUILD AHEAD OF TIME, I DON'T KNOW. I WAS APPROACHED BY AN ATTORNEY WHO SAID THERE'S REALLY NO REASON TO HAVE IT ON THERE. AND I KNOW COMMISSIONER MURPHY HAD MENTIONED IT AT ONE POINT, AND I DON'T THINK HE WAS GIVEN THE RIGHT ADVICE. SO I WAS JUST CURIOUS IF THERE'S ANY THOUGHTS ON ON JUST REMOVING IT FOR NOW FROM THE MAP AND RELOOK AT IT IN TEN YEARS THROUGH THE CHAIR. SO FROM LEGAL, THE CONCERN IS THAT THAT MAP, THE REASON IT GOT ON THE MAP IS THROUGH THE TPO PROCESS AND THROUGH OUR MEETINGS. AND SO THAT'S NOT PART OF THIS PROCESS. AND SO THAT I THINK WHEN THE TPO COMES AROUND AGAIN AND WE LOOK AT THAT, THAT WOULD BE THE TIME TO VOTE AND DETERMINE WHAT ROADS YOU WANT ON AND OFF AS A PRIORITY. IT IS ON THE PRIORITY LIST, BUT I BELIEVE IT'S RANKED NUMBER 9000, 19 OR 20 ON THE LIST. BUT IT IS. BUT THAT'S THE MECHANISM IN WHICH IT COMES TO YOU. SO THAT WOULD BE THE MOST APPROPRIATE AND LEGAL MECHANISM TO TAKE IT OFF. ALL RIGHT. LET'S SEE. WAS THERE ONE MORE? DO WE WANT TO GO TO ESTABLISH TO CONSIDER FOR MIXED USE DISTRICT, ANYBODY? NO. IT'S 81.11.1, PAGE 24. IT WAS ORIGINALLY WE WERE DOING THAT AND THEN IT GOT CHANGED. BY THE TIME IT CAME BACK HERE. WHAT'S UP OVER THERE? WE'RE GOOD. OH, I SAW MR. COMMANDO. I DO. WHAT? ANY COMMENTS? NO. [06:15:03] I JUST KNOW THAT SOME ATTORNEY WILL USE THAT AS AS A HAVE TO. AND IT'D BE NICE THAT TO CONSIDER. AND IF YOU CONSIDER IT, THEN THE COMMISSIONERS DECIDE THAT. YEAH. IF I MAY, MADAM CHAIR. YEAH. THAT'S THAT'S MY QUESTION TO LEGAL. ARE WE BOXING OURSELVES IN THROUGH OUR THIS LANGUAGE, OR DO WE NEED TO BE MORE? SO WHAT? LANGUAGE AGAIN. I APOLOGIZE. I'D LIKE TO MAKE A MOTION TO 8.1.11. TEN. THE COUNTY SHALL CONSIDER A MIXED USE ZONING DISTRICT IN ITS LAND DEVELOPMENT CODE. IF I HAVE A SECOND FOR THAT, THAT'S WHAT I'D LIKE TO TALK ABOUT. I'LL SECOND. WHAT'S THE WHAT'S THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN CONSIDER AND ESTABLISH FOR THE PURPOSES HERE. SO ONE ONE'S PERMISSIVE AND THE OTHER IS IS MANDATORY I THINK ESTABLISHING I THINK THERE'S BEEN CONVERSATIONS ON BOTH SIDES OF THAT. SO IT WOULD BE, YOU KNOW, JUST AS I THINK MR. LUTHER SAID LANGUAGE MATTERS. AND SO I THINK IT WOULD JUST BE IF YOU'RE CONSIDERING SOMETHING, IT'S JUST THAT. BUT IF YOU'RE ESTABLISHING YOU'RE KIND OF SETTING THAT, THAT BOUNDARY OF THAT AREA. BUT YOU CAN STILL ALWAYS DO IT. I MEAN, IF YOU WANT. I MEAN IF YOU GET THE VOTE. WELL, IF I COULD GO INTO BECAUSE I THINK WE ALREADY HAVE A MIXED USE DISTRICT. SO, SO IN THIS CASE, IF I MAY, MADAM CHAIR. WHAT I THINK REALLY WE'RE TALKING ABOUT IS A ZONING DISTRICT. SO WE HAVE A LAND USE DISTRICT. WHAT IT WOULD DO WAS, WOULD BRING ONE MORE ZONING DISTRICT AVAILABLE FOR PEOPLE TO CHOOSE. SO. AND THEY CAN'T JUST CONSIDER THAT. AND IF THEY BRING IT TO YOU, CONSIDER WOULD VOTE ON IT. MA'AM CONSIDER WOULD BE FOR STAFF AND ACTUALLY THE POLICY MAKERS TO CONSIDER IT. IT'S JUST OUT THERE SITTING THERE. IF YOU ESTABLISH IT, WE WOULD PUT IT IN IN THE LAND DEVELOPMENT CODE AND THERE WOULD BE AN AVAILABLE MIXED USE ZONING DISTRICT. WE'RE CONSIDERING IT RIGHT NOW. THIS IS THE CONSIDERING PORTION OF THAT ACTION. SO WE'RE CONSIDERING WHETHER OR NOT TO ESTABLISH THE MIXED USE DISTRICT. I VOTE THAT WE ESTABLISH THE MIXED USE DISTRICT. AND WHY IS THIS CLARIFYING THE THE REASON THAT WE NEED TO ESTABLISH THE NEW DISTRICT IS BECAUSE WE NEED A SMALL PUD DISTRICT THAT WOULD REPLACE THE PUDS, BECAUSE WE CAN NO LONGER DO PADS UNDER. WHAT IS IT? 25 OR 40 ACRES, I FORGET. NO. IS THAT I'M MISSING? NO. LEX, I THINK IT'S NOT UNRELATED, BUT WHAT WHAT IT'S SAYING IS, BASICALLY, IT'S ALLOWING A ZONING DISTRICT THAT HAS A LOT OF DIFFERENT USES WITHIN IT TO BE AVAILABLE, AS OPPOSED TO MAYBE SOMETHING THAT'S VERY SPECIFIC, SUCH AS INDUSTRIAL WAREHOUSE OR COMMERCIAL HIGH INTENSITY COMMERCIAL, FOR EXAMPLE, OR COMMERCIAL. I GUESS I JUST WORRY THAT WITH ONE WORD, IT CREATES A WHOLE NEW IDEA FOR DEVELOPERS TO COME IN. AND NOT THAT DEVELOPERS ARE BAD, AND THEY MIGHT COME UP WITH A GOOD MIXED USE DISTRICT FOR AFFORDABLE HOUSING AND WHATNOT. THAT'S FINE, BUT TO ESTABLISH IT TO ME IS A LITTLE MORE PERMANENT. AND IN THE NEXT COUPLE OF YEARS, YOU CAN CHANGE SOMETHING LIKE THAT IF YOU THINK IT'S IT'S WILLING TO. BUT I JUST HATE PUTTING IT IN THERE RIGHT NOW. SO I DON'T KNOW. IT'S THE MOTION IS ON THE TABLE. COMMISSIONER ARNOLD YEAH, I'M JUST GOING TO SAY THAT I'M GOING TO STICK WITH ESTABLISHED. I THINK THAT IT WAS MADE CLEAR THAT THAT SIMPLY GIVES US MORE TOOLS IN OUR TOOLBOX. SO THAT'S WHERE I STAND. WELL, TO ME IT'S A TOMATO. IT'S A TOMATO OR TOMATO. ALL RIGHT. SHOULD WE JUST VOTE THEN? OR DO WE NEED PUBLIC COMMENT? NO. OKAY. SHOULD WE JUST VOTE? YOU'RE SHAKING YOUR HEAD. WAS THAT ANSWERING THE QUESTION, OR ARE YOU JUST. DO WE NEED PUBLIC COMMENT FOR THIS? LEX, WERE YOU SAYING NO BECAUSE I ALREADY BROUGHT IT UP EARLIER. LEX. TAYLOR, NO, YOU DO NOT NEED PUBLIC COMMENT. THIS MATTER WAS BROUGHT UP PREVIOUSLY BY. COMMISSIONER MURPHY, DO YOU HAVE A LIGHT ON. OKAY. CAN WE JUST GO AHEAD AND VOTE AND THEN WE'LL KEEP MOVING ON. IS A YES VOTE FOR CONSIDER. YES. YES, AND A NO VOTE IS FOR ESTABLISHED. OKAY. AND IT LOST ALREADY? YES IS FOR CONSIDER. SORRY. I'VE ALREADY LOST. SO. AND THAT FAILS 2 TO 3. WHILE I TRIED TO ESTABLISH. NOT ESTABLISHED. ALL RIGHT. ANYTHING ELSE? MADAM CHAIR, I HAVE COMMISSIONER WHITEHURST. THANK YOU. I'D BE REMISS IF I DIDN'T MAKE ANOTHER ATTEMPT AT WHAT WE TRY TO ESTABLISH LAST TIME. JUST TO REFRESH YOUR MEMORY. WE ESTABLISHED THAT JACKSONVILLE'S MAXIMUM DENSITY WAS 80 UNITS PER ACRE. MIAMI-DADE MAXIMUM DENSITY IS 500 UNITS PER ACRE. THERE'S A LOT OF CONCERN ABOUT US NOT BECOMING JACKSONVILLE, ORLANDO. [06:20:01] TAMPA. MIAMI. I DO NOT WANT US TO BECOME JACKSONVILLE. ORLANDO. TAMPA. MIAMI. HOWEVER, WITH THE NEEDS THAT WE HAVE IN AFFORDABLE HOUSING AND FRANKLY, THOSE WHO CARE ABOUT CONSERVATION AND PRESERVATION OF OUR ECOSYSTEMS LIKE THEY DO IN NASSAU COUNTY. THEY'RE PUSHING FOR MORE DENSITY SO THEY CAN USE LESS LAND TO ESTABLISH THE SAME AMOUNT OF RESIDENTIAL UNITS. SO BOTH FOR ENVIRONMENTAL REASONS AND TO HELP US WITH AFFORDABLE HOUSING, I'D LIKE THE BOARD TO CONSIDER RAISING THE MAXIMUM DENSITY JUST WITHIN RESIDENTIAL D FROM 13, WHERE IT IS TODAY, ONE 3 TO 16 ONE SIX. AND THEN WE COULD BUILD THE DENSITY BONUSES OFF OF THAT. SO I'M ASKING FOR WE DON'T TOUCH A, B OR C BUT JUST D. CAN WE GET AN EXTRA THREE UNITS PER ACRE TO AID US IN OUR EFFORTS TO CREATE MORE AFFORDABLE HOUSING AND MORE PRESERVATION? THAT'S MY REQUEST. I WOULD BE IN AGREEMENT WITH THAT. OKAY. THEN I WOULD MOVE THAT WE ADD THREE ADDITIONAL UNITS TO THE BASE DENSITY OF RESIDENTIAL D TO MOVE IT UP TO 16. COMMISSIONER MURPHY, DO I HAVE A SECOND? OKAY. THEN SHOULD WE JUST VOTE? OKAY. ALL RIGHT, LET'S VOTE. THAT PASSES 3 TO 2. THANK YOU. ANYTHING ELSE? WELL, I MADE THE COMMENT ABOUT REMOVING ENCOURAGE. REMEMBER, WE WERE TOLD THAT THOSE ARE NOT GREAT WORDS. SO IN 8.1.2.5 REMOVING ENCOURAGE AND UTILIZING DIRECT WEIGHT WHERE A .1.2.5 ABOUT THE DEVELOPMENT AREA BOUNDARY. OH YES. YES. SO IF WE CAN REMOVE ENCOURAGE WHICH WE HAD JUST HEARD, IT'S NOT. NO, IT'S NOT A GOOD WORD TO USE. SO IF WE CAN SAY THE COUNTY SHALL DIRECT GROWTH TO THE DEVELOPMENT AREA BOUNDARY WHERE PUBLIC FACILITIES AND SERVICES EXIST, NOT ENCOURAGE. IS THAT A MOTION? YEAH. DO I HAVE TO MAKE A MOTION? WHAT DO I HAVE TO DO? THERE MIGHT BE A WORD. DOES ANYONE. HOW DID ANYONE FEEL LIKE. WELL, DID YOU LOOK AT WHAT WAS WE WERE SENT? IT'S ALL IN THERE. OH, OKAY. YOU HAVE THAT. COMMISSIONER TAYLOR, I'LL SECOND DIRECT. I'LL SECOND IT IF THAT'S A MOTION. GREAT. I'LL SECOND. UNLESS WE ALL HAVE CONSENSUS. DO YOU HAVE CONSENSUS? I AGREE. WE CAN USE DIRECT. OKAY, GOOD. MAKES SENSE. SHOULD WE. SHOULD WE TRANSMIT THIS IF WE'RE READY? WAIT. ARE WE VOTING ON THE DIRECT? YOU RECEIVED CONSENSUS ON CHANGING THE WORD FROM CONSIDERATE TO DIRECT. GREAT. THANK YOU. DO I HAVE A MOTION TO TO, TRANSMIT. IS THAT WHAT YOU NEED? DO YOU NEED A MOTION FOR THAT? YES. YOU HAVE A MOTION. YOU WILL MOVE TO TRANSMIT, AS AMENDED, MOTION TO TRANSMIT THE SAINT JOHN'S COUNTY 2050 COMPREHENSIVE PLAN, AS AMENDED. SECOND RIGHT. WE HAVE A MOTION ON THE TABLE. SHOULD WE VOTE? OKAY. LET'S VOTE. AND THAT IS UNANIMOUS. THAT SHOULD BE A CLAP. IT'S A GOOD MIDDLE. IT'S A GOOD MIDDLE GROUND. THANK YOU. THANKS FOR YOUR SUPPORT. THANK YOU. THERE IS SOME SNACKS BACK THERE IF YOU WANT SOME ON THE COUNTER. OKAY. YES. NOW WE'RE ITEM NUMBER ONE. I THINK OUR COUNTY ADMINISTRATOR IS GIVING US THE BUDGET. [1. Fiscal Year 2026 Recommended Budget & Proposed Millage Rates. The annual County budget process requires a number of steps, ranging from its preparation through adoption. Florida Statutes (F.S. 129.03(3) and F.S. 200.065, Truth in Millage (“TRIM”) requirements) specify that a balanced Recommended Budget must be submitted to the Board of County Commissioners as the next step in the budget process. The Fiscal Year 2026 Recommended Budget has been balanced with expenditures and adequate reserves within each County fund equal to projected fund revenues. County Administration's Recommended Budget represents a funding level that can reasonably assure the achievement of St. Johns County’s operational needs while minimizing the tax impact on its citizenry. The Fiscal Year 2026 Recommended Budget Workbook may be found on the County's website at: www.sjcfl.us/OMB. The BCC will need to approve proposed Millage rates for the County’s TRIM mailing, and approve Wednesday, September 3, 2025 @ 5:01 PM in the County Auditorium as the Date, Time and Place of the first public hearing for the adoption of the FY 2026 Budget for the St. Johns County Board of County Commissioners. For practical purposes, once the proposed millage rates are set, they can still be decreased but not increased. Following the development and presentation of a Recommended Budget, the County is obligated to provide specific information to the Property Appraiser, including proposed millage rates, and the date, time, and meeting place of the tentative budget hearing. This information is placed on Department of Revenue DR–420 forms provided to the Property Appraiser. Those forms provide the basis for the TRIM notice mailed by the Property Appraiser to property owners in St. Johns County.] SHE'S RUNNING AWAY. IS HER COUNTY MINISTER RUNNING? YEAH. GOOD AFTERNOON. CHAIR JOSEPH AND THE BOARD MEMBERS. CONGRATULATIONS. THAT WAS EXCITING. AND THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR ALL THE HARD WORK. AND I HOPE YOU STILL HAVE SOME BATTERY LEFT IN YOUR TANK FOR OUR LAST PRESENTATION. AND I WISH I COULD SAY THAT I WILL TRY TO CRUISE THROUGH THIS VERY FAST. UNFORTUNATELY, THIS IS ACTUALLY ONE OF THE MOST IMPORTANT ITEMS FOR STAFF. AND THE IMPORTANT PLANNING STAFF FOR THE FOR THE STAFF. WHAT FOR THE NEXT FISCAL YEAR. AND I AM GOING TO SPEND A LITTLE BIT OF TIME TO REALLY CONGRATULATE YOU AND HIGHLIGHT SOME OF THE AMAZING THINGS THAT OUR STAFF HAS BEEN DOING UNDER THE DIRECTION OF YOURS AND YOUR VISION. [06:25:01] SO WE'LL START FROM HERE. SO FIRST OF ALL, LET ME HIGHLIGHT AND REMIND YOU AS A BOARD YOU HAVE GIVEN TO STAFF VERY CLEAR FOR VISIONS WITH YOUR LEADERSHIP. AND THAT IS GROWTH AND INFRASTRUCTURE. THAT'S OPEN GOVERNANCE AND TRANSPARENT TRANSPARENCY, FINANCIAL STEWARDSHIP AND ECONOMIC RESILIENCY. AND I THINK WE HAVE SPOKEN ABOUT THOSE FOUR VISIONS AND THOSE PRIORITIES. SO EXPANSIVELY IN THE COMMUNITY. WE'RE GETTING A LOT OF GREAT FEEDBACKS ON THOSE VISIONS ARE SO MUCH IN LINE WITH WHAT THE RESIDENTS WANT. AND AS A RESULT, YOU'RE SEEING OUR 210 WIDENING IS WELL UNDERWAY NEAR COMPLETION OF OUR COMP PLAN. CONGRATULATIONS AGAIN. OUR TRANSMITTED TODAY. THAT WAS A VERY PAINSTAKING PROCESS, BUT YOU GUYS DID IT. ADOPTION OF THE FIRST. A COUNTY WIDE STRATEGIC PLAN THAT WAS COMPLETED JUST A FEW MONTHS AGO. AND PUBLIC SAFETY AND PARKS INVESTMENT PLAN. THAT IS REALLY WELL UNDERWAY. AND I'M GOING TO DISCUSS AND GIVE YOU A QUICK UPDATE ON SOME OF THOSE PROJECTS UNDER THIS INVESTMENT PLAN. IN A FEW MINUTES. AND IN THE REGIONAL WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT CAMPUS, WHICH WE CANNOT GO ON. TALKING ABOUT YOUR VISION, YOUR LEADERSHIP, WITHOUT TALKING ABOUT THIS MAJOR PROJECT THAT IS A COLLABORATION BETWEEN YOU AND THE SCHOOL DISTRICT FOR THE THE VOCATIONAL SCHOOL EXPANSION. THAT IS, I THINK, VALUED AT $20 MILLION WITHOUT RESIDENTS PAYING A DIME FOR THAT CAMPUS. SO