May 20, 2026 Fiscal Year 2027 Administrator's Budget Session

[00:00:10]

>>> ALL RIGHT, WELCOME BACK. I GUESS THIS IS THE FINAL WEEK

[Veterans Services]

NOTHING THE RECOMMENDED. NOTHING IS ADOPTED AT THIS POINT. THIS IS REALLY MORE OF A CONVERSATION BETWEEN THE COUNTY ADMINISTRATOR AND THE DEPARTMENTS OF UNDERSTANDING WHAT THEIR REQUESTS ARE FOR THE UPCOMING YEAR. THE BUDGET AT THIS POINT IS NOT FULLY BALANCED. WE DO NOT HAVE ALL AFTER OUR REVENUE SIDES IN. ESPECIALLY FOR PROPERTY TAXES BECAUSE THOSE ARE NOT FINALIZED UNTIL JULY 1ST.

ADDITIONALLY WE DON'T HAVE THE BUDGETS YET FOR THE CONSTITUTIONAL OFFICERS THAT WILL COME JUNE 1ST WITH PRESENTATIONS TO THE BOARD FOR MOST OF THOSE CONSTITUTIONAL OFFICERS. AND I DON'T THINK WE HAVE ANY TODAY BUT I'LL NOTE IF WE DO, ANY FUNDS THAT ARE ARE NOT CURRENTLY IN BALANCE OR DO HAVE SOME CONCERNS.

>> THANK YOU. AND THE DIRECTOR OF-- SERVICES.

FIRST OF ALL I'D LIKE TO THANK WADE.

AND YOUR STAFF FOR THE SUPPORT THAT THEY DO GIVE SO RESOLVED AS IT COMES TO BUDGET. ALWAYS THERE FOR US AND ESPECIALLY TO DENISE MY BUDGET PERSON.

AND DENISE ALWAYS TELLS ME, MACK, YOU'RE EASY.

SO, WE ARE EASY. SO I'LL START OFF TODAY CAN YOU GO TO THE FIRST SLIDE? IN THE FIRST SLIDE YOU'LL KNOW I'VE HIGHLIGHTED TWO AREAS BASICALLY THAT WE'RE ASKING FOR JUST A LITTLE BIT MORE MONEY, OKAY.

AND I'LL EXPLAIN THAT IN A FEW MORE MINUTES TO YOU.

OUR LEASE EQUIPMENT. AND THERE IS OUR TRAINING.

THOSE ARE THE TWO AREAS THAT WE ARE ASKING FOR ADDITIONAL FUNDS. FOR THOSE TWO AREAS.

NEXT SLIDE PLEASE. AS YOU CAN SEE RIGHT HERE FOR THE LEASE EQUIPMENT I'M ASKING FOR JUST ANOTHER ADDITIONAL $90. ADDED TO TO THAT, THAT'S BECAUSE WE JUST DID A NEW CONTRACT FOR THE COPIER.

AND SO DEPENDING ON ADDITIONAL MONEY FOR COPIES.

SO WE JUST WANT TO MAKE SURE WE HAVE EVERYBODY TO COVER THAT AND THAT'S PROBABLY ALL WE'LL NEED.

AND COMPUTER SUPPLIES, OKAY. HERE.

AND YOU CAN SEE IT'S ABOUT 10,025 THAT'S BECAUSE OF EQUIPMENT THAT NEEDS TO BE REPLACED DUE TO FOUR EMPLOYEES, COMPUTER SCREENING. SCANNERS AND THE EQUIPMENT FOR OUR PHOTO PAPER. DOESN'T SEEM LIKE IT'S BEEN THAT LONG, BUT IT HAS. SO REPLACING THAT FOR US HERE IN THAT AREA RIGHT THERE. DEPARTMENTAL EXPENDITURE.

THAT DONATION WAS GIVEN TO ME YEARS AND YEARS AGO.

IT'S BEEN THERE FOR A LONG TIME AND LAST YEAR WE OVERLOOKED AT IT AND I DID AND IT WAS CARRIED FORWARD.

SO IT WAS AT AN 8,000 OVER BUDGET THIS YEAR.

SO THEY DOUBLED IT. AND WE'VE RECTIFIED THAT AREA THERE. AND THESE OTHERS IS OUR TRAINING. ASKING FOR AN ADDITIONAL $2,000. THE LAST FEW YEARS IN THE OFFICE I HIRED A COUPLE OF PEOPLE AND SOMETIMES IT WORKS OUT AND SOMETIMES IT DOESN'T. AND NORMALLY WHEN I HIRE NEW PERSON AND THAT PERSON GOES THROUGH TRAINING WITH THE FLORIDA DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS, LIKE MY NEWEST SERVICE OFFICER. JUST WENT THROUGH THE TRAINING.

WITH FLORIDA DEPARTMENT OF AFFAIRS AND SESHT FIED WITH THEIR ORGANIZATION BEFORE THEY CAN SUBMIT CLAIMS TO ADMINISTRATION. SO SO WHEN I TRAINED HIM THIS YEAR HE GOT TRAINED. AND RIGHT NOW DOESN'T HAVE CERTIFICATIONS THROUGH THE DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS.

IN OTHER WORDS TO GET HIS SERT FIR CASE WITH FLORIDA DEPARTMENT VETERANS AFFAIRS AND THE ONLY OTHER ORGANIZATION WOULD BE AMERICAN LEGION. THAT INFORMATION OUR TRAINING STAFF HAS TO GO TO THE IG'S OFFICE.

ER TO OFFICE OF GENERAL COUNSEL AT THE VA.

AND ONCE THEY PUT HIM ON THAT LIST, THEN HE'S ABLE TO GO IN A AND-- WE'RE TRAINING HIM BUT HE CAN'T SUBMIT ANY CLAIMS UNTIL THAT'S OFFICIALLY DONE.

AND RIGHT NOW THEY ARE NOT ON US FOR A PROBLEM BUT THE WHOLE STATE OF FLORIDA WITH THESE NEW SERVICE OFFICERS COMING ON TRYING TO GET THAT CERTIFICATION.

WE JUST HAD RECERTIFICATION TRAINING HERE IN THE FIRST PART

[00:05:01]

OUR GENERAL HEART SERVICE IS THE FLORIDA DEPARTMENT OF DIRECTOR'S AFFAIRS. IN CHARGE.

APPOINTED BY THE GOVERNOR. AND THEY'D BEEN OUT TO THE VOCATION OF THE VA. BUT NOT ONLY HAPPENING TO US BUT OTHER STATES TOO. TO THE OFFICER OF GENERAL COUNSEL CAN GET CAUGHT UP THERE.

SO WHAT'S HAPPENED IS WHEN HE'S TRAINED NOW, I DON'T HAVE TO SEND HIM THE TRAINING. BECAUSE HE JUST CERTIFYED.

SO I'LL HAVE TO THANK YOU. I MISTOOK US AND OUR OTHER ONE.

SO NEXT YEAR VILLE TO TAKE HIM WITH US.

OKAY. SO THAT'S THE REASON TO ASK FOR THAT PARTICULAR INCREASE THERE OKAY.

ME MYSELF AND MY OTHER SERVICE OFFICER.

SO THAT'S WHY I'M ASKING FOR THAT ADDITIONAL $2,000 TO BE ABLE TO TAKE HIM TO TRAINING WITH US.

NEXT SLIDE PLEASE. AS YOU CAN SEE, THESE ARE THE STATS THAT GOES ALL THE WAY BACK TO 2022 BEFORE WE COULD TELL ANYBODY THAT THE COUNTY IS GROWING.

AND THE PEOPLE MOVING INTO OUR COUNTY.

IS GROWING. AND THE SAME THING IS HAPPENING WITH OUR FACTORYS. THIS IS JUST A PROJECTION FOR 2025. AND NATURALLY I DON'T HAVE HENRY TAKING IN-- TO SEE ABOUT SIX CLIENTS A DAY.

COULD BE SEVEN IF I MAYBE HAVE A WALK-IN.

AND I CAN'T HAVE AND I DON'T HAVE THAT LEVEL.

I HAVE HIM MAYBE TAKING TWO TO TO THREE.

SOMEWHERE AROUND THERE UNTIL I CAN GET HIM CERTIFICATION.

BECAUSE WE'RE BASICALLY SIGNING SOME OF THESE FORMS LIKE WE'VE GOT WORKING. SOME OF THESE CLIENTS THAT HAVE BEEN SITTING HERE FOR MONTHS. SO OF COURSE WE'RE PROJECTING IT TO BE AN INCREASE. IT'S NOT SLOWING DOWN FOR US.

AND AGAIN, THAT'S WHAT WE'RE SEEING ROUGHLY EVERY DAY.

MYSELF STILL RIGHT NOW. I AM WORKING CLIENTS.

AF CLIENT LOAD MYSELF. AND THESE ARE CLIENTS THAT I'VE BEEN WORKING WITH FOR YEARS. IT'S HARD TO TURN THEM LOOSE, OKAY. AND JUST SAY HEY YOU MIGHT SEND US A SERVICE OFFICER. I HAVE REPORTS OF THOSE INDIVIDUALS. AND I DON'T MIND DOING THAT.

IT LIKE SOME TAX RETURNS BECAUSE OF OTHER THINGS THAT ARE REQUIRED OF ME. BUT THAT'S OKAY.

THAT'S WHAT I DO. SO I THINK THAT-- AND THE OTHER THING IS WE MEET, MYSELF AND MR. -- CHAIRMAN OF OUR COUNCIL, WE WERE MEETING WITH VA OUT PATIENT CLINIC.

DID MEETINGS WITHIN THEM TO TALK ABOUT DIFFERENT THINGS THAT'S GOING ON. I TELL THEM WHAT MY CLIENTS HAVE BEEN TELLING ME. THAT IT'S NOT GOING WELL AND I ASK HIM THE SAME OF MY PEOPLE. WHEN THEY SIT AND REFER TO US.

AND TRY AND FIND OUT AGAIN I LOOK AT THE NEW CLIENT LOAD.

AND I TRACK OUR NEW CLIENTS ALSO THAT COME INTO THE OFFICE.

IN THE SCHEDULE WE HAVE TWO NEW CLIENTS EVERY DAY.

TO BE ABLE TO GET IN THERE. OUR GOAL IS TO ALWAYS HAVE OUR VETERAN FPS THEY CALL IN AND MAKE AN APPOINTMENT, THE APPOINTMENT SYSTEM WORKS WELL FOR US.

IT DOESN'T MEAN THAT WE DON'T TAKE WALK INS, OKAY.

BUT IT WORKS WELL FOR US. IF WE'RE ALL UP AND RUNNING OKAY. BUT WE CAME BACK FROM TRAINING AND WE WERE BEHIND. WE'LL CATCH THAT UP.

WE'LL GET IT CAUGHT BACK UP. BUT BASICALLY WHEN I TALK TO THE V.A. AND I LOOK AT THE NEW PATIENTS COMING IN, THEIR NEW

PATIENTS>> REPORTER: NECK IN NECK WITH WHAT I'M SEEING ON THE CLEARANCE. BECAUSE WE'RE GOING TO THE CLEARING. HEY IF YOU BEEN TO THE VETERAN'S SERVICE OFFICE? AND THEY COME TO US.

SO I CAN SEE THAT THERE. AND THE NUMBER OF PATIENTS WE HAVE. WE'RE OVER 10,000 PATIENTS.

RIGHT NOW SO NATURALLY WE ARE ALWAYS GOING WHAT IS THE NEXT STEP ARE YOU GOING TO BUILD ANOTHER BUILDING BESIDE THIS OR WHAT ARE YOU GOING TO DO? SO WE'RE NOT QUITE SURE AND LIKE I SAY THERE'S A LOT COMING TO THE COUNTY.

CAN YOU MOVE THROUGH THE NEXT SLIDE PLEASE? THIS SLIDE RIGHT HERE. AND MY NUMBERS, MINE MIGHT BE THE SMALLEST DEPARTMENT IN THE COUNTY.

IF NOT, THERE MIGHT BE ONE SMALLER.

BUT I WILL ONLY SAY THIS, OKAY. WE MAY BE SMALL, BUT WE MAKE A HUGE, HUGE IMPACT FOR OUR VETERANS.

AND OUR FAMILY MEMBERS THEIR DEPENDANTS.

NOW IF YOU LOOK AT 2023. ABOUT $234,000.

OKAY. NOW IF YOU LOOK AT 2024, AND YOU CAN ACTUALLY STRICTLY THE V.A.'S NUMBERS.

BUT WHEN I'M GOING HERE AND GIVING YOU THESE NUMBERS, BECAUSE I KNOW THESE ARE THE NUMBERS.

THERE'S NO MAKE-UP NUMBER. THERE'S NOTHING HERE.

THESE ARE THE NUMBERS. THE VETERANS.

[00:10:02]

25 NUMBERS BY JUNE. WELL LAST YEAR THEY SET THAT BACK. YOU KNOW.

AND I WAS EXPLAINING THAT WE COULDN'T GET THEM.

AND I STILL DO SEE WHAT 25 IS RIGHT NOW.

BUT IF YOU LOOK AT 23 TO 24. IF YOU LOOK AT THAT, THAT $32 MILLION INCREASE THERE FROM '23 TO '24.

THAT'S HUGE. I NEVER EXPECTED THAT TO HAPPEN. I'M HAPPY THAT IT DID HAPPEN.

I'M GLAD FOR MY VETERANS THAT HAPPENED, YOU WITH WHAT THEY HAD DONE, THE STATISTICS. WE WERE GIVEN STATISTICS FOR WHAT THEY CALL COMPENSATION AND PENSION.

THAT PENSION. POSSIBLY THAT'S BASED ON INCOME, OKAY. AND A LOT OF OTHER FACTORS.

AND COMPENSATION IS WHERE A VETERAN IS CONNECTED.

DISABILITIES-- ACT. OR PRESUMPTIVE CLAIMS, TALKS AND EXPOSURE THINGS LIKE THAT. SO THEY WERE ONLY GIVEN US THE NUMBERS FOR THAT. IN 2023, OKAY.

IN 2024, THEY CHANGED. AND THEY GAVE US THE NUMBERS FOR WHAT WE CALL PENSION CLAIMS. IN OTHER WORDS WE DO WITH THOSE PENSION CLAIMS. SAME WITH VETERANS DIFFERENT PRIORITIES BASED ON THE INCOME.

AND WE DO-- DIC CLAIMS OKAY. A VETERAN AS A SERVICE CONNECTED DISABILITY. THAT WALKS IN MY DOOR AND SAYS HEY, THIS IS MY FIRST. I LOOK AT THE DEATH CERTIFICATE. AND IF I LOOK AT THAT DEATH CERTIFICATE AND IT HAS CORONARY DISEASE ON IT.

I LOOK AT THE VETERAN. WHAT IS THE VETERAN SERVICE CONNECTED TO DISABILITYS? CORONARY DISEASE.

AND THAT VETERAN SERVICE TO DISABILITY KAUTZS THE DEATH AND THAT CREATES A MONTHLY BENEFIT FROM THE V. A.

WE NEED TO GET THOSE STATISTICS PRIOR TO 2024.

AND 2024 FOR THE WIDOWS AND DIC CLAIMS AND BASIC CLAIM FOR A WIDOW WUTZ AT $2,998,4044. THAT'S UP THERE OKAY.

WHEN THEY ADDED BOTH IN THERE, OKAY.

TO THAT. SO I'M AFRNGIOUS TO SEE WHAT 2025 NUMBERS WILL POINT US. WE'LL PROBABLY GET THOSE IN AUGUST PROBABLY AGAIN. TO DETERMINE HOW WELL WE DO OR HOW WELL WE DID. BUT YOU KNOW, IT'S THIS RIGHT HERE IS NATURALLY HARD WORK FOR THE PEOPLE IN THE OFFICE, OKAY.

THERE'S NO DOUBT ABOUT IT. THAT IT IS.

AND THEY ARE WORKING HARD. THERE'S NO DOUBT ABOUT THAT.

FROM CLIENT TO CLIENT. BUT THAT'S WHAT WE DO.

THAT'S WHAT WE ARE HERE TO DO. THEY TAKE CARE OF THEM TO DO THAT. ANY QUESTIONS FOR ME? WELL, IN CLOSING I'LL SAY THIS, OKAY.

IN CLOSING I'D LIKE TO THANK THE COUNTY COMMISSIONER, COUNTY ADMINISTRATOR. THE COUNTY STAFF, OKAY.

THE COUNTY DEPARTMENTS. THERE'S NOT A TIME THAT I'VE NOT BEEN ABLE TO GO TO ANOTHER COUNTY DEPARTMENT THAT ANYBODY HAS EVER TOLD ME NO. IT'S IMPORTANT TO US, OKAY.

AND THE CITIZENS OF ST. JOHNS COUNTY OKAY.

AND THE VETERANS COUNCIL. I DO IT, BUT WITHOUT THE SUPPORT OF YA'LL AND WITHOUT THE SUPPORT OF THE COMMUNITY, JUST DOESN'T HAPPEN, OKAY. JUST DOES NOT HAPPEN.

SO I'M GRATEFUL TO YA'LL. I'M GRATEFUL TO ALL THE PEOPLE OUT HERE THAT CONTINUE WITH UNWAIVERING SUPPORT FOR VETERANS. IF YOU HAVE NO QUESTIONS.

>> I DON'T HAVE A QUESTION. I HAVE A COMMENT.

ABOUT JUST YOU AS AN INDIVIDUAL.

YOU'RE PROBABLY ONE OF THE MOST SELFLESS PERSONS THAT'S SERVING ST. JOHNS COUNTY. AND I SAY THAT YEAR AFTER YEAR.

YOU COME HERE, YOU'RE WELCOME HERE.

AND ONLY HOW PROUD WE ARE WITH YOU AND YOUR TEAM OF THE INCREASED SERVICE YOU'RE PROVIDING WITH LIMITED RESOURCE EVERY YEAR. BUT YOU SPEND A LOT OF TIME TO JUSTIFY THE SUPPLY COST INCREASE.

YOUR COPY MACHINE. AND THE COUPLE THOUSAND DOLLARS OF A DISCREPANCY IN DONATION THAT YOU'RE TRYING TO TRUE UP.

AND THEN THE TRAINING $2,000 INCREASE BECAUSE YOU HAVE RETENTION ISSUES. YOU'RE BRINGING ON NEW STAFF.

AND THAT TELLS ME THAT YOU JUST, YOU HAVE SUCH A HIGH LEVEL OF OWNERSHIP OF YOUR DEPARTMENT AND PUT SO MUCH OF YOUR PASSION IN WHAT YOU DO. AND LAST YEAR YOU WERE VOLUNTEERING TO TAKE YOUR POSITION OUT.

I'VE NEVER HEARD ANYBODY SAID THAT.

BUT WE APPRECIATE YOU SO MUCH. AND WHEN YOU SAY IN THE BEGINNING YOU ARE THE EASY DEPARTMENT, YOU'RE AN EASY DEPARTMENT BECAUSE YOU HAVE DEVELOPED SO MUCH TRUST WITH YOUR COMMUNITY, WITH THE COUNTY.

WE KNOW YOU ARE WATCHING EVERY PENNY.

AND REALLY TRULY YOUR CONCERN ABOUT OVERSPENDING IS PENNIES AND DOLLARS. AT THE SAME TIME, YOU ARE WILLING TO GIVE IT ALL UP TO SERVE THE VETERANS COMMUNITY.

SO WE APPRECIATE YOU. >> THANK YOU.

A AND--.

[00:15:02]

EVEN THOUGH IT DOES MAKE A DIFFERENCE.

I THANK YOU FOR LISTENING. THANK YOU.

>> ALL RIGHT. >> YEAH LET'S DO IT.

>> WE'LL LOOK AT YOUR BUDGET REAL QUICK.

SO IF YOU DON'T MIND WE'LL TAKE A FEW MINUTES.

>> SO MACK IS WITH THE VETERANS SERVICES.

WITHIN THE GENERAL FUND. AND THEY ARE OF THE ECONOMIC ENVIRONMENT SECTION OF THE GENERAL FUND.

SO MACK THANK YOU FOR YOUR BUDGET.

AND ROUND IT A LITTLE MORE BECAUSE IT IS A VERY SMALL BUDGET AS YOU MENTIONED. SMALL BUT DEFINITELY RETURN ON INVESTMENT TO THE VETERANS THAT YOU SERVE.

SO DETAIL OF THE BUDGET. PRIMARILY IT IS PERSONNEL SERVICES WITH JUST A LITTLE BIT OF OPERATIONS THERE.

SO YEAH, THAT'S IT. >> ALL RIGHT, THANK YOU.

>> THANK YOU.

[Management Information Systems]

>> ARE WE ON? OKAY.

GOOD AFTERNOON. >> GOOD AFTERNOON.

HERE WITH THE DIRECTOR OF INFORMATION SYSTEMS FOR THE BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS. HERE TO PRESENT MY BUDGET FOR 2027. SO FIRST OPTION IS TO GIVE OUT-- A BRIEF OVERVIEW OF WHAT DUO.

WE PROVIDE INTERNAL SERVICES TO THE BOARD.

BUT WE ALSO PROVIDE OTHER SUPPORT ISSUES WITH THE OTHER CONSTITUTION IN VARIOUS WAYS. WITH THE CLERK OF THE SHERIFF'S OFFICE. AND THE TAX COLLECTOR.

WE SUPPORTER THE IP SOME AND COMPUTERS.

AND THEN THE NETWORK. THIS SLIDE HERE SHOWS COMPARISON OF '2 OPERATING AND CAPITAL EXPENDITURES.

AS WE SEE THAT THE OPERATING EXPENDITURES HAS INCREASED SIGNIFICANTLY FROM 26 TO 27. AND THE VAST MAJORITY OF THAT REASON IS THERE'S BEEN A SHIFT OF RESPONSIBILITIES FOR THE SOFTWARE. WHERE IT USED TO BE SPLIT OUT BETWEEN THE DIFFERENT SERVICES DEPARTMENTS.

NOW DIRECTING THAT BUDGET DIRECTED US TO CONSOLIDATE UNDERNEATH THE MIS DEPARTMENT. WE DO A LITTLE BIT LAST YEAR.

BUT THIS YEAR ONE OF THE BIGGEST ONES DONE THIS YEAR IS MICROSOFT 365. WE ALSO HAVE A DECREASE IN EQUIPMENT BECAUSE WE HAVE A COUPLE BIGGER THINGS WE DID LAST YEAR THAT WE DO THIS YEAR. WE'RE STILL ASKING FOR 226,000.

AND THAT'S THE MAJORITY OF THAT IS FOR UPS AND THE DATA CENTRE.

THAT IS NO LONGER SUPPORTED. LAST YEAR, THIS YEAR, WE'RE DOING OUR COMPUTER UNITS. AND THOSE WERE BIG ONCE LAST

YEAR. >> IT'S NOT SHARING THE RIGHT

SCREEN. >> BUT OVERALL THE NET WAS A LITTLE BIT OF LESS THAN LAST YEAR.

WE HAVE NOT ASKED FOR ANYTHING EMPLOYEE WISE.

THIS SCREEN RIGHT HERE IS AT A VERY HIGH LEVEL.

[00:20:01]

AWARE SOME OF THE INCREASES WERE COMPARED TO WHERE IT IS.

SO FOR EXAMPLE OUR CONTRACTUAL SERVICES WERE INCREASING 23,000. AND THE COURSES WHICH REDUCE REPLACEMENT BECAUSE IT NO LONGER SUPPORT IT.

WE ALSO HAVE A MAX DIRECTORY IMMIGRATION INTO WORKDAY.

AND THEN ALSO WE'VE HAD AN INCREASE IN OUR PLOW STORAGE.

WE REPLICATE OUR DATA INTO THE CROWD.

WE HAD AN INCREASE AND DECREASE FOR EQUIPMENT MAINTENANCE.

AND THAT'S BECAUSE WE'RE REPLACING SOME EQUIPMENTS AND THEREFORE THE ANNUAL MAINTENANCE ON THEM PURCHASE OF THE EQUIPMENT OR IT'S LESS. WE INCREASE THE COMMUNICATION LINE ITEM BY JUST OVER 32,000. THAT IS MAINLY DUE TO THE NEW BUILDINGS THAT ARE COMING ONLINE AND ALSO GOING BACK THAT PREVIOUSLY DEPARTMENTS COMMUNICATION FOR THE DATA CIRCUIT LOCATION WAS UNDERNEATH THEIR BUDGET.

IT ALSO WAS UNDERNEATH MIS BUDGET.

THAT'S WHY THERE'S AN INCREASE THERE.

WE HAVE AN INCREASE IN THE COMPUTER SUPPLY BY JUST OVER 21,000. ONCE AGAIN REPLACING SWITCHES THAT ARE OLD AND EITHER SUPPORTIVE HARDWARE OR WE CANNOT GET THE OPERATING SYSTEM ON THE DEVICE ITSELF UPGRADE.

SO IT IS VULNERABLE FOR A SECURITY RISK.

AND THEN WE ALSO ASKING FOR SOME STUFF IN THERE FOR THE OFFICE. WE'VE BEEN TOLD THAT WE'RE SLATED TO RELOCATE. SO WHEN THAT HAPPENS THEY ONLY INCLUDE THE BUDGET. SO WE'VE ACTUALLY CARRIED TWO YEARS AGO. WHEN WE WERE REPLACING IN THE OFFICE. WE PUT-- FURNITURE SPOOIT.

AND IT WAS SAVINGS FROM THAT. SO WE'VE CURED IT IN THIS YEAR AND WE PLAN ON CARRYING IT IN NEXT YEAR.

AND THEN ALSO WE FOUND AN ISSUE THAT ALLOWS US WHEN WE HAVE A FUND ISSUE THAT TELL US THAT THIS IS THE PROBLEM.

THIS PAST YEAR 2 TO 1 TO TRY AND HELP US FIND THAT PROBLEM.

SO WE DO HAVE A REQUEST THOUGH MOVE THOSE INTO THE BUDGET.

>> THAT'S A DEVICE. THAT YOU JUST CONNECT TO THE WIRE. SO WHAT IT DOES IS YOU TAKE YOUR PIECE OF FIBRE. AND IT TELLS YOU--.

IT'S BEING MOVED OVER. THE MIGRATION OF THE SOFTWARE

BEING MOVED FROM DEPARTMENTS. >> SO JUST TO CLARIFY.

WHEN YOU TALK ABOUT DEPARTMENTS.

NORMAL BUDGET AND YOU'RE CONSOLIDATED.

WITH CONSOLIDATED IT'S JUST THE GENERAL FUND DEPARTMENT.

YOU KNOW-- UTILITIES STILL COVERED WITHIN UTILITIES.

TRANSPORATIONS. >> SAME THING FOR UTILITIES.

YES. WITHIN PUBLIC WORKS.

WE MENTIONED LINEAR ABOUT THE-- DECREASE.

THAT'S BECAUSE IN THERE WE HAD 27 TO REPLACE OUR DATA CENTRE AND UPS AND THIS YEAR WE DID OUR COMPUTER AC UNITS.

BUT WE STILL HAVE SOME CORE SWITCHES THAT HAVE TO BE REPLACED. '27 COMPARED TO '26.

THE UPS IS A BIG ONE. THE CORE DISTRIBUTION SWITCH IN THIS BUILDING. WE ALSO HAVE A COUPLE OTHER HARDWARE AND DIFFERENT DEPARTMENTS.

DIFFERENT BUILDINGS. THIS REPLACEMENT.

[00:25:09]

SO I WANT TO POINT OUT FOR EXAMPLE IN '26 WE REPLACED THAT-- 262 SO WE HAVE 144 DESKSTOPS AND 74 LAPTOPS.

THIS YEAR DUE TO COVID REPLACEMENT DEVICES, WE'RE ACTUALLY MOVING OUR DESKTOPS NOT TOO FAR 150.

LAPTOPS JUMPED ALMOST JUST OVER 20 0.

FOR THAT BECAUSE WHEN COVID HIT, AND PEOPLE WORKED REMOTELY WE HAD A LOT OF LAPTOPS TO PURCHASE WITH FEDERAL FUNDS.

BUTS NOW THEY ARE UP FOR REPLACEMENT.

SO THEREFORE AS A COUNTY GOING TO HAVE TO REPLACE THOSE.

NEW REQUESTS. HAS BEEN THE SAME FROM LAST YEAR. AND THIS YEAR.

EXACTLY THE NUMBER OF DESKTOPS AND LAPTOPS.

THE NEW REQUESTS ARE FOR ADDITIONAL STAFF.

LIKE WHAT THE LIBRARY MIGHT NEED CHANGING.

THINGS I'VE NOTICED THIS YEAR THAT THEY GOT SOME.

PART-TIME TO FULL-TIME REQUESTS.

THOSE WOULD BE IN THOSE REQUESTS.

SO COMPUTERS. THE REQUEST IS IT NORMALLY HIGH. DO YOU FORFORESEE IT NEXT YEAR BEING BACK AROUND THE FY26 SFLEVL AND IT WILL SHOULD BE.

>> OKAY. >> BUT ONE THING WE DO IS AS WE KEEP INCREASING. AND THERE'S THAT NUMBER IT KEEPS INCREASING TO. SO EVERY TIME WE'RE HAVING THIS STAFF OR CHANGING THINGS. WE'RE ADDING ADDITIONAL EQUIPMENT. SO THEREFORE WE'RE CATCHING UP.

SO THE NUMBER-- CONTINUALLY INCREASES.

ESPECIALLY MORE AND MORE NOWADAYS.

BECAUSE STAFF HAS MORE AND MORE DEVICES.

AND IT'S NOT THAT THEY HAVE JUST ONE DEVICE.

THEY ALSO HAVE-- A LOT OF THEM HAVE PHONES AND THEIR IPADS.

THEIR TABLETS. SO YOU SEE A LOT OF THAT WHERE EMPLOYEES HAVE TWO DEVICES. SO THOSE ARE INCREASING.

>> AND THAT'S ALL THAT I HAVE. ANY QUESTIONS?

>> OKAY. I DON'T HAVE ANY QUESTIONS.

SOME SAVEINGS AND SOME SOFTWARE UPDATES.

>> I THOUGHT THAT THERE WAS SOME CHANGE IN THE EFFECT OF THE-- SHERIFF ELECTION. SO I CAN'T RECALL EXACTLY WHERE

THE PLAN WENT. >> I DON'T KNOW-- IT'S STILL THERE. I THINK IT KEEPS MOVING AROUND A LITTLE BIT. I DO KNOW THAT THEY ARE MOVING FORWARD WITH AN ADDITION ONTO THE SUPERVISOR LICENSE OFFICE.

AND I DON'T KNOW. >> BUT YOU WERE ORIGINALLY GOING TO THAT ANNEX. AND NOW I HEARD THAT IT WAS HR.

SHERIFF'S OFFICE IS GOING TO OCCUPY THOSE.

>> SO WE WERE BEING SPLIT INTO TWO BUILDINGS.

OUR APPLICATION STAFF WILL BE GOING INTO THE BOTTOM PART OF THE BOTTOM FLOOR OF THE ANNEX. THAT THEY ARE JUST STARTING TO MOVE FORWARD. AND ON THE OPERATION SIDE OF IT WAS LEANING TO THE EXISTING PART OF THE BUILDING.

THAT THE HR, THIS SHERIFF'S OFFICE, HR MANAGEMENT WITH THEM. AND I HEARD THAT THEY MIGHT NOT BE MOVING THIS. I DON'T KNOW.

IT'S ACTUALLY VERY FLUENT. >> YES.

>> ALL RIGHT, WE'RE GOING TO THE LAST BUDGET.

SO THERE WITH THE GENERAL FUND, GENERAL GOVERNMENT SECTION OF THE GENERAL FUND. AND JUST MOVE THAT DOWN AND SEE THAT THE LARGEST-- MOST DEPARTMENTS THERE'S PERSONNEL.

THERE'S QUITE A BIT OF OPERATING IN THERE.

RELATED TO THE DEVICES. AND THE SOFTWARE THAT IS PURCHASED. ON AN ANNUAL BASIS.

AND THIS HERE IS THE LINE ITEM INFORMATION.

FOR THE NYS BUDGET WITH SOME OF THE INCREASES IN REDUCTIONS.

THAT'S WHY WE'RE GOING THROUGH THIS PRESENTATION.

THAT'S IT. >> OKAY.

>> THANK YOU.

[Health Department]

[00:30:30]

>> YOU MAY HAVE SEEN SOME OF THIS STUFF.

>> YEAH, OKAY, GREAT. >> YEAH, SO JUST KIND OF-- YOU KNOW-- GO OVER YOUR BUDGET REQUESTS.

I GUESS. AND REALLY YOU'RE KIND OF FUNDING FROM A VILLAGE GREAT. COUNTY LOOK OVER THAT.

I THINK UNLESS YOUR PRESENTATION.

WHAT THAT DOES TO YOUR BUDGET. WHAT PIECES OF YOUR BUDGET.

BECAUSE WE DO HAVE STATE AND OTHER GRANT FUNDING AS WELL.

>> OKAY, GREAT. THANK YOU.

GOOD AFTERNOON EVERYBODY. I'M STEVE-- INTERIM HEALTH OFFICER FOR ST. JOHNS. AND YOUR NEIGHBOUR TO THE SOUTH USUALLY COVER POLLUTION-- BUT I AM A ST. JOHNS RESIDENT SO THIS IS KIND OF COOL FOR ME TO BE ABLE TO SERVE IN THIS WAY.

WHAT WE DID THIS YEAR IS PUT TOGETHER A LITTLE BIT OF A PRESENTATION ABOUT WHO WE ARE. KIND OF WHERE WE ARE RIGHT NOW.

AND WHERE WE PLAN ON GOING. SO THIS IS JUST A BRIEF ORGANIZATIONAL CHART. SOMETHING WE WANT TO PUT TOGETHER TO SHOW KIND OF HOW WE'RE SET UP CURRENTLY.

AND WE'RE KIND OF REWORKING HOW-- TRY AND FIND MORE EFFICIENCIES. ALSO WORKING AT OTHER SHARED SERVICES AND CHDS ON THE BACK OF THE HOUSE SO THAT WE CAN ACTUALLY PROJECT MORE OUT IN THE COMMUNITY.

SO THIS IS JUST A GENERAL OVERVIEW OF KIND OF HOW WE'RE SET UP FROM OUR MEDICAL SIDE. OUR EPIDEMIOLOGY SIDE AND THEN OUTREACH AND KIND OF DIVE INTO THAT AND I'LL PROVIDE JUST A GENERAL OUTLINE HOW WE SIT CURRENTLY.

THESE ARE ALL THE SERVICES THAT WE PROVIDE IN THE COMMUNITY RIGHT NOW. OBVIOUSLY FOCUSING MORE ON OUR CLINICAL AND OUR WHIP PROGRAM WHICH IS A FEDERALLY FUNDED PROGRAM. BUT WE ACTUALLY PROVIDE SOME SUPPLEMENTAL INCOME FOR THAT DEPARTMENT FROM OUR TAXING AUTHORITY. AND THEN IN ADDITION TO OUR ENVIRONMENTAL PUBLIC HEALTH PROGRAM, AND PRIVATE-- PROGRAM.

THESE ARE ALL VERY INCLUSIVE OF MANY DIFFERENT TOPICS.

AND I'LL GET INTO A LITTLE BIT LATER ON KIND OF CURRENT STATE OF THESE PROGRAM AREAS AND AGAIN WHERE WE'RE LOOKING AT GOING FORWARD. AGAIN AND CONTINUES OUR PRIMARY SERVICES THAT YOU MAY BE FAMILIAR WITH.

WITH EPIDEMIOLOGY PROGRAM. THE OUTBREAKS OF OTHER STATISTICS DEPARTMENT. AND PUBLIC HEALTH PREPAREDNESS AND THESE FUNDS TO STORM SHELTER IN PRIMARILY.

AND THEY ARE STORM RESPONSE. IT'S SOMETHING THAT WE DO SEE QUITE A BIT IS OUR COMMUNITY HEALTH EDUCATION OUTREACH AS OF LATE. SOMETHING WE'LL FOCUS MORE ON IN THE FUTURE. IN ADDITION TO OUR FINANCE DEPARTMENT. WHICH HAS SOME SHARED SERVICES.

WHICH WE ARE TRYING TO LOOK AT AND TRY TO BE MORE EFFICIENT IN OUR INTERNAL FUNDS. SO THAT WE CAN PROJECT MORE EXTERNALLY. JUST OUR 25 REVIEW.

SO WITH THE RESOURCES THAT WERE PROVIDED FROM THE COUNTY, WE'VE REALLY TRIED TO TARGET THOSE RESOURCES TO CLINICAL OPERATIONS AND OUTREACH EVENTS. SO WE'RE MAKING SURE THAT WE'RE FOCUSING ON THOSE EVENTS. PARTICIPATED IN LAST YEAR.

