[1. E-Bike Safety Resolution. A resolution promoting safety for operators of e-bikes, escooters, and other electronic motorized devices; encouraging safe usage practices, education, and enforcement efforts; and providing for an effective date.]

PUBLIC COMMENT ON ITEMS NOT ON THE AGENDA. SEEING NONE, WE

CLOSE PUBLIC COMMENT. >> BACK TO THE BOARD FOR AGENDA ITEM NUMBER ONE. THE BIKE SITUATION AND I KNOW SEVERAL PEOPLE HAVE WORKED HARD ON THIS AND I APPRECIATE THEM ALL BEING PART OF THE AGENDA ITEM. THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

>> I THINK WE WILL START OFF WITH THE SHERIFF'S OFFICE TO UPDATE US ON WHAT STEPS THEY HAVE TAKEN AFTER THE COMMISSIONERS HAVE EXPRESSED CONCERNS.

>> YES, GOOD MORNING. I JUST WANT TO GIVE A RECAP OF WHERE WE WERE WITH WHAT WAS GOING ON OVER THE SUMMER. AS WE KNOW , IN THE

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SPRING OF 2025 WE GOT ON EVERYBODY'S RADAR AS FAR AS INCREASE FOR CALLS FOR SERVICE ON OUR END. E BIKE SAFETY AND AS A SCHOOL IT WAS ON THE OFF RAMP, SO TO SPEAK WITH ABOUT TWO WEEKS. WE DID EVERYTHING . WE DID EVERYTHING WITH THE CROSSING GUARDS AND AVAILABLE STAFF. I HAVE SOMEONE HERE WITH YOU TODAY WHO RUNS THE TRAFFIC UNIT AS WELL. SO WE HAD TO EDUCATE OURSELVES AND IDENTIFY WHAT WAS COMMON. THERE IS LACK OF EDUCATION ON E BIKES AND SPEEDS. I AM EAGER TO SAY WE INCREASED OUR ONE-ON-ONE INTERACTION, BUT THAT WASN'T ENOUGH . OUR EDUCATION CAMPAIGN, WE CREATED QR CODES AND PAMPHLETS AND WE UPDATED PAMPHLETS. WE MADE THOUSANDS OF CONTACTS AND HAD INDIVIDUAL CONTACTS OVER THE MONTHS WITH TWO INDIVIDUALS RIDING E BIKES WITH JUST AN OPPORTUNITY TO EDUCATE AND CONGREGATE. WE HAD A LOT OF POSITIVE RESULTS WITH THAT . ONE THING THAT WAS MISSING WAS THE CALL TO ACTION WHICH I BELIEVE THE SHERIFF ALSO DID, INVOLVING PARENTS . IT WAS ALONG THOSE LINES . WE HAVE COME FULL CIRCLE WITH PARENTS AND A LOT OF FOLKS NOT KNOWING WHAT THEY HAD AT THEIR HOUSE WHEN THEY PURCHASED IT AND WHAT THEY CAN AND CANNOT DO. WE HAVE HAD VARIOUS SPECIFIC SPECIAL DETAILS . WE HAVE LEVERAGED IN THE CLASSROOMS OVER THE SUMMER. ONE THING I'M EXCITED ABOUT IS OUR PARTNERSHIPS WITH THE SCHOOL DISTRICT. UNDER THE LEADERSHIP OF THE SUPERINTENDENT AND HIS STAFF , WHICH IS HERE WITH US TODAY , THEY HAVE NOT ONLY OFFERED THE OPPORTUNITY FOR US TO TEACH A CLASS AT THE SCHOOL, THEY HAVE WELCOMED THAT AND ENCOURAGE THAT AND WE ARE DOING THIS THING IN A COLLABORATIVE MANNER. SO, MY STAFF THAT ARE CURRENTLY IN TRAIN THE TRAINER, AS WE SPEAK . IN THIS FIRST QUARTER, OUR GOAL IS TO HIT A CERTAIN STUDENT GROUP IN THE STUDENT BODY WITH THE SCHOOL DISTRICT'S PARTNERSHIP AND APPROVAL . WE COULDN'T BE MORE PROUD OF THAT AS WE COLLABORATE ON THIS. WE HAVE DONE A LOT IN A SHORT AMOUNT OF TIME, BUT WE ARE NOT DONE . THE OTHER THING I WAS SUPER EXCITED ABOUT IS WE HAVE SEEN A LOT OF POSITIVE FEEDBACK WITH PEOPLE STANDING IN LINE FOR OUR TEAM -- TEEN DRIVING CHALLENGE. WE LOOK AT THE ACTUAL SKILLS THAT IT TAKES TO DRIVE. I SEE A GREAT OPPORTUNITY AND THE SHERIFF'S OFFICE IS EXCITED TO PUT SOMETHING TOGETHER. WE ARE GOING TO LEVERAGE THAT AND SPEND THAT AT THE SHERIFF'S OFFICE FOR US AND BY US. WE LOOK FORWARD TO SEEING THAT COMING IN THE NEAR FUTURE. WE ARE PUTTING OUR FOOT ON THE PEDAL ON THIS TOPIC . WITH THAT, I WILL TAKE

ANY QUESTIONS . >> ARE THERE QUESTIONS FOR THE OFFICER ? I HAVE ONE BECAUSE IT WAS SO INTERESTING AND EXCUSE ME YOU TOO. HOW MANY KIDS HAVE YOU ARRESTED OR GIVEN A TICKET TO ? YOU TOLD ME THAT AND I WAS SHOCKED.

>> LET ME GET OUR TRAFFIC SERGEANT UP HERE. HE ACTUALLY HAD AN ENCOUNTER LAST NIGHT, I THINK IT WAS. IT IS HARD TO WRITE A TICKET TO A 10-YEAR-OLD HIM AND IT'S OUR JOB TO EDUCATE . BUT WHEN THEY GET TO A CERTAIN AGE, DO YOU WANT TO BRIEF ABOUT WHAT THE TRAFFIC UNIT HAS DONE? HE WILL BE HAPPY TO ANSWER THE QUESTIONS. WHEN THEY RUN THE MAIN RUN INTO THEM MORE THAN ONCE AND THEY'VE HAD A WARNING IN THE PARENTS OF BEEN INVOLVED, THE ENFORCEMENT METHOD AS WE HAVE SEEN WHAT THAT LOOKS LIKE.

>> I AM SERGEANT WITH THE SHARE'S OFFICE . LAST NIGHT THERE WAS AN INDIVIDUAL WRITING ON THE BACK OF ANY BIKE THAT WAS A PASSENGER. THEY WERE STOPPED AND CONTACTED THEM AND I HAD

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ACTUALLY CONTACTED THEM A MONTH AGO THROUGH OUR SYSTEM WRITING A WARNING AND THEY WERE IN THE COMPUTER SYSTEM OF CONTACTING THE PARENTS, ET CETERA . THE PERSON KNEW THEY WERE NOT WEARING A HELMET , OBVIOUSLY BECAUSE THEY DID NOT HAVE ONE ON AND THEY WERE WARNED THE MONTH PRIOR AND SO THEY DID GET A TICKET ISSUED TO THEM LAST NIGHT FOR THAT BECAUSE THEY KNEW WHAT THEY WERE SUPPOSED TO DO AND NOT DO. THE SPECIFIC INJURIES WE HAVE HAD HAVE COME FROM HEAD INJURIES FROM HELMETS THAT WERE NOT WORN OR NOT WORN PROPERLY . SO, WE ARE TRYING TO CREATE AN EDUCATION PIECE FIRST AND CONSEQUENCES SECOND. THAT PERSON WILL HAVE TO FIGURE OUT WHAT THEIR SIGNATURES LOOKS LIKE .

>> ANY OTHER QUESTIONS? COMMISSIONER TAYLOR .

>> THANK YOU SO MUCH, I AM EXCITED AND I AM PASSIONATE ABOUT THIS WITH OUR KIDS AND I SEE THIS SITUATION ALL THE TIME.

I LOVE EVERYBODY WORKING TOGETHER FOR THE SAKE OF OUR KIDS. I JUST HAD A QUESTION . I DON'T KNOW IF IT'S TOO EARLY BUT I WOULD LIKE INFORMATION ON THE CLASSES. IS IT IN PLACE ? WHAT GRADES AND IS IT BEFORE OR AFTER SCHOOL? I WOULD LOVE TO

SEE THAT . >> YES, THE COMMISSIONER HAS SOME OF THAT INFORMATION ALSO .

>> COMMISSIONER MURPHY HAS THE INFORMATION ALSO .

>> GOOD MORNING . I'M WITH THE SCHOOL DISTRICT AND WE STARTED EARLY IN THE SUMMER UPDATING WEBSITES WITH THE CHALLENGES WE HAVE WITH E BIKES ON CAMPUS AROUND OUR BUILDINGS AND SO FORTH. I'M CERTAINLY EXCITED TO SEE WHERE THIS IS GOING. AND COMMISSIONER TAYLOR, TO ANSWER YOUR QUESTION , WE ARE FORTUNATE FOR THE RELATIONSHIP WE HAVE WITH THE SHARE'S DEPARTMENT WITH REGARDS TO THE IMPACT. THEY ARE INACTIVE EMBEDDED PART OF OUR CLIMATE AND CULTURE AT THE SCHOOLS. INITIALLY AT THE BEGINNING , WE WILL TARGET K-8 WITH ASSEMBLIES SO THEY WILL HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO REACH SEVERAL , SEVERAL CLASSES AND WE STRUGGLE WITH THAT COMPONENT. WE STARTED EARLY IN THE SUMMER AND I THINK IT'S A GREAT START . I CANNOT STRESS ENOUGH THE IMPORTANCE OF EDUCATION, EDUCATION, EDUCATION . I SPOKE EARLIER TO A GROUP OF FOLKS WITH THE MENTAL HEALTH COUNSELORS AND EVERYTHING. EVERYTHING WE DO , THERE IS A CHILD AT THE END OF EVERY DECISION WE MAKE . I THINK THIS ALIGNS WITH IT AND WILL BRING A LAYER OF EDUCATION THAT CONTINUES. I SEE THIS EXPANDING INTO MORE THINGS AS WE PROGRESS . AND WE WILL TALK WITH THE SHARE'S DEPARTMENT ABOUT OTHER OPPORTUNITIES.

>> MADAM CHAIR, IF I MAY , ONE THING I WAS TASKED WITH WAS PUTTING TOGETHER SOMETHING WE COULD GET INTO THE SCHOOLS . MY CONCERN WAS EDUCATION AND ENFORCEMENT, THE TWO ES. AT THE DIRECTION OF THE BOARD IN THE LAST MONTH, WE STARTED CONVERSATIONS IN WHAT I WAS PLEASED TO FIND OUT THAT NOT ONLY WAS THE SHARE'S OFFICE AND SCHOOL BOARD ALREADY ON BOARD BUT THEY HAD A PLAN . THE SHERIFF'S OFFICE HAS COME TOGETHER WITH A CURRICULUM THEY HOPE TO GET IN THE CLASSROOM THIS YEAR BEFORE CHRISTMAS. THAT WAS OUR GOAL THAT SIXTH, SEVENTH, AND EIGHTH GRADE, ALL THREE GRADES GOT THE EDUCATION CODE ONLY BEFORE CHRISTMAS. WITH THE WORK OF PAUL AND CHRISTINA AND THE DOCTOR, THEY HAVE FOUND ROOM IN THEIR BUSY CURRICULUM TO PUT IT IN IN THE SHARE'S OFFICE HAS PUT TOGETHER A CURRICULUM AND THEY ARE READY TO GO. THERE HAS BEEN A LOT OF CONVERSATIONS AS AN OUTLIER OR THOSE. THEY HAVE ACTUAL HANDS-ON CLASSES WITH E BIKE CAMPS . THERE ARE ALL KINDS OF EXCITING THINGS IN THE DISCUSSION PHASE TO COME FOR OUR KIDS. ONE THING I'M EXCITED ABOUT, AND ONE THING THAT I WILL BE COMING ON BOARD AND ASKING FOR CONSIDERATION FOR FINDING IS A WEB BASED EDUCATION CURRICULUM THAT CAN BE AVAILABLE TO ANYONE WHETHER IT BE CHILDREN OR WHETHER IT BE PARENTS OR TRAIN THE TRAINERS OR OTHER PEOPLE THAT ARE CONCERNED SO WE CAN GO FORWARD AND DO THAT . I THINK IT

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IS IMPORTANT WORKING IN CONCERT WITH THE SHERIFF'S OFFICE AND THE SCHOOL BOARD. I THINK THAT DOCTOR JANG WITH UNIVERSITY OF SOUTH FLORIDA ACTUALLY COMMENTED IN THE LAST MEETING SAYING I'VE NEVER SEEN A GOVERNMENT MOVE THIS FAST BEFORE . SHE WAS PLEASED WE COLLABORATE TOGETHER AND WE ARE MOVING AT THE SPEED WE ARE MOVING . I WANT TO ADD MY VOICE AND SAY THANK YOU SO MUCH TO THE SHARE'S OFFICE AND TO DIRECTOR BARTON AND HIS STAFF AND PAUL AND CHRISTINA FOR THEIR AMAZING COOPERATION IN GETTING SOMETHING SO IMPORTANT INTO OUR CLASSROOMS FOR OUR KIDS. SO THE KNICKS THANK YOU, COMMISSIONER . WE ARE TREMENDOUSLY BLESSED TO HAVE PARTNERS AT THE SHARE'S OFFICE AND THE UNIVERSITY OF SOUTH FLORIDA. I WANT TO COMMEND COMMISSIONER TAYLOR WHO BROUGHT THIS TO OUR ATTENTION BACK IN FEBRUARY, LONG BEFORE WE REALIZED THE FIRST ACCIDENT . WHEN WE LOOK AT THE DATA THAT'S BEEN COLLECTED IN THE FIRST FIVE MONTHS AND IN THIS PAST WEEK , YOU KNOW, THE SHERIFF'S OFFICE WAS RESPONDING TO THE 20 E BIKE CRASHES WHICH IS SIGNIFICANTLY HIGHER THAN WE SAW. AND PARTNERING WITH THE SCHOOL DISTRICT IN LAW ENFORCEMENT AND OTHER COMMUNITY ORGANIZATIONS WITH TRAFFIC LAWS AND SAFETY EQUIPMENT. IT IS ALMOST A MODEL FOR WHAT WE ARE HOPING TO DISSEMINATE TO OTHER COUNTIES THROUGHOUT THE STATES. SO THE COUNTIES WILL FIND WAYS TO PROTECT THEIR CHILDREN RIDING E BIKES AND SCOOTERS. THERE IS A RESOLUTION IN YOUR PACKET WHICH THE CHAIR WILL READ IN ITS ENTIRETY. YOU KNOW, THAT RESOLUTION HIGHLIGHTS DIFFERENT PRACTICES THAT WE CAN ENCOURAGE PARENTS AND CHILDREN TO TAKE WHICH ARE DEEMED SAFE. THANK YOU TO THE ATTORNEY'S OFFICE WHO HELPED DRAFT THAT IS AWAY FOR PEOPLE TO FIRST STAY VISIBLE IN SECOND TO AVOID ACCIDENTS. THIRD , MAKE SURE YOU STAY TO THE FAR RIGHT. FOURTH, ALWAYS EXERCISE DUE CARE ON AN E BIKE . EXERCISE CARE BY FOLLOWING THE RULES OF THE ROAD . NEXT IS 10 MILES OR LESS . WE SEE A LOT OF THE E BIKES FLYING BY , BUT THEY ARE DESIGNED TO GO WITH A LOWER SPEED. LASTLY IS ALWAYS WEAR YOUR HELMET . MADAM CHAIR , I WILL HAVE THE RESOLUTION THIS TIME FOR CONSIDERATION .

>> THANK YOU . >> FOR THE BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS PROVIDING SAFETY FOR E BIKE RIDERS AND OTHER ELECTRONIC MOTORIZED DEVICES. ENCOURAGING SAFE USE PRACTICES AND EDUCATION EFFORTS IN PROVIDING EFFECTIVE DATE . WHERE IS SAINT JOHNS COUNTY IS COMMITTED TO THE SAFETY AND WELFARE OF ALL ROAD USERS INCLUDING PEDESTRIANS AND CYCLISTS AND OPERATORS OF ELECTRONIC BICYCLES KNOWN AS E BIKES AND E-SCOOTERS AND OTHER ELECTRONIC MOTORIZED DEVICES.

AND WHEREAS ACCORDING TO RECENT STATISTICS, 142 MILLION TOURISTS CAME TO THE STATE OF FLORIDA IN THE YEAR 2024. WHEREAS THE NUMBER OF E BIKES AND E-SCOOTERS AND OTHER ELECTRONIC MOTORIZED DEVICES AND THEIR USES IN SAINT JOHNS COUNTY CONTINUES TO RISE.

WHEREAS THERE WERE 79 BICYCLE CRASHES INVOLVED AND REPORTED TRAFFIC ACCIDENTS IN FLORIDA IN 2024 ACCORDING TO THE MORTAR VEHICLE CRASH STATISTICS REPORT . WHEREAS THE USE OF E BIKES AND ELECTRONIC SCOOTERS AND OTHER ELECTRONIC MOTORIZED DEVICES HAS SIGNIFICANTLY INCREASED ACROSS SAINT JOHNS COUNTY CONTRIBUTING TO GREATER ACCESS AND RECREATIONAL ENJOYMENT . WHEREAS THE BIKES AND E-SCOOTERS ANOTHER ELECTRONIC MOTORIZED DEVICES AND SIMILAR DEVICES OFFER SIMILAR TRANSPORTATION ALTERNATIVES BUT REPRESENT TRANSPORTATION SAFETY CHALLENGES DUE TO INCREASED TRAFFIC INTERACTIONS AND THE MIXED-USE NATURE OF SIDEWALKS AND ROADWAYS. WHEREAS THE FLORIDA RED LEGISLATURE RECOGNIZES E BIKES AND E-SCOOTERS IN THE FLORIDA STATUTES AND REGULATES THEIR OPERATION FOR THE SAFETY OF THE PUBLIC. WHEREAS THE BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS SEEKS TO PROACTIVELY SUPPORTS PUBLIC EDUCATION AND POLICIES THAT IMPROVE RIDER BEHAVIOR AND REDUCE COLLISION AND PROTECT VULNERABLE ROAD USERS. THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS OF SAINT JOHNS COUNTY FLORIDA THAT NUMBER ONE THE SAINT JOHNS COUNTY BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS ADOPTS THEM AND INCORPORATES THEM IN AS PART OF

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THIS RESOLUTION. TO THE RESOLUTION PROMOTES THE SAFE USE OF SCOOTERS THROUGHOUT SAINT JOHNS COUNTY. THREE, THE BOARD SUPPORTS AND ENCOURAGES LAW ENFORCEMENT, COMMUNITY LS, - BEAMING ORGANIZATIONS AND RETAILERS WITH SAFETY EQUIPMENT AND COURTEOUS WRITING BEHAVIOR. LAUNCHING AWARENESS CAMPAIGNS TARGETING RIDERS AND DRIVERS WITH SHARED RESPONSIBILITIES .

THE BOARD FURTHER SUPPORTS EXISTING TRAFFIC LAWS APPROPRIATE TO E BIKE USERS INCLUDING SPEED, AGE, AND HELMET REQUIREMENTS AS MANDATED BY FLORIDA LAW. THE BOARD SUPPORTS AND ENCOURAGES THE FOLLOWING SAFETY PRACTICES. STAY VISIBLE .

IF AN OPERATOR OPERATING ON PUBLIC ROADWAYS ON AN ELECTRONIC BIKE OR ELECTRONIC MOTORCYCLE SHOULD HAVE A FRONT WHITE LIGHT AND RED REAR LIGHT WITH TRAFFIC SIGNALS CAPABLE OF BEING HEARD WITHIN 20 FEET UNDER NORMAL OPERATING CONDITIONS. OPERATOR SHOULD YIELD RIGHT-OF-WAY TO PEDESTRIANS AND TAKE PRECAUTIONS AS NECESSARY TO AVOID ACCIDENTS OR COLLISION TO AVOID ACCIDENT OR DAMAGE TO PROPERTY. IF A BICYCLE LANE IS NOT AVAILABLE, THE OPERATOR SHOULD STAY TO THE FAR RIGHT . OPERATORS SHOULD USE DUE CARE WHILE OPERATING ON SIDEWALKS VERBALLY ANNOUNCING THEY ARE APPROACHING PEDESTRIANS AS REQUIRED BY FLORIDA LAW.

OPERATOR SHOULD LIMIT SPEED TO 10 MILES PER HOUR OR LESS.

OPERATORS OF E-SCOOTERS AND OTHER ELECTRONIC MOTORIZED DEVICES SHOULD WEAR A HELMET. IF ANY CAUSE OR PHRASE OF THIS RESOLUTION IS UNCONSTITUTIONAL, SUCH SHOULD NOT IMPACT VALIDITY OF THE OTHER PORTIONS. THAT IS THE RESOLUTION .

>> WELL DONE AND THANK YOU VERY MUCH. ANY QUESTIONS FROM THE

BOARD ? >> COMMISSIONER WHITE HOUSE .

>> I WOULD LIKE TO MAKE A COMMENT AND COMMEND THE SHARE OF'S DEPARTMENT. COMMISSIONER TAYLOR AND COMMISSIONER MURPHY WHO TOOK THE LEAD ON THIS. DIRECTOR, I THINK WHAT YOU ARE DOING. IF MY NEIGHBORHOOD IS ANY TEST CASE FOR THAT, WE SEE KIDS -- I USED TO SEE KIDS ALL THE TIME WITH NO HELMETS FLYING AROUND . BASED ON MY OBSERVATIONS JUST DRIVING AROUND, KIDS ARE WELLING -- WEARING HELMETS AND I THINK THAT IS DUE TO THE WORK OF YOU AND YOUR STAFF. AND DR. ASPLUND IS OFF TO A GREAT START AND I WANT TO COMMEND THE SCHOOL DISTRICT.

BEING WILLING TO WORK WITH THE COUNTY COMMISSION AND THE SHARE'S DEPARTMENT TO SERVE OUR COMMUNITY. IT'S BEEN A BREATH OF FRESH AIR AND I WANT TO THANK YOU AND EVERYBODY WHO IS DOING

THE GOOD WORK. >> THANK YOU .

>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH AND WE WILL VOTE ON THE RESOLUTION AS SOON AS COMMISSIONER MURPHY COMES BACK.

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>> I'M GOING TO BRING THIS TO THE CITY OF SAINT AUGUSTINE BECAUSE WE DO HAVE PROBLEMS WITH THESE CHILDREN. I APPRECIATE WHAT THE SHERIFF'S DEPUTIES WERE SAYING UP HERE . I WOULD LIKE TO KNOW IF HE CAN SAY ON THE RECORD AFTER THIS TIME OF COMMENT, HOW MANY ACTUAL TICKETS HAVE YOU WRITTEN ? THAT'S ENFORCEMENT . UNFORTUNATELY, THAT'S GOING TO CONTINUE .

IT'S THE ATTITUDE IN THE EDUCATION , BUT YOU ARE GOING TO HAVE SOME CHILDREN WHO UNTIL THEY ARE HURT, WILL NOT LEARN.

THAT'S WHAT YOU ARE TRYING TO PREVENT AND I WITH THAT. I THINK FOR THE PUBLIC TO UNDERSTAND, HOW MANY TICKETS? I KNOW PEOPLE DON'T LIKE TICKETS, BUT SOMETIMES THAT'S WHAT YOU NEED TO MAKE YOU SAFE AND HELP IN THE COMMUNITY, SO THANK YOU.

>> IN MORNING. MY NAME IS TERRENCE MC KIRCHER AND I LIVE AT 809 LAWS ALREADY AND THEY ARE USING THEM . WE DON'T NEED MORE LAWS . I RIDE MY E BIKE AND I'M A RESPONSIBLE DRIVER. I USE MY HELMET . WHEN MY DOG IS WITH ME , SHE WEARS HERS. I AM I RESPONSIBLE FOR DADDY . THEIR PERCEPTION WHEN THIS FIRST CAME HERE DO YOU KNOW PERCEPTION IS SOMETIMES REALITY . SOME RICH PERSON YOU PROBABLY CALLED THE LAW FIRM AND SAID, CAN WE DO SOMETHING? IT WAS A LAW . WE HAVE LAWS ALREADY AND DON'T NEED MORE LAWS. WHEN THIS FIRST STARTED, THE SHERIFF'S DEPARTMENT SAID, HEY, IT'S UNENFORCEABLE. BUT, THROUGH EDUCATION AND THROUGH EFFORT , WE ARE DOING IT. AND, YES, LIKE YOU SAID EARLIER -- I ONLY HAVE THREE MINUTES .

>> I CAN FIX THAT . >> EVERYBODY SAYS E BIKES .

THERE WAS A PERSON UP HERE -- A LARGE PERSON WHO NEEDS TO GET ON

ANY BIKE . >> SAID WE NEED TO DO SOMETHING ABOUT THESE E BIKES AND PUT MORE TEETH INTO IT. E BIKES ARE PEOPLE. LIFE , LIBERTY , AND THE PURSUIT OF HAPPINESS , THE PURSUIT OF HAPPINESS . RIGHT NOW I AM THE CAREGIVER FOR A PARAPLEGIC SISTER . SHE IS WATCHING ON GO TV AND I LOVE YOU. SHE KNOWS FREEDOM IN HER MIND AND I KNOW FREEDOM WHEN I RIDE MY E BIKE. LIFE, LIBERTY, AND THE PURSUIT OF HAPPINESS .

THIS BRINGS MONEY FOR EVERY E BIKE PEOPLE USED TO GO DOWNTOWN . THAT IS A PUBLIC PARKING SPACE USED FOR TOURISTS . FOR HUNDREDS OF THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS. INSTEAD, WE ARE FORCING PEOPLE TO DO CARS TO TAKE A NAP WHILE WORKING. THANK YOU, HAVE A GOOD

DAY . >> THANK YOU, GOOD POINTS. ED

SLAVIN AT EDSLAVIN.COM. >> I SALUTE COMMISSIONER MURPHY , A VETERAN OF THE HIGHWAY PATROL FOR HIS EXCELLENT CROSS-EXAMINATION OF THE COUNTY ATTORNEY AND HIS ATTEMPT TO OVER REGULATE THE SITUATION. HIS ATTEMPT TO LEGALIZE E BIKES ON SIDEWALKS AND EVERYTHING EXPRESSLY ILLEGAL IN THE FLORIDA STATUTES . OUR COUNTY ATTORNEY'S DRAFT ORDINANCE WAS NO MODEL FOR LEADERSHIP AND WHY HE NEEDS TO GO. HIS RESPONSE WAS TO DO A STANDARD LAW MAKING SOMETHING ILLEGAL . AS WE ARE ABOUT TO VOTE, WE DON'T NEED TO CHANGE ANY LAWS , WE JUST NEED TO CHANGE EDUCATION. I SALUTE COMMISSIONER MURPHY WHO CITED CHAPTER AND VERSE IN HIS CROSS EXAMINATION OF THE COUNTY ATTORNEY, CHAPTER AND VERSE OF THE FLORIDA STATUTES. AND HE FIRST-HAND ENFORCED WHEN CLAY WAS A HIGHWAY PATROLMAN BEFORE SHERIFF'S DEPUTY . YOU HAVE SEEN FATAL WRECKS. I DON'T THINK I HAVE SEEN A FATAL RACK BUT THAT WOULD GET YOU . WITH THE RESPONSIBILITY OF THE PARENTS, YOU REINFORCE THE NEED FOR THE PARENTS AND THE SCHOOLS TO EDUCATE. WE DON'T NEED OVER

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REGULATION. AND WITH THIS LAW FIRM WHICH TALKS ABOUT OVERREGULATION, WHAT DO THEY WANT TO DO IN RESPONSE TO E BIKES? THEY DIDN'T EVEN WANT TO LOOK AT THE CODE. THEY DIDN'T WANT TO LOOK AT THE CURRENT CODE IN FLORIDA AND WHAT IT SAYS ABOUT SIDEWALKS AND BICYCLES . HIS KNEE-JERK REACTION WAS REALLY HORRIBLE . WHEN ARE YOU GOING TO DO A PERFORMANCE APPRAISAL ON THIS GUY? WE HAVEN'T HAD ONE . HE'S BEEN HERE ALMOST 2 YEARS , MORE THAN TWO YEARS. HOW MANY PEOPLE WHO WORK FOR SAINT JOHNS COUNTY DON'T EVEN HAVE PERFORMANCE APPRAISALS. OUR COUNTY ADMINISTRATOR DIDN'T EVEN HAVE ONE. ANYWAY , I WANT TO THANK YOU ALL FOR DOING THIS AND FOR NOT OVER REGULATING E BIKES AND NOT PASSING ANY UNNECESSARY LAWS . BUT, WHEN YOU LOOK AT THE RESOLUTION, WHICH YOU PLEASE TELL YOUR STAFF , IT MAKES MY HEART BREAK TO CA SPLIT INFINITIVE WITH SOMETHING FROM THE GOVERNMENT. AS A VETERAN JOURNALIST , HE WAS ALMOST GOING TO FORWARD AGAINST ME BECAUSE ICE HAD A SPLIT INFINITIVE. I WISH YOUR COUNTY AND TURN HE LEARNED ABOUT SPLIT INFINITIVE'S. THIS IS AMERICA,

NO MORE SPLIT INFINITIVE'S . >> THANK YOU .

>> SHERRY BADGER, 2772 SOUTH COLLINS AVENUE. I THINK IT'S GREAT , WE DON'T NEED MORE LAWS, WE NEED ENFORCEMENT .

IT'S NOT ONLY THE KIDS VIOLATING IN TWO OF THESE PARTICULAR KIDS THAT WERE HURT ON THE E BIKE, THAT WAS BIKE SURFING. DOES EVERYBODY KNOW WHAT BIKE SURFING IS?

>> BIKE SURFING IS WHERE YOU PUT YOUR FOOT ON THE SEAT AND THE OTHER ON THE HANDLEBARS. THIS IS WHERE PARENTS NEED TO BE RESPONSIBLE AND HELD ACCOUNTABLE. NO PARENT HAS A KID WITH $1500 IN THEIR PIGGY BANK TO BUY ANY BIKE. PARENTS BY THEIR KIDS E BIKES AND IN THE SHERIFF'S DEPARTMENT HAS TO DEAL WITH THE DELINQUENT CHILDREN . IN MY CASE, I WAS HIT AT 6:10 IN THE MORNING BY ANY BIKE. IT WAS NOT A CHILD. HE T-BONED ME . HE STARTED AT MY DOOR AND SCRAPED ALL THE WAY DOWN MY BACK DOOR. THEN, HE DENTED MY BACK QUARTER PANEL WITH HIS HEAD . I IMMEDIATELY CALLED THE SHERIFF'S DEPARTMENT BECAUSE I HAD BEEN HIT AND RUN. GUESS WHAT . I WAS TOLD I WOULD HAVE TO CONTACT MY INSURANCE COMPANY. THAT IS WHAT IS WRONG.

THANK YOU, GOOD GOD BLESS AND HAVE A GOOD DAY.

>> THANK YOU. >> YES, SIR .

>> GOOD AFTERNOON, GOOD MORNING. MY NAME IS HENRY BUFFINGTON, THE FIRST TIME I'M HERE. I LIVE AT MID PARK DRIVE. THIS IS MY FIRST TIME HERE, LIKE I SAID . IN OBSERVANCE OF WHAT I HAVE SEEN SO FAR, IT IS AMAZING , BOTH NEGATIVE AND POSITIVE . ON THE E BIKE SITUATION , I APPLIED WHAT YOU GUYS ARE DOING . MY QUESTION TO YOU IS , OF THE CITATIONS ISSUED , WAS THAT OPERATOR QUESTIONS IF THEY KNEW ABOUT THE LAW? IN HEARING WHAT WAS SAID EARLIER, THE ROOT CAUSES WHO HAS THE MONEY TO BUY ANY BIKE? IS THE PARENT , MOST OF THE TIME. SO , IF A PARENT IS GOING TO BUY ANY BIKE , WHY DON'T THEY ATTEND A SAFETY CLASS LIKE GETTING A MOTOR VEHICLE LICENSE SO THEY ARE AWARE OF THE LAW. I LIVE IN THE SENSE ALITO SUBDIVISION AND EVERY DAY I SEE PEOPLE ON THE BIKES GOING BACK AND FORTH, NOTHING. AS IF THEY HAD A WALL OF NITROUS OXIDE STRAPPED TO THEIR BUT. OKAY ? SUNDAY AFTERNOON AT 4:00, A GENTLEMAN, I KNOW SHERIFF HARWOOD , BUT I'M GOING TO SAY IT LIKE THIS . THERE WAS A PERSON DRIVING AN E BIKE . THE PASSENGER HAD A LITTLE CHILD ON THE BACK HANGING ONTO DADDIES BUTT. ANOTHER CHILD ON THE FRONT

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MAYBE FOUR OR SIX WITH NO HELMET. THE VEHICLE IN FRONT OF ME WITH AS A SHERIFF'S CRUISER AND DIDN'T STOP. DIDN'T EVEN STOP . I KNOW ENFORCEMENT IS PARAMOUNT . SO, IN HEARING ALL OF THIS E BIKE, YES, I SEE IT ALL THE TIME. LEWIS SPEEDWAY IS NOT LIT AT ALL . WHEN I DRIVE HOME AT NIGHT, I USE MY HIGH BEAMS BECAUSE I DON'T WANT TO HIT A HOMELESS PERSON. SO, WITH THAT, MY RECOMMENDATION IS THE PERSON WHO HAS GOT THE MONEY SHOULD ATTEND A SAFETY CLASS SO THEIR CHILD MAY LIVE AND NOT GET RUN DOWN BY A TRUCK OR SOMETHING ELSE. THANK YOU .

>> THANK YOU . >> SUZANNE INCLUDE LOW, 10 NINE , SAINT JOHNS COUNTY. I WASN'T GOING TO GET UP HERE, BUT THAT BROUGHT HOME OF POINT. I DON'T BELIEVE I UNDERSTAND CORRECTLY .

I THOUGHT IF YOU LIVED IN AN HOA WHERE THE STREETS HAVE NOT BEEN DEDICATED TO SAINT JOHNS COUNTY THAT SAINT JOHNS COUNTY DOES NOT ACTIVELY PATROL UNLESS THEY ARE BROUGHT IN BY THE HOMEOWNERS ASSOCIATION . WE HAVE A LOT OF HOAS . IN PARTICULAR WITH SOME OF THESE LARGE DEVELOPMENTS IN THE NORTHERN PART OF THE COUNTY.

IS THIS LAW GOING TO APPLY WITHIN THOSE COMMUNITIES ? AND, IS THE SHERIFF'S OFFICE GOING TO BE ACTIVELY MONITORING THAT ? THAT'S A QUESTION THAT CAME UP AND I REQUEST AN ANSWER , THANK

YOU . >> I THINK THAT'S A FAIR QUESTION. MY UNDERSTANDING IS THAT PRIVATE PROPERTY IN HOAS THAT ARE GATED ON IF YOU DON'T MIND ME ANSWERING .