APPRECIATE YOUR LEADERSHIP AND VISION. SO THE NEXT FEW SLIDES, I'M GOING TO KIND OF TALK ABOUT EACH DEPARTMENT AND WHAT THEY HAVE ACCOMPLISHED UNDER YOUR DIRECTION AND LEADERSHIP, AND THE INVESTMENT YOU HAVE MADE IN THOSE DEPARTMENTS. GROWTH MANAGEMENT UNDER THE LEADERSHIP OF MIKE ROBERSON. COMPREHENSIVE PLAN AGAIN, UPDATE WAS COMPLETED FOR THE TRANSMITTAL TODAY. IMPACT FEE STUDIES IS WELL UNDERWAY. YOU'RE GOING TO HEAR ABOUT IT VERY SOON. AND WE FEEL REALLY GOOD ABOUT THAT PROCESS. HABITAT CONSERVATION PLAN IS SOMETHING THAT HE AND HIS STAFF IS ALSO REALLY WORKING HARD ON, AND THAT'S ANOTHER THING THAT WE'RE GETTING READY TO UPDATE TO MAKE SURE THAT WE CAN PRESERVE THE THE CONSERVATION PLAN AND ALSO PRESERVING THE OPPORTUNITY FOR OUR RESIDENTS AND VISITORS TO DRIVE ON OUR BEACH, AND ALSO THE LAND BOUGHT WITH THE ASSISTANCE OF ANNUAL PROPERTY LIST. AND WE'RE MOVING THROUGH THOSE PROPERTY RECOMMENDATIONS TO IDENTIFY MEANINGFUL RESOURCE AND WAYS OF PRESERVING THOSE IMPORTANT PROPERTIES THAT YOU AND THE LAND BOARD AND HAVE RECOGNIZED UNDER THE LEADERSHIP OF HOWARD WHITE BUILDING SERVICES, IS REALLY MOVING FORWARD WITH OUR PUBLIC SERVICE CENTER, WHICH IS REALLY A COLLECTIVE VISION FROM STAFF THAT WE WANT TO USE THIS OPPORTUNITY TO INVEST IN OUR ONE STOP SHOP SERVICE FOR RESIDENTS, AND TO BUILD A FACILITY WHERE OUR RESIDENTS CAN COME TO YOU AND YOUR STAFF TO GET THEIR BUSINESS DONE WITHOUT GOING TO DIFFERENT DEPARTMENTS. AND THAT CONSTRUCTION IS UNDERWAY AND IS EXPECTED TO BE COMPLETED TO JANUARY 2026. AND OF COURSE, WHEN I CAN GO THROUGH THIS LIST TO HOWARD, WHITE CAN TELL YOU HE AND HIS STAFF WITH VERY LIMITED RESOURCE. THEY HAVE NOT ASKED A WHOLE LOT MORE TO REALLY GO THROUGH ALL THIS EXPEDITED PROCESS THAT THEY HAVE PUT IN PLACE WITH MULTIPLE CERTIFICATION FOR THEIR EMPLOYEES TO DO MULTIPLE THINGS WITH ONE STAFF MEMBER. AND THE NUMBER JUST SPEAKS VOLUMES OF THEIR QUALITY AND THE VOLUME OF WORK THEY DO. 54,000 PLUS PERMITS. BUILDING INSPECTION IS OVER 250,016 THOUSAND AND MORE PLANS REVIEW IN JUST ONE YEAR. SO IT'S VERY IMPRESSIVE. AND OF COURSE, THE WORK THEY DO IN THE SHORT TERM VACATION RENTAL MONITORING UNDER THE LEADERSHIP OF GREG COLWELL. THIS IS AN EXTENSIVE LONG LIST OF THE PROJECTS THAT THE BOARD HAS BEEN VERY VOCAL AND VISIONING TO BE COMPLETED IN THE NEAR FUTURE, AND SO I WON'T GO DOWN THE LIST. I THINK MANY OF THOSE PROJECTS THAT HAS BEEN ON YOUR MIND FOREFRONT AND, YOU KNOW, 210 LONGLEAF PINE, WHICH IS REALLY COMPLETED ALREADY IN THE LAST WINTER. AND WE'RE LOOKING FORWARD TO THE COMPLETION OF THE TWO TENT EAST WIDENING AND ALSO MULTIPLE SECTIONS OF 210 WEST AND 2209, THE CONTINUATION OF THE EXPANSION EXTENSION EXPANSION OF 2209, AND NOT TO MENTION THE RACETRACK ROAD AND THEN ALSO THE PUBLIC FACILITY SIDE OF IT, YOU KNOW, THANK YOU FOR ALL THE INVESTMENT THAT YOU HAVE MADE FOR THE PUBLIC SERVICE CENTER, THE EOC CENTER, OUR SHERIFF'S OFFICE IS ADMIN BUILDING. AND ALSO YOU JUST RECENTLY DECIDED TO GIVE US DIRECTION TO INVEST IN OUR MEDICAL EXAMINER'S OFFICE, AND ALSO APPROPRIATION OF THE SPACE WITH A MINIMUM AMOUNT OF DOLLARS THAT WE HAVE TO SPEND TO HOUSE ALL OF OUR SERVICES AND OUR STAFF [06:30:07] MEMBERS. AND THIS IS A SHORT LIST OF FEW OF MANY UPCOMING PROJECTS THAT WE WANTED TO HIGHLIGHT. AND I WON'T SPEND TOO MUCH TIME ON THAT. UNDER THE LEADERSHIP OF NEIL SHINWARI, OF COURSE, HE AND HIS STAFF HAS BEEN VERY BUSY. THIS IS REALLY A YEAR OF INVEST AND REINVEST IN THE COMMUNITY TO BUILD UP OUR CAPACITY FOR OUR WATER. AND NOT JUST WATER, BUT QUALITY WATER. OVER 250 MILLION IS INVESTED IN INFRASTRUCTURE, IN UTILITY. AND THIS IS THE KIND OF THE LIST OF THINGS THAT THEY ARE DOING. SOME OF THOSE PROJECTS ARE AWARD WINNING AND POTENTIALLY IS GOING TO BE COVERED BY NATIONAL NEWS OUTLETS. AND YOU HAVE HEARD FROM NEIL AND FROM GORDON GORTON. ALL THE FACILITIES THAT THEY HAVE DONE ARE DONE WITH, NEVER DONE WITHOUT EXTENSIVE OUTREACH WITH THE COMMUNITY MEMBERS. AND I THINK THEY'RE REALLY PAVING AND BUILDING THE FOUNDATION FOR THE QUALITY OF LIFE IN SAINT JOHNS COUNTY. ONE PROJECT AT A TIME. PUBLIC SAFETY UNDER OUR CHIEF MCGEE AND HIS TEAM'S LEADERSHIP. THESE ARE THE INVESTMENTS THAT YOU HAVE MADE AND THAT THEY HAVE BEEN MONITORING AND WELL UNDERWAY ARE FOUR NEW STATIONS WITHIN NEXT SIX YEARS THAT WE ARE LOOKING TO BE BUILT, AND THOSE ARE ADDED CURRENT COVERAGE. THAT IS SO MUCH NEEDED FOR OUR RESIDENTS, NOT ONLY FOR THEIR SAFETY, FOR THEIR WELL-BEING, BUT ALSO THEIR SAVING MONEY BACK INTO THEIR WALLET. BECAUSE OF THE ISO RATING IS GOING TO SUBSTANTIALLY HELP MANY OF OUR HOMEOWNERS, OUR COMMERCIAL OWNERS, TO SAVE DOLLARS REAL, TANGIBLE DOLLARS FOR FOR THEIR HOUSEHOLD OR THEIR BUSINESSES. AND OF COURSE, I CANNOT GO ON TALKING ABOUT PUBLIC SAFETY WITHOUT CONGRATULATING YOU AND THANKING YOU FOR INVESTING IN OUR WORKFORCE. AND THIS IS A LIST OF THINGS, LIST OF MANY THINGS THAT THERE ARE MORE. WE'RE RUNNING OUT OF SPACE. BUT OF COURSE, YOU KNOW, YOU HAVE INVESTED IN A NUMBER OF FIREFIGHTERS. YOU HAVE INVESTED IN TAKING CARE OF OUR FIREFIGHTERS, OUR FIRST RESPONDERS, MENTAL HEALTH. THERE ARE SUBSTANTIAL IMPACT THAT YOU HAVE DONE THAT WE CAN SHOW YOU WHAT THE STATS AND WHAT KIND OF HELP THAT HAS PROVIDED FOR OUR WORKFORCE, AND WE THANK YOU FOR THAT. AND NOW WE'RE MOVING ON TO EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT, COASTAL MANAGEMENT UNDER THE LEADERSHIP OF GEORGIA MANCO. WE HAVE RESPONDED. DEBBIE, HELENE AND MILTON. AND THAT'S THREE OF THE MAJOR ONES. AND AMONGST ALL OF THE THE ACTIVITIES THEY HAVE TO RESPOND TO, THEY ALSO MANAGE TO PUT TOGETHER THIS. I THINK IT'S THE FIRST EVER SAINT JOHNS COUNTY VOTE. THE HURRICANE EXERCISE, WHICH WAS PARTICIPATED BY MORE THAN HUNDREDS OF PEOPLE. AND WE FEEL REALLY GOOD AS WE SIT IN. MANY OF YOU HAVE PARTICIPATED. WE FEEL REALLY GOOD THAT WE HAVE SUCH AMAZING TEAM THAT THEY COME TOGETHER. AND KNOWING THAT WE HAVE EACH OTHER'S BACK, KNOWING THAT WHEN WE DO HAVE ANOTHER EVENT THAT WE HAVE TO RESPOND TO, THAT WE KNOW WE HAVE EACH OTHER AND WE KNOW EXACTLY WHAT TO DO. AND SO WE ARE SO PROUD OF OUR EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT RESPONSE TEAM. OF COURSE, KELLY WAS ALWAYS IN THE MIDDLE AND CENTER OF PROVIDING THE LEADERSHIP THAT WE NEED. FEMA REIMBURSEMENT. THAT'S A REALLY BIG DEAL. A MILLION OVER THAT WAS REIMBURSED FOR THIS YEAR. WE DON'T TAKE THAT FOR GRANTED. AND BASED ON WHAT WE KNOW ABOUT FEMA AND WHAT IS HAPPENING IN THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT, WE DON'T EXPECT THAT TO BE VERY SUSTAINABLE. AND SO I WILL PROBABLY IN A FEW MINUTES, TALK ABOUT THE RECOMMENDATION FOR THE BOARD, THE KIND OF ACTIONS AND MEASURES THAT WE NEED TO TAKE TO MAKE SURE THAT WE ARE SELF-SUSTAINABLE IRREGARDLESS OF WHAT THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT IS GOING TO DO, AND TAKE ACTION TO PROVIDE ASSISTANCE TO LOCAL GOVERNMENT. AND WE NEED TO TAKE CARE OF OUR OWN RESIDENTS IN OUR OWN WAY. COASTAL MANAGEMENT THERE'S ALWAYS NO SHORTAGE OF PROJECTS IN COASTAL MANAGEMENT AND $32 MILLION IN THE REIMBURSEMENT OF FEDERAL AND STATE GRANTS BEING REINVESTED BACK TO OUR 42 MILES OF COASTLINE. AND THAT IS A REALLY, REALLY EXCITING THING. I CONGRATULATE THE TEAM STEVEN, WHO IS NOW OUR NEW ASSISTANT DIRECTOR OF THE COASTAL MANAGEMENT. HE'S PROVIDING EXCELLENT LEADERSHIP TO THE COASTAL MANAGEMENT TEAM, AND I WON'T GO DOWN THE LIST ONE BY ONE, BUT THOSE ARE THE INCREDIBLE WORK THEY HAVE BEEN DOING. ANIMAL CONTROL AND THAT IS OUR PAUL STEWART. YVONNE ARE NOW DEPUTY DIRECTOR OF EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT OVER ANIMAL CONTROL. THOSE ARE THE STATS. WE ARE PROUD TO REPORT. I MYSELF IS A BENEFICIARY OF THEIR AMAZING SERVICES. AND TO ME, THE VISION AND THE FRAMEWORK OF ANIMAL CONTROL IS TWOFOLD. [06:35:02] ONE IS FOR PUBLIC SAFETY. YOU KNOW, THEY'RE OUT THERE TO PROTECT OUR RESIDENTS FROM HARMFUL ANIMAL, BUT THEY NEVER LOSE SIGHT OF THE HUMANITARIAN SIDE OF PET CENTER AND SHELTERING OF VULNERABLE ANIMALS THAT ARE NOT NECESSARILY DANGEROUS TO OUR RESIDENTS. SO THOSE ARE THE AMAZING STATS THAT WE'RE REPORTING TO YOU ALL, WHAT THEY HAVE BEEN DOING, OPEN GOVERNANCE AND TRANSPARENCY. AND I THINK WE HAVE KIND OF BEEN AT IT FOR THE PAST TWO HALF YEARS ON HOW WE ARE COMMITTED TO A OPEN GOVERNANCE AND TRANSPARENCY TO OUR RESIDENTS. AND AS YOU ALL KNOW, THAT WE HAVE PUT TOGETHER A TRANSPORTATION. EXCUSE ME. INFRASTRUCTURE DELIVERY TEAM. AND SO AS A SPIN OFF, TO REALLY ENHANCE THE ACCOUNTABILITY, THE TRANSPARENCY, THE OPEN GOVERNANCE. WE NOW ESTABLISHED A CIP, WHICH IS CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT PROJECT OVERSIGHT COMMITTEE. THE COMMITTEE OVERSEES OVER $400 MILLION OF CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT PROJECT. AND IT REALLY IS OUR COMMITMENT AS A TEAM. AND DAN WOODCRAFT, GREG CALDWELL AND JAMIE LOCKLEAR ARE THE THREE ROCK STARS OF THIS OVERSIGHT OVERSIGHT COMMITTEE. AND NO BUDGETARY CREEP OR SCOPE CREEP WILL GET PAST THE THREE OF THEM. SO I THINK THE RESIDENTS SHOULD REALLY FEEL GOOD ABOUT THE DOLLARS ARE BEING SPENT BY SAINT JOHN'S COUNTY. LOCAL GOVERNMENT ARE BEING SPENT IN A VERY THOUGHTFUL AND METHODICAL WAY. AND I'LL TALK ABOUT PROBABLY A LITTLE BIT THE SAVING THAT THEY HAVE ACCOMPLISHED, TOO, JUST BY GIVING EXTRA MECHANISM TO REVIEW THESE PROJECTS AND MAKING SURE THOSE 100. THERE ARE 100 PROJECTS THAT THEY ARE REVIEWING TO MAKE SURE THAT THERE IS NO NEGATIVE IMPACT ON, CONVENTIONALLY, WHAT WE CALL A SCOPE CREEP. AND OF COURSE, WE ALSO ESTABLISHED THE TRANSPORTATION PLANNING COMMITTEE AND INVESTMENT PLAN FOR PUBLIC SAFETY PARKS LIBRARY. SO THOSE ARE THE THINGS THAT WE'RE DOING. AND UNDER THE OFFICE OF PERFORMANCE AND TRANSPARENCY, UNDER THE LEADERSHIP OF SARA TAYLOR THEY HAVE BEEN WORKING VERY, VERY HARD IN THE PAST TWO YEARS WITH ALL THE LIAISON FROM THE DEPARTMENT TO INSTITUTE THE ENTERPRISE RESOURCE PLANNING, WHICH IS SOMETHING THAT YOU HAVE MADE A VERY BIG EFFORT TO INVEST IN MAKING SURE THAT WE ARE RUNNING EFFICIENTLY AS A GOVERNMENT BY HAVING THE RIGHT TOOL AND PLANNING MECHANISM. SO THAT IS UNDERWAY, DEVELOPMENT AND PERFORMANCE MANAGEMENT TOOL. SO, YOU KNOW, THE ADOPTION OF THE STRATEGIC PLAN WAS AMAZING, AND PART OF THAT PLAN IS TO INSTITUTE MEANINGFUL PERFORMANCE METRICS SO THAT OUR RESIDENTS CAN SEE HOW WELL OR OR NOT WELL THAT WE'RE DOING, SO THAT WE CAN HAVE A MEANINGFUL AND AUTHENTIC DIALOG AMONGST OUR RESIDENTS AND OUR STAFF, AND SO THAT YOU KNOW EXACTLY HOW YOU CAN GIVE US A SCORECARD BASED ON DATA. SO WE THANK SARAH AND HER TEAM FOR ALL THE WORK THEY HAVE TO HAVE DONE UNDER THE LEADERSHIP OF WAYNE. OFFICE OF PUBLIC AFFAIRS. WE ALL KNOW THEY HAVE BEEN VERY BUSY. THEY ARE EVERYWHERE. WE ALMOST RUN OUR OWN NEWS STATION. WE ARE ON ALL SOCIAL MEDIA. WE NEVER TAKE A MOMENT OF BREAK JUST TO MAKE SURE THAT OUR RESIDENTS ARE INFORMED ON SO MANY THINGS THAT WE'RE DOING THE COASTAL MANAGEMENT PROJECT, OUR ROADWAY IMPROVEMENT PROJECTS, AND THEY THEY REALLY WENT OUT THEIR WAY. THEY INSTITUTED THIS ONE MINUTE, ONE MINUTE 12 VIDEOS TO REALLY JUST SHOW OUR RESIDENTS WHAT WE DO AS A GOVERNMENT AND HOW THEY CAN BE INVOLVED. AND OF COURSE, WAYNE, TYLER AND THE WHOLE STAFF HAVE WORKED DILIGENTLY ON THE FIRST SESSION OF OUR CITIZEN ACADEMY, WHICH EQUALLY IMPORTANT INITIATIVE FOR US TO SHOW OUR RESIDENTS HOW MUCH WE WANT TO WANT THEM TO BE PART OF OUR OPERATION AND GIVE US FEEDBACK. FINANCIAL STEWARDSHIP. SO WE HAVE INTERGOVERNMENTAL AFFAIRS AND A BIG THING UNDER THE LEADERSHIP OF ADAM TACKLER. WE HAVE SECURED $27 MILLION IN GRANTS. SO IT'S IT WAS A LOT OF BUSY WORK OF GRANTS, WRITING, IDENTIFYING APPROPRIATE GRANTS. AND ALSO, CONGRATULATIONS ON THE $1 MILLION IN STATE APPROPRIATION FOR THE STATE BLACK HISTORY MUSEUM. AND THEN, OF COURSE, UNDER THE LEADERSHIP OF WAYNE SCHROEDER, OFFICE MANAGEMENT BUDGET, THE THE TRIPLE CROWN AWARD OF FINANCIAL REPORTING. I WAS A BUDGET ANALYST. 