Oct 27, 2025 St. Johns County Legislative Delegation Meeting and Public Forum

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>>> ALL RIGHT FOLKS WE'RE GOING TO GO AHEAD AND GET STARTED IF

[A. Invocation ]

>> GOOD MORNING, PHILIPPIANS CHAPTER 4 VERSE 11 THE BIBLE SAYS THIS SPEAK IN RESPECT OF ONE FOR WHAT I HAVE LEARNED FOR SERVICE I AM TO BE CONTENT I KNOW BE BASED AND HOW TO ABOUND EVERYWHERE AT ALL THINGS INSTRUCTED TO BE FULL AND TO BE HUNGRY BOTH TO ABOUND TO SUFFER NEED, I CAN DO ALL THINGS THROUGH CHRIST WHICH STRENGTHENS ME. IF YOU KNOW ME VERY WELL I HAVE SERVED MY WHOLE LIFE AN EXPENSE AHEAD 15 YEARS AGO WE HAD A HURRICANE SWELL AND I PADDLED OUT WITH MY KIDS AS A WENT UNDERNEATH ONE WAVE MY FOOT SNAPPED OFF AND I WATCHED MY BOARD GO TWO FOOTBALL FIELDS INTO THE SHORE. I TOLD MYSELF NO PROBLEM I WILL SWIM IT AT THE BEGINNING I REALIZED I WAS IN A RIP CURRENT AND ABOUT THAT RIP CURRENT WOULD NOT ALLOW ME TO GET IN SO I KNEW WHAT TO DO PEDALING NORTH OR SOUTH I TRIED BOTH AS I PADDLED NORTH I NOTICED A YOUNG MAN FROM AESCHYLUS SAID HEY DEPUTY WHY ARE YOU SWIMMING OUT HERE? I SAID I'M NOT SWIMMING I'M SURFING BUT I LOST MY BOARD DO YOU NEED HELP AND I SAID NO I KNOW WHAT TO DO HERE. AS I GOT CLOSER I STARTED TO SWIM IN AGAIN AND GUESS WHAT I WAS CAUGHT IN? ANOTHER RECORD SO I PADDLED BACK PAST THE YOUNG MEN AND HE SAID DO YOU NEED HELP? NO NO NO I'M FINE I MADE IT PAST HIM AND AGAIN TO TRY TO GO IN AND I GOT CAUGHT IN ANOTHER RIP CURRENT HE SAID ARE YOU SURE YOU DON'T NEED HELP AND I SAID YES I NEED HELP. HE PADDLED UP I GOT A HOLD OF THE BOARD WE CAUGHT A LARGE WAVE AND GOT TO SHORE BOTH STRANGE HE SAID IS THIS YOUR BOARD HE SAID WHAT IS A RADIAL NUMBER I WANT TO TELL EVERYBODY? I SAID NO NO NO. I WENT BACK OUT SURFING BUT AS A WENT TO GET THE LEASE THE LORD SPOKE TO ME AND SAID THAT'S WHAT LIFE IS LIKE WITHOUT ME, KEEP TRYING TO DO ALL YOU WANT TO DO BUT YOU CANNOT DO IT WITHOUT ME I CAN DO ALL THINGS WITH CHRIST. LET US PRAY. WE THANK YOU FOR THIS DAY, WE THANK YOU FOR A FRIEND TO HELP US TO SHORE. MORE IMPORTANTLY WE THANK YOU FOR JESUS THAT YOU DIED ON THE CROSS AND ROSE FROM THE DEAD TO GIVE ETERNAL LIFE AND LIFE MORE ABUNDANTLY WE PRAY PRAY FOR ALL THE DELEGATES ALL ELECTED OFFICIALS PRAY FOR EVERYONE IN THE ROOM AND THE POSITIONS YOU HAVE GIVEN TO DO GREAT AND MARVELOUS THINGS WE KNOW WE CAN DO NOTHING BY OURSELVES WITH MAN THINGS ARE POSSIBLE BUT WITH GOD ALL THINGS ARE POSSIBLE I PRAY YOU FOR AUTHORITY ABOVE US SO WE PRAY FOR THEM TODAY, GIVE THEM WISDOM, YOUR WORD TO PRAY FOR THEM SO WE CAN LIVE PEACEFUL LIVES, GIVE THEM WISDOM YOU WON'T HOLD IT BACK FROM US SO WE PRAY YOU GIVE EVERYONE WISDOM TODAY. PRAY TO THE SAME POSITION UPON OUR NEEDS BEFORE YOU WE THANK YOU FOR THIS AND AGAIN I PRAY SPECIAL BLESSING UPON EVERYBODY ALL ELECTED OFFICIALS LET IT BE TRUTH, GIVE THEM THE BREASTPLATE OF RIGHTEOUS AND THE HELMET OF SALVATION, LIVING THEIR LIFE ATTITUDES AND ACTIONS AND ABOVE ALL SHOW OF FAITH PROTECTING FROM THE EVIL WE THANK YOU FOR THIS WE LOVE YOU AND PRAISE YOUR IN JESUS CHRIST NAME AMEN.

>> THANK YOU DEPUTY. LEADING US TODAY IN THE PLEDGE IS BILL DUDLEY LIEUTENANT COLONEL UNITED STATES AIR FORCE.

>> EVERYONE PLEASE FACE THE FLAG OF OUR NATION AND FOLLOW ME IN THE PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE I PLEDGE ALLEGIANCE TO THE FLAG OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA AND TO THE REPUBLIC FOR WHICH IT STANDS ONE NATION UNDER GOD INDIVISIBLE WITH LIBERTY AND

JUSTICE FOR ALL. >> THANK YOU MR. DUDLEY GOOD TO

SEE YOU AGAIN. >> DANIELLE PLEASE CALL THE ROLL.

>> SENATOR TOM LEEK HERE REPRESENTATIVE SAPP HERE REPRESENTATIVE GRECO HERE REPRESENTATIVE KENDALL THE

[D. Opening Remarks/Announcements]

QUORUM IS PRESENT. >> STARTING WITH OPENING COMMENTS. MY NAME IS TOM LEEK GOING INTO MY SECOND SESSION AS

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IT REALLY REALLY WAS AN EXCELLENT SESSION. NOW I WANT TO GIVE YOU A LITTLE BIT OF INSTRUCTION, IF I COULD. AS YOU GUYS COME HERE IF YOU'RE GOING TO ASK FOR MONEY MAKE SURE YOU TELL ME , MAKES YOU TELL US HERE WITH THE PROJECT IS NOT ONLY JUST DEFINE IT, BUT YOU HAVE TO HAVE SOME SKIN IN THE GAME, TELL US WHAT YOUR CONTRIBUTION WILL BE TO THE PROJECT AND MY RULES I LIKE TO SEE 50% DON'T COME TO THE STATE TO FUND, COME TO THE STATE TO HELP COMPLETE SO A RULE OF THUMB. NOT HARD AND FAST BUT 50% TELL US WITH THE CONTRIBUTION WILL BE AS YOU TELL US ABOUT YOUR PROJECT. SECONDLY I KNOW WE HAVE A LOT OF PEOPLE HERE TODAY WITH PEOPLE COMING INTO SPEAK SO WE HAVE INTENDED TO GIVE EVERYONE THREE MINUTES WE'RE GOING TO HAVE A STRUGGLE TO GIVE EVERYONE THREE MINUTES AND GET DONE ON TIME. IF YOU WERE HERE WITH A BUNCH OF PEOPLE ON THE SAME ISSUE I WOULD RECOMMEND YOU CONSOLIDATE. BECAUSE OTHERWISE WE HAVE TO PARE DOWN TO ONE MINUTE AND NOBODY WILL GET A FAIR OPPORTUNITY TO EXPLAIN THEIR ISSUE OR NOT TALK AT ALL.BE COURTEOUS TO THE PEOPLE BEHIND YOU IN SPEAKING, DO NOT STAND UP AND SAY THE SAME THING SOMEONE ELSE SAID, GET TOGETHER CONSOLIDATE YOUR EFFORTS THAT WOULD BE GREAT OTHERWISE WE WILL START TO CUT DOWN AS WE RUN OUT OF TIME AND SOME PEOPLE MAY GET

[E. Introduction of Delegation Members ]

>> GOOD MORNING THANK YOU I WANT TO DUPLICATE EXACTLY WHAT THE SENATOR SAID IT HAS BEEN A BLESSING TO WORK WITH THE DELEGATION, WE HAVE WORKED HARD AND WELL TOGETHER. I AM YOUR NORTHERN ST. JOHNS COUNTY HOUSE DISTRICT 18 STATE REP I WOULD LIKE TO INTRODUCE OUR LEGISLATIVE AIDE AND DISTRICT 8, A COMBO POSITION, WE HAVE A VIRTUAL OFFICE SO THAT MEANS WE WILL MEET YOU WHEREVER WE NEED TO MEET YOUR. IF YOU HAVE ISSUES THAT COME UP PLEASE MAKE SURE YOU GET TO ONE OF US THIS IS JUST THE BEGINNING OF THE CONVERSATION, WE WANT TO MAKE SURE WE KNOW WHAT YOUR ISSUES ARE. THANK YOU SO MUCH.

>> I AM JUDSON SAPP JUST TO GIVE YOU AN IDEA IT TAKES US FIVE AND HALF HOURS ROUND-TRIP TO VISIT SOMEBODY AND COME BACK SO WE DO A LOT OF IN PERSON MEETINGS, OFFICE MEETINGS, OFFICES SPREAD OUT TO THE DISTRICT AND I LIKE TO INTRODUCE QUICKLY MY STAFF IS HERE, I HAVE APPROPRIATIONS, IF YOU HAVE A CONSTITUENT ISSUE TAMMY IS YOUR POINT, SODAY FROM CLAY COUNTY A WILL BE HERE SOON AND SHE'S ANOTHER ONE OF MY DISTRICT 8. THIS IS A GREAT TEAM UP HERE, WE WORK INCREDIBLY WELL TOGETHER AND NONE OF US HAS AN EGO WE ALL TRY TO DO WHAT'S BEST FOR THE DISTRICT NOT WHAT'S BEST FOR US AND IT WORKS AMAZINGLY WELL WHEN WE WORK AS A TEAM AND I WANT TO THANK TEAMMATES THAT ELECTED OFFICIALS AND REPRESENTATIVES OF DIFFERENT ORGANIZATIONS YOU MAKE OUR LIVES EASIER HELPING US WORK

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SOME OF MY BEST BILLS CAME FROM COMMITTEES AND HONESTLY ONE OF MY BEST APPROPRIATIONS CAME FROM A COMMITTEE AND THE PERSON THOUGHT NONE OF US HEARD THEM BUT LUCKILY WE HAD THE CONTACT INFORMATION WE JUST OFTEN DO NOT ASK QUESTIONS HERE BECAUSE WE'RE TRYING TO GET THROUGH IT TO GET EVERYBODY BUT THAT DOES NOT MEAN YOU WON'T BE ASKED QUESTIONS LETTER. I APPRECIATE YOUR HELP GETTING THROUGH THIS BECAUSE WE DO HAVE A BUSY SCHEDULE. THANK YOU SO MUCH AND THANK YOU FOR THE TEAM.

>> THANK YOU SENATOR AND THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE TODAY. IT IS AN HONOR TO GET TO WORK WITH THIS TEAM OF FOLKS UP HERE, SENATOR LEEK MENTIONED WE ARE BRAND-NEW IN THE POSITION LAST YEAR AND THAT COULD OF BEEN A CHALLENGE WE ROSE TO THE OCCASION. I WANT TO MAKE SURE I NOTE FOR MY PART WE CANNOT ENCOMPASS THAT WITHOUT HIS LEADERSHIP AND GUIDANCE AND APPRECIATE YOUR LEADERSHIP TODAY AND THROUGHOUT THE YEAR WE HAVE A FANTASTIC TEAM REPRESENTING ST. JOHNS COUNTY. THE BEST INFORMATION I HAVE ABOUT WHAT I NEED TO BE DOING IN TALLAHASSEE COMES FROM YOU ALL FROM THE FOLKS ENGAGED IN THE COMMUNITY LOCAL ELECTED, IF YOU'RE IN COMMUNITY SERVICE ORGANIZATIONS OR OTHERWISE THIS IS THE BEST SOURCE OF INFORMATION I HAVE AND I CANNOT WAIT TO HEAR WHAT IS ON YOUR MIND AND WHAT WE CAN WORK ON FOR YOUR. MY TEAM OVER HERE THE OPPORTUNITY TO TALK ABOUT TODAY OR YOU WANT TO FOLLOW UP IN THE FUTURE PLEASE FEEL FREE TO REACH OUT AND THANK YOU FOR THE HONOR TO REPRESENT ST. JOHNS COUNTY AND THE FLORIDA HOUSE OF

REPRESENTATIVES. >> THANK YOU WE'RE DISCUSSING WE HAVE 66 PEOPLE SIGNED UP WITH ANOTHER TWO OR THREE THAT HAVE COME IN SINCE. IF WE DON'T HAVE ENOUGH TIME TO GET THERE EVERYBODY AGAIN I ENCOURAGE YOU TO CONSOLIDATE YOUR TIME. I WOULD LIKE TO INTRODUCE YOU TO MY STAFF. WE HAVE FOUR WE HAVE NAME ] WHO KEEPS THE TRAINS RUNNING ON TIME, WE HAVE ] WHO HANDLES APPROPRIATIONS OF THE POLICY CONSTITUENT SERVICES, NAME ] HANDLES THE POLICY ASPECTS FOR WHEN WE ARE IN TALLAHASSEE BASICALLY WE ARE IN THE CONSTITUENT SERVICES TEAM.

[F. Speakers]

>> GOOD MORNING ON BEHALF OF THE ENTIRE BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS LIKE TO WELCOME THE LEGISLATIVE DELEGATION CHAIR SENATOR TOM LEEK, VICE REPRESENTATIVE JUDSON SAPP , REPRESENTATIVE GRECO AND REPRESENTATIVE KIM KENDALL. I WANT TO WELCOME THE COMMUNITY AND STAKEHOLDERS IN ST. JOHN'S ÚCOUNTY IN THE AUDITORIUM AND WATCHING REMOTELY WE ARE SO PROUD AND GRATEFUL TO HAVE SO MANY TALENTED PEOPLE IN ONE ROOM, WE LIVE, WORK AND PLAY AND REPRESENT CITIZENS OF ST.

JOHN'S COUNTY TOGETHER. LAST WEEK THE BOARD DISCUSSED LEGISLATIVE ACTION PLAN AND MOVE FORWARD TO BRING TO YOU THEIR WISHES, COUNTY SEEKS YOUR SUPPORT AND COURSE FUNDING FIRST ON THE LIST IS INTERSECTION WE NEED TO STOP SITTING IN TRAFFIC FOR THE REST OF OUR LIVES. ROADS LIKE STATE WAS 16 AND COUNTY ROAD 16 A AND THE INTERNATIONAL GULF PARKWAY AND 95 RAMP ARE EXAMPLES OF WHAT WE ARE LOOKING FOR WITH THIS FUNDING ENHANCING THE SAFETY, MOBILITY AND ECONOMIC COMPETITIVENESS FOR ST.

JOHNS COUNTY AND WE ARE WILLING TO WORK WITH YOU ON THOSE THINGS. ONGOING SUPPORT FOR THE BLACK HISTORY MUSEUM PLANNING DESIGN AND CONSTRUCTION OF THE CAMPUS THANK YOU WE APPRECIATE YOU LEADING THE WAY ON THIS INITIATIVE. DEAR TO MY HEART PRIORITIZED FUNDING FOR THE RURAL AND FAMILY LAND PROTECTION PROGRAM AND AGRICULTURE CONSERVATION EASEMENT TO PRESERVE GENERATIONAL FAMILY FARMS. SO IMPORTANT BECAUSE IT IS A FOOD SOURCE FOR THE COUNTY AS WELL AS REALLY THE COUNTRY AND I WOULD LIKE TO CALL ATTENTION TO SB 180 AND I REALIZED YOU PASSED WITH MAJORITY IT IS A GOOD BILL FOR THOSE INDIVIDUALS IMPACTED BY THE HURRICANE WHO NEED TO REBUILD THEIR HOME AND IT'S JUST NOT SOMETHING THAT SHOULD BE TAKEN LARGER THAN FOR THOSE INDIVIDUALS. IT IS VERY UNPOPULAR HERE WITH THEIR CONSTITUENTS AND I'M HOPING AND I WOULD LIKE YOU TO CONSIDER A GLITCH BILL SO WE CAN KEEP OUR

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>> CHAIR JOSEPH THANK YOU VERY MUCH. A LOT OF YOUR HERE TO TALK ABOUT SENATE BILL 180. IN DISCUSSIONS WITH THE BILL SPONSOR THE BILL SPONSOR HAS AGREED TO COME BACK THIS YEAR AND MAKE SOME CHANGES. I CAN'T TELL YOU WHAT THEY WILL LOOK LIKE BECAUSE IT IS COLLABORATIVE NEGOTIATING BUT THERE WILL BE SOME CHANGES TO THE BILL I FULLY EXPECT AT LEAST THAT'S WHAT I'M PUSHING FOR. WITH THAT WE WILL MOVE ON TO THE NEXT SPEAKER

AGAIN. >> GOOD MORNING. IN THE INTEREST OF BRIEF NEWS I WILL MOVE QUICKLY THROUGH THIS. I HAVE GIVEN YOU HAND FLYERS . THE CITY OF SAINT AUGUSTINE THANKS YOU AGAIN FOR YOUR ROLE IN THE PAST SUCCESSFUL ONGOING PRIORITY TO CONVERT WEST AUGUSTINE RESIDENTIAL SEPTIC TANKS TO SANITARY SEWER SERVICE. THIS BUDGET YOUR REQUEST $1 MILLION FOR ASSISTANCE TO DONATE MORE SEPTIC TANKS AND ADD NEW CONNECTIONS TO THAT SYSTEM TO DATE WE HAVE INVESTED 2.5 MILLION PEOPLE WERE ASKING FOR MATCHED DOLLARS AND WE CAN PARE THAT DOWN A LITTLE BIT BETTER THAT IS MY SPIT ALL TO GIVE YOU.

OTHER ITEMS WE ARE SEEKING SUPPORT FOR REMAIN PRIORITIES OF COURSE HOMELESS SERVICES SINCE 2022 WE ACQUIRED A PROPERTY AND A LAND SWAP, WE HAVE INVESTED OVER HALF $1 MILLION IN THAT PROPERTY INCLUDING ARCHITECTURAL DESIGN PAVILION PROPERTY IMPROVEMENTS UTILITY CONNECTIONS AND IT IS GOING TO SERVE AS A HOMELESS DROP-IN CENTER, A DAY CENTER WE WERE ASKING FOR $1 MILLION TO HELP CONTINUE BUILDING FACILITIES. WE HAVE THE LAND INVESTED PLUS THE CASH, TRANSPORTATION AND RESILIENCY IMPROVEMENTS, WE WERE HAPPY TO GET THE MONEY LAST YEAR TO HELP US MOVE RELOCATE THE FIRE STATION AND CREATE A NEW RESILIENT FUND AND WE WILL CONTINUE TO ASK FOR $2 MILLION FOR THAT , WE HAVE INVESTED $4 MILLION IN ACQUIRING THE PROPERTY ON THAT. SOMETHING NEW SENATE BILL 64 IT IS A MANDATE THAT ALL DOMESTIC WASTEWATER FACILITIES ELIMINATE NON-BENEFICIAL SERVICE WATER DISCHARGE FOR RECLAIMED OR TREATED WASTEWATER BY JANUARY 1, 2032. WE NEED ABOUT $1 MILLION, WE DON'T HAVE A MATCH AT THIS POINT WE WILL BUT WE NEED TO LOOK INTO SOME PRELIMINARY DESIGN WORK TO MEET THE MANDATE AND THIS IS CRITICALLY IMPORTANT AS SENEGAL 64 , YOU WILL HEAR MORE FROM US ON THAT. WE ARE VERY CONCERNED ABOUT THE ELIMINATION OF PROPERTY TAXES AS REVENUE AND I SEE THE SMILE, IT IS DIFFICULT BUT WE APPRECIATE BEING ABLE TO STAY IN COMMUNICATION WITH YOU AS THAT UNFOLDS AND DEVELOPS WE WILL BE IN TOUCH WITH YOU ON THAT AND AGAIN WE ALWAYS APPRECIATE THE OPPORTUNITY TO BE PART OF THE PROCESS ALONG WITH YOU AS YOUR PARTNERS AND WE ARE HERE TO ASSIST YOU IN ANY WAY WE CAN DURING SESSION OR ANYTIME DURING THE YEAR. THANK YOU.

>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH, PROPERTY TAX IS A BIG ISSUE. THE HOUSE PUT OUT EIGHT PROPOSALS SEVEN OR EIGHT DIFFERENT PROPOSALS THOSE OF YOU INVOLVED IN LOCAL GOVERNMENTS PLEASE TAKE A LOOK AND GIVE US YOUR FEEDBACK. CANNOT TELL YOU HOW THAT LANDS BUT IT APPEARS IT IS TAKING OFF. LET'S KEEP IN TOUCH AND KEEP US INFORMED MEMBERS YOU GUYS JUMPING ANYTIME YOU HAVE SOMETHING. WE WILL KEEP OUR COMMENTS LIMITED SO WE CAN SAVE THE MOST TIME TO HEAR FROM YOU ALL. VICE MAYOR

SAINT AUGUSTINE BEACH. >> GOOD MORNING , THANK YOU FOR HAVING US. THINGS ARE GOING WELL AT THE BEACH, THE MAYOR SENDS

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IN ORDER TO BE AN EQUAL PLAYER IN THIS THE CITY IMPLEMENTED A STORMWATER UTILITY LAST YEAR SO WE HAVE SOME STAKE IN THE GAME SO WE CAN HELP MATCH SOME OF THE FUNDS. WE HAVE THREE MAIN PROJECTS WE ARE ASKING FOR YOUR ASSISTANCE FOR TODAY AND I WANT TO THANK YOU FOR YOUR PAST SUPPORT , LAST YEAR YOU HELPED US GET UNDER $1 MILLION TO HELP IN THE AREA SO WE WANT TO SINCERELY THANK YOU FOR THAT OUR FIRST PROJECT IS $2.9 MILLION, FOR THE NORTH RESILIENCY ADAPTATION IMPROVEMENTS , THESE FUNDS WOULD BE USED TO STABILIZE 1200 FEET OF THE OUTFALL WHICH HELPS MINIMIZE UPSTREAM FLOODING RISK TO RESIDENTS AND IT IS VITAL TO CAN BRING STORMWATER RUNOFF AWAY FROM THE CITY AND THE COAST. THE SECOND PART IS THE PARTNER PROJECT. ADAPTATION AND RESILIENCY IMPROVEMENTS FOR THE SOUTH OUTFALL THE PROJECT TOTALS 5.5 MILLION USED TO STABILIZE 2600 FEET OF THE OUTFALL AGAIN ESSENTIAL FOR CONVEYING STORMWATER RUNOFF AWAY FROM THE CITY. THE THIRD PROJECT IS $2.7 MILLION TO ASSIST WITH OUR OUTFALL, FOR IMPROVEMENTS TO THAT PROJECT THIS IS A SINGLE DRAINAGE DISCHARGE CANAL AND THE FUNDS WOULD BE USED TO CONSTRUCT APPROXIMATELY 631 FEET A RETAINING WALL TO STABILIZE THE OUTFALL OF THE SOUTH BANK. SO WE WILL OF COURSE BE GETTING ADDITIONAL INFORMATION TO YOU ON THESE PROJECTS AND WE THANK YOU FOR YOUR SUPPORT AND FOR THE WORK YOU DO FOR THE COMMUNITY.

>> NEXT UP WE HAVE

SCHOOLS. >> THANK YOU VERY MUCH, GOOD TO SEE YOU THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE ALLOWING US TO SPEAK. THANK YOU FOR THE SUPPORT TO THE SCHOOL SYSTEM. ST. JOHNS COUNTY SCHOOL SYSTEM IS DOING GREAT AND MOVING ALONG GROWING LIKE CRAZY BUT THINGS ARE GOING REALLY WELL. I HAVE FIVE DIFFERENT ITEMS I WANTED TO BRING TO YOUR ATTENTION THIS MORNING VERY QUICKLY. THERE IS ONLY ONE ASKING FOR DOLLARS. FIRST OF ALL THE HARM PREVENTION AND THREAT MANAGEMENT EXPANSION. RIGHT NOW WE HAVE IN OUR STATE HARM PREVENTION AND THREAT MANAGEMENT TOOLS UTILIZED IN THE DISTRICT WITH STUDENTS FROM SCHOOL TO SCHOOL SO ADMINISTRATION KNOWS IF THERE IS A STUDENT THAT HAS A THREATENING BACKGROUND SOMEONE AND SO FORTH. WE THINK THE GREAT IDEA WOULD BE TO EXPAND TO PRIVATE SCHOOLS AS WELL NOW WE HAVE STUDENTS COMING IN PRIVATE SCHOOLS OURS ARE GOING THERE AND SO ON AND SO FORTH SO IT WOULD BE GREAT TO EXPAND SO WE HAVE THE INFORMATION WE NEED WHEN A STUDENT ENROLLS AND THEY HAVE INFORMATION THEY NEED SO THEY CAN PROPERLY SERVE THE STUDENTS.

TEACHER CERTIFICATION MODIFICATION KNOWS WE HAVE 3500 TEACHERS, 1/3 ARE IN THEIR SECOND CAREER SO WE HAVE HIRED THEM AND ALSO VETERANS AND WE DO PROVIDE TRAINING FOR THEM AND THEY GO THROUGH A PROCESS TO THE PROGRAM AND SO FORTH AND THERE ARE STATE REQUIREMENTS WITH THE CERTIFICATION AND READING CERTIFICATION AND THAT IS SOMETHING THAT CAN BE A LITTLE BIT OVERWHELMING FOR NEW FOLKS COMING IN. NOT SAYING THEY SHOULDN'T HAVE THAT OR WATER IT DOWN BUT WE NEED TO LIVE THE TIMING AND MAKE SURE PEOPLE ARE GETTING OVERWHELMED AND LEAVING US AFTER WE HAVE RECRUITED THEM WE'RE TRYING TO RETAIN THEM SO LITTLE HELP WITH THAT AND REGULATIONS BEHIND THAT WOULD HELP US AND WE WOULD BE GLAD TO SIT DOWN AND TALK TO THAT SO WE CAN FIGURE OUT THE BEST WAY TO HELP OUR TEACHERS WITH THAT.

ALSO OUR MATRIX WITH COST FACTORS WE HAVE MANY MANY STUDENTS COMING INTO ST. JOHNS COUNTY. WE HAVE 9500 OF THE 51,000 STUDENTS ON IEP'S AND SOME OF THE ESC SERVICES NEEDED ARE COMPLEX GETTING MORE COMPLEX SO WE CAN LOOK AT THE MATRIX AGAIN TO SEE FUNDING PROPERLY FUNDING STUDENTS AS THEY COME IN THAT WOULD BE APPRECIATED. 18% ARE STUDENTS WITH DISABILITIES.

NATIONWIDE IS 9%. 30 SECONDS. NEXT I WOULD LIKE TO SAY THE ADVANCED DEGREE SUPPLEMENT RECOGNITION LOOKING AT THAT, IF YOUR FLORIDA CERTIFICATION IN MATH AND YOU GET YOUR MASTERS IN CURRICULUM YOU WILL NOT GET RECOGNITION BECAUSE IT'S NOT IN

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TRYING TO HELP WITH THAT. >> NEXT UP WE HAVE DR. MELANIE BROWN FROM ST. JOHN'S RIVER STATE COLLEGE. DR. BROWN.

>> GOOD MORNING AND THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE TODAY THOUGH I AM OBVIOUSLY NOT OUR PRESIDENT ON HIS BEHALF I THANK YOU FOR ALLOWING US TIME TO SPEAK I AM ST. JOHN'S RIVER STATE COLLEGE SENIOR VICE PRESIDENT AND CHIEF OPERATING OFFICER, PRESIDENT PICKENS ENJOYS THE DAY AND WOULD BE HERE HIMSELF IF NOT FOR A UNEXPECTED FAMILY EMERGENCY, ST. JOHN'S RIVER STATE COLLEGE IS ONE OF THE 28 IN THE FLORIDA COLLEGE SYSTEM AND THE DISTRICT INCLUDE ST. JOHN'S, CLAY AND PUTNAM COUNTIES. WHILE THE ENTIRE SYSTEM HAS BEEN EXPENSING STEADY GROWTH SJR GROWTH EXCEEDS OUR PEERS AND HAS REPEATEDLY BEEN IN DOUBLE DIGITS, THE GROWTH CAN BE ATTRIBUTED TO NEW CREDIT AND NONCREDIT PROGRAMS INCLUDING ASSOCIATE PROGRAMS LEADING TO HIGH WAGE HIGH DEMAND CAREERS IN ADDITION TO THE PROGRAM GROWTH MUCH OF THIS GROWTH HAS BEEN IN DUAL ENROLLMENT AND WE VALUE PARTNERSHIP AT THE SCHOOL DISTRICT AS THIS PROGRAM TOGETHER WE STRIDE TO PROVIDE FAMILIES WITH ACCESS TO HIGH-QUALITY NO COST HIGHER EDUCATION. WE RECOGNIZE AND APPRECIATE ATTENTION PAID AND OUR PHYSICAL NEEDS BY YOU AND YOUR COLLEAGUES IN RECENT YEARS THEY DO NOT COME TODAY WITH A SPECIFIC ASK HOWEVER AS COMMUNITY CONTINUES TO GROW WE AT THE COLLEGE ARE STRIVING TO GROW WITH IT. WE RECOGNIZE THE NEED FOR COLLEGE FOOTPRINT TO EXPAND BEYOND THE CURRENT THREE CAMPUSES AND INTEND TO ADDRESS THAT IN THE NOT SO DISTANT FUTURE. BEFORE I CLOSE I PROMISED PRESIDENT PICKENS I WOULD CONTINUE HIS LONG-STANDING TRADITION OF GIVING A SHADOW OF SUPPORT TO THE FLORIDA SCHOOL FOR THE DEAF AND BLIND. A POINT OF PRIDE FOR ALL FLORIDIANS AND WE BELIEVE INSTITUTIONS DEDICATION TO STUDENTS AND MISSION MAKE IT DESERVING OF ALL SPECIAL CONSIDERATIONS. ON BEHALF OF THE PRESIDENT I THANK YOU FOR YOUR SUPPORT OF OUR COMMUNITY COLLEGE, ST. JOHN'S

RIVER STATE COLLEGE. >> LITERALLY TEXTED ME THIS MORNING TO MAKE SURE YOU DID THAT.

>> HE THREATENED ME. >> NEXT

>> THANK YOU AGAIN. IT IS AN EXCITING TIME TO BE PART OF FLAGLER COLLEGE, PRESIDENT SENDS HIS REGARDS HE IS VERY APPRECIATIVE THAT ALL THE LEGISLATURE HAS DONE, WE RECENTLY COMPLETED THE RENOVATION OF THE POND $150 MILLION PROJECT IN WHICH THE STATE HEAVILY INVESTED IN AND WE MATCHED. AS PART OF THAT I WOULD LIKE TO BRING ATTENTION TO SOME NEW MUSEUM EXHIBITS IN THE ROTUNDA THAT ARE FREE AND OPEN TO THE PUBLIC TO EXPERIENCE AND LEARN ABOUT THE HISTORY. YOU CAN DESIGN YOUR OWN STAINED-GLASS AND LEARN ABOUT HOW IT'S MADE AND WE WILL BE LAUNCHING A PUBLIC DOCUMENTARY ABOUT THE PROCESS AND WILL HAVE A PUBLIC VIEWING JANUARY 14 NOT IDEAL TIME FOR YOU ALL SINCE HE WILL HAVE JUST STARTED SESSION BUT I WOULD LIKE TO INVITE THE PUBLIC TO ATTEND THAT. I AM HERE TODAY WERE TWO LEGISLATIVE ASKS, ONE FOR THE CLASSICAL INSTITUTE WHICH SINCE ITS INCEPTION WE HAVE SERVED OVER 500 CLASSICAL TEACHERS TO THAT PROGRAM WERE RAY PROVIDE PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT THROUGH SUMMER WORKSHOPS, SATURDAY SEMINARS, ON-SITE TRAININGS AND IT HAS MADE AN IMPACT IN HELPING THEM SERVE STUDENTS. AND THE INSTITUTE IS PART OF THE DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION TO CREATE NEW TEACHER CERTIFICATION COURSES FOR THE NEW CLASSICAL CERTIFICATION THAT YOU ALL PASSED TWO SESSIONS AGO SO WE HAVE BEEN WORKING WITH THEM.

FUNDING DID NOT GET APPROVED TO CONTINUE THIS PAST SESSION SO WITHOUT CONTINUING FUNDING WE ARE ASKING FOR THIS YEAR WE WON'T BE ABLE TO CONTINUE THIS GOOD WORK SO WE ASK FOR YOUR HELP IN PUSHING THAT THROUGH THIS YEAR. AND THE OTHER LEGISLATIVE ASK BEFORE WE WRAP UP ONE PRESERVATION PROJECT WE ARE ASKING FOR HELP WITH ANOTHER PRESERVATION PROJECT. THIS IS WHEN WE CAN PROVIDE ONE-TO-ONE MATCH FOR THE MARKLAND HOUSE , THIS PROPERTY ACTUALLY PREDATES , IT WAS ORIGINALLY THE FIRST PHASE OF THE STRUCTURE BUILT IN 1839 ON THE NATIONAL REGISTER OF

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>> THANK YOU, NEXT UP WE HAVE ST. JOHNS COUNTY CLERK OF THE

COURT. GOOD TO SEE YOUR. >> GOOD TO SEE YOU, GOOD MORNING ON BEHALF OF THE OFFICE AND CLERKS STATEWIDE WE ARE FACING $75 MILLION SHORTFALL OF WHICH 1.5 IN ST. JOHN'S COUNTY.

COURTS ARE A CRITICAL FUNCTION OF GOVERNMENT AS WE SEEK TO ADDRESS BY GETTING TO THE CORE ISSUE OF FUNDING WHICH IS WE ARE RUNNING A 2025 BUSINESS WITH 2008 PRICES, THESE ARE NOT GONE UP SINCE 2008 MAKING A DRAMATIC IMPACT ON OPERATIONS, WE WERE GOOD AT DOING MORE WITH LESS THAT WE ARE REACHING THE BREAKING POINT FOR A FUNDING BILL AND POLICY BILL COMING OUT SOON SO IT WILL BE IN TOUCH FURTHER WE SEEK YOUR SUPPORT AND COSPONSORSHIP ESPECIALLY AS HERE IN ST. JOHN'S COUNTY THE BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS IS SUBSIDIZING BY $1.3 MILLION. NOT A REQUIREMENT THIS IS SUPPORT THEY PROVIDE RECOGNIZING THE IMPORTANT WORK THAT THE 130 EMPLOYEES PUT FORTH EVERY DAY TO RESIDENTS AND CONSTITUENTS, THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME

APPRECIATE YOUR SUPPORT. >> THANK YOU, APPRECIATE IT.

>> NEXT UP EDDIE KRAMER ST. JOHNS COUNTY PROPERTY APPRAISER.

>> GOOD MORNING THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE AND LISTENING TO CONCERNS AND REQUESTS IN OUR COUNTY, LAST YEAR I SPOKE TO THIS GROUP ABOUT INCREASED BURDEN ON RESIDENTS OF THE COUNTY PROPERTY TAXES IN THE PAST NINE YEARS TAXABLE VALUES HAVE ALMOST DOUBLED AT THAT TIME IT DID NOT SEEM TO GET A LOT OF INTEREST OR TRACTION . SOMETHING HAPPENED IN THE LAST 12 MONTHS TO GET INTEREST BUT I DID NOT SO I'M HERE TO TALK TO YOU ABOUT THAT. IN A FEW MONTHS GOING BACK TO TALLAHASSEE YOU WILL BE OVERWHELMED WITH PROPERTY TAX LEGISLATION AND BILLS AND I WOULD LIKE TO POINT OUT JUST A FEW OF THE SIGNIFICANT ONCE, SOMETHING YOU WILL BE ASKED TO DO IS ELIMINATE PROPERTY TAXES WERE TAXES ON HOMESTEAD PROPERTIES. I WOULD ASK YOU TO PROCEED CAUTIOUSLY WITH THAT WHEN THAT PANDORA IS OUT-OF-THE-BOX IT WILL BE DIFFICULT TO PUT BACK IN, AFFORDABLE HOUSING PRICES TODAY WILL BE MAGNIFIED WHEN THE COST OF OWNERSHIP GOES DOWN WITH TEXAS ELIMINATED HOMESTEAD FRAUD WILL MULTIPLY HOMESTEAD PROPERTIES ARE NO LONGER TAXED, YOU WILL BE ASKED TO CONTROL LOCAL MILLAGE RATES, LOCAL MILLAGE RATES ARE ALREADY CONTROLLED, WE GO TO THE POLLS EVERY TWO YEARS TO DEVELOP TAX AUTHORITY BOARDS IT'S THEIR JOB TO PATROL MILLAGE RATES IF THEY DON'T WE GET TO VOTE FOR NEW MEMBERS, INCREASE PORTABILITY, A COASTAL BENEFIT NOT JUST THE COASTAL COUNTY BENEFIT BUT A COASTAL BENEFIT THE MAJORITY OF PORTABILITY RESIDES ON THE COAST OF FLORIDA IF YOU PURCHASED IN 20 YEARS AGO WEST OF 95 AND ANOTHER HOME PURCHASED EAST OF 95 THERE IS MORE PORTABILITY ON THE HOMES EAST OF 95 AND IT DOES NOT BENEFIT EVERYBODY. THE AMATEUR REDUCTION OF PROPERTY TAX BURDEN OR EXEMPTIONS I WILL ASK YOU AGAIN TODAY TO CONSIDER THE SENIOR EXEMPTION AND REMOVE THE INCOME LIMITS ON THE SENIOR EXEMPTION AND REMOVE THE VALUE LIMITS ON THE SENIOR EXEMPTIONS FOR SENIORS ON PROPERTIES IN FLORIDA FOR YEARS ARE NO LONGER BURDENED BY THE PROPERTY TAXES. THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME AND I

APPRECIATE YOUR HARD WORK. >> THANK YOU, ANYBODY? NEXT UP,

>> THANK YOU GOOD MORNING LEGISLATIVE DELEGATION THANK YOU FOR ALLOWING ME TO SPEAK AND YOU ARE RIGHT IN SAYING THIS IS AN AMAZING TEAM REPRESENTING ST. JOHNS COUNTY SO WE THANK YOU FOR THAT, THANK YOU TO THE SUPERINTENDENT AND SO MANY OTHER COMMUNITY MEMBERS FOR SUPPORTING THIS THE DIAMOND OF DREAMS PROJECT WILL PROVIDE MUCH-NEEDED ORGANIZED SPORTS AND RECREATIONAL ACTIVITIES ON A ADA COMPLIANT WHEELCHAIR ACCESSIBLE BASEBALL FIELD FOR MULTI-USE SPORTS ALONG THE SPECIALLY DESIGNED PLAYGROUND FOR THE SPECIAL NEEDS COMMUNITY IN ST.

JOHN'S COUNTY. WHETHER INDIVIDUAL AS A INTELLECTUAL OR PHYSICAL DISABILITY THIS INCLUSIVE SPACE WILL BE DESIGNED TO MEET THEIR UNIQUE PHYSICAL AND DEVELOPMENT NEEDS. THE RFP HAS BEEN AWARDED TO AJAX CONSTRUCTION UPON COMPLETION WE WILL MOVE FORWARD WITH GROUNDBREAKING. THE GHOST OF

[00:35:02]

WITH THE OCC AWARDING FUNDING PROJECT WITH ARPA FUNDS A LOT OF LOCAL FUNDRAISING EFFORTS AND A $250,000 STATE APPROPRIATION SECURE LAST SESSION THANKS TO SENATOR , REPRESENTATIVE AND THE GOVERNOR WE ARE WELL ON OUR WAY TO MAKING THIS PROJECT A REALITY. WE HAVE SEVERAL COMPANIES COMING TOGETHER TO DO A COMMUNITY BUILT FOR THE BATHROOM FACILITIES. TO DATE, THANKS TO THE INCREDIBLE SUPPORT AT THE STATE AND LOCAL LEVELS WE ARE OVER 78% TO THE GOAL. THIS YEAR WE ARE REQUESTING A 702,000 STATE APPROPRIATION THANKS AGAIN TO SENATOR LEEK AND REPRESENTATIVE SAPP FOR SUPPORTING TO PUSH US OVER THE FINISH LINE. THERE IS ONE COMPLEX LIKE THIS IN ST. JOHN'S COUNTY IN THE NORTHWEST PART OF THE COUNTY, DIAMOND OF DREAMS IS LOCATED IN SOUTH-CENTRAL ST. JOHN'S COUNTY TARGETING THE AT RISK AND LOWER INCOME FAMILIES. THIS PROJECT WILL LEVEL THE PLAYING FIELD FOR THE SPECIAL NEEDS COMMUNITY BY CREATING A SAFE INCLUSIVE SPACE WHERE INDIVIDUALS OF ALL ABILITIES CAN PLAY ALONGSIDE THEIR FRIENDS, SIBLINGS AND FAMILY MEMBERS MORE THAN IT PLACE TO PLAY IT WILL OFFER THESE INCREDIBLE INDIVIDUALS THE OPPORTUNITY TO EXPERIENCE THE JOY AND COME ROTARY PARTICIPATING ON A REGULAR SPORTS TEAM JUST LIKE

THEIR PEERS. THANK YOU. >> IF I CAN TAKE A MOMENT BEFORE YOU LEAVE IF YOU DON'T MIND TALKING ABOUT THE SENIOR EXEMPTIONS, AUBREY. IF YOU IDENTIFY YOURSELF THANK YOU.

NEXT PATSY ECCLES FROM THE FLORIDA SCHOOL OF THE DEAF AND BLIND.

YOU ARE RECOGNIZED. >> GOOD MORNING PRESIDENT TRACY SNOW HAS COME TO LOVE COMING TO THESE MEETINGS BUT UNFORTUNATELY SHE HAD TO BE OUT OF TOWN THIS WEEK, SHE IS ATTENDING AT A NATIONAL BOARD REPRESENTING DEAF EDUCATION AND HARD OF HEARING AND THAT IS NOT UNUSUAL FOR US TO GET CALLED UPON IN BOTH DEAF AND BLIND ISSUES TO BE REPRESENTATIVES OF A MODEL AND TO HELP OTHER SCHOOLS IN THE COUNTRY SEE WHAT WE ARE DOING AND THAT IS ALL THANKS TO YOUR. FIRST A SHOUT OUT TO DANIELLE WHO DESPITE MY BEST EFFORTS TO MESS UP THE REQUEST TO COME BEFORE YOU ALWAYS KEEPS ME ON TRACK SO PLEASE, GOOD WORK.

ALSO, I LOVE COMING UP AFTER JOE PICKENS. GET JO TO COME BEFORE YOU AND YOU DON'T HAVE TO SAY ANYTHING IT'S ALREADY DONE.

WOULD SOMEBODY TELL JOE THAT WE HAD A FABULOUS SESSION LAST YEAR AND YOU GUYS WERE FABULOUS IN RECOGNIZING THE NEEDS OF THE SCHOOL, SENATOR LEEK IF YOU WILL GET THE WORD BACK TO PRESIDENT WHO INITIATED AND STAYED WITH US ON A LOT OF THINGS. WITH THOSE FUNDS YOU GAVE US WE ARE ABLE TO NOW SEE GOING FORWARD HOW TO BETTER RECRUIT AND TO RETAIN TOP QUALITY STAFF IN THIS AREA. THAT IS AMAZING FOR WHAT THAT DOES FOR THE SCHOOL. ALSO, WE HAD SOME SIGNIFICANT FACILITY DOLLARS YOU AWARDED TO US AND THAT HAS BEEN USED TO GO IN AND TAKE CARE OF THE NON-FLASHY THINGS. WE CAN PUT UP A DORM EVERY OTHER YEAR AS YOU HAVE HELPED WITH THE LAST THREE, BUT SO MANY OTHER CRUCIAL FACILITIES GET OVERLOOKED AND WITH THE FUNDING YOU GAVE US WE ARE ABLE TO GO FORWARD. NOT HERE WITH A REQUEST, BUT A MAJOR THANK YOU AND A MAJOR INVITE, PLEASE COME SEE WHAT YOUR DOLLARS HAVE DONE.

YOU WOULD BE INCREDIBLY PROUD AND YOU WILL SEE KIDS THRIVING IN AN ENVIRONMENT YOU HAVE HELPED MAKE TOP-NOTCH. THANK YOU

AGAIN, APPRECIATE IT. >> THANK YOU VERY MUCH. NEXT UP, BETH TATE, CHAIR OF ST. JOHNS COUNTY CHAMBER OF COMMERCE.

>> THANK YOU, THE ST. JOHN'S COUNTY CHAMBER 2026 POLICY AGENDA IS FOCUSED ON GIVING THE COUNTY THE MOST COMPETITIVE OPPORTUNITY RICH AND FUTURITY COMMUNITIES IN THE NATION THAN PRESERVING LOCAL CONTROL AND FISCAL RESPONSIBILITY THAT MAKES A STRONG CHAMPIONING FOUR PILLARS TO BUILD ON ONE ANOTHER ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT COMPETITIVENESS WORKFORCE DEVLOPMENT AND ATTAINABLE HOUSING, HOUSING INFRASTRUCTURE

[00:40:01]

ASKING FOR CONTINUED EACH REFURBISHMENT FUNDING AND A FEASIBILITY STUDY OF A REGIONAL COMMUTER RAIL LINE LINKING JACKSONVILLE AND SAINT AUGUSTINE. FINALLY TOURISM. OUR HERITAGE AND ECONOMIC ENGINE WE SUPPORT THE GOVERNMENT LEGISLATION NEEDED TO LAUNCH THE MUSEUM OF BLACK HISTORY LANDMARK FOR CULTURAL AND TOURISM GROWTH AND WE SUPPORT PERMANENT FUNDING FOR VISIT FLORIDA AND CAPITAL INVESTMENTS IN HISTORIC PRESERVATION AND WE OPPOSE EFFORTS TO REDIRECT LOCAL TOURIST TAX DOLLARS AWAY FROM COMMUNITIES THAT GENERATE THEM.

THIS AGENDA IS BUSINESS DRIVEN AND LOCALLY GROUNDED IN STRENGTHENING ECONOMY MODERNIZING INFRASTRUCTURE, SUSTAINS TOURISM INDUSTRY AND SUPPORTS THE PEOPLE WHO LIVE AND WORK HERE. THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

>> THANK YOU APPRECIATE IT. NEXT UP HOWARD HOLLY FOUNDATION FOR THE MUSEUM OF BLACK HISTORY.

YOU ARE RECOGNIZED. >> GOOD MORNING, GOOD MORNING AND THE CHAIR OF THE FOUNDATION FOR MUSEUM OF BLACK HISTORY AND I WANT TO START BY SAYING A HUGE THANK YOU FOR SECURING $1 MILLION FOR PHASE I PLANNING DESIGN AND ENGINEERING OF THE MUSEUM AND AS WE'RE HERE IN THE COUNTY CHAMBERS I WANT TO ALSO CONGRATULATE THE COUNTY ON SIGNING THE LAND LEASE WITH FLORIDA MEMORIAL UNIVERSITY THAT IS A MAJOR MILESTONE IN THIS JOURNEY. ON BEHALF OF THE BOARD WE HAVE FOUR ASKS. NUMBER ONE THE RESUBMISSION OF SENATE BILL 466 CALLING FOR THE CREATION, CONSTRUCTION, OPERATION AND ADMINISTRATION OF THE FLORIDA MUSEUM OF BLACK HISTORY IN ST. JOHN'S SAINT AUGUSTINE. NUMBER TWO COSPONSORSHIP BY ALL OF YOU OF WHAT WAS HOUSE BILL 659 THE COMPANION BILL TO THE SENATE BILL THAT WAS SUBMITTED AND WILL BE RESUBMITTED BY REPRESENTATIVE MICHAEL COSPONSORING WE WOULD VERY MUCH APPRECIATE AND WE THANK NOT JUST YOUR COSPONSORSHIP, BUT ALL THE LEGISLATORS IN THIS REGION THROUGHOUT THE NORTHEAST REGION. WE HAVE TO MAKE SURE THAT TALLAHASSEE SEES THIS AS NOT A ST. JOHN'S MUSEUM , NOT JUST THE NORTHEAST, BUT AS A STATEWIDE MUSEUM THAT WILL BENEFIT FOR GENERATIONS. NUMBER THREE SUPPORT APPROVAL OF ST.

JOHNS COUNTY APPROPRIATION REQUEST FOR PDE NUMBER TWO WHICH COMMISSIONER JOSEPH MENTIONED AS THE NUMBER TWO ST. JOHNS COUNTY PRIORITY. YOUR SUPPORT IS VERY MUCH APPRECIATED. SUPPORTING THE FOUNDATION AS I JUST MENTIONED WE HAVE GOT TO MAKE THIS STATEWIDE WE HAVE TO ENGAGE COMMUNITIES THROUGHOUT THE STATE IN THIS JOURNEY. AND LASTLY I WANT TO THANK YOU FOR WHAT YOU HAVE DONE , BUT I ALSO WANT TO THANK YOU FOR WHAT YOU WILL DO.

>> THANK YOU, GREAT CAUSE. NEXT UP WE HAVE KIMBERLY BARRETT EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR AND HOME SOCIETY.

>> THANK YOU, GOOD MORNING DELEGATION, THANK YOU FOR THE OPPORTUNITY TO SPEAK AS YOU MENTION I AM THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR HONORED TODAY TO HAVE WITH ME OUR SENIOR DIRECTOR CPS AND TWO DIRECTORS FROM SCHOOLS IN ST. JOHN'S COUNTY. OUR, WE ARE FOUNDING PARTNERS OF THE COMMUNITY PARTNERSHIP SCHOOLS AND WE ARE HONORED TO HAVE TWO OF THE MODELS HERE IN ST.

JOHN'S, SOUTH WOODS AND WEBSTER, CHS IS COMING TO SAY THANK YOU FOR SUPPORT OF OUR CPS PROGRAM IN THE BUDGET 20.1 MILLION, THE ASK IS FOR ONGOING SUPPORT TO CONTINUE IN THE NEW

[00:45:05]

>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH APPRECIATE IT. THANK YOU.

>> NEXT WE HAVE

>> DUTCH IRISH. >> THANK YOU ALSO MUCH FOR HAVING ME TODAY. FIRST AND FOREMOST I WANT TO THANK YOU ALL FOR YOUR CONTINUED SUPPORT WITH THE MENTAL HEALTH OF ALL CITIZENS OF ST. JOHNS COUNTY REPRESENTATIVE KENDALL I HAVE SHARED THIS SENTIMENT WITH OTHER MEMBERS OF THE DELEGATION BUT I WANT TO SHARE WITH YOU AS WELL. DURING THE LAST MARATHON OF A SESSION WE HAD A PRETTY AMAZING FISCAL RECONCILIATION AND STATE WE SHRINK THE BUDGET BY OVER $1 BILLION BUT DURING THE RECONCILIATION THERE WAS A PRETTY SIGNIFICANT INCREASE FOR FUNDING FOR MENTAL HEALTH PROGRAMS THROUGHOUT THE STATE OF FLORIDA SO I WANT TO THANK YOU FOR THAT, THAT SENSE AN INCREDIBLY POWERFUL MESSAGE TO EVERYBODY THAT MENTAL HEALTH IS VERY IMPORTANT OVER THE COURSE OF OUR LAST FISCAL YEAR WE PROUDLY PROVIDED OVER 1000 EPISODES OF CARE TO THE CITIZENS OF ST. JOHNS COUNTY. AT THE OFFICE WE OFFER SUBSTANCE USE AND MENTAL HEALTH THERAPY, PSYCHIATRIC MEDICATION MANAGEMENT CASE MANAGEMENT TO PEOPLE OF ALL AGES AND IN ADDITION WE OFFER FLORIDA ASSERTIVE COMMUNITY TREATMENT AS WELL AS THE NEW ASSISTED OUTPATIENT PROGRAM TO ADULTS. IN JANUARY WITH THE SUPPORT OF SHERIFF HARDWICK AND CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM IN ST. JOHN'S WE WILL BE OPENING A 15 BED RESIDENTIAL REENTRY PROGRAM IN NEIGHBORING PUTNAM COUNTY THIS WILL SERVE ST. JOHN'S RESIDENTS. THE SIX-MONTH PROGRAM WILL SERVE ST. JOHN'S COUNTY RESIDENTS WITH SUBSTANCE USE DISORDERS INCLUDING INDIVIDUALS ADMITTED AS CONDITION OF RELEASE FROM THE ST. JOHNS COUNTY JAIL HELP TO REDUCE OVERDOSES, REDUCE RECIDIVISM AND HELP ST. JOHN'S CITIZENS TO BUILD THE SKILLS THEY NEED FOR SUCCESSFUL REINTEGRATION INTO OUR COMMUNITY PUTTING THEM IN THE PATH TO LONG-TERM RECOVERY. WE ARE COMMITTED TO THE VISION OF A ACCESS TO THE HEALTHCARE SERVICES THEY NEED TO FIND HOPE, HEALING AND RECOVERY AND I WANT TO THANK YOU ALL AGAIN FOR YOUR CONTINUED SUPPORT

>> THANK YOU, NEXT WE HAVE

CARE. YOU ARE RECOGNIZED. >> GOOD MORNING AND THANK YOU FOR THE OPPORTUNITY TO PRESENT I'M THE DIRECTOR FOR EPIC BEHAVIORAL HEALTHCARE, A LASTING PILLAR IN THE COMMUNITY AND THE PRIMARY BEHAVIOR HEALTH AGENCY 52 YEARS. WOMEN SEEKING RESIDENTIAL TREATMENT FOR SUBSTANCE USE DISORDER TYPICALLY WAKE UP TO 90 DAYS IN SERVICE AREA. THE PRIMARY OBJECTIVE TO CONTINUE EXPANDED ACCESS TO LEVEL ONE INPATIENT RESIDENTIAL TREATMENT FOR WOMEN WITH SUBSTANCE USE DISORDER BY SECURING $750,000 FUNDING FOR SIX DEDICATED BEDS AT EPIC RECOVERY CENTER. THE REQUEST ADDRESSES A CRITICAL GAP IN INTENSIVE TREATMENT FOR WOMEN MAINTAINING CAPACITY THIS AIMS TO ENSURE MORE WOMEN RECEIVE THE CONFERENCE OF CARE THEY NEED TO ACHIEVE LASTING RECOVERY AND STABILITY, THE SERVICE IS A TREATMENT PROGRAM FOR WOMEN WITH SUBSTANCE USE DISORDER COUPLED WITH MENTAL HEALTH CHALLENGES SPECIALIZED TEAM APPROACH INCLUDES INDIVIDUAL GROUP AND FAMILY THERAPY PSYCHIATRIC INTERVENTIONS MEDICATION ASSISTED TREATMENT CARE COORDINATION. SUPPORT AND FAMILY UNIFICATION ACTIVITIES. TARGET POPULATION TO BE SERVED AS ADULT WOMEN WITH SUBSTANCE USE DISORDER ALCOHOL OPIOIDS COCAINE ET CETERA IT IS ANTICIPATED APPROXIMATELY 75 INDIVIDUALS WILL BENEFIT FROM BEING SERVED AS A RESULT OF THE ISSUANCE OF THE FUNDS, 75 OF THE OVER 600 WE TREAT EACH YEAR. THE EXPANDED RESULTS WILL BE A REDUCTION IN SUBSTANCE ISSUES AND ABUSE BY COMPLETING EPISODES OF CARE, EMPLOYMENT SKILLS ENHANCEMENT AND HOUSING UPON SUCCESSFUL COMPLETION OF TREATMENT. THIS DISCHARGE OPTION WILL BE ENHANCED THE OPTION TO SECURE HOUSING WITH THE SECOND VILLAGE THAT SPECIALIZES SOBER LIVING FOR MEN WOMEN AND WOMEN WITH

CHILDREN, THANK YOU. >> THANK YOU VERY MUCH. NEXT UP

[00:50:07]

CLOSE? >> THAT'S THE WAY MOST PEOPLE SAY IT. YEAH, THANK YOU. I AM REPRESENTING SAINT AUGUSTINE YOUTH SERVICES TODAY AND I WANT TO FIRST THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR YOUR SUPPORT LAST YEAR WE REALLY APPRECIATE IT AND WE ARE CHANGING CHILDREN'S LIVES SO THANK YOU. PROVIDING MENTAL HEALTH SERVICES TO CHILDREN OVER 36 YEARS IN RESIDENTIAL AND COMMUNITY WRAPAROUND SERVICES . LAST YEAR A COMPREHENSIVE STUDY WAS COMPLETED WITH STAKEHOLDERS, YOUTH AND PROVIDERS, THIS STUDY CONCLUDED THAT THE TOP PRIORITY FOR YOUTH IN ST. JOHN'S COUNTY IS MENTAL HEALTH. PROVIDING OVER 600 YOUTH MENTAL HEALTH SERVICES EACH YEAR TODAY I'M HERE TO TALK ABOUT THE COACHES PROGRAM AND CAD TEAM, THE COACH PROGRAM SERVES ST. JOHN'S, PUTNAM AND FLAGLER AND THESE PROGRAMS WORK TO KEEP YOUTH IN THE COMMUNITY AND OUT OF HIGH END SERVICES LIKE HOSPITALS, DJ J IN FOSTER CARE BY PROVIDING MENTAL HEALTH SERVICES. IN HOMES. 97% WERE DIVERTED FROM THE SERVICES PROGRAMS LAST YEAR AND 87 SHOWED IMPROVEMENT IN THEIR FUNCTIONING INCLUDING HIGHER SCHOOL ATTENDANCE, BETTER SAFETY AND BEHAVIOR. THESE PROGRAMS HAVE SAVED $12 MILLION BY KEEPING YOUTH OUT OF RESIDENTIAL SETTINGS. WE ARE REQUESTING 450,000 , WHICH IS ABOUT 1/3 IN NON-REOCCURRING WHICH WILL BE ADDED TO OUR FUNDS FROM HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES LSF, MEDICAID AND DONATIONS. THANK YOU AGAIN

FOR YOUR SUPPORT. >> THANK YOU, NEXT UP WE HAVE LISA FRANKEL ALPHA OMEGA MIRACLE HOMES.

>> THANK YOU FOR THE OPPORTUNITY TO SHARE WITH YOU TODAY OUR REQUEST. PROVIDING TRANSITIONAL AND SUPPORTIVE HOUSING TO YOUNG MOTHERS, THEIR CHILDREN AND SENIOR WOMEN AGE 60 END UP AT RISK OF HOMELESSNESS OR WHO ARE HOMELESS. A TWO-YEAR TRANSITIONAL INTEGRATION OF PROGRAM . 80% OF SINGLE MOTHERS EXPENSING HOMELESSNESS ARE HEADED BY SINGLE MOTHERS WE HAVE BEEN RESPONDING TO THE NEED OF SINGLE MOMS AND THEIR CHILDREN FOR THE PAST 25 YEARS. WITH FUNDING REQUESTED A TO BUILD A COMMUNITY EDUCATION BUILDING THAT WILL FUNCTION AS A HURRICANE SHELTER. THIS BUILD COST WILL BE 7.2 MILLION, THEY ARE REQUESTING 5 MILLION BUT LET ME SHARE A LITTLE MORE OF WHAT WE HAVE DONE SO FAR. THE FIRST PHASE WAS A FUNDING OF 4.3 MILLION, THIS WAS TO PURCHASE SEVEN ACRES AND ALSO TO DO THE DROWNED WORK AND BRING UTILITY TO ALPHA OMEGA AND TO THE NEIGHBORHOOD. WE WORKED WITH THE STATE OF FLORIDA FOR THAT, ALSO ALONG WITH THE CITY ST. JOHNS COUNTY AND CITY OF SAINT AUGUSTINE, THAT PHASE HAS BEEN COMPLETED, THE SECOND PHASE WE ARE IN AND BUILDING 20 APARTMENTS, THE BUILD IS GOING ON AS I SPEAK, THE DATE FOR COMPLETION WILL BE NOVEMBER 2026. THIS CAPITAL PROJECT WAS 4.9 MILLION FUNDED THROUGH INDIVIDUAL CONTRIBUTIONS, FOUNDATIONS, EVENTS AND CIVIC GROUPS. WE ARE COMING UP ON THE COMPLETION DATE OF THE FUNDS RAISED AND THAT SHOULD BE FUNDED BY DECEMBER OF THIS YEAR. THIS NEW CAMPUS WILL HOUSE AN ADDITIONAL 100 CHILDREN AND WOMEN THAT ARE FACING HOMELESSNESS IN ST. JOHN'S COUNTY. TO DATE WE HAVE RAISED 9.9 MILLION. CURRENT WAITLIST IS BETWEEN 60 AND 90 PEOPLE NEEDING HOUSING. THIS IS DUE TO THE AFFORDABLE HOUSING CRISIS AND SENIORS REALLY BEING PRICED OUT OF THEIR HOMES IN ST. JOHN'S COUNTY. THE THIRD PHASE AND CURRENT REQUEST IS THE CONSTRUCTION OF THE EDUCATIONAL BUILDING. THAT WILL ALSO AGAIN FUNCTION AS A HURRICANE SHELTER.

LACK OF TRANSPORTATION IS A BARRIER TO MOTHERS AND SENIORS, AND 2024 ALPHA OMEGA PROVIDED OVER 3300 TRANSPORTATION NEEDS.

HAVING A BUILDING WHERE RESIDENTS CAN HAVE ACCESS TO LIFE TRANSFORMING SERVICES SUCH AS DAYCARE MENTAL HEALTH COUNSELING EDUCATION TRAINING AND LIFE SKILL CLASSES ALONG WITH KITCHEN AND DINING HALL FOR COMMUNITY MEALS THE BUILDING

[00:55:03]

TIME. >> FOLKS WE'RE COMING UP ON THE 10:00 HOUR SOME GOING TO ASK YOU IF SOME OF YOU TOOK MY ADVICE TO CONSOLIDATE YOUR TIME PLEASE LET US KNOW AND WE WILL TAKE YOU OFF TO MAKE SURE YOUR TIME GETS SPREAD FOR OTHER SPEAKERS , BUT REDUCING DOWN TO TWO MINUTES IF WE CAN FIGURE OUT HOW TO DO THAT WE WILL REDUCE TO TWO MINUTES AND I WILL CALL TO AT A TIME AND LINEUP SO WE CAN MAKE SURE EVERYBODY HAS THE BEST OPPORTUNITY TO SPEAK. NEXT UP WE HAVE JENNA DENNIS HASTINGS MAIN STREET MY FAVORITE SMALL-TOWN AND THEN ED SLAVEN SAINT

AUGUSTINE GREEN. >> THANK YOU SO MUCH. I WANT TO THANK COMMISSIONERS AND ADMINISTRATION FOR THEIR SUPPORT IN HASTING THE LAST TWO YEARS, WE ARE TRULY GRATEFUL. FIRST WE WOULD LIKE TO TALK ABOUT THE HISTORIC PRESERVATION GRANT LAST YEAR MANY ORGANIZATIONS IN FLORIDA INCLUDING HASTINGS MAIN STREET WENT DILIGENTLY THROUGH THE PROCESS OF APPLICATION AND SCORING WITH HISTORIC PRESERVATION GRANTS. AS YOU KNOW THESE WERE NOT FUNDED THROUGHOUT FLORIDA. OUR ASK IS CONSIDERATION BE GIVEN FOR THE ORGANIZATIONS THAT WENT TO THE PROCESS, SCORED WELL AND HOPED TO RECEIVE THE FUNDING WHETHER THROUGH SOME TYPE OF APPROPRIATION OR CONSIDERATION HASTINGS WE HAVE OVER $500,000 IN COMMITMENTS FROM BUSINESSES FOR THAT PROJECT SO WE CAN RECEIVE THE MILLION DOLLARS WE HOPE FOR THROUGH THE HISTORIC PRESERVATION GRANT WE WOULD BE ABLE TO MOVE THESE HISTORIC DEPOTS ONE ALONG THE BIKE TRAIL AND THE OTHER ON A PROPERTY WE HAVE SET ASIDE OWNED BY THE COUNTY. THESE WOULD PROVIDE A COMMUNITY CENTER ALLOWING US TO HELP THE SENIOR CITIZEN POPULATION WITH MEETING SPACE , COMMUNITY GARDEN AND EDUCATIONAL RESOURCES FOR SMALL BUSINESS OWNERS AND YOUTH IN THE COMMUNITY. THIS PARTICULAR GRANT WAS A WONDERFUL OPPORTUNITY FOR THAT AND WE ARE EXCITED ABOUT CONTINUING WITH THE PROJECT, ADDITIONALLY THE READY STATUS DESIGNATION EVEN THOUGH WE ARE PART OF ST. JOHNS COUNTY AND PROUD TO BE SO WE WOULD LIKE A BILL AMENDMENT TO RECONSIDER HASTINGS AS A SMALL RURAL COMMUNITY TO OPEN UP THE READY DESIGNATION. WE WILL FOLLOW UP WITH ADDITIONAL INFORMATION TO THE OFFICE BUT THIS WILL OPEN UP FUNDING AND HELP US HELP ST.

JOHNS COUNTY WITH A LOT OF INFRASTRUCTURE NEEDS THAT THEY INHERITED, THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR YOUR TIME TODAY.

>> THANK YOU, DR. LESLIE KEESE IF YOU COULD COME TO THE PODIUM.

>> PLEASE SUPPORT MORE PARKS , THESE ARE EXCITING TIMES AND I WANT TO THANK YOU FOR YOUR SUPPORT FOR SENATOR HARRELL'S BILL SB 80 YOU SAVED STATE PARKS IN THE STATE OF FLORIDA AND IT WAS UNANIMOUS . LET'S DO IT AGAIN. I WOULD LIKE TO CALL YOUR ATTENTION TO CONGRESSMAN'S BILL HR 4656 THE PATH OF FLORIDA SPRINGS NATIONAL STUDY ACT WHICH TRACTS OF HAVE BEEN PROPOSING 20 YEARS FOR SAINT AUGUSTINE NATIONAL HISTORICAL PARK, THE HISTORICAL PARK WAS FIRST PROPOSED IN 1939 BY THE CONGRESSMAN FROM THIS DISTRICT AND BOTH TOO SENATORS, LET'S GET THE BALL GOING. PEOPLE WHO ARE ENVIRONMENTAL AND HISTORIC TOURISTS SPEND TWICE AS MUCH AND TWICE AS LONG AND THE THEME OF THE CONGRESSMAN'S BILL IS WE WANT TO INCREASE TOURISM BECAUSE THE ECONOMY AND IF WE INCREASE TOURISM BY HAVING MORE NATIONAL PARKS FLORIDA HAS TWO DISTINCT AUGUSTINE NATIONAL SEASHORE AND WHEN I FIRST WORKED ON LEGISLATION IN 2006 I REVERSE ENGINEERED SEVERAL EXISTING NATIONAL PARKS AND BILL LEARY LATER A MEMBER OF THE SAINT AUGUSTINE CITY COMMISSION , HE WORKED FOR THE COUNCIL ON ENVIRONMENT OF QUALITY AND WASHINGTON D.C., FOR THE DEPARTMENT OF INTERIOR AND HE SAID IT'S PERFECT AND I SAID IT'S NOT PERFECT IT'S NOT LAW YET LET'S MAKE IT LAW LET'S DO THIS AND HELP THE TOURIST ECONOMY. ENVIRONMENTAL HISTORIC TOURISM MET TWICE AS MUCH FOR TWICE AS LONG WE NEED NATIONAL SEASHORE, SORT PARK TO OBSERVE THESE PLACES WHERE CIVIL RIGHTS DEMONSTRATIONS WORKED AND HELPED TO CHANGE THE LAW AND MAKE THIS A BETTER PLACE. THANK YOU SO MUCH AND THANK YOU FOR YOUR WORK.

>> MR. GREG LEONARD YOU'RE ON DECK, DR. LESLIE KEESE YOU ARE

[01:00:02]

RECOGNIZED. >> THANK YOU AND THINK FOR EVERYTHING YOU DID LAST YEAR. LOOK FORWARD TO WHAT YOU DO THIS YOU. I'M A PROFESSIONAL HISTORIC PRESERVATIONIST. YOU KNOW I'VE BEEN WRITING THESE GRANTS FOR THE DIVISION OF HISTORICAL RESOURCES AS LONG AS THEY HAVE BEEN IN PLAY WHICH IS ABOUT 47 YEARS. I STARTED AS A CHILD PRODIGY OBVIOUSLY. THEY ARE GRANTS THAT ARE BEDDED FROM THE HISTORICAL COMMISSION HALF OF THOSE MEMBERS ARE APPOINTED BY EITHER THE SENATE HOUSE OR GOVERNOR THE OTHER HALF ARE PROFESSIONALS IN THE FIELDS OF HISTORY ARCHITECTURE ARCHAEOLOGY, PROJECTS THAT HAVE BENEFITED EVERY COUNTY WITH $300 MILLION GOING AND THEY ARE MATCHED AT LEAST 1 TO 1. UNDER TAB 20 IN YOUR BINDERS THERE IS A SHORT LIST OF REGIONAL GRANTS AND I HAVE TO GIVE CREDIT THE SENATOR HAD ME START DOING THIS A LONG TIME AGO SO I'VE BEEN HERE EVERY YEAR SINCE. RELY ON ME AS A RESOURCE I DO HAVE A PROFESSIONAL CONSULTING ORGANIZATION WITH THE BLESSING OF FLAGLER COLLEGE AFTER THE HURRICANES IN 2017 AND 2018 SOME OF THESE ARE RESILIENCE GRANTS COMING IN TO REMEDIATE HURRICANE DAMAGE. $1 MILLION TO DO SOME RETROFIT AND HEALTH AND SAFETY ISSUES , MATCHING ONE-TO-ONE UNITED METHODIST CHURCH HURRICANE DAMAGE HALF $1 MILLION. LIGHTHOUSE TOWER RESTORATION AS YOU CAN IMAGINE PROBLEM PRETTY THOROUGHLY DURING STORMS IN THE SAME SITUATION OF SAINT AUGUSTINE TO LOOK FOR THE ARCHAEOLOGY FIRST TIME EVER DOWN AT THE PORT BY THE WAY COASTAL ZONE SURVEY IN PARTNERSHIP WITH THE ARCHAEOLOGY NETWORK AT FLAGLER AND ST. JOHNS RIVER WATER MANAGEMENT TO LOOK AT WATER ISSUES AND EROSION. AND THE SCHOOL IN CLAY COUNTY THANK

YOU ALL. >> THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

YOU ARE ON DECK AND MR. LEONARD YOU'RE RECOGNIZED.

>> THANK YOU MY NAME IS GREG LEONARD ON BEHALF OF PONTE VEDRA BEACH CITIZEN TRAFFIC TASK FORCE IN EXISTENCE SINCE 2014 TO PROVIDE COMMUNITY COLLABORATION WITH COUNTY STAFF WITH TRAFFIC CONGESTION ROAD SAFETY IN THE COMMUNITY , DURING THAT TIME TRAFFIC STUDY WAS PERFORMED IN 2017 THAT IDENTIFIED OPPORTUNITIES FOR IMPROVEMENT ON THE A1 A CORRIDOR, THOSE IMPROVEMENTS HAVE MATURED INTO THE NUMBER FOR TRANSPORTATION IMPROVEMENT PRIORITY FOR ST. JOHNS COUNTY, EACH YEAR SINCE 2018 WE HAVE BEEN REQUESTING SUPPORT AND WE RECEIVE INCREMENTAL SUPPORT TO DRIVE THE PROCESS FORWARD. THAT IS LED TO INITIAL IMPROVEMENT ON THE SOLANO ROAD INTERSECTION MAJOR IMPROVEMENT TO THE INTERSECTION THAT WAS COMPLETED THIS YEAR AND INITIAL PLANNING DESIGN AND ENGINEERING FOR THE FINAL FOUR INTERSECTION IMPROVEMENTS CURRENTLY IN PROCESS. GOING FORWARD D.O.T. HAS DETERMINED A1 A IS RESURFACING AND IT WILL COMBINE RESURFACING WITH INTERSECTION IMPROVEMENTS THAT'S GOING TO REDUCE THE COST OF MAKING THOSE INTERSECTION IMPROVEMENTS BY MILLIONS OF DOLLARS. CURRENTLY THE DESIGN PROCESS HAS BEEN FUNDED THIS YEAR WITH CONSTRUCTION EXPECTED TO BE IN THE FISCAL YEAR BUDGET 2027 OR 2028. SAWYER ON THE WAY TO COMPLETING TRANSPORTATION IMPROVEMENT PRIORITY NUMBER FOUR, FOR ST. JOHNS COUNTY. WE DO EXPECT TO BE BACK NEXT YEAR BECAUSE CERTAINLY WITH GROWTH CONTINUING NEEDS FOR OTHER IMPROVEMENTS WHICH TRANSPORTATION FLOW IN THE COMMUNITY, BUT WE ARE HERE TODAY TO SIMPLY REMIND YOU OF WHO WE ARE, WHAT WE DO IN THE COMMUNITY AND TO SAY THANK YOU FORALL OF YOUR PAST SUPPORT. THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

>> APPRECIATE IT ON DECK IS JAMIE MUELLER, RECOGNIZED IS

NAME ] >> I AM A CASE MANAGER FOR GOLDSTAR FAMILIES ARMY PROGRAM PART OF THE ARMY CASUALTY PROCESS THE NAVY MIRRORED THE PROGRAM CALLED THE NAVY GOLDSTA PROGRAM IN 2015. FLORIDA GOLDSTAR FAMILIES HAVE NO WAY OF IDENTIFYING THEMSELVES AND THAT THEY CARRY THE GOLDSTAR PIN OR THEY CARRY THE SERVICE MEMBER'S DEATH CERTIFICATE. THERE IS NO WAY FOR THEM TO PROVE . I MISS YOU TO DRAFT LEGISLATION TO BUT THE WORDS GOLDSTAR OR GOLDSTAR FAMILY AND TO THE DESIGNATIONS ON THE FLORIDA DRIVERS LICENSE. MINE SAYS DONOR SEVERAL PEOPLE THAT WE HAVE VETERAN ON THEIRS. THERE'S A DOZEN WITH GOLDSTAR OR GOLDSTAR FAMILY THEY COULD PROVE BY TAKING THE DEATH PACIFIC IT JUST LIKE THEY DO FOR THE LICENSE PLATES , TAKE THE DD 1300 AND WHATEVER PROOF IS REQUIRED TO THE DMV WHEN THEY

[01:05:02]

>> MAKE SURE TO GET YOUR INFORMATION I'M SURE WE CAN FIND SOMEBODY TO HELP OUT. THANK YOU.

>> MISS MUELLER ARE YOU HERE? NOT HERE. UP NEXT WILL BE ] MATANZAS RIVER KEEPERS AND ON DECK IS ERIC SACHS. FIND A EMPTY

PODIUM. >> GOOD MORNING I AM THE STATE OF DIRECTOR OF THE MATANZAS RIVER KEEPER NONPROFIT ORGANIZATION DEDICATED TO PROTECTING LOCAL WHAT WAS HER ADVOCACY EDUCATION AND COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT. THANKFUL TO SHARE SOME LEGISLATIVE PRIORITIES WITH YOU THIS MORNING. ONE OF THE BEST WAYS TO PROTECT WATERS TO PROTECT LAND AND CURRENTLY 1/4 OF ST. JOHNS COUNTY'S CONSERVATION LAND AND THOSE SPACES ARE BELOVED BY RESIDENTS AND VISITORS ALIKE AND I'M SURE YOU ALL REMEMBER LAST SUMMER THE PROPOSAL TO SWAP 600 ACRES OF LAND WITHIN THE WILDLIFE MANAGEMENT AREA FOR AN ARRAY OF SCATTERED PURSES ACROSS THE STATE AND I'M SURE YOU REMEMBER THE OUTREACH THAT PROPOSAL WAS MET WITH AND WANT TO EXPRESS GRATITUDE FOR ALL OF YOU FOR SPEAKING UP AGAINST THE ISSUE AND I WOULD LIKE TO STRESS GRATITUDE TO YOU IN PARTICULAR REPRESENTATIVE KENDALL. WE LOOK FORWARD FOR THE UPCOMING SESSION TO SUPPORT A BILL TO ENSURE CONSERVATION LAND STAYS CONSERVATION LAND TO ENSURE THAT PROPOSAL DOES NOT THREATEN THE NATURAL AREAS AND PUBLIC LAND EVER AGAIN. ANOTHER REQUEST WE HAVE FOR YOU IS TO ADDRESS THE HARMFUL SECTIONS OF LAST YEAR SENATE BILL 180 AND WHILE THERE IS SOME PRODUCTIVE EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT LANGUAGE IN SENATE BILL 180, THE LATE SESSION AMENDMENT ADDING SECTIONS 18 AND 28 WITH SWEEPING PREEMPTION'S THAT DISALLOW COMPLAINTS OF PLAN AMENDMENTS AND LAND DEVELOPMENT CODE AMENDMENTS DEEMED MORE RESTRICTIVE OR BURDENSOME THOSE ARE THE SECTIONS THAT ARE PROBLEMATIC CAUSING ISSUES ACROSS THE STATE, ST. JOHNS COUNTY CONFERENCE A PLAN WAS JUST REJECTED BY THE STATE BECAUSE OF THIS. SOME OF THE REASONS IT WAS REJECTED WERE THINGS LIKE INCREASING BICYCLE SAFETY, PROTECTING HURRICANE EVACUATION ROUTES, THINGS THAT

ARE COMMON SENSE ISSUES. >> 10 SECONDS.

>> WE NEED YOUR HELP TO PROTECT LOCAL WATERWAYS. IF ANYONE'S INTERESTED IN GOING ON A BOAT TO EXPLORE THE ESTUARIES I'M HAPPY

. >> ON DECK WE HAVE

YOU ARE RECOGNIZED. >> GOOD MORNING ON THE FOUNDER AND EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF OPERATION LIFELINE 501(C)(3) NONPROFIT FOUNDED IN ST. JOHN'S COUNTY TO ADDRESS ALL ASPECTS OF VETERAN HOUSING FROM HELPING VETERANS ON THE STREETS OR AT RISK OF HOMELESSNESS FINDING SUPPORTIVE HOUSING TO HELP GET THEM BACK ON THEIR FEET, TO HELP MORE ESTABLISHED VETERANS TO ACHIEVE THE DREAM OF HOMEOWNERSHIP. ONE OF THE MORE VISIBLE THINGS WE HAVE BEEN DOING IN ST. JOHN'S COUNTY IS HELPING VETERANS STRUGGLING TO STAY IN THEIR HOUSES. IT TRULY IS A UNSEEN CRISIS WE HAVE GOT WITH A LOT OF VETERANS LIVING IN HOUSES THAT ARE BASICALLY ON THE VERGE OF BEING CONDEMNED AND WE HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO GET IN AND MAKE SOME GREAT STRIDES TO HELP THOSE VETERANS. AND WE WANT TO DO MORE SO WE ARE LOOKING FOR SUPPORT ON A DIFFERENT KIND OF REHAB. THERE IS A COMMUNITY CENTER SITTING IN THE NORTHWEST PART OF THE COUNTY FOR ALMOST 30 YEARS AND ARE LOOKING TO REHAB THAT WORKING WITH THE ST. JOHNS COUNTY GOVERNMENT WE ARE NOW WORKING A PUBLIC-PRIVATE PARTNERSHIP WHERE WE HAVE POSSESSION WE WILL DO THE REHAB OF IT WITH 25% OF THE MILLION DOLLARS WE NEED OF INVESTMENT TO DO THAT LOOKING FOR 200,000 OF AN APPROPRIATION FROM THE STATE

[01:10:09]

>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH. >>

RIGHT? >> YOU ARE ACTUALLY.

>> RECOGNIZED NEXT UP JEN EVANS PALM VALLEY ASSOCIATION.

>> THANK YOU I APPRECIATE YOUR TIME. REPRESENT THE HORSE CLAY THERAPY CENTER. WE PROVIDE EQUINE ASSISTED THERAPY TO CHILDREN WITH DISABILITIES AND TO VETERANS WHO SUFFER FROM PTSD WITH MENTAL HEALTH SERVICES ESTABLISHED IN 2015 AS A NONPROFIT ORGANIZATION AND IN 2021 WE STARTED WORKING WITH VETERANS IN 2015 THE KIDS PROGRAM AND IN 21 THE VETERANS PROGRAM AND IN 22 CONTRACTING WITH THE VA TO PROVIDE MORE EXTENSIVE SERVICES TO VETERANS. WE HAVE GROWN IMMENSELY AND WE ARE EXCEEDING OUR CAPACITY AT THE CURRENT LOCATION. WE ARE DOING THESE VISITS ON SEVEN ACRES OF LAND OFF STATE ROAD 207 WHICH WE LEASE SO EACH YEAR WE PROVIDE 11,000 VISITS FROM THE KIDS AND 250 TO VETERANS AND WE HAVE 80 KIDS ON A WAITING LIST.

SO THE PURPOSE HERE TODAY IS TO ASK FOR FUNDING FOR AN EXPANSION PROJECT WITH 30 ACRES OF LAND WE ARE LOOKING TO PURCHASE SO WE CAN ESTABLISH AND ERECT A NEW FACILITY TO PROVIDE ALL THE NEEDS WE HAVE. IT WILL REACH HASTINGS, PALATKA, PUTNAM COUNTY, ST. JOHNS COUNTY, CLAY COUNTY, DUVAL COUNTY, NASSAU COUNTY AT THE TUNE OF 35,000 VISITS IN A YEAR. SO WE WILL BE ABLE TO EXPAND THE REACH. TOTAL FOR PHASE 1 IS $2.2 MILLION. WE ARE ASKING $1 MILLION FROM YOU AND WE'RE SCHEDULED TO RECEIVE A $1 MILLION FEDERAL GRANT LATER THIS YEAR SO THAT WITH OTHER PRIVATE FUNDING WOULD PUT US AT 50% OF WHAT WE ARE ASKING FOR PHASE 1. THANK YOU SO MUCH, THIS IS JUST A RENDERING OF THE FACILITY WE ARE ANTICIPATING THAT WE WILL BE ABLE TO

ESTABLISH SO THANK YOU. >> THANK YOU VERY MUCH, ON DECK WE HAVE

EVANS YOU ARE RECOGNIZED. >> GOOD MORNING. I AM NOT ASKING FOR FUNDING, SINCE 1948 PALM VALLEY COMMUNITY ASSOCIATION HAS BEEN ONE OF THE OLDEST CONTINUING OPERATIONS IN NORTH FLORIDA PROVIDING A PLATFORM FOR POSITIVE CONSTRUCTIVE DISCUSSION REGARDING ISSUES IMPORTANT TO THE COMMUNITY. LAST YEAR WE HOSTED TWO CANDIDATES FORMS, TWO OF YOU PARTICIPATED. WE ARE TOLD BOTH BY THOSE WHO PARTICIPATED AND VOTERS THAT IT WAS WELL ORGANIZED, WELL-RUN AND ACADEMIC FACILITATOR DID A FANTASTIC JOB.

WE ARE ALREADY PLANNING NEXT YEAR'S FORUM. WE ADVOCATE FOR MAINTAINING QUALITY OF LIFE THROUGH , AMONG OTHER ISSUES, THE CONSERVATION OF OUR WETLANDS AND PROTECTIVE PROPERTIES. SO LAST YEAR WE WERE INVOLVED IN THE STOP THE LAND SWAP AND WE ARE GREATLY APPRECIATIVE TO ALL OF YOU FOR YOUR SUPPORT ESPECIALLY TO REPRESENTATIVE KENDALL WHO IS QUICK ACTION AND LEADERSHIP HAS LED OUR EFFORTS. THIS WAS COLLABORATIVE ACROSS STATE, COUNTY, SAINT AUGUSTINE, SAINT AUGUSTINE BEACH AND LOCAL COMMUNITIES. WE WILL CONTINUE TO VIGOROUSLY PROTECT THE PRESERVATION OF CONSERVATION LANDS AND OUR ENVIRONMENT. THE STATE HAS PROVIDED SOME FUNDING FOR THE WEST SIDE PALM VALLEY SIDEWALK AND WE LOOK FORWARD TO COMPLETING IT IN THE NEXT SIX MONTHS OR SO. WE APPRECIATE YOUR SUPPORT HELPING TO PROVIDE ALTERNATIVE FOR SAFER WALKING TO SCHOOLS, CHURCHES AND BUSINESSES. FINALLY ON BEHALF OF THE PALM VALLEY COMMUNITY ASSOCIATION AND ST. JOHNS COUNTY PARKS AND REC DEPARTMENT WE INVITE YOU TO BRING YOUR FAMILIES AND ENJOY THE 44TH ANNUAL PALM VALLEY BOAT PARADE AND LAUNCH PARTY UNDER THE

BRIDGE . CONTACT ME FOR DETAILS. >> THANK YOU VERY MUCH, ON DECK WE HAVE

[01:15:03]

IT WOULD BE HELPFUL IF THE LEGISLATURE WOULD REFRAIN FROM CULTURAL BOARDS AND FOCUS ON THE ACTUAL PROBLEMS THAT NEED TO BE ADDRESSED. EVERY CITIZEN SHOULD FEEL THEY ARE REPRESENTED IN TALLAHASSEE AND YOU ARE WORKING FOR THEM , FOR EACH OF US. A FEW ISSUES OF MY CONCERN. REDISTRICTING BECAUSE OF THE GOVERNOR'S 2022 REDISTRICTING PLAN THE PUBLIC 20 OF THE 28 SEATS IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES WHY SPEND THE TIME HOPING TO GRAB ONE ADDITIONAL SEAT I GERRYMANDERING THE DISTRICT? IS IT WORTH THE RISK IT MIGHT BACKFIRE? VACCINES, IT IS UNFORTUNATE THE FLORIDA SURGEON GENERAL DOES NOT ACCEPT SCIENTIFIC STUDIES REGARDING VACCINES AND IS PUSHING LEGISLATURE TO NOT REQUIRE STUDENTS BE VACCINATED.

WOULD YOU WANT TO TAKE RESPONSIBILITY OF MEASLES OUTBREAKS IN FLORIDA WHICH NOW EXIST IN NUMEROUS OTHER STATES? I HOPE YOU DO NOT CONSIDER PASSING THIS ANTI-SCIENCE LEGISLATION. LEGISLATION I EXPECT THE LEGISLATURE RECOGNIZES THE IMPACT ON THE BUDGET CAUSED BY REMOVING INCOME RESTRICTIONS ON SCHOOL VOUCHERS PERHAPS YOU CAN RESTORE THE 200,000 INCOME GAP REQUIRED THE VOUCHERS COMPLY WITH THE SAME REQUIREMENTS AS PUBLIC SCHOOLS. PERHAPS RETURN THE MONEY TO THE PUBLIC SCHOOLS WHEN STUDENTS ARE NO LONGER ATTENDING THE CHARTER AND PRIVATE SCHOOLS. THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR YOUR TIME.

>> ON DECK WE HAVE

>> I AM HASTINGS EDUCATOR IN ST. JOHN'S COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOLS AND FORMER CAMPAIGN MANAGER WHO LED THE OPPOSITION AGAINST SAM GRECO.

NICE TO LAY EYES ON YOU IN PERSON. I'VE A MASTERS OF SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT FROM THE UNIVERSITY OF FLORIDA WITH A FOCUS ON COMMUNITY CENTER DECISION-MAKING. MY LEGISLATIVE PRIORITIES ARE PRETTY CLEAR. I INSIST THAT YOU GUYS INCREASE FUNDING FOR FLORIDA FOREVER TO $300 MILLION, INCREASE FUNDING FOR SPRING RESTORATION $150 MILLION, BREACH THE KIRKPATRICK RODMAN DAM AND REPEAL SECTIONS 18 AND 28 FROM SB 180. SO, IF THE FLORIDA FOREVER FUNDING AND SPRINGS RESTORATION FUNDING IS A BUDGETARY ISSUE I INSIST YOU FIND FUNDING GAPS AND FULFILL THEM BY DIVERTING FUNDS AWAY FROM THE IMMIGRANT DETECTION OPERATIONS THAT WE ARE ASKING QUESTIONS LATER SINCE YOUR STATE REPRESENTATIVES I FEEL THE NEED TO TELL YOU IT IS A NECESSITY FOR ALL IMMIGRANTS REGARDLESS OF LEGAL STATUS TO BE RESPECTED WITH INTERNATIONAL HUMAN RIGHTS LAWS AND CONSTITUTIONAL LAWS SUCH AS DUE PROCESS. BACK TO THE KIRKPATRICK DAM IF YOU'RE NOT FAMILIAR RIGHT NOW WE HAVE A DAM IN PLACE THAT DOES NOT PROVIDE ELECTRICITY, IT DOES NOT DO ANYTHING IT IS DEFUNCT. IF WE BREACH THE DAM THEN WE ARE ALONE FRESHWATER FROM SILVER RIVER TO FLOW INTO OUR RIVER WOULD IMPROVE WATER QUALITY HERE .

THAT BEING SAID, THE DAM IS GOING TO EVENTUALLY NEED FURTHER MAINTENANCE COST, EVENTUALLY IT WILL HAVE TO BE REPLACED OR BREACHED SO I DON'T THINK WE SHOULD SPEND MORE TAXPAYER MONEY THROUGHOUT MY LIFETIME. SB 180 REPEAL 18 AND 20 AND GO HOME

RULE. >> ON DECK WE HAVE

FLORIDA ST. JOHN DEMOCRATS . >> THANK YOU TO ALL HELLO TO MY ST. JOHNS COUNTY RESIDENTS AND NEIGHBORS AND ELECTED OFFICIALS, THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR ALLOWING US TO SPEAK TODAY. IN THE 13TH INDIVIDUAL THAT HAS COME UP HERE TO TALK ABOUT WORKFORCE HOUSING.

WHAT I WANT TO SHOW YOU IS A FACE. I AM WHAT SOME CONSIDER OR KNOW AS ALICE WHICH IS ASSET LIMITED INCOME CONSTRAINED YET EMPLOYED CONSTITUENT HERE IN ST. JOHN'S COUNTY. ALSO FOR THE

[01:20:04]

EVERY DAY THIS IS NEEDED. WITH A COUNTY THAT HAS A MEDIAN INCOME OF $100,000, WHEN WE ARE ONLY MAKING UNDER 35, I HAVE 30 SECONDS. EVERYBODY IN HERE KNOWS WHAT WE NEED AND HAVE TALKED ABOUT IT SO WHAT I WANT TO SAY IS THIS AND I WILL GO TO THE END. DID YOU SEE ALICE PRESERVING AT THE MEETING INVOCATION ? FOR EVERYTHING A SEASON BLOOMING ADVOCACY .

INNOVATION. SO THANK YOU AND LET'S GET THIS DONE FOR ALL OF

US. >> THANK YOU ON DECK WE HAVE NAME ] FLORIDA CHAPTER OF AMERICAN PEDIATRICS. RIGHT NOW WE WILL RECOGNIZE YOU DELEGATION FOR BEING HERE TODAY. BEFORE THE START OF SESSION LAST YEAR THE TAMPA BAY TIMES BROKE A STORY THAT FLORIDA INSURANCE COMPANIES WERE FUNNELING BILLIONS OF DOLLARS INTO AFFILIATE COMPANIES WHILE CRYING POVERTY RAISING PREMIUMS AND PRESSING FOR LEGISLATIVE BREAKS. ON OPENING DAY OF SESSION THIS PAST YEAR SPEAKER PEREZ STOOD BEFORE THE HOUSE BOWING TO GET ANSWERS. A FEW HEARINGS WERE HELD AND THE MATTER WAS QUIETLY DROPPED, I CANNOT GET ANSWERS FROM PEREZ OR LEGISLATORS AND UNDERSTAND THERE ARE TWO MORE SIDES FOR EVERY STORY BUT FLORIDA FAMILIES DESERVE TRANSPARENCY. I URGE THIS DELEGATION TO FOLLOW THE MONEY AND GET REAL ANSWERS TO THE QUESTION AND FOLLOW ANY OTHER LEADS BEFORE MORE HOMEOWNERS ARE PRICED OUT OF THEIR HOMES. THIS IS AN ISSUE AFFECTING SO MANY FLORIDIANS AND HAS BEEN UNDERSTUDIED AND UNDER ADDRESSED BY THE FLORIDA LEGISLATURE. I KNOW I SPEAK FOR MANY OF US WHEN I SAY HOW FRUSTRATED WE ARE ALL ARE ABOUT THIS ISSUE, THANK YOU AGAIN AND I DON'T KNOW IF I CAN HAND YOU

INFORMATION SHEETS. >> THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

>> I AM A PEDIATRICIAN FROM JACKSONVILLE. FROM ZERO DAYS TO 18 YEARS CHILDREN AND ADOLESCENT RECEIVE ABOUT 20 VACCINES, THESE VACCINES PREVENT FAR MORE THAN 20 ILLNESSES. I KNOW YOU'RE SICK AND TIRED ABOUT HEARING ABOUT POLIO AND MEASLES BECAUSE WE ALWAYS ONE YOU BECAUSE MEASLES IS THE MOST CONTAGIOUS VIRUS KNOWN TO HUMANS AND IT IS DEADLY. CAUSING PARALYSIS .

TODAY I'M GOING TO TALK TO YOU ABOUT BACTERIA , THIS IS COMPLETELY DIFFERENT FROM THE FLU VIRUS EVERY YEAR. THIS FLU IS PREVENTED BY FAXING WHICH IS MANDATED IN OUR STATE. H FLU CAN CAUSE MENINGITIS, PNEUMONIA AND EAR INFECTION, IT IS A TERRIBLE ILLNESS CAUSING SIGNIFICANT HIGH FEVER, SEVERE THROAT SWELLING, THE CHILD PRESENTS TO THE EMERGENCY DEPARTMENT GASPING FOR AIR, THE CHILD HAS TO BE BRUSHED TO THE OPERATING ROOM FOR INTUBATION SO IT CAN BREATHE IT'S NOT EVEN SAFE TO INTUBATE THEM IN THE EMERGENCY ROOM. MENINGITIS IS A HORRIBLE INFECTION THAT WILL LIKELY CAUSE CONVOCATIONS SUCH AS BLINDNESS, DEAFNESS, DEVELOPMENTAL DISABILITY AND PARALYSIS , OR ALTOGETHER IF THEY SURVIVE. H FLU MENINGITIS CAN AFFECT PATIENTS AS EARLY AS ONE DAY. THIS TINY BABY WILL HAVE A NEEDLE STUCK IN THEIR BACK KNOWN AS A LUMBAR PUNCTURE THEY WILL HAVE PUS POURING FROM THEIR BACK THROUGH THE NEEDLE, IF THEY SURVIVE IT WOULD BE ADMITTED FOR WEEKS AND WEEKS OF ANTIBIOTIC TREATMENT. I MIGRATED TO THE U.S. 25 YEARS AGO NEVER SEEN ANY OF THESE ILLNESSES PLEASE DO NOT LET OUR CHILDREN IN THIS STATE BEGIN TO TEACH ME AND OTHER PEDIATRICIANS HOW TO TREAT THESE

ERADICATED DISEASES. THANK YOU. >> THANK YOU VERY MUCH, ON DECK

[01:25:01]

GUSTAVUS IN. >> HI I REPRESENT ST. JOHNS COUNTY RESIDENTS AGAINST OVERDEVELOPMENT. AT ONE POINT WE WERE THE FASTEST GROWING , FASTEST DEVELOPING COUNTY IN THE WHOLE UNITED STATES, OVER 3000 COUNTIES, LAST I HEARD WE WERE DOWN TO ABOUT FOURTH. COMING UP ABOUT SB 180, AS A 12 YEAR RESIDENT BLISSFULLY HAPPY FOR MY FIRST FIVE OR SIX YEARS HERE AND THEN SCHOOLS STARTED BEING SO STRETCHED BY THE NEED TO BUILD EVERY YEAR, WE NEED HOME RULE. I NEED YOU ALL TO SUPPORT SB 180 CHANGES 18 AND 28 AND MAKE IT SO WE CAN COME HERE AND TALK TO OUR ELECTED OFFICIALS ABOUT HOW BEACH ACCESS IS AFFECTED, HOW WE ARE SITTING IN TRAFFIC, HOW OUR SCHOOL CANNOT PAY TO RETAIN THE TEACHERS THEY HAVE RECRUITED. THAT'S ALL I WANTED TO SAY,

THANK YOU. >> ON DECK WE HAVE KATE DOUGHTY ST. JOHN'S EDUCATION ASSOCIATION.

>> GOOD MORNING. I AM ACTUALLY THE VICE PRESIDENT OF THE LOCAL LEAGUE OF WOMEN VOTERS, I AM A ST. JOHN'S RESIDENT SPEAKING TODAY I LIVE IN PONTE VEDRA BEACH. THE LEAGUE WAS FOUNDED OVER 100 YEARS AGO. A NONPARTISAN MISSION EMPOWERING VOTERS AND DEFENDING DEMOCRACY HERE TODAY TO ENCOURAGE YOU OUR LEGISLATIVE DELEGATION TO SAY NO TO THE BILLS THAT MAKE IT HARDER TO VOTE OR TO REGISTER TO VOTE, VOTING IS A RIGHT AND WE URGE LEGISLATORS TO RESPECT THAT RIGHT BY OPPOSING EFFORTS TO MAKE VOTING HARDER OR MORE ONEROUS. ALSO HERE TO ASK YOU TO FULLY FUND OUR ELECTIONS ADMINISTRATION. WE WANT TO ENSURE THE SECRETARY OF STATE AND LOCAL SUPERVISORS OF ELECTION HAVE THE NECESSARY RESOURCES TO RUN FAIR, SECURE AND EFFICIENT ELECTIONS IN EACH COUNTY FROM WORLD COUNTIES TO LARGE METROPOLITAN AREAS AND EVERYWHERE IN BETWEEN. FINALLY WE ARE HERE TO ASK YOU TO SAY NO TO MIDCYCLE REDISTRICTING.

FLORIDIANS OVERWHELMINGLY SUPPORTED THE FIRE DISTRICT AMENDMENT IN 2010 AND SENT A CLEAR MESSAGE THAT DISTRICT MAPS SHOULD BE DRAWN FAIRLY. MAPS MUST NOT BE DRAWN WITHIN TEND TO FAVOR OR DISFAVOR ANY POLITICAL PARTY OR POLITICIAN. DISTRICTS SHOULD FOLLOW EXISTING POLITICAL AND GEOGRAPHICAL BOUNDARIES WHEN POSSIBLE. REDRAWING CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICTS IN THE MIDDLE OF THE DECADE ON PARTISAN GROUNDS WITHOUT NEW CENSUS DATA DEFIES THE WILL OF THE PEOPLE AND UNDERMINES FLORIDA STATE CONSTITUTION. PHOTO FAMILIES EXPECT ELECTED LEADERS TO FOCUS ON KITCHEN TABLE ISSUES AFFECTING THEIR DAILY LIVES AND NOT DIVERGED MILLIONS OF TAXPAYER DOLLARS TO A RUSHED AND UNNECESSARY REDISTRICTING PROCESS THAT DOES NOT ADDRESS

THE ECONOMIC REALITY THANK YOU. >> THANK YOU VERY MUCH, ON DECK WE HAVE

>> GOOD MORNING PRESIDENT OF THE ST. JOHN'S EDUCATION ASSOCIATION. THANK YOU FOR THE OPPORTUNITY TO SPEAK TODAY. I COME BEFORE YOU NOT ONLY AS A CONSTITUENT, BUT AS A REPRESENTATIVE OF THE DEDICATED EDUCATORS WHO SERVE IN PUBLIC SCHOOLS. TEACHERS WHO ARE INCREASINGLY FACING AGGRESSION FROM BOTH STUDENTS AND PARENTS. WE HAVE TEACHERS IN ST. JOHN'S COUNTY WHO HAVE FACED ABUSE, PHYSICAL AND VERBAL , THIS IS A GROWING CONCERN THAT DEMANDS ALL OF OUR IMMEDIATE ATTENTION. WE HAVE TEACHERS AND ADMINISTRATORS HERE WHO HAVE FACED UNBELIEVABLE HARASSMENT, INCLUDING NOT JUST VERBAL ABUSE, BUT ALSO SOCIAL MEDIA HARASSMENT. THE PERPETRATORS ARE HIDING BEHIND THE FIRST AMENDMENT. I CAN SEND FIRST-HAND ACCOUNTS FROM TEACHERS WHO HAVE NOT ONLY SUFFERED PHYSICALLY, EMOTIONALLY AND MENTALLY, BUT ALSO FINANCIALLY. THERE SHOULD BE CIVIL AND CRIMINAL RAMIFICATIONS. OUR TEACHERS ARE PROFESSIONALS, THEY DESERVE TO WORK IN ENVIRONMENTS WHERE THEY FEEL SAFE, RESPECTED AND SUPPORTED. WHEN EDUCATORS ARE SUBJECTED TO ABUSE IT UNDERMINES THEIR ABILITY TO TEACH AND THE ROADS THE FOUNDATION OF OUR EDUCATIONAL SYSTEM. WE ARE ASKING YOU AS REPRESENTATIVES TO TAKE A FIRM STAND. WE NEED CLEAR ENFORCEABLE LAWS THAT PROTECT TEACHERS FROM HARASSMENT AND VIOLENCE. WE NEED TO BE ABLE TO ENACT PROTOCOLS THAT ENSURE SWIFT AND FAIR RESPONSE WHEN INCIDENTS OCCUR AND WE NEED ONGOING TRAINING AND RESOURCES FOR STAFF TO MANAGE CONFLICT AND DE-ESCALATE SITUATIONS SAFELY. THIS IS NOT JUST ABOUT

[01:30:01]

>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH ON DECK WE HAVE SUSANNA PAVEL NOW WE RECOGNIZE FOR THE OPPORTUNITY TO SPEAK. I AM THE MOM OF A CHILD IN HER FOURTH YEAR IN THE ST. JOHN'S COUNTY SCHOOL DISTRICT. EVERY YEAR MY CHILD HAS BEEN IN THE DISTRICT HAVE SPOKEN TO THE DELEGATION ABOUT THE SAME ISSUES OF TEACHER PAY. SADLY DURING OUR FOUR SHORT YEARS I HAVE WATCHED AS WE HAVE LEARNED MANY EXPERIENCED TEACHERS BECAUSE WHILE STARTING TEACHER PAY IN THE STATE IS RESPECTABLE THE AVERAGE TEACHER PAY REMAINS DEAD LAST IN THE NATION AND COST OF LIVING IS HIGH. MANY TEACHERS MUST WORK SECOND JOBS IN ORDER TO MAKE ENDS MEET RESULTING IN TEACHER BURNOUT. CURRENTLY IN ST. JOHN'S COUNTY WHERE THAN HALF OF OUR TEACHERS HAVE 0 TO 5 YEARS EXPERIENCE. MORE THAN HALF. THE AVAILABLE DATA SUGGESTS WE WILL LOSE SOME OF THEM. NO ORGANIZATION CAN FUNCTION OPTIMALLY WITH MORE THAN HALF OF THEIR EMPLOYEES NEW TO THE FIELD. LAST YEAR MY CHILD STARTED A LANGUAGE CLASS WITHOUT A TEACHER. FORTUNATELY A TEACHER WAS FOUND IN THE MIDDLE OF THE SECOND QUARTER BUT THE TEACHER QUIT WITH ONE WEEK LEFT IN THE SCHOOL YEAR, THIS YEAR MY CHILD IS IN HER SECOND YEAR OF THAT LANGUAGE AND OF COURSE SHE STARTED IN A DEFICIT BECAUSE THE MATERIAL THAT NEEDED TO BE COVERED LAST YEAR WAS NOT DUE TO NOT HAVING A TEACHER FOR MOST OF THE YEAR. HER STORY IS FAR FROM UNIQUE. IN SHORT, THE MAJORITY OF US IN ST. JOHN'S COUNTY SCHOOL SYSTEMS STILL SEND CHILDREN TO PUBLIC SCHOOL SYSTEMS AND I'M ASKING YOU TO INVEST IN OUR CHILDREN BY MAKING A SUBSTANTIAL INVESTMENT OF NEW MONIES IN K-12 EDUCATION AND PROVIDING ENOUGH FUNDING SO AVERAGE TEACHER SALARY WILL NO LONGER BE LAST IN THE NATION.

OUR KIDS NEED QUALIFIED TEACHERS WHO WILL STAY IN THE SYSTEM, GAIN EXPERIENCE AND MAKE TEACHING A CAREER. THANK YOU.

>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH. RIGHT NOW WE RECOGNIZE

>> THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE I HAVE LIVED IN THE COUNTY 25 YEARS AND I AM ASKING YOU TO PROTECT PEOPLE BEING TERRORIZED BY I.C.E. JAILING CITIZENS DEPORTING PEOPLE GOING THROUGH THE CITIZEN PROCESS I.C.E. IS HARMING FAMILIES AND THE ECONOMY WHICH DEPENDS ON MANY OF THESE PEOPLE. YOU CAN REQUIRE A JUDGE ASSIGNED WARRANT FOR IMMIGRATION BECAUSE YOU PROBABLY REALIZE WRONGFUL DETENTIONS CAN HOLD STATES FINANCIALLY LIABLE.

FEDERAL WATCHDOG GROUPS HAVE WARNED I.C.E. ACHES FREQUENT MISTAKES. AS OF SEPTEMBER 21 OF THIS YEAR 71.5% OF PEOPLE IN I.C.E. CUSTODY HAVE NO CRIMINAL RECORDS. IN APRIL A US BORN CITIZEN WAS ARRESTED AND DETAINED BY I.C.E. A JUDGE IGNORED THE BIRTH CERTIFICATE BUT HE WAS RELEASED BECAUSE OF PUBLIC PRESSURE. PEOPLE IN FLORIDA LIVE IN FEAR, FOR EXAMPLE THEIR CHILDREN IN THE COUNTY CHILDREN OF MARINE VETERAN IN THE NATIONAL GUARD AND THEY WORRY ONE OF THE PARENTS WILL BE DEPORTED BECAUSE THE PARENT IS A ACTUALIZED CITIZEN, A 15-YEAR-OLD WITH NO CRIMINAL RECORD WAS DETAINED AND TRANSPORTED TO ALCATRAZ BY ACCIDENT. A CITIZEN BORN IN THE UK WORKING IN FLORIDA HAS BEEN GETTING TARGETED SELF DEPORT ADS, THEY WONDER IF THEY ARE NEXT. A JACKSONVILLE CAFE OWNER HAD A MENTAL HEALTH CRISIS AND WAS PLACED IN A I.C.E. FACILITY.

