Jun 16, 2026 Board of County Commissioners

[Call to Order by Chair]

[00:00:09]

>> GOOD MORNING. AND WELCOME TO THE 16TH OF JUNE FOR OUR COUNTY COMMISSION MEETING IF YOU WOULD, LET'S IN INVITE, LET'S DO A ROLL CALL FIRST. THANK YOU.

>> COMMISSONER MURPHY HERE HERE. COMMISSIONER TAYLOR DAY?

>> >> COMMISSIONER WHITEHURST?

>> HERE. >> COMMISSIONER ARNOLD?

>> HERE. >> COMMISSIONER JOSEPH?

>> HERE.. >> THEY ARE ALL HERE.

THERE SEEMS TO BE A PROBLEM WITH THE, LET'S TRY THAT AGAIN.

LET'S TRY IT AGAIN. >> HERE WE GO.

>> PRESENT.. >> GOOD DEAL.

LET'S ALL RISE FOR THE INVOCATION AND LET ME INVITE PASTOR MATT FROM COLONIAL CHURCH AND REMAIN STANDING FOR OUR PETTY OFFICER FIRST CLASS UNITED STATES NAVY.

THANK YOU. >> GOOD MORNING.

SECOND CORINTHIANS 3:3 SAYS YOU SHOW THAT YOU ARE A LETTER FROM CHRIST DELIVERED BY US WRITTEN NOT WITH INK BUT THE SPIRIT OF THE LIVING GOD. NOT ON TABLETS OF STONE BUT ON TABLETS OF HUMAN HEARTS. SUCH THE IS CONFIDENCE WE HAVE THROUGH CHRIST TOWARD GOD, SUFFICIENT IN OUR OURSELVES TO CLAIM ANYTHING FROM US BUT OUR SUFFICIENCY IS FROM GOD.

LET'S PRAY. LORD WE THANK YOU FOR YOUR WORD AND WE THANK YOU FOR THIS MEETING GOD AND WE GIVE YOU THE HONOR AND THE PRAISE. WE'RE SO GRATEFUL FOR ALL THAT YOU HAVE GIVEN TO US TODAY, LORD.

THIS BEAUTIFUL PLACE THAT WE LIVE.

THIS AMAZING COUNTY WE GET TO CALL HOME AND WE PRAY FOR THIS MEETING AND ASK YOU GIVE OUR LEADERS WISDOM, DISCERNMENT AND EVERYTHING THEY NEED TO CARRY OUT THEIR DUTIES.

IN JESUS' NAME, AMEN. >> I'M GLAD TO BE HERE ONCE AGAIN. PLEASE JOIN ME IN THE PLEDGE OF OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA, AND TO THE REPUBLIC, FOR WHICH IT STANDS, ONE NATION, UNDER GOD, INDIVISIBLE, WITH LIBERTY AND JUSTICE FOR ALL. GOD BLESS OUR WONDERFUL LAND.

>> GOD BLESS MERE AMERICAN. YES. OKAY.

[Deletions to Consent Agenda]

A COMMISSIONER ARNOLD YOU HAVE THE FLOOR.

>> I HAVE NONE. >> COMMISSIONER JOSEPH?

>> NONE, SIR. >> THERE IT IS.

YOU CAN LEAVE IT ON. SHE SAYS NONE.

COMMISSIONER WHITEHURST? >> NONE.

>> I HAVE NO DELETIONS BUT I'M AWARE THERE WILL BE PUBLIC COMMENT ON ITEM NUMBER 13. ON THE CONSENT.

>> OKAY SO WE'RE GOING TO LAW PUBLIC COMMENT FOR AGENDA ITEM NUMBER 13 ON THE CONSENT AGENDA FOR PUBLIC COMMENT.

IS THAT RIGHT? >> WE'RE NOT HAVING PUBLIC

COMMENT AT ALL. >> OKAY.

GOOD. THAT'S GOOD.

SO LET'S GO AHEAD AND HAVE PUBLIC COMMENT ON THE AGENDA ITEMS NOW. ON THE CONSENT.

>> ALRIGHT. AT THIS TIME WE'LL TAKE PUBLIC COMMENT ON THE CONSENT AGENDA. COME ON UP.

YOU'LL HAVE THREE MINUTES. GOOD MORNING.

>> GOOD MORNING. I'M BOB AND I'M PRESIDENT OF HOMEOWNERS INC. HOMEOWNERS ASSOCIATION ORGANIZED 45 YEARS AGO. BETTER HERE? FOR A NUMBER OF YEARS WE'VE BEEN WORKING WITH THE UTILITY DEPARTMENT TO COME UP WITH WAYS TO IMPROVE THE POTABLE WATER IN OUR AREA. WE'RE NOT CONNECTED THE COUNTY SYSTEM RIGHT NOW. WE HAVE WORKED WITH KNEEL AND LARRY MILLER FOR, ON A LOT OF PROJECTS.

THIS IS THE INNER CONNECT BETWEEN YOUR NORTH SHORE SYSTEM OUR POINT SYSTEM. THERE WAS A RESOLUTION PASSED LAST YEAR, 25169 THAT PROVED THIS PROJECT AND THEN SINCE THEN WE'VE BEEN TRYING TO FIGURE OUT HOW TO PUT IT IN PLACE.

THEY CAME UP WITH ESTIMATES THAT WERE EXCEEDINGLY HIGH ON BEHALF OF THE HOMEOWNERS WE WORKED OUT A SITUATION WHERE WE WOULD DO IT TOGETHER AND THE HOMEOWNERS PAY 50% OF THE COST AND THE COUNTY WOULD PAY 50% OF THE COST. SO WE, IT WAS A FIRST ADDENDUM

[00:05:01]

SO, THE WHOLE ISSUE WAS IS THERE ANY PUBLIC BENEFIT TO THIS PROJECT? OF COURSE BOTH THE UTILITY DEPARTMENT AND THE HOMEOWNERS FOUND THERE ARE IS A LOT OF SAFETY AND WELFARE INTERESTS THAT ARE INVOLVED IN DOING THIS INTERCESSION CONNECTION. IN THE CASE OF EMERGENCIES IN THE CASE OF MECHANICAL FAILURE IT PROVIDES POTABLE WATER TO FLOW AND WHAT'S IMPORTANT IS IN EITHER DIRECTION.

BUT OURS IS LIMITED. WE HAVE A KIND OF HAND BEHIND OUR BACK. FOR THE NEXT COUPLE OF YEARS AS YOU GET THE NORTH SHORE SYSTEM IN PLACE WE CAN ONLY GET EMERGENCY WATER IN DECEMBER, JANUARY AND FEBRUARY, WHEN THE CAPACITY USE IS LOWER, BUT THE COUNTY CAN GET IT ANYTIME.

ONCE WE SIGN THIS AGREEMENT AND THIS IS IN PLACE.

SO THE COUNTY HAS AN IMMEDIATE SOURCE OF EMERGENCY WATER SO I SUBMIT THAT'S ONE THING WHEN WE TALKING ABOUT PUBLIC INTEREST AND BENEFIT THAT YOU WILL HAVE OVER THE NEXT COUPLE OF YEARS WHILE WE ONLY HAVE THAT AVAILABILITY IN DECEMBER, JANUARY AND FEBRUARY. WHAT OTHER ISSUES BESIDES THE PUBLIC HEALTH, WELFARE AND SAFETY?

>> THANK YOU. THANK YOU SO MUCH.

>> WELL I WISH I HAD MORE TIME BUT.

>> THANK YOU. ARE THERE ANY OTHER PUBLIC COMMENTS? AT THIS TIME ON THE CONSENT AGE AGENDA?

>> IF I CAN INTERRUPT JUST FOR A SECOND.

YOU ARE GOING TO GET ANOTHER OPPORTUNITY IN GENERAL PUBLIC COMMENT TO FINISH YOUR STATEMENTS IF YOU LIKE.

IS THAT RIGHT? WE CAN DO THAT.

THANKS. >> COME ON UP.

>> MY APOLOGIES. IT'S FOR PUBLIC COMMENT.

>> ALRIGHT IN THAT CASE WE'LL HAVE, DO I HAVE A MOTION, GO AHEAD? OKAY.

COME ON UP. >> WE ALSO WE'RE GOING TO HAVE LARRY SPEAK ON CONSENT AGENDA NUMBER 13.

THANK YOU. I KNOW YOU ARE UP THERE AND THEN YOU WENT AND SAT DOWN SO YEP, WE WANT TO HEAR FROM YOU.

THANK YOU. YEAH, AND IF YOU COULD START WITH MAYBE THE HISTORY BEHIND THIS.

>> YEAH, SO LAST YEAR, ABSOLUTELY.

LAST YEAR THE BOARD APPROVED THE RESOLUTION FOR THE LOCAL AGREEMENT TO ALLOW THE INTERCESSION CONNECT TO HAPPEN.

IT'S OUT WHERE THE UTILITY WOULD DO THE DESIGN AND PLANNING FOR THE INNER CONNECT AND THE UTILITIES WOULD FACILITATE AND FUND THE CONSTRUCTION. TALKING TO THEM THEY HAD ISSUES WITH BID PRICES BEING HIGH. THEY APPROACHED OUR STAFF TO PREPARE A COST FOR CONSTRUCTION CREW TO COMPLETE THE CONSTRUCTION THAT WAS PROVIDED AND THEY AGREED TO THE TERMS OF THAT BACK IN APRIL. WE STARTED TO PREPARE THIS ADDENDUM TO ALLOW THEM TO PAY THE UTILITY DEPARTMENT TO COMPLETE THE CONSTRUCTION ORIGINALLY WITHOUT THE WAIVER.

SUBSEQUENTLY IT CAME IN AND WE PIVOTED PRETTY QUICKLY BECAUSE OF THE DEADLINES FOR THE BOARD AN BASICALLY PREPARED TWO VERSIONS OF THE AGREEMENT. WHILE THINGS ARE BEING REVIEWED.

TALKING TO LEGAL AND STAFF, BASICALLY WHAT WE FIND IS THE PROJECT DOES HAVE A LOT OF BENEFITS HOWEVER THE WAIVER REQUEST FOR WAIVERS THE ADMINISTRATION FEE DOES NOT SEEM TO HAVE A PUBLIC BENEFIT. THE CONCERN BEING THE ADMINISTRATIVE FEE COVERS ADMINISTRATIVE AND PROJECT MANAGEMENT COSTS THAT ARE SOFT COSTS OF A PROJECT.

BY WAIVING THE PAYMENT OF THAT FEE IT COULD HAVE, THOSE FEES ARE INCURRED BY THE UTILITY AND THE UTILITY WOULD BE SUBSIDIZING THIS PROJECT AND THAT WAS THE CONCERN WE HEARD.

ALL-IN-ALL THE PROJECT IS GOOD. HAVING UTILITY INNER CONNECT IS A BENEFICIAL THING MUTUALLY AND HAVING OUR STAFF ACTUALLY BUILD IT IS ANOTHER GOOD THING BECAUSE WE'LL BE FAMILIAR WITH IT IF WE NEED TO RESPOND IT TO WE CAN DO SO QUICKLY BECAUSE WE KNOW WHAT'S IN THE GROUND. IS THERE ANY OTHER QUESTIONS?

>> I HAVE A QUESTION. >> CERTAINLY.

[00:10:01]

WE COULD DISCUSS IT AT LENGTH? I WOULDN'T MIND PULLING THIS TO THE REGULAR AGENDA. ASK YOUR QUESTION AND WE'LL GO

FROM THERE. >> MY QUESTION IS DOES THE COUNTY PLAN TO TAKE OVER THIS UTILITY?

>> IT'S A POSSIBILITY BUT THERE'S NO CURRENT PLAN IN PLACE. WE HAVE A LOT OF WORK TO DO IN NORTH BEACH BEFORE WE CAN EVEN CONSIDER IT BUT THERE IS NO

ACTIVE PLAN NOW. >> GREAT.

THANK YOU. THANK YOU.

>> OKAY. THANK YOU. MOTION TO APPROVE THE CONSENT AGENDA? AS AMENDED? WITH THE DELUSION OF 23. OKAY.

[Approval of Consent Agenda]

MOTION TO APPROVE AS AMENDED >> MOVED.

>> WE HAVE A MOTION AND A SECOND.

ALL IN FAVOR JUST SAY AYE AND APPOSED THANK YOU SO MUCH.

LET'S GO TO ADDITIONS AND DELETIONS TO THE REGULAR AGENDA.

COMMISSIONER ARNOLD? >> I HAVE NONE.

>> COMMISSIONER JOSEPH? >> I HAVE NONE.

ARE WE HEARING 13 OR NOT HEARING 13?

>> WE JUST APPROVED IT. NO.

>> WE JUST VOTED. >> COMMISSIONER WHITEHURST?

>> I HAVE NONE. >> AND COMMISSIONER TAYLOR?

>> I HAVE NONE. I HAVE NONE.

[Approval of Regular Agenda ]

>> OKAY. I HAVE NONE.

SO MOVED. WE HAVE A MOTION.

DO WE HAVE A SECOND TO APPROVE THE REGULAR AGENDA.

WE HAVE A SECOND. LET'S VOTE BY SAYING AYE.

[Public Comment ]

>> AT THIS TIME THE BOARD WILL HEAR PUBLIC COMMENT ON MATTERS NOT SCHEDULED FOR ACTION ON TODAY'S AGENDA.

WHEN ADDRESSING THE BOARD COME TO ONE OF THE THREE PODIUMS AND STATE YOUR NAME AND ADDRESS. EACH PERSON IS PROVIDED THREE MINUTES TO SPEAK AND WE ASK YOU SPEAK DIRECTLY INTO THE MIC.

SPEAKERS WILL COMPLY WITH THE RULES OF STABILITY AND DECORUM AND MAY NOT DEMAND AN IMMEDIATE RESPONSE FROM THE BOARD AND MEMBERS OF THE AUDIENCE WILL REFRAME FROM DISRUPTIVE COMMENTS. ANY SPEAKER THAT WOULD LIKE TO USE MATERIALS UTILIZE THE CENTER PODIUM AND PAPERS CAN BE PLACED ON THE X FOR THE OVERHEAD CAMERA TO DISPLAY AND A LAB TOP IS SET UP FOR USB PRESENTATIONS. PLEASE PROVIDE MATERIALS TO THE STAFF OF THE CLERK OF THE COURT TO BE ENTERED FOR PUBLIC RECORD.

>> I HAVE SOME DOCUMENTS HERE. WE'VE HANDED SOME OF THE DOCUMENTS THAT NEED TO BE HANDED OUT ACROSS THE DAIS TO THE COMMISSIONERS AND THEN I ALSO HAVE EXTRA COPIES HERE FOR THE PRESS AND THEN COPIES FOR THE COUNTY COMMISSIONER, THE COUNTY ADMINISTRATOR, COUNTY ATTORNEY. WHERE CAN I PUT THESE?

>> YOU CAN GIVE THEM TO MS. KE

KEELY. >> THANK YOU.

I'M KEITH THANNIC. GOOD MORNING COMMISSIONERS.

PRESENTING OVER 200 PETITIONED RESIDENTS FROM MADEIRA AND THE VILLAGE CONDOS. WE FACE AN EMINENT MANUFACTURED SAFETY CRISIS CAUSED BY AN DESIGN PRIORITIZING SPACING TABLES OVER HUMAN LIFE. TO ADDRESS THE DEVIATION UNDER THE FLORIDA ADMINISTRATIVE CODE. FDOT IS INSTALLING A RESTRICTIVE CROSSING YOU TURN AND THIS LAYOUT ELIMINATES LEFT TURNS FROM OUR NEIGHBORHOODS. TO GO SOUTH HUNDREDS MUST DRIVE NORTH AND EXECUTE HIGH RISK NEAR TURNS IN HIGH SPEED TRAFFIC CRITICALLY FDOTS DESIGN RELIES ON A STUDY BASELINE OF 24,000 CARS PER DAY COMPLETELY IGNORING THE OVER 32500 HITTING THE CORRIDOR DAILY CREATING CASCADING FAILURE.

UNDER FDOT 62501021 A U-TURN LANE CANNOT EXIST IN AN ADJACENT INTERSECTION AND INTERSECTION MODEL FOR 24,000 CANNOT SURVIVE 32500. MEDIUM CUES WILL OVERFLOW BLOCKING MARYLAND EXITS AND FORCING DRIVES TO U-TURN AT THE INTERSECTION. THIS SHIFTS TRAFFIC OVERFLOW INTO THE PRIMARY GATEWAY SERVING OUR COUNTY GOVERNMENT COMPLEX AND SHERIFF'S OFFICE. WORSE YET IT CREATES A PUBLIC

[00:15:02]

FDOT FORCES RESIDENTIAL TRAFFIC TO EXECUTE TIGHT TURNS INTO HIGH VOLUME COMMERCIAL WEAVING ZONES TO FORCE FAMILIES TO BREAK WITH RETAIL TRAFFIC AND 32,000 DAILY COMMUTERS.

FDOT'S MODEL IGNORES THIS REALITY.

DISTRICT TWO DISMISSED OUR PETITIONS AND U.S. 1 IS A STATE ROAD AND THIS IS YOUR CONSTITUENTS AND WE REQUEST THE COMMISSION TO ISSUE AN OFFICIAL RESOLUTION OR FORMAL LETTER OF OBJECTION TO FDOT DISTRICT TWO DEMAND AN IMMEDIATE PROCEDURE PAUSE UNTIL COMMITTEE HOLDS A TRANSPARENT PUBLIC HEARING WITH COUNTY STAFF TO MODEL ACTION 2026 FIELD VOLUMES AND THE COMPOUNDING IMPACTS ON THIS STREETS.

DO NOT LET THEM BUILD A COLLISION ZONE IN OUR BACKYARD.

THANK YOU. >> THANK YOU.

>> GOOD MORNING. >> GOOD MORNING.

JUANITA YATES. 408 CIVIL DRIVE.

I'VE BEEN HERE SEVERAL TIMES AND WE'RE HAVING A PROBLEM WITH THE U-TURN ALSO EVIDENTLY. I'VE ALSO GOT A COPY OF THE MEDIUM OPENING AND ACCESS MANAGEMENT THAT I THINK THE COMMISSIONERS OUGHT TO TAKE A LOOK AT.

ONE OF THE THINGS IN THERE, IT SAYS THAT WHENEVER THEY DO SOMETHING LIKE THAT, THEY ARE SUPPOSED TO NOTIFY EVERYBODY THAT'S AFFECTED BY IT AND WE HAD NO NOTIFICATION WHATSOEVER.

I'VE SUBMITTED A, THREE PAGES OF THE SIGNATURES AT AN EARLIER DATE SO YOU SHOULD HAVE THAT. AND IT'S ALSO THAT THE COMMISSION CAN MAKE, YOU KNOW, CHANGES IN THIS IF THEY SEE FIT TO DO IT. WE STILL DRIVING OVER THE GRASS AT THE MEDIUM STRIPS. THE PEOPLE ON RATHER THAN GOING DOWN AND MAKING A U-TURN ON A HILL THAT'S UNSAFE AND WE CAN'T SEE WHAT'S COMING UP AND FP L IS ALSO, THERE IS A SERVICE ROAD THERE AND THEY HAVE BIG EQUIPMENT.

THEY HAVE TRUCKS. THEY HAVE TRAILERS AND ALL KINDS OF STUFF AND THEY ARE DOING THE SAME THING.

DRIVING OVER THE MEDIUM STRIP RATHER THAN GOING DOWN TO ANOTHER U-TURN AND COMING BACK UP AND TRYING TO MAKE THE TURN INTO THEIR SERVICE ROAD. SO THE MEDIUM STRIP IS A MESS.

IT'S GOT BIG DIRT AREAS IN IT AND EVERYTHING.

BUT THE GOLF CARTS GOT A NICE LITTLE AREA THERE WITH WHITE GRAVEL AND THEY GO ACROSS THE GOLF COURSE WAS TAKEN CARE OF, BUT WE FEEL OVERLOOKED. SO WE WOULD LIKE IF POSSIBLE, SOMEBODY TO COME OVER AND TAKE A LOOK AT IT.

A TRAFFIC STUDY MIGHT BE SOMETHING THAT MIGHT BE LOOKED AT, AND JUST YOU KNOW, AS I SAID, WE FEEL OVERLOOKED AND WE I'VE BEEN HERE SEVERAL TIMES AND THE PERSON THAT IS HERE FOR THE ROAD OF SEAVILLE AND I KEEP TRYING TO DRAW YOUR ATTENTION TO IT AND HOPE THAT MAYBE EVENTUALLY YOU'LL SEE WHAT'S GOING ON. IT'S, I AND WE'RE FINALLY GETTING OUR GRASS CUT TOO AND I DON'T KNOW WHO'S REASONABLE BUT

THANK YOU. >> THANK YOU SO MUCH.

>> GOOD MORNING. >> GOOD MORNING.

SHERRY BADGER. 2772 SOUTH COLLINS AVENUE.

I FIGURED SINCE I GOT THIS MEMORY I WOULD SHARE IT C.

THIS IS A STATE READ 16 AND COLLINS AVENUE.

THIS IS THE WAY THAT OUR WATER USED TO RUN.

[00:20:01]

THIS IS THE BUILD. AND INSTEAD OF THE WATER GOING TOWARDS THE HIGHWAY IT COMES BACK TO OUR HOMES.

I'VE BEEN UP HERE FOR 7 YEARS. YOU HAVE NOT FIXED IT.

IT'S NOT A LOT OF YA'LL'S FAULT. I HAVE HAD THE OPPORTUNITY TO PRESENT THIS TO ONE OF YOU. BUT THIS IS WHAT'S GOING ON IN THIS TOWN AND IT SEEMS LIKE IT'S FALLING ON DEAF EARS.

THAT'S A FOUR FOOT DITCH. SIX FEET WIDE.

SO WHEN THEY BUILD THESE NEW THINGS IN YOUR NEIGHBORHOOD, THIS IS WHAT YOU CAN EXPECT BECAUSE NOBODY KNOWS WHAT'S REALLY GOING ON. THIS YEAR WHEN IT HAPPENS, I GUESS I'LL HAVE TO CALL THE NEWS.

GOD BLESS AND HAVE A GREAT DAY. THANK YOU.

>> ARE THERE ANY OTHER COMMENTS AT THIS TIME? PLEASE COME ON UP. YOU CAN GO EACH SIDE.

>> I'M JUDY SPIEGEL AT 101 GREEN WILLOW LANE.

WE'RE IN OUR LAST MEETING BEFORE OUR NATION CELEBRATES THE 250TH YEAR ANNIVERSARY ON JULY FOURTH AND WE HAVE A REDIDICATION OF THIS NATION AS ONE NATION UNDER GOD ON THE MAY OF 17TH I WAS HONORED TO BE IN WASHINGTON DC FOR THAT EVENT.

I WANT TO DISCUSS A LITTLE BIT ABOUT THE PLACE GOD HAS TAKEN IN OUR PUBLIC DISCOURSE AND WHEN JESUS' NAME IS MENTIONED IT SEEMS LIKE PEOPLE SHY AWAY OR TURN THEIR EYES AWAY.

WE HAVE BEEN IN CULTURATED TO THINK ABOUT THAT'S A SOMETHING WE DON'T TALKING ABOUT IN PUBLIC BUT I THINK GOD LOVES WHEN HIS NAME IS HONORED AND HE IS SOVEREIGN AND REAL AND HE IS OVER THIS COMMISSION. THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR ALLOWING PRAYER TO BE THE FIRST THING THAT WE DO, THAT WE JUST COMMIT THIS TIME TO THE LORD. I JUST WANT TO READ A DECLARATION THAT JOHN QUINCY ADAMS MADE IN 1837.

JULY FOURTH. THIS IS YOU WE USED TO TALKING ABOUT GOD IN THIS NATION. WHY IS IT FRIENDS AND FELLOW CITIZENS YOU ARE ASSEMBLED. WHY IS IT ENTERING ON THE 62ND YEAR OF OUR NATIONAL EXISTENCE YOU HAVE HONORED WITH AN IN INVITATION TO ADDRESS YOU FROM THIS PLACE.

A FELLOW CITIZEN OF A FORMER AGE BEARING IN THE RECORD OF HIS MEMORY THE WARM AND VIVID AFFECTIONS THAT ATTACHED HIM AT THE DISTANCE OF A FULL HALF CENTURY TO YOUR TOWN AND FOREFATHERS AND THE ASSOCIATES. WHY IS IT THAT NEXT TO THE BIRTHDAY OF THE SAVIOR OF THE WORLD YOUR MOST JOYOUS AND FESTIVAL RETURNS ON THIS DAY. JULY FOURTH.

AND WHY IS IT THAT AMONG THE SWARMING MYRIADS OF OUR POPULATION THOUSANDS AND TENS OF THOUSANDS AMONG US, ABSTAINING UNDER THE DICTATE OF RELIGIOUS PRINCIPLE FROM THE COMMONERATION OF THAT BIRTHDAY OF HIM THAT BROUGHT LIFE AND IN MORTALITY TO LIGHT. UNITE WITH ALL THEIR BRETHREN YEAR AFTER YEAR IN THIS COMMUNE CANTY AND CELEBRATING THE BIRTH OF OUR NATION. IS IT NOT THAT IN THE CHAIN OF HUMAN EVENTS THE BIRTH DATE OF THIS NATION IS LINK WITHED THE BIRTHDAY OF OUR SAVIOR. THAT IT FORMS A LEADING EVENT IN THE PROGRESS OF THE GOSPEL'S DISPENSATION AND THE DECLARATION OF INDEPENDENCE FIRST ORGANIZED A SOCIAL CONTACT OF THE REDEEMERS MISSION ON THIS EARTH AND LAID THE FIRST PRECEPTS OF CHRISTIANITY. THE DECLARATION OF INDEPENDENCE ANNOUNCED ONE PEOPLE SIMILAR STATION AMONG POWERS OF EARTH.

CIVILIZED CHRISTIAN PEOPLE ACKNOWLEDGING THEMSELVES BOUND BY THE OBLIGATIONS AND CLAIMING THE RIGHTS TO WHICH THEY WERE ENTITLE BADTY LAWS OF NATURE AND NATURE'S GOD.

MORAL RULER OF THE UNIVERSE. THE GOVERNOR AND CONTROLLER OF ALL HUMAN POWER THE ONLY SOVEREIGNTY ACKNOWLEDGEED BY THE DECLARATION AND CLAIMS FOR THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA WHEN ASSUMING THEIR EQUAL STATION AMONG THE NATIONS OF THE EARTH ONLY THE POWER TO DO ALL THAT MAYBE DONE RIGHT.

THANK YOU. >> THANK YOU SO MUCH.

GOOD MORNING. >> COMMISSIONERS.

BOB HERE ON BEHALF TO CONSENT ITEM 13.

A WHAT DISEASE PUBLIC BENEFIT OF THE PROJECT? THE A KEN DUMB IS REPLETE IN THE DOCUMENT CREATED BY THE COUNTY THERE IS PUBLIC BENEFIT SO SEVERE, THE MUTUAL PROVISION OF POTABLE WATER PROVIDES PUBLIC SERVICE IN THE INTEREST OF BOTH PARTIES YOUR RATE PAYING CUSTOMERS.

[00:25:02]

THEY DRAFTED THIS AND SENT US THE FIRST ADDENDUM SAYING BECAUSE OF WHAT WE FIND TO BE THE PUBLIC INTEREST WE THINK THAT WAIVER OF THE ADMINISTRATIVE FEE IS A REASONABLE THING. IT COMES TO 16 CENTS.

VERY SMALL AMOUNT FOR A RATE PAYER.