19 YEARS AGO, I NEVER HEARD OF TRIPLE CROWN, SO THANK YOU. WAIT. THIS IS REALLY AMAZING. IT SOUNDS LIKE ROCK STAR HALL BUDGET HALL OF FAME TYPE OF AWARD. MAINTAIN DOUBLE A+ IN OUR RATING, OUR BOND RATINGS. AND DISTINGUISH THE BUDGET AWARD FROM GFA, WHICH IS REALLY BIG DEAL FOR A LOCAL GOVERNMENT TO SHOWCASE THE TYPE OF ACCOUNTABILITY AND CHECK AND BALANCES THAT WE DO HAVE IN PLACE. SO REGARDLESS OF WHAT SOME OF THE FEEDBACK WE GET FROM THE AUDIENCE THAT WE HAVE AMAZING TEAM KNOW WHAT THEY'RE DOING TO SPEND A [06:40:09] DOLLAR IN THE MOST EFFICIENT AND ACCOUNTABLE WAY TO DELIVER THE SERVICE AND PRODUCT IN THE HIGHEST QUALITY THEY CAN BE. AGAIN, I TALKED ABOUT THE INFRASTRUCTURE DELIVERY TEAM AND $20 MILLION REDUCTION IN BONDING. I THINK IT REALLY IS AS A RESULT OF THE TEAM COME TOGETHER WITH THE CIP OVERSIGHT COMMITTEE WORKING WITH OUR DIRECTORS, WHICH MOSTLY THEY ARE USER DIRECTORS. SO PARKS, PARK'S RYAN KING AND ALSO, YOU KNOW, FIRE CHIEF. AND SO THEY COME TOGETHER REALLY VALUE ENGINEER ALL THESE PROJECTS TO MAKE SURE THAT WE'RE NOT OVERDOING IT, BUT WE'RE STILL DOING IT IN A WAY THAT WE ARE NOT CUTTING OUR RESIDENTS SHORT IN THE KIND OF QUALITY THEY'RE RECEIVING. PURCHASING DEPARTMENT. JAMIE LOCKLEAR REALIZED UNDER HER LEADERSHIP, JAMIE IS A ROCK STAR. SHE IS EVERYWHERE, AND SHE'S THE PERSON YOU DO NOT WANT TO WHEN SHE SAYS NO, YOU DON'T WANT TO ASK AGAIN. SO IT'S A NO. SO REALIZING OVER 500,000 IN COST OF SAVING THROUGH NEGOTIATION. AND SHE'S A TOUGH NEGOTIATOR, SO YOU'RE IN BAD LUCK IF YOU'RE ON THE OTHER SIDE OF THE TABLE WITH HER. SO WE APPRECIATE HER LEADERSHIP IN THE PURCHASING DEPARTMENT. AND WE'RE GOING TO TALK ABOUT DEVELOPMENT SERVICES, ECONOMIC RESILIENCY. AND THESE ARE KIND OF THE LONG LIST OF THINGS THAT YOU HAVE INVESTED ACTUALLY IN OUR COMMUNITY. AND JUST PICK OUT A FEW OF THEM, YOU KNOW, BLACK HISTORY MUSEUM, THE FOUR MOZART JAZZ AND BLUES FESTIVAL. ALL THESE THINGS AND OF COURSE IN ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT, THE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT PROJECTS THAT YOU DELIBERATE AND PUT A LOT OF THOUGHTS INTO TO APPROVE AND GIVE US A GUIDANCE AND DIRECTIONS ON HOW WE CAN MOVE FORWARD. THESE PROJECTS ARE REALLY PAYING DIVIDENDS TO OUR RESIDENTS CREATING JOBS, CREATING WEALTH, BUILDING OPPORTUNITIES FOR NOT JUST THE BUSINESSES, NOT JUST THE HOSPITALITY INDUSTRY, BUT FOR OUR RESIDENTS. AND THEY ARE THE PEOPLE WHO LIVE HERE, ARE BENEFITING FROM THE DECISIONS THAT YOU MAKE. AND I KNOW THERE ARE HARD DECISIONS TO MAKE EVERY DAY. COMMUNITY SERVICES, THOSE ARE THE AREAS WHERE THAT I THINK IT'S VERY EASILY TO BE OVERLOOKED BECAUSE OUR CONSTITUENTS, THOSE CONSTITUENTS ARE THE CONSTITUENTS WHO ARE TRULY IN NEED BUT MAY NOT HAVE A REALLY MEANINGFUL VOICE TO COME TO YOU. SO WE HAVE AMAZING LEADERSHIP FROM SHAWN NOVAK AND VETERANS FROM MAC. YOU KNOW, THEY'RE PROVIDING THESE SERVICES ON THE SCREEN DAY IN AND DAY OUT. AND BOTH OF THEM ARE ACTUALLY WORKING LEADERS, SO THEY ACTUALLY DO WORK IN THE FIELD. TO TALK TO OUR RESIDENTS. TAKING THE CLIENTS. TAKING THE VETERANS AND THEIR FAMILY TO SUBMIT FOR THEIR BENEFIT SO THAT THEY CAN HAVE A PROTECTED SAFETY NET FOR THE THINGS THAT THEY HAVE DONE TO CONTRIBUTE TO THIS COUNTRY. SO WE THANK THEM FOR THEIR LEADERSHIP AND ALL THE ACCOMPLISHMENTS THAT IS SHOWING UP HERE. QUALITY OF LIFE. PARKS AND RECREATION UNDER LEADERSHIP OF RYAN KING AND THE LIBRARY SYSTEM UNDER THE LEADERSHIP OF DEBORAH GIBSON. THEY HAVE BEEN VERY BUSY. AND I THINK THAT WE'RE REALLY IN A YEAR OF CELEBRATING, DOING A LOT MORE THAN WHAT WE HAVE. AND, YOU KNOW, I'M JUST SO REALLY PROUD OF ALL THE DIRECTORS AND WHAT THEY HAVE DONE. AND I'M PROUD OF YOU ALL TO MAKE THESE HARD DECISIONS, TO REINVEST BACK INTO THE COMMUNITY. AND WE'RE SEEING RESIDENTS RECOGNIZING THESE THINGS ARE HAPPENING. SOMETIMES IT TAKES TIMES, YOU KNOW, IF YOU BUILD A PARK, IF YOU BUILD A ROAD, IT DOESN'T REALLY HAPPEN OVERNIGHT, BUT WE'RE SEEING RESIDENTS OR RECOGNIZING THINGS ARE HAPPENING. CHANGES ARE OCCURRING, AND WE'RE SEEING THAT THERE IS ACTUALLY POSITIVITY COMING BACK. FOR ALL THE THINGS THAT YOU HAVE DONE AND THE DIRECTORS AND THEIR TEAM HAS DONE. PARKS AND RECREATION, I MEAN, JUST RECENTLY. SO RELIEF. SPORTSPLEX IS WAS BROKE THE GROUND. NEW SALEM BEACH FRONT, CRESCENT BEACH PARKING LOT. ALL OF THOSE PROJECTS ARE SO HIGHLY ANTICIPATED AND OVERDUE FOR OUR RESIDENTS, AND IT WILL PROVIDE GREAT RELIEF FOR YOUTH FOR THEIR FOR THEIR RECREATIONAL OPPORTUNITY. THEY HAVE BEEN WANTING AND NEEDING THAT. WE WEREN'T ABLE TO SUFFICIENTLY PROVIDE FOR THE PARKING, FOR THEIR ACCESS TO OUR AMAZING BEACH AND WATERWAY LIBRARY SYSTEM. THEY HAVE SERVED 535 CHILDREN IN COLLABORATION WITH THE PARKS AND RECREATION, AND THAT IS SOMETHING THAT WE JUST FEEL REALLY GOOD ABOUT. DEPARTMENTS ARE COMING TOGETHER, FINDING WAYS TO COLLABORATE TO SERVE THE SAME CLIENTS IN A MORE LEVERAGE THE RESOURCE WAY SO THAT WE'RE SAVING, BUT AT THE SAME TIME ENHANCING THE QUALITY OF SERVICE THAT WE'RE PROVIDING FOR OUR RESIDENTS. BOOKMOBILE IS, YOU KNOW, BUSTING OUT A SEAM, AND THEY'RE DOING WAY MORE ROUTES. AND THEN THEIR LIBRARY CARDS ISSUING IS LOOKING AT A 14% INTERNAL SERVICES FACILITY. MANAGEMENT UNDER HAD MENTIONED UNDER THE LEADERSHIP OF DAN WOODCRAFT. OUTSIDE OF HIS ROLE AS THE CHAIRPERSON OF THE CIP OVERSIGHT COMMITTEE, HE'S ALSO MANAGING A QUITE LARGE OPERATIONAL FACILITY MANAGEMENT. [06:45:05] IF YOU ARE FEELING LIKE, REALLY WARM RIGHT NOW, IT'S BECAUSE WE'RE TRYING TO SAVE MONEY IN THIS BUILDING. WE ARE. THIS BUILDING IS ACTUALLY THE PILOT PROGRAM FOR THE ENERGY SAVING THAT DAN HAS BROUGHT FORWARD A YEAR AGO. AND WE'RE SEEING AMAZING STATS ON THE SAVING JUST FOR THIS BUILDING. AND NOT TO MENTION THAT NOW WE'RE EXPANDING THE SAME PROGRAM. SO GET READY. JUST BRING SHORTS OR SKI JACKETS OR WHEREVER YOU'RE WORKING THAT WE'VE BEEN DOING THAT FOR THE LAST YEAR. SO ENJOY AND BE A GOOD COMPANY WITH US. ROOF REPLACEMENT. IF ANY OF YOU HAVE PARTICIPATED IN THE BUDGET SESSIONS THAT WE HAD DONE IN MAY, YOU WOULD BE AMAZED ON THE TECHNOLOGY THAT DAN AND HIS TEAM USE TO IDENTIFY THESE REPAIR OPPORTUNITIES TO MAKE SURE THEY'RE PROACTIVE, BUT AT THE SAME TIME, THAT IS COST EFFICIENT PURCHASING. WE KEEP COMING BACK TO THE PURCHASING. OKAY, WELL, JAMIE DESERVES TWICE OF ACCOLADES. SO WE HAVE PURCHASING AGAIN 500,000 SAVINGS IN NEGOTIATION. AND OF COURSE, I MEAN, I DON'T EVEN KNOW HOW SHE KEEPS TRACK OF ALL THE RFP, ALL THE BITS, ALL THE RANKING MEETINGS, ALL THE NEGOTIATIONS. BUT SHE'S DOING IT AND SHE'S DOING IS SUCH AN AMAZING WAY. I MISSED HER. THE 152 NEW CONTRACTS, 345. TASK ORDERS CONDUCT 297 FORMAL AND INFORMAL SOLICITATIONS WITH THE SAME TEAM THAT SHE HAS HAD FOR A LONG TIME, AND SO WE APPRECIATE THE TEAM THAT WORKING SO HARD AND SO EFFICIENTLY AS WELL. INTERNAL SERVICES. WE HAVE TO MENTION OUR AMAZING HR TEAM NOW UNDER THE LEADERSHIP OF DESIREE. WE'RE SO THANKFUL THAT SHE'S HERE. AND LAURA AND ANNIE ARE OVERSEEING THE OPERATION OF HR AND RISK MANAGEMENT. AND UNDER THE LEADERSHIP OF WILEY WITH THE MIS. AND THESE ARE JUST A SHORT LIST OF MANY OTHER THINGS THAT THEY HAVE BEEN DOING TO MAKE SURE THAT THEY'RE SUPPORTING ALL OF OUR SERVICE DEPARTMENTS TO HAVE THE RIGHT TOOL, THE RIGHT FRAMEWORK. THEY'RE SERVICING OUR OTHER DEPARTMENTS. THAT'S WHY THEY'RE CALLED INTERNAL SERVICES DEPARTMENT. LOOKING AHEAD, AND I KIND OF WANTED TO MATERIALIZE THE CONCEPT OF THE INVESTMENT THAT YOU HAVE MADE. I THINK IT'S DIFFICULT TO THINK THE TYPE OF INVESTMENT AND WHAT KIND OF RETURN YOU'RE LOOKING AT, IF YOU'RE JUST TALKING ABOUT THIS IS A $100 MILLION BOND, BUT LOOK AT THE NUMBER OF BALL FIELDS AND THEY ARE TRANSLATED INTO THE GAMES THE, THE, THE LEAGUE, THE THE THE TOURNAMENTS, THE, THE YOUTH THAT THEY ARE GETTING TO SPEND ALL THIS QUALITY TIME WITH THEIR FRIENDS AND WITH THEIR FAMILY. TEN MULTI-PURPOSE FIELDS ARE COMING ONLINE TWO BASEBALL FIELDS, ONE RUNNING TRACK, TWO BASKETBALL COURTS, 20 PICKLEBALL COURTS. I KNOW THAT'S NOT ENOUGH. ABOUT 20 PICKLEBALL COURTS. THAT'S WHAT WE'RE DOING. 20 AT A TIME. TWO SPLASH PADS AND FIVE PLAYGROUNDS. COMMUNITY CENTER LIBRARIES. AND, YOU KNOW, THOSE ARE THE THINGS THAT WE ARE EXCITED FOR AND WORKING HARD FOR AND LOOKING FORWARD TO CONSTRUCTION OF THE FIRE STATIONS. THEY ARE BEING METHODICALLY TIME LINED SO THAT WE ARE SURE THE RESOURCE IS BEHIND IT, SO THAT WE'RE SURE THAT THE STAFFING IS BEHIND IT. AND OF COURSE, EXPLORING ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE USE CASES. AND THAT'S SOMETHING I KNOW COMMISSIONER MURPHY HAS TALKED GREATLY ABOUT. HOW CAN WE POSSIBLY BE MORE EFFICIENT WHEN WE ARE SO EFFICIENT? WELL, MAYBE IT'S TIME TO LOOK INTO AI. MAYBE THERE ARE WAYS OF SIMULTANEOUSLY CAN CONTAIN ALL OF OUR TALENTS, BUT AT THE SAME TIME KIND OF TAKE AWAY THE REPETITIVE TASKS FROM THEM SO THAT WE CAN SAVE DOLLARS BY PUTTING THOSE TALENTS IN WHERE THAT DISCRETION IS ACTUALLY NEEDED. BUDGET RECOMMENDATION HIGHLIGHT. SO THIS IS AI. THIS IS KIND OF WHERE WE'RE TRYING TO GET TO, AND THIS IS WHY WE'RE HERE. I WILL BE PRETTY MUCH KIND OF TALKING ABOUT JUST THE HIGHLIGHTS OF OUR RECOMMENDATION TODAY. AND WEI SCHROEDER IS GOING TO GO THROUGH A VERY PRESCRIBED PROCESS IN TERMS OF WHAT IS THE EXPECTATION FROM THE BOARD AND WHAT KIND OF DIRECTION WE'LL NEED FROM YOU. BUT I DO LIKE TO HIGHLIGHT A FEW THINGS THAT IS PART OF THIS BUDGET RECOMMENDATION, AND THE REASON WHY WE ARE RECOMMENDING A $20 MILLION RESTRICTED EMERGENCY RESPONSE RESERVES. AND I THINK THAT IS REALLY, TRULY AS A RESULT OF WHAT WE HAVE EXPERIENCED IN THE PAST COUPLE OF YEARS, HOW FREQUENT THOSE NATURAL DISASTER EVENTS ARE HAPPENING AND HOW COSTLY THEY CAN BE, AND HOW SWIFT WE HAVE TO RESPOND TO THOSE EVENTS WITHOUT RELYING ON OTHER RESOURCES. SO WE HAVE ESTABLISHED A GOAL OF 45 TO 60 DAYS OF OPERATION, TOTAL COST AS PART OF THE EMERGENCY RESPONSE RESERVE. SO IF IN IN IN A CASE OF FEMA'S REDUCTION IN PUBLIC ASSISTANCE TO LOCAL GOVERNMENT, WE WILL BE READY. WE DON'T WANT TO BE TEXAS. WE DON'T WANT TO BE THIS LOCAL GOVERNMENT THAT WILL HAVE NO RESOURCE TO RESPOND TO THE NATURAL DISASTERS. [06:50:07] SO $20 MILLION IS REALLY NOT WHERE WE WANT TO BE YET, BUT WE WANTED TO TAKE GRADUAL STEPS TO GET THERE. AND I THINK IF WE CAN GET THE BOARD'S DIRECTION ON SETTING ASIDE $20 MILLION RESERVE, WHICH IS IN ADDITION TO YOUR ACTUAL OPERATION RESERVE OF $54 MILLION, I THINK WE WILL HAVE A LOT MORE SAFE HURRICANE SEASON THAT, YOU KNOW, WE'RE LOOKING AHEAD. THE OTHER HIGHLIGHT IS THE CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT PROJECT. THE REQUEST. THESE ARE THE THE LIST OF THE 169 MILLION PLUS TOTAL FUNDING REQUESTS. AND I THINK MANY OF THOSE PROJECTS ARE VERY CLOSE TO MANY OF YOUR HEARTS. AND AND THERE'S THE PIE CHART OF HOW THAT IS BEING DIVIDED BY DIFFERENT DEPARTMENTS. STAFFING. SO THIS IS ALWAYS GOING TO BE A HUGE ELEMENT OF ANY BUDGET RECOMMENDATIONS WHEN WE COME TO YOU. SO WHEN WE ARE GROWING AS A COMMUNITY, WE ARE ALSO GROWING AS A LOCAL GOVERNMENT ORGANIZATION, AS A TEAM. WE WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT WE HAVE THE RIGHT STAFF FOR ONE TO TO MAKE SURE THAT WE'RE MAINTAINING THE QUALITY OF SERVICES, THE CUSTOMER SERVICE WE'RE PROVIDING TO OUR RESIDENTS, AT THE SAME TIME ALSO PRESERVING OUR EMPLOYEES SO THAT THEY ARE NOT OVERBURDENED BY BEING DOING MORE AND AND SERVING MORE WITH THE SAME RESOURCE. SO THIS IS KIND OF THE LIST OF THE REQUESTED BUDGET. AND THEN WE ARE RECOMMENDING IN ITS ENTIRETY FOR YOUR CONSIDERATION FOR THE 2026 BUDGET OF A TOTAL 64 NEW FULL TIME EMPLOYEES. AND THAT REALLY IS CONSIST OF ANIMAL CONTROL AND THE NEW LITTER PROGRAM. AND I THINK COMMISSIONER JOSEPH HAD TALKED ABOUT THAT. I THINK IT'S DEAR NEAR TO YOU, YOUR HEART EVEN FROM LAST YEAR FIREFIGHTER POSITIONS, THAT IS REALLY RELATED TO THE RIGHT SIZING, THE CURRENT STATION AND THE NEW STATION THAT WE'RE BUILDING, LIBRARY POSITIONS. AND THAT REALLY ALSO, AGAIN, IS RELATED TO OUR NEW NEW LIBRARIES. BUT ALSO WE HAVE TO RESIZE THE SUPPORT STAFF FROM THE ADMINISTRATION FOR PARTIAL LIBRARY POSITIONS FOR HASTINGS LIBRARY, WHICH IS NOW BEING EXPANDED FROM FROM THE PREVIOUS LOCATION TO POSITIONS FOR THE UTILITY FOR THE HYDRANT TEAM, WHICH AGAIN, I WANTED TO USE THIS OPPORTUNITY HERE. ALSO, THANK NEIL AND HIS TEAM TO COLLABORATE WITH THE FIRE RESCUE TO MAKE SURE THAT WE ARE ACTUALLY SPENDING RESOURCE AT THE RIGHT PLACE, AND BY HAVING THIS NEW PROGRAM THAT NEIL HAS OFFERED TO OUR FIRE RESCUE, OUR FIREFIGHTERS CAN NOW ACTUALLY FOCUS ON DOING WHAT THEY DO THE BEST, WHICH IS TO GO OUT THERE AND SAVE PEOPLE'S LIVES INSTEAD OF INVESTING IN INVESTIGATING AND HYDRANT SYSTEM AND TWO POSITIONS THAT WERE REQUESTED FOR PUBLIC WORKS, A SIDEWALK PROGRAM. I WOULD LIKE TO HIGHLIGHT THE RECOMMENDATION FOR THE PAY RAISE FOR THE COUNTYWIDE EMPLOYEES, AND THAT IS 7%. AND I WOULD LIKE TO TELL YOU HOW EXCITED WE ARE AS A TEAM TO SEE THE OUTCOME OF YOUR INVESTMENT AND YOUR SUPPORT IN YOUR IN YOUR