AND THEN THESE ARE JUST IN GENERAL HIGHLIGHTS OF SOME OF THE PROGRAMS THAT WE HAVE. IN ADDITION TO WHAT WE'RE SEEING IN OUR CLINICS. SO WE HAVE THE ONE CLINIC THAT'S DOWN THE STREET. AND THE ONE CLINIC'S WELL OVER 2300 CLIENTS IN COUNTY OR 25. AND AGAIN WE'RE TRYING TO RE-EVALUATE HOW WE CAN SEE MORE FOLKS WITH THE STAFF WE HAVE.

AND IN ADDITION TO IF WE BRING ON MORE STAFF, WHAT THAT WILL ACTUALLY GET US FOR RESOURCE ALLOCATION.

SO AGAIN, WE WANT TO PROVIDE SOME PHOTOS OF OUR STAFF WITH THE COMMUNITY. WE'RE TRYING TO MAKE SURE THERE'S A CONSCIOUS EFFORT TO BE A PART OF THE COMMUNITY.

AGAIN, 25 YEAR-END REVIEW. THESE ARE JUST SOME OF THE HEALTH DEPARTMENT AND SOME OF OUR OTHER PARTNERSHIPS WITH HHS. WE'VE PARTICIPATED IN SOME TRAINING EVENTS. WE HAVE THE BOOK ISSUE WHICH IS SOMETHING THAT WAS PUT IN LAST YEAR.

AND NOIGS OUR COMMUNITY SHARPS COLLECTION WHICH GENERATE 500 GALLONS COLLECTED. SO THE THOUGHT THERE IS THAT WE HAVE SOME HARM REDUCTION, MITIGATION EFFORTS TO REDUCE THE AMOUNT THAT YOU MAY FIND SOME PLACES THAT YOU DON'T WANT THEM. SO AGAIN JUST A REALLY GREAT PROGRAMS THAT ARE BEING DONE HERE INTERNALLY AND WE LOOK TO EXPAND MORE OF THOSE IN THE FUTURE.

EXCUSE ME. AGAIN YEAR-END REVIEW SOMETHING THAT THE DEPARTMENT REALLY FOCUSED ON.

WAS THE WICK SERVICES AND DOING MOBILE SO IT'S.

RECOGNIZING THAT WE HAVE ONE SITE AND EXPANSIVE TERRITORY THAT THEY ARE FOCUSING MORE ON DOING MOBILE CLINICS.

AND THAT'S SOMETHING THAT I THINK YOU'RE GOING TO SEE MOVING FORWARD AS WE'LL SEE IN THE COMING SLIDES WE PURCHASE THIS YEAR. WITH RESOURCES THAT ARE FROM TAX PAYER FUNDS. AND GLOBAL SERVICE UNIT TO ACTUALLY PROVIDE CLINICAL SERVICES IN DIFFERENT AREAS.

[00:35:02]

TO LOWER OVERHEAD COSTS AND WE STILL HAVE THE SAME RESULTS IN MANY AREAS. OUR ENVIRONMENTAL PUBLIC HEALTH PROGRAM AS WE KNOW AND AGAIN AS A RESIDENT I'M SEEING FACILITIES ARE GROWING IN TOWN. AND THAT'S SOMETHING THAT WE'RE MINDFUL OF AND WE'RE TRYING TO ADAPT TO THAT AND BECOME MORE EFFICIENT INTERNALLY. SOMETHING I'LL TALK ABOUT IN A FEW MOMENTS IS OUR PUBLIC HEALTH PROGRAM.

ENVIRONMENTAL SEGWAY. WE ARE REALLOCATING SOME OF OUR STAFF AND REQUESTING MORE IN THE OFFICE TO MEET THE NEEDS OF THE COMMUNITY SO WE CAN RESPOND QUICKLY TO THE NEEDS OF OUR OPERATORS. RECOGNIZING WE DON'T WANT TO BE A BARRIER TO THEM AND ACTUALLY ORBITING OR OPERATING.

AND SO WE'RE WORKING ON THAT AS WELL.

AND THEN AGAIN OUR PLAN IS TO EXPAND DOWN THE STREET.

AND GENERATED A GOOD AMOUNT OF CERTIFICATES.

THAT GENERALLY SHOWS US HOW MUCH WE HAVE AND I CAN TELL YOU THAT FROM PAST EXPERIENCE IT'S STEADY TO BIO STATISTICS.

SO AGAIN JUST GETTING INTO THE LOCAL CONTRIBUTIONS FROM THE COUNTY. THIS IS WHERE AGAIN OUR RESOURCES ARE REALLY BEING TARGETED.

WE'RE NOT TRYING TO USE A LOT OF THE ADMINISTRATIVE COSTS.

WE'RE TRYING TO FOCUS MORE ON THE COMMUNITY.

AGAIN SALARY AND BENEFITS FOR THE CLINICAL SERVICES AND OUTREACH IN ADDITION TO THE BOOK VENDING MACHINES.

AND AGAIN WE ARE IN THE PROCESS OF UPDATING ALL THREE AT THE HEALTH DEPARTMENT. IN ADDITION TO PROCURING THAT GLOBAL UNIT THAT SHOULD BE AVAILABLE TO THEM IN THE NEXT FEW MONTHS. ACTUALLY TO RECEIVE IT LAST WEEK. SO WE'RE EXCITED ABOUT THAT.

AND AGAIN THAT WILL ACTUALLY-- YOU'LL SEE US MORE OUT IN DIFFERENT PARTS OF THE COUNTY WHERE WE ARE NOT TRADITIONALLY THERE. AND THAT WAS SOMETHING THAT WAS WHAT I WANTED TO MAKE SURE WE FOLLOW THROUGH WITH THAT.

BECAUSE AGAIN IT'S A LOW COST METHOD TO TRY AND SEE MORE FOLKS THAT YOU NORMALLY WOULDN'T SEE.

TO LET THEM KNOW WHO WE ARE. WHAT WE DO AND WHAT WE CAN PROVIDE THEM. AND AGAIN AT A LIMITED COST.

AGAIN OURER PROGRAM EXPENSES. WE DID SUPPLEMENT A LITTLE BIT OF FUNDING FROM WITHIN OUR PROGRAM FOR LOW GOVERNMENT AND SOMETHING WE'RE GOING TO LOOK AT INTERNALLY.

I THINK WE WERE ABLE TO ACTUALLY REQUEST MORE FEDERAL FUNDING IN THE FUTURE. SO WE WON'T HAVE TO DO THAT.

WE'VE KIND OF TORE DOWN A LOT OF THE PROGRAMS AND LOOKED AT THEM WHOLISTICALLY SINCE I'VE GOT TLN AND TRIED TO LOOK AT HOW WE CAN MAXIMIZE SOME OF THE FEDERAL FUNDING.

AND THEN TAKE SOME OF THE LOCAL FUNDING AND TARGET MORE THE COMMUNITY. IN DIFFERENT WAYS SO THAT WE COULD-- OUR REACH. ADDITIONALLY SOME OF THAT GOES TO THE SPECIAL SHELTER PROGRAM WHICH HOPEFULLY WE WON'T HAVE TO USE THIS YEAR. BUT AGAIN WE WILL BE READY.

RIGHT NOW IS WHERE WE ACTUALLY MAKE SURE WE HAVE OUR SUPPLIES THIS TIME OF YEAR AND TRAIN OUR STAFF TO MAKE SURE THAT THEY ARE ADEQUATELY REPRE PAIRED TO OPEN UP THE SPECIAL NEEDS SHELTER. AND ADDITIONALLY OUR SCHOOL HEALTH PROGRAM WHICH WE DID HAVE-- WE DO MEET WITH THE SCHOOLS FREQUENTLY. WE'RE ACTUALLY WORKING AT TRYING TO EXPAND SOME OF OUR SERVICES IN THE SCHOOLS RIGHT NOW. SO TRYING TO ENCOURAGE THAT RELATIONSHIP AND PROVIDE MORE TO THE STUDENTS IN THE COUNTY.

THIS IS OUR FUNDING DISTRIBUTION.

SO I WANTED TO JUST SHOW GENERALLY WHOLISTICALLY OUR BUDGET IS A LITTLE OVER $8 MILLION.

THE COUNTY FOR '26/'27 AND ACTUALLY PROVIDING.

THAT CREATES TO 12% OF OUR FURTHER OPERATING BUDGET.

WHAT I'M REALLY FOCUSING ON WITH THE STAFF IS OUR INSURANCE AND FEES PORTION. I REALLY THINK THAT WE COULD PUSH OURSELVES TO OPERATE MORE EFFICIENTLY AND LOOK AT OUR BILLING MECHANISMS TO GET CLOSER TO 30%.

AND SO IF WE DO THAT, IT ACTUALLY REDUCES THE BURDEN AND SEVERAL OTHER AREAS. AND/OR ALLOWS US TO GROW.

AND SO-- AND GROW EFFICIENTLY. AGAIN THAT'S SOMETHING THAT AGAIN-- COMING FROM THE OUTSIDE, IT IS NICE THAT I HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO LOOK AT THINGS.

A LITTLE DIFFERENTLY. AND WE TRY TO INCORPORATE SOME OF THE BEST PRACTICES FROM OTHER AREAS.

IN ADDITION TO-- I'VE LEARNED A LOT.

JUST BY BEING HERE AND MY TIME DOES A LOT OF GREAT WORK THAT'S

BEING DONE HERE. >> SO THAT'S ALMOST THREE TIMES OF PERCENTAGE WISE CONTRIBUTIONS TO THE TOTAL BUDGET. ARE WE TALKING ABOUT FEE INCREASE? OR ARE WE TALKING ABOUT JUST RECOUPING THE INSURANCE CONTRIBUTION THAT WE JUST

HAVEN'T EXPLORED? >> THE LATTER.

SO I THINK WE'RE TRYING TO RECOUP AND RESOURCE OUR

BILLABLES BETTER. >> OH WOW, OKAY.

>> AND SO RIGHT NOW WE'RE LOOKING AT HOW WE SLIDE OUR FEES. WE'RE TRYING TO LOOK AT AGAIN A LOT OF IT IS THE INTERNAL OPERATION.

TO MAKE IT WORK MORE EFFICIENTLY AND MAKE SURE WE'RE CODING CORRECTLY. SO BILLING TO THE RIGHT LEVEL.

AND IF WE'RE DOING THAT, GETTING REIMBURSED SAY-- $165 VERSUS $12, IT DOESN'T NECESSARILY HAVE TO E KUWAIT TO MORE SERVICES. IT'S JUST THAT WE'RE GETTING THE CORRECT REIMBURSEMENTS. SO JUST AGAIN THERE'S SOME AREAS WHERE THAT'S NOT UNCOMMON FOR THEM.

WE'RE JUST TRYING TO MAKE SURE WE'RE MAXIMIZING.

[00:40:02]

>> AND WHEN DO YOU THINK THAT IN TERMS OF TIME FRAME, THAT

CAN BECOME MATERIALIZE? >> AGAIN, I THINK WE WERE TRYING TO SHOOT FOR MORE FISCAL YEAR '26/'27 GETTING CLOSER TO 20%. AND THEN-- KIND OF LOOKING AT THE LONGER TERM PROJECTION REALISTICALLY AS A THREE-YEAR TRANSITION. BUT AGAIN WE MAY FIND SOME THINGS. BUT DELIVERABLES MAY BE ABLE TO MAXIMIZE IT SOONER. SO REALISTICALLY I'M LOOKING AT MORE OF A PHASED IN APPROACH. LIKE HOW WE DO THINGS INTERNALLY. AGAIN SOME OF THE BILLING.

THAT'S DONE, THAT'S CHANGING. AND IT'S GETTING MORE COMPLEX WITH HOW TO RECEIVE REIMBURSEMENTS FROM THE INSURANCE COMPANIES. SO I KNOW THAT WE'RE TRYING TO WORK WITH THEM TO MAKE SURE THAT WE'RE GETTING EVERYTHING

WE'RE DESERVED. >> NOW SO THIS IS IN-- COUNTY LOCALIZED TO THE DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH.

IS THERE ANY LEVERAGING IN TERMS OF YOUR BILLING METHODOLOGY? SOUNDS LIKE IT'S VERY LOCAL.

FROM YOUR FILE BECAUSE YOU ARE LOT MORE KATED IN TERMS OF BILLING. SEEMS TO BE MORE SU SEPARATIVE TO WHO IS ACTUALLY IN THE LEADERSHIP ROLE IN TERMS OF THE

FINANCING PART OF IT. >> AGREED.

>> I WONDER WHY IS THERE NOT A CENTRALIZED KIND OF OVER-ARCHING METHOD? AND THEN THAT GIVES YOU THE LEVERAGE TO CAPITALIZE ON AI TECHNOLOGY.

LIKE THAT CURIOUS HOW THAT WORKS.

>> I THINK WE'RE GETTING WHERE YOU'RE DESCRIBING.

SO I THINK WHAT WE'RE STARTING TO DO IS WE'RE SETTING UP STRIKE TEAMS. TO ACTUALLY GO IN AND EVALUATE OTHER CHD'S CLINICS. AND TRY AND SEE WHAT THE BEST PRACTICES ARE AND WRAI WAYS THAT WE CAN IMPROVE OF THROUGH TECHNOLOGY BUT THROUGH SOME OTHER PROCESSS.

AND OF LOOKING AT THE STANDARD OPERATING PROCEDURES AND SEEING WHERE WE COULD MAKE GAPS. SO THAT'S KIND OF WHAT WE'RE SEEING RIGHT NOW. I THINK THAT WE'VE SEEN SOME TRANSITION WITH STAFF IN TERMS OF-- WE'VE HAD A LOT OF KNOWLEDGE RETIRE OUT IN THE LAST SEVERAL YEARS.

AND SO WE'RE TRYING TO RECOUP SOME OF THAT.

AND THEN-- I THINK TRYING TO WORK TOGETHER AS CENTRALIZED AGENCY. SO REINFORCE SOME OF THE THINGS THAT YOU'VE MENTIONED THERE. IF WE COULD DO THINGS MORE UNIFORM, THAT WOULD PROBABLY HELP ALL OF US.

RECOUP THESE FUNDS IN ADDITION TO YOU KNOW-- SUSTAIN OURSELVES

LONGER TERM. >> YEAH, YOU DON'T HAVE TO REINVENT VERY SPECIALIZED TEAM FOR EVERY LOCAL GOVERNMENT.

YEAH. >> YEAH AND SO LIKE FOR RIGHT NOW, YOU KNOW WE HAVE A SMALL TEAM FROM A COUPLE OTHER COUNTIES IN HERE DOING SOME VH INSPECTIONS WHILE WE TRY AND RECRUIT. SOP WE'RE TRYING TO MAXIMIZE THE BACK OF THE HOUSE AGENCY TO WORK FOR ST. JOHNS.

IN A WAY THAT WORKS FOR ALL OF US.

>> GOT YOU. WE APPRECIATE THAT.

>> SO '26/'27 YEAR AHEAD SO WE'RE REALLY FOCUSING RIGHT NOW ON RESTRUCTURING THE ENVIRONMENTAL PUBLIC HEALTH PROGRAM. MAKING SURE THAT WE HAVE ADEQUATE STAFF TO MAKE SURE WE'RE MEETING THE GROWTH OF DEMAND WITHIN THE COUNTY. IMPLEMENTING THE TRAVEL VACCINE CLINIC WHICH IS TIED TO OUR MOBILE UNIT.

AND THAT'S SOMETHING THAT WE AGAIN HOPE TO HAVE OUT IN THE NOT TOO DISTANT FUTURE PARTICIPATING AT MORE COMMUNITY EVENTS. IN ADDITION TO REALLY THE BIG STRESS FOR ME IS TO BEGIN EXPANDING COMMUNITY PARTNERSHIPS. WHETHER IT'S WITH HOSPITALS.

OUR COUNTY PARTNERS. NON-PROFIT ORGANIZATIONS.

REALLY TRYING TO ESTABLISH AND CONTINUE THE GOOD WORK THAT WAS DONE BY THE PRIOR ADMINISTRATION AND TRY AND CONTINUE TO GROW OUR REACH WITHIN THE COMMUNITY.

AND THEN AGAIN ALWAYS TRYING TO FOCUS ON OUR EPIDEMIOLOGY DEPARTMENT. RIGHT NOW WE HAVE THREE STAFF THAT HAVE FOCUSED SPECIFICALLY ON THAT ROLE AND I CAN TELL YOU THEY ARE QUITE BUSY. SO WE'RE EXCITED ABOUT EXPANDING THAT AREA. AND GENERALLY WHERE WE ARE AT

IN OUR DEPARTMENT. >> ALL RIGHT THANK YOU SO MUCH.

SO WE TYPICALLY WILL GO OVER OUR ADJUSTMENTS AND JUST LOOK AT THE AVAILABLES. FROM '25/'26 AND '27 BUT I GUESS BRINGING THAT UP, I THINK THE THEME OF THE OVERALL MANAGEMENT IN TERMS OF SORT OF THE VISIONARY STRATEGY, THERE ARE TWO COMMON THEMES OUT THERE THAT ARE SIMILAR TO ST. JOHNS COUNTY AS JUST GENERAL GOVERNMENT.

LOOKING FOR-- HOW CAN WE MAKE SURE THAT WE'RE NOT TOO-- PROPERTY TAXS. AND ONLY WAY TO DO THAT IS TO DIVERSIFY HOW WE CAN SEEK OTHER REVENUE TO STILL PROVIDE THE SAME OR MAYBE EXPAND THE SERVICES.

TO I THINK IT ALMOST VERY SIMILAR THEME IS WITH OTHER ORGANIZATIONS. AND BEING MORE FOCUSED ON THE APPROACH. AND ALSO HELPING WITH LEVERAGING OF RESOURCE. I SEE THE COMMUNITY

[00:45:01]

WHERE HE GOT HERE I THINK HE BROUGHT A VISION OF EMBODYING IN THE FABRIC OF THIS COMMUNICATION WITH THE COMMUNITY. SO THAT WAS VERY HELPFUL.

AND I REALLY APPRECIATE THAT TO BE ABLE TO LOOK AT SOME OTHER ASPECT OF OPERATION IN THE BUSINESS SENSE.

AND THAT'S VERY HELPFUL. I WILL SAY BECAUSE DOH IS A DEPARTMENT AT LEAST FOR 12% OF CONTRIBUTION FROM ST. JOHNS COUNTY. NOT SAYING THAT THE HARD WORK FROM DOH TO DIVERSIFY THE REVENUE IS BECOMING A REASON FOR PUNISHING OF LESS OF ANNED A VANTAGE.

BUT I THINK ACROSS THE BOARD WE ARE NOW MORE RESILIENT.

