Aug 18, 2026 Board of County Commissioners

[00:00:05]

>> GOOD MORNING. IF THERE'S ANYBODY THAT'S SUPPOSED TO BE HERE THIS MORNING THAT'S NOT, RAISE YOUR HAND.

>> I WASN'T AWARE THAT YOU WERE GOING TO BE REMOTE THIS MORNING, COMMISSIONER. SO GLAD TO HAVE YOU HERE.

LET'S GO AHEAD AND BRING THIS MEETING TO ORDER, AND MADAME CLERK, IF YOU WOULD CALL THE ROLL.

>> CHAIR, COMMISSIONER CLAY MURPHY?

>> PRESENT. >> VICE-CHAIR MISSIONER ANN

TAYLOR? >> PRESENT.

>> COMMISSIONER CHRISTIAN WHITEHURST?

>> PRESENT. >> COMMISSIONER SARAH ARNOLD?

>> PRESENT. >> COMMISSIONER KRISTA JOSEPH?

>> PRESENT. >> GOOD DEAL, THANK YOU SO MUCH.

WE WILL NOW INVITE PASTOR BOBBIE CROMWELL FROM UNITED STATES BAPTIST CHURCH TO COME UP AND GIVE OUR INVOCATION.

PLEASE RISE. >> GOOD MORNING.

LET US PRAY TOGETHER... HEAVENLY FATHER, THANK YOU FOR THIS BEAUTIFUL DAY IN ST. JOHNS COUNTY.

WHAT AN AMAZING PRIVILEGE IT IS TO BE ABLE TO LIVE HERE, TO WORK HERE, TO PLAY HERE. LORD, I ASK YOUR BLESSINGS ON THIS MEETING TODAY, ON THESE LEADERS.

AND LORD, SOMETIMES WE DON'T HAVE WORDS, SOMETIMES WE DON'T KNOW WHAT TO SAY AND YOU TAUGHT US HOW TO PRAY.

OUR FATHER WHO ART IN HEAVEN HALLOWED BE THY NAME, THY KINGDOM COME, THY WILL BE DONE ON EARTH AS IT IS IN HEAVEN, GIVE US THIS DAY OUR DAILY BREAD AND FORGIVE US OUR TRESPASSES, AS WE FORGIVE THOSE WHO TRESPASS AGAINST US; AND LEAD US NOT INTO TEMPTATION BUT DELIVER US FROM EVIL.

FOR THINE IS THE KINGDOM, THE POWER AND THE GLORY, FOREVER.

AMEN. >> THANK YOU SO MUCH.

SARAH MCLEAVEY, LIEUTENANT COLONEL UNITED STATES ARMY, ARE YOU HERE, SARAH? AND IF NOT BOBBIE, WOULD YOU

LEAD US IN THE PLEDGE? >> ABSOLUTELY.

>> THANK YOU. >> I PLEDGE ALLEGIANCE TO THE FLAG OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA AND TO THE REPUBLIC FOR WHICH IT STANDS, ONE NATION UNDER GOD, INDIVISIBLE, WITH LIBERTY AND JUSTICE FOR ALL.

>> THANK YOU SO MUCH. YOU MAY BE SEATED.

[Deletions to Consent Agenda ]

AND I'LL START WITH COMMISSIONER ARNOLD.

>> I HAVE NONE, MR. CHAIR. >> THANK YOU SO MUCH.

COMMISSIONER JOSEPH? >> NONE, MR. CHAIR.

>> THANK YOU. COMMISSIONER WHITEHURST?

>> I HAVE NONE, MR. CHAIRMAN. >> COMMISSIONER TAYLOR?

>> I HAVE NONE, HOWEVER I DO WANT TO POINT OUT NUMBER 11 ON THE CONSENT AGENDA AND I WOULD LOVE TO WELCOME AND CALL UP THE ST. JOHNS COUNTY PARKS FOUNDATION AND RECOGNIZE THEM FOR THEIR SIGNIFICANT CONTRIBUTION OF $115,604 FOR THE FIELD OF DREAMS TURF FIELD AT REDEEM PARK SO I WOULD ABSOLUTELY LOVE TO HAVE THOSE THAT ARE HERE PLEASE COME FORWARD. AND WE ARE SO APPRECIATIVE OF YOUR GENEROUS GIFT.

>> THANK YOU SO MUCH, COMMISSIONER TAYLOR AND ALSO ALL THE COMMISSIONERS WHO HAVE SUPPORTED THE ST. JOHNS COUNTY PARKS FOUNDATION. WE ARE NEW BUT WE ARE CERTAINLY GETTING A LOT OF MOMENTUM AND THIS IS CERTAINLY PROOF OF THAT.

WE WOULD LIKE TO THANK ALSO THE FIELD OF DREAMS ORGANIZATION WHO GRACIOUSLY BECAME ONE OF OUR SUPPORTERS OF THE FOUNDATION, SO THANK YOU AGAIN. AND EVERYONE ELSE HERE IN ST.

JOHNS COUNTY. THANKS.

[00:05:24]

WE'LL DO PUBLIC COMMENT ON THE CONSENT AGENDA ONLY.

THANK YOU. >> ALL RIGHT, AT THIS TIME WE WILL TAKE PUBLIC COMMENT ON THE CONSENT AGENDA.

IF ANYBODY WOULD LIKE TO SHARE, PLEASE COME UP.

OKAY, SEEING NONE, WE WILL CLOSE PUBLIC COMMENT.

[Approval of Consent Agenda ]

>> THANK YOU SO MUCH. TAKE A MOTION TO APPROVE THE

CONSENT AGENDA. >> SO MOVED.

>> SECOND. >> OKAY, WE HAVE A MOTION AND A SECOND. ALL IN FAVOUR SAY AYE.

AND OPPOSED? THAT'S UNANIMOUS.

[Additions/Deletions to Regular Agenda ]

YOU, COMMISSIONER ARNOLD? >> I HAVE NONE.

>> THANK YOU SO MUCH. COMMISSIONER JOSEPH?

>> I GUESS I'M JUST WONDERING IF WE COULD PUT IN FOR ITEM 4 TO DISCUSS THE INJUNCTION THAT WE TALKED ABOUT TWO WEEKS AGO ONTO

THE AGENDA. >> OKAY.

ANY DISCUSSION? WELL, IF NONE WE'LL ADD THAT TO

THE AGENDA ITEM NUMBER 4. >> THANK YOU, CHAIR.

>> YES, MA'AM. COMMISSIONER WHITEHURST?

>> I HAVE NONE, MR. CHAIRMAN. >> COMMISSIONER TAYLOR?

>> I HAVE NONE. >> OKAY AND I HAVE NONE.

[Approval of Regular Agenda ]

DO I HAVE A MOTION? >> SO MOVED.

>> OKAY, I HAVE A MOTION AND A SECOND.

ALL IN FAVOUR SAY AYE. AND OPPOSED?

[Public Comment]

GENERAL PUBLIC COMMENT. >> AT THIS TIME THE BOARD WILL HEAR GENERAL PUBLIC COMMENT ON MATTERS THAT ARE NOT SCHEDULED FOR ACTION ON TODAY'S AGENDA. WHEN ADDRESSING THE BOARD, PLEASE COME TO ONE OF THE THREE PODIUMS AND STATE YOUR NAME AND ADDRESS. EACH PERSON WILL BE PROVIDED 3 MINUTES TO SPEAK. AND WE ASK THAT YOU SPEAK DIRECTLY INTO THE MICROPHONE. SPEAKERS WILL COMPLY THE RULES OF CIVILITY AND DECORUM. SPEAKERS MAY NOT DEMAND AN IMMEDIATE RESPONSE FROM THE BOARD.

ANY SPEAKER THAT WOULD LIKE TO PRESENT MATERIALS, PLEASE UTILIZE THE CENTER PODIUM, PAPER MATERIALS CAN BE PLACED ON THE X FOR OVERHEAD CAMERA TO DISPLAY AND A LAPTOP WILL BE SET UP FOR ANY USB PRESENTATIONS. AFTER PRESENTING, PLEASE PROVIDE THE MATERIALS TO THE STAFF OF THE CLERK OF THE COURT TO BE ENTERED INTO PUBLIC RECORD. GOOD MORNING.

>> GOOD MORNING. OKAY, SO GOOD MORNING, COMMISSIONERS. MY NAME IS DEBRA CAMPBELL.

I'M A RESIDENT AND TAXPAYER OF ST. JOHNS COUNTY.

WHEN I STOOD HERE LAST TIME -- >> COULD YOU PLEASE STATE YOUR NAME AND ADDRESS. DEBRA CAMPBELL, ST. JOHNS COUNTY. I DON'TI DON'T WANT TO GIVE MY S BECAUSE CHILDREN AND THAT KIND OF THING.

>> NO WORRIES. >> OKAY.

LIKE I SAID RESIDENT OF ST. JOHNS COUNTY.

WHEN I STOOD HERE LAST TIME I PRESENTED A PETITION TO THE BOARD. TODAY I'M BACK BECAUSE OUR COMMUNITY'S VOICE HAS MORE THAN DOUBLED.

I'M HOLDING A PETITION THAT NOW HAS 464 SIGNATURES FROM OUR NEIGHBORS WHO DEMAND AN END TO WARRANT LESS MASS SURVEILLANCE ON PUBLIC ROADS. WE THE PEOPLE ON THE PUBLIC ROADS IN THIS COUNTY AND WE THE PEOPLE PAY FOR IT ALL.

EVERY STREET, EVERY POLE, EVERY TAX DOLLAR BELONGS TO US.

YET OUR HARD EARNED MONEY IS BEING USED TO RUN A PERMANENT TRACKING GRID AGAINST US. FOLLOWING A MASSIVE PUBLIC BACKLASH ACROSS THE COUNTRY, FLOCK WAS REACTLY FORCED TO CHANGE ITS STANDARD POLICY, WIPING INNOCENT CITIZENS' DATA AFTER JUST SEVEN DAYS. BUT WHILE THE PUBLIC DEMANDS PRIVACY, OUR SHERIFF IS ACTIVELY PAYING A PREMIUM SURCHARGE OF $300 PER CAMERA PER YEAR TO HOARD OUR TRAVEL DATA FOR A FULL YEAR. OUR TAX DOLLARS ARE PAYING TO STORE OUR FAMILY'S DRIVING HABITS TWELVE TIMES LONGER THAN STANDARD. WORSE, THE INTERNAL AUDIT MEANT TO PROTECT US FROM ABUSE IS A COMPLETE JOKE.

OVER 144,000 SEARCHES WERE RUN ON OUR CITIZENS BETWEEN JANUARY 2025 AND JUNE 2026. THE SYSTEM FLAGGED 117 SUSPICIOUS SEARCHES. LET ME READ THE EXACT WORDS FROM THE OFFICIAL REPORT ON THAT. "USERS WERE FOUND TO HAVE ENTERED INACCURATE CASE NUMBER INTO THE SYSTEM.

EACH OF THESE USERS WERE CONTACTED AND GIVEN THE INFORMATION ON THE SEARCH THEY ENTERED.

EACH USER PROVIDED THE ACCURATE CASE NUMBER.

NO INTENTIONAL MISUSE OF THE SYSTEM WAS DISCOVERED.

THESE WERE ALL ADMINISTRATIVE ERRORS IN WHICH CASE NUMBER WAS ENTERED INCORRECTLY". THINK ABOUT THAT.

WHEN A DEPUTY ENTERS A WRONG CASE NUMBER MANAGEMENT JUST CALLS THEM UP, GIVES THEM THEIR DETAILS AND LETS THEM CHANGE IT.

[00:10:03]

THIS IS NOT OUR SYSTEM DESIGNED TO HIDE ABUSE.

THOMAS JEFFERSON WARNED US THAT FREE GOVERNMENT REQUIRES POWER TO BE BALANCED SO THAT NO DEPARTMENT CAN OVERSTEP ITS LIMITS WITHOUT BEING STOPPED. COMMISSIONERS, YOU ARE THAT STOP SIGN. YOU HOLD THE CHECK BOOK AND YOU OWN THE ROADS ON OUR BEHALF. ON BEHALF OF THE 464 REGISTERED VOTERS, I AM CALLING ON THIS BOARD TO TAKE IMMEDIATE ACTION, FREEZE AND HALT ALL TECHNOLOGY AND OPERATIONAL FUNDING FOR THESE SURVEILLANCE SYSTEMS RIGHT NOW.

PASS THE RIGHT-OF-WAY PROTECTION ORDINANCE.

I GAVE THE CLERK LEGALLY EVICT THESE CORPORATE TRACKERS FROM OUR ROADS AND STAND UP FOR THE PEOPLE WHO PAY FOR IT ALL.

JUST BECAUSE HARD WORK HAS A HARD ON FOR FLOCK DOESN'T MEAN WE SHOULD PAY FOR IT. THANK YOU.

GOOD MORNING. >> YES.

JUANITA YATES, 408 [INDISCERNIBLE] DRIVE IN THE SHORES AND I'VE BEEN HERE BEFORE AND I'M SPEAKING FOR THE PEOPLE THAT LIVE ALONG CIVILA, THE INTERSECTION OF CIVILA AND SHERWOOD DRIVE AND ONCE AGAIN, WE ARE STILL HAVING A PROBLEM, BECAUSE OF THE U-TURN THAT WAS PUT IN BY THE COUNTY, AND IT'S IN A VERY BAD PLACE. IT'S ON A HILL.

WE CAN'T SEE WHO IS COMING AT US.

MEANWHILE, THE PEOPLE HAVE TAKEN UPON THEMSELVES TO DRIVE ACROSS THE MEDIAN STRIP TO BE ABLE TO HAVE ACCESS TO OUR STREET, WHICH WE HAVE HAD SINCE THE '80S AND THEN THE COUNTY PUT IN THIS MEDIAN STRIP WITHOUT ANY NOTICE TO ANYBODY AND NOW WE'VE GOT TO DRIVE ACROSS THE MEDIAN STRIP, PLUS RIGHT BEHIND MY HOUSE IS A SERVICE ROAD FOR FDL AND THEY ARE HAVING THE SAME PROBLEM.

THEY'VE DONE THE SAME THING. THEY'RE DRIVING ACROSS THE MEDIUM STRIP. THEY CANNOT NAVIGATE THE U-TURNS THAT THEY PUT IN WITH THOSE BIG TRUCKS, WITH TRAILERS ON THEM AND EVERYTHING ELSE. THAT'S THE ONLY WAY THEY CAN GET IN AND OUT OF THE SERVICE ROAD SAFELY.

SO I WOULD LIKE THE COUNTY TO PLEASE TAKE SOME KIND OF ACTION ON THIS, SOME -- AND I'M NOT SURE JUST WHAT YOU WANT TO DO.

I THINK WE'RE -- AT THIS POINT IF YOU WOULD JUST GRAVEL THE PLACES THAT WE'VE DRIVEN OVER AND MAKE IT SAFER THAT WAY, THAT MIGHT BE AN ALTERNATIVE, I DON'T KNOW.

I MEAN JUST RIGHT DOWN THE STREET FROM US, THE GOLF COURSE HAS GOT A VERY NICE LITTLE GRAVELED PLACE FOR THEM TO DRIVE ACROSS, AND YOU KNOW, WE'VE GOT NOTHING BUT A DIRT -- DIRT THERE AND WHEN IT RAINS, WE DO HAVE MUD THERE WE WOULD LIKE TO HAVE SOMETHING DONE ABOUT THIS.

THE COUNTY CREATED THIS MESS. I WOULD LIKE TO ASK THE COUNTY TOE TRY TO DO SOMETHING ABOUT IT.

AND AS I SAID,ISM SPEAKING FOR THE PEOPLE THAT LIVE ON CIVILA.

THE COUNTY GAVE US AN ALTERNATIVE WAY OF GETTING IN THERE, WHICH PUTS US A MILE OUT OF MY WAY.

TO GET TO MY HOUSE I WOULD HAVE TO GO AN EXTRA MILE OUT OF MY WAY EVERY TIME I WOULD COME AND GO FROM MY HOUSE AND THAT'S A LITTLE RIDICULOUS, WHEN I'VE HAD ACCESS TO MY HOUSE, WHICH IS ONLY ABOUT 6 HOUSES IN ON CIVILA.

WHY SHOULD I HAVE TO GO ALL THE WAY DOWN, AROUND AND COME BACK UP TO BE ABLE TO GET THERE? SO I'M ASKING THE COUNTY TO PLEASE TRY TO TAKE THAT INTO CONSIDERATION AND DO SOMETHING FOR US. THANK YOU.

>> THANK YOU. THANK YOU.

GOOD MORNING. >> OH, GOOD MORNING.

BRIAN SEE MORE. I'M AT 192 MARTINIQUE CIRCLE.

I CAME HERE LAST -- TWO WEEKS AGO, MADE MY STANCE PRETTY CLEAR ON THE LICENSE PLATE READER FLOCK CAMERAS.

I'M GOING TO LEAVE IT TO THE LAWYERS AND THE JUDGES AND THE COURTS TO DETERMINE WHETHER THESE THINGS ARE LEGAL OR VIOLATE CONSTITUTIONAL RIGHTS. I BELIEVE THEY DO, BUT WHAT I'M HERE TO TALK ABOUT TODAY IS THE COST.

WOAFT THE FINANCIAL BOTH THE FID THE COST TO OUR SOCIAL FABRIC.

THROUGH A PUBLIC RECORDS REQUEST, I NOW HAVE DOCUMENTS SHOWING RECEIPTS IN -- ABOUT $4 MILLION SINCE 20222 PAID TO FLOCK SERVICES. SO FAR INVOICES HAVE BEEN PAID OVER TWO MILLION OF THOSE DOLLARS.

THAT'S OUR TAX DOLLARS BEING USED TO SPY ON OURSELVES, ON OUR NEIGHBORS, WITHOUT ANY KIND OF CONSENT, WITHOUT ANY KIND OF EVEN NOTIFICATION THAT THIS IS GOING TO BE HAPPENING.

SURVEILLANCE ON THIS LEVEL ERODES TRUST.

THE MESSAGES THAT MY GOVERNMENT ASSUMES THAT I'M A CRIMINAL.

IT MAKES US PARANOID AND SUSPICIOUS OF OUR NEIGHBORS.

IT DOES NOT MAKE US A SAFE, RESILIENT COMMUNITY.

[00:15:01]

THINGS LIKE AFTER SCHOOL PROGRAMS, COMMUNITY GARDENS, EDIBLE FORESTS. ADULT EDUCATION CLASSES FOR GARDENING AND BASIC COMMON AUTO MAINTENANCE.

CARE PROGRAMS FOR OUR ELDERLY NEIGHBORS.

ARTS COLLECTIVES. WE HAVE A BEAUTIFUL NEW CONCERT HALL. LET'S PUT IT TO USE.

THE STATE OF WASHINGTON RECENTLY RULED THAT DATA COLLECTED FROM AUTOMATED LICENSE PLATE READERS ARE A MATTER OF PUBLIC RECORD.

THE FLORIDA SUNSHINE STATUTES STATE THAT PUBLIC RECORDS ARE DEFINED AS ALL DOCUMENTS, PAPERS, LETTERS, MAPS, BOOKS, TAPES, PHOTOGRAPHS, FILMS, SOUND RECORDINGS, DATA PROCESSING SOFTWARE, OTHER MATERIAL REGARDLESS OF THE PHYSICAL FORM CHARACTERISTICS OR MEANS OF TRANSMISSION MADE OR RECEIVED PURSUANT TO LAW OR ORDINANCE OR IN CONNECTION WITH THE TRANSACTION OF OFFICIAL BUSINESS OF ANY AGENCY.

THIS MEANS THAT ANYONE ANYWHERE CAN SUBMIT AN ANONYMOUS REQUEST TO OBTAIN IMAGES AND LOCATION DATA FOR ANY LICENSE PLATE THAT HAS EVER MOVED THROUGH ST. JOHNS COUNTY WHILE THESE LICENSE PLATE READERS ARE UP. THAT INCLUDES EVERYBODY ON THIS COMMITTEE HERE. THIS IS A SYSTEM RIFE FOR ABUSE WITH ALMOST NO SAFEGUARDS. ONE POSTER SAID NETFLIX FOR STALKERS. I AGREE.

AND MERE I THOUGHT THIS WAS THE FREE STATE OF FLORIDA.

THANK YOU. >> THANK YOU.

>> MY NAME IS KERRY GUSTAVSON AND I'M HERE TO REPRESENT CONCERNED RESIDENTS OF ST. JOHNS COUNTY.

WE KNOW THAT TOMORROW THERE IS A HEARING WITH A LOT OF DECISIONS TO BE MADE. I WAS HAPPY TO HEAR THAT NOW SOMETHING HAS BEEN ADDED TO TODAY'S AGENDA ABOUT POSSIBLY GETTING AN INJUNCTION. I JUST WANT TO SAY THAT, YOU KNOW, THERE ARE NOW 2,016 SIGNATURES ON THIS PETITION.

WE ARE SHARING THE INFORMATION THAT WE CAME TO SHARE WITH THE COUNTY YESTERDAY WITH THEM. AND WE CONTINUE TO BELIEVE THAT THIS APPLICATION IS NOT FULLY PROVEN AND WHAT THERE ARE GROUNDS TO DENY IT. WE HAVE SPOKEN OFF THE RECORD WITH TWO ATTORNEYS WHO BELIEVE THERE ARE GROUNDS TO DENY IT SO WE ARE ASKING AS RESIDENTS THAT WE DO NOT ASSUME THAT WE KNOW ANYTHING ABOUT THIS ENCLAVE LAW, BECAUSE IT'S UNTESTED.

SO THE ENCLAVE LAW SUPPOSED TO SAY THAT A BIG LANDHOLDER CAN JUST CARVE OUT 4500 OF ITS ACRES AND SAY THIS IS OUR FARM THAT'S BEEN SURROUND OR WAS IT SUPPOSED TO BE A BIG FARM? AND ALSO A KEYWORD I WANT TO SAY TODAY IS THEY SAID BONAFIDE AGRICULTURAL ACRES, NOT CERTIFIED BY THE TAX BONAFIDE MEANING GENUINE IN USE. AND SPECIFICALLY IF A PROPERTY HAS WETLANDS ON IT THOSE ACRES ARE NOT IN USE SO HOW IS THAT PART OF THE ACREAGE THAT THEY'RE GOING TO CERTIFY TO GET HOMES ON? THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

SEE YOU AGAIN TOMORROW. >> THANK YOU.

>> GOOD MORNING. KAILEY MASTERS, I LIVE OFF OF STATE ROAD 16. Y'ALL PROBABLY REMEMBER ME.

I WAS UP LAST MEETING IN OPPOSITION TO FLOCK.

BUT AFTER SEEING THE RECENT DATA COME IN FROM THE SHERIFF'S OFFICE, I'M GOING CALL FOR MORE FLOCK CAMERAS, DOUBLE, TRIPLE EVEN. I WANT THE MOST THAT WE CAN POSSIBLY HAVE. I'M REQUESTING THEY BE PLACED IN THE COMMISSIONERS OFFICE, IN FRONT OF THE COMMISSIONERS' HOUSES. I WANT THEM AT THE SHERIFFS' OFFICE AND THERE FRONT. SHERIFFS HOUSE AND I WANT THEM IN FRONT OF EVERY GOVERNMENT EMPLOYEE'S HOUSE.

THIS WASN'T AN ISSUE POINTING ONE AT MY DRIVEWAY SO IT SHOULDN'T BE A PROBLEM, RIGHT? ANYTIME THE SHERIFF, COMMISSIONER, GOVERNMENT EMPLOYEE LEAVES THEIR HOUSE, A DRONE SHOULD DETACH FROM THE CAMERA AND FOLLOW THEM WHEREVER THEY GO. THIS IS FOR SAFETY AND TO PROTECT YOU.

DON'T WORRY IT'S JUST A LICENSE PLATE READER, NO BIG DEAL.

I'M NOT LYING TO YOU. YOU CAN TRUST US.

WE'RE HERE TO HELP. WE CAN ALSO USE UNIQUE IDENTIFICATION NUMBERS IN REAL-TIME AS YOU MOVE.

TRACKING THINGS LIKE YOUR BLUETOOTH, YOUR CAR GPS, HECK EVEN YOUR DOG'S MICROCHIP. AND NO, THIS IS DEFINITELY NOT A SLIPPERY SLOPE OF CONSTITUTIONAL LIBERTY, JUST BECAUSE SOME JUDGE WHO WORKS FOR THE GOVERNMENT MAYBE MIGHT SAY SO.

IN ADDITION, WE COULD ADD AN EXTRA LAYER OF SECURITY AND EVERY GOVERNMENT EMPLOYEE EMAIL AND PHONE COULD HAVE A DIGITAL ONLINE CLONE. THAT WAY, EVERY TAXPAYER CAN GO IN, VIEW YOUR TEXT MESSAGES, LISTEN TO YOUR PHONE CALLS, SEE

[00:20:01]

I'M BEING TOTALLY HONEST ABOUT THIS.

FOR THE LOW PRICE OF A FEW HUNDRED THOUSAND DOLLARS WHY NOT SPEND THE EXTRA MONEY SURVEILLING THE GOVERNMENT, THEIR USE OF OUR TAX DOLLARS AND EVERYTHING FUNDED BY THEM.

IF YOU'RE NOT WILLING TO HAVE THIS TRANSPARENCY AS A PUBLIC SERVANT, THEN YOU'RE A HYPOCRITE CRAP, MAYBE I SHOULD HAVE SPECIFIED WHO THIS OPINION WOULD BE POPULAR WITH.

Y'ALL STAY BLESSED.

>> THANK YOU. >> SHAWNA MARTIN, 133 COASTAL HOLLOW CIRCLE. COMMISSIONERS, YOU ARE THE STEWARDS OF OUR COUNTY'S LANDS. PLEASE LOOK INTO YOUR HEARTS, DO THE RIGHT THING. JOIN WITH AND SUPPORT A THOUSAND FRIENDS OF FLORIDA TO CANCEL STATE BILL 686 FOR THE REASSIGNMENT OF TRY TRADITIONAL AGRICULTURAL LANDS.

USE WHATEVER POWERS YOU MIGHT POSSIBLY HAVE AVAILABLE TO YOU.

THE POTENTIAL IMPACT CANNOT BE PROPERLY ASSESSED UNTIL IT MIGHT BE TOO LATE. DOES ANYONE ELSE HERE FEEL THE SAME?

THANK YOU. >> THANK YOU.

ANY OTHER PUBLIC COMMENT AT THIS TIME, PLEASE COME ON UP.

GOOD MORNING. >> HEY, GOOD MORNING, Y'ALL.

BOAT RAMP BILLY HENNESSY AT 54614TH STREET [INDISCERNIBLE] LITTLE SUBDIVISION OVER THERE. I WANT TO GIVE A SHOUT-OUT TO SOME FOLKS THAT NEED TO -- Y'ALL CLAP FOR THIS GUY AND HE'S RIGHT THERE IN THAT UNIFORM. HE'S HELPED ME OUT OF HERE A COUPLE OF TIMES REAL SQUARELY. I APPRECIATE IT.

I THINK I MAY BE THE ONLY ONE THAT COMES TO THESE MEETINGS IN A BATHING SUIT.

AND DIANE SAID TO ME, YOU'RE GOING TO GO OUT THERE LIKE THAT, IN YOUR BATHING SUIT? I SAID WELL, NOT REALLY.

TECHNICALLY I SLEPT IN THESE SO THEY'RE MY PAJAMAS TODAY.

BUT THIS IS ALL ABOUT THE BOAT RAMPS AND EVERYTHING AND I GOT A CALL WEDNESDAY FROM A GUY, HE CLAIMED HE WAS THE LION FELL LA, AND HE WOULD LINE FELL LA AND HE WOULD LIKE TO COME TO MY HOUSE AND MEET ME PERSONAL PERS. AND I SAID SURE, COME ON.

HE GOT A DAMN -- A CREW, CAMERA, TWO OF THEM.

MIC'ED UP AND EVERYTHING. THE BIG UMBRELLA WITH LIGHTS.

[INDISCERNIBLE] DISCUSSING THESE BOAT RAMPS WITH THE GUY AND THEY GOT IT ON FILM, ALL THE DOCUMENTS I'VE BEEN SHOWING Y'ALL SO Y'ALL GET READY TO STEP IN A BUNCH OF DOG POOP, BECAUSE THESE GUYS WERE REALLY GOOD, THEY'RE PROFESSIONALS.

THEY CAME OUT DERBY AIN'T GOING TO SAY WHERE THEY CAME FROM BUT TEN HOURS WORTH OF TALKING WITH ME, ABOUT BOAT RAMPS AND ABOUT LIFE AND SO FORTH. AND HE -- NEAR THE END, I WAS EXHAUSTED. HE SAYS LOOK, ONE MORE THING, BILL ISSUES COME BILLY, COME ON.

HE SAID GO STAND OVER THERE WITH THAT LEAF IS, THE CAMERA CREW IS THERE AND EVERYTHING, FILMING. AND THE GUY WALKED UP AND HAD A LITTLE BOX AND THE LOCAL [INDISCERNIBLE] DEFINE OPENED THE BOX UP. Y'ALL GOING TO FREAK OUT.

IT'S NOT -- HE LEFT ME THIS AS A GIFT AFTER HE TOOK PICTURES.

THEY HAD DONE A GOFUNDME DEAL AND THAT BIG PIECE OF CARDBOARD WAS A THOUSAND DOLLAR CHECK AND I SAID I'M GOING TO SLAP THIS DOWN ON A LAWYER TO GET ALL THIS STRAIGHTENED OUT ABOUT THAT BOAT RAMP AND HE SAID WE WERE HOPING YOU WOULD BECAUSE WE WANT THIS THING TO KEEP GOING. YOU GOT NETFLIX MATERIAL.

I NEVER EVEN LOOKED AT THE VIDEO VIDEOS UNTIL I GOT THERE.

YOU TALK ABOUT SOME EMOTIONAL STUFF, ESPECIALLY LIKE I GOT ASSAULTED. HE WAS IN TEARS.

BUT YOU KNOW, Y'ALL GOT A BIG PROBLEM AND IT'S GOING TO BE ON THE NEXT VIDEO THING I GUESS HE DOES, SO Y'ALL PAY ATTENTION TO

IT. >> THANK YOU.

GOOD MORNING. >> GOOD MORNING.

>> GOOD MORNING, COMMISSIONERS. MY NAME IS RILEY WILLIS.

I LIVE AT 1291 PARADISE POND ROAD.

[00:25:02]

WE'RE ABOUT 650 CONSTITUENTS ON INSTAGRAM.

I'M NOT HERE TODAY TO TALK ABOUT HOW BAD THE CAMERAS ARE, HOW MUCH OF AN INFRINGEMENT ON OUR RIGHTS THEY ARE, I'M HERE TO PETITION YOU. ALL LAW ENFORCEMENT AGENCY IN ST. JOHNS COUNTY, THE ST. JOHNS COUNTY SHERIFFS DEPARTMENT IS ONE OF THE MOST PROFESSIONAL SHERIFFS DEPARTMENTS ACROSS THE COUNTRY. THEY ARE PARALLELLED ONLY BY THE FLORIDA HIGHWAY PATROL IN OUR COUNTY.

I DO NOT BELIEVE THEY HAVE THE CAPACITY TO USE THESE CAMERAS INCORRECTLY; HOWEVER, THE PUBLIC DOES NOT SHARE THE SAME OPINION AS I DO. WHAT I'M ASKING TODAY IS WE HALT THE EXPANSION OF THIS PROGRAM, WE CEASE GRANTING OF PERMITS AND IF YOU HADDING FOR ADDITIONAL EXPANSION OF THE PROGRAM AND WE ASK THAT A THIRD PARTY INDEPENDENT AUDIT ON THE SHERIFFS DEPARTMENT BE CONDUCTED.

THIS AUDIT WOULD BE ABOUT 120 DAYS AND WOULD BE CONDUCTED BY EITHER THE FLORIDA AUDITOR GENERAL, THE LLP GA, THE OFFICE OF PROGRAM ANALYSIS AND -- WHICH AUDITED ST. JOHNS COUNTY BACK IN 2022. THE AUDIT SHOULD INCLUDE THE TAXPAYER COST, THE CONTRACTS, THE RECURRING COSTS ANNUALLY, THE INSTALLS MAINTENANCE COSTS, GRANTS, FUNDING SOURCES, FUTURE PROJECT COST, NUMBER OF ACCEPTS, ALERTS, WHO IS CONDUCTING THEM, WHAT SEARCHES -- CASES ARE ASSOCIATED WITH THE SEARCHES, ALL THE SEARCHES -- ARE THEY REQUIRED JUSTIFICATION DOCUMENTED. ARE THERE UNAUTHORIZED OR IMPROPER SEARCHES. HOW ARE THEY DETECTED AND HANDLED IN WHO OUTSIDE OF OUR AGENCY HAS ACCESS? I DON'T WANT TO KNOW WHETHER OR NOT THESE ARE BAD, I WANT THE PUBLIC TO BE ABLE TO HAVE PUBLIC ACCESS TO THE INFORMATION THAT'S BEEN WITHDRAWN. SO FAR I AM SIX WEEKS DEEP WITH THE RECORDS DEPARTMENT ABOUT ANY INFORMATION ON THESE CAMERAS AND I WAS TOLD FOUR WEEKS AGOTIVES GOING TO TAKE AN HOUR.

I'VE BEEN WAITING FOR FOUR WEEKS, NOTHING YET.

AND WHEN WE ARE AUDITING THE SHERIFFS DEPARTMENT ALL WE DO IS TAKE THE TIME TO THINK, GIVE PEOPLE ACCESS TO INFORMATION AND ALLOW PEOPLE TO MAKE THE DECISION, BECAUSE WE AS A COUNTY SHOULD BE ALLOWED TO DECIDE WHETHER OR NOT WE WANT THESE CAMERAS, NOT HAVING THEM PUT UP WITHOUT THE CONSENT OF PUBLIC.

THANK YOU, COMMISSIONERS, FOR YOUR TIME AND FOR LISTENING.

>> THANK YOU. THANK YOU.

>> GOOD MORNING. SHERRY BADGER, 27727 SOUTH COLLINS AVENUE. TOTALLY AGAINST THE 4TH AMENDMENT. BUT I WANT TO GO TO A DIFFERENT PLACE. YOU GOT TRAVIS HUDSON WANTING TO APPROVE OUT THERE ON 207, YOU'VE GOT DANO DAVIS, WANTING THE OTHER ONE APPROVED UP HERE. LET'S SEE WHO IS ON THEIR PAYROLL AND VOTES FOR THIS, BECAUSE YOU HAVE A COUNTY ADMINISTRATOR, A COUNTY ASSISTANT ADMINISTRATOR AND A LAWYER AND THEY ALL WORK FOR TRAVIS HUDSON.

PLUS A LOBBYIST THAT WORKS FOR TRAVIS HUDSON WITH THE COURTHOUSE. GOD BLESS.

HAVE A GREAT DAY.

>> THANK YOU. GOOD MORNING.

>> GOOD MORNING. ♪ AND LIKE A GOOD NEIGHBOR ♪ BOAT RAMP BILLY IS THERE ♪ I GOT A NEW HAT, SBI.

NOW, Y'ALL KNOW THAT IS AN ACRONYM FOR -- THAT'S RIGHT -- THE FISH BULLY INVITATIONAL. NOW, THE PALMEIRO BOAT RAMP WILL BECOME A BUCKET LIST DESTINATION SPOT IN THE FREE STATE EVER FLORIDA. STATE OF FLORIDA. VISIT ST. JOHNS COUNTY, VISIT FLORIDA. SO LET ME SHARE WITH YOU EVIDENCE AND SOME POSITIVE FUNDING OPTIONS THAT CAN AND COULD BE IMPLEMENTED IMMEDIATELY, AMENDMENT 3.

NOW, ALSO I MADE A DONATION TO 2026-004, THAT'S [INDISCERNIBLE] COUNTY PARKS TRUST FUND. IT'S CHECK NUMBER 129.

FORMER CHAIR THE WATERWAYS COMMISSION ON THE NORTHEAST FLORIDA REGIONAL COUNCIL. I MEAN, IT'S REAL.

I'M DOWN TO 1:53. WE'RE JUST GOING TO FLIP THEM OVER AND DO A SITE INSPECTION OF THE PALMEIRO ROAD BOAT RAMP.

IT IS GORGEOUS. AND I'M JUST GOING TO JUST TURN THESE OVER. IT WAS JUST LAST WEEK I WENT -- IT WAS A HIGH TIDE. ST. JOHNS COUNTY WELCOMES YOU TO THE PALMEIRO ROAD BOAT RAMP, ACCESS OUR WATERWAYS, FOR

[00:30:06]

NOW THESE -- I'M ONLY DOWN TOE A MINUTE BUT THIS WILL JUST BE PART OF THE PERMANENT RECORD. THIS IS FINE, THE FLORIDA NAVIGATIONAL DISTRICT, IT'S WHERE I BLOW MY PROPERTY TAX MONEY. YOU KNOW, THE BOARD MEETING FOR AUGUST 21ST FOR ST. JOHNS COUNTY WAS CANCELED.

SO ANYWAY, YOU KNOW I'VE BEEN GOING TO THEM FOR DECADES.

HERE IS OUR TRUE COMMISSION. YOU KNOW, HERE WE'RE GOING TO HAVE A SPECIAL THING ON AMENDMENT 3, THAT'S TAXATION REVENUE, UTILIZATION OF EXPENDITURES.

THIS IS THE ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION BOARD.

AND IT'S A SIGN-IN SHEET AND THERE'S -- HERE IS THE NORTHEAST BOARD OF REGIONAL COUNCIL. YOU'VE GOT SEVEN COUNTIES, DUVALL COUNTY, ST. JOHNS COUNTY, OUR PARTNER COUNTIES.

AND THIS IS ANOTHER ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION BOARD, THAT'S THE ST. JOHNS RIVERKEEPER.

AND HERE I AM UP IN CITY HALL IN JACKSONVILLE.

UH-OH -- OH, GOSH, I'M OUT OF TIME.

>> THANK YOU. >> ALL RIGHT, WELL -- THESE WILL ALL BE PART OF THE PERMANENT RECORD.

AND THANK YOU FOR LISTENING. >> THANK YOU SO MUCH.

IS THERE ANYONE ELSE AT THIS TIME FOR GENERAL PUBLIC COMMENT? COME ON UP. GOOD MORNING.

>> GOOD MORNING. >> GOOD MORNING.

>> LAURIE LONG 1821 CAST ELSE STREET MENENDEZ PARK.

I'M HERE TO BRING GOOD NEWS FROM THE ISLAND, FISH ISLAND PRESERVE ISLAND, THAT IS. IT'S AUGUST.

AND AS WE WAIT FOR THE EAGLES TO RETURN TO THE MORE THAN 60 ACRES OF PRESERVED LAND WITH MILES OF WALKING TRAILS AND PATHS SPEED THE HAMMOCKS WITH THE SCENIC VIEWS ALONG THE RIVER.

FISH ISLAND HOLDS A CRUCIAL ROLE IN PROTECTING WILDLIFE HABITATS AND PRESERVING THE LAND WITH ITS DEEP HISTORICAL ROOTS TO NATIVE AMERICAN CULTURE AND THE FIRST ORANGE BUSINESS IN NORTHEAST FLORIDA. THERE'S ALSO GOOD NEWS.

SUSAN HILL WHO WORKED ON THE HISTORICAL FACTS AND INFORMATION THAT WAS ABLE TO HELP US SAVE FISH ISLAND HAS NOW -- ON INSTAGRAM A STORY THAT SHE'S WRITTEN WHICH IS CALLED "FISH ISLAND SPEAKS" AND SHE HAS RIGHT NOW THREE DIFFERENT SECTIONS OF IT THAT TALKS ABOUT JESSE FISH, HOW FISH ISLAND WAS SAVED AND WHAT'S TO COME AND HOW WE WORK TO SAVE OTHER LANDS.

YOU CAN FIND IT ON INSTAGRAM BY SUSAN HILL OR ON OUR FRIENDS MUCH FISH ISLAND FACEBOOK PAGE. FOR MANY OF US, MANY, MANY OF US HERE IN ST. JOHNS COUNTY, FISH ISLAND ISN'T JUST A PRESERVE.

IT'S OUR SUCCESS STORY. BECAUSE IT WAS SAVED BY THE PEOPLE AND FOR THE PEOPLE. IT'S A SYMBOL OF COMMUNITY MOTIVATED BY CONSERVATION, PARTNERSHIP BETWEEN NON- PROFITS, LOCAL GOVERNMENTS AND RESIDENTS TO PROTECT VULNERABLE NATURAL AREAS FROM DEVELOPMENT. IT'S A REMINDER OF WHAT CAN HAPPEN WHEN A COMMUNITY COMES TOGETHER TO PROTECT THE PLACES THAT MAKE ST. JOHNS COUNTY SPECIAL.

AND WE DO BELIEVE THAT WE HAVE MANY SPECIAL AREAS HERE IN ST.

JOHNS COUNTY, BUT OF COURSE, MY FAVORITE IS FISH ISLAND.

IF YOU GET A CHANCE TO GET OUT THERE, ONE OF THE BEST THINGS TO SEE IF YOU LIKE CEDAR TREES, THEY'RE MAJESTIC.

WHEN YOU GET ON THAT PATH, DON'T GO TO THE LEFT, GO UP THE HILL AND TO THE RIGHT AND DOWN AND THOSE TREES BACK THERE, IF YOU HAVE CHILDREN -- AND THEY BELIEVE IN FAIRY TALES -- IT'S THE BEGINNING OF SOMETHING SPECIAL.

THANK YOU SO MUCH. >> THANK YOU.

>> GOOD MORNING.

I WANT TO ECHO WHAT THE LADY JUST SAID ABOUT FISH ISLAND AND THERE WERE 50 OF US WHO SPOKE TO THE ST. AUGUSTINE TIN PLANNING AND ZONING BOARD INCLUDING THE MAYOR -- IT'S ED SLAVEN BOX 304, 50 OF US WHO SPOKE ABOUT FISH ISLAND AND WE HELPED TO STOP A DR HORTON PROJECT THAT WOULD HAVE DESTROYED IT.

THIS IS THE HOME OF SLAVE BONES AND JESSE FISH'S BONES AND THE BONES OF THE FIRST CROOKED REALTOR IN THE STATE OF FLORIDA, JESSE FISH. BUT I ALSO WANT TO SAY THAT IT TAKES A VILLAGE NOT JUST THE 50 PEOPLE WHO SPOKE, NOT JUST THE THOUSANDS OF PEOPLE WHO WORKED AGAINST IT BUT ALSO ELLEN AVERY SMITH WITH ROGERS TOWERS. I CALLED HER THE DAY THAT HER CLIENT LOST THAT CASE. I CALLED HER AFTER 5:00 AND I SAID WOULD YOUR CLIENT BE INTERESTED IN SELLING AND I ALSO

[00:35:03]

FISH ISLAND WAS PURCHASED BY THE STATE OF FLORIDA, THANKS TO THE GRANTS THAT WERE MADE AVAILABLE BY THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF FLORIDA. BUT I WANT TO TALK ABOUT -- I WANT TO THANK BJCOLEDI AND VICKY PEPPER WHO ON JULY THE 20TH OF 2021, LIKE MORE ARABS AT MORE AE BRIDGE SPOKE ABOUT THE PRIVATIZATION OF BAYVIEW AND IT WAS CONVERTED TO A PROFIT-MAKING OUTFIT. IT WAS A PLACE WHERE PEOPLE FOR GENERATIONS, WHERE THEIR SENIORS WOULD STAY, WHERE PEOPLE WOULD GO FOR REHABILITATION AFTER INJURIES AND IT WAS CONVERTED INTO OWNERSHIP BY A PROFITMAKING COMPANY, A HEDGE FUND, WHICH OWNS [INDISCERNIBLE] PEEL GET BACK IT'S OWNED BY BILLIONAIRES NOW. IT WAS CONVERTED TO BILLIONAIRE OWNERSHIP. IT'S OWNED BY A HEDGE FUND.

IT'S OWNED BY PEOPLE FROM -- WHEREVER, BUT EIGHT STATES, 131 NURSING HOMES AND THE PEOPLE THERE WHO ARE GETTING REHABILITATION FOR INJURIES OR WHO WERE THERE IN THEIR RETIREMENT ARE TREATED SHALL BEILY.

THE SHALL SHABBILY. THE STAFF USED TO HAVE A 401K AND THEY HAD MATCHING WHEN IT WAS A NON- PROFIT AND THAT WENT AWAY. PATIENTS SHOULD NOT SIT IN POOP FOR THREE HOURS IN THE MIDDLE OF THE NIGHT.

PATIENTS SHOULD NOT HAVE TO HOLLER OUT HELP, HELP.

HELP. I KNOW Y'ALL DO GOOD WORK FOR OUR TOWN. COMMISSIONER TAYLOR WHEN THE HORSES WERE BEING ABUSED IN THE CITY OF ST. AUGUSTINE SHE REACHED OUT AND SHE WENT TO THE BARN AND SHE INSPECTED.

I WOULD INVITE EVERY SINGLE ONE OF Y'ALL AND THE ONE WHO IS ABOUT TO BE ELECTED TO VISIT BAYVIEW.

I'LL SHOW YOU AROUND AND I'LL SHOW YOU WHAT TO LOOK FOR AND WHO IT TALK TO. TALK TO THE NURSES, TALK TO THE CNAS, TALK TO THE PEOPLE, TALK TO THE PEOPLE WHO LIVE THERE, AND IT WAS A NON- PROFIT, AND LET ME JUST SAY MAY WE HAVE IT BACK, PLEASE. IBLE THAT THE CONTRACT THAT WAS RUBBER STAMPED HERE IS A CONTRACT AGAINST PUBLIC POLICY AND WOULD NOT SUSTAIN SCRUTINY. AND I THANK YOU, LADIES AND GENTLEMEN. HAPPY ELECTION DAY.

>> THANK YOU.

GOOD MORNING. >> GOOD MORNING.

BJCOLEDI, CITY OF WEST AUGUST. THE SHERIFFS DECISION TO NOT POST MUG SHOTS OF THOSE ARRESTED IN ST. JOHNS COUNTY CONTINUES TO JEOPARDIZE THE SAFETY OF EVERYONE IN ST. JOHNS COUNTY.

THIS NEEDS TO CHANGE. THERE IS GOOD NEWS... DON'T FAINT... ABOUT OBTAINING PUBLIC RECORDS FROM THE SHERIFF'S OFFICE. ONE CAN CALL AND ASK FOR RECORDS AND SAY WHEN THEY WHATNOT TO PICK THE RECORDS UP.

THETHE NEWS IS ONE CAN PICK THEY AND NO LONGER BE LIMITED TO PICK UP ON JUST THURSDAYS. THAT'S VERY IMPORTAN FOR EVERYBODY TO KNOW. THANK YOU.

PLEASE SAVE ON HOMES. IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO REDUCE THE PROPERTY TAX BURDEN AND KEEP MORE OF YOUR INCOME, PLEASE VOTE YES ON 3. I JUST LEARNED THIS THIS WEEK: IF SOMEONE CAN FIND OUT, I'LL BE MORE THAN HAPPY TO LISTEN.

THE CITY OF ST. AUGUST IN, YOU CAN'T SEARCH BELONGINGS WHEN RESIDENTS AT TEN CITY COMMISSION MEETINGS ANY LONGER.

I WAS SHOCKED. WHY CAN THE COUNTY CONTINUE TO DO THIS AND YET THE CITY OF ST. ST.

AUGUSTINE HAS STOPPED DOING IT? SOMETHING IS GOING ON.

AND OF COURSE WE HAVE TO REMEMBER, YOU CAN ONLY SMOKE A CIGAR ON OUR BEACHES. AND I WOULD LIKE TO KNOW HOW MUCH HAS BEEN COLLECTED ABOUT THIS ORDINANCE THAT YOU CANNOT SMOKE ANYMORE CIGARETTES, JUST CIGARS ON OUR COUNTY BEACHES.

HAVE WE GOTTEN ANY VIOLATIONS ON THAT? BECAUSE THAT SEEMED TO BE A BIG PROBLEM IN THE CITY -- I MEAN IN THE COUNTY. SO IT WOULD BE INTERESTING TO FIND OUT WHAT THE ANSWER IS TO THAT.

SO REMEMBER, VOTE -- 59 SECONDS -- VOTE YES ON 3.

AND SOME OF THE SPEAKERS THIS MORNING IS TALKING ABOUT MONEY, SO WE GOT TO VOTE IN NOVEMBER HOW WE WANT TO SPEND OUR MONEY.

SO THANK YOU. >> THANK YOU.

IS THERE ANYONE ELSE AT THIS TIME FOR GENERAL PUBLIC COMMENT? COME ON UP. OKAY, SEEING NONE, WE WILL CLOSE

[00:40:01]

GENERAL PUBLIC COMMENT. >> OKAY, THANK YOU SO MUCH.

LET'S GET RIGHT INTO THE COUNTY'S BUSINESS AND TALK ABOUT

[1. Public Hearing * NZVAR 2026-12 Sharer Family Property. Request for Non-Zoning Variance to Section 6.04.07.M.2 of the Land Development Code to allow for the use of an existing non-paved Private Roadway to access residential development. ]

AGENDA ITEM NUMBER 1. >> ALL RIGHT, EX PARTE.

WELL, THAT'S WHY YOU PUSH THE BUTTON.

THANK YOU SO MUCH. COMMISSIONER ARNOLD, EX PARTE.

>> I'LL REPEAT. I RECEIVED NO EMAILS FROM RESIDENTS OR STAFF BUT I DID HAVE A PHONE CONVERSATION REGARDING THE PROJECT WITH JAMES WHITE HOUSE ON BEHALF OF THE

APPLICANT YESTERDAY. >> THANK YOU SO MUCH,

COMMISSIONER JOSEPH? >> YES, I HAVE NO EMAILS BUT I DID HAVE A MEETING WITH JAMES WHITEHOUSE YESTERDAY.

>> THANK YOU SO MUCH, COMMISSIONER WHITEHURST?

>> NO EMAILS OR PHONE CALMS OR MEETINGS WITH RESIDENTS BUT I DID MEET YESTERDAY HERE IN THE OFFICE WITH MR. WHITEHOUSE TO

DISCUSS THIS VARIANCE. >> THANK YOU SO MUCH.

COMMISSIONER TAYLOR? >> I ALSO DO NOT RECEIVE ANY EMAILS ON THIS BUT I DID HAVE A MEETING WITH JAMES WHITEHOUSE

AND STAFF. >> AND I CONCUR, ALSO ZERO EMAILS FROM RESIDENTS OR STAFF AND THEN I DID HAVE A MEETING WIH JAMES WHITEHOUSE IN THE OFFICE YESTERDAY WITH STAFF.

THANK YOU SO MUCH. YOU HAVE THE FLOOR.

>> THANK YOU, MR. CHAIRMAN, JAMES WHITEHOUSE, ST. JOHNS LAW GROUP HERE IN STOAK, FLORIDA. TODAY I'M HERE BEFORE YOU ON BEHALF OF THE SHARER FAMILY. THIS IS A REQUEST FOR NON- ZONING VARIANCE 2026-12 WHICH IS A REQUEST TO USE AN NON- EXISTING PAVED ROAD FOR ACCESS TO THEIR SINGLE FOAM RESIDENCE Y RESIDENCE. THIS PARTICULAR PROPERTY IS LOCATED IN THE WEST PART OF OUR COUNTY.

AS MANY OF YOU MAY KNOW IF YOU GO OUT 214 OR KING STREET WEST, IT'S ORANGE AVENUE, DISOFF TAMPA ROAD WHICH IS A NON- PAVED ROAD TO THE SOUTH OF KING STREET OR 214.

IT'S LOCATED -- THIS LOT IS LOCATED ON THIS NON- PAVED ROAD WHICH WAS PREVIOUSLY APPROVED BY THIS BOARD FOR FOUR OTHER SINGLE FAMILY RESIDENCES. AS I SAID THIS REQUEST IS TO USE THIS APPROPRIATE USE ON THIS ESTABLISHED BUT NON- PAVED ROAD FOR ACCESS TO THEIR SINGLE FAMILY RESIDENCE.

IT'S MADE ON BEHALF OF THE SHARER FAMILY WHO DESIRED TO BUILD THEIR HOME ON THIS LAND AND KEEP IT IN A RURAL NATURE ON TAMPA ROAD. LIKE I SAID IT WAS PREVIOUSLY -- THIS TYPE OF USE WAS PREVIOUSLY APPROVED FOR ACCESS FOR SINGLE FAMILY LOTS ON THIS NON- PAVED ROAD.

AS YOU SEE FROM YOUR STAFF REPORT, SUBJECT PROPERTY IS WITHIN THE RIVERDALE FARM TRACTS PLAT WHEN I WAS APPROVED RECENTLY. IT'S APPROXIMATELY 9.75 ACRES AND THERE ARE A FEW PAVED ROADS THAT ARE -- THAT ARE ALL MAINTAINED WITHIN THIS RIVERDALE FARM TRACT.

MOST OF THE CLEARED RIGHTS OF WAY ARE DIRT ROADS THROUGH THE PLAT. AGAIN HERE YOU CAN SEE THE PLAT, IT'S WITHIN YOUR STAFF REPORT ITSELF.

AGAIN, THIS IS FOR NON- ZONING VARIANCE, IT'S NOT FOR THE USE TO BE A SINGLE FAMILY HOUSE, THEY HAVE THE RIGHT TO DO THAT NOW. IT'S TO ACCESS IT OFF THIS NON- PAVED ROAD. HERE YOU CAN SEE A PICTURE OF THE NON- PAVED ROAD THAT ALREADY EXISTS WITH THOSE OTHER HOUSES ON THIS PARTICULAR ROAD. YOU KNOW YOUR REQUIREMENTS FOR NON- ZONING VARIANCE, WE GO THROUGH THEM AND THE STAFF GOES THROUGH THEM, AND FINDS THAT THIS IS A REASONABLE USE OFF THIS PARTICULAR ROAD, WITHIN YOUR STAFF REPORT YOU'LL SEE THAT THERE ARE CONDITIONS ON THIS PARTICULAR NON- ZONING VARIANCE, WHICH ARE REQUIRED TO BE PART OF THE MAINTENANCE AGREEMENT AS WELL AS TO DO A COUPLE OTHER THINGS THAT ARE TECHNICAL REQUIREMENTS. THEY AGREE TO THOSE.

THE SAME REQUIREMENTS THAT WERE PLACED ON THE NON- ZONING VARIANCES THAT WERE MACED TON THIS PARTICULAR ROAD AND I AM

>> ANY QUESTIONS FROM THE BOARD? WE'LL GO TO PUBLIC COMMENT.

>> AT THIS TIME WE WILL TAKE PUBLIC COMMENT ON AGENDA ITEM NUMBER 1. COME ON UP.

OKAY, SEEING NONE, WE WILL CLOSE PUBLIC COMMENT.

>> OKAY, BACK TO THE BOARD FOR A MOTION.

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

MOTION TO APPROVE NON- ZONING VARIANCE 2026-12, SHARER FAMILY PROPERTY REQUEST FOR NON- ZONING VARIANCE TO SECTION 6.04.07. M.2 OF THE LAND DEVELOPMENT CODE TO ALLOW FOR THE USE OF AN EXISTING NON- PAVED PRIVATE ROADWAY TO ACCESS RESIDENTIAL DEVELOPMENT.

BASED UPON FINDING OF FACT AND FOUR CONDITIONS AS PROVIDED IN

THE STAFF REPORT. >> SECOND.

>> OKAY, WE HAVE A MOTION AND A SECOND.

LET'S VOTE. >> YES.

[00:45:04]

>> AND WE HAVE A YES VOTE RECORDED FOR COMMISSIONER JOSEPH. THAT WILL MAKE IT UNANIMOUS, 5-0. THANK YOU SO MUCH, MR.

[2. Public Hearing * REZ 2026-12 St. Augustine Airport East. A request to rezone approximately 23 acres of land, located south of Gun Club Road and north of Hawkeye View Lane, approximately 0.30 miles east of US 1 North, from Open Rural (OR) to Airport Development (AD). This request was heard before the Planning and Zoning Agency at their regularly scheduled public hearing on Thursday, July 23, and was recommended for approval by a vote of 5-1. ]

>> THANK YOU, MR. CHAIR. I HAVE NO RECORD OF ANY EMAILS FROM RESIDENTS OR STAFF AND TOOK NO MEETINGS.

>> OKAY, THANK YOU. COMMISSIONER JOSEPH?

>> THE SAME FOR ME. THE SAME FOR ME ALSO.

NOTHING. >> OKAY.

COMMISSIONER WHITEHURST? >> NO RECORDS OF EMAILS, MEETINGS OR PHONE CALLS WITH RESIDENTS OR STAFF.

ALTHOUGH WE DID DISCUSS IT IN THE BRIEFING YESTERDAY.

>> OKAY, THANK YOU. COMMISSIONER TAYLOR?

>> AND THE SAME, I HAVE NONE. >> OKAY.

AND I ALSO HAD A CONVERSATION WITH ONE OF THE AIRPORT AUTHORITY BOARD MEMBERS ABOUT THIS PARTICULAR THING AND ALSO A MEMBER OF THE BZA WHO IS IN ATTENDANCE TODAY SO THAT'S MY EX

PARTE, AND UP THE FLOOR, SIR. >> THANK YOU.

GOOD MORNING. I'M MATT SINGLETARY, PASTOR AND ASSOCIATES, AN ENGINEERING CONSULTANT REPRESENTING THE AIRPORT AUTHORITY. SO THIS IS IN REGARD TO A 23-ACRE PARCEL THAT THE AIRPORT AUTHORITY PURCHASED IN 2024 FROM THE RODDING GUN CLUB. I'VE GOT A COUPLE OF THE SAME PRESENTATION I GAVE TO THE PLANNING AND ZONING AGENCY BUT I'VE GOT A COUPLE MAPS ON THE EXISTING ZONING AND LAND USE AND THEN SOME INFORMATION ABOUT THE PROJECT THAT THE PARCEL IS ASSOCIATED WITH. SO THIS IS A VIEW OF THE CURRENT ZONING MAP WITH SOME ADDITIONAL NOTES.

SO THIS RIGHT HERE IN THE MIDDLE IS OUR PARCEL WE'RE TALKING ABOUT, 22.74 ACRES, CURRENTLY ZONED OPEN RURAL.

AND THAT YELLOW COLOR MUCH AND THEN THE ORANGE TO THE SOUTH AND WEST AND SORT OF EAST OF THAT PARCEL IS THE AIRPORT DISTRICT.

SO THAT'S THE EXISTING ZONING, AS UP SEE IT U.S. 1 ON THE WEST LEFT SIDE THERE. SO HERE IS YOUR FUTURE LAND USE MAP FROM THE COUNTY'S COMPREHENSIVE PLAN.

SO AS YOU CAN SEE ON THIS, THE YELLOW, SAME ORIENTATION AS THE PREVIOUS SLIDE, PARCEL IS RIGHT THERE IN THE CENTER OF THE SLIDE. THE YELLOW IS THE FUTURE LAND USE AIRPORT DISTRICT, SO THE POINT OF THIS FOR ONE IS THIS IS ALREADY PLANNED TO BE AIRPORT DISTRICT IN THE FUTURE, FROM WHAT IT IS CURRENTLY EXISTING. HERE IS ANOTHER SLIDE THAT WAS PART OF THE APPLICATION FOR THE REZONING THAT SHOWS THE PARCEL IN THE PURPLE SHADE AND ALSO THEN SHOWING A VERSION OF THE PROJECT SITE PLAN UNDERNEATH, SO WE HAVE -- IT'S BASICALLY A HANGAR AVIATION FACILITY WITH ACCESS TO THE AIRFIELD, WITH A NEW ROADWAY CONNECTING TO GUN CLUB ROAD.

SO WE HAVE A FIRST PHASE THAT IS IN DESIGN NOW AND PLANNED TO GO INTO CONSTRUCTION IN 2027, WHICH IS INFRASTRUCTURE, SO THE ROADWAY WORK, STORMWATER UNANIMOUS, GOOD A GOOD AMOUNT MUCH WETLAND MITIGATION AND THEN IN A FUTURE PHASE AFTER THAT WOULD BE THE ACTUAL HANGAR DEVELOPMENT FOR THE HANGAR BUILDINGS THEMSELVES. THIS IS A VIEW OF THE AIRPORT'S LONG-TERM PLAN, THE MASTER PLAN AND AIRPORT LAYOUT PLAN DRAWING FROM THE LAST MASTER PLAN UPDATE FROM 2018 TO 2020.

KIND OF THE POINT HERE IS THE PROJECT WE'RE PROPOSING AND THE ACQUISITION OF THIS PARCEL AND USE AS AN AVIATION FACILITY WAS ALL PLANNED AS PART OF THE AIRPORT'S LONG-TERM MASTER PLAN.

SO THERE ARE SOME GRANTS THAT WERE SOUGHT OUT BY THE AIRPORT AND THE COUNTY TOGETHER THAT ARE A PART OF THIS PROJECT.

THERE'S A 2025 JOB GROWTH GRANT FUND FROM FLORIDA DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE THAT HAS BEEN AWARDED AS PART OF THE INFRASTRUCTURE DEVELOPMENT TO THE COUNTY AND AIRPORT.

AND THEN THERE'S ALSO AN AVIATION OFFICE AND FAA GRANTS THAT WILL GO TO SUPPORT THIS PROMPT BUT IT IS ALREADY -- CURRENTLY HAD A PASS FROM STATE, AND FEDERAL.

THIS IS A CURRENT VERSION OF THE SITE PLAN AND KIND OF WANTED TO POINT OUT HERE THIS AREA ON THE NORTH SECTION OF THE DEVELOPMENT. WE DO HAVE A GOOD AMOUNT OF BUFFERRER, YELLOW IS OUR TREE PRESERVATION.

THE ADJACENT PROPERTIES THAT ARE NOT PART OF THE AIRPORT, WE DO HAVE A GOOD AMOUNT OF BUFFER BETWEEN THE PROPOSED DEVELOPMENT AND THE ADJACENT PROPERTIES. AND JUST A QUICK OVERALL STATUS OF THIS PROJECT AND THE PARCELS ASSOCIATED WITH, AS I SAID WE'RE IN DESIGN RIGHT NOW, SO THERE'S A FEDERAL LEVEL OF ENVIRONMENTAL ASSESSMENT UNDER REVLADIMIR PUTIN

[00:50:01]

WE JUST DID A 60% DESIGN, SUBMITTED WATER MANAGEMENT DISTRICT APPLICATIONS AND ST. JOHNS COUNTY DEVELOPMENT PERMIT APPLICATIONS, PLANNING TO FINISH THE DESIGN AND BIDDING FAILZ BY THE END OF PHASE BY% THE END OF THIS CALENDAR YEAR AND CONSTRUCTION EARLY NEXT YEAR IS THE PLAN AND THEN THE HANGAR FACILITIES THEMSELVES, THE BUILDINGS WOULD BE PART OF FUTURE PHASE OR PHASES. AND THAT'S ALL I HAVE.

IF YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS. >> THANK YOU SO MUCH.

ANY QUESTIONS FROM THE BOARD? COMMISSIONER WHITEHURST?

>> MR. SINGLETARY, DOES THIS PLAN HAVE TO GO IN FRONT OF THE AIRPORT AUTHORITY TO BE APPROVED? IS THAT A FINAL STEP, ONCE IT'S REZONED BY US?

>> THE -- YES. WE'RE GIVING REGULAR UPDATES TO THE AIRPORT AUTHORITY AS FAR AS THE PROGRESS OF THE DESIGN AND KIND OF WHAT YOU SEE FOR THE EXACT HANGAR LAYOUTS AND WHAT ENDS UP BEING. A LOT OF THOSE WILL BE EVENTUALLY A PRIVATE DEVELOPER COMING IN AND DOING THE FINAL DESIGN AND BUILDOUT OF THE HANGAR.

SO WE ARE GETTING APPROVAL FOR THE OVERALL SORT OF MASTER PLAN, YES BUT THEN THE FINAL DESIGN OF THE HANGARS, EACH ONE WOULD COME

LATER. >> SO THE ZONING AT THE BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS AND THEN FINAL APPROVAL WOULD BE THE AIRPORT AUTHORITY'S JURISDICTION?

>> THE ZONING PIECE ITSELF HAS BEEN -- THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR HAS BLESSED THAT AND SO HAS THE BOARD, THE AIRPORT AUTHORITY BOARD. SO THAT'S ALL -- THEY'VE ALL APPROVED THAT ALREADY, BUT AS FAR AS THE SITE PLAN ITSELF, THEY ARE REVIEWING IT AS DESIGN PROGRESSES, IF THAT'S YOUR

QUESTION. >> THANK YOU, MR. SINGLETARY.

>> OKAY THANK YOU. ANYONE ELSE, COMMISSIONER JOSEPH, DO YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS?

>> NO, I'M GOOD. >> I JUST HAVE ONE.

THIS AT A COMPETING FBO HERE? >> SO POSSIBLY.

THIS AREA HERE HAS BEEN IDENTIIED AS A POTENTIAL SECOND

FBO. >> OKAY.

THANK YOU. PUBLIC COMMENT?

>> OKAY, AT THIS TIME WE WILL TAKE PUBLIC COMMENT ON AGENDA

ITEM NUMBER 2. >> GOOD MORNING.

>> GOOD MORNING. >> ED SLAVEN.

ED SLAVEN.COM, CANDIDATE FOR MOSQUITO CONTROL DISTRICT 2 -- OR SEAT 2. SEAT 3.

ANYWAY, ON THE AIRPORT AUTHORITY, THEY BEAR WATCHING AS THEY WOULD SAY IN EAST TENNESSEE.

HAVE YOU HAD OCCASION TO LOOK AT ANY OF THE AIRPORT AUTHORITY'S BOARD MEETINGS THAT ARE ON VIDEO? I KNOW COMMISSIONER TAYLOR ATTENDS THOSE MEETINGS.

I'M SO GLAD SHE DOES. THEY REQUIRE SCRUTINY.

PERHAPS YOU WANT TO TABLE THIS. AND I'M RATHER TROUBLED WHEN YOU JUST DISCLOSED EX PARTE CONTACTS.

I DON'T THINK YOU COMPLIED WITH THE STANDARD OF CARE, MR. CHAIRMAN. YOU DIDN'T SAY WHO YOU MET WITH.

YOU SAID YOU MET WITH A MEMBER OF THE BOARD.

THAT IS BY DEFINITION AN INCOMPLETE AND FAILED DISCLOSURE OF EX PARTE CONTACTS. THE PURPOSE OF DISCLOSING EX PARTE CONTACTS IS WHAT? LEARNED COUNSEL WILL TELL YOU.

IT'S TO ALLOW THE PUBLIC OR PEOPLE WHO ARE INTERESTED TO CROSS-EXAMINE AND ASK QUESTIONS ABOUT THOSE EX PARTE CONTACTS.

AND FOR A GOOD TIME READ THE COURT DECISION IN PATCO, PROFESSIONAL AIR TRAFFIC CONTROLLERS ORGANIZATION, PATCO, VERSUS THE FEDERAL REGULATIONS AUTHORITY IN WHICH THE COURT OF APPEALS EXPLORED THE NATURE, CONSTRUCTION AND PERFORMANCE OF EPIDEMIC PART HE EX PARTE CONTACTS.

I THINK MOST OF OUR BOARDS DON'T DO A GOOD JOB OF IT.

WE DON'T REALLY LEARN ANYTHING WHEN YOU EXPLORE EX PARTE CONTACTS AND WE CERTAINLY DIDN'T LEARN ANYTHING THIS MORNING WHEN YOU SAID YOU TALKED TO A MEMBER OF THE BOARD, REALLY?

DO THEY HAVE A NAME. >> YOU CAN JUST ASK ME.

SURE. >> I'LL GET TO THAT.

BUT WHAT WE NEED TO DO AND LEARN FROM THIS IS I WOULD CALL YOUR ATTENTION TO FORMER CITY OF ST. AUGUSTINE VICE MAYOR TODD DAVID INTERNATIONAL FILM FESTIVAL HE WILL WHO IS NEVILLE. HE WOULD DO A SPREADSHEET ON EVERY SINGLE EX PARTE CANDIDATES AND ACCEPT MY COMMENTS AS A PETITION FOR RULEMAKING THAT Y'ALL DO THE SAME THING.

LET'S RAISE OUR GAME HERE -- YOU'RE MAKING A GESTURE.

>> NO, WHAT I'M SAYING IS COME BACK TO THE ISSUE.

>>THE ISSUE IS YOU DIDN'T DISCLOSE YOUR EX PARTE --

>> THAT DOESN'T HAVE ANYTHING TO DO WITH THIS -- SO MOVE ON.

>> YOU DIDN'T DISCLOSE YOUR EX PARTE CONTACT.

YOU SAID YOU MET WITH A BOARD MEMBER.

>> MOVE ON, PLEASE. >> PLEASE DON'T INTERRUPT.

THAT'S RUDE, SIR. ANYWAY AS YOU CAN SEE THE AIRPORT DESERVES SCRUTINY, COMMISSIONER TAYLOR KNOWS THAT FROM ATTENDING AIRPORT BOARD MEETINGS.

FOUR OF THE AIRPORT BOARD MEETINGS WERE PROSECUTED SUCCESSFULLY FOR SUNSHINE VIOLATIONS AND NOW THEY'RE GOING TO MEET WITH THE CHAIRMAN OF THE BCC AND NEEDS EVEN GOING TO TELL

[00:55:04]

THANK YOU, LADIES AND GENTLEMEN. >> YEAH, I WOULD JUST LIKE TO RESPOND TO THAT. IF I CAN ASK MYSELF FOR THE PERMISSION TO DO THAT. I WAS AT A TRANSPORTATION AND PLANNING ORGANIZATION MEETING THE OTHER DAY AND THE ATTENDEES WERE MARIO DEP OLA AND CHUCK ROMAN OUTSKI SO I ASKED THEM ABOUT THIS BECAUSE CHUCK VOTED ON IT AND MARIO IS ON THE AIRPORT AUTHORITY BOARD. WE DISCUSSED THE PROS AND THE CONSTABLES. ALSO YOU NEED TO GO BACK, SIR, I DON'T THINK ANYBODY WAS -- I DON'T THINK THE TERM "PROSECUTED" IS CORRECT SO -- THEY MIGHT HAVE -- THEY MIGHT HAVE MADE A DEAL BUT I DON'T THINK PROSECUTED WAS ACCURATE SO COULD YOU PLEASE BE MORE ACCURATE NEXT TIME YOU COME HERE. IS THERE ANYBODY ELSE FOR PUBLIC COMMENT? SEEING NONE, WE'LL COME BACK TO THE BOARD. ANY OTHER QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS?

>> CHAIR, I HAVE A QUESTION. >> YES, MA'AM?

>> BETWEEN -- YOU KNOW, WE CAN'T TALK TO EACH OTHER, SO YOU'RE A PILOT AND YOU'RE ON THE BOARD. ANY COMMENTS REGARDING THIS THAT'S -- YOU KNOW, I WOULD LOVE TO HEAR IT.

>> YEAH, SURE. MY THOUGHTS ABOUT -- THE QUESTION ABOUT AN FBO AND, AND THAT'S A FIXED BASE OPERATION, IS THAT WE HAVE HAD A MONOPOLY WITH THE OPERATION OF THE AIRPORT FOR AS LONG AS I'VE BEEN FLYING AND THAT'S ABOUT 31 YEARS. AND I WOULD LOVE TO HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO HAVE COMPETITION AT THE AIRPORT FOR THE SERVICES OF AIRPLANES THAT COME IN AND OUT.

SO THAT WAS MY CONCERN, THAT WAS MY QUESTION ABOUT THAT.

>> AND YES -- >> COMMISSIONER TAYLOR?

>> YES. ABSOLUTELY, YES, BECAUSE I DO

ATTEND -- >> COMMISSIONER TAYLOR, DO YOU HAVE SOMETHING? YOU HAVE THE FLOOR.

>> I SURE DO. I DO ATTEND ALL THE AIRPORT MEETINGS. AND I HAVE HEARD A PRESENTATION ON THIS AS WELL. AND YEAH, I DON'T HAVE ANY CONCERNS AT THIS TIME ABOUT THEM.

THEY MADE A FEW CHANGES THAT WERE REQUESTED.

I KNOW THAT ORIGINALLY THEY WERE GOING TO HAVE SOME KIND OF A BOARD WALK AND WALKING PATH AND SOME KIND OF RECREATIONAL THINGS AND THEY DID AGREE THAT THIS IS NOT THE PLACE FOR THAT TYPE OF THING, BECAUSE IT'S -- CLEARLY N AIRPORT IS NOT THE TYPE OF THING WHERE THE PUBLIC IS GOING TO COME IN AND TAKE WALKS BUT -- I

HAVE NO MOTION WITH. >> WOULD YOU LIKE TO THE MOTION?

>> I MAKE AN MOTION TO APPROVE AND ENACT ORDINANCE 2026-26 APPROVING OUR REZONING 2026-12 ST. AUGUSTINE EAST BASED ON

FINDINGS OF FACT. >> I WOULD BE MORE THAN HAPPY TO SECOND THAT MOTION. LET'S VOTE.

>> YES. >> OKAY, WE HAVE A YES FROM COMMISSIONER JOSEPH AND THAT MAKES IT UNANIMOUS.

[3. Land Conservation General Obligation Bonds - Ballot Question. At the July 21, 2026 BOCC meeting, the Board directed that a Resolution be prepared to place a Land Conservation General Obligation Bond question on the November 3, 2026, general election ballot. Article VII, Section 12 of the Florida Constitution authorizes counties to issue general obligation bonds payable from ad valorem taxation when approved by vote of the electors. Sections 100.211 and 100.342, Florida Statutes, authorize the BOCC to call a bond referendum by resolution and provide for placement of the referendum on the ballot at a general election. ]

THANK YOU SO MUCH, SIR. >> THANK YOU.

>> OKAY, LET'S MOVE ON TO AGENDA ITEM NUMBER 3.

>> GOOD MORNING, COMMISSIONERS. KAILEY WEST, OFFICE OF THE COUNTY ATTORNEY. BACK ON JULY 121ST MEETING YOU ASKED US TO COME BACK WITH A RESOLUTION TO BRING A REFERENDUM AT THE NOVEMBER 3RD GENERAL ELECTION REGARDING LAND CONSERVATION, GENERAL ALLOCATION BONDS SO IT'S A BALLOT QUESTION BEFORE YOU. I'LL GET THIS MOVING.

SO THE LAND CONSERVATION -- THE BONDS WOULD BE UP TO ONE MILLION DOLLARS, MATURING WITHIN 20 YEARS OF ISSUANCE.

INTEREST NOT EXCEEDING THE LEGAL MAXIMUM RATES, AND PAYABLE FROM TAXES LEVIED AT A RATE OF 0.15 MILLS.

WHAT THE BONDS WOULD FUND, SO ACQUIRE, RESTORE, IMPROVE, MANAGE STEWARD CONSERVATION LANDS AND NATURAL RESOURCES, PROTECT WATER QUALITY, DRINKING WATER, COASTAL RESOURCES, FARMS AND FOREST. AND TO HELP REDUCE FLOODING AND PROVIDE PASSIVE OUTDOOR RECREATION.

IF THE BONDS -- IF IT PASSES, IT WOULD BE ADMINISTERED THROUGH THE EXISTING COUNTY LAND ACQUISITION AND LAND MANAGEMENT PROGRAM. A QUESTION HAS ARISEN REGARDING MAINTENANCE. SO BONDS ARE FOR CAPITAL IMPROVEMENTS AND ACQUISITION. THEY'RE GENERALLY NOT USED FOR MAINTENANCE OR OPERATION. HOWEVER, IF THERE IS EXCESS REVENUE FROM THE LEVY VOTED ON THE MILLAGE, YOU MAY USE THAT FOR ANY LAWFUL PURPOSE SOLELY RELATED TO THE APPROVED CAPITAL PROJECT, WHICH WOULD INCLUDE OPERATION AND MAINTENANCE.

SO IF YOU HAVE A BOND AND YOU ACQUIRE PROPERTY AND ON THAT PROPERTY THERE'S CAPITAL IMPROVEMENTS NECESSARY OR FOR THAT PROPERTY THERE'S OPERATION AND MAINTENANCE NECESSARY AND

[01:00:01]

JOHNS COUNTY GENERAL OBLIGATION BONDS.

TO CONSERVE LAND, NATURAL RESOURCES, FARMS AND FOREST.

THE BATH LANGUAGE ALSO REVISED THE REVISION IS AT THE BOTTOM, YES FOR BONDS, NO AGAINST BONDS. AND THEN THE LANGUAGE IS THERE FOREYOU. THIS LANGUAGE WAS WE WORK DIRECTLY AND CLOSELY WITH OUR BOND COUNSEL, SO THERE'S TWO THINGS WE WERE LOOKING FOR. ONE, TO MAKE SURE THAT THE BONDS LEGALLY PERMISSIBLE UNDER THE STATUTE, 75 WORD LIMIT.

AS WELL AS THAT THE BOND LANGUAGE WAS ACCEPTABLE TO BOND COUNSEL SO THERE WOULD NOT NEED TO BE A BOND VALIDATION.

SO THAT IS THE LANGUAGE BEFORE YOU.

THERE IS A SUGGESTED MOTION TO ADOPT THE RESOLUTION AND THEN YOU'LL ALSO NOTICE IN THE MIDDLE OF THE MOTION AS AMENDED, SINCE I HAVE CHANGED THE LANGUAGE IN THERE, WE WOULD ALSO ASK YOU TO ADD THAT IF THERE'S A NON- MATERIAL CHANGE REQUESTED BY THE SECRETARY OF ELECTIONS, THAT YOU ALLOW THE OFFICE OF COUNTY ATTORNEY TO MAKE THAT SO WE HAVE NOW ONCE THIS IS CERTIFIED, IF YOU GUYS APPROVE THE RESOLUTION THAT IT GOES TO THE SECRETARY O ELECTIONS AND SO SHE MAY HAVE SOME MINOR CHANGES SHE NEEDS WITH REGARD TO EITHER FORMATTING, YOU'LL ALSO NOTICE IN YOUR RESOLUTION THAT IT'S SPANISH LANGUAGE AS WELL, WHICH ONCE WE GET THIS FINALIZED, AGAIN WE WILL TAKE IT OUT TO BE RECREERTIFIED RECERTIFIED IN SPANISH LANGUAGE.

IF THERE'S ANY MINOR NON- MATERIAL CHANGES, WE ASK THAT YOU ALLOW OUR OFFICE TO MAKE THOSE CHANGES AS WELL.

AND IF YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS? >> OKAY, ANY QUESTIONS OF THE BOARD? COMMISSIONER TAYLOR, YOU HAVE

THE FLOOR. >> YES, THANK YOU FOR THAT, KAILEY. I DO HAVE A QUESTION.

COULD YOU CLARIFY THE PROCESS, HOW THIS WOULD WORK AND WHO EXACTLY WOULD BE MAKING THE DECISION REGARDING -- YOU KNOW, WHICH PROPERTIES AND THAT, IS IT GOING TO BE THE LAND BOARD OR CAN YOU EXPLAIN HOW IT WOULD WORK.

>> SURE, SO RIGHT NOW YOU'RE VOTE TO GO PLACE THIS MEASURE ON THE BALLOT. ONCE PLACED ON THE BALLOT IF IT'S APPROVED BY THE VOTERS, THEN THE PROGRAM WOULD BE RUN THROUGH YOUR EXISTING LAMP PROGRAM.

SO YES, THE PROPERTIES WOULD CONTINUE THROUGH THE PROCESS THAT WE HAVE. THAT LAMP, IT'S A WILLING SELLER PROGRAM. LAMP WOULD TAKE THOSE PROPERTIES, THEY WOULD RAMP THEM AND THEN ALL DECISIONS REGARDING THE BONDS, THE SPENDING OF THE BONDS, THE RANKING OF THE PROPERTIES AND THE ULTIMATE LIST IS THE DECISION OF THE BOARD.

SO WHILE LAMP IS BOTH A PROGRAM AND ADVISORY BOARD, IT COMES TO YOU AS AN ADVISORY BOARD AND A RECOMMENDATION.

ULTIMATELY IT'S THIS BOARD'S DECISION ON WHAT PROPERTIES ARE ON THAT LIST AND HOW THAT MONEY IS SPENT.

>> THANK YOU. >> ANYTHING ELSE?

>> NO. >> COMMISSIONER JOSEPH, DO YOU

HAVE ANYTHING? >> YEAH, I JUST HAVE ONE QUESTION. SO WOULD IT IMMEDIATELY BECOME THE .15 OR YOU CAN DO IT AT SMALL INCREMENTS THROUGHOUT THE

TIME? >> I'M GOING TO HAVE WADE COME

UP AND ADDRESS THE TECHNICAL -- >> YEAH, I WAS GOING TO ASK THAT QUESTION IN A DIFFERENT WAY. I WAS JUST GOING TO SAY WE DON'T HAVE TO BORROW THE WHOLE AMOUNT UP FRONT, RIGHT?

WE CAN -- AS WE NEED, WE CAN -- >> IT'S A NOT TO EXCEED AMOUNT.

>> AND MAYBE WADE, IF YOU DON'T MIND, KIND OF GIVE US AN IDEA OF WHAT IT MEANS TO BOND AN ISSUE, BECAUSE TO ME IT'S LIKE TAKING A LOAN FROM THE BANK AND I WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT EVERYBODY UNDERSTANDS WHAT THE NOMENCLATURE MEANS.

>> GOOD MORNING, COMMISSIONERS. WADE SCHROEDER WITH THE OFFICE OF MANAGEMENT AND BUDGET. SO TO KIND OF ADDRESS COMMISSIONER JOSEPH'S QUESTION FIRST, IT'S REALLY UP TO THE BOARD. YOU COULD CERTAINLY CHOOSE TO LEVY THE FULL .15 IMMEDIATELY, EVEN IF YOU HAD NO PROJECTS IDENTIFIED. THAT WOULD START BRINGING CASH INTO THE POT OF FUNDING FOR THIS PROGRAM.

TO WHERE POTENTIALLY IF YOU DID IDENTIFY PROJECTS, YOU COULD EITHER PAY CASH OR BOND OR A COMBINATION THEREOF, IF YOU HAD A FUND BALANCE AVAILABLE FOR THAT.

YOU COULD CERTAINLY CHOOSE NOT TO LEVY ANYTHING UNTIL THERE IS AN IDENTIFIED PROJECT, AND THEN LEVY RELATED TO WHATEVER BONDING DEBT SERVICE REQUIREMENTS THERE ARE FOR THE IDENTIFIED PROJECT.

SO IT REALLY IS KIND OF FLEXIBLE HOW YOU COULD DO IT.

AS FAR AS BONDING, SO YES, IT IS A LOAN, IT'S ESSENTIALLY A LOAN FROM THE BANK AT THE MUNICIPAL BOND MARKET.

WITH THAT, THERE ARE COSTS MUCHF ISSUANCE AND INTEREST RATES ASSOCIATED WITH THAT. SO I MEAN REALLY IF YOU WANTED TO TRY TO AVOID POTENTIAL INTEREST RATES AND KIND OF MAXIMIZE THE TAX DOLLARS, YOU COULD ESSENTIALLY LEVY THE .15

[01:05:02]

ASSOCIATED WITH THAT. >> OKAY, SO WE REALLY DON'T HAVE TO BORROW MONEY ON IT. THIS IS A 20-YEAR BOND -- OR

20-YEAR SERVICE? >> SO IT'S UP TO 20 YEARS OF DEBT SERVICE FOR EACH ISSUANCE. SO IF YOU DECIDE TO -- IF YOU DON'T HAVE TO BORROW UNTIL FIVE OR TEN YEARS FROM NOW, IT'S 20

YEARS -- >> JUST PAY IT OFF IN 20 YEARS.

>> YES, THE ISSUANCE IS A 20 4-YEAR --

>> BUT WHATEVER THE 1.5 IS WE COULD PUT THAT IN THE BANK AND USE THAT AND NOT HAVE TO BORROW MONEY AT ALL?

>> YOU COULD, YES. >> IF WE --

>> POTENTIALLY. DEPENDING ON --

>> BUT IF WEIGHED PIECE OF PROPERTY THAT COMES UP THAT IS VERY SENSE STIFF AND VERY IMPORTANT THAT WE COULD BOND -- THE QUESTION WAS SPEED. THE TIME FRAME BETWEEN THE LAMP BOARD FINDING A PIECE OF PROPERTY THAT'S IMPORTANT TO THE COUNTY -- OR IMPORTANT TO ST. JOHNS COUNTY AND THEN BEING ABLE TO BORROW MONEY AND WRITE A CHECK FOR IT.

IS THERE A TIME FRAME THAT WE WOULD BE LOOKING AT?

>> I'M SORRY, CAN YOU ASK THAT AGAIN?

I'M SORRY. >> I WAS TRYING TO THINK -- I WAS TRYING TO THINK OF, YOU KNOW, SOME OF THE PROJECTS THAT WE'VE LOST OVER THE YEARS, IT'S BALLS WE DIDN'T HAVE THE TIME --

>> THE TIMING, YEAH. >> -- TO COME TOGETHER AND FIGURE OUT A WAY TO FIND THE MONEY AND BEFORE WE DO THAT AND GET SOLD OFF TO SOMEBODY ELSE SO MY QUESTION IS ABOUT TIMING.

HOW LONG BEFORE A PROPERTY -- AND THIS IS PROBABLY A GUESS AND I APOLOGIZE FOR ASKING YOU TO GUESS.

BUT HOW LONG BETWEEN THE TIME THAT A PIECE OF PROPERTY IS IDENTIFIED AS IMPORTANT TO WHERE WE COULD ACCESS FUNDS IF WE HAD

TO BOND? >> SO TYPICALLY, THE TIME FROM BOARD APPROVAL TO BOND, THE QUICKEST IT COULD BE WOULD BE ABOUT 60 TO 90 DAYS. HOWEVER, THE BOARD COULD DECIDE TO DO A REIMBURSEMENT RESOLUTION WHERE WE CAN APPROVE A BONDING AUTHORITY; HOWEVER, WE COULD ALSO PAY FOR IT WITH OTHER FUNDS AND THEN WHEN THE BOND COMES IN, WE'RE REIMBURSING OURSELVES

SO -- >> SO WE CAN MOVE A LITTLE

QUICKER THAN THAT IF WE NEED TO. >> OKAY, THAT'S ALL THE QUESTIONS I HAVE. ANYONE ELSE FROM THE BOARD?

LET'S GO TO PUBLIC COMMENT. >> AT THIS TIME, WE WILL TAKE PUBLIC COMMENT ON AGENDA ITEM NUMBER 3.

COME ON UP. AND WE HAVE THREE DIFFERENT PODIUMS SO IF YOU COULD PLEASE -- EVERYBODY, IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO SHARE SOMETHING, PLEASE GO TO THE MIDDLE SECTION

THERE. >> GOOD MORNING.

>> GOOD MORNING. >> HENRY DEAN, 224 NORTH FOREST [INDISCERNIBLE] DRIVE, ST. AUGUSTINE BEACH.

I SPOKE ABOUT A MONTH AGO ON THIS SO I'LL TRY TO NOT BE REAL REPETITIVE BUT I'M GOING TO HIGHLIGHT THE POINT THE CHAIR JUST RAISED. I THINK -- I THINK THE PROPERTY THAT I'M REMINDED OF THAT WE I THINK HAVE LOST WAS THE PROPERTY ADJACENT TO ST. AUGUSTINE SHORES ON THE RIVER AND IT WAS CONTIGUOUS TO THE PROPERTY -- ALONG 206, THE DISTRICT OWNED PROPERTY. IT WOULD HAVE BEEN A GREAT ADDITION, I THINK IT'S GONE, THAT WE LOST BECAUSE WE DID NOT HAVE THE FUNDING TO DO THAT. THIS IS A WONDERFUL PROGRAM.

I HOPE THAT ALL OF YOU CAN FEEL GOOD SUPPORTING IT, BECAUSE WHEN WE DID -- I THINK IT WAS FOUR OR FIVE YEARS AGO THAT WE HAD A THOUSAND [INDISCERNIBLE] AS A MATTER OF FACT WAS CONTRACTED TO DO A SORT OF LENGTHY SURVEY OF CITIZENS ON OUR [INDISCERNIBLE] THAT WENT FORWARD AND LAND CONSERVATION BY FAR AND AWAY RANKED THE HIGHEST FROM THE CITIZENS, FROM THE RESIDENTS WHO RESPONDED TO THAT SURVEY. SO I THINK YOU HAVE FULL SUPPORT, GREAT SUPPORT FROM YOUR RESIDENTS TO SUPPORT THIS PROGRAM. THANK YOU.

>> THANK YOU. THANK YOU SO MUCH.

>> GOOD MORNING. RHONDA LEVITY, 121 SCOTLAND YARD BOULEVARD. I'M AS FISCALLY CONSERVATIVE AS THEY COME, I WILL PREFACE BUT HERE I AM IN GREEN ADVOCATING FOR ONE MY MOST PASSIONATE AVENUES, WHICH IS CONSERVATION AND THE ABILITY TO RECREATE ON PUBLIC LANDS.

AND OBLIGATION BOND FOR LAND CONSERVATION IN ST. JOHNS COUNTY CREATES A DEDICATED RELIABLE FUNDING STREAM TO PROTECT OUR MOST VALUABLE ASSET IN THIS COUNTY, WHICH IS SENSITIVE AREAS FROM RAPID OVERDEVELOPMENT WHILE DIRECTLY BOOSTING THE LOCAL ECONOMY. AND I DO THINK THAT WAS KIND OF LEFT OUT OF THE PRESENTATION, BECAUSE IT'S NOT JUST ABOUT RECREATION, IT'S ABOUT TOURISM, IT'S ABOUT THE ECONOMY THAT THAT DRIVES AND WE HAVE PRISTINE WATERS IN OUR COUNTY.

SO DRIVING HIGH VALUE TOWARDS MORE RECREATION PRESERVES

[01:10:01]

IT PROTECTS OUR DRINKING WATERS AND MITIGATES FLOOD RISKS.

ACQUIRING SENSITIVE LANDS AROUND KEY WATERSHEDS SUCH AS OUR ST.

JOHNS RIVER, THEST WARE, SAFEGUARDS LOCAL DRINKING WATERS, ALL OF THESE SOURCES AND IMPROVES WATER QUALITY AND CREATES NATURAL FLOOD PLAINS THAT ABSORBS STORM SURGE.

AND FINALLY IT ENSURES FISCAL RESPONSIBILITY IN MATCHING OPPORTUNITIES FOR BONDING, PROVIDES IMMEDIATE UP FRONT CAPITAL TO PURCHASE KEY THREATENED PROPERTIES BEFORE LAND PRICES RISE FURTHER, WHILE MAKING ST. JOHNS COUNTY ELIGIBLE FOR ADDITIONAL MATCHING FUNDS.

SO AS A RESIDENT AND AS A BORN AND RAISED NATIVE ST. JOHNS COUNTY, AND I ASK THAT YOU PLEASE ADD TOTH TO THE BALLOT ON NOVEMBER 3RD AND LET OUR RESIDENTS MAKE A DECISION AS WELL. I'M A FIRM BELIEVER IN MOST CASES FOR SECOND CHANCES BUT WE DON'T GET SECOND CHANCES ON THIS. ONCE THAT LAND IS GONE, IT'S GONE. SO THANK YOU.

>> THANK YOU.

GOOD MORNING. >> GOOD MORNING, COMMISSIONERS.

THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR THE OPPORTUNITY TO SPEAK WITH YOU TODAY. MY NAME IS ELI CUNNINGHAM.

I LIVE UP ON CONSTITUTION PLACE IN JACKSONVILLE BEACH, BUT I'M THE CHAIR OF THE FIRST COAST CHAPTER OF THE SURF RIDER FOUNDATION. WE'RE A VOLUNTEER LED OCEAN NON- PROFIT. WE DO THAT THROUGH DEDICATING OUR MISSION TO PROTECTING OUR COAST THROUGH EDUCATION AND ADVOCACY AND STEWARDSHIP. THE FIRST COAST CHAPTER RUNS FROM BETTER THAN AN DINA AND YOU WILL -- WE HAVE MANY MEMBERS WHO LIVE AND PLAY OUTSIDE ST. JOHNS COUNTY. ON BEHALF OF THOSE MEMBERS AND OUR CHAPTER, I'M HERE TODAY TO URGE THE COMMISSION TO MOVE FORWARD WITH REFERRING THE BOND LANGUAGE FOR CONSERVATION LAND ACQUISITION TO THE NOVEMBER 2026 BALLOT.

WE'VE ALL SEEN THE GROWTH HERE, AS FAST AS ANYWHERE ELSE IN THE STATE OR IN THE NATION, FOR THAT MATTER.

SO THAT GROWTH MAKES IT ALL THE MORE IMPORTANT AND URGENT FOR US TO PROTECT THESE UNDEVELOPED LANDS AND THESE WETLANDS.

AND THESE PLACES DO MORE THAN JUST GIVE US SCENERY AND RECREATION ACTIVITIES. THEY'RE ACTUALLY DOING GREAT WORK TO KEEP US SAFE IN OUR COMMUNITIES.

I MEAN, AN ACRE OF WETLANDS CAN STORE ABOUT A MILLION GALLONS OF WATER SO THAT'S FLOODING BUFFER AND CONTROL, THAT'S STORMWATER MANAGEMENT AND THAT'S NATURAL WATER PURIFICATION.

AND ON THE STATE LEVEL, WE'VE SEEN THE FUNDING VARY GREATLY AND MORE RECENTLY DECREASE SIGNIFICANTLY.

AND WE'VE ALSO SEEN NEW STATE LAWS THAT REDUCE OUR LOCAL INPUT AND OVERSIGHT OF DEVELOPMENT PROJECTS.

SO -- IN ST. JOHNS COUNTY WE JUST CAN'T RELY ON TALLAHASSEE TO PROTECT WHAT MATTERS THE MOST HERE.

SO WE NEED OUR OWN PERMANENT FUNDING MECHANISM FOR CONSERVATION LAND ACQUISITION HERE AT HOME.

SO THE FIRST COAST CHAPTER OF THE SURF RIDER FOUNDATION IS ASKING THE COMMISSION TO LEAVE IT TO THE VOTERS AND TAKE THE NEXT STEP AND LET THE CITIZENS OF ST. JOHNS COUNTY DECIDE WHETHER THEY WANT RESILIENT LANDS AND CLEAN WATER AND LASTING OUTDOOR RECREATION. SO THANK YOU SO MUCH AGAIN FOR THE OPPORTUNITY AND I WOULD ASK YOU TO VOTE YES TO PUT IT TO THE BALLOT THIS NOVEMBER. THANK YOU.

>> THANK YOU.

>> GOOD MORNING. JEN [INDISCERNIBLE] KANSAS RIVER KEEPER. I SPOKE ON THIS LAST TIME INTO IT WAS DISCUSSED SO HE WON'T BELABOR ANY OF THOSE POINTS BUT I JUST WANTED TO SHARE HOW EXCITED I AM TO HAVE THIS DISCUSSION TODAY, BECAUSE OUR COMMUNITY HAS REALLY STRUGGLED WITH GROWTH, FOR YEARS. FOR ALL OF THE YEARS YOU HAVE SERVED ON THE COMMISSION, FOR MANY YEARS BEFORE THAT, AND TRYING IT FIGURE OUT HOW TO COUNTERBALANCE THE RATE OF DEVELOPMENT THAT WE'RE SEEING WITH LAND CONSERVATION.

AND NOW WE FINALLY HAVE THIS REALLY FANTASTIC SOLUTION TO THIS PROBLEM, AND BEYOND THAT WE'VE HAD THE EXPERTISE FROM THE FOLKS AT TRUST REPUBLIC LAND WHO ARE INCREDIBLY GOOD AT THIS TYPE OF WORK WHO HAVE RAN DOZENS OF SUCCESSFUL CONSERVATION FUNDING CAMPAIGN BALLOT INITIATIVES ACROSS THE COUNTRY.

WE ARE IN REALLY GOOD HANDS WITH THEM HERE.

[01:15:13]

IT GIVES US THE ABILITY TO ISSUE THESE BONDS SO REGARDLESS OF WHETHER OR NOT AMENDMENT 3 PASSES, WE CAN THEN EVALUATE WHAT OUR FINANCIAL SITUATION IS AND DECIDE WHETHER TO ISSUE THESE BONDS AN HOW MUCH TO ISSUE THEM FOR.

I KNOW THAT THERE'S JUST SO MUCH FRUSTRATION ABOUT THE RATE AND CHARACTER OF GROWTH AND ALL OF THE PREEMPTIONS THAT WE'VE BEEN SEEING WITH SENATE BILL 180 AND THE AGRICULTURAL ENCLAVES BILL.

AND UNFORTUNATELY THOSE ARE GOING TO CONTINUE.

SO THIS IS A WAY THAT WE CAN TAKE BACK SOME OF THAT CONTROL.

I THINK ONE OF THE THINGS THAT'S REALLY APPEALING ABOUT THIS INITIATIVE IS THAT THIS IS NOT YOU AS COMMISSIONERS MAKING A DECISION FOR THE COMMUNITY. THIS IS NOT YOU IMPOSING A MANDATE ON US. THIS IS YOU REFERRING SOMETHING TO THE BALLOT TO LET OUR COMMUNITY AND LET OUR VOTERS DECIDE WHETHER THIS IS SOMETHING WE WANT, WHETHER LAND CONSERVATION IS A PRIORITY TO US, BECAUSE LORD KNOWS WE HAVE HAD OUR ABILITY TO MAKE DECISIONS ABOUT OUR COMMUNITY TAKEN FROM US AT AN ALARMING RATE RECENTLY, AND SO THAT'S WHY I'M ASKING YOU TO PLEASE REFER IT TO THE BALLOT AND LET THE VOTERS DECIDE. THANK YOU.

>> THANK YOU.

>> GOOD MORNING. >> MY NAME IS ELAINE GLANT.

I LIVE [INDISCERNIBLE] ON DRIVE HERE IN ST. JOHNS COUNTY AND EVERYONE ELSE HAS SPOKEN SO ELOQUENTLY, I REALLY DON'T HAVE AN EDUCATED OPINION ON ANY OF THIS, OTHER THAN I WOULD REALLY ADVOCATE FOR ANY AVENUE TO PROTECT SOME OF OUR SENSITIVE LANDS. WHETHER THIS PASSES DERBY HOPE YOU WILL APPROVE IT, WHETHER THE COMMUNITY VOTES FOR IT OR NOT.

I HOPE THIS IS SOMETHING YOU HAVE ON YOUR MIND IN ANY AVENUE WHERE WE MIGHT HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY TO SAVE A PARCEL HERE OR A PARCEL THERE, ANY FUNDING SOURCE.

AND I JUST THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME.

>> THANK YOU. >> THANK YOU.

>> GOOD MORNING. LITZ BTLILZELIZABETH SMITH, FISD COMMUNITY ALLIANCE. THE RESULTS OF THE COMPREHENSIVE PLAN PUBLIC MEETINGS WERE CLEAR THERE IS OVERWHELMING PUBLIC SUPPORT FOR LAND CONSERVATION, PARTICULARLY IN THIS COUNTY WHERE DEVELOPMENT IS HAPPENING SO RAPIDLY.

LAMP NEEDS AND DESERVES A DEDICATED FUNDING SOURCE.

I ASK THAT YOU SUPPORT THIS BALLOT INITIATIVE FOR THE BENEFIT OF THE RESIDENTS WHO HAVE CLEARLY EXPRESSED A STRONG DESIRE FOR CONSERVATION IN THIS COUNTY.

THANK YOU. >> THANK YOU.

>> GOOD MORNING. THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR THE STEPS YOU'VE TAKEN TOWARD A BALLOT TO SECURE FUNDING FOR LAND ACQUISITION. WE NEED FUNDING TO SAVE OUR PRECIOUS FORESTS, WETLANDS AND FARMLANDS NOW.

>> MA'AM, WOULD YOU JUST GIVE US YOUR NAME AND ADDRESS FOR THE

RECORD. >> MARSHA DANIELS, 34 MODERA DRIVE, ST. AUGUSTINE. THESE LANDS ARE BEING DEMOLISHED AT AN ALARMING RATE. FOR TOO LONG WE HAVE CONSIDERED THESE ECOSYSTEMS BACKGROUND WHEN IN FACT THEY ARE THE VERY SUBSTANCE OF OUR LIVES. TAKE DEEP BREATH.

TREES LOOK LIKE OUR LUNGS AND THEY ARE OUR LUNGS.

THEY GIVE OFF OXYGEN SO THAT EVERYTHING THAT BREATHES HAS LIFE. TREES ALSO RELEASE WATER THROUGH THEIR LEAVES, WHICH MAKES CLOUDS FORM, SO IT WILL RAIN.

FORESTS CLEAN POLLUTATS FROM THE AIR AND PROVIDE SHADE.

IT IS ABOUT 10° COOLER IN FORESTS, KEEPING US COOLER, WHICH IS BECOMING MORE AND MORE IMPORTANT EVERY DAY.

WETLANDS ARE LIKE OUR KIDNEYS. THESE MARSHES AND SWAMPS SWITERE WATER, KEEPING OUR RIVERS AND OCEANS CLEAN.

WETLANDS ALSO ACT LIKE SPONGES ABSORBING FLOOD WATERS WHICH IS SO IMPORTANT AGAIN NOW MORE THAN EVER.

ANIMALS RELY ON THE PLANTS AND THESE PLACES FOR FOOD, WATER, SHELTER AND A SPACE TO RAISE A FAMILY.

ANIMALS IN TURN POLLINATE THE FLOWERS, MAKING FRUITS AND SEEDS

[01:20:01]

OUR LIFE, OUR HEALTH AND THAT OF OUR FELLOW CREATURES DEPEND ON FARMS, FORESTS AND WETLANDS. WE GO ON VACATION TO OTHER PLACES A FEW DAYS OF THE YEAR BUT THIS IS OUR HOME.

WE ARE THE ONLY ONES THAT CAN PROTECT IT.

FOR OURSELVES AND FUTURE GENERATIONS.

PLEASE, PUT THIS ON THE BALLOT AND LET THE PEOPLE VOTE.

THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

>> GOOD MORNING. >> GOOD MORNING, COMMISSIONERS, ELIZABETH GUTHRIE, 14 KING STREET, ST. AUGUSTINE.

I HAVE DEDICATED MY CAREER TO CONSERVATION IN FLORIDA AND I WORK WITH CONSERVATION PROGRAMS, AGENCIES AND LOCAL GOVERNMENTS ACROSS THE ENTIRE STATE. AND I HAVE SEEN FIRST HAND HOW EFFECTIVE AND POPULAR THESE COUNTY LEVEL PROGRAMS CAN BE.

I ALSO BRING THE PERSPECTIVE OF SOMEONE WHO HAS SERVED ON OUR COUNTY'S LAND ACQUISITION AND MANAGEMENT BOARD AND I CAN ATTEST THAT THIS COUNTY ALREADY HAS A TRANSPARENT PROCESS IN PLACE WITH A CITIZEN ADVISORY BOARD REVIEWING EVERY PROJECT AND PUBLIC MEETINGS, BUT WHAT WE DO NOT HAVE IS ENOUGH RELIABLE FUNDING TO MEET THE DEMAND FROM WILLING LANDOWNERS WHO WANT TO PROTECT THEIR PROPERTY. THIS MEASURE WOULD GIVE US THE ABILITY TO CHANGE THAT AND ACT MORE QUICKLY.

MOST IMPORTANTLY, THOUGH, I AM A ST. JOHNS COUNTY RESIDENT AND I LOVE THIS COUNTY. ELSE THE GROWTH AND DEVELOPMENT HAPPENING EVERY DAY, IF WE DON'T ACT NOW WE'RE GOING TO LOSE A LOT OF PLACES FOR GOOD. LAND IS NOT CHEAP AND I CAN TELL YOU IT IS NOT GETTING ANY CHEAPER.

THIS IS ABOUT MAKING SURE GROWTH DOESN'T COME AT THE EXPENSE OF OUR LAND AND NATURAL RESOURCES IN OUR COMMUNITY, WHICH MAKE THIS PLACE SUCH A GREAT PLACE TO LIVE.

AND THE COST ON AVERAGE WOULD BE AROUND $40 A YEAR PER HOUSEHOLD, WHICH IS ABOUT LESS THAN $4 A MONTH.

I KNOW PERSONALLY I SPENT A LOT MORE THAN THAT JUST ON STREAMING SERVICES EACH MONTH. I WOULD GLADLY MAKE THAT INVESTMENT IF I KNEW THAT MONEY WAS GOING TO PROTECT OUR FARMS AND OUR FORESTS, OUR WATERWAYS, AND WILDLIFE HABITAT AND GIVING PEOPLE MACE WHERE THEY CAN BIKE, KAYAK, HUNT, FISH AND ENJOY THE OUTDOORS. THE REALITY IS THAT WE DON'T HAVE A LOT OF TOOLS AVAILABLE TO US AND WE'RE LOSING OUR TOOLS, ESPECIALLY AT THE LOCAL LEVEL, TO ADDRESS GROWTH.

THIS ISN'T ABOUT TELLING PRIVATE PROPERTY OWNERS WHAT THEY CAN AND CAN'T DO, IT'S JUST GIVING THEM ANOTHER OPTION.

AND IT'S GIVING THE COUNTY A WAY TO COMPETE FOR LAND AND ACQUIRE IT PROACTIVELY. TIME AND TIME AGAIN, WE'VE HEARD FROM CITIZENS THAT LAND CONSERVATION IS A PRIORITY.

MYSELF INCLUDED. AND THIS IS A DECISION THAT BELONGS TO THE PEOPLE OF ST. JOHNS COUNTY.

SO I ASK YOU ALL TO PLEASE PUT IT ON THE BALLOT AND LET US DECIDE THIS NOVEMBER. THANK YOU.

>> THANK YOU SO MUCH.

>> I AGREE. ED SLAVEN, BOX 384, CANDIDATE FOR [INDISCERNIBLE] MOSQUITO CONTROL DISTRICT OF ST. JOHNS COUNTY, PARLIAMENTARY INQUIRY TO THE LAMP BOARD OR CHAIR OR PAST CHAIR THROUGH THE CHAIR. OUR LAMP BOARD MEETINGS CURRENTLY TELEVISED ON GTV, DO WE KNOW? BECAUSE ANYWAY THIS WAS AN ISSUE SEVERAL YEARS AGO AND COMMISSIONER JOSEPH AND COMMISSIONER TAYLOR AND OTHERS, I THOUGHT WE HAD RESOLVED THAT ISSUE BUT ARE THEY YET BEING TELEVISED? BECAUSE IF THEY'RE NOT, THAT'S NOT TRANS EXPERIENCE I, IS IT? AND I ATTENDED A NUMBER OF LAMP MEETINGS OVER THE YEARS. IS ANYBODY GOING TO ANSWER THE QUESTION? WE'LL GET BACK TO THAT.

ANYWAY, I'LL SUPPORT THIS IF YOU AGREE TO TELEVISE LAMP MEETINGS ON GTV, BECAUSE THOSE MEETINGS ARE HELD IN A LITTLE SNEAKY CORNER OF THE GROWTH MANAGEMENT BUILDING, GROSS MISMANAGEMENT BUILDING. AND MIKE GROVERSON OVER THERE DID NOT WANT THOSE MEETINGS TO BE TELEVISED.

I DON'T THINK HE GETS A VETO AND I DON'T THINK THE DEVELOPERS DO EITHER MUCH THESE ARE VERY IMPORTANT DECISIONS AND WE'VE GOT $100 MILLION WORTH OF BONDING AUTHORITY, AND I HOPE YOU GET IT. LET'S NOT WASTE IT ON A STINKY LITTLE CORNER OF THE GROWTH MANAGEMENT, LET'S HAVE THOSE MEETINGS TELEVISED AND IN THIS ROOM.

I DON'T THINK ANYBODY COULD DISAGREE WITH THAT.

BUT THERE WERE OBSTRUCTIONISTS IN THE COUNTY AND ON THAT BOARD WHO JUST DID NOT WANT TO BE TELEVISED.

THEY CAN'T STAND SCRUTINY. I THINK IT WOULD BE WISE IF IN DISCUSSING THIS ON BALLOT INITIATIVE WE DISCUSSED THE KIND OF PLACES THAT WOULD BE PRESERVED.

I KNOW THE SCHOOL BOARD LISTED THE PLACES THAT THEY HAD IN MIND FOR CAPITAL IMPROVEMENTS WHEN THEY GOT A BOND ISSUE, WHEN THEY GOT A SALES TAX INCREASE. AND LET'S HAVE SOME SPECIFICITY

[01:25:04]

$100 MILLION IS A LOT OF MONEY. LET'S NOT TRIVIALIZE IS BY TALKING ABOUT NETFLIX. LET'S TALK ABOUT GETTING THE BEST BUY WITH THE BEST LAND AND NOT FRITTER MONEY AWAY ON SOME PROJECT THAT SOME GOOD OLD BOY, SOME DEVELOPER WANTS TO UNLOAD.

I COMMEND HENRY DEAN FOR ALL THE WORK THAT HE AND THE LATE JOHN HENRY HANKITSON DID AT THE WATER MANAGEMENT DISTRICT.

THEY BOUGHT A LOT OF LAND AND HE CAN COME UP AND TELL YOU HOW MUCH, BUT IN 15 COUNTIES, 17 COUNTIES, HUNDREDS OF THOUSANDS OF ACRES -- I MEAN LOTS OF LAND. LET'S DO THIS RIGHT.

LET'S HAVE THAT BOARD IN THE LIGHT OF SUNSHINE.

ALSO, THE NATIONAL TRUST FOR HISTORIC PRESERVATION 2003 STUDY SAID THAT ENVIRONMENTAL AND HISTORIC TOURISTS SPEND TWICE AS MUCH AND TWICE AS LONG -- THIS IS AN IMPORTANT INITIATIVE.

LET'S DO IT. AND THEN FINALLY, THE ST.

AUGUSTINE NATIONAL HISTORIC PARK AND NATIONAL SEA SHORE WAS FIRST PROPOSED BY THE MAYOR OF ST. AUGUSTINE IN 1939.

MAYOR WALTER FRASER. AND WHEN I PROPOSED IT AND CAME HERE ON NOVEMBER 11TH -- NOVEMBER 1ST, 2011 ALL THE PEOPLE WHO WANTED IT, THEY CALLED ME A NAZI AND A COMMI AND COMPARED ME TO HITLER BECAUSE WE WANT AD NATIONAL PARK IN SEA SHORE. CAN YOU IMAGINE?

>> THANK YOU SO MUCH. >> LET'S RAISE THE QUALITY OF DEBATE, LADIES AND GENTLEMEN. THANK YOU.

>> THANK YOU. ALL RIGHT, NEXT.

GOOD MORNING. >> GOOD MORNING.

MARIE O'CONNOR, 1206 MYRTLE STREET, ST. AUGUSTINE.

FIRST OF ALL, THIS PARTICULAR GENERAL ELECTION BOND IS DEFINITELY NEEDED. WE HAVE SEEN THE REMOVAL OF ANY KIND OF HOME RULE OR REGULATIONS BETWEEN 180 AND 686.

WE'VE LOST OUR HOME RULE. NOVEMBER 3RD, GENERAL ELECTION DAY, HAS A BIT OF A CONUNDRUM FOR US.

DO WE VOTE TO REDUCE OR ELIMINATE PROPERTY TAXES, OR WE VOTE FOR THIS PARTICULAR GENERA% OBLIGATION BOND, WHICH IS FUNDED THROUGH PROPERTY TAXES BY LAW? IF BOTH PASS, HOW DO WE PAY IT? THE BENEFITS OF A GENERAL OBLIGATION BOND IS THE FACT THAT ANYONE WHO BUYS IT ACTUALLY HAS TAX-FREE, SINCE WE DON'T HAVE STATE OR COUNTY TAXES, FEDERAL TAX EXEMPTION.

IT IS BOUGHT BY THE PUBLIC, IT IS BOUGHT BY INSTITUTIONS, GENERAL FUNDING AND IS CONSIDERED A VERY SAFE OBLIGATION. MY CONCERN TOO IS WILL THIS BILL FAIL AGAIN IF AMENDMENT 3 IS PASSED? THE REPLACEMENT -- SORRY, I'M SORRY.

OH, ACTUALLY, I JUST ABOUT SAID EVERYTHING.

I WORKED ON WALL STREET FOR 40 YEARS AND ONE OF THE THINGS WE DID DO IS ISSUE BONDS. MUNICIPAL BONDS ARE VERY POPULAR WITH INDIVIDUALS, NOT PEOPLE IN RETIREMENT BECAUSE YOU DON'T HAVE TO HAVE THE TAX EXEMPTIONS THAT YOU NEED NOW.

MY CONCERN IS THAT THESE TWO BONDS -- THESE TWO ISSUES ON THE GENERAL ELECTION BALLOT WILL CANCEL EACH OTHER OUT, ONE WILL SUFFER AT THE COST OF ANOTHER. THAT'S ALL I HAVE TO SAY.

BUT WE NEED IT. WE DEFINITELY NEED IT.

THANK YOU. >> THANK YOU.

GOOD MORNING. >> GOOD MORNING.

MADA HAHN, 45 FLORIDA AVENUE ST. AUGUSTINE.

FIRST I WANT TO THANK ALL OF YOU FOR SERVING OUR COUNTY.

THESE ARE VERY DIFFICULT TIMES, WITHOUT A DOUBT.

AS WE HEARD EARLIER, YOU KNOW, THIS WHOLE SURVEILLANCE STATE THAT WE ARE TURNING INTO, I HAVE WHERE THERE ARE DICTATORSHIPS AND I'M FAMILIAR WITH THEM. I SUGGEST ALL OF YOU TO WATCH THE PENSION PENG LESSONS, IT'S E THAT YOU CAN SEE ON NETFLIX JUST TO GET AN IDEA OF WHAT WE ARE DEALING WITH.

BUT RIGHT NOW WE ARE DISCUSSING THIS ESSENTIAL PIECE.

IF WE DON'T CONSERVE THIS LAND NOW, THERE IS NO TOMORROW FOR THAT. WE KNOW THAT MONEY BUYS A LOT OF THINGS. IT'S BUYING DEMOCRACY.

AND THAT'S REALLY, REALLY DANGEROUS.

KIND OF NEW -- MAYBE NOT SO NEW IN THIS

[01:30:03]

BETWEEN THE ROOTS, THE BUSHES, THE ANIMALS, THE OXYGEN, WE ALL BREATHE OXYGEN. REGARDLESS OF HOW MUCH MONEY WE HAVE. WE NEED CLEAN WATER.

AND THE DISTURBANCE OF THE LAND ACCOUNT FOR CONSEQUENCES.

ONE OF THEM, YOU MAY NOT BE FAMILIAR WITH IS AS WE DISCUSSED AND MY NEIGHBOR IN ANOTHER FRIEND VISITED A FRIEND WHO UNFORTUNATELY SUFFERS FROM HANSON'S DISEASE.

TYPICALLY KNOWN AS LEPROSY. THIS MAY SOUND AN EXAGGERATION BUT IT IS NOT. THERE ARE FIVE RESIDENTS IN THIS COUNTY THAT SUFFER FROM LEPROSY. A VERY SLOW-MOVING DISEASE AND THE MICROBACTERIA IS FOUND IN THE DIRT.

SO THE MORE WE KEEP DISTURBING, THE MORE WE ARE PUSHING THE ANIMALS INCLUDING THE ARMADILLOS, THE MORE WE PUT OUR HEALTH AT RISK. OUR OWN.

OUR CHILDREN'S AND GRANDCHILDREN.

SO THIS IS NOT ABOUT, WE NEED TO DO NOW.

WE CAN'T EXPECT THE NEXT GENERATIONS TO SAVE THE LAND.

THERE WILL BE NONE LEFT. THOSE PEOPLE PROBABLY DON'T LIVE AROUND HERE. THANK YOU SO MUCH.

>> THANK YOU. ANYONE ELSE AT THIS TIME, COME ON UP. GOOD MORNING.

>> GOOD MORNING. JOHN REAGAN, 24 PARTERRACE DRIVE, NORTH FLORIDA LAND TRUST. I'M HERE TO SUPPORT OUR TRUST FOR THE RESOLUTION AND APPRECIATE THE COMMENTS BEING AGILE. WE ARE WORKING ON ACQUISITIONS THAT ARE STALLED. I WANTED TO HIGHLIGHT WHAT ONE OF OTHER SPEAKERS SPOKE ABOUT LEVERAGING FINANCIAL RESOURCES.

WITH OUR LOCAL PROGRAM TYPICALLY WORKING WITH THE TRUST RESPECT LANDS, LAND TRUST AND OTHER CONVERSATION AGENCIES, TYPICALLY IT'S A TWO TO THREE MULTIPLIER. CONSERVATIVELY, $100 MILLION BECOMES $200 MILLION. I JUST WANT TO SAY IT'S REALLY MUCH BIGGER THAN WHAT YOU PUT INTO YOUR ACCOUNT.

SO AGAIN WE'RE HERE TO SUPPORT THIS.

THE SPEAKERS MADE GREAT POINTS AND NO NEED TO REPEAT THAT.

THE SPEAKER WHO BROUGHT UP THE ROW THAT THE LOCAL MATCH HAPPENS TO DRIVE THE ACQUISITION, ST. AUGUSTINE COMMITTED TO THE LONG-TERM STEWARDSHIP OF THE PROPERTY AND THAT'S HOW IT WAS ABLE TO COME TOGETHER WHEN THERE WAS ABSENT A LOCAL MATCH.

I WANT TO ENCOURAGE YOU TO VOTE AFFIRMATIVE.

>> THANK YOU SO >> GOOD MORNING.

>> HELLO AGAIN. HELEN WONG.

18 CASTILE PARK, MENENDEZ PARK. I WANTED TO SAY LAND HAVE RECORDED MEETINGS AND SO ANYBODY CAN SEE THEM AT ANY TIME, AND IF YOU HAVE BEEN TO A BOARD MEETING, YOU KNOW HOW MUCH THE PEOPLE THAT SIT ON THE BOARD CARE FOR WHAT THEY DO.

THEY ARE VOLUNTEERS AND LOVE ST. JOHNS COUNTY AND THEY ARE VERY KNOWLEDGEABLE. YOU CAN GO ON AND FIND THE LAND BOARD MEETINGS UNDER WHAT IT IS, ST. JOHNSCOUNTY.GOV.

>> THANK YOU. ANYONE ELSE AT THIS TIME WITH PUBLIC COMMENT ON AGENDA ITEM NUMBER THREE.

COME ON UP. >> THANK YOU SO MUCH CHAIR MURPHY AND MEMBERS OF THE COUNTY COMMISSION.

I AM PEGGY COMMUNITY TRUST FOR LAND.

IN AGAINSTVILLE. I'M A NATIVE OF AGAINSTVILLE AND HAVE BEEN COMING. THIS IS WHERE I COME FOR VACATION ALWAYS SINCE BEFORE I HAD MEMORY.

YET IF YOU LOOK, I SHARED A MAP AND BROUGHT IT UP BECAUSE I HAD DOUBLE CHECK MY MEMORY AT OUR LAST MEETING A FEW WEEKS AGO.

[01:35:01]

ST. JOHNS AND MONROE. NOW, MR. DEAN COULD TELL WHY IN MONROE, BUT THE MAIN REASON WHY I CAN TELL YOU FOR SURE IS THAT SOMETHING LIKE 94% OF MONROE COUNTY IS ALREADY IN PROTECTION.

I ASSUME A BIG CHUNK IS EVERGLADES.

HOWEVER, ALMOST ALL OF THOSE ARE VOTER AUTHORIZED.

THERE'S OWN ONE COUNTY THAT HAS A MAJOR PROGRAM THAT ISN'T VOTER AUTHORIZED AND THAT'S ORANGE. WE DON'T COMPARE OURSELVES TO ORANGE. I HAVE BEEN WITH TRUST FOR PUBLIC LAND FOR 22 YEARS TO SOMETHING JEN LUMBARD SAID, WE WORKED ON BALLOT MEASURES ACROSS THE UNITED STATES.

45 IN FLORIDA. I PERSONALLY WORKED ON 38 SUCCESSFUL BALLOT MEASURES, ONLY THREE THAT FAILED.

ONE WAS 2008 IN ST. JOHNS COUNTY.

COMPLICATED PLAYING FIELD BUT I WILL SHARE ONE OF THE CHALLENGES IN THAT CASE WAS IT WAS BOTH ROADS AND CONSERVATION.

THAT'S A SHOTGUN MARRIAGE. I'M HEADED FROM HERE TO CHARLESTON. THAT'S WHAT THEY HAVE DONE FOR 25 YEARS. IT'S COMMON IN SOUTH CAROLINA AND HERE IN FLORIDA. I REALLY WANT TO START BY SAYING YOUR STAFF HAS DONE A TERRIFIC JOB.

I APPRECIATE THE WORK IN A SHORT PERIOD OF TIME.

KEELEY PRESENTD AND WADE PRESENTED EXACTLY WHAT WE WOULD HAVE RECOMMENDED. WE ARE ALL IN FAVOR OF THE DRAFT AS AMENDED AND I THINK CHAIR MURPHY, YOU GOT TO THE HEART OF THE FLEXIBILITY THAT'S HERE. WE HAVE SEEN COUNTIES REALLY NEVER USE THEIR BONDING AUTHORITY.

BUT TO KNOW THAT IF THEY NEED TO ACT QUICKLY.

THE REAL VALUE OF HAVING A PROGRAM THERE'S A STABLE FUNDING SOURCE IS THAT LANDOWNERS CAN THEN PLAN MANY OF THE LANDS ARE GENE GENERATIONAL.

GRAND DAD, SON. GRANDCHILDREN.

THEY NEED TO WORK OUT AND NEED TO KNOW THEY CAN PLAN FOR A FEW YEARS IN ADVANCE. ALL PLAYERS FROM

WE ARE HERE TO HELP. >> THANK YOU.

IS THERE ANYONE ELSE HERE FOR PUBLIC COMMENT ON AGENDA ITEM THREE. OKAY.

SEEING NONE, WE WILL CLOSE PUBLIC COMMENT.

WE WILL GO BACK TO THE BOARD FOR COMMENTS.

>> THANK YOU. I APPRECIATE THE RESIDENT THAT SPOKE UP AND SHOWED THE LAND MEETING TELEVISED.

I WANT TO CLARIFY AS MR. SLAVEN DID SAY, WE ACTUALLY DO MEET IN THIS AUDITORIUM AND IT'S ONCE A QUARTER.

THEY ARE NOT VERY WELL ATTENDD AND DEFINITELY DO MEET HERE.

THERE'S PLENTY OF ROOM. I WANT TO MAKE IT VERY CLEAR THAT THE LAMP BOARD MADE UP OF A NUMBER OF VOLUNTEERS HAVE A NUMBER OF PROJECTS WITH WILLING SELLERS.

THEY WORK VERY HARD AT DETERMINING WHICH PROJECTS AND WHICH PARCELS ARE ON THIS LIST. SO, WE KIND OF FOCUS ON THE TOP FIVE. BUT, THERE'S A LOT OF SCRUTINY AND A LOT OF LOOKING AT. SO I JUST WANT TO MAKE CAN VERY, VERY CLEAR THIS IS NOT SOMETHING -- A LOT OF DETAIL AND WORK GOES INTO CHOOSING WHICH PROJECTS ARE ON THAT LAMP BOARD AND THEIR LIST. I JUST WANT TO MAKE THAT REALLY, REALLY CLEAR AND OF COURSE, AS WAS MENTIONED, ONCE THEY DO APPROVE SOMETHING. THE FINAL SAY WOULD BE FROM THE BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS. SO THANK YOU.

>> THANK YOU SO MUCH. IS THERE ANYONE ELSE THAT HAS

COMMENTS? >> YES, SIR, YOU HAVE THE FLOOR.

>> THANK YOU. MR. CHAIRMAN.

I NEED A FEW MINUTES HERE. FIRST I WANT TO THANK MEREDITH BUD AND ARTY BELINI THE MAJOR DONOR WHEN IT COMES TO SAVING THE FLORIDA PANTHER. HE'S DONATED MILLIONS AND MILLIONS OF DOLLARS TO BUY UP THE WILDLIFE CORRIDOR AND SHOULD BE COMMENDED FOR THEIR EFFORTS. I WANT TO THANKS MAYOR HANRAHAN FOR BEING HERE AND ALL THE GOOD WORK FOR TRUST PUBLIC LAND AND THE NORTH FLORIDA LAND TRUST, MR. REAGAN AND MY GOOD FRIEND DR. ALLISON DEFORE AND HENRY DEAN.

FOR SO MANY YEARS OF HIS LIFE, HE DEDICATED SO MUCH TIME,

[01:40:06]

HE'S HAD HIS HAND IN CONSERVING ONE MILLION ACRES OF LAND HERE IN FLORIDA. PLEASE GIVE A ROUND OF APPLAUSE TO MR. DEAN. SO, AS SOMEBODY WHO IS A LIFELONG FLORIDIAN, VISITED MANY, MANY STATE PARKS AND ENJOYED OUR STATE PARKS, OUR NATIONAL PARKS AND SPENT OUR SUMMER, MY WIFE AND I TAKING OUR DAUGHTERS TO 11 NATIONAL PARKS.

PRIMARILY OUT WEST BUT I LOVE OUR NATURAL LANDS AND THE GREEN SPACE AND CLEAN WATER WAYS WE HAVE IN THE STATE OF FLORIDA.

WHEN IT COMES TO THIS POLICY DECISION I HAVE A COUPLE CONCERNS. I WOULD LIKE TO SPIN THOSE OUT.

MS. O'CONNOR MENTIONED IT, IF THEY ARE MENTIONING IT, OTHERS ARE THINKING IT. WE HAVE MIXED MESSAGING.

THERE'S A REFERENDUM ON THE BALLOT TO ASK PEOPLE TO CUT THEIR PROPERTY TAXES. THERE'S BEEN A LOT OF MESSAGING ARE WE OVERTAXING THE PEOPLE THROUGHOUT THE STATE OF FLORIDA ON THEIR PROPERTY TAXES? THAT MESSAGE IS OUT THERE FOR A BIG WAY FOR MEETINGS AT THE STATE LEVEL.

WE HAVE A LOCAL CONSERVATION FUND WE ALL FOLLOW HENRY DEAN'S LEAD. WHEN I CAME ON THE BOARD, AND WE ENACTED THE LAND FUND IN FISCAL YEAR '21 AND GREW FROM $500,000 TO $2 MILLION. WE HAVE COMMISSIONERS ON THE BOARD THAT CUT THE LAMP BOARD THE PAST TWO FISCAL YEARS.

BETWEEN THE REFERENDUM ON TO THE BALLOT AND THE CUTTING OF THE CONSERVATION FUND WE ALREADY HAVE AT THE LOCAL LEVEL, THAT SENDS MIXED SIGNALS TO THE VOTERS WHEN THEY SEE A NEW MILLAGE RATE ON THE BALLOT. THERE'S A DECREASE.

THERE'S A CONSERVATION FUND WE ALREADY HAVE WE'RE CUTTING DUE TO AND VOTES HERE ON THE BOARD. THAT'S A MIXED MESSAGE.

IN ADDITION TO THOSE ISSUES OUR CFO, THE STATE CFO IS SCRUTINIZING EVERY TAX ESPECIALLY THOSE ENACTED THROUGH THE DOGE PROGRAM, THE BOTTOM LINE THE DOGE PROGRAM HAS SENT A CLEAR MESSAGE TO GOVERNMENTS. DO WE KNOW THE CFO USE THIS PROPOSED MILLAGE INCREASE AS WASTEFUL SPENDING? I DON'T KNOW WE HAVE GOTTEN A CLEAR ANSWER ON THAT.

I'M PROUD TO BE THE CURRENT COMMISSIONER VOTING YES ON THE LAND ACQUISITION MANAGEMENT BUDGET EVERY SINGLE YEAR.

I'M PROUD OF THAT BECAUSE AS A LIFELONG FLORIDIAN, I PROPOSED TO MY WIFE IN A STATE PARK. GOT MARRIED IN ANOTHER STATE PARK. WE CHILDREN AND I CONTINUE TO ENJOY THE CONSERVATION LAND NOT JUST ST. JOHNS COUNTY BUT THE STATE OF FLORIDA AND ALWAYS BELIEVED THAT IT'S A PART OF OUR GROWTH MANAGEMENT STRATEGY WE NEEDED TO HAVE A CONSERVATION FUND AND A PLAN TO GO HAND IN GLOVE WITH THE CONSERVATION FUND. I'M NOT SURE THIS IS THE RIGHT ELECTION YEAR, GIVEN ALL THE CONCERNS I DETAILED TO PUT THIS ON THE BALLOT. MY POSITION TODAY IS NOT NO.

BUT IT IS NOT RIGHT NOW. SO I'M GOING TO BE VOTING NO TO

PUT THIS ON THE BALLOT TODAY. >> THANK YOU SO MUCH.

ANYONE ELSE? >> COMMISSIONER ARNOLD.

>> THANK YOU MR. CHAIR. I DO ECHO SOME OF THE CONCERNS COMMISSIONER WHITEHURST HAS ABOUT THE TIMING.

WE ARE LITERALLY ASKING PEOPLE TO CUT THEIR TAXES AND RAISE THEIR TAXES ON THE SAME BALLOT AT THE SAME TIME.

I AM WORRIED THAT THIS MEASURE HAS FAILED HERE BEFORE AND I DON'T KNOW HOW QUICKLY IF IT WERE TO HYPOTHETICALLY FAIL AGAIN TAKE TO CYCLE BACK TO THIS.

I DON'T WANT TO SEE SOMETHING REALLY AMAZING.

I SPOKE WITH JOHN REGAN AND HE SAID DOES THIS HAVE YOUR HEART? I SAID YES AND I DON'T KNOW THE TIMING IS RIGHT BECAUSE OF WHAT IS HAPPENING IN TALLAHASSEE. THIS IS A REALLY, REALLY TOUGH ONE. AGAIN THE LAST THING I WOULD WANT TO SEE IS FOR US TO PUT IT FORWARD AND FOR IT TO FAIL AND THEN WE HAVE KICKED IT OUT SEVERAL MORE YEARS.

I WOULD ASK IF JOHN REAGAN DO WE HAVE THE POLLING NUMBERS?

[01:45:01]

>> THROUGH THE CHAIR, THANK YOU, COMMISSIONER ARNOLD AND I THINK THESE ARE ALL VERY SOLID QUESTIONS THAT YOU'RE RAISING.

WE CONDUCTED POLLING IN ST. JOHNS COUNTY AND KNOW THERE'S A PRIVATE GRANT THAT'S AFFILIATED WITH THE ASSOCIATION OF COUNTIES AND LEAGUE OF CITIES. I HAVE SEEN THAT POLLING AS WELL. COUPLE THING TO SHARE AND REALLY THIS GREW AND ALL OF THE FOLKS WHO UNDERSTAND YOUR BUDGET, THEY'RE GOING TO HAVE TO LOOK AT EVERYTHING IF AMENDMENT THREE PASSES. THE BIGGEST CHALLENGE IS EVERY COUNTY HAS A DIFFERENT BUDGET. I HAVE SEEN THIS STRUGGLE TAKE PLACE IN THE, WE HAVE EIGHT MEASURES THAT ARE GOING TO THE BALLOT IN FLORIDA THIS YEAR ON CONSERVATION AND OR PARKS.

MARION COUNTY IS MEETING THIS MORNING.

AND THERE'S A MEASURE ON THE BALLOT TODAY AND A BUNCH OF OTHERS. THEY HAVE ALL HAD THIS CONVERSATION AND WE HAVE DONE THE ANALYSIS OF THE IMPACT ON AMENDMENT THREE. THE THING I WILL SHARE IS THAT, WE ASKED A NUMBER OF QUESTIONS IN ST. JOHNS ABOUT BOTH THIS MEASURE AND ALSO AMENDMENT THREE.

ALTHOUGH IT WASN'T, IT DIDN'T HAVE A NUMBER YET AND HAVE BUILT LANGUAGE YET AND IT DID CHANGE. WE DID ASK A COUPLE QUESTIONS WHICH I'M HAPPY TO GIVE YOU DETAIL ON.

SOME OF THE MEMBERS WERE ABLE TO SIT AND HEAR THIS ONE-ON-ONE.

UNFORTUNATELY, I MISSED TWO OF YOU.

I WILL SHARE WHEN WE POLLED JUST THE MEASURE RIGHT OUT OF THE BOX, AND IT'S VERY CLOSE TO THE BALLOT LANGUAGE THAT YOU HEARD PRESENTED BECAUSE WE CHECKED WITH THE COUNTY ATTORNEY AND THE COUNTY ADMINISTRATOR BEFORE WE WENT TO POLLING JUST TO MAKE SURE WE'RE WEREN'T POLLING SOMETHING CRAZY.

AND AGAIN, YOU ALL HAD ASKED US LAST YEAR FORMALLY TO DO THIS RESEARCH FOR YOU. IT'S ENTIRELY PRIVATELY FUNDED.

SO, THE QUESTION VERY CLOSE TO THE EXACT BALLOT BOX POLED 62% AND 27% UNDECIDED AND WE PRESENTED THE COST AND IT WAS EXACTLY THE COST YOU HEARD TODAY.

FOR THE AVERAGE HOUSEHOLD TODAY IN ST. JOHNS COUNTY THAT'S HOMESTEADED IT'S $47 PER YEAR. IT ACTUALLY TICKED UP A LITTLE BIT IN SUPPORT TO 63 BUT ALSO TICKED UP IN THE NEGATIVE TO 23.

THE CLOSEST QUESTION WE ASKED WITH REGARD TO AMENDMENT THREE AND IN TWO COUNTIES, MARION AND CHARLOTTE WHO HAVE GONE TO THE BALLOT AT THIS POINT. WE POLLED THE ACTUAL LANGUAGE THE PREVIOUS LANGUAGE THAT WAS RECENTLY CHANGED OUT OF AMENDMENT THREE AND IN BOTH CASES, I DON'T KNOW IF THEY'RE AS CONSERVATIVE AS ST. JOHNS OR NOT.

THEY ARE BOTH REPUBLICAN ALL FIVE COUNTY COMMISSIONERS REPUBLICAN. IN BOTH OF THOSE AMENDMENT THREE POLLING IN THE MID 60S AND THERE BALLOT MEASURES WERE POLLING HIGHER. MY ONLY FEELING IS PEOPLE CAN HOLD TWO THINGS IN THEIR MIND BUT IN ST. JOHNS I WILL SHARE WE TESTED THE ARGUMENT BASICALLY KIND OF AS COMMISSIONER WHITEHURST SAID, LIKE, IF AMENDMENT THREE PASSES, THERE'S PUBLIC SAFETY, ALL THE THINGS. AND ONLY 20% OF VOTERS IN ST.

JOHNS COUNTY SAID THAT WAS A VERY STRONG ARGUMENT.

I THINK 44% SAID THEY THOUGHT IT WAS A STRONG ARGUMENT.

THERE'S NOT A DEMOGRAPHIC THAT SAID THIS IS A TERRIBLE IDEA FROM BEGINNING TO END. WE CAN GIVE PROS AND CONS, BUT WE ENDED AFTER ALL THE PROS, ALL THE CONS AT, AFTER ALL THE PROS OVER 70. WE ADDED IN THE NEGATIVES.

THE THIS IS A SLUSH FUND, YOU CAN'T TRUST GOVERNMENT.

IT CAME DOWN TO 59%. THE THRESHOLD HERE FOR A BOND IS 50%. THE THRESHOLD FOR CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENT IS 60%. WE HAVE A 10 POINT ADVANTAGE OVER A CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENT AND YOU KNOW, I REALLY FEEL THE THING TO KIND OF KEEP IN MIND AS I WAS THINKING ABOUT THE FACT, YEARS AND YEARS AGO, IT WAS EASIER FOR THE DISTRICT TO COME IN AND DO PROJECTS. THERE WAS MORE MONEY FROM TALLAHASSEE FROM LOCAL GOVERNMENTS.

BUT THINGS CHANGE. SO IF IT'S AUTHORIZED HAVE YEAR AND DON'T HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO DO ANYTHING FOR TWO YEARS, FOUR YEARS OR SIX YEARS, YOUR QUESTION ABOUT WHETHER OR NOT IT'S A BAD IDEA TO GO FORWARD NOW, HANNAH, HOW MANY TIMES HAVE

[01:50:02]

TO ME, AND WE WILL DO EVERYTHING WE CAN WITH THE HELP OF OUR FRIENDS AND COMMISSIONER WHITEHURST WAS GOOD ENOUGH TO NAME A NUMBER OF THEM. WE WILL DO EVERYTHING WE CAN TO HELP THIS PASS. I HAVE BEEN KEEPING AN EYE ON TODAY'S ELECTION. LORD HAVE MERCY.

THE GOOD THING ABOUT WHAT WE DO IS PEOPLE ARE GOING TO GET WHAT WE DO ALL OF US AND THEY'RE GOING TO SAY, THIS IS SO NICE.

THIS IS SO POSITIVE. DOGS AND CATS.

COMING TOGETHER. I HAD BUILDERS ASSOCIATION AND SIERRA CLUB ON THE SAME MAILER. AND THAT'S WHAT WE HOPE TO DO HERE. SO I KNOW I ANSWERED MORE THAN YOU ASKED, BUT YOU KNOW. DON'T PUT ME IN FRONT OF

>> THANK YOU. >> THANK YOU.

COMMISSIONER JOSEPH WOULD YOU LIKE TO HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY TO

HAVE COMMENTS. >> YES.

I DO. I'M OUT THERE TALKING TO SO MANY PEOPLE AND I'M NOT GOING TO TURN MY BACK ON THE FACT THEY ALL WANT THIS. I'M IN FAVOR OF LETTING THE PEOPLE DECIDE WHAT THEY WANT. I CAN SEE WITH ALL THE NEW HOME RULE ISSUES THAT PEOPLE DON'T WANT TO TAKE CONTROL OF THIS AND GET MORE CONSERVATION LAND AND I THINK IT'S TIME.

>> THANK YOU SO MUCH. ANYTHING ELSE?

>> DO YOU HAVE SOMETHING TO ADD? >> YEAH, SORRY, PROBABLY FOR PIGENE. I DO AGREE, I AM VERY CONCERNED ABOUT THE TIMING OF THIS AND THE MIXED MESSAGING.

WE CAN'T ARGUE WE'RE ASKING PEOPLE TO, THAT'S PROBABLY COULD NOT BE MUCH WORSE IN MY OPINION. DO YOU THINK THAT YOU HAVE ENOUGH TIME, I KNOW YOU HAVE AN AMAZING TEAM.

I'M WORRIED WE'RE ALREADY IN AUGUST.

THIS IS SOMETHING THAT WILL BE ON THE BALLOT IN NOVEMBER.

DO WE HAVE ENOUGH TIME TO GET THE WORD OUT OF WHAT THAT MEANS TO THE RESIDENTS? I LOVE MOST PEOPLE $47.

I DON'T KNOW HOW ANYBODY COULD ARGUE WITH THAT.

THAT CLEARLY ISN'T IN THE WORDING.

HOW DO WE UNDERSTAND TO PEOPLE WHAT THAT REALLY MEANS TO THEIR

BOTTOM LINE? >> GREAT QUESTION, COMMISSIONER TAYLOR. AND ONE THAT I'M WORRIED ABOUT.

HOWEVER, IT'S JUST LIKE CHURCH OR ANY PLACE OF WORSHIP, NEIGHBORHOOD ASSOCIATION, IT'S . WE HAVE ALREADY GOT PLEDGES FOR A FAIR AMOUNT OF THE TREASURE. WE HAVE A VERY TALENTED GROUP AND IT'S NOT JUST YOU KNOW NON-PROFIT FOLKS.

WE HAVE A POLITICAL CONSULTANT WE WORK WITH OUT OF JACKSONVILLE WHO IS TOPNOTCH REPUBLICAN. AND THEN TIME TALENT, AND YOU SEE ALL THE TALENT HERE IN THE ROOM.

SO IT'S REALLY, TO ME, WE CAN GET IT DONE, IT'S GOING TO BE A CONCERTED EFFORT AND TAKE EVERYONE THAT I THINK WE CAN GET

IT DONE. >> THANK YOU.

COUPLE THINGS I'M JUST GOING TO MENTION IN GENERAL.

>> YES, MA'AM. >> CHAIR I'M SORRY.

>> I NEVER GET TO TALK TO ANN. I JUST WANT TO RESPOND IT DIDN'T BECOME THAT MUCH MONEY IMMEDIATELY.

IT STARTNLESS WE DO USE THAT AM PART OF THAT AMOUNT.

SO IT WON'T BE $47. IT COULD BE ZERO FOR A WHILE OR $20. I DON'T KNOW BUT I KNOW IT'S NOT

RIGHT OUT OF THE BOX WITH MONEY. >> THANK YOU.

OKAY. MY TURN.

THIS IS PROBABLY NOT GERMANE TO THIS PARTICULAR QUESTION ABOUT PUTTING ON THE BALLOTS BUT THE CONCERN I HAVE AND I WANT TO MAKE SURE PEOPLE UNDERSTAND THERE'S GOING TO BE A CONCERTED EFFORT TO MAKE SURE THAT ANY FUNDS GENERATED IF THIS WERE TO PASS, ANY FUNDS HAS TO GO TO CONSERVATION.

I WANT TO ACKNOWLEDGE THE LAND BOARD, NOT ADMONISH.

THERE ARE A LOT MORE WAYS TO SKIN A CAT THAN JUST BUYING PROPERTY OUT RIGHT. THERE ARE OPPORTUNITIES FOR DEVELOPMENT RIGHTS OR OPPORTUNITIES FOR EASEMENTS.

THERE'S A WHOLE LOT OF WAYS TO GET LAND INTO CONSERVATION THAT DOESN'T NECESSARILY MEAN WE HAVE ON TO WRITE A BIG CHECK EVEN THOUGH THEY ARE BIG AND I APPRECIATE IT.

COMMISSIONER WHITEHURST, YOU TOOK MY THUNDER AND MARY, WHAT AN AMAZING JOB YOU GUYS HAVE DONE.

I HAVE BEEN PREACHING FOR A YEAR AND A HALF OR THREE YEARS THAT WE NEED A DEDICATED FUNDING SOURCE WE HAVE THE FLEXIBILITY

[01:55:04]

I THINK IT'S GONE ON LONG EOUGH.

I THINK WE HAVE WAITED LONG ENOUGH AND WHETHER THE TIMING IS RIGHT OR NOT, I DON'T KNOW IF IT EVER WILL BE RIGHT.

I WILL PUT A MOTION FORWARD TO IF I MAY, ADOPT RESOLUTION 2026-276. CALLING THE REFERENDUM TOP HELD NOVEMBER 3, 2026, FOR THE PURPOSES OF SUBMITTING TO THE QUALIFIED QUESTION WHETHER TO LEVY MILLAGE FOR LAND CONSERVATION DIRECTING THE CLERK TO TRANSMIT A CERTIFIED COPY TO THE SUPERVISOR OF ELECTIONS AND AUTHORIZING THE CHAIR AND COUNTY OFFICIALS TO TAKE OFF AS NECESSARY TO IMPLEMENT THE BALLOT. AND THE BALLOT LANGUAGE.

>> SECOND. WE HAVE A MOTION AND SECOND.

LET'S VOTE. >> YES.

>> OKAY. WE HAVE A YES.

AND WE HAVE THAT BALLOT PASSES 3-2.

THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR YOUR HARD WORK.

LET'S GO ON -- OKAY NOW YOU CAN CLAP.

[APPLAUSE] ALL RIGHT.

LET'S GO TO O TO, WE HAVE A NEW AGENDA ITEM 4.

LET'S TURN TO THIS. LET'S TURN TO OVER TO -- IF YOU WOULD DO ME THE HONOR IF YOU WOULD ALLOW US TO CONTINUE COUNTY BUSINESS WHILE YOU TAKE YOUR CONVERSATIONS OUTSIDE PLEASE. THANK YOU SO MUCH.

OKAY. >> MR. KOMANDO.

>> THANK YOU MR. CHAIR. SIR AS WE DISCUSSED PRIVATELY DURING EACH OF YOUR INDIVIDUAL BRIEFINGS, AND PART BECAUSE GENERALLY SPEAKING WE TRY NOT TO DISCUSS LITIGATION STRATEGY IN PUBLIC AS FAR AS WHAT YOUR TOLERANCES ARE.

FOLKS, IF YOU COULD PLEASE KEEP YOUR CONVERSATION UNTIL YOU GET OUTSIDE PLEASE. THANK YOU.

>> THE DIRECTION OF THE COMMISSION FROM THE LAST MEETING WE DID REACH OUT TO FOUR STATE WIDE AND NATIONAL LAW FIRMS WHO SPECIALIZE IN BOTH LOCAL GOVERNMENT LEGISLATIVE ISSUES AS WELL AS LAND USE ISSUES. AND AFTER REACHING OUT TO FOUR OF THEM, WE HAD TWO THAT EXPRESSED AN INTEREST IN PURSUING THIS TYPE OF LITGATION. BRYANT MILLER.

BOTH RESPECTABLE FIRMS AND ALTHOUGH THEY BELIEVE THERE MAYBE STANDING, THEY BELIEVE THAT ADDITIONAL LEGAL RESEARCH WOULD BE REQUIRED IN ORDER FOR THEM TO DETERMINE THAT THERE IS STANDING TO PURSUE A LAWSUIT. BOTH OF THOSE FIRMS ADVICE WAS THAT I'M SORRY, OPINIONS WERE THAT THIS COULD BE FILED PROACTIVELY IN THE LEÓN COUNTY COURT WHICH IS WHERE THE LEGISLATURE SITS OR DEPENDING ON ONE OF APPLICATIONS FOR AGRICULTURE ENCLAVES. WE HAVE THREE TOMORROW AND ANOTHER THREE IN THE PIPELINE AND EXPECT THAT THREE THAT HAVE WITHDRAWN MAY RESUBMIT. GIVEN THE DYNAMICS OF WHERE THOSE APPLICATIONS ARE. THEY SAID IF WE WERE SUED BASED UPON A DENIAL THAT ST. JOHNS COUNTY MAYBE A PREFERABLE LOCATION TO DEFEND THE LAWSUIT AS OPPOSED TO INITIATING IN LEÓN COUNTY. I CAN ANSWER QUESTIONS YOU MAY

HAVE. >> YOU MENTIONED THE FACT THAT IT WOULD BE PREFERABLE TO TRIAL IN LEÓN COUNTY.

CAN YOU EXPAND ON THAT. >> NOT PREFERABLE.

CAN YOU EXPAND ON THAT. >> IT'S PREFERABLE TO BE ABLE TO DE DEFEND IN ST. JOHNS COUNTY.

OUR JUDGES UNDERSTAND OUR LOCAL IS ISSUES. THE LOCAL FLAVOR OF UNDERSTANDING THE LAW MAYBE TO OUR BENEFIT.

>> ANY QUESTIONS FOR MR. KOMANDO? COMMISSIONER JOSEPH. DO YOU HAVE ANYTHING?

>> NO. I WAS JUST OUT THERE DOING THE REVIEW OF THE ENCLAVES. IT'S A SITUATION WHERE IF THOSE NOT A FACT, OR THERE IS A FACT THAT WE CAN EITHER NOT GO FOR IT OR DO GO FOR IT, BECAUSE I CAN'T SAY HOW I WOULD VOTE.

LET ME UNDERSTAND, THIS HAS TO DO WITH LAW, IS THAT HOW WE

[02:00:06]

DO YOU UNDERSTAND WHAT I'M SAYING?

>> YES, IF YOU WERE PROACTIVE, IT WOULD HAVE, I ANTICIPATE MORE THAN ONE LEGAL GROUNDS AS FAR AS WHAT THE COMPLAINT WOULD ALLEGE OR ARGUES TO TO THE BASIS WHY WE BELIEVE THE LAW SHOULD BE

ENFORCED OR INVALIDATED. >> WELL THAT CLEARS IT RIGHT UP.

>> SO COMMISSIONER, JOSEPH ASKED REALLY ONE SLICE OF WHAT IS POSSIBLE. UNTIL WE WOULD ENGAGE A LAW FIRM. I EXPECT THERE'S PROBABLY MORE THAN ONE WAY TO ATTACK THE PROBLEM.

I DON'T KNOW WHAT WOULD BE SUCCESSFUL.

MOST LAWSUITS DON'T JUST HAVE ONE CAUSE OF ACTION.

>> OKAY. OKAY.

ANY OTHER QUESTIONS FROM THE BOARD? DO WE NEED PUBLIC COMMENT FOR THIS? SORRY. YOU'RE RIGHT.

COMMISSIONER WHITEHURST. >> THANK YOU MR. CHAIRMAN.

MR. KOMANDO. CAN YOU GO OVER THE FEEDBACK YOU GOT FROM THE LAW FIRMS ABOUT OUR STANDING.

>> SO ON THE PROACTIVE SIDE, THERE'S CONCERNS WE HAVE STANDING. ON THE REACTIVE SIDE, MEANING THAT BECAUSE WE HAVE RECEIVED APPLICATIONS THEY BELIEVE THAT MAYBE THE BASIS TO ARGUE STANDING.

>> MY THOUGHTS OF THIS. IF YOU HAVE TO EVEN WONDER IF YOU HAVE STANDING TO BRING A SUIT SUCH AS THIS OR FILE AN INJUNCTION SUCH AS THIS. IT'S PROBABLY NOT A FIGHT TO

PICK WITH THE STATE OF FLORIDA. >> YES.

SOME OF THE CONVERSATIONS WE HAD JUST FOR THE PUBLIC.

SOME OF THE CONVERSATION WE HAD WITH OUR STAFF, WHAT IS THE BEST PATH FORWARD? LET ME GO BACK.

LOOKING AT BOTH SIDES OF THE NEW LAW WHETHER WE AGREE OR DISAGREE THAT IT'S GOOD OR BAD, SEEKING OUT WAYS TO EXPRESS OUR DESIRES FOR THE OUTCOMES OF THIS LAW BECOMES VERY, VERY COMPLICATED.

ONE OF THE ISSUES THAT WE WOULD ASK IS YOU, ONE OF THE THINGS I ASK TWO WEEKS AGO, WHAT IS THE PROBABILITY? ARE WE THROWING GOOD MONEY AFTER BAD CHASING AN INJUNCTION OR WOULD THERE BE AN ALTERNATIVE TO FIGHTING THIS THAT WOULD GIVE US A BETTER CHANCE? MY UNDERSTANDING AND I DON'T WANT TO PUT YOU ON THE SPOT LIKE THIS, IS IT MY UNDERSTANDING THAT THE GENERAL ADVICE COMING FROM THE PEOPLE THAT YOU HAVE SPOKEN TO IS THAT A BETTER WAY FORWARD WOULD BE NOT TO GO AFTER AN INJUNCTION BUT TO ACTUALLY IF ONE WAS, IF AN ENCLAVE IS DENIED, IT WOULD BE A BETTER CHANCE GOING THAT WAY INSTEAD OF ON THE BACKSIDE THAN THE FRONT SIDE.

>> IT DOES MR. CHAIR. BOTH LAW FIRMS PREFERRED TO DEFEND THAN INITIATING A REQUEST FOR A TEMPORARY EMERGENCY

INJUNCTION. >> OKAY.

THANKS. DO YOU --

>> YEAH. I SUPPORT WHAT THEY'RE

RECOMMENDING AS WELL. >> I WOULD LEAN TOWARD THAT ALSO. BUT WITH THE UNDERSTANDING THAT IT DEPENDS UPON FINDINGS OF FACT TOMORROW AND NOT NECESSARILY

WHAT WE TALK ABOUT >>

>> SO. >> YES, SIR.

>> STILL WE STILL HAVE EVIDENCE TO HEAR AND DECISIONS TO MAKE THAT DON'T HAVE ANYTHING TO DO WITH THIS PARTICULAR THING.

SO. I DON'T FEEL LIKE THERE'S ANY NEED TO BRING A RECOMMENDATION FORWARD AT THIS TIME.

BUT I WOULD LIKE TO ASK IF PUBLIC COMMENT IS WARRANTED FOR

THIS? >> THERE'S NOT A DECISION TO BE MADE. I EXPECT THERE WILL BE AMPLE OPPORTUNITIES FOR COMMENT TOMORROW.

>> CHAIR MURPHY. >> YES, MA'AM.

I HAVE TO GET OFF THE LINE AND I JUST WANT TO TELL YOU, YOU RAN A VERY NICE MEETING AND THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

I WILL SEE YOU TOMORROW. >> THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR YOUR

PARTICIPATION COMMISSIONER. >> YOU'RE WELCOME.

THANK YOU, SIR. BYE.

THERE'S NOTHING TO VOTE ON. IT WAS JUST A DISCUSSION ABOUT

WHAT -- [INAUDIBLE] >> THIS IS NOT YOU.

[02:05:02]

>> IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO MAKE A PUBLIC COMMENT, I WOULD

CERTAINLY ALLOW THAT. >> THANK YOU, YOUR HONOR.

>> SLAVEN, BOX 3084. >> GOOD DISCUSSION.

I AGREE IT PROBABLY WOULD BE BETTER TO DENY AN ENCLAVE THAN DEFEND. IT'S PROBABLY GOOD ADVICE.

I WOULD LIKE IN THE FUTURE IF WE HAD MORE RIGOR FROM THE COUNTY ATTORNEY'S OFFICE. I DIDN'T SEE IN THE PACKET ANY LEGAL RESEARCH MEMO. I DIDN'T SEE ANYTHING WITH RFPS OR RFQS ABOUT THE LAW FIRMS HE TALKED TO.

THIS IS REALLY LOOSE. THIS IS A COUNTY GOVERNMENT.

THIS IS NOT LIKE, WE SEE MORE RGOR ON THE MOSQUITO DISTRICT LIKE WHEN WE STOPPED THE $1.8 MILLION NO BID HELICOPTER.

WE NEED MORE LEGAL RIGOR AND A BIG COUNTY ATTORNEY.

BUT I AGREE WITH THE GENERAL TONE AND CONCLUSION THAT OKAY, LET'S HAVE THEIR HEARING TOMORROW AND LET'S HAVE THE VOTE. AND SEE IF THERE'S LITIGATION.

I THINK IT MIGHT BE BETTER DEFENDING THAN BEING A PLAINTIFF. THANK YOU.

ANYONE ELSE FOR PUBLIC COMMENT? OKAY.

THANK YOU SEEING NONE, WE WILL MOVE ON TO OKAY.

WHAT DO WE HAVE LEFT. COMMISSIONER'S REPORT.

LET ME CALL ON COMMISSIONER ARNOLD IF YOU LIKE.

>> NOTHING TO REPORT TODAY SIR. >> OKAY.

COMMISSIONER JOSEPH IS OFF LINE. COMMISSIONER WHITEHURST.

>> COUPLE THINGS. COMMISSIONER JOSEPH CALLED IN TODAY, WHICH I BELIEVE SHE HAS EVER RIGHT TO DO.

I THINK HOPEFULLY WE CAN PUT TO BED CALLING INTO THE BCC MEETING IS CONTROVERSIAL AND REQUIRES SPECIAL CIRCUMSTANCES DEPENDING ON WHO IS CALLING IT OR ISN'T CALLING IN.

WE AGREE PEOPLE ARE ALLOWED TO CALL IN AND TODAY HOPEFULLY CAN PUT THAT TO BED ONCE AND FOR ALL.

LAST THING IS, SOMEONE ACCUSED ME OF BEING A SUNSHINE PUMPER FOR OUR STAFF AND GUILTY AS CHARGED.

WE HAVE GREAT STAFF. I'M NOT JUST BEING A NICE GUY.

THEY'RE AWARD WINNING STAFF IN MULTIPLE DEPARTMENTS.

THEY HAVE WON AWARDS FROM PUBLIC AFFAIRS TO PUBLIC WORKS AND PUBLIC ADMINISTRATION. WE HAVE AWARD-WINNING STAFF THROUGHOUT ST. JOHNS COUNTY. THIS LETTER WAS DROPPED ON MY DESK EARLIER THIS WEEK. I WANTED TO READ IT JUST TO SHED A LIGHT ON YET ANOTHER ST. JOHNS COUNTY STAFF DOING A PHENOMENAL JOB IN THE OPINION OF OUR RESIDENTS.

DEAR COMMISSIONER WHITEHURST. I WANT YOU KNOW TO THE OUTSTANDING SERVICE BY SHAYNA KELLER TO HELP RESTORE ELECTRICAL POWER TO MY HOME IