COMMISSIONERS. WE WILL START WITH -- LET'S SEE.
[Call to Order by Chair]
[00:00:07]
>> VISE CHAIR COMMISSIONER AND TAYLOR. >> IT SHOULD BE ON.
THERE YOU GO. DON'T PUSH IT. JUST PUSH AT ONCE.
YOUR RECOGNIZED. >> COMMISSIONER CHRISTIAN WHITEHURST.
>> PRESENT. >> COMMISSIONERS SIR ARNOLD. >> PRESENT.
>> COMMISSIONER KRISTA JOSEPH. >> PRESENT. >> ALL RIGHT THANK YOU SO MUCH.
WE'LL START WITH OUR VACATION. IT WILL BE ABOUT THE FIRST UNITED METHODIST CHURCH OF ST.
AUGUSTINE. CAN WE STAND PLEASE? THANK YOU ALL.
LET'S PRAY. GOD OF PEACE WE COME INTO THIS SPACE FROM DIFFERENT PLACES, DIFFERENT EXPERIENCES, DIFFERENT CONVICTIONS, DIFFERENT HOPES FOR OUR COMMUNITY.
JOHNS COUNTY. THE WORLD IS OFTEN LOUD, REACTIVE, DIVIDED AND FEARFUL.
WE ASK FOR SOMETHING DIFFERENT HERE. NOT THE ABSENCE OF DISAGREEMENT BUT THE PRESENCE OF PEACE.
WHEN THE ISSUES ARE COMPLEX, GIVE THEM CLARITY.
WHEN THE PRESSURES ARE HIGH, GIVE THEM STEADINESS.
WHEN THE PATH FORWARD IS UNCLEAR, GIVE THEM COURAGE TO CHOOSE WHAT IS RIGHT.
GUARD THIS ROOM FROM CYNICISM AND FROM THE TEMPTATION TO TURN DIFFERENCES INTO DIVISION.
INSTEAD LET THIS BE A PLACE WHERE RESPECT IS PRACTICED, WHERE EVERY VOICE IS HEARD WITH AND EVEN WHEN DISAGREEMENT OCCURS, THERE'S A COMMITMENT TO THE COMMON GOOD. I REMIND ALL HERE TODAY THAT PEACE IS NOT PASSIVE.
GOD, MAY THE WORK YOU'RE DONE TODAY RECORD -- REPORT NOT ONLY GOOD POLICY BUT A DEEPER COMMITMENT TO JUSTICE, COMPASSION AND THE WELL-BEING OF ALL. STUDY OUR HEARTS AND SHAPE OUR DECISIONS WITH WISDOM AND
PEACE. AMEN. >> THANK YOU. FOLLOWED BY THE PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE BY UNITED STATES ARMY CHIEF OFFICER RETIRED ALSO AIRPORT AUTHORITY BOARD MEMBER. THANK YOU.
>> AT MORNING. THANKS FOR HAVING ME AGAIN. I PLEDGE ALLEGIANCE TO THE FLAG OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA AND TO THE REPUBLIC WHICH STANDS ONE NATION UNDER GOD, INDIVISIBLE WITH LIBERTY AND JUSTICE FOR ALL.
WEEK] >> ALL RIGHT. WE HAVE A PROCLAMATION THIS MORNING.
[Proclamation Recognizing National Public Safety Telecommunicators Week]
>>> A PROCLAMATION BY THE BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS ST.
JOHNS COUNTY, FLORIDA. WHEREAS PUBLIC SAFETY TELL THE COMMUNICATORS OF THE ST.
JOHNS COUNTY SHERIFF'S OFFICE AND ST. JOHNS COUNTY FIRE RESCUE SJ CFR OUR FIRST CONTACT FOR THOSE THAT USE THE 911 EMERGENCY NUMBER. AND WHEREAS PUBLIC SAFETY TELL THE COMMUNICATORS PLAY A VITAL ROLE IN THE PROTECTION OF HUMAN LIFE AND PROPERTY IN OUR COMMUNITY AND ARE RESPONSIBLE FOR ENGAGING WITH CALLERS WHO ARE OFTEN UNDER DURESS AND IN DANGER OBTAINING NECESSARY INFORMATION, DETERMINING THE EMERGENCY AND DISPATCHING APPROPRIATE PERSONNEL.
AND WHEREAS PUBLIC SAFETY TELL THE COMMUNICATORS ARE THE SINGLE VITAL LINK FOR OUR POLICE OFFICERS, DEPUTY SHERIFFS, FIREFIGHTERS AND PARAMEDICS BY MONITORING THEIR ACTIVITIES BY RADIO PROVIDING THEM INFORMATION AND ENSURING THEIR SAFETY.
WHEREAS PUBLIC SAFETY TELL A COMMUNICATORS EXHIBITED COMPASSION, UNDERSTANDING AND PROFESSIONALISM DURING THE PAST YEAR AND NOW THEREFORE BE IT PROCLAIMED BY THE BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS OF ST.
[00:05:03]
JOHNS COUNTY, FLORIDA THAT THE UPCOMING WEEK OF APRIL 12TH THROUGH 18TH 2026 BE DESIGNATED NATIONAL PUBLIC SAFETY TELL A COMMUNICATORS WEEK.PASSED AND ADOPTED BY BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS OF ST.
JOHNS COUNTY FLORIDA. THE 24TH DAY OF MARCH 2026.
I HAVE A LOT OF FOND MEMORIES AND HARD KNOCKS REMEMBERING HOW TOUGH IT WAS.
FOR THE TELE- COMMUNICATORS FOR POLICE AND FIRE AND LET'S GIVE THEM A GREAT ROUND OF APPLAUSE.
[APPLAUSE] LET ME INVITE THE SHERIFF AND THE CHIEF TO SAY A FEW WORDS.
OH, NO. [LAUGHTER] >> I'D LIKE TO THANK THE BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS, COUNTY ADMINISTRATION RECOGNIZING WOMEN AND MEN IN TELECOMMUNICATIONS. SUCH A HARD JOB THEY HAVE TO BE ABLE TO TALK ON THE PHONE AND HELP THESE PEOPLE IN NEED.
AND THERE ARE -- WATCH THE MORE, THERE'S A PROFESSIONAL.
WE HAVE A GREAT GROUP AND TO ME JUST KNOWING THAT PERSONS ON THE OTHER SIDE OF THE PHONE AND FOR ME BEING A FIREMAN GOING ON THESE RUNS, I GET THERE, I CAN HELP AND THEN BEING OF A HELPLINE THE PHONE AND HAVING THAT HELPLESSNESS FEELING BY NOT BEING ABLE TO HELP DIRECTLY BUT GUIDING US TO WHERE WE NEED TO GO, GIVING US THAT INFORMATION, THEY HAVE SUCH A HUGE CONNECTION TO THE PUBLIC AND MAKING SURE THEY STAY SAFE AND MY HATS OFF TO THEM. THEY DO A GREAT JOB AND I SUPER APPRECIATE THEM.
THANK YOU. [APPLAUSE] >> MR. CHAIR, COMMISSIONERS, THANK YOU.
COUNTY STAFF, THINK YOU VERY MUCH. WE HAVE A SPECIAL THING GOING ON IN ST.
JOHNS COUNTY. RELATIONSHIPS AND PARTNERSHIPS TRUST TRANSPARENCY.
I GO ON AND ON. THE FACT IS THE NUMBERS. THE TRUTH LIES IN THE NUMBERS AND THIS IS WHERE IT LOOKS AT A BIGGER PICTURE FROM THE 30,000-FOOT VIEW WITH DISPATCHERS AT THE SHERIFF'S OFFICE. 101,911 CALLS LAST YEAR. THE HUNDRED 69,000 IN GOING AND OUTGOING CALLS TO THE 911 CENTER.
HERE'S WHERE THE NUMBERS LIE. WITH THREE AGENCIES THE OFFICE DISPATCHED NATIONAL PARK SERVICE ST.
AUGUSTINE POLICE DEPARTMENT, BEACH POLICE DEPARTMENT AND ST.
JOHNS COUNTY. THOSE OF THE MEN AND WOMEN AND HEROES THAT HIDE BEHIND HEADSETS AND THEY ARE NOT RECOGNIZED VERY OFTEN BUT WHEN YOU PICK UP THE PHONE YOUR TIMES IN NEED AND DARK SPOTS IN LIFE, IT'S THE SOUNDING VOICE ON THE OTHER SIDE THAT WALKS YOU THROUGH THE PROCESS OF GETTING HELP TO YOUR FRONT DOOR WEATHERBY SAINT JOHNS FIRE RESCUE, ST. AUGUSTINE FIRE, ST. AUGUSTINE CITY PD OR ST.
JOHNS COUNTY SHERIFF'S OFFICE. I WANT TO THANK THEM.
THERE'S SOMETHING SPECIAL ABOUT THE MEN AND WOMEN OUT THERE THAT WORK 24 HOURS A DAY, 365 DAYS A YEAR SO THANK YOU FOR EVERYTHING YOU DO MR. CHAIR AND COMMISSIONERS AND COUNTY STAFF. THANK YOU FOR YOUR SUPPORT OF THE GREAT MISSION IN ST.
JOHN COUNTY SHERIFF'S OFFICE ON ST. JOHN COUNTY FIRE AND RESCUE. THANK YOU. [APPLAUSE] >> AND EVERYBODY SEEM EQUALLY I WILL TAKE A COUPLE OF STEPS THAT WAY.
[00:10:15]
APRIL AS WATER CONSERVATION MONTH][Proclamation Recognizing April as Water Conservation Month]
JOHNS COUNTY FLORIDA. WHEREAS THE STATE OF FLORIDA WATER MANAGEMENT DISTRICTS AND BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS ARE WORKING TOGETHER TO INCREASE AWARENESS ABOUT THE IMPORTANCE OF WATER CONSERVATION AND WHEREAS APRIL, A TYPICALLY DRY MONTH WHEN WATER DEMANDS ARE MOST ACUTE, HAS BEEN DESIGNATED FOR THOSE WATER CONSERVATION MONTH.TO EDUCATE CITIZENS ABOUT HOW THEY COME HELP WATER RESOURCES.
WHERE IS THE FOCUS WILL BE ON ENSURING OUTDOOR IRRIGATION SYSTEMS OPERATE EFFICIENTLY BY USING PROPERLY FUNCTIONING RANGE SHUT OFF DEVICES AND WHEREAS BY MAKING SURE THESE DEVICES ARE INSTALLED, CONNECTED AND WORKING AS INTENDED OUR COMMUNITY CAN PREVENT UNNECESSARY WATERING, REDUCED WASTE AND MAKE BETTER USE OF THE RAINFALL.
PROCLAIMED BY THE COUNTY COMMISSIONERS OF ST.
JOHNS COUNTY FLORIDA THE MONTH OF APRIL 2026 BE DESIGNATED AS WATER CONSERVATION MONTH.
CALLING UPON ALL RESIDENTS AND BUSINESSES TO HELP PROTECT OUR PRECIOUS WATER RESOURCES BY PRACTICING WATER SAVING MEASURES AND INCREASING AWARENESS OF THE IMPORTANCE OF CONSERVATION. PASSED AND ADOPTED BY THE BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS OF ST.
JOHNS COUNTY FLORIDA THIS 24TH DAY OF MARCH 2026.
>> GOOD MORNING. WHAT AN HONOR TO BE ABLE TO RECOGNIZE THIS MONTH.
FOR MANY OF US IN FLORIDA IS HARD TO BELIEVE WE WILL WAIT DISCUSSING DETAILS OF A DROUGHT TODAY.
SOME DAYS IT SEEMS LIKE IT DOESN'T STOP RAINING AND NOW THIS YEAR.
>> YOU KNOW WHAT HAPPENS WHEN I GET THE MIC. I WANT TO THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR RECOGNIZING WATER PROCLAMATION MONTH OF APRIL.
THE 28TH YEAR WHICH INDICATES THE STATE TAKES THIS IS VERY SERIOUS.
WE ARE IN A SERIOUS DROUGHT NOW AND I WON'T GO MUCH INTO WHAT THE WATER SERVICE WILL BRIEF YOU.
THE BRIEF WILL GIVE YOU THE WILLIES ON HOW BATTER WATER SITUATION IS RIGHT NOW.
DID YOU KNOW SINCE MAY OF 1991, ANY AUTOMATIC IRRIGATION SYSTEM BY LAW SHOULD HAVE THAT INSTALLED.
THE OVER/UNDER ON THOSE THAT ACTUALLY WORK TODAY IS PROBABLY 30%.
THEY'RE EITHER INSTALLED AND QUICKLY. COMING TIMES HAVE YOU SEEN ONE UNDER THE EVE? NOT GOING TO WORK ONCE UNDER THE EVE AND IF THE HOMEOWNER DOESN'T DO THE MAINTENANCE TO MAINTAIN IT, IT'S NOT GOING TO ACTUALLY TURN OUT THAT YOUR GRATIAN SYSTEMS WHEN IT RAINS.
MULTIPLYING THOUSANDS OF THOSE THAT AREN'T WORKING AND SHUTTING OFF WHEN WE HAVE RAIN, IT AGGRAVATES YOU WHEN YOU COME INTO YOUR NEIGHBORHOOD AND SEE PEOPLE WATERING THEIR YARDS WITH COMMON AIR GEISHA AND SYSTEMS AND YOU JUST GET 2 INCHES OF RAIN.
THAT'S VERY IMPORTANT. TYING THAT INTO WHERE WE ARE TODAY, IF YOU WANT TO WEAR -- AREN'T AWARE, WE ARE NOT WATER SHORTAGE ISSUED BY THE DISTRICT ALLOWED BY STATE STATUE BECAUSE OF WHERE WE ARE.
THAT'S FOR TWO REASONS. LACK OF RAIN AND MONITORING WELLS SOME IN ST.
JOHN'S THAT ARE AT OR BELOW THE TENTH PERCENTILE WHICH MEANS THE AQUIFERS TELLING US, GIVING US A MESSAGE THAT -- LET'S START CONSERVING WATER BECAUSE WE HAVE A PROBLEM HERE. I'LL PUT ON THE YOUNG GUY GLASSES.
TELLING YOU ABOUT THE NATIONAL WATER SERVICE, THAT'S ITEM NUMBER 1 BUT WHY IS WATER CONSERVATION IMPORTANT? THE MOST IMPORTANT ACTION WE CAN TAKE IF YOU EXPECT TO PROTECT WATER SUPPLY, MEET FUTURE NEEDS AND REDUCE DEMANDS ON FLORIDA'S WATER-DEPENDENT ECOSYSTEM SUCH THE WETLANDS NEED MOISTURE. ALL CLASSES OF WATER USERS ENCOURAGED TO REDUCE WATER USE AND CONSERVE WATER TO THE MAXIMUM EXTENT POSSIBLE BECAUSE YOU WILL HEAR AN
[00:15:08]
ITEM ONE IT DOESN'T SOUND LIKE THE DROUGHT WILL AND ANYTIME SOON.THE UTILITIES, FARMERS, ANYBODY WITH A WELL WHERE THEY CAN USE PERMIT.
INSTITUTE OR ACCELERATE SYSTEM-LEVEL WATER CONSERVATION MEASURES TO -- MANAGE DEMAND.
ALL RESIDENTIAL LANDSCAPE IRRIGATION LIMITED TO ONE DAY A WEEK REGARDLESS OF THE TIME OF YEAR.
TWO WEEKS AGO WHEN TIME CHANGE NORMALLY YOU WOULD GET TWO WE ARE KEEPING EVERYBODY HAD ONE.
WE KNOW WINTER WAS HARSH AND COLD AND DRY AND LAID WASTE OR LANDSCAPES AND NOW IT'S WARMING UP.
THINGS ARE STARTING TO BUD AND TIME TO MAKE CHANGE AND GET THE LANDSCAPE BACK UP.
WERE ASKING TO HOLD OFF LIKE REPLACING YARD OR BAKE...
OR PALM TREES BECAUSE THEY REQUIRE A LOT OF WATER TO GET SITUATED.
HERE'S ONE WHERE YOU CAN HAVE FUN WITH YOUR HOA.
WERE PREEMPTING THE HOA'S. WHEN IT COMES TO WATCHING OR PLANNING BUILDINGS, STRUCTURES AND SERVICES SUCH AS PRESSURE WASHING, COMPLIANCE WITH HOMEOWNER ASSOCIATION OR OTHER ESTHETIC STANDARDS DOES NOT CONSTITUTE NECESSARY MAINTENANCE.
IF YOU'RE DOING IT BECAUSE YOU ARE PREPPING FOR PAINTING, CONSTRUCTION, THAT IS ALLOWED BUT WHEN YOU GET HOA LETTER, TIME TO WASH YOUR YARD, DRIVEWAY, LET'S LOOK PRETTY.
YOU CAN TELL THEM YOU'RE PREEMPTED BY LAW. HOA'S HAVE WELLS, CITIZENS AT WELLS AND IN RURAL AREAS, THEY'RE ALL UNDER THIS ORDER AND SHOULD COMPLY WITH OUR WATER RESTRICTIONS.
A SICKLY IF YOU WANT TO SAVE WATER, THERE SMART THINGS TO DO.
A WATER LABEL THAT SHOULD BE ON YOUR DEVICES.
ENERGY STAR, IT'S BUILT INTO THAT. FLORIDA WATER STAR IS A CERTIFICATION WE HAVE.
JERSEY MIKE'S YOU HAVE A SUB AND YOU CAN ORDER IT ANYWAY, IT'S A CERTIFICATION BU YOU CAN BUILD YOUR HOUSE AND MODIFY YOUR HOUSE RIGHT NOW BECAUSE BASICALLY WERE ASKING BUSINESSES AND HOMES TO USE LESS WATER IN LANDSCAPES, IRRIGATION SYSTEMS INDOORS.
OF CERTIFIED HOME WILL USE ABOUT 40,000 GALLONS LESS WATER AND MORE IMPORTANTLY SAVE YOU ÚSEVERAL HUNDRED DOLLARS BECAUSE NEIL LIKES ASSIGNED A MONTHLY BILL SAYING THANKS FOR USING MY WATER TODAY. CHECK TO SEE IF YOUR TOILET IS A LOW FLOW MODEL.
WASTE ABOUT 200 GALLONS OF WATER A DAY. WE'VE ALL HAD IT HERE THAT WHAT THE HECK IS GOING ON.
I WASN'T IN THERE. YOU CHECK IT, JUST DON'T FORGET IT.
5 MINUTES LIKE DOROTHY WAS GIVEN IN "THE WIZARD OF OZ", YOU TURN THE HOURGLASS UP.
YOU'VE GOT 5 MINUTES ON YOUR SHOWERS DONE. YOU WILL BE POPULAR.
CUT YOUR WATER IN HALF. WATER YOUR LAWNS AND EARLY EVENING HOURS.
AS A NAVY PILOT WE REMEMBER THINGS BY ACRONYMS. TEN, FOUR OR AS A KID WITH A CV. 4:10 OR AFTER FOUR BECAUSE YOU DON'T DO DURING HEAT OF DAY WHEN THE WATER WILL EVAPORATE.
MAINTAIN IRRIGATION SYSTEM. WHY IS MY YARD WHAT? IS A GOOD INDICATION TO LEAVE. LEAKY IRRIGATION SYSTEM IS BAD NEWS AND WILL COST YOU A LOT OF MONEY.
IN THOSE AREAS SO MAY BE HIDDEN IN THE BUSHES.
IT'S A GOOD TIME TO DO A CHECK. PLACEMENT OF HIDES, YOU GET SCOTCHES.
DON'T MODERATE -- I WILL WATER IT UNTIL IT GOES AWAY.
HE'S MISTING HIS DRIVEWAY OR HIS YARD. THAT'S EFFICIENT.
MOST OF THE WATERS EVAPORATING. AND DURATION, 25 MINUTES OR LESS, YOU CAN GO ON GOOGLE THE TIMES FOR GRASS, TYPES OF GRASS AND BE A SMARTER PERSON BECAUSE OF THAT.
[00:20:08]
THIS IS THE TIME OF YEAR YOU TALK ABOUT FERTILIZER. COME ANY OF YOU USE RECLAIMED WATER? MOST DON'T REALIZE, IT HAS NUTRIENTS AND IT. YOU CAN USE LESS FERTILIZER.WATER EFFICIENT LANDSCAPING WILL HELP YOU SAVE WATER RESOURCES.
WATERWAYS IS A CALM THING. I LIKE PERENNIALS ON FLORIDA LANDSCAPE IN FLORIDA FRIENDLY BECAUSE THESE PLANS ARE PROVEN BY NATURE OVER TIME TO SURVIVE CONDITIONS IN FLORIDA. WITH LANDSCAPERS...
PUT IT IN THE RIGHT PLACE. HOW ARE YOU GOING TO MAKE A DIFFERENCE? I'M JUST ONE PERSON I'M NOT GOING TO MAKE A DIFFERENCE. COLLECTIVELY WHEN YOU CONSIDER THOUSANDS OF HOMES AROUND EACH CITY AND COUNTY AND COLLECTIVELY IT'S IMPORTANT -- WE HAVE SEVERAL HUNDRED FEET BELOW OUR IMPLICATIONS ARE WE HAVE TO TURN TO MUCH MORE EFFICIENT.
NOW THE WATER WILL BE A LOT MORE EXPENSIVE TO GET.
MOST PEOPLE SAY WE ARE SURROUNDED BY WATER, THROUGH A PIPE IN THE OCEAN.
IT'S ENERGY INTENSIVE AND EXPENSIVE TO DESALINATE SO IT'S NOT THE EASY OPTION.
PLEASE HELP US PROTECT WHILE WE WORK THROUGH THIS AND HOPEFULLY THE WEATHER SERVICE HAD'S GOOD NEWS FOR US LATER IN THE YEAR AND OBVIOUSLY UTILITIES DO GREAT THINGS FOR US SO LISTEN TO NEIL WHO WILL TELL YOU SOME GREAT STORIES ON HOW YOUR UTILITIES HELPING IN THE SITUATION.
THANK YOU SO MUCH. [APPLAUSE] >> THANK YOU, DOG.
OF KNOWN DOUG FOR 20 YEARS AND I GOT TO KNOW HIM THROUGH GOLF.
AND THAT'S A TALL ORDER STATEMENT. THAT TELLS YOU -- DOUG BROUGHT A LOT OF THINGS THAT I DON'T WANT TO GO INTO A LOT, BUT I CAN TELL YOU I'M PROUD TO BE PRIVILEGED AND PRIVILEGE TO BE PART OF 225 PLUS WORKFORCE THAT WATER CONSERVATION IS IN OUR DNA AND BREAD IN OUR CULTURE.
WE HAVE SO MANY PROGRAMS IN THE COUNTY. IM NOT GOING TO GO THROUGH THEM ALL BUT REPLACEMENT THAT ALLOWS US TO STOP LEAKS, RECLAIMED WATER INFRASTRUCTURE THAT ALLOWS US TO MAXIMIZE RECLAIMED WATER.
AMI WHICH IS AUTOMATED METER READING THAT ALLOWS LEAK DETECTION.
I'M GOING TO SHORT ALL OF THOSE AND SAY OUR SECRET WEAPON IS OUR STAFF.
I THINK DUSTY POINTED OUT EARLIER, IT'S AMAZING TO FIND OUT WHAT KIND OF STAFF WE HAVE.
THAT'S WHY I WANT TO RECOGNIZE THREE PEOPLE TODAY.
THREE ARE NOT HERE. SEAN O'CONNOR IN OUR METER GROUP, A FANTASTIC RESOURCE.
ARE WATER MANAGER AND TONY COPPAGE HAS BEEN A GREAT STEWARD FOR OUR UTILITY.
BUT TWO PEOPLE THAT I'VE ASKED TO REPRESENT US TODAY, THERE'S SO MANY THINGS WE'VE PUT TOGETHER AS A TEAM AND SHE CERTAINLY DOES THAT FOR US, TERRY SHOEMAKER. I WANT TO RECOGNIZE HER AND OUR NEW ADDITION JENNIFER WATKIN HAS BEEN FANTASTIC.
THE LAST THING I'D LIKE TO ANNOUNCES WE ARE READY TO LAUNCH A NEW PROGRAM.
ALL OF OUR METERS ARE SMART BUT I'M TOLD THIS METER IS SMARTER.
AND NOT GETTING TO IT WILL PROBABLY HAVE A PRESS RELEASE BUT SO EXCITED.
THANK YOU AGAIN COMMISSIONERS FOR SUPPORTING OUR PROGRAMS AND THANKS
[Acceptance of Proclamations]
FOR THE TIME. [APPLAUSE]DO I HEAR A MOTION -- >> SECOND. WE HAVE MOTION TO SECOND.
[00:25:02]
THANK YOU SO MUCH. NEIL, DO YOU WANT TO STICK AROUND FOR UTILITIES INFRASTRUCTURE UPDATE?[Utilities Infrastructure Update]
YOU'RE ON. [LAUGHTER] >> JIM MERV -- CHAIR MURPHY, COMMISSIONERS, GOOD MORNING. UTILITY DIRECTOR.
IT'S AN HONOR TO PROVIDE THIS UPDATE. EMERSON'S OUR ADMINISTRATOR JOIN -- INITIATED THIS INFRASTRUCTURE DELIVERY PROGRAM QUITE A WHILE BACK NOW, YOU'VE ALL HAD SEVERAL PRESENTATIONS, ROADS, UTILITIES, PARKS, LIBRARIES, VERTICAL CONSTRUCTION, COASTAL PROJECTS. WILL STEP ASIDE A LITTLE BIT OUT OF THE BOX AND THIS IS ONE OF MANY EXAMPLES THAT'S GOING TO BRING THE INNOVATIVE AND CREATIVE SIDE OF THIS INFRASTRUCTURE PROGRAM TODAY.
AND ALSO IT SHOWS YOU THAT COLLABORATION BETWEEN DEPARTMENTS YIELDS INTO HIGH-EFFICIENCY.
YOU WILL SEE THAT. SO WE'RE GOING TO TALK ABOUT FIRE HYDRANTS.
YES. IT'S THOSE YELLOW, READ STATIC FIXTURES THAT SIT ON STREET CORNERS.
THAT'S WHAT WE'RE GOING TO TALK ABOUT TODAY. ALL OF US INCLUDING OUR FIREMAN WHEN THEY GOT CLOSE TO THEM THEY EXPECT WATER WILL BE COMING OUT WITH PRESSURE. LIKE THEY SAY, THERE'S NO SUCH THING AS FREE LUNCH.
A LOT OF STUFF HAPPENS BEHIND THE SCENES TO MAKE THESE INSTRUMENTS AND FIXTURES VERY RELIABLE.
LET'S TALK ABOUT IT. WERE GOING TO TALK ABOUT WHY IT MATTERS, WHAT'S THE CHANGE -- WILL HAVE A SMALL CHANGE ANNOUNCED TO THE BOARD WHICH IS GREAT AND HOW WORKING TOGETHER CAN MAKE A DIFFERENCE AT THE END OF THE DAY FOR OUR COMMUNITY.
SO FIREFIGHTING, CORRECT? AND FIRE PROTECTION.
THE BIG PHRASE I'D LIKE TO USE WHEN IT COMES TO FIREFIGHTING, RELIABILITY IS NOT AN OPTION.
THERE'S NO IF SPIGOTS THE FOUNDATION OF FIRE PROTECTION.
THERE'S FOUR THINGS I WANT TO SHARE WITH THE BOARD AND COMMUNITY TODAY.
OPERATIONAL READINESS. THERE'S NO IFS WHEN YOU OPEN IT, IT HAS TO WORK.
THERE'S NO TIME. TALK ABOUT RESPONSE TIME WITH THE FIRE DEPARTMENT.
ENSURING FIRE HYDRANTS ARE FUNCTIONAL DURING EMERGENCIES IS VERY IMPORTANT TO US.
FLOOR ASSURANCE. VERIFYING INFRASTRUCTURE CAN DELIVER THE REQUIRED FLOW FOR FIRE SUPPRESSION.
THERE'S SO MANY THINGS THAT GO BEHIND THE SCENES.
ENGINEERING, MODELING, PIPES, PUMPS, VALVE MAINTENANCE.
A LOT. THAT HAS TO HAPPEN. WITHOUT IT THERE'S NO ASSURANCE ASSURANCE.
THERE'S NO FLOW AND VOLUME NEEDED FOR THE FIRES.
STRATEGIC DATA. THIS IS A LITTLE BEHIND THE SCENES.
WHEN EVERYTHING IS DONE, WE PROVIDE AN TO REPORT THIS DATA AND THE DATA PROPER DATA, CONSISTENCY OF THE DATA, GOOD DATA ALLOWS US TO HAVE CERTAINLY AN ECONOMIC IMPACT YOU HAVE ALL SEEN THANKS TO OUR FIRE DEPARTMENT.
I REALLY WANT TO RECOGNIZE THE CHIEF DUSTY -- HE AND HIS TEAM DO AN AMAZING JOB FOR WHAT THEY'VE DONE TO PROVIDE THAT IMPACT TORQUE COUNTY. AVAILABILITY OF ACCURATE DATA ALSO SUPPORTS FIRE PROTECTION AND HELPS WITH INSURANCE RATES.
WE HAVE 12,000 OF THESE IN THE COUNTY AND AS FOR UTILITIES MANAGING THESE, ST.
SO WHAT HAS HAPPENED? WHAT'S THAT CATALYST OF CHANGE? I HAVE TO GIVE TWO AWARDS HERE. WON THE SPIRIT OF INNERVATE -- INNOVATION AWARD TO MS. ANDREWS AND THE STATION NUMBER 1. THAT WAS SORT OF THE IMPETUS THAT HAPPENED ONE LATE EVENING WHEN OUR ADMINISTRATOR WENT TO THE STATION AND FOUND OUT FROM STAFF THAT THINGS COULD BE DONE BETTER.
ONE OF THE IDEAS THAT CAME OUT, I CAN'T FORGET THIS BECAUSE I WAS IN PUNTO CONNOR AND GOT THE CALL, SEVEN FROM JOY SAYING THAT WE HAVE TO TALK AND ONE THING LED TO ANOTHER AND HERE WE ARE TODAY.
WHAT WAS HAPPENING BEFORE AS I POINTED OUT STAFF, FIRE STATION NUMBER 1 STAFF TALKING ABOUT THE DIFFICULTIES WERE HAVING. FIRE CREWS WERE OFTEN PULLED AWAY.
OF THE FIRE HYDRANT WAS BAD, OUR BUT A LOT OF WORK THAT HAPPENED. SO INSPECTIONS AND TESTS COULD BE DELAYED BECAUSE THEY HAD TO BE PUT OUT FOR AN EMERGENCY CALL.
[00:30:04]
DATA COLLECTIONS WERE CHALLENGING AND YOU CAN TALK TO ROB DOWLING IN THE ENERGY HE BRINGS TO THE TABLE.IT WAS VERY CHALLENGING FOR THEM TO PUT THE DATA TOWARDS THE END OF THE YEAR TO REPORT THESE.
SO WHAT'S CHANGING? REDIRECTING RESOURCES APPROPRIATELY TO MAXIMIZE EFFICIENCY IS WHAT WE'VE DONE.
THAT'S THE CHANGE. IT'S A SIMPLE NOTION. STICK TO THE BEST.
THE FIRE DEPARTMENT'S PRIMARY MISSION IS EMERGENCY RESPONSE SO THEY'RE GOING TO DO THAT.
UTILITIES PRIMARY MISSION IS TO PROVIDE SAFE AND RELIABLE WATER.
LET'S STICK TO THAT. THAT WAS THE CHANGES SIMPLE BUT PRETTY PROFOUND.
SO WHAT ARE WE DOING? LEVERAGING EXPORTS. FIREFIGHTERS OR EXPERTS FOR USING THE WATER.
WHERE THE EXPERTS EXPERTS FOR DELIVERING THE WATER. AND AS THE BOARD APPROVED THIS IN FY26, WE WILL NOW HAVE A DEDICATED TEAM. TALKING ABOUT THAT, I'M GOING TO CHANGE MY HATS BECAUSE WE HAVE TRANSITIONED THE PROGRAM TO UTILITIES.
THIS IS A UTILITY HAT AND I WANT TO RECOGNIZE ERIC, ANTHONY AND ANREW.
CAN YOU STAND UP? [APPLAUSE] PART OF THIS COMMISSIONERS IS INTO THE CALL COMING FROM MS. ANDREWS BUT A LOT HAPPENS TO THAT. I'M JUST THE BROKER IN THE MIDDLE.
THEIR STAFF THAT HAS TO RECOGNIZE THE EFFORT AND THIS WAS BROUGHT TO YOU WITH NO RATE INCREASES, ABSORB THE PROGRAM. IT'S NEW POSITIONS BUT WE LOOKED AT IT ALL AND HERE IT IS, IT'S HAPPENING.
TWO INSPECTORS, TWO TECHNICIANS, SPECIALIZED EQUIPMENT.
IT ALLOWS THE DEPARTMENT TO FOCUS ON THE CORE MISSION.
I WILL READ OUT SOMETHING CHIEF MICKEY MENTIONED AND I TOOK PERMISSION FROM HIM TO READ THIS.