THERE IS, WE'RE GOING TO PAY 50% OF THAT COST NOW, SO WE GET THAT CONNECTION IN PLACE EVEN THOUGH WE DON'T HAVE USE FOR IT EXCEPT THREE MONTHS A YEAR. IF YOU PLANT GOES DOWN AND YOU NEED WATER WE HAVE TWO BIG WELLS AND WE CAN PUMP IT TO THE NORTH SHORE WHEN YOU TRY TO GET IT BACK UP TO CAPACITY SO THERE IS A LOT OF PUBLIC INTEREST AND REASONS TO DO WHAT THE COUNTY INITIALLY SAID THEY WOULD DO WHICH IS TO WAIVE THIS FEE FOR OUR HOMEOWNERS. WE'RE GOING TO BE PAYING THAT MONEY NOW EVEN THOUGH IT HAS STANDARDIZED EQUIPMENT SO WHEN THESE THINGS DO CONNECT AND I'VE HAD TALKED WITH THE UTILITY DEPARTMENT. THEIR LONG-TERM PLAN, THERE'S NO IMMEDIATE PLAN TO DO LIKE THEY DID IN HASTINGS BUT THAT'S WHERE THE FUTURE IS. THEY ARE BRINGING THESE ALL IN THE SYSTEM TO DO IT A LOWER COST TO PROVIDE GOOD SERVICE TO ALL THE RESIDENT, SO I ASK YOU TO LOOK WHAT THE COUNTY INITIALLY SAID AND TO FIND THAT THERE IS PUBLIC INTEREST AND PURPOSE IN THEIR OWN DOCUMENTS THAT THEY SENT YOU AND ASKED YOU TO APPROVE THE ALTERNATE ADDENDUM THAT I PRESENTED TO EACH OF YOU THIS MORNING. THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR

LISTENING TO ME. >> THANK YOU.

ALRIGHT. ANYONE ELSE? COME ON UP. GOOD MORNING.

>> ALRIGHT. GOOD MORNING.

I AM JOHN JACKSONVILLE RESOLUTION 230819 I'M IN DUVALL COUNTY. ST. JOHN'S COUNTY.

I LOVE YOU AND LIKE A GOOD NEIGHBOR ST. JOHNS COUNTY IS THERE. LET ME SHARE WITH YOU.

YOU KNOW WITH THE HAT IT'S A PLAY.

F WS. FISHING WITH ST. JOHNS COUNTY IT IS A PLAY-OFF THE FWC FISH AND WILDLIFE COMMISSION STATE OF FLORIDA. IT'S ALL ABOUT TOURISM. HEADS AND BEDS.

SO AGAIN I JUST WANT TO REMIND ALL OF YOU AND EVERYONE, WHY AM I HERE? WELL FIND.

IT IS AN ACRONYM. OR ADD VERY LO RECOMMEND PROPERTY TAX MONEY. 12 COUNTIES.

EAST COAST OF THE STATE OF FLORIDA IN DUVALL WE HAVE PAT CALLAGHWAY WHO IS KNEW. CAROL LOW.

PART OF THEIR MISSION IS ACCESS TO OUR WATERWAYS.

THE NEXT ONE. THE SECOND REASON I'M HERE.

IT'S NORTHEAST FLORIDA REGIONAL COUNCIL.

IT REPRESENTS SEVEN COUNTIES AND DUVALL AND ST. JOHNS COUNTY ARE PART OF THE NORTHEAST FLORIDA REGIONAL COUNCIL.

WE ALL KNOW WHO IS IN CHARGE OF THE NORTHEAST FLORIDA REGIONAL COUNCIL. IT'S MAMA.

THERE ARE TEN REGIONAL COUNCILS IN THE STATE OF FLORIDA SO TODAY AFTER SEEING THE CBS 47 ACTION NEWS STORY THAT AIRED YESTERDAY.

6:15. YOU KNOW, THERE'S, YOU KNOW THERE IS NO HURDLE THAT THE PUBLIC ACCESS TO THE OCEAN, YOU KNOW IT CAN HAPPEN IMMEDIATELY. AND IN DUVALL UNDER THE LEADERSHIP OF KEN MERRILL AND THE JACKSON WATERWAYS COMMISSION AND THE NORTHEAST FLORIDA HAS CREATE AND A PARKS TRUST FUND.

I'M DOWN TO 50 SECONDS. RIGHT NOW IN FRONT OF THE BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS I'M WRITING CHECK FOR 2026004 AND THEN DRIVING TO THE SAINT JAMES BUILDING, CITY HALL IN JACKSONVILLE, RIDING ELEVATORS AND THEN DELIVERING THIS CHECK AND DEPOSITING IT INTO AN ACCOUNT UNTIL IT'S NEEDED SO THE QUESTION NEEDS TO BE ASKED. DOES THE BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS OF ST. JOHNS COUNTY HAVE A PARKS TRUST FUND THAT THE PEOPLE COULD DONATE TO IMMEDIATELY SO ANYWAY.

LET'S JUST TELL THE WORLD, VISIT ST. JOHNS COUNTY.

BECAUSE YOUR PARKS ARE GREAT. THANK YOU FOR LISTENING.

>> THANK YOU. THANKS SO MUCH.

GOOD MORNING. >> GOOD MORNING.

MY NAME IS DIANE WILSON AND I LIVE AT 1297 COUNTY ROAD 13.

[00:30:05]

JOHNS COUNTY AND OUR NATION'S 250TH ANNIVERSARY COMING UP.

WE'D LIKE TO DISPLAY AMERICAN FLAGS ON THE POWER POLES AND I UNDERSTAND THAT REQUIRES A SPECIAL DISPENSATION OR APPROVAL AND THAT'S WHY I'M HERE TO SEE IF A 7-MILE STRETCH ALONG COUNTY ROAD 13, THAT WE COULD DISPLAY APPROXIMATELY 120 U.S. FLAGS.

OUR COMMUNITY IS WILLING TO MAKE THAT INVESTMENT IN THE FLAGS AND DO THE WORK THEMSELVES. WE'RE JUST LOOKING FOR YOUR GUIDANCE AND HELP IN EITHER CONTACTING FLORIDA POWER AND LIGHT AND OR IF YOU HAVE THE AUTHORITY TO GIVE US THAT AUTHORIZATION. WE'LL DO ALL THE WORK AND EXPENSES AND THE REMOVAL ONCE THE ANNIVERSARY IS OVER AND THE CELEBRATION HAS DISPLAYED. I HAVE AN EXAMPLE HERE OF WHAT IT WOULD LOOK LIKE IF, THERE IT IS.

I PUT ONE ACROSS THE STREET JUST WITHOUT APPROVAL.

EASIER TO ASK FOR FORGIVENESS THAN APPROVAL BUT NOW I'M HERE SEIBELINGING APPROVAL. I E-MAILED YOU THIS MORNING, AND IF YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS I'M MORE THAN HAPPY TO ANSWER THEM.

THANK YOU. >> THANK YOU SO MUCH.

ALRIGHT. ANYONE ELSE? GENERAL PUBLIC COMMENT AT THIS TI

TIME? >> GOOD MORNING.

>> GOOD MORNING. TOM REYNOLDS.

1240 FORT PIERCE MILE ROAD. 32084 AND THESE ARE AS YOU KNOW, THESE MEDICAL MARIJUANA CONTAINERS AND VAPES AND I'M THROWING IN A DISPOSABLE CIGARETTE LIGHTER.

I WANT TO TALK ABOUT THE LAST MEETING.

THERE WAS A BIG QUESTION THAT WAS GREAT.

COMMISSONER MURPHY ASKED THE CONTACTED ATTORNEY ABOUT FACEBOOK AND PEOPLE TALKING ABOUT IT UP HERE.

YOU KNOW I KNOW THAT ALL OF YOU FOLKS GET ATTACKED ON FACEBOOK.

I SEE IT ALL THE TIME, AND I JUST WANT YOU TO KNOW IT WAS WORSE WHEN THE ST. AUGUSTINE RECORD USED TO TAKE IT BECAUSE I GOT TO TELL YOU SOMETHING. I'VE BEEN ATTACKED FOR YEARS ON THESE THINGS AND I ALWAYS LOOKED AT IT AS THERE IS NO SUCH THING AS BAD PUBLICITY. THE LATEST IS THE FACEBOOK THE LOCAL LION. NOW THEY'VE HAD A GOOD TIME MAKING FUN OF ME. I CAN LIVE WITH IT.

I WANT TO TELL YOU SOMETHING THOUGH.

WHEN THEY USE A WORD THAT I DON'T LIKE TO BE ASSOCIATED WITH AND THE WORD IS WAR. WAR.

I'M NOT AT AWARE WITH ANYBODY OR ANYTHING.

THE CLOSEST I COULD COME TO A WAR IS THREE MOSQUITOS IN MY HOUSE THE OTHER NIGHT AND IT WAS PRETTY UGLY.

ANYWAY'S FOLKS, I SEEK REDRESS. REMEDY.

THAT'S ALL. I SEEK, AS YOU KNOW A DEPOSIT ON THESE THINGS. THEY SHOULD NOT BE GOING IN OUR TRASH. YOU MIGHT FIND THIS NUMBER HARD TO BELIEVE BUT SINCE 14 DAYS AGO THE LAST MEETING I'M NOT EXAGGERATING WHEN I TELL YOU THAT 40,000 OF THESE TYPES OF THINGS ARE GOING IN THE TRASH. I WANT TO REMIND YOU, A BATTERY, A BIG CHUNK OF PLASTIC AND THE LEFT OVER CHEMICALS OF NICOTINE INTO THE TRASH. SO THAT'S ALL I SEE AND YOU KNOW, BUT ANYWAY'S YOU KNOW, THE LOCAL LION DID A VIDEO OF YOU AND I DON'T KNOW IF YOU'VE SEEN IT AND REALLY WASN'T BAD BUT IT GOT ME THINKING ABOUT THIS. IS THAT THIS RIGHT HERE COULD BRING YOU FIVE ALL TOGETHER BECAUSE THIS IS PROTECTING THE ENVIRONMENT. NOW YOU KNOW WHEN I WROTE THAT AI ORDINANCE, THAT WAS A SAMPLE. I'M JUST LIKE THE QUARTERBACK.

I GOT THE BALL. YOU GOT THE BALL NOW.

ALL I'M ASKING IS THAT YOU TAKE IT UP.

BECAUSE YOU CAN ASSIGN SOMEBODY AND TRULY.

WE HAVE TO DO A BETTER JOB FOR THE ENVIRONMENT BECAUSE YOU KNOW WHO WANTS US TO? THE FATHER ALMIGHTY.

THANK YOU. >> THANK YOU. THANK YOU.

[00:35:04]

GOOD MORNING. >> MORNING.

CHUCK 1748 NORTH PIRRO. WE HAVE A CUT BACK GOING ON RIGHT NOW OR POSSIBLE CUT BACKS DUE TO THE PROPERTY TAX.

I'VE BEEN IN TOUCH WITH PARKS AND REC IN REGARDS TO THIS AND I'M NOT JUST THIS BUT WHAT ABOUT THE OTHER PARTS WE HAVE ALREADY FUNDING. THE PARK HAS BEEN FUND AND THE WORK HAS STARTED AND RIGHT NOW MY UNDERSTANDING IS THE PARKS ARE ON HOLD BECAUSE OF THE FUNDING BUT IF THE FUNDING IS ALREADY THERE WHY ARE WE PUTTING THESE ON HOLD? WE SHOULD BE MOVING FORWARD. THIS BAY HAS BEEN PROMISED A PARK OUT THERE FOR YEARS. THEY WERE PROMISED A LIBRARY THAT NEVER CAME THROUGH. THEY WERE PROMISED A PARK.

IT'S STARTING BUT NOW IT'S ON HOLD AGAIN.

WE NEED TO RETHINK THE ITEM THAT'S ARE ALREADY APPROVED AND THE FUNDS ARE THERE. I KNOW WE HAVE TO LOOKING AT THE FUTURE BUT IF THE FUNDS ARE ARE THERE AND WE HAVE ALREADY STARTED THE PROJECT. IT'S ALREADY BEEN PARTIALLY CLEARED SO THE WORK IS BEING DONE.

NOW IT'S ON HOLD AND NOTHING HAS BEEN DONE FOR THE PAST FEW DAY AND THERE'S HOME OWNERS OUT THERE THAT ARE REALLY CONCERNED THEY WILL NOT GET THAT PARK ANYMORE.

THEY DON'T HAVE ACCESS TO THE PARKING AREA THERE BECAUSE THAT'S FENCED OFF NOW. WE NEED TO LOOKING AT THE I TELLS ALREADY FUNDING BECAUSE THERE ARE BIG PARKS THAT ARE SUPPOSED TO BE BUILT AND WE NEED TO START WORKING ON THEM NOW.

THANKS. >> THANK YOU SO MUCH.

ALRIGHT. ANYONE ELSE AT THIS TIME FOR GENERAL PUBLIC COMMENT? COME ON UP.

GOOD MORNING. >> MR. TOM, PLEASE? CITY OF ST. AUGUSTINE. THERE WE GO.

CAN YOU ZOOM IN. THE SHERIFF'S DECISION TO NOT POST ALL MUGGY SHOTS OF THOSE ARRESTED CONTINUES TO JEOPARDIZE THE SAFETY OF EVERYONE IN ST. JOHNS COUNTY.

REMEMBER CIGARS CAN BE SMOKED ON COUNTY BEACHES BUT NOT CIGARETTES. PUBLIC COMMENT SHOULD REMAIN BEFORE AGENDA ITEMS. PLEASE GOOGLE SAVE OUR HOMES.

PLEASE GOOGLE, SAVE OUR HOMES. SOME GOVERNMENT EMPLOYEES HAVE ALREADY BEGUN SCARE TACTICS ABOUT THE PROPERTY TAX REFORM PROPOSAL. THE FLORIDA ASSOCIATION OF COUNTIES KNOWN AS LOBBYISTS ARE ALREADY URGING LAWMAKERS ALSO KNOWN AS GOVERNMENT EMPLOYEES TO VOTE NO.

TWO MINUTES? WONDERFUL.

EVERYONE CAN WRITE THIS DOWN THEN IN TWO MINUTES.

PLEASE VOTE YES IN NOVEMBER FOR PROPERTY TAX REFORM PROPOSALS.

PLEASE VOTE YES IN NOVEMBER FOR PROPERTY TAX REFORM PROPOSALS.

DON'T LISTEN TO SCARE TACTICS. OUR PROBLEM IS BECAUSE OF VOTES

THAT HAVE OCCURRED IN THIS ROOM. >> AND IF SOME OF US HAVE BEEN COMING TO THESE MEETINGS FOR QUITE A BIT OF TIME, THERE SEEMS TO BE A TRUDY VISION. 3-2 VOTES.

3-2 VOTES. 3-2 VOTES.

SO REMEMBER THAT WHEN YOU GET AN OPPORTUNITY TO GO VOTE.

PLEASE VOTE YES IN NOVEMBER FOR PROPERTY TAX REFORM PROPOSALS.

I HAVE A WHOLE MINUTE LEFT TO TALK.

WHAT SHOULD WE TALKING ABOUT? LET'S EVERYBODY ON THE PODIUM UP THERE. TWO OF YOU ARE.

MAYBE WE CAN GET THE OTHER THREE TO DO IT.

WE HAVE 47 SECONDS. LET'S ALL SMILE AT THE PEOPLE PAYING YOUR SALARIES. OKAY.

ARE YOU SMILING? UH-OH.

COME ON. YOU CAN DO IT.

YOU CAN DO IT. COME ON.

OH DEAR IT'S STILL A 3-2. WE NEED TO SMILE.

OKAY? AND JUST ENJOY GOING TO VOTE BECAUSE WE ARE IN A NATION THAT WE CAN DO THAT AND OTHER PEOPLE

CAN'T SO THANK YOU. >> THANK YOU.

ALRIGHT. ARE THERE ANY OTHER GENERAL PUBLIC COMMENTS AT THIS TIME? SEEING NONE WE'LL CLOSE PUBLIC

COMMENT. >> WE'LL GO RIGHT TO THE AGENDA.

WE'RE GOING TO SKIP. >> CAN I MAKE A COMMENT.

THANK YOU. ONLY BECAUSE OF THE TIME CONSTRAINTS BECAUSE WE HAVE AMERICA'S 250TH COMING UP CAN WE

[00:40:03]

GOES. >> YOU CAN TALKING ABOUT IT.

JUST FROM MY EXPERIENCE IN OTHER JURISDICTIONS EVEN THOUGH IT IS A WONDERFUL SITE SOMETIMES IT CREATES TRAFFIC ISSUE WITH CARS DRIVING DEPENDING ON THE SIZE AND PLACEMENT SO I

>> SUGGEST IF YOU WANT TO GIVE DIRECTION THE SPEAKER CAN COMMUNICATE WITH PUBLIC WORKS AT YOUR DIRECTION TO MAKE SURE ANYTHING PLACED IS PLACED SAFELY.

>> OKAY. >> I WOULD ASK FOR CONSENSUS FROM THE BOARD TO DIRECT GREGG TO GET WITH THE SPEAKER.

ARE YOU STILL HERE? RAISE YOUR HAND.

WOULD YOU DO ME A FAVOR AND JUST COME OVER HERE AND LET MS. WEST HAVE YOUR CONTACT INFORMATION AND WE'LL GET PUBLIC WORKS TO GET WITH YOU. THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR THAT.

[2. Constitutional Officers’ Fiscal Year 2027 Budget Presentations - The St. Johns County Clerk of the Circuit Court & Comptroller. ]

MR. PADDOCK YOU ARE HERE AND YOU HAVE THE FLOOR.

>> THANK YOU CHAIRMAN AND COMMISSIONERS.

GOOD MORNING OUR BUDGET PRESENTATION HAS A CERTAIN AMOUNT OF PRESSURE ASSOCIATED BUT IT'S EVEN MORE SO AS WE HAVE OUR FIRST SUMMER INTERN COHORT WITH US HERE AS WELL FOR OUR OFFICE WE HAVE A HIGH SCHOOL, COLLEGE INTERNSHIP PROGRAM SO THEY ARE HERE OBSERVING YOUR BUSINESS AND OUR PRESENTATION SO NO PRESSURE. WE HAVE A POWER-POINT PRESENTATION WE'LL PULL UP. WHILE THAT IS SITUATED IN THE PAST MY PRESENTATIONS HAVE BEEN VERY QUICK AS IT RELATES TO THE NUMBERS WE ARE REQUEST FROG TEMPERATURE COUNTY.

I'D LIKE TO TAKE ADDITIONAL MOMENTS JUST TO WALK THROUGH THE COMPLEXITIES OF OUR BUDGET AND WHILE PROJECTING IT IN JUNE AND JULY IS SO CHALLENGING. AND OUR NEXT STEPS TO HELP MITIGATE THAT. READY TO GO? VERY GOOD. ALRIGHT. SO JUST TO REORIENT EVERYONE. OUR OFFICE, UH-OH.

THERE WE GO. I THINK I BROKE IT WAYNE.

THERE WE GO. SORRY.

ALRIGHT. SO OUR OFFICE PROVIDES CRITICAL SERVICE EVERY DAY. ONE OF THE MOST STRIKING CHARACTERISTICS OF OUR OFFICE IS THAT WE HAVE ABOUT A THOUSAND DIFFERENT STATUTORY DUTIES THAT CUT ACROSS AND CHECKS AND BALANCES TO HELP PROTECT THE PUBLIC'S TRUST AND OUR GOVERNMENT AND OUR COURTS. AS WE'VE SEEN OVER THE LAST SIX YEARS SINCE I'VE BEEN IN OFFICE. OUR DEMAND FOR SERVICES HAS GROWN CONSIDERABLY AND WITH THOSE SERVICES ALL OF WHICH TOUCH UPON LIFE, LIBERTY AND PROPERTY WE'VE SEEN GROWTH ACROSS THE BOARD. ALL OF OUR SERVICES ARE STAFF, OUR PEOPLE, ACTIVITIES HAVE GROWN OVER THE LAST SIX YEARS AND ONE THAT IS NOT ON HERE IS STRIKING WE WENT FROM 6 TOTAL JUDGES IN ST. JOHNS COUNTY TO NINE NOW, AS WELL AND THAT ALL REQUIRES STAFFING IN THE COURTROOMS AND STAFF WITH OUR OFFICE, AS WELL. NOW OUR BUDGET ITSELF IS EXTRAORDINARILY COMPLEX IT'S NOT A TRADITIONAL GOVERNMENT BUT WE HAVE THREE FUNDING STREAMS THAT SUPPORT OUR OFFICE.

THE STATE COURT FUNDING FROM STATE ITSELF.

IT'S GENERATED BY THE FINES AND FEES THAT COURTS GENERATE ACROSS THE STATE AND IT GOES INTO ONE ETITY OUR STATE CORPORATION AND GET FUNNELED DOWN TO ALL 67 OF US AND THAT HAPPENS EVERY YEAR BASED ON PROJECTIONS AND WE GET A BUDGET AUTHORITY.

NUMBER TWO, WHAT WE'RE DISCUSSING TODAY.

THE GENERAL FUNDING MODEL. I'M ASKING TO HELP SUPPORT OUR SERVICES AND THE JUST REPORTING THAT'S MORE OF A TRADITIONAL BUSINESS SENSE BASED ON ACCESS AND DEMAND OF SERVICES BY RESIDENTS AND CUSTOMERS NOT JUST IN ST. JOHNS COUNTY BUT WE GET MANY CUSTOMERS FROM ACROSS NORTHEAST FLORIDA.

DUVALL AND CLAY AND SO FORTH BECAUSE OUR SERVICE AND THE QUALITY OF OUR WORK IS SO SIGNIFICANT.

BETWEEN ALL OF THESE WHETHER IN THE COURTS OR IN RECORDING THE PRICE THAT WE OFFER IS FIXED AND HAS BEEN FIXED SINCE 2008 SO WHILE WE'RE OFFERING A 2026 OFFICE WITH 2026 LABOR COSTS WE CAN ONLY CHARGE 2008 PRICE, SO A MARRIAGE LICENSE COST THE SAME TODAY AS IT DID IN 2008 AND THAT'S NOT A SUSTAINABLE MODEL AND INDEED THAT'S ONE OF OUR CHIEF LEGISLATIVE PURSUITS IS UPDATING THE FINE AND FEES AND PRICES.

SO THIS PROCESS GRAPHICALLY IS LAID OUT WITH THE SUMMER.

GENERALLY IT STARTS BEFORE JUNE BUT THAT'S KICKOFF LIKE TODAY OF PRESENTING OUR BUDGET, PROPOSING OUR BUDGET BUT WE PUT IT TO YOU

[00:45:05]

WE JUST DON'T KNOW UNTIL THE REVENUE ESTIMATING CONFERENCE MEETS IN AUGUST OF WHAT OUR NEXT TOTAL STATE FUNDING IS PROJECTED TO BE AND FROM THAT WE CAN ANTICIPATE IN ST. JOHNS COUNTY.

LASTLY THE RECORDING REVENUE. RECEIVES NO GOVERNMENT FUNDING BUT AT THE END TO FISCAL YEAR THOSE ARE TURNED BACK TO YOU ALL AND THE COUNTY AND WE FOUND THROUGH THIS PROCESS EACH YEAR WE END UP WITH THE VERSION. F.Y. 23 WE SENT BACK 300,000.

LAST YEAR 800 THOUSAND AND THIS YEAR WE'RE ANTICIPATING 500,000 ACROSS THREE FUNDING ITEMS, LINE ITEMS. THE COMPTROLLER, COURT SUBSIDY AND THEN OUR RECORDING REVENUE.

MUCH OF THESE ARE GENERATED WHETHER DEMAND ON SERVICES OR POSITIONS THAT WE WERE NOT ABLE TO FILL OR PERSONNEL MOVES OR SO FORTH BECAUSE PRIMARILY A LOT OF DOLLARS ARE SPENT ON PERSONAL SERVICES. YOU HAVE TO HAVE PEOPLE IN COURTS AND PAYROLL. YOU HAVE TO HAVE OUR FINANCE TEAMS AND SO FORTH. IT'S AN AREA WHERE NO MATTER HOW MUCH WE LEAN ON TECHNOLOGY YOU STILL HAVE TO HAVE DEDICATED PUBLIC SERVANT HAS THE THE CAN CARRY THE WORK EVERY DAY.

SO MOVING ON THE OUR COUNTY REQUEST.

OUR BUDGET IS BASED ON THREE PRINCIPLES.

ATTRACTING AND RETAINING STAFF ABLE TO MEET RESPONSIBILITIES AND CRITICAL NEEDS. MEETING THE COUNTY COLA AND THEN LASTLY, THIS PRESENTATION IS OUR HIGH WATER MARK.

WE WANTED TO PRESENT WHAT PROVIDES OMB AND EVERYON WHAT WE ANTICIPATE AS THE HIGHEST AMOUNT WE WOULD REQUEST BASED ON THE INPUT, SO FAR WITH THE UNDERSTANDING THAT THIS NEVER WILL MOST LIKELY GO DOWN AROUND AUGUST, SEPTEMBER AND THAT WILL BE OUR FINAL BUDGET REQUEST. MORE TO FOLLOW ON THAT ON OUR NEXT STEPS. OUR FIRST BUDGET IS COMBINED BUDGET. THIS COMBINES COMPTROLLER, MINUTES AND RECORD AND INSPECTOR GENERAL TEAM.

WE'RE REQUESTING A 13% BUDGET INCREASE.

THIS AND OUR FOLLOW ON BUDGET MADE UP OF PERSONNEL THE COLA REQUEST, AS WELL AS COMPETITIVE PAY ADJUSTMENTS IN ORDER FOR US TO BE ABLE TO MATCH SOME OF OUR COUNTY APPEARS AND OTHERS TO HELP US ATTRACT AND RETAIN TALENT.

IF YOU BREAK THE NUMBERS DOWN FURTHER OVER 90% OF COSTS GO TO POINT OF SALE SERVICES. WE DO RUN IN MY ESTIMATION A LEAN OPERATING OFFICE BUT AGAIN OUR MISSION AND WORK REQUIRES PEOPLE AND WE HAVE TO BE ABLE TO ATTRACT AND RETAIN.

NOW FOR THE SECOND BUDGETS OUR COURT SUBSIDY BUDGET WE'RE REQUESTING 900 THOUSAND INCREASE FOR THIS BUDGET BUT SIMILAR TO LAST YEAR AND I STRESS THIS. COULD NOT BE MORE GRATEFUL FOR YOU ALL OF HELPING US OVERCOME OUR FUNDING GAP THAT WE HAVE FROM THE STATE BECAUSE WE ARE ONE OF THE LEAST FUNDED COURT OPERATIONS IN OUR PEER GROUP, SIMILAR COUNTIES, ACROSS THE STATE. THANKS TO YOU ALL'S TRUST AND SUPPORT IN US WE'RE ABLE TO RETAIN OUR STAFF AS WE WORK TO FIX OUR FUNDING ISSUES AND THAT'S WHERE THIS COMES IN.

I MENTIONED LAST YEAR AND I WILL SAY OUR GOAL IS TO BRING THIS NUMBER TO 0. WE HAVE A PLAN THAT'S MADE PROGRESS AND A PLAN THAT WILL HOPEFULLY PROGRESS IN THE NEXT SESSION. ON THIS BUDGET, AS WELL AGAIN, IT'S VERY MUCH ON THE PERSONNEL SIDE VERSES OPERATIONAL.

OVER 90%. THEN WE GET BACK TO THE ZERO.

WE HAVE TWO GOALS WITH THIS PROGRAM.

NUMBER ONE, REDUCING THE SUBSIDY TO ZERO. THAT GOES AWAY AND THAT IS OUR GOAL. NUMBER TWO, IS TO REDUCE OUR OVERALL NEED FROM COUNTY. THAT COMBINED BUDGET I WOULD LIKE TO BE SEEING THAT NUMBER REDUCED, AS WELL.