>> SURE, GO AHEAD. >> THE HOAS HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY AS A PRIVATE GATED COMMUNITY TO INTERACT RULES WITHIN THAT COMMUNITY. AS FAR AS TRAFFIC ENFORCEMENT ESTABLISHED BY THE HOA IN BRINGING THE SHERIFF'S OFFICE IN AND HAVING ENFORCEMENT IN PLACE AND WE CAN HAVE DEPUTIES IN THAT JURISDITION OR PROPERTY TO ENFORCE THE LAWS, BUT THERE HAS TO BE A TRAFFIC PORTION, I AGREE. NOT TO GET TOO GRANULAR UP HERE, I WILL TALK TO YOU ONE-ON-ONE ON THE SIDEBAR . I WOULD GIVE YOU MY INFORMATION TO MAKE SURE WE FOLLOW-UP WITH YOU TO GET YOU SOME CLARITY.

>> OKAY. >> CAN I JUST ASK A FOLLOW-UP? THANK YOU, DIRECTOR MARTIN. CAN YOU SHARE WITH EVERYTHING ONE SOMETHING YOU SHARED WITH ME WHERE THE COMMUNITY DID WANT THE ADDITIONAL REINFORCEMENT AND THEN WHAT HAPPENED BECAUSE YOU'RE NOT JUST GOING TO GO INTO THE COMMUNITY AND ONLY LOOK

AT THE E BIKE SITUATION . >> SURE, ALL LAWS APPLY. WHAT WE SEE IS IF YOU WANT SPEEDING REDUCED, WE COME IN WITH SPEEDING AND ALL THE OTHER LAWS. USUALLY SOMEONE YOU KNOW OR SOMEONE IN YOUR FAMILY IS THE RECIPIENT BECAUSE WERE NOT ALL PERFECT. WE DON'T DISCRIMINATE ON WHICH LAWS BUT E BIKES MAY BE ONE WHICH IS A COMMON REQUEST AND ALSO SPEEDING . WE ARE NOT THERE JUST TO ENFORCE ONE LAW .

>> I DO KNOW THAT MARSH LANDING AND OTHER AREAS HAVE DONE THEIR OWN E BIKE REGULATIONS AND HAVE PASSED IT.

>> SO WE HAVE SEEN A POSITIVE INFLUENCE ON THAT FOR THOSE WHO HAVE ELECTED TO DO THEIR OWN RULES INSIDE THEIR COMMUNITY AND THEY HAVE HAD POSITIVE RESULTS WITH THAT AND IT'S ONLY RELATED

TO THEIR COMMUNITY. >> THANK YOU. ANY OTHER

QUESTIONS? >>

>> I'M GOING TO JUMP OVER HERE . A COUPLE OF COMMENTS AND I PUT MY PHONE HERE SO HOPEFULLY YOU CAN DO IT. PUBLIC SAFETY INFRASTRUCTURE ARE TWO THINGS YOU SHOULD BE FOCUSED ON IN PUBLIC SAFETY , ONE IMPORTANT THING TO KNOW IS THIS IS ABOUT EDUCATION. I USED TO CHAIR A COALITION WHICH WAS TO HELP KIDS

[01:55:02]

FROM ENGAGING IN DRUG AND ALCOHOL AND OTHER RISK BEHAVIORS. WE USED TO TEACH THE LAW AND THIS IS TO KNOW THE LAW.

YOU KNOW WHERE THIS CAME FROM. YOU CAN SEE AT THE BOTTOM, ST.

JOHN'S K 12 AND THIS IS THE SCHOOL DISTRICT TEACHING OUR KIDS IN MIDDLE SCHOOL AND HIGH SCHOOL THE LAW. IT IS PAGES AND PAGES OF THE LAW . THIS WAS DEVELOPED IN PARTNERSHIP WITH THE SHERIFF'S DEPARTMENT AS WELL AS THE STATE TO DO THIS.

IGNORANCE OF THE LAW IS NOT AN EXCUSE. JUST BECAUSE YOU GIVE YOUR KID A $2000 BIKE AND GET A HELMET IF HE GOES OUT AND DOES SOMETHING STUPID, YOU ARE STILL LIABLE AS A PARENT. I COMMEND THE SHERIFFS FOR STEPPING UP ON THE EDUCATION SIDE BECAUSE EDUCATION MATTERS. WE NEED TO EDUCATE PEOPLE. IGNORANCE IS NOT AN EXCUSE. IF YOU GET PIT STOP BECAUSE YOUR KID DIDN'T KNOW WHERE YOU DIDN'T KNOW, IT'S YOUR FAULT . IF YOU PUT YOUR KID ON ELECTRIC BIKE GOES 30 MILES PER HOUR , YOU NEED TO READ THE SAFETY RULES WHICH INCLUDE TODAY HELMET ON . THEY ARE WITH THOSE LITTLE BOOKS THAT COME WITH THE E BIKE S. I HAVE TWO OF THEM .

THEY ARE THERE SO THE MANUFACTURERS DON'T GET SUED WHEN YOU END UP WITH A KID WITH A CATASTROPHIC INJURY. I WANT TO SAY THANK YOU TO THE SHARE'S TO HARTMAN FOR STEPPING UP AND TAKING THE LEAD ON THIS AND THANK YOU TO THE SCHOOL DISTRICT FOR THEIR WORK ON THIS. WE KNOW BY DAVIS PARK AS ALL OF THE KIDS DINGING THE NUMBER OF KIDS THAT MAY GET RUN OVER PUSHED INTO THE STREET IS A PROBLEM AND PARKING HAS ALWAYS BEEN A PROBLEM. I SPEAK AGAINST A LOT OF THINGS THAT SAINT JOHNS COUNTY AND THE GOVERNMENTS DO, BUT I WANT TO POINT OUT THAT THIS IS FIRST PUBLIC SAFETY . THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR DOING IT FOR YOUR LEADERSHIP. THANKS TO THE COMMUNITY FOR STEPPING UP AND THANKS TO OUR LEADERS AND THE SHERIFFS.

>> THANK YOU. ANYBODY ELSE FOR PUBLIC COMMENT ON AGENDA ITEM 1

. >> ALREADY WE HAVE A MOTION ON

THE TABLE, LET'S VOTE. >> THE RESOLUTION PASSES 5-0 ,

[2. Presentation of St. Johns County’s Annual Comprehensive Financial Report (ACFR). The Clerk of the Circuit and County Comptroller’s Office recently published the County’s Annual Comprehensive Financial Report (ACFR) for the Fiscal Year ending on September 30, 2024. The ACFR is prepared in accordance with Sections 218.32 and 218.39, Florida Statutes, and requires acceptance from the Board of County Commissioners. The County received an unmodified opinion on the fair presentation of its financial statements. The Board should accept the FY 2024 ACFR as audited by Forvis Mazars, the County’s auditing firm. This presentation will allow the Board the opportunity for further discussion with the auditors. The ACFR and SAS 114 letter are available on the Clerk’s website: https://stjohnsclerk.com/comprehensive_annual_financial_report/.]

UNANIMOUSLY . NOW AGENDA ITEM NUMBER TWO, MR. PATTY . MADAM CHAIR, COMMISSIONERS, GOOD MORNING . I AM HERE TO PRESENT THE FY24 FINANCIAL REPORT. I AM HERE WITH JONAH TO REPORT .

THANKS TO THE TEAM FOR PUTTING THE REPORT TOGETHER. IT HAS BEEN A LONG PROCESS AND SPOILER ALERT, NO FINDINGS.

>> THANK YOU MADAM CHAIR AND COUNTY COMMISSIONERS. I AM HERE TO BRING THE RESULTS OF THE AUDIT FROM SEPTEMBER 2024. MY NAME IS JOEL AND I AM A PARTNER WITH FORVIS MAZERS . THERE WAS A SEPARATE LETTER INCLUDED IN THE AGENDA PACKET . THE MAIN THING I WANTED TO POINT OUT IS THERE ARE NO AUDITED ADJUSTMENTS IN THAT SIGNIFICANT BECAUSE THE COUNTIES IDENTIFIED ALL ADJUSTMENTS TO THE FINANCIAL NUMBERS TO MAKE THEM MATERIALLY CORRECT AS THEY ARE INCLUDED IN THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS FOR THE COUNTY . THE FACT THAT WE DID NOT IDENTIFY ANY AS THE AUDITORS WITH THE INTERNAL CONTROLS AND FINANCIAL REPORTING WORKING CORRECTLY .

ALSO WE GOT FULL COOPERATION FROM MANAGEMENT AND THEY HAVE PROVIDED US ALL THE INFORMATION WE REQUESTED. NEXT SLIDE. OUR DELIVERABLES RELATED TO THE AUDIT ARE SEVERAL AUDIT REPORTS . YOU WILL FIND THE FIRST AT THE FRONT OF THE DOCUMENT , OUR REPORT ON THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS WHICH WAS A NONMODIFIABLE OPINION. ARE REPORTED WITH THE GENERALLY ACCEPTED ACCOUNTING PRINCIPLES. THE MAIN REPORTS ARE AT THE BACK OF THE REPORT IN THE COMPLIANCE SECTION. THERE IS INTERNAL CONTROLS AND COMPLIANCE UNDER GOVERNMENT AUDIT STANDARDS. AND AS PATTY MENTIONED, NO FINDINGS WERE IDENTIFIED. AND THEN THE THIRD ITEM RELATES TO THE COUNTY'S MAJOR GRANTS WHICH IS FEDERAL AND STATE GRANTS OF APPROXIMATELY $40 MILLION IN

[02:00:01]

EXPENDITURES OF BOTH FEDERAL AND STATE RENT DOLLARS IN FISCAL YEAR 24. THERE WERE NO FINDINGS RELATED TO THE EXPENDITURE OF

THOSE GRANTS. >> THE REMAINING TWO REPORTS ARE AUDITOR GENERAL REQUIRED DOCUMENTS. A MANAGEMENT LETTER AS WELL IS A DOCUMENT REPORT WITH THE COUNTY'S INVESTMENT POLICY . THE 911 FEES AND THOSE ARE CLEAN REPORTS. A PRIOR COMMENT MENTION RELATED TO THE FUND BALANCE AND STAFF'S RESPONSE TO THAT FINDING WHICH THEY ARE CONTINUING TO TAKE ACTION ON IS ALSO INCLUDED IN THE DOCUMENT.

>> JUST A FEW FINANCIAL STATEMENT HIGHLIGHTS TO POINT OUT . THE FIRST SLIDE IS THE COUNTYWIDE ANALYSIS AND THIS LOOKS AT THE COUNTY'S ASSETS AND LIABILITIES INCLUDING ALL LONG-TERM ASSET WITH THE CAPTAL AS WELL AS LONG-TERM LIABILITIES INCLUDING PENSION . I WANTED TO POINT OUT THE UNRESTRICTED DEPOSITION NUMBER . THAT INCREASE TO $66 MILLION FOR FISCAL YEAR 24 FOR GOVERNMENTAL ACTIVITIES AND ALSO INCREASED FOR BUSINESS TYPE . THAT IS SIGNIFICANT AS A LOT OF COUNTIES HAVE A NEGATIVE UNRESTRICTED DUE TO THEIR LARGE PENSION . THE COUNTY HAS A LARGE POSITIVE NUMBER HERE CONSIDERING ALL THE LIABILITIES NETTED INTO THE NUMBER IS THE NET RESULT . I DID WANT TO POINT OUT THE GENERAL FUND AS WELL AS THE MAIN OPERATING FUND OF THE COUNTY. IT HAD ON THE SLIDE, FUND BALANCE OF $99 MILLION AT THE END OF '24 WHICH REPRESENTS 34% OF TOTAL EXPENDITURES FOR FISCAL YEAR 24. THAT HELPS THE COUNTY FOR FISCAL YEAR 24. WE LOOK AT BUDGET COMPLIANT, SPECIFICALLY FOR THE GENERAL FUND. THE COUNTY TOOK IN 12 MILLION MORE DOLLARS FOR REVENUES AND SPENT $41 MILLION LESS THAN BUDGETED . SO, A POSITIVE BUDGET VARIANCE OF $52 MILLION FOR FISCAL YEAR 24 WITH AN ALLOWANCE OF 15 MILLIONS FOR FISCAL YEAR. AND THE PROPRIETARY FUNDS, SPECIFICALLY THE UTILITIES FUND ALSO SHOWED POSITIVE RESULTS FOR FISCAL YEAR 24 WITH $18 MILLION TOTAL . SO, THOSE ARE SOME OF THE KEY HIGHLIGHTS FROM THE REPORT .

OBVIOUSLY IN THE 200+ PAGE DOCUMENT , THERE IS MORE INFORMATION , BUT I WANTED TO EXPRESS MY APPRECIATION TO CLERK PATTY AND TO THE TEAM AS TO COOPERATING AND PROVIDING US WITH THE INFORMATION WE NEEDED TO COMPLETE THE AUDIT.

CONGRATULATIONS TO THE COUNTY ON A CLEAN AUDIT AS WELL. THAT

CONCLUDES MY REMARKS. >> DO WE HAVE ANY QUESTIONS?

>> I DO HAVE ONE QUESTION . WHY WAS TRAVIS HUDSON'S POSITION CREATED ? HAS THAT MADE A DIFFERENCE? I SEE HIM BACK

THERE. >> YES, SURE. I'M HAPPY TO ADDRESS. WE BROUGHT TRAVIS ON BOARD BECAUSE THE CLERK'S OFFICES IS ONE OF THE LEAST FUNDED BY THE STATE. I'M HAPPY TO WALK YOU THROUGH THAT . TO HAVE SOMEBODY WHO SAT ON THE OTHER SIDE OF THE TABLE TO UNDERSTAND THE PROCESS TO ENSURE WE NOT ONLY INCREASE FUNDING OVER ALL BUT TO ENSURE POLICIES AND PROCEDURES AND SO FORTH THAT ARE SET BY THE STATE AT THE BEST POSSIBLE POSITION FOR THE STATE TO SUPPORT CONSTITUENTS IN SAINT

JOHNS COUNTY . >> SPECIFICALLY, SINCE HE HAS BEEN HIRED, HAS ANYTHING HAPPENED? HAS HE ACCOMPLISHED ANYTHING ? I DIDN'T HEAR SPECIFICS AND I WAS CURIOUS .

>> HE STARTED A MONTH OR TWO AGO AND HAS THE JOB OF LIAISON WORKING WITH OUR ASSOCIATIONS OUT OF TALLAHASSEE. SIMILAR TO YOU ALL , THERE IS THE FLORIDA COUNTY CLERK COURT ASSOCIATION THAT HELP RUN THE PRIORITIES. WE ARE WHITTLING THOSE DOWN WE HAVE THE SESSION IN JANUARY. HE IS LIAISON OTHER REPRESENTATIVES TO MAKE SURE WE ARE BEST POSTURED TO HELP US SUCCEED IN GETTING THE FUNDING WE NEED . IN ADDITION TO THAT, WHICH IS SOMETHING I AM GRATEFUL FOR HIS TRAVIS'S EXPERIENCE HAS BEEN GREAT WITH OUR FACILITIES . THE COURTHOUSE HAS BEEN RELATIVELY UNDERFUNDED FOR YEARS AND WE ARE WORKING TOWARDS HELPING THE

[02:05:02]

FACILITY REFLECTING BACK TO THE STAKEHOLDERS AND CONSTITUENTS FOR THE SYSTEM HERE IN SAINT JOHNS COUNTY AND HE HAS DONE A PHENOMENAL JOB OF THAT. WE ARE LOOKING AT RELOCATING SERVICES TO MAKE SURE CONSTITUENTS CAN ACCESS THOSE MORE EASILY . WITH THE NEW BUILDING COMING ONLINE, WE ARE LOOKING AT COUNTY SUPPORT AND HE HAS DONE A PHENOMENAL JOB WITH THAT AS WELL. AS SENIOR ADVISOR, HE HAS HELPED US ENSURE WE CAN COMMUNICATE WITH YOUR TEAM AND COUNTY ADMIN TO STREAMLINE OUR PROCESSES TO ONCE AGAIN STREAMLINE OUR PROCESSES. I COULD NOT BE MORE GRATEFUL TO HAVE HIM ON BOARD AND I THINK HE HAS MADE A DECISIVE IMPACT .

>> WOULD YOU BE ABLE TO OFFER HIM? CLAY AND I WERE POSSIBLY GOING TO WASHINGTON, D.C. AT THE END OF THE YEAR. CAN WE STEAL

HIM . >> HE IS A RESOURCE FOR THE COUNTY AND THE RESIDENCE AND A RESOURCE FOR US . IT'S NOT OFTEN YOU HAVE SOMEBODY WHO IS BEEN IN GOVERNMENT 12 OR 13 YEARS AND HAS SERVED IN THE HOUSE AND SERVED AS AN IN THE SENATE . HE IS A VEHICLE FOR PUBLIC SERVICE AND I AM HAPPY TO HAVE HIM INVOLVED IN THAT. I THINK HE IS GOING TO BE A GOOD

PLAYER FOR US . >> THANK YOU. PUBLIC COMMENT .

>> WE NOW ACCEPT PUBLIC COMMENT ON AGENDA ITEM NUMBER TWO .

>> SANFORD COOK FOR PUBLIC COMMENT . THANK YOU, COMMISSIONER FOR QUESTIONING SOME OF THE CHOICES . I'M GOING TO SAY THIS PUBLICLY. WHY DO WE ELECT A CLERK IF HE IS GOING TO HIRE SOMEONE TO DO HIS JOB. YOU CAN SET THE TIMER WHICH IS NOT RUNNING AND I COULD RUN ON. ENFORCE THE RULES BECAUSE RULES MATTER. PEOPLE ARE CALLING ON SAINT JOHNS COUNTY FOR THE JOB OF THE CLERK TO PROTECT SAINT JOHNS COUNTY FROM THE WORST AND TO DO THE AUDITS TO MAKE SURE IF THERE IS MISSPENDING. PROVIDING TRANSPARENCY IN COUNTY GOVERNMENT. I DON'T THINK ANYBODY WHO PAYS ATTENTION TO SAINT JOHNS COUNTY THINGS WE HAVE THOSE. TO SPEND MORE MONEY FOR AN AGENCY WHICH IS THE CLERKS GETTING TOGETHER AND TALKING ABOUT THEIR BUDGET SWITCHES FEES. WHAT HE IS DEALING WITH THIS UNDERFUNDING FROM OTHER CLERKS WHO SAY, WE SAW YOUR BUDGET AND DON'T LIKE IT AND WE ARE NOT GOING TO GIVE YOU FULL MONEY FOR IT. WHAT ALSO HAPPENED WAS THE CLERKS AND THEIR FEES WERE PAID INTO A GIANT PILE . THEIR BUDGETS WOULD BE APPROVED IN THE LEFTOVER MONEY WOULD BE TURNED OVER TO THE GENERAL FUND IN TALLAHASSEE . THEY PASSED A LAW LAST YEAR STOPPING THE PRACTICE AND NOW IT IS IN RESERVE AND SO THEY HAVE EXCESS MONEY EVERY YEAR . SO THE PRIORITIES OF WHAT HE WAS DOING HERE IN SAINT JOHNS COUNTY IF HE COULD PRESENT THAT PROPERLY IS A CLERK TO THE ORGANIZATION AT THE STATE LEVEL, THEY WOULD GIVE HIM THE MONEY . THAT'S HIS JOB AND IT'S NOT SUPPOSED TO BE FUNDED BY SAINT JOHNS COUNTY. THE MONEY YOU PAY TO HIM AS A COUNTY , I DISAGREE. IT'S A FEE-BASED OFFICE. NOT PUBLICLY FUNDED BY OUR TAX PAYERS ON TOP OF EVERYTHING ELSE. THERE IS MONEY AVAILABLE AT THE STATEWIDE ORGANIZATION TO FUND OPERATIONS NECESSARY TO RUN THE CLERK'S OFFICE. HE SHOULD BE FIGHTING FOR THAT AND NOT HAVE SOMEBODY ELSE DO HIS JOB. I WOULD SAY GO TO D.C. TO WORK AT YOUR JOB. WE HAVE PAID TOO MUCH MONEY ON LOBBYISTS AND HE IS AN INTERNAL LOBBYIST AS FAR AS I CAN TELL. THANK YOU.

>> TERRY BADGER, 2772 SOUTH COLLINS AVENUE . MY HAT IS OFF TO YOU, DENVER . HE IS NO LESS THAN A LOBBYIST. THIS GOES BACK TO BEFORE THE MARINE CORPS ENGINEERS DIDN'T HAVE LOBBYISTS . THEY DID WHAT WAS RIGHT FOR THE ENVIRONMENT. NOW, THEY HAVE LOBBYISTS GOING AND GETTING MONEY TO DO THIS AND THAT AND PUMPING $13 MILLION WORTH OF SAND ON THE BEACH AND IT WASHING AWAY. WHEN IT WASHED AWAY , I WAS A TEENAGER . IT WASHED AWAY . THE MARINE CORPS OF ENGINEERS CAME OUT AND TOLD US AS A COUNTY THEY WOULD NOT BUILD BACK THE PARK BECAUSE WHAT MOTHER NATURE WANTS , MOTHER NATURE WILL EVENTUALLY GET. BUT , THAT FALLS

[02:10:01]

ON DEAF EARS WHEN YOU HAVE LOBBYISTS GOING TO WASHINGTON

AND DOING YOUR JOB. THANK YOU. >> ANYONE ELSE FOR PUBLIC COMMENT ON AGENDA ITEM NUMBER TWO ?

>> YES, MA'AM . >> HELLO . MY NAME IS MARINA HAYES . I LIVE AT 789 HOOKER ROAD . NO COMMENT ON THIS, JUST A QUESTION, PLEASE . I SAW THAT SOLID WASTE HAD A SURPLUS OF $1 MILLION . HOW IS THAT GOING TO BE USED? WILL IT BE USED TOWARDS THE SOLID WASTE FEES BEING IMPOSED ON US?

>> WE ARE ON AGENDA ITEM 2 RIGHT NOW .

>> I'M JUST TRYING TO UNDERSTAND HOW THE SURPLUS IS

GOING TO BE USED. >> THAT'S A GREAT QUESTION .

>> JESSE DUNN, DEPUTY COUNTY ADMINISTRATOR. SO THOSE SURPLUS DOLLARS ARE ALLOCATED INTO THE REVENUES AND EXPENDITURES FOR THE NEXT YEAR . IT IS BROUGHT IN AS PART OF THE REVENUES FOR THE OVERALL CALCULATION FOR THE SOLID WASTE.

>> THANK YOU . >> GO AHEAD .

>> I'M JUST TRYING TO BETTER UNDERSTAND SO WHEN EVERYONE COMES IN HERE AND MAKES A COMMENT OR SPEAKS UP , TO SPEAK THEIR COMMENT , I WAS WONDERING IF THAT IS BEING USED, IN ANY

WAY TO SINGING >> OKAY, TAKE YOUR TIME.

>> IS IT CONSIDERED AT ALL WHEN YOU ARE PLACING A VOTE ON THE ITEMS THAT ARE LISTED ON THE CONSENT AGENDA?

>> GREAT QUESTION . I WOULD VENTURE TO SAY THAT WE CONSIDER

ALL THAT COMES UP. >> THANK YOU .

>> IF SHE IS HERE FOR THE DISCUSSION THAT WAS ITEM 7, YOU CAN LEARN MORE THERE TOO AND COMMENT AGAIN.

>> THANK YOU . >> ANYONE ELSE ?

>> EDSLAVIN.COM, BOX 314 , EDSLAVIN.COM. WE HAVE INVESTMENT AND NEVER HAVE HAD A AUDIT AND THE SHERIFF'S DEPARTMENT.

INSTEAD OF HAVING A MALFEASANCE AUDIT , WE NEVER GOT OUR JUST DO BECAUSE THE COUNTY HAD TWO CONTRACTS WITH THE OTTER AND ONLY ONE PROVIDED FOR ATTORNEY FEES. WE NEED CLOSER CONTROLS AND BETTER DATA. MR. DUNN IS SMIRKING. WE HAVE WASTED A LOT OF MONEY AS HE HAS BEEN HERE 13 YEARS. IT IS PRETTY MUCH A JOKE AND THE LACK OF THOROUGHNESS IN THE COUNTY IS APPALLING. I FINALLY REMEMBER WHEN I WAS IN EAST TENNESSEE, MY PUBLISHER, ERNIE PHILLIPS, GOD REST HIS SOUL , WAS A COUNTY COMMISSIONER AND HE TOOK HIS JOB SERIOUSLY . SO TO THOSE BUT FIVE OF THOSE 13 COMMISSIONERS. THE REASON I KNOW IS THEY HAD A MISSION TO MEET ONCE A MONTH AND THEY WENT OVER THE BUDGET WITH A FINE TOOTH COMB AND MET WITH AGENCIES INCLUDING THE SHERIFF WHO EVENTUALLY HAD TO BE PUT IN FEDERAL PRISON . AND, THAT COUNTY BUDGET COMMITTEE DID A GOOD JOB . WE DON'T HAVE IT AND THERE IS NO CONTINUOUS CONTINUING OVERSIGHT AND SAINT JOHNS COUNTY OF THE BUDGET. I WOULD LIKE TO SEE AMENDMENTS TO THE COUNTY CODE IN RESPONSE TO WHAT WE ARE HEARING HERE.

OTHERWISE, IT IS KIND OF LIKE THE THIRD SENATOR I WORKED WITH WHO WENT TO HIS FIRST BUDGET COMMITTEE MEETING IN 1977 AND COMPARED THE SENATE BUDGET PROCESS TO REARRANGING DECK CHAIRS ON THE TITANIC. WE SHOULD NOT BE SPENDING MONEY ON LOBBYISTS . IS IT TRUE THAT SAINT JOHNS COUNTY NOW HAS THREE

[02:15:03]

LOBBYISTS? THAT THREE MORE THAN WE NEED . AND FORMER SPEAKER CORCORAN WANTED TO OUTLAW GOVERNMENTS HIRING LOBBYISTS.

NOT ONLY DO WE HIRE LOBBYISTS, BUT ARE LOBBYIST HAS A LOBBYIST , YES THEY DO, FOR OTHER PEOPLE AND THAT IS NOT DISCLOSED. IN THE FORMER COMMISSIONER, JAMES GILES WAS RIGHT. I WAS PROUD AND TICKLED THAT HE WANTED TO PROVIDE THE LOBBYIST. COUNTY ATTORNEY ANDY DINNING FRANCIS MCCORMICK WANTED TO EMPOWER. WE DON'T HAVE A LOBBYING ORDINANCE. WE SHOULD DELETE FUNDING FOR LOBBYIST FROM THIS BUDGET, THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

>> THANK YOU. ANYONE ELSE FOR PUBLIC COMMENT . SEEING NONE, WE

CLOSE PUBLIC COMMENT . >> BLACK BACK TO THE FLOOR FOR MOTION, DO YOU HAVE ANYTHING ELSE YOU WOULD LIKE TO SAY?

>> I HAVE TO SAY ONE OF THE HARDEST THINGS I HAD WAS LAST YEAR BEING DEPLOYED AND BEING RESTRICTED BY DEPARTMENT RESTRICTIONS BEING ABLE TO RESPOND TO THIS WITH HALF-LIVES.

IF I HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY TO TALK ABOUT MR. COOK'S COMMENTS AND TO ENSURE THEY ARE NOT TAKEN INTO THE PUBLIC COMMENT WITHOUT BEING REFUTED. IT IS IMPORTANT TO LAY OUT THE FULL FACTS AND

UNDERSTAND THE WHY. >> COMMISSIONER MURPHY, HOW DO YOU FEEL ABOUT THAT? SHOULD WE JUST FINISH THE MOTION AND MOVE

ON OR STAY ON TOPIC ? >> IF I COULD ADDRESS THE FACTS, MA'AM, IF I MAY . IT'S IMPORTANT TO LAY OUT THAT FLORIDA STATUTE REQUIRES THAT WE HAVE AN AUDIT COMMITTEE TO COME IN AND ARGUING WE CAN DO IT OURSELVES IS NOT ACCORDING TO THE LAW . IN ADDITION, THE COUNTY OPERATIONS AND AUDITS THAT ARE SUPPORTED HERE IS FUNDED BY THE COUNTY AND NOT BY THE STATE . IT'S IMPORTANT TO LAY OUT THE FACTS CLEARLY BECAUSE GOVERNMENT IS ONE OF THOSE WHERE SOMETIMES IT IS THE HALF-TRUTH AND SO FORTH. SO RESIDENTS AND CONSTITUENTS KNOW HOW WE SUB FOR THEM . I WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT IS CLEAR. IF ANYONE HAS QUESTIONS AND COMMENTS ABOUT WHY WE DO THINGS.

I PUT THAT IN NEWSLETTERS AND I'M HAPPY TO ADDRESS THINGS.

TRAVIS IS NOT A LOBBYIST. HE'S NOT A REGISTERED LOBBYIST , HE'S NOT A LOBBYIST. HE IS AN EMPLOYEE OF OUR OFFICE WHO IS HERE TO HELP SUPPORT RESIDENTS AS WELL .

>> COMMISSIONER WHITEHURST . >> THANK YOU MADAM CHAIR, I WAS HOPING TO GO BACK A COUPLE OF SLIDES TO WHERE THE GENERAL FUND

IS SHOWN. READY PLEASE. >> THANK YOU SO MUCH . I APPRECIATE MR. PATTY MAKING CLARIFICATIONS. ANYONE CAN MAKE PUBLIC COMMENT . DON'T VET IT TO MAKE SURE IT'S TRUE .

OFTENTIMES IT IS NOT TRUE. MR. COOK MADE A COMMENT THAT WE HAVE A $2 BILLION BUDGET AND PEOPLE COULD BE MISLED TO THINK THAT IS TO BILLION DOLLARS IN DISCRETIONARY FUNDS WHICH OF COURSE IS RIDICULOUS . WE DON'T HAVE $2 BILLION IN DISCRETIONARY FUNDS AND YOU CAN SEE IN THE 2024 GENERAL FUND AND WE HAVE $350 MILLION COMING INTO THE GENERAL FUND. OR, 449 MILLION DOLLARS IN THE GENERAL FUND AND NOT TO BILLION DOLLARS. IT'S IMPORTANT FOR PEOPLE TO UNDERSTAND THAT THE REST AS I LOAD AND IT IS 449 FROM WHICH WE DRAW REVENUE AND PAY FOR THE NEEDS OF SAINT JOHNS COUNTY. IF YOU LISTEN TO SOMEONE SPEAK BOLDLY AND CONFIDENTLY THAT WE ARE WASTING $2 BILLION EVERY YEAR, THAT'S NOT TRUE AND NEEDS TO BE FURTHER EXPLAINED . AS EVERYONE CAN PLAINLY SEE, THE FUND THAT IS DISCRETIONARY FOR THE BOARD TO PAY THE BILLS OF SAINT JOHNS COUNTY IS NOWHERE NEAR $2 BILLION. AND THANK YOU MISTER PATTY FOR YOUR CLARIFICATION OF CITING STATUTE . THANK YOU FOR YOUR

CLARIFICATION . >> ALL RIGHT, ARE WE READY FOR A

MOTION ? COMMISSIONER MURPHY ? >> IF I MAY, TO ACCEPT THE COMPREHENSIVE NATURAL REPORT FROM THE COUNTY'S INDEPENDENT

AUDITING FIRM, FORVIS MAZERS . >> SECOND. ALL IN FAVOR, PLEASE

[3. Public Hearing * REZ 2024-18 Enclave at World Golf (Workforce Housing). Request to rezone approximately 18.5 acres of land from Planned Unit Development (PUD) to Workforce Housing (WH), located at 3740 Pacetti Road. The Planning and Zoning Agency (PZA) heard this request at their regularly scheduled public hearing on June 26, 2025. The Agency recommended denial with a vote of 4-2, with support of the denial made by members Hilsenbeck, Spiegel, Labanowski and Olson. Dissenting votes were cast by Perkins and Green. Member Matovina was absent. During the meeting, the applicant provided an updated Traffic Study and pointed out the desire to develop up to 63 townhomes on the subject site. Discussion was made regarding area road improvements, the affordable housing units within Samara Lakes, the effectiveness of the Workforce Housing product, whether eligible renter/buyer households would need to have dual incomes, and the increase in onsite wetlands, traffic, proposed U-turns, and student safety.]

VOTE . THE AUDIT PASSES UNANIMOUSLY, THANK YOU VERY

[02:20:05]

MUCH. WE ARE ON TO AGENDA ITEM 3. MORNING.

>> GOOD MORNING. MY NAME IS WILL FARRIS HERE ON BEHALF OF THE APPLICANT. AND THE CHIEF PLANNER WITH MATTHEWS ENGINEERING. AND TROY HILBERT , THE PRESIDENT OF HILBERT PROPERTIES. HE IS ALSO THE APPLICANT AND OWNER . I WILL PROVIDE A BRIEF OVERVIEW AND TURNED OVER TO CHRISTINA WHO WILL GIVE THE PRESENTATION.

IT'S REZONING OF 18.5 ACRES OFF OF SENNETT ROAD SOUTH OF STATE ROAD 16 INTERSECTION WITH NORTHWEST . THIS APPLICATION IS TO RESUME THE SITE FROM A 21 SINGLE-FAMILY HOME PUD DEVELOPMENT APPROVED IN 2016 TO A RESIDENTIAL ZONING DISTRICT WHICH ALLOWS A CERTAIN PERCENTAGE OF HOUSING WHICH GOES TO COMMENTS MADE EARLIER ABOUT AFFORDABLE HOUSING. THIS WOULD INCREASE CURRENT DENSITY FROM 21 SINGLE-FAMILY HOMES TO 63 . THE PROPERTY IS LOCATED IN A RESIDENTIAL FUTURE LAND USE DESIGNATION . AND PLANNING AND ZONING AGENCY . IT SUMMARIZES THE MAJORITY OF THOSE . IT'S IMPORTANT TO REMEMBER INCREASE IN TRAFFIC IS MINIMAL IN THE SURROUNDING AREA . NOT TO MENTION WITH MINOR INCREASES TO TRAFFIC IN THE PROPOSED DEVELOPMENT WOULD BE LESS IMPACT CONSIDERING THERE ARE COUPLE OF MAJOR TRAFFIC IMPROVEMENTS SET TO BE COMPLETED NEXT YEAR. AS IMPROVEMENTS ARE COMPLETED, BURDENS ON ROADWAYS AND MAKING THIS REQUEST FOR ZONING AND THE TYPE OF DEVELOPMENT THAT IS RESPONSIBLE AND APPROPRIATE FOR A GROWING AREA . SO, MR. HILBERT , THE DEVELOPER IS COMMITTED TO RESPONSIBLE DEVELOPMENT. LIKE I SAID HE'S A SAINT JOHNS COUNTY RESIDENT WHO OWNS THE LAND AND IS COMMITTED TO DEVELOPING QUALITY COMMUNITIES WITH THE LAND. BEFORE I TURN IT OVER TO CHRISTINA, I WOULD LIKE FOR A COUPLE OF MINUTES AT THE END FOR REBUTTAL AND TO SET THE STAGE AND PUT IT INTO PERSPECTIVE . AND WITH THIS PRESENTATION, THIS IS NOT A REQUEST TO ADD 63 HOMES, THIS IS A REQUEST TO INCREASE THE AMOUNT OF HOMES FROM 21 UP TO 63. SO, A YES VOTE DOES NOT AUTHORIZE DEVELOPMENT. THAT IS AUTHORIZED . 21 HOUSES WILL BE BUILT THERE. THIS CHANGES THE STRUCTURE AND ALLOWS WORKFORCE HOUSING WITH UP TO 63 HOMES. IT'S IMPORTANT TO REMEMBER TRAFFIC. WE WILL TALK ABOUT TRAFFIC CONCERNS . BY THE TIME THIS PROJECT IS COMPLETED WITH ROADWAY IMPROVEMENTS TO BE DONE , THERE WILL BE CONGESTION LEVELS . AND WITH IMPROVEMENTS IN OTHER AREAS OF THE COUNTY , THIS IS IN ALIGNMENT WITH THE GOALS AND OBJECTIVES WITH THE FUTURE LAND USE . WE RESPECTFULLY REQUEST YOUR APPROVAL .