SAME THING FOR OUR FIRE. SAME THING FOR OUR TRANSPORTATION AND FOR GENERAL FUNDS.

THE MORE RESOURCES WE HAVE, THE MORE RESILIENCY WE HAVE IN TERMS OF THE FORM OR ANYTHING THAT THEY AFFECT OUR ABILITY TO FUND THE SERVICES THAT IS REQUIRED OF US.

AND NOT ONLY IS REQUIRED OF US, BUT EVEN MORE JUST BECAUSE

SHEER VOLUME. >> OKAY YEAH JUST SO GETTING TO THE BUDGET. THE HEALTH DEPARTMENT IS A SEPARATE VILLAGE FUND. IT IS A SPECIAL REVENUE FUND.

AND THEN WE GO THROUGH THIS SUCH AS THIS IS JUST THE ST.

JOHNS COUNTY PORTION OF THE FUNDING AS YOU MENTIONED.

IT IS MUCH LARGER BUDGET FUNDED FROM MULTIPLE AREAS.

SO THE REVENUES ARE REALLY PROPERTY TAXES.

MILIDRAKE THAT IS ASSESSED COUNTY WIDE TO ALL PROPERTY OWNERS. AND THAT'S REALLY THE MAIN REVENUE THERE. ON THE EXPENSE SIDE OF THAT, THERE ARE A LITTLE BIT OF FEES RELATED TO THE TAX COLLECTION AND ADMINISTRATION OF THOSE TAXES WITH THE TAX COLLECTOR AND PROPERTY APPRAISER. BUT IT DOES AMOUNT JUST UNDER A A MILLION DOLLARS TO THE HEALTH DEPARTMENT.

AND AGAIN AS YOU MENTIONED IT IS JUST ONE PIECE OF AN OVERALL BUDGET. SO YEAH REALLY THAT'S IT.

>> AND I THINK TO YOUR POINT AS YOU MENTIONED EARLIER, WE HAD TALKED IN THE OFFICE A LOT ABOUT THE BUSINESS OF PUBLIC HEALTH AND THE FACT SIDE OF IT IS WE'RE FOCUSED ON THE OUTREACH COMPONENT AND WORKING WITH CLIENTS.

BUT YOU KNOW WE'RE TALKING MORE ABOUT HOW WE DO OPERATE INTERNALLY AND IF WE'RE DOING THAT MORE EFFICIENTLY AND EFFECTIVELY, LIT ACTUALLY HELP OUR BOTTOM LINE IN ADDITION TO AGAIN PROJECTING OUTWARD. SO I THINK THAT IT'S A LITTLE BIT OF SOMETHING THAT WE'RE LOOKING AT.

TO YOUR POINT. AND WE WANT TO BE LESS RELIANT ON CERTAIN FUNDING. SO IT FREEZES UP AGAIN RESILIENCY COMPONENT THAT MAYBE SOMEBODY ELSE COULD USE IT MORE IF WE'RE CORRECTING MORE NOT SO MUCH-- BUT AGAIN.

>> JUST THE FLEXIBILITY TO HAVE-- YEAH.

>> IT'S A GOOD BUSINESS PRACTICE.

WE TAKE THE FUNDS WE'VE RECEIVED.

A REAL HARD LOOK AT WHY WE'RE DOING WHAT WE'RE DOING.

>> YEAH. AND I FEEL LIKE THE IDENTITY OF DOH HAS INVOLVED OVER TIME. AND EITHER CONTRACTING OR EXPANDING IN JUST MOST TIME IT'S BASED ON THE PHILOSOPHY OF THE LEADER OF DOH BUT SOMETIMES IT IS REALLY CONSTRAINED BY THE RESOURCES YOU HAVE. IN TERMS OF ST. JOHNS COUNTY WE GOT INTO PRIMARY CARE. WE DON'T HAVE PRIMARY CARE.

THEN WE GOT INTO THE EXTENSIVE-- SERVICE AND WE DON'T HAVE IT. I THINK THAT IS THE KIND OF VARIABLES AND POTENTIAL OPPORTUNITIES THAT WE CAN LOOK AT. IF WE DO HAVE MORE RESOURCES.

BECAUSE THOSE WEREN'T UTILIZED BEFORE.

AND THEN WHEN THEY BECOME SO CONSTRAINED TO THEN NOW WE JUST FOCUS ON AT SOME POINT, THE PUBLIC SXHELT EMERGENCY RESPONSE TYPE OF DEPARTMENT. SO WE APPRECIATE YOU AND HOLDING US OVER AND MAY GIVE US-- 19%.

THAT'S OVER A MILLION DOLLARS POTENTIALLY.

>> THAT'S VERY HELPFUL. >> THAT'S EXCITING.

YEAH. ALL RIGHT.

ANYTHING ELSE? ALL RIGHT THANK YOU.

>> THANK YOU.

[Agricultural Extension Services]

[00:51:55]

>>> ALL RIGHT, WELL THANK YOU GUYS FOR HAVING US TODAY.

TAKING THE TIME TO HEAR OUR REQUESTS.

WE WANT TO TALK A LITTLE BIT ABOUT OUR EXTENSION SERVICE.

WE WANT TO BE ABLE TO PROVIDE RESEARCH-BASED SOUND EDUCATION MATERIAL FOR OUR CLIENTELE IN THE WAYS THAT WE PARTNER WITH.

AND WE HAVE GROWN OUR COMMUNITY HEALTH.

ST. JOHNS STRATEGIC. VERY CLOSE TO THE BACK.

DEDICATED TO OUR CLIENTELE. OUR TEAM AT ST. JOHNS ROAD.

AND WE STARTED VERY DIVERSER CLIENTELE.

WE ADOPT. WE ADJUST.

EACH DAY WE COME INTO THE OFFICE.

WE HAVE A DAY THAT'S DEFINITELY NOT THE SAME AS YESTERDAY.

AND WE TRY AND FOCUS ON THOSE AND PROVIDE AN ANSWER FOR OUR CLIENTS. WE LOOK AT PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT FOR EVERYONE ON OUR STAFF AND TEAM.

WE LOOK TO PROVIDE PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT FOR OUR CLIENTELE.

BASED ON WHAT THEIR NEEDS ARE IN THE COMMUNITY.

IT'S FISCAL RESPONSIBILITY ABSOLUTELY.

FISCAL CONSERVATIVE. THE YEARS AND MONTHS THAT WE HAVE IN THE WAY THAT'S NECESSARY AND IF WE DON'T MAKE USE OF THOSE FUNDS, DON'T USE THOSE FUNDS.

WE START WITH FROM ANSWERING REC RECENTLY. I JUST DON'T KNOW.

THE ANSWER. SO-- THE FOCUS AND PROSPERITY.

I HEARD A PRESENTATION BY ONE OF OUR SENIOR OFFICIALS AND HIS FIRST COMMENT WAS WHEN HE TOOK A JOB IS HIS ROLE AS AN EDUCATOR WERE TO PROVIDE FUNDERS THE OPPORTUNITY WITH THE BEST INFORMATION. THEY CAN TAKE THAT INFORMATION AND USE IT HOW THEY SEE. OUR GOAL IS TO HELP WITH ECONOMIC PROSPERITY AND PROVIDE THE BEST INFORMATION TO OUR FARM SOURCE THEY CAN MAKE THE BEST DECISIONS THAT'S WORKED FOR THEIR FARMS TO HELP THEM STAY IN BUSINESS FOR THE DURATIONS. THE COMMUNITY WELL BEING.

TALKING ABOUT LAWN AND GARDENS AND CROPS LIVESTOCK AND YOUTH DEVELOPMENT. WE'RE COMMITTED TO TRY TO MEET THE NEEDS OF OUR COUNTY. INCLUDED THIS SLIDE THIS IS JUST OUR LAST YEAR'S 2025 DATA TO SUMMARY.

WORKING KIND OF DONATIONS, MONETARY DONATIONS THAT WE HAD.

$56,000. AND ABOUT 40,400 VOLUNTEER HOURS WHICH IS EQUIVALENT OF ABOUT 9.8-- FULL-TIME

[00:55:01]

THESE ARE THINGS THAT I LOVE A LOT.

SO REALLY TALKING TO THE FARMERS AND CLIENTS ON THE FARMS. AND THAT'S IN M TIMES DOING THAT WAY. THAT WERE NOT PART OF THE QUESTION. BUT IT REALLY HELPS US TO PROVIDE A SOUND ANSWER. WE PROVIDE TO-- THOUSAND CLIENTS. 267 -- AND THE NEXT NUMBER THERE FROM THIS PAST YEAR. OUR-- IMPROVED BY 16%.

OUR VOLUNTEER HOURS INCREASED 87%.

WHICH IS A BIG JUMP. AND ONE OF THE THINGS WE'VE HAD IN THE LAST YEAR INCREASE IS VOLUNTEERS.

GETTING MORE CLIENTELE AND MORE YOUTH INVOLVED IN 4H IS TO HAVE MORE CLUB AVAILABILITY. AND THE FUND AVAILABILITY INCREASED BY 13% AND WE'RE HOPING TO CONTINUE TO DO THAT.

THE GTM-- WE HAD A TECHNICAL ADVISORY GROUP MEETING OUT THERE. TAG MEETING.

AND TALKED ABOUT BUDGET HEARING BUT THERE'S PEOPLE ON THE GROUP CALL IN THE COLLEGE AND THAT CLUB, WAS VERY ACTIVE FOR AWHILE. WE HAD TWO VOLUNTEERS THAT DID THAT. AND IT'S SHIFTED.

SHE SAID THERE'S PEOPLE IN THE ROOM THAT MAY HAVE THAT BACKGROUND THAT ARE RETIRED. THAT WOULD WANT TO HELP TEACH THIS. I SAID LOOK NEXT YEAR IS A RETIRED SCIENTIST FROM THE MIDDLE OF WASHINGTON, D.C.

MAYBE HE'S ONE OF THOSE GUYS. I DON'T HAVE ANY IDEA.

SO SHE ASKED IF SHE COULD BRING THAT UP TO SEE IF THERE'S ANYBODY WHO MIGHT WANT TO VOLUNTEER THEIR EXPERTISE.

AND 27-- URT4-- FLORIDA. THAT CULTURE AND THAT RELATIONSHIP LAST YEAR. TO PROVIDE LIKE TESTING IN OUR OFFICE. WE DO EDUCATION BUT NOT THE TEST. SO THAT'S THE LAST TIME WE'LL HAVE A TEST ADMINISTERED IN OUR OFFICE.

OTHER VARIOUS EVENTS. WE DO A NUMBER OAF LARGE PROGRAMS. WE WORK WITH THE ST. JOHNS COUNTY PARKS DEPARTMENT. FOR EXAMPLE WE HAVE HISTORY-- ALPINE GROVES PARK. ABOUT EDUCATION MATERIAL.

MAKE THEM AWARE OF AGRICULTURAL WE HAD ST. JOHNS.

THE GIBP-- BEST PRACTICES LAST YEAR.

AND A CLIENTELE WHO DO THAT. THEY HELP TO HAVE THE CERTIFICATIONS. SO THEY CAN APPLY FOR FERTILIZATION LICENSE FROM AGRICULTURE SO THAT THEY CAN PROVIDE THAT SERVICE IN THE COUNTY.

SO THAT'S AN IMPORTANT PROGRAM. OUR BUDGET REQUEST HAD A COUPLE ADDITIONAL ITEMS OUTSIDE OF OUR LINE ITEMS THAT WE WOULD NORMALLY HAVE ADJUSTED. WE'RE FOCUSED ON A TRACTER.

WE GOT A NEW TRACTOR THIS LAST YEAR WITH A DUMP TRAILER.

WE'RE VERY GRATEFUL FOR THOSE TOOLS.

OUR MASTER GARDENERS AND REALIZING THERE'S QUITE A BIG FACT THAT ALTHOUGH WE COME IN-- WE HAVE NOW, I THINK WHEN I FIRST STARTED WORKING HERE ABOUT TEN YEARS AGO.

THAT'S WHEN WE RECEIVED. IT'S-- WHAT'S THE AGE.

SO WE'RE HOPEFUL-- IN OUR LOBBY.

WE HAVE SOME CHAIRS. I'M NOT SURE--.

>> I GOT THOSE FROM THE OLD GENERAL HOSPITAL.

THE SURPLUS. LIKE DUCT TAPED.

I CAN TAKE SOME OF THESE IF YOU DON'T MIND.

THEY ARE IN ROUGH SHAPE. >>-- SAT ON THOSE CHAIRS.

>> THEY ARE DUCT TAPEED. THEY ARE PRETTY WHEN YOU WALK IN. YOU'LL PROBABLY RECOGNIZE SOME.

I WENT AND PICKED THEM UP. THEY ARE SURPLUS.

THAT'S WHERE I GOT THOSE CHAIRS FROM IN THE LOBBY.

>> OUR RESPONSE. WE DON'T GET RID OF THINGS.

>> I WALKED IN LIKE WOW CAN WE GET THE DUCT TAPE THAT AT LEAST MATCHES THE COLOUR? SO THAT'S MY NEW GOAL IS TO FIND DUCT TAPE THAT MATCHES THE COLOUR OF THAT VINYL.

IT LOOKS REALLY BAD. >> THOSE TWO ITEMS WE WERE HOPEFUL THAT WE FOUND OUT-- EXCITED ABOUT.

HAVING A COUPLE REQUESTS THIS PAST YEAR TO REQUEST THAT IN THE PAST WAS A DRONE. IF THAT'S SOMETHING THAT THERE'S STILL AN OPPORTUNITY TO DO THAT REQUEST FROM OUR GROWERS. THEY WANT TO KNOW ABOUT DRAINAGE. AND PESTS.

DISEASE. UTILIZE THAT TOOL.

THE DRONE THAT I'M CONSIDERING THAT I'M TRYING TO FIND FUNDING FOR IS A CERTAIN ASCL-- ALL THE REQUIREMENTS FOR THE STATE OF FLORIDA UNIVERSITY VERY STRICT IN WHAT WE CAN AND CAN'T BUY.

[01:00:02]

AND IT'S THIS MANY DOLLARS AND WE GO TO THE UNIVERSITY AND SAY WE WANT TO BUY THAT. AND THEY SAY NOW IT'S $2,000 MORE AND WE DON'T HAVE THE FUNDING NP PARTICULAR DRONE BY THE COUNTY PARTNER MARK WARREN WHO SUGGESTED TO PURCHASE THIS DRONE. HE'S WORKING WITH MY-- TO GAIN EXPERIENCE THAT HE NEEDS SO THAT HE CAN PROVIDE REALTIME INFORMATION FOR HIS GUYS. AND THAT'LL BE THE LAST THING ON OUR LIST THAT I DON'T HAVE HERE I APOLOGIZE FOR THAT.

>> AND IS INCLUDING A REQUEST? IN THE BUDGET? THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME. SO WHAT WE'LL PROBABLY BOTH DO

IS THE-- METHODS LINE ITEM. >> SURE.

>> AND THE AG SERVICES. WITHIN THE GENERAL FUND.

IT IS A PHYSICAL AREA WITHIN THE GENERAL FUND.

DETAIL OF THE BUDGET. PRIMARILY IT'S OPERATING BUT A LOT OF THAT OPERATING IS IT'S REALLY THE STAFF.

BUT IT'S THROUGH CONTRACTUAL AGREEMENT BETWEEN US AND UF.

IT'S NOT OUR COUNTY STAFF. THEY ARE UF STAFF.

SO THAT SHOWS THE CONTRACTUAL SERVICES LINE THAT YOU'LL SEE H HERE.

SO EVEN THOUGH IT DOESN'T APPEAR THAT WAY, IT IS PRIMARILY PERSONNEL. AND THEN THAT CAPITAL REQUEST HERE IS THE REQUEST FOR THE DRONE.

AND HERE. THIS WAS THE-- CUTTER.

>> CORRECT. CUTTER YEAH.

>> YEAH, THAT'S IT. >> SORRY TWRS ROTARY CUTTER?

>> THE ROTARY CUTTER IS IN THE TOOLS.

>> AND THEN WHERE IS THE DRONE? >> THE DRONE IS IN CAPITAL EQUIPMENT. AND THEN THIS WAS THE TRACTOR.

>> WE GOT THAT LAST YEAR. YEAH.

>> AND THIS IS THE '26. >> SO THE DRONE IS $72,000?

>> THE DRONE IS $70,000. AND THEY KEEP GOING UP IN PRICE. INITIALLY OUR FIRST WORKING WITH DRONES YOU COULD PURCHASE ONE FOR 150 $0 IN THE STATE OF FLORIDA MADE SOME CHANGES. THOSE PRICES WENT UP

SUBSTANTIALLY. >> OKAY.

SOUNDS GOOD. I THINK WE HAVE SCHEDULED A MEETING WITH THE DEAN OF UF IN THE DEPARTMENTS.

I THINK IT'S AGRICULTURAL DEPARTMENT.

JUST TO REVIEW THE CONTRACT WHICH IS THE BULK OF THIS BUDGET. $856,000.

SO I THINK WE'RE AT A TIME OF CONTRACT RENEWAL AND REVIEW SO WE'LL BE GOING OVER THAT AS WELL.

SO IT'S TIMELY. ALL RIGHT.

ANYTHING? >> I DO WANT TO JUST SAY IN GENERAL THIS IS NOT-- THIS AREA BUT IT IS A SEPARATE REQUEST OUT OF THE GENERAL FUND. AND PERSONALLY I DON'T KNOW IF YOU HAVE ANY ADDITIONAL INFORMATION ABOUT THIS REQUEST.

THEY HAD REQUESTED ADDITIONAL $50,000 FOR FISCAL YEAR '27.

AND THAT'S TO SUPPORT. >> IEC ADMINISTRATIVE FEES AND

DIRECT COSTS. >> OKAY.

>> THEIR UF OVERHEAD IS WHAT THEY ARE REQUESTING.

>> AND IS THAT ALSO THE DISC DISCUSSION. OKAY.

I KNOW BOTH CONTRACTS HAVE ATTACHED TO DIFFERENT ADVISORY BOARDS. I KNOW THERE'S A BOARD FOR-- OPERATION AND THERE'S THE COMMERCIAL GROWERS BOARD.

I GUESS IS WHAT DO YOU CALL THAT-- COMMERCIAL GROWER ADVISORY BOARD? GROWERS, YEAH.

AND SO I THINK AND NOW THE COUNTY HAS JUST ESTABLISHED AG ADVISORY BOARD. I THINK THOSE ARE ALL GREAT, WONDERFUL EXPERTS IN THE FIELD TO HELP US TO THE SERVICES AND THE COMMUNITY LOTS. SO-- IS THAT 27 IS THE NEXT MEETING I THINK? TO ADVERTISE THAT BOARD.