THE FAMILY IS SELLING THE CAFE TO COVER LEGAL EXPENSES, CLAY COUNTY SHERIFF'S OFFICE AT A DRIVERS LICENSE CHECK ON FRIDAY THESE POLICIES DESTROY TRUST BETWEEN LAW ENFORCEMENT AND COMMUNITIES. I AM ASKING YOU TO REQUIRE A JUDGE ASSIGNED WARRANT IMMIGRATION HOLDS OR RELEASE 24 HOURS. YOU CAN MEND A ROBUST IDENTITY CHECKS AND RAPID INDEPENDENT REVIEW WHEN CITIZENSHIP IS ASSERTED AND PROTECT CIVIC SPACE, NO CIVIL

ARRESTS IN SCHOOLS -- >> ON DECK WE HAVE RIGHT NOW WE WILL RECOGNIZE MARIANNE HAYES .

>> THANK YOU FOR THIS OPPORTUNITY TO SPEAK TO YOUR. I AM HERE TODAY TO DISCUSS A TOPIC THAT IS SHUNNED BY MANY IN THE PUBLIC BECAUSE OF LACK OF INFORMATION, THE TOPIC IS PEOPLE ON THE SEX OFFENDER REGISTRY, IN FLORIDA IF SOMEONE IS PLACED ON THE REGISTRY IT IS FOR A LIFETIME. AND THOSE ON THE REGISTRY ARE STARTING TO AGE OF, I'M HERE ASKING FOR

[01:35:01]

SITUATIONS THANK YOU. >> ON DECK IS HOLLY ROSS. WE RECOGNIZE HAMNER AND I SPEAK FOR MY SON BECAUSE HE CANNOT. CANNOT SERVE FOUR TIMES, SIX, NINE, 11 AND 21 TREATMENT LATER IMPACTING MOSTLY HIS HEART. NOVEMBER 4, 2020 RYAN WAS ADMITTED TO THE MAYO CLINIC HOSPITAL IN JACKSONVILLE THROUGH THE ER. DIAGNOSED WITH A COMPLETE HEART BLOCK REQUIRING IMMEDIATE SURGERY FOR A PACEMAKER WITH LEADS. INSTEAD THE DOCTOR SCHEDULED SURGERY FOR THE NEXT DAY AFTER PREVIOUSLY BOOKED PATIENT LEAVING RYAN IN AGONY UNTIL THEN AND THE DOCTOR PLACED A PACEMAKER INAPPROPRIATE FOR SOMEONE LIKE MY SON AS THE DELAY CAUSES A CONSTANT SENSATION WE FOUND OUT LATER IN 2015 WHEN FOUND GUILTY IN FEDERAL COURT OF VIOLATIONS OF THE FALSE CLAIMS ACT IN RETALIATION AGAINST THE NURSE WHO REPORTED HIM EMORY UNIVERSITY HOSPITAL CONFIRMED DAMAGE TO RYAN'S LUNGS, DIAPHRAGM AND NERVES FROM THE SURGERY. WHEN DR. MICHAEL LOYD PLACED THE PLACE MAKER WITH LEADS HE ASKED WHY IN THE DID MAYO GIVE YOU A LEAVE THIS PACEMAKER? MY QUESTIONS ARE WHY STILL AT MAYO ON NOVEMBER 4, 2020 AFTER VIOLATING FEDERAL LAW? WHY WAS MAYO ALLOWED TO PAY THE GOVERNMENT A FINE AND WHY COULDN'T BRIAN FIND AN ATTORNEY? HE WAS HARMED MORE THAN I CAN DESCRIBE. I WOULD URGE YOU TO PLEASE BE THE VOICE OF THOSE WHO CANNOT SPEAK AND REPEAL .

>> THANK YOU, SORRY FOR YOUR LOSS. ON DECK WE HAVE AND RIGHT NOW WE RECOGNIZE

>> HOLLY ROSS WITH ST. JOHN'S UNITED FOR PROGRESS. HAPPY TO BE HERE TODAY THANK YOU FOR HAVING ME. WE HAVE AN AFFORDABILITY CRISIS IN ST. JOHN'S COUNTY WITH THE COST OF REDISTRICTING WASTING MILLIONS OF TAXPAYER DOLLARS AFTER COMPLETING MAPS IN 2022. WE ASK YOU STOP THE PROCESS AND RECOGNIZE THAT THIS GAME IS NOT IN THE BEST INTEREST OF THE CITIZENS PLAIN AND SIMPLE PARTY POLITICS. WE HAVE PEOPLE WHO NEED HEALTHCARE WILL FIND OUT THERE UNABLE TO AFFORD IT NOVEMBER 1, MONEY SPENT ON REDISTRICTING COULD BE REALLOCATED TO MAKING HEALTH CARE MORE AFFORDABLE. WE HAVE HUNGRY STUDENTS AT SCHOOL. I KNOW I RUN A NONPROFIT FOOD PROGRAM FOR STUDENTS IN ST.

JOHN'S COUNTY. THERE'S A SENSE OF ANXIETY BORDERING ON PANIC AT FOOD BANKS AND PANTRIES HOW THEY WILL DEAL WITH INCREASE IN NEED THAT CUTS TO USDA COMMODITY PROGRAMS IN OCTOBER WITH FOOD BANKS REDUCED TO 17% PRIOR ALLOCATION. THE STATE NEEDS TO

[01:40:06]

ON THE SURFACE WE WOULD ALL LIKE TO GET SOMETHING FOR NOTHING IN REALITY IT IS A SHELL GAME WE NEED COUNTY SERVICES. THERE'S NO CLOUD OF MONEY THAT WILL RAIN DOWN FROM PRIVATE EQUITY FIRMS WHO BOUGHT VACATION HOMES TO COVER THE NEEDS OF THE COUNTY.

THIS ACTION WOULD PUSH COUNTY TO RAISE SALES TAX RATES CONSIDERABLY TO COVER THE LOSS. LOWERING OUR INSURANCE RATES IS A SOLUTION TO THE INFLATION PRESSURES.

>> THANK YOU, MA'AM. ON DECK WE HAVE 11:00 WE HAVE TO SHRINK DOWN TO ONE MINUTE SO THIS IS MAYBE THE THIRD REPRESENTATIVE WE HAVE HAD FROM THE DEMOCRATIC PARTY IF YOU HAVE MULTIPLE PEOPLE SPEAKING FROM THE SAME ORGANIZATION PLEASE CONSOLIDATE AND BE COURTEOUS TO THE PEOPLE BEHIND

YOU. >> THANK YOU FOR HAVING ME TODAY. SPEAKING FOR THE ST. JOHN'S COUNTY DEMOCRATIC PARTY WITH TWO ISSUES I WANT TO FOCUS ON TODAY SPECIFICALLY EROSION OF HOME RULE OTHERS HAVE SPOKEN I KNOW YOU'RE FAMILIAR WITH IT BUT I WOULD LIKE TO POINT OUT IT IS A NONPARTISAN ISSUE WHICH IS KIND OF NICE SO IT IS SOMETHING A LOT OF US BELIEVE IS WRONG SO IMPORTANT TO MAINTAIN HOME RULE SPECIFICALLY IN ST. JOHN'S COUNTY WITH A PLAN WAS RECENTLY PROJECTED AS A RESULT OF SB 180.

FLORIDA'S CONSTITUTIONAL HOME PROTECTIONS UNDERMINES LOCAL NEEDED FLEXIBILITY TO PLAN REBUILD AND REGULATE ACCORDING TO COMMUNITY NEEDS. SEVERAL PROVISIONS ARE VAGUE AND NOT REASONABLE OVERLY BROAD ARBITRARY AND LIKELY UNCONSTITUTIONAL. DURING THIS UPCOMING LEGISLATIVE SESSION WE WANT YOU TO SUPPORT AND VOTE FOR AMENDMENTS TO PROVE I WILL NOT LIST ALL OF THOSE. THE OTHER ISSUE IS THE FLORIDA VOTING RIGHTS ACT RAISED IN THE PAST AND PROPOSED IN A UPCOMING SESSION. I AM ASKING EACH OF YOU TO SUPPORT THE ACT DURING THE UPCOMING SESSION WITH MANY PEOPLE LOSING FAITH IN THE GOVERNMENT AND BELIEVE DEMOCRACY IS BEING DRAMATICALLY ERODED IN ORDER TO HELP RENEW COMPETENCE IN THE GOVERNMENT AND ITS INSTITUTIONS WE NEED TO SHOW HIS SUPPORT THE RIGHT OF ALL CITIZENS TO BE ABLE TO VOTE AND HAVE ACCESS TO VOTING. BY MAKING VOTER REGISTRATION MORE ACCESSIBLE THROUGH AUTOMATIC REGISTRATION AND SAME-DAY REGISTRATION AND MAKING ACCESS TO VOTING BY MAIL MORE ACCESSIBLE WITH ENHANCED VOTER PARTICIPATION AND CONFIDENCE SO I WOULD APPRECIATE IF YOU

SUPPORT THE VOTING RIGHTS ACT. >> THANK YOU ON DECK WE HAVE NAME ] MR. BULLOCK AND MR. MILLER FROM THE SAME ORGANIZATION IF YOU WOULD CONSOLIDATE YOUR TIME I'M SURE THE OTHERS BEHIND WOULD APPRECIATE. RIGHT NOW WE

RECOGNIZE SHAUNA FLAGLER. >> GOOD MORNING AND THANK YOU FOR THE WORK YOU DO AND FOR THE OPPORTUNITY TO SPEAK. I AM A CONSTITUENT IN SAINT AUGUSTINE AND I'M SPEAKING IN OPPOSITION TO HB 191 AND SB 216 THE VERIFICATION OF REEMPLOYMENT ASSISTANCE BENEFITING ELIGIBILITY. AS A 19 PROFESSIONAL WITH OVER 25 YEARS OF EXPERIENCE IN SYSTEM IMPLEMENTATION I MUST WARN YOU THE BILL MANDATES FAILURE. THE BILL DEMANDED COMPLEX MULTI-MILLION-DOLLAR I.T.

PROJECT FOR IDENTITY VERIFICATION AND DATABASE CROSS CHECKS BEFORE A SINGLE CHECK CAN BE CUT. IN THEORY IT SOUNDS LIKE A GOOD IDEA BASED ON MY PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE THIS TIME I IS COMPLETELY UNREALISTIC AND GUARANTEES THE SAME COST OVERRUNS AND SYSTEM COLLAPSE WE SAW WITH THE CONNECT SYSTEM WHICH HAS PROBLEMS TODAY. IN ADDITION THIS SYSTEM PLACES AN UNBEARABLE BURDEN ON THE HARD-WORKING RECENTLY UNEMPLOYED FLORIDIANS THAT WILL FACE AGONIZING DELAYS FOR THE FIRST PAYMENT AND POTENTIALLY BE WRONGFULLY FLAGGED AS CRIMINALS WHICH COULD BE OVER SOMETHING AS MINOR AS A TECHNICAL ERROR. THIS BILL EXPANDS OVERREACH PUNISHES LAW-ABIDING CITIZENS AND VIOLATES CONSERVATIVE PRINCIPLES OF LIMITED GOVERNMENT AND FISCAL RESPONSIBILITY. I KNOW LAST YEAR THERE WAS A SIMILAR BILL THAT DIED IN THE SENATE FISCAL POLICY COMMITTEE AND I DID NOT SEE ANYTHING IN THE BILL THAT WOULD SAY IT IS ANY MORE FISCALLY RESPONSIBLE THAN IT WAS IN THE LAST SESSION SO PLEASE DO NOT

[01:45:01]

UNEMPLOYMENT. THANK YOU. >> ALL RIGHT. DWIGHT IS SPEAKING

ON A DIFFERENT ISSUE. >> IF YOU GUYS ARE IN THE SAME FROM THE SAME ORGANIZATION YOU'RE TAKING TIME FROM OTHER FOLKS BEHIND YOU. EVERYTHING IS IMPORTANT ENOUGH AND DISTINCT ENOUGH YOU DO WHAT YOU WANT TO DO.

>> WE WILL GO FAST. KIND OF WHAT I WAS GOING TO SAY SAME THING ON SB 180 YOU WANT TO SKIP DOWN. THIS YEAR WE SAW AN AREA OF MEDIAN INCOME RAISED OVER 100,000 PER YEAR AVERAGE HOME PRICES WELL OVER 500,000. CONTINUES TO BE AN ALARMING GROWING SHORTAGE FOR TEACHERS FIRST RESPONDERS HEALTHCARE AND HOSPITALITY WORKERS. WE ARE ASKING YOU TO SUPPORT ANY LEGISLATIVE PROPOSAL THAT HELPS US ADDRESS AFFORDABLE HOUSING SHORTAGE IN PARTICULAR APPROPRIATE TO SHIFT AND SELL ALL AVAILABLE FUNDS FOR THEIR INTENDED AFFORDABLE HOUSING PURPOSES. MAINTAIN THE FUNDING FOR RECURRING HOMELESS CONTINUING CARE'S CHALLENGE GRANTS OVER 20 MILLION THIS YEAR MAINTAIN IT PLEASE. MAKE THE APPROPRIATION COC CHALLENGE GRANTS FOR UNSHELTERED PERSONS RECURRING THIS SESSION PLEASE AND FINALLY, THANK YOU FOR SUPPORTING AFRICAN-AMERICAN HISTORY MUSEUM AND PLEASE KEEP THE GOOD WORK GOING THANK YOU.

>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH MR. MILLER YOU ARE RECOGNIZED. ON DECK IS TODAY TO HEAR CONCERNS AND ISSUES. WE APPRECIATE THAT. I SECOND THE EARLIER REQUEST THAT SOMEONE MADE TO INCREASE OUR TEACHER STAFF PAY. IN ADDITION DO NOT ELIMINATE STATE PROPERTY TAX PROVIDING 50 TO 60% OF FLORIDA SCHOOL DISTRICT REVENUE.

PLEASE DEVELOP AND APPLY A REASONABLE MEANS TEST FOR VOUCHER RECIPIENTS SO WEALTHY FAMILIES WHO SEND THEIR CHILDREN TO PRIVATE SCHOOL WITHOUT REGARD TO TUITION COST DO NOT RECEIVE A WINDFALL AT THE TAXPAYERS EXPENSE. PLEASE ELIMINATE TAX FUNDED VOUCHERS FOR FAMILIES WHO CHOOSE TO HOMESCHOOL THEIR CHILDREN. NEXT PLEASE DO NOT ALLOW CHARTER SCHOOLS PUBLIC SPACE IN SCHOOL FACILITIES. PLEASE ADOPT FLORIDA HOUSE AND SENATE RULES REQUIRING SPONSORS OF EDUCATION RELATED LEGISLATION TO CONSULT BEFORE PASSAGE WITH THE FLORIDA ASSOCIATION OF DISTRICT SCHOOL SUPERINTENDENTS. SEVENTH PLEASE PROVIDE THE IMPLEMENTATION OF CERTAIN COMPLEX EDUCATION RELATED LEGISLATION WILL NOT BE REQUIRED UNTIL THE SCHOOL YEAR STARTS IN THE NEXT CALENDAR YEAR AFTER PASSAGE PLEASE PROVIDE SCHOOLS WITH STATE FUNDING FOR EXPENSIVE NEW PROGRAMS AND OTHER REQUIREMENTS. THANK YOU AGAIN FOR CONSIDERING.

>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH. ON DECK WE HAVE ALLISON BAKER, RIGHT NOW WE RECOGNIZE DR.

CORRECTLY. >> I GOT ONE.

>> HERE ON BEHALF OF SAINT AUGUSTINE INDIVISIBLE ASKING THE MALICIOUS TACTICS PRACTICED BY I.C.E. AGENTS AGAINST HISPANIC BUSINESS OWNERS SHOULD STOP , 50% OF ALL HISPANIC BUSINESS OWNERS ARE U.S. CITIZENS AND VOTERS AND THE REMAINDER ARE LEGAL RESIDENTS, THESE POLICIES ARE IMPOSING FINANCIAL HARMFUL POLICIES AND VICTIMIZING HISPANIC VOTERS. 81% OF U.S.

HISPANICS ARE CITIZENS, 3.3 MILLION HISPANICS ARE FLORIDA VOTERS. HISPANICS ARE THE FASTEST GROWING BUSINESS SEGMENT IN THE U.S. THEY ADD $800 BILLION PER YEAR TO THE ECONOMY OUR HISPANIC GDP IS EQUIVALENT TO $4 TRILLION. THE FIFTH-LARGEST GDP WORLDWIDE. I AM AN ORAL HISTORIAN AND HAVE GATHERED ORAL HISTORIES IN THE COMMUNITY SINCE 2021. THESE WORDS ARE SOME OF MY HISPANIC NARRATORS AND I'M GIVING VOICE TO THE VOICELESS. A 68-YEAR-OLD RESTAURANT OWNER WHO ARRIVED IN MIAMI IN 1985, THIS IS HER STORY. IN MY COUNTRY THE ARMY BURNS EVERYTHING WE OWNED, OUR HAS HOUSE AND TOBACCO WAREHOUSE WE LOST OUR CIGAR BUSINESS. WE MOVED TO THIS AREA IN 1990, MY

[01:50:06]

THE I.C.E. LIED ABOUT THE RESTAURANT AND REPORTED IT TO THE COMMUNITY, THEY WERE HERE AND AT MY SON'S MEDICAL CLINIC BUT THEY WERE NOT THERE AND WE LOST THE BUSINESS I NEVER THOUGHT I.C.E. WOULD ATTACK THE BUSINESS WE ARE ALL COULD YOU

CITIZENS. IT HAS BEEN VERY HARD. >> ON DECK WE HAVE RIVER NUMBER OF EDUCATION ASSOCIATIONS OF TEACHERS UNION STUFF ON THE NEXT THREE COMING UP IF YOU'RE WILLING TO CONSOLIDATE THAT WOULD BE GREAT. ON DECK WE HAVE

WILL RECOGNIZE MISS BAKER. >> THANK YOU. I AM A MOM OF KIDS IN ST. JOHN'S COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOLS. I REALLY DO NOT LIKE PUBLIC SPEAKING SO I WILL BE QUICK. I WOULD ASK IF YOU CAN REASSESS HOW THE PUBLIC EDUCATION FUNDING IS DISTRIBUTED ACROSS THE STATE, RIGHT NOW OUR DISTRICT HAS GREATER NEEDS THAN WE HAVE IN THE PAST BECAUSE OF THE HUGE POPULATION GROWTH. I WOULD ASK IF YOU REASSESS THE LOTTERY MONEY RIGHT NOW MOST OF THAT GOES TO BRIGHT FUTURES COLLEGE AND IF YOU CAN MOVE THAT BACK TO THE PRIMARY EDUCATION. LAWS FOR STUDENT SAFETY AND SERVICES SHOULD BE FUNDED AT A HIGHER LEVEL THAN IT CURRENTLY IS. WE NEED MORE GUARDRAILS ON THE VOUCHER MONEY AND WE NEED TO MAKE CHARTER AND PRIVATE SCHOOLS PAY RENT TO USE PUBLIC SCHOOLS

THANK YOU. >> THANK YOU VERY MUCH. BETH

MCBRIDE IS ON DECK >> THANK YOU ONE OF THE BIGGEST THREATS TO PUBLIC SCHOOL FUNDING TODAY IS THE EXPANSION OF UNIVERSAL VOUCHERS. UNLIKE PRIVATE SCHOOLS PUBLIC SCHOOLS WELCOME AND EDUCATE EVERY CHILD REGARDLESS OF INCOME, RACE, DISABILITY, GENDER IDENTITY OR LANGUAGE BACKGROUND. PRIVATE SCHOOLS CAN AND OFTEN DO PICK AND CHOOSE WHO THEY ADMIT. MANY ARE NOT REQUIRED TO PROVIDE SERVICES FOR STUDENTS WITH DISABILITIES ARE ENGLISH LANGUAGE LEARNERS. RESEARCH SHOWS THAT VOUCHERS ARE MOST OFTEN USED BY FAMILIES WHOSE CHILDREN WERE ALREADY IN PRIVATE SCHOOLS NOT BY DISADVANTAGED STUDENTS ESCAPING UNDERPERFORMING SCHOOLS. IN FACT EARLY STUDIES SUGGEST VOUCHERS CAN INCREASE RACIAL AND ECONOMIC SEGREGATION , THE EXACT OPPOSITE OF WHAT WE SHOULD WANT FOR THE COMUNITY. THIS ISSUE DOES NOT ONLY HARM STUDENTS, IT HURTS TEACHERS AS WELL FLORIDA RANKS 50TH IN THE NATION FOR TEACHER PAY, MANY DEDICATED EDUCATORS ARE DRIVEN OUT OF THE PROFESSION BECAUSE THEY CANNOT MAKE ENDS MEET. AS VOUCHER PROGRAMS DRAIN FUNDING FROM PUBLIC SCHOOLS SCHOOLS ARE FORCED TO MAKE DIFFICULT CHOICES, LARGER CLASS SIZES, FEWER RESOURCES AND STAGNANT SALARIES THAT'S NOT A RECIPE FOR STUDENT SUCCESS, THE BOTTOM LINE IS THIS, FLORIDA'S PUBLIC SCHOOLS ARE NOT FAILING, THEY ARE STARVING. VOUCHERS UNDERMINE THE TRUE PATH TO EDUCATIONAL EQUALITY , STRONG WELL-FUNDED AND INCLUSIVE PUBLIC SCHOOL SYSTEM THE PUBLIC SCHOOL MODEL IS NOT BROKEN IT'S JUST HUNGRY FOR THE RESOURCES IT DESERVES, LET'S STOP DEFUNDING PUBLIC SCHOOLS IN FAVOR OF PRIVATE RELIGIOUS AND FOR-PROFIT INSTITUTIONS, LEST INVEST IN A SYSTEM THAT SERVES ALL CHILDREN FLORIDA'S PUBLIC SCHOOLS THANK YOU.