OUR PLAN TO HELP MAKE THAT HAPPEN IS BY UTILIZING CPI SO THE CONSUMER PRICE INDEX TO UP DATE OUR PRICES FROM 2008 TO 2026. WHAT'S INTERESTING IS THAT THIS PAST YEAR WE HAD A C PI BILL. THAT PASSED HOUSE AND IT WAS CO-SPONSORED BY A THIRD OF THE SENATE BUT IT ONLY DEALT WITH CIVIL COURT SO ANY OTHER COURT WAS NOT PART OF THIS BILL AND IT ALSO PHASED IN THE C PI SO IT WAS NOT AN INITIAL JUMP TO 2026 PRICES AND THANKS TO THE LEGISLATIVE PROCESS THE BILL WHILE IT MADE IT THROUGH THE HOUSE AND SENATE DID NOT PASS.

BUT IT OPENED THE DOOR FOR OUR POLICY BILL TO GET THROUGH WHICH

[00:50:02]

THAT BILL IS ESTIMATED TO BRING AN ADDITIONAL 80,000 DOLLARS TO ST. JOHNS COUNTY ALONE IN F.Y. 27 AND PROJECT IN 28 ALMOST 200,000 AND WE EXPECT THAT NUMBER TO INCREASE OVERTIME.

WE'RE STARTING TO SEE ADDITIONAL IMPACTS OR ADDITIONAL REVENUE COMING IN FROM THE STATE AND THOSE DOLLARS WILL BE ALLOCATED TO HELP REDUCE THAT COURT SUBSIDY BUDGET.

CPI NEXT YEAR WE'RE GOING FOR ALL COURT FUNDING SO THAT'S CIVIL AND CRIMINAL AND UPDATING THE RECORDING FEES, AS WELL.

OUR INITIAL ESTIMATE IS IT WILL GENERATE OVER 2,000,000 IF IT PASSES. WE FEEL LIKE WE'RE IN A PRETTY GOOD SPOT FOR IT. ONE OF THOSE CO-SPONSORS WITH THE SENATE, INCOMING SENATE PRESIDENT AND IT PASSED HOUSE 117-0 SO WE'RE IN A PRETTY GOOD STANDING.

I DON'T LIKE TO COUNT MY CHICKENS BEFORE THEY HATCH BUT I THINK WE'RE IN A GOOD SPOT THAT WE SHOULD HOPEFULLY MAYBE BE SUCCESSFUL MOVING THAT BALL FURTHER DOWN THE LINE.

LAST COLUMN TO YOUR ATTENTION IS THE BUDGET REQUEST.

WE HAVE SOME SERVICES THAT WE OFFER THAT WE DO NOT GET REIMBURSED FOR. INJUNCTION IS ONE.

NO FEE CASES AND OTHERS THAT WE HAVE REQUESTED FUNDING FROM THE STATE AND IT'S CURRENTLY IN THIS YEAR'S BUDGET AWAITING THE GOVERNOR'S SIGNATURE AND THAT COMES TO $76 THOUSAND.

IN TALLAHASSEE WE'RE WORKING DILIGENTLY TO FULFILL THESE BUT WE'RE INCREDIBLY GRATEFUL FOR YOUR SUPPORT AND HELPING US OVERCOME THAT GAP. THE INVESTMENT NOW ALLOWS US TO ACCOMPLISH OUR MISSION TODAY AND IN THE FUTURE OUR IMPACTS ARE A BURDEN WE HAVE ON YA'LL TO PAY FOR SERVICES IS LESSENED.

SO LAST SLIDE I HAVE ON HERE IS OUR NEXT STEP, SO WE ARE AGAIN WORKING WITH OUR CLERK ASSOCIATION TO DEVELOP GOALS FOR NEXT YEAR. CPI.

MAYBE ADDITIONAL POLICY INITIATIVES AND ALSO, SOME OF THOSE FEE CASES. MONITORING FUNDING FOR F.Y. 27 AND WILL REDUCE BY ANY INCREASE AND LASTLY WE'RE GOING TO SUBMIT A REVISED BUDGET LETTER TO THE COUNTY IN AUGUST.

GOING ALL THE WAY BACK TO PRINCIPLES AND OUR GOAL IS TO HELP MEET THE COUNTY COLA SO WHERE IT COMES IN, WE'LL REDUCE OUR AMOUNT TO THAT IN ORDER TO MATCH YOU ON COLA AND THEN THERE ARE LIKELY ADDITIONAL REDUCTION, AS WELL AS WE GET THROUGH THE SUMMER AND SEE WHERE OUR FINAL BUDGET NUMBERS COME IN AT.

WITH THAT OONNOONY BEHALF OF THE THOUSANDS OF CUSTOMERS AND STAKEHOLDERS. THANK YOU FOR YOUR SUPPORT AND TIME AND I'M HAPPY TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS.

>> COMMISSIONER JOSEPH? >> I KNOW THAT THE INCREASES FOR THE PEOPLE THAT WORK FOR YOU. IT'S WONDERFUL BUT CAN YOU RUN THIS MORE LIKE A BUSINESS AND REALLY GO AFTER THE REVENUE?PBE THAT YOU NEED TO TAKE ADVANTAGE OF WE KNOW, AND THEN MR. HUDSON IS GETTING US SOME GRANT OPPORTUNITIES IN TALLAHASSEE,

CORRECT? >> FOR OUR OFFICE?

>> YEAH. >> HELPING US WITH OUR FUNDING YES. IN MY ESTIMATION HE'S BEEN INSTRUMENTAL TO GET THE POLICY

BILL THROUGH AND THE PROGRESS. >> THE 75,000 WE GOT WAS FROM

HIM? >> YES, MA'AM.

>> THEN I HAD A CONSTITUENT ASK ME A QUESTION.

IF YOU DON'T MIND CAN I ASK IT IF SHE'S WATCHING SHE CAN GET AN ANSWER? THERE IS A LINE ITEM.

SHE WANTS TO GET INTO THE LINE ITEM ONLINE OF THE BUDGET BUT IT ONLY GOES SO FAR BUT JUST LIKE, EXAMPLES WOULD BE IF YOU SAY, CONTRACTING, WHO THEY ARE, IS THERE ANYWAY TO SEE WHERE THE

MONEY GOES? >> FOR THE CONTRACTURAL SERVICES TO THE ERP CONSULTANT TO HELP TO PROVIDE SUPPORT FOR OUR ERP SERVICES AND IMPLEMENTATION SO THAT'S BEEN BUDGETED FOR THAT AMOUNT TO HELP US ENSURE THAT THE ERP IS FULLY EFFECTIVE AND

ONLINE. >> ACTUAL NAMES?

>> YES, MA'AM. >> SORRY.

LET ME GO TO COMMISSIONER WHITEHURST.

WE MIGHT GET THE SAME BIRD WITH THAT.

YOU HAVE THE FLOOR. >> THANK YOU MR. CHAIR AND MR. PATTY YOU SAID THAT YOU GUYS ARE ONE OF THE LEAST FUNDED COUNTY COURTHOUSE OPERATIONS IN THE STATE.

IS THAT OVERALL REVENUE OR PER CAPITA?

>> BASED ON PER CAPITA AND TOTAL REVENUE, AS WELL.

SO OUR, THE WAY IT WORKS ON THE COURTSIDE IS WE GET WHAT'S CALLED A BUDGET AUTHORITY FROM THE STATE AND I'LL USE ROUND NUMBERS. SAY WE GET ONE MILLION DOLLARS THE STATE WILL SAY YOU CAN ONLY SPEND A MILLION DOLLARS IF WE BRING IN 1.5 MILLION THAT 500,000 GOES BACK INTO THE POT SO WE'RE CAPPED AT THE ONE MILLION AND THAT'S BASED ON HOW THEY PROJECT REVENUE AND BREAK IT DOWN 67 WAYS.

SO WE ARE, WE'RE CAPPED AT OUR BUDGET AUTHORITY AND OUR BUDGET

[00:55:04]

SO THE JOB STILL HAS TO GET DONE AND WE STILL HAVE TO TAKE CARE OF OUR PEOPLE AND THE MISSION AND YOUR CONSTITUENTS AND SO THAT'S WHY A COURT SUBSIDY BUDGET IS SO INSTRUMENTAL TO

HELP US MEET THAT. >> THANK YOU MR. PATTY.

YOU SAID IN YOUR SLIDE AND SEVERAL TIMES THAT YOU ARE RUNNING 2026 OFFICE WITH 2008 PRICES.

THOSE PRICES ARE CAPPED BY THE STATE SO YOU CAN'T JUST UPDATE THE PRICES ON YOUR OWN AT THE LOCAL LEVEL YOU NEED PERMISSION

FROM THE STATE? >> IT REQUIRES STATUTORY CHANGE CONSIDER AND FEE BILL THAT REQUIRES TWO THIRDS OF THE HOUSE AND THE SENATE AND SIGNATURE BY THE GOVERNOR SO A HIGH BAR TO

CROSS. >> COMMISSIONER JOSEPH MADE A COMMENT. WE'D LIKE TO SEE THE COUNTY RUN ITSELF LIKE A BUSINESS BUT I RAN A SMALL MOM AND POP FOR YEARS BRICK AND MORTAR RETAIL AND WHEN MY COSTS WENT UP I COULD RAISE THE PRICES ON THE MENU SO TO SPEAK.

I CAN'T IMAGINE PAYING TODAY'S PAYROLL WITH 2008 PRICES THAT'S HARDER TO RUN IT LIKE A BUSINESS WHEN YOU ARE RESTRICTED BY THE STATE. YOU ALSO WOULD YOU GO BACK TO THE SLIDE WHERE YOU ARE TURNING IN THE UNUSED FUNDS? THAT'S EACH FISCAL YEAR YOU ARE TURNING BACK SOME AMOUNT OF MONEY. WHAT IS THE TOTAL? I'M TRYING TO DO QUICK MATH. LOOKS LIKE 1.2 MILLION OVER THE

LAST THREE FISCAL YEARS? >> 1.2, 1.5.

>> WHAT'S THE CALCULUS FOR YOU AND THOSE IN YOUR OFFICE, WHY DON'T YOU KEEP THE MONEY IN CASE OF A RAINY DAY.

YOU HAVE BEEN GOOD STEWARDS AND ARE TURNING BACK IN EVERYTHING YOU DON'T USE. WHAT'S THE LOGIC?

>> THANK YOU FOR THE QUESTION. WE HAVE WHAT WE HAVE WITH OUR OFFICE IS A RESERVE FUND THAT WAS SET UP MANY YEARS AGO IN ORDER TO HELP USES A RAINY DAY FUND.

YOU HAVE BEEN SO GRACIOUS IN HELPING US MEET YOUR COLA THAT WE WANTED TO OFFER BACK THE REVERSE AND WITHOUT PUTTING ADDITIONAL DOLLARS IN THE RAINY DAY FUND.

WE WOULD IN THE SENSE OF JUST BEING PARTNERS IN RECOGNITION THAT WE'RE ASKING FOR ADDITIONAL PHYSICAL SUPPORT THAT WE OFFER THE REVERSION BACK BUT IF YOU DECIDE TO ALLOCATE THAT AT THE END OF THE YEAR WE'RE OPEN TO IT AND WELCOME IT.

>> I WANT TO MAKE A FINAL COMMENT.

WHEN EVERY PENNY MATTERS. IT JUST GIVE PLEASE A GREAT DEAL OF COMFORT TO SEE THERE IS A TRACK RECORD OF YOU BEING A GOOD STEWARD OF THE MONEY YOU HAVE BEEN GIVEN.

>> THANK YOU. COMMISSIONER TAYLOR?

>> YES, GREAT. THANK YOU SO MUCH AND I'M GLAD, I HAD A QUESTION ABOUT THE PAGE THAT'S UP ON THE TOP LINE FOR COMPTROLLERS. WHAT WAS SO DIFFERENT ABOUT 2024? WHY IS IT ONLY A LITTLE OVER

$17,000? >> I WILL GET INTO SPECIFICS ON THE LINE ITEM ABOUT WHY THE NUMBER WAS WHERE IT WAS BUT GENERALLY WHERE IT COMES DOWN IS IT'S POSITIONAL FILLS.

DURING THIS TIME PERIOD WE WERE TRYING TO EXPAND THE INSPECTOR GENERAL TO OFFER AUDIT SUPPORT AND INVESTIGATIVE SUPPORT.

WE HAD POSITIONS CREATED BUT NOT NECESSARILY FILLED.

SO WHEN THAT HAPPENS, THE DOLLARS GO UNSPENT AND AT THE END OF THE YEAR WE SEND THEM BACK TO COUNTY.

IF YOU LOOK AT F.Y. 23 THAT'S WHERE SOME OF THE POSITIONS WERE CREATED AND FILLED. MAYBE GAPPED.

THAT CAUSED SOME OF THE NUMBERS TO DROP AND THEN COME BACK UP.

I'LL FIND OUT SPECIFICALLY AND PROVIDE THAT BACK.

>> THAT WOULD BE GREAT JUST BECAUSE IT IS SO DIFFERENT THAN

THE OTHER YEARS. >> IT'S ONE OF THOSE WHERE I LIKE TO ON ONE HAND I'M OF THE MINDSET THAT WHEN WE ASK, I LIKE BUDGET AND ACTUALSTO BE TIGHT TOGETHER FROM A BUSINESS PERSPECTIVE BUT I ALSO RECOGNIZE THAT SOMETIMES THERE ARE EXTERNAL FACTORS THAT PLAY A PART INTO THE BUDGET NUMBERS CONTRACTING EXPANDING. WE MIGHT HAVE SOMEONE THAT LEAVES THE OFFICE THAT WAS AT A MORE SENIOR LEVEL.

THAT WILL INCREASE THE REVERSION BACK TO COUNTY AND WE'RE NOT ONE TO SPEND FRIVOLOUSLY. WE WANT TO BE DILIGENT WITH TAXPAYER DOLLARS BUT WE'RE HERE TO TAKE CARE OF OUR MISSION SO THE NUMBERS DO FLUCTUATE AT TIMES.

[01:00:03]

>> I WANT TO CLARIFY THE REVENUE STATEMENT.

THERE ARE THINGS NOT CONTROLLED BY THE GOVERNMENT FOR REVENUE.

I KNOW YOU HAVE A BEAUTIFUL WEDDING SET UP AND PEOPLE PAY TO HAVE THEIR WEDDINGS THERE. THERE ARE OTHER OPPORTUNITIES TO BRING IN REVENUE IN YOUR DEPARTMENT, CORRECT?

>> THAT ARE OUTSIDE THE STATUTORY?

YES, MA'AM BUT THEY ARE VERY - >> YOU KNOW, MAYBE WE CAN GET CREATIVE AND FIGURE OUT ANOTHER WAY.

>> THANK YOU FOR THAT. YOU KNOW FOR US, A BIG PART IS THE STATUTORY REQUIREMENTS OF BEING ABLE TO UP DATE THOSE BECAUSE THOSE REALLY ARE THE CHIEF DRIVER.

SOME OF THE AREAS THAT, TO YOUR POINT, WE OFFER WEDDING PHOTOGRAPHS AS A SERVICE BUT IT DOESN'T HAVE NEARLY THE FISCAL IMPACT OF MARRIAGE LICENSES THEMSELVES.

>> ANYTHING ELSE FROM THE BOARD? PUBLIC COMMENT?

>> AT THIS TIME WE'LL TAKE PUBLIC COMMENT ON AGENDA ITEM 2.

COME ON UP. >> I'M REYNOLDS.

MILE 223084. COMMISSIONERS, THE CLERK OF COURT DOES A GOOD JOB. I'VE HAD BUSINESS AT THE CLERK SEVERAL TIMES OVER THE LAST FEW YEARS BUT I WANT TO TELL YOU, I CAN'T GIVE THE CLERK OF COURT AN A RATING.

I WANT TO TELL YOU THAT SOMETHING HAPPENED LAST FALL.

A REALLY GOOD WOMAN, MIDDLE AGE WOMAN WAS ARRESTED AT THE BEACH AND TRULY IT SHOCKED ME. JUST AS MUCH AS IF ONE OF YOU WOMEN WERE ARRESTED. LIKE HOW COULD THIS HAPPEN? I CONDUCTED AN INVESTIGATION AND TRULY THE WOMAN WAS BEING STALKED BY A ST. AUGUSTINE BEACH POLICE OFFICER NAMED SHAWN MORON. THIS IS WHAT IT HAS DO WITH THE CLERK OF COURT. THE MOST IMPORTANT JOB SO TO HAVE AN ASSISTANT CLERK OF COURT AT FIRST APPEARANCE AND THAT ASSISTANT CLERK RECORDS SOMETHING.

AND IT'S A VERY, VERY POWERFUL JOB.

THIS WOMAN ASKED FOR AN ATTORNEY, A PUBLIC DEFENDER.

THE FORUM ON THE CLERK OF COURTS WEBSITE IS UNSIGNED.

SHE WANTED AN ATTORNEY. THAT ASSISTANT CLERK OF COURT PRESENTED TO THE JUDGE AND SAID, SHE DOESN'T WANT AN ATTORNEY.

TO ME THAT'S A VERY DANGEROUS PERSON.

I WANT TO TELL YOU SOMETHING, FOLKS.

I LEARN AND WHOLE LOT AND I'M NOT TOO HAPPY.

I KNOW YOU PROBABLY KNOW THIS. THE ST. AUGUSTINE BEACH POLICE DEPARTMENT IS THE WORST POLICE DEPARTMENT.

THEY HAVE ABSOLUTELY PROVEN BEYOND A SPECK OF A DOUBT THEY ARE CORRUPT. WHEN THEY LET THE GUY GO FOR RUNNING THE RED LIGHT WITH THREE LOADED GUNS IN THE CAR, SMOKING MARIJUANA. THAT WAS DAVID SHORE.

SEE? I WANT TO TELL YOU SOMETHING.

I LIKE BRANDON PATTY AND THE SERVICE I GET THERE BUT AFTER WHAT I LEARNED ABOUT THIS CASE, AND THAT PUBLIC PRETENDER, MATT, OH MY GOD HE DIDN'T EVEN KNOW THAT A HOMELESS PERSON CAN'T GET A BAIL BONDS. TO ME, MATT METZ THE PUBLIC PRETENDER LIVES UP TO THE NAME AND HE'S NOTHING MORE THAN AN UNDERCOVER STOOGE FOR THE MOST DERELICT INDIVIDUAL THAT I'VE EVER COME ACROSS AND HIS NAME IS R.J. THE STATE ATTORNEY.

NOBODY HAS DONE AS MUCH DERELICTS IN THEIR JOB AS HE.

THANKS FOR TAKING PUBLIC COMMENT.

>> THANK YOU. ANYONE ELSE?

>> CITY OF ST. AUGUSTINE. CAN YOU EXPLAIN TO THE PUBLIC, WHICH IS GOOD, WE CAN HAVE PUBLIC COMMENT FOR THIS CONSTITUTIONAL OFFICER AND WE DIDN'T HAVE IT FOR THE SHERIFF.

NOW ARE WE GOING TO HAVE IT FOR MS. VICKI SO WE'LL UNDERSTAND AND MAYBE DO SOME RESEARCH BECAUSE USUALLY WE DIDN'T HAVE PUBLIC CONTENT BUT TODAY WE ARE FOR MR. PATTY WHICH I APPRECIATE BUT WE NEED TO KNOW WHAT THE PROCEDURE IS.

[01:05:02]

THANK YOU. >> THANK YOU.

ANYONE ELSE AT THIS TIME? OKAY.

SEEING NONE WE'LL CLOSE PUBLIC COMMENT ON AGENDA ITEM 2.

>> THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR YOUR PRESENTATION.

APPRECIATE IT. YOU ARE FREE TO GO.

[1. ATTORNEY-CLIENT SESSION PURSUANT TO 286.011(8), FLORIDA STATUTES. ]

>> THANK YOU. CHAIRMAN AND COMMISSIONERS,

THANK YOU. >> DO WE HAVE TIME TO GET ONE

MORE? >> OKAY.

>> THIS AGENDA ITEM NUMBER ONE CONCERNS ONE OF THE COUNTY'S ON-GOING LAWSUITS DO. YOU HAVE A STATEMENT?

>> YES. AT THIS TIME I WANT TO INFORM THE BOARD THAT I DO NEED YOUR ADVICE. RELATED TO A PENDING LAWSUIT.

SCOTT BUT LARD AND AS PARTY TO THAT UNDER 2091276 THIS ALLOWS THE BOARD TO MEET PRIVATELY TO OBTAIN ADVICE AND DIRECTION AND

TAKE ACTION. >> THANK YOU BUT AN OF THAT I CLOSE CONCERNING BUT LARD AND WE'LL ESTIMATED TO LAST ABOUT 15 MINUTES IN THE CONFERENCE ROOM. THE PERSONS ATTENDING ARE ME, VICE-CHAIR COMMISSIONER TAYLOR AND COMMISSIONER ARNOLD AND DEPUTY COUNTY BRADLEY. RICH AND ASSISTANT COUNTY ATTORNEY AND THE COURT REPORTER. WE'LL NOW TAKE A BRIEF RECESS.

[3. Constitutional Officers’ Fiscal Year 2027 Budget Presentations - The Supervisor of Elections.]

>> WE ARE NOW RECONVENED. WE'LL GO TO AGENDA ITEM THREE.

HONORABLE VICKI OATS YOU HAVE THE FLOOR, MA'AM.

>> GOOD MORNING CHAIR. VICE-CHAIR AND COMMISSIONERS.

DO YOU HAVE MY POWER POINT AVAILABLE? THERE WE GO. OKAY.

GREAT. HERE TO PRESENT MY BUDGET IF I CAN GIVE YOU AN UPDATE AT THE ELECTIONS OFFICE.

SO SINCE LAST YEAR WE'VE BEEN WORKING ON POLLING PLACE CHANGES. AS YOU KNOW WE CAME AND REQUESTS SOME PRECINCTS BE DIVIDED BECAUSE OF THE GROWTH IN THE COUNTY AND ADDITIONAL POLLING PLACES WERE NEEDED.

SO WHILE WE WERE REVIEWING OUR POLLING PLACES WE LOOKED AT SOME OF THE SMALLER PRECINCTS AND WE HAD BEEN ABLE TO COMBINE LOCATIONS SO EVEN THOUGH WE HAVE INCR INCREASED THIS YEAR OUR ELECTION DAY POLLING PLACES ARE ACTUALLY DOWN BY ONE COMPARED TO THE 24 ELECTIONS.

WE'RE GOING TO CONTINUE THIS TO BEST USE OUR WORKFORCE ON ELECTION DAY. WE WILL HAVE MORE CHANGES COMING IN 27 BECAUSE OF THE GROWTH OF THE COUNTY.

BUT OUR POLLING PLACE CHANGES ARE FINISHED AND THEY'VE BEEN RELEASED AND ARE ON OUR WEBSITE. ANY EFFECTIVE VOTERS HAVE BEEN MAILED VOTER REGISTRATION CARDS AND PROVIDED THE INFORMATION SO

WE'RE READY TO GO. >> I'M SORRY I DON'T MEAN TO INTERRUPT BUT CAN YOU CLARIFY. THE GENERAL ONLY IN NOVEMBER

WHEN YOU LOOK AT THIS? >> NO.

IT'S THE SAME FOR BOTH THE PRIMARY AND THE GENERAL ELECTION

FOR THIS YEAR. >> OH.

OKAY. >> THERE'S A COMPLETE.

THIS IS ONLY THE PRECINCTS AFFECTED WITH THE POLLING PLACE CHANGES. WE WILL BE OPENING 42 ELECTION DAY POLLING PLACES THAT COMPLETE LIST IS ON MY WEBSITE.

>> THANK YOU. >> YOU'RE WELCOME.

IT'S BEEN A BUSY TIME THE LAST THREE WEEKS AT THE ELECTIONS OFFICE. WE HAVE QUALIFYING GOING ON.

THIS YEAR WE ACTUALLY HAD 99 OPEN SEATS THAT WE WERE COLLECTING PAPERS FROM. YOU MIGHT NOTICE THAT THE LARGEST GROUP ARE CD'S OUR COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT DISTRICTS AS THEY CONTINUE TO COME ONLINE AND MY OFFICE TAKES OVER THE CANDIDATE QUALIFYING, THAT CONTINUES TO ADD SEATS THAT WE PROVIDE AND QUALIFY CANDIDATES FOR.

QUALIFYING ENDED LAST FRIDAY AT NOONTIME.

OUR BALLOTS ARE SET. WE ACTUALLY HAD 128 CANDIDATES FILE, NOT ALL OF THEM QUALIFIED, BUT 112 CANDIDATES QUALIFIED THIS YEAR FOR THE 26 ELECTIONS. THE SAME THING WAS GOING ON AT THE STATE WITH STATE AND FEDERAL CANDIDATES.

WE WILL ON FRIDAY RECEIVE THE LIST AND CERTIFICATIONS FROM THE STATE SO WE CAN MOVE FORWARD WITH THE BALLOT CERTIFICATIONS AND VOTE BY MAIL BALLOTS FOR THE PRIMARY ELECTION.

THOSE WILL GO IN THE MAIL ON JULY 2ND.

ABOUT TEN DAYS LATER FOLLOWED BY THE DOMESTICITY RUN OF VOTE BY MAIL BALLOTS. SO WE'RE OFF TO THE RACES.

[01:10:05]

FOR BOTH COUNTY COMMISSION RACES, AS YOU ALL ARE FAMILIAR, WE, BOTH RACES ONLY REPUBLICAN CANDIDATES QUALIFIED, SO WHAT THAT MEANS IS, BOTH RACES WILL BE SETTLED IN THE PRIMARY ELECTION, AND WILL NOT MOVE FORWARD TO THE GENERAL ELECTION.

THIS IS A VERY SPECIFIC CIRCUMSTANCE THAT HAS NOT HAPPENED SINCE 2016 FOR COUNTY COMMISSIONERS.

BECAUSE IT BECOMES A UNIVERSAL PRIMARY CONTEST, BOTH OF THESE RACES WILL BE OPEN TO ALL REGISTERED VOTERS IN THE COUNTY AND EVERYONE WILL BE ELIGIBLE TO VOTE ON COUNTY COMMISSIONERS THIS YEAR. IT WILL LOOK ODD BECAUSE THEY ARE REPUBLICAN RACES BUT THOSE TWO REPUBLICAN RACES WILL APPEAR NOT ONLY ON THE REPUBLICAN BALLOT BUT ALSO ON THE DEMOCRATIC BALLOT AND THE NON-PARTISAN BALLOT, AS WELL.

SO OUR AUGUST PRIMARY ELECTION IS OPEN TO ALL REGISTERED VOTERS IN ST. JOHNS COUNTY. I'VE LEFT FOR EACH ONE OF YOU OUR FAVORED CITIZENS GUIDE. PUBLICATION, AS YOU KNOW, THAT WE MAIL TO OUR VOTERS. THEY ARE IN PRINT AND THEY ARE GOING IN THE MAIL STARTING NEXT WEEK.

THERE WILL BE A 133052 GUIDES DELIVERED TO EVERY RESIDENTIAL MAILBOX IN ST. JOHNS COUNTY INCLUDING POST OFFICE BOXES THAT ARE RESIDENTIAL. THIS IS SOME OF THE BEST MONEY THAT I SPEND WHERE I CAN PUT INFORMATION ON THE UPCOMING FALL ELECTIONS IN OUR VOTER'S HOMES. MAILING IS SO LARGE THIS YEAR WE HAVE REQUESTED THAT POST OFFICE SPLIT THE MAILINGS.

SO THE FIRST SHIPMENT WILL GO NEXT WEEK.