YEAH. I WOULD LOVE TO HEAR THEIR INPUT IN TERMS OF WHAT OUR BUDGET REVIEWS FOR THESE TWO

DEPARTMENTS AS WELL. >> ALL RIGHT.

I DON'T HAVE ANYTHING ELSE. I THINK WE HAVE WHAT WE NEED THOON. WE APPRECIATE THE PRESENTATION.

APPRECIATE THE PRESENTATION. THANK YOU.

[01:05:01]

>> THANK YOU. THANK YOU.

[Community Partners / Community Redevelopment Agencies / Main Streets]

>>> ALL RIGHT, GOOD AFTERNOON. SO WE ARE BACK WITH THE SECOND PART OF DEVELOPMENTS. AS A REMINDER LAST YEAR I WAS HERE AND WE TALKED ABOUT THE AREAS OF THE DEPARTMENT COVERS.

AND PLACES FOR THE MUSEUM OF BLACK HISTORY PROJECT.

AND TODAY WE'RE GOING TO FOCUS ON THE OTHER MAJOR BUCKET FOR THIS DEPARTMENT. WHICH IS THE MAIN STREET PARTNERSHIPS AND THE COMMUNITY REDEVELOPMENT AREAS.

SO WE DO HAVE TWO MAIN STREETS THAT ARE RECOGNIZED HERE IN ST.

JOHNS COUNTY. OR THAT YOU SEE MAIN STREET.

AND THESE ARE PART OF THE FLORIDA MAIN STREET PROGRAM.

WHICH UTILIZES THE NATIONAL MAIN STREET CENTRES FOUR-POINT APPROACH. AND THAT OFFERS A SAME WORK TO WORK. SO LAST YEAR THE COUNTY ENTERED INTO A NEW CONTRACT WITH EACH OF THOSE TWO MAIN STREETS.

AND FOLLOWED A SIMILAR FRAMEWORK TO THAT APPROACH THAT'S SET UP BY THE STATE. WE HAVE A CONTRACT FOR EACH ENTITY THAT OUTLINES THEIR EFFORTS TO SUPPORT ECONOMIC VITALITY. PROMOTE THE AREA.

COMPLETE AESTHETIC IMPROVEMENTS.

AND TO REPORT AND ADMINISTER THE AGREEMENT FOR US.

SO HASTINGS MAIN STREET, I HAVE YOU GUYS FIRST.

WE HAVE AN AGREEMENT THAT WAS ESTABLISHED LAST YEAR BY RESOLUTION 2025-435 AND IT DOES HAVE A RENEWAL OPTION FOR FISCAL YEAR '27. THE BUDGET REQUEST FOR HASTINGS MAIN STREET IS 125. WHICH IS A LITTLE BIT DIFFERENTLY THAN WHAT YOU HAVE IN THE BUDGET.

AND IT'S A LITTLE BIT DIFFERENT FROM THIS YEAR'S BUDGET.

SO THIS YEAR WE HAVE $100,000 IN THE BUDGET FOR MAIN STREET.

SO THE SCOPE THAT WE HAVE IN THE CONTRACT IS FOR THE SUPPORT OF ECONOMIC VITALITY FOR THE HASTINGS MAIN STREET AREA.

PROMOTION OF THAT AREA FOR CONTINUED GROWTH.

AESTHETIC IMPROVEMENTS AND THEN REPORTING AND ADMINISTRATION OF THE AGREEMENT. AND WE WILL NOW HAVE MORE

DETAIL ON THE BUDGET REQUEST. >> HI, THANKS SO MUCH FOR THE TIME TODAY. WE APPRECIATE IT.

I JUST WANT TO START SAYING FIRST THANK YOU FOR OUR BUDGET THIS PAST YEAR TO TELL YOU A LITTLE BIT ABOUT WHAT WE'VE ACCOMPLISHED. WE'RE SUPER EXCITED.

WE FEEL LIKE WE'VE MADE A TREMENDOUS IMPACT WITH THAT MONEY. A FEW DIFFERENT PRIMARY PROJECTS. ONE OF THEM IS PHASE TWO OF THE COCHRAN POCKET CART. IF YOU HAVEN'T BEEN OUT TO HASTINGS TO SEE THE POCKET PARK.

THE BEAUTIFUL PAVERS THAT CAME FROM THE ROTARY GRANT ARE INSTALLED. IT'S A WONDERFUL GROUND PATTERN. AND IT LEADS, IT'S A WALKWAY THAT LEADS TO THE OLD HI STORIC JAIL BUILDING.

WE FIRST TOOK GUARDIANSHIP OF THAT PROPERTY.

IT HAD BEEN VACANT FOR OVER 30 YEARS.

AND UTILIZED WITHIN THE COMMUNITY AND BEHIND THE CHAINLINK BARBED WIRE FENCE. SO IT HAD BEEN LEASED OUT TO ONE OF THE LOCAL CABLE COMPANIES AND IT HAD A BUNCH OF SATELLITE DISHES. SO WE'VE REACTIVATED THIS PROPERTY AND PUT IT INTO A POCKET PARK AT THE MOMENT.

WE HAVE PUT A FENCE UP THAT CAME OUT OF THE BUDGET.

[01:10:02]

SO THOSE WERE THE FIRST PHASE. PHASE TWO WE JUST CREATED AGREEMENTS. WE'RE EXCITED TO SAY WITH IFIS AND ALSO WITH ST. JOHNS BOTANICAL GARDENS.

AND WE ARE STARTING OUR PLANTING THIS NEXT MONTH.

WE'RE IN THE PRELIMINARY BASIS OF PICKING OUT WHAT FRUIT TREES. IT'S ALL GOING TO BE EDIBLES.

SO WE'RE LOOKING FOR FLORIDA NATIVE PLANTS.

AND URNS AND FRUIT TREES AND THINGS THAT GROW IN ST. JOHNS COUNTY. AND WE HAVE THEIR SUPPORT NOT ONLY IN THE PLANTING AND THE DESIGN BUT ALSO WE HAVE A PARTNERSHIP WITH THEM AND SOME MASTER GARDENERS IN THE AREA FOR HELPING TAKE CARE OF IT. AND WE'VE INVITED THE LOCAL ACADEMY IN THE SCHOOL GROUPS. AND THE BOY SCOUT AND GIRL SCOUT GROUPS TO PARTICIPATE IN MONTHLY ORGANIZATIONAL PROJECTS AROUND THE FOOD GARDENING. SO THAT PROJECT'S COMING ALONG BEAUTIFULLY. WE HAVE ALREADY BEGAN PLANNING PHASE THREE AT THE PROJECT. WHICH INCLUDES US LOOKING TO ACTIVATE THE BUILDING NEXT. THE BUILDING NEEDS ABOUT 50 TO 10 $0,000' WORTH OF IMPROVEMENTS JUST TO PRESERVE IT. IT CURRENTLY NEEDS TO BE REFINISHED ON THE EXTERIOR AND NEEDS A NEW ROOF.

IT'S A VERY SMALL BUILDING SO THANKFULLY IT'S NOT GOING TO TAKE MUCH TO BEAUTIFY IT AND MAKE IT BACK ACTIVE.

OUR GOAL FOR THAT BUILDING IS TO PROBABLY-- WE'VE DONE THREE COMMUNITY MEETINGS ASKING THE COMMUNITY WHAT THEY WOULD LIKE TO SEE. AND IT SEEMS THAT THE MOST SUPPORT HAS COME FOR A LITTLE SMALL HISTORICAL MUSEUM.

THAT WOULD INCLUDE A SECTION FOR BLACK HISTORY.

THERE ARE SOME AMAZING DOCUMENTS IN ARTIFACTS THAT WE HAVE BEEN GIVEN FROM DIFFERENT COMMUNITY MEMBERS OVER THE PAST TWO YEARS THAT WE HAVE WORKED IN PARTNERSHIP WITH THE ST.

AUGUSTINE HISTORICAL SOCIETY. AND THEY'VE HELPED US TO CATALOGUE THEM AND CREATE AN ONLINE DIGITAL CATALOGUE OF THE COLLECTION. SO THIS WOULD GIVE US THE LOCATION TO STORE AND HOUSE THE COLLECTION.

AND ALSO TO BE ABLE TO DO COMMUNITY EVENTS THERE THROUGHOUT THE YEAR. AND INVITE OTHER NON-PROFITS TO UTILIZE THE BUILDING. IT WOULD KIND OF-- IT'S VERY SMALL. SO YOU CAN'T GET A LOT OF PEOPLE IN THERE. BUT IT DOES GIVE YOU AN OPTION TO DO EDUCATIONAL SPEECHES. OR IT TIES INTO THE POCKET PARK. SO WE'RE EXCITED ABOUT ACTIVATING THAT THIS NEXT YEAR. AND CONTINUING TO JUST UTILIZE THAT SPACE. OTHER PROJECTS THAT WE ACCOMPLISHED THIS YEAR IS OF COURSE THE FPL STREET LIGHT PROJECT. I THINK WE'RE ALL SUPER EXCITED TO SEE THAT COME TO FRUITION. IT'S AT THE VERY END STAGES.

THAT'S SOMETHING THAT WE ORIGINALLY STARTED OUT WITH DOING A PAVER PROJECT. OR WANTING TO DO A PAVE PROR JEKT ON MAIN STREET. AND REALIZED THAT IF WE WERE GOING TO DO THAT, WE HAD TO TAKE CARE OF FIGURING OUT WHAT THE LONG-TERM PLAN WAS FOR THE STREET LIGHTS FIRST.

BECAUSE IF WE PUT IN THE PAVERS, AND THEN HAD TO REDO THE STREET LIGHTS, THEY'D HAVE TO RIP THE PAVERS UP.

SO WE BACKTRACKED A LITTLE BIT AND OF COURSE WE'VE BEEN WORKING WITH ST. JOHNS COUNTY AND I BELIEVE AGREEMENT WAS JUST SIGNED WITH FPO TO MOVE FORWARD AND REPLACE THE EXISTING LIGHTS ON MAIN STREET AND THAT IS A HUGE EXCITING THING FOR EVERYONE IN THE COMMUNITY.

WE CAN'T WORK FOR THAT WORK TO START.

ONCE THAT IS COMPLETED. WE WILL REVISIT DOING THE PAVERS ALONG MAIN STREET WHICH IS PART OF WHAT OUR BUDGET REQUESTS WILL BE UTILIZED FOR. SO OUR GOAL IN THAT IS CURRENTLY. OUR SIDEWALKS AND HASTEINGS IS VERY NARROW. AN HISTORIC DISTRICT TWO PEOPLE CROSS EACH OTHER ON THE SIDEWALK AND SOMEONE HAS TO STEP OFF THE SIDEWALK TO THE GRASS TO GET BY.

THEY ARE NOT ADA ACCESSIBLE. THEY ARE NOT FAMILY FRIENDLY.

AND THERE ARE OTHER CHALLENGES IS NOBODY MAINTAINS THE GRASS BETWEEN THE SIDEWALK AND THE STREET.

AND OFTENTIMES WHEN YOU STEP OFF THE CURB, THERE IS HOLES.

THERE'S-- IT'S BEEN CHAOS. AND COMMUNITY MEMBERS HAD BEEN GRACIOUS ENOUGH INCLUDING THE MASONS COME ONCE A MONTH AND THEY HELP US KEEP IT MOWED. AND WE FILLED IN A LOT OF HOLES AND DIVOTS. BUT REPLACING ALL OF THIS WITH PAVERS, IT EXPANDS OUR SIDEWALKS.

SO THAT IT'S MORE FAMILY AND ADA FRIENDLY SO THAT PEOPLE OF ALL ABILITIES CAN COMMENT TO THE MAIN STREET DISTRICT AND BE ABLE TO UTILIZE THE SPACE BETTER.

IT ALSO IS SAFER AND IT CREATED.

THERE IS NO LONGER HAVING TO MAINTAIN THAT GRASS AND FILL HOLES AND THINGS LIKE THAT. SO THAT'S ONE OF OUR BIG PROJECTS THIS NEXT YEAR THAT WE'RE HOPING TO FINISH.

AND OF COURSE IF YOU SEE HERE ON THE SLIDE, THE HISTORIC HASTINGS DOWNTOWN. WE JUST SUBMITTED A FEW WEEKS AGO THE FINAL RENDITIONS OF THE SIGNS.

WAYFINDING SIGNAGE IS A BIG NEED FOR OUR COMMUNITY.

[01:15:03]

ONCE THAT'S APPROVED THIS COMPANY WILL PULL ALL OF THE D.O.T. AT ST. JOHNS COUNTY PERMITS NEEDED.

AND FOUR OF THESE SIGNS WILL BE PLACED.

TWO OF THEM WILL GO ONTO SEVEN OR D.O.T. ON EITHER END OF THE TOWN LIMITS. SO THAT PEOPLE KNOW THAT THEY ARE COMING UPON THE MAIN STREET.

ONE OF THEM AS SOON AS YOU TURN DOWN MAIN STREET, WILL LIST ALL OF THE BUSINESSES. AND WE ARE LEAVING ROOM IN THE DESIGN FOR EXPANSION. RIGHT NOW IT'S ONE OF THESE PANELS. AND I THINK THERE'S 12 SLOTS.

BUT THIS SIGN CAN HAVE A CROSS BRACE.

SO THAT A SECOND PANEL CAN BE ADDED AS BUSINESSES IN THE BUSINESS DISTRICT GROW. AND OF COURSE WE'RE EXCITED TO ADD A SLOT FOR THE NEW LIBRARY THAT'S GETTING READY TO OPEN.

AND THEN WE HAVE THE FOURTH ONE THAT WILL GO ALONG THE BIKE TRAIL THAT WILL BE SIMILAR TO THE BUSINESS ONE.

OUR GOAL ALSO THIS NEXT YEAR WITH PART OF THE BUDGET OF THE 125 IS TO PUT TOWARDS BIKE TRAIL.

SO-- THE BIKE TRAIL IS-- LIKE A HOT MESS.

THERE'S NO WAY TO SUGAR COAT THAT.

AND AN AMAZING ASSET. D.O.T. OWNS THE BIKE TRAIL AND THE LAND IT SITS ON. AND THEY HAVE AN AGREEMENT WITH RAVINE GARDENS THAT MANAGES THAT PART OF THE TRAIL.

UP TO THREE FEET ON EITHER SIDE OF THE PAVED PORTION.

SO WITH THAT BEING SAID, THERE'S OBVIOUSLY FAR MORE LAND THERE THAT IS NOT BEING MAINTAINED OR LOOKED AT.

SO WE HAVE BEEN IN CONTACT WITH D.O.T. AND RAVINE GARDENS.

RAVINE GARDENS IS VERY SHORT STAFFED AND THEY HAVE VERY LIMITED MANPOWER. THEY DO ONCE OR TWICE A WEEK PICK UP TRASH. BUT THAT'S ABOUT THE SCOPE OF IT. SO A LOT OF VOLUNTEERS OVER THE PAST TWO YEARS HAVE TAKEN IMPROVEMENTS TO OTHER PROJECTS TO THAT. INCLUDING FILLING IN HOLES THAT WERE COMING UP AND CUTTING OUT THE MARGIN.

OUR GOAL IS ONE OF THE MOST UNSIGHTLY AND UNSAFE THINGS AT THE MOMENT IS ALL OF THE POST. THERE IS A MIX OF METAL, CONCRETE AND-- TIMBER I GUESS? THERE'S ABOUT FOUR DIFFERENT STYLES. OF RANDOM POSTS THAT HAVE BEEN PUT ALL ALONG THE TRAIL AROUND WHERE IT CROSSES MAIN STREET.

AND OVER THE PAST 50 YEARS THEY'VE BEEN HIT BY CARS.

IT KIND OF CREATES MORE OF A SAFETY BARRIER.

ESPECIALLY NOW THAT THE KIDS ACADEMY IS OPEN AND USING THE BIKE TRAIL DAILY. BUT ALSO AESTHETICALLY.

AS PEOPLE CROSS THROUGH MAIN STREET.

AND THAT'S JUST THE START WITH. SO THAT'S KIND OF EVERYTHING IN A NUTSHELL. I TALKED A LITTLE BIT ABOUT WHAT WE ACCOMPLISHED THIS PAST YEAR.

WE ALSO DID A PASS AND SAY MAIN STREET, WE ARE NOW AT OFFICIAL MAIN STREET. TO GO THROUGH A TWO-YEAR APPRENTICESHIP. SO WE COMPLETED THAT AND KATHY BECK. WHO IS OVER FLORIDA MAIN STREETS AND WORKING FOR THE SECRETARY OF STATE SAID THAT WE WERE HER MODEL CHILDREN. THAT TWERP HIGHEST PERFORMING FLORIDA MAIN STREET SINCE SHE'S BEEN IN OFFICE.

SO SHE'S BEEN VERY PLEASED WITH THEIR PROGRESS.

AND A WONDERFUL SUPPORT SYSTEM FOR US.

AND THEN OF COURSE I'M SURE SOME OF YOU HAVE SEEN FESTIVALS. WE DO TWO BIG FESTIVALS EACH YEAR THAT WE RECEIVED FUNDING FROM THE TDC AND FULL COUNSEL.

[01:20:04]

WHICH IS A HISTORIC CULTURAL FESTIVAL FOR THE COMMUNITY.

AND THAT WE ALSO HAVE OUR FALL HARVEST FESTIVAL.

SO WE'VE BEEN WORKING HARD WITH NOT ONLY THE ECONOMIC REDEVELOPMENT BUT REALTY CULTURAL AND AND JUST THE COMMUNITY AND TRYING TO REALLY BE COLLABORATIVE BETWEEN ALL THE ORGANIZATIONS AND CHURCHES AND NON-PROFITS AND OF COURSE WITH THE COUNTY. SO WE TRY TO BE A CATALYST FOR GOOD COMMUNICATION AND POSITIVE CHANGE.

>> WELL, CONGRATULATIONS. I THINK YOU HAVE DONE A LOT.

AND THE COMMUNITIES. NOT ONLY COSMETICALLY BUT ALSO THE PAVER AND ALL THOSE THINGS DO MATTER.

AND HOW PEOPLE FEEL ABOUT BEING PART OF THAT COMMUNITY.

WE ARE TALKING ABOUT BUDGET. SO PART OF THAT IS I HOPE IT'S NOT GOING TO BE UNCOMFORTABLE. BUT I KNOW WE HAD REQUESTED--.