OUR FIREFIGHTERS ARE ON THE FRONT LINES OF EMERGENCY RESPONSE AND THE COMMUNITY RELIES ON THE RAPID LIFE-SAVING ACTION BY SHIFTING HYDRANT INSPECTIONS ON FLOW TESTING TO A DEDICATED UTILITY AND FIRE RESCUE PERSONNEL CAN REMAIN CONCENTRATED ON EMERGENCY TRAINING AT RESPONSE OPERATIONS. CHIEF MICKEY.
SO AGAIN, WHAT ARE WE GOING TO BE DOING? SAME THING THE FIREMEN DID FOR A WHILE.
SO OUR FIREMAN DON'T HAVE TO DO THAT. WILL TEST ABOUT 20% OF THE FIRE HYDRANTS ANNUALLY.
IT'S A LOT OF STUFF TO DO. COLLECT AND SHARE THE DATA.
THE PROGRAM IS ALWAYS GOING TO BE COLLECTIVE.
WERE ALWAYS GOING TO BE TALKING TO EACH OTHER TO MAKE SURE THINGS ARE GOOD FOR OUR COMMUNITY.
THAT'S THE DASH LINE. THIS COORDINATED APPROACH STRENGTHENS BOTH OPERATIONS AND ESTIMATED 12,000 HOURS WILL BE REALIGNED WITH FIRE DEPARTMENT RESPONDING TO 911 CALLS. THAT IS THE BENEFIT OUR COMMUNITY IS GETTING FROM THIS PROGRAM.
STEPPING UP RIGHT AWAY. CO. SHARING THEIR EXISTING RESOURCES TO GET THIS GOING.
STAFF TRAINING IS UNDERWAY. FLOW TESTING HAS STARTED.
DATA TOOL DEVELOPMENT IS THERE. WE HAVE A HUGE BELT AND DASHBOARD TOOL FOR THIS.
FULL PROGRAM PROBABLY AND OF MAY WE SHOULD BE IN GOOD SHAPE.
IT'S REALLY I CALL THIS NOT A WIN A WIN/WHEN BUT A WIN/WINSOCK WHEN.
THE FIRE DEPARTMENT WINS BECAUSE THEY GET TO RESPOND TO WHAT THEY SHOULD BE RESPONDING.
WE STICK TO HER HARDWARE, FIRE STICKS TO STRATEGY AND WE GET A GOOD PRODUCT.
WITH THAT, COMMISSIONERS, THANK YOU. >> THINK YOU SO MUCH FOR YOUR PRESENTATION.
THAT WAS AMAZING. [APPLAUSE] ARE NO ADDITIONAL COST TO THE TAXPAYERS.
THAT'S A WIN, WIN, WHEN INDEED. YOU ARE RECOGNIZE.
>> THANK YOU AND I APPRECIATE YOU BRINGING THIS IN.
ERIC, ANTHONY AND ANDREW. I APPRECIATE YOU BEING HERE IF FOR NO OTHER REASON THEN FOR ME TO SAY THANK YOU SO MUCH BECAUSE OF THE HARD WORK YOU'RE DOING THAT YOU MAKE US LOOK GOOD AND MAKE NEIL LOOK GOOD AND OUR COUNTY IS BETTER OFF.
[2026 SJC Legislative Day Video]
[00:35:03]
JOHNS COUNTY LOCAL CULTURE, CUISINE AND ENTERTAINMENT.
TOGETHER WE HOSTED THE HIGHLY SUCCESSFUL LEGISLATIVE DAY ON THE 5TH OF FEBRUARY.
LEGISLATORS, RESIDENTS AND VISITORS ALIKE EXPERIENCED A DAY OF CELEBRATION, HIGHLIGHTING THE COUNTY'S UNIQUE BLEND OF HISTORY, NATURAL BEAUTY AND THRIVING BUSINESS. ALSO FOR IS IT -- FRIGID TEMPERATURES IN TALLAHASSEE.
JOHNS COUNTY DAY ENSURING THE LEGISLATORS FROM FLORIDA 67 COUNTIES COULD EXPERIENCE FIRSTHAND OUR THRIVING ECONOMY, RICH HISTORY AND EXCEPTIONAL QUALITY OF LIFE.
JOHNS COUNTY REMAINS THE LEADING DESTINATION ON FLORIDA'S HISTORIC COAST.
WE HAVE A BRIEF VIDEO PRODUCED BY OUR AWARD-WINNING PUBLIC OFFICE OF PUBLIC AFFAIRS THAT CAPTURES THE SIGHTS AND SOUNDS AND FLAVORS AND FEELINGS OF THAT REMARKABLE DAY AND WE'D LOVE TO SHOW THE VIDEO. ♪ ♪
>> WE ARE SO EXCITED TO SHOWCASE OUR BEAUTIFUL COUNTY AND SHOW OFF OUR AMAZING ATTRACTIONS.
SOME OF OUR DIFFERENT THINGS THAT PEOPLE LOVE, OUR FOOD.
A WONDERFUL CUISINE. SHOW THE VISITORS THEY CAN COME EXPERIENCE THIS ON FLORIDA'S HISTORIC COAST.
YOU'RE GOING TO SEE SOMETHING -- IT'S GOING TO BE A FULL IMMERSIVE EXPERIENCE.
YOU WILL SEE ST. JOHNS COUNTY AND HERE ST. JOHNS COUNTY.
♪ ♪ >> TASTE IT, SMELL IT, EVEN TOUCH IT. WE'VE GOT ALLIGATORS.
♪ ♪ >> WERE GOING TO SHOW TALLAHASSEE WHY WERE THE MOST AMAZING COUNTY IN FLORIDA. AND ST. JOHNS COUNTY, JUST AN AMAZING PLACE TO CALL HOME AND I'M SUPER EXCITED.
WE HAVE SO MANY THINGS TO REPRESENT TODAY AND WHO DOESN'T WANT TO COME TO ST.
JOHNS COUNTY. >> I CAN TELL YOU THAT -- THAT'S THE BEST BRISKET I THINK OF EVER HAD IN MY LIFE.
WHAT YOU'RE GOING TO SEE TODAY AS PEOPLE. PEOPLE THAT LIVE IN ST.
JOHNS COUNTY AND WORK AND PLAY AND GO TO SCHOOL.
WHAT WERE GOING TO DO IS SHOWCASE ALL OF THAT TODAY.
WE HAVE ALL KINDS OF OPPORTUNITIES AND TENTS SET UP.
AND ARE PARTICIPATING. I LOVE IT. >> IT'S SO EXCITING TO BE HERE.
THE ENERGY IN THE COURTYARD. TO BE ABLE TO BRING SO MUCH OF WHAT'S GREAT ABOUT ST.
REALLY HAPPY TO BE HERE AND I CAN'T WAIT TO SEE PEOPLE PACKED THIS COURTYARD.
>> I CANNOT BE MORE PROUD OF OUR TEAM HAVING YOU GUYS.
CANNOT BE MORE PROUD OF OUR COMMUNITY, OUR BUSINESS OWNERS, SPENCER, THE PEOPLE WHO SERVE DRINKS.
SO PROUD TO SHOWCASE THAT IN FRONT OF OUR LEGISLATOR.
>> APPRECIATE WHAT YOU'RE DOING FOR US. IS AWESOME.
GETTING THE WORD OVER ST. JOHNS COUNTY. >> IT'S BEEN AN OVERWHELMING SUCCESS.
CONGRATULATIONS TO THE TEAM AND WORKED HARD. I SAY TEAM AND I REALLY MEAN THAT.
THAT'S WHAT MADE IT SUCCESSFUL. SPONSORS AND PEOPLE FROM THE AREA.
ELECTED OFFICIALS CAME UP HERE. THE REPRESENTATIVES ARE TALKING ABOUT IT AND IT HELPS US
JOHNS COUNTY IS NOW. HAVE A GREAT DAY. >> THIS IS PHENOMENAL.
[00:40:08]
NOT THAT WE SHOULD COMPARE OURSELVES TO OTHER COUNTIES BUT YOU KNOW, WERE FIRST IN EVERYTHING. FIRST IN THE NATION, FIRST AND CULTURE.Y'ALL ARE FIRST IN MY HEART. IS THERE ANY OTHER COUNTY THAT COMES OUT HERE IN THE CAPITAL MIGHT -- I THINK YOU GUYS HAVE BUNDLED UP ALL OF ST. AUGUSTINE AND ST.
JOHNS COUNTY AND MOVED IT UP HERE. IT'S AMAZING.
IT'S JUST -- I'VE ALWAYS SAID ST. JOHNS COUNTY IS A BIG SMALL TOWN.
WE HAVE THE BENEFITS OF A BIG CITY BUT THAT SMALL TOWN FEEL, NEIGHBOR HELPING NEIGHBOR.
THIS IS IT, IT'S AMAZING. >> IT'S A TREMENDOUS EVENT.
I'M SO GRATEFUL TO SEE SO MANY PEOPLE FROM BACK HOME WHO ARE HERE WITH US TODAY.
I KNOW THERE'S A LOT OF FOLKS FROM THE COMMUNITY WHO'VE CONTRIBUTED TO MAKE THIS POSSIBLE.
WE ARE RIGHT IN THE MIDDLE OF SESSION. THIS IS WEEK FOUR SO REALLY THE MIDPOINT.
THINGS ARE DEFINITELY GETTING BUSY. I HAD A COMMITTEE TODAY NINE TO NOON AND 12:30 TO 03:30.
I HAVEN'T BEEN ABLE TO SPEND AS MUCH TIME OUT HERE AS I'D HOPED BUT I'M HEARING GREAT THINGS FROM EVERYBODY HAS COME TO SEE ME AND SO EXCITED THAT WE HAVE SUCH GREAT REPRESENTATION OF ST. JOHNS COUNTY. ♪ ♪ ♪
♪ ♪ ♪ >> OKAY. HOW ABOUT THAT? [APPLAUSE] AND IT WAS EVERY BIT AS FUN AND COLD AS YOU COULD SEE ON THAT. THINK YOU SO MUCH TO THE TEAM FOR PRODUCING THAT FOR US.
WILL GO RIGHT INTO -- WOULD YOU LIKE TO BE RECOGNIZED FOR THAT?
[Deletions to Consent Agenda]
COMMISSIONER ARNOLD? >> I HAVE BEEN. >> COMMISSIONER JOSEPH.
>> I HAVE NONE. >> MR. WHITEHURST. >> NONE. >> I HAVE NONE.
[Approval of Consent Agenda]
GOOD MORNING. >> GOOD MORNING. I'M GOING TO SPEAK ON CONSENT AGENDA NUMBER 22.
150 MOUNT VERNON STREET BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS.
I'M PRESIDENT OF JAY PROPERTIES AND OWNER OF RESIDENTS AND OYSTER CREEK.
WE BOUGHT IT IN 2021 AND IT WAS FILLED WITH A 41 OUT OF 100.
WE PUT ABOUT 2.6 MILLION OF OUR MONEY IN AND LAST MONTH WE RECEIVED 92.
ONE OF OUR STRATEGIES AS WE WANT TO GIVE PEOPLE A HAND UP, NOT A HANDOUT SO WE ARE FULL-TIME RESIDENT SERVICE COORDINATOR AND I THINK WE'VE MADE A LOT OF PROGRESS THERE. THERE'S STILL A BUNCH TO DO WHICH IS THE POINT OF THE CONSENT AGENDA.
THE TAXES ON BOND SO WE CAN -- A WHOLE LIST OF THINGS.
ONE OF THE THINGS IS UPDATE OUR WATER CONTROL BUT ITS DRAINAGE, STAIRS, ROOFS, WINDOWS.
I THINK KIND OF MOST IMPORTANTLY THE NEW SPORTS FIELD WE HAVE ABOUT 200 KIDS THERE.
THERE'S NOT A LOT OF PLACES TO PLAY. WE ACTUALLY HAD A VARIANCE FROM THE COUNTY ABOUT TWO YEARS AGO BUT RIGHT BEFORE THAT THERE'S A HUGE WASHOUT THAT HAPPENED AND THAT'S KIND OF THE POINT OF COMING HERE. WE WANT TO GET THE PROJECT STARTED AND IN THE FALL AND WE NEED TO WORK WITH THE COUNTY ON THAT.
THE COUNTIES BEEN WORKING ON IT. SOME COUNTY COMMISSIONS HAVE BEEN OUT THERE TO SEE IT.
THERE'S REALLY TWO THINGS. WHEN WAS THE WATER FLOW ON THE ROAD AND THE SECOND WAS WATER FLOW FROM THE CREEK, THE OYSTER CREEK WHICH IS A COUNTY DITCH THAT CONTROLS STORMWATER.
I THINK YOU GUYS HAVE BEEN SUPPORTIVE OF IMPROVING THIS WERE LOOKING FORWARD TO KIND OF WORKING AND FINISHING THAT UP. THAT WAS IT.
[00:45:02]
THANK YOU. >> THANK YOU VERY MUCH. >> GOOD MORNING.
>> GOOD MORNING. SUZANNE, 620 SHORES BOULEVARD.
I WANTED TO COME UP AND JUST REINFORCE WHEN I MOVED HERE 30 YEARS AGO, THAT AREA WAS LIKE -- IT WAS CALLED THE PROJECTS BY MOST PEOPLE. AND THAT AREA WAS -- WEST AUGUSTINE WAS CRIME-RIDDEN, IT WAS NOW TO GOOD PLACE TO LIVE. THOSE APARTMENTS AT THAT TIME PROVIDED PEOPLE HOMES SO THEY WERE NOT HOMELESS AND AS THOSE AGED, THOSE TYPES OF APARTMENTS AGE, THEY NEED REFURBISHMENT.
THEY NEED A LOT OF MONEY TO GET PUT INTO THEM SO WE DON'T LOSE THEM SO SOMEONE DOESN'T JUST COME IN, TERROR IT ALL DOWN AND BUILD SOME COMMERCIAL ESTABLISHMENT.
IT'S RIGHT NEXT TO THE BOYS & GIRLS CLUB WHICH IS IDEAL.
THAT AREA AS IT HAS UNDERGONE ITS REVITALIZATION, THAT'S A KEY PROPERTY THERE.
I WISH WE COULD GET A GROCERY STORE IN THE AREA FOR THOSE PEOPLE.
THAT WOULD KIND OF BE THE NEXT THING. BUT THIS IS A REALLY GOOD THING.
I'M REALLY GLAD THAT THE COMMISSIONERS ARE SUPPORTING THIS.
THERE ARE SOME POCKETS OF OTHER AFFORDABLE HOUSING THAT'S AGING THROUGHOUT THE COUNTY AND WE NEED TO GET ON THAT EARLY. BEFORE THEY BECOME RAISED AND CONDOS PUT THEIR OR WHATEVER. SO REALLY GLAD TO SEE THIS AND THANK YOU FOR YOUR SUPPORT.
>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH. ARE THERE ANY OTHER PUBLIC COMMENTS AT THIS TIME ON THE CONSENT AGENDA?
SEEING NINE WE WILL CLOSE THAT. >> THANK YOU.
I WILL ENTERTAIN A MOTION TO APPROVE THE CONSENT AGENDA.
WE HAVE A MOTION. DO WE HAVE A SECOND? WE HAVE A MOTION AND A SECOND.
OPPOSED? ANY ADDITIONS OR DELETIONS TO THE REGULAR AGENDA?
[Additions/Deletions to Regular Agenda]
COMMISSIONER ARNOLD. >> NO. >> COMMISSIONER JOSEPH.
>> NO SIR. >> COMMISSIONER WHITEHURST. OKAY AND I HAVE NONE EITHER SO I WILL ENTERTAIN A MOTION TO APPROVE THE REGULAR AGENDA. WE HAVE A MOTION AND I HAVE A SECOND.
[Approval of Regular Agenda]
AN AGREEMENT SAYING AYE.>> REUNANIMOUS. LET'S GO TO PUBLIC COMMENT. >> GREAT.
[Public Comment]
AT THIS TIME THE BOARD WILL HEAR GENERAL PUBLIC COMMENT ON MATTERS THAT ARE NOT SCHEDULED FOR ACTION ON TODAY'S AGENDA.WHEN ADDRESSING THE BOARD, PLEASE COME TO 1 OF 3 PODIUMS, STATE YOUR NAME AND ADDRESS.
EACH PERSON WILL BE PROVIDED 3 MINUTES TO SPEAK AND WE ASK YOU SPEAK DIRECTLY INTO THE MICROPHONE.
SPEAKERS WILL COMPLY WITH THE BOARD. RULE CIVILITY IN THE CORAM.
MAY NOT DEMAND AN IMMEDIATE RESPONSE FROM THE BOARD AND MEMBERS OF THE AUDIENCE MAY NOT -- WILL REFRAIN FROM DISRUPTIVE DEMONSTRATION OR APPROVAL OR DISAPPROVAL OF COMMENTS AND ANY SPEAKER THAT WOULD LIKE TO PRESENT MATERIALS PLEASE UTILIZE THE CENTER PODIUM.
PAPER MATERIALS CAN BE PLACED ON THE X FOR DISPLAY ON THERE WILL BE A LAPTOP SET UP FOR ANY USB PRESENTATIONS AND AFTER PRESENTING, PLEASE PRESENT THE MATERIALS TO THE STAFF OF THE CLERK OF THE COURT TO BE ENTERED INTO PUBLIC RECORD.
GOOD MORNING. >> GOOD MORNING. NAMES TENNESSEE.
5461 FOUR STREET. LET'S SEE HERE. THAT'S SUPPOSED TO COME OFF.
I DON'T KNOW HOW TO WORK THIS. BOBCAT BAREFOOT BELLY IS WHAT THEY CALL ME IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD BECAUSE I HAVE BOBCAT RIGHT THERE AND LANE TO BUT I SOLD IT AFTER I GOT INJURED. BUT FROM FLORENCE TO HARVEY TO MATTHEWS TO WHATEVER HURRICANE WE HAD, I'M RIDING AROUND THE NEIGHBORHOOD WITH MY BOBCAT GETTING STUFF OUT ON THE ROAD FOR PEOPLE.
YOU'RE TRYING TO PAY ME AND I'M NOT TAKING MONEY. ONE DAY I TOLD THE GUYS DOG BISCUITS ON A CAME HOME FROM WORK ON THE -- WORK THE FRONT DOOR WAS DOG BISCUITS EVERYWHERE.
I DON'T KNOW. I'VE GOT A MERITORIOUS CITIZEN'S AWARD FOR TRYING TO SAVE SOMEBODY'S LIFE.
[00:50:03]
I KEPT THEM ALIVE AND TELL EMS PEOPLE GOT THERE.I LEARNED THAT FROM COUNTRY CLUB SWIM TEAM FIGURED TO BE ABLE TO DO CPR TO GET ON THE SWIM TEAM.
AND I WAS ON THE GOLF TEAM AND THE TENNIS TEAM AND PING-PONG.
EVERYTHING THEY HAVE. SO I GONE A GOOD TASTE OF PLAYING GOLF AND GOT BANNED FROM GOING ON THE AUGUSTINE NATIONAL BECAUSE I SNUCK ON THERE'S ONLY TIMES I GOT CALLED BUT IT WAS WORTH IT, I TELL YOU THAT. [LAUGHTER] THE MORE SERIOUS STUFF IS ABOUT THE BOAT RAMPS.
WE GOT TWO ABOUT RAMPS. ONE OF THEM IS JUST -- THEY'RE BOTH REAL DANGEROUS.
BUT ONE BOAT RAMP PEOPLE ARE TRYING TO TAKE OVER.
IT SAYS A NO OTHER COUNTRY IN THE WORLD... IN THE
UNITED STATES. >> THANK YOU. >> LESS INCLINATION THREATENING THE WAY PROPERTY IS OWNED.
>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH. >> WOULD YOU SAY? >> THANK YOU.
>> WHAT? I COULDN'T HEAR YOU. >> I JUST SAID THANK YOU BECAUSE OF THE TIME.
>> 3 MINUTES? ALL RIGHT. I'LL CUT YOU ALL NEXT WEEK.
>> THINK IS SO MUCH. GOOD MORNING. >> GOOD MORNING.
KIM SCHWERMER 52... WE HAD OUR FINAL HEARING WITH YOU ON MARCH 3RD 2026 AND ASK FOR SELECTIVE REDUCED FINES OF 13,000 FROM CODE ENFORCEMENT AND THE NEW SPECIAL MAGISTRATE TO BE WAIVED.
IT WAS NO SURPRISE WE WERE SCHEDULED TO BE HEARD LATE IN THE DAY SO WE CONTINUE TO INCUR LEGAL COSTS AND SO THAT MOST PEOPLE WOULD BE GONE FROM THE AUDITORIUM TO WAS -- WITNESSED THE LIVE PROCEEDING UP ABLE TO SPEAK DURING AGENDA PUBLIC COMMENT.
HE UNDERSTOOD THE SITUATION AND OTHERS DO AS WELL.
I SPOKE WITH THREE COMMISSIONERS SEVERAL MONTHS PRIOR ON THE NEW COMMISSIONERS SEEM TO REALLY UNDERSTAND THE ISSUE. THE CURRENT CHAIR ACTUALLY TOLD ME WE WERE TRAILBLAZERS THE OTHER TWO THAT HAD BEEN ON THE BOARD LONGEST WOULD NOT RETURN MY CALLS. I SPOKE WITH MR. COMMANDO ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS AND HE TOLD ME THE COMMISSION DID NOT WANT TO SEE ANYONE FINED INCLUDING US.
HE SAID THEY JUST WANTED EVERYONE TO COMPLY, WHICH WE WERE THE FIRST TO DO UNDER THE CODE CHANGE.
WHICH MAKES IT DIFFICULT LIKE HOMEOWNERS -- FOR HOMEOWNERS LIKE US TO UNDERSTAND THE STANDARDS APPLIED. THE COUNTY IS RESPONSIBLE FOR ALL THE PAVER VIOLATIONS, NOT US. IF THERE WAS A CONCERN FOR DRAINAGE THEY SHOULD HAVE BEEN SENDING VIOLATION NOTICES INSTEAD OF BEING REACTIVE.
WHEN WE FINALLY REPORTED HOMEOWNERS, WE WERE MADE OUT TO BE THE BAD GUYS.
OUR REPORTS CAME FROM USING ST. JOHNS COUNTY PROPERTY APPRAISER, COUNTY MAPS ENCYCLOPEDIA AND DRIVE-BYS WE DID, NOT GOOGLE EARTH AS ONE KEEP STATING. IN OUR RECENT PUBLIC HEARING ONE OF THE MOST -- THE NEWEST ELECTED COMMISSIONERS ASKED AND CONFIRMED IF WE WERE THE ONLY ONES
GETTING FINED DURING THE TIME FRAME. WHEN EVERYONE -- >> THANK YOU.
>> IT STILL SAYS 56 SECONDS. >> IT'S SHOWING ONE MINUTE LEFT.
>> THEY ASKED IF THEY WERE THE OTHER ONES GETTING FINED DURING THE TIME FRAME WHEN EVERYONE ELSE WAS PUT ON HOLD AN COUNTY ATTORNEY ACKNOWLEDGED AND CONFIRMED IT. THE COMMISSIONER VOTED TO IMPOSE FINES AGAINST US.
I ENCOURAGE EVERY CITIZEN TO WATCH THE LIVE TV RECORDING OF OUR HEARING FOR MARCH 3RD.
YOUR PROCESS HAS BEEN UNFAIR. YOU ACKNOWLEDGED OTHER PROPERTIES HAVE THE SAME ISSUE.
ENFORCEMENT AGAINST THOSE PROPERTIES WERE PAUSED YET WE WERE THE OTHER ONES FINED.
HOW CAN ENFORCEMENT BE PAUSED FOR EVERYONE ELSE BUT CONTINUE FOR ONE HOMEOWNER.
WHILE POLICY ALLOWS FOR SELECTED ENFORCEMENT LIKE THIS.
WE HAVE AN ELECTION THIS YEAR. I ENCOURAGE EVERYONE TO EDUCATE THEMSELVES AND VOTE FOR SOMEONE WHO WILL STAND ON THEIR OWN TWO FEET, REPRESENT THE COUNTY PROFESSIONALLY AND ALL HOMEOWNERS EQUALLY -- THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. ANYONE ELSE.
PUBLIC COMMENT. GOOD MORNING. >> GOOD MORNING.
OF ST. AUGUSTINE... THE FAILURE OF SAINT COUNTIES FALSE IMPRISONMENT CAN RESULT IN LAWSUITS AGAINST THE SHERIFF.
[00:55:03]
THIS CONTINUES TO JEOPARDIZE THE SAFETY OF EVERYONE IN ST.JOHNS COUNTY. THE SHERIFF SHOULD PROVIDE AN UPDATE ON THE FOUR KILLINGS AT 860 AND 151 A1 A NORTH.
ALLOWING THE NEXT POLITICIAN TO SPEAK MORE THAN 3 MINUTES IS DISCRIMINATION.
SOME POLITICIANS ACT LIKE WORLDS -- RULES DO NOT APPLY TO THEM OR THEY MAKE THEM UP FOR THEMSELVES.
IN ST. AUGUSTINE CITY LIMITS WILL INCLUDE -- SO BUSINESSES CAN MAKE MORE MONEY.
REMEMBER CIGARS CAN BE SMOKED ON COUNTY BEACHES.
THIS IS DISCRIMINATION AGAINST CIGARETTE SMOKING.
THE LOVE OF MONEY IS THE ROOT OF ALL EVIL. AND I THINK EVERYONE NEEDS TO UNDERSTAND OR MAYBE YOU CAN TELL ME WHAT THE GOVERNOR'S SALARY IS BECAUSE YOU'RE UP THERE VISITING TALLAHASSEE.
ANYONE HAVE AN IDEA? IT'S IMPORTANT THAT SALARIES OF PEOPLE THAT WORK FOR US IS AVAILABLE TO EVERYONE AND HIS SALARIES 141,000 PROPERTY TAX DOLLARS. WE JUST SAW THE PROBLEM WITH THE TIME. WE WATCHED THE TIME AND SOME PEOPLE ARE BEAT OUT AND OTHER PEOPLE ARE NOT BEAT OUT AND WHEN YOU SEE THIS AT THESE MEETINGS YOU BEGIN TO WONDER WHY -- I'VE GOT 59 SECONDS.
57 SECONDS. 54 SECONDS. WE CAN LOOK AT THAT END NOR TIME IS GOING DOWN BUT SOME PEOPLE GET UP HERE AND DON'T MATTER WHAT TIME THEY ARE SPEAKING. I THINK OTHER PEOPLE THAT MAY NOT BE ABLE TO COME TO THESE MEETINGS SEE WHAT'S GOING ON AND IT'S NOT A GOOD EXAMPLE.
THANK YOU. >> THANK YOU. GOOD MORNING. >> GOOD MORNING.
MY NAME IS JUDY, I LIVE AT 101 GREEN WILLOW LANE AND GIVEN THE DATE IT WOULD BE REMISS OF ME DID NOT COME UP AND TALK ABOUT EAST OH -- EASTER AND PASSOVER COMING UP. THIS IS THE LAST OPPORTUNITY BEFORE OUR NEXT MEETING AND I WANT TO STEP OUT OF WHAT WE'RE DOING NOW AND REMIND EVERYBODY OF GOD'S LOVE FOR US.
THAT HE IS SOVEREIGN AND HE IS OUR CREATOR AND HE HAS PROVIDED SOMETHING SO SUPERNATURAL AND WONDERFUL FOR ALL OF US AND I WANT TO ENCOURAGE EVERYONE AS THE DAY APPROACHES. WE STILL HAVE NINE DAYS BEFORE PASSOVER AND ALMOST TWO WEEKS BEFORE EASTER TO JUST STEP OUT OF THE CARES AND TROUBLES OF THIS WORLD. ALL THE FEAR AND ANXIETY AND THINGS GOING ON AND TAKE A MOMENT AND REMEMBER THERE IS A GOD AND HE LOVES EVERY SINGLE PERSON ON THIS EARTH. HE LOVES EVERYONE. HE'S NOT A DISCERNER, HE'S NOT A DECIDER.
SO I WANT TO HONOR HIM TODAY, I WANT TO HONOR THIS COMMISSION, EVERYONE OF YOU.
WE HAVE THE MOST BEAUTIFUL, WONDERFUL COUNTY AND I ALSO WANT TO SAY, I'M PRAYING FOR RAIN.
I REBUKE THAT WEATHER REPORT THAT SAYS IT'S NOT GOING TO RAIN.
I DON'T BELIEVE THAT. I BELIEVE WE'RE GOING TO GET RAIN AND I BELIEVE IT'S A SPIRITUAL THING AND I BELIEVE FOR GOD TO RAIN DOWN HIS LOVE UPON US BUT ALSO HIS REIGN UPON US AND RECHARGE OUR AQUIFERS WHILE HE RECHARGES OUR SOULS UNDER SPIRIT.
TO HONOR HIM AND TO LOVE HIM AND TO LOVE ONE ANOTHER.
THANK YOU ALL FOR EVERYTHING YOU DO AND I REALLY PRAY YOU HAVE A WONDERFUL, WONDERFUL EASTER SEASON.
THANK YOU. >> THANK YOU SO MUCH. NEXT. COME ON OUT.
GOOD MORNING. >> GOOD MORNING. GOOD MORNING. MY BEAUTIFUL COMMISSIONERS.
I KIND OF WANT TO INVITE THE COUNTY OUT TO MARCH 28TH.
WERE HAVING AT THE WEST AUGUSTINE CRA AND WE WILL START THAT FROM -- TO THE PEACE PARK.
IF YOU HAVEN'T SEEN THE PEACE PARK, IT'S VERY BEAUTIFUL.
I WANT TO THANK THE COMMISSIONERS FOR PUTTING A HAND IN THAT.
THE PEACE PARK NOW REPRESENTS WEST AUGUSTINE.
[01:00:05]
WITH THAT BEING SAID THE PEACE PARK IS ADJACENT TO JAMISON'S PROPERTY...AND THE CRA HERE TO SUPPORT THE EFFORTS OF THE WOODLAWN APARTMENTS ON JONASSEN PROPERTY ON THAT MOTION ON ITEM 22. WITH THAT BEING SAID I WANT TO THINK -- THEY DID A VERY GOOD JOB WITH THAT PROJECT OVER IN THAT AREA. THAT'S THE LAST ONE WE HAD.
IN WEST AUGUSTINE. IT'S PROBABLY THE LAST ONE WE WILL EVER SEE.
WE'VE GOT TO BE CAREFUL, MAKE SURE WE TAKE CARE OF IT.
THERE'S A LOT OF RESIDENTS THAT STILL CANNOT AFFORD TO LIVE IN ST.
JOHNS COUNTY. HE'S BRINGING AFFORDABILITY INTO THE COMPLEX AND CHANGING THE CULTURE IN THE COMPLEX.
IT'S A VARIETY OF SHIFT AND CULTURE AND A SHIFT IN BRANDING.
I'M THE CHAIR WEST AUGUSTINE CRA AND VERY PROUD OF IT.
THANK YOU. >> THANK YOU, ROBERT. >> THINK YOU VERY MUCH.
>> I APOLOGIZE. WHAT TIME SATURDAY? >> IT STARTS 11:00 MARCH 28TH.
WE'RE GOING TO WALK TO THE PEACE PARK. YOUR SPEAKER -- SHE WILL HAVE SOMETHING FOR YOU ALL HERE.
>> BUCKLE UP. THANK YOU. >> THANK YOU. >> GOOD MORNING.
>> GOOD MORNING. SUZANNE, 620 SHORES BOULEVARD.
I'M GLAD THAT WE HAVE KIND OF A LIGHT AGENDA HERE TODAY AND DON'T HAVE SO MANY PEOPLE COMING UP HERE AND TALKING ABOUT ONE SUBJECT AND WE HAVE A LOT OF DIFFERENT THINGS THAT ARE BEING TALKED ABOUT. ONE AREA THAT I WANTED TO HIGHLIGHT AND KIND OF CONCENTRATE ON A LITTLE BIT IS CELL TOWERS IN THE COUNTY. WE DON'T HAVE ANYBODY HERE SPEAKING AGAINST THEM TODAY.
BUT WE OFTEN DO. WHENEVER ONE IS PROPOSED, IT SEEMS TO BRING OUT THE MASSES.
THE FACT OF THE MATTER IS I UNDERSTAND WHERE PEOPLE ARE COMING FROM IN THEIR OPPOSITION BECAUSE THEY DON'T WANT ONE RIGHT UP AGAINST THEIR HOUSE. WE NEED THE CELL PHONE SERVICE.
IT'S AN IMPORTANT PART OF OUR INFRASTRUCTURE AS A COUNTY.
IN THE SOUTHERN PART OF THE COUNTY WHERE I LIVE, WE REALLY DON'T HAVE VERY MANY AREAS WHERE THEY CAN BE PUT WITHOUT OBJECTION. WE DON'T HAVE A LOT OF INDUSTRIAL AREAS DOWN THERE WERE EVEN KIND OF PLOP ONE DOWN AND NOBODY CARES.
WE'VE GOT A WHOLE SOUTHWEST QUADRANT OF THE COUNTY THAT'S AGRICULTURAL NOW, BUT EVEN WITH SLOW DEVELOPMENT WERE GOING TO HAVE AREAS THAT ARE GOING TO START BEING MORE TRAFFIC FOR CELL SERVICE.
SO WHAT ARE WE GOING TO DO? TO ME AS A COUNTY I THINK WE NEED TO BE A LITTLE MORE PROACTIVE.
IF WE HAVE A DEVELOPER THAT WANTS TO COME IN, CAN WE MAKE PART OF WHATEVER DEAL WE STRIKE WITH THEM THAT THEY MUST SET ASIDE A PARCEL THAT IS DESIGNATED STRICTLY FOR A CELL TOWER. OFTEN THEIR CONSERVATION AREA, WHERE THEY CAN'T BUILD AND HAVE IT THERE FIRST SO WHEN PEOPLE GO TO BUY, THEY KNOW WHAT THEY'RE BUYING HERE.
IN OTHER AREAS, -- I WAS SHOWED THIS MORNING A PICTURE OF A STRUCTURE THAT CAN BE PUT ON A REGULAR LIGHT POST OR TELEPHONE POLE.
AND USE PUBLIC PROPERTY MAY BE TO START WITH THE PUT THEM ON.
ANYWAY THAT'S MY TWO CENTS. THANK YOU. >> THANK YOU SO MUCH.
IS THERE ANYBODY ELSE? GOOD MORNING. >> GOOD MORNING.
DO I JUST PLACED THIS -- HERE WE GO.
AT 417 OCEAN CIRCLE IN ST. AUGUSTINE BEACH AND I -- >> YOU CAN PULL THE MICROPHONE DOWN.
[01:05:06]
THERE YOU GO. >> I SENT ALL OF YOU AND EMAIL WITH MY CONCERNS ABOUT THE PROPOSED SUN TRAIL.
I WANT TO MAKE IT VERY CLEAR FROM THE BEGINNING, THIS IS NOT AN NOT IN MY BACKYARD ISSUE.
THIS IS AN ISSUE THAT'S OF GREAT CONCERN TO ST.
AUGUSTINE BEACH RESIDENTS, BUSINESSES, RESTAURANT OWNERS.
ALL OF US WHO USE THE AREA. THE TRAIL WAS ORIGINALLY SUPPOSED TO GO DOWN -- IT STILL SAYS ON THE WEBSITE THAT IT'S GOING DOWN MY COLOR. RESIDENTS WERE NOT NOTIFIED.
IT'S IMPORTANT THAT PUBLIC COMMENT ON PUBLIC OPINION BE FACTORED INTO SOMETHING THIS DRASTIC ON ST.
AUGUSTINE BEACHES MAIN STREET. THIS IS OUR DOWNTOWN, THIS IS WHERE HOTELS AND RESTAURANTS AND BUSINESSES THRIVE AND WHILE CYCLING AND CONNECTIVITY IS A FABULOUS GOAL, THIS ROAD IS NOT THE RIGHT PLACE FOR THAT CONNECTIVITY.
PUTTING DOWN A 12-FOOT ASPHALT PATH GOING BOTH DIRECTIONS WILL NOT ONLY DISRUPT THE TRAFFIC ON BEACH ROAD TO A TREMENDOUS AMOUNT WITH SAFETY AND BUSINESS INTERRUPTION, IT'LL ALSO TOTALLY CHANGE THE FACE OF BEACH ROAD.
THEY'VE SAID THEY'RE NOT GOING TO TOUCH THE PALM TREES.
MANY OF WHOM ARE DEDICATED TO DECEASED INDIVIDUALS OR IN HONOR OF INDIVIDUALS.
I CAN ASSURE YOU IN FIVE TO SEVEN YEARS THOSE PALM TREES WILL BE DEAD.
YOU CAN LOOK IT UP ONLINE. CONSTRUCTION EFFECTS ON TREES.
WITH THE DESTRUCTION OF THE SIDEWALK, WITH THE -- WITH THE DESTRUCTION OF THE SIDEWALK THE INSTALLATION OF THE ASPHALT WHICH WILL LEAK TOXIC CHEMICALS INTO THE SOIL AND DRAW HEAT INTO THE SOIL AND THE PATH WILL RUN .
THE PALM TREES WILL DIE IN FIVE TO SEVEN YEARS.
THERE'S SO MANY REASONS WHY THIS AREA NEEDS TO BE RECONSIDERED AND A NEW LOCATION NEEDS TO BE FOUND AND THEN IT CAN BE PUT FORTH IN A WAY THAT WILL MAKE CITIZENS EXCITED ABOUT SOMETHING LIKE THIS FOR OUR COMMUNITY.
SO I HOPE YOU WILL PUT A PAUSE TO THIS. IT'S A WORTHY CAUSE.
BUT JUST THE WRONG LOCATION. THANK YOU ALL. >> THANK YOU SO MUCH.
ARE THERE ANY OTHER PUBLIC COMMENTS AT THIS TIME?
>> TOM REYNOLDS. 32080. FIRST OF ALL IT'S A VERY SLOW AGENDA AND I'M SUPER DISAPPOINTED THAT YOU CANNOT PUT THE HAZMAT ON THE AGENDA.
I'M BESIDE MYSELF THAT SOMEHOW THIS COMMISSION THINKS IT'S OKAY FOR FOUR TO 5000 CHUNKS OF PLASTIC WITH A BATTERY CALLED A VAPE THAT THEY DO NOT ALLOW ON THE AIRLINES TO GO INTO THE TRASH AND YOU CAN'T TAKE IT UP. THAT'S WHY DON'T THINK HIGHLY OF THIS COMMISSION.
BECAUSE NOBODY UP HERE CARES ABOUT THE ENVIRONMENT.
YOU HAD SOME PHONY TREE ORDINANCE THAT SUPPOSED TO MAKE YOU SOME KIND OF ENVIRONMENTALIST.
IT WAS THE MOST RIDICULOUS THING I'VE SEEN IN TEN YEARS IN THIS ROOM.
FOLKS, I'M GOING TO MOVE FORWARD AND EVERY CHANCE I GET, LAWFULLY, LEGALLY AND OF COURSE ALWAYS PEACEFULLY, I'M GOING TO THROW YOU UNDER THE BUS.
TAYLOR CAN VERIFY LAST NIGHT I DID IT AT THE CITY COMMISSION MEETING.
SHE'LL TELL YOU. I THREW THIS COMMISSION RIGHT UNDER THE BUS.
AND I'M GOING TO DO IT EVERY TIME. THE SECOND THING I WANT YOU TO KNOW IS THE MARIJUANA IN THIS TOWN, OH, MY GOD. DID CONTAINERS OF PLASTIC INTO THE TRASH.
THE TIME IT'S GOING TO TAKE FOR THAT TO EVAPORATE IS LIKE 300 YEARS.
NOBODY'S DOING ANYTHING ON THAT. WE'VE GOT WEED SHOPS EVERYWHERE.
IT AIN'T THE WEED, IT'S THE CONTAINERS.
[01:10:06]
BECAUSE IT IS A DISGRACE AND YOU COULD PUT A DEPOSIT ON EVERY SINGLE VAPE THAT SOLD.A 10-DOLLAR HAZMAT WASTE DISPOSAL FEE. EASY. THE LAST THING I WANT TO TELL YOU IS PLEASE WATCH THE TRIAL -- YOU WILL LEARN A LOT.
BECAUSE I'VE LEARNE A LOT. ABOUT TRIALS AND GOVERNMENT OFFICIALS AND FIRST AMENDMENT.
THAT'S THE AFRO MAN TRIAL. IT'S VERY IMPORTANT TO WATCH.
>> THANK YOU. ANY OTHER PUBLIC COMMENTS? GOOD MORNING.
>> GOOD MORNING. MY NAME IS RICHARD O'BRIEN. I LIVE AT SIX AVENUE STREET ST.
AUGUSTINE BEACH. HERE TO TALK ABOUT THE PROPOSED SUN TRAIL ON A ONE A BEACH BOULEVARD.
IF THE PRIVILEGE OF SERVING ON THE BEACH CITY COMMISSION FOR 12 YEARS.
THE FIRST TIME I HEARD ABOUT THE BEACH SUN TRAIL WAS 2019.
FAST-FORWARD TO 2026, THE NEXT I HEARD ABOUT IT WAS AT THE LIBRARY MEETING.
THE RESIDENTS AND BUSINESSES ARE UNAWARE OF THIS.
I'VE PERSONALLY TALKED TO 40 PEOPLE AND NOBODY KNOWS ABOUT IT.
THE CONSTRUCTION OF THIS TRAIL WOULD BE A HUGE INTERRUPTION WITH THE CHANGE OF THE INFRASTRUCTURE, BUSINESS ACCESS COULD BE CATASTROPHIC ACTUALLY.
MY MAIN POINT TODAY IS TO REQUEST THAT THE SUN TRAIL AS IT IS PROPOSED ON A ONE A BEACH BOULEVARD BE ADDED AS AN AGENDA ITEM FOR THIS COMMISSION. AS I'VE SAID, PEOPLE DO NOT KNOW ABOUT IT, THEY SHOULD KNOW ABOUT IT.
WE HAVE THE MEETING OR THE PRESENTATION AT THE LIBRARY.
THERE WAS A BIG NICE PLOT WHICH WAS GREAT, WONDERFUL INFORMATION.
AND THERE SHOULD BE A QUESTION-AND-ANSWER SESSION ALSO.
TO SHOW THE COOPERATION BETWEEN THE COUNTY IN THE CITY OF ST.
AUGUSTINE BEACH IN 2018 THEN COMMISSIONER MARGARET ENGLAND HAD TALKED TO THE COMMISSION ABOUT APPROACHING THE COUNTY TO CHANGE THE LANES OF A1 AB TO NARROW THEM SLIGHTLY. SO THAT THEY COULD BE ADDED A 5-FOOT BIKE LANE ON THE EAST SIDE AND THE WEST SIDE.
I'M PLEASED TO SAY THE COUNTY DID SAY OKAY, THAT DID HAPPEN.
IT WAS RESTRIPED AND NOW THERE'S BEEN TAUGHT WHEN YOU -- NICE BIKE LANES ON EITHER SIDE.
I WILL SAY THAT DID NOTHING TO CHANGE THE CHARACTER OF OUR CITY.
>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH. NEXT. GOOD MORNING. >>
GOOD MORNING. >> MY NAME IS MARY GRACE BECAUSE OF IT FOR 21 OCEAN ROAD CIRCLE ST. AUGUSTINE BEACH. I'M HERE TODAY TO SPEAK REGARDING THE SAFETY CONCERNS BY PLACING THE SUN TRAIL ALONG A1 A BEACH BOULEVARD. THE FLOODED DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION HANDBOOK ENTITLED IMPLEMENTING FLORIDA'S SHARED USE NONMOTORIZED SUN TRAIL PROGRAM EMPHASIZES THAT SAFETY IS A CENTRAL GOAL OF THIS SUN TRAIL.
ON PAGE 18, SAFETY IS IDENTIFIED AS A KEY COMPONENT OF THIS TRAIL.
I ASK YOU, COMMISSONERS TO PLEASE WHEN YOU ARE REVIEWING AND EVALUATING THE PROPOSED PLACEMENT OF THE SUN TRAIL ALONG A1 A BEACH BOULEVARD, THAT YOU CAREFULLY CONSIDER WHETHER THIS LOCATION MEETS SAFETY STANDARDS.
BEACH BOULEVARD PRESENTS SOME UNIQUE RISKS. ALONG THE EAST SIDE OF BEACH BOULEVARD THERE ARE OVER 50 BOULEVARD INCLUDING 14 CROSSOVER STREETS FROM EAST TO WEST.
[01:15:06]
PLACING A MULTI-TRAIL INCREASES THE LIKELIHOOD OF CONFLICT BETWEEN CYCLISTS, PEDESTRIANS, MOTORISTS AND RESIDENTS TRYING TO ENTER AND EXIT THEIR HOMES.THE TRAIL IS ESPECIALLY DANGEROUS AT THE SOUTHERN END WHERE A1 A BEACH BOULEVARD ANCHORS INTO AND MERGES INTO STATE ROAD A ONE. THIS IS A HIGH RISK AREA. IT IS AN AREA WHERE ACCIDENTS ARE -- OR EVEN FATALITIES MAY OCCUR AND PROBABLY WILL. EMERGENCY RESPONSES IS ANOTHER CRITICAL ISSUE ON THE EAST SIDE OF BEACH BOULEVARD. WE NOW HAVE A FIRE DEPARTMENT ON THE EAST SIDE AND WE ALL KNOW EMERGENCY VEHICLES RELY UPON A CLEAR AND EFFICIENT ACCESS TO THE ROAD. JUST THE OTHER DAY I HEARD FOUR SIRENS GOING UP AND DOWN BEACH BOULEVARD.
I WONDER THIS TRAIL OF ITS PLACE THERE, WILL THE MOTORISTS BE ABLE TO QUICKLY AND SAFELY GET OUT OF THE WAY OF EMERGENCY VEHICLES GOING UP AND DOWN THIS MULTIPATH? I WONDER ALSO CAN BEACH BOULEVARD REALLY BE AN AREA THAT WOULD USE A TRAIL THAT WOULD COMPROMISE SAFETY? I THINK PLACING AT THEIR HAS TO BE THOUGHT ABOUT, SPOKEN ABOUT AND HAVE ALL CITIZENS BE INVOLVED. THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR YOUR TIME, FOR YOUR PATIENCE AND YOUR CAREFUL CONSIDERATION WHAT
I HAVE TO SAY. >> THANK YOU SO MUCH. ANYONE ELSE FOR PUBLIC COMMENT AT THIS TIME?
GOOD MORNING. >> GOOD MORNING. MY NAME IS BETH, I LIVE AT 461 OCEAN GROVE CIRCLE IN ST.
AUGUSTINE BEACH. I'M ALSO HERE TO TALK ABOUT THE SUN TRAIL.
WE ARE NOT AGAINST BIKE PATHS OR WALK ABILITY.
WE ALSO HAVE SIDEWALKS AND BIKE PATHS ON BOTH SIDES OF A1 A.
AS HAS BEEN SAID, THE ORIGINAL PATH FOR THIS WAS TO GO DOWN -- TO POPE ROAD TO MIKE WEIR.
MICHAEL IRVIN HAS AN 8-FOOT WIDE SIDEWALK. IT'S ONLY INTERSECTED BY TWO STREETS.
11TH AND 16TH. IT ALSO HAS SOME BEAUTIFUL TREES, THERE ARE ONLY HOMES ON ONE SIDE OF THE STREET.
ONE SIDE. TWO ACCESS POINTS. THAT SIDEWALK, THE 8-FOOT SIDEWALK ALSO CONTINUES.
THERE'S A SLIGHT JOG TO THE WEST. THE SIDEWALK CONTINUES ALL THE WAY DOWN TO F STREET WHERE IT'S LESS THAN A QUARTER-MILE TO A1 A WHERE THERE ARE BIKE PATHS AND SIDEWALKS ON BOTH SIDES OF THE STREET.
OUT OF CURIOSITY, I WENT TO SEE WHAT THE FINISHED BIKE PATHS LOOKED LIKE AN VOLUSIA COUNTY.
LO AND BEHOLD THEY ARE CONCRETE SIDEWALKS. THEY DO NOT HAVE SIDEWALKS ON BOTH SIDES OF THE STREET, ONLY ON ONE. SO THE NEED ALSO IN CANVASSING THE HOMEOWNERS, BUSINESSES, RESTAURANTS ALL ALONG -- WE ONLY GOT TO THE EAST SIDE OF A1 A BEACH A1 A.
NONE OF THEM, NONE OF THEM KNEW ABOUT THE SHIFT FROM EICHLER TO BEACH.
IT THIS IS A DONE DEAL, YOU CAN DO NOTHING ABOUT IT.
THAT'S WHAT WE WERE TOLD. WE WOULD LIKE THIS TO BE CONSIDERED AS AN AGENDA ITEM TO BE SPOKEN ABOUT.
IT'S NOT SAFE TO PLACE IT ON THE EAST SIDE OF BEACH BOULEVARD.
WE SUGGEST IT GOES BACK TO THE ORIGINAL PROPOSAL OF GOING DOWN MY GLARE WHICH IS MUCH MORE PICTURESQUE, LOVE -- BUT ONE A IS NOT PICTURESQUE AND IT'S VERY DANGEROUS TO HAVE ALL THOSE ENTRY POINTS WERE YOU OF BICYCLES.
ARE YOU GOING TO HAVE A FLASHING LIGHT AT EACH PLACE AT -- IT OTHERWISE CARS HAVE TO GO ALL THE WAY OUT INTO THE 12-FOOT PATH TO MAKE A TURN RIGHT OR LEFT.
[01:20:04]
THANK YOU. >> THANK YOU VERY MUCH. NEXT, COME ON UP.
AND MORNING. >> GOOD MORNING. I'M GLORIA, I LIVE AT 201 SHIRLEY'S WAY ST. AUGUSTINE BUT WE OWN A BUSINESS MANGO MANGOES ON A1 A BEACH BOULEVARD.
WERE HIGHLY IMPACTED BY THE SUN TRAIL. WE WERE NOT MADE AWARE OF IT.
I KNOW OTHER PEOPLE ALONG THE STRIP THAT ARE OWNERS OF BUSINESSES DO NOT KNOW ABOUT THE SUN TRAIL.
THE MEETING AT THE CITY ST. AUGUSTINE BEACH WAS THE FIRST I WAS ACTUALLY AWARE OF IT.
I MISSED THE LIBRARY MEETING. MY WHOLE THING HEARS NOBODY WAS NOTIFIED.
WHEN YOU'RE MAKING A CHANGE TO SOMETHING THAT IMPACTS, WE SHOULD BE NOTIFIED.
IT'S COMMON IN OUR COUNTY IF THERE IS SOMEBODY GOING TO DO SOMETHING.
WE DIDN'T KNOW ABOUT THIS SO IT'S NOT FAIR TO US NUMBER 1.
IT'S VERY HUGE AND IMPORTANT TO US. YOU'RE AFFECTING OUR BUSINESS.
WE WENT THROUGH THIS WITH COVID. YOU'RE GOING TO DO THIS DURING THE SUMMERTIME WHICH IS LUDICROUS.
YOU WANT TO SHUT DOWN THE BUSINESSES, YOU'RE GOING TO DO IT.
WERE ON THE CORNER OF A1 A BEACH BOULEVARD AND IT'S SO BUSY, IT'S CRAZY TO THINK ABOUT THAT.
WHEN WE WATCH EMERGENCY VEHICLES GO BY, YOU ARE HAVING A THREE -- A 12-FOOT LIE -- WIDE BIKE PATH, WALKING PATH COMBINING THE TWO? YOU MIGHT AS WELL AS FOR ACCIDENTS TO HAPPEN.
THIS IS RIDICULOUS. WHAT HAPPENED TO SINGLE FILE BIKE LANES? I THOUGHT -- WE WERE TAUGHT THAT FROM LITTLE CHILDREN.
SINGLE FILE ALL THE WHILE. NOW WERE GOING TO HAVE PEOPLE WALKING AT BICYCLES AND A 12-FOOT PATH? THIS IS CRAZY. THIS IS NOT THE LOCATION FOR IT.
IT'S A 1 MILE ISLAND BEACH. IT'S GOING TO CHANGE THE WHOLE CONCEPT THERE.
WHEN THEY COME ON VACATION, IT'S NOT TO BICYCLE.
THAT IS A WALKING AREA. IF YOU WERE DOWN THERE FOR FOUR OR FIVE DAYS YOU WOULD SEE IT.
WE SEE IT EVERY DAY. IT'S NOT NEEDED. THIS MAY AS WELL AS MOTORCYCLES COMING DOWN.
IT'S GOING TO INVITE THREE LANE -- THREE PEOPLE TO ROLL ON A BICYCLE COMING DOWN.
IT'S GOING TO BE DANGEROUS. I GUARANTEE YOU. YOU NEED TO RETHINK IT.
WE PAY TAXES. WE PAY THE BED TAXES. WE PAY FOR YOU ALL TO DO ALL THIS STUFF.
THIS IS A WASTE OF OUR MONEY. >> THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
GOOD MORNING. >> GOOD MORNING. RICHARD MORLEY.
201 SHIRLEY WAY ST. AUGUSTINE. ONE OF THE OWNERS OF MANGO MANGOES.
NOBODY HAS MENTIONED WHAT'S COMING TO PLACE IN THE LAST FEW YEARS.
I DON'T KNOW WHERE PEOPLE LIVE BUT YOU NEED TO COME DOWN AND JUST HANG OUT AT THE BEACH AND WATCH WHAT'S COMING OUT OF THE HOTELS, WHAT'S GOING UP AND DOWN THE STREETS. IT'S BUSY.
WE'RE HAPPY IT'S BUSY BUT IT'S GOT TO BE VERY SAFE.
WE DON'T WANT RED FLAGS OR PEOPLE TO SAY BE CAREFUL WHEN YOU GO TO THE BEACH.
IT'S LIKE GOING TO ST. GEORGE STREET. WHEN'S LAST TIME YOU WERE ON ST? YOU PROBABLY DON'T GO ANYWHERE -- ANYMORE BECAUSE THERE'S NO PLACE TO PARK. THAT'S ALL.
I WANT TO REPEAT WHAT WAS SAID. IT'S GOT TO HAVE -- WE HAVE TO BE THINKING ABOUT THIS FOR A WHILE.
IT'S GOT TO BE ON THE AGENDA AND THE PUBLIC NEEDS TO KNOW ABOUT IT.
NOBODY KNOWS ANYTHING ABOUT WHAT'S GOING ON DOWN THERE.
I APPRECIATE YOUR TIME. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. >> THANK YOU.
ANY OTHER PUBLIC COMMENTS AT THIS TIME? COME ON UP. DOES ANYBODY ELSE -- PLEASE COME UP.
>> GOOD MORNING. AT 28 FOR ME TO RUNWAY. I'M REPRESENTING OUR
[01:25:01]
WE'RE ON THE EAST SIDE OF BEACH BOULEVARD AND WHERE A SMALL COMMUNITY.WE HAVE 31 PROPERTIES. WE HAVE IN ESSENCE 62 RESIDENTS.
THAT'S -- IT ADDS UP TO 160 CROSSINGS OF THIS BIKE PATH EVERY DAY.
WHAT WE WILL HAVE TO BE TRAINED TO DO IS LOOK TO THE RIGHT SO IF ANYONE HAS LIVED ABROAD IN A COUNTRY WHERE YOU DRIVE ON THE LEFT-HAND SIDE OF THE ROAD, WHICH I HAVE, THEY PAINT SIGNS ON THE SIDEWALK TO LOOK RIGHT BECAUSE YOU'RE GOING TO GET HIT BY A BUS.
WERE GOING TO GET HIT BY AN E-BIKE AS WAS JUST SAID.
OUR BIGGEST PUSHBACK ON THIS IS SAFETY. TO CROSS THIS 12-FOOT LANE, TO GET ON TOUR TWO-WAY ROAD, WERE VERY HAPPY WITH THE BIKE PATHS ON A1 A BEACH BOULEVARD RIGHT NOW.
THEY COME DOWN THE MIDDLE LANE WHICH IS A TURN LANE.
WE'RE GOING TO LOSE ANY PLACE TO PULL OFF WHEN THE NEW SUN TRAIL COMES IN.
NEEDS TO BE RETHOUGHT OUT. THANK YOU. >> THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
ARE THERE ANY OTHER GENERAL PUBLIC COMMENTS AT THIS TIME.
[1. Presentation on Northeast Florida Drought. A presentation to provide an update on the drought in Northeast Florida and advice on water conservation.]
PUBLIC COMMENT. >> LET'S GOING TO AGENDA ITEM NUMBER 1.
>> PARDON ME JUST A MINUTE. YOU'VE THE FLOOR. >> SORRY I KNOW THIS IS OUT OF ORDER BUT I THINK BECAUSE EVERYONE CARES ON THE BOARD ABOUT PEOPLE, COULD I -- I WOULD THINK EVERYONE WOULD WANT THIS AS AN AGENDA ITEM. DON'T YOU THINK REGARDING THE SUN TRAIL? WITH ALL THESE PEOPLE HERE TODAY? WAS THERE ANY CONSENSUS TO DO THAT.
>> I KNOW THEY WILL HAVE IT ON THE AGENDA AT ST.
AUGUSTINE BEACH. THE COMMISSION'S HEARING THIS IS THE REGULAR AGENDA ITEM.
I HAVE NO ISSUE. I WANT TO MAKE SURE WE HAVE A FULL HISTORY OF THE FUNDING MECHANISM IF THERE WERE ANY MODIFICATIONS OR CHANGES TO THE TRAJECTORY OF THE PAST, I WANT THAT ALL THE BE INCLUDED IN THE PRESENTATION SO WE CAN HAVE A FULL UNDERSTANDING OF THE SUN TRAIL.
>> CHAIR? CHAIR MURPHY. >> I DON'T HAVE A PROBLEM WITH THAT BEING AN AGENDA ITEM.
THAT'S REALLY WHAT WE'RE HERE FOR US TO LISTEN TO EVERY SIDE OF EVERY ISSUE.
SO I DON'T HAVE A PROBLEM WITH IT. I DON'T KNOW WHO IS FUNDING THIS SO WHERE SOMEBODY COMES, IS THIS A STATE-FUNDED -- D OF THE ANSWERS FOR ME? IS THIS A COUNTY PROJECT, ESTATE PROJECT OR BEACH PROJECT? WHO'S GOT THE AUTHORITY TO MAKE THE DECISIONS HERE I GUESS I SHOULD SAY.
IF WE DON'T HAVE THE AUTHORITY THERE'S NO REASON FOR US TO HAVE AN AGENDA ITEM.
>> THE DIRECTOR OF ST. JOHNS COUNTY. RIGHT NOW THE COUNTY HAS AN AGREEMENT WITH THE D.O.T.
TO RECEIVE FUNDING FOR THE DESIGN OF THIS PROJECT SO WE'VE ACCEPTED ABOUT $730,000 FROM THE D.O.T.
TO START AND INITIATE THE DESIGN EFFORT OF THIS PROJECT.
THAT IS ONGOING AND THAT'S WHERE WE ARE IN THE FACE.
WE DON'T HAVE CONSTRUCTION DOLLARS. THEY WILL MOST LIKELY BE IN THE 27TH, 28 D.O.T.
WORK PROGRAM. SO THIS IS 100% FUNDED BY THE STATE PROJECT.
THEY WANTED -- WHEN A BEACH BOULEVARD IS A COUNTY ROADS THERE'S 260 MILES OF THIS TRAIL THAT ARE -- UNDERWAY RIGHT NOW IN SOME FASHION. WE BUILD THE PORTIONS WITHIN ST.
JOHNS COUNTY. D.O.T. BUILDS PORTIONS WITHIN THE D.O.T.
RIGHT AWAY AS WELL AS THE CITY OF ST. AUGUSTINE THEY BUILT A PORTION.
>> I DON'T HAVE A PROBLEM WITH AN AGENDA ITEM TO DISCUSS.
WE CAN DO THAT. >> OKAY. NOW LET'S MOVE TO AGENDA ITEM NUMBER 1.
MORNING. >> GOOD MORNING. HOW ARE Y'ALL? GREAT.
[01:30:06]
CHAIRMAN MURPHY, COMMISSIONERS, THANK YOU. MY NAME IS SCOTT, IN CHARGE OF THE NATIONAL -- IN JACKSONVILLE. ALSO A NATIVE OF ST. JOHNS COUNTY.I AGREE THAT ST. JOHN'S IS GOD'S COUNTRY. AND I REALLY APPRECIATE THE PRAIRIE -- PRAY FOR RAIN AND TERRAIN DOWN AS WELL SPIRITUALLY AS WELL. GREAT PRAYER. I WANT TO GO INTO DETAIL PERTAINING OUR DROUGHT SITUATION.
IT STEMS BACK IN HISTORY, A SHORT HISTORY. SHOWING PICTURES OF THAT, WE'VE BEEN VERY BLESSED AND SOMEWHAT WHAT WE USED TO CALL IN TEXAS WHEN I MOVED HERE 13 YEARS AGO WAS DROUGHT.
WOULD SAY WE REALLY NEED RAIN WITH A NAME. IT -- IS IT CAME ACROSS WE DIDN'T HAVE ANY NAMES.
STORMS COME ACROSS THE AREA. IT'S A LOT OF TIMES WHERE OUR RAINFALL COMES FROM PARTICULARLY IN THE SUMMER TIME AS WELL AS THE SEABREEZE. I WILL GET MORE INTO THAT AS WELL.
WE CURRENTLY HAVE AN EXCEPTIONAL DROUGHT ACROSS THE FIRST COAST AND WE ALSO HAVE AN EXTREME DROUGHT OVER THE VALLEY WHICH IS PART OF NORTH FLORIDA AS WELL. IT'S THE MOST EXPENSIVE ACROSS THE REGION SINCE 1999.
FIRST TIME ALL OF FLORIDA'S MODERATE DROUGHT WORKS AND WE HAVE AN INCREASING WILDFIRE RISK AND AGRICULTURAL STRESS AND NUMEROUS COUNTY BURN BANS PARTICULARLY WEST OF ST.
WE HAD TO LOOK AT THE DROUGHT AND HOW MUCH ARE WE DEPARTING FROM NORMAL? IN TERMS OF THE HISTORICAL PERSPECTIVE, WHERE DOES IT FALL.
WE LOOK FORWARD TO IT. RIGHT NOW WHERE THE THIRD DRIEST IN ST.
AUGUSTINE AREA SINCE 1974. WITH 13.3 INCHES BETWEEN AUGUST 25TH AND MARCH 21ST.
SO TWO REASONS FOR THAT IS THE DRY TROPICAL SEASON THAT I TALKED ABOUT EARLIER.
AND LUDLOW NIÑO WHERE THE JET STREAMS ARE FURTHER NORTH WITH THIS TYPE OF PATTERN PARTICULARLY OVER OHIO AND RIVER VALLEY -- WHICH HAPPENS DURING EL NINO. SO WE HAD NUMEROUS EXTENDED DURATION FREEZES IF YOU WILL REMEMBER IN DECEMBER UP NORTH OF US INTO ALL COUNTY THEY HAD WINDCHILLS OF 8 DEGREES AT THE START OF THAT IN VERY COLD AIR -- AND DRY AIR MASS AFTER THAT. THAT CONTRIBUTE IT TO THE DRYNESS AS WELL, WAIT A NUMBER OF FRONTS.
LOOKING AT THE TROPICAL SEASON IMPACT WE CALL THEM AS METEOROLOGISTS FISH STORMS, THEY GO OUT TO SEE AND REALLY HAVE NO IMPACT ON THE MAINLAND. SO FLORIDA WE DIDN'T HAVE ANY LANDFALLS DURING THIS PARTICULAR TIME AND IT'S A GODSEND.
BUT WE ALSO HAD RAINFALL AT THIS PARTICULAR TIME.
SO WE COOK THE TROPICAL CYCLONES EAST OF THE REGION OF THE CLOSEST ONE TO US WAS -- IT LOOKED A LITTLE HAIRY AT FIRST BEFORE MAKING THAT RIGHT HAND DURING THE LATTER PART OF THE TROPICAL SEASON LAST YEAR.
LOOKING AT THE THREE-MONTH TREND THIS IS FROM NOVEMBER 21ST, 2025 TO MARCH ALMOST RIGHT NOW.
WE HAVE A DEFICIT OF ABOUT FOUR TO 8 INCHES ACROSS THE FIRST COAST AND ALL OF NORTHEAST FLORIDA AND WE DID RECEIVE ABOUT FOUR TO 8 INCHES IN THAT TIME FRAME. SO IF YOU ADD ON TO THAT, WE NORMALLY GET 12 INCHES TO 15 INCHES ACROSS THE FIRST COAST DURING THAT TIME SPAN. WE'RE IN THAT DEFICIT.
LOOKING AT 90 AND 30 DAY RAINFALL TOTALS, WE ONLY RECEIVED 90 DAY TIME FRAME 25 TO 50% OF OUR NORMAL RAINFALL. AND ALSO IN THE 30 DAY, A LITTLE BIT BETTER.
WE HAD ABOUT 50% OF OUR NORMAL RAINFALL IN THAT PARTICULAR TIME EXCEPT THE SOUTHERN PART OF THE COUNTY WHERE WE HAD SOME RAINFALL DOWN THERE AND FLAGLER STATES ON THE 15TH AND 16TH OF MARCH.
SO I WILL GO A LITTLE BIT INTO THAT AS WELL. HERE'S THE SEVEN DAY RAINFALL TREND OVER THE LAST DAYS.
WE HAD THE AFOREMENTIONED RAINFALL IN THE 15TH AND 16TH.
WE HAD MOST AREAS A HALF INCH TO AN INCH DURING THAT TIME.
ACROSS NORTHEAST FLORIDA WE HAD A LOT OF TIMES THE RAINFALL KIND OF JUST RUNS OFF BECAUSE THE GROUND IS SO DRY AND IT GOES INTO THE SEWER SYSTEM OR THE RIVER AREAS AS WELL OR
[01:35:09]
LOW-LYING AREAS. TO OUR NORTH AND SOUTHEAST RIVER VALLEYS EVEN MORE DRY THAN WE ARE ALONG THE COAST IN ST.JOHNS COUNTY. SO THIS IS MARCH 15TH AND 16TH AND MOST OF THE COUNTY RECEIVED 0.75, THREE QUARTERS OF AN INCH TO A QUARTER INCH OF RAINFALL. PORTIONS OF FLAGLER STATES OF THE SOUTHWEST PART OF THE COUNTY AT ONE POINT FIVE TO ABOUT 3 INCHES OF RAIN.
IN THE FIELDS NORTH OF 207 AND NORTH OF VERMONT HEIGHTS TO DO TO AN A HALF INCHES OF RAIN.
THOSE WERE ISOLATED SPOTS AND YOU COULD FEEL THE CRUNCH AND YOUR LAWN.
IF YOU DON'T WATER REGULARLY. PROBABLY DO IT ONCE A WEEK.
AND IT WOULD ONLY BE GOOD FOR TOP LAYERS OF THE SOIL.
AND YOU REALLY NEED TO HAVE SIGNIFICANT POCKETS OF RAIN BETWEEN NOW AND MAY.
TO IMPROVE THAT IT DOESN'T LOOK LIKE THAT AT THIS PARTICULAR TIME.
FIRST TIME SINCE 1999 FLORIDA'S BEEN IN A MODERATE DROUGHT OR WORSE AND CONSIDERATION FOR MUTUAL AID RESOURCE AGREEMENTS MAY BE NEEDED FOR THE FIRST COAST TO INTERIOR COUNTIES WHERE THEY ARE IN WORSE SHAPE THAN WE ARE AT THIS PARTICULAR JUNCTION.
WE HAVE ST. JOHN'S COAST OUR RESPONSIBILITY TOO.
SO THE SNAPSHOT LIKE THAT. YOU CAN SEE THE D4 WHICH IS EXCEPTIONAL DROUGHT AND ECHO SWATI COUNTIES.
FIRST TIME SINCE 2012 IN THAT REGION. IN MAY EXPAND EASTWARD WITH TIME WITH THE ONLY EXASPERATING THINGS. THIS IS UPDATED ON OUR ■DROP MONITOR EVERY THURSDAY AND IS DONE THROUGH SHARED PARTNERSHIP WITH THE CLOUD PREDICTION CENTERED NATIONALIZE. I WANT TO LOOK AT PAST PRESIDENTS AND 21ST CENTURY AND WHAT CAN YOU -- LOOKING AHEAD YOU CAN SEE THE WILDFIRES THAT THESE ARE DURING TIMES OF EITHER EXTREME OR EXCEPTIONAL DROUGHT.
SINCE 2000. IF YOU RECALL PREVIOUS TO THIS TIMELINE IN 1988, 1999, THERE WAS A DEVASTATING FIRE ACROSS 95 IN THAT PARTICULAR TIME. I WANT TO LOOK WHERE WE ARE RIGHT NOW AND IS VERY PARALLEL AND CONGRUENT TO WHAT WERE GOING -- WHAT WE SEE IN THE PAST AS WELL. MOST OF THE FIRES THAT DID OCCUR IN THAT AREA THAT WE SERVE OCCURRED IN THAT AREA...
AND SOUTHEAST GEORGIA. BUT IN 1998 JUST SOUTH OF US DURING EXCEPTIONAL DROUGHT AS WELL.
TO OUR NEIGHBORS TO THE WEST, CLAY COUNTY, THIS IS THE SECOND -- FIRST AND SECOND LOWEST RECORDS ON THE SOUTH PRONG AND NORTH FORK OF BLACK CREEK AS WELL. TO PUT IT PERSPECTIVE TO OUR NEIGHBORS TO THE WEST THERE.
AND WE HAVE AN INDEX WE USE THAT COUNTS FOR TRANSPIRATION AND EVAPORATION AND WE'RE GETTING INTO THE GROWING SEASON OF ACROSS NORTHEAST FLORIDA. IT'S CALLED THE THIRSTS -- EFFORT OF DEMAND DRAW INDEX AND PROXY OF AVERAGE MOISTURE WE PULLED FROM THE ATMOSPHERE.
YOU CAN SEE A LOT OF THE MAROON AND RIGHT OVER THERE AND WE DO HAVE RED'S IN -- AND MORE COPPER COLORS WHICH IS REALLY PERCENTILE'S OF THE DRIEST PERCENTAGES ACROSS THE REGION.
WE ARE IN DESPERATE NEED OF A COUPLE SYSTEMS TO GO THROUGH AND WE WILL SEE.
I WAS LOOKING AT THE MODELS OF THE EUROPEAN AND AMERICAN GFS.
IT LOOKS LIKE REALLY GOOD RAIN UNTIL ABOUT APRIL 11TH, 12TH, 13TH, RIGHT AROUND THERE.
SO NOW THAT'S A LITTLE BIT ON LAND IN TERMS OF MILES BUT GOES ONLY TO 360 HOURS OF THOSE PARTICULAR MILES AND IT DOESN'T LOOK VERY GOOD. AFTER THE 11TH AND 12TH OF APRIL.
WE'RE EXPECTING SOME RAIN TODAY
[01:40:05]
SO HARDLY PUTS A DENT IN OUR SOIL MOISTURE AS WELL.SOME STATE OF EMERGENCY IS ACROSS THE STATE OF FLORIDA.
LOOKING AT THE STREAM FLOWS, ESPECIALLY THE AREAS WE ARE RESPONSIBLE FOR THE SANTA FE...
ARE NO LONGER ACCESSIBLE BECAUSE IT'S SO DRY AND IT'S BELOW THE WATERLINE.
GILCHREST HAS SANDBARS VISIBLE OVER THERE. WHAT HAPPENS OUT WEST IS ALSO A PRECURSOR TO WHAT'S GOING TO HAPPEN IF IT SPREADS EASTWARD AS WELL. WE HAVE THIS INDEX THAT TELLS YOU HOW FUELS OF FIRE AND I WILL EXPLAIN WHAT IT MEANS A BIT.
WERE CURRENTLY AVERAGING ABOUT 405 FOR THE KD -- K BDI AND WHAT DOES THAT MEAN? IT MEANS THERE'S A LOT OF LOWER LATER AND CONTRIBUTING TO FIRE THAT WILL BURN ACTIVELY.
WHAT CAUSES THAT? HOW DOES IT START? COULD BE MAN-MADE, FROM CAMPSITES, LIGHTNING.
OR IT COULD BE MAY BE A BREEZE LATER ON IN APRIL WHERE MAYBE SOMEBODY'S CAMPING AND THEIR EMBERS ARE PUSHED IN THE OPPOSITE DIRECTION OF WHERE THEY THOUGHT THEY WERE GOING TO HAPPEN. LARGER FUELS COULD BURN OR SMALLER FOR SEVERAL DAYS.
KIND OF KEEP THAT IN MIND AND THIS IS UPDATED DAILY.
WE TALKED ABOUT THAT AND I WON'T PARK IT TOO LONG.
PHASE TWO WATER SHORTAGE AND WHAT IT MEANS AND WE TALKED ABOUT THAT EARLIER.
AND THEN PRECIPITATION STALLING FRONTS AND SEA BREEZES.
AGAIN WATCH OUT FOR WILDFIRES. LIGHTNING STARTS IN BREEZY WIND FROM SEA BREEZES.
WHAT NORMAL IS, IT'S NOT VERY MUCH. WOULD BE ABOUT NORMAL FOR RAINFALL.
SO SIX TO TEN DAY OUTLOOK IS ABOVE -- ABOUT 33 TO 40% CHANCE OF NORMAL TEMPERATURES WITH MORE EVAPORATION DURING THAT TIME. AND HERE'S THE EIGHTH TO 14TH DAY AGAIN.
NORMAL FOR RAINFALL. NORMAL FOR THIS TIME OF YEAR'S DRIVE.
AND ALSO FOR ABOUT NORMAL TEMPERATURES WHICH LEADS TO MORE EVAPORATION AND DRYER.
THE SEASONAL OUTLOOK, THERE'S SOME PROMISING AND IT'S THE VERY LAST SIDE.
MAYBE A GLIMMER OF HOPE. ON THE RIGHT-HAND SIDE THE TEMPERATURE OUTLOOK APRIL THROUGH JUNE AND WE ARE EXPECTING ABOVE NORMAL TEMPERATURES, BUT WE'RE TOO EXPECTING THE PROBABILITY OF ABOVE NORMAL PRECIPITATION ABOUT 33 TO 40%.
SO THERE'S HOPE THERE BUT ONE THING I LEARNED IN TEXAS WHEN I WAS A METEOROLOGIST, A LOT OF TIMES WHEN YOU HAVE DROUGHT, IT OFTEN IS A PRECURSOR TO DELUCIA. SO SOMETHING TO KIND OF WATCH OUT FOR.
THINGS KIND OF HAPPEN THAT WAY. WITH EQUAL AND OPPOSITE REACTION.
AND A DROUGHT OUTLOOK AGAIN PERSISTING IN APRIL AND HERE IS WHERE YOU CAN SEE THE PROGRESSION OF IT KIND OF LESSENING WITH TIME IN JUNE 2026 AND KEEP OUR FINGERS CROSSED THAT IT HOLDS SWAY AND HOLDS TRUE WITH SEABREEZE AND WILL GIVE US SOME RELIEF.
WE HAVE A COUPLE PRODUCTS FOR WILDFIRES AND WORK WITH FORESTRY ON THE STATESIDE AND FEDERAL SIDE.
WE HAVE THIS PUBLIC PRODUCT WE ISSUE A FIRE WATCH AND RED FLAG AND THERE'S CRITERIA ASSOCIATED WITH THAT AND TIMELINES ASSOCIATED WITH IT. RED FLAG WARNINGS PUT UP LESS THAN 24 HOURS AND FIRE WATCHES
[01:45:03]
WE HAD A COUPLE ASSOCIATED WITH THAT AND THERE'S 24-HOUR NOTICE AND ONE TO THREE DAY ADVANCE AND THE CRITERION IS BASICALLY VERY LOW HUMIDITY, STRONG WINDS AND VERY RECEPTIVE TO FUELS TO CATCH ON FIRE.WE HAVE AN ANNUAL OPERATING PLAN WE MEET WITH THEM EVERY YEAR TO DISCUSS THOSE THRESHOLDS AS WELL.
HUMIDITY 28% OR AND FIRE POTENTIAL MODERATE RISK OR HIGH RISK.
RIGHT NOW WE'RE IN MODERATE RISK WHERE HUMIDITY LEVELS ARE LITTLE HIGHER TODAY AND TOMORROW IN WINDSOR BECAUSE THE FRONT IS STALLED OVER US PERIODS HOW DO YOU GET -- HERE'S SOME METHODOLOGIES YOU CAN GET ON OUR WEB PAGE.
HERE'S THE CODE AS WELL. WITH THAT SAID, DO YOU ALL
HAVE >> I JUST HAVE ONE. ARE WE TIED INTO FIRE WATCH RED FLAG SYSTEM SO THEY PUT AN ALERT WE CAN PIGGYBACK ON SIDE AND PROJECTED INTO OUR COUNTY STUFF? THANK YOU.
PUBLIC RELATIONS DIRECTOR. >> WHALERS AND DIRECTOR PUBLIC AFFAIRS. OUR OFFICES TIED IN THE OFFICE OF EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT.
>> THANK YOU SO MUCH. ONE THING BEFORE I TURNED IT OVER.
IS THAT A CRYSTAL BALL? >> I WISH I HAD A CRYSTAL BALL.
THE CHANCES ARE PRETTY HIGH ONCE WE GET INTO THE SEASON THAT IT WILL NOT THINGS DOWN INCREMENTALLY.
>> OKAY. THANK YOU SO MUCH. YOU'VE THE FLOOR.
>> THANK YOU. I KNOW WE ARE THIS PRESENTATION -- MADE THE PRESENTATION THERE AND INDICATED THAT AS WAS SAID THAT WITHOUT RAIN WITH HER NAME ESSENTIALLY A DEPRESSION OR STORM OR SOME SOAKING EVENT OVER THIS AREA, WHAT WERE NOT GOING TO GET OUT OF THIS FOR QUITE SOME TIME.
EVERY YEAR THERE SOME KIND OF DROUGHT BUT EVERY INDICATION OF THE WATER MANAGEMENT DISTRICT AND NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE THAT I'VE SEEN INDICATES THIS ONE IS FAR MORE SEVERE THAN THE YEARLY THING WE SEE. I DON'T WANT PEOPLE TO GET COMPLACENT.
THE FIRE CHIEF IS HIGHLY AWARE OF SITUATION -- JUST AS LEADERS IN OUR COMMUNITY TO PASS ALONG TO RESIDENTS THAT IT'S A SEVERE DROUGHT SITUATION NOT ONLY ARE FIRES AT RISK BY THE CONSERVATION OF WATER SHOULD BE A PRIORITY.
>> THANK YOU. YOUR PRESENT -- DOUG'S PRESENTATION IS MOANING WAS APROPOS FOR US.
WE NEED TO START TAKING CONSERVATION SERIOUSLY.
ANYTHING ELSE ON THE BOARD? THANK YOU, APPRECIATE THE TIME AND EFFORT.
[2. Requesting the Commissioners to appoint (7) members to the agricultural advisory committee from the list of eligible applicants.]
FROM THE LIST OF ELIGIBLE APPLICANTS.] WE DON'T NEED PUBLIC COMMENT ON THIS, DO WEEKLY WAS GO TO AGENDA ITEM NUMBER 2 THEN.IN DOING SO OPPOSED TO THE VACANCY AD RUN FOR ABOUT FOUR MONTHS.
PRISSY WORKED DILIGENTLY TO PROVIDE A SEVEN APPLICATIONS FOR SEVEN POSITIONS.
YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS? >> FANTASTIC. ANY QUESTIONS FOR PRISSY OR SHALL BE?
COMMISSIONER JOSEPH, YOU'RE RECOGNIZED. >> I THINK IT WOULD BE GREAT.
SHOULD WE GO AHEAD AND MAKE A MOTION?
[01:50:01]
AND BILL HAMILTON AND FRANK JOHNSON THE AGRICULTURAL ADVISORY COMMITTEE FOR THE FIRST FULL TERM OF TWO YEARS SENT A POINT BRIAN JONES, CHARLES, CHUCK OWEN, SCOTT PARKER AND CHRISTINE WILSON FOR THE FIRST FULL TERM OF THREE YEARS.ALL COMMENCING ON APRIL 1ST 2026. >> WE HAVE A MOTION.
>> A MOTION AND A SECOND. WE WILL GO TO PUBLIC.
>> AT THIS TIME WE WILL TAKE PUBLIC COMMENT AGENDA ITEM NUMBER 2.
SEEING THEN WE WILL CLOSE PUBLIC COMMENT. >> BACK TO THE BOARD I SEE NO ONE TO SPEAK.
LET'S VOTE. THAT PASS IS 50. GREAT JOB EVERYBODY.
I WANT TO COMMEND THE STAFF ARE DOING A GREAT JOB.
THANK YOU. IT WAS COLD IN TALLAHASSEE, I KNOW IT WAS SO WE DID A GREAT
[Commissioners’ Reports]
LET'S MOVE ON TO COMMISSIONER REPORTS. COMMISSIONER -- ANYTHING TO REPORT?>> NOTHING TO REPORT. >> COMMISSIONER JOSEPH YOU HAD THE FLOOR.
THANK YOU. >> THANK YOU. COMMISSIONER WHITEHURST.
>> THANK YOU. I LIKE TO HAVE GREG CALDWELL COME UP FOR A MOMENT BASED ON SOME COMMUNITY EMAILS AND PHONE CALLS AND TEXT MESSAGES IN MY DISTRICT I'M SURE YOU ARE ALL GETTING SOME IN YOUR DISTRICT.
>> WE LIKE IT WHEN GREG COMES UP. >> ME TO. >> I APPRECIATE THAT.
>> MARCH MADNESS IS NOT JUST FOR BASKETBALL, IT'S FOR YARD WASTE AND THIS YEAR WITH A LOT OF THE COLD SNAPS WE HAVE THERE'S BEEN A LOT OF FOLIAGE TAKING ITS WAIT TO THE CURB RIGHT NOW.
EACH YEAR WE PREPARE FOR MARCH AND APRIL AND UNDERSTAND THIS IS THE BUSIEST SEASON FOR YARD WASTE.
WE HAVE IT IN OUR CONTRACT FOR ADDITIONAL RESOURCES TO COME IN THROUGH A SERVICE PROVIDER.