>> WE HAVE AN ADDITIONAL ITEM, COMMISSIONER WHITEHURST .

>> THANK YOU. I RECEIVED ABOUT A DOZEN EMAILS AND I THINK ALL OF THEM WERE UP POSED. I DID MEET WITH TROY HILBERT AND CHRISTINE EVANS IN THE OFFICE TO DISCUSS THE SITE LOCATION AND THE PROJECT DETAILS. I ALSO WENT TO A COMMUNITY MEETING AT THE MIDDLE SCHOOL WHERE THEY PRESENTED THE PLAN AND THEY HEARD PLENTY OF PUBLIC FEEDBACK . MOSTLY, IF NOT ENTIRELY IN OPPOSITION . I ALSO TOOK A MEETING YESTERDAY WITH JOHN TROY HILBERT , PHIL FERRIS AND THE STAFF TO DISCUSS THE DETAILED

[02:25:04]

SITE LOCATION AND TRAFFIC CHALLENGES OF THE PROJECT.

>> COMMISSIONER ARNOLD . >> THANK YOU MADAM CHAIR. I ALSO RECEIVED ABOUT A DOZEN EMAILS. I HAD A MEETING HERE IN THE OFFICE AS WELL AS COMMISSIONER WHITEHOUSE AND I ATTENDED A ROBUST COMMUNITY MEETING AT THE CITY MIDDLE SCHOOL WHERE ALMOST EVERYONE WAS IN OPPOSITION. I HAD A MEETING YESTERDAY WITH JOHN TROY HILBERT AGAIN. I HAVE HAD NUMEROUS CONVERSATIONS WITH NEIGHBORS AND FRIENDS AND IT IS A VERY HOT TOPIC IN MY AREA.

>> COMMISSIONER TAYLOR . >> YES , I RECEIVED I THINK OVER 12 EMAILS REGARDING THIS AS WELL AS PHONE CALLS AND TEXTS AND THAT . I HAD A MEETING THIS PAST APRIL IN WHICH JOHN TROY HILBERT AND JASON GABRIEL AND MARTIN MARTIN NAUSEA AND CHRISTINE EVANS AND I ATTENDED THE MEETING WHICH, YES, WAS VERY INTERESTING AND OVERWHELMINGLY IN OPPOSITION . I HAVE HEARD FROM A NUMBER OF TEACHERS AS WELL AS PEOPLE WITHIN THE SHERIFF'S DEPARTMENT, ALL OF WHICH ARE ALSO OPPOSED .

>> COMMISSIONER MURPHY . >> YES, THANK YOU MADAM CHAIR .

I HAD OVER 17 EMAILS IN OPPOSITION. I HAD A MEETING IN APRIL WITH JOHN HILBERT, JASON GABRIEL AND MARTIN AND CHRISTINA EVANS AND ALSO IN JULY WITH JOHN HILBERT.

>> I TOO HAD 18+ EMAILS IN APRIL 2025 WITH TROY HILBERT AND ADAM MONTA NAUSEA AND CHRISTINA EVANS . I THINK THAT IS IT.

>> CHRISTINA EVANS , SAINT AUGUSTINE . AS YOU SAID, JOHN TROY HILBERT IS THE PROPERTY OWNER AND DEVELOPER FOR THIS PROJECT. HE IS THE OWNER AND HIS BEEN IN THE CUSTOM HOME BUILDING FOR DECADES. WITH PONTE VEDRA AND WORLD GOLF VILLAGE, HE IS KNOWN FOR QUALITY WORK. ONE-OF-A-KIND AND NOT COOKIE-CUTTER TYPE OF DEVELOPMENT. HE IS ALSO THE OWNER OF THE PROPERTY AT 3740 . IT IS OWNER OF THE PROPERTY ONE MILE SOUTH OF STATE ROAD 16. IT WAS APPROVED AS A PUD FOR 21 ROADS. AND TO KNOW THERE IS A MARKET RATE , HE IS HERE WITH A PROJECT THAT WILL PROVIDE SOMETHING MISSING IN SAINT JOHNS COUNTY , AFFORDABLE HOUSING FOR THE WORKFORCE. SO, THE PROPERTY IS WITHIN RESIDENTIAL B LAND-USE AND THE APPLICATION IS REZONING FOR A PUD WORKFORCE HOUSING . THE OVERARCHING LAND-USE IS LOCATED WITHIN THE SAINT JOHNS COUNTY DEVELOPMENT AREA . THIS IS WHERE THE COUNTY'S COMPREHENSIVE PLAN SAYS THERE SHOULD BE URBAN AND SUBURBAN DEVELOPMENT. YOU'RE NOT HAVING TO EXTEND URBAN SERVICES . IT SUPPORTS DEVELOPMENT. THE LAND-USE SUPPORTS SINGLE AND MULTIFAMILY DEVELOPMENTS. AND WITH THE PUD SINGLE-FAMILY DEVELOPMENT. SIMILAR TO THE SITE PLAN, WE HAVE AREAS OF PRESERVED WETLANDS AND THE WIDE PERIMETERS. HE WOULD BE PERMITTED TO DEVELOP UP TO 63 TOWNHOMES. 70% WOULD BE MARKET RATE AND 30% FOR WORKFORCE HOUSING . THIS IS NOT A PUD OR MASTER DEVELOPMENT PLAN RECORDED WITH THE REZONING. BUT, WE STILL NEED THE EXTRA REQUIREMENTS OF THE NORTHWEST SECTOR THAT SCREENS THE PROPERTY AND ABUTTING PROPERTIES WITH A 75 FOR SCENIC EDGE IN THE PRESERVED WETLANDS SHOWN THERE. SO, BASED ON 63 TOWNHOMES, 19 UNITS WOULD

[02:30:05]

BE TO WORKFORCE HOUSING AND 33 WOULD BE MARKET RATE . THE COUNTY HAS IDENTIFIED WORKFORCE HOUSING AS A SIGNIFICANT NEED AS THE COUNTY GROWS AND BECOMES MORE EXPENSIVE, TOO EXPENSIVE FOR MOST . WE STILL NEED HOUSING FOR THE WORKFORCE. THIS IS TO ENCOURAGE THE DEVELOPMENT OF A MIXTURE OF HOUSING TYPES .

AGAIN, WE ARE PROPOSING TOWNHOMES INSTEAD OF THE SINGLE-FAMILY UNITS YOU SEE PROPOSED THERE. WE HAVE REZ B WHICH IS AFFORDABLE TO THE LOCAL WORKFORCE INCLUDING LAW ENFORCEMENT, TEACHERS, YOUNG PROFESSIONALS, AND FAMILIES.

PEOPLE STARTING PROFESSIONALLY . TOO YOUNG TO A PURCHASED YEARS AGO WHEN SAINT JOHNS COUNTY WAS AFFORDABLE AND INTEREST RATES WERE LOW AND PERHAPS NOT BURDENED WITH STUDENT LOANS .

THESE RESIDENTS FILL AN IMPORTANT ROLE WITHIN THE COMMUNITY AND IN THE ECONOMY. THE AVERAGE MEDIAN INCOME FOR SAINT JOHNS COUNTY IS 100 2700 . TO QUALIFY AS A MODERATE LEVEL INCOME HOUSEHOLD , A HOUSEHOLD OF ONE WOULD MAKE 86,000 $160,000 PER YEAR. A HOUSEHOLD OF TWO, 98 THOUSAND $400 . THESE ARE FUTURE RESIDENTS WITH STEADY INCOME AND GOOD CREDIT ABLE TO GET APPROVED FOR A MORTGAGE AND HIM RENTAL AGREEMENT AND WOULD BE APPROVED FOR THIS PROJECT . IF THE APPLICANT DECIDES TO SELL THE TOWNHOMES , 30% , OR 19 COULD ONLY BE SOLD TO THOSE WHO MEET THE INCOME THRESHOLDS AT THE MAXIMUM SALES PRICE AT 267,000 . THE OTHERS COULD BE SOLD AT MARKET RATE WHICH IS ALMOST DOUBLE WHICH IS ALMOST HALF $1 MILLION. SO, IF HE DECIDES TO RENT THE TOWNHOMES, THAT SAME 30% WOULD BE LIMITED TO PERSONS MEETING THOSE INCOME THRESHOLDS. THREE AND FOUR BEDROOM WOULD BE LIMITED TO $1360 AND LARGER $2080. THAT IS ABOUT HALF THE MARKET RATE FOR THE SAME UNITS.

>> SO, JUST LIKE THE MODERATE INCOME HOUSEHOLD STANDARDS , THESE MAXIMUM RENTAL RATES ARE SET BY THE FLORIDA HOUSING CORPORATION BASED ON THE NUMBER OF BEDROOMS IN THE UNIT . SO, THESE ARE THE PROPOSED TOWNHOMES WHICH HAS THE LOOK TO MATCH THE NORTHWEST SECTOR AND RURAL CHARACTER . THERE WILL BE MOSTLY FOUR BEDROOMS AND PERHAPS SOME THREE BEDROOMS . THEY ARE MOSTLY TWO STORIES WHICH MEETS THE SAME HEIGHT OF THE SURROUNDING TOWNHOMES AT 35 FEET AND THEY WILL HAVE ONE GARAGE . THESE AFFORDABLE UNITS WILL BE DISPERSED THROUGHOUT THE BUILDING AND THERE WILL NOT BE A SMALLER SECTION OF LOWER QUALITY AFFORDABLE BUILDING SO YOU WILL HAVE A SET OF SIX. THEY WILL ALL

BE AFFORDABLE . >> THE PROPERTY IS WITHIN THE NORTHWEST SECTOR ARE . JUST LIKE A SINGLE-FAMILY SUBDIVISION, THE EDGES WILL TOTAL 5.2 ACRES OF TOTALLY PRESERVE VEGETATION AND TREES THAT WILL NOT BE CUT, TOUCHED, OR CLEAR-CUT . THAT IS A QUARTER OF THE PROPERTY AT 28% COMPLETELY PRESERVED. LOOKING AT THE ADJOINING PROPERTIES OR SUBDIVISIONS , EACH WILL HAVE THE 35 FOOT DEVELOPMENT EDGE WHICH IS 75 FEET OF PRESERVE VEGETATION AND TREES BETWEEN THE TWO DEVELOPMENTS. ALSO, THE ALMOST 8 ACRES OF PRESERVED WETLANDS COMPRISE 43% OF THE PROPERTY. SO A SIGNIFICANT PORTION OF THIS PROPERTY IS NOT GOING TO BE TOUCHED THROUGH THIS DEVELOPMENT. AS WE HAD MENTIONED BEFORE, TRAFFIC CAME UP A LOT. THIS IS A FOUR-LANE SECTION OF PACETTI ROAD LOCATED ALONG SEGMENT 21. TWO WHICH THE COUNTY'S NEW DATA HAS A COMMITTED CAPACITY OF 90.6%. AND IN TABLE 1, WE ANALYZE THE TRIPS GENERATED BY THE PROPOSED TOWNHOMES VERSUS THE 21 ENTITLED HOMES. WE ARE ASSESSING THE IMPACT OF THE 42 ADDITIONAL UNITS AND NOT THE TOTAL 63.

THERE WILL ALREADY BE TRIPS ON THE ROAD FROM WHAT IS ALREADY CURRENTLY ENTITLED. THE CHANGE IN THE A.M. AND P.M. PEAK HOURS

[02:35:04]

IS 24.5 TRIPS. MORE LIKE ONE CAR EVERY TWO MINUTES . SO, IN TERMS OF THE DIRECT SEGMENT CAPACITY, THIS IS TABLE 4 . 40 PEAK HOUR TRIP SWITCH ONLY 25 WOULD BE FROM NEW UNITS . THAT WOULD BRING THE COMMITTED CAPACITY OF THE ROADWAY UP TO 92% . SO IT IS NOT CREATING A DEFICIENT ROADWAY OR NEGATIVELY IMPACTING . IT IS A SMALL AMOUNT OF INCREASED TRIPS FROM THE ADDITIONAL UNITS.

SO, MOST OF THE ISSUES FOR THE RESIDENCE ALONG PACETTI ROAD ARE DUE TO STATE ROAD 16 AND I GP . THERE IS SEVERAL TRAFFIC ISSUES AND THE COUNTY HAS INVESTED IN SEVERAL CAPACITY AND INTERSECTION IMPROVEMENTS UNDER DESIGN AND CONSTRUCTION . THE IMPROVEMENTS WILL ADD CAPACITY INTERSECTION IMPROVEMENTS TO REDUCE DELAYS . THAT IS UNDER CONSTRUCTION AND AS STAFF HAS CAN FIRMED , ESTIMATED TO BE COMPLETED IN 2026 . THE COMPLETION OF COUNTY ROAD 2209 AT STATE ROAD 16 IS UNDER CONSTRUCTION AND ESTIMATED TO BE COMPLETED IN EARLY 2027. THOSE ARE THE TWO THAT WE FOCUSED ON . IN THE STAFF REPORT, THEY LIST AN ADDITIONAL TWO ROADWAY IMPROVEMENT PROJECTS IN THE AREA THAT WILL IMPROVE TRAFFIC FLOW AND THEIR COMPLETION YEAR. THE ONES I DID NOT MENTION, THE FIRST COAST EXPRESSWAY , THAT ONE WILL BE COMPLETE IN 2030. AND THE INTERSECTION PERMITS AT STATE ROAD 16 AND 95 IS ESTIMATED TO BE COMPLETED AT THE END OF 2025 . SO, THREE OF THE FOUR IMPROVEMENTS THAT STAFF SAYS WILL IMPROVE TRAFFIC IN THE AREA ARE ESTIMATED TO BE DONE BY THE END OF 2026. IF THE ZONING IS APPROVED TODAY , GOING THROUGH CONSTRUCTION PLANS AND PERMITTING AND CONSTRUCTION, THE FIRST UNITS WOULD BE READY FOR OCCUPANCY AROUND EARLY TO MID 2027 . THAT MEANS THREE OF THE FOUR TRAFFIC IMPROVEMENT PROJECTS WE WILL BE COMPLETE EVEN BEFORE THE FIRST CO FOR THIS PROJECT WILL BE ISSUED. AS PART OF THIS , THE DEVELOPER WILL HAVE TO ADD A 290 FOOT NORTHBOUND DECELERATION LANE INTO THE DEVELOPMENT. IT IS CURRENTLY RIGHT IN AND WRITE OUT AND D.O.T. SAYS IT IS SAFER THAN HAVING A LEFT TURN THEIR . IT IS BETTER FOR PEOPLE TO MAKE A RIGHT AND A U-TURN AT THE NEXT INTERSECTION. SO, THIS PROJECT IS COMPATIBLE WITH THE SURROUNDING AREA . LIKE I SAID, IT IS IN PHIL AND IN THE AREA WHERE THE COUNTY WANTS TO SEE THE HIGHER DENSITY DEVELOPMENTS.

AND THERE IS CAPACITY FOR THE INCREASE IN DEMAND, ESPECIALLY WHEN YOU CONSIDER WHAT IS ALREADY ENTITLED ON THE PROPERTY, IT IS JUST A SMALL INCREASE. THE PUD APPROVED IN 2003, THERE WERE REQUIRED TO PRODUCE 245 AFFORDABLE UNITS WITH THE SAME INCOME RESTRICTION BUT THEY ENDED UP DEVELOPING 243 UNITS. AND, A PORTION OF THOSE WERE AFFORDABLE TO LOW INCOME HOUSEHOLDS WHICH IS A LOWER INCOME THRESHOLD THAT WE ARE PROPOSING FOR OUR DEVELOPMENT . WE ARE USING THE INCENTIVE TO INCREASE DENSITY IN THIS AREA . THE NEXT FEW SLIDES ARE A LOT OF TEXT AND I'M NOT ONE TO GO THROUGH ALL OF THEM . THIS IS TO SHOW HOW MANY POLICIES AND GOALS OF THE COMPREHENSIVE PLAN THIS PROJECT MEETS. THE PLAN IS A COUNTY'S GUIDE FOR GROWTH AND DEVELOPMENT . THERE IS TALK OF NO GROWTH BUT THE PLAN IS FOR SMART GROWTH. TO ALLOW GOALS AND POLICIES SET BY THE COUNTY STRESSING SMART GROWTH. THIS IS A SMALL PROJECT WITH A SMALL INCREASE IN UNITS . AS PHIL SAID, THE PROPERTY WILL BE DEVELOPED WITH RESIDENTIAL AND THE QUESTION IS, WILL THE COUNTY GET THE BENEFIT OF THESE AFFORDABLE UNITS AND CONTINUING SMART GROWTH? THE FIRST POLICY, THE COUNTY SHALL ENCOURAGE URBAN GROWTH IN THE AREA WHERE THE DEVELOPMENT EXISTS . THE COUNTY SHALL ENCOURAGE AND FIELD DEVELOPMENT , AND THIS QUALIFIES AS AN FIELD DEVELOPMENT . WE ARE MEETING THE MAXIMUM DENSITY FOR

[02:40:02]

THE RESIDENTIAL REZ B CATEGORY WITH THE HOUSING ZONING . THEN IT SAYS ALL COUNTY LAND DEVELOPMENT REGULATIONS INCLUDING ZONING SHOULD BE SUBORDINATE TO THE COUNTY COMPREHENSIVE PLAN IN THE FUTURE LAND USE MAP. THAT MEANS THE REZ B LAND USE IN THE POLICY SHOULD SUPERSEDE . THIS IS ALSO POLICY SPECIFIC TO THE NORTHWEST SECTOR . IT IS PROVIDING A BALANCE OF LAND USES AND HOUSING OPTIONS THAT SUPPORTS NOT JUST CONTINUING SINGLE-FAMILY DEVELOPMENT IN THIS AREA . IT REDUCES STRESS ON THE REGIONAL ROADWAY NET WORK WHERE PEOPLE CAN AFFORD TO LIVE WHERE THEY WORK INSTEAD OF FARTHER AWAY ADDING TRIPS TO THE REGIONAL NETWORK. YOU'RE CREATING LOCAL TRIPS AND LASTLY IT STATES THAT DEVELOPMENT SHOULD PROVIDE A MIXTURE OF HOUSING TYPES AND A RANGE OF HOUSING OPPORTUNITIES TO RESIDENTS AND THAT IS EXACTLY WHAT THIS PROJECT IS DOING .

THESE ARE FROM THE HOUSING ELEMENT STATING THAT THE COUNTY'S GOAL IS TO MAINTAIN HOUSING IN A VARIETY OF TYPES, SIZES , AND LOCATIONS AT AN AFFORDABLE PRICE . IT IS IMPORTANT THEY PROVIDE INCENTIVES TO ENCOURAGE THIS TYPE OF DEVELOPMENT SUCH AS THE DENSITY BONUSES . THE FIRST ONE ON HERE SAYS THE COUNTY SHALL MAXIMIZE THE USE OF DESIGNATIONS TO INCLUDE URBAN INFILL . THAT IS WHAT WE ARE ASKING FOR TODAY WITH THIS REZONING TO MAXIMIZE THE PLANNED DESIGNATION FOR THIS DEVELOPMENT PROJECT . WITH A VARIETY OF HOUSING TYPES WHERE YOU HAVE INFRASTRUCTURE SO YOU ARE NOT JUST CONTINUING SPRAWL.

THE COUNTY IS GOING TO NEED MORE UNITS AND SMART GROWTH IS PROVIDING THESE UNITS IN THIS LOCATION WHERE THERE IS INFRASTRUCTURE INSTEAD OF EVENTUALLY EXPANDING THE DEVELOPMENT AREA INTO RURAL AREAS WHEN YOU ARE GOING TO NEED THOSE HOUSING UNITS ANYWAYS. ANOTHER POLICY IS THE COUNTY SHALL SUPPORT PROJECTS THAT SUPPORT HOUSING TO SUPPORT A RANGE OF INCOME LEVELS AND TO INTEGRATE WITH AFFORDABLE HOUSING UNITS. AS I SAID , YOU WILL NOT HAVE A SEPARATE SECTION OF AFFORDABLE BUILDINGS . HERE, AGAIN , IS A SUMMARY OF THE BENEFITS OF THE WORKFORCE UNITS. THE SALE WILL BE DEEMED RESPECTED FOR TWO YEARS. IT WILL BE ALMOST HALF OF THE MARKET RATE AND SAVE FOR THE RENTALS OF THREE AND FOUR BEDROOMS. THAT WILL BE DEEDED FOR FIVE YEARS BUT THE RATES ARE 50% FOR FAMILIES AND SAINT JOHNS COUNTY . SO, THIS ZONING REQUEST IS CONSISTENT WITH REZ B LAND USE . THE OBJECTIVE IS TO COMP PLANS, SPECIFICALLY IN THE NORTHWEST SECTOR ARE AND THAT HOUSING DEVELOPMENT IS COMPATIBLE WITH INFILL AND NOT URBAN'S SPRAWL .

THERE IS CAPACITY ON THE ROADWAYS FOR ADDITIONAL TRIPS .

THOSE MAJOR IMPROVEMENTS, A MAJORITY OF THEM WILL BE FROM THE FIRST COAST EXPRESSWAY AND WILL BECOME PLEASED BY THE TIME THE FIRST UNITS ARE OCCUPIED. THAT CONCLUDES MY PRESENTATION ,

ARE THERE ANY QUESTIONS . >> COMMISSIONER ARNOLD .

>> THANK YOU . I HAVE ONE QUESTION I WANT ON THE RECORD .

THIS WAS AN INCREASE FROM WHAT WAS PROPOSED AT THE ORIGINAL

MEETINGS, CORRECT ? >> SO THE ORIGINAL REQUEST WAS FOR 63, THE MAXIMUM. ONCE WE DID THE SITE PLAN , WE PUT IT BACK DOWN AT THE COMMUNITY MEETING WITH 52 UNITS . AS WE HAVE CONTINUED THE PROCESS , WE HAVE REMOVED THE RESTRICTION UP TO 63 . HOWEVER, 63 IS NOT GOING TO FIT ON THE PROPERTY . IT IS MORE LIKE 60 OR 58 AND SO WE ARE NOT GOING TO BE ABLE TO FIT 63 UNITS

ON THE PROPERTY . >> OKAY, THANK YOU .

>> I'M TRYING TO UNDERSTAND WHEN YOU HAVE A FOUR-BEDROOM , HOW MANY FOUR-BEDROOM RENTALS DO YOU HAVE ?

>> FOR THE PROJECT ? >> YEAH .

>> THAT WOULD BE 19 . >> THAT WOULD BE FOUR CARS .

>> THAT WOULD BE YOUNG WHITE UNIT WITH FOUR BEDROOMS .

>> WHEN PEOPLE ARE WORKING , THERE IS TWO BARTENDERS OR

[02:45:02]

NURSES, OR WHATEVER THAT LIVE TOGETHER AND THERE IS TWO CARS WITH A ONE CAR GARAGE AND YOU CAN HAVE UP TO THREE CARS AND YOU HAVE TEENAGERS. I'M CONCERNED ABOUT THE TRAFFIC.

>> IT DOES HAVE ONE CAR GARAGE AND WE ARE PROVIDING PARKING. IF YOU HAVE FOUR CARS AND YOU TRY TO RENT OR PURCHASE A HOUSE WITH TWO PARKING SPACES, THAT'S NOT GOING TO FIT YOUR NEED.

>> THEY WILL STILL DO IT TO PUT THE CARS ON THE STREET OR

WHATEVER. >> SHOULD WE OPEN FOR PUBLIC

COMMENT ? >> WE NOW MOVE TO PUBLIC COMMENT

ON AGENDA ITEM 3. >> GOOD MORNING .

>> SUZANNE CLUE LOW, 109 NORWOOD DRIVE AND SAINT JOHNS COUNTY. I DON'T KNOW WHERE EVERYBODY IS TODAY. I WAS AT PCA WITH THIS ON THERE . I AM A PROPONENT OF AFFORDABLE HOUSING AND I KEEP HAVING TO COME UP HERE TO THIS MICROPHONE AND TELL YOU THIS IS WHAT I'M LOOKING FOR. THIS IS BENEFITED NO ONE, THIS DEVELOPER . LET HIM BUILD HIS 21 HOUSES OR WHATEVER HE WAS GOING TO BUILD BUT HE IS FINDING IT IS ECONOMICALLY MORE FEASIBLE IF HE CAN PUT AS MANY AS HE CAN CRAM ON HERE AS POSSIBLE AND GET THE HIGHEST DENSITY POSSIBLE FROM THIS BOARD. IN THEIR PROPOSAL, THEY WON'T EVEN TELL YOU THEY ARE EITHER GOING TO SELL THESE ARE THESE. WHAT THEY DO TELL YOU -- NOW, TODAY THEY HAVE SCALED IT TO SPRINKLE SOME THREE-BEDROOM IN THERE. FOUR BEDROOM. MARKET RATE FOUR-BEDROOM TOWNHOMES BUILD BY WHITE IS A PRETTY HIGH-END BUILDER. PRICE TAG, 500 K . BUT, OVER A COUPLE OF YEARS , WE WILL RENT THESE. COMMISSIONER JOSEPH BROUGHT UP A BIGGIE , PARKING. ASK ANYONE WHO LIVES IN A TOWNHOME COMMUNITY THAT HAS THREE BEDROOMS AND TWO BATHROOMS WHERE MULTIPLE ROOMIES COME IN SO WE CAN FOR THIS THING. THE PARKING IS CRAZY . THEY HAVE A TERRIBLE TIME KEEPING CONTROL OF IT. NOT ONLY THAT , BUT IT IS INCOMPATIBLE . OKAY ? THERE ARE SINGLE-FAMILY HOMES AROUND THIS AND NONE OF THIS TOWNHOME THING.

IF YOU LOOK AT THEIR LITTLE MAP THERE OF THE AMOUNT OF WETLANDS THAT ARE GOING TO BE COVERED OVER AND CHOKED DOWN INTO A POND , THE NEIGHBORS SHOWED UP FROM SAMARA LAKES AND ONE OTHER ONE TALKING ABOUT HOW RIGHT NOW THEY'RE HAVING A RUNOFF PROBLEM DOWN AT THE END THERE. HERE, WE'RE GOING TO PUT BUILDINGS THAT ARE GOING TO TAKE AWAY MORE. I JUST -- IT KILLS ME TO SAY THIS, BUT PLEASE DON'T -- PLEASE DON'T DO THIS.

>> YOU WHO DON'T KNOW, I WAS A HUGE PROPONENT TO GET THIS WORKFORCE HOUSING AND I PUT MY MONEY WHERE MY MOUTH WAS IN A BROUGHT THE FIRST PROJECTS FORWARD. I WAS MIXED-USE AND DIDN'T NEED IT BUT I WAS LAMBASTED JUST AS THIS DEVELOPER IS GETTING SAYING I DIDN'T THE RIGHT THING AND NOW PEOPLE ARE APOLOGIZING SAYING STOKES LANDING IS BEAUTIFUL AND IT'S EVERYTHING I SAID IT WOULD BE AND HOW MANY GREAT PEOPLE LIVE THERE. JUST BECAUSE WE ARE AFRAID OF SOMETHING DOESN'T MEAN IT IS A BAD THING. AS WAS TRANSMITTED TO THE STATE, YOU CLEARLY HAVE WRITTEN IN THERE THAT INFILL IS IMPORTANT . IT'S ALSO WRITTEN THERE THAT YOU WANT TO MIXTURE OF HOUSING TYPES .

JUST BECAUSE SINGLE-FAMILY WOULD BE UP AGAINST TOWNHOMES DOES NOT MAKE IT INCOMPATIBLE. IF WE ARE GOING TO CHANGE THE PLAN AND SAY

[02:50:06]

THESE THINGS ARE IMPORTANT AND AN APPLICANT COMES IN AND CHECKS EVERY BOX OF WHAT WE SAY WHAT WE WANT , PARKING IS INTERNAL TO THE PROJECT AND IT DOESN'T IMPACT ANYONE ON THE OUTSIDE .

WE NEED TO BE CAREFUL THE MESSAGE WE PUT OUT OF WHAT WE WANT AND THEN DON'T HIT THE PUPPY WITH THE NEWSPAPER WHEN HE FINALLY PEDALS OUTSIDE . HE DID WHAT YOU WANTED HIM TO DO IN YOUR REWARD THAT PERSON. IT IS EVERY TIME A WORKFORCE PROJECT COMES FORWARD AND LET ME BE CLEAR . THERE ARE TWO THINGS, WE NEED AFFORDABLE THAT AFFORDABLE IS NOT WORKFORCE . THERE ARE STEPS . SO IT IS MARKET RATE , WORKFORCE AND THEN WE GO TO AFFORDABLE . AFFORDABLE CANNOT BE DONE WITH PRIVATE FUNDS . WE HAVE A PRIVATE DEVELOPER WILLING TO BRING A PRICE POINT TO THE AREA THAT YOU CANNOT BUY A HOME AND THAT AREA AT $267,000 . IT REALLY OFFENDS ME WHEN PEOPLE SAY, WHO DOES THIS SERVE? NO ONE . IF YOU ARE A BUYER AND ALL YOU CAN AFFORD IS $267,000 AND THERE IS NO PRODUCT OUT THERE. IT SERVES A LOT OF PEOPLE . WE NEED TO REMEMBER WE HAVE A LOT OF DIVERSITY IN THIS COUNTY WHICH IS FANTASTIC. WE NEED TO TAKE CARE OF EACH SEGMENT WE CAN . WE CAN'T FIX IT ALL AT ONCE BUT WE CAN FIX IT ONE STEP AT A TIME .

THIS DEVELOPMENT IS ONE STEP AND MEETS THE CRITERIA OF WHAT IS TRANSMITTED TO THE STATE . LET'S KEEP IN MIND THIS IS WHAT YOU SAID AS A BOARD YOU WANTED . THEN HERE IS SOMEONE CHECKING THESE BOXES. SO, PLEASE, PASS THIS, THANK YOU.

>> YES, MA'AM . >> GOOD MORNING AGAIN, COMMISSIONERS, I AM VICKI PEPPER AND LIVE IN SAINT AUGUSTINE HERE AND I REPRESENT MYSELF HERE AND THE C.A.R.E. COMMUNITY. WE HAVE RECOMMENDED A FRAMEWORK FOR DOING SO. FIRST, WE ACKNOWLEDGE ANY DEVELOPMENT IS LIKELY TO ENTAIL SOME TRADE-OFFS GIVEN THE EXPLOSION IN OUR POPULATION OVER THE LAST 15 OR 20 YEARS .

SECOND, GIVEN THE URGENT NEED FOR HOUSING FOR PEOPLE WHO LIVE AND WORK IN ST. JOHN'S COUNTY, WE GIVE YOU THE LEVERAGE THAT YOU HAVE WHEN YOU HAVE IT TO DEVELOP AS MUCH AS IS ATTAINABLE FOR WORKFORCE. FOR ANY NEW DEVELOPMENT , IT SHOULD PROVIDE A SIGNIFICANT AMOUNT OF HOUSING THAT ARE NEW WORKFORCE INCOME LEVELS WHICH ARE LOWER THAN THE LEVEL BEING ADDRESSED HERE.

IDEALLY INCLUDING A FEW UNITS FOR VITAL WORKERS WHOSE HOUSEHOLD INCOMES PLACE THEM IN THE EXTREMELY LOW INCOME CATEGORY . WE BELIEVE THIS IS FEASIBLE, ESPECIALLY IF SAINT JOHNS COUNTY ALLOWS -- IF WE FOLLOW THE NATIONAL TREND FOR MORE DENSE MIXED-USE DEVELOPMENT IN AREAS WHERE THAT MAKES SENSE . WE KNOW THE PURPOSE OF INCREASING OUR AFFORDABLE HOUSING STOCK IS NOT -- I REPEAT IS NOT TO BRING MORE PEOPLE INTO SAINT JOHNS COUNTY. IT IS TO MAKE OR KEEP HOUSING ATTAINABLE . THAT INCLUDES SENIORS ON FIXED INCOMES. PROVIDING HOUSING THAT'S AFFORDABLE TO PEOPLE WHO LIVE AND WORK IN THE COMMUNITY BECAUSE OF FOR ALL OF US. LEAVING TUNING ALLEVIATING HEAVY STRAIN . THIRD, IF YOU'RE GOING TO MAKE TRADE-OFFS TO APPROVED ZONING FOR DEVELOPERS, PLEASE ENSURE THAT RESIDENTS OF THE COUNTY GET ENOUGH BANG FOR THEIR BUCK . WITH RESPECT TO THIS AGENDA ITEM, WE KNOW THAT THE PCA RECOMMENDED ITS DENIAL IN LATE JUNE. WE DO KNOW IS LIKELY TO HAVE TRAFFIC IMPACT IN A CONGESTED AREA AND WE HAVE CONCERNS OVER THE AMOUNT OF THE INCOME LEVELS . THE QUESTION TO YOU IS, IS THIS ONE WORTH IT?

THANK YOU. >> YES, SIR .

>> THANK YOU. CHARLIE ON -- HUNT, MILL CREEK ESTATES.

WORKFORCE HOUSING . IF IT GOES TO 2163 , THAT'S AN INCREASE IN

[02:55:05]

HOUSING RIGHT THERE . IF THE PROPERTY IS THE SAME AS FAR AS TRIPS FROM IT WITH FOUR BEDROOM AND THREE BEDROOM TOWNHOMES , IT WILL GROW AND GET BETTER . AND WITH THE STATE ROUTE, PARKING DOESN'T HAVE IMPACT WITH WHAT IS GOING ON ON THE ROADS.

>> YOU ARE GOING TO HAVE PEOPLE COMING IN AND OUT . THE RIDE IN

AND WRITE OUT. >> RATHER THAN GOING SOUTH ON PACETTI ROAD BUT ACROSS ONE OF THOSE MEDIANS IS SILO ROAD .

>> THAT PLACE IS GETTING TWEEZE DOUBT. BACK IN THE PAST IN 2016, I WAS AGAINST AND I WAS SURPRISED TO JEFF SMITH VOTED FOR IT. BUT HEY, THAT'S HIM. BUT , NOW WE HAVE THIS. THE TRAFFIC, I WOULD LIKE TO SEE A TRAFFIC STUDY DONE FROM A LITTLE FURTHER SOUTH DOWN PACETTI ROAD WHERE TRIAL WILL MARK AND GRANDE LAKES COME OUT . WHEN THOSE NOZZLES OPEN RIGHT THERE, IT IS A FLOOD DOWN PACETTI ROAD , ESPECIALLY AT THAT INTERSECTION THERE . MAYBE NEXT MONDAY , WE CAN MEET UP WITH A TRAFFIC STUDY . THERE IS A LOT OF ASPECTS TO IT . 63 HOMES IS WAY EXCESSIVE .

FOR THAT LITTLE BIT RIGHT THERE , THEY KEEP SAYING ALL OF THESE GREAT THINGS ARE HAPPENING TO ROADS AROUND IT . AND THE 16 IG P INTERSECTION, YES WITH THAT . ON THE HUDSON HIGHWAY IS COMING DOWN AND THERE'S 360 APARTMENTS GETTING BUILT RIGHT THERE. AND WE ARE NOT GOING TO GET SQUEEZED OUT LIKE WE WILL.

>> HONORED COMMISSIONERS, ESTEEMED MEMBERS OF THE COUNTY.

I AM CLIFF TYSON FROM SILO ROAD AND CLIFF COUNTY STATES. WE CAN BEMOAN ALL DAY THE TRAFFIC AND THE POPULATION DENSITY AND

EVERYTHING ELSE. >> THERE IS A GROUP OF DEER THAT ROAM FROM MILL CREEK ESTATES AND I'M SURE ALL THE WAY UP TO PACETTI ROAD AS WELL AND THAT IS DISAPPEARING MORE AND MORE .

MORE AND MORE IT IS DISAPPEARING WITH THE GREEN SPACES GOING

AWAY. >> NOTICED THAT OUR FOR FRIENDS, I WILL USE IT THAT WAY , ARE VANISHING. I HAVEN'T SEEN A SKUNK OUT THERE APART FROM AN ASSISTED LIVING FACILITY TO OUR

NEIGHBORHOOD . >> IN ADDITION TO TRAFFIC AND THE DENSITY , THE MORE YOU PRESS PEOPLE IN THERE, CRIME IS GOING

TO COME . >> I THINK WE SHOULD INCENTIVIZE KEEPING THE GREEN SPACES IN THERE.

>> ANYONE ELSE ? >> ROBIN KAUS WELL , 1144 I

[03:00:05]

WOULD URGE YOU AS AFFECTED HOMEOWNER TO DENY THE ZONING REQUESTS ON TOP OF THE TRAFFIC CONCERNS AND THE U-TURNS AND THE USE OF THE SIDEWALK BY CHILDREN ON THE WAY TO SCHOOL . I KNOW IT HAS BEEN ADDRESSED AS A SAFETY CONCERN AND THERE IS A SCHOOL CAPACITY ISSUE. I MOVED TO THE AREA THREE YEARS AGO. WHILE THE HIGH SCHOOL IS RELATIVELY NEW, THEY ARE TEACHING OUT OF CONTAINERS BECAUSE THEY ARE ABOVE CAPACITY. HOW LONG DOES IT TAKE TO PUT AN ADDITIONAL 40 SOMETHING HOMES THAT WILL LIKE THE INVOLVED CHILDREN THAT NEED TO BE IN THE SCHOOL SYSTEM. WE HAVE BEEN DISCUSSING A LOT OF AFFORDABLE HOUSING NEEDS AND SO THIS IS A QUICK HELLO SEARCH OF RENTAL PROPERTIES WITH AT LEAST THREE BEDROOMS FOR NO MORE THAN $2200 PER MONTH . SO, THERE IS A SUPPLY. AND, THIS ONE SHOWS YOU -- THAT WAS ALL OF THE RENTAL PROPERTIES, EXCUSE ME AND THIS IS THE RENTAL PROPERTIES AT $2200 AND THERE ARE ALREADY RENTAL PROPERTIES IN THE VICINITY . THOSE WITHOUT RENTAL OPTIONS ARE PONTE VEDRA AND ALONG THE BEACH WHICH ARE SKEWING THE NUMBERS. AND RENTAL PROPERTIES, INCLUDING AT SAMARA LAKES, THERE ARE SEVEN THREE-BEDROOM HOMES FOR RENT FOR AN AVERAGE OF $2050 PER MONTH, FAR BELOW THE AVERAGES SAINT JOHNS COUNTY . YOU CAN ALSO RENT THREE AND FOUR BEDROOM HOMES FOR RENT INCLUDING A 2800 SQUARE-FOOT HOUSE FOR $2600, FAR, FAR BELOW THE NUMBERS THEY ARE SAYING AND SAINT JOHNS COUNTY. THE GOLF VILLAGE HAS AFFORDABLE OPTIONS FOR PEOPLE LIVING THERE. WITH THE TRAFFIC STUDY, I FIND IT CONVENIENT YOU CAN TRIPLE THE NUMBER OF HOMES BUT THE NUMBER OF TRIPS INCREASED BY 15%. IMPOSSIBLE WITH DOING COLUMN -- DUAL INCOME HOUSEHOLDS. THERE COULD BE HVAC REPAIRMAN WHICH HAVE A PERSONAL VEHICLE AND A WORK VEHICLE.

THERE ARE EXTRA TRIPS AND WITH THE SIDEWALKS, ESSENTIAL WORKERS ARE NOT BIKING AND WALKING TO WORK . WITH MOST OF THE JOBS THEY ARE COMMUTING TO JACKSONVILLE , SAINT AUGUSTINE AND PONTE VEDRA . WITH THE TRAFFIC CONCERNS, THE PRACTICALITY OF THE PROJECT, I WOULD URGE YOU TO DENY THIS

REZONING. THANK YOU. >> THANK YOU .

>> I AGREE , ED SLAVIN, BOX 304, EDSLAVIN.COM . PLEASE DENY THIS FOR ALL THE REASONS EVERYBODY HAS ALREADY SAID , THANK YOU .

>> ANYBODY ELSE FOR PUBLIC COMMENT ON AGENDA ITEM 3?

>> PLEASE , MAKE YOUR WAY DOWN IF YOU ARE READY .

>> GOOD MORNING , MY NAME IS STEVE FREDERICK SET 124 MONROE AVENUE. SOMEONE DECIDED THERE WAS MORE MONEY TO BE MADE FOR A ZONING CHANGE. AS A SINGLE-FAMILY AREA, THESE FAMILIES WANT THEIR PROPERTIES IN A SINGLE-FAMILY AREA . YOU SHOULDN'T CHANGE THE RULES FOR ONE DEVELOPER IN THE MIDDLE OF

SINGLE FAMILY HOMES . >> THANK YOU . YES, MA'AM.

>> I'M BARBARA ROBINSON , THE NEXT-DOOR NEIGHBOR . I WITNESS THE TRAFFIC EVERY DAY . THERE IS NO DENYING THAT. BUT, IT WAS APPROVED . THE COMMISSIONERS CONTACTED US . WE DID NOT OPPOSE THE 21 HOMES. WE SIMPLY ASKED FOR OFFENSE OR SOME BARRIER SO WE WOULD HAVE SOME PRIVACY . THE TRAFFIC , YOU CAN SIT IN MY HOUSE AND WATCH EVERY MORNING AND EVERY EVENING , BUT THEY ARE ADDRESSING THAT , IS THAT CORRECT?

>> SO , I'M NOT OPPOSING AND I BELIEVE HE HAS THE RIGHT TO DO WITH THE WHAT HE WANTS WITH HIS PROPERTY. I AM NEXT-DOOR .

[03:05:06]

>> THANK YOU, MA'AM. >> SHERRY BADGER , 2772 SOUTH COLLINS AVENUE . IF YOU THINK THAT $1800 A MONTH TO WORKFORCE HOUSING IS ACCEPTABLE , YOU ALL ARE ALL DELUSIONAL , THANK YOU.

>> ANYONE ELSE ? >> GOOD MORNING. PAM SHERELL OH , 4461 SAAR TELE ROAD . I MOVED HERE 14 YEARS AGO AND I AM SHOCKED AT THE AMOUNT OF HOMES DEVELOPING THROUGH THIS AREA .

IT IS A DISGRACE . SIMPLY BECAUSE IF THEY ALLOW IT TO CONTINUE AND ALLOW THESE COMPANIES TO MAKE MILLIONS OF DOLLARS OFF OF THE LAND , THERE WON'T BE ANY LAND LEFT. THANK

YOU . >> YES, MA'AM .

>> MY NAME IS MARY LEE DORIAN , 6235 COUNTY ROAD SOUTH HASTINGS WHICH IS ALSO KNOWN AS SOUTH MAIN STREET . I HAVE WORKED OVER 20 YEARS AND MORTGAGES. AND, AS THEY WERE TALKING, THE QUESTION IN MY MIND WAS, HOW DO YOU BUILD A TOWN HOUSE WORTH $267,000 NEXT TO ONE THAT'S WORTH 900 THOUSAND DOLLARS? HOW IS AN APPRAISER GOING TO APPRAISE THAT ? IT DOES NOT SEEM TO MAKE SENSE TO ME, THAT'S ALL I HAVE TO SAY .

>> THANK YOU, ANYONE ELSE? >> I MEANT 699 SAINT AUGUSTINE FLORIDA. I WOULD LIKE TO POINT OUT I WAS POINTED OUT IN THE LAW , WHICH IS A COMPOSITION OF WHAT THE LAW MEANS, THAT MEANS THE RULE OF THE LAW CAN ONLY EXTEND WHAT IS A PERSONAL GOD GIVEN RIGHT TO EVERY INDIVIDUAL WHICH IS PROTECTION OF LIFE, LIBERTY , AND PROPERTY AS IS STATED IN THE DECLARATION OF INDEPENDENCE . TO MAINTAIN THAT LAW, YOU GUYS ARE THE LAWGIVERS OF THIS COUNTY.

SO, WHAT YOU HAVE -- THE PURSUIT OF HAPPINESS OUT OF THAT LAW MEANS TO MAINTAIN THE PRESUMPTION THAT IF SOMEBODY BUYS A PIECE OF PROPERTY THAT ANYTHING THAT GOES INTO THAT THAT YOU APPROVE WOULD BE COMPATIBLE WITH THAT EXISTING RESIDENTIAL ZONING . IF SOMETHING IS NOT COMPATIBLE , THEN YOU ARE VIOLATING THE EXISTING OWNERS ' PROPERTY RIGHTS FOR -- YOU CAN DO THAT FOR A LOT OF REASONS, BUT YOU ARE VIOLATING THE PROPERTY RIGHTS OF EXISTING OWNERS IF YOU PUT IN COMPATIBLE PROPERTY ZONING IN A PARTICULAR AREA. I DON'T KNOW IF THIS CONSTITUTES A VIOLATION OF THAT , THAT'S FOR YOU TO DECIDE, BUT THAT IS THE MEASURE YOU MUST MAKE IS WHETHER IT IS COMPATIBLE WITH THE EXPECTATION OF THE PROPERTY OWNERS IN THE AREA OF CONTINUING THEIR PURSUIT OF HAPPINESS IN THE PROPERTY THEY BOUGHT WITH THE EXPECTATION YOU ARE NOT GOING TO PUT IN COMPATIBLE ZONING IN THERE.

>> THANK YOU, ANYONE ELSE . >>> MY NAME IS JUAN HARPER AT 1410 PROSPECTS ARE WHOLE . THAT AREA IS GROWING SO FAST , IT'S UNBELIEVABLE. I DON'T KNOW HOW THE INFRASTRUCTURE IS KEEPING UP WITH THE ROADS, IT'S UNBELIEVABLE. I HAVE NO PROBLEM WITH THE 21 HOMES GOING IN . WHAT THEY ARE TALKING ABOUT NOW IS A WHOLE DIFFERENT SITUATION. THEY KEEP SAYING TRAFFIC IS NOT THAT BAD . WE'VE GOT THE MIDDLE SCHOOL ACROSS THE STREET AND A GREAT SCHOOL DOWN HERE. WE'VE GOT A SCHOOL DOWN HERE IN THAT INTERSECTION THEY ARE TALKING ABOUT MAKING IMPROVEMENT , YES, IT DEFINITELY NEEDS IT, BUT THE PROBLEM IS IT IS NOT DONE YET.

AND, THE TRAFFIC , THERE IS TIMES I LEAVE MY SUBDIVISION AND

[03:10:02]

IT TAKES ME FOUR OR FIVE LIGHTS TO GO ACROSS HIGHWAY 16. THAT IS THE CONGESTION THAT IS THERE. AND, I DON'T THINK IT SHOULD BE

APPROVED. THANK YOU . >> THANK YOU, ANYONE ELSE ?

>> SEE YOU NONE, WE WILL CLOSE PUBLIC COMMENT.

>> MY NAME IS HENRY BUFFINGTON AND I LIVE AT . JUST AS A POINT OF INTEREST , I'M LOOKING AT ALL THE PICTURES OF THIS HOUSING DEVELOPMENT . GOING FROM A RESIDENTIAL HOME VERSUS THE FRAMING OF FOUR OR FIVE UNITS TOGETHER IS CHEAPER.

LOOKING AT THE PRICING OF THE UNITS, THIS IS DEFINITELY PROFIT DRIVEN.I DON'T LIVE IN THE AREA AND WAS LOOKING AT WHAT I JUST SAW. I HAVE A STAKE IN HOME CONSTRUCTION AND I WANTED TO MAKE THAT STATEMENT TO THE PUBLIC AS WELL AS THE BOARD,

THANK YOU. >> ANYONE ELSE FOR PUBLIC

COMMENT? >> IF YOU WANT TO SPEAK, PLEASE, COME ON UP . WHENEVER YOU ARE READY, SIR .

>> MY NAME IS PETER MCKENZIE CIRCLE ACROSS THE STREET FROM THIS PROPOSED AREA .

ONE OF THE THINGS I HAVE NOT HEARD ABOUT IS ]. I USED TO LIVE IN SOUTHHAMPTON. AND , THAT WAS BEFORE JOHNS CREEK WAS BUILT. THE WATER PRESSURE WAS VERY, VERY GOOD . JOHNS CREEK WAS BUILT IN BEHIND MY HOUSE , THEY CONNECTED THE WATER SOURCE FOR ST. JOHN'S . THIS IS A 16 INCH PIPE TO RUN THE WATER THROUGH. OUR WATER PRESSURE DROPPED IN HALF. THE MORE BILLS THAT COME IN , THE WATER PRESSURE IS GOING TO BE TAKEN DOWN. I ASK YOU TO VOTE AGAINST THIS. THANK YOU .

>> THANK YOU . ANYONE ELSE FOR PUBLIC COMMENT ?

>> ALL RIGHT , WHAT'S HE GOT TO SAY ?

>> JENNIFER CLANCY AT 15 CARPER DRIVE. I DO THINK THEY ARE OVERPRICED FOR NEIGHBORHOOD . WE HAVE SEVERAL HOMES IN TWO OF THEM ARE FOUR BEDROOM THREE BATH WITH TWO CAR GARAGE AND MORE CARS AVAILABLE AND NONE OF THEM ARE EVEN $500,000. DARRELL 398.

WE ALSO HAVE BEEN HAVING WATER PRESSURE ISSUES.

>> THANK YOU . IS THERE ANYONE ELSE FOR PUBLIC COMMENT . SEEING THEN, WE WILL CLOSE PUBLIC COMMENT.

>> THANK YOU, WE APPRECIATE THE OPPORTUNITY AND WE APPRECIATE PUBLIC COMMENT. MISTER HILL, LIKE I SAID, HE IS A RESIDENT OF OUR COMMUNITY. HE UNDERSTANDS AND I UNDERSTAND NO PROJECT IS PERFECT. IT'S JUST NOT PROFITABLE AND NOBODY WOULD BUILD IF IT WAS THAT WAY. WE HAVE DEMONSTRATED WITH SUBSTANTIAL EVIDENCE WE HAVE COMPLIED WITH THE POLICIES . WE HAVE FOLLOWED THROUGH WITH EACH POLICY AND WE ARE DOING SO FOR THE RIGHT REASONS. WE ARE PUTTING THIS IN PLACES IT IS SUPPOSED TO GO AND WE ARE DOING IT FOR 19 FAMILIES. IT'S NOT INCONSEQUENTIAL INTEGRATE START. IT HELPS ALLEVIATE THE PROBLEM.

IS IT SOLVE THE PROBLEM, ABSOLUTELY NOT . THE PROBLEM WOULD HAVE TO BE HUGE AND THERE IS NO SPACE FOR THAT HERE , BUT IT IS A STEP IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION AND IS REASONABLE AND RESPONSIBLE. AND WE'VE ADDRESSED TRAFFIC CONCERNS AND THAT WAS A

BIG ISSUE. >> FOR TRAFFIC SOLUTIONS, I HAVE A LOT OF COMMENTS ABOUT TRAFFIC PROBLEMS. YOU SEE THE LIST OF PROJECTS THE COUNTY IS PROVIDING , THEY ARE SAFE FOR COMPLETION

[03:15:03]

LATER THIS YEAR . AS FOR THE NUMBER OF CARS PER EACH HOUSEHOLD , YOU KNOW, I'M NOT DENYING THAT SOME HOMES MAY HAVE THREE CARS OR FOUR CARS BUT THE STUDY IS BASED ON IDE WHICH IS DATA GATHERED THROUGHOUT THE COUNTRY FOR THE TIME PERIOD AND THAT TAKES INTO ACCOUNT HOMES WITH FEWER CARS AND SOME HOMES MAY HAVE MORE CARS THAN USUAL . ALSO THAT TAKES INTO ACCOUNT THE SAME MINUTE IN SAME HOUR OF THE DAY . IF YOU LOOK AT THE DATA , THE TRAFFIC ON 479 , THAT SHOWS EACH HOME WILL HAVE ROUGHLY 4.7 WHICH TAKES INTO CONSIDERATION THE NUMBER OF CARS. FOUR PEOPLE MAY LIVE IN THE HOUSE BUT THEY MAY NOT ALL GO AT THE SAME TIME OR, AT THE SAME TIME. SO, THE NUMBERS ARE DERIVED AND THAT'S HOW WE SAY IT IS MINIMAL IMPACT COMPARED WHAT WAS PREVIOUSLY APPROVED. BEEN, ON THE STATUS OF THE ROADWAY CAPACITY , THE COUNTY UPDATES THESE COUNTS EVERY YEAR AND YOU CAN LOOK AT THE NUMBER AND THAT INCLUDES TRAFFIC THAT GOES TO THE SCHOOLS AND THAT'S INCLUDED IN THE NUMBER . IF YOU LOOK AT THE CAPACITY OF THE ROAD , THAT IS THE PEAK CAPACITY OF THE ROAD .

ON TOP OF THAT IS THE RESERVE TRAFFIC WHICH IS 190+399 WHICH IS 90% OF ITS CAPACITY . SO WE ARE NOT NEGATIVELY IMPACTING THE ROAD WHICH TAKES IT TO 92% OF ITS CAPACITY . THAT IS SOMETHING WE WANT TO POINT OUT. ADDITIONALLY, OF COURSE RIGHT NOW WE DON'T HAVE FULL ACCESS TO THAT LOCATION . FROM THE NORTHERN INTERSECTION TO THE SOUTHERN INTERSECTION , HE WILL PROBABLY LOOK AT TWO U-TURNS AT A AND B AND ONE AT THE NORTHERN AND SOUTHERN SECTIONS. AND WITH 28 U-TURNS AT SILO. IN TERMS OF THE LOCATION AND WITH DISCUSSIONS WITH THE STAFF , AND, IF ALLOWED , OUR CLIENT IS WILLING TO BUILD THAT SOUTHBOUND LEFT TURN LANE WHERE THE SILO WOULD NOT HAPPEN . IT WOULD NOT OVERBURDEN THE TRAFFIC AT THAT LOCATION. WE ARE WORKING WITH THE COUNTY AND HE HAS COMMITTED TO PUT THAT LEFT TURN IN. OF COURSE, RIGHT TURNS, HE HAS PLANNED TO PUT A RIGHT TURN LANE IN. THERE WILL NOT BE DELAYS OR CONCERNED ABOUT THAT STRECK SHUT THE ROADWAY. LIKE PREVIOUSLY MENTIONED WITH THE IMPROVEMENTS THE COUNTY IS WORKING ON RIGHT NOW WITH THE COMBINATION OF THE PARKWAY TO GP IN THE NEXT FEW WEEKS OR MONTHS , THAT WILL REDUCE THE TRAFFIC . ONCE THE SECTION BETWEEN IG PN 16 IS COMPLETED, THAT TRAFFIC WILL COME DOWN DRAMATICALLY IN CONNECTION WITH THE IMPROVEMENTS BEING DONE AT THAT INTERSECTION.

THE FLOW OF TRAFFIC WILL BE IMPROVED . THE RESIDENTS WITH TWO OR THREE SECONDS TO GET THROUGH THE INTERSECTION BUT ONCE IMPROVEMENTS ARE COMPLETED , THAT IMPROVES . THERE WILL BE WORKFORCE HOUSING AND WITH THE PRESENCE OF THOSE THINGS, SOME MAY NOT USE A CAR AND MAYBE THEY WILL BE BICYCLING OR WALKING .

AND SOME OF THE SCHOOL TRAFFIC , THEY MAY CHOOSE TO WALK TO THE SCHOOL. THOSE ARE THINGS WE CAN LOOK INTO BEFORE WE SAY TRAFFIC IS GOING TO BE BAD. UNDERSTAND , OR NOT SAYING IT'S GOING TO BE BAD . PEOPLE WHO WORK IN THESE COMMISSIONABLE AREAS MAYBE COMMUTING TODAY AND THEY MAY CHOOSE TO LIVES CLOSE BY

[03:20:01]

ALLEVIATING TRAFFIC . THAT IS THE THEORY BEHIND IT . IF YOU HAVE QUESTIONS, I'M HAPPY TO ANSWER.

>> A COUPLE OF POINTS I WANTED TO MAKE . FROM THE UTILITIES DEPARTMENT , WE WILL SAY THERE IS ADEQUATE WATER AND WASTEWATER . THERE WERE COMMENTS RELATED DIRECTLY TO ISSUES IN THE LDC AND PLANNING WITH THE WATER MANAGEMENT DISTRICT AND DRAINAGE AND PARKING . THOSE ARE SET IN THE PLANNING LDC BASED ON NATIONAL DATA . AND , JUST TO POINT OUT THE SAME AREA ON THE PROPERTY IS GOING TO BE DEVELOPED WHETHER IT IS SINGLE-FAMILY OR THESE TOWNHOMES. THERE IS GOING TO BE THE SAME AREA DEVELOPED AND WE ARE PRESERVING 28% OF THE PROPERTY WITH THOSE OFFERS WITH NATURAL VEGETATIVE LANDSCAPE AND TREES WHICH WILL NOT BE TRUCK TOUCHED. 43% IS WETLANDS. IT WILL NOT BE TOUCHED WHETHER IT IS SINGLE-FAMILY OR MULTIFAMILY . AS I REITERATED AND STATED IN THE PRESENTATION EARLIER , THERE ARE JUST SO MANY GOALS , OBJECTIVES, POLICIES OF COMPREHENSIVE LAND THAT THIS PROJECT MEETS FOR SMART GROWTH .

TO HAVE ADEQUATE CAPACITY FOR TRANSPORTATION AND UTILITIES CAN'T MEET SO MANY CRITERIA FOR APPROVAL .

>> ALL RIGHT , THANK YOU . WE ARE BACK TO THE BOARD FOR QUESTIONS OR EMOTION . COMMISSIONER ARNOLD .

>> THANK YOU MADAM CHAIR . SOMETIMES A LIFECYCLE TAKES MORE THAN TWO OR THREE AND I GO THROUGH IT A LOT. AND, WHILE THERE ARE SOME THINGS -- YOU KNOW , WE DO NEED WORKFORCE HOUSING AND THIS IS JUST NOT COMPATIBLE WITH THE TIMELINE AND THE STRUCTURE AND FOR THAT REASON I WILL BE MOVING TO DENY 2024-18 BASED ON THE FACTS PROVIDED IN THE STAFF REPORT .

>> SECOND. WE HAVE A MOTION AND A SECOND, ANY OTHER COMMENT ? ALL RIGHT, PLEASE VOTE . PLEASE VOTE .

>> THAT IS DENIED 5-0, UNANIMOUSLY. THANK YOU . LET'S BREAK FOR LUNCH UNTIL 1:00 , THANK YOU.

[4. Public Hearing * REZ 2025-05 940 State Road 16. Request to rezone approximately 0.24 acres of land from Commercial Neighborhood (CN) with conditions to Commercial General (CG) with conditions. This request was heard by the Planning and Zoning Agency at their regularly scheduled public hearing on Thursday, June 26, 2025, and was recommended for approval by a vote of 6-0.]

>> WELCOME BACK FROM LUNCH. LOOKS LIKE WE ARE ON AGENDA ITEM NUMBER 4. IT IS QUASIJUDICIAL. COMMISSIONER WHITEHURST .

>> I HAVE NO RECORD OF EMAILS , PHONE CALLS, MEETINGS .

>> COMMISSIONER ARNOLD? >> SAME THING .

>> COMMISSIONER TAYLOR? >> THE SAME BUT NO RECORD OF

EMAILS OR MEETINGS . >> COMMISSIONER MURPHY?

>> SAME. >> GOOD AFTERNOON .

>> GOOD AFTERNOON, ALEX HARDEN, THIS PROPERTY HERE ON THE OVERHEAD , THIS PROPERTY IS ABOUT A QUARTER ACRE , ABOUT A 50 FEET WIDE BY 250 FEET DEEP, ON THE NORTH SIDE OF STATE ROAD 16. THIS HAS A, I WILL FLIP THROUGH THIS, MIXED-USE FUTURE LAND USE, AND A CN ZONING AND THE REASON FOR THE REQUEST IS THAT THE CN ZONING DISTRICT HAS AN ASTERIX WHICH IS THE 1998 -- 1980 APPROVAL ORDINANCE 88 -- I DON'T HAVE IT ON ME, 1988 , CONDITION WHICH REQUIRES THAT THE USES OF THE PROPERTY BE RESTRICTED TO CLEANING SERVICE OFFICE ONLY AND THAT NO SIGNS BE PERMITTED ON THE PROPERTY. THE ZONING LABEL THAT IS ON THE ZONING MAP IS A LITTLE BIT , THIS IS THE LANGUAGE , A LITTLE BIT MISLEADING BECAUSE YOU CANNOT DO ANY USE WITHIN CN ,

[03:25:03]

ONLY AS A CLEANING SERVICE OFFICE, VERY SPECIFIC . THE PROPERTY OWNERS ARE KINCAID OFFICE LLC WHO HAVE A LOCAL REAL ESTATE BROKERAGE AND LEASING OFFICE. THAT IS THIS AREA OF ST.

JOHNS COUNTY . BUT, THEY BOUGHT THIS PROPERTY AND USE IT AS THEIR FAMILY OFFICE TO OPERATE OUT OF AND TO USE FOR THEIR SMALL BUSINESS . WHEN THEY CAME ACROSS THIS ORDINANCE, THIS RESTRICTION, THEY REALIZE THEY CANNOT USE IT FOR ANYTHING, THE CLEANING SERVICE OFFICE IS NOT SOMETHING THAT ENTAILS NOWADAYS AND THEY WANT RETURNING -- REZONING TO CG, CONSISTENT WITH THE SURROUNDING AREA . THERE IS A MAP, ZOOM IN ON THE SURROUNDING USES. THEY HAVE NO CURRENT PLAN FOR DEVELOPMENT .

THEY DID PLAN TO USE IT AS THEIR OFFICE, IT HAD TO GO TO THE PROCESS AND THEY HAVE SUBMITTED THE APPLICATION, THEY HAVE MADE OTHER PLANS TO USE -- FOR PROPERTY TO USE AS THEIR OFFICE ND NO SITE PLAN WITH THIS. BUT THE OWNERS INITIALLY PLANNED FOR THIS TO BE THERE OFFICE. THE CURRENT MOMENT , THEY DO NOT HAVE UNINTENDED USE AND WANT TO RESELL IT TO PREVENT USES CONSISTENT WITH THE AREA. AS SHOWN ON THE STAFF REPORT, TO THE WEST OF THIS PROPERTY IS A PROPERTY ZONED IW, AUTO STORAGE YARD WITH OUTDOOR STORAGE AND TO THE EAST OF THE PROPERTY IS A PUD OR CG AND PUD ADJACENT TO IT WHICH IS AN OUTDOOR GARDEN SUPPLY STORE AND MEDICAL OFFICE. TO THE SOUTH IS A LARGER PUD, PUBLIC SHOPPING CENTER ¿ STATION AND LIQUOR STORE AND CAR WASH.

TO THE NORTH IS OR, VACANT RESIDENTIAL, NOTHING BUILT TO THE NORTH. EVEN SO , THE APPLICANT REALIZES THEY WILL HAVE TO DO A 20 FOOT BUFFER FROM THE NORTH AND BUFFERING ALONG THE IN COMPLEMENTARY BUFFERS. THE SITE IS REALLY RESTRICTED ON TO WHAT THEY CAN DO. THE MORE INTENSE USES IN THE CG CATEGORY ARE PRECLUDED FROM BEING BUILT GIVEN THE SIZE OF THE PROPERTIES AND THE BUFFERS THEY HAVE TO IMPLEMENT . IN ADDITION TO THIS, THEY HAVE LOCAL WAIVERS , THIS WILL NOT BE A MULTI FAMILY PROJECT THAT YOU SEE POPPING UP LATER DOWN THE ROAD. WITH THAT, THE APPLICANT COMPLIES WITH THE REQUIREMENTS OF THE COMPREHENSIVE PLAN AND THE REQUIREMENTS OF THE CG ZONING CATEGORY AND I WILL STAND BY FOR QUESTIONS.

>> COMMISSIONER MURPHY? LOOKS LIKE WE ARE OPEN FOR PUBLIC

COMMENT. >> TAKE PUBLIC COMMENT ON AGENDA ITEM NUMBER 4. WE WILL CLOSE PUBLIC COMMENT, SEEING ZONE.

>> ANY QUESTIONS OR MOTIONS FROM THE BOARD?

>> A MOTION TO AND ACT ORDINANCE THE ORDINANCE APPROVING REZ 2025-05, 940 STATE ROAD 16 BASED ON FOUR FINDINGS OF FACT

PROVIDED IN THE STAFF REPORT. >> SECOND.

[5. Public Hearing * COMPAMD 2024-03 Schneider Family Campground (Adoption). Request for a Large-Scale Comprehensive Plan Amendment to change the Future Land Use Map designation from Rural/Silviculture (R/S) to Rural Commercial (RC) for approximately 77.2 acres of land, specifically located at 8000 US Hwy 1 South. The Planning and Zoning Agency (PZA) heard this request at their regularly scheduled public hearing on July 17, 2025. The Agency’s motion for approval failed with a vote of 3-3. Support was made by members Perkins, Matovina, and Labanowski. Dissenting votes were cast by Hilsenbeck, Spiegel, and Olson. Member Green was absent. During the hearing, the applicant expressed a willingness to revise the request to only include 77.2 acres as indicated in the companion rezoning application. Discussions were held regarding the size of the proposed RV Campground and the potential issues associated with this type of development, such as Park Models, the limited frequency of unit relocation, the promotion of units as second homes, and the potential for individual units to be sold. Further discussions addressed concerns related to the capacity of over 300 RVs, including impacts on water demand, sewage management, wildfire risks, and overall compatibility with the surrounding area. Further information can be found within the staff report.]

[6. Public Hearing * REZ 2024-11 Schneider Family Campground. Request to rezone approximately 77 acres of land from Open Rural (OR) to Commercial Rural (CR) with conditions, located at 8000 US Hwy 1 South. This request has a companion application COMPAMD 2024-03. The Planning and Zoning Agency (PZA) heard this request at their regularly scheduled public hearing on July 17, 2025. The Agency’s motion for approval failed with a vote of 3-3. Support was made by members Perkins, Matovina, and Labanowski. Dissenting votes were cast by Hilsenbeck, Spiegel, and Olson. Member Green was absent. Discussion was made regarding the size of the proposed RV Campground and the potential issues associated with this type of development, such as Park Models, the limited frequency of unit relocation, the promotion of units as second homes, and the potential for individual units to be sold. Further discussions addressed concerns related to the capacity of over 300 RVs, including impacts on water demand, sewage management, wildfire risks, and overall compatibility with the surrounding area.]

>> MOTION AND SECOND. LET'S VOTE. THAT PASSES, UNANIMOUSLY , 5-0. FIVE -- HELLO, MR. WHITEHOUSE.

>> GOOD AFTERNOON . THIS IS FIVE AND SIX, ONE IS QUASIJUDICIAL .

>> COMMISSIONER WHITEHURST ? >> AT A MEETING IN DECEMBER JAMES WHITEHOUSE AND THE APPLICANT , WE DISCUSSED THE SITE LOCATION AHEAD OF THE TRANSMITTAL , DISCUSSED THE PROPOSED USE AND DISCUSSED SOME OF THE COMMUNITY CONCERNS AND I HAVE OVER FIVE EMAILS THAT WERE IN OPPOSITION . HAD ANOTHER MEETING YESTERDAY WITH MR. WHITEHOUSE IN THE OFFICE TO DISCUSS THE SAME SITUATION , ABOUT THE STATE REVIEW PROCESS AND BACK FOR ADOPTION. THE SITE LOCATION , INTENDED USE, CONCESSIONS THEY HAVE MADE TO THE COMMUNITY.

>> COMMISSIONER ARNOLD? >> I HAD A HANDFUL OF EMAILS, I MET WITH THE APPLICANT, JAMES WHITEHOUSE, DECEMBER 2024 AND A MEETING YESTERDAY WITH JAMES WHITEHOUSE IN THE OFFICE TO DISCUSS THE CONCESSIONS THEY HAVE MADE , TALK WITH THE APPLICANT OUTSIDE OF THE BUILDING AT A PUBLIC EVENT.

>> COMMISSIONER TAYLOR ? >> I ALSO RECEIVED AT LEAST FIVE EMAILS OR MORE AND HAD A MEETING WITH MR. WHITEHOUSE IN DECEMBER

[03:30:03]

. ALSO , MORE RECENTLY, IN JULY WITH MR. WHITEHOUSE .

>> COMMISSIONER MURPHY? >> THANK YOU . I HAD A PHONE CALL FOR THIS PROPOSAL A RESIDENT . I HAVE SIX EMAILS , TWO FOR AND FOUR AGAINST AND A MEETING WITH JAMES WHITEHOUSE IN DECEMBER AND IN JULY OF THIS YEAR .

>> I HAD 5+ EMAILS , MEETING IN DECEMBER OF 20 REPORT WITH JAMES WHITEHOUSE AND IN JULY OF 2025 WITH JAMES WHITEHOUSE, THE

APPLICANT. YOU HAVE THE FLOOR. >> JAMES WHITEHOUSE, 104 SEAGROVE MAIN STREET IN ST. JOHN'S, COUNTY AND ON BEHALF OF THE SCHNEIDER FAMILY. HIS FATHER AND BROTHER HAVE BEEN HERE AS WELL, A FAMILY THAT HAS BEEN YOUR DOING THIS WORK AND ST.

JOHNS COUNTY FOR 50 YEARS, THIS IS A REQUEST, FROM THE TRANSMITTAL HEARING, FOR COMMERCIAL LAND USE AND BEFORE YOU TODAY IS THE CONDITIONAL COMMERCIAL REZONING TO ALLOW FOR THE RV CAMPGROUNDS WITH CONDITIONS TO THIS COMPATIBLE PROPERTY, THIS IS REZONING 2024-011, THIS WAS TRANSMITTED BY THIS BOARD UNANIMOUSLY TO THE STATE REVIEW , THE STATE REVIEWED IT AND SENT BACK SAYING IT WAS FINE TO MOVE FORWARD.

THIS LOCATION IS ON U.S. 1 SOUTH POINT 95 AND 206 AND IT ALMOST IS LIKE A PUZZLE PIECE BETWEEN THE FOREST , THE STATE PARK , ALL ALONG THE MAJORITY OF THIS SECTION BETWEEN 206 AND 95, THIS SITE FITS LIKE A PUZZLE PIECE BECAUSE IT ALLOWS EACH ACCESS IN CLOSE PROXIMITY, STATE PARKS, WATERWAYS, HIKING TRAILS, HISTORICAL SITES, ATTRACTIONS, WHAT PEOPLE WITH ARBY'S COME TO OUR AREA TO SEE , A GREAT PLACE BECAUSE IT IS EASY ACCESS OFF OF 95 AND THERE IS NOT A LOT OF TRANSPORTATION BASED ON THAT.