I DON'T KNOW THE PREVIOUS YEARER AMOUNT.

I ENCOURAGE ALL DEPARTMENTS. AND THE FACTORS.

AND THEN THE LEAD E LEADER OF THE MAIN STREET TO DO THE SAME THING. WHICH IS PRIORITIZING WHAT IS REALLY IMPORTANT. IF WOE DO HAVE TO GO TO WHAT ARE THE MOST IMPORTANT THINGS. SO WE DON'T GO-- OKAY WELL THIS IS GOING TO BE THE PERCENT OF REDUCTION.

BASED ON HOW THE REVENUE WILL LOOK LIKE.

THE COLLABORATION OF PRESERVING THE THINGS THAT ARE SIMPLE AND

FOR YOU. >> SO THIS PAST YEAR WE HAD 100,000. AND WE HAD ON THIS CALL-- WE'RE JUST WAITING ON-- WE TRY TO SEND EVERYTHING TO ST. JOHNS COUNTY WHOEVER THE PROJECT COORDINATOR IS FOR APPROVAL.

ANY TYPE OF CAPITAL IMPROVEMENTS.

SO 100,000 I DO FEEL WE ARE ABLE TO REITERATE IN AN EFFECTIVE WAY. WE PARTNER THROUGH WITH THAT MONEY AND TAME THROUGH FUNDRAISING AND OTHER GRANTS TO MAKE IT MORE EFFECTIVE. BUT I THINK ULTIMATELY WE ARE GRATEFUL FOR WHATEVER CONSIDERATION YOU CAN GET TO THE COMMUNITY. AND I KNOW HASTINGS COMING UNDER ST. JOHNS COUNTY. IN 2018.

THERE'S A LOT OF CATCH-UP THAT WE'RE TRYING TO DO THROUGH ADDITIONAL FUNDING WHETHER IT BE THROUGH ST. JOHNS COUNTY OR A LOT OF THE GRANTS THAT WE'RE LOOKING AT.

JUST TO TRY TO MAKE THE COMMUNITY FEEL ALL RIGHT.

YOU KNOW IT'S VALUABLE. SO WE UNDERSTAND BUDGETS ARE TIGHT ACROSS THE STATE. SOY THINK AS MUCH AS WE'RE ABLE TO GET-- WE WOULD TRULY BE GRATEFUL AND APPRECIATE THE

SUPPORT. >> WOULD YOU MIND TO DIVE INTO ITEMIZING. ALL THE PRIORITIZING.

>> ABSOLUTELY. SO THE PROJECT I ESTIMATE IS PROBABLY GOING TO BE BETWEEN $40,000 AND $50,000.

AND SOME OF THAT WILL DEPEND ON HOW FAR WE GO.

SO OUR GOAL IS TO GET IN FRONT OF WHERE THE MAJORITY OF THE BUSINESSES ARE. WHERE MOST OF THE TRAFFIC IS.

ULTIMATELY IF WE DO IT IN TWO PHASES, IT COULD BE A LOT MORE THAN THAT AS WE EXPAND OUT THERE FROM.

THE LONG-TERM GOAL WOULD BE TO COMPLETE FROM 207 TO THE BIKE TRAIL. BUT I THINK INITIALLY ALL OF THE BUSINESSES ARE IN ABOUT-- 60% TO 70% OF THAT SPAN.

SO OUR FIRST YEAR GOAL WOULD BE TO REPLACE THE GRASS WITH THE PAVERS ON THE MOST TRAFFICKED AREAS.

THE MATERIALS AND ALL OF THAT. BUT UNTIL WE CAN GET IT DRIED OUT. WHERE THE ROOF DOESN'T LEAK AND THERE'S NOT WATER COMING UP THROUGH-- RIGHT NOW-- WHERE THE WALLS MEET THE FLOOR. MOISTURE IS COMING UP.

SO WE HAVE A QUOTE ON WHAT LIT COST TO DO THAT.

SO I WOULD SAY ANOTHER 30,000 TOWARDS THAT WOULD BE WONDERFUL. JUST SO THAT WE COULD GET THAT BACK ACTIVATED. AND THEN THE OTHER 20,000 WOULD BE GOING TOWARDS THE BIKE TRAIL.

YOU KNOW-- CLEANING UP THE AESTHETICS ON THAT.

>> SO I HAVE 50 30 20. THAT'S $100,000.

[01:25:03]

>> THE OTHER THINGS THAT WE HAVE LOOKED AT DOING ARE-- THOSE ARE PRIORITIES. THE ADDITIONAL 25 WE WOULD BE LOOKING AT DOING THE ENHANCEMENTS RIGHT NOW.

ONE OF THE NEIGHBOUR PARTNERS. HASTINGS MAIN STREET ON THE PARK. HE HAS AGREED TO LET US USE HIS WATER HOOK-UP FOR THE GARDENS. EVENTUALLY WE'D LIKE TO PUT IN A WELL. SO WE CAN IRRIGATE A NEW ELECTRIC PANEL. IE-- BUILDING BEFORE WE TRY TO-- THE PANEL IS THERE. WE CAN GET AWAY WITH IT AT THE MOMENT. BUT-- I FEEL LIKE IT NEEDS TO BE REPLACED. IT'S PROBABLY SECOND TIER.

AND ADDITIONAL LABOUR AND SIGNAGE AND ADDITIONAL.

SO THAT SOUNDS LIKE A VERY REGULAR PARK MAINTENANCE ITEM IN WHICH IS A COUNTY ASSET. PARKS THE RECREATION HAS A COUNTY WIDE PARKS AND RECREATION ARE NOT A PROGRAM.

SO I DON'T KNOW WHY THAT'S NOT SO HARD.

>> WHEN WE REQUESTED TO REACTIVATE THAT.

THE COUNTY EXECUTED A LONG-TERM LEASE TO HASTINGS MAIN STREET.

BECAUSE THE COUNTY DID NOT WANT TO MAINTAIN IT.

THEY SAID THEY DON'T HAVE THE BUDGET CURRENTLY TO ADD ANOTHER PART. AND HASTINGS MAIN STREET AGREED WE WOULD TAKE CARE OF THAT. THROUGH TO PAY FOR THE INSURANCE. MAINTAINED EVERY MONTH.

THAT WAS AT THE TIME WHEN WE REQUESTED TO ACTIVATE THAT PROPERTY. WE CAN SLAERN RECONFIGURE THAT.

>> I'M LOOKING MORE AT IF IT IS COUNTY ASSET.

AND IN TERMS OF THE MAINTENANCE REQUIREMENT BASED ON CONDITION.

BASED ON AGE. AND I DON'T KNOW WHERE THE PARK SITS IN THAT PRIORITY LIST. BUT THERE IS A COMPREHENSIVE APPROACH TO DO THAT. BUT IF THIS PARK HAS BEEN USED TO A PRIVATE ENTITY. THAT CERTAINLY THAT SOUNDS LIKE IT'S NOT REALLY A PART OF THAT SITUATION.

AND LEASE. >> OKAY.

AND IN THE AGREEMENT STATES THAT IT'S ONLY TO BE USED FOR COMMUNITY PURPOSES. SO HASTINGS MAIN STREET AS A NON-PROFIT. OUR GOAL WASN'T TO TRY TO TAKE OVER THE PARK. COMMUNITY USE AND WE WOULD AGREE WE WOULD TRY TO IDENTIFY GRANT FUNDING.

WHICH WE CAN D RECEIVE THE $30,000 GRANT WHICH WOULD OFFSET THE COST OF ALL OF THE PAVERS THAT WE WOULD INSTALL THERE. BUT OUR GOAL IS 100% OF THE FUNDING THAT WE RECEIVED FROM THE COUNTY GOES INTO CAPITAL IMPROVEMENTS ON COUNTY LAND. EVEN WHERE WE'RE PLACING THE PAVERS ALONG MAIN STREET. THAT'S COUNTY-OWNED PROPERTY.

YOU KNOW, EVEN THE SIGNAGE. THAT'S ALL ON D.O.T. OR COUNTY-OWNED PROPERTY. SO OUR GOAL IS WHERE THE COUNTY HASN'T HAD THE BANDWIDTH TO KIND OF LOOK AT THE SMALL DETAILS THAT HELP REALLY BUILD A COMMUNITY.

WE TOOK THAT ROLE ON AS TRYING TO DO THE LEGWORK AND THE RESEARCH AND COORDINATING AND MANAGING THE PROJECTS.

AND REALLY JUST TAKE THAT OFF THE COUNTY'S PLATE.

BECAUSE YA'LL WERE SO BUSY WE HAD WATER AND SEWER AND THOSE BIGGER MORE IMPORTANT THINGS. THAT EVERY DIME HAS BEEN SPENT DIRECTLY INTO PUTTING BACK INTO COUNTY ASSETS.

>> OKAY. GOT YOU.

THAT'S VERY HELPFUL. THANK YOU.

>> YEAH. SURE.

>> WE CAN DO A VERY SIMILAR EXERCISE WITH THAT.

IN TERMS OF THE--. SO WE HAVE A VERY SIMILAR AGREEMENT THE VILANO HASTINGS AGREEMENTS ARE VERY SIMILAR IN STRUCTURE. THEY WERE BOTH.

THIS WAS-- PUT IN PLACE UNDER A RESOLUTION 2025.

[01:31:05]

AND-- EXPENSES. SOLUTIONS ON VILANO ROAD.

FOR BEAUTIFY CASE. WHICH INCLUDES ADDITIONAL PLANTING. AND THEY WILL HAVE ALL THE WORK ACTUALLY DONE BY VOLUNTEERS. REQUESTING $10,000 FOR BIKE LOCKS. $22,000 FOR AN INFORMATIONAL ENTRY-WAY SIGNAGE. $22,000.

SORRY-- DIDN'T KNOW YOU WERE TAKING THAT-- I CAN GO A LITTLE SLOWER. 50,000.

>> THAT SIGN IS IT A STATIC SIGN?

>> ENTRYWAY INFORMATIONAL SIGNAGE.

>> WHAT THE CHANGES. OKAY.

SHORTFALLS LISTED AS $50,000. SO WHAT THIS IS IS A REQUEST FOR THE COUNTY TO PROVIDE FUNDING TO OFFSET THE EXPENSES THAT ARE NOT COVERED UNDERNEATH THE TDC GRANTS.

SO AS I MENTIONED THE GRANTS ONE IS FOR THE--.

ANOTHER GRANT THEY RECEIVE IS FOR THEIR CHRISTMAS TIME VILLAGE. AND THEN THEY ARE ALSO LOOKING FOR FIREWORKS. FOR NEW YEAR'S EVE.

SO THEY ARE LOOKING FOR 50,000S THE FOR EACH ONE OF THOSE.

$150,000 FOR THAT. $50,000 FOR FIREWORKS.

AND HAS CRA FUNDED. SO WE CAN-- IF THEY ARE ACTUALLY LAST. THE ONE CRA THAT WE FEEL VERY LIKELY WILL NOT END UP PAYING OFF ALL ON ITS PREVIOUS DEBTS.

AND SO ONE THING THAT THE COUNTY HAS BEEN WORKING ON FOR A NUMBER OF YEARS IS MINIMIZING THE EXPENSES FOR NEW AMENITIES IN THAT AREA WITH THE FUNDS. AND SO LAST YEAR WHEN THIS BECAME PART OF MY DEPARTMENT. ONE OF OUR PRIORITIES WAS TO ESTABLISH THE BOUNDARIES OF THE CRA VERSUS THE MAIN STREET.

BECAUSE THEY WERE PREVIOUSLY A LITTLE BIT INTERCHANGEABLE FROM THOSE CHALLENGES. AND SO WE PUT THAT NEW AGREEMENT IN PLACE LAST YEAR AS THE FIRST YEAR THAT WE HAD A STAND ALONE MAIN STREET AGREEMENT FOR VILANO AND THEY ARE COMPLETELY SEPARATE. NOW THOSE TWO ENTITIES ARE.

SO FOR THE VILANO CRA BUDGET WHEN WE GET THERE.

YOU WILL SEE IT'S MOSTLY TOWARDS UTILITIES AND FUNDING GARBAGE PICK-UP. AND SO A WORST OF REQUEST.

[01:35:03]

ORGANIZATION WAS THAT? >> SO THOSE THINGS WE ACTUALLY PICK UP INTERNALLY. SO THE TRAFFIC IS HANDLED BY PUBLIC WORKS. THE SIGNS WILL PAY THE MONEY IN

THE BUDGET. >> WHICH WAS THE AGENCY THAT ORGANIZED THAT REQUEST? IS THAT THE MAIN STREET? ZBLILD SAY IT WAS THE COMMUNITY AT LARGE.

WE HAVE MEETINGS WITH THREE DIFFERENT LOCAL COMMUNITY GROUPS. SO THE MAIN STREET FOLKS ARE ACTUALLY BOTH THE SAME REPRESENTATIVES.

SO A LITTLE BIT UNCLEAR. BUT THEN WE ALSO HAD-- THE MIRTH BEACH ALLIANCE. NAMES OF THE DIFFERENT GROUPS.

AND THEN THERE'S A THIRD GROUP AS WELL.

FOR PAYMENTS THESE MEETINGS. AND THERE'S CONCERNS WITH PARKING AND THEY HAVE A NUMBER OF PARKING CONCERNS.

REALLY ARE OUTSIDE OF THE BOUNDARY AT THE CRA.

SO THAT PURPOSE POINT IS ACTUALLY OUTSIDE OF THE BOUNDARY OF THE CRA. AND I THINK AS WELL A MAP THERE. BUT IT KIND OF LOOKING AT THOSE. WE LOOK AT OUR DIFFERENT FUNDS THAT WE HAVE AVAILABLE DURING THE PUBLIC WORKS.

AND LIKE YOU SAID IF IT'S APPROPRIATE.

WE USE THAT FINDING AS WELL. >> SO THE MUSIC FESTIVAL.

THE CHRISTMAS PARTY. THE FIREWORKS.

HAVE ALL RECEIVED SOME OF THE FUND SOMETHING.

>> FEDERAL WORKS DO NOT. SO AT THE MOMENT THEY GET SOME FUNDING FOR THE VIBRATIONS FOR THE MUSIC FESTIVAL AND FOR THEIR VILLAGE LIGHTING FESTIVAL THEY DO.

AND THE FIREWORKS THEY CAME TO THE TDC THIS PAST OCTOBER I THINK IT WAS. OR NOVEMBER AND THEY MADE A REQUEST OUTSIDE OF THE GRANTS PROGRAM.

FOR THE FUNDING AND THE TDC PASSED ON THE OPPORTUNITY BY TDC FUNDING FOR THAT. WE DO EXPECT THAT THEY ARE GOING TO SUBMIT AN APPLICATION FOR THAT-- BECAUSE WE'RE CURRENTLY-- THE GRANTS. I THINK ONE OF THE COMMENTS OR ONE OF THE POINTS THAT LINDA OFTEN MAKES IS THAT THE REQUEST THIS MUCH FUNDING. THEY RECEIVE THIS MUCH FUNDING.

AND EVEN THOUGH THEY RECEIVE THIS MUCH FUNDING.

AND THAT THE COUNTY PROVIDES SOME FUNDING THROUGH THE MAIN STREET AGREEMENT TO OFFSET EXPENSES FOR THEIR EVENTS.

>> OKAY. GOT IT.

ALL RIGHT. NEXT.

OKAY. YES.

>> SO THAT IS IT FOR VILANO MAIN STREET.

RIGHT. ALL RIGHT SO WE'RE GOING TO MOVE ONTO OUR COMMUNITY REDEVELOPMENT AREAS.

SO WE DO HAVE THREE CRAS. TO MAKE RECOMMENDATIONS AND PUT ON PROJECTS THROUGHOUT THE AREA.

SO THE FIRST ONE IS AUGUSTINE. SO I'D LIKE TO NOTE THAT I'M GOING TO RUN THROUGH THIS HERE. AND THEN WE DO HAVE SOME ON STANDBY. SO SPECIFIC ANSWERS.

TO GIVE THEM A CALL. BUT CURRENT INITIATIVES.

THINGS THEY'VE BEEN WORKING THON YEAR.

AND CURRENTLY WORKING TOGETHER THE NEXT ITERATION OF THE RP FOR AFFORDABLE HOUSING. THEY WORK TOGETHER WITH THE-- TO HELP GET THE CONSTRUCTION OF THE HEALTH AND WELLNESS CENTRE OVER THE FINISH LINE. WE DID CRA FUNDING FOR THAT DEVELOPMENT HERE THE END OF LAST CALENDAR YEAR.

SO THE PEACE PARK IMPROVEMENTS. THERE'S BEEN A VARIETY OF IMPROVEMENTS THAT HAVE BEEN COMPLETED AS FAR AS GROOMING AND ADDING SOME FENCING AND GENERAL LANDSCAPE IMPROVEMENTS OUT THERE. AND GENERAL COMMUNITY.

THE STEERING COMMITTEE AND OUTREACH EVENTS THROUGHOUT THE YEAR. FOR AUGUSTINE.

SO FOR THIS UPCOMING BUDGET YEAR, WE DID, I DID, STAFF DID, A BUDGET INPUT SESSION. SO WE HAVE AN INPUT SESSION ON MARCH 23RD. WE HAVE IN THE EVENING AND WE INVITED THE COMMUNITY TO COME OUT AND LET US KNOW WHAT THEIR PRIORITIES ARE. AND WE ACTUALLY HAD A LITTLE QUESTIONNAIRE FOR FOLKS TO FILL OUT.

PRETTY GOOD ATTENDANCE. I THINK WE HAD ABOUT 15 PEOPLE COME OUT AND THEN WE RECEIVED A NUMBER OF ADDITION AL FORMS THT WERE COMPLETED. AND SO THE STATED COMMUNITY PRIORITIES FOR THAT AREA ARE. MOVING FORWARD AFFORDABLE HOUSING INITIATIVES AND LOOKING THAT WAY TO IMPROVE ZERO

[01:40:02]

A NUMBER OF YEARS AGO THE CITY INCREASED ITS INITIATIVE TO EXPAND SEWER CONNECTIVITY. SECHLT WERS IN THAT AREA ARE OVERSEEN BY ST. AUGUSTIAN AND THEN OF COURSE WE'RE GOING TO FOCUS ON THE REPAYMENT OF THE DEBTS.

AND FOR THE CRA I BELIEVE THEY ARE ANTICIPATED TO PAY OFF THEIR DEBT SERVICE ON TIME. AND THE AMOUNT OF MONEY THAT WE BUDGET FOR EACH YEAR. SO FOR A MINUTE STAY ON THIS, I KNOW THAT WE CAN TALK ABOUT PRIORITY.

I'VE HEARD FROM THE COMMUNITY. SOME CONCERNS OFTEN.

TO HAVE TO CORNER PUBLICWORKS. AND EVEN THOUGH THE COMMUNITY MAY NOT COME TO SAY THAT'S PRIORITY.

BUT THAT'S-- SHOULD BE INFRASTRUCTURE PRIORITY.

SO THAT PLAYS INTO HOW WE FUND THE CRA AND ARE YOU COORDINATING WITH THE CITY OF ST. AUGUSTINE.

TO CONNECTIVITY PRIORITY. >> SO THIS NEXT PART TELLS US BASED OFF THE INFO THAT WE RECEIVED FROM THE COMMUNITY AND THE ONGOING DISCUSSIONS THAT WE'VE HAD.

SO WE'VE HAD A SPECIAL MEETING TO GIVE INPUT.

BUT WE ARE OUT THERE A LOT. AND SO KIND OF BUILDING ON THE BUDGET FOR NEXT YEAR. THE DRAFT BUDGET.

IS WE HAVE FUNDING AND THE AFFORDABLE HOUSING INITIATIVE.

SO WE HAVE ABOUT AN EXTRA $650,000 IN THERE.

FOR THAT HOUSING. THEY'VE GOT SOME ADDITIONAL LIKE WE SAID WANTS FOR PEACE PARK.

SO WE HAVE $100,000 IN THE BUDGET FOR PEACE PARK.

AND SEPTIC SEWER CONVERSION. THIS IS SOMETHING WE HAVEN'T DONE WITH CRA FUNDS BEFORE. BUT WE'RE MAKING THAT STRUCTURE VERY SIMILAR TO HOW WE DID WITH THE RAILWAY IMPROVEMENTS.

IS WHERE WE WORK WITH THE CITY OF ST. AUGUSTINE AND WE'LL EXECUTE IT IN AN AGREEMENT AND THEN AS THE WORK IS COMPLETED.

YOU WOULD PAY FOR IT DIRECTLY. WE WOULD TALK HIGH LEVEL WITH THE CITY OF ST. AUGUSTINE ABOUT THIS BUT WE DON'T HAVE A SCOPE FOR THAT. THE IDEA IS THAT THE CITY PUTS FORTH AN ACTION PLAN I GUESS FOR THE UPCOMING YEAR.

AND SO OUR GOAL OR AT LEAST OUR INITIAL THOUGHT IS THAT WE WOULD SAY ALL RIGHT, SO YOU'RE PLANNING TO PUT IN ABOUT $100,000 THE CITY IS. I THINK THEY ARE ACTUALLY PUTTING IN $200,000. BUT IF YOU UP THAT BY ANOTHER HUNDRED THOUSAND, COULD YOU TAKE IT FURTHER? COULD WE GO AHEAD AND CONNECT MORE OF THE EXISTING-- AND WHAT THAT WOULD LOOK LIKE AND GIVE US A PLAN AND WORK FROM THERE TO SEE IF THAT WORKS FOR US. IF THAT MAKES SENSE.

IF WE WANT SOMETHING DIFFERENT. SO ON PRINCIPLE IN THE SEWER CONNECTIVITY, I THINK WE HAVE TO BE ABLE TO HAVE AN ABILITY OF WHERE IT COMES IN. WHERE THE CITY COMES IN.

AND WHERE THE CITY HAS SPENT FOR THE SPECIFIC PURPOSE EVERY YEAR. ALMOST $250,000 ANUALLY.

AND THE CONNECTIVITY IMPROVEMENT.

THE HOUSING CONNECTION FEE. BECAUSE THAT'S THE HOMEOWNERS EVENTUAL BURDEN. RATHER THAN A RE-INVESTMENT IN INFRASTRUCTURE ASSETS THAT I DON'T THINK THAT IS A GOOD WAY OF PROTECTING OUR FIDUCIARY RESPONSIBILITY FOR RESIDENTS.

>> THAT'S FAIR. SO I THINK I KNOW THE CITY HAS BEEN VERY LIMITED IN PUTTING THE FUNDS TO MAKE THAT CONVERSION HAPPEN. AND I THINK WE'RE GOING TO BE ABLE TO PARTNER. TO REMOVE OBSTACLES OF THE RESIDENT'S ABILITY TO CONNECT TO THEIR INFRASTRUCTURE.

>> SO KIND OF JUST AN IDEA AT THIS POINT.

WE HAVE A LOT TO FIGURE OUT WHAT IT LOOKS LIKE.

AND WE'RE NOT EVEN SURE IF WE CAN GET THERE RIGHT.

IF THE CITY CAN GET THERE IN THE COUNTY.

BUT IT'S WHAT THE COMMUNITY SAID THEY WERE INTERESTED IN.

>> AND WE CAN SUPPORT THE WAY THAT IS RESPONSIBLE.

-- WE ARE TAKING CARE OF OUR OWN INFRASTRUCTURE.

WHEN WE ARE INVESTING IN OTHER JURISDICTIONS INFRASTRUCTURE IT BECOMES VERY CHALLENGING FOR US.

NOW WE HAVE A NEW TERRITORY. WHO DO WE INVEST IN N'.

SO I THINK WE WANT TO BE VERY CAREFUL BEFORE WE GO IN THERE.

[01:45:05]

RESIDENTS. >> AND WE CAN HELP ENSXHUR MAKE SURE IT'S UPHELD BY THE CRA AS WELL.

SO YEAH THERE'S A LOT OF LEGWORK TO STILL BE DONE.

BUT I'M LOOKING AT PUTTING LITTLE MONEY IN THE BUDGETS.

SO WE CAN HAVE SOMETHING EITHER TO FUND IT.

THE PATH FORWARD. >> WHAT I WOULD RECOMMEND WHEN IT COMES TO SEPARATIC AND SEWER CONNECTION AND CONVERSION.

INSTEAD OF ANY INFRASTRUCTURE DEVELOPMENT.

YOU CAN PUT AWAY A CONNECTION SUBSIDY PROGRAM.

FOR HOUSING. THEY CAN APPLY FOR A GRANT FOR THE USING CRA FUNDS TO PAY FOR THE CONNECTION.

TO FINALTIZE STRUCTURE. SO FOR THE NEXT FISCAL YEAR'S BUDGET, THEY ARE LOOKING TO CONTINUE SOME COMMUNITY AWARENESS AND OUTREACH PROGRAM PSS.

TO THE MAIN PROGRAMS OR BACK TO SCHOOL PROGRAMMING AND THE SUMMER CAMP PROGRAMMING. WE ARE LOOKING TO SHIFT SOME OF THESE EXPENSES OVER TO THE REVENUES THAT THEY RECEIVED.

THAT THE WEST AUGUSTINE COMMUNITY RECEIVES FROM THE SULLIVAN-- CENTER. BECAUSE THERE'S A LITTLE BIT OF A GRAY AREA TO PROVIDE FUNDING FOR THESE TYPES OF FUNDING FOR THE CRA FUNDS. SO TRYING TO KEEP THEM ON THE CRA FUNDS. AND WORK WITH-- TO DEPOSIT THE FUNDS FROM THE CENTER IN OUR GENERAL BUDGET.

AND UTILIZE THOSE FUNDS FOR OTHER PROGRAMMING GOING FORWARD. SO-- THAT REQUEST FOR NEXT YEAR. AS WE MAKE THAT TRANSITION.

AND THEN WE DO CURRENTLY PAY UTILITIES FOR THE STREET LIGHTS AND THE DIGITAL SIGN. WE'LL CONTINUE TO DO THAT NEXT YEAR. AND THEN OF COURSE THE NET SERVICE. THE DEBT SERVICE WITH THE CRA

IS MY UNDERSTANDING. >> OKAY FOR THE AFFORDABLE HOUSING I KNOW I TALKED TO THE TIMELY HOMES.

THAT WE HAVE. HAVING THAT $150,000.

TO DEVELOPING THE ENTIRE HOME. SO THAT INITIALLY.

SO LEADING THAT SO TECHNICALLY AT THE MOMENT, AT LEAST WHAT'S BEEN SHARED WITH ME IS THAT WOULD BE SEPARATE FROM THE CRA.

NOT THAT WE COULDN'T USE THE FUNDING FOR.

BUT EVEN THOUGH GREG IS EVERYWHERE.

WHEN IT COMES TO THE FOUNDATION.

THE COUNTY HAS-- BEFORE THE HOUSING PARCEL.

SO FOR TWO REASONS. CONSIDERATION OF DONATION OF ADDITIONAL AND EXPAND AT THE PARKING LOT.

FOR THE HEALTH AND WELLNESS AS WELL.

WHICH IS GREAT. EXCEPT FOR.

SO THIS IS GOING TO HAVE THE SAME FORMAT.

SO WE CAN SIT DOWN THERE SHIRLEY AT THE END OF THE TABLE AND SHE'S GOING TO GIVE US HER INPUTS AND HER THOUGHTS.

SO FOR FLAG LER ESTATES, THEIR CURRENT INITIATIVES ARE THE RAILWAY IMPROVEMENTS. AND THIS WAS A PRETTY BIG PROJECT FOR THUS YEAR. WE ACTUALLY WERE ABLE TO APPROVE ABOUT 4 ½ MILES OF THE ROADS THROUGHOUT.

WHICH I THINK MAKES A PRETTY MININGFUL DIFFERENCE WHEN

[01:50:01]

DRIVING. >> CONGRATULATIONS.

>> AND THE COMMUNITY EXPRESSED EARLIER IN THE FISCAL YEAR.

WE ARE WORKING WITH THE PARKS RECREATION DEPARTMENT ON TWO TYPES OF IMPROVEMENTS. CURRENTLY IT IS WORKING ON INSTALLING THAT THEY PURCHASED WITH IMPACT FEES.

AND THEY ARE GOING TO PUT THAT OUT THERE WITH CRA FUNDS.

ONCE THAT GETS INSTALLED ON WHETHER OR NOT THEY WOULD LIKE ADDITIONAL SLIDES AND SPINNING STRUCTURES.

WHATEVER THEY WOULD LIKE AND WE'D USE SOME CRA FUND TO EXPAND THE PLAYGROUND FROM AN EVEN FURTHER AND POTENTIAL MAKE IMPROVEMENTS TO THE GROUNDS WHATEVER IS OUT THERE.

SO THE CURRENT PROJECTS. AND THEN THEY PROVIDE THE CRA EXPERIENCE. TO RAISE COMMUNITY AWARENESS.

AND THE OUTREACH SERVICE AS WELL.

AND THIS IS ALL CONTAINED WITHIN THE CRA COLLECTION.

>> IT IS. >> OKAY.

AND SO FOR THE FIVE OR SIX-- WE DID A BUDGET SESSION AS WELL.

WE HELD THIS APRIL 9TH IN THE EVENING AND SHIRLEY CAME OUT AND WE HAD PRETTY GOOD REPRESENTATION FROM THE FOLKS.

WE DIDN'T GET TOO MANY OTHER INDIVIDUALS BUT WE DID FOLLOW UP WITH THE CRA. PRETTY GOOD INPUT AS WELL.

SO THEIR PRIORITIES ARE. THEY HAVE BEEN AND THEY CONTINUE TO BE PREVENTS. THEY HAVE PROBLEMS. LIKE MANY OTHER AREAS DO. INTERESTED IN CONTINUED RECREATION AREA IMPROVEMENTS. SO WE HAVE THAT COMMUNITY CENTRE. THE PLAYGROUND THAT IS DIRECTLY ADJACENT. AND LAST YEAR A COUPLE YEARS AGO. ON THE BACK CENTRE OUR INTENT IS TO CLEAR THOSE TREES. AND EXTEND THE PARKING ON THE LOTS. NOT SURE WHAT THE FUNDING SOURCE BUT THE COMMUNITY IS A LOT OF ONCE THOSE IMPROVEMENTS ARE MADE THERE'S TWO LOTS. OR WHEW IMPROVEMENTS MAYBE LOOKING AT SOME OF THE GRASSY AREAS.

MAKING SOME IMPROVEMENTS. TO BE A SOCCER FIELD.

THE IMPACT FEE FOR THE GREEN SPACE? SO THEY HAVE IMPROVEMENTS. AND CLEAR MORE LOTS.

AND THEN PUT IN THE DIRT PARKING.

AND BEYOND THAT. THE PLAN DOESN'T HAVE ANYTHING BUT PLAYGROUND IMPROVEMENTS. AND THEN SO LET'S SEE.

DRAINAGE IMPROVEMENTS. RECREATION IMPROVEMENTS.

AND VARIETY IMPROVEMENTS AND THAT WOULD BE STREET LIGHTING.

THERE ARE SOME STREET LIGHTS OUT THERE THAT WE PAY UTILITY BILLS FOR. BUT THERE ARE SOME INTERESTS FOR THE COMMUNITY. TORRE SOME LEVEL OF EXTENSION.

IT TENDS TO BE CONTROVERSIAL SO WE'LL HAVE OTHER MEETINGS TO FIGURE OUT WHAT THAT MEANS. AND EXPRESS INTEREST TO PAY OFF THAT DEBT SERVICE. SO THIS SEEMS LIKE THEY WILL BE ABLE TO PAY OFF THEIR DEBT SERVICE.

AND SO WE DO HAVE SOME ADDITIONAL FUNDING FOR THE CRA TO USE EACH YEAR TO COME UP WITH SOME OF THESE PROJECTS THAT THEY WOULD LIKE TO FUND. AND SO AS I MENTIONED HERE.

WE PUT UP THE PRELIMINARY BUDGET THAT'S BASED OFF WHAT WE HEARD FROM THE COMMUNITY THAT THEY ARE INTERESTED IN.

AND WE THOUGHT ABOUT $400,000 IN A LINE.

WHICH COULD BE USED FOR SOME VERSION OF ADDITIONAL ROADWAY IMPROVEMENTS. DRAINAGE IMPROVEMENTS.

LIGHTING IMPROVEMENTS. WE'RE GOING TO CONTINUE TO WORK WITH THE COMMUNITY AND FIGURE OUT WHAT WORKS THEN AND WHAT THEY ARE COLLECTIVELY INTERESTED IN.

AND WHETHER EVERYBODY FEELS GOOD ENOUGH.

SO WE HAVE SOME MONEY THERE. ADDITIONAL RECREATIONAL IMPROVEMENTS. TRAILS OR PLAYGROUND.

[01:55:01]

WE DO PAY A LOT TO THE UTILITY RIGHTS AND OF COURSE THAT DEBT SERVICE. SO WITH THAT MS. SHIRLY.

IS THERE ANYTHING YOU WOULD LIKE TO ADD?

>> THE FIRST THING IS WHAT A DIFFERENCE IT MAKES WITH TARA AND SARAH. THEY HAVE ELIMINATED ALL OF THE ROAD BLOCKS. ALL OF THE SPEED BUMPS.

THEY HAVE CREATED BRIDGES BETWEEN THE CRA AND THE BOARD.

THEY HAVE MET. THEY HAVE PUT IN THE TIME.

THEY HAVE LEANED IN. THEY'VE LISTENED.

AND WE ARE SO APPRECIATIVE. AND WOW WHAT A DIFFERENCE IT HAS MADE. I MEAN THERE ARE ONLY REALLY TWO WAYS TO GET ACROSS DEEP CREEK-- BOULEVARD.

AND CEDAR FORWARD BOULEVARD. AND UNFORTUNATELY THE FLOODING WAS A PROBLEM. SO THIS IS GREAT THAT MAYBE WE CAN GET SOME IMPROVEMENTS. THAT OR EVEN-- YOU KNOW WE'VE BEEN USING SOME MONEY TO CREATE A SITUATION TO GET ACROSS THE CREEK AT POLACCO BOULEVARD OR WHERE THE NEW FIRE STATION'S GOING IN. THERE'S A LOT OF LAND.

AND THERE'S JUST A LITTLE-- THAT WE NEED TO HIT.

TO GET TO THE OTHER SIDE. SO THAT IF WE'RE NOT ABLE TO RAISE UP FUNDING-- THEN MAYBE WE DO NEED ANOTHER WAY TO GET ACROSS THAT CREEK, RIGHT? AND TO GET PEOPLE TO SAFETY.

SO EVACUATION IS SOMETHING TO THINK OF IN THE FUTURE.

-- HURRICANE LAST SEASON? THIS WONDERFUL, BEAUTIFUL PARADISE, RIGHT? THIS TROPICAL PLACE.

SO WE'RE JUST VERY THANKFUL. THANKFUL THEY ARE ASKING THE COMMUNITY WHAT THEY WANT AND WE'RE GIVING THEM THE OPPORTUNITY TO COME OUT AND SAY IT, RIGHT.

O WE HAVE LIKE AD HOC MEMBE NOW.

IN THE PLAYGROUND PROJECT. THERE IS EVEN ONE WHERE THERE IS SOME DISCUSSION ABOUT A, A PATH FOR HORSE RIDING.

BECAUSE THE BIG THING ABOUT THIS IS WE'VE HAD SO MUCH GROWTH. AND WE'RE SO THANKFUL TO HAVE THE GROWTH THAT WE'VE HAD. BUT WE REALLY NEED TO MAKE SURE THAT PEOPLE ARE COMING IN AND DOING TIGHT RIGHT WAY.

AND NOT ELIMINATING THE INTEGRITY OF WHY WE ALL WANT TO LIVE THERE. AND ALL THE WILDLIFE WHICH WILL THEN BRING US UP. OUR LAST MEETING WE TALKED ABOUT POSSIBLY THREE SIGNS AT EACH WE WOULD LIKE MORE OF SOME TYPE OF REPRESENTATION THAT YOU ARE ENTERING AN AREA WHERE THERE ARE ANIMALS.

ALL TYPES OF ANIMALS. WE HAVE HOMESTEADERS WITH LIVESTOCK, WE HAVE PEOPLE THAT UNFORTUNATELY... AND WE HAVE THE WILD ANIMALS THAT COME WITH THE WETLAND ENVIRONMENT.

YOU COULD GO OVER ASEPTIC MOUND, AND THEN YOU HAVE THE FAMILY OF 30 WILD BOAR, YOU WILL WAKE UP ONE MORNING AND THEY ARE ALL IN YOUR YARD. BUT WHAT WE REALLY NEED TO DO IS WE NEED TO SEE-- WE HATE TO SEE PEOPLE SPEEDING THROUGH OUR AREA. SO THAT'S WHY IT WOULD BE NICE TO HAVE ENTRY SIGNS, THE KIND THAT LET PEOPLE KNOW WHAT THEY ARE ENTERING INTO, TO BE PREPARED TO SLOW DOWN OR STOP.