>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH ON DECK WE HAVE RECOGNIZE COUNTY AND CHECKED THE BOX TO COME TO ST. JOHN'S COUNTY IN 1990 AND I HAVE BEEN A THREE-TIME TEACHER OF THE YEAR IN THE COUNTY AND I'M STILL TEACHING. I DON'T PLAN TO GO ANYWHERE AND WHEN THEY SAY EIGHT YEARS IS UP I WILL TAKE SIX MONTHS OFF AND COME BACK. I AM AT THE POINT THAT I DON'T UNDERSTAND WHY THE BUDGET FOR EDUCATION IN THE STATE I WILL SEE A KAY EIGHT I WORK AT THAT'S LESS MONEY ON EDUCATION.

OUR KIDS , OUR STUDENTS, CHILDREN, THAT IS WHY WE EXIST.

WE EXIST BECAUSE OF OUR CHILDREN. PLEASE WHEN YOU MAKE THE DECISIOS KEEP REMEMBERING PUBLIC SCHOOL KIDS ALONG WITH HOMESCHOOL KIDS BECAUSE MY KIDS DID HOMESCHOOL, VIRTUAL SCHOOL, A LITTLE BIT OF EVERYTHING. I APPRECIATE THE DIFFERENT AVENUES WE HAVE HAD BUT REMEMBER THAT'S WHY WE'RE HERE. WE ARE HERE FOR

KIDS THANK YOU. >> THANK YOU VERY MUCH. ON DECK WE HAVE

[01:55:03]

>> I AM A PARAPROFESSIONAL FOR ST. JOHN'S COUNTY. A LITTLE BIT DIFFERENT THAN TEACHERS. THANK YOU FOR THE OPPORTUNITY AND GOOD MORNING MY NAME IS THE ST. JOHN'S COUNTY DISTRICT REACHING OUT ON BEHALF OF PARAPROFESSIONALS THAT WORK FOR ST. JOHN'S COUNTY. WE TRULY NEED TO INVEST IN PARAPROFESSIONALS, THROUGH BETTER PAY, MORE JOB SPECIFIC TRAININGS AND BETTER UNDERSTANDING OF ALL WE DO WHICH LEAD US TO GARNERING RESPECT AND APPRECIATION. AT THE DISTRICT WE WOULD SEE LESS TURNOVER, STRONGER TEAMS AND BETTER TREATMENT IF PARENTS FELT MORE APPRECIATED. I KNOW YOU HEAR ALL THE TIME ABOUT PAY RATE BUT TRULY HOW THEY CAN AFFORD $15 PER HOUR IN ST. JOHN'S COUNTY THIS IS ONE OF THE BIGGEST , WE CANNOT KEEP PARENTS IN THE CLASSROOM BEING IN SCHOOLS AND IN THE CLASSROOM ESPECIALLY THOSE WHO HAVE SPENT THEIR DAY IN ACCESS CLASSROOMS IS TAXING TO SAY THE LEAST. HAVE SEEN A HIGH RATE OF PAYERS QUITTING TO THE DISTRICT AND EVEN WHEN ASKED WHY, THE MAIN REASON IS THEY CANNOT AFFORD AND GET PAID ENOUGH TO DO THEIR JOB THEY ARE HIRED FOR. WHEN PARAPROFESSIONAL S KEEP LEAVING STUDENTS THEY LEAVE BEHIND LOOSE CONSISTENCY, TEACHERS LOOSE TEAMMATES AND EVERYONE LOSES PROGRESS. AGAIN IS TIME TO CHANGE OUR PERSPECTIVE. WE NEED TO SEE INVESTING MONEY TIME AND RESOURCES AS WELL AS OUR SCHOOL DISTRICTS. INSTEAD OF BEING VIEWED AS AN EXPENSE IN A BUSINESS WORLD THEY OFTEN TALK ABOUT OPPORTUNITY COST AS IN YOU DON'T INVEST IN SOMETHING YOU MAY COST MORE IN THE LONG RUN. WE ARE SAYING WE TRULY NEED TO INVEST MORE IN THE INVESTMENT AND I THINK YOU BECAUSE WE SHOW UP EVERY DAY AND WE WOULD LIKE THE LEGISLATOR TO SHOW UP FOR

US. >> THANK YOU, AT THIS POINT IT IS 11:00. IT IS 11:00. I WILL CONTRIBUTE MY TIME IN PUBLIC COMMENTS TO SPEAKERS SO WE MAKE SURE YOU GET AS MUCH TIME AS POSSIBLE. I'M GOING TO STOP YOU TECHNOLOGICALLY WE CANNOT TAKE IT DOWN SO I WILL STOP WITH ONE -- 30 SECONDS LEFT SO WE CAN GET CAN. NANCY MURPHY ON DECK AND

>> THANK YOU. I AM A RETIRED BIOLOGIST COME HERE TODAY TO MAKE THE CASE FOR VACCINATION MANDATES IN PUBLIC SCHOOLS . DID YOU GET YOUR PACKETS? SO I WILL GO RIGHT PLEASE TURN TO PAGE 2 .

THE FIRST POINT I WOULD LIKE TO MAKE IS FLORIDA WE ALREADY HAVE AVENUES FOR PEOPLE TO BOW OUT A VACCINATIONS AND WITH THE RELIGIOUS EXEMPTION FORM AND ALSO THE MEDICAL EXEMPTION FORM ALSO OUR STATE CHAMPIONS AND ALTERNATIVE SCHOOLS, PRIVATE SCHOOLS THERE ARE WAYS FOR PEOPLE TO GET AROUND VACCINES IF THEY WISH. WITH THAT SAID I WOULD LIKE TO MAKE THE POINT THAT WHEN IT COMES TO VACCINES, IT IS ESSENTIALLY PUBLIC SAFETY THEREFORE VERY MUCH SHOULD BE LAW TO PROTECT OUR CHILDREN.

REALLY THE MAIN THING I AM GOING TO POINT OUT IF YOU TURN TO THE CHART ON PAGE 3. THIS IS A HISTORICAL LOOK OF VACCINES, BASICALLY THROUGHOUT THE ENTIRE HUMAN HISTORY THE RATE OF DEATH FOR CHILDREN 0 TO 15 IS ROUGHLY 50%. IN THE LATE 1800S THAT DROPS OFF AND THAT IS THE ADVENT OF VACCINES. I IMPLORE YOU TO LOOK AT THE DETAILS AND DATA PROVIDED.

>> ON DECK WE HAVE MURPHY WE WERE ABLE TO FIGURE OUT 1:30 SO I WILL LET YOU KNOW

WHEN YOU HAVE 30 SECONDS LEFT. >> THANK YOU FOR THE OPPORTUNITY T REPRESENT MYSELF, GOOD TRAVEL AND CARE IN STRONG SUPPORT FOR THE FLORIDA MUSEUM OF BLACK HISTORY AND PLACING THIS IMPORTANT MUSEUM IN ST. JOHN'S COUNTY. AS ONE OF THE 52 REPRESENTATIVES WHO MADE IT TO TALLAHASSEE TO THE FIRE TO ADVOCATE FOR BUILDING THE MUSEUM IN ST. JOHN'S COUNTY I AM EXCITED , THE MUSEUM OF BLACK HISTORY WILL MAKE FLORIDA A NATIONAL LEADER FOR TELLING THE AMERICAN STORY COMPLETELY AND

[02:00:02]

JOHN'S COUNTY FUNDING REQUEST PHASE 2 OF THE PLANNING DESIGN AND ENGINEERING OF THE FLORIDA MUSEUM OF BLACK HISTORY, THANK

YOU VERY MUCH. >> THANK YOU, EFFICIENT USE OF YOUR TIME. ON DECK WE HAVE NICOLE CROSBY.

RECOGNIZED. >> AFTER THE COLLAPSE OF THE SURFSIDE CONDOMINIUMS IN 2021 WE FIRMLY BELIEVE SOME LEGISLATION WAS NEEDED TO PREVENT FURTHER DISASTERS ON HIGH-RISE CONDOMINIUMS. WE DID THIS BY PASSING FLORIDA STATUTE 553.899.

THIS INCLUDED THE MILESTONE INSPECTIONS AND STRUCTURAL INTEGRITY RESERVE STUDIES. THESE WERE EXTREMELY COSTLY TO IMPLEMENT IN ADDITION TO THE COST OF THE MILESTONE INSPECTION AND RESERVE STUDIES IT WAS ALSO COST THEM COMMITTED BY LOCAL BUILDING AUTHORITIES IN SAINT AUGUSTINE BEACH. SAINT AUGUSTINE BEACH HAS APPROXIMATELY 60 CONDOMINIUMS THAT FALL INTO THREE STORIES OR HIGHER CATEGORY, THESE BUILDINGS, THESE BLOCK BUILDINGS LIKE OURS ARE VERY LOW RISK AND SHOULD NOT BE REQUIRED, THE BURDENSOME EXPENSE OF THE MILESTONE INSPECTION. 62% OF THE SOUTH FLORIDA CONDOMINIUMS HAVE FAILED TO COMPLETE BY 2025 DEADLINE. WE HAVE CONFORMED EVERY NEW LAW PASSED TO DATE, THE THREE-STORY BUILDINGS ARE NOT AT RISK AND THEY ARE NOT WHAT THE LAW WAS INTENDED TO DO. THESE CONSIDER REQUEST TO INTRODUCE LEGISLATION TO RAISE THE NUMBER OF STORIES FROM FIVE ON MULTI-ASSOCIATION BUILDINGS. THANK YOU FOR YOUR

TIME. >> THANK YOU VERY MUCH. ON DECK WE HAVE

>> THANK YOU, PRESIDENT OF SAVE WATER NOW. A HUGE THANK YOU TO REPRESENTATIVE KIM KENDALL FOR HER REACTION . DURING THE SWAP IT DID NOT GET SWAPPED AND I WANT TO THANK ALL OF YOU FOR YOUR SUPPORT OF PUBLIC LANDS. I KNOW WE ARE NOT DONE. SHE HAS TO CONTINUE WITH HER RESOLVE TO PROTECT THE LAND. I ALSO WANTED TO SPEAK TO SAY PLEASE DO A 180 ON SP 18 , 180 FROM WHERE WE WANT TO BE WE COULD NOT REDUCE CLEARCUTTING BY 5% WITHOUT GETTING A 30 PAGE THREAT FROM DEVELOPER ATTORNEYS WHOSE JOB IS TO MAXIMIZE THE BOTTOM LINE OF CLIENTS NOT THE LIVABILITY OF THE COUNTY. SENATE BILL 180 IS A FULL 180 FROM BEING CONSTITUTIONAL. THE BILL HAS BEEN CALLED THE LARGEST INCURSION TO LOCAL HOME ROLE AUTHORITY SINCE THE STATE CONSTITUTION ADOPTION . A QUICK 182 SAY PLEASE MAINTAIN HEALTH FREEDOM IN THE STATE OF FLORIDA JUST BECAUSE THE MEDICAL ESTABLISHMENT AND PHARMACEUTICAL COMPANIES ARE IN A MASSIVE DENIAL ABOUT THE DAMAGE AND HARM AND DEATH CAUSED BY VACCINES DOES NOT MEAN IT DOES NOT EXIST. YOU DID NOT SEE PARENTS IN THE ROOM IS KIDS HAVE BEEN DESTROYED BECAUSE THEY ARE HOME TAKING CARE OF THE KIDS PLEASE MAINTAIN FREEDOM OF CHOICE ON VACCINES.

THANK YOU. >> THANK YOU MEM ON DECK WE HAVE KIMBERLY GRAF AND UPPER RECOGNITION

>> HI , THANK YOU. I WILL SHORTEN MY SPEECH, YOU DON'T NEED TO HEAR ANOTHER STORY ABOUT WHAT IT'S LIKE TO SPEND FOUR DAYS WATCHING YOUR SON DIE IN A FLORIDA HOSPITAL. I ASK YOU WILL OVERRIDE GOVERNOR DESANTIS VETO FOR OVER 30 YEARS PEOPLE LIKE ME AND NANCY HAVE SPOKEN TO YOU ABOUT PROBLEMS THEY HAVE HAD IN THEIR FAMILY DYING IN FLORIDA MEDICAL FACILITIES ONLY AFTER CAMERON DIED TODAY DISCOVER FLORIDA'S FREE KILL LAW DESIGNED TO DENY ME FROM FINDING OUT WHY MY SON IS DEAD. BELIEVE ME THAT IS A DARK PLACE YOU DON'T WANT TO BE. AS I'M

[02:05:01]

>> THANK YOU, SIR. SORRY FOR YOUR LOSS. ON DECK WE HAVE NAME ] BUT RIGHT NOW WE RECOGNIZE KIMBERLY GRAF MISS

GRAF YOU ARE UP. >> GOOD MORNING MY NAME IS KIMBERLY GRAF RESIDENT OF ST. JOHN'S COUNTY 32084 REPRESENTING MYSELF , MY COMMUNITY IN THE LAND AND NATURAL RESOURCES WE COLLECTIVELY LOVE. I AM SPEAKING ABOUT ISSUES SPANNING ACROSS PARTY LINES MANY VOTERS PUT CONSERVATION EFFORTS AND LAND DEVELOPMENT CONCERNS AT THE TOP OF THE PRIORITY LIST SUPPORTING THESE INITIATIVES IS WHAT IT MEANS TO SERVE CITIZENS WHO RESIDE IN COMMUNITIES WHO VOTED ELECTED OFFICIALS INTO OFFICE. WE ARE ON ONE HAND EXPERIENCING MASSIVE NO HOLDS BARRED DEVELOPMENT AND ON THE OTHER A GOVERNMENT SADLY AND DRASTICALLY CUTTING FUNDING FOR EFFORTS TO PRESERVE THE REASON MANY COME TO THE STATE AND THAT IS FLORIDA'S NATURAL BEAUTY RESOURCES AND SPACES. I WILL SKIP TO THE SUMMARY. THESE BIPARTISAN ISSUES ALIGNED WITH TOP PRIORITIES OF THE COLLECTIVE COMMUNITY. WE ALONG WITH FLORIDA'S FUTURE GENERATIONS SINCERELY THANK YOU FOR REPEALING SECTIONS 18 AND 28 OF SENATE BILL 182 ALLOW FOR GREATER LOCAL AUTHORITY ON DEVELOPMENT CONSERVATION SUPPORTING FUNDING FOR THE FLORIDA FOREVER PROGRAM AT 300 MILLION ANNUALLY AND FOR PARTNERSHIP AND ADEQUATELY FUNDING SPRING RESTORATION AND PRESERVATION AT $80 MILLION PLUS FOR THE COMING YEARS. THANK YOU

FOR YOUR TIME. >> THANK YOU VERY MUCH. IS MISS YOUR RECOGNIZED, MR. MOFFAT , ARE YOU HERE?

>> GOOD MORNING, THANK YOU. APPRECIATE THIS OPPORTUNITY, RESIDENT OF ST. JOHN'S COUNTY. I WANT TO TALK ABOUT PROPOSED SENATE BILL 26 PUBLIC SERVICE COMMISSION INFORM BILL LOOKING AT HOW IT'S GOING TO ADDRESS RISING ELECTRICITY RATES. I THINK THE BILL IS A REASONABLE START AND I THINK IT COULD DO A LOT MORE. OVER THE PAST FIVE YEARS UTILITY BILLS HAVE GONE UP BY OVER $400 MILLION. FLORIDA POWER AND LIGHT IS NOW SEEING AN INCREASE , HALF OF EACH DOLLAR GOES TO THEIR SHAREHOLDERS. SO I THINK WE CAN DO A LOT MORE THE PUBLIC SERVICE COMMISSION COULD DO A LOT MORE ENSURING WE HAVE FAIRLY PRICED RELIABLE SUSTAINABLE ELECTRICITY. FOR EXAMPLE, WE COULD LIMIT COMPANY PROFITS BY MAKING THE UTILITY COMPANIES COVER PART OF A RATE INCREASE ASSOCIATED WITH A SPIKE IN FUEL COST PRICES. WE COULD HAVE THEM LINK PROFITS TO HOW WELL THEY HELP FAMILIES SAVE MONEY THROUGH INCREASED ENERGY. EFFICIENT AND CLEAN ENERGY. I THINK WE COULD BE DOING A MUCH BETTER JOB WITH PUBLIC SERVICE COMMISSION COULD DO A BETTER JOB. LAST I WOULD ENCOURAGE

DRIVE SEVEN SECONDS ? >> FIVE, FOUR SECONDS, THREE

SECONDS. >> THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

>> IS MR. MOFFAT HERE? ON DECK WE HAVE

YOU ARE RECOGNIZED. >> THANK YOU. I AM A VOLUNTEER SWIM INSTRUCTOR FOR THE WEST AUGUSTINE SWIM PROGRAM ALONG WITH THE FLORIDA SPLASH FOUNDATION MORE RESOURCES FOR UNDER RESOURCED KIDS TO LEARN TO SWIM THIS IS BECAUSE THE KIDS I TEACH

[02:10:01]

YOU. >> THANK YOU VERY MUCH. WE APPRECIATE AND UNDERSTAND YOU CAME HERE SO THANK YOU FOR COMING. ON DECK WE HAVE JUDY SPIEGEL. RIGHT NOW WE RECOGNIZE MEMBER FOR THE ST. JOHN'S COUNTY CONTINUUM OF CARE. THE CONTINUUM OF CARE LEADS THE EFFORT TO PREVENT AND END HOMELESSNESS BRINGING TOGETHER RESOURCES AND PARTNERSHIPS TWO HOMELESSNESS WHERE, BRIEF AND ONE TIME. WE ENVISION A COMMUNITY WHERE EVERYONE HAS ACCESS TO SAFE, STABLE AND AFFORDABLE HOUSING. I AM HERE TODAY TO REQUEST CONTINUATION OF LONG-TERM PARTNERSHIP WITH STATE AND WITH EACH OF YOU. THE GRANTS WE RECEIVE ANNUALLY ARE CRITICALLY IMPORTANT TO COC OPERATIONS, CONTINUED INVESTMENT IN PARTNERS AND US IS MAKING ST.

JOHN'S COUNTY A BETTER PLACE FOR ALL OF ITS RESIDENTS. SOME OF THE ORGANIZATIONS WE FUND INCLUDE THE ST. JOHN'S COUNTY HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES DEPARTMENT, HOMELESS COALITION OF ST. JOHN'S COUNTY AND THE BETTY GRIFFIN CENTER WITHOUT STAFFING GRANT THE FLORIDA COC OPERATIONS WOULD NOT BE ABLE TO CONTINUE. THE RISING NEED IS DRIVEN BY HOUSING COSTS, NOT PROGRAM FAILURE. IN THE LAST FISCAL YEAR THE CHALLENGE GRANT REDUCED HOMELESSNESS BY 19%. IN CLOSING OUR 2025 POINT IN TIME SURVEY DATA SHOWS HUNDREDS OF PEOPLE ARE UNHOUSED IN ST.

JOHN'S COUNTY. THAT PROBLEM DOES NOT JUST AFFECT THEM, IT IMPACTS ALL OF US AND WE ARE ALL YOUR CONSTITUENTS. THANK YOU

VERY MUCH >> THANK YOU VERY MUCH, APPRECIATE IT. ON DECK WE HAVE GOING TO GET THAT ONE RIGHT. RIGHT NOW RECOGNIZING MISS

SPIEGEL. >> THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR HONORING US WITH YOUR PRESENCE AND FOR THE ABILITY TO STAND BEFORE YOU. I DO NOT HAVE AN ASK OR ANYTHING, BUT A BLESSING AND A GIFT. YOU'RE GOING TO NEED A LOT OF WISDOM TO MAKE DECISIONS ON THINGS WE HAVE HEARD TODAY WE HAVE HEARD FROM POLITICAL PARTIES, FROM MANY SHADES OF THE COMMUNITY. I AM ENCOURAGING YOU TO SEE GOD'S WISDOM IN ALL OF THIS. HE IS YOUR SOURCE, THOSE OF YOU WHO CLAIM JESUS CHRIST AS YOUR SAVIOR YOU HAVE A DIRECT CONNECTION TO WISDOM FROM GOD AND THAT IS SOMETHING ESSENTIAL FOR YOU GOING FORWARD. I WANT TO SPEAK TO ENCOURAGE HER TO ADVOCATE ANY LEGISLATION OR ANY SITUATION THAT EXALTS GOD'S WORD AND MEDICATION YOU HAVE THIS HONORS GOD. HE SEES IT AND HE KNOWS AND HE IS ON YOUR SIDE WITH GOOD PLANS FOR THE COMMUNITY AND A LOT OF PROBLEMS WE HAVE DISCUSSED TODAY HE HAS ANSWERS FOR. HE WILL GIVE YOU THOSE ANSWERS IF YOUR EARS ARE OPEN SO THIS IS MY BLESSING FOR YOU, YEARS TO HEAR AND HEARTS TO UNDERSTAND AND BOLDNESS TO DECLARE THEIR GOD, HE IS REAL AND HE LOVES PEOPLE AND CARES ABOUT ST. JOHN'S COUNTY. THIS IS GROUND ZERO FOR THE GOSPEL TO BE SPREAD TO AMERICA, THIS WAS THE FIRST PLACE PROCLAIMED SO, THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR YOUR TIME

AND GOD BLESS YOU. >> THANK YOU VERY MUCH VERY KIND. NEXT WE HAVE

>> GOOD MORNING WENDY MS. FOUNDATION FOR 13 YEARS WE HAVE DEDICATED OURSELVES TO PROVIDING LIFE-SAVING SWIM LESSONS TO THOSE MOST VULNERABLE TO DROWNING. IN A STAY WERE DROWNING IS THE LEADING CAUSE OF DEATH FOR CHILDREN UNDER FIVE IN A STAY WERE DROWNING IS THE LEADING CAUSE OF DEATH FOR CHILDREN UNDER 51 STORY REMINDS

[02:15:01]

>> I SINCERELY THANK YOU FOR CONTINUED SUPPORT ESPECIALLY FOR

YOUR WORK ON SENATE BILL 544. >> YOU HAVE ABOUT 30 SECONDS.

>> FOR EFFORTS ON TALLAHASSEE ON BEHALF OF OF VICTIMS AND THEIR FAMILIES ALLOWING US TO TRAIN 200 SWIMMERS THIS PAST SEASON AND GROW THROUGHOUT ST. JOHN'S AND DUVAL COUNTY, LOOKING AHEAD WE PREPARED TO DO MORE AND WE ASK FOR YOUR CONTINUING SUPPORT NEXT LEGISLATIVE SESSION WITH PARTNERSHIP CERTIFIED INSTRUCTORS IN THE WATER SAVING YOUNG LIVES AND BUILDS A FUTURE WHERE EVERY CHILD IN FLORIDA CAN SWIM SAFELY FOR $112 WE CAN PROVIDE THREE MONTHS OF SWIM INSTRUCTION, THREE MONTHS

PREVENTING TRAGEDY THANK YOU. >> THANK YOU VERY MUCH AND THANK YOU FOR COMING BACK THIS YEAR. NEXT WE HAVE

CORRECT? CORRECTLY? >> HONESTLY PRETTY GOOD.

>> YOU ARE RECOGNIZED. >> FOR THE SAKE OF TIME I PROVIDED RED FOLDERS FOR EVERYBODY. IT IS AN HONOR TO BE HERE. I AM HERE REPRESENTING THE ARC OF ST. JOHN'S AND PARTNER CHARTER SCHOOLS AND MY OWN SON IS 11 YEARS OLD HE IS IMPACTED BY AUTISM AND CEREBRAL PALSY ALONG WITH OTHER FAMILIES LOOKING FOR MEANINGFUL PATHWAYS. THERAPEUTIC LEARNING CENTER FOR CHILDREN SERVING CHILDREN WITH DELAYS AND DISABILITIES SINCE 1986 HAS SEEN MORE THAN 100% ENROLLMENT GROWTH OVER THE PAST TWO YEARS REFLECTING THE NEED FOR HIGH QUALITY INDIVIDUALIZED EARLY EDUCATION AND THERAPY SERVICES. TO MEET DEMAND WE ARE ADVANCING EXPANSION PROJECT TO INCREASE ACCESS TO IDENTIFICATION INTERVENTION AND FAMILY SUPPORT ACROSS ST.

JOHN'S AND SURROUNDING COUNTIES, EACH DAY I SPEAK WITH PARENTS THAT ARE DESPERATE AND MY HEART BREAKS TO TURN THEM AWAY. THIS PROJECT IS AN OPPORTUNITY TO STRENGTHEN COMMUNITY AND IMPROVE LIFELONG OUTCOMES. I ALSO HAVE TWO LEGISLATIVE REQUEST, ONE TO ASK FOR LEGISLATIVE REMEDY TO REVISE FLORIDA DOE RULE 6A 1.0943 INFORMATION IN THE FOLDER AND FOR YOUR SUPPORT OF THE BILL IN THE FOLDER AND I WOULD LOVE TO INVITE YOU ALL TO COME TO OUR RESOURCE EVENT NOVEMBER 22. IT IS A BEAUTIFUL EVENT AND I WOULD LOVE TO HAVE YOU THERE AND I

[G. Members of the public wishing to speak ]

YOU. >> THANK YOU VERY MUCH. NEXT UP WE HAVE MAKE SURE YOU GET YOUR PAPERWORK IN. YOU ARE RECOGNIZED.

>> THANK YOU SO MUCH I AM HERE AS A PROXY TO THE INCREDIBLE IMPERILED OYSTER. MY NAME IS ADVENTURE COMPANY A SINGLE MEMBER LLC WORKING TO BUILD INDUSTRY BY PROVIDING BOOKING SERVICES AND TRAINING AS A CERTIFIED COASTAL KAYAK INSTRUCTOR WITH THE ACA. I ASK WE INVEST IN PEOPLE AND RESPONSIBLE DEVELOPMENT OF HUMAN HABITAT NOT JUST PARKS AND TRAILS, BY SUPPORTING TOURISM TAX TO INVEST IN DEVELOPMENT AND PROLIFERATION AND RESTORATION OF WATERSHEDS. HERE TO ASK WE SAVE MONEY, CREATE ABUNDANCE AND LIVES BY CHOOSING MAJOR BASE SOLUTIONS TO MANAGE RAPID DEVELOPMENT, THE STRATEGIES COST LESS AND STRENGTH AND RESILIENCE INCLUDING IMPROVEMENT FOOD WATER AIR QUALITY AND CLIMATE STABILITY LETTING DEVELOPERS AND LOCAL COUNCILS CUT CORNERS NO GUARANTEES HIGHER EXPENSE AND GREATER HARM LATER. STORM WATER RUNOFF NEEDS TO BE RECLASSIFIED AS STORM WATER RECHARGE. EVERY JOB WE RETURN TO THE GROUND PREVENTS FLOODING ROOSTERS AQUIFERS AND SUPPORTS MY INDUSTRY AND AQUACULTURE AND AGRICULTURE, WETLANDS ARE THE FIRST LINE OF DEFENSE WHEN WE DESTROY THEM WE SPEND BILLIONS REPLACING FREE INFRASTRUCTURE PROVIDED BY NATURE. FOOD SOURCES WATER FILTRATION CARBON STORAGE AND QUALITY OF LIFE. IT IS SIMPLE, WHAT THE LAND AND WIN THE WAR AGAINST FLOODS, DROUGHTS AND RISING COST. NATURE HAS THE

BLUEPRINT LET'S FOLLOW IT. >> THANK YOU VERY MUCH. GREAT STICKER BY THE WAY.

MARY CLEVER. THANK YOU. >> HELLO MY NAME IS CHARLIE HUNT

>> HOLD ON A SECOND. HOLD ON A SECOND. IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO

[02:20:01]

SPEAK FILL OUT THE PAPERWORK. >> I SENT AN EMAIL ON 8 OCTOBER.

>> DO ME A FAVOR WE CAN FIX THE PROBLEM. WE ARE GOING TO FIX THE PROBLEM. FILL OUT THE PAPERWORK AND WE WILL RECOGNIZE YOU TO SPEAK BUT RIGHT NOW YOU'RE JUMPING IN FRONT OF SOMEBODY ELSE. WE'RE GOING TO FIX THAT PROBLEM FOR YOUR. YOU CAN SIT DOWN AND WE WILL GET SOMEBODY WHO IS SUPPOSED TO SPEAK YOU CANNOT SIT DOWN AND YOU WON'T GET A CHANCE TO SPEAK.

>> WHERE'S THE PERSON I SENT THE EMAIL TO?

>> SIR, SIT DOWN. MY FRIEND HERE IS GOING TO HELP YOU. NEXT , FILL OUT YOUR PAPERWORK. HAPPY TO DO IT. NEXT UP IT LOOKS LIKE IT SAYS

>> THANK YOU SPEECH ABOUT INCREASING THE VOUCHER AGE , TO SEVEN INSTEAD OF FOUR. ABOUT ONE YEAR AGO WE HAD A RECENT DROWNING HERE AND AT THE TIME MY WIFE WORKS FOR THE SCHOOL SYSTEM AS A SCHOOL COUNSELOR AND WE HAVE A 5 1/2-YEAR-OLD SON. AT THE TIME HE WAS TURNING FIVE AND WHEN I HEARD THERE WAS A DROWNING AT THE SCHOOL SHE HAD GONE TO WEBSTER ELEMENTARY TO HELP WITH THE KIDS AND TO HELP WITH TELL THE KIDS GET BACK ON TRACK WITH THEIR FRIEND'S DROWNING. I GOT HOME, HUGGED MY SON AND THE FIRST THING WE DID WAS TAKE HIM TO THE YMCA TO GET SWIM LESSONS BECAUSE HE HAD BEEN GETTING LESSONS UP UNTIL HE WAS FOUR, BUT AS PART OF THE RECOMMENDATION FROM THE PEDIATRIC ASSOCIATIONS , KIDS RETAIN SWIM LESSONS AT AN AGE OF FIVE AND UP. OVER THE LAST YEAR WE HAVE TAUGHT EVERY CHILD AT WEBSTER ELEMENTARY HOW TO SWIM TARGETING KINDERGARTEN. THE STATE CAN CAPTURE A LARGER COHORT OF CHILDREN THAT MAY OTHERWISE FALL OFF THE RADAR BY INCREASING THE ACTUAL SCALE OF

IMPACT OF THE MONEY SPENT. >> THANK YOU VERY MUCH. ANYONE ELSE WISHING TO SPEAK? ANYONE ELSE WISHING TO SPEAK? OKAY. GO AHEAD AND BRING IT UP HERE. YOU CAN HAND IT .

>> I LEFT IT OUT. >> WE NEED TO HAVE IT HERE SO WE CAN HAVE A RECORD OF WHO SPOKE. YOU CAN GET IT AFTER THE FACT.

WE TRUST YOU. OKAY. IDENTIFY YOURSELF FOR THE RECORD.

>> GOOD MORNING, THANK YOU FOR THE OPPORTUNITY, DEBBIE DICKINSON THE PRESIDENT OF FOURTH BEACH COMMUNITY ALLIANCE.

GLAD TO HEAR YOU ARE WORKING ON FIXING SENATE BILL 180, THANK YOU FOR THAT, THE STATE OVERWHELMINGLY ELECTED OFFICIALS TO CONTROL GROWTH HAVE HELP MANAGE GROWTH AND ELECTED OFFICIALS TO IMPROVE QUALITY OF LIFE. WE WANT HOME RULE AND I WOULD LIKE TO BRING UP A NEW SUBJECT TODAY. LIKE TO ASK YOU TO CONSIDER RECLASSIFYING PARK MODELS AS MOBILE HOMES, PARK MODELS ARE NOT RECREATIONAL VEHICLES, THEY CANNOT BE SAFELY EVACUATED PRIOR TO HURRICANES AND PER THE LESSONS LEARNED IN THE RECENT TEXAS DISASTER THEY ARE DEATH TRAPS DURING A FLOOD.

PLEASE RESTRICT DEVELOPMENT OF PARK MODEL DEVELOPMENT FROM AREAS WHERE TRAFFIC IS ALREADY OVERBURDENED SUCH AS A ONE A AND NORTH BEACH AND WHERE THE ADDITION OF HUNDREDS OF TRANSIENT RESIDENTS WILL CONTINUE TO CHOKE A STREET THAT IS ALREADY STRUGGLING. DO NOT ALLOW PARK MODEL DEVELOPMENT AND DESIGNATED HIGH HAZARD COASTAL ZONES DOING SO PUTS PEOPLE'S LIVES AT RISK IN THE PARK MODEL DEVELOPMENT AS WELL AS SURROUNDING COMMUNITIES AND HARMS SENSITIVE ENVIRONMENT ENVIRONMENTAL CONDITIONS OF THE INTRACOASTAL WATERWAY AND ATLANTIC ACROSS THE STREET. LOOPING BACK AT 180 LESS DOMINANCE BY DEVELOPERS WOULD BE WELCOMED PARTICULARLY WHEN DEVELOPMENT IS GROSSLY INTRUSIVE THANK YOU.

>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH. ANY OTHER MEMBERS WISHING TO SPEAK.

OKAY WE'VE GOT ANOTHER ONE.

WE WILL HAVE TO CUT IT OFF AT 11:35. MICHAEL CANNOT READ IT.

MICHAEL STARTS WITH A C .

[02:25:04]

MICHAEL STARTS WITH A C. YEAH, OKAY. RYAN CHANDLER. YOU ARE

RECOGNIZED. >> GOOD MORNING THANK YOU FOR THE OPPORTUNITY TO SPEAK WITH YOU TODAY. I AM THE CHAIR OF THE ASSOCIATION OF QUALIFIED ORGANIZATIONS. WE PROVIDE WAIVERS FOR CORONATION SERVICES TO INDIVIDUALS WITH DEVELOPMENT OF DISABILITIES, THANK YOU FOR YOUR SUPPORT OF THE HIGH BUDGET WAIVER AND WAIVER SUPPORT COORDINATION LAST SESSION. I AM HERE TODAY BECAUSE THE FUTURE OF THE BUDGET WAIVER WHICH HAS SUPPORTED THE VULNERABLE POPULATION IN FLORIDA MORE THAN 30 YEARS AT RISK. PROPOSALS TO MOVE THE WAIVER PROGRAM TO MANAGE CARE SYSTEM ON PAPER MANAGED CARE MAY SOUND EFFICIENT AND MAY WORK FOR SOME INDIVIDUALS WITH LESS COMPLEX NEEDS BUT THE POPULATION HAS DIVERSE AND COMPLICATED NEEDS THAT CANNOT BE FIT INTO A MANAGED CARE BOX, THE DEVASTATING EFFECTS OF THIS POPULATION WITH REGARD TO DENTAL AND APPLIED BEHAVIOR ANALYSIS SERVICES IS CURRENTLY EXPERIENCED AND SHOULD NOT BE THE ONLY OPTION FOR THIS POPULATION'S DAILY SERVICES THAT THEY RELY ON TO SAFELY FUNCTION IN THE COMMUNITY AND AT HOME. PORTER HAS UNAFFECTED WAIVER PROGRAM REQUIRING ADEQUATE FUNDING SUPPORT AND RESPONSIBLE MANAGEMENT NOT DISMANTLING. WE REQUEST YOU PROTECT THE BUDGET WAIVER. AND CDC PLUS PROGRAMS SUBMITTED AS AVAILABLE OPTION TO SERVE THIS VARIABLE ROLE DIVERSE AND

COMPLEX POPULATION. >> THANK YOU VERY MUCH. ANYONE ELSE WISHING TO SPEAK? ANYONE ELSE WISHING TO SPEAK? GOING ONCE, TWICE ALL RIGHT THREE TIMES THAT WILL END OUR PUBLIC

[H. Final Remarks from Delegation Members ]

REPRESENTATIVE KENDALL. >> THANK YOU, SENATOR. I WOULD LIKE TO THANK EVERYBODY. IT IS A TRUE PLEASURE TO SERVE ST. JOHNS COUNTY I TRULY MEAN THAT, YOU GUYS COME OUT IN FULL FORCE BECAUSE EVERYBODY IN THE COUNTY CARES. I AM ALSO VERY HUMBLY APPRECIATE THE KIND COMMENTS , BUT AGAIN WE ARE JUST A SMALL GROUP OF PEOPLE, THAT GOT STOPPED BECAUSE OF OUR COMMUNITY EFFORT. I IMMEDIATELY REACHED OUT TO DELEGATION BROTHERS WHO JUMPED IN AND OTHER LEGISLATIVE FRIENDS AND EVERYBODY JUMPED IN.

AS FLORIDA AUTOBAHN WILL TELL YOU LAST YEAR WHEN WE HAD THE PARK ISSUE THERE WERE 39,000 PEOPLE WHO SIGNED THE PETITION, THIS YEAR THERE WERE 50,000 PEOPLE THAT SIGNED THE PETITION AND NOT STOP IT, I HAVE ALWAYS SAID ST. JOHNS COUNTY IS A BIG SMALL TOWN AND WE ARE. THE BENEFITS OF A BIG CITY WITH A SMALL TOWN FEEL NEIGHBOR HELPING NEIGHBOR THAT'S WHAT I AM GRATEFUL FOR AND I WOULD LIKE TO FINISH ONE OTHER THING. WE REALLY DO LISTEN AS THE REPRESENTATIVE MENTIONED TO GET SEVEN PILLS EACH YEAR, TWO WERE ACTUALLY SPOKEN ABOUT HERE. WE ARE DOING A FOLLOW-UP BILL AND SECONDLY THE 15-YEAR-OLD , VERY SHARP YOUNG MAN WITH THE SWIM VOUCHER BILLS SO I WILL EXPAND WORKING ON EXPANDING THOSE AGES TO CAPTURE MORE STUDENTS TO HELP

THEM SWIM. THANK YOU SO MUCH. >> REPRESENTATIVE SAPP.

>> THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE AND FOR THE YOUNGER PEOPLE WHO MISSED SCHOOL WHO CAME OUT TO TALK. THIS IS A GREAT DELEGATION. I CANNOT SAY ENOUGH REPRESENTATIVE KENDALL IS ONE OF THE HARDEST WORKERS AND ORGANIZED PEOPLE I HAVE MET IN THE HOUSE. TALK ABOUT MY BROTHERS AND SISTERS IN THE HOUSE. MY BROTHER OVER THERE IS ONE OF THE GREATEST LEGAL MINDS I HAVE KNOWN, UPCOMING ROCKSTAR AND SOMEBODY I CAN GO TO WHEN I NEED HELP UNDERSTANDING A BILL SO I APPRECIATE THAT AND WE ARE BLESSED TO HAVE THE LEADERSHIP OF SENATOR LEEK WHO IS A ROCK.

YOU KNOW WHEN HE RUNS ONE OF YOUR BILLS ON THE SENATE SIDE YOU DON'T HAVE TO WORRY ABOUT IT. IT'S AN AMAZING DELEGATION AND WE ALL APPRECIATE SERVING YOU.

>> THANK YOU, REPRESENTATIVE GRECO.

>> THANK YOU SENATOR LEEK, THANK YOU HOUSE COLLEAGUES. WE ARE BLESSED TO REPRESENT ST. JOHNS COUNTY. THANK YOU FOR YOUR THOUGHTS TODAY. I STARTED WITH THIS I WILL SAY AGAIN THE BEST INFORMATION I HAD AND WE WOULD SAY THE SAME IT COMES FROM YOU.

IN ORDER TO KNOW WHAT TO FOCUS ON THESE THOUGHTS ARE SO IMPORTANT. I DO WANT TO TOUCH ON ONE TECHNICAL ASPECT. AS YOU THINK AND CONTINUE TO DISTILL THE REQUEST PARTICULARLY FUNDING REQUESTS I WANT TO TELL YOU SOMETHING ABOUT THE HOUSE FUNDING PROCESS. WE HAVE A POLICY IN-HOUSE THAT A PROJECT CANNOT BE FUNDED AT LESS THAN 50% OF ASK, THE SENATE HAS

[02:30:01]

YOU MIGHT ASK FOR $4 MILLION AND $1 MILLION WOULD DO A LOT TO HELP, WE CANNOT FIND A $4 MILLION ASK AT A $1 MILLION AMOUNT. 'S WAS GOING TO BE A TIGHT FUNDING YEAR LIKE LAST YEAR. THERE WILL BE A LOT OF REQUESTS FROM EVERY CORNER OF THE STATE OF FLORIDA SO AS YOU THINK ABOUT HOW TO BE MOST EFFECTIVE, KEEP THAT IN MIND AND KEEP IN MIND WHAT AMOUNTS WOULD MATTER TO THE ORGANIZATION. IT IS AN HONOR TO REPRESENT YOU ALL, LOOK FORWARD TO THESE CONVERSATIONS PLEASE DO NOT HESITATE TO REACH OUT TO ME AND MY STAFF. THANK YOU.

>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH. I LIKE TO SPEND TIME CONGRATULATING MY COLLEAGUES AND PRAISING THEM, I WOULD LIKE TO RECOGNIZE WHAT WAS SAID, 100% CORRECT IF YOUR PROJECT DIES IT'S PROBABLY BECAUSE OF THE HOUSE. IN ADDITION TO THAT I WANTED THANK YOU ALL, I APPRECIATE YOU COMING OUT, APPRECIATE YOU GIVING US FEEDBACK. A LOT OF PEOPLE HAD THEIR TIME CUT SHORT TODAY SO

[I. Election of Chair and Vice-Chair ]

THE WAY THE PROCESS WORKS, LARGELY CEREMONIAL ROLE WHICH COMES WITH WORK BUT WE PASSED BACK AND FORTH BETWEEN THE CHAMBERS THE HOUSE AND THE SENATE AND BACK AND FORTH SO WITH THAT I SERVE DOUBLE DUTY. SO, I NOMINATE REPRESENTATIVE SAPP AS THE CHAIR ALL IN FAVOR SAY AYE BY YOUR VOTE, SERVING AS THE CHAIR OF THE SAINT COUNTY -- JONES COUNTY DELEGATION.

REPRESENTATIVE KENDALL YOU ARE RECOGNIZED.

>> WILL SERVE AS A NEW VICE CHAIR ST. JOHNS COUNTY LEGISLATIVE ALLEGATION NOW I WILL TURN THE GAVEL OVER TO THE NEW CHAIRMAN.

>> WITH THAT SENATOR LEEK MOVES THAT WE

* This transcript was compiled from uncorrected Closed Captioning.