EMPLOYEES IN THE PAST TWO YEARS. WHEN I GOT HERE, 2023, WE HAVE A TURNOVER RATE OF 17%. TODAY WE'RE LOOKING AT 7%. I THINK EMPLOYEES ARE EXCITED TO BE HERE. THEY ARE HAPPY. AND NOT ONLY IS THE PAY RAISE FOR OUR EMPLOYEES AND FOR THEIR FAMILY MEMBERS, BUT ALSO IT IS YOUR PAY PLAN. IT IS YOUR AGILITY TO HIRE, RECRUIT AND RETAIN QUALITY, TALENTED PEOPLE. WE'RE SEEING DRASTIC DECREASE IN TERMINATION RATES AS WELL. AND WHAT THAT TELLS YOU IS THAT YOU ARE ACTUALLY RECRUITING QUALITY PEOPLE THAT THEY'RE WORKING OUT FOR US. THEY ARE WORKING OUT FOR OUR RESIDENTS. SO THAT IS REALLY A BIG PART OF THE RECOMMENDATION THAT WE'RE PRESENTING TO YOU TODAY. WE'LL GET TO THE MILLAGE. SO THIS IS KIND OF THE OUTLINE OF WHAT WE'RE RECOMMENDING. I UNDERSTAND WE HAVE RECEIVED A DIRECTION TO REEVALUATE THE SCENARIO OF ROLLBACK. AND WADE IS GOING TO GO INTO DETAIL ON HOW THAT MAY LOOK LIKE. AND OF COURSE, THIS IS STILL, YOU KNOW, YOUR YOUR DECISION, YOUR DISCRETION. AND WE'RE JUST HERE TO TAKE DIRECTION SO THAT WE CAN GO TO THE NEXT STEP OF THIS BUDGET PROCESS. BUT THE HIGHLIGHT OF THIS RECOMMENDATION TODAY IS TO INCREASE FIRE DISTRICT MILLAGE BY 0.0887 MILLAGE FOR A TOTAL 1.47 MILLAGE, AND THAT IS THE ONLY DISTRICT THAT IS FACING STRUCTURAL DEFICIT. IF WE IF WE DON'T DO SOMETHING. AND I THINK IT HAS A LOT TO DO WITH THE PREVIOUS TAX REFORM AS WELL AS THE ROLLBACK THAT HAPPENED IN 2021 AND ROLLBACK, WHEN THAT HAPPENS, THE IMPACT IS IN PERPETUITY. SO FIRE RESCUE, AS THE COUNTY RESIDENTS, THE COMMUNITY GROWING FIRE DISTRICT CANNOT AFFORD TO NOT GROW. AND SO WHAT HAPPENED IN 2021 IS INSTEAD OF IT'S NOT GROWING, IT'S ACTUALLY BEING DIALED BACK. [06:55:04] SO WE WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT WE HAVE THE RIGHT RESOURCE FOR THE FOR THE FOR. FOR THE DISTRICT TO SUPPORT THE FIRE RESCUE. SO WE ALSO RECOMMEND A MILLAGE REDUCTION FOR TWO LIGHTING DISTRICTS. THOSE ARE MUNICIPALITY SERVICE UNIT DISTRICT. SO THEY ARE VERY SPECIFIC TO A SMALL PART OF A COMMUNITY. AND THEY ARE NOT COUNTYWIDE. BUT THE RECOMMENDATION OF A REDUCTION IS REALLY BASED ON THE NEEDS AND THE SERVICE LEVEL. FLAT RATE IS BEING RECOMMENDED FOR ALL OTHER DISTRICTS AND THAT WOULD INCLUDE TRANSPORTATION TRUST FUND. THE REASON BEING THAT IS THAT WE HAVE OVER A QUARTER OF $1 BILLION CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT PROJECT IN TRANSPORTATION THAT IS UNFUNDED TODAY. SO WE DON'T FEEL LIKE IT'S THE TIME TO RECOMMEND ANY MILLAGE REDUCTION IN TRANSPORTATION TRUST FUND. HEALTH DEPARTMENT IS ALSO BEING RECOMMENDED TO HAVE A FLAT MILLAGE RATE. FOR ME, HEALTH DEPARTMENT IS A PART OF A PUBLIC SAFETY OPERATION AND I THINK THAT THE RIGHT RICE RESOURCE, THE HEALTH DEPARTMENT, IS CRUCIAL. WE HAVE LEARNED OUR LESSONS DURING COVID. SO THEREFORE, WE'RE RECOMMENDING A FLAT RATE FOR HEALTH DEPARTMENT, AND WE'RE RECOMMENDING A GENERAL FUND MILLAGE REDUCTION OF 0.1887 MILLS. AND WHEN WE MAKE THAT RECOMMENDATION, IT'S REALLY PRETTY MUCH BASED ON THE DIRECTION FROM THE BOARD. WE WE KIND OF FEEL LIKE THE BOARD KIND OF HAS SPOKEN ABOUT THIS EXTENSIVELY. THERE MIGHT BE SOME EXPECTATION FOR A MILITARY REDUCTION IN COUNTY WIDE AT A NET. SO THIS RECOMMENDATION WILL RESULT IN A NET MILLAGE REDUCTION COUNTYWIDE MILLAGE OF 0.1 MIL, WHICH EQUATES TO A $6 MILLION REDUCTION IN TAX COLLECTED. SO THAT CONCLUDES MY PRESENTATION. I'M HERE IF YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS FOR ME. IF NOT, WE WILL BE HERE AND WE'LL GO THROUGH THE VERY MUCH PRESCRIBED PROCESS OF THE MILLAGE SETTING CEILING SETTING TODAY. THANK YOU. ALL RIGHT. ANY COMMENT? QUESTIONS? THANK YOU. TROY. I JUST HAVE ONE. I JUST WANT TO SAY, IF I MAY, THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR ADDRESSING THE THE DEFICIT IN THE IN THE FIRE MILLAGE RATE. I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT THAT WE COVER THAT. SO GOOD JOB FOR THAT. GOOD AFTERNOON, COMMISSIONERS. WADE SCHROEDER WITH THE OFFICE OF MANAGEMENT AND BUDGET. LIKE JOYCE SAID, I'M GOING TO GO THROUGH MORE OF THE FINANCIAL PROCESS RELATED TO SETTING THE MILLAGE RATES AND PROPOSING A RECOMMENDED BUDGET. REALLY, BEFORE WE GET STARTED, I'D LIKE TO NOTE THAT THERE IS NO REQUIREMENT FOR THIS PRESENTATION TO BE AFTER 5:00. BUT WE MAY JUST MAKE IT TODAY. AND REALLY, BEFORE WE REALLY BEFORE WE GET INTO IT, IF ANYBODY WOULD LIKE ANY MORE INFORMATION ON THE BUDGET. THERE IS A WEALTH OF INFORMATION JUST LIKE WE PREPARED FOR THE BUDGET SESSIONS. THERE IS A RECOMMENDED BUDGET WORKBOOK ONLINE. YOU CAN LOOK THROUGH ANY SERVICE AREA. YOU CAN LOOK EVEN ALL THE WAY DOWN TO THE ACCOUNT TITLE, SO YOU CAN DRILL DOWN AS FAR AS YOU WANT. YOU CAN FIND MORE INFORMATION ON CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT PROJECTS, SO IF YOU'RE INTERESTED, IT'S ALL AVAILABLE. IT'S ALL YOU KNOW. ALL PART OF OUR EFFORT TO BE MORE TRANSPARENT. ALL RIGHT. SO JUST LOOKING AT THE THE BUDGET PROCESS SO FAR WE'RE IN JULY. THAT REALLY STARTS OUR TRIM REQUIRED TRIM PROCESS. WE HAD THE BUDGET ADMINISTRATOR BUDGET SESSIONS IN MAY. AND I JUST NOTE THERE THERE IS NO REQUIREMENT FOR THOSE SESSIONS TO BE TELEVISED TO BE HELD AT ALL PUBLICLY. SO, YOU KNOW, AGAIN, TOWARDS THE TRANSPARENCY EFFORTS. TODAY WE ARE RECOMMENDING OR PRESENTING A RECOMMENDED BUDGET AND PROPOSING MILLAGE RATES. THOSE MILLAGE RATES ARE SETTING THE CEILING FOR THE MILLAGE RATES THAT CAN BE ADOPTED IN SEPTEMBER. YOU CAN GO DOWN FROM THIS POINT, BUT FOR ALL PRACTICAL PURPOSES, YOU CANNOT INCREASE MILLAGE RATES ONCE THEY ARE SET TODAY. AND THEN FINALLY, WE'LL HAVE THOSE TWO HEARINGS IN SEPTEMBER. ALL RIGHT. IT IS SOMEWHAT OF A STATUTORILY PRESCRIBED PROCESS. THERE'S A COUPLE OF ITEMS THAT WE KIND OF HAVE TO CHECK OFF TODAY. FIRST, WITH FLORIDA STATUTE 129, THE COUNTY BUDGET OFFICER SHALL PREPARE AND PRESENT TO THE BOARD A TENTATIVE BUDGET FOR THE NEXT FISCAL YEAR. AND THEN, SECOND, THE BOARD SHALL COMPUTE A PROPOSED MILLAGE RATE NECESSARY TO FUND THAT TENTATIVE BUDGET AND THEN ADVISE THE PROPERTY APPRAISER OF THOSE PROPOSED MILLAGE RATES, ITS ROLLBACK RATE, AND THE DATE, TIME AND PLACE OF THE FIRST PUBLIC HEARING. ALL RIGHT. GETTING INTO THE BUDGET AT THIS POINT. THE BUDGET. THE OVERALL BUDGET IS 1,000,000,002 SEVEN $272,806,142. [07:00:05] THE NEXT TIME YOU SEE THIS BUDGET WILL BE AT THAT FIRST PUBLIC HEARING. IT WILL BE SOMEWHAT THE SAME BUDGET, BUT THERE WILL ALSO BE A LAYER ON TOP OF IT, BECAUSE AT THAT POINT WE WILL ROLL IN, CARRY FORWARDS ON TOP OF THIS BUDGET. THE CARRY FORWARDS REPRESENT ANY OF THE CAPITAL PROJECTS, ANY OF THE GRANTS, ANY OF THE SOME OF THESE CONSULTING SERVICES THAT WERE FUNDED THIS YEAR, APPROVED THIS YEAR, BUT THEY'RE NOT ESTIMATED TO BE COMPLETED THIS YEAR. MANY CAPITAL PROJECTS ARE MULTI-YEAR PROJECTS. EVEN THOUGH THE CONTRACT HAS TO BE FULLY FUNDED UP FRONT, IT'S GOING TO TAKE A COUPLE OF YEARS TO SPEND THOSE DOLLARS. SO ON TOP OF THIS BUDGET, WE'RE GOING TO LAYER ON TOP THOSE CARRY FORWARDS WHEN WE COME BACK IN SEPTEMBER. JUST SOME OF THE HIGHLIGHTS. AND I THINK JOY WENT THROUGH SOME OF THESE. THERE IS A RECOMMENDED OVERALL REDUCTION IN MILLAGE RATES FROM LAST YEAR. AN EMERGENCY RESPONSE RESERVE ENJOYED REFERENCED 20 MILLION. IT'S 25 MILLION. THERE'S KIND OF TWO PIECES TO IT. 20 MILLION FOR EMERGENCY RESPONSE AND THEN ANOTHER 5 MILLION SET ASIDE FOR A GRANT MATCH. AND THAT GRANT MATCH IS RELATED TO THE SUMMER HAVEN ACQUISITION OF PROPERTIES THERE. THIS BUDGET IS PLANNING FOR NEW FACILITIES, NOT ONLY NEW FACILITIES IN FISCAL YEAR 26, BUT EVEN IN FISCAL YEAR 27. THERE'S JOY MENTIONED. PLENTY OF THEM. PARKS, LIBRARIES, FIRE STATIONS, ROADWAY IMPROVEMENTS. YOU KNOW, PUBLIC SERVICE CENTERS AS WELL. 60, ALMOST 64 POSITIONS PRIMARILY RELATED TO THOSE NEW FACILITIES. ALONG WITH A REDUCTION OF SIX POSITIONS IN A COUPLE DIFFERENT DEPARTMENTS. AND WE'LL GO INTO THAT DETAIL AS WELL. THE BUDGET INCLUDES 55 VEHICLES. 29 REPLACEMENT AS RECOMMENDED BY FLEET MAINTENANCE AND 26 NEW. AND THE MAJORITY OF THOSE NEW ARE AGAIN RELATED TO THE NEW FACILITIES. THE NEW POSITIONS OVER 169 MILLION IN NEW CAPITAL FUNDING FOR FOR NEW PROJECTS. WE'LL GO INTO A LITTLE BIT OF DETAIL THERE AS WELL AS, AGAIN, THAT INFORMATION IS ONLINE. IF YOU WANT ANY INFORMATION ABOUT ANY OF THE CAPITAL PROJECTS, GO ONLINE. SOME OF THE CHALLENGES THAT WE'VE SEEN OR HAD TO ADDRESS AS PART OF THIS BUDGET THE CITY OF SAINT AUGUSTINE CREATED A NEW CRA WITHIN WITHIN SAINT AUGUSTINE, THE WEST CITY CRA AS PART OF CRAS, THE COUNTY IS REQUIRED TO TO FUND RELATED TO OUR GENERAL FUND MILLAGE. SO THERE IS AN EXPENSE TO THAT THAT WE DID NOT SEE LAST YEAR. IN ADDITION, FPL IS PROPOSING A 15% INCREASE IN UTILITY RATES EFFECTIVE JANUARY 1ST, 2026. WE'VE INCORPORATED THAT INTO OUR BUDGET AS WELL. SOME OF THE AREAS THAT THAT'S PROBABLY HITTING THE HARDEST IS OUR UTILITIES FUND AS WELL AS FACILITIES MAINTENANCE. ALL OF THE BUILDINGS HERE AND RECREATION WITH THE SPORTS LIGHTING. ADDITIONALLY, THERE IS A AND IT'S ACTUALLY MORE WE JUST RECEIVED OUR JULY INVOICE. WE'RE REQUIRED TO MAKE PAYMENTS TO THE DEPARTMENT OF JUVENILE JUSTICE. THAT 65% INCREASE IS PROBABLY CLOSER TO 100% INCREASE AT THIS POINT. AND ADDITIONALLY, AND FINALLY, THE THERE'S 1 MILLION IN THE BUDGET FOR THE CONTINUATION OF THE IMPACT FEE BY DOWN UNTIL. AND THIS IS REALLY UNTIL THE NEW ORDINANCE IS IN EFFECT. I THINK IMPACT FEES ARE COMING BACK IN SEPTEMBER. THERE'S A DEFERMENT, A LITTLE BIT OF A DELAY WHEN IT WHEN IT'S ACTUALLY EFFECTIVE. SO WE'RE ESTIMATING ABOUT $1 MILLION IN THE AND THE CONTINUATION OF THE BUYBACK. THAT IS SOMETHING WE DID NOT BUDGET FOR THIS YEAR. WE ANTICIPATED IMPACT FEES TO BE IN PLACE AND THAT BUYBACK WOULD GO AWAY. FOR FISCAL YEAR 25. AND AT SOME POINT THIS WILL COME BACK TO THE BOARD. WE ANTICIPATE ABOUT $3 MILLION. FOR THAT IMPACT FEE BUY DOWN. SO IT'S SOMETHING THAT WAS NOT BUDGETED THIS YEAR, BUT WE WILL HAVE TO ADDRESS. THIS ISN'T JUST AN OVERALL VIEW OF THE OF THE EXPENSES FOR ALL FUNDS. AND I'LL KIND OF GO THROUGH EACH AREA. EACH LITTLE PIE SLICE THERE. PHYSICAL ENVIRONMENT THAT IS PRIMARILY UTILITIES AND SOLID WASTE. THAT'S ABOUT 16% OF OUR OVERALL BUDGET. IT ALSO INCLUDES ITEMS SUCH AS LAMPS. SOME OF OUR COASTAL PROJECTS, TREE BANK GROWTH MANAGEMENT AND AG SERVICES. ALMOST 14% OF OUR BUDGET GOES TO CONSTITUTIONAL OFFICERS AND COURT SERVICES. PRIMARILY THE SHERIFF, BUT ALSO THE CLERK, PROPERTY APPRAISER, SUPERVISOR OF ELECTIONS, TAX COLLECTOR, AND THEN OTHER COURT RELATED ACTIVITIES. 11.4% GOES TO PUBLIC SAFETY, FIRE, EMS, ANIMAL CONTROL, EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT, BUILDING SERVICES, CODE ENFORCEMENT, AS WELL AS IMPACT FEES RELATED TO FIRE EMS. [07:05:08] GENERAL GOVERNMENT ALMOST 10%. THIS IS PROBABLY THE LONGEST LIST OF OF DEPARTMENTS. THIS IS JUST A SNAPSHOT OF A FEW OF THEM RIGHT HERE. PRIMARILY IT'S THE FACILITIES MANAGEMENT AS WELL AS OUR INTERNAL SERVICE FUNDS FOR HEALTH INSURANCE AND WORKER'S COMP. THERE'S ALSO PUBLIC BUILDING IMPACT FEES. IN ADDITION, BCC ADMIN, COUNTY ATTORNEY, AND, YOU KNOW, HR, PURCHASING OMB, THE LIST GOES ON THERE. TRANSPORTATION IS ABOUT 9% OF OUR OVERALL BUDGET. THAT IS PUBLIC WORKS, ROAD IMPACT FEES, PUBLIC TRANSIT AND THEN SOME OF THE SPECIAL DISTRICTS. CULTURAL AND CULTURAL, CULTURE AND RECREATION. ABOUT 5% OF THE BUDGET. PARKS AND REC, LIBRARY, GOLF COURSE, PARK IMPACT FEES, TOURIST DEVELOPMENT AND BEACH SERVICES. HHS 1.7% OF THE BUDGET, SOCIAL SERVICES, CDC, HEALTH DEPARTMENT AND INDEPENDENT AGENCIES. AND THEN FINALLY, ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT IS 0.7% OF OUR BUDGET. THAT'S REALLY ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT. THE CRAS, THE COUNTY CRAS, HOUSING AND COMMUNITY SERVICES SHIP AND VETERAN SERVICES. AND THEN FINALLY, REALLY THE OTHER AREAS, DEBT SERVICE, 4% OF OUR BUDGET GOES TO DEBT SERVICE. TRANSFERS ARE REALLY JUST KIND OF BETWEEN FUNDS, KIND OF A AN ACCOUNTING PART. AND THEN ABOUT 25% OF OUR BUDGET IS RESERVES. ALL RIGHT. SO HOW DO WE FUND ALL OF THOSE EXPENSES? HERE ARE OUR BUDGETED REVENUES. PRIMARILY PROPERTY TAXES. ABOUT 35% OF THE BUDGET. I'M SORRY. TAXES IN GENERAL. THAT INCLUDES PROPERTY, FUEL TAXES AND COMMUNICATION SERVICES TAXES. ADDITIONALLY, THERE ARE CHARGES FOR SERVICES FROM VARIOUS AREAS. AMBULANCE. YOUR UTILITY BILL SOLID WASTE FEES AS WELL AS UNIT CONNECTION FEES AND DEVELOPMENT FEES. INTERGOVERNMENTAL REVENUE IS YOUR STATE. STATE GRANTS, YOUR FEDERAL GRANTS, AND ANY OTHER STATE REMITTED REVENUES