THEY BROUGHT IN FOUR ADDITIONAL TRUCKS, THREE ADDITIONAL GRAVEL TRUCKS, A MECHANIC AND OTHER PEOPLE WHO JUST TO ADDRESS MARCH AND APRIL AND HAVE BEEN CHALLENGING FOR US TO KEEP UP THE SERVICE TO THE LEVEL WE EXPECT.
SOME PEOPLE ARE DOING THAT. ALONG THE WHOLE FRONTAGE.
POSSIBLE. >> THE -- THIS HAPPENS EVERY YEAR. THIS IS A QUESTION I'M GETTING FROM RESIDENTS ALONG THE PARKWAY AND IT MUST BE SOMETHING BECAUSE WE HAVE A NEW VENDOR PICK THIS WAS HAPPENING WHEN PUBLIC SERVICES WAS THE VENDOR AND WITH ANY VENDOR BECAUSE THERE'S TOO MUCH.
WE TRIED TO STAY AND BRING ADDITIONAL RESOURCES AND IT GOES BACK WORKING WITH SOLID WASTE HAVING THESE ISSUES DURING THE TIME FRAME PICK OUR GOALS TOGETHER AS QUICKLY AS POSSIBLE, WORK AS HARD AS WE CAN BUT IT IS A KNOWN CONCERN ON MARCH AND APRIL EACH YEAR.
>> THANK YOU MR. CALDWELL. I DON'T KNOW IF ANYONE HAS QUESTIONS BUT I WANTED TO GET IT ON THE RECORD FOR MY BENEFIT AND LISTENING. MY NEXT THING I WANT TO SAY THANK YOU TO THIS BOARD.
[01:55:04]
COMMISSIONER TAYLOR, MURPHY, JOSEPH AND ARNOLD.I WAS ABLE TO ENJOY SPRING BREAK WITH MY FAMILY.
FOR THOSE WHO CELEBRATE, HAPPY EASTER. >> THANK YOU SO MUCH.
COMMISSIONER TAYLOR. >> THANK YOU. I WANTED TO SHARE THAT I ATTENDED THE CITY OF ST.
AUGUSTINE MEETING LAST MEETING. VERY HOT TOPIC OF THE NIGHT WAS REGARDING IDOL LIGHTS.
WE'VE HEARD SINCE THE SHORTENED NIGHT OF LIGHTS IN JANUARY THAT HAD A BRILLIANT NEGATIVE IMPACT ON SO MANY PEOPLE, ESPECIALLY THOSE WHO WORK IN THE INDUSTRY, IT WAS SIGNIFICANT INCOME LOSS AT SUCH A CRITICAL TIME WHEN PEOPLE STILL HAVE TO PAY THEIR BILLS JUST BECAUSE TOURISTS AREN'T IN TOWN. I DID REMIND THEM THERE WAS A LOT OF FEEDBACK REGARDING THE CITY AND THE COUNTY DOING MORE TOGETHER AND I REMINDED THEM THAT WE'VE BEEN SPEAKING MORE AND DOING MORE AND I ALSO REMINDED THE RESIDENTS OF THE COUNTY DID AND WE ALL AGREED TO INCREASE THE ALLOTMENT THAT WE HELPED THEM OUT WITH THE $850,000. I DID WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT WAS CLEAR, THAT IT COULD GO UP TO 250 THAT WE NORMALLY DO.
CITING THE SATURDAY THANKSGIVING AND WILL GO THROUGH AND WEAKENS.
THE THREE-DAY WEEKEND, HOLIDAY WEEKEND IS REALLY WHAT IS SO CRITICAL.
I KNOW A LOT OF PEOPLE WERE VERY RELIEVED TO HEAR THAT.
I'M EXCITED THERE WILL BE MORE DAYS IN JANUARY TO ATTEND.
THAT'S CLEARLY A BIG TOPIC REGARDING WHAT WILL HAPPEN WITH OUR PROPERTY TAXES.
I WOULD LOVE TO ASK THE STAFF OF THEY COULD SHARE WITH THE PUBLIC A LITTLE MORE INFORMATION REGARDING OUR PROPERTY TAXES, WHERE THAT COMES FROM. I KNOW THERE'S A LOT WE HAVE AN ALMOST 2 BILLION-DOLLAR BUDGET AND NOT EVERYBODY UNDERSTANDS A LOT OF IT IS NOT PROPERTY TAXES BUT I THINK WE NEED ESPECIALLY AT A CRITICAL TIME THAT WE DO NEED TO EDUCATE A LITTLE BIT MORE.
SO I'D LOVE TO ASK THE STAFF TO COME BACK WITH THAT.
AND ALSO HAPPY EASTER. HAPPY EASTER TO THOSE THAT CELEBRATE.
A VERY SPECIAL TIME OF YEAR AND THAT WILL DO IT.
SO THANK YOU. >> THANK YOU SO MUCH. THAT'S GREAT.
I'D LIKE TO SHARE THE REQUEST IF YOU WOULD HELP ME OUT WITH THAT.
I'D LIKE TO PIGGYBACK WITH HER AND ADD MY VOICE TO COMMISSIONER TAYLORS THAT WE DID -- GET SOMETHING FOR THE NEXT MEETING OR SO TO WHERE WE HAVE AN UNDERSTANDING OF THAT ESPECIALLY GOING INTO THE BUDGET SEASON.
[County Administrator’s Report]
I DON'T REALLY HAVE ANYTHING SO LET ME PUSH IT OVER -- IT'S ADJOURNED ON THE 13TH OF MARCH. MANY BILLS ARE AN CONCLUSIVE BECAUSE WE ARE ANTICIPATING ANOTHER SPECIAL SESSION IN APRIL BECAUSE WE DON'T HAVE A FINAL BUDGET FOR THE STATE. THE PRIMARY GOAL IS TO PASS THE STATE BUDGET.[02:00:03]
SO WE HAVE SIGNAL FROM THE GOVERNMENT THAT THERE'S GOING TO BE A THIRD SPECIAL SESSION TO TALK ABOUT TAX REFORM, AND AMONG OTHER THINGS. MONITORING, CHRISTINE AND HER TEAM IS WORKING HARD TO MAKE SURE THAT WE'RE TRACKING ALL OF THE BILLS.INCLUDING SOME LANGUAGE FOR LOCAL GOVERNMENTS TO LOSE CONTROL AND HOW WE'RE GOING TO GOVERN.
IF YOU HAVE ADDITIONAL QUESTIONS ABOUT PRIMARILY IT'S GOING TO GOVERN OUR -- LESSEN OUR ABILITY TO REALLY REQUIRE FOR CERTAIN TYPE OF ANALYSIS AND TYPES OF EVIDENCE WE HAVE TO HAVE TO DEEM THEM TO BE COMPATIBLE OR NOT COMPATIBLE. OUR REQUEST TODAY IS FOR YOU TO DISCUSS AND IF IT'S YOUR DESIRE TO SUBMIT A LETTER TO THE GOVERNOR, THAT WOULD BE OUR RECOMMENDATION IF YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS CHRISTINE CAN GIVE YOU MORE DETAILS ON THIS
BILL. >> ANYONE? >> ABSOLUTELY. I SUPPORT THE LETTER GOING AT.
SHARE A BIT SO WE KNOW HOW BAD THIS ONE IS. >> GOOD MORNING, I'M AN ECONOMIC DIRECTOR. THIS IS A PRE-EMPTION BILL, THERE ARE MANY COMPONENTS.
I THINK THE MOST CONCERNING ONE IS AROUND THE LIMITATION OF THE CAPACITY -- COMPATIBILITY ANALYSIS, PERTAINS TO RESIDENTIAL ZONING AND RESIDENTIAL ZONING IN THE SAME CHANGES CONNECTS SAME LAND USE DESIGNATION.
AND PROPOSES TO NARROW THE RANGE OF EVIDENCE THAT MAY BE CONSIDERED TO SUPPORT A DENIAL.
SO THE CHARACTER OF THE NEIGHBORHOOD IS ONE OF FACTORS THAT YOU WON'T BE ABLE TO CONSIDER ANY MORE.
IT WOULD ALSO REQUIRE THE BOARD TO MAKE VERY SPECIFIC FINDINGS FOR EACH REZONING ACTION THAT FALLS INTO THIS CATEGORY, NOT COMPATIBLE AND WHY ANY MITIGATION EFFORTS THAT AN APPLICANT MAY PROPOSE TO YOU TO ADDRESS INCOMPATIBILITIES ARE NOT SUFFICIENT. SO THAT WILL REQUIRE MORE STAFF TIME.
STAFF REPORTS ARE PREPARED BY GROWTH MANAGEMENT WELL IN ADVANCE OF THE PUBLIC HEARING.
THE PROCESS OFTEN ALLOWS AN EXTENDED TIME TO GATHER MORE INFORMATION.
A LOT OF INFORMATION THAT IS NOT AVAILABLE AT THE TIME THE STAFF IS DRAFTING REPORTS.
ALSO REDUCES RELIANCE ON PUBLIC TESTIMONY REGARDING CHARACTER OF THE NEIGHBORHOOD.
IT COULD EXPOSE THE COUNTY TO LITIGATION IF THIS IS NOT SUPPORTED BY THE DEFINED STANDARDS IN THE PROPOSED STATUTES. IF THIS BILL WERE TO BECOME LAW IT WOULD LIKELY REQUIRE THE COUNTY TO REVISE ITS COMPREHENSIVE LAND USE PLAN AND THE OVERALL PLAN REGARDING PUBLIC HEARING PROCESSES FOR REZONING AS WELL AS UPDATING THE LAND DEVELOPMENT
CODE. >> THANK YOU COMMISSIONER I DON'T HAVE ANY QUESTIONS BUT JUST SAID, I THINK IT'S JUST ANOTHER REMINDER -- FIRST OF ALL LET ME SAY THAT I FULLY SUPPORT THE LETTER, OF COURSE WE SHOULD STAND UP AGAINST EVERY PRE-EMPTION.
HAVING MORE LOCAL CONTROL IS BETTER FOR US THAN OUR RESIDENTS SO -- THIS IS ANOTHER REMINDER THAT WE NEED TO BE AS CAREFUL AS POSSIBLE WHEN MAKING STATEMENTS AS COUNTY COMMISSIONERS, PRIVATE PROPERTY RIGHTS ARE CORNERSTONE OF THIS COUNTRY IT'S ONE OF THE REASONS WE FOUGHT THE REVOLUTIONARY WAR.
NOT JUST TAXATION WITHOUT REPRESENTATION BUT TO HAVE AUTONOMY OVER YOUR PRIVATE PROPERTY, MANY TIME COMMISSIONER AROUND THE STATE MIXED GENERAL STATEMENTS IN ADMISSION OF THEIR BIAS AGAINST PRIVATE PROPERTY RIGHTS, AGAINST DEVELOPMENTS AS A GENERAL STATEMENT, YOUR PREJUDICING YOURSELF AGAINST ANY APPLICATION THAT MAY COME FORWARD.
[02:05:06]
HOW CAN YOU FAIRLY VIEW AN APPLICATION AND CONSIDER THE SUBSTANTIAL EVIDENCE WHEN ALL YU DO IS WALK AROUND TELLING EVERYBODY HOW AGAINST DEVELOPMENT YOU ARE EVERY DAY.THERE'S NOT RESPECTING THE RULE OF LAW, NOT RESPECTING WHAT THE FOUNDING PRINCIPLES THIS COUNTRY WAS BUILT ON THIS WAS AGAIN ANOTHER REMINDER THAT IF WE DO NOT ADHERE TO THE WALLS ON THIS BOARD AND FOLLOW THE LAWS IN PLACE, THE STATE WILL CONTINUE TO RESTRICT OUR ABILITY TO HEAR APPLICATIONS. THEY WILL DO OUR JOB FOR US IF WE DON'T DO THE JOB RIGHT HERE.
>> THANK YOU COMMISSIONER. >> IT'S INTERESTING, WHO GETS TO DECIDE HOW WE WANT TO LIVE, HOW -- OUR NEIGHBORS ARE GOING TO COME TELL US HOW TO LIVE.
THIS HAS NOT HAPPENED YET AND NOW IS THE TIME FOR US TO STAND UP AND SUPPORT GOING AGAINST THE SPYORG REGARDING PROPERTY RIGHTS, YOU HAVE PROPERTY RIGHTS, BUT IF YOU COME IN FRONT OF THE BOARD IN MY OPINION YOU WANT TO CHANGE YOUR RIGHTS.
I KIND OF AGREE BUT DISAGREE WITH YOU. >> JUST TO CLARIFY, IF THIS DOES MOVE FORWARD WE WOULD HAVE TO AMEND OUR LAND DEVELOPMENT CODE TO PUT THOSE FACTORS IN THERE.
SO TO PUT FACTORS REGARDING COMPATIBILITY AND FUTURE LAND USE AS WELL AS REDEVELOPMENT CODE AS WELL AS ANY MITIGATING -- IT WOULD COME BACK TO THE BOARD IF IT GOES FORWARD TO DISCUSS THOSE TYPES OF FACTORS MOVING FORWARD.
>> IF IT'S PAST -- WHEN IS IT GOING IN EFFECT?
JULY 1? >> JANUARY FIRST 2027. THE WHOLE BILL IS EFFECTIVE THE LAW WON'T
>> I CAN TALK TO BOTH POINTS FOR A SECOND. I'M VERY AGAINST LOSING OUR HOME ROW. THE CHALLENGE WE FACE HERE AT THE COUNTY LEVEL ARE NOT THE SAME AS THE STATE AND FEDERAL LEVEL.
THE STATE AND FEDERAL LEVEL HAVE A TOTAL DIFFERENT MIND-SET ABOUT THAT.
AS A GOVERNMENT BODY THEY HAVE THE ABILITY -- ANYWAY I WANT TO STAND WITH YOU AND SAY THAT IF WE DON'T DO OUR JOB IN PLANNING CORRECTLY THEN WE SUBJECT OURSELVES TO BE PRE-EMPTED BY THE STATE.
IT'S A BIG CHALLENGE. I AGREE WITH THE LETTER, BUT ALSO AGREE WE AS A COMMISSION CANNOT STICK OUR HEADS IN THE SAND AND SAY THAT IF WE SAY NO TO EVERYTHING AND EVERYTHING IS GOING TO BE ALL RIGHT BECAUSE IT'S NOT THE CASE.
THE STATE IS GOING TO PRE-EMPT US AND IT'S SOMETHING WE WOULD BE AT LEAST PARTIALLY RESPONSIBLE FOR.
SO IT'S IMPORTANT WE STAND UP AND PROTECT OUR RIGHTS AND SPEAK THE WAY WE CAN.
ALSO HAVE TO BE GOOD STEWARDS. I DON'T HAVE ANYTHING -- >> -- ANOTHER QUICK UPDATES STILL RELATIVE TO THE LEGISLATIVE SESSION, WE DON'T HAVE A FINAL BUDGET YET.
THE SENATE'S BILL IS STILL INCLUDING OUR REQUEST OF $4 MILLION FOR THE 016 EXPANSION AS WELL AS A MILLION DOLLAR FOR THE FLORIDA BLACK HISTORY MUSEUM. THEY HAVEN'T INCLUDED ANY OF OUR REQUESTS AT THIS TIME.
WE WILL FIND OUT ONCE THEY HAVE THE SPECIAL SESSION TO PASS THE FINAL BUDGET.
>> IT'S IN THERE SOMEWHERE SO WE DO STILL HAVE HOPE.
>> ON THE SENATE SIDE, YES. THE OTHER THING I WANT TO MENTION IS THAT I APPRECIATE COMMISSIONER TAYLOR'S MENTIONING ABOUT EDUCATION CAMPAIGN AND I THINK THAT'S REALLY TIMELY AND VERY RELEVANT TO OUR CURRENT CLIMATE WITH ALL CERTAINTY OF OUR GROWTH RATE AS WELL AS THE TAX REFORM AND WHAT IMPACT IT'S GOING TO HAVE ON THE COUNTY AND SERVICES AND RESIDENTS AS WELL.
WE PLANNED THAT WE'RE GOING TO DEVELOP EDUCATION CAMPAIGN FOR OUR RESIDENTS, WHICH IS OUR AUDIENCE WE WANT TO MAKE SURE THEY UNDERSTAND WHAT THEY'RE PAYING FOR AND WHAT THEY ARE FUNDED -- FUNDING IN TERMS OF THEIR LEVEL OF SERVICES I KNOW YOU HAD A CONSENSUS ON COMING BACK WITH AN AGENDA
[02:10:04]
ITEM. I THINK MY RECOMMENDATION WOULD BE TO JUST SHOWCASE WHAT KIND OF EDUCATION CAMPAIGN WE'RE GOING TO PUT FORTH.[County Attorney’s Report]
OKAY? THANK YOU. THAT CONCLUDES MY REPORT. >> THANK YOU.
* This transcript was compiled from uncorrected Closed Captioning.