IT WILL BE TO ALL ST. AUGUSTINE ZIP CODES.

THE SECOND MAILING WILL GO THE WEEK OF THE 29TH.

THOSE WILL GO TO ELKTON, HASTINGS, UPON THE VE DOCTOR, NORTHWEST ST. JOHNS COUNTY AND THE REMINDER OF THE COUNTY SO EVERY VOTER SHOULD HAVE THEM OR EVERY CITIZEN SHOULD HAVE THEM IN THEIR HOME BY THE JULY FOURTH WEEKEND.

I WANT TO REMIND OUR VOTERS, WE HAVE WONDERFUL RESOURCES AVAILABLE RIGHT ON OUR WEBSITE. WE WILL RECEIVE THE FINAL LIST FROM THE STATE, QUALIFIED CANDIDATES, THIS FRIDAY.

BEGINNING NEXT WEEK, YOU'LL SEE TWO ADDITIONS TO THE WEBSITE.

UNDER ELECTION DATES WE'LL POST OUR FINAL QUALIFIED CANDIDATE LIST AND WE'LL ALSO POST OUR PRIMARY ELECTION CANDIDATE LIST SO EVERYONE THAT WILL BE ON THE PRIMARY BALLOT WILL BE ON THE SPECIFIC LIST. ONE OF THE BEST TOOLS FOR OUR VOTERS ON OUR WEBSITE IS CALLED MY VOTER STATUS.

VOTERS CAN CLICK ON IT, TYPE IN THEIR INFORMATION, PULL UP THEIR OWN VOTER RECORD AND LOOK AT THEIR INFORMATION, VERIFY THEIR ADDRESS, POLLING PLACE, THIS IS WHERE VOTERS ARE GOING TO BE ABLE TO SEE THEIR SAMPLE BALLOT ONLINE.

THOSE WILL BE AVAILABLE IN MID JULY.

THEY WILL BE MAILED TO ALL VOTERS ABOUT THREE WEEKS PRIOR TO THE ELECTION. ADDITIONALLY, VOTE BY MAIL BALLOTS CAN BE REQUESTED BY MY VOTER STATUS.

ONCE THEY REQUEST THE BALLOT AND THEY ARE MAILED.

THEY VOTE AND THEN TURN THEM BACK.

THEY CAN GO BACK ON OUR WEBSITE, VERIFY THAT MY OFFICE HAS RECEIVED THEIR VOTE BY MAIL BALLOT AND ALSO, THEY CAN VERIFY THAT THEIR VOTE BY MAIL BALLOT HAS BEEN COUNTED.

THIS IS A GREAT TOOL THAT WE HAVE AND I ENCOURAGE VOTERS IF YOU HAVE NOT ALREADY, PLEASE USE THIS AND BECOME FAMILIAR WITH IT. SO, WITH THAT I'LL GO RIGHT INTO MY BUDGET THAT I HAVE SUBMITTED TO THIS YEARS NORMAL.

I PROVIDE A PRINTED PUBLICATION FOR YOU ALL WITH MY LINE ITEM REQUEST AND DESCRIPTIONS AND JUSTIFICATIONS FOR EACH.

>> JUST A MOMENT. I WANT TO SO WE DON'T GO BEYOND THE ELECTION PART. IF SOMEONE WANTS A MAIL-IN BALLOT DO THEY DO IT NOW OR IS THERE A DATE THEY CAN REQUEST

[01:15:01]

FOR IT MAIL-IN? >> THEY CAN DO IT NOW.

>> DO IT NOW. >> SOUNDS GOOD.

>> IF YOU HAVE NOT ALREADY. SOME PEOPLE MAY HAVE MADE A REQUEST EARLIER IN THE YEAR. YOU CAN USE THE TOOL, MY VOTER STATUS AND LOOK AND SEE IF YOU HAVE ALREADY HAD ONE ON FILE.

IF YOU DON'T HAVE A REQUEST, NOW IS THE TIME TO REQUEST IT.

THERE IS A DEADLINE AND IT'S ABOUT AUGUST THE 6TH FOR THE

PRIMARY ELECTION. >> THANK YOU SO MUCH.

>> YOU'RE WELCOME. >> COMMISSIONER TAYLOR ONE MORE

QUESTION? >> BEFORE WE LEAVE THE BUDGET.

SINCE WE WERE TALKING ABOUT ELECTION WITH THAT UNIVERSAL PRIMARY THIS YEAR, THAT SOUNDS LIKE IT'S KIND OF UNUSUAL.

NOW HOW DOES THAT WORK? IS IT JUST THE MOST VOTES? BECAUSE I KNOW WITH THE SCHOOL BOARD THEY THOUGHT IT WOULD BE DONE AND THEN IT WENT INTO NOVEMBER.

LAWS THAT WORK WITH ALL THE CANDIDATES? YOU JUST HAVE TO HAVE THE MOST VOTE?

>> OKAY. I WAS JUST CURIOUS.

>> THANK YOU. >> MY BUDGET IS ON A FOUR YEAR CYCLE. WHAT AFFECTS MY BUDGET THE MOST IS THE TYPE OF ELECTION. THE NUMBER OF ELECTIONS, AND ANTICIPATED TURN-OUT FOR EACH ELECTION.

CURRENTLY I'M IN YEAR THREE. YEAR THREE IS A GUBERNATORIAL PRIMARY ELECTION. YOU WILL SEE IT IS A BIT LOWER ON THE FOUR YEAR CYCLE BECAUSE THE YEAR TWO, SAY PRESIDENTIAL GENERAL ELECTION, AND THEN THE BUDGET THAT I'M PRESENTED NOW IS YEAR FOUR, WHICH CONTAINS THE GUBERNATORIAL GENERAL ELECTION.

AND WHY? BECAUSE IT COSTS MORE TO CONDUCT THE GENERAL ELECTION THAN IT DOES A PRIMARY ELECTION.

LOOKING AT THE DIFFERENCE IN THE TURN-OUT.

THERE IS A VAST DIFFERENCE AND THE NUMBER OF VOTERS THAT TURN-OUT AND PARTICIPATE IN OUR ELECTIONS.

WE HAVE MORE DAYS OF EARLY VOTING.

WE HAVE A LONGER HOURS OF EARLY VOTING.

ADDITIONAL EARLY VOTING SITES AND OF COURSE THAT REQUIRES STAFFING AS OUR POLL WORKERS, AS WELL.

SO FOR THIS ELECTION FOR THE GENERAL ELECTION WE PLAN ON USING TEN EARLY VOTING SITES. THESE ARE REQUIRED TO BE GOVERNMENT BUILDINGS AND SO WE TRY TO USE THE FACILITATES THAT WE HAVE CURRENTLY AVAILABLE FOR THIS YEAR.

SO THE FISCAL IMPACTS ARE OBVIOUSLY THE COST OF CONDUCTING A GENERAL ELECTION. WE IN 27 ARE LOOKING AT DUE TO THE GROWTH IN THE COUNTY, ADDITION OF THREE TO FOUR MORE PRECINCTS THIS YEAR. AND THEN GENERALLY THE COST OF DOING BUSINESS HAS INCREASED AS IT HAS WITH EVERYONE.

WE DO A LOT OF MAILING AT MY OFFICE.

MY MAIL IS REQUIRED TO BE FIRST CLASS AND THE POSTAGE INCREASES ARE KILLING ME AND I'LL LEAVE IT AT THAT.

SO MY INCREASE THIS YEAR IS ABOUT A 7.5 INCREASE WHICH AMOUNTS TO ABOUT 330 THOUSAND DOLLARS OVER LAST YEAR'S BUDGET.

I DO HAVE TWO SEPARATE BUDGETS. ONE FOR THE OFFICE AND THEN ONE FOR THE ELECTION. I ALSO LIKE TO DISCUSS WHEN I PRESENT MY BUDGET MY FIVE YEAR STRATEGIC PLAN AND SOME OF THE AFFECTS THAT ARE NOT ONLY TO ALL COUNTY AGENCIES BUT MY OFFICE, AS WELL. AS THE COUNTY GROWS.

OUR REGISTERED VOTERS CONTINUE TO INCREASE.

THAT GREATLY AFFECTS MY OFFICE. THAT WAS APRIL OF 26 AND WE'RE NOW BY THE END OF THIS MONTH WE'LL BE AT 240 THOUSAND AND WE'RE LOOKING AT 245,000 POTENTIALLY FOR THE GENERAL ELECTION. SO THIS IS WHAT 18 YEARS OF GROWTH LOOKS LIKE FOR MY OFFICE. I'VE BEEN IN THE SAME SPACE FOR THE LAST 18 YEARS. EVEN THOUGH WE'VE HAD MASSIVE GROWTH IN THE COUNTY. AND IT DOES AFFECT EVERY SINGLE ASPECT OF MY OFFICE FROM STAFFING, TO OUR PRECINCTS, TO EARLY VOTING SITES, TO THE NUMBER OF WORKERS REQUIRED TO PROVIDE SERVICES FOR OUR VOTERS. SO A LITTLE HISTORY TO OUR COUNTY, MY OFFICE HAS BEEN IN THE SAME BUILDING FOR THE LAST

[01:20:04]

ALMOST DOUBLE THAT NOW AND IN 21 I CAME TO THIS BOARD AND REQUESTED MORE SPACE. IN 22, I WAS ALLOCATED APPROXIMATELY 2,000,000 TO BE ABLE TO EXPAND THE OFFICE.

WE DID RECEIVE FROM THE CLERK SOME ADDITIONAL WAREHOUSE SPACE THAT WORKED GREAT BECAUSE IT WAS ADJACENT TO MY WAREHOUSE AND I KNOW YOU HAVE ALL BEEN AND WALKED THROUGH THE WAREHOUSE AND SEEN THAT. GREAT COLLABORATION FROM THE CLERK AND I THANK HIM AGAIN FOR THAT.

THAT ENABLED US TO STAY IN ONE LOCATION AND NOT HAVE TO SPLIT OUR OFFICE AND OPERATE OUT OF AN OFF-SITE LOCATION FOR OUR WARE WAREHOUSE.

BUT WE NEED SPACE. AND IT'S BEEN PLANNED FOR.

SOME OF THE IMMEDIATE NEEDS WE HAVE ARE THAT 35 TO 40 PART TIME HELP THAT WE USE AT ELECTION TIME HAVE NO PLACE TO SIT.

I HAVE NO BATHROOMS OR PLACE FOR THEM TO PARK SO I'VE BEEN WORKING WITH COUNTY TO REQUEST ADDITIONAL SPACE.

THERE ARE PLANS IN THE WORKS, BEEN WORKING WITH ARCHITECT TO DESIGN PLANS AND THAT IS IN PROCESS NOW.

SOME OF OUR ADDITIONS WILL BE ABOUT 4,000 SQUARE FEET INCREASES AND AN ADDITIONAL TRAINING CENTER ON THE SOUTH END OF THE BUILDING FOR THE ADDITIONAL POLL WORKERS THAT WILL BECOMING ONLINE AND THEN IN ADDITION TO THE NORTH END OF THE BUILDING FOR EXPANSION OF OUR CANVASSING BOARDROOM AND ADDICTION OF PUBLIC ROOMS TO THE OFFICE.

SO THAT IS MY REQUEST THAT I HAVE THE SUPPORT OF THIS BOARD TO CONTINUE THIS PROJECT AND WITH THAT I WILL BE HAPPY TO

TAKE ANY QUESTIONS YOU HAVE. >> OKAY.

ANY QUESTIONS FROM BOARD? ALRIGHT.

LET'S DO A PUBLIC COMMENT? >> AT THIS TIME WE'LL TAKE PUBLIC COMMENT ON AGENDA ITEM NUMBER THREE.

COME ON UP. >> KYLE REYNOLDS.

1240. 32084.

FOLKS, I GOT TO TELL YOU. WE ARE PART OF HISTORY.

WITH A WHEN I JUST HEARD SUPERVISOR OAKS SAY EVERYBODY IN THE COUNTY WILL HAVE A CRACK AT VOTING I SAID FATHER ALMIGHTY THANK YOU SO MUCH BECAUSE WHAT THIS REALLY MEANS IS, FOR THE FIRST TIME IN A LONG TIME, NO SIMPLE LATER.

HATING OF DEMOCRACY SIGNED UP TO THROW A MONKEY WRENCH INTO VOTING. IT'S NO SECRET THAT THE WAY SMAJ REGISTERED REPUBLICANS SO THIS ELECTION HONESTLY I GOT GOOSEBUMPS OVER THIS AND IT REALLY IS BECAUSE I USED TO THINK, WHAT KIND OF PERSON RUNS DOWN, FILLS OUT A SIMPLE FORM, CALLS THEMSELVES AS WRITE IN CANDIDATE BUT IN THEIR MIND, THEIR HEART AND THEIR GUT, THEY KNOW THEY ARE REALLY JUST PROTECTING OTHER PEOPLE FROM VOTING.

I WOULD LIKE IF SUPERVISOR OAKS COULD CLEAR SOMETHING UP FOR ME.

BECAUSE I CAN'T REALLY GET AN ANSWER TO THIS.

OVER AT THE SUPERVISOR OF ELECTIONS WEBSITE THERE IS A SIGN, NO CAMPAIGNING IN THAT BUILDING.

YOU KNOW WHICH IS BEAUTIFUL. YOU CAN'T HAVE PEOPLE CAMPAIGNING WHEN THEY ARE SIGNING UP OR EVEN REALLY BEING POLITICAL. BUT I WAS WONDERING IF SUPERVISOR OAKS WOULD CLEAR UP, DOES THAT MEAN THIS BUILDING? IF SOMEBODY CAME IN HERE, AND LET'S SAY THEY DECIDED TO PASS OUT FLIERS AND RE-ELECT THIS PERSON TO ALL THE PEOPLE, WOULD THAT BE BREAKING THE LAW OR BREAKING THE RULE? YOU KNOW AND HONESTLY I GOT TO TELL YOU SOMETHING.

I'VE ASKED A HALF A DOZEN REALLY PROMINENT PEOPLE THIS QUESTION.

COULD SOMEBODY COME TO THIS MICROPHONE AND PUT ON THE OVERHEAD AND VOTE COMMISSIONER JOSEPH.

COULD THEY WEAR A SHIRT? I MEAN WHERE DO WE GO?

[01:25:02]

THANK YOU. >> THANK YOU.

>> YES. I'M JUDY AND I LIVE AT 101 GREEN WILLOW LANE AND I CAN START THE CLOCK. AND I UM... WANTED TO TALK ABOUT THE TRANSPARENCY OF OUR ELECTION PROCESS.

USUALLY VICKI OAKS IS VERY GOOD AT TALKING ABOUT THAT AND WE HAVE JUST BEEN INVOLVED FOR A COUPLE OF YEARS NOW.

A COUPLE OF ELECTIONS IN TRAINING AS POLL WORKERS.

AND IN BEING IN THE OFFICE AND WORKING AND WE HAVE GOT A TREMENDOUSLY SECURE ELECTION PROCESS.

EVERYONE OF YOU CAN BE FULLY CONFIDENT THAT YOUR VOTE COUNTS, THAT YOUR VOTE IS NOT SCRUTINIZED IF THERE IS AN ISSUE. THEY WILL GET IN TOUCH WITH YOU TO DETERMINE WHAT YOU WERE TRYING TO DO WITH YOUR VOTE.

WE HAVE A REALLY GOOD SECURE PROCESS AND THERE IS NO ROOM FOR SHENANIGANS GOING ON SO ENCOURAGE PEOPLE TO GO OUT AND VOTE. YOUR VOTE COUNTS AND REALLY MATTERS AND IT'S IMPORTANT EVEN THOUGH THIS IS A MIDDLE YEAR ELECTION. IT IS A GOOD THING AND WE HAVE A SUPER INCREDIBLY WONDERFUL DEPARTMENT HERE.

THANK YOU. >> THANK YOU.

ALRIGHT. ANY OTHER PUBLIC COMMENT AT THIS TIME? ON E

ON AGENDA ITEM THREE? >> BJ.

WEST CITY OF ST. AUGUSTINE I GUESS I DIDN'T HEAR AN ANSWER TO THE QUESTION I ASKED BEFORE. HOW COME WE DIDN'T HAVE PUBLIC COMMENT WHENEVER A CONSTITUTIONAL OFFICE SHERIFF SHOWED UP AND YET WE'VE HAD TWO PUBLIC COMMENTS ON THESE TWO THAT CAME TO EXPLAIN THEIR BUDGETS TO US TODAY?

THANK YOU. >> THANK YOU.

ALRIGHT. ANYONE ELSE AT THIS TIME? SEEING NONE WE'LL CLOSE PUBLIC COMMENT ON AGENDA ITEM NUMBER

THREE. >> ANY OTHER COMMENTS FROM THE BOARD? THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR YOUR PRESENTATION TODAY. I REALLY APPRECIATE YOU.

[4. Public Hearing * REZ 2026-01 3025 Old Moultrie Road. ]

NOW YOU CAN GO. >> NO RECORD.

>> THANK YOU SO MUCH. COMMISSIONER JOSEPH?

>> TWO OR MORE E-MAIL AND NO MEETINGS.

>> COMMISSIONER WHITEHURST? >> NO RECORD.

>> COMMISSIONER TAYLOR? >> THREE PLUS, E-MAILS AND NO

MEETINGS. >> I GOT NO E-MAILS FROM RESIDENTS OR STAFF AND NO MEETINGS.

YOU HAVE THE FLOOR. >> I'M MIKE AND WE'RE HERE TO ASK FOR YOUR REZONING OF 30205 OLD MOULTRIE ROAD.

WHAT WE'D LIKE TO DO CURRENTLY THE ZONING IS OPEN RURAL AND WE'RE ASKING FOR YOUR APPROVAL TO REZONE IT TO RS 3 TO BE IN ALIGNMENT AND CONSISTENT WITH ALL THE OTHER HOUSE AS LONG FOX HOLLOW LANE. THIS IS GENERAL MAPS FOR YOU AND JUSTIFICATION AND A PROPOSED SITE PLAN.

THE CURRENT OR FUTURE LAND-USE DESIGNATION IS RESIDENTIAL-C.

THIS IS THE CURRENT ZONING AND AS YOU CAN SEE ALL THE OTHER HOUSE AS LONG FOX HOLLOW TRAIL ARE RS 3.

THIS ONE PARCEL HAS BEEN KIND OF SEGMENTED OUT AND IT IS OPEN RURAL SO WE'RE ASKING TO BE CONSISTENT WITH THE OTHER PARCELS ALONG THE LANE. THERE IS AN OVERALL LOCATION MAP OF THE MARE PARCEL AND AN AREAL PHOTOGRAPH.

JUSTIFICATION WE DON'T BELIEVE THERE'S ANY UNREASONABLE IMPACT ON THE CHARACTERISTICS OF THE AREA OR THE TRAFFIC FLOW.

WE DON'T BELIEVE THERE WILL BE A PUBLIC NUISANCE OR RESULT IN URBAN SPRAWL AND NO IMPACTS ON THE NATURAL ENVIRONMENT.

HERE'S A PROPOSED SITE PLAN OF WHAT THEY ARE LOOKING TO DO AND THEY ARE JUST LOOKING TO SUBDIVIDE THE ONE PLUS, OR MINUS ACRE LOT INTO TWO SINGLE FAMILY HOMES AND AS YOU CAN SEE ON THE ATTACHED EXHIBIT WE DID A RESERVE A FUTURE RIGHT AFTER TO WAY FOR THE COUNTY'S REQUIREMENTS.

[01:30:01]

>> ANY QUESTIONS FROM THE BOARD? PUBLIC COMMENT.

>> AT THIS TIME WE'LL TAKE PUBLIC COMMENT ON AGENDA ITEM NUMBER FOUR. SEEING NONE WE'LL CLOSE PUBLIC

COMMENT. >> THANK YOU SO MUCH.

BACK TO THE BOARD. ALLOW ME TO MAKE AN MOTION TO ENACT ORDINANCE 26. 19 APPROVING 2601 AT 3025 OLD MOULTRIE BASED ON FINDINGS IN THE STAFF REPORT.

WE HAVE A MOTION AND SECOND. LET'S VOTE.

AND THAT PASSES 5-0. CONGRATULATIONS.

>> THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR YOUR TIME.

[5. Public Hearing * MAJMOD 2026-02 Ashford Mills PUD.]

>> OKAY. LET'S GO TO AGENDA ITEM NUMBER FIVE AND THEN ALSO QUASI-JUDICIAL AND WE'LL START

WITH COMMISSIONER ARNOLD. >> THANK YOU.

I HAD FOUR PLUS, E-MAILS AND ALSO, A MEETING WITH THE APPLICANT. SAM AND WE DISCUSSED THE PROJECT. NO PHONE CALLS.

>> THANK YOU. COMMISSIONER JOSEPH?

>> SAME THING. TWO PLUS, E-MAILS AND I DID MEET WITH MR. SAM PAULIE AND THE TEAM.

>> THANK YOU. >> I HAD A MEETING WITH SAM AND JACOB SMITH IN THE OFFICE. WE DISCUSSED THE SITE LOCATION AND THE TWO WAIVERS. TWO E-MAILS AND A NO PHONE

CALLS. >> COMMISSIONER TAYLOR?

>> I HAD A MEETING WITH SAM YESTERDAY AND TWO E-MAILS.

>> I ALSO HAD THIS IS ONE PLUS, E-MAIL AND I HAD A MEETING WITH HIM YESTERDAY AND STAFF AND WE TALKED ABOUT THE REQUEST AND SOME OF THE PCA DECISION, SO YOU HAVE THE FLOOR, MA'AM.

>> THANK YOU. BLAIR FIGHTING AND MY ADDRESS IS 12740 GRAND BAY PARKWAY WEST. ZIP CODE 33258.

THANK YOU ALL FOR THE TIME THIS MORNING.

TODAY WE'RE GOING TO TALKING ABOUT THE ASHFORD MILLS MAJOR MODIFICATION. A SPECIFIC MODIFICATION TO A SPECIFIC PARCEL, NOT THE ENTIRE PUD.

TODAY WE HAVE THE APPLICANT MR. SAM PAULIE AND MYSELF THE PLANNER AND BILL SHILLING OUR TRAFFIC ENGINEER.

SO THE FUTURE LAND-USE OF THE PARCEL IS RESOLUTION-C ALLOWING RESIDENTIAL COMMERCIAL. NO CHANGE THERE.

AND THE ZONING IS PUD. A LOT OF PEOPLE KNOW THIS ONE AS THE SHEER WATER INSTEAD OF ASHFORD MILLS PUD BECAUSE IT'S THE MAJORIY OF THE PROJECT AND WE'RE ASKING TO MODIFY ONE PARCEL SO HERE IS THE AREAL THAT SHOWS YOU THE PARCEL IN THE PUD.

IT'S THE ENERGY TRANCE SO IF YOU ARE GOING WEST ON 210 AND TURN LEFT IT'S THAT VACANT PARCEL. WHAT'S INTERESTING ABOUT THIS IS MR. SAM PAULIE WHO IS PURCHASING THE PROPERTY OWNS THE ADJACENT COMMERCIAL PROPERTY SO ESSENTIALLY WHAT THIS MAJOR MODIFICATION REQUESTS IS TO MAKE THE PARCELS WORKING TOGETHER INSTEAD OF SILOS SO IF ANOTHER PERSON PURCHASED IT BESIDES HIM IT WOULD BE SILOED AND WE THINK IT THIS IS A MORE EFFICIENT DESIGN WITH THIS MODIFICATION. MY POWER POINT.

DARN IT. SO, THERE IS NO CHANGE TO THE EXISTING USES OR INTENSITY OF THE PUD SO I WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT'S CLEAR. THIS IS MORE OF A DESIGN STANDARDS REQUEST SO WE'RE ASKING FOR A FEW THINGS.

THE FIRST THING IS AN INTERESTING REQUEST BECAUSE RIGHT NOW THE LAND DEVELOPMENT CODE REQUIRES PUDS TO HAVE INTERCESSION CONNECTIVITY TO ADJACENT PARCELS AND I GUESS WHENEVER SHEER WATER WAS PUT INTO PLACE THAT WAS NOT A REQUIREMENT AT THE TIME SO WE'RE ACTUALLY JUST UPDATING THE TEXT TO ALLOW THAT WHICH IS REALLY NOT A WAIVER BECAUSE WE'RE MEETING CODE SO WE'RE JUST ADDING THE M B TEXT TO MEET CODE. THEN WE HAVE TWO WAIVERS.

THE TWO WAIVERS ARE LINKED. THE FIRST WAIVER IS A REDUCTION IN THE DEVELOPMENT EDGE AND I KNOW THIS IS A LOT OF WORDS.

I HAVE A PICTURE TO VISUALLY SHOW WHAT WE'RE ASKING FOR IN THE NEXT SLIDE SO WE'RE ASKING FOR A REDUCTION IN THE DEVELOPMENT EDGE ALONG JUST THE EASTERN PARCEL.

NOT THE OTHER EASTERN PROPERTY LINE, NOT THE OTHER PROPERTY LINES, JUST THE EASTERN BECAUSE MR. PAULIE OWNS THAT PARCEL TO THE EAST AND CURRENTLY THE EASTERN PARCEL ALREADY HAS A 20 FOOT DEVELOPMENT EDGE, SO WE'RE REQUESTING TO GO DOWN TO TEN FEET ON OUR SIDE SO IT WOULD BE A TOTAL OF 30 FEET BETWEEN THE TWO PARCELS AND THEIR BOTH COMMERCIAL USES, SO 30 FEET BETWEEN THE SAME USE, WE FEEL LIKE THAT'S PLENTY BUFFER AND SO WE ALSO, WE'RE KEEPING THAT 10-FOOT PUD PERIMETER BUFFER YOU ARE USED TO SEEING. ALL THE PUDS THAT YOU SEE COME THROUGH ALL HAVE THAT 10-FOOT PERIMETER BUFFER SO WE'RE NOT ASKING TO GET OUT OF THAT ONE. THEN SO THE SECOND WAIVER IS A

[01:35:02]

JUST TO MAKE SURE THAT WE CAN EXIT SAFELY.

THEN THE OTHER REQUEST IS MORE OF A WISH-LIST REQUEST.

WE THINK IT MAKES FOR A BETTER DESIGN AND WE'RE NOT SURE WE'LL BE ABLE TO DO IT BECAUSE OF STORM WATER REQUIREMENTS, THE EASTERN PARCEL THAT MR. PAULIE OWNS HAS A STORM WATER POND ON THERE AND WE'RE EXPANDING THAT TO ALLOW FOR THIS DEVELOPMENT AND WE'RE HOPING THAT WHEN THE CIVIL ENGINEER GETS INTO DESIGN HE CAN MAKE AN EFFICIENT POND SO WE CAN HAVE AN EXIT OUTRIGHT ONLY, SO THE WATER RESIDENTS CAN USE THE SITE AND EXIT INTO THEIR NEIGHBORHOOD. AND WE THINK THAT MAKES FOR A LITTLE BETTER DESIGN OF THIS SITE BUT IT IS CONTENTION ON THE STORM WATER DESIGN. THEN WE ARE REVISING THE MDP TEXT TO ALLOW DUMPSTERS IN THE ISLANDS BECAUSE THIS SITE IS ONLY 2.3 ACRES AND WE WANT TO MAKE SURE WE TRY TO ALLOW FOR THE DUMPSTERS FOR ALL OF THE TENANTS AND BECAUSE ISLANDS TEND TO BE LARGE IN ST. JOHNS COUNTY AS LONG AS WE MEET THE REQUIREMENTS WE'RE JUST ASKING FOR THAT AND IT'S NOT A WAIVER.

SO VISUALLY, THIS IS, I'LL HELP YOU.