LIKE THE HALF CENT SALES TAX PROGRAM. MISCELLANEOUS REVENUE. THAT'S PRIMARILY INTEREST, EARNINGS AND IMPACT FEES. PERMITS, FEES AND SPECIAL ASSESSMENTS. ACTUALLY, I'M SORRY. SOLID WASTE IS IN THIS AREA. AND BUILDING PERMITS. AND A SMALL PIECE. REALLY? JUDGMENT, FINES AND FORFEITURE FORFEITURES AND THEN OTHER OTHER SOURCES THAT I SHOULD SAY IS PRIMARILY OUR FUND BALANCES. SO IF WE HAD RESERVES IN THE CURRENT YEAR, WE'RE NOT REALLY SPENDING THOSE THOSE MOVE FORWARD TO BE ABLE TO APPROPRIATE IT NEXT YEAR AS OTHER SOURCES AS THAT ACCUMULATED FUND BALANCE. ALL RIGHT. JUST LOOKING AT THE BUDGET OVERALL AS WELL AS WITH PROPERTY TAXES. SO THE ENTIRE BUDGET IS NOT FUNDED BY PROPERTY TAXES. IN FACT, YOU KNOW, ONLY A LIMITED AMOUNT OF FUNDS INCLUDE PROPERTY TAXES. AND OVERALL, ABOUT 31% OF THE RECOMMENDED BUDGET AND 59% OF JUST THOSE MILLAGE RELATED FUNDS ARE FROM PROPERTY TAXES. GOING INTO THE NEW NEW POSITION REQUEST. AGAIN, ALMOST 64 POSITIONS. THE LARGEST ONE THERE IS FIRE EMS THAT INCLUDES 33 FIREFIGHTERS RELATED TO THE NEW SILVERLEAF FIRE STATION, WHICH IS PLANNING ON OPENING LATE NEXT YEAR. IN ADDITION TO THE FIRE STATION, THERE IS A SECOND MEDIC RESPONSE TEAM WITHIN EMS UTILITIES. JOI MENTIONED AS WELL THAT UTILITIES IS TAKING OVER THE UTILITY, THE FIRE HYDRANT TESTING, WHICH WILL TAKE AN ADDITIONAL BURDEN OFF OF FIRE EMS LIBRARY SERVICES. THE MAJORITY OF THE POSITIONS ARE RELATED TO THE NEW HASTINGS COMMUNITY CENTER AND LIBRARY, AS WELL AS THE CENTRAL LIBRARY HUB. PUBLIC WORKS. MAJORITY OF THE POSITIONS ARE RELATED TO A NEW LITTER CREW TO PICK UP ROADSIDE LITTER THROUGHOUT THE COUNTY, AS WELL AS A SIDEWALK CREW TO ADDRESS SIDEWALKS, RECREATION, AND BEACH SERVICES. AGAIN IS PRIMARILY RELATED TO NEW FACILITIES. THE NEW CENTRAL COMMUNITY PARK, AS WELL AS THE CENTRAL SPORTSPLEX PARK. ANIMAL CONTROL. WITHIN THAT, THERE'S AN ADDITION OF TWO ANIMAL CONTROL OFFICERS TO TO HELP THE LEVEL OF SERVICE THERE. AND THE PURCHASING AND COURT SERVICES ARE PRIMARILY JUST ADMINISTRATIVE POSITIONS. AS THE COUNTY GROWS, THOSE ADMINISTRATIVE POSITIONS AT TIMES NEED TO GROW AS WELL. AND THEN I'D LIKE TO NOTE AS WELL, THERE IS THE ELIMINATION OF SIX FTES WITHIN NEXT YEAR'S BUDGET. [07:10:05] FACILITIES MAINTENANCE IS RECOMMENDING REQUESTED THE ELIMINATION OF FIVE FTES. THEY MOVE ESSENTIALLY MOVE THAT SERVICE TO CONTRACTUAL SERVICE FOR A REDUCED COST. SO THOSE POSITIONS ARE NO LONGER NEEDED. AND AS WELL, THE COUNTY ATTORNEY'S OFFICE REFLECTS THE ELIMINATION OF ONE FTE. THAT'S REALLY THE COUNTY ATTORNEY POSITION BECAUSE THAT IS NOW A CONTRACTED POSITION. ALL RIGHT. MOVING TO THE CAPITAL INVESTMENT. SO WE ARE RECOMMENDING OVER 169 MILLION IN NEW FUNDING FOR PROJECTS. THE LEFT SIDE THE LEFT PIE CHART. THEIR DONUT CHART REPRESENTS WHAT TYPES OF PROJECTS ARE BEING FUNDED. AS YOU CAN SEE, THE MAJORITY ARE IN TRANSPORTATION, OVER 75 MILLION AND UTILITIES AND SOLID WASTE ALMOST 57 MILLION. THERE. ANOTHER 18 MILLION TOWARDS PUBLIC PUBLIC SAFETY. AS WELL AS, YOU KNOW, GENERAL GOVERNMENT CULTURE, REC LIBRARY SERVICES ON THE RIGHT SIDE. THAT DONUT THERE IS WHERE THOSE FUNDS ARE COMING FROM. SO AGAIN, TRANSPORTATION TRUST FUND HAS A LOT OF PROJECTS, AND THEY'RE FUNDING THE MAJORITY OF THE OF THOSE AS WELL OUT OF THE TRANSPORTATION TRUST FUND IMPACT FEES, WHERE MAXIMIZING THE USE OF IMPACT FEES AS MUCH AS POSSIBLE TO TO CAPITAL PROJECTS. OVER 48 MILLION AND IMPACT FEES ARE GOING TOWARDS SOME OF THESE PROJECTS. AND REALLY THAT INCLUDES NOT JUST THE IMPACT FEES, BUT IT'S THE UNIT CONNECTION FEES PORTION OF UTILITIES AS WELL. AND THEN FINALLY, UTILITIES IS REALLY THE THIRD LARGEST FUNDING SOURCE. OVER 45 MILLION IN FUNDING FOR CAPITAL PROJECTS. THEY'RE JUST TO GO INTO A LITTLE BIT OF DETAIL. AND AGAIN, I WON'T GO THROUGH ALL OF THESE BECAUSE THERE IS MORE INFORMATION ONLINE. CULTURE AND RECREATION AND NEW PROJECTS THERE INCLUDE RESTROOMS AT THE OSCEOLA, OSCEOLA RECREATION FACILITY. SOME ADDITIONAL FUNDING FOR DAVIS PARK IMPROVEMENTS, BEACH SERVICES REPLACEMENT OF A STORAGE BUILDING. FOR GENERAL GOVERNMENT, THE PRIMARY PROJECT, THERE IS $4 MILLION FOR ADDITIONAL COURTROOMS AND JUDGE'S CHAMBERS. SORRY, DAN. WITCHCRAFT. PRESENTED EARLIER LAST MONTH ON THE NEED FOR ADDITIONAL SPACE OVER IN THE COURTHOUSE FOR ADDITIONAL JUDGES. AND THAT'S WHAT THAT PROJECT IS THERE. PUBLIC SAFETY. ADDITIONALLY, DAN WOODCRAFT PRESENTED THE NEED FOR THE MEDICAL EXAMINER FACILITY. 6.5 MILLION IS APPROPRIATED FOR THAT. THAT THAT REQUEST INITIALLY CAME FORWARD AS A POTENTIAL BORROWING. AND I JUST WOULD LIKE TO SPREAD GOOD NEWS THAT WE DO HAVE IMPACT FEES THAT WE'RE ABLE TO FUND IT. WE THINK WITHOUT WITHOUT ANY BORROWING THEIR UTILITIES. THE LARGEST PROJECT THERE IS RELATED TO THE NORTHWEST WATER RECLAMATION FACILITY, 17.5 MILLION. AND THEN FINALLY, SOME PROJECTS RELATED TO TRANSPORTATION. THERE'S A LOT OF PROJECTS HERE. THIS IS JUST A SHORT LIST. BUT THE THE BIGGEST PROJECT IS GREENBRIAR ROAD WIDENING. MOVING ON TO THE THE VILLAGE PORTION. AGAIN, WE WERE REQUIRED TO SET THOSE MAXIMUM MILLAGE RATES, AS WELL AS INFORM THE PROPERTY APPRAISER OF THE DATE, TIME AND PLACE OF THE FIRST PUBLIC HEARING. LOOKING AT THE TRUTH AND MILLAGE CALENDAR. JULY 1ST, THE PROPERTY APPRAISER PROVIDED US WITH THE CERTIFICATION OF TAXABLE VALUES. BY AUGUST 4TH OR REALLY, WHAT WE'RE DOING TODAY. WE WE NEED TO PRESENT THE BUDGET AND SET THE SET THOSE MAXIMUM MILLAGE RATES. LATER IN AUGUST, THE PROPERTY APPRAISER WILL TAKE THOSE MAXIMUM THOSE MILLAGE RATES WE SET ALONG WITH EVERY OTHER TAXING AUTHORITIES AND SEND A NOTICE OF PROPOSED TAXES TO EACH PROPERTY OWNER WITHIN THE COUNTY. AND THEN FINALLY, IN SEPTEMBER, WE HAVE TWO PUBLIC HEARINGS. THE RECOMMENDATION FOR THE FIRST PUBLIC HEARING IS SEPTEMBER 3RD. THAT IS A WIN. WEDNESDAY. BUT THAT IS THE FIRST DATE WE CAN HOLD THAT MEETING. AND THEN THAT WOULD ALLOW FOR A FINAL HEARING ON SEPTEMBER 16TH. AS I MENTIONED, THE PROPERTY APPRAISER GAVE US THE TAXABLE VALUES FOR NEXT YEAR. IT IS A 9.8% INCREASE. AND THAT THAT 9.8% IS MADE UP OF A 4.3% INCREASE DUE TO NEW CONSTRUCTION. THOSE ARE PROPERTIES THAT WERE NOT IMPROVED. AND NOT ON OUR BOOKS LAST YEAR. AS WELL AS A 5.5% INCREASE FOR ALL OTHER PROPERTIES. AND I WOULD JUST LIKE TO NOTE HERE, IN FISCAL YEAR 2021, THAT WAS THE YEAR WE DID GO TO ROLLBACK. [07:15:05] PRIOR. SO THAT 6.6% ALL OTHER THE COUNTY DID NOT RECEIVE ANY TAXES RELATED TO THAT PORTION OF THE VALUATION INCREASE. SO 9.8% INCREASE. MOST THE MAJORITY OF RESIDENTIAL PROPERTY OWNERS. ABOUT TWO THIRDS ARE HOMESTEADED. THOSE? THOSE PROPERTY OWNERS WILL NOT SEE A 9.8% INCREASE. THEY WON'T EVEN SEE A 5.5% INCREASE FOR THE FOR THE ALL OTHER PORTION. THAT IS BECAUSE OF THE HOMESTEAD PROPERTY EXEMPTION. THEIR ASSESSED VALUE CAN ONLY INCREASE BY CPI OR 3%, WHICHEVER IS LOWER. AND FOR THIS YEAR THAT CPI WAS 2.9%, SO THEIR ASSESSED VALUE CAN ONLY INCREASE 2.9%. IN ADDITION TO THAT, AND AS PROPERTY APPRAISER EDDIE KRAMER MENTIONED DURING HIS BUDGET PRESENTATION. NEW FOR THIS YEAR IS IN 2025. AMENDMENT FIVE WAS APPROVED BY THE VOTERS, AND THAT PROVIDES THAT ADDITIONAL HOMESTEAD EXEMPTION, THAT SECOND 25,000 THAT THAT PROPERTY OWNERS GET FOR HOMESTEAD THAT IS NOW INDEXED BY INFLATION. SO IT'S IT'S NOT A WHOLE LOT THE FIRST YEAR IT GOES FROM 25,000 TO 25,277, BUT THAT'S GOING TO BE CUMULATIVE. AND THAT'LL BENEFIT PROPERTY OWNERS, YOU KNOW, LATER DOWN THE ROAD. ADDITIONALLY ANY NON HOMESTEADED PROPERTY, THEIR ASSESSED VALUE IS CAPPED AT 10% ANNUALLY. ALL RIGHT. SAINT JOHNS COUNTY HAS IT'S NOT JUST ONE TAXING AUTHORITY. THERE ARE 12 DIFFERENT TAXING AUTHORITIES WITHIN SAINT JOHNS COUNTY. WE KIND OF SLICE IT AND DICE IT A LITTLE MORE THAN THAN OTHER AREAS. WE HAVE THREE COUNTY WIDE MILLAGE RATES. GENERAL FUND TRANSPORTATION IN THE COUNTY HEALTH UNIT. WE HAVE ONE THAT IS COUNTYWIDE, EXCEPT FOR THE CITY OF SAINT AUGUSTINE, WHICH IS THE FIRE DISTRICT FUND, BECAUSE THEY HAVE THEIR OWN FIRE PROTECTION SERVICES. AND THEN WE HAVE EIGHT REGIONAL OR SPECIAL DISTRICT MILLAGE TAXING AUTHORITIES. IN CONSIDERING MILLAGE RATES FOR FISCAL YEAR 26, THERE WERE REALLY THREE PRIMARY CONSIDERATIONS. THE BOARD INITIALLY ASKED US TO TAKE A LOOK AT A ROLLBACK RATE SCENARIO AND A ROLLBACK RATE SCENARIO. IS THAT TAX RATE THAT WOULD GENERATE THE SAME AMOUNT OF REVENUE FOR A TAXING AUTHORITY AS THE PREVIOUS YEAR, EXCLUDING REVENUE FROM NEW CONSTRUCTION? BEYOND THE ROLLBACK RATE, WE HAD TO CONSIDER WHETHER A FUND WAS IN STRUCTURAL DEFICIT, WHICH WE'LL SEE WITH FIRE LATER ON. AND THAT IS A SITUATION IN WHICH YOUR ONGOING EXPENSES EXCEED YOUR ONGOING REVENUE. SO IF YOU'RE SPENDING MORE THAN YOU'RE BRINGING IN ON AN ANNUAL BASIS, YOU'RE GOING TO BE DRAWING DOWN IN YOUR RESERVES AND TO THE POINT WHERE YOU WILL HAVE NO RESERVES AND THE FUND WILL BE OUT OF MONEY. SO THAT'S PART OF THE REASON WHY WE ARE RECOMMENDING AN INCREASE FOR FIRE. AND THEN BEYOND A STRUCTURAL DEFICIT WE'RE LOOKING AT TRYING TO LOOK AT LONG TERM SUSTAINABILITY AND TRYING TO COVER EXPENSES OVER A PERIOD OF TIME. AND I SAY TRYING BECAUSE MORE OFTEN THAN NOT RECENTLY IT'S YOU KNOW, WHAT DOES TOMORROW BRING? WE DON'T EVEN KNOW IF WE'LL HAVE PROPERTY TAXES NEXT YEAR. SO, YOU KNOW, WE'RE PROJECTING AS BEST AS WE CAN RIGHT NOW. AGAIN, WE HAVE 12 TAXING AUTHORITIES. SO FOR THAT ROLLBACK BACK RATE CONSIDERATION, THERE ARE REALLY 12 ROLLBACK RATES. SO EACH TAXING TAXING AUTHORITY WOULD HAVE THEIR OWN RESPECTIVE ROLLBACK RATE. OVER THE NEXT COUPLE OF SLIDES I'M GOING TO GO THROUGH EACH OF THESE AREAS. I'M GOING TO KIND OF CATEGORIZE THEM A LITTLE BIT. AND WE'RE REALLY GOING TO START AT THE BOTTOM AND WORK OUR WAY UP. SO THE FIRST SECTION IS THE COASTAL RELATED MILLAGE RATES. THESE ARE MILLAGE RATES THAT WERE INSTITUTED FOR LOCAL PARTICIPATION. TOWARDS COASTAL PROJECTS, INCLUDING DEBT SERVICES FOR SUCH PROJECTS. THE COASTAL HIGHWAY MS2 IS A, YOU KNOW, PART OF A 50 YEAR PROGRAM. THE SOUTH PONTEVEDRA AND SERENATA ARE BOTH AT THIS POINT AT ONE TIME. BUT AS JOYE MENTIONED, THERE IS THE POTENTIAL FOR A 50 YEAR PROGRAM ON THAT COMING FORWARD. TAXES AT FLAT MILLAGE RATES WOULD BE 803,000. TAXES AT ROLLBACK RATE WOULD BE 752,000. TO IN ORDER TO. SO AT ROLLBACK RATE THERE WOULD BE LESS PUBLIC PARTICIPATION TOWARDS TOWARDS DEBT SERVICE TOWARDS THE PROJECTS. AT THE RECOMMENDED MILLAGE RATE. AND WE ARE RECOMMENDING FLAT MILLAGE RATES FOR THESE AREAS. [07:20:04] WOULD CONTINUE THAT LEVEL OF LOCAL PARTICIPATION FOR THESE PROJECTS. THE NEXT AREA ARE THE STREET LIGHTING DISTRICTS. THESE ARE TWO SMALL, REALLY LOCALIZED NEIGHBORHOOD, ONE IN VILLANO, ONE IN SAINT AUGUSTINE SOUTH. THE RECOMMENDATION FOR THESE TWO IS THAT WE CAN GO TO THE ROLLBACK RATE. WE FEEL THAT GOING TO THE ROLLBACK RATE FOR THESE RESPECTIVE AREAS WILL STILL PROVIDE US ENOUGH REVENUES TO, TO COVER OUR EXPENSES THERE. THE COUNTY TRANSPORTATION TRUST FUND MILLAGE RATE AGAIN ACROSS THE TOP THERE IS LAST YEAR'S ADOPTED ROLLBACK RATE. AND WHAT WE'RE RECOMMENDING FOR THIS YEAR. WE ARE RECOMMENDING FLAT MILLAGE RATE FOR TRANSPORTATION TRUST FUND. THE DIFFERENCE IS ABOUT 2.6 MILLION. AND REALLY, THAT'S PRIMARILY BECAUSE OF THAT UNFUNDED FUTURE TRANSPORTATION PROGRAM OF ABOUT 250 MILLION. FOR THIS YEAR, WE'RE FUNDING OUT OF CTF. WE'RE FUNDING ABOUT 50 MILLION IN CAPITAL INFRASTRUCTURE PROJECTS. AN ADDITIONAL 21 MILLION OUT OF IMPACT FEES. BUT AGAIN, THERE IS THAT THAT UNFUNDED TRANSPORTATION PORTION. SO AT A ROLLBACK RATE FOR THE TRANSPORTATION TRUST FUND. THAT WOULD REDUCE OUR FUNDING TOWARDS, EXCUSE ME TOWARDS THAT, OUR FIVE YEAR INFRASTRUCTURE PROGRAM AS WELL. OUR 250 MILLION UNFUNDED CAPITAL PROJECTS WOULD INCREASE IF WE HAVE 2.6 MILLION LESS EVERY YEAR. THAT 200. AND WE'RE NOT GOING TO BE ABLE TO FUND OUR PROGRAM FOR THE NEXT FIVE YEARS. EVERY PROJECT SO THAT THAT 250 WILL INCREASE. ADDITIONALLY, THE STAFFING REQUEST FOR THE LITTER PROGRAM AND SIDEWALK CREW WOULD WOULD BE REDUCED AS FAR AS PART OF A ROLLBACK RATE. WE ARE RECOMMENDING A FLAT MILLAGE RATE FOR TRANSPORTATION. AND AGAIN, PRIMARILY BECAUSE OF THAT 250 MILLION DEFICIT IN OUR TRANSPORTATION PROGRAM. EVEN AT A FLAT MILLAGE RATE, IT'S STILL A $250 MILLION DEFICIT AT SOME POINT. DOWN THE ROAD, WE MAY HAVE TO ADDRESS THAT ELEPHANT IN THE ROOM. AND IT WOULD ALSO INCLUDE YOU KNOW, THE STAFFING REQUEST, AGAIN FOR THE LITTER CREW AND THE SIDEWALK CREW. HERE'S JUST A SNAPSHOT OF THE TRANSPORTATION TRUST FUND. ABOUT ALMOST 50%. ABOUT HALF THE BUDGET GOES TO MAINTENANCE AND INVESTMENT OF INFRASTRUCTURE. SO THE CAPITAL PROJECTS, THE PAVEMENT MANAGEMENT. AND AS WELL 250 MILLION UNFUNDED CAPITAL PROGRAM. MOVING TO THE COUNTY HEALTH UNIT. MILLAGE RATE. RECOMMENDATION AS WELL AT FLAT MILLAGE RATE. AT FLAT MILLAGE RATE. THE THE PROPERTY TAXES ARE 897,000 AT ROLLBACK RATE. NINE. I THINK THAT'S BACKWARDS. YEAH. AT FLAT IT SHOULD BE. 945 AT ROLLBACK. 