THIS IS PROMOTED BY BOTH OUR COUNTY COMPREHENSIVE PLAN IN OUR CHAMBER OF COMMERCE TO BUILDING CAMPGROUNDS AND RV PARK . IN CLOSE PROXIMITY TO A STATE PARK, BEACH , STATE FOREST, NATIONAL MONUMENT, MANY VOTE RAMPS -- BOAT RAMPS AND TOURIST ATTRACTIONS AND THAT IS WHY THIS WAS SPOKEN BY SOME OF THE MEMBERS AS A PERFECT SITE FOR THIS TYPE OF USE. AS I SAID, THEY SAID THAT, I SAID IT, TOO , BEFORE I BROUGHT THIS SLIDE UP, IT APPEARS TO BE IN A GOOD PLACE, THIS SITE , DRIVING U.S.

1 SOUTH HAS BEEN USED FOR STABLES AND CLEAR FOR MANY YEARS, WIDE-OPEN . IT IS WITHIN THE RS LAND USE NOW, BUT SURROUNDED BY PARK AND RECREATION. TO THE NORTH OF IT IS THE IN THE TRANSMITTAL, THESE USES ARE BEING SOUGHT TO DO THE RV CAMPGROUND IN RURAL-COMMERCIAL, CAMPSITES ARE LIMITED IN AVAILABILITY WITHIN THE COUNTY AND THIS SITE IS IDEALLY SITUATED WITH A VARIETY OF TRAILS, BEACHES , PARKS, OTHER NATURAL RESOURCES WHICH IS ADVOCATED BY THE POLICIES AND OBJECTIVES OF THE COMPREHENSIVE PLAN . AS I SAID, THIS WAS TRANSMITTED UNANIMOUSLY BY THIS BOARD TO THE STATE, AT THAT PARTICULAR HEARING, THERE WAS SOME DISCUSSION OF SOME OF THE THINGS THAT WE MAY DO , EVEN THOUGH IT WAS TRANSMITTED UNANIMOUSLY, JUST TO ADDRESS THE POSSIBLE , EVEN THOUGH NOT PROBABLE , BUT POSSIBLE INTENSITY OF IT AND WE HEARD THAT, AND WE HEARD THE DISCUSSION , WE HAVE REDUCED THIS PLAN OVERVIEW, AS YOU SEE FROM THE STAFF REPORT, ONLY GOING TO BE FOR THE L-SHAPED AREA THAT SURROUNDS THIS, WE WANT TO KEEP THE OTHER PART IN THE OR, AG, YOU CAN SEE THAT PROPOSED ORDINANCE ONLY COVERS THIS 77.24 ACRES THAT SURROUNDS IT FOR BOTH THE LAND-USE CHANGE AND THE ZONING CHANGE. AS FAR AS THE ZONING GOES , WE HAVE GONE BACK AND CONDITIONED BASED ON THE REQUEST FROM THE COMMERCIAL ZONING , TAKING RURAL ZONING AND TAKING OUT ANY OF THE USES THAT COULD BE OBJECTIONABLE, THE

[03:35:01]

RESTAURANTS , SPECIFICALLY LAID OUT , NO GAS STATIONS, SPECIFICALLY, NO NEIGHBORHOOD BUSINESS COMMERCIAL USES NOT CLEARLY ACCESSIBLE -- ACCESSORY IN THE NATURE TO AND SERVING THE RV CAMPGROUND AND ALSO WAIVE THE LIVE LOCAL ACT IN REGARD TO THIS. AS I SAID, THAT IS WITHIN YOUR ORDINANCE . THAT IS PROPOSED . ANY TIME -- WE TALKED ABOUT THIS LAST TIME , ANYTIME WE HAVE A COMPREHENSIVE PLAN AMENDMENT, YOU LOOK TO SEE, 8.2.5 G OF THE CAPITAL PLAN, TALKS ABOUT WHAT KIND OF ECONOMIC DRIVER IMPACT DOES THIS HAVE, THIS PARTICULAR REQUEST HAS A HUGE ECONOMIC IMPACT ON -- BASED ON THE STUDIES, RVING IS THE NUMBER ONE IMPACT WITHIN THE UNITED STATES, NUMBER ONE , NUMBER TWO, IT IS 3.6% EVER STATE GDP FOR TOURISM WITHIN OUR STATE , WE TALKED ABOUT THE STUDIES LAST NIGHT AND I WILL NOT GO TO THEM SPECIFICALLY. THE REQUESTED USES -- THEY ARE MUCH REQUESTED AND EVEN IN THIS AREA THE LOCATION APPEARS TO BE APPROPRIATE AS WE TALKED ABOUT IN CLOSE PROXIMITY TO ALL THESE NATURAL RESOURCES AS ADVOCATING IN THE CONFERENCE OF PLAN. THIS PROPERTY IS RIGHT FOR UPDATE, HAS BEEN USED FOR MANY YEARS FOR LIMITED CAMPING AND RECREATIONAL USES AND THERE CAN BE NO DOUBT, WITH THE MAPS IN THE AREA, IT FITS LIKE A PUZZLE PIECE. WE ALREADY TALKED ABOUT THAT . WHENEVER YOU TALK ABOUT REZONING, YOU TALK ABOUT COMPATIBILITY, THEY ARE CONSISTENT WITH THE USES OF SURROUNDING PROPERTIES AND THESE ARE USES THAT ARE SPECIFICALLY ADVOCATED BY OUR COUNTY'S COVER IS A PLANT AND MEET THE POLICIES . I WILL NOT GO THROUGH THIS, -- IT WAS ROUTED TO OTHER DEPARTMENT WITHIN THE COUNTY AND OPEN COMMENTS. AS FAR AS TRANSPORTATION, ENVIRONMENTAL, STORMWATER, DRAINAGE , SOLID WASTE , MEETS ALL THE REGULATION WITH SITE PLAN APPROVAL. AGAIN , THERE WAS AN ENVIRONMENTAL STUDY FOUND THERE ARE NO PROTECTED SPECIES THAT WILL BE IMPACTED BY THIS PARTICULAR PROPOSAL. LIKE I SAID, IT IS A PLACE THAT MEETS ALL THE REQUIREMENTS AND IT ACTUALLY IS A PROPOSAL THAT PROMOTES THE GOALS AND POLICIES AND OBJECTIVES OF THE COMPREHENSIVE PLAN , A REASONABLE REQUEST SHOWN BY THE LOCATION AND AN EXCELLENT OPPORTUNITY IN ADDING RVS AS AN APPROPRIATE PLACE WITH THE ACCESS TO 95, A PUZZLE PIECE , AGAIN, NO OBJECTION FROM THE STATE, WE SEEK THE REASONABLE REVIEW AND ADOPTION OF THE CONFERENCE OF PLAN AMENDMENT AND CONDITIONAL REZONING . I AM AVAILABLE FOR QUESTIONS. THANK

YOU. >> QUESTION? YOUR LIGHT IS ON.

SHOULD WE OPEN FOR PUBLIC COMMENT?

>> PUBLIC COMMENT FOR COMBINED 5 AND 6?

>> SUZANNE, ST. JOHNS COUNTY . I HAVE LIVED IN THIS AREA NOW FOR 30 YEARS . I HAVE WATCHED THE PROGRESSION OF THIS PIECE OF PROPERTY THROUGH THE YEARS , PEOPLE HAVE REALLY TRIED TO MAKE A GO OF IT BEING AN EQUESTRIAN CENTER . IT IS A VERY LARGE PIECE OF PROPERTY AND IT IS EXPENSIVE TO MAINTAIN. IT HAS CHANGED HANDS A NUMBER OF TIMES . THOSE THAT USE IT FOR AN EQUESTRIAN CENTER ARE REALLY GLAD IT IS THERE, CLOSE BY, IN A GOOD PLACE AND EASY TO GET IN AND OUT . NOW THAT I SEE THE NEW PROPOSAL THEY ARE TRYING TO DO, I THINK IT IS A GREAT FIT , I CANNOT IMAGINE ANYTHING ELSE GOING THERE , HONESTLY. RVERS DO SPEND -- THIS TYPE OF RVER SPENDS A LOT OF MONEY AND USUALLY TOW A CAR, IF THEY WANT TO GO INTO SAINT AUGUSTINE, THEY HAVE A TWO-SEATER CAR, GO IN. MOSTLY, THEY LIKE THE GREAT

[03:40:06]

OUTDOORS AND WANT THOSE THINGS IN OUR COUNTY TO ACCESS . I THINK THEY HAVE A GOOD PLAN. THE PEOPLE PROPOSING THIS HAVE A GOOD REPUTATION IN THE AREA. FOR BEING GOOD BUSINESSPEOPLE AND REALLY WANT TO DO WHAT IS RIGHT. I HOPE THAT YOU DO APPROVE THIS.

I WOULD LOVE TO GO HOME WITH THIS WRAPPED UP AND KNOW, ONCE THIS OPENS, TOTALLY, WITH THE CONCEPT, I THINK WE WILL HAVE THAT THERE FOR A LONG TIME AND I WILL NOT HAVE TO WORRY ABOUT THE COMMUNITY WANTED TO GO IN AND RAPE THE GROUND THAT IS SO BEAUTIFUL THERE AND PUT HOUSE THAT WILL FILL UP OUR SCHOOLS AND ROADS FROM 365 DAYS A YEAR. I THINK THIS IS A GREAT PLAN , WHERE ELSE COULD WE PUT SOMETHING LIKE THIS? I THINK IT

IS WONDERFUL. THANK YOU. >> THANK YOU.

>> GOOD AFTERNOON, MA'AM.

>> I LIKE WHAT THE LADY SAID BEFORE ME, A WONDERFUL PLAN AS LONG AS IT STAYS A FAMILY CAMPGROUND , LIKE THEY HAVE A NORTH BEACH. NORTH SHORES. IT IS VERY DENSE, HOWEVER, YOU MAY HAVE SOME TRAFFIC PROBLEMS. I KNOW THIS SUBJECT REGARDING REZONING, IT IS ALSO ABOUT A PROPOSED RV PARK . I AM TAKING THE OPPORTUNITY TO PROVIDE AN EDUCATION . YOU THINK OF THE DEFINITION OF RVER, WHEN MOTHER AND FATHER RETIRED AND BOUGHT AN RV TO TRAVEL BUT THE DEFINITION OF RV HAS CHANGED TO INCLUDE MODELS AND TINY HOMES, AND IN FEBRUARY I RECEIVED THIS SIX PAGE BROCHURE IN THE MAIL ADDRESSED TO "RESIDENT." IT INVITED ME TO A GRAND OPENING OF AN RV RESORT SITE IN THE MIDDLE OF FLORIDA. IT WAS MY OPPORTUNITY TO OWN A LOW MAINTENANCE , TURNKEY SHORT-TERM RENTAL BACKED BY PROFESSIONAL RESORT MANAGEMENT WITH AMENITIES INCLUDED, CLUBHOUSE , TIKI BAR , POOL, PLAYGROUND PICKLEBALL, DOG PARK WITH PAVED ROADS CUSTOMIZABLE WITH WATER-POWER, SEWER , THE SAME PLAN FOR THE OCEAN CLUB ON A ONE A NORTH WHICH -- A1A NORTH WHICH WILL COME BEFORE YOUR NEXT MEETING. I DO NOT SUBSCRIBE TO AN RV MAGAZINE BUT THE MARKETING IS ATTRACTIVE FOR TINY HOMES AND SHORT-TERM RENTALS. THEY HAVE A QUOTE, I SHOULD BE SHOWING YOU , THEY HAVE A QUOTE THAT SAYS, POTENTIAL FOR GOOD RENTAL INCOME CAPITALIZING ON SHORT-TERM RENTAL MARKET. NORTH BEACH ALREADY HAS HOMES THAT ARE ASSOCIATED WITH SHORT-TERM RENTALS WITH PARKING, TRASH, NOISE PROBLEMS WITHOUT SUPERVISION. MY QUESTION IS, WILL THESE RESIDENTS HAVE TO PAY AD VALOREM TAXES? THE AVAILABILITY OF UTILITIES AND EFFECT ON TRAFFIC, PARKING EVACUATION WILL BE

. >> THANK YOU SO MUCH.

[03:45:09]

>> A SIGN OF PREPARING FOR OUR SITUATION.

>> THANK YOU. ANYONE ELSE FOR PUBLIC COMMENT? PLEASE. IF YOU COULD HAND THAT TO THE STAFF. THERE YOU GO. NO HURRY.

>> ALAN O'NEILL , PROTECTIVE ADDRESS I URGE YOU TO VOTE NO ON THIS CAMPGROUND REZONING REQUEST, THE PROPOSAL FAILS AT EVERY MEANINGFUL LEVEL, ECONOMICALLY AND ENVIRONMENTALLY AND LOGISTICALLY AND LEGALLY , LET'S START WITH THE COMPREHENSIVE PLAN, THE PROPERTY LAND-USE IS DESIGNATED PRIMARILY FORESTRY AND AGRICULTURAL AND LOW-DENSITY HOMES IT ONLY SERVES AS A NATURAL BUFFER TO CONSERVATION AREAS LIKE THE STATE FOREST , THE APPLICANT WANTS TO REPLACE THAT WITH A 360 SITE RV PARK OVER FOUR SITES PER ACRE OF LAND THAT CURRENTLY HAS ONE HOME PER 10 ACRES, A COMPLETE REVERSAL OF THE INTENDED USE AND CLEAR VIOLATION OF COPIES OF PLAN POLICY A1311 WHICH REQUIRES COMPATIBILITY BASED ON ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT AND THE PROPOSAL FAILS ON EVERY POINT . THE DENSITY, THIS WOULD BE ONE OF THE MOST DENSEST RV CONCENTRATIONS IN THE COUNTY .

THE FIRE RISK COME ALREADY CLASSIFIED AS ISO CLASS 10 WITH NO HYDRANTS AND NO -- OTHER PROPANE TANKS A DISASTER WAITING TO HAPPEN, TRAFFIC, FOLLOWS FROM A1A TO 206 WHICH IS ALREADY OVER CAPACITY, TWO LANES RUNNING TO THE BEACH WITH NO MITIGATION PLAN . ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT, NO WETLAND STUDY, NO WILDLIFE STUDY OR BUFFER FROM THE COMMERCIAL USE AND CONSERVATION LAND. THE APPLICANT HAS A PLANT WHICH IS PURELY CONCEPTUAL WITH NO FINALIZE SITE PLAN, NO SOLID WASTE PROPOSAL STRATEGY, NO COORDINATION WITH FORESTRY OR STATE PARKS, AND NO COMMITMENT TO HELP US -- HOW THIS DEVELOPMENT WILL BE MANAGED AND THE ATTORNEY ARGUED THIS WOULD BENEFIT THE COUNTY ECONOMICALLY, BUT THERE WAS NO INDEPENDENT STUDY, NO NUMBERS , NO PHYSICAL IMPACT ANALYSIS SUBMITTED, THEY CITED ATTRACTIONS LIKE MARINE LIFE , STATE PARKS WHERE THE MONEY GOES TO THE STATE, NOT TO ST. JOHNS COUNTY . ANY BENEFIT IS PURELY HYPOTHETICAL. BUT THE COST, EMERGENCY SERVICES, ROAD DAMAGE, HABITAT LOSS, FIRE SUPPRESSION, BOTH WILL FALL ON US, THE ST. JOHNS COUNTY TAXPAYERS . COMMISSIONERS, WHEN YOU REZONE THIS LAND, PROTECTIONS VANISH AND IF THE STATE LATER DENIES PERMITS OR RAISES OBJECTIONS, IT IS TOO LATE, THE LAND-USE WILL BE APPROVED . YOU CANNOT GAMBLE OUR ROADS AND NEIGHBORHOODS AND NATURAL RESOURCES ON PROMISES THAT DO NOT PROTECT OUR COMMUNITY, BUT REZONING DOES , I RESPECTFULLY ASK YOU, PLEASE TO

VOTE AGAINST THIS. >> THANK YOU .

>> GOOD AFTERNOON . I WILL TRY TO SPEAK LOUDER. SOME PEOPLE SAY I DO NOT SPEAK LOUD ENOUGH. I AGREE WITH MR. O'NEILL. IT SHOULD BE DENIED. EVERY SINGLE REASON HE JUST LISTED. I THINK YOU CAN DENY WITH CONFIDENCE. PROTECTING THE PEOPLE OF ST.

JOHNS COUNTY FROM TOO MUCH DENSITY, TOO MUCH SAFETY AND HEALTH RISKS. EVERY SINGLE FACTOR HE LISTED. THANK YOU SO

MUCH. >> THANK YOU. ANYONE ELSE FOR

PUBLIC COMMENT? >> CHERYL POTTS, I AGREE WITH HIM, HE PUT THE WORDS TOGETHER MUCH BETTER THAN I CAN. HE QUOTED THE SAME PLAN I WAS COMING UP WITH, A.1.3.11 ABOUT THE COMPATIBILITY OF ADJACENT LANDS , THERE ARE RV PARKS IN THAT AREA, IT IS OPEN, RURAL. FEW HOMES HERE OR THERE, IT DOES NOT FIT, THE TRAFFIC FLOW , I CAN IMAGINE HAULING A FIFTH WHEEL OR IN 65 MILE PER HOUR TRAFFIC . OR HAVING TO STOP WHEN THE SCHOOL BUS IS PICKING UP OR LETTING OFF CHILDREN. LET ALONE THE TRAFFIC BACKUP FOR 206 IS ALREADY NOT EVEN SUSTAINABLE .

[03:50:03]

YOU HAVE THE RAILROAD TRACKS AND THE BEACH , ANYWHERE FROM 4:00 TO 6:00 , NO MAKING A LEFT ON 206 GOING IN EITHER DIRECTION BECAUSE EVERYBODY FROM PALM COAST IS GOING AWAY. THERE IS THE -- I GUESS THIS IS FAKE NEWS, I READ AN ARTICLE THAT THIS WAS COMING BEFORE THE BOARD. THIS WAS EVIDENTLY A DONE DEAL, ALREADY APPROVED. MIKE ROBERTSON SAYS THIS WAS FOR 170 UNITS, GIVE OR TAKE, THIS IS 316, WHERE DID THE 170 COME FROM? FLOOD ZONES, NOTHING YOU CAN DO ABOUT THAT, THEY HAVE APPROXIMATELY 31.86 ACRES OF WETLANDS AND ONLY PRESERVING 22.22 ACRES OF THAT, WHICH MEANS THEY WILL FILL IN PART OF THE WETLANDS WHICH WILL BACKWATER UP INTO THE OTHER AREAS. IT COULD BE FLOODING SOMEBODY'S RESIDENTIAL AREA, THAT ENTIRE AREA IS WETLANDS BY THE FOREST. THEY ARE STATING THEY WILL SAY , THIS ZONING ALLOWS FOR THESE DIFFERENT THINGS , RECREATIONAL VEHICLES, SOME CLUBS, WE -- HOW DO YOU TAKE SOMETHING OUT OF SOMETHING THAT IS ALLOWED BY THE ZONING? WHAT HAPPENS IF THEY SELL THE PROPERTY? DO THE NEXT PEOPLE HAVE TO ABIDE BY THAT ? THE ZONING IS WHAT IT IS. I RESPECTFULLY ASK YOU TO VOTE NO

ON THIS. THANK YOU. >> THANK YOU.

>> GOOD AFTERNOON, CHARLIE HUNT, MILL CREEK ESTATES, TO KNOW WHAT IS OUT THERE IS UNSURE ABOUT HOW MUCH WATER WE USE. IF WE WILL BE DRAINED , DRAWING STRAIGHT FROM THE AQUIFER, CAN THERE BE A NUMBER , ESTIMATED AMOUNT OF WATER FROM THE AQUIFER DAILY TO BE USED ? NOT FOR JUST THE RVS, BUT THEY WILL PROBABLY HAVE SHOWERS ON SITE. PEOPLE GET TIRED OF STANDING SIDEWAYS IN THE SHOWER WITH AN RV. SO, THAT IS A BIG QUESTION . HOW MUCH WILL BE DRAWN OUT OF THE AQUIFER? I DO NOT THINK THERE ARE A PLAN TO HAVE WATER AND WASTE MANAGEMENT STATIONED OUT THERE. THAT IS ANOTHER THING, HOW MUCH OF SEPTIC OR WASTE WILL BE TAKEN, OR WILL IT BE ON-SITE ? IT HAS TO BE DRAWN MANUALLY, SOMEONE HAS TO DRAIN IT ALL, BECAUSE IT DOES NOT SHOW THE PLANS OF WHERE WOULD BE HOOKED UP TO COUNTY SEPTIC , OR WASTE , EXCUSE ME . ALL SPECULATIVE ON EVERYTHING ELSE. BUT THEY WILL GIVE HARD NUMBERS OF HOW MUCH IT WILL HELP THE COUNTY, WHY ARE THEY DOING THE WORK ON HOW MUCH MORE THEY WILL NEED TO USE ON A DAILY BASIS DURING THE SUMMER ? IT WILL BE INCREASED. INCLUDING THE WASTE, LIKE I SAID, I HAVE BEEN TO THOSE PARTS BEFORE.

YEAH, THE SHOWER THINGS AND THE POLLS ARE GREAT, HOW MUCH WATER WILL BE USED? THERE IS PLENTY OF PEOPLE WHO ARE COLLEGE-EDUCATED TO FIGURE OUT THOSE NUMBERS . LET'S SEE HOW MUCH IT WILL BE.

IF IT IS JUST THE ONE COUNTY -- EXCUSE ME, JUST ONE HOUSE THAT USES A WELL, ANOTHER ONE FOR THE HORSES, UNDERSTANDABLE, GOT IT, BUT 300 MOBILES ON ONE SMALL PORTION OF PROPERTY THAT ARE CRAMMED, HOW MUCH WILL IT BE INCREASED ? HOW MUCH WILL IT HURT THE AQUIFERS IN THAT AREA? ALSO , WILL THE PERMANENT STRUCTURES BE BUILT THAT COULD BE RENTAL? LIKE THE LITTLE HOUSES THAT ARE PUT ON THERE? WILL THAT HAPPEN? OR WILLING BE A STRAIGHT RENT BY MONTH OF RVERS WHO DO NOT OWN ANY PART OF THE PROPERTY? SO, IF THE PLANS ARE MADE TO WEAR PERMANENT STRUCTURES ARE IN THERE, WILL THAT BECOME AN AIRBNB , WILL

[03:55:07]

THAT CHANGE THE ZONING ? >> THANK YOU . ANYONE ELSE?

>> I AM JOE RYAN, STANDISH DRIVE . THE IDEA OF AN RV PARK OUT THERE IS GREAT. SEEMS LIKE IT IS A LOT OF DENSITY. IF I WAS RVING, I WOULD LIKE THOSE CAMPSITES CLOSE TOGETHER , BUT THAT IS JUST ME . I DO NOT HAVE ACCESS TO THE PLANS BUT I WANT TO HEAR FROM THE DEVELOPER , OR THE PERSON WHO WILL DEVELOP THIS SITE . WHAT ARE THEY GOING TO DO WITH THE DUMPING STATIONS FOR THE GROUNDWATER ? 300 RV SITES WITH PRESUMABLY TWO PEOPLE IN EACH, OVER 600 USES OF, YOU KNOW, THE SEPTIC SYSTEM THEY WILL HAVE BECAUSE THEY WILL NOT HOOK UP TO THE COUNTY SEPTIC SYSTEM. THE SEPTIC TANK SYSTEM , YOU WILL HAVE TO PUMP OUT TO MITIGATE . IN THAT LOW LAND, YOU WILL HAVE TO BUILD THE MOUNDS.

MAYBE, BEFORE YOU APPROVE THIS, LOOK AT THE WATER WASTE . EVEN THE SOLID WASTE, DUMPING OF THIS THAT WILL BE PROPOSED ON THIS

PROJECT. >> THANK YOU. ANYONE ELSE FOR PUBLIC COMMENT THAT WE WILL CLOSE PUBLIC COMMENT.

>> BACK TO THE BOARD. QUESTIONS ? I DO. ORIGINALLY , I LOVE THE IDEA OF THINKING ROMANTICALLY OF THIS GREAT CAMPGROUND, YOU DRIVE IN AND SPEAK -- SPENT TIME RIDING HORSES. I SEE THE PARK MODELS AND I SEE HOW COMMERCIAL IS COMING. COULD YOU ADDRESS --

WILL THEY HAVE PARK MODELS? >> YES, MA'AM. THEY WILL MEET ALL FEDERAL , STATE, FEDERAL -- LOCAL REGULATIONS, YOU SEE WITH THE EXPERT STAFF REPORT ANALYSIS WHICH STATE THEY HAVE NO OBJECTION. YOU ALSO SEE THAT WHEN THIS GOES TO THE STATE WITH A COPY OF THE PLAN AMENDMENT , THEY REVIEW IT AND FIND IT APPROPRIATE AND THAT IS WHY THEY SENT IT BACK, THEY DO NOT HAVE A PROBLEM WITH THE FACT THAT THIS APPLICANT IS STATING THEY WILL DO THAT. AS FAR AS THE DENSITY GOES, THIS IS 120 ACRES, THAT IS A HUGE PIECE OF PROPERTY, NOT A TWO ACRE SPOT WE ARE TRYING TO STICK 64 HOMES ON , THIS IS A HUGE PIECE OF PROPERTY AND THAT IS WHY WE WENT BACK AND HEARD THE COMMENTS AND TOOK OUT THE BIG 50 ACRE SECTION IN THE FRONT . WE WILL KEEP THAT IN THE RURAL SETTING AND A LOT OF THE USES , THEY CAN ALREADY DO, THEY HAVE PRIMITIVE CAMPING AND CANNOT RECREATIONAL USES ALREADY , THEY ARE RIGHT NOW TO DATE ON THIS 50 ACRE PIECE OF PROPERTY. THEY WILL NOT BE ABLE TO DO THAT WITH ANY UNITS. THAT WAS A CONCEPTUAL SITE PLAN . WHEN YOU BRING THE COMPANY IS A PLAN AMENDMENT, PARTICULARLY LARGE-SCALE APPREHENSIVE PLAN AMENDMENT, YOU HAVE TO SHOW , IT IS A LONG PROCESS , WE HAVE BEEN DOING THIS A LONG TIME FOR THIS PROPERTY, YOU HAVE TO SHOW THEY WILL DO WHAT YOU SAY YOU WERE GOING TO DO . THAT IS WHY THEY WANTED TO DO THIS CONCEPTUAL SITE PLAN, THEY HAD AN ENGINEER DRAWN UP AND THEY WILL NOT BE ABLE TO FIT THAT MANY SITES, DATE NEED TO DO ALL THAT WITHIN THE L-SHAPE, THEY WILL MEET THE STATE AND FEDERAL AND LOCAL REGULATIONS . AS FAR AS PEOPLE COMING AND GOING, THAT IS WHAT AN RV PARK IS, PEOPLE READ SPACES AND COME AND GO, SOME STAY LONGER BUT THAT DOES NOT MAKE A DIFFERENCE AS FAR AS THE USE GOES AND THAT IS WHY THIS IS A PERFECT PLACE, AS STATED BY SEVERAL MEMBERS ON TRANSMITTAL, WHICH WAS TRANSMITTED 6-1 BY PZA, AND THE SMALLER ISSUES THAT NEED ADDRESSED IN THE STIPEND WILL BE ADDRESSED, YOU SEE WHERE THE EXPERT STAFF HAS NO PROBLEM WITH THAT.

>> I UNDERSTAND, THE RV DEFINITION IN TABLETS THE PARK MODEL, YOU ARE NOT ANSWERING MY QUESTION, WILL THEY HAVE PARK MODELS PEOPLE DRIVE UP TO AND STAY LIKE A HOTEL?

>> THEY DO NOT INTEND TO HAVE THAT, SAY THEY WILL HAVE ON 80 ACRES 250, WHATEVER, OR LESS, MY UNDERSTANDING IS THE MARKET AND THE WAY THIS WORKS, THIS IS NOT NORTH BEACH , NOT A PLACE WHERE WORRIED ABOUT HAVING, THERE ARE PLACES WITH HOMES . I HAVE BEEN TOLD, IF THERE ARE ANY, THERE WILL BE 20. IF.

[04:00:05]

>> PARK MODELS? >> IF THEY HAVE THEM. MY POINT IS, ALL THE PEOPLE ARE NERVOUS ABOUT NORTH BEACH BECAUSE THE WHOLE THING, WE DO NOT WANT A BUNCH OF 120 ACRE PIECEHOUSES, THIS IS OF PROPERTY , THIS IS NOT A HOUSING DEVELOPMENT, THIS IS WHAT WE PRESENTED IT TO BE AND THAT IS WHAT THESE PEOPLE DO, THE SCHNEIDER FAMILY AND EXTENDED FAMILY HAVE DONE THIS IN THIS COUNTY FOR 50 YEARS BUT THEY ARE NOT TRYING TO GET A SHOE WORN RESIDENTIAL DEVELOPMENT , THEY ARE TRYING TO

DO AN ARMY CAMP. >> MY QUESTION IS , IF YOU'RE DOING THE PARK MODELS, CAN YOU PUT A LIMIT ?

>> THE MAJORITY OF THE BOARD WANTS US TO PUT A LIMIT ON IT,

WE CAN PUT A LIMIT ON IT. >> COMMISSIONER TAYLOR ?

>> THAT IS A BIG CONCERN, PZA IS 3-3 AND SAID THE BIG CONCERN WAS THE PARK MODEL CONCEPT YOU MAY NOT HAVE THE INTENT TODAY, WE DO NOT KNOW WHAT TOMORROW HOLDS. WHAT IF TOMORROW, THEY WANT TO PUT THESE PARK MODELS, REFERRING TO THE STATE , THE STATE BY NOW CONSIDERS THAT AN EQUIVALENT, ON RV IS THE SAME AS THE PARK MODEL IN THE EYES OF THE STATE, LEGALLY. THAT IS A CONCERN.

>> THROUGH THE CHAIR, I AM JUST TRYING TO UNDERSTAND, MY APPLICANT , THE OWNER, THIS FAMILY HAS BEEN DOING WORK IN ST. JOHNS COUNTY FOR DECADES, TRY TO UNDERSTAND WHAT THE OBJECTION IS TO THAT. IF THAT IS AN OBJECTION -- THIS IS NOT A SHOE WORN -- SHOE WORN , WHAT IS THE OBJECTIVE -- OBJECTION TO IF THERE IS THIS 10% OR LESS THAT ARE PARK MODELS, WHAT IS THE OBJECTION TO THE PARK MODEL BUT I DO NOT UNDERSTAND FOR THE SITE , ALL WE ARE TALKING ABOUT IS THIS SITE, IF THAT CAN BE ENUNCIATED, TO A PARK MODEL, OTHER THAN THE FACT PEOPLE HAVE HEARD PARK MODEL IS SOME EVIL WORD NOW IN THIS INDUSTRY, I CAN UNDERSTAND THAT AND WE WILL PUT A LIMIT ON IT, I DO NOT UNDERSTAND COME ON THIS SITE, ONLY TALKING ABOUT THIS SITE , THIS IS A PERFECT SITE, ADVOCATED, THIS SITE IS ALMOST WRITTEN INTO OUR COMPANY AS A PLAN TO SAVE MEETS OUR GOALS AND OBJECTIVES. IF A MAJORITY OF THIS BOARD WOULD LIKE TO LIMIT THE NUMBER OF PARK MODELS, THAT IS FINE, I WANT TO KNOW AN ENUNCIATION AS TO WHY ON THIS SITE. THAT IS ALL I ASK .

>> COMMISSIONER TAYLOR ? >> THE CONCERN IS THAT A PARK MODEL DOES NOT GO LIKE AN RV WOULD. THAT IS A BIG CONCERN.

WHAT IT IS PLACED ON IS DIFFERENT . THEY DO NOT ROLL IN AND ROLL OUT. THAT IS A CONCERN. THE IMPERVIOUS SURFACE.

>> THEY STILL HAVE TO MEET ALL OF THE COUNTY -- THAT IS WHY I OPENED UP BY SAID -- SAY THEY WILL BE ALL FEDERAL, STATE, LOCAL REGULATIONS, JUST BECAUSE IT IS A PARK MODEL OR NOT A PARK MODEL, DOESN'T MEAN THEY WILL NOT . I AM NOT ADVOCATING THEY WANT A BUNCH OF PARK MODELS, BUT ARE WE GOING TO LIMIT A COMMERCIAL ENDEAVOR WITHIN ST. JOHNS COUNTY THAT WILL BE A HUGE ECONOMIC BOON , IRRESPECTIVE OF WHAT PEOPLE SAY, A HUGE ECONOMIC BOON TO ST. JOHNS COUNTY ? AGAIN, IF THERE IS AN -- I HEAR WHAT YOU'RE SAYING, OTHER THAN THE FACT THAT THEY MAY DO 20 OUT OF 250, AGAIN , IF A MAJORITY WANT THAT DONE, BE GLAD TO DO IT

. >> 20 SOUNDS REASONABLE , IF YOU AGREE TO THAT, WE DO NOT WANT TO HOUSING DEVELOPMENT OF MOBILE HOMES, THAT IS WHAT WE ARE LOOKING AT. YOU CAN RENT ONE TO SIX MONTHS AND GO TO SCHOOL. THE ROMANTIC PART OF THIS IS THE GREATEST PART OF IT, TO DRIVE IN AND CAMP FOR A MONTH, AND DRIVE OUT. I MEAN, THAT IS WHY I TRANSMITTED IT IN THE FIRST PLACE , NOW ALL THESE PARK MODELS AND ADVERTISING WE ARE SEEING, IT IS VERY SCARY, HONESTLY . COMMISSIONER

WHITEHURST ? >> THROUGH THE CHAIR, TO THE COUNTY ATTORNEY'S, IF THE WHOLE PROPERTY IS PARK MODELS, ARE WE

CREATING PERMANENT RESIDENCES? >> NO, MIKE, MAYBE GIVE MORE LAND DEVELOPING CODE ASPECT, THEY ARE NOT, RV PARKS, PARK MODELS ARE WITHIN THE DEFINITION OF RV, UNDER OUR CODE AND STATE STATUTE. RV CAMPGROUNDS CAN BE A RESIDENTIAL DEVELOPMENT, YOU

[04:05:07]

HAVE A TEMPORARY STATE REQUIREMENT THERE WAS OTHER THINGS TO DO WITH THAT , NO, NOT CONSIDER RESIDENTS.

>> I WANT TO ADDRESS WHAT COMMISSIONER JOSEPH SAID, I WOULD BE OPPOSED IF IT IS TRUE, I WANT CONFIRMATION FROM YOU, COULD I RENT ONE OF THESE PARK MODEL UNITS AND IT WILL MIGHT CHILDREN IN THE ST. JOHNS COUNTY SCHOOL SYSTEM FROM THAT ADDRESS?

>> NO, JUST HAVE THE ADDRESS OF THE CAMPGROUND AND THEY ARE NOT

CONSIDERED A RESIDENT . >> COULD YOU CREATE A HOMESTEAD?

>> NO. >> PERMANENT ADDRESS FOR THOSE

WHO RENT? CORRECT. >> COMMISSIONER TAYLOR, I HEAR YOU, DIFFERENT THAN ROLLING IT AND ROLLING OUT, I WOULD LIKE TO CAREFULLY ARTICULATE THE CONCERN, IS IT A ENVIRONMENT THE

CONCERN, BLIGHT CONCERN? >> I AM THINKING ABOUT HOW MANY EMAILS WE GET RIGHT NOW, NOT THE SAME PROPERTY, WE KNOW, WHEN YOU VOTE IN 2021, IN THE NORTH BEACH COMMUNITY, THAT IS WHAT YOU HAVE TODAY. I WANT TO MAKE SURE -- WE NEED TO LEARN ON WHAT IS HAPPENED IN THE PAST AND I DO NOT WANT TO MAKE THE SAME MISTAKE. IN MY OPINION BUT THAT WAS MADE BEFORE I WANT TO LISTEN TO WHAT WE ARE HEARING FROM EVERYBODY. I DO NOT WANT TO BE RIGHT BACK TO WHERE WE ARE RIGHT NOW WITH WHAT IS HAPPENING IN

FROM OUT OF BEACH. >> IS YOUR CONCERN ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACTS ? COMPATIBILITY IMPACTS ? WHAT ARE WE CONCERNED ABOUT?

>> ALL OF THE ABOVE . >> I HAVE QUESTIONS FOR YOU, MR. WHITEHOUSE, TAKE ME TO THE STATE REVIEW PROCESS, WE SUBMITTED THIS, THE PZA RECOMMENDED SUBMITTAL, 6-1, GOES THROUGH STATE DEPARTMENT REVIEW AND ONE OF THESE DEPARTMENTS HAS SOMETHING TO DO WITH THE ENVIRONMENT, I DO NOT KNOW ENOUGH ABOUT IT, CAN YOU EXPLAIN WHAT IMPACTS THEY REVIEWED RELATED TO THIS PROJECT AND OTHER PROJECTS?

>> IT COMES TO THE PZA AND GETS RECOMMENDATION, IT COMES TO YOU AND GET A RECOMMENDATION FOR TRANSMITTAL AND GO TO THE STATE OFFICES , THE WHOLE PACKET, EVERYTHING, THIS IS NOT JUST I SUBMITTED THIS PAPER, I KNOW YOU KNOW THAT. IT IS A HUGE PACKET WHEN YOU DO A COMPREHENSIVE PLAN AMENDMENT AND THERE WAS ANALYSIS, ENVIRONMENTAL REPORT, DISCUSSION AS TO SOLID WASTE, DISCUSSION AS TO WHAT THE IMPACT OF THIS TYPE OF CATEGORY IS ON THIS TYPE OF PIECE OF PROPERTY. HE GOES TO THE STATE AND THE STATE GOES TO ALL THE DEPARTMENTS IN THE STATE, THEY LOOK AT ALL OF THESE THINGS TO SEE WHETHER IT IS APPROPRIATE, THAT IS WHAT COMPANIES ARE PLANNING IS ALL ABOUT AND WHY THE STATE REQUIRES COMPANIES TO PLANNING SINCE 1990 WITHIN OUR STATE FOR EVERY LOCAL GOVERNMENT IN OUR STATE. WHEN IT GOES TO THESE, THEY LOOK AT THOSE AND SEND BACK COMMENTS. THEY ARE FREQUENTLY, COMPANIES APPLY THE MINUTES, PARTICULARLY LARGE-SCALE AMENDMENTS COME BACK WITH COMMENTS AS TO , WHAT DID YOU THINK ABOUT THIS? DID YOU ADDRESS THIS ONE ? ON EVERY ISSUE, THEY SEND IT BACK TO A LETTER FROM THE STATE IS WITHIN YOUR PACKET SAYING, WE HAVE NO ISSUE WITH ANY PART OF THIS PARTICULAR PROPOSAL, WE THINK IT IS APPROPRIATE .

ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACTS? >> WITH REGARD TO SEPTIC, THAT WAS A MAJOR ISSUE , THAT IS DEPARTMENT OF STATE, I BELIEVE THE APPLICANT WILL HAVE TO GET PERMITS FROM THE HEALTH DEPARTMENT. REGARDING OTHER ASPECTS OF ENVIRONMENTAL CONCERNS, ANY BUFFERING THAT IS REQUIRED OUR STAFF WILL MAKE SURE IT IS ENFORCED, THROUGH DEVELOPMENT CODE . WITH REGARD TO WETLANDS, ANY SIGNIFICANT NATURAL COMMUNITIES , A LOT OF THINGS YOU HAVE HEARD AS WE HAVE GONE THROUGH THE COMPREHENSIVE PLAN. IT WILL MEET CODE SHOULD GET PAST.

>> OUR STAFF IS FULLY CAPABLE WITH PROFESSIONALS MAKING SURE

THIS COMPLIANCE? >> WE HAVE AN -- YES.

>> MR. SCHNEIDER , DISCUSSING LIMITED THE PARK MODELS , YOUR

[04:10:04]

ATTORNEY SAYS HE IS NOT EVEN SURE YOU WANT THE PARK MODELS.

WE CAN CUT OUT THE MIDDLEMAN , YOU ARE THE LANDOWNER AND THE APPLICANT, IF YOU WANT TO WEIGH IN ON THIS PARK MODEL

CONVERSATION . >> I DO NOT WANT TO SAY WE WOULD NEVER DO A PARK MODEL, THEY ARE RECREATIONAL VEHICLES, WE HAVE NOT PUT A NUMBER ON IT . WHEN WE FIRST GO IN, IT WILL BE LIKE COMMISSIONER JOSEPH SAID , THE HONEYMOON, THE ROMANTIC CAMPGROUND , WE WANT A FAMILY-OWNED , JUST LIKE WE HAVE DONE FOR 45 YEARS. BUT, IF WE WANT TO PUT A PARK MODEL, I WOULD LIKE THE OPTION TO DO THAT.

>> IN YOUR OPINION, WHAT IS A FAIR NUMBER TO LIMIT YOU TO?

>> UP TO YOU. >> I DID NOT CONTEMPLATE THIS, I WANT TO GIVE YOU A FAIR SHAKE AND DO NOT WANT TO LIMIT YOU BEYOND WHAT IS REASONABLE, AT LEAST GIVE YOU THE CHANCE TO HAVE A CONVERSATION WITH OUR BOARD. THIS IS THE ONLY TIME YOU CAN TALK WITH THE OTHER COMMISSIONER ABOUT THE APPLICATION, WE ARE DOING THIS IN REAL TIME. HELP ME OUT.

>> 25, WOULD THAT BE REASONABLE ?

>> THAT IS 10% . I AM OKAY WITH 25 IF Y'ALL ARE.

>> I HAVE A QUESTION . WHAT ABOUT IF YOU SELL? CAN THEY HAVE

ALL PARK MODELS? >> THAT WOULD BE A CONDITION OF REZONING AND CHANGES WOULD HAVE TO COME BACK IN.

>> WE CAN ADD THAT AS A CONDITION, ALREADY CONDITIONAL REZONING AND WE CAN ADD THAT AS A COMMISSIONER -- CONDITION.

>> EITHER 10% OR 25 PARK MODELS WOULD BE ALLOWED.

>> COULD THEY BE OFF THE ROAD? >> ABSOLUTELY . THEY WOULD BE IN THE BACK IN THEIR OWN SECTION. PARK MODEL SECTION, IF WE DID

IT. >> I APPRECIATE THAT .

>> THANK YOU FOR BEING WILLING TO COME UP . A COUPLE THINGS, A PARK MODEL, FOR INSTANCE , ACCORDING TO THE RULES, ANY NAMED STORM WITHIN FOUR HOURS OF MY PHONE, THOSE PARK MODELS HAVE

TO BE MOVED. >> ARE YOU ASKING ME OR TELLING

ME? >> THAT IS MY UNDERSTANDING, RV CAMPGROUNDS , YOU HAVE TO MOVE THEM WITHIN FOUR HOURS OF THE LANDING OF A NAMED STORM. SO, YOU HAVE TAKEN THAT INTO CONSIDERATION, IF YOU DO PARK MODELS , YOU WILL HAVE TO MOVE

THEM IF A STORM COMES? >> YES, SIR.

>> ANOTHER QUESTION , THE ONLY THING I HAVE TO DO TO COMPARE THIS TO, THE ONE ON 207, BY THE INTERSTATE , IT LOOKS LIKE THEY HAVE ABOUT 160 UNITS IN AN 18 ACRE SPOT, THAT IS A BEAUTIFUL RV PARK BUT EIGHT UNITS PER ACRE AND WHAT YOU'RE PROPOSING IS HALF, FOUR PER ACRE. THAT IS ALL I WANTED TO CLEAR UP.

>> COMMISSIONER TAYLOR ? >> I APPRECIATE ABOUT THE PARK MODELS , I AM CONFUSED, LOOKING AT LEGAL , I NOTE THAT HAS COME UP IN THE VILANO AREA, THEY ARE UNDER THE IMPRESSION, WHEN THE PARK MODELS ARE IN PLACE, THEY WILL NOT BE MOVED IN THE EVENT OF A HURRICANE , I WOULD LIKE CLARIFICATION, ARE PARK MODELS TO STAY THERE OR DO THEY HAVE TO BE MOVED WITHIN THE FOUR HOURS?

>> IF THEY ARE CONSIDERED ARV BY STATE LAW, THEY HAVE TO BE MOVED WITHIN FOUR HOURS OF THE LANDING OF A NAMED STORM, THEY HAVE TO

BE MOVED WITHIN FOUR HOURS. >> MIKE WILL HELP WITH THAT ONE.

>> THROUGH THE CHAIR, I AM AWARE OF THE FOUR HOURS, ANY RVS HAVE TO BE MOVED . THEY ALL HAVE TO BE READY. NOT SURE WHETHER IF IT IS A NAMED STORM BUT THE STATUTE REQUIRES, WITHIN FOUR HOURS, WHATEVER IS ATTACHED , WHATEVER IT IS, THEY HAVE TO BE GONE.

[04:15:02]

>> JUST TO CLARIFY , THAT APPLIES TO PARK MODELS, ALL THE PARK MODELS THAT ARE PLANNING TO GO INTO NORTH BEACH, THEY HAVE

TO BE REMOVED IN FOUR HOURS? >> YES, A PARK MODEL IS

CONSIDERED AN RV. >> OKAY.

>> YOU MENTIONED THAT THE APPLICANT HAS COMMITTED TO THAT

ON THE OTHER DIV ELEMENT. >> OKAY, GREAT, THANK YOU SO

MUCH. >> YEP.

>> I GUESS I HAVE ONE MORE FOR KEALEY, COULD YOU CHECK YOU CANNOT ENROLL YOUR KIDS IN SCHOOL FROM A CAMPGROUND?

>> SO -- >> THERE ARE HOMELESS FAMILIES.

>> AS FAR AS WHETHER IT IS COUNTED AS A RESIDENT, NO. YOU CAN ENROLL YOUR CHILDREN FROM A CAR , CHILDREN HAVE A RIGHT TO GO TO SCHOOL, THE TIME CONSTRAINTS , YOU CAN STAY AT AN RV PARK, IT IS TRANSIENT AT BEST , NOT CONSIDERED RESIDENTIAL

SINGLE-FAMILY HOUSING. >> RIGHT, BUT I WANT TO CLARIFY THAT YOU CAN ENROLL KIDS IN SCHOOL SO SOMETHING YOU DO THINK

ABOUT. >> I CAN GET BACK TO YOU. I WILL

CHECK WITH THE SCHOOL BOARD. >> THANK YOU, PERFECT.

COMMISSIONER MURPHY ? >> A MOTION TO ENACT ORDINANCE APPROVING , PLAN AMENDMENT 2024-03 BASED UPON FOUR FINDINGS

OF FACT CITED BY STAFF . >> THAT INCLUDES WHAT WE TALKED

ABOUT? >> WE WILL ADD THAT TO THE

REZONING, CONDITION . >> EIGHT MOTION, COMMISSIONER

ARNOLD ? >> I SECOND.

>> PLEASE VOTE. THAT PASSES UNANIMOUSLY, 5-0. GOOD WORK.

>> ANOTHER MOTION, AND ACTING 2025 --

>> 22. >> BASED UPON FOUR FINDINGS OF

FACT. >> SECOND.

>> YOU ADDING THE CONDITION LIMITING THE PARK MODELS TO 25 .

>> I THINK IT WAS 10%. >> SECOND.

>> MOTION AND A SECOND. PLEASE, VOTE. UNANIMOUS, THANK YOU.

[7. Public Hearing * Public Hearing on Proposed Increases to Solid Waste Special Assessments. On June 17, 2025, the Board of County Commissioners (“Board”) directed staff to prepare proposed increases to the maximum rates for the solid waste special assessments for Fiscal Year (FY) 2026 and future years. This agenda item provides for the public hearing required under Florida Statute regarding the proposed increases to the maximum assessment rates for FY 2026 through FY 2030. In accordance with statutory requirements and the Board’s direction, a “Notice to Property Owner” was mailed to more than 115,000 residents. The notice informed property owners of the proposed increases, their right to submit written objections, and their opportunity to appear at the public hearing scheduled for August 5, 2025. The proposed maximum assessment rates are as follows: • FY 2026: $334 (up from the current $254) • FY 2027: $394 • FY 2028: $414 • FY 2029: $434 • FY 2030: $454 Staff requests Board direction to include the proposed maximum assessment rates in the Annual Assessment Resolution, which will be presented for adoption at the first BCC meeting in September.]

NUMBER 7, GREG. >> GOOD AFTERNOON, COMMISSIONERS, GREG CALDWELL. ITEM 7 IS THE PUBLIC HEARING TO HIT THE PROPOSED SOLID WASTE SPECIAL ASSESSMENT. HERE IS THE AGENDA FOR THE PRESENTATION, THE RULES AND RESPONSIVENESS OF THE SOLID WASTE DIVISION AUTHORIZE 1 THE FRAMEWORK THAT BROUGHT US HERE TODAY THE LEVEL OF SERVICE WE PROVIDE AND THE ASSESSMENT AND THE MOTION. RULES AND RESPONSIBILITIES OF OUR SOLID WASTE DIVISION MANAGE AND OPERATE TWO SOLID WASTE TRANSFER STATIONS, ONE LOCATED IN THE NORTH PART OF ST. JOHNS COUNTY AND ONE IN THE SOUTHERN PART OF THE COUNTY . BOTH OF THESE ARE WHERE WE COLLECT HOUSEHOLD GARBAGE ON A DAILY BASIS. THIS IS OPEN TO RESIDENTS AND BUSINESSES . WE ENFORCE SOLID WASTE AND MANAGE CONTRACT FOR GARBAGE, RECYCLING , AND YARD WASTE AND HOUSEHOLD WASTE OR BOTH OF THESE TRANSFER STATION, COLLECT HAZARDOUS WASTE, IT OVERSEE THE CONTRACTS. WE OVERSEE THE CURBSIDE PICKUP OF RESIDENTIAL SOLID WASTE BY FRANCHISE HAULERS . TO ENSURE IT IS IN COMPLIANCE WITH OUR CONTRACT. LASTLY, WE OVERSEE THE DISPOSAL OF RESIDENTIAL AND COMMERCIAL WASTE, HOUSEHOLD HAZARDOUS WASTE, TIRES, MAINTAIN LANDFILL SYSTEM AND MONITOR THAT. THE AUTHORIZED AND FRAMEWORK THAT BROUGHT US HERE TODAY COMES FROM THE STATE OF FLORIDA, SECTION 702 REQUIRING COUNTIES TO DETERMINE THE FULL COST OF PROVIDING AN ENVIRONMENTAL SAFE MANNER THE STORAGE AND COLLECTION AND TRANSPORTATION AND SEPARATION

[04:20:02]

PROCESSING, RECYCLING AND DISPOSAL OF SOLID WASTE MATERIAL AT THE MOST COST-EFFECTIVE WAY. ALSO , THE GOVERNOR -- HAS THE RESPONSIBILITY AND POWER TO PROVIDE THE OPERATION OF SOLID WASTE DISPOSAL FACILITIES TO MEET THE STANDARDS -- TO MEET THE NEEDS OF ALL THE AREAS OF THE COUNTY. LASTLY, OUR ST.

JOHNS COUNTY ORDINANCE , SOLID WASTE ORDINANCE, AUTHORIZES THE BOARD TO IMPOSE AN ANNUAL SPECIAL ASSESSMENT TO FUND ALL OR PORTIONS OF THE SOLID WASTE COST BENEFITED NONEXEMPT RESIDENTIAL PROPERTIES TO PAY FOR THEIR FAIR SHARE OF THE COST ASSOCIATED WITH PROVIDING THESE SERVICES. THE LEVEL OF SERVICE WE PROVIDE IN ST. JOHNS COUNTY I THINK IS THE BEST IN THE NORTHEAST FLORIDA. WE PROVIDE UNLIMITED HOUSEHOLD GARBAGE , PUT OUT AS MUCH AS YOU WANT , IT WILL BE COLLECTED ON YOUR GIVEN DATE. YARD WASTE IS UNLIMITED AS WELL . THERE HAS BEEN A LOT OF TALK ABOUT TRYING TO REDUCE THE SIZE OF HOW MUCH YARD WASTE CAN GO OUT WE LOOKED AT IT AND UNLIMITED WAS THE BEST COST TO PROVIDE TO OUR CITIZENS. WE PROVIDE AN AUTOMATED RECYCLING SYSTEM WHERE EVERY CITIZEN RECEIVES 35 GALLON OR 95 GALLON CART , BULK WASTE, IF YOU PUT UP FURNITURE, MATTRESSES AND SOFAS , IT WILL BE PICKED UP ON A ROUTINE BASIS. THAT IS ONE CONTRACT THAT MAKES UP A PART OF WHAT WE ARE TALKING ABOUT TODAY THAT GOES TO OUR ENVIRONMENTAL CONTRACT OR COLLECTION OF MATERIAL . WE HAVE THE DISPOSAL SERVICES RUN THROUGH ANOTHER CONTRACTOR, WASTE MANAGEMENT , THE HEADLINE TRANSPORT AND TAKE IT TO THE FINAL DISPOSAL OF OUR HOUSEHOLD GARBAGE, AND MAINTAIN TWO TRANSFER STATIONS. HOW DO WE COLLECT MONEY ? WE COLLECTED THROUGH A MUNICIPAL SERVICE BENEFIT UNIT CALLED MSBU. THE PURPOSE IS TO FUND A RESIDENTIAL COLLECTION AND RESIDENTIAL RECYCLING SERVICES . THOSE ARE PROVIDED THROUGH A CONTRACT SERVICES THROUGH FCC ENVIRONMENTAL AND WE USED THESE FUNDS TO PAY FOR DISPOSAL OF HOUSEHOLD GARBAGE THAT COMES IN AND TRANSPORTED ALL THE WAY UP TO GEORGIA WHERE IT FINDS A DESTINATION OF A LANDFILL OR TREASURE ISLAND . WE USE THESE FUNDS TO HELP US WITH THE SOLID WASTE FACILITIES AND HAVE TWO TRANSFER STATIONS, UNDER A LOT OF STRESS ON A DAILY BASIS AND WE MAKE SURE MAINTENANCE IS KEPT UP AND CAPITAL COST ARE PART OF THESE FUNDS . AND OUTREACH PROGRAMS, INSPECTIONS , ADMINISTRATION OF THESE FEATURES. THE SOLID WASTE MSBU IS NOT BASED ON PROPERTY VALUE, THIS IS NOT -- A NON-AD VALOREM ASSESSMENT, THAT MEANS THIS IS NOT TIED TO PROPERTY VALUES , THAT IS A QUESTION WE GET QUITE OFTEN, BASED ON THE SERVICE LEVELS WE PROVIDE . ALL RESIDENTS PAY THE EXACT SAME AMOUNT FOR THE SOLID WASTE SERVICES BASED ON THE LEVEL OF SERVICE WE WENT OVER IN THE PREVIOUS SLIDE . DOES NOT MATTER IF YOU'RE IN THE NORTHWEST OR SOUTHEAST, EVERYBODY IS PAYING THE SAME FOR THE LEVEL OF SERVICE. ONE THING WE WANT TO DO , WE ARE AN ENVIRONMENTAL DIVISION, THE KEY THING IS TRY TO KEEP THINGS OUT OF ENVIRONMENTAL SENSITIVE AREAS, ILLEGAL DUMPING, OUR INTENT IS TO KEEP THINGS OUT OF OTHER PROPERTIES , OUT OF DITCHES, PUT IT OUT FRONT OF A RESIDENTIAL HOME AND WE PICK IT UP. HERE IS A QUICK LITTLE SLIDE I WANTED TO PUT IN BECAUSE A LOT OF THE COST ASSOCIATED WITH THIS, A PORTION OF THIS COST IS WITHOUT RESIDENTIAL COLLECTION SERVICES.

ABOUT A YEAR AND A HALF AGO, WE WENT OUT AND SELECTED FCC TO BE OUR PROVIDER, THESE ARE THE PRICES WE RECEIVED DURING THAT TIMEFRAME. THEY CAME IN TO PROVIDE THE SERVICE FOR THE ENTIRE COUNTY WITH TOTAL COST OVER $28 MILLION. THE SECOND LOWEST BIDDER THAT CAME IN WITH THE SAME EXACT SERVICES WAS OVER $40 MILLION. THIS GOES BACK TO WHERE WE FEEL LIKE WE ARE PROVIDING THE HIGHEST LEVEL OF SERVICE FOR THE LOWEST COST. WE UNDERSTAND WE HAD SOME HICCUPS WITH FCC AND ADDRESSING THE DAILY BUT WE ARE WHERE WE ARE AND WHERE WE NEED TO BE WITH GOD. BUT WE ARE PROVIDING OVERSIGHT WITH WHAT THEY ARE DOING ON A DAILY BASIS. THIS IS A KEY THING, BUT A $1 MILLION DIFFERENCE IN MONTH FOR THE COST DEALING WITH FCC. THIS IS WHAT WE ADVERTISE TO THE PUBLIC, THE NEW PROPOSED MSBU ASSESSMENTS , OUTLINED IN THE NEXT FIVE YEARS. WHAT PEOPLE CAN EXPECT THROUGH THIS MSBU . THE NUMBER ONE THING IS THE PROPOSED ST. JOHNS COUNTY AMOUNT IS THE MAXIMUM AMOUNT THAT CAN BE IMPOSED . WE DID THIS IN 2019, AND IT 2021 AND IN 2022, WE DID NOT REACH THE MSBU

[04:25:04]

AT ALL . WE KEPT IT UNDER THE LIMIT BECAUSE WE KEEP GOING BACK AND DO A TRUE COST ACCOUNTING TO MAKE SURE WE ARE PROVIDING THE SERVICE AT THE BEST COST. IN 2023, WE RAISED IT BY SIX DOLLARS, NOT AWAKE TO THE CEILING AS OUTLINED IN PREVIOUS ADVERTISEMENTS . WHAT YOU SEE IN FRONT OF YOU IS BASED ON PROJECTIONS , BASED ON CONTRACTS THAT WE CURRENTLY HAVE, AND WHAT WE DO NOT HAVE TO GO TO THE CEILINGS EVERY YEAR , AND WE WILL ANALYZE OUR OWN OPERATION EVERY YEAR AND COME BACK DUE TO THE BUDGET PROCESS, AND MAKE A RECOMMENDATION NO HIGHER THAN WHAT YOU SEE ON THE TABLE . THE PROPOSED AMOUNTS WERE BASED ON TRUE COST ACCOUNTING, WE LOOKED AT OUR OPERATIONS FROM DISPOSAL, INTERNAL , OVERSIGHT, CONTRACT SERVICES TO PROVIDE THE SERVICES, WE SIT DOWN WITH OUR OFFICE OF MANAGEMENT AND BUDGET AND REVIEW THAT ON AN ANNUAL BASIS. THE FEES FOR THE COLLECTION AND DISPOSAL CAN BE ADJUSTED BY AN ANNUAL CPI, OUR CONTRACTS HAVE CAUSES THEY CAN INCREASE THE CONTRACT AMOUNT BY CPI, BUT WE HAVE A CAP WHICH IS 5% THAT PROTECTS THE COUNTY.

THIS YEAR, THEY HAVE GONE UP BY 5% COLLECTION AT THE CPI WAS 5.235, WE ARE UNDER THE CPI BECAUSE OF THE CONTROLS WITHIN THE CONTRACT. THEN, SOME OF THE INCREASE YOU ARE SEEING IN FISCAL YEAR 2026 AND 2027 IS BECAUSE WE DID NOT RACE RACE LAST YEAR WE WANTED TO SEE HOW THE SERVICE WOULD BE PROVIDED BEFORE WE ASKED FOR AN INCREASE. THIS IS THE PAY BACK A PORTION OF THE GENERAL FUND HAS SUPPORTED THESE SERVICES OVER THE PAST 12 MONTHS . WE CAME UP WITH A TWO YEAR MODEL. LIKE BORROWING FROM HER BIG BROTHER. MONEY WE HAD TO PAY FOR THE SERVICES THAT WE ARE JUST NOW PAYING BACK IN TERMS OF COST ASSOCIATED. HERE IS SOME OF THE SURROUNDING COMMUNITIES THAT WE ALWAYS LOOK TO SEE HOW OUR NEIGHBORS ARE PROVIDING THE SAME SERVICE. OUR PROPOSAL IS $334 PER YEAR, THAT IS RIGHT NOW ABOUT $6.42 PER WEEK, GOING FROM $4.88 TO $6.42. PUTNAM COUNTY OF FLAGLER, THESE ARE THE PRICES THEY ARE PAYING RIGHT NOW. THEY ARE GOING TO THE SAME PROCESS . THEY ARE REQUESTING ANOTHER INCREASE , IN OCTOBER OF THIS FISCAL YEAR, TO PROVIDE THE SERVICES THEY NEED TO WITHIN THE COMMUNITY. AS YOU SEE, COST PER YEAR, WE ARE WITHIN OUR NEIGHBORS, VERY STRONG IN THE LEVEL OF SERVICE WE PROVIDE IS THE HIGHEST LEVEL. FLAGLER COUNTY AND THE CITY OF PALM COAST PROVIDE PER WEEK , YOU CAN SEE THE COST TWICE PER WEEK, OVER $400 IS WHAT THEY ARE PROPOSING WITHIN PALM COAST. WE FEEL LIKE THIS IS A VERY COST-EFFECTIVE WAY TO PROVIDE SERVICES TO ST. JOHNS COUNTY AND WILL CONTINUE TO MONITOR AND MAKE SURE WE LOOK AT OUR CONTRACTS AND OPERATIONS TO SEE HOW WE CAN REDUCE COSTS. THIS IS ALL BASED ON CURRENT CONTRACTS WE CURRENTLY HAVE WITH ST. JOHNS COUNTY TO PROVIDE SERVICE , PROVIDING HOUSEHOLD YARD WASTE AND RECYCLING TO EVERY RESIDENT , EVERY WEEK. WITH THAT, HERE IS THE MOTION. I AM UP HERE FOR ANY QUESTIONS.

>> COMMISSIONER WHITEHURST ? >> YOU PUT UP THE INITIAL BIDS AND FCC WERE THE LEAST EXPENSIVE BY FAR, WITH THESE ANTICIPATED INCREASES, FOR EACH PROPERTY OWNER , ARE THEY STILL THE LEAST EXPENSIVE OPTION ? IS THERE A LESS EXPENSIVE OPTION MOVING

FORWARD MARK >> THERE IS NOT A LESS-EXPENSIVE OPTION, THESE PRICES WERE ALMOST 2 YEARS AGO, IF WE FEEL LIKE WE WENT BACK OUT TO THE MARKET, WE WOULD SEE A HIGHER LEVEL COMPARED TO THE $20 MILLION FCC IS PROVIDING SERVICES -- $28 MILLION FCC IS PROVIDING SERVICES. WE FEEL LIKE THIS IS THE BEST WAY FOR ST. JOHNS COUNTY TO RECEIVE AND CONTROL THE COST , IT CAN ONLY GO UP 5% FOR THE DURATION OF THE

CONTRACT. >> THANK YOU , MR. CALDWELL .

>> COMMISSIONER MURPHY ? >> THIS IS NOT JUST PICK UP IN THE STREET, THIS IS EVERYTHING ?

>> RESIDENTIAL COLLECTION AND DISPOSAL , THE SERVICES PROVIDED . THIS IS JUST FOR WHAT IT TAKES FOR US TO COME TO A RESIDENTIAL

[04:30:06]

HOUSE, TAKEN TO OUR TRANSFER STATION TO MAKE SURE THE DISPOSAL OF THE MATERIAL. IT IS NOT FOR COMMERCIAL, NOT FOR OTHER THINGS, JUST FOR RESIDENTIAL HOMES.

>> OKAY. ARE THERE PROGRAMS TO ASSIST PEOPLE?

>> YES, IF PEOPLE REACH OUT TO US AND IN NEED, THEY CAN REACH OUT TO OUR SOLID WASTE DIVISION AND WORK WITH HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES TO SEE WHAT WE CAN DO. HARDSHIP PROGRAMS, YES, SIR.

>> WHAT YOU ARE SAYING IS THIS IS THE MAX . IF YOU DO A COST ANALYSIS OF PROJECTIONS , BUT YOUR COST COME IN LESS THAN

THAT, WOULD YOU REDUCE THE FEE? >> YES, THAT IS WHAT WE HAVE DONE IN THE PAST , NOT THAT WE WOULD DO IT, WE HAVE DONE IT TO COME IF THE CPI ONLY GOES UP 1%, WE WILL STAY AT --

>> THANK YOU. >> MY QUESTION WAS , DO WE HAVE TO SHOW THE FIRST FIVE YEARS? CAN WE DO THREE YEARS IN THE FUTURE SO PEOPLE WE ARE -- PEOPLE ARE NOT SAYING --

>> NOT A LEGAL REASON, WE HAVE DONE THIS IN THE PAST BECAUSE IT TAKES EFFORT TO ADVERTISE AND GO TO THE STEPS -- IT COSTS MONEY TO SEND OUT LETTERS AND EVERYTHING WE WENT THROUGH, $100,000 TO GO TO THE PROCESS AND WE TRY TO MAX IT OUT AT FIVE YEARS BECAUSE WE THINK THAT IS A DECENT AMOUNT OF TIME TO PROTECT US. WE HAVE ONE CONTRACT WITH WASTE MANAGEMENT THAT IS UP IN 2029, THERE COULD BE CHANGES LITTLE BAD AND WE'RE SEEING HOW TO REDUCE COST MOVING FORWARD. THESE ARE NUMBERS WE FEEL

COMFORTABLE WITH . >> IT IS HARD FOR PEOPLE TO SEE $400 . THE REASON WHY WE DID NOT PAVE THE FIRST YEAR , I SAID THIS A YEAR AND HALF AGO, BECAUSE THREE PEOPLE WERE RUNNING FOR OFFICE AND DID NOT WANT THE PRICE OF FINE,GARBAGE TO GO UP THE FIRST YEAR. WE ARE CATCHING UP THIS YEAR, WHICH IS I HAVE NO PROBLEM WITH THAT, WHEN THEY COMPLAIN ON THE FIRST JUMP, THAT IS THE REASON . YES, WE GOT TO SEE HOW THEY WERE PERFORMING, I GUESS THAT IS ANOTHER REASON. I DO WANT TO POINT OUT, FOR $6.88 -- $6.42, THE TRUCK IS COMING TO YOUR HOUSE THREE TIMES . IF YOU TOOK YOUR THREE THINGS TO THE GARBAGE, AT PINE ISLAND, DRIVE IT AND DUMP IT, I AM SORRY, I THINK $6.42 IS SOMETHING MOST PEOPLE SHOULD BE ABLE TO HANDLE FOR GARBAE AND REFUSE -- GARBAGE AND REFUSE , THE WEIGHT IS GOING UP IN THE FUTURE IS MUCH TOO HIGH.

>> THE FIRST COUPLE OF YEARS , THE CHANGE IN THE CONTRACT, TO PROVIDE THE COLLECTION SERVICES, LAST YEAR, THIS YEAR , THE SAME COST THE COUNTY SPENT FOR THOSE SERVICES AND WE ARE PAYING THOSE DOLLARS BACK. IF YOU LOOK AT, THREE , FOUR , FIVE, LOOK AT THE CPI, THE INCREASE THAT IS WHAT YOU SEE -- COMPARED TO THE FIRST TWO YEARS.

>> ANY OTHER QUESTIONS ? PUBLIC COMMENT ?

>> WE WILL NOW ACCEPT PUBLIC COMMENT FOR AGENDA ITEM 7. COME

ON DOWN. >> HELLO, OKAY. BEFORE I START ABOUT THIS INCREASE CAN SOMETHING FOR YOU TO LOOK AT.

THESE ARE THE BUDGETS , OVERALL , SOME OF THE MONEY FOR TRASH CAME OUT OF THE BUDGET. IF YOU LOOK, IN 2020, PAST THE BUDGET $1,053,000,000 , 2022 WAS PASSED, 1 MILLION $298 MILLION, 2023 WAS PASSED, 1 MILLION $550 MILLION. 2024, 1 MILLION $655 MILLION . 2025, 1 MILLION $750 MILLION. I HAVE OUTLINED IT, IT WAS JUST MENTIONED IT IS ONLY SIX DOLLARS AND SOME CHANGE, $6.43 , I BELIEVE , $6.42 WAS THE NUMBER, A 43% INCREASE PER

[04:35:06]

DAY, 43%, WE HAVE NEARLY DOUBLED OUR BUDGET IN ST. JOHNS COUNTY AND YOU WANT 43% MORE LIKE TRASH. WHY WAS THIS CREATED? LET'S MESS WITH THE TRUST ELECTION IN ST. JOHNS COUNTY .

AND MADE IT FAR WORSE. WE THE PEOPLE HAVE TO SUFFER BECAUSE OF IT. AND HAVE TO HAVE , I AM SORRY, MORE GOVERNMENT PROGRAMS TO OFFSET PEOPLE WHO CANNOT AFFORD TO PAY THE HIGHER COSTS.

IT IS NOT AN EFFECTIVE WAY TO RUN GOVERNMENT. WHY DID I PRESENT A NEARLY $2 BILLION BUDGET ON THIS FORM ? BECAUSE I WAS PERSONALLY CALLED OUT BY THIS BOARD TODAY FOR LYING ABOUT THE BUDGET BECAUSE IT WAS ONLY $443 MILLION , IT IS RIGHT HERE, THESE ARE YOUR DOCUMENTS, THIS IS WHAT WAS RESOLVED BY THE COMMISSION, NEARLY $2 BILLION, I COME AS A CITIZEN, VIEW $1.75 BILLION AS ALMOST $2 BILLION BUDGET AND IT WILL GO UP AGAIN THIS YEAR. YOU ARE ABOUT TO PASS , FOR TRASH COLLECTION, A FURTHER INCREASE RAISING THE BUDGET. SOMETHING HAS TO CHANGE IN THE WAY BUSINESS IS BEING DONE IN ST. JOHNS COUNTY . I HAVE SPOKEN TO MANY OF YOU, PRIVATELY , DURING THE CAMPAIGN, LAST YEAR , THE WAY THE LAST TIME THIS WAS DONE, WAS A DISASTER FOR THE PEOPLE IN THIS COMMUNITY A DISASTER FOR FCC, A HEALTH PROBLEM FOR OUR COMMUNITY . IT WAS NOT MANAGED PROPERLY. I KEEP HEARING, WE MAY GO BACK, WE WILL NOT CHARGE MAXIMUM . I DO NOT TRUST ANYONE IN THIS GOVERNMENT RIGHT NOW NOT TO GO AS HIGH AS THEY POSSIBLY CAN. INSTEAD OF DOING ROLLBACKS, THEY TAKE EVERY DOLLAR THEY CAN COME AND THEY FIGURE OUT HOW THEY CAN SPEND IT. IT NEEDS TO STOP. AT WHAT POINT IS ACCOUNTABILITY GOING TO ACTUALLY HAPPEN IN ST. JOHNS COUNTY AND TRANSPARENCY? THIS IS WHAT TRANSPARENCY IT LOOKS LIKE, THIS IS WHAT IS VOTED ON BY THIS BOARD, HOLD OURSELVES ACCOUNTABLE TO WHAT YOU ARE VOTING ON AND DO NOT LIKE TO THE CITIZENS . YOU CAN SAY MY COLLECTIONS WERE LESS THAN THE TOTAL BUDGET, I DON'T CARE, THIS IS THE BUDGET YOU VOTED FOR.

>> THANK YOU. ANYBODY ELSE? >> JOHN O'BRIEN, 261 CROSSROADS DRIVE. I HAVE NO ISSUES WITH THE FCC DESPITE THE POOR SERVICE AND THE FIRST MONTH OF THE CONTRACT . THE PURPOSE OF MY COMMENTS ARE TO ADDRESS WHAT I SEE AS THE FIDUCIARY NEGLIGENCE OF THE STAFF AND BOARD TO PROPOSE TO RAISE THE COLLECTIONS ASSESSMENT ONLY . NEXT YEAR BY 54%. TO $200 FROM $130. PER HOME. ANOTHER 13.5% THE FOLLOWING YEAR, NO ISSUES WITH THE STAFF REPORT PROPOSAL TO RAISE THE DISPOSAL OR RECYCLING ASSESSMENT. PER THE FCC CONTRACT , SIGNED BY BOTH PARTIES IN DECEMBER OF 2023 , NO PRICE INCREASES COULD BE PURSUED IN THE FIRST YEAR OF THE CONTRACT, WHICH JUST PASSED FIVE DAYS AGO . IN SUBSEQUENT YEARS, THE CONTRACTUAL TERMS OF THE CONTRACT WITH FCC ENTITLED THEM TO AN ANNUAL PRICE INCREASE EQUAL TO THE YEAR-OVER-YEAR RISE IN THE CPI , CONSUMER PRICE INDEX. BASED AS OF APRIL. WITH NO CATCH UP POSSIBLE TO 2025-2026, THIS WOULD EQUATE TO APPROXIMATELY THREE DOLLARS ANNUALLY. I WOULD POINT OUT THAT THE CONTRACT ALSO HAS A FLAT MAXIMUM CPI RATE OF NO MORE THAN 5% ANNUALLY. THERE ARE TWO VALID JUSTIFICATIONS WITHIN THE CONTRACT WHICH ALLOW THE BOARD TO AWARD PRICE INCREASES ABOVE THE CPI RATE. BUT THE BOARD HAS FAILED TO PRESENT ANY JUSTIFICATION TO THE RESIDENCE ON WHY HIGHER INCREASE THAN THREE DOLLARS FOR HOME IS NECESSARY OR DESERVED , THESE JUSTIFICATIONS ARE HIGHER COST BECAUSE OF CHANGES IN THE LAW, OR AN EXTRAORDINARY AND UNUSUAL CHANGE IN THE COST OF OPERATIONS THAT CANNOT REASONABLY BE FORESEEN BY A PRUDENT PERSON.

REGARDING THE FIRST EXCEPTION, I AM AWARE OF NO SIGNIFICANT CHANGES IN THE LAW SINCE DECEMBER OF 2023 ON THE CONTRACT THAT WOULD JUSTIFY AN OVER 50% YEAR-OVER-YEAR COST INCREASE IN A SINGLE YEAR. I SUSPECT THAT MOST OF THE EXTRAORDINARY INCREASES , BASED ON THE SECOND EXCEPTION, FCC , UNUSUALLY LARGE COST INCREASE NECESSARY TO PROVIDE SERVICES AT THE LEVELS DEMANDED BY THE CONTRACT. HOWEVER, I WOULD POINT OUT, PER

[04:40:02]

THE CONTRACT LANGUAGE, FCC COST INCREASES MUST BE BECAUSE OF FACTORS ON THE CONTRACTOR'S CONTROL WHICH HAVE OCCURRED THROUGH NO FAULT OR NEGLIGENCE OF THE CONTRACTOR. HAVING JUST GONE THROUGH A BIDDING PROCESS THE YEAR BEFORE, I HIGHLY DOUBT ANY REASONABLE PERSON COULD SEE 50% JUMP IN THE COST . NEWS REPORTS INDICATE FCC INCURRED ADDITIONAL COST TO THEIR OWN

FAULT AND POOR PLANNING. >> THANK YOU.

>> I HAVE COMMENTS I WOULD LIKE TO INCLUDE IN THE RECORD BECAUSE THE NOTIFICATION -- THE NOTICE I GOT OF THIS MEETING CAME 20 DAYS AFTER THE OFFICIAL NOTIFICATION DATE OF JULY 1ST.

>> THANK YOU. YOU CAN GIVE THAT TO STAFF AND THEY WILL TAKE CARE

OF IT. THANK YOU. >> 114 3RD STREET AND THE NORTH BEACH, VILANO AREA, IN OUR NEIGHBORHOOD, THE -- WE ARE ABOUT 30% TO 40% OF OUR RESIDENTS IS IN THIS AREA ARE SHORT-TERM RENTALS. WE CONSIDER THE RESIDENCE, BUSINESSES AND NOT RESIDENCES . OUR HOMESTEAD EXEMPTED , PEOPLE ARE LIVING FULL-TIME , THESE ARE PEOPLE RUNNING A BUSINESS. WE FEEL LIKE -- I AM SPEAKING FOR MYSELF, THOSE ARE BUSINESSES AND THEY SHOULD BE REGULATED AS SUCH. WHEN YOU PROPOSE A SINGLE BE FOR EVERYONE , IT IS NOT LOGICAL. IN MANY OF THE STRS, A1A, THROUGH OUR NEIGHBORHOODS , THERE WILL BE ANYWHERE FROM FOUR TO EIGHT, OR MORE, CANS TO BE PICKED UP. WE FEEL LIKE THEY SHOULD BE ON A DIFFERENT PAY SCHEDULE, THESE ARE BUSINESSES OPERATING AT A PROFIT. WE WOULD REQUEST TO CONSIDER, WHEN YOU ARE CONSIDERING FEE RAISING, PROBABLY JUST ABOUT AS COSTS GO UP ALL THE TIME, FOR THIS CATEGORY, STRS SHOULD BE REGISTERED, THOSE CAN TAKE A LOT MORE PEOPLE, USING THOSE FACILITIES THAT REQUIRE A LOT MORE TRASH TO BE HAULED OFF. OUR COMMENT, CONSIDERED A SEPARATE RATE SCALE FOR PEOPLE WHO OPERATE AS BUSINESSES WITHIN RESIDENTIAL COMMUNITIES.

>> HI. MARY LEE, 6235 , HASTINGS, FLORIDA. WHEN I GOT THIS BILL, I HAD QUESTIONS, MOSTLY ABOUT THE RECYCLABLES.

WHERE ARE THEY GOING ? WHY AM I NOT GETTING PAID? I READ ONLINE, IF I TAKE THEM TO CERTAIN PLACES, I CAN GET MONEY .

ACCORDING TO ST. JOHNS COUNTY , I AM SUPPOSED TO CLEAN THEM AND WASH THEM AND DO FIVE DIFFERENT THINGS, PUT THEM IN THIS HUMONGOUS CAN AND PUT IT BY THE STREET EVERY WEEK. I DO NOT NEED TO PUT IT OUT EVERY WEEK, ONCE A MONTH IS ENOUGH AND THAT WOULD CUT DOWN ON GAS FOR Y'ALL. YOU DON'T NEED TO PICK UP RECYCLABLES EVERY WEEK AND SAME THING FOR YARD WASTE, LIVING IN HURRICANE AREA , IF THERE IS A STORM COMING OR SOMEBODY CALLS YOU, PICK THAT UP. THE OTHER THING I HAD, A COMMENT ABOUT , IT USED TO BE, THERE WOULD BE A FEW TIMES A YEAR, DIFFERENT SITES IN ST. JOHNS COUNTY FOR RESIDENCES COULD TAKE THE HAZARDOUS WASTE. IN HASTINGS , THERE WOULD BE A PLACE WHERE I COULD GO DOWN THE STREET AND TAKE MY HAZARDOUS-WASTE AND NOT HAVE TO GO ALL THE WAY SOMEWHERE ELSE. NOW, I HAVE BEEN IN ST.

JOHNS COUNTY AS A TAXPAYER FOR 38 YEARS AND DID NOT APPRECIATE ON THE NOTICE YOU SENT, IF I DO NOT PAY THESE FEES, YOU WILL PUT A TAX CERTIFICATE ON MY HOUSE AND CAN TAKE IT AWAY, I DID NOT APPRECIATE THAT. THAT IS MY COMMENT.

>> THANK YOU. ED SLAVIN, EDSLAVIN.COM . I AGREE WITH YOU THE SPEAKERS, WE NEED TO LOOK TO COUNTY STAFF TO SHARPEN THEIR PENCILS. FIRST OF ALL, AS MY MAMA TOLD ME WHEN I WAS LITTLE

[04:45:01]

BOY, 1968, QUOTING EVERETT MCKINLEY DIRKSEN, $1 MILLION HERE, $1 MILLION THERE, PRETTY SOON WE ARE TALKING ABOUT REAL MONEY. NOT JUST OUR COUNTY STAFF BUT OTHER GOVERNMENTS AROUND HERE , MOSQUITO CONTROL, 41% COST OVERRUN FOR THE MISKITO MUSEUM. MAYBE YOU DID NOT KNOW WE HAD A MISKITO MEDIUM BUT WE HAVE ONE. 41% COST OVERRUN. WAY TOO MUCH MONEY IN LOCAL GOVERNMENT , HERE, THERE, EVERYWHERE, WE CAN TALK ABOUT THE PENTAGON. LET ME ASK YOU THIS, WHY? FROM THE PENTAGON TO THE GARBAGE COLLECTOR, ARE WE CONTRACTING OUT SO MUCH? CAN SOMEONE EXPLAIN IT TO ME LIKE I AM A SIX-YEAR-OLD ? WHY DO WE ASSUME WE HAVE TO HIRE A CONTRACTOR TO COLLECT GARBAGE? IN THE CITY OF SAINT AUGUSTINE, THEY HAVE CITY EMPLOYEES DO IT.

CITY EMPLOYEES WITH BETTER MORALE, BETTER PAID , BETTER BENEFITS, AT A LOWER COST . AS A COUNTY, HAVE WE EVER COME IN LAST FIVE YEARS , COMPARED WHAT THE COST WOULD BE OF HAVING OUR COUNTY EMPLOYEES AS GARBAGE COLLECTORS RATHER THAN CONTRACTORS? WHY IS IT THAT THE PREREQUISITE TO EVEN CONSIDER DOING AN RFP? WHEN WE DO RFPS, I THINK SOMETHING IS LOST, OUR MONEY. IT IS OUR GOVERNMENT BUT WE WILL HIRED A HIRED HAND WHO WE DO NOT KNOW WHO THEY ARE, IT IS A EUROPEAN MULTINATIONAL CORPORATION, A EUROPEAN MULTINATIONAL CORPORATION, THANK GOD FOR KRISTA JOSEPH VOTING AGAINST IT AND THEY FAILED MISERABLY IN THE COUNTY STAFF DOES A POOR JOB OF OVERSEEING CONTRACTORS . THE ASSUMPTION MUST BE, LET'S SEE , IF I HIRE A CONTRACTOR, I MAY BE 10 ONE DAY GET WHAT RALPH NADER CALLED THE DEFERRED BRIBE, MAYBE THEY WILL HIRE YORK COUNTY ADMINISTRATOR ONE DAY , IF THEY ARE SUFFICIENTLY OBEDIENT TO THE CONTRACTORS. CONTRACTORS GIVE MONEY TO POLITICAL CAMPAIGNS AND THAT MAY BE ANOTHER ATTRACTIVE REASON, TOO . WE ARE DOING THIS ALL WRONG. WE NEED TO GO BACK TO ZERO-BASED BUDGETING WHICH IS WHAT JIMMY CARTER HAD BEEN PRESIDENT, WE WASTE TOO MUCH MONEY AND PRETTY SOON WE ARE TALKING ABOUT REAL MONEY. THANK

YOU. >> MR. HUNT.

>> THE COUNTY HAS HEARD FROM THE COMMUNITY ABOUT THE DISBARMENT AND FRUSTRATIONS WITH FCC. TODAY, OUR LEADERSHIP TOOK AGGRESSIVE STEPS TO CLEAN UP THE MESS, A NEW JOURNEY BEGINS TO RAIN IN THE OUR CONFIDENCE FOR THE COMMUNITY AND WHEN IT COMES TO REASSURING THEM ABOUT THE TRASH WILL BE PICKED UP -- SHALL BE PICKED UP, THEY WILL RECEIVE QUALITY CUSTOMER SERVICE THEY DESERVE . THAT WAS THE EMAIL SENT FROM THE COUNTY ADMINISTRATOR. OKAY? ALMOST ONE YEAR LATER , HOW MANY TIMES WAS NOTES OR THE NEWS NOTIFIED OF WHAT IS GOING ON WITH HIS FCC CONTRACT IN GENERAL? A FEW MONTHS AGO, I BROUGHT UP TO THE PZA ABOUT FCC WANTING TO PUT A 72 SLOT REFILLING STATION IN AND THE HEAD OF THE PZA THAT DAY, HAD NO IDEA THIS CONTRACT WAS UNDER TERMINATION. WHAT I HAVE HEARD IN THE PAST, VERY, VERY COMPASSIONATE THOUGHTS OF, MAYBE I MADE THE WRONG DECISION, MAYBE I JUMPED OUT OF MYSELF, MAKING THE DECISION TO TERMINATE FCC .

WHAT I HAVE NOT SEEN IS ALL THE VIDEOS THAT WERE MADE PRIOR TO AUGUST 20TH OF 2024 , PRIMARY TUESDAY. FROM THE PRIOR CHAIRMAN OF THE BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS MAKING THOSE VIDEOS IN A STERN AND COMPASSIONATE STATEMENT , DIRECTLY LOOKING INTO THE CAMERA. NOW , HERE WE ARE, LOOKING TO GET FCC TO INCREASE THE FRONTAGE , OKAY ? TRANSPARENCY , KEEP DOING SOLITAIRE OVER THERE, THERE IS NO TRANSPARENCY. WHERE ALL THE STATEMENTS FROM THE LAST

[04:50:01]

COMMITTEE ? WHY DID THEY FOLLOW THROUGH FOR ALMOST A WHOLE YEAR? THAT IS CRICKETS . I AM OUT OF THE CHAIR, WHATEVER'S LEFT IS UP TO YOU. IF YOU WANT TO DO IT, DO IT RIGHT . IF YOU WANT TO MAKE THE STATEMENTS AND GET IN FRONT OF THE PEOPLE , WHEN YOU ARE DONE, YOU ARE DONE, WALK AWAY AND YOU DO NOT LET THE PEOPLE KNOW WHAT YOU HAVE BEEN DOING. HEY, MAKE HER SELF LOOK GREAT BUT HAVE A WELL PREPARED STATEMENT ON YOUR FORGIVENESS ARE NOT FOLLOWING THROUGH TO THE WHOLE COMMUNITY FROM START TO FINISH . YOU CAN RUN BUT YOU CAN'T HIDE.

>> ANYONE ELSE FOR PUBLIC COMMENT?

>> PETE, SAINT AUGUSTINE I JUST GOT THE THING IN THE MAIL ABOUT THE WASTE MANAGEMENT ISSUE AND GOING UP 18% THIS YEAR. I WANT TO KNOW WHY WE HAVE TO HAVE SUCH A JOB IN THE FIRST YEAR OF THE CONTRACT? WE ARE GOING UP ANYWHERE BETWEEN 5% AND 4.6% OVER THE LIFE OF THE CONTRACT . WITH CURRENT INFLATION RATE AT ABOUT 2.4%, INCREASES ARE MORE THAN TWICE THE CURRENT INCREASE IN INFLATION. I WOULD LIKE TO KNOW WHY THAT IS HAPPENING. I HAD A MESSAGE FROM MR. CLAY MURPHY SAYING YOU HAVE HELD THE LINE ON THE FEE INCREASES TO 1% OVER 12 YEARS , I HAVE ONLY BEEN HERE SIX YEARS . I DO NOT KNOW WHAT THE INCREASE HAS BEEN BECAUSE I HAVE NOT DONE AN ANALYSIS OF IT. I DIDN'T KNOW THAT WHAT IS BEING PROPOSED IS 80% THE FIRST YEAR. THE QUESTION FOR EVERYBODY, DID ANYBODY GET AN 80% -- 18% RAISE THIS YEAR? NIPPING AWAY AT PENSION FUNDS AND RETIREMENT FUNDS AND THIS IS NOT HELPING . NOBODY HAS AN EXPLANATION OF WHY THIS IS GOING ON. AS A VOTER AND PROPERTY OWNER, I WOULD LIKE TO KNOW WHY WE HAVE TO HAVE AN 18% INCREASE THE FIRST YEAR AND DOUBLE THE INFLATION RATE GOING FORWARD TO THE LIFE OF THE TERM. THANK YOU

VERY MUCH. >> YES, MA'AM?

>> ANNA, 80 DOVE TREE LANE, DEVASTATING TO THINK MY HOUSE MAY BE AT RISK. IF I DO NOT PAY FOR TRASH. AND RECYCLING. I CAN RESPECT AN INCREASE. I AM OKAY WITH THAT. TO HAVE TO PAY AN INCREASE EVERY YEAR FOR THE NEXT FIVE YEARS, I AM A WIDOW WITH A FIXED INCREASE -- INCOME AND I WILL NOT GET AN INCREASE. I JUST GOT THAT LETTER AND I THINK A LETTER LIKE THAT SHOULD GO OUT SOONER THAN I JUST RECEIVED LATE LAST WEEK.

>> YES, MA'AM. >> GLORIA WHITE. I DID NOT RECEIVE THE LETTER AT ALL. I HEARD FROM WORD-OF-MOUTH THAT WHAT HAPPENED TODAY. THE VERY FIRST YEAR OF INCREASE, THE $90 ONE, A BIT MUCH, A HARD HIT FOR THE FIRST YEAR, $90 TO A VERY LOW INCOME PERSON WHO IS TRYING TO MAINTAIN A LIVING IS GOING TO BE VERY HARD TO DO. AS FAR AS SERIVE, -- SERVICE , THE SERVICE IN SOUTHWOOD IS NOT THAT GREAT , IN THE PAST FEW MONTHS, THEY

[04:55:06]

HAVE MISSED GARBAGE ONE DAY, NO EXPLANATION, THEY COME THE NEXT DAY, THE WORST WAS BEEN EVERY OTHER WEEK,THE YARD WASTE, WHEN WE FIRST STARTED CALLING, THEY SAID TO GIVE IT SOME TIME, THEY'RE WORKING THE BUGS OUT. A MONTH AND A HALF AGO, I CALLED AGAIN, EVERY TIME THIS HAPPENS, JUST CALL US AND WE WE WILL MAKE SURE HE GETS PICKED UP, NOT MY RESPONSIBILITY FOR HOMEOWNERS IN MY SUBDIVISION, NOT THEIR RESPONSIBILITY TO FOLLOW-UP ON FCC'S NOT PICKING UP GARBAGE AND YARD WASTE. THAT SHOULD BE WHOEVER IS IN THE DEPARTMENT, THAT SHOULD BE THEIR FOLLOW UP.

WHEN I DID TALK TO SOMEONE IN HIS DEPARTMENT, I WAS TOLD THESE INCREASES WERE BECAUSE OF INFLATION BUT THERE IS NO INFLATION IF YOU LISTEN TO THE CURRENT PRESIDENT. I DO UNDERSTAND THINGS HAVE TO GO UP BUT , FOR THIS TO GO UP $90 THE FIRST YEAR AND CONTINUE ON FOR FIVE YEARS TO WHERE WE ARE IN, DOUBLE THE MONEY , THAT IS A HARD HIT. THANK YOU .

>> ANYONE ELSE ? >> SUZANNE, ST. JOHN'S COUNTY.

I GUESS IN A WAY I SHOULD SAY I DO NOT HAVE A DOG IN THE FIGHT.

I LIVE IN A CONDOMINIUM AND, A LOT OF PEOPLE DO NOT REALIZE THAT CONDOMINIUM OWNERS DO NOT HAVE THE GARBAGE COLLECTED IN THE SAME WAY THAT OTHER RESIDENTS DO. WE DO NOT GET ASSESSED THAT FEE ON OUR PROPERTY TAX BILL, I DO NOT GET A FEE FOR THE LAND MY PROPERTY IS ON, WE PAY HOA FEES THAT HAVE GONE UP EVERY YEAR CONSIDERABLY. I USED TO LIVE IN A SINGLE-FAMILY HOME AND I HAVE NOT ALWAYS LIVED IN ST. JOHNS COUNTY, I HAVE LIVED HERE FOR 30 YEARS. IF YOU HAVE LIVED ALMOST ANYWHERE ELSE I CAN THINK OF, I HAVE LIVED IN ABOUT 14 DIFFERENT LOCATIONS THROUGHOUT THE YEARS. NO ONE , EXCEPT MY CURRENT SITUATION , WHEN I LIVED HERE , WOULD PICK UP ANYTHING LEFT UPFRONT. TALK ABOUT A COMPREHENSIVE GARBAGE REFUSE TAKE AWAY , WE HAVE IT HERE. WHAT DO PEOPLE WANT ? DO THEY WANT THE SERVICE ? DO THEY WANT TO PUT ANYTHING OUT THERE AND HAVE IT TAKEN AWAY? DO YOU WANT TO BE DRIVING TO THE DUMP , IF YOU HAVE MORE THAN JUST ONE TRASHCAN OR TWO TRASH CANS? MAYBE THIS TIME WE HAVE A CONVERSATION ABOUT DO WE WANT TO KEEP CONTRACTING OR DO WE WANT TO SEE IF GOVERNMENT EMPLOYEES CAN REALLY GET THE SAME LEVEL OF SERVICE AT A COMPETITIVE PRICE ? THE FACTS ON THE TABLE RIGHT NOW SHOW WAS THAT WE ARE PAYING MORE THAN THE INFLATION RATE BECAUSE WE DO CONTRACT AND THIS IS WHAT THE CONTRACTORS WANT, EITHER TAKE IT OR FIGURE OUT ANOTHER WAY. THAT IS KIND OF HOW I SEE IT . YOU NEED TO PUBLICIZE MORE OF THESE PROGRAMS THAT HELP THOSE THAT ARE LOW INCOME.

TRYING TO STAY IN THEIR HOMES. I WAS NOT AWARE THERE WAS A PROGRAM PERSONALLY. PEOPLE DO NOT KNOW THAT, YOU NEED TO GET THAT OUT THERE SO PEOPLE UNDERSTAND THAT THERE IS HELP IF YOU NEED IT . IF YOU LOOK AT WHAT WE ARE PAYING COMPARED TO OTHER COUNTIES, I DO NOT THINK WE ARE OVERPAYING, PERSONALLY, BUT I DON'T KNOW, MAYBE MORE CONVERSATION.

>> ANYONE ELSE >> HENRY BUFFINGTON, 157 MIDWAY PARK DRIVE IN ST. JOHNS COUNTY . I HAVE A COUPLE QUESTIONS BECAUSE I AM NEW AT THIS SO LORD HELP ME. ON THE AGENDA, ITEM 7, THIS CROWD WAS HERE THIS MORNING, I CAN READ INTO THAT NOT GOING TO . OKAY? MR. CALDWELL, I REVIEWED THE VIDEO A

[05:00:04]

YEAR AGO AT THIS LOCATION , AND I ALSO WATCHED THE CEO OF FCC GIVE HIS SONG AND DANCE. THE STATEMENT WAS MADE , 7000 CALLS, 3000 APP RELATED ISSUES, 13,000 INSPECTIONS BY COUNTY STAFF DAILY. ROAD AND BRIDGE EMPLOYEES, ADDITIONAL COSTS, INAUDIBLE ] 2200 HOURS. MY QUESTION IS, HAVE THOSE MONIES BEEN RECOVERED BY FCC? AGAIN, THROW STUFF OUT THERE BUT YOU DO NOT CLOSE THE LOOP. IT RAISES OTHER QUESTIONS. THERE ARE PEOPLE ON THIS COMMITTEE THAT VOTED NO. I THANK YOU FOR THAT.

I THINK FCC IS A JOKE. THE SLIDE YOU PRESENTED, $28 MILLION , CLOSEST COMPETITORS IS $40 MILLION. TURNING AROUND RIGHT NOW SAYING WE NEED TO INCREASE THE RATES. AS A LAYMAN, DID FCC UNDERBID THE CONTRACTS AND THAT WERE PUSHING BACK UP TO WHERE THE SECOND BIDDER WAS? THAT IS ON THE SURFACE . THAT RAISES THE QUESTION. WE DO NOT HAVE 20 KIDS IN THE BACKYARD PLAYING. WE PUT OUT RECYCLABLES ONCE A MONTH. YARD WASTE MAYBE ONCE A MONTH. I MADE THIS COMMENT, SEVERAL MONTHS AGO, WHY AM I PAYING

TAXES ON OTHER PEOPLE? >> COULD YOU SPEAK IN THE

MICROPHONE? >> I AM SORRY , I THOUGHT MY VOICE WAS GETTING PRETTY WELL .

>> NOT TO THE PEOPLE LISTENING ONLINE .

>> WHY ARE THOSE PEOPLE, WHO ARE SINGLE, MARRIED , BY THEMSELVES , BEING HIT WITH THE RATE THAT OTHER PEOPLE HAVE THREE OR FOUR CHILDREN, A LOT OF GARBAGE, A LOT OF WASTE. THERE WAS A COMMENT MADE EARLIER , WHICH I AGREE WITH. IN THIS COUNTY, WHERE I CAME FROM BEFORE, I WAS TOLD BY THE WATER DEPARTMENT, WHAT GOES IN, GOES OUT , THAT IS HOW THE RATE IS. NOT TRUE IN THIS SITUATION . WHY SHOULD WE BE PENALIZED, SENIOR CITIZENS, ON RETIREMENT INCOME , BE PENALIZED , FOR THREE OR FOUR KIDS WHO DO GENERATE A LOT OF WASTE AND THAT MAKES IT ACCEPTABLE? ANOTHER THING IS, A COMMENT IN THE AGENDA ABOUT A FLORIDA STATUTE, WHAT FLORIDA STATUTE ? IT IS NOT MENTIONED .

I CANNOT GO BACK AND SEE WHAT STATUTE THIS IS GOING WITH .

>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH. YES, SIR?

>> GOOD AFTERNOON . ALVIN JACKSON. I AGREE WITH YOU, SIR.

FCC UNDERBID IT, SO THEY COULD GET THE CONTRACT AND NOW THEY'RE RAISING IT SO THEY CAN MAKE THE MONEY BACK THE NEXT YEAR. THE VERY NEXT YEAR. THE BOARD MADE THE DECISION TO BRING THE FCC IN AND NOW YOU SEE WHAT IT IS TAKING THE TAXPAYERS OF ST.

JOHNS COUNTY THROUGH . I HAVE BEEN A ST. JOHNS COUNTY -- HERE SINCE 1953 , THAT IS WHAT I WAS BORN. I HAVE BEEN HERE ALL MY LIFE. AND, EVERYBODY WANTS TO MOVE INTO ST. JOHNS COUNTY BUT NOBODY IS TALKING ABOUT INFRASTRUCTURE . I DO KNOW THEY SEE THE STREETS ARE TOO SMALL FOR THE POPULATION WE ARE RECEIVING NOW AND NOBODY IS TRYING TO INCREASE THE INFRASTRUCTURE . I LIVE ON 68, TWO-LANE HIGHWAY. AND, RIGHT NOW, IT USED TO TAKE ME FIVE MINUTES TO GET FROM MY HOUSE TO THE RIVER, NOW , IT TAKES ME 30 MINUTES. THEY ARE HAULING DIRT

[05:05:04]

OUT OF TWO SITES NOW. TO DO FIRST COAST EXPRESSWAY . WE KNOW THAT IT GENERATES MONEY. WE HAVE BEEN FIGHTING FOR A FIRE HYDRANT BECAUSE INFRASTRUCTURE HAS BEEN BUILT UP AROUND US FOR YEARS AND WE STILL HAVE NO FIRE HYDRANT. BY CONTEXT SOMEBODY -- I CONTACTED SOMEBODY WITH THE COUNTY AND THEY SAID THE ONLY WAY WE COULD GET A FIRE HYDRANT IS IF THE PEOPLE WERE TO HAVE SEWER AND WATER PUT IN AT THEIR HOUSE. I AM 72. I CAN'T AFFORD THAT. EVERYBODY IN ELLWOOD IS AROUND MY AGE AND WE CANNOT AFFORD THAT BUT WE NEED A FIRE HYDRANT IN CASE A FIRE BREAKS OUT. SOMETIMES , THE TRUCKS CANNOT HANDLE IT. THANK YOU FOR

YOUR TIME. >> THANK YOU. YES, MA'AM?

>> MY TIME STARTED, I AM NOT READY. THERE WE GO.

>> I WILL PAUSE IT AS LONG AS IT TAKES YOU TO STRAIGHTEN THAT.

>> I AM MARIA, 131 SANGRIA , BECAUSE OF THE EXTREME INCREASES , IT IS IRRELEVANT WHY THEY HAPPENED , IT IS RIDICULOUS. AS OTHER PEOPLE MENTIONED, I AM NOT GOING TO GET AN INCREASE THIS FISCAL YEAR ON OCTOBER 1ST OF 2025, ESPECIALLY THE FIRST YEAR , IT LOOKS LIKE IT WILL BE AN $80 INCREASE , ABOUT 30% . THAT IS RIDICULOUS . IT IS IRRELEVANT TO ME WHY . IT IS UNHEARD OF.

THAT IS WHY I PUT THIS UP HERE. YES , IT IS THE FISCAL YEAR AND THIS WILL START, DIFFICULT TO OCTOBER 1ST OF 2025 MY BASIC MATH SKILLS ARE CORRECT, ROUGHLY 30% . THE NEXT YEAR , THE SECOND YEAR, ROUGHLY 18% , $60 , AND IT GOES FROM THERE . OVERALL, A $200 INCREASE IN THE FIVE YEARS AND 80%, RIDICULOUS . I DO NOT KNOW HOW THIS GOT DEVELOPED BUT IT IS NOT RELEVANT TO ME. I KNOW IT WAS MENTIONED, LET ME STATE, I AM A LICENSED CLINICAL SOCIAL WORKER AND I KNOW IT WAS MENTIONED, BECAUSE OF THESE CRAZY INCREASES, PEOPLE COULD APPLY FOR FINANCIAL AID TO HELP THEM WITH GARBAGE COLLECTION . I THINK THAT IS RIDICULOUS TO STATE THAT. BECAUSE YOU ARE JUST PASSING OFF THE PROBLEM , TO FINANCIAL SERVICES, TO THOSE WHO CAN BARELY AFFORD IT, WILL BE PAYING THIS EXTREME INCREASE OVER THE YEARS, BUT I WILL BE PAYING FOR SOMEONE ELSE AS WELL. I CANNOT AFFORD IT. EVEN IF I COULD , IT IS NOT RIGHT, AS A COMMUNITY MEMBER AND TAXPAYER, IT IS NOT RIGHT. I ASKED YOU TO VOTE NO AND HOPEFULLY THE PEOPLE WHO DEVELOPED THIS PLAN OF ACTION CAN GO BACK TO THE DRAWING BOARD AND MAYBE DO A FEW COURSE OF ACTIONS. IT WAS MENTIONED , WE DO NOT ALL NEED RECYCLING PICKED UP ONCE A WEEK, WE ALL DO NOT NEED THE YARD REFUSE, A BETTER PLAN OF ACTION COULD BE DEVELOPED THAT WOULD SUIT EVERYBODY , ALL RESIDENTS, 115,000 , MORE PROPERLY . I HOPE YOU TAKE THIS ALL INTO CONSIDERATION AND I HOPE AT THIS POINT YOU VOTE NO ON THIS ISSUE.

THANK YOU FOR LISTENING . >> THANK YOU . ANYONE ELSE? JOE?

>> I THINK THE FCC IS DOING A GREAT JOB IN MY NEIGHBORHOOD. A COUPLE OF SUGGESTIONS, WHY DON'T WE DO YARD WASTE ONCE EVERY TWO WEEKS , RECYCLING ONCE EVERY TWO WEEKS AND AS FAR AS PEOPLE RETIRED, I KNOW THAT THERE IS -- YOU CAN GET AN ASSESSMENT FOR THE PROPERTY TAXES, FOR PEOPLE WHO ARE VETERANS , PEOPLE WHO ARE RETIRED, THEY GET A SPECIAL EXEMPTION , MAYBE TIED THAT TO THE COST OF THE PICKUP. THAT WOULD BE PEOPLE WHO ACTUALLY USE THE SERVICE. WHO DO NOT USE THE

[05:10:01]

SERVICE AS MUCH. GET A BREAK. ANOTHER RFP OUT TO SEE IF A COMPETITOR TO FCC IS WILLIING TO TAKE A BID.

>> THANKS. NEXT? >> JAKE, 6555 COUNTY ROAD 208, I DO NOT WANT TO WASTE A LOT OF YOUR TIME. I HAVE SEEN THE MATH, NOT PERSONAL . THE COUNTY HAS NOT GROWN , ONLY GROWN 3.35% SINCE LAST YEAR , THE $8.51 INCREASE SINCE LAST YEAR. NOT $80. I AM NOT PICKING ON IT, WE TAKE OUR TRASHCAN OUT, RECYCLING MAYBE ONCE A MONTH , ONLY TWO OF US, I UNDERSTAND IT IS HARD TO SORT AND PEOPLE NEED A LOT OF TRASH TO GET OUT, WE LIVE IN THE COUNTRY, THE IDEAS, EVERYBODY IS DIFFERENT, I DO NOT NEED IT TO BE BROKEN DOWN, BUT I NEED STUFF TO BE MORE TRANSPARENT ABOUT WHY YOU ARE ASKING FOR THIS AMOUNT OF MONEY AND WHAT IT IS BROKEN DOWN INTO? GOSH, LARGEST POPULATION GROWTH WAS 2021 SO WHY DON'T WE GO BACK TO THAT AND SAY, WHERE WERE WE ? WE HAVE NOT GROWN THAT MUCH TO SEE THIS KIND OF INCREASE IN THE AMOUNT OF MONEY THEY ARE ASKING FOR. LET'S SEE, WHAT ELSE? TALKS ABOUT THE UNINCORPORATED AREAS OF ST. JOHNS COUNTY . THAT IS THE WHOLE COUNTY, HASTINGS , CRESTED BEACH, A LOT OF ORANGE DALE, THERE ARE SOME I AM MISSING. WE ARE ALL PAYING THE SAME ACROSS THE BOARD. THAT IS SOCIALIST TRASH, I GUESS, I DO NOT KNOW HOW US TO PUT IT, WE MOVED TO ST. JOHNS COUNTY BECAUSE OF ST. JOHNS COUNTY, I DO NOT CARE WHAT THE OTHER COUNTIES AROUND TO SAY , WE ARE TALKING ABOUT US, THIS IS WHY WE ARE HERE, BECAUSE WE WANT TO BE NEIGHBORS AND DO GOOD THINGS FOR EACH OTHER AND GET ALONG, A COUPLE OF US I GUESS. IT DOESN'T MAKE SENSE TO ME, I AM ASKING FOR YOU TO DIG A LITTLE DEEPER OR SOMEONE ELSE DIG A LITTLE DEEPER, I AM NOT A SOLID WASTE DISPOSABLE MANAGEMENT TYPE OF PERSON , I JUST -- DIG DEEPER BEFORE YOU JUMP INTO THIS AND SAY, GET MORE MONEY BECAUSE THE TRASH. WE WANT TO TAKE IT AWAY AND I DO UNDERSTAND THE COST MONEY TO TAKE IT AWAY. THANK YOU.

>> ANYONE ELSE? >> I WILL BE QUICK, I PROMISE .

I WANT TO FOLLOW UP WITH WHAT THE GENTLEMAN SAID REGARDING THE AIRBNB AND VRBOS, DO A DEEP DIVE BEFORE PUSHING THIS THROUGH , FOUR BLOCKS FROM MY HOUSE, A DEVELOPMENT , A HUGE SHORT-TERM RENTAL, 35 ON THE WEBSITE, ONLY 11 ARE REGISTERED WITHIN THE COUNTY BECAUSE THEY ARE NOT FOLLOWING ANYTHING SET UP BY THE COUNTY. CAN THAT BE TAKEN IN AND TRACK WHAT IS BUSINESS VERSUS WHAT IS FAMILY RESIDENCE? THEY ARE OUT OF THE HISTORIC AREA, TURNING OVER THESE UNITS EVERY TWO TO THREE DAYS, GET THREE TURNOVERS BETWEEN ONE GARBAGE PICKUP. THE TRUCKS ARE TURNING BACK, MORE GAS AND MORE TRIPS TO THE DUMP TO CLEAN IT OUT, AND HAS NOTHING TO DO WITH RESIDENCE , CAN WE PLEASE DIVE DEEPER AND BILL WHAT IS A BUSINESS AS A BUSINESS?

>> THANK YOU. >> NICOLE CROSBY , I DO NOT HAVE A COMMENT ON ASKING YOU TO VOTE THIS WAY OR THAT WAY , I HAVE BEEN LISTENING TO A LOT OF COMMENTS AND GOT ME THINKING ABOUT THE FACT THAT, THE VERY DIFFERENT WAYS PEOPLE NEED TRASH AND RECYCLING PICKED UP, COULD YOU CONSIDER DOING POLLS OF

[05:15:08]

RESIDENCE TO DETERMINE HOW OFTEN YOU NEED RECYCLING PICKED UP? IN OUR HOUSE , WE COULD GET AWAY WITH EVERY OTHER WEEK EASILY. I AM WONDERING IF THERE IS A WAY TO REDUCE IT. ANOTHER THING I'M THINKING ABOUT , THINKING ABOUT MY NEIGHBORHOOD COMES SOMETIMES THEY CALL IN A CLAW TRUCK TO PICK UP AN ENTIRE TREE , WE SHOULD NOT HAVE TO PAY FOR THAT. PEOPLE LOVE THE CLAW TRUCK. I FEEL THERE SHOULD BE A LIMIT, I FEEL LIKE SOMEBODY SHOULD PAY FOR IT. I FEEL THAT THERE COULD BE MORE OF A STUDY ABOUT THE GARBAGE AND WHAT IS NEEDED AND NOT NEEDED. THEN, THE FACT BUSINESSES ARE NOT RECYCLING AT ALL, I THINK . IT TELLS ME I AM NOT TAKING ADVANTAGE OF THE RECYCLING HALF MY TIME, AT THE DOCTOR'S OFFICE, NEVER RECYCLES AND I WISH THERE WAS SOME WAY TO

WORK THAT OUT. THANK YOU. >> ANYONE ELSE? WELCOME.

>> MY NAME IS GARY, 317 ISLAND LANDING DRIVE. JANUARY OF 2000, ON MY WAY TO SOUTH AMERICA, ON MY BOAT, 35 FOOT SAILBOAT, I STOPPED BY SAINT AUGUSTINE FOR REPAIRS. I FELL IN LOVE WITH THIS TOWN. PEOPLE SAY, DO NOT COME HERE UNLESS YOU WANT TO GET TRAPPED HERE. I FIND MYSELF STUNNED I AM TALKING HERE, WITH A LOT OF NUMBERS, I WILL TALK FROM HOW I FEEL RIGHT NOW. I GOT THIS LETTER, DID NOT HAVE TIME TO DO A WORKUP AND ANALYSIS OF IT. I AM AN I.T. CONTRACTOR, TRADE, OR WAS. HERETO FOR, SAINT AUGUSTINE HAS BEEN A GREAT PLACE TO LIVE, AN AREA OF TRASH COLLECTION AS AN EXAMPLE , I COULD NEVER HAVE IMAGINED -- TRASHCAN IS GONE OCCASIONALLY IT HAS BEEN GREAT. UNTIL THE LAST FOUR YEARS, FIVE YEARS, SINCE COVID , CORPORATIONS TRY TO LEVERAGE THE COVID PANDEMIC TO THEIR ADVANTAGE AND COST THEY WILL CHARGE AND THE DROP IN SERVICE THAT WAS A RESULT FROM THAT , I DID NOT SEE THAT A LOT FROM SAINT AUGUSTINE UNTIL I AM STARTING TO SEE -- I CANNOT GET OUT OF THE CREEK. WE ARE OVERLOADED OUR INFRASTRUCTURE TO THE POINT WHERE IT IS UNTENABLE , HOW DO WE INTEND TO RESPOND TO THIS ? WE ARE SO FAR BEHIND THE CURVE ON INFRASTRUCTURE, I WOULD NOT WANT YOUR JOB FOR ANYTHING.

WHEN VALENCIA CAME IN, THEY NEEDED A TRAFFIC LIGHT WHEN THEY BUILT THAT PLACE. I HAD A FLATBED TRUCK, , T-BONED ME, THERE WAS ONLY A STOP SIGN AND HE THOUGHT HE COULD GET OUT OF THERE. THAT SHOULD HAVE BEEN PART OF THE PROCESS . TO APPROVE THIS CAMPGROUND THING. 316 SITES WILL BE THROWING TRASH OUT AT MULTIPLE TIMES PER WEEK. HOW IS THAT HANDLED? YOU SAID, $26 , OR SOMETHING. DOES NOT SOUND LIKE A LOT , AN AREA IN FRONT OF MY HOUSE, BETWEEN 15 AND 20 SECONDS.

>> THANK YOU. >> I DO NOT KNOW IF THREE MINUTES IS ENOUGH TIME TO EXPLAIN HOW DISAPPOINTED I AM

WITH WHERE WE ARE TODAY. >> IT IS NOT.

>> I HAVE TO DIG OUT LIKE YOU HAVE TO .

>> ANYONE ELSE WITH PUBLIC COMMENT? YES?

[05:20:05]

>> I NEED THE WALK. SHIRLEY DAVIS, ST. AUGUSTINE SHORES. THE NOTICE WAS MAILED 7/10 AND I RECEIVED IT 7/18, I WOULD SUGGEST 60 DAYS, I AM SINGLE, SENIOR, MY SOCIAL SECURITY WAS A 2.5% INCREASE LAST YEAR, HOWEVER, MEDICARE , TOOK MORE THAN THAT, I LOST THIS YEAR. I AM A TRUCK DRIVER, WAS. SO, I UNDERSTAND IT IS A TOUGH JOB WHAT THEY DO. I WATCH THEM . ON HOT DAYS, I GIVE WATER, I GIVE MUFFINS, I KNOW WHAT THEY ARE DOING IS TOUGH. THE REASON YOU PUT A BUDGET OUT IS TO SAY, THIS IS WHAT IT WILL COST AND MAKE IT WORK. IF THAT IS NOT REALISTIC AND YOU ARE TRYING TO GET YOUR FOOT IN THE DOOR, YOU NEED TO PAY OUT-OF-POCKET BECAUSE YOU MADE THAT MISTAKE. I CANNOT AFFORD AN $80 -- $60 INCREASE EVERY YEAR, HAVE BEEN HERE SINCE 2003 $15 PER YEAR , UNDERSTANDABLE. MY COST OF LIVING IS NOT GOING UP. FOR THEIRS TO GO UP 31% , I CANNOT AFFORD THAT . THERE IS NOT MUCH ELSE I CAN GIVE UP IN ORDER TO AFFORD THAT. I THINK , IF YOU'RE GOING TO BE UNREALISTIC WITH THEIR QUOTE, WHAT WILL COST , THEY NEED TO STAY WITHIN BUDGET . I UNDERSTAND THEY HAD TO GET NEW TRUCKS AND PERSONNEL , THIS AND THAT, RELOCATION, THINGS LIKE THAT , BUT YOU NEED TO BE REALISTIC AND PUT THAT INTO YOUR QUOTE. WE SHOULD NOT MAKE UP FOR THEIR MISTAKE AND I'VE HAD TO REPLACE THREE TRASH CANS BECAUSE THEY NEVER LAND ON MY PROPERTY, ALWAYS IN THE STREET OR THE LID IS ACROSS THE STREET AND MY NEIGHBOR RUNS OVER IT . WE HAVE ROOM FOR IMPROVEMENT AND I AM SURE WE CAN HELP THEM OUT.

UNLIKE EVERYBODY ELSE, RECYCLING , ONCE IN A WHILE , YARD WASTE , ONCE IN A WHILE , ONE BAG OF TRASH AND THAT IS IT PER WEEK. I UNDERSTAND COST SHARING BUT I THINK THAT THEY SHOULD BE MORE REALISTIC WITH THEIR QUOTES SO WE CAN ADEQUATELY PAY WHAT THEY THIS. ASK YOU ADDRESS HOW MUCH FCC RAISED THEIR RATES?

>> ABSOLUTELY. THANK YOU, COMMISSIONER.

FCC, WHEN WE SELECTED THEM LAST YEAR, CAME IN WITH A RATE OF $21- 22 A MONTH TO PROVIDE COLLECTION OF HOUSEHOLD GARBAGE, YARD WASTE AND RECYCLING. THEY HAVE NOT MOVED OFF THAT NUMBER. THEY HAVE REQUESTED AN INCREASE STARTING IN OCTOBER MAXING OUT AT 5%. SO IT'S NOT RAISING UP TO THAT $40 MILLION RANGE. THEY ARE LIVING WITHIN THE CONTRACT FAME WORK MAXING OUT THE CPI OR THE 5%. AND THAT WAS THE JUMP, COMMISSIONER. IT WASN'T POPULATION GROWTH. WE CHANGED CONTRACTORS THAT WERE PROVIDING THIS SERVICE. WE LAST BID OUT SOLID WASTE RESIDENTIAL COLLECTION BACK IN 2003.

OVER 20 YEARS AGO. SO THAT WAS THE REASON WE WENT BACK OUT BECAUSE WE WERE HEARING FROM OUR EVEN EXISTING PROVIDERS THAT THERE WAS GOING TO BE A MAJOR JUMP IN WHAT THEY WOULD REQUEST FOR FUTURE YEARS. IT WAS BEST FOR ASSANGE TO BE OPEN, TRANSPARENT AND GO THROUGH THE GUIDELINES TO SOLICIT THIS. SO WHEN WE SOLICITED IT, FCC WAS THE NUMBER ONE RANKED FIRM. THEIR PRICE OF 21. 22 WAS BY FAR LESS THAN THE SECOND ONE TO PROVIDE SERVICE TO THE ENTIRE COUNTY, AND THEY ARE STILL LIVING WITHIN THOSE GUIDELINES.

>> COMMISSIONER WHITEHURST.

>> THANK YOU. MR. CALDWELL, I DON'T WANT TO CHARGE WHAT YOU ARE PROPOSING THAT WE CHARGE.

I DON'T WANT TO DO IT. IS THIS ANY WAY TO PROVIDE THE SAME LEVEL OF SERVICE AND CHARGE LESS? IS THERE ANOTHER VENDOR? IS THERE A

[05:25:01]

COMBINATION OF PUBLIC AND PRIVATE SECTOR WORKERS WE COULD EMPLOY TO CHARGE THE AVERAGE RESIDENTS LESS THAN WHAT THEY ARE BEING CHARGED IN THESE PROPOSED RATES?

>> I AGREE WITH YOU. NOBODY WANTS THE RATES RAISED.

THIS IS A SERVICE-BASED COST. RIGHT NOW WHAT WE ARE PROVIDING TO THE BOARD AND CITIZENS OF ST. JOHNS COUNTY IS THE LOWEST FOR THIS SERVICE AT THE LOWEST COST BASED OPTED THE CONTRACT FOR THE RESIDENTIAL COLLECTION, THE WASTE MANAGEMENT DISPOSAL CONTRACT AND THEN SOME MINIMAL ACTUALLY OVERSIGHT ADMINISTRATION AND OTHER SERVICES.

SO THIS IS -- >> FINISH YOUR THOUGHT,

PLEASE. >> THE LAST VENDOR SERVING THE NORTHERN PART OF THE COUNTY DID A REALLY GOOD JOB. I LIKED BILL BRINKLEY.

WONDERFUL PEOPLE. GOOD FOLKS.

THEY WOULDN'T I HAD ON THIS LEVEL OF SERVICES.

CAN YOU REFRESH MY MEMORY? THEY CAME IN AND THEY OFFERED A BID BUT IT WASN'T REALLY FOR THE LEVEL OF SERVICE THAT WE'RE BEING PROVIDED

WITH NOW. >> CORRECT.

AS WE WERE PREPARING FOR THIS REBID, WE WENT OUT AND TALKED TO TEN DIFFERENT VENDORS, BROUGHT THEM IN, REPUBLICAN SERVICES, WASTE MANAGEMENT, ALL THE BIG HITTERS. A LOT OF THEM, SOME WANTED TO GO AUTOMATED ONLY. THEY WOULDN'T PROVIDE UNLIMITED SERVICES, REAR END TRUCKS.

WE WENT OUT ON THE STREET AND ASKED FOR BASICALLY EVERYTHING, WHAT'S THE HIGHEST LEVEL OF SERVICE AT THE LOWEST COST AND THAT'S WHERE WE LANDED. REPUBLIC SERVICE PUT IN FOR ONE SECTION OF THE COUNTY AND ONLY FOR AUTOMATED SERVICES FOR HOUSEHOLD GARBAGE AND THAT WOULD HAVE LIMITED THE SERVICE PROVIDED TO THE CITIZENS OF ST. JOHNS COUNTY AT AN EXTREMELY HIGHER COST.

>> THAT WAS OUR OLD VENDOR. THEY STILL CAME IN HIGHER THAN THE CURRENT VEND SER?

>> YES. >> AND WASTE MANAGEMENT ASK THE SOUTHERN HALF OF THE COUNTY UNDER THE OLD CONTRACT AND THEY WERE NEARLY DOUBLE?

>> YES, SIR, $50 MILLION TO PROVIDE THE SAME LEVEL OF SERVICE WE GET FROM FCC FOR THE

ENTIRE COUNTY. >> OKAY.

HOW FLEXIBLE IS THE CONTRACT? LET'S SAY IF WE WANTED TO DO AWAY WITH RECYCLING. I THINK WE'D HAVE AN AUDITORIUM FULL OF RESIDENCE WITH PITCHFORKS. CLAY COUNTY DID AWAY WITH RECYCLING.

IT'S NOT A SERVICE THEY OFFER. IT'S INTERESTING THAT THEY ARE STILL CHARGING MORE THAN WE ARE, BUT THAT NOTWITHSTANDING, WHAT IF WE WANTED TO DO AWAY WITH RECYCLING TO DO A COST SAVINGS WITH THE RESIDENTS WHO SOME ARE STRUGGLING TO PAY THIS.

>> I UNDERSTAND THAT. WE COULD LOOK AT REDUCING THE SERVICE LEVELS. IF WE TOOK OUT RECYCLING.

IT'S NOT A ZERO COST BY TAKING AWAY FROM RECYCLING BECAUSE THEN THAT IS GENERATED INTO HOUSEHOLD GARBAGE INTO THE DISPOSAL COST.

IT'S NOT A ZERO SUMMER. PROBABLY A REDUCED COST, YES.

>> RECYCLING FEE GOES AWAY BUT THE TONNAGE OF GARBAGE GOES UP?

>> YES, RIGHT NOW WE PAY $5. 17 IS WHAT RESIDENTS PAY FOR RECYCLING SERVICES PER MONTH IN ST. JOHNS COUNTY. IF WE REMOVE THAT IN OUR NEGOTIATIONS, I AM SURE SOME OF THAT WOULD GO TO DISPOSAL COSTS BECAUSE WE'D SEE AN INCREASE IN TONNAGE AND THEN ALSO AN

INCREASE OF COLLECTION. >> I WOULD ASK EVERY PERSON WHO CAME TO SPEAK -- BY THE WAY, I APPRECIATE YOU GUYS COMING TO SPEAK. . MY WIFE OPENED THIS STATEMENT. SHE WAS ALARMED AS YOU ARE.

MY PARENTS HAVE BEEN IN THEIR HOUSE SINCE 1998.

JUST AS SHOCKED AS YOU ARE.

I DON'T WANT TO CHARGE MORE. THAT'S NOT MY GOAL HERE.

I HAVE NOT SEEN AN OPTION PRESENTED OR EVEN DISCUSSED THAT WOULD LOWER THE FEE.

I DON'T KNOW THAT WE CAN FIND ANYBODY TO DO THIS FOR LESS. THAT'S WHY I'M STRUGGLING.

TO THE BOARD, ONTO DISCUSS OPTIONS WHAT CAN WE DO TO GET THE COST DOWN?

>> COMMISSIONER ARNOLD.

>> THANK YOU.

COMMISSIONER WHITEHURST, MY HUSBAND HAD THE SAME REACTION AS YOUR WIFE. HE OPENED IT AND SAID WHAT THE -- IS THIS? WE'D LOVE TO KEEP IT AS LOW AS POSSIBLE. SO I APPRECIATE YOU PUTTING FORTH ALL THESE OPTIONS. APPRECIATE THE CLARIFICATION FOR THE RESIDENTS AND REMINDER I HEAR ALL THE TIME ESPECIALLY SINCE THE NOTICES WENT OUT WHAT HAPPENED TO THE OLD SERVICE? THEY BROKE UP WITH US.

NOT THE OTHER WAY AROUND. I THOUGHT THEY DID A FANTASTIC JOB AS WELL. AND JUST A COUPLE MORE POINTS.

TO LEGAL, THROUGH THE CHAIR, THE LANGUAGE IN THE LETTER THAT WENT OUT THAT TALKS ABOUT A LEAN ON PEOPLE'S HOUSES, THAT'S FLORIDA STATUTE, CORRECT? NOT THE COUNTY COMING FOR THEIR

HOUSES? >> CORRECT.

UNDER THE STATUTE IT REQUIRES THAT THAT NOTICE HAVE A STATEMENT THAT FAILURE TO PAY THE ASSESSMENTS CAUSE A LEAN TO BE ISSUED AGAINST THE PROPERTY WHICH COULD RESULT IN LOSS OF TITLE. THAT IS THE VERBIAGE FROM FLORIDA STATUTE.

>> THANK YOU. MY FINAL POINT, I APPRECIATED SAYING SHE DIDN'T KNOW ABOUT THE SERVICES WE COULD OFFER PEOPLE IN HARDSHIP TO MAKE SURE

[05:30:02]

THEY COULD STILL RECEIVE THESE SERVICES.

MY STATEMENT TO NOT ONLY THE GALLERY BUT TO MY FELLOW BOARD MEMBERS, THOSE PROGRAMS WILL BE GUTTED IF WE GO TO THE ROLLBACK RATE BECAUSE WE ARE IN BUDGET TALKS NOW. I HEARD MR. COOK THROW OUT THE ROLLBACK PHRASE AGAIN. THOSE PROGRAMS WILL NOT EXIST ANYMORE. WANT TO PUT THAT OUT THERE ON THE RECORD.

>> SO IF WE REDUCED THE RECYCLE EVERY OTHER WEEK AND LIMIT THE AMOUNT OF YARD WASTE, COULD WE DO ANYTHING THERE? OR ALSO SHORT-TERM RENTAL, CHARGE THEM MORE.

>> SO WE HAVE STARTED THE CONVERSATION ABOUT SHORT- TERM RENTALS.

THEY ARE RESIDENTIAL UNITS NOW, SO THEY ARE RECEIVING THE SAME COST ASSOCIATED IT. I THINK IT'S SOMETHING WE CAN CONTINUE THAT CONVERSATION ABOUT. BUT THE COMMISSION IS CORRECT. REDUCING SERVICE IS THE ONLY WAY TO REDUCE THE COST ASSOCIATED WITH THIS. WHEN WE DID THE POLLS, WE SAW A HIGH LEVEL OF PEOPLE USING RECYCLING IN ST.

JOHNS COUNTY. WE HAVE A HIGH SET OUT RATE. YOU SEE THE BLUE BINS IN A LOT OF NEIGHBORHOODS, ALMOST AT EVERY HOUSE. NOT EVERY HOUSE IN THE COUNTY DOES IT, BUT A LOT OF PEOPLE USE THE RECYCLING.

YARD WASTE YOU HEARD ONE OF THOSE THINGS IT'S OUT OF SIGHT, OUT OF MIND UNTIL YOU NEED IT AND EVERYBODY PUTS EVERYTHING OUT THERE AND WE NEED TO COLLECT THE CUBIC YARDS. THOSE ARE THE WAYS, REDUCING SERVICE LEVELS.

>> EVERY OTHER WEEK FOR THE RECYCLE? WOULD THAT REDUCE IT AT ALL?

>> IT COULD, YES, WE CAN START -- LOOK INTO THAT COST REDUCTION.

AND THEN WE WOULD, YOU KNOW, AS PART OF THIS PROCESS, TAKE A LOOK AT THAT AND REDUCE THE RATE IF POSSIBLE.

>> SO IF WE DIDN'T VOTE ON THIS AND YOU REWORKED SOME OF THIS AND COME BACK IS THAT AN ISSUE? WE'D HAVE TO RENOTICE EVERYONE,

RIGHT? >> I BELIEVE SO.

>> THIS IS THE CEILING. SO THIS IS THE HIGHEST LEVEL THAT WE CAN CHARGE RIGHT NOW. WE CAN ALWAYS COME IN UNDER.

AND DO THAT IF WE ARE ABLE TO LOOK AT IT.

THAT IS A REQUEST THAT, I ASK EVERYBODY FOR A DIFFERENCE IN SERVICE LEVEL.

>> IT'S $21 A MONTH. IT USED TO BE.

IT WILL BE $28 A MONTH?

>> RIGHT NOW 21. 22 FOR THE COLLECTION CONTRACT. IT WILL RAISE UP TO 22 --

>> 22.68. GOING UP $1. 46 A MONTH.

>> OKAY.

>> BUT THAT -- NO, NO, NO. WHAT WE'RE TALKING ABOUT IS THE 5% CONTRACTUAL INCREASE ANNUALLY. THAT'S NOT THE RATE.

>> I JUST HAVE A QUESTION, IF I MAY? ARE WE CONTRACTUALLY OBLIGATED FOR THE NEXT FOUR YEARS TO THE SERVICES LEVEL THAT WE HAVE NOW OR IS THAT NEGOTIABLE?

>> WE HAVE THEM UNDER CONTRACT. I BELIEVE IT'S ALWAYS NEGOTIABLE IF WE SIT DOWN WITH THEM. RIGHT NOW IT'S BASED ON THE SERVICE

LEVELS. >> THAT'S CORRECT.

YOU ARE UNDER A SEVEN-YEAR CONTRACT.

SO YOU WOULD HAVE TO REOPEN THAT CONTRACT TO CHANGE THE LEVEL OF SERVICE.

>> SO WE ARE NO LONGER UNDER THE TERMINATION CONTRACT?

>> NO.

CORRECT. THAT WAS RESCINDED WITH THE SETTLEMENT AGREEMENT IF YOU WERE FROM THE LAST MEETING.

>> THE LAST -- LAST MONTH?

>> CORRECT.

>> COMMISSIONER ARNOLD?

>> YEAH, I WANTED TO SAY AGAIN THAT IT'S GOING TO BE -- IF WE REDUCE THE COST WE ARE LOOKING AT A REDUCTION IN SERVICE AND I CAUTION EVERYBODY THAT'S GOING TO OPEN UP ANOTHER CAN OF WORMS. WE WILL HAVE AN AUDITORIUM FULL OF RESIDENTS UPSET ABOUT THAT AS WELL. WE HAVE TO PICK OUR POISON HERE.

>> I HAVE HAD PEOPLE WHO EXPRESSED ANGER AT THE THOUGHT THAT WE WOULD REDUCE THEIR SERVICES. WHAT WE HEARD A LOT LAST YEAR WHEN FCC CLEARLY DROPPED THE BALL I AM WILLING TO PAY MORE, MAKE SURE THEY PROVIDE THE SERVICE. WE HEARD A LOT OF THAT FROM LITERALLY THOUSANDS OF PEOPLE. AND THEN, OBVIOUSLY, TODAY HERE WE ARE DISCUSSING -- SO ONE WAY OR THE OTHER WE WILL HAVE FOLKS WHO ARE UPSET WITH THE DECISION HERE.

>> WELL, ON THE OPPOSITE OF WHAT COMMISSIONER ARNOLD SAID REGARDING A ROLLBACK, IF WE RAISE THE MONEY HERE, WE ARE GOING TO REALLY NEED TO LOOK AT LOWERING IT SOMEWHERE ELSE BECAUSE IT'S NOT FAIR THAT EVERYTHING GOES.

>> WITH THAT ARE WE BACK AT THE BOARD FOR A MOTION OR NOT A MOTION OR WHAT?

>> MADAM CHAIR, I WOULD BE HAPPY TO MAKE A MOTION. I WANT TO ASK BEFORE I MAKE THE MOTION TO CONFIRM IF WE SET THE MAXIMUM RATES TODAY, WHICH IS WHAT'S IN FRONT OF US, AND WE DECIDE TO MAKE A POLICY DECISION TO REDUCE SERVICES OR AMEND THE SERVICES TO EYE TO FIND REDUCTIONS, IS THAT STILL AN OPTION AFTER WE SET THE MAXIMUM RATE? IS TO NO LONGER AN OPTION?

>> YOU CHANGE THE SERVICE LEVELS, WE HAD RE HAVE TO GO BACK TO THE CONTRACT AND WORK

[05:35:02]

WITH THEM TO NEGOTIATE. I DON'T THINK THAT'S A QUICK TURNAROUND TO WORK WITH OUR PROVIDERS TO GET A BETTER COST AND A CONTRACT TO PROVIDE THOSE

COSTS. >> MISS WEST?

>> THOSE RATES ARE THE MAXIMUM LEVEL RATES. IF YOU RENEGOTIATED, THAT WOULD BE ENCOMPASSED IN THE MAX RATE.

>> WE WOULDN'T HAVE TO NOTICE AGAIN BECAUSE THE -- AS LONG AS IT'S UNDER THE

MAXIMUM RATE? >> CORRECT.

>> ALL RIGHT. WELL, WITH THAT --

>> COULD I ASK ONE MORE QUESTIONS?

>> PLEASE, YEAH.

>> IF -- IS THERE A WAY TO NOTIFY -- SO IF WE -- WE AGREE TO THIS, CAN WE NOTIFY WITHIN A CERTAIN PERIOD IF YOU REWORK THE NUMBERS OR HAVE DONE SOMETHING BETTER A YEAR FROM NOW OR SIX MONTHS FROM NOW OR AT THE END OF THE YEAR?

>> YES.

>> I MEAN, I -- BECAUSE THIS IS ONE OF THOSE THINGS WHERE IT'S QUIET, NOBODY HEARS ABOUT IT.

THEN AS ONE OF THE OTHER PEOPLE SAID, THEY DIDN'T HEAR THIS, YOU

KNOW, I MEAN -- >> AND COMMISSIONER, I WILL LET YOU KNOW, WE ARE WORKING THE NUMBERS EVERY DAY, WORKING WITH FCC AND WASTE MANAGEMENT AS WELL AS OUR TRANSFER STATIONS AND OUTREACH PROGRAMS DOING WHAT WE DO TO MAKE SURE OUR FUNDS ARE DISBURSED APPROPRIATELY AT A REDUCED COST TO THE COUNTY.

>> OKAY. I AM GOING TO MOVE TO DIRECT STAFF TO INCLUDE THE MAXIMUM RATES PRESENT FORD FISCAL YEAR 2026 IN THE SOLID WASTE ANNUAL ASSESSMENT RESOLUTION.

>> SECOND.

. WE HAVE A MOTION AND A SECOND.

PLEASE VOTE.

>> THAT PASSES UNANIMOUSLY 5-0.

[8. Ordinance repealing Ordinance 2014-29 - West Augustine CRA Nuisance Abatement Board. On July 15, 2014, the Board of County Commissioners of St. Johns County, Florida enacted Ordinance No. 2014-29 addressing nuisance and abatement within the West Augustine community redevelopment area and establishing the West Augustine CRA Nuisance Abatement Board pursuant to section 893.138, Florida Statutes. Since establishing the Board it has not been utilized; therefore, the Board of County Commissioners has determined that the Nuisance Abatement Board is no longer necessary or effective for achieving the purposes for which it was established.]

>> THANK YOU.

AGENDA ITEM NUMBER 8. KEELEY.

>> GOOD AFTERNOON. THIS÷÷ IS AGENDA ITEM NUMBER 8, REEL PEELING THE WEST AUGUST CRA NOOSE SENSE ABATEMENT BOARD.

A FEW MONTHS BACK WE WERE GIVEN DIRECTION TO FIGURE OUT WHAT ONE COULD BE SUNSET.

THE WEST AUGUST CRA NUISANCE ABATEMENT BOARD WAS FORMED IN 2014 AFTER THE ORGANIZATIONAL MEETING IT DIDN'T MEET THAT OFFICE -- AND OFTEN HAD TROUBLE REACHING QUORUM.

THERE IS AN AUTOMATIC BACKUP IN THE COUNTY AND ANY NUISANCE PROBLEMS WOULD GO THROUGH CODE ENFORCEMENT AND THE SPECIAL MAGISTRATE. THIS IS A FIRST READING. THERE IS NO ACTION REQUIRED. I AM AVAILABLE FOR QUESTIONS IF YOU HAVE ANY.

>> COULD YOU EXPLAIN THAT A LITTLE MORE?

>> SURE.

>> THANK YOU.

>> WHAT PART WOULD YOU LIKE ME TO EXPLAIN?

>> SO THE BOARD EXISTS TO HEAR NUISANCE COMPLAINTS WITHIN THE WEST AUGUST CRA. THERE HAS NOT BEEN ANY CASES BROUGHT BEFORE THAT BOARD, SO WHEN YOU HAVE A BOARD THAT DOESN'T FUNCTION AS DESIGNED YOU CAN SUNSET IT AND SO THIS IS JUST A PROVISION THAT ALLOWS THE BOARD TO SUNSET, IT WOULD GO AWAY. AS I STATED, IF THERE ARE ISSUES REGARDING NUISANCE OR ANYTHING THAT NEEDS TO BE BAITED WITHIN THE WEST AUGUST AREA, YOU STILL HAVE THE CODE ENFORCEMENT AND THE SPECIAL MAGISTRATE PROCEEDINGS.

>> COMMISSIONER ARNOLD.

>> THANK YOU, MADAM CHAIR. I WANT TO POINT OUT THAT THE REASON WE'RE HAVING TO SUNSET THE BOARD IS BECAUSE OF THE ABSOLUTELY FANTASTIC JOB THAT HAS BEEN DONE IN THEIR COMMUNITY BY THE WEST AUGUST CRA AND BY MISS -- THERE IN THE BACK. SO THANK YOU, MA'AM.

YOU WORKED YOURSELF OUT OF A JOB.

[9. Public Hearing * Second Reading - Proposed Amendments to the Land Development Code - Tree Ordinance. On July 22, 2025, BCC proposed no changes during the first reading of the proposed changes. Updated staff report includes a short summary of BCC and PZA hearings, inclusive of a new attachment reporting a summary of PZA commentary from June 21, 2025.]

>> ALL RIGHT. THANK YOU. NUMBER 9.

>> GOOD AFTERNOON.

>> DAVID HENNING WITH INSPIRED PLACEMENT AND COLLECTIVE.

I'M HERE TO BRING FOR THE SECOND READING THE TREE REGULATION ADJUSTMENTS FOR YOUR REVIEW. LOOKING TO THE OVERALL PROJECT BACKGROUND, THIS GOES BACK TO 2023 WHEN THE BOARD OF MINISTERS PROVIDED A LIST OF 14 GOALS. THAT HAS BEEN BROUGHT FORWARD INCLUDING DIRECTION TO CONSIDER IT AS PART OF THE COMPREHENSIVE PLAN, DIRECTION GIVEN TO US, INSPIRE ARE, TO SAY SEMABLE IDEAS AND SOLUTIONS AND RED LINE CHANGES AS WELL AS WE SHOWED THOSE PROPOSED CHANGES SPECIFIC DIRECTION HAS TO WHICH TO MOVE FORWARD WITH AND HOW TO MOVE FORWARD WITH THEM.

I HAVE WITH ME THE SUMMARY OF THE THREE ACTIONS THAT ARE STILL ON THE TABLE. AND AFTER THAT A SLIDE FOR YOUR DISCUSSION IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO GO INTO IN FURTHER DEPTH ANY OF THE MATERIALS WE

[05:40:03]

HAVE HAD FOR YOU BEFORE, INCLUDING THE RED LINES THEMSELVES. WE HAVE THAT AS A RESOURCE AS FOLLOWING THE SLIDES THAT FOLLOW THAT.

THE FIRST ACTION IS STANDARDIZED SPECIMEN TREE MEASUREMENT AN UPDATE FROM MEASURING DIFFERENT ASPECTS OF THE TREE. INTO MEASURING INSTEAD THE DIME STER OF HEIGHT. THERE IS A REFERENCE TABLE FOR SPECIFIC SPECIES AND THAT IS SCALED TO THE CURRENT STANDARDS AND PERCENTAGES THAT ARE A PART OF THE KIND OF MORE COMPLICATED MEASUREMENT. THE SECOND ACTION IS A TREE BANK FUND INCREASE. WHEN PLANTINGS ARE -- WHEN A PLAN FOR REPLANTINGS COMES IN, SOMETIMES A DEVELOPMENT HAS A DEFICIENCY IS IN WHAT IS REQUIRED. SO THE INCREASES FROM 25 DER PER INCH DEFICIENCY TO $100 PER INCH DEFICIENCY. THE THIRD ITEM DEALS WITH UPHAND PRESERVATION PERCENTAGE SPECIFICALLY WITHIN NEW PLANNED DEVELOPMENTS THAT ARE 40 ACRES OR LARGER AND WOULD INCREASE THE PERCENTAGE OF PRESERVED UPLAND FROM 5% TO 10%.

AS I DISCUSSED, ALL OF THE RED LINE SLIDES ARE AVAILABLE FROM THE PREVIOUS PRESENTATION IF YOU'D LIKE US TO GO THROUGH ANY

OF THEM. >> PUBLIC COMMENT?

>> THANK YOU. WE WILL NOW HEAR PUBLIC COMMENT ON AGENDA ITEM NUMBER 9.

>> HI, I'M -- ST. AUGUSTINE, FLORIDA.