IF YOU SEE THE BLUE AREAS THOSE ARE THE INTERCESSION CONNECTIVITIES BETWEEN THE TWO PARCELS SO WE'RE TRYING TO MAKE THE SITE FLOW TOGETHER VERSES SILOED.

THE SECOND REQUEST IS THE REDUCTION OF THE DEVELOPMENT EDGE TO TEN FEET SO WE'LL HAVE A TOTAL OF 30 FEET BETWEEN THE TWO PARCELS. THE THIRD REQUEST IS THAT POTENTIAL RIGHT OUT ONLY. WE ARE NOT SURE IF WE'RE GOING TO ABLE TO MAKE THAT WORK BUT WE THINK IT WILL HELP THE SHEER WATER RESIDENTS EXIT. THEN THE SIDEWALK IN THE PUD BUFFER AND THEN WE DON'T HAVE ANY, OH THE DUMPSTERS IN THE LANDSCAPE ISLANDS AND THEN WE DON'T HAVE WETLAND IMPACTS ON THIS SITE. SO A PSA HAD SOME AGENCY MEMBERS ASK ABOUT THE TRAFFIC FLOW AND HOW ALL THAT WORKS FROM 210 TO SHEER WATER AND THE INTERCESSION CONNECTIVITY SO BILL AND HIS TEAM DID AN ANALYSIS ON THE TRAFFIC AND HERE HE IS JUST TO EDUCATE YOU ON THAT. I'M GOING TO ASK HIM TO COME

FORWARD. >> THANK YOU, BLAIR.

I'M BILL SHILLING WITH MCKINLEY HORN AND ASSOCIATES.

GRAND BAY PARKWAY WEST. JACKSONVILLE, FLORIDA.

33258 AND I'M A PROFESSIONAL ENGINEER LICENSE IN FLORIDA.

AS BLAIR SAID, CONCERNS WERE RAISED AT OUR INITIAL MEETING AND WE ESSENTIALLY ASKED FOR A DEFERRAL SO WE COULD HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY TO DO A TRAFFIC STUDY TO ADDRESS THE CONCERNS THAT WER RAISED AND I WOULD SAY THE CONCERNS WERE GENERALLY RAISED BECAUSE THIS BUILDINGS THE GODARD SCHOOL AND THE MEMBERS HEARD IT AND WERE CONCERNED ABOUT SCHOOL TRAFFIC AND WHAT MAY HAPPEN WITH CUEING AND ET CETERA RELATED TO THE SCHOOL SO WE DID SITE OBSERVATIONS AND WE ALSO BETTER RESEARCHED A BETTER UNDERSTANDING OF HOW THE SCHOOL WORKED AND IT NAMED GODARD SCHOOL BUT IT'S A PRESCHOOL AND DAYCARE SO THIS IS A CENTER FOR VERY YOUNG CHILDREN, NOT YOUR TYPICAL SCHOOL. NOT LIKE A COUNTY SCHOOL.

THANK YOU. WHERE YOU HAVE LARGE CUEING AND LARGE DROP OURSELVES. SO IN THIS SCHOOL SERVES ABOUT 100 FAMILIES AND MANY OF THEM LIVE IN SHEER WATER AND AGAIN SO WE DID SITE OBSERVATIONS FOR MORNING DROP OURSELVES AND WHAT WE OBSERVED IS AGAIN THESE ARE YOUNG CHILDREN SO EACH FAMILY MEMBER ACTUALLY PARKS THEIR CAR AND WALKED THE CHILDREN IN UNLIKE SCHOOL OR A FOR ADDITIONAL SCHOOL THERE IS NOT A SET START TIME SO THE CHILDREN ARE DROPPED OFF BETWEEN 7:00 A.M. AND 10:00 .M. EVERY MORNING AND SO WE DID NOT OBSERVE A LARGE CUE. IN FACT, WE DID NOT OBSERVE AVENUE CUE AT ALL. WE DID COUNTS OUT ON THE SITE AND AGAIN THEP ZA MEMBERS RAISED CONCERNS WHAT MIGHT HAPPEN ON THE NORTHBOUND LEFT AND NORTHBOUND RIGHT OF SHEER WATER PARK WAY. WHAT WE FOUND IS WE DID AN ANALYSIS OF THE WIDTH CONNECTION VERSES WITHOUT CONNECTION AND WHAT WE DID FIND IS THAT THERE WAS A SLIGHT INCREASE IN NORTHBOUND LEFT TRAFFIC AND IN FACT, IN THE MORNING HOUR WE

[01:40:02]

>> THANK YOU. AND SO JUST TO KIND OF IN CLOSING STAFF FINDS THE APPLICANTS REQUEST IS MAKING THE SITE USABLE AND FINDS THE CONNECTIVITY IS REASONABLE IN EFFICIENT FLOW OF TRAFFIC AND JUST SOME QUICK PROJECT BENEFITS I JUST WANT TO MAKE SURE YOU RECEIVED THE SUPPORT LETTERS MR. PAULIE WAS ABLE TO RECEIVE. OVER 26 FROM THE SHEER WATER RESIDENTS AND SURROUNDING NEIGHBORS REALLY SUPPORT THIS PROJECT. THEY ARE EXCITED ABOUT IT.

IT DOES PROVIDE THAT INTERCESSION CONNECTING BETWEEN THE TWO PARTIALS. THERE'S NO ACCESS ON 210 WHICH IS REALLY HELPFUL. IT IS AN IN-FILL DEVELOPMENT PROVIDES APPROPRIATELY SCALED COMMERCIAL IN A LOCATION WHERE THE THERE ARE MANY RESIDENTIAL DEVELOPMENTS.

THERE'S NO CHANGE IN THE EXISTING USES AND MEETS THE COMPREHENSIVE PLAN. WE RECEIVED A UNANIMOUS VOTE FROMP ZA. I WANT TO BRING THIS UP THAT STAFF BROUGHT UP TO ME LAST MINUTE YESTERDAY.

I'M GOING TO DO THE OVERHEAD IF THAT'S OKAY.

SO WE DID UPDATE THE WHOLE PUD TO BE PRESENT TENSE AND WHEN WE DID THAT, WE MADE A SCRIBNER'S ERROR ON PAGE 13 WE WROTE, IS DEDICATED TO THE COUNTY BECAUSE IT USED TO SAY, WILL BE.

SO ENGINEERING DEPARTMENT AND STAFF REQUESTED THAT WE PUT TROUT CREEK COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT BECAUSE TECHNICALLY THAT'S WHO THE ROAD IS DEDICATED TO NOW, SO IT'S JUST A SCRIBNER'S ERROR BUT NEEDED TO LET YOU KNOW BECAUSE THIS WAS JUST YESTERDAY SO. OKAY AND I'M HERE IF YA'LL HAVE ANY QUESTIONS. THANK YOU.

>> COMMISSIONER JOSEPH YOU HAVE THE FLOOR.

>> JUST A QUICK QUESTION THAT CAME UP YESTERDAY.

I GOT THIS E-MAIL YESTERDAY AND I TALKED TO THE OWNER.

THEY ASKED IF THE TWO BUILDINGS BEING BUILT WOULD BE ONLY ONE

STORY COMMERCIAL? >> THE INTENT RIGHT NOW IS TO KEEP THEM ONE STORY. IF YOU LOOK AT OUR PLAY IN, I'LL SHOW YOU. LET'S SEE.

SO IF YOU LOOK AT OUR PLAY IN WE HAVE BUILDING-A.

I'M GOING TO USE MY CLICKER HERE.

BUILDING A AND BUILDING B. SO OUR INTENT IS TO BUILD THEM AS ONE STORY RIGHT NOW AND BECAUSE THIS SITE IS ONLY 2.3 ACRES, WE ARE VERY LIMITED ON PARKING AND BUILDING SO I DON'T ANTICIPATE GOING HIGHER THAN ONE STORY IN ADDITION IN THE NORTHWEST SECTOR WE'RE ACTUALLY LIMITED 10,000 SQUARE FEET PER ACRE SO WE'RE LIMITED BY OUR PARKING AND OUR PONDS AND OUR RATIO SO THE INTENT IS ONE STORY RIGHT NOW.

>> THANK YOU. >> ANY OTHER QUESTIONS FOR THE BOARD? PUBLIC COMMENT.

>> THANK YOU. >> AT THIS TIME WE'LL TAKE PUBLIC COMMENT ON AGENDA ITEM NUMBER FIVE.

SEEING NONE WE'LL CLOSE PUBLIC COMMENT.

>> BACK TO THE BOARD FOR MOTION. COMMISSIONER ARNOLD YOU HAVE THE

FLOOR. >> MOTION TO ENACT ORDINANCE 2026-20 APPROVING MAJOR MODIFICATION 2026-02 ASHFORD MILLS PUD BASED UPON SIX FINDINGS OF FACT PROVIDED IN THE

STAFF REPORT. >> WE HAVE A MOTION AND SECOND.

[01:45:04]

[6. Public Hearing * MAJMOD 2025-11 Golfway Centre PUD. ]

CONGRATULATIONS. >> THANK YOU LET'S MOVE RIGHT INTO IT AGENDA ITEM NUMBER SIX. AGAIN THIS IS QUASI-JUDICIAL SO I WOULD GO TO COMMISSIONER ARNOLD.

>> THANK YOU MR. CHAIR I HAVE NO RECORD OF ANY E-MAILS FROM RESIDENTS OR STAFF. NO MEETINGS SINCE WE LAST HEARD

THIS. >> COMMISSIONER JOSEPH?

>> THE SAME. NO E-MAILS AND NO MEETINGS.

>> COMMISSIONER WHITEHURST? >> RECORD OF THREE E-MAILS AND

NO MEETINGS OR PHONE CALLS. >> COMMISSIONER TAYLOR?

>> YES. I HAD THREE PLUS, E-MAILS AND A MEETING WITH CATHERINE AND BILL SHILLING AND RANDY HAM I'LL AND STAFF.

>> ALSO I HAD NO E-MAILS BUT I DID HAVE A MEETING WITH THE APPLICANT AND WITH STAFF. SO WITH THAT YOU HAVE THE FLOOR,

MA'AM. >> CAN WE GET MY PRESENTATION?

>> IN THE MEANTIME.

MY NAME IS KATHRYN WHITTINGTON AND THIS IS GULFWAY CENTER.

236 SAN MARCO AVENUE, ST. AUGUSTINE, 32084.

I'M HAVING TECHNICAL DIFFICULTIES HERE.

WITH ME HERE TODAY IS BRANDY HAMEL.

HE IS PROJECT MANAGER, THE OWNER OF THE PROPERTY.

BYRUM PEACOCK, CERTIFIED WETLAND SCIENTIST WITH THE PEACOCK CONSULTING GROUP AND OUR CIVIL ENGINEER IS HERE WITH KIMLEY-HORN AND ASSOCIATES. BUT BEFORE WE BEGIN, WE WANT TO THANK YOU FOR THE OPPORTUNITY TO BRING THIS APPLICATION BACK TO YOU FOR RECONSIDERATION WHICH RANDY WILL SPEAK TO IN JUST A MOMENT. GOING CRAZY.

I'M NOT GOING TO GO BACK THROUGH THE ENTIRE PRESENTATION THAT WE GAVE YOU BEFORE BECAUSE YOU HAVE ALREADY SEEN IT BUT I'M GOING TO GIVE YOU A SHORT REFRESHER ON WHAT THE APPLICATION IS ABOUT.

LET'S SEE IF THE POINTER WORKS. THAT'S NOT REALLY WORKING EI EITHER. WE NEED IT TURNED ON.

OKAY. GOT IT.

SOLD. THANK YOU.

IT IS LOCATED IN THE NORTHWEST QUADRANT OF THE I-95 IGP INTERSECTION, INTERNATIONAL GOLF PARKWAY.

IT IS AN ALREADY APPROVED NONRESIDENTIAL PUD ORIGINALLY APPROVED IN 1997 AND IT HAPPENS TO BE THE LAST REMAINING LAND UNDEVELOPED IN THIS NORTHEAST QUADRANT.

AS YOU CAN SEE, IT IS AN UNFILLED PARCEL SURROUNDED BY RESIDENTIAL DEVELOPMENT. YOU CAN SEE THE DEVELOPMENT H HERE. APARTMENTS HERE.

THIS IS A TREE OF LIFE. IT IS PART OF THIS PUD BUT NOT SUBJECT TO THE APPLICATION. HERE IS THE PARK PRESERVE.

OVER HERE IS PARKLAND. SO, WE COUNTED ALL THE RESIDENTS IN THIS QUADRANT THAT ARE EITHER CONSTRUCTED OR ARE ALREADY APPROVED IN THE SURROUNDING PROJECTS THAT WOULD BE ABLE TO USE THE GOLF WAY GOODS AND SERVICES IF -- ONCE IT IS DEVELOPED. THIS RESULTS IN 5498 RESIDENTS INTERNAL CAPTURE TRIPS EAST OF I-95.

AND THE INTERSECTION. SO THESE ARE THE FIVE MODIFICATIONS THAT ARE REQUESTED IN THIS APPLICATION TO UPDATE THIS NEARLY 30-YEAR OLD PUD AND A NEED TO BETTER POSITION IT FOR

[01:50:02]

AND ALSO THERE ARE NO WAIVERS THE FIRST IS 221,000 OF ALREADY APPROVED COMMERCIAL RETAIL AND OFFICE SPACES TO BE LOCATED ANYWHERE IN THE PUD. SECOND, REMOVE DEVELOPMENT ACREAGE AND LIMITATIONS THAT HAVE SEVERELY LIMITED THE DEVELOPMENT OPTIONS AND I WILL SHOW YOU WHAT THESE LIMITATIONS MEAN ON THE NEXT SLIDE. THIRD, ELIMINATE THE REQUIREMENT TO PRESERVE THE ISOLATED WETLAND ON SITE OR WETLAND SCIENTIST AND ENGINEER WILL DISCUSS THE WETLAND IN JUST A FEW MINUTES.

FOURTH, AD CHURCH AND LARGE PLACES OF ASSEMBLY FOR ALLOWABLE USES AND IT IS TO BE DEVELOPED IN A 10-YEAR PHASE.

YOU MAY REMEMBER THIS. THIS IS THE EXISTING MAP.

IT DICTATES THE ACREAGES AND FLOOR AREAS WHERE FOOTAGES AND WHERE THEY MUST BE LOCATED. THIS IS AN ANTIQUATED PUD AND IT IS UNUSUAL. YOUR STAFF POINTS OUT IN THE STAFF REPORT THAT OTHER SIMILAR PROJECTS DON'T HAVE THESE LIMITATIONS. THIS BOX RIGHT THERE IT IS IMPOSSIBLE TO READ, BUT IT LISTS SPECIFIC ACREAGES AND HOW MANY SQUARE FEET CAN BE DEVELOPED ON EACH ACREAGE.

THEY ORIGINALLY PLANNED -- THIS WAS SAINT JOE.

THE COMMERCIAL RETAIL HERE TO BE IN THE FRONT AND OFFICE ONLY IN THE BACK BUT IN THE BACK IS WHERE THERE IS ADDITIONAL GREATER ACREAGES THAN IN THE FRONT.

IT IS PROVEN TO BE UNWORKABLE. THIS IS THE WETLAND THAT WE WILL BE DISCUSSING, BREAKING UP THE PROJECT FROM CREATING THIS KIND OF AN ORPHAN PARCEL AND THE LABEL ON IT SAYS PARKING AND OTHER PERMISSIBLE USES. IT'S NOT EVEN CLEAR WHAT THAT PARCEL IS ABLE TO DO. LET'S THIS ONE.

OKAY. RANDY HAMIL WILL COME UP AND TALK ABOUT THE REASONS WHY WE ARE BACK HERE FOR

RECONSIDERATION. >> ALL GOOD.

GOOD MORNING, THANK YOU RANDY HAMIL 1355 CANAL ROAD, JACKSONVILLE, FLORIDA. THANK YOU AGAIN FOR GIVING US THE OPPORTUNITY TO COME BACK BEFORE YOU AND STATE OUR CASE.

WE DID A POOR JOB. LET ME JUST START WITH THAT.

LAST TIME WE WERE HERE, WE DID FIND ADDITIONAL INFORMATION REGARDING THE WETLANDS THAT WE THINK IS VERY BENEFICIAL TO OUR CAUSE. WE WENT BACK AND DID A LOT OF DIGGING, FOUND SOME ADDITIONAL ELEVATIONS, EIGHT OR NINE INSIDE THE WETLAND AREAS AS WELL AS THEN WENT AND GOT HISTORICAL DATA ON THE ELEVATIONS OF THE THREE PONDS THAT ARE ON THE SITE. ALL THREE OF THESE PONDS WERE DUG 40 SOME ODD YEARS AGO WHEN ST. JOAN BROUGHT THE PROPERTY ORIGINALLY APPEARED ANYWHERE FROM 20 FEET TO 50 FEET OF THE ACTUAL WETLAND ITSELF AND THE NORMAL OR NATURAL POND ELEVATION OR AVERAGE WATER LEVEL IN THOSE PONDS IS ANYWHERE FROM 1 FEET TO 3 FEET LOWER THEN THE LOWEST POINT IN THE WETLANDS.

THIS WETLAND HAS BEEN DRAINING FOR 40 YEARS INTO THE THREE ADJACENT PONDS. IT IS DRY.

WE CALL IT A WETLAND BECAUSE THAT IS WHAT IT WAS DESIGNATED 40 YEARS AGO. IT IS A DRY PATCH OF LAND.

WE WILL HAVE BYRON COME BACK UP AND HE WILL WALK THROUGH A LOT OF THAT. HE HAS A PICTURE THAT WAS TAKEN ABOUT SIX MONTHS AGO. THERE IS NO WATER STANDING IN THIS AND THERE HASN'T BEEN FOR A WHILE.

IN ADDITION THERE IS AN OVERFLOW STRUCTURE IN THIS WETLAND THAT WE KNOW 40 OR 50 YEARS AGO WHEN THE PREVIOUS OWNER HAD IT, HE DUG DITCHES TO FEED HIS CATTLE. THERE'S AN OVERFLOW THAT FLOWS INTO THE PONDS. AGAIN, FROM THE WETLAND.

IT HAS BEEN DRAINING. IT IS NON-VIABLE.

THE ST. JOHN'S WATER MANAGEMENT HAS ALL BUT SAID SO BY REMOVING THE EASEMENT ON THAT. THEY WOULD NOT HAVE DONE THAT IF THEY THOUGHT IT WAS VIABLE. WHEN PZA HEARD THIS, WE WENT THROUGH THIS RATHER EXTENSIVELY WITH DR. HILSENBECK.

HE ASKED OUR SCIENTISTS WHAT CAN WE DO TO MAKE THE WETLAND

[01:55:03]

MAYBE IN 20 YEARS IT WILL BECOME VIABLE AGAIN.

HAVING TO IRRIGATE A WETLAND THAT WILL JUST DRAIN INTO A POND IS NOT A VIABLE OPTION FOR ANYBODY TO HAVE TO DO.

THERE IS NO SPECIES THERE. THERE IS NO FROGS.

IT IS A BARREN AND DRY PIECE OF LAND IN THE MIDDLE OF A DEVELOPMENT WHICH IS HINDERING DEVELOPMENT.

SINCE WE WERE IN FRONT OF YOU SEVERAL WEEKS AGO, THE OWNERS GROUP HAS RECEIVED FOUR OR FIVE OFFERS ALL FOR LIVE LOCAL WHICH WE KEEP GETTING DRAWN BACK TO THAT POSITION.

WE WANT COMMERCIAL ON THE SPACE. COMMERCIAL ON THE SPACE IS WHAT ST. JOHN'S COUNTY NEEDS. IT HELPS THE TAX BASE AND, YOU KNOW, LIVE LOCAL. THAT'S NOT THE DIRECTION WE WANT TO GO. THAT'S WHY WE DIDN'T ASK FOR IT.

BUT HAVING COMMERCIAL OPPORTUNITY HERE IS GOING TO DO, AS KATHERINE MENTIONED, A TON OF CAPTURE.

5000 TRIPS ON A DAILY BASIS IF WE CAN PROVIDE COMMERCIAL IN THE SPACE. I CAN'T GIVE YOU NAMES, BUT I CAN SAY THAT WE HAVE CONTINUED TO HAVE DISCUSSIONS WITH -- MOVING FORWARD WITH OUR DEVELOPMENT AS WE WOULD LIKE ON A COMMERCIAL BASIS AND WE ARE IN CONTRACT DISCUSSIONS WITH TWO MAJOR MEDICAL USERS THAT EVERYONE HERE WOULD RECOGNIZE, DEFINITELY APPEARED A MAJOR HOSPITALITY GROUP, A MAJOR GROCER THAT IS NOT PUBLIX AS WELL AS A HIGH END RESTAURANT.

ALL OF THOSE THINGS WILL CREATE A GREAT POSITIVE IMPACT IN THIS AREA, ESPECIALLY IN THE LAST PARCEL OF THE NORTHEASTERN QUADRANT. THAT IS WHY WE WOULD LIKE YOU TO RECONSIDER AND LOOK AT THE INFORMATION THAT WE WILL PRESENT AND I WILL HAVE BYRON COME UP NOW AND WALK THROUGH SOME OF THE SPECIFICS ON THE HYDROLOGY OF THE WETLANDS AND HOW THAT

AFFECTS WITH THE POND ELEVATION. >> BYRON PEACOC WITH PEACOCK CONSULTING GROUP. 12058 SAN JOSE BOULEVARD, SUITE 164 IN JACKSONVILLE. WHAT RANDY HAMEL SAID I THINK MIGHT NOT HAVE BEEN THE BEST INTRODUCTION, BUT IT WAS THE TRUTH IN THAT I THINK THERE ARE TWO WAYS OF VIEWING WETLANDS.

IF YOU WALK INTO A WETLAND THAT HAS BEEN DRAINED FOR DECADES, IT DOESN'T HOLD WATER, YOU DON'T GET WADING BIRDS, THERE'S NO FISH OR TURTLES, IT DOESN'T LOOK LONGER.

SOMEONE LIKE DR. HILSENBECK ON THE PGA WOULD SAY IT IS A WEAPON THAT IS BASICALLY GONE AND SINCE THOSE PONDS WERE ORIGINALLY CONSTRUCTED, THE ONE TO THE NORTH WAS EXPANDED I THINK THREE YEARS AGO AND THE EDGE OF IT HAS MOVED 300 FEET CLOSER TO THE WETLAND. IF ANYTHING, THE DRAINAGE IS ACCELERATING. WHEN I WAS ASKED BEFORE HOW WOULD YOU EVALUATE THE WETLAND, I HAVE BEEN AN ENVIRONMENTAL CONSULTANT FOR 40 YEARS. I CLICK INTO CONSULTING MODE APPEARED MY CLIENTS ARE REAL ESTATE DEVELOPERS AND THEY WILL ASK ME IF IT IS THAT DEGRADED, AM I GETTING THE WETLAND FOR FREE? WHEN I GO TO THE WATER MANAGEMENT DISTRICT. I THINK THEY WILL LOOK AT IT AND SAY IT IS SO DEGRADED, WE WILL RELEASE THE CONSERVATION EASEMENT, BUT YOU ARE NOT GETTING IT FOR FREE.

IT'S A MINIMUM ASSESSMENT SCORE REGARDLESS OF THE WETLAND.

WHETHER SURROUNDED BY DEVELOPMENT OR DRAINED.

AS A GOOD CONSULTANT, YOU HEDGE AND SAY IT COULD BE NO HIGHER THAN A 4 OR A 5. YOU ARGUE A 3.

BUT THEY HAVE TO BUDGET A NUMBER.

REAL WORLD FROM YOUR EXPERIENCE, HOW MUCH WOULD IT BE SCORED? WHETHER IT IS FAIR OR NOT, THE REAL WORLD IS A SCORE TIMES THE ANCHORAGE. THAT IS HOW MUCH MITIGATION YOU HAVE TO BE PREPARED TO PAY FOR. WHEN I WAS ASKED BEFORE AND CLICKED INTO CONSULTING MODE AND RAMBLED ABOUT THE SCORING, THE NUMBER SYSTEM, BUT THEY ARE BOTH TRUE.

SO I THINK DR. HILSENBECK WOULD LOOK AT IT AND SAY THIS WETLAND IS DRAINED AND IT'S NOT FUNCTIONING.

IT'S INAPPROPRIATE TO KEEP IT IN A COMMERCIAL DEVELOPMENT THAT WOULD OTHERWISE BE SURROUNDED BY PARKING LOT.

THE ANSWER I GAVE IS ALSO CORRECT IN THAT YOU WILL BE HIT

[02:00:03]

$392,000. >> ALLOW US A QUESTION IF YOU

DON'T MIND. >> YOU SAID YOU HAD A PICTURE? I THINK I HAVE A PICTURE OF THE WETLANDS OVER THERE.

IF YOU COULD PUT THAT UP. >> THAT IS A PICTURE OF THE DITCH THAT GOES ALONG THE WESTERN BOUNDARY.

THAT IS THE LOWEST PART IN THE WETLAND AND YOU CAN SEE FROM

THAT, EVEN THE DITCHES DRY. >> IT'S A HABITAT THOUGH,

CORRECT QUESTION A HABITAT? >> ANY PLACE THAT HAS VEGETATION IN IT WILL PROVIDE HABITAT BUT IN TERMS OF WETLAND AND THE SPECIES, THAT'S HOW WE HAVE TO VIEW IT.

>> ALL RIGHT. I'M WAITING FOR MY PICTURE.

THAT'S IT STRAIGHT AHEAD. >> I THINK SO.

>> I JUST WANT EVERYONE TO KNOW IT IS NOT A DEAD PIECE OF GROUND. ANYWAY.

>> NO. VEGETATION IS STILL ALIVE.

>> THANK YOU. ANYONE ELSE HAVE ANY QUESTIONS OF OUR WETLANDS EXPERT? OKAY.

YOU CAN CONTINUE YOUR PRESENTATION.

THANK YOU. I COVERED IT.

>> OKAY. THANK YOU.

WE WILL ASK A BILL TO COME OUT COME OUT THE PROJECT ENGINEER COME OUT AND DISCUSS HYDROLOGY AND DRAINAGE PERTAINING TO THE

WETLAND. >> THANK YOU.

GOOD MORNING. I AM BILL SCHILLING 12740 GRAND BAY PARKWAY WEST, SUITE 2350, JACKSONVILLE, FLORIDA, 32258 AND AS MENTIONED I AM A PROFESSIONAL ENGINEER, LICENSED IN FLORIDA.

WHAT I WOULD LIKE TO DO IS TAKE A COUPLE OF MINUTES FROM AN ENGINEERING STANDPOINT TO SPEAK ABOUT WHAT HAS HAPPENED WITH THIS WETLAND BASICALLY FROM A STORMWATER AND HYDROLOGY STANDPOINT AND WHY IT IS DEGRADED AND WHY IT HAS BEEN DEGRADING OVER MANY DECADES NOW AND IT IS ONE OF THE KEY FACTORS, NOT THE ONLY, BUT ONE OF THE KEY FACTORS IS BEING DRIVEN BY THE WAY THE STORMWATER SYSTEM HAS BEEN DESIGNED AROUND THIS PARCEL. SHOWING THIS EXHIBIT, THE POND, THE TWO PONDS TO THE SOUTH ARE DESIGNED WITH A NORMAL WATER ELEVATION OF 27.5 FEET. 27.5 FEET.

THE WETLAND ITSELF, THE LOWEST POINT IN THE WETLAND AT THE HIGHER POINT. BASICALLY THE WETLAND ELEVATION RANGE FROM 28.5 TO 30. WHAT IS HAPPENING WITH THE WATER LEVELS IN THE POND IS WE ARE GETTING A DRAWDOWN OF THE WATER LEVELS WHICH IS DEGRADING THE WETLAND.

THE WATER VIA GROUNDWATER IS MIGRATING TO THE POND.

FROM AN OVERALL LOOKING DOWN VIEW, THE WETLAND IS SURROUNDED AND IN VERY CLOSE PROXIMITY ARE THREE DIFFERENT PONDS.

THIS POND WHICH WAS CONSTRUCTED ROUGHLY 30 YEARS AGO, IT HAS BEEN IN PLACE FOR ROUGHLY 30 YEARS, NORMAL ELEVATION IS AT 27 WHICH IS IN EVEN A HALF FOOT LOWER THAN THE TWO PONDS TO THE SOUTH WHICH WERE CONSTRUCTED 25 YEARS AGO.

THE WETLAND ELEVATION RANGES FROM 28.5 TO 30 SO THE WATER ULTIMATELY HAS BEEN MIGRATING INTO THE POND TO THE NORTH AND TO THE PONDS TO THE SOUTH AND HAS BEEN ESSENTIALLY DEWATERED.

THOSE PONDS ARE PULLING THE WATER LEVEL AND HAVE BEEN PULLING WATER LEVEL DOWN IN THE WETLAND.

THIS IS THE VIEW OF THE WETLAND TO SHOW THE ELEVATION.

[02:05:02]

THIS IS ISOLATED. IT'S NOT CONNECTED TO ANY OTHER WETLANDS IN THE AREA. THERE'S NO FUNCTIONAL VALUE AS FAR AS INTERCONNECTIVITY AND IT DOES NOT CONTRIBUTE TO A LARGER SYSTEM AND CERTAINLY NOT CONTRIBUTING TO A LARGER WETLAND SYSTEM. KNOWN TRIBUTARY, FOR LACK OF A BETTER TERM. I THINK THIS IS WHERE THINGS GET INTERESTING. TALKING ABOUT WHAT THE MITIGATION IS. WE'VE SHOWN A LOT OF PICTURES OF THE FEW ACRES WE ARE IMPACTING AND THAT HAVE DEGRADED AND THAT HAVE GOTTEN WORSE OVER TIME. WHAT WE HAVEN'T SHOWN IS WHAT THE TRADE OFF IS FOR THAT. AND THE TRADE OFF IS THE MITIGATION IS ULTIMATELY FOR THE PROJECT, IT IS PAYING INTO THE ST. JOHN'S MITIGATION BANK WHICH IS A VERY LARGE WELL FUNCTIONING SYSTEM THAT ULTIMATELY THE WETLANDS -- THIS IS IT.

THE BOUNDARY OF THE SYSTEM. IN OUR SAME BASIN.

THIS IS IN BASIN FIVE. AGAIN, A LITTLE BIT SOUTH AND A LITTLE BIT WEST OF WHERE THE SITE IS.

WETLAND SITE ULTIMATELY DOES HAVE WATERS THAT GO INTO THE CREEK, THE WETLAND SYSTEM. THIS IS A MUCH HIGHER FUNCTIONING AND MUCH MORE SIGNIFICANT WETLAND SYSTEM AND MITIGATION BANK AS DEFINED BY THE ST. JOHN'S RIVER MANAGEMENT SYSTEM. AND I WILL CLOSE WITH SAYING, AND I KNOW THAT THIS WAS MENTIONED AS WELL, THE ST. JOHN'S RIVER WATERSHED MOMENT IS THE STATE AGENCY THAT REGULATES WETLANDS IN THE STATE AND THEY ARE WHAT I WOULD SAY IS THE ULTIMATE AUTHORITY ON WETLANDS AND WETLAND IMPACTS AND WE HAVE BEEN THROUGH THE PROCESS WITH THEM SUCH THAT THEY HAVE APPROVED THE RELEASE OF THE CONSERVATION EASEMENT ON THAT SITE AND THEY HAVE APPROVED THE AMOUNT, THE $392,000 AND THE MITIGATION CREDITS THAT WERE REQUIRED TO BE PURCHASED FROM THIS BANK. SO THESE ARE ALL ITEMS THAT THE DISTRICT HAS REVIEWED AND APPROVED AND WITH THAT, I WILL

TURN IT BACK OVER. >> THANK YOU.

BEFORE WE CLOSE I WOULD LIKE TO MENTION WHY APPROVAL OF THIS APPLICATION IS BENEFICIAL AND IMPORTANT TO SAINT JOHNS COUNTY.

IT WILL HELP TO CORRECT THE CURRENT TAX BASE IMBALANCE THAT DOES CURRENTLY EXIST WITHIN THE COUNTY OF 85% RESIDENTIAL.

AS YOU KNOW, COMMERCIAL DEVELOPMENT HAS MORE TAX REVENUE, CREATES JOBS THAT STAY IN THE COUNTY, AND IT KEEPS DOLLAR SPENT BY EMPLOYEES AND RESIDENTS HERE INSTEAD OF BEING SPENT OUTSIDE OF THE COUNTY. IT ALSO HELPS TO FUND INFRASTRUCTURE IMPROVEMENTS AND DOES NOT CREATE THE SAME LEVEL OF PUBLIC SERVICE DEMAND THAT RESIDENTIAL CONSUMES.

THIS INFORMATION WAS PRESENTED TO YOU AT THE LAST HEARING THAT YOU HAD. ABOUT THE POTENTIAL EFFECT OF THE SAVE OUR HOMES REFERENDUM ON SAINT JOHNS COUNTY.

IF IT PASSES ON THE BALLOT ON JANUARY 12027, HOMESTEAD EXEMPTION WILL INCREASE 150,000. IN 2028, 250,000.

FUTURE POSSIBLE HOMESTEAD PROPERTY TAXES BECAUSE HOMESTEAD PROPERTY IS 53% OF THE TAX BASE VERSUS 31% STATEWIDE.

THIS IS A PRETTY SIGNIFICANT TYPO.

APPROXIMATELY 200 MILLION TO SAINT JOHNS COUNTY IF FULL IMPLEMENTATION OCCURS. JUST A COUPLE OF QUOTES FROM THE

[02:10:02]

>> ANY QUESTIONS FROM THE BOARD? COMMISSIONER TAYLOR.

>> THANK YOU FOR THE ADDITIONAL INFORMATION SHARED TODAY.

I HAVE A QUESTION FOR YOU BECAUSE I THINK IT'S INTERESTING ALL THE COMMERCIAL THAT IS INTERESTED IN GOING THERE.

I'M A LITTLE BIT CONFUSED THOUGH BECAUSE YOU ARE TRYING TO SAY THAT YOU DON'T WANT TO DO LIVE LOCAL BUT YET WHEN ASKED PREVIOUSLY IF YOU WOULD BE WILLING TO WAIVE THAT, THE LIVE LOCAL, YOU DENIED DOING THAT. HAVE YOU CHANGED YOUR MIND? DO YOU NOT HAVE ANY INTENTION? WHAT WOULD BE THE PROBLEM WITH

WAIVING THAT? >> IN THE UNLIKELY EVENT THAT THE COMMERCIAL MARKET CRASHES, THEY NEED TO KEEP DEVELOPMENT OPTION OPEN FOR THAT BUT THEY HAVE NO INTENTION.

IT'S LESS THAN A 1% CHANCE THAT IT WOULD GO LIVE LOCAL.

IF THEY WANTED TO DO A RESIDENTIAL PROJECT, WE WOULD HAVE ADDED IT LIKE WE DID IN ASSEMBLY.

IT'S A STATE MANDATE. IT'S NOT LOCAL GOVERNMENT AUTHORITY. IT'S QUESTIONABLE IF THE WAIVER OF IT IS EVEN ENFORCEABLE. I WOULD INVITE YOUR COUNTY ATTORNEY, IF THEY WANT TO EXPAND ON THAT.

>> THROUGH THE CHAIR TO COMMISSIONER TAYLOR.

WE ASK THEM TO WAIT BUT THAT DOESN'T MEAN THAT THEY WILL GO WITH THE LAND SO THEY CAN GO TO A DIFFERENT OWNER.

EVEN THOUGH IT'S A STATE MANDATE AND IT IS ARGUABLE, WE'VE STATED THAT PREVIOUSLY. IF THEY WERE TO SELL THE PROPERTY, THEY WOULDN'T RUN WITH THE LAND AND SO WE'VE HAD THIS

CONVERSATION. >> THANK YOU.

>> ANYONE ELSE? LET'S GO TO PUBLIC COMMENT.

>> AT THIS TIME WE WILL TAKE PUBLIC COMMENT ON AGENDA ITEM NUMBER SIX. SEEING NONE WE WILL CLOSE PUBLIC

COMMENT. >> BACK TO THE BOARD.

I WOULD ACCEPT A MOTION. OR MAKE ONE MYSELF.

MOTION TO ENACT ORDINANCE 2026-21 APPROVING 25-11 PUD ON SIX FINES OF FACT AS PROVIDED IN THE STAFF REPORT.

>> SECOND. >> WE HAVE A MOTION TO SECOND.

LET'S VOTE. THAT PASSES 3-2.

LET'S GET ONE MORE IN BEFORE LUNCH.

IS IT A LONG ONE? WE WILL GO TO 7.

[7. Public Hearing * REZ 2026-02 177 Surfside Avenue. ]

COMMISSIONER ARNOLD. >> I HAVE RECORD OF 11 EMAILS.

I'VE HAD TEN OR 15 MORE ROLL IN SINCE WE HAVE BEEN SITTING UP

HERE. >> THANK YOU SO MUCH.

COMMISSIONER JOSEPH. >> SAME HERE.

I HAVE 11, BUT OVER LAST NIGHT AND THIS MORNING, AT LEAST 30 OR MORE. I MET WITH JAMES WHITEHOUSE AND

>> THANK YOU. COMMISSIONER WHITEHURST.

>> THANK YOU MR. CHAIR. ALL THE EMAILS THAT COMMISSIONERS HAVE MENTIONED. NO RECORD OF ANY EMAILS OR PHONE CALLS, BUT I DID HAVE A MEETING WITH MR. JAMES WHITEHOUSE

YESTERDAY HERE IN THE OFFICE. >> COMMISSIONER TAYLOR.

>> I HAVE AT LEAST 20 EMAILS ON THIS AS WELL AS A MEETING WITH

MR. JAMES WHITEHOUSE YESTERDAY. >> THANK YOU.

I MET WITH JAMES WHITEHOUSE, THE APPLICANT AND STAFF.

THIS SAYS 13 PLUS, BUT I GOT A LITTLE PUSH LAST NIGHT.

YOU HAVE THE FLOOR. >> THANK YOU.

FOR THE RECORD, JAMES WHITEHOUSE ST. JOHN'S LAW GROUP HERE IN SAINT JOHNS COUNTY FLORIDA. I AM HERE ON BEHALF OF THE APPLICANT OWNERS, THE ROMAIN FAMILY, TIM AND COURTNEY ARE HERE WITH ME AS WELL. THEY ARE LOOKING FORWARD TO STARTING THEIR NEW FAMILY HERE ON THIS PROPERTY.

WE ARE HERE FOR REZONING 2026-02.

THIS PROPERTY IS LOCATED IN VILANO BEACH JUST NORTH OF THE

[02:15:01]

AGAIN, YOU CAN SEE THAT THIS IS ALL DEVELOPED WITH SINGLE FAMILY RESIDENCES DOWN IN THIS AREA ITSELF.

THE PROPERTY IS LOCATED AT THE SOUTHWEST CORNER OF SURFSIDE AND THIRD STREET. THE SITE IS APPROXIMATELY 0.26 MILES WEST AND SPECIFICALLY ADDRESSED AS 177 SURFSIDE AVENUE. IT IS THREE LOTS WITHIN RESIDENTIAL C ON PART OF IT, CONSERVATION ON THE WESTERN SIDE OF IT ITSELF. LOCATED CURRENTLY IN WHAT IS CALLED WHICH IS COMMERCIAL HIGHWAY TOURIST WHICH ALLOWS A LOT OF COMMERCIAL USES SPECIFICALLY HIGHWAY TOURISTS, HIGHWAY COMMERCIAL USES. WHY THIS AREA WAS ZONED COMMERCIAL HIGHWAY TOURS DOWN THE RIVER, POSSIBLY COULD HAVE BEEN BECAUSE A MARINA WAS EXPECTED OR SOMETHING LIKE THAT BACK IN THE DAY WHEN WE PUT IN OUR ZONING CODE BECAUSE IT WAS JUST NORTH OF THE OLD VILANO BRIDGE, BUT THERE IS NO REAL UNDERSTANDING WHY IT WAS SEARCHED.

HOWEVER, AS YOU SEE FROM YOUR STAFF PACKET AS WELL AS FROM THE DEVELOPMENT ITSELF, THIS IS ALL RESIDENTIAL SINGLE FAMILY IN THE AREA ITSELF. THIS REZONING FROM COMMERCIAL HIGHWAY TOURIST TO RS THREE IS A REQUEST FOR THE 0.75 ACRES OF LAND, THESE PARCELS. IT'S A CLEAN UP REZONING ACTION TO LINE THE PROPERTY WITH VESTED LAND USE AS YOU SEE FROM THE VESTING LETTER IN THE ESTABLISHED RESIDENTIAL CHARACTER OF THE NEIGHBORHOOD. THE SITE CONSISTS OF THE LOTS AND THEY PLAN TO USE THIS FOR THEIR SINGLE FAMILY RESIDENCE AND ADDITIONAL SINGLE FAMILY RESIDENCE TO THE EAST.

THEY ARE REQUESTING THE REZONING.

THEIR PROPOSED REZONING AS I SAID WOULD ALIGN THE PROPERTY WITH THE VESTED LAND USE AND WOULD PREVENT THE DEVELOPMENT FOR ONE SINGLE FAMILY RESIDENT ON EACH OF THE LEGALLY PLOTTED RECORDS AS ALLOWED BY LAW AND STATED WITHIN THE VESTING LETTER FROM STAFF THAT WAS ACQUIRED EARLIER THIS YEAR.

THIS IS TO BRING THEM IN LINE FROM THE INCOMPATIBLE COMMERCIAL HIGHWAY TOWARD OUR ZONING DESIGNATION.

AS YOU CAN SEE, RS THREE ALL AROUND THE PARTICULAR PROPERTY.

YOU CAN SEE THESE ARE THE THREE LOTS HERE, ONE, TWO, THREE.

THE PROPERTY IMMEDIATELY ADJACENT TO IT TO THE SOUTH WAS REZONED AT SOME POINT IN THE PAST AND NOW CONTAINS A SINGLE FAMILY HOME AS WELL. AS I SAID, THIS ESTABLISHED RESIDENTIAL AREA HAS ALREADY BEEN APPROVED AS VESTED FOR RESIDENTIAL SINGLE FAMILY USES AND THEY ARE ASKING FOR THESE THREE SINGLE FAMILY RESIDENCE, ONE PER LOT FROM A COMMERCIAL HIGHWAY ZONE IS APPROPRIATE FOR THIS AREA AND THE AREA SURROUNDING IT BY AN RS THREE DISTRICT.

THE PROPERTY IS ADJACENT TO THIS RS THREE DISTRICT.

IT BRINGS THE PROPERTY IN LINE WITH THE CURRENT DEVELOPMENT ALL AROUND. EVALUATION AND CONCEPTUAL SITE PLANNING ALREADY SHOW THAT THEY CAN COMPLY WITH ALL OF THE OTHER TECHNICAL REQUIREMENTS FROM THAT ZONING DISTRICT.

YOUR PLANNING STAFF HAS ROUTED THIS TO ALL OF THE APPROPRIATE DEPARTMENTS. MEETS AND EXCEEDS THE REQUIREMENTS AND IS CONSISTENT WITH THE RESIDENTIAL ZONING IN THE SURROUNDING AREA. IT'S UNCLEAR WHY THESE PLOTTED LOTS WERE ZONED COMMERCIAL DESIGNATION.

ADDITIONALLY THE ADJACENT PROPERTY AT 35-23RD WAS REZONED PURSUANT TO ORDINANCE 20 19.9 ON THE 25TH.

THIS CARRIED THE FUTURE LAND USE DESIGNATION OF CONSERVATION INVESTED AS WELL FOR SINGLE FAMILY DEVELOPMENT.

THE STAFF REPORT ALSO INCLUDES COMPATIBILITY CHART AS WELL AS A COMPATIBILITY PICTURE SHOWING ALL OF THIS AROUND THIS.

THEY ARE ALL SINGLE FAMILY AND THEREFORE BASED ON OUR CODE AND THE LAW, THIS PARTICULAR USE THE REQUEST IS APPROPRIATE FOR THIS PARTICULAR LOT. OUR PLANNING AGENCY REVIEWED IT ON THE 21ST AND MADE A UNANIMOUS RECOMMENDATION FOR APPROVAL.

THE PLANNING AND ZONING AGENCY FOUND IT IS IN COMPLIANCE WITH THE PLAN. IT USES AND IS COMPATIBLE WITH THE SURROUNDING PROPERTIES AND THE PLANNED AND PRESENT DEVELOPMENT OF THE AREA IS SIMILAR TO THE SURROUNDING USES WHICH SHOWS THAT THE REQUEST IS REASONABLE AND APPROPRIATE FOR APPROVAL. STAFF RECEIVED NO CORRESPONDENCE AND PHONE CALLS I GUESS WITHIN THE LAST FEW DAYS SINCE THE STAFF REPORT CAME IN THEY HAVE RECEIVED SOME.

WE OFFER A MOTION TO APPROVE AND WE ASK YOU FOR A REASONABLE CONSIDERATION OF THIS AND I CAN ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS.

THANK YOU COME ON MR. CHAIR. >> THANK YOU SO MUCH.

ANY QUESTIONS FOR THE BOARD? COMMISSIONER JOSEPH.

>> I JUST WONDER IF YOU ARE GOING TO TALK ABOUT THE ELEPHANT IN THE ROOM. THANK YOU.

>> WE CAN TALK ABOUT THAT. AS YOU SEE FROM THE STAFF REPORT AND FROM HISTORIC PRESERVATION STAFF ANALYSIS ITSELF, OUR CODE

[02:20:03]

THIS IS APPROPRIATE AND YOU CAN SEE IT BY WHAT IS SURROUNDING IT. THESE 14 PAGES IN OUR CODE WHICH ARE IN ARTICLE THREE SPECIAL DISTRICTS PART 3.01 ARE CULTURAL RESOURCES PRESERVATION AND I THINK YOU WILL HEAR SOME COMMENTARY ABOUT IT SO I CAN ADDRESS IT MORE AFTERWARDS COME UP BUT REALLY, THIS IS OUR CODE ADDRESSES HOW THIS IS SUPPOSED TO BE REVIEWED AND WE ARE ALREADY -- THE FAMILY HAS ALREADY HIRED A CONSULTANT THAT IS DOING WHAT THEY REFERRED TO IN THESE EMAILS AS THE HABS REPORT.

THAT IS BEING CONSTRUCTED RIGHT NOW AND THIS HAS TO HAPPEN.

WE ARE FULLY COMMITTED TO GOING THROUGH THIS PROCESS ITSELF THAT OUR CODE PROVIDERS AND THAT'S WHY THE HISTORIC PRESERVATION STAFF IS HERE AS WELL AND THEY CAN TELL YOU THAT IS WHAT WILL HAPPEN AFTER THIS REZONING GOES THROUGH.

AND JUST TO ADD ON TO THAT I THINK SOME OF THE COMMENTARY CAME FROM A FEW MEMBERS OF THAT CULTURAL RESOURCES BOARD AND YOU MAY HEAR FROM THEM TODAY AND THEY FULLY WELL KNOW THAT THIS IS WHAT WILL HAPPEN. IF IT IS FOUND TO BE A CULTURAL RESOURCE, EVERYTHING THAT THEY ARE SAYING IS ACCURATE AND TRUE OR ANY OF IT IS ACCURATE AND TRUE, THEY WILL HAVE TO FOLLOW ALL THE GUIDELINES OF THIS AND THAT IS WHAT WE ARE HAVING EVALUATED BY OUR HISTORIC EXPERT RIGHT NOW.

SO WE DON'T HAVE ANY PROBLEM GOING FORWARD WITH THAT PROCESS.

>> ANYONE ELSE? LET'S GO TO PUBLIC COMMENT.

>> AT THIS TIME WE WILL TAKE PUBLIC COMMENT ON AGENDA ITEM

NUMBER SEVEN. >> GOOD AFTERNOON.

MICHAEL, 1143RD STREET IN NORTH BEACH AREA.

I'M HERE TODAY. BARBARA JANICE IS A FRIEND OF MINE AND SHE WAS UNABLE TO ATTEND TODAY SO I'M HERE TO READ HER LETTER AND THESE RELATE TO THIS PARTICULAR ITEM.

GOOD MORNING AND AFTERNOON COMMISSIONERS.

BARBARA JANICE OF SIX SANDPIPER DRIVE COULD NOT BE HERE TODAY AND ASKED ME TO READ THIS INTO THE RECORD REGARDING PROPOSED REZONING 177 SURFSIDE AVENUE IN VILANO BEACH FROM COMMERCIAL HIGHWAY TO RESIDENTIAL. AT FIRST GLANCE, THIS REQUEST MAY APPEAR TO BE A SIMPLE ZONING CHANGE BUT LET'S BE HONEST ABOUT WHAT IS REALLY DRIVING THIS APPLICATION.

THIS IS ABOUT DEMOLITION AND REDEVELOPMENT OF PROPERTY THAT CONTAINS ONE OF VILANO BEACH'S MOST SIGNIFICANT HISTORIC RESOURCES, THE SAINT CLAIR LEWIS HOUSE.

I FIND IT CURIOUS THAT THEY CAN SIMULTANEOUSLY SEEK AN INVESTING LETTER THAT WOULD LET THREE BUILDABLE LOTS EVEN THOUGH TWO OF THE LOTS ARE LOCATED WITHIN CONSERVATION AND NONE OF THE PROPOSED LOTS MEET TODAY'S MINIMUM LOT REQUIREMENTS.

THE ONLY REASON THIS IS POSSIBLE IS BECAUSE THE PROPERTY WAS PLANTED BEFORE REGULATIONS CHANGED.

THIS MAY MAKE IT LEGAL, IT DOES NOT MAKE IT WISE.

WE ALL RECENTLY LEARNED A LESSON FROM THE DEMOLITION OF THE MAGIC BEACH HOTEL IN VILLANOS MAIN STREET APPEARED UNDER CURRENT LAW, THE OWNER DID NOT NEED THE BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS TO TEAR IT DOWN. THE SAME IS TRUE HERE.

THE APPLICANT DOES NOT NEED YOUR APPROVAL TO DEMOLISH THE SINCLAIR LEWIS HOUSE. YES, THIS IS REZONING ABOUT DEMOLITION. THE IRONY SHOULD NOT BE LOST ON ANY OF US. SINCLAIR LEWIS, AMERICA'S FIRST NOBEL PRIZE WINNING PROPERTY WROTE THE NOVEL MAIN STREET, ABOUT THE LOSS OF LOCAL CHARACTER AND THE CONSEQUENCES OF UNCHECKED CHANGE AND NOW, VILLANOS OWN MAIN STREET, WE LEARN IT HAS STRIPPED LOCAL GOVERNMENTS OF THEIR ABILITY TO PROTECT THE VERY PLACES THAT GIVE OUR COMMUNITIES THEIR IDENTITY. FOR YEARS COME AS SAINT JOHNS COUNTY PROMOTED ITSELF AS THE SLOGAN 42 MILES OF BEACHES AND THE REST IS HISTORY. TODAY IT FEELS MORE LIKE 42 MILES OF BEACHES AND THE REST IS GONE.

ONCE THIS HISTORIC STRUCTURE IS DEMOLISHED IT CAN'T BE REBUILT.

ONCE THE STORIES ARE ERASED, THEY CANNOT BE RECOVERED.

FUTURE GENERATIONS DESERVE MORE THAN PHOTOGRAPHS AND MEMORIES.

THEY DESERVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO EXPERIENCE PLACES THAT SHAPED THE HISTORY AND CHARACTER OF VILANO BEACH.

I RESPECTFULLY ASK THE BOARD TO RECOGNIZE WHAT IS AT STAKE AND DO EVERYTHING WITHIN ITS AUTHORITY TO ENCOURAGE PRESERVATION OF THE ST. CLARE LEWIS HOUSE RATHER THAN ITS DESTRUCTION. PLEASE PRESERVE THIS IRREPLACEABLE PIECE OF HISTORY IN SOLANOS HISTORY.

THANK YOU SO MUCH. >> THANK YOU.

ARE THERE ANY OTHER COMMENTS AT THIS TIME?

COME ON UP. >> TOM REYNOLDS.

1244. I WOULD URGE THE COMMISSION TO APPROVE THIS REQUEST. I WANT TO TELL YOU, OUT OF ALL THE SECTIONS OF THE COUNTY, I FIND THE PEOPLE OUT OF VILANO

[02:25:01]

THEY SHOW UP HERE AFTER YEARS OF NOT BEING HERE.

AND ALSO SOMEBODY DID CALL ME END.

THEY SAID YOU SHOULD SPEAK FOR PRESERVING THIS PLACE.

WELL, I DON'T HAVE TO TELL YOU. I KNEW RIGHT AWAY THAT THERE WAS SOMETHING WRONG. BECAUSE NOBODY EVER WANTS TO TELL SOMEBODY ELSE WHAT TO DO WITH THEIR PROPERTY AS MUCH AS I LIKE THE GUY, BUT I DON'T WANT TO TELL PEOPLE WHAT TO DO WITH THEIR PROPERTY AND IF THAT HOUSE IS SO WONDERFUL COME ON WELL THEN PEOPLE FROM VILANO CAN BREAK OUT THEIR CHECKBOOKS AND WRITE A BIG CHECK AND MAYBE THESE FOLKS WILL GIVE THEM THAT OLD HOUSE BEFORE THEY WRECK IT. ONE OF THE THINGS ABOUT LIVING AROUND HERE THAT I HAVE COME TO REALIZE AFTER DOING A LOT OF LISTENING OVER THE LAST FEW YEARS IS I DON'T HEAR PEOPLE THAT VISIT HERE TALK ABOUT THE OLD SO MUCH.

I REALLY DON'T. I KNOW IN ST. AUGUSTINE WE ARE A HISTORY PLACE, BUT ONCE AGAIN, I JUST WANTED TO MAKE SURE YOU FOLKS KNOW I DO NOT LIKE TO TELL PEOPLE WHAT TO DO WITH THEIR PROPERTY THAT THEY OWN. I SURE HOPE THAT YOU VOTE TO ALLOW THESE PEOPLE TO BUILD THEIR HOME.

WHEN THEY SHOW THE MAPS, IT LOOKS LIKE IT'S ALL HOMES AROUND IT. ONCE AGAIN, IF THESE PEOPLE FROM VILANO LOVE THE ST. CLARE HOUSE SO MUCH THEY SHOULD PURCHASE IT.

THEY SHOULD MOVE IT TO A LOT AND BUY THE LOT AND THEN ALL SIT AROUND AND LOOK AT THE ST. CLARE HOUSE.

I DON'T KNOW WHAT GOOD IT WILL DO ANYBODY BECAUSE THERE'S A LOT OF GREAT HOMES. IN FACT, WHERE I GREW UP THERE'S A LOT OF GREAT HOMES AND THEY HAD TO PUT THE BULLDOZER TO THEM. ANYWAYS, FOLKS.

PLEASE VOTE TO ALLOW THESE PEOPLE TO BUILD THEIR HOME.

THANK YOU. >> THANK YOU.

ARE THERE ANY OTHER PUBLIC COMMENTS AT THIS TIME? COME ON UP. THERE.

>> LESLIE KEYS. 3084 APPEARED IN CONTRAST MOST OF YOU KNOW THAT I HAVE BEEN DOING HISTORIC PRESERVATION FOR NEARLY HALF A CENTURY.

I TAKE IT SERIOUSLY AND I TAKE MY LOVE OF LITERATURE SERIOUSLY SO I HAVE BOOK SOCKS ON TO REINFORCE THE EFFORT.

DOCUMENTATION AND HISTORIC BUILDING SURVEY DOCUMENTATION DOES PROVIDE A RECORD OF A BUILDING AND IT'S PART OF A COUNTY REQUIREMENTS. IT'S THE FUNERAL EULOGY, IT'S WHAT WE DO TO HAVE A RECORD OF WHAT HAPPENED WHEN WE LOSE A RESOURCE. IT IS SUPPOSED TO BE DONE AS AN ABSOLUTE LAST RESORT. WE ARE NOT AT A LAST RESORT POINT. THE INFORMATION THAT I SENT YOU, YOU GOT THREE DOCUMENTS. YOU HAVE THE ARGUMENT FROM THE ST. AUGUSTINE RECORD THAT WAS DONE LAST MONDAY.

YOU HAVE THE INFORMATION FROM THE PUBLIC RECORD AND THIS SHOWS THE SINGLE OWNER WHO PURCHASED THE PROPERTY LAST FALL FOR $1.2 MILLION. IT ALSO SHOWS ON THAT GRAPHIC THAT I SENT YOU, THAT THE COUNTY OWNS A PIECE OF GROUND UNBUILT ON WHICH WAS PLOTTED ORIGINALLY TO EXTEND FOURTH STREET WHICH HAS NOT HAPPENED. SO THERE IS ALREADY LAND RIGHT ADJACENT TO THIS WHERE THE BUILDING, THE ST. CLARE LEWIS HOUSE COULD BE MOVED TO. THE HOUSE DATES BACK TO AT LEAST 1916 SO IT'S 110 YEARS OLD, THAT WE KNOW OF.

WE KNOW WHEN HE MOVED HERE, HE WROTE ABOUT IT.

I'VE BEEN READING ABOUT HIM AND HIS WIFE AND THEIR CHILD.

A MILITARY VETERAN THAT DIED DURING WORLD WAR II.

HE WAS OUR FIRST NOBEL PRIZE WINNER.

RECOGNIZED IN THE NOBEL PRIZE WEBSITE FOR HIS VIGOROUS AND GRAPHIC ART OF DESCRIPTION AND CREATING WITH WIT AND HUMOR NEW TYPES OF CHARACTERS. WE HAVE SOME CHARACTERS HERE AND THAT'S WHAT WE EMBRACE AS WELL TOO.

SO WE CAN TAKE CARE OF THE BUILDINGS FUTURE, STILL ACCOMMODATE THE OWNERS COME UP BUT RECOGNIZE, PLEASE, THIS IS ABSOLUTELY A DEMOLITION REQUEST. THE THREE HOUSES CANNOT BE ACCOMMODATED WITH THE EXISTENCE OF THAT HISTORIC HOUSE.

THE HISTORIC HOUSE WAS IDENTIFIED IN DAVID NOLAN'S

[02:30:01]

MOVING BUILDINGS. YOU ALSO GOT A LIST OF BUILDINGS THROUGHOUT FLORIDA THAT WE HAVE MOVED.

OVER MORE THAN 40 YEARS AND YES, I HAVE BEEN INVOLVED IN MOST OF THOSE INCLUDING THEM ON THE WATER AND FLOATING THEM DOWN THE RIVER WHERE THEY IN PALM VALLEY TO SAVE THEM FROM SAINT VINCENT'S HOSPITAL EXPANSION. WE MOVED LARGE AND SMALL.

HOUSE MOVERS ARE STILL ALIVE AND THEY MOVE HOUSES.

THANK YOU. >> THANK YOU.

ARE THERE ANY OTHER PUBLIC COMMENTS AT THIS TIME ON AGENDA

ITEM NUMBER SEVEN? >> CITY OF ST. AUGUSTINE.

I GUESS THE BIG ELEPHANT WAS THE HISTORICAL BUILDING? HOW WONDERFUL. HOW WONDERFUL.

HERE WE ARE IN ST. AUGUSTINE. I DON'T HAVE ALL OF HER DEGREES.

SHE DOES KNOW ABOUT HISTORY THOUGH.

BUT THAT'S ONE REASON PEOPLE COME HERE.

MAYBE NOT TO THE COUNTY, BUT THEY GO DOWNTOWN FOR ALL THE HISTORY AND I'M GLAD TO KNOW THERE'S OTHER HISTORY AROUND.

AND I KNOW THERE IS. FIRST OF ALL, I WANT TO SAY PUBLICLY, WE KNOW THAT THIS IS TRUE, WE ARE TOLD WHAT TO DO WITH OUR PROPERTY ALL THE TIME. EVERY ONE OF US IS TOLD WHAT TO DO WITH OUR PROPERTY. EITHER WE ABIDE OR WE GET FINED.

YOU TELL US HOW MUCH YOU ARE GOING TO CHARGE US FOR OUR PROPERTY. WE CAN'T SAY ANYTHING ABOUT THAT. BUT THAT'S THE BIG ELEPHANT.

OKAY. HERE WE GO AGAIN.

OUR VOTE WILL BE 3-2 TO DESTROY THIS HISTORY.

WE ARE ALWAYS GETTING THESE 3-2 VOTES.

AND WE WILL PROBABLY KEEP GETTING THOSE KIND OF VOTES.

BUT I THINK THAT MISS LESLIE IS AN EXPERT.

THAT'S AN IMPORTANT WORD. A LOT OF LAWYERS LIKE TO THROW THAT WORD AROUND. BUT I DON'T THROW IT AROUND.

SHE'S SOMEONE WHO WENT TO SC SCHOOL.

SO. I HOPE I'M WRONG THIS TIME.

BUT I THINK I'M GOING TO BE RIGHT AGAIN.

IN 57 SECONDS, PLEASE VOTE TO DENY THIS REQUEST.

AND I KNOW THAT THIS IS SUPPOSED TO BE THE LAST THING BEFORE YOU GO TO LUNCH COME UP BUT I THINK THE PEOPLE WHO CAME IN FOR THE NEXT ONE SO LET'S MOVE IT ALONG. THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

>> THANK YOU. ARE THERE ANY OTHER PUBLIC COMMENTS AT THIS TIME ON AGENDA ITEM NUMBER SEVEN? SEEING NONE WE WILL CLOSE PUBLIC COMMENT.

>> BACK TO THE BOARD. COMMISSIONER TAYLOR.

>> YES, THANK YOU. I DO HAVE A QUESTION.

MR. WHITE HOUSE, CAN YOU CLARIF, DO THEY PLAN ON DEMOLITION?

>> THAT IS NOT THEIR INTENT AT ALL.

AS I SHOWED YOU EARLIER, THERE ARE 14 PAGES IN YOUR CODE THAT THEY HAVE TO GO THROUGH. IF THIS IS FOUND TO BE A CULTURAL RESOURCE, THEY HAVE TO GO THROUGH ALL OF THE STEPS WITHIN THAT INCLUDING OUR HISTORIANS REPORT WHO HAS ALREADY STARTED TO DO SOME RESEARCH ON THIS PARTICULAR PROPERTY. THEY DO THINK THAT THERE IS SOME HISTORICAL SIGNIFICANCE BASED ON THE FACT THAT SINCLAIR LEWIS STAYED THERE FOR 4-6 WEEKS BACK IN THE DAY.

THEIR INTENT IS NOT TO DEMOLISH THIS BUT THEY NEED TO KEEP ALL THE OPTIONS OPEN AS WELL AS PARTS OF IT THAT ARE INITIAL EVALUATION BY OUR HISTORIAN HAS SHOWN THAT THE EASTERN SECTION WAS AN ADDITION AND THAT'S THE PART THAT GOES OVER ONTO THE EASTERN LOT. IF THAT IS AN ADDITION THAT HAS NO SIGNIFICANCE, ADDED IN THE 50S OR 60S, MAYBE THAT PART CAN COME OFF. THIS IS NOT AN APPLICATION FOR DEMO OF THE PROPERTY ITSELF. ZERO CHANCE OF THAT.

THIS IS AN APPLICATION FOR REZONING AND NO EVIDENCE TO SAY THAT SINGLE FAMILY RESIDENTIAL IS INAPPROPRIATE IN THIS PARTICULAR NEIGHBORHOOD. IN FACT, HIGHWAY COMMERCIAL USES

[02:35:03]

THIS IS JUST THE FIRST STEP, TO ANSWER YOUR QUESTION, TO MOVE FORWARD WITH THE EVALUATION OF THE PROPERTY AND 14 PAGES WITHIN OUR CODE TO SEE IF THIS IS A CULTURAL RESOURCE AND IF IT IS, THEY HAVE TO MOVE FORWARD WITH RESTRICTIONS UNDER THAT AND THEY ARE FULLY PREPARED TO DO SO. AS I SAID, THEY'VE MOVED INTO THE HOUSE NOW AND THEY ARE TRYING TO MAKE A GO OF IT WITH THE BEGINNING OF THEIR FAMILY. THIS IS HOW WE DO IT.

I APPRECIATE YOUR CONSIDERATION. >> GREAT.

I APPRECIATE THAT BECAUSE WE GOT A NUMBER OF EMAILS GIVING REFERENCE TO IT BEING A DEMOLITION SO I WANT A CLARIFICATION THAT WE ARE NOT VOTING TO DEMOLISH THIS TODAY.

>> EXACTLY RIGHT. >> THANK YOU.

>> MR. WHITE HOUSE, YOU HAVE THE FLOOR.

>> I SEE BACK THERE, I DIDN'T KNOW IF EITHER WOULD LIKE TO COME TO THE PODIUM AND ADD SOME COLOR? OKAY. MR. LAGASSE.

IF ANYONE I WOULD LIKE -- IF ANYONE FROM OUR COUNTY STAFF WOULD COME TO ADD HISTORICAL CONTEXT ABOUT THIS PROPERTY AND ITS HISTORY, I WOULD CERTAINLY BE GRATEFUL IT'S NOT EVERY AGENDA ITEM THAT WE GET TO DELVE INTO SINCLAIR LEWIS.

>> FROM A STAFF LEVEL, THANK YOU FOR THE INVITATION WE DON'T HAVE AN ENCYCLOPEDIA OF HISTORY ABOUT MR. LEWIS, BUT WE ARE RECOGNIZING THE PROCESS GOING FORWARD APPEARED THAT WILL BE GATHERING MORE INFORMATION. WE HAVE HEARD AND DONE RESEARCH THROUGH PAST NEWS ARTICLES AND REACHED OUT TO SINCLAIR LEWIS SOCIETY TO ASK THEM ABOUT WHETHER OR NOT MR. LEWIS AND HOW MUCH TIME HE SPENT HERE. HAVEN'T HEARD BACK SO I CAN'T HIM, BUT I'M HAPPY TO ANSWER ANY QUESTION ON THE PROCESS.

>> I JUST DIDN'T KNOW IF HE HAD AUTHORED ANY BOOKS OR ANY PARTS OF ANY BOOKS WHILE HE WAS IN THE HOUSE, I DIDN'T KNOW IF THERE WAS ANY DETAILED HISTORY ABOUT HIS TIME IN ST. AUGUSTINE OR THE LONG BEACH. THAT'S WHAT I WAS LOOKING FOR.

>> WHAT WE'VE BEEN ABLE TO SURMISE FROM OUR DESKS HAS BEEN WHAT'S BEEN REPORTED IN NEWS ARTICLES.

BASIC WRITINGS BUT THAT'S WHY WE REACHED OUT TO THE SOCIETY.

WE WANTED TO GET FROM THE HORSE'S MOUTH ON THEIR RECORDS.

THAT WOULD HAPPEN THROUGHOUT THE PROCESS.

LET'S PICK OUT THE CULTURAL RESOURCE ASSESSMENTS AND ALL OF THOSE THINGS THAT ARE PART OF THE PROCESS, BUT WE HAVE ONLY HAD AVAILABLE TO US THE WORD OF MOUTH AND THE NARRATIVES THAT EXIST ON THE INTERNET SO I DON'T KNOW IF THEY ARE 100% TRUE OR

NOT. >> YOU CAN'T BELIEVE EVERYTHING

YOU SEE ON THE INTERNET. >> THAT'S WHAT I'VE HEARD.

ABSOLUTELY. BACK TO THE AGENDA ITEM.

THAT WAS TO SATISFY MY CURIOSITY.

I LIKE HISTORY A LOT AND THIS IS A UNIQUE ITEM.

OBVIOUSLY CHD IS NOT COMPATIBLE WITH THE NEIGHBORHOOD.

IT'S OBVIOUS WE DON'T WANT A GAS STATION OR A RESTAURANT IN THAT PART OF VILANO BEACH. IT WOULDN'T MAKE ANY SENSE WHATSOEVER. THIS IS A QUASI JUDICIAL HEARING AND WE ARE CONSIDERING NOTHING BUT THE EVIDENCE.

I CAN SUPPORT THE REZONING AS PRESENTED.

>> DO WE HAVE A MOTION GOING FORWARD?

>> YES. I WILL MAKE THE MOTION.

MOTION TO ENACT ORDINANCE 2026 -- APPROVING REZONE 2026-02177 SURFSIDE AVENUE. THEY SUPPORT FINDINGS OF FACT AS

PROVIDED IN THE STAFF REPORT. >> SECOND.

>> WE HAVE A MOTION AND A SECOND.

LET'S VOTE. AND THAT PASSES 4-1.

[8. Public Hearing * REZ 2026-04 SR 16 Commercial. ]

LET'S ROLL RIGHT INTO NUMBER EIGHT.

COMMISSIONER ARNOLD. IT SHOULD COME ON.

LET'S TRY AGAIN. >> THERE WE GO.

>> YOU HAVE THE FLOOR. >> THANK YOU MR. CHAIR.

I HAD SIX OR SEVEN EMAILS ON THIS AND I HAD A MEETING IN THE OFFICE WITH LINDSAY HAGA AND MICHAEL FREELY AS WELL AS SOME

OF OUR STAFF. >> THANK YOU.

COMMISSIONER JOSEPH. >> I HAD SEVEN EMAILS AND A

MEETING. >> OKAY.

COMMISSIONER WHITEHURST. >> I MET YESTERDAY IN THE OFFICE WITH JACOB SMITH FROM OUR MANAGEMENT DEPARTMENT.

MR. FRALEY AND I HAVE ABOUT EIGHT EMAILS AND NO RECORD OF

ANY PHONE CALLS. >> THANK YOU.

COMMISSIONER TAYLOR. >> I HAD NINE PLUS EMAILS ON THIS AND A MEETING WITH LINDSAY HAGA, MICHAEL FRALEY, AND STAFF.

>> I HAD SIX PLUS EMAILS FROM THE MEETING AND STAFF.

[02:40:01]

YOU HAVE THE FLOOR. >> GOOD AFTERNOON.

ZACH MILLER OLD BACH COURT. I APPRECIATE YOU TAKING US UP BEFORE THE LUNCH BREAK. THIS IS FOR THE PROPERTY ON THE SOUTH SIDE OF STATE ROAD 16, JUST A LITTLE BIT EAST OF I.

HERE IS AN OVERVIEW OF THE PROPERTY.

IT'S A LITTLE BIT MORE THAN 8 ACRES.

THE REASON IT'S A CONVENTIONAL ZONING IS THE COMPREHENSIVE PLAN REQUIRES ANYTHING OVER 10 ACRES BE PUD AND ANYTHING UNDER CAN BE A CONVENTIONAL REZONING. THIS IS A LITTLE BIT EAST OF THE IMPROVEMENTS THAT I THINK EVERYONE IS SEEING TO THE INTERCHANGE OF I-95. NO OVERVIEW ON THE MONEY THAT WAS SPENT. THIS IS THE SURROUNDING AREA UP HERE THE COMMERCIAL USES RIGHT ACROSS THE STREET RIGHT NEXT TO ZAXBY'S. GAS STATION, FAST FOOD, OUTSIDE STORAGE. WE ARE BACKING UP TO RESIDENTIAL PROPERTY. WE WILL TALK ABOUT THAT IN A MINUTE. THIS IS LAND USE.

IT'S MIXED USE FOR YOUR COMPREHENSIVE PLAN.

THE MOST LAND USE YOU HAVE THERE.

IT IS GENERALLY FAVORED FOR MORE INTENSE COMMERCIAL USES.

AS YOU NOTICE, WE ARE ASKING FOR COMMERCIAL INTENSIVE ZONING.

IT'S THE ZONING TO THE WEST AND PARTIALLY THE SAME ZONING TO THE EAST. I BELIEVE THE ONE IMMEDIATELY TO THE EAST WAS APPROVED LAST FALL BY THIS BOARD AND THEN THE OTHER COMMERCIAL REZONINGS HAVE BEEN APPROVED OVER THE PAST 20 YEARS OR SO. BECAUSE IT IS A HIGH TRAFFIC CORRIDOR. THIS IS THE POLICY.

YOU GET QUOTED A LOT SO WE WILL HAVE THE EXPERT PLANNER WHO IS LINDSAY HAGA TALK ABOUT COMPATIBILITY.

>> HI APPEARED FOR THE RECORD, LINDSAY HAGA LAND PLANNER 14775 OLD ST. AUGUSTINE ROAD.

BEFORE I JUMP INTO OUR POLICY THAT IS WRITTEN WITHIN YOUR COMPREHENSIVE PLAN AND AGAIN IN YOUR CODE AND THE STAFF REPORT, IT'S INTERESTING TO LOOK AT THE COMPARISON OF THE EXISTING ZONING MAP WHICH IS ON THE LEFT SIDE OF THE MAP OF THE SCREEN AND THEN THE PROPOSED ZONING WITH PROPOSAL IN IT.

THE FOUNDRY OF THE MIXED USE DISTRICT AND THEN THE POPS OF COLOR THAT YOU HAVE WITHIN YOUR MIXED CORRIDOR ALONG WITH 16 AT THE INTERCHANGE. OUR PIECE SHOWN IN THE YELLOW IS THE LAST HOLDOUT OF OPEN RURAL WHICH IS THE ZONING DISTRICT THAT YOU SEE MORE CLOSELY ALIGNED WITH RURAL CULTURE AND AGRICULTURE INTENSIVE LAND USE CATEGORIES, NOT THE MIXED DISTRICT WHICH PREVENTS THE HIGHER INTENSITY LAND USE CATEGORIES. THAT GRAPHIC DESCRIPTION, WE ARE HERE TO HIGHLIGHT THE CONSISTENCY WITH COMPATIBILITY POLICY THAT GIVES US F PLANNERS GUIDANCE, YOU, YOUR STAFF, THE CITIZENS, IT IS WHAT WE LOOK AT IN THE CRITERIA FOR REZONING FOR OPEN RURAL TO COMMERCIAL INTENSIVE.

ALL OF THOSE WITHIN THE ZONE DISTRICTS.

WE GET DIRECTION FROM LAND DEVELOPMENT CODE ON WHERE TO SITE THEM, FRONTING ON THE ARTERIAL ROADWAYS, THE COLLECTOR ROADWAYS. ALSO GETTING GUIDANCE FROM CODE AND COMPREHENSIVE PLAN SO WE DON'T JUST RELY ON DIRECT ACCESS TO ARTERIALS. YOU CAN SEE THAT WE HAVE INFRASTRUCTURE ON EVERYTHING. WE HAVE EXISTING INFRASTRUCTURE AND REFLECTIVE OF THE EXISTING USES ACTUALLY FUNCTIONING ON THE CORRIDOR AS WELL AS THOSE THAT ARE PERMITTED WITHIN EACH OF THOSE ZONE DISTRICTS. MENTIONED IN THE STAFF REPORT, IT LACKS A SITE PLAN BECAUSE YOU ARE PRESENTED WITH A STRAIGHT REZONING OR A REZONING REQUEST, NOT THE PLANNED UNIT DEVELOPMENT TYPE OF REQUEST BUT WE LIKE TO HIGHLIGHT FOR YOU AND PLANNING AND ZONING AGENCY AND OUR NEIGHBORS WHAT IT LOOKS LIKE FOR THIS SITE. YOU ARE ON THE SCREEN AND YOU SEE THE 8-ACRE SITE BROUGHT FORWARD IN COLOR.

YOU SEE THE BACK SOUTHERN HALF OF THE SITE IS PRESERVED WETLANDS. THAT IS OVER 3 ACRES OF THE SITE. WE ARE PROVIDING FOR RETENTION POND AND THAT IS ADJACENT TO THE USES.

IT CLUSTERS IN WHAT WOULD BE COMMERCIAL USES INTO THE NORTHERN 3 ACRES OF THE SITE. THE ORANGE ARROWS REPRESENT ACCESS POINTS THAT WE ARE PROPOSED TO GREEN ACRES AND TO HARVEST LANE AND THERE'S DIRECTION TO YOU REGARDING THE IMPROVEMENT OF HARVEST LANE TO MATCH WHAT YOU SEE IN FRONT OF ZAXBY'S NOW IN TERMS OF THE DRIVES UP.

THIS SHOWS ONE OF THE CONDITIONS THAT WE DISCUSSED AND NEGOTIATED WITH THE PLANNING AND ZONING AGENCY REGARDING THE EXPANSION OF THE 40-FOOT B BUFFER AS WELL AS THE ADJACENT HOMES THAT YOU

[02:45:03]

THAT IS A RECOMMENDATION COMING TO YOU FROM THE PLANNING AND ZONING AGENCY TO CARRY FORWARD THAT CONDITION AND IT IS PRESENTED TO YOU IN THE ADOPTION ORDINANCE AS A SPECIFIC CONDITION. ONE OF THE POINTS THAT WE HAVE WITH US, THOMAS HATCH OUR TRANSPORTATION ENGINEER CAN WALK YOU THROUGH SOME OF THE MORE DETAILS ON THIS BUT WHEN WE LOOK AT ZONING, WE LOOK AT THE OTHER ISSUES AND USES THAT CAN HAPPEN ON THE SITE AND WHAT IS INTENDED TO DO IS BUILD ON THE PRIOR GRAMMAR PLAN AND THEN GIVE YOU A SCENARIO THAT IS BASED ON A GAS STATION AS A POTENTIAL USE AND WHAT THAT WOULD CAPTURE AS FAR AS YOUR EXISTING PASS BY TRIPS. THOSE TRIPS OR DRIVERS THAT ARE ALREADY ON YOUR CORRIDOR AND WHERE THEY WOULD DIVERT AS A PRIMARY DESTINATION WHEN THEY COME FROM OTHER SEGMENTS AND OTHER ROADWAY NETWORKS TO THE SITE.

THAT IS THE DIFFERENCE IN THE TRAFFIC IMPACTS THAT YOU LOOK AT IN EACH OF YOUR REVIEWS AND WHAT THE ADDITIONAL TRIPS WOULD BE AS FAR AS THE SEGMENT CAPACITY THAT WE ARE PRESENTED WITH.

THE SITE PLAN ALSO SHOWS FROM YOU THE CONNECTION POINTS ON GREEN ACRES UP TO THAT NORTHERN PIECE THAT WE HAVE, ACCESS POINTS ON STATE ROUTE 16, AND AGAIN ON HARVEST.

WE WOULD INTERCONNECT WITH OUR SITE PERMIT REVIEW WITH YOUR STAFF AS TO SHOW THAT CONNECTION FROM GREEN ACRES OVER TO HARVEST LANE. WHY IS THAT OUR PROPOSAL BESIDE WE GET THAT DIRECTION FROM YOUR CODE AND YOUR MIXED LAND USE IS A COMPREHENSIVE PLAN AND THIS PROVIDES A SAFER MOVEMENT FROM FOLKS ON GREEN ACRES TO GET TO THE ACCESS TO THE LIGHT AT HARVEST LANE. THEY ARE ON STATE ROUTE 16 SO THAT IS AN IMPROVEMENT THAT IS OFFERED THROUGH THE REZONING.

IN SUMMARY, YOU HAVE A STAFF FINDING OF CONSISTENCY, WE'VE COORDINATED WITH THE NEIGHBORS TO PROVIDE THEM WITH THOSE DETAILS LEADING UP TO THE PLANNING AND ZONING AGENCY MEETING AND THE ZONING AGENCY DID RECOMMEND APPROVAL BY A VOTE OF 5-1, ADDING IN THE CONDITION THAT YOU SEE WITHIN THE ORDINANCE. WITH THAT, THAT CONCLUDES MY PRESENTATION. I WILL LOOK TO ZACK IF YOU WANT TO ADD ON ANYTHING ELSE AND WE HAVE THOMAS HATCHER WITH US IF YOU WANT TO TALK ABOUT SOME TRAFFIC INFORMATION.

>> IN SUMMARY BECAUSE MOST OF THE ZONINGS YOU SEE ARE PUDS, IT ALLOWS YOU TO CONDITION THEM SO IT IS IN THE RECOMMENDATION FOR AGREEMENT WITH THE NEIGHBORS TO TAKE THAT 20-FOOT BUFFER FOR 40 FEET IN ORDER TO HAVE BUFFERING.

WE DON'T HAVE A SITE PLAN IN IT COME UP BUT GIVEN THE NATURE OF THE SITE, IT IS GOING TO BE CLUSTERED ON THE 3 ACRES.

THE HIGHEST AND BEST USE IS GOING TO BE A CONVENIENCE STORE GAS STATION. THE TRAFFIC GENERATED WILL BE LESS THAN 1% OR SLIGHTLY MORE THAN 1% OF THE CAPACITY DEPENDING ON WHICH WAY YOU GO. 75% OF IT WILL BE PASSERBY APPEARED MOST PEOPLE THAT ARE GOING TO GAS STATIONS ARE USUALLY GOING ELSEWHERE. THAT AND WE THINK THE BIGGEST ADDITION THAT IS A BENEFIT TO THE NEIGHBORS THAT LIVE TO THE SOUTH IS THE CONNECTION FROM GREEN ACRES TO HARVEST WHICH WILL ALLOW THE TRAFFIC INSTEAD OF GOING FROM STATE ROAD 16 AND TAKING A RIGHT AND HAVE TO DO A U-TURN AT THE LIGHT, WE ARE TRYING TO CUT ACROSS SIX LANES OF TRAFFIC.

THIS WILL ALLOW THEM TO GET TO THE LIGHT AND HAVE A SINGLE ACCESS. WE THINK THAT IS A BENEFIT.

WE UNDERSTAND THE CONCERNS OF STATE ROAD 16, BUT UNDER A 1311, WE DON'T THINK THERE ARE UNREASONABLE IMPACTS FROM THIS REZONING. WE THINK IT IS CONSISTENT GIVEN THE OTHER ZONINGS THAT HAVE BEEN APPROVED IN THE AREA AND WE BUFFER. IF WE HAVE ANY TRANSPORTATION

QUESTIONS, WE CAN ANSWER. >> ANY QUESTIONS FROM THE BOARD?

>> THANK YOU. THIS MAP THAT I GOT YESTERDAY.

ARE YOU GOING TO DO THE 3.25 ACRES TO BE PRESERVED ON THE

RECORD? >> THOSE ARE THE WETLANDS.

>> NOT CLEAR CUT? OTHERWISE I DO THINK THIS IS

COMPATIBLE, I JUST WANT TO KEEP. >> CORRECT.

WE WOULD NOT BE CLEAR CUTTING THE WETLANDS.

>> ON THIS MAP. >> CORRECT.

THE 3.25 ACRES, I DON'T THINK IT WOULD BE FINANCIALLY FEASIBLE

AND IT IS OF NO BENEFIT TO US. >> THANK YOU.