897. SO AGAIN WE'RE RECOMMENDING FLAT. AND PART OF THAT REASON IS WE WANT TO CONTINUE FUNDING OUR LOCAL PUBLIC HEALTH AND SAFETY PROGRAMS. AND IN TALKING TO THE HEALTH DEPARTMENT, THEY ARE SEEING REDUCTIONS IN FEDERAL FUNDING AT THIS TIME. PRIMARILY FOR HIV SERVICES AND EMERGENCY PREPAREDNESS. ALL RIGHT. THE FIRE FUND MILLAGE. THIS IS WHERE WE ARE RECOMMENDING A MILLAGE INCREASE AT FLAT TAXES. THE FIRE DISTRICT FUND WOULD HAVE A STRUCTURAL DEFICIT OF 4.3 MILLION. SO IT WOULD BE SPENDING 4.3 MILLION IN RECURRING EXPENSES, MORE THAN IT WOULD BE BRINGING IN. THAT WOULD DEPLETE THE FUND. PROBABLY BY LATE 2027, MAYBE 2028, IF WE'RE LUCKY. AT A ROLLBACK RATE, THAT STRUCTURAL DEFICIT WOULD INCREASE ANOTHER 4 MILLION TO 8.3 MILLION A YEAR. THAT WOULD DEPLETE THE RESERVES BY 2027. SO WE'RE RECOMMENDING A MILLAGE INCREASE THERE. AND IT REALLY IT KIND OF WORKS OUT TO THE INCREASE OR THE MILLAGE RATE THAT WAS THERE FOR FIRE PRIOR TO THE PREVIOUS ROLLBACK. SO IN 2020, THE MILLAGE RATE WAS 1.47. THE RECOMMENDATION IS KIND OF TO REESTABLISH THAT MARK AS THE MILLAGE RATE FOR FIRE. AND THAT WOULD GIVE THEM 81.6 MILLION IN IN PROPERTY TAXES FOR NEXT YEAR. AT A ROLLBACK RATE. SO AGAIN, THE FIRE DISTRICT FUND WOULD BE DEPLETED BY FY 27. [07:25:02] IF WE WENT TO THE ROLLBACK RATE, WE WOULD NOT RECOMMEND STAFFING FOR ANY OF THE NEW FIRE STATIONS. WE HAVE SILVERLEAF STAFFING FOR SILVERLEAF IN THE BUDGET THAT WE WOULD NOT RECOMMEND MOVING FORWARD WITH THAT. HOWEVER, WE'VE ALREADY BUILT THE WE'RE ALREADY IN PROCESS OF BUILDING THE FACILITY, SO WE MAY WE WOULD HAVE A A FIRE STATION CONSTRUCTED WITH WITHOUT STAFF TO TO STAFF IT. IN ADDITION, AT A ROLLBACK RATE THERE WOULD BE REDUCTIONS TO CURRENT STAFFING. SO YOU KNOW AT A $8.3 MILLION DEFICIT YOU KNOW, NOT STAFFING ONE FIRE STATION DOES NOT FULLY GET YOU THERE. SO THERE WOULD BE REDUCTIONS TO CURRENT STAFFING AT THE RECOMMENDED MILLAGE RATE INCREASE. IT ALLOWS THE FIRE DISTRICT FUND TO CONTINUE OPERATIONS, TO CONTINUE WITH THE NEW FIRE STATIONS BOTH NEXT YEAR AND AND DOWN THE ROAD. SO AGAIN, WE RECOMMEND REINSTATING THAT MILLAGE RATE TO THAT PRE-COVID 1.47. AND HERE'S A BREAKDOWN OF THE FIRE DISTRICT FUND. AS YOU CAN SEE THAT PERSONNEL AND OPERATING ARE 82% OF THE BUDGET. IT IS PRIMARILY SALARIES, BENEFITS. AND YOU KNOW, IN SOME OPERATIONS, YOU KNOW, IT IS ALL RECURRING EXPENSES RELATED TO FIRE. AT THIS RECOMMENDATION CUMULATIVE RESERVES WOULD BE ABOUT 12.9 MILLION. JOY HAD MENTIONED AN EMERGENCY RESERVE FOR FIRE AS WELL. AND EVEN AT 12.9 MILLION THAT THAT DOESN'T REALLY GET THEM BOTH A 60 DAY RESERVE, WHICH IS SOMEWHAT OF A REA RECOMMENDATION WHICH IS A GFA RECOMMENDATION AS WELL AS AN EMERGENCY RESERVE. AND JUST TO KIND OF PUT IT IN PERSPECTIVE 60 DAY WOULD BE ABOUT $13 MILLION BY ITSELF AND AN EMERGENCY RESERVE. SO LOOKING AT WHAT WAS EXPENSED IN EMERGENCY RESPONSE JUST IN LAST SEASON, STORM, WHICH WAS MILTON, DEBBIE AND HELENE, I BELIEVE WAS ABOUT 1.3, 1.4 MILLION. AND JUST JUST SALARIES AND BENEFITS FOR THE RESPONSE. AND THEN FINALLY, THE GENERAL FUND MILLAGE FLAT TAXES WOULD BE 271 MILLION. ROLLBACK RATE WOULD REDUCE THAT TO 257 MILLION. AND AT THE ROLLBACK RATE THE GENERAL FUND WOULD BE IN A $3 MILLION STRUCTURAL DEFICIT. SO EXPENSES WOULD BE GREATER THAN REVENUES AT A ROLLBACK RATE. ADDITIONALLY, WE ARE RECOMMENDING THAT EMERGENCY RESPONSE RESERVE OF 25 MILLION AND RECOMMENDING WE ARE RECOMMENDING A MILLAGE INCREASE. IT IS NOT TO THE ROLLBACK RATE. IT IS REALLY TO THE POINT WHERE THE FUND IS IN A KIND OF A STRUCTURAL BALANCE. AND THE TAXES AT THE RECOMMENDED RATE WOULD BE 260.3 MILLION AS PART OF THE INITIAL BUDGET SESSIONS. AREAS WERE IDENTIFIED AS TO WHAT IT WOULD TAKE TO GET TO A ROLLBACK RATE. I DON'T HAVE DOLLAR AMOUNTS HERE BECAUSE SOME OF THE REVENUES HAVE CHANGED SINCE THAT TIME. SOME OF THE EXPENSES HAVE CHANGED SINCE THAT TIME. BUT THESE ARE SOME OF THE EXAMPLES OF OF WHAT IT WOULD TAKE TO TO REALLY GET TO THAT ROLLBACK RATE. I'M NOT GOING TO GO THROUGH EVERY AREA HERE. BUT THEY'RE PRIMARILY RELATED TO STAFFING REDUCTIONS, OPERATIONS REDUCTIONS, AND REALLY A REDUCTION IN THE LEVEL OF SERVICE THAT WE'RE CURRENTLY PROVIDING. AT THE ROLLBACK RATE, IT'S KIND OF SIMPLE SYNOPSIS HERE. AT THE ROLLBACK RATE, THE GENERAL FUND WOULD SEE A REDUCED LEVEL OF SERVICES AT THE RECOMMENDED MILLAGE RATE. WE ARE WE WOULD SEE, BE ABLE TO MAINTAIN THE CURRENT LEVEL OF SERVICES. SO FOR THE GENERAL FUND, WE ARE RECOMMENDING A MILLAGE DECREASE TO COMPLETELY OFFSET THE INCREASE THAT IS OCCURRING IN THE FIRE DISTRICT FUND. IN ADDITION TO THAT, WE ARE RECOMMENDING AN ADDITIONAL MILLAGE DECREASE OF A 0.1 MILLS. THAT'S AN ADDITIONAL ABOUT $6 MILLION IN REDUCTION IN TAXES. HERE'S JUST A SNAPSHOT AGAIN OF THE GENERAL FUND. YOU CAN SEE THE DIFFERENT AREAS. 40 ABOUT 40% OF THE OVERALL GENERAL FUND IS RELATED TO BOTH SHERIFF AND PUBLIC SAFETY. THAT THAT PUBLIC SAFETY EMERGENCY RESPONSE. AND THEN JUST TO NOTE THAT OUR RESERVES WE HAVE A FISCAL POLICY RESERVE, WHICH IS AT A RECOMMENDATION LEVEL OF A 60 DAY RESERVE. THAT'S ABOUT 53.7 MILLION. EMERGENCY RESPONSE RESERVE OF 25 MILLION. AGAIN, THAT'S 20 MILLION FOR EMERGENCY RESPONSE, PLUS ANOTHER 5 MILLION FOR GRANT MATCH. WE HAVE SOME RESTRICTED RESERVES. THAT'S PRIMARILY DOLLARS THAT HAVE BEEN RECEIVED FOR SPECIFIC PURPOSES. [07:30:07] PRIMARILY AFFORDABLE HOUSING. AND THEY'RE VERY RESTRICTED IN THE USE OF THOSE FUNDS. SO IF WE'RE NOT ABLE TO APPROPRIATE THEM, WE PUT THEM IN THIS RESTRICTED RESERVE. AND THEN WE HAVE BEYOND THAT. SO UNRESTRICTED RESERVES, THIS IS KIND OF THE FLEXIBILITY THAT THE COMMISSION WOULD HAVE THROUGHOUT THE YEAR TO BE ABLE TO AMEND THE BUDGET. WE HAVE ABOUT 8.8 MILLION IN UNRESTRICTED RESERVES FOR FISCAL YEAR 2026. AND THEN KIND OF BRINGING IT ALL BACK. SO AT THE RECOMMENDATION FOR MILLAGE RATES, THERE IS A DECREASE TO THE GENERAL FUND. THERE IS AN INCREASE TO THE FIRE DISTRICT FUND, AS WELL AS DECREASES TO THE STREET LIGHTING DISTRICTS IN THE IN THE GREEN THERE WITH ALL OTHERS REMAINING FLAT. SO WHAT KIND OF IMPACT DOES THIS RECOMMENDATION HAVE ON PROPERTY OWNERS? SO THE KIND OF THE SECOND COLUMN THERE ARE WHAT YOUR TAXES WOULD BE AT THE ROLLBACK MILL, MILLAGE RATES. AND THIS I'VE TRIED TO ALIGN THIS WITH THE NOTICE OF PROPOSED TAXES THAT WILL BE GOING OUT TO PROPERTY OWNERS. THAT WOULD BE EQUATE TO COLUMN TWO WHICH WAS WHICH IS TITLED TAXES. IF NO BUDGET CHANGE IS MADE. I DON'T REALLY LIKE THAT TERMINOLOGY, BUT THAT'S THE LANGUAGE THEY USE. THE NEXT COLUMN, THERE ARE TAXES AT THE RECOMMENDED MILLAGE RATE. AND THAT WOULD EQUATE ON THE TRIM NOTICE TO COLUMN THREE TAXES IF PROPOSED PROPOSED BUDGET CHANGE IS MADE. ALONG THE LEFT ARE I JUST KIND OF PICKED SOME VALUES OF TAXABLE VALUES FOR PROPERTIES. AND THEN ON THE FAR RIGHT YOU CAN SEE THE DIFFERENCE. SO OUR OUR SINGLE FAMILY HOMES THROUGHOUT THE COUNTY. ON AVERAGE, THEIR TAXABLE VALUE IS ABOUT 350,000. SO AT AT ROLLBACK RATE, THEY WOULD PAY 22,000 TO 90. AT RECOMMENDATION, IT WOULD BE ABOUT A $88 DIFFERENCE FROM FROM FLAT TAXES. AND THEN REALLY ON AVERAGE OUR COMMERCIAL AND INDUSTRIAL PROPERTIES, OUR, THEIR TAXABLE VALUE IS ABOUT 1.25 MILLION. THAT'S THE BOTTOM ROW THERE. THEIR DIFFERENCE BETWEEN RECOMMENDED MILLAGE RATES AND ROLLBACK RATE IS ABOUT $315. AND THAT REALLY KIND OF CONCLUDES MY PRESENTATION. FOR NOW. THE REMAINING SLIDES ARE THE PROPOSED MOTION. SO I'LL STOP RIGHT THERE FOR QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS. I HAD ONE QUESTION. SURE. I THINK WHAT YOU RECOMMEND IS, IS EXCELLENT. I THINK I SAW THE AMOUNT OF EFFORT THE ADMINISTRATOR WENT TO SHOWING ROLLBACK VERSUS NOT ROLLBACK, BUT ALSO TRYING TO CUT THE BUDGET, WHICH IT SEEMS LIKE YOU HAVE. THE ONLY QUESTION I HAVE IS WITH FIRE. WHERE DO THEY GET REVENUE AND HOW CAN WE INCREASE THE REVENUE AGAINST WHAT THEY NEED TO DO? SO REALLY THE PRIMARY REVENUE SOURCE FOR FIRE IS, IS PROPERTY TAXES. I'M NOT SURE OF ANY OTHER FEES OR OR CHARGES THAT WE COULD DO. I MEAN, AN ALTERNATIVE WOULD BE TO CREATE A NON AD VALOREM ASSESSMENT AND SET A FEE, AN AMOUNT THAT EVERY PROPERTY OWNER WOULD HAVE TO PAY, BUT IT'S STILL REVENUE COMING FROM THE PROPERTY OWNERS. WELL, I KNOW THERE IS REVENUE FOR THE AMBULANCES SERVICES YOU CAN THAT KIND OF THING. THE AMBULANCE PORTION IS PART OF THE GENERAL FUND. SO YES, THERE IS REVENUE WITHIN THE GENERAL FUND FOR FOR THE EMS SIDE. YEAH. SO BUT I'M JUST TRYING TO FIGURE OUT MORE REVENUE SOURCES TO OFFSET SOME OF THAT. SO YEAH, WE HAVE WE'RE COUNTING FOR ANY ESTIMATED AMBULANCE SERVICE FEES. WITH THOSE A LOT OF TIMES COME WHEN YOU TRANSPORT PEOPLE, THERE'S INSURANCE INVOLVED. WE DON'T ALWAYS GET THE FULL FEE. THERE'S. BECAUSE THEY'RE WRITE OFFS RELATED TO INSURANCE. BUT WE KNOW HOW ADAMS KIND OF OUR GRANT GUY. MAYBE THERE'S SOMEONE WHO CAN WORK THE INSURANCE PART AND MAKES MORE MONEY ON THE SIDE. I DON'T KNOW, I'M JUST THROWING IT OUT THERE. THE COUNTY IS YOU KNOW, WE'RE ALWAYS APPLYING FOR GRANTS. WE HAVE APPLIED THIS YEAR FOR ANOTHER SAFER GRANT. IT'S A VERY COMPETITIVE GRANT PROCESS, AS ADAM WILL TELL YOU. NO GUARANTEES THAT WILL BE AWARDED, I THINK. I DON'T THINK WE'LL EVEN KNOW UNTIL REALLY LATER THIS CALENDAR YEAR. SO THERE'S NOTHING RELATED TO THAT IN THE BUDGET, BUT WE HAVE APPLIED. IS THERE AN EXPERT IN INSURANCE IN MAYBE SHAUNA'S AREA THAT COULD WORK THE, YOU KNOW, RETURN ON INSURANCE? I DON'T KNOW. I'M JUST. YEAH, I THINK IT'S MORE OR LESS WHAT? YOU KNOW WHAT? WHAT SOME OF THOSE ALLOWANCES ARE THAT INSURANCE COMPANIES HAVE. SO IF YOU'RE TRANSPORTED AND YOU HAVE INSURANCE. YOU KNOW, INSURANCE COMPANIES WILL ONLY PAY A CERTAIN AMOUNT FOR THEY KIND OF HAVE STANDARD RATES THAT THEY PAY. OKAY. ALL RIGHT. THANK YOU. COMMISSIONER TAYLOR? [07:35:05] YES. THANK YOU. I JUST HAD A QUESTION. THE AMBULANCE GOING TO THE GENERAL FUND. WELL, IS THAT JUST BECAUSE IT'S ALWAYS BEEN LIKE THAT, OR WHY DOES IT GO TO THE GENERAL FUND? SO THE THE AMBULANCE IS PART OF THE GENERAL FUND. IT IS A COUNTY WIDE SERVICE. WE WE PROVIDE THAT SERVICE TO ALL AREAS OF THE COUNTY, INCLUDING THE CITY OF SAINT AUGUSTINE. THEY DO NOT HAVE THEIR OWN AMBULANCE SERVICE PROGRAM. FIRE DISTRICT FUND IS SEPARATE BECAUSE IT IS NOT COUNTYWIDE. IT IS EVERYTHING EXCEPT THE CITY OF SAINT AUGUSTINE. SO THAT'S KIND OF BEEN THE REASON WHY WHY BOTH OF THOSE HAVE BEEN SEPARATED BETWEEN FUNDS. IT IS ONE, REALLY ONE OPERATION UNDER CHIEF MCGEE, BUT IT IS SEPARATED BETWEEN THOSE TWO FUNDS. COMMISSIONER MURPHY. SO IF WE WANTED TO INCREASE FUNDING TO FIRE, IT WOULD HAVE TO COME OUT OF GENERAL REVENUE. THAT'S WHERE IT ALL COMES FROM, RIGHT? I MEAN, IT COMES FROM THE MILLAGE RATE THAT THAT IS SET FOR FIRE. OKAY. SO. ALL RIGHT. SO PUBLIC COMMENT. THANK YOU. YOU MIGHT WE MIGHT HAVE YOU BACK, BUT THANKS. YEAH. GREAT JOB. WE WOULD NOW TAKE PUBLIC COMMENT ON AGENDA ITEM NUMBER ONE. THANK YOU. WAITING ALL DAY FOR THIS MOMENT. THANK YOU. LADIES AND GENTLEMEN, AT SLAVEN BOX THREE, EIGHT FOUR AT SLAVEN COMM. FIRST OF ALL, I WANT TO THANK THE ADMINISTRATION FOR THEIR PRESENTATION. SECOND, I'D LIKE TO NOTE THAT THE COUNTY ADMINISTRATOR REFERRED TO THE PEOPLE IN THIS ROOM AS THE AUDIENCE. I THINK SHE MISSPOKE. DEMOCRACY IS NOT A SPECTATOR SPORT. BUT HERE, HERE IN CORRUPT SAINT JOHNS COUNTY, WHICH REVEREND DOCTOR MARTIN LUTHER KING JUNIOR CALLED THE MOST LAWLESS PLACE IN AMERICA. SOME OF Y'ALL, APPARENTLY IN THE STAFF, APPARENTLY THINKS THE PEOPLE IN THIS ROOM ARE SURPLUS. THAT WERE THE AUDIENCE? NO. THE STAFF WORKS FOR US. YOU WORK FOR US. LET'S GET THAT STRAIGHT. AND WHEN WE HAVE A HOSTILE WORKING ENVIRONMENT THAT FAILS TO INFORM EMPLOYEES ABOUT PERTINENT UNITED STATES SUPREME COURT DECISIONS THAT AFFECT THEIR RIGHTS AND DOESN'T TELL THEM WHAT THE SUPREME COURT SAYS AND DOESN'T ANSWER QUESTIONS. AND WHEN COUNTY ADMINISTRATION RAN OFF FIRE CHIEF SCOTT BULLARD AND RAN OFF. TREY ALEXANDER ASNER, THE HISTORIC PRESERVATION OFFICER, AS I THINK THE NEW POSITION IS NOW GOING TO BE CALLED UNDER THE COMP PLAN. THAT WAS WRONG. AND WHEN THE COUNTY ADMINISTRATION WOULD MEET WITH CHIEF BULLARD OR MR. ASNER, THEY SHOWED THEIR CONTEMPT FOR DEMOCRACY THE SAME WAY AS THEY DID WHEN THEY REFERRED TO THE PEOPLE IN THIS ROOM AS BEING IN THE AUDIENCE. NOW, UNDER THE UNCONSTITUTIONAL LAW DOCTRINE THAT WAS CITED IN A CASE THAT WAS CITED THIS MORNING BY MR. METCALF, I READ THAT CASE. I THINK IT'S UNCONSTITUTIONAL TO EXPECT THAT A SAINT JOHNS COUNTY HAVE TO RESPECT A MAFIA LIKE OATH OF OMERTA AND NOT QUESTION BAD DECISIONS THAT WERE GOING TO AFFECT AFRICAN AMERICAN HISTORY. I'M REALLY DELIGHTED THAT THE COUNTY COMMISSION HALTED IN THEIR TRACKS ADMINISTRATION'S PLANS TO DESTROY THE BUILDING WHERE DOCTOR KING WAS INCARCERATED. THE ELK COUNTY JAIL. DESPITE WHAT THE SHERIFF TOLD ME, HE SAID HE WAS OPEN AND AMENABLE TO HAVING A CULTURAL RESOURCES REVIEW BOARD MEETING ON THE ISSUE. AFTER I TALKED TO HIM PRIVATELY LAST YEAR, COUNTY ADMINISTRATION APPLIED FOR A DEMOLITION PERMIT FOR THE OLD JAIL. NOW WE HAVE AN ANNUAL EVENT THERE, THE SAINT AUGUSTINE JEWISH AMERICAN HISTORICAL SOCIETY AND MAYOR NANCY SYKES KLINE HAS THREE YEARS IN A ROW. READ THE LETTER FROM THE 16 RABBIS. THE LARGEST MASS ARREST OF RABBIS IN AMERICAN HISTORY. BUT WE ARE WASTING MONEY IN SAINT JOHNS COUNTY. WE NEED TO HAVE PUBLIC ACCESS TV WITH THIS MILLION DOLLAR TV STUDIO WE HAVE HERE. WE NEED TO RESPOND QUICKLY TO RECORDS REQUESTS INSTEAD OF STIFFING PEOPLE FOR YEARS, INCLUDING THE NEW YORK TIMES, BY THE WAY. AND JESSE DID THAT WHEN BOGDANOVICH REQUESTED RECORDS IN 2017 AND HE GOT PROMOTED. THAT'S A SIN, A CRIME, AND A TORT. WE COULD DO BETTER. IT'S ABOUT A BUDGET IS SUPPOSED TO BE A MORAL DOCUMENT, AND I DON'T SEE THIS AS BEING A PARTICULARLY MORAL DOCUMENT. THANK YOU, LADIES AND GENTLEMEN. ANYONE ELSE FOR PUBLIC COMMENT? SEEING NONE, WE'LL CLOSE UP. SORRY. YOU GOTTA GO QUICK AROUND HERE. I KNOW, I KNOW, I WANTED TO BE LAST, SO. GOOD. GOOD TO SEE YOU. DAVE STEVENS, SAINT JOHNS COUNTY PROFESSIONAL FIREFIGHTERS. I THINK IT WAS MADE OBVIOUS THAT THAT FIRE RESCUE IS UNDERFUNDED. I THINK IT'S KIND OF IMPORTANT TO PUT IT IN PERSPECTIVE, WHAT THAT MEANS. AND I THINK THEY DID A GREAT JOB, YOU KNOW, ESPECIALLY WHEN YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT REDUCING STAFF AND STUFF LIKE THAT. [07:40:06] I MEAN, IT'S IMPORTANT FOR THE PUBLIC TO KNOW THAT, BUT TO KNOW WHAT THAT REALLY MEANS AS WE OPERATE TODAY, WE'RE 32 ENGINEER PARAMEDICS SHORT ON THE STREET TODAY. THAT'S NEARLY 25% OF THE STAFF FOR THAT POSITION. SHORT TODAY. OUR DEPARTMENT FUNCTIONS ON OVERTIME TO OPERATE DAILY TODAY. SO FUNDING US LESS OR EVEN STAYING THE SAME JUST ISN'T EVEN FEASIBLE. YOU KNOW, OUR FIREFIGHTERS ARE ALREADY OVERWORKED. WE'RE RUNNING THIN. WE NEED HELP. SO I APPRECIATE JOY AND OUR TEAM COMING FORWARD. THIS. I KNOW ALL OF YOU HAVE LISTENED TO THIS, BUT I WANT TO MAKE SURE WE UNDERSTAND THE REAL PROBLEM HERE WHEN WE'RE TALKING ABOUT REDUCING STAFF. IF WE DID ROLLBACK OR EVEN STAYED THE SAME, IT'S NOT POSSIBLE. IT'S JUST NOT POSSIBLE. I MEAN, WHAT THAT EQUATES TO IS WORDS THAT NOBODY WANTS TO USE, WHICH IS DROWNING OUT TRUCKS AND SHUTTING DOWN STATIONS, LET ALONE BUILDING THEM. WE NEED MORE STATIONS. WE NEED MORE STAFF, YOU KNOW, AND THIS IS ULTIMATELY GOING TO BE A TAX SAVINGS BECAUSE THEY'RE GOING TO GET REDUCED INSURANCE RATES WHEN ALL THIS HAPPENS. SO I JUST WANTED TO PUT IT IN A LITTLE BIT OF PERSPECTIVE FOR YOU. I HAVE COMPLETE FAITH IN THIS BOARD AND DOING WHAT'S RIGHT FOR PUBLIC SAFETY. SO THANK YOU FOR THE TIME. THANK YOU SIR. ANYONE ELSE FOR PUBLIC COMMENT? 109. LAUREL WOULD WEIGH 132086. AND I LIVE IN SAINT JOHNS COUNTY. THAT'S A MOUTHFUL. FIRST OF ALL, I THINK IT'S A GREAT BUDGET. I THINK THAT IT'S A GOOD BALANCE BETWEEN BEING REASONABLE AND TRYING TO REDUCE FOR THE TAXPAYER AS BEST THAT YOU CAN. BUT WE WE NEED TO KEEP OUR SERVICES AND FOR FIRE AND RESCUE. I'VE GOT A NEPHEW THAT'S A FIREMAN IN THE CITY OF BALTIMORE. AND I SPENT A WEEK WITH HIM RECENTLY. THEY ARE SO UNDERSTAFFED. AND IT'S NOT ONLY BECAUSE OF LACK OF MONEY, BUT NOBODY WANTS TO BE A FIREMAN IN THE CITY OF BALTIMORE. I HOPE WHEN WE PUT THE REQUISITIONS OUT TO GET OUR NEW PEOPLE, THAT WE GET GOOD PEOPLE THAT WANT TO COME TO SAINT JOHNS COUNTY BECAUSE WE LOVE OUR FIRST RESPONDERS ACROSS THE BOARD. AND I'M WILLING TO MAKE ANY SACRIFICE I HAVE TO MAKE TO GET THAT UP TO FUNDING. BECAUSE WHEN I CALL THE EMS AT 2 A.M. IN THE MORNING, THEY'RE THERE DOING WHAT THEY DO BEST. AND THE POLICE OFFICERS HERE ARE AWESOME. THEY DO THEIR VERY BEST TO BE PUBLIC SERVANTS. THE REST OF THE MONEY THAT WE'RE SPENDING ON STAFF, WE'VE GOT A REALLY GOOD STAFF HERE. NO MATTER WHO YOU CALL WHEN YOU CALL THEM. THEIR FIRST WORDS ARE, I'M HERE TO SERVE YOU. YOU KNOW, I THINK WE NEED TO GO WITH WHAT WE HAVE HERE BECAUSE IT'S A IT'S A REALLY GOOD BUDGET THAT DOESN'T TAKE ADVANTAGE OF THE TAXPAYER AND GETS US THE SERVICES THAT WE NEED. THANK YOU SO VERY MUCH. THANK YOU. ANYONE ELSE? SEEING NONE, WE'LL CLOSE. PUBLIC COMMENT. ANY MORE FROM THE BOARD? YES, MA'AM. OH, COMMISSIONER WHITEHURST. AND I APOLOGIZE. I KNOW IT'S BEEN AN INCREDIBLY LONG DAY, BUT I HAVE A SERIES OF QUESTIONS. MR. SCHROEDER, WOULD YOU MIND COMING BACK UP? I ASKED YOU YESTERDAY IN MY BRIEFING IF YOU HAD A SIDE BY SIDE LOOK AT OUR COUNTY'S MILLAGE RATE AGAINST THE OTHER COUNTIES IN NORTHEAST FLORIDA'S MILLAGE RATES. AND I MENTIONED THIS YESTERDAY IN THE BRIEFING, IS LAST MINUTE. DID YOU HAVE TIME TO PUT THAT TOGETHER? SO. IT'S. I DID GATHER A COMPARISON TO SOME DEGREE. I COMPARED AS BEST I CAN BECAUSE NOT ALL MILLAGE RATES ARE EQUAL ACROSS VARIOUS COUNTIES. I DID TRY TO KIND OF NOTATE ON THE LEFT IF IT WAS A LITTLE BIT DIFFERENT TITLE TO IT WHAT THAT TITLE WAS SO FOR SAINT JOHN'S COUNTY, IT'S 6.79. AND THAT REALLY IS JUST THOSE COUNTY WIDE. PLUS FIRE DOES NOT INCLUDE THOSE SPECIAL SPECIAL DISTRICTS WHICH ARE, YOU KNOW, SMALL SECTIONS OF THE COUNTY. COMPARING THAT TO, TO OUR NEIGHBORING COUNTIES, BOTH TO THE NORTH ARE REALLY TO THE NORTHWEST AND SOUTH. [07:45:08] OUR MILLAGE RATE IS IS LOWER. THE NEXT CLOSEST ONE WOULD BE NASSAU COUNTY. AT 7.08. THANK YOU. WADE. I DID A LITTLE BIT OF RESEARCH A COUPLE OF YEARS AGO ON MY OWN, AND THAT'S ESSENTIALLY WHAT I CAME UP WITH. NASSAU COUNTY WAS THE CLOSEST AT 7.00. WE ARE AT 6.8 AFTER THE 2021 FISCAL YEAR ROLLBACK. I'D LIKE THE BOARD TO CONSIDER THIS. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT IS NOT SITTING HERE AT 530 IN THE EVENING BECAUSE THEY HAVE EXTRA FUNDING. THIS IS CRITICALLY IMPORTANT TO OUR PUBLIC SAFETY DIRECTOR, SKIP COLE. DIRECTOR TARA WILD SAYS HAVE A LOT OF BETTER THINGS TO DO. THIS IS CRITICALLY IMPORTANT FOR OUR PUBLIC SAFETY. I'VE HAD MANY CONVERSATIONS OVER THE LAST FIVE YEARS WITH BILL DUDLEY. I MEAN, WHO ON THIS BOARD WOULD NOT WANT TO DO MORE FOR OUR VETERANS? I MEAN, IF WE'RE WORTH OUR SALT AS CIVILIANS, THEN WE NEED TO TAKE CARE OF OUR VETERANS. EVERYBODY UNDERSTANDS THE $250 MILLION IN TRANSPORTATION INFRASTRUCTURE DEFICIT THAT WE HAVE IN THIS COUNTY, AND THE STRATEGY HAS ALWAYS BEEN WE'RE GOING TO CAMPAIGN ON SLOWING THE GROWTH SO THE INFRASTRUCTURE CAN CATCH UP. BUT WHEN YOU SLOW THE GROWTH, YOU DEPLETE YOUR IMPACT FEES THAT WE GET FROM THE GROWTH. WE'RE GOING TO RELY MORE AND MORE HEAVILY ON THE TRANSPORTATION TRUST FUND. SO WE'RE GOING TO SAVE COUNTY TAXPAYERS $6 MILLION THIS YEAR BY SETTING THE MAXIMUM MILLAGE RATE AT WHAT THE STAFF IS PROPOSING, BUT THAT'S GOING TO GROW TO ABOUT $70 MILLION WITH INFLATION OVER THE NEXT TEN YEARS. CAN WE REALLY AFFORD TO CUT $70 MILLION FROM THE LOWEST MILLAGE RATE IN NORTHEAST FLORIDA OVER THE NEXT TEN YEARS, WHEN WE HAVE THESE CRITICAL SERVICES? SO WHAT? MY MY ASK IS THIS. YOU DON'T HAVE TO MAKE THE FINAL DECISION TODAY. BUT AS MR. SCHROEDER SAID AT THE OUTSET OF HIS REMARKS, WE CAN'T GO UP AGAIN AFTER TONIGHT. CAN WE NOT SET THE MAXIMUM MILLAGE RATE TONIGHT AT WHAT THE CURRENT MILLAGE RATE IS, WHICH IS 6.8 MILLS, AND STILL CONSIDER CUTTING THAT POINT ONE MILL THAT WILL TAKE $6 MILLION A YEAR OUT OF THE BUDGET FOR THE FORESEEABLE FUTURE. WE CAN STILL MAKE THAT DECISION AT THE AT THE BUDGET HEARINGS IN SEPTEMBER. THAT'S MY REQUEST. ARE YOU FINISHED? YES. ALL RIGHT. SO THERE'S TWO. TWO COMMENTS. HERE IS THE REASON WHY WE'RE AT 4.4 COMPARED TO FLAGLER, PUTNAM, VOLUSIA, CLAY AND NASSAU IS WE HAVE HOMES THAT ARE ARE AT $510 MILLION IN PONTE VEDRA BEACH. WE HAVE HOMES THAT ARE AVERAGING $550,000. THAT'S WHY WE HAVE A LOWER MILLAGE RATE, BECAUSE WE'RE MAKING THE SAME AMOUNT OF MONEY AS THE OTHER OTHER AREAS ARE IN CLAY COUNTY. WHO HAS A LOWER HOME PRICE? THAT'S ONE. TWO. I PROMISED THE PEOPLE THAT I REPRESENT THAT I WOULD HELP LOWER TAXES, AND I AM NOT GOING TO AGREE TO THAT. I THINK WE HAVE A GREAT COMPROMISE, I THINK. JOY ANDREWS HAS WORKED VERY HARD WITH THE STAFF. I WATCHED HOW SHE HAD THE STAFF PRESENT, YOU KNOW, ROLLBACK, NOT ROLLBACK. AND I THINK SHE FOUND A HAPPY MEDIUM. AND I AM NOT GOING TO TEASE THE PUBLIC WITHOUT GOING FORWARD TO SAY, LOOK, WE HAVE DONE OUR BEST. WE'VE CUT OUR BUDGET, BUT WE'VE SUPPORTED FIRE. I'M SORRY. I DO NOT AGREE WITH YOU. ALL RIGHT, SOMETHING ELSE. JUST TO CONSIDER WITH THE OTHER COUNTIES, OUR PROPERTY VALUES ARE CERTAINLY HIGHER. THAT'S WHAT MAKES SAINT JOHN'S COUNTY BEAUTIFUL. WE ARE THE ONLY COUNTY IN NORTHEAST FLORIDA THAT HAS NO LOCAL OPTION. SALES TAX. WE ARE ONE OF THE ONLY COUNTIES IN THE STATE THAT IS CHARGING THE LOWEST GAS TAX THAT WE ARE ALLOWED TO CHARGE BY LAW. THAT ALL HAS CONTRIBUTED TO SOME OF THE FUNDING DEFICITS THAT WE'RE SEEING IN EVERY AREA OF COUNTY GOVERNMENT. SO AGAIN, IT'S NOT JUST PUBLIC SAFETY. IT'S NOT JUST TRANSPORTATION INFRASTRUCTURE. IT'S NOT JUST VETERAN'S SERVICES AND LIBRARY AND PARKS AND REC. IT'S ALSO THE NONPROFITS THAT ARE GETTING DODGED IN BOTH TALLAHASSEE AND WASHINGTON, D.C. IT'S ALL THE THINGS THAT WOULD MAKE THIS COMMUNITY BETTER THAT WE JUST CAN'T AFFORD TO DO. WE DON'T HAVE A LOCAL OPTION SALES TAX. ALL WE HAVE IS OUR PROPERTY TAXES. AND I WOULD JUST ASK FOR CONSIDERATION TO SET THE MAXIMUM TONIGHT AT WHAT IT CURRENTLY IS. DON'T RAISE IT A SINGLE MILL AND WE CAN STILL LOWER IT. THE ONE MILL THAT IS RECOMMENDED IN SEPTEMBER IF YOU HAVE THE THE THE CONVERSATIONS WITH DEPARTMENT HEADS BETWEEN NOW AND SEPTEMBER. IF YOU STILL THINK THAT'S NECESSARY, THAT'S STILL AN OPTION. BUT IF WE SET THE MAXIMUM MILLAGE AT THIS REDUCTION, WE CAN'T GO UP IF WE HAVE SECOND THOUGHTS IN SEPTEMBER. I'M SORRY. I JUST THINK WE MADE WE NEED TO MAKE THE COMMITMENT TO THE PEOPLE BECAUSE THAT'S WHY WE'RE HERE. AND I KNOW THAT THAT WE CAN BE MORE EFFICIENT. AND I KNOW THAT THE PRESIDENT TRUMP ASKED FOR DOGE. GOVERNOR DESANTIS ASKED FOR DOGE. AND I THINK IT'S WE HAVE TO FOLLOW SUIT. AND IT'S A REALLY IMPORTANT TO OUR COUNTY THAT WE SHOW THAT WE'RE DOING WHAT THE PEOPLE WANT. AND LOOK, YOU KNOW, I WAS KNOCKING ON DOORS. THERE'S NOT A LOT OF PEOPLE WHO CAN EVEN AFFORD THE EXTRA $100. I MEAN, IT'S IT'S A TOUGH TIME FOR EVERYONE RIGHT NOW WITH THE UTILITIES GOING UP WITH OUR GARBAGE FEE GOING UP WITH THE WATER FEES GOING UP AND FRANKLY, [07:50:07] CABLES GOING UP. SO I'M SORRY. I JUST THINK WE SHOULD BE COMMITTED TO OUR CONSTITUENTS. AND I THINK THIS IS A GREAT, HAPPY MEDIUM AND I AM NOT SUPPORTING THAT. THAT'S A GREAT POINT. YOU MENTIONED THE CONSTITUENTS. WE'VE SAT HERE FOR THE BETTER PART OF THIS YEAR, AND EVERY CONSTITUENT WHO HAS COME TO THESE MICROPHONES IS ASKING FOR MORE SERVICES. THEY'RE ASKING FOR MORE TRAFFIC ENFORCEMENT. THEY'RE ASKING FOR E-BIKE ENFORCEMENT. THEY'RE ASKING FOR DRAINAGE INFRASTRUCTURE. THEY'RE ASKING FOR MORE STAFF SERVICES. AND YOU FUND ALL OF THOSE CONSTITUENT DEMANDS. WE WANT TO REPRESENT THE PEOPLE, THE PEOPLE I LISTEN TO THE PEOPLE. THE PEOPLE HAVE BEEN TELLING US AT THESE MICROPHONES ALL YEAR THAT THEY WANT MORE FROM OUR COUNTY GOVERNMENT, AND YOU HAVE TO FUND THAT. COMMISSIONER TAYLOR, YOU WANTED MORE FUNDING FOR LAMP. WE HAVE FUNDED LAMP TO THE TUNE OF $2 MILLION THE PAST TWO FISCAL YEARS. BUT WE CAN'T DO THAT IF WE'RE CUTTING THE BUDGET. WE CAN'T GET MORE FUNDING FOR CONSERVATION AND CUT THE BUDGET AT THE SAME TIME. CAN I? ANY OTHER COMMENTS? COMMISSIONER TAYLOR, I APPRECIATE THE THE COMPARISON WITH THE OTHER COUNTIES WHAT I WOULD I WOULD LIKE TO BE EVEN GONE ONE STEP FURTHER AND SEEN A DOLLAR AMOUNT. SO I DON'T KNOW IF THAT'S SOMETHING. MAYBE THE NEXT TIME, BUT I WOULD LOVE TO SEE, YOU KNOW WHAT? WHAT DO EACH OF THOSE COUNTIES BRING IN AS FAR AS THE DOLLAR AMOUNT GOES? THANK YOU. COMMISSIONER MURPHY. COMMISSIONER WYATT I SEE YOUR POINT. ONE OF THE THINGS THAT WE CAN'T DO IS WE CAN'T GO BACKWARDS. AND SO I WOULD I WOULD BE AMENABLE TO GOING FORWARD WITH WITH THE RATES STAYING THE WAY IT IS. BUT I'M COMMITTED TO THIS BUDGET. SO WHEN WE COME BACK TO VOTE ON THIS, I'M GOING TO BE VOTING ON THE 6.7954. I THINK THAT IT'S, IT'S WISE TO, TO HAVE THAT OPTION, BUT I'M. I'M COMMITTED TO MAKE SURE THAT WE THAT WE COME UNDER BUDGET OR OR THAT WE'RE AT THIS PROPOSAL. THEY DID A GREAT JOB. I THINK IT'S A GREAT COMPROMISE. I AGREE WITH THE CHAIRMAN. IT'S SOMETHING THAT'S IMPORTANT FOR US TO DO. BUT I DO SEE THE VALUE OF HEDGING THEIR BETS A LITTLE IN CASE SOMETHING HAPPENS THAT WE ARE ANTICIPATING. BUT I, I'M, I'M GOING TO SUPPORT THIS. AND WHEN WE COME BACK IN SEPTEMBER, I APPRECIATE IT. THAT'S ALL I'M ASKING IS FOR DUAL CONSIDERATION UNTIL THE FINAL MOMENT. SO IT GIVES YOU THE OPPORTUNITY TO HAVE CONVERSATIONS WITH DEPARTMENT HEADS. SO THANK YOU, COMMISSIONER MURPHY. IT'S ALL I'M ASKING. LET'S SET THE MAXIMUM WHERE IT IS. WE CAN ALWAYS GO BACK IN SEPTEMBER. COMMISSIONER ARNOLD, THANK YOU, MADAM CHAIR. COMMISSIONER WHITEHURST AND COMMISSIONER MURPHY, Y'ALL ARE Y'ALL ARE SPOT ON. ON BOTH. ON BOTH ACCOUNTS. I'M GOING TO AGREE HERE THAT WE PROBABLY NEED TO KEEP OUR OPTIONS OPEN UNTIL WE HAVE TO MAKE THE FINAL DECISIONS. YOU KNOW, IT'S ALWAYS GOOD TO DO MORE RESEARCH. AS YOU SAID, TALK TO MORE DEPARTMENT HEADS. SO I'M NOT GOING TO BE IN FAVOR OF A REDUCTION TODAY. DO YOU WANT TO MAKE A MOTION? YES, I'M PREPARED TO. MR. SCHROEDER, I KNOW YOU HAD A PREPARED MOTION WITH THE RECOMMENDED BUDGET IN MIND. IS THERE A WAY FOR YOU TO AMEND THAT? KIND OF. HELP ME OUT. I'LL GET MY BLUE PEN OUT IN A MINUTE. IT RIGHT HERE. SO INSTEAD OF AN ADDITIONAL POINT ONE REDUCTION IN THE GENERAL FUND THAT WOULD INCREASE BY 0.1 FROM THE ORIGINAL MOTION TO 4.5650. WOULD YOU LIKE ME TO READ ALL OF THOSE MILLAGE RATES AS THE AS A PART OF MY MOTION? I'M HAPPY TO DO IT. IS THAT REQUIRED? I'M HAPPY TO DO IT. LOOK TO THE ATTORNEYS. IS IT REQUIRED THAT THEY ALL BE READ? I CAN READ THEM IF YES. OKAY. SO THE MOTION TO APPROVE THE PROPOSED MILLAGE RATES FOR FISCAL YEAR 2026. GENERAL FUND 14.5650. COUNTY TRANSPORTATION TRUST FUND 0.8444. COUNTY HEALTH UNIT TRUST FUND 0.0160. FIRE DISTRICT FUND 1.4700. SAINT AUGUSTINE SOUTH STREET LIGHTING DISTRICT 0.1268. VILLANO STREET LIGHTING DISTRICT 0.0303. SUMMER HAVEN MS2 7.3392. COASTAL HIGHWAY MS2 0.5000. SOUTH PONTEVEDRA DUNE AND BEACH RESTORATION MS2 2.0000. SERENATA. SORRY. YEAH. FINALLY. SERENATA MS2 0.5500. SO. MOVED. SECOND. [07:55:11] ALL RIGHT. ANY OTHER COMMENTS? YOUR LIGHTS ARE ON. NO. ALL RIGHT. LET'S VOTE. AND THAT PASSES 3 TO 2. NOW WE'RE IN COMMISSIONER COMMENTS AND TAYLOR. ONE SECOND. I'M SORRY. THERE IS. OH I'M SORRY. THERE'S ANOTHER MOTION OKAY. MOTION TO AUTHORIZE THE COMPLETION AND EXECUTION OF THE FISCAL YEAR 2026 FORM FOR 20 BY THE COUNTY ADMINISTRATOR OR DESIGNEE WITH THE APPROVED PROPOSED MILLAGE RATES AND ESTABLISH WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 3RD, 2025 AT 5:01 P.M. IN THE COUNTY AUDITORIUM. AS THE FIRST PUBLIC HEARING FOR THE ADOPTION OF SAINT JOHN'S COUNTY BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS. FISCAL YEAR 2026 BUDGET. SECOND, CAN WE HAVE A MOTION AND A SECOND? LET'S VOTE. IT'S UNANIMOUS. FIVE ZERO. NOW, COMMISSIONER. [Commissioners’ Reports] COMMENTS. COMMISSIONER TAYLOR? YES. THANK YOU. I LIKE I HAVE I HAVE MET AND RECEIVED AN EMAIL FROM NELSON, FRANCE, THE DIRECTOR OF THE JEWISH COMMUNITY RELATIONS COUNCIL REQUESTING THAT THE COUNTY ADOPT A RESOLUTION SUPPORTING THE STATE'S DEFINITION OF ANTI-SEMITISM THAT WAS DEVELOPED BY THE INTERNATIONAL HOLOCAUST REMEMBRANCE ALLIANCE AND THE CITY OF SAINT AUGUSTINE DID PASS A SIMILAR ACTION ON JULY 14TH. SO IF I COULD GET CONSENSUS TO INSTRUCT THE OCA TO BRING BACK A RESOLUTION FOR THE BOARD'S CONSIDERATION, I WOULD GREATLY APPRECIATE IT. NOW WE HAVE A FRIENDSHIP JEWISH FRIENDSHIP DAY. I WONDER IF THAT COINCIDES WITH THAT. WE CAN FIND OUT. YEAH, WE CAN. OCTOBER. I THINK WE CAN FIND OUT. ALL RIGHT. LET'S SEE. AND THEN EXCUSE ME, THAT'S ISRAEL FRIENDSHIP DAY. THANK YOU, COMMISSIONER ARNOLD. SO IT'S BEEN A LONG DAY. I UNDERSTAND THROUGH THE CHAIR. SO THE COMMISSIONER ASKED FOR CONSENSUS. I'M NOT SURE IF THAT WAS. WAS THAT GIVEN? THANK YOU. GREAT. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. NEXT, THE FLORIDA DIVISION OF STATE LANDS HAS IDENTIFIED A 150 ACRE PARCEL OF LAND LOCATED AT SOUTH OF COUNTY ROAD 214, WITHIN THE SAINT JOHNS RIVER BLUE WAY FOR POTENTIAL ACQUISITION FOR LONG TERM PRESERVATION. IT'S FANTASTIC. THE DIVISION OF STATE LANDS HAS ASKED THE COUNTY IF IT COULD BE RESPONSIBLE FOR LONG TERM MAINTENANCE OF THE LAND. SO IF I CAN GET CONSENSUS. ENVIRONMENT ENVIRONMENTAL STAFF WILL INFORM THE DIVISION OF STATE LANDS OF THE COUNTY'S WILLINGNESS TO BE THE MANAGEMENT ENTITY. COMMISSIONER TAYLOR, WHAT'S THAT GOING TO COST THE COUNTY? SO MR. ROBERSON HAS THAT INFORMATION COMING DOWN THE AISLE NOW. MIKE ROBERTSON, DIRECTOR OF GROWTH MANAGEMENT, THROUGH THE CHAIR. COMMISSIONER WHITEHURST, WE ESTIMATED IT WOULD COST ROUGHLY 10 TO 12,000 IN MANAGEMENT OF LANDS. THINGS LIKE INVASIVE SPECIES. AGAIN, THAT'S AN ESTIMATE. I'LL ALSO SAY THAT THE ITEM WOULD COME BACK BEFORE YOU ALL DIDN'T HEAR. IF THAT WAS MENTIONED, IT WOULD COME BACK BEFORE YOU AS A CONSENT ITEM FOR YOUR CONSIDERATION TOO. SO IF THERE WAS AN ISSUE THERE THAT CAME UP OR SOMETHING THAT STAFF HAD TOOK ISSUE WITH, WE WOULD INFORM YOU ABOUT 10 TO 12,000 ANNUALLY. ANNUALLY, YES. THANK YOU. YES, SIR. PERFECT, I LOVE IT. THANK YOU. GREAT. THANK YOU. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. AND THEN JUST IN CLOSING, I THINK AFTER LUNCH, WE ALL SHOULD HAVE RECEIVED THIS PACKET FROM AN ATTORNEY IF I WOULD LIKE TO DISCUSS THAT AT THE NEXT MEETING. BUT THIS IS AN ATTORNEY REGARDING THE BEACHCOMBER RV PARK PUD, SO I GREATLY APPRECIATE IT IF EVERYBODY CAN TAKE TIME TO GO THROUGH THIS, AND I'M CERTAINLY GOING TO MEET WITH OUR ATTORNEYS ON IT. BUT NEXT TIME I WOULD LIKE TO JUST GO INTO MORE DETAIL ABOUT IT. SO I REALLY WOULD LIKE TO MAKE AN AGENDA ITEM OF IT. PERFECT. IS THAT ALL RIGHT? OKAY. THANK YOU. AND THAT WILL BE ALL. THANK YOU, COMMISSIONER WHITEHURST. THANK YOU, MADAM CHAIR. I HAD A GOOD DISCUSSION WITH OUR PURCHASING ROCK STAR BACK THERE YESTERDAY, AND AND YOU KNOW, GREAT MINDS THINK ALIKE. IT'S SOMETHING THAT I THINK EVERYBODY ON THIS BOARD IS GOING TO APPRECIATE. STAFF HAS BEEN HAVING AN INTERNAL DISCUSSION ABOUT INCENTIVIZING PROJECTS FOR BEING COMPLETED EARLY OR ON TIME SO WE COULD STRUCTURE PROJECTS. A ROAD WIDENING PROJECT, FOR INSTANCE, THAT MIGHT BE WORTH $10 MILLION, MIGHT BE WORTH 11 MILLION IF THEY GET IT DONE SOONER, FOR INSTANCE. SO THERE COULD BE A PRICING STRUCTURE WHERE IT'S GOOD, BETTER, BEST IF YOU GET IT DONE BY A CERTAIN DATE, IT'S $8 MILLION. IF YOU GET IT DONE SOONER, IT'S 9 MILLION, BUT IF YOU GET IT DONE REALLY FAST, IT COULD BE WORTH 10 MILLION. THAT IS NOT A SUGGESTION OF HOW TO PAY PEOPLE. THAT IS JUST A. FOR INSTANCE, JUST FOR THE RECORD. WE HAVE $1 BILLION IN TRANSPORTATION INFRASTRUCTURE FUNDED MOVING FORWARD IN PROJECTS. [08:00:09] NONE OF IT'S GETTING BUILT AS FAST AS ANY OF US WOULD LIKE TO SEE IT GET BUILT. HOW DOES EVERYBODY FEEL ABOUT HAVING STAFF COME BACK TO US WITH A SUGGESTED ORDINANCE UPDATE OR RESOLUTION? MAYBE MISS LOCKLEAR CAN GUIDE ME IN WHAT TO ASK FOR IN TERMS OF BOARD CONSENSUS. GOOD AFTERNOON, JAMIE LOCKLEAR, PURCHASING DIRECTOR. I WOULD NOT RECOMMEND IT AS AN ORDINANCE BECAUSE IT DOES NEED TO REMAIN FLEXIBLE AS A PROJECT BY PROJECT CONSIDERATION. BUT WE CAN DEFINITELY COME BACK WITH STRATEGIES, THOUGHTS AND HOW WE'RE GOING TO APPROACH THAT EITHER IN OUR PROCUREMENT DOCUMENTS OR IN INDIVIDUAL CONTRACTS ON A PROJECT BY PROJECT BASIS. BUT THE BOARD SUPPORTS SEEING SOMETHING FROM OUR STAFF TO HELP INCENTIVIZE. YES, YES. ALL RIGHT. THAT CONCLUDES MY REPORT. THANK YOU, COMMISSIONER ARNOLD. THANK YOU, MADAM CHAIR. I HAVE NOTHING TO REPORT OTHER THAN TO ASK EVERYONE TO KEEP THE FAMILY OF CHIEF BOBBY HALL IN YOUR THOUGHTS AND PRAYERS. AS HE WAS LAID TO REST TODAY. AND I APPRECIATE OUR FIRE CREW COMING OUT TODAY. I KNOW IT'S BEEN A REALLY LONG AND EMOTIONAL DAY FOR YOU GUYS, SO THAT'S ALL I HAVE. COMMISSIONER MURPHY. YEAH. I'D LIKE TO ECHO THAT ABOUT CHIEF HALL. WE ACTUALLY WORKED THE STREETS TOGETHER FOR MANY YEARS BACK IN THE 90S. AND HE WAS HE WAS A I CAN ONLY REMEMBER ONE TIME DOING CPR ON A BODY ON THE SIDE OF THE ROAD AND LOOKING UP AND SEEING BOBBY SHOW UP AND BEING SO RELIEVED THAT HE WAS HERE BECAUSE I KNEW EVERYTHING WAS GOING TO BE OKAY NOW BECAUSE BOBBY WAS THERE. SO MY DEEPEST CONDOLENCES TO THE FAMILY. JUST ONE ISSUE. I'D LIKE TO GIVE AN UPDATE. I WAS TASKED WITH THE E-BIKE EDUCATIONAL COMPONENT, AND I'D LIKE TO GIVE AN UPDATE ON THAT. WE'VE HAD SEVERAL MEETINGS OVER THE LAST MONTH ABOUT E-BIKES. THE SHERIFF'S OFFICE WITH DIRECTOR BEAVER, DIRECTOR MARTIN, DIRECTOR COLE HAVE BEEN WONDERFUL. AND PUTTING TOGETHER A CURRICULUM THAT WE CAN GET INTO THE CLASSROOM THIS YEAR. HAD MEETINGS WITH THE SUPERINTENDENT WITH CHRISTINA ZENA, THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF COMMUNITY RELATIONS, AND PAUL ABBOTT THE ASSOCIATE SUPERINTENDENT FOR STUDENT SUPPORT SERVICES AND AND THE NEW SUPERINTENDENT. WE HAD A MEETING. THEY WERE VERY RECEPTIVE TO THE IDEA OF GIVING US TIME IN SIXTH, SEVENTH AND EIGHTH GRADE THIS YEAR TO TEACH OUR, OUR, OUR, OUR SAFETY CLASS THAT THE SHERIFF'S OFFICE HAS ACTUALLY PUT TOGETHER. THERE'S A LITTLE BIT MORE TO IT THAN THAT. BUT WE ARE WELL ON OUR WAY TO TO UTILIZING THIS, OUR SHERIFF'S OFFICE AS THE IN THEIR CURRICULUM THE FIRST THE FIRST YEAR. SO WE'LL COVER SIX. SEVENTH AND EIGHTH GRADE THIS YEAR AND THEN SIXTH GRADE EVERY YEAR GOING FORWARD TO THAT. THERE IS A A CERTIFICATION ISSUE. SO WE'RE WORKING WITH THE UNIVERSITY OF SOUTH FLORIDA WITH DOCTOR HWANG JANG WHO IS WORKS WITH THEIR TRANSPORTATION RESEARCH PART TO GET AN ACCREDITED CURRICULUM IN FOR THE NEXT YEAR. SO WE ARE LOOKING FOR FUNDING SOURCES AND GRANT OPPORTUNITIES. I'VE SPOKEN WITH STAFF AND WITH ADAM TICKLER ABOUT HOW TO GET THAT PAID FOR. WE MIGHT HAVE A WAY TO DO IT THAT THE STATE SCHOOL BOARD WILL TAKE CARE OF THE FEES FOR THIS. BUT I MAY BE COMING BACK ASKING FOR JUST A LITTLE BIT OF MONEY TO MAKE SURE THAT WE GET THIS IN THE CLASSROOM, BUT WE ARE WELL WITHIN OUR WAY. WE ALREADY HAVE A CURRICULUM. WE ALREADY HAVE THE THE COMMUNICATIONS WITH THE SCHOOLS. AND SO IT'S JUST GETTING ON THE, ON THE, ON THEIR SCHEDULE. THEIR CHALLENGE OF COURSE IS IS ACCREDITED OURS. THEY HAVE TO HAVE SO MANY HOURS WITHIN THE SCHOOL YEAR OR SO FOR THEM TO GIVE US THIS TIME CAN BE A STRETCH FOR THEM, WHICH IS WHY WE'RE WORKING ON AN ACCREDITED COURSE SO THAT THEY CAN GET CREDIT FOR THAT GOING FORWARD. SO WE'VE BEEN WORKING REALLY HARD ON THAT AND VERY EXCITED ABOUT IT. CONGRATULATIONS. WELL DONE, COMMISSIONER MURPHY. THANK YOU, THANK YOU. NO THANK YOU. YES, MA'AM. ALL RIGHT. MY TWO PICTURES UP OVER THERE. TYLER WE'RE AT THE OPENING OF THE PONTE VEDRA CONCERT HALL. AUGUST 1ST IS THE FIRST BAND. THERE'S 50 CONCERTS ALREADY SCHEDULED. THE BOX OFFICE. THIS IS HOW IT USED TO BE. AND NOW THE NEW. AND IT'S ALMOST READY TO GO. THE BOX OFFICE IS GOING TO BE OPEN SEVEN DAYS A WEEK WITH CUCKOO BIRD COFFEE SHOP OPEN DAILY SO YOU CAN STOP IN THERE AND GET PAMPHLETS AS WELL AS TEE SHIRTS WITH THIS LOGO ON IT. LIKE THIS. SO IT'S GOING TO BE EXCITING AND IT'S GOING TO BE A COMMUNITY HUB WITH ABOUT 180 SHOWS A YEAR. AND IT'S GOING TO BE GREAT FOR PONTE VEDRA BEACH AND THE THE THE PRIVATE PARTNERSHIP WITH THE AMP. SO IT'S LOOKING FORWARD TO IT. AND I JUST WANTED TO GET IT ON THE, ON THE BOOKS WHEN YOU START SEEING THINGS HAPPENING AUGUST 1ST. [08:05:06] SO THANK YOU. AND THAT CONCLUDES OUR PART, COMMISSIONER. [County Administrator’s Report] JOY ANDREWS. I HAVE NO REPORTS, BUT I WANTED TO CONGRATULATE YOU AND THANK YOU FOR ALL THE WORK YOU HAVE DONE TODAY AND DAYS BEFORE TODAY FOR THE TREE ORDINANCE AND COMPLAINT TRANSMITTAL. THANK YOU AND THANK YOU. GETTING TWO MAJOR THINGS FINISHED. I'M WELL ON ITS WAY, SO THANK YOU VERY MUCH. WHICH ONE? WE HAVE NOTHING TO ADD. THANK YOU, MADAM CHAIR. OKAY. THANK YOU. ALL RIGHT. WITH THAT, WE ARE ADJOURNED. FINALLY. WOOF, WOOF. * This transcript was compiled from uncorrected Closed Captioning.