BECAUSE WE LOVE OUR WILDLIFE HERE.

AND THAT IS A BIG PART. WE MIGHT NOT BE A DENSE POPULATION OF PEOPLE, BUT WE HAVE PEOPLE AND ANIMALS.

SO WE WOULD LIKE TO MAYBE GIVE THEM SOMETHING.

I THINK THAT'S ANOTHER THING. I THINK THERE WAS SOME TYPE OF AREA THERE THAT MAYBE WE COULD SOONER THAN LATER FIGURE OUT WHICH DEPARTMENT. THAT WAS ANOTHER THING ABOUT TERRA, AMAZING. IF WE TALK ABOUT A SUBJECT, WE HAVE A NEW LOGO. AND THAT GOES BACK TO TRYING TO MAINTAIN THE INTEGRITY OF WHY PEOPLE MOVE THERE.

I HAVE ATVS, I HAVE PEOPLE RIDING HORSES, I HAVE PEOPLE WITH A LITTLE HOUSE AND A GARDEN.

WE HAVE THE CREEK THAT RUNS THROUGH IT WITH FISHING.

THERE IS A LOT OF RECREATION THE PEOPLE NATURALLY DO THERE, AND WE DON'T WANT IT TO END. WE HAVE TO FIGURE OUT HOW TO ORGANIZE IT ALL AND KEEP IT SAFE.

AND WE APPRECIATE THAT THEY ARE WORKING WITH US, AND ALL THE WORK THEY ARE DOING. SO I WANTED TO COME AND SAY

THANK YOU. >> THANK YOU FOR SAYING SOMETHING. I WAS GOING TO SAY, THEY HAVE NOT ONLY SUCCEEDED IN THEIR ROLES, THEY HAVE STRETCHED ACROSS THE BOARD TO OTHER ROLES. SO WHEN WE ARE CONTEMPLATING

[02:00:04]

AND I KNOW THEY ARE-- THERE IS CONTINUED WORK THAT THEY HAVE IN STORE, AND THEY CONTINUE TO COLLABORATE.

SO I CANNOT AGREE WITH YOU MORE. THE TWO OF THEM ARE...

>> IT'S BEEN A HUGE DIFFERENCE OVER THE YEARS.

WE HAVE HAD DIFFERENT FOLKS HELPING, AND IT'S BEEN NIGHT AND DAY.

>> THE OTHER THING, I WANTED TO STRESS THE IMPORTANCE OF THE SPRING CLEAN. WE TRIED TO STAY AWAY FROM OCTOBER, WITH SO MUCH GOING ON IN OCTOBER.

SO WE TRIED TO MOVE THE LAST COUPLE YEARS, WE DID THE FIRST OR SECOND WEEK, END OF NOVEMBER. WHAT IS IMPORTANT ABOUT THAT IS THAT WHEN OUR RESIDENTS SAY THEY ARE GOING TO TOWN, BECAUSE WE DON'T HAVE A MAIN STREET, GUESS WHERE WE ARE GOING? WE ARE GOING TO HASTINGS. BUT SINCE WE DO NOT HAVE THAT WITHIN, WE ARE PEPPERED WITH SOLE PROPRIETORS, CRAFTERS, EDUCATORS THAT ARE HOMESCHOOLING, SO MANY PEOPLE.

AND THAT HOLIDAY FESTIVAL IS THE CHANCE DURING THE YEAR THAT THEY GET TO COME TO THE PARK AND PROMOTE THEIR SERVICES, OR WHAT THEY HAVE MADE. SO THAT IS VERY IMPORTANT.

THAT HAS BECOME REALLY IMPORTANT.

AND I'M HOPING WE CAN BUILD EVERY YEAR, SO WE WOULD LIKE THAT TO STAY ON. ALSO, SPRING FLING.

WE PARTNER WITH TEAM UP HASTINGS, AND THEY ARE THE ONES THAT PROVIDE TO US THE OPPORTUNITY FOR SOCIAL SERVICES.

SO, IT SEEMS LIKE WE ARE GETTING A LOT OF NEW PEOPLE IN TO THE COMMUNITY. THEY MIGHT NOT BE AWARE OF THE SERVICES THAT ARE AVAILABLE TO THEM, BUT THEY CAN COME TO SPRING FLING AND FIND OUT. STOP OVER AND FIND OUT.

SO THAT IS WHY THAT IS STILL ON THE LIST.

IT'S VERY IMPORTANT, AND WE HOPE WE CAN GROW IT MORE AND MORE

EVERY YEAR. >> I WOULD LIKE TO ADD TO THE ACCOLADES FOR THAT DEPARTMENT. I HAVE BEEN WORKING AT THIS FOR A GOOD 20 PLUS YEARS. AND TARA HAS EXCEEDED ALL EXPECTATIONS. SHE HAS EXCEPTIONALLY DEALT IN TO COMMUNITY ISSUES, ENGAGED COMMUNITY PARTICIPATION, AND RESPONDED APPROPRIATELY AS NEEDED.

AND IT'S THE BEST. >> I DON'T KNOW IF YOU HAVE HEARD THE OTHER NEWS, BUT SALLY IS LOOKING INTO RETIREMENT.

WE JUST HIRED A NEW INTERIM NEW EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR IN TRAINING, AND SHE IS TRYING TO RETIRE-- SALLY IS TRYING TO RETIRE.

>> THANK YOU LADIES FOR ALL THE NICE THINGS.

MUCH APPRECIATED. THANK YOU.

>> WE ABSOLUTELY SUPPORT ALL THE ACTIVITIES THAT ARE GOING ON, PARTICIPATING IN FLAGLER, IN MEETINGS REGULARLY--

>> ALL OF YOU ARE DOING AMAZING. IT IS EXCITING TO SEE THE AMAZING CHANGES IN ST JOHNS COUNTY, NOT JUST IN OUR COMMUNITIES, BUT THE OTHER COMMUNITIES AROUND THE COUNTY.

>> THE MOST IMPORTANT THING THAT WE ALL RECOGNIZE AS A TEAM'S COMMUNICATION. I THINK AMONG MANY OF THE GREAT THINGS THAT TARA AND SARAH ARE DOING, IS TO OPEN COMMUNICATION, NOT ONLY WITH THE COMMUNITY, BUT FROM THE COMMITTEE TO THE COUNTY, THIS IS NOT AN AREA THAT PURPOSEFULLY WE DON'T PAY ATTENTION. IT IS THAT COMMUNICATION.

AND ONCE THAT HAS OPENED UP, AND COMMUNITY MEMBERS AND LEADERS LIKE YOU ARE THERE, AND WITH THE DISTRICT, HAVING A DIALOGUE IS REALLY 90% OF ALL THE WORK. BUT I'M GOING TO BRING THIS BACK

TO BUDGET FOR A MOMENT. >> WE HAVE ONE MORE.

>> OKAY. BECAUSE I WANTED TO GO BACK.

OKAY. >> SO OUR OF ALANO BEACH SURVEY.

THE MAIN STREET THAT I DID NOT HAVE A SECTION FOR.

SO THIS DEBT SERVICE IS OUR PRIMARY FOCUS HERE.

AS I MENTIONED A COUPLE TIMES, WE DON'T EXPECT THAT THE-- IT MAY NOT FULLY PAY BACK IT'S PRIOR DEBT SERVICE.

SO OVER THE LAST FEW YEARS WE HAVE FOCUSED ON ALLOCATING THESE FUNDS TOWARDS THAT SERVICE PAYMENT.

SO ALONG THAT MAIN STREET, CAN SHIFT WHAT THE STRUCTURE LOOKS LIKE IN THIS COMMUNITY FOR THE LAST YEAR, AND WE ARE LOOKING TO

[02:05:01]

SERVICE. >> SO MY QUESTION ABOUT VILANO BEACH, MAIN STREET OF HASTINGS, OBVIOUSLY, WE DON'T HAVE A CRA OUT THERE. SO THE FUNDING IS JUST GENERAL FUND. VILANO BEACH, WE HAVE HAD A CRA CONTAINED FUNDS IN THERE TO SUPPORT ENHANCEMENT AND SELLING THOSE WITH THE INTENTION OF ESTABLISHING INTENT, TO REINVEST IN THE COMMUNITY IN A ISOLATED WAY SO WE ARE TARGETING THE INCOME DEVELOPMENT. MAIN STREET THEN CAME ON AS A SEPARATE ENTITY LAST YEAR. IT WAS THE FIRST YEAR THAT WE'VE FORMALIZED THE AGREEMENT WHERE'D WE ARE SUPPORTING THE DEVELOPMENT INITIATIVES. AND THAT'S THE INTENTION OF THE AGREEMENT. WAS LAST YEAR'S AGREEMENT SUPPORTED BY CRA TO FUNDING-- IT'S NOT?

>> IT'S GENERAL FUND. WE CAN CIRCLE BACK WITH LEGAL AND GET MORE CLARIFICATION ON THAT.

I'M NOT SURE IF IT WAS THE TYPES OF ACTIVITIES, OR IT WAS JUST THE WAY IN WHICH THE THING WAS PREVIOUSLY STRUCTURED.

LEGALS DIRECTION WAS TO THE AGREEMENT BEFORE THE EXISTING AGREEMENT, IT WAS A CRA AGREEMENT WITH THE MAIN STREET, AND IT SAID THAT CRA FUNDS WHERE PAYING THE MAIN STREET TO SUPPORT CRA'S INITIATIVES. SO I'M NOT SURE IF THAT WAS THE RELATIONSHIP THAT WAS ESTABLISHED FOR THE USE OF FUNDS, I THINK ONE OFFICE HAD SOME CONCERNS WITH THAT.

SO WE ENDED UP HERE, HAVING THEM SEPARATE.

THE DECISION WAS MADE AT THAT POINT TO USE GENERAL FUNDS FOR MAIN STREET, BUT WE CAN GO BACK AND READ THAT THIS WOULD BE APPROPRIATE. WITH THE WAY WE STRUCTURE THAT NEW RELATIONSHIP TO STRUCTURE THE CRA INCOMING.

>> WE HAVE SO MANY COMPETING. I JUST WANT TO MAKE SURE WE ESTABLISH A GOOD PRINCIPLE THAT IS REPEATED EVERYWHERE IN THE COUNTY. FLAGLER, WEST AUGUSTINE, RIGHT NOW THEY ARE USING THE FUNDS THAT ARE SET ASIDE FOR THEIR INTENDED PURPOSE. WHICH IS WHERE ENHANCING THE PROPERTY VALUE, THAT VALUE GOES BACK TO REINVESTING IN THE COMMUNITY SO YOU CAN CONTINUE TO THRIVE.

VILANO IS AT A DIFFERENT LIFE CYCLE OF ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT.

IT HAD KIND OF WENT FROM WHERE IT WAS ON THIS DAY-- BUT IT ALSO HAS VERY DIFFERENT CHARACTERISTICS.

IT'S A COASTAL SECTION OF THE COUNTY.

IT HAS A DIFFERENT TYPE OF VALUE.

I THINK IT ALMOST-- TO A POINT TO WHERE IT HAS REACHED IT'S PEAK, YOU HAVE A TOWN CENTRE. YOU HAVE THESE ACTIVITIES AND COMMERCIALS THAT YOU HAD HOPED FOR AND WORKED FOR.

SALLY BEING A BIG PART OF IT. AND THEY ARE HERE NOW.

SO NOW WE ARE MORE-- THESE COMMUNITIES ARE LOOKING NOW AT MORE ADVANCED, ACTIVITIES, MAINTENANCE AND BEAUTIFICATION.

THINGS LIKE SIGNAGE AND THINGS LIKE THAT, WHICH IT SOUNDS TO ME MORE GEARED TOWARDS THE TOURISM SIDE OF IT.

RATHER THAN JUST A REDEVELOPED COMMUNITY.

AND A LOT OF RESIDENTS PARTICIPATED.

GENERAL FUND IS SUCH A CONTAINED AND PRESSURED FUND.

AND THIS IS NOT NECESSARILY JUST ABOUT VILANO OR ANY OTHER PARTS OF THE COUNTY. I JUST WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT WE ARE USING THE FUNDS CONSISTENTLY ACROSS THE BOARD.

IF WE ARE TALKING ABOUT FIREWORK, MUSIC FESTIVALS, ARE WE DOING THAT COUNTYWIDE, OR IS IT SPECIFIC WITH THIS LOCATION? THOSE ARE THE CONSIDERATIONS I THINK BEFORE REFUND THEM.

ESPECIALLY WHEN IT COMES TO GENERAL FUND ALLOCATION.

>> I WILL ALSO MENTION, AND I THOUGHT ABOUT THIS.

VILANO HAS A LOT OF DIFFERENT INTEREST IN DIFFERENT TYPES OF NEEDS, TRANSPORTATION, IMPROVEMENT, MOBILITY, AND BEAUTIFICATION EVENTS. BUT ALSO PUBLIC SAFETY'S.

CERTAINLY WE WILL ALWAYS PRIORITIZE PUBLIC SAFETY AND TRANSPORTATION, MOBILITY, IF WE HAVE TO PRIORITIZE.

SO I DID NOT ASK WHEN YOU WERE GOING THROUGH THE OF ALANO-- VILANO CONTRACT, WHICH WE SAID THERE ARE $2000 HERE, 5000 HERE, 20,000-DOLLAR BRANDING, A 10,000-DOLLAR BIKE RACK.

22,000 SIGNAGE. 5350 FOR THESE DIFFERENT TYPES OF EVENTS. I WOULD LIKE TO KNOW, FROM THE MAIN STREET PERSPECTIVE, HOW CA THEY PRIORITIZE? IF WE CANNOT FUND EVERYTHING, WHAT WOULD BE THE MOST IMPORTANT

THING FROM THEM? >> I'M CERTAIN WE CAN HAVE THAT

[02:10:08]

I WILL REACH OUT TO LEGAL ON THAT FRONT.

ON THE AREA FUNDS FOR THAT STREET.

>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH. >> YOU ARE WELCOME.

[Office of Performance & Transparency]

>> ANYTHING ELSE? >> BACK TO THE NUMBERS THAT EVERYBODY LOVES. [INDISCERNIBLE]

>> WE WILL START AT THE GENERAL FUND WITH THE COMMUNITY DESTINATION AND DEVELOPMENT. AS I GET THERE, YOU WILL SEE THERE ARE THREE OTHER CRA'S. THOSE ARE NOT COUNTY CRA'S.

THOSE RCRA'S THAT THAT THE CITY OF AUGUSTINE CREATED AND APPROVED. THERE IS A REQUIREMENT IN THE BUDGET HERE FOR THOSE SIMILAR FUNDING FROM THE COUNTY GOES TOWARDS THOSE. BUT THOSE PAYMENTS ARE MADE TO THE CITY OF ST. AUGUSTINE. THIS IS A COMMUNITY AND DESTINATION DEVELOPMENTS I'M. THESE ARE THE MAIN STREET PRIMARILY. THIS WAS JUST WAS JUST STARTED IN 2026 AS A NEW DEPARTMENT. A NEW INITIATIVE BACK OR A RESTRUCTURING OF ITEMS AS TARA MENTIONED.

THERE IS SALARY EXPENSE AS WELL AS SMALL OPERATING, AND THE 600,000 IS REALLY WHERE TOWARDS THE MAIN STREETS AND-- IN ADDITION TO THAT, THERE IS 100,000 FOR HASTINGS, WHICH WE HEARD TODAY THE REQUEST IS 125. 200,000 FOR MILANO.

AND IN ADDITION TO THAT, 300,000 FOR THE OTHER PROGRAM.

I WANT TO HIGHLIGHT THE THOUGHT IS THE GENERAL FUND FOR THE FUNDING RELATED TO PROPERTY TAXES.

AND GENERAL FUND REVENUES. CRA'S ARE THEIR OWN SPECIAL REVENUE FUNDS. THEY ARE NOT MILLAGE FUNDS NECESSARILY, BUT WHEN WE LOOK THROUGH THEM, THEY HAVE AS PART OF THE REVENUE PROPERTY TAXES. BECAUSE OF THE EARMARKING OF PROPERTY TAXES THAT WOULD OTHERWISE GO TO THE GENERAL FUND AND PUT TOWARDS THE SPECIFIC AREAS FOR REINVESTMENT.

SO THIS IS A LITTLE LESS THAN 1 MILLION.

AND FOR 27, AND THE LINE OUT EXPENSES THERE AS THEY WENT THROUGH THE 400,000 THAT TARA MENTIONED COULD BE ANYTHING FROM ROAD IMPROVEMENTS TO OTHER IMPROVEMENTS AND ENHANCEMENTS.

THE TRANSFERS IS RELATED REPAYING THE GENERAL FUND FOR PRIVATE-- PRIOR SERVICES IN THE ECONOMIC SENTIENT.

THE BONDS LOADS THAT WERE OUT THERE, THE GENERAL FUND HAD BEEN COVERED IN A LOT OF THOSE LOANS, AND THIS WAS THE CRA ANNOUNCED PAYMENT. AND WE DO EXPECT TO FIND THE STATES TO FULLY REPAY ANY GENERAL FUND OBLIGATION.

SAME THING. EXPENSES.

JUST ONE MORE LINE ITEM ON THIS SIDE.

AND HERE, THE EXPECTATION IS THAT THEY WILL FULLY REPAY THE GENERAL FUND. THAT IS IN THAT TRANSFER HERE AS WELL. A MIX OF BOTH THE CURRENT YEAR'S DEBT ON THE FACILITY, AS WELL AS REPAYING THE GENERAL FUND FOR PRIOR DEBT PAYMENTS. THE GRANT'S COMPONENT OF IT IS THE AFFORDABLE HOUSING PROGRAMS AND THE TRADITIONAL CONSUMER STUFF OUT THERE. AND A LOT OF THE OPERATING IS RELIGIOUS UTILITIES. AND THEY WON HUNDRED THOUSAND

HERE IS RELATED TO PEACE PARK. >> WE ONLY HAVE 78,000 AND

RESERVE. >> YES.

THIS IS WHAT IS ANTICIPATED. BUT THIS WOULD GENERATE ABOUT 1.2 IN REVENUES EACH YEAR. DEPENDING ON HOW PROPERTY TAX GOES FORWARD, YOU CAN EXPECT THAT LEVEL AND SOME GROWTH EACH YEAR. FINALLY, VILANO, AS TARA MENTIONED, CURRENTLY THE EXPECTATION IS THIS WOULD NOT FULLY REPAY THE GENERAL FUND FOR THAT DATA, AND AS SUCH PRETTY

[02:15:04]