>> QUESTION. I HAVE A QUESTION.

IT'S REGARDING THE NEIGHBORS TO THE SOUTH THAT DO WANT TO BE ABLE TO CUT THROUGH. IS THAT A LEGAL MOVE TO BE ABLE TO DO THAT? I WASN'T AWARE.

>> THROUGH THE CHAIR TO COMMISSIONER TAYLOR, YES, IT IS.

AND THIS IS GOING BACK IN MY THREE OR FOUR JOBS AGO FROM WHEN I WAS A PROSECUTOR. IT'S 316-0714.

THE ONLY TIME YOU ARE NOT ALLOWED TO AVOID OR CUT THROUGH IS IF YOU ARE TRYING TO AVOID A TRAFFIC CONTROL DEVICE AND IN THIS CASE YOU CAN TRY TO GET TO A TRAFFIC CONTROL DEVICE.

>> GREAT. I DID NOT KNOW THAT.

THANK YOU FOR THAT INFORMATION. >> IT WAS A GREAT FORMER

[02:50:02]

THROUGH A PARKING LOT. >> THIS IS DIFFERENT.

ANYONE ELSE? LET'S GO TO PUBLIC COMMENT.

>> AT THIS TIME WE WILL TAKE PUBLIC COMMENT ON AGENDA ITEM

NUMBER EIGHT. >> PAUL REYNOLDS.

I WOULD URGE COMMISSION TO APPROVE THIS.

THAT GENTLEMAN WAS REALLY CORRECT.

I HAVE A CUSTOMER OVER THERE ON GREEN ACRES ROAD AND IT IS A TOUGH PLACE TO GET OUT TO. TO MAKE THAT EASIER TO GET OUT OF WOULD BE AWESOME AND IF THERE EVER IS ANY EXTRA MONEY OR SOME MONEY, THAT GREEN ACRES ROAD, THAT IS SO DARK.

IT'S SPOOKY DARK. AND I WANT TO TELL YOU, I WAS RECENTLY THERE AT 3:00 IN THE MORNING AND I HAVE TO ADMIT I LOCKED MY DOORS. UNTIL THE MAN CAME OUT.

ANYWAYS COME UP PLEASE VOTE TO APPROVE THIS.

IT WOULD REALLY HELP THE TRAFFIC.

THANK YOU. >> THANK YOU.

ANYONE ELSE? COME ON UP.

>> HIGH THERE. >> HI.

I AM DEBORAH COX AND I LIVE AT 2801.

I'VE LIVED THERE FOR 20 YEARS. I AM THE SUBDIVISION AND THERE WILL BE NEGATIVELY IMPACTED BY THE 7-ELEVEN.

FIRST OF ALL COME ON LET'S TALK ABOUT CUTTING THROUGH A PARKING LOT. I HAVE A NEIGHBOR THAT HAS FOUR DUMP TRUCKS. DO YOU THINK 7-ELEVEN WANTS FOUR DUMP TRUCKS CUTTING THROUGH THEIR PARKING LOT TO USE A RED LIGHT? TRUST ME, LEON WILL DO THAT.

IN ADDITION, WE HAVE A LOT OF PEOPLE THAT USE THE SIDEWALKS.

BIKE RIDERS, RUNNERS, E-BIKES. WE EVEN HAD A UNICYCLE THE OTHER DAY THAT ALMOST GOT HIT BECAUSE THEY HAD HEADPHONES ON, NOT PAYING ATTENTION TO A TRUCK TURNING INTO GREEN ACRES.

THE TRUCK TURNED INTO GREEN ACRES AND DID NOT SEE THE GUY COMING UNTIL THE VERY LAST SECOND.

HAD TO HIT HIS BRAKES, ALMOST HAD AN ACCIDENT FROM SOMEONE REAR ENDING HIM TRYING TO AVOID THIS PERSON COMING ACROSS.

YOU PUT ANOTHER ENTRY ON THAT SECTION OF 16 AND IT WILL BE A TRAFFIC NIGHTMARE. WE HAVE A HARD ENOUGH TIME GETTING OUT NOW BETWEEN 95 SHUTTING DOWN WHICH IS EVERY WEEK HERE LATELY OR JUST REGULAR TRAFFIC.

OR THE DAY AFTER THANKSGIVING WITH THE OUTLET MALL.

PUTTING A CONVENIENCE STORE THERE THAT HAS FOUR OTHER CONVENIENCE STORES WITHIN A QUARTER MILE.

IS THAT NEEDED FOR THAT SECTION? DO WE NEED ANOTHER GAS STATION? LET'S TALK ABOUT THE WETLANDS. YOU JUST HAD A CASE WHERE PONDS ACTUALLY DRAINED THE WATER OUT OF THE WETLANDS.

WHAT DO YOU THINK A RETENTION POND WILL DO TO THAT SECTION OF WETLANDS? WE ARE IN A MAJOR DROUGHT CYCLE.

WE ARE SO FAR BEYOND. WE ARE LOSING WETLANDS DAILY.

YOU PUT A RETENTION POND NEXT TO THE WETLANDS AND YOU WILL END UP DESTROYING THE WETLANDS AS WELL. BECAUSE THERE IS NO WAY 7-ELEVEN CAN GUARANTEE THAT WON'T HAPPEN. JUST LOOK WHAT HAPPENED TO THE OTHER PARCEL. THAT SECTION OF STATE ROAD 16 IS A NIGHTMARE. THERE IS NO WAY TO AVOID THE TRAFFIC. YOU TURN FROM CHICK FIL A AND EVERYTHING ELSE. I KNOW YOU CAN'T STOP THE PROPERTY FROM BEING DEVELOPED COME UP BUT LET'S BE RESPONSIBLE AND FIND SOMETHING THAT WOULD REALLY BENEFIT THE COUNTY BECAUSE I DON'T THINK ANYONE'S GOING TO DROP DEAD IF THEY CAN'T STOP AND GET A SLUSHY ON STATE ROUTE 16 NEAR ZAXBY'S.

PLEASE DO NOT BECAUSE THERE IS 145 HOMES BACK THERE THAT WILL BE IMPACTED BY THIS. PLEASE COME I JUST THINK ABOUT THE FUTURE. IF THEY NEED TO DEVELOP IT, FIND SOMETHING THAT WOULD BE MORE BENEFIT.

SOMETHING WE DON'T HAVE THERE. NOT ANOTHER CONVENIENCE STORE.

WE DON'T NEED ANOTHER CONVENIENCE STORE, WE DON'T NEED ANOTHER PUBLIX OR ANOTHER SET OF STORAGE BUILDINGS.

I THANK YOU FOR LETTING US GET THIS DONE BEFORE LUNCH AND HAVE

A NICE DAY. >> THANK YOU.

IS THERE ANYONE ELSE? COME ON UP.

>> GOOD AFTERNOON. YES, IT IS.

BJ CLAY LIST CITY ST. AUGUSTINE. I WONDER IF THERE IS ANYBODY HERE OR IF ANY OF YOU LISTENED TO THE PCI.

WHY DID MR. HILSUM DISSENT? HE'S A DOCTOR.

THAT WOULD BE INTERESTING TO FIND OUT IF ANYONE KNOWS THAT.

I'M SORRY COME OUT THE OTHER PEOPLE WHO LIVE AROUND MISS DEBRA COULD NOT BE HERE TO SPEAK UP FOR THEIR COMMUNITY.

ANOTHER 7-ELEVEN? I DON'T KNOW.

I DON'T KNOW IF LEGALLY YOU CAN REALLY SAY YOU ARE AGAINST THIS.

YOU MIGHT GET SUED. THAT WOULD BE MY CONCERN.

REALLY TAKING CARE OF THAT AREA BECAUSE I DON'T KNOW LEGALLY

[02:55:05]

I'M GLAD DEBRA MENTIONED THAT TOO.

THANK YOU VERY MUCH. YOU'RE GOING TO VOTE.

I CAN'T GUESS ON THIS ONE. LET ME SEE.

LET ME SEE. ONE, TWO, THREE.

LET'S GO WITH 4-1 ON THIS ONE. 4-1 VOTE.

TO CAST IT. MAYBE 3-2.

SOME OF YOU HAVE STARTED SMILING.

YOU WOULDN'T SMILE BEFORE. OH, MY GOODNESS.

LET'S GO WITH 4-1. THANKS.

THANK YOU. >> IS THERE ANYONE ELSE AT THIS TIME FOR PUBLIC COMMENT ON AGENDA ITEM NUMBER EIGHT? SEEING NONE WE WILL CLOSE PUBLIC COMMENT.

>> BACK TO THE BOARD. COMMISSIONER ARNOLD.

>> THANK YOU MR. CHAIR. MOTION TO ENACT ORDINANCE 2026 -- 23. APPROVING THE REZONING 2026 --

-- I'M ON THE WRONG ONE RT. >> 16 COMMERCIAL.

>> MOTION TO ENACT MOTION NUMBER 2026 -- APPROVING REZONING 2026-0 FOR A STATE ROAD 16 COMMERCIAL BASED ON FOUR FINDINGS OF FACT AND ONE CONDITION AS PROVIDED BY THE

STAFF REPORT. >> WE HAVE A MOTION TO SECOND.

LET'S VOTE. AND THAT PASSES.

[Commissioners’ Reports]

ARNOLD. >> I HAVE NOTHING TO REPORT.

>> OKAY. COMMISSIONER JOSEPH.

PUT THAT BUTTON. YOU HAVE THE FLOOR.

OKAY. LEAVE IT ALONE.

YOU HAVE THE FLOOR. >> I HAVE SOME PICTURES FROM THE BEACH AND WE HAVE A CRAZY CROQUET GROUP AND HERE WE ARE PURE RYAN AND I HAD TO PLAY AGAINST THESE PEOPLE.

IT WAS AMAZING. SHE WAS JUMPING HER BALLS OVER EVERYBODY ELSE'S AND RYAN WAS WINNING THE WHOLE TIME AND THEN MY LADY DID A JUMP OVER SO I WON.

IT WAS GIRLS AGAINST BOYS. ANYWAY, WHAT I WANT TO POINT OUT IS THIS IS BEHIND PV RAWLINGS AND IT IS THE MOST BEAUTIFUL COURT YOU WILL EVER SEE. THEY ARE RANKED IN THE TOP TEN OF PLACES TO HAVE EVENTS. I WANT TO POINT OUT THAT THEY ARE THERE ALL THE TIME IF YOU EVER WANT TO DRIVE BY.

IT'S MOSQUITO CONTROL ROAD. SEE HOW NICE THAT IS.

THE GRASS IS GREEN. ANYWAY, I THINK ONE OF OUR UTILITY PLANTS WAS RIGHT NEXT TO IT.

I WANTED TO POINT THAT OUT AND ONE LAST THING I WANT TO POINT OUT IS THE SOCCER. I DON'T KNOW ABOUT YOU GUYS COME UP BUT WATCHING THE SCOTS IN BOSTON AND PEOPLE COMING TO AMERICA AND LOVING AMERICA AND LOVING BUCKIES AND LOVING WAFFLE HOUSE AND BEING IN THE MIDDLE OF THE COUNTRY, IT IS SO FUN AND I'VE BEEN SMILING AT THE COMMENTS.

A FEW OF ANY TIME TO WATCH THOSE REPORTS, IT'S REALLY AMAZING.

THAT'S IT. >> THANK YOU COME ON MR. CHAIR.

THE U.S. HISPANIC CHAMBER HAS A NATIONAL CONVENTION EVERY YEAR.

AND THE FIRST COAST HISPANIC CHAMBER HEADED UP BY MONICA HERNANDEZ, SHE HAS BEEN HERE SEVERAL TIMES.

RECEIVED PROCLAMATIONS ON BEHALF OF THE BOARD.

MONICA HERNANDEZ IS TRYING TO GET THE U.S. HISPANIC CHAMBER'S CONVENTION TO COME TO NORTHEAST FLORIDA AND PRIMARILY BE IN JACKSONVILLE BUT OBVIOUSLY SHE WOULD LOVE TO SHOWCASE ST. AUGUSTINE AS A PART OF THE TOURS AROUND FLORIDA.

WE ALL KNOW THAT THERE'S BEEN AN INCREASE IN HISPANIC OWNED BUSINESSES AND HISPANIC CULTURE HERE IN NORTHEAST FLORIDA APPEARED OBVIOUSLY SAINT AUGUSTINE'S IS FOUNDED BY THE SPANISH. THE TOURISM INDUSTRY HAS OFFERED SEVERAL LETTERS OF SUPPORT. I WAS HOPING I COULD GET CONSENSUS TO SIMPLY OFFER A LETTER OF SUPPORT FROM SAINT JOHNS COUNTY FOR THE FIRST COAST HISPANIC CHAMBER OF COMMERCE TO GET THE CONVENTION TO NORTHEAST FLORIDA.

[03:00:03]

>> ABSOLUTELY. >> ABSOLUTELY.

>> EXCELLENT. THAT CONCLUDES MY REPORT.

>> COMMISSIONER TAYLOR. >> THANK YOU SO MUCH.

YES, I WANTED TO TOUCH ON THAT OUR NEIGHBORING COUNTIES RIGHT NOW ARE CURRENTLY TAKING DEFENSIVE ACTION TO PROTECT THEIR COMMUNITIES AGAINST MASSIVE DATA CENTERS.

NASA JUST ENACTED A 12 MONTH MORATORIUM ON NEW AI DATA CENTERS AND COUNTIES ARE MOVING FORWARD WITH A TEMPORARY MORATORIUM ON NEW DATA CENTER APPLICATIONS.

THEY ARE DOING THIS BECAUSE THEY RECOGNIZE THAT THESE MASSIVE DATA CENTERS CONTINUE TO BE IMMENSE LOADS ON THE ELECTRIC GRID, THREATEN OUR AQUIFER, AND THEY BRING HARDLY ANY PERMANENT JOBS TO OUR RESIDENTS AND OUR COUNTY.

THE NORTHEAST FLORIDA REGIONAL COUNCIL THAT BOTH COMMISSIONER WHITEHURST AND I ARE A PART OF VOTED TO DESIGNATE DATA CENTER GROWTH AS AN OFFICIAL REGIONAL PLANNING ISSUE AND AT A RECENT MEETING, WE HAD A FABULOUS PRESENTATION FROM NASSAU COUNTY ON THEIR MORATORIUM. THESE ACTIONS RECOGNIZE THAT WATER RESOURCES AND ELECTRICAL INFRASTRUCTURE AND GROWTH MANAGEMENT, NATURAL RESOURCE PROTECTION AND COMMUNITY IMPACTS DO NOT STOP AT CITY AND COUNTY BOUNDARIES.

I WOULD LIKE TO RECOMMEND THAT ST. JOHN'S COUNTY PUT A SIMILAR TEMPORARY MORATORIUM ON DATA CENTERS.

I WOULD LIKE TO JOIN OTHER COUNTIES THAT ARE BEING PROACTIVE RATHER THAN REACTIVE AND I THINK A PAUSE WOULD GIVE OUR COUNTY TIME TO RESEARCH ENVIRONMENTAL AND INFRASTRUCTURE IMPACTS SUCH AS HIGH WATER AND ELECTRICAL CONSUMPTION.

BY DOING NOTHING, SAINT JOHNS COUNTY HAS A MASSIVE TARGET ON OUR BACK. IF OUR NEIGHBORING COUNTIES SHUT THEIR DOORS TO AI DATA CENTERS, WE BECOME THE PATH OF LEAST RESISTANCE. AND WE ARE TURNING OURSELVES INTO SITTING DUCKS TO THE EXACT PROJECTS THAT OUR NEIGHBORS WERE SMART ENOUGH TO REJECT. OUR RESIDENTS HAVE MADE IT PERFECTLY CLEAR THAT THEY DO NOT WANT THESE DATA CENTERS HERE IN OUR COUNTY. I WOULD LIKE TO ACT TODAY AND LET'S NOT WAIT UNTIL AN APPLICATION IS BEFORE US.

I DID JUST WANT TO ADD TO, I JUST REALIZED THIS MORNING THAT WALTON COUNTY, BECAUSE THEY WERE VERY MUCH AWARE OF SENATE BILL 484, THEY ACTUALLY HAVE A -- THEY HAVE PUT SOMETHING IN PLACE AS WELL. THEY ARE ACTUALLY BANNING THEM AND THEY ARE GETTING IT IN PLACE BEFORE THE SENATE BILL TAKES EFFECT ON JULY 1ST. THAT IS MY REQUEST.

AGAIN, I KNOW I'M COMING BACK. >> ARE YOU MAKING A MOTION?

ARE YOU MAKING A MOTION? >> YES.

I DIDN'T KNOW IF ANYONE HAD ANY COMMENTS.

>> I SUPPORT YOUR MOTION. WHATEVER IT IS.

>> WHATEVER THE MOTION IS, SHE SUPPORTS IT.

LET'S GO BACK AND ALLOW YOU TO MAKE A MOTION.

>> I WOULD LIKE OUR COUNTY -- I WOULD LIKE TO MAKE A MOTION THAT WE ENACT A MORATORIUM ON AI DATA CENTERS GOOD FOR THE NEXT YEAR.

>> SECOND. >> OKAY.

COMMISSIONER. COMMISSIONER WHITEHURST, ANY

COMMENTS? >> YES, SIR.

THROUGH THE CHAIR TO MR. BRADLEY, MR. DUNN.

WE HAD THIS CONVERSATION, I DON'T KNOW, A MONTH OR SO AGO.

AT THAT TIME, I ASKED FOR STAFF TO WORK UP A PRESENTATION SO THAT WE COULD GET SOME OF THE FACTS ABOUT DATA CENTERS RELATED TO USE OF WATER. USE OF ENERGY.

OTHER ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACTS, POTENTIAL ECONOMIC BENEFITS.

WHERE ARE WE IN DEVELOPING THAT PRESENTATION?

>> NEITHER MYSELF OR MR. DUNN HAVE GOTTEN A REPORT YET.

IT IS STILL BEING REVIEWED. >> THANK YOU MR. BRADLEY.

I KNOW THAT NORTHEAST FLORIDA REGIONAL COUNCIL, NASSAU COUNTY HAS PUT TOGETHER THIS EXTREMELY COMPREHENSIVE WEBSITE RELATED TO THEIR RESEARCH IN AND AROUND DATA CENTERS.

THEY ARE HOLDING SEVERAL TOWN HALLS WITH SUBJECT MATTER EXPERTS WHO ARE FOCUSED ON THE ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACTS OF DATA CENTERS, WHO ARE FOCUSED ON THE INFRASTRUCTURE NEEDS THAT THE COUNTRY HAS FOR DATA CENTERS AND ALSO SOME OF THE ECONOMIC BENEFITS. I THINK WE SHOULD AVAIL OURSELVES OF SOME OF THEIR HARD WORK, MR. BRADLEY, FOR WHATEVER THAT IS WORTH. NASSAU COUNTY IS DOING MUCH OF THE HARD WORK FOR US. I THINK IT'S ALSO RELEVANT TO MENTION THAT I HAVE HAD CONVERSATIONS WITH SOME OF OUR CONTACTS AT FPNL WHO HAVE TOLD ME IN NO UNCERTAIN TERMS THAT THERE WOULD BE NO NEED FOR A DATA CENTER IN SAINT JOHNS COUNTY FOR AT LEAST THE NEXT 20 YEARS.

WE DON'T MAKE SENSE TO HAVE A DATA CENTER.

[03:05:03]

I DON'T KNOW OF ANYBODY THAT HAS APPLIED FOR A DATA CENTER IN SAINT JOHNS COUNTY. I DON'T KNOW OF ANYBODY THAT EVER INTENDS TO APPLY FOR A DATA CENTER IN SAINT JOHNS COUNTY. IF WE WANT TO PASS A MORATORIUM, IF THAT MAKES SENSE, IT DOESN'T OFFEND ME ONE BIT.

THERE AREN'T ANY PROPOSED DATA CENTERS IN AND AROUND SAINT JOHNS COUNTY THAT I'M AWARE OF. I DO THINK IT'S WORTH MENTIONING THAT KEVIN O'LEARY FROM SHARK TANK, MR. WONDERFUL, HE PUT OUT SOME INFORMATION ABOUT SOME MISINFORMATION CAMPAIGNS FUNDED BY THE CHINESE COMMUNIST PARTY TARGETING DATA CENTERS IN THE UNITED STATES. THERE'S ALSO SOME MISINFORMATION CAMPAIGNS BEING FUNDED BY RUSSIA.

THAT'S ALL INFORMATION THAT IS OUT THERE.

YOU CAN CERTAINLY LOOK THAT UP FOR YOURSELF BUT I WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT WE DON'T TAKE THE BAIT ON FOREIGN GOVERNMENTS TRYING TO FUND MISINFORMATION SO THAT WE FALL BEHIND ON NECESSARY INFRASTRUCTURE BECAUSE THERE ARE SOME DEFENSE APPLICATIONS TO HAVING DATA CENTERS, THERE ARE SOME ECONOMIC BENEFITS TO HAVING DATA CENTERS. OBVIOUSLY A GOVERNMENT CAN'T RESTRICT THE AMOUNT OF DATA THAT ITS RESIDENTS OR CITIZENS ARE USING. WE AREN'T GOING TO ASK THE TIME WE SPEND ON OUR CELL PHONES, RIGHT? WE WON'T RESTRICT THE AI APPLICATIONS THAT PRIVATE CITIZENS ARE USING. WE ALL ARE CONTRIBUTING TO THIS NEED FOR MORE DATA CENTERS. BUT IF YOU THINK PASSING A MORATORIUM FOR THE NEXT YEAR HELPS IN THE COURT OF PUBLIC OPINION, MAYBE IT MAKES SOME PEOPLE FEEL GOOD, I CAN SUPPORT THAT. IT DOESN'T OFFEND ME ONE BIT.

I JUST WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT WHATEVER WE DO WITH DATA CENTERS COME OUT WHATEVER CONVERSATIONS WE ARE HAVING ON DATA CENTERS, IT'S BASED IN FACT AND NOT IN FEAR.

>> ABSOLUTELY. >> ANYONE ELSE?

>> I HAVE A QUESTION FOR LEGAL. IF WE ARE LOOKING AT DOING A MORATORIUM, IS THAT GOING TO BE IMPACTED IN ANY WAY BY SB 180?

>> VERY POSSIBLY APPEARED THE WAY SB 180 IS WRITTEN, IT PROHIBITS MORATORIUMS ON CONSTRUCTION.

IT ALSO PROHIBITS, AS WE HAVE DISCUSSED BEFORE, ANYTHING THAT IS MORE RESTRICTIVE. WITH THE MOTION THAT IS BEFORE YOU TODAY, AND I UNDERSTAND THAT OTHER COUNTIES ARE DOING THAT, I WOULD SUGGEST THAT YOU DIRECT THE COUNTY ATTORNEY'S OFFICE TO BRING BACK SOMETHING. YOU CAN'T ENACT A MORATORIUM TODAY, ONE BECAUSE IT'S NOT ON THE AGENDA AND IT WASN'T PUBLICLY NOTICED AND TWO BECAUSE GOING THROUGH THE MORATORIUM PROCESS REQUIRES THAT IT COMES BACK FOR PUBLIC HEARING.

>> OKAY. IF YOU WOULD BE WILLING TO PULL YOUR MOTION, I WOULD ASK FOR CONSENSUS TO ASK LEGAL TO SHOW US A PATH TO PUTTING A MORATORIUM TOGETHER SO THAT WE CAN HAVE A PUBLIC HEARING ABOUT THIS.

ONE OF THE THINGS I WAS THINKING ABOUT IS WE AREN'T IN A GOOD PLACE FOR DATA CENTERS ANYWAY. THEY DON'T WANT TO COME HERE BECAUSE THERE'S NO POWER. WE DON'T HAVE THE TRANSMISSION LINES. SO DOING A MORATORIUM FOR ME IS FINE. I DON'T HAVE A PROBLEM WITH IT, I JUST WANT TO MAKE SURE WE JUMP THROUGH THE PROPER LEGAL HOOPS AND MAKE SURE WE ARE DOING IT THE RIGHT WAY.

WOULD THAT BE FAIR? >> ABSOLUTELY.

>> I WAS HOPING SHE WOULDN'T PULL THE MOTION BECAUSE WE COULD AMEND THE MOTION TO SAY THAT WE ARE VOTING ON A MORATORIUM AND GET ALL OF US ON BOARD AND THAT WOULD BE GREAT FOR OUR COUNTY AND FOR THE PEOPLE HERE AND THEN SEND IT.

>> I DON'T KNOW IF WE CAN DO THAT.

CAN WE DO IT? >> AMEND IT SO IT GOES TO LEGAL?

NO? >> CONSENSUS TO PUT A MORATORIUM PACKAGE TOGETHER SO THAT WE CAN GO TO PUBLIC HEARING AND THEN HAVE A VOTE ON IT. IS THAT FAIR?

IS THAT ALL RIGHT? >> THAT'S WONDERFUL.

THANK YOU SO MUCH. AND THEN I WANT TO WISH EVERYONE A WONDERFUL FOURTH AND A WONDERFUL TIME CELEBRATING OUR NATION'S 250TH ANNIVERSARY. I'VE ALREADY BEEN TO A NUMBER OF THINGS AND I KNOW WE RECENTLY HAVE A SPECIAL CELEBRATION FOR FLAG DAY AND OUR COUNTY AND CITY HAVE A NUMBER OF AMAZING EVENTS COMING UP TO CELEBRATE SUCH A WONDERFUL COME A WONDERFUL

OCCASION. >> THANK YOU SO MUCH.

WITH THAT COME ON THAT SEGWAYS INTO THE GOVERNOR RECENTLY ALLOWED THE STATE EMPLOYEES TO HAVE THURSDAY FRIDAY AND MONDAY OFF BECAUSE IT IS THE 250TH AND I WOULD LIKE TO ASK FOR CONSENSUS FROM THE BOARD TO DO THE SAME THING FOR OUR COUNTY'S

EMPLOYEES. >> ABSOLUTELY.

>> ABSOLUTELY. >> WE HAVE CONSENSUS GOING FORWARD TO MAKE SURE WE DO THAT. FOR OUR COUNTY EMPLOYEES.

>> MR. CHAIR, IS THIS FOR THE CBA ALSO? THE FIREFIGHTERS? THEY ARE ON A DIFFERENT SCHEDULE AND THEIR DAYS WOULD BE THURSDAY, FRIDAY, SATURDAY.

THAT WOULD COVER ALL OF THE SHIFT WORKERS.

[03:10:02]

>> I DON'T KNOW. IS IT?

>> WE HAVE TO GET THE SPECIFIC LANGUAGE.

>> IS THAT WHAT YOU ARE RECOMMENDING?

>> YES, SIR. >> IN THAT CASE, WE WILL GO WITH

[County Administrator’s Report ]

GO TO YOU FOR REPORT. >> FIRST OF ALL, THANKS TO THE BOARD FOR THE EXTRA DAYS OFF. ADMINISTRATION AND STAFF ARE VERY MUCH APPRECIATED OF THAT. WE APPRECIATE YOUR GENEROSITY.

ALSO, BACK TO THE DATA CENTERS. WE ARE WORKING ON THAT AND WILL PRODUCE A COMPREHENSIVE REPORT. ALSO SHE'S WORKING WITH THE COUNCIL TO GATHER DATA REGARDING THAT ALSO.

BEFORE THE NEXT MEETING, WE WILL HAVE A MEMO FOR THE BOARD.

>> THANK YOU. >> THAT IS ALL I HAVE.

>> THANK YOU. >> NOTHING FURTHER, MR. CHAIR.

>> WE STAND ADJOURNED THEN. AND HAPPY 250TH TO EVERYBODY.

I

* This transcript was compiled from uncorrected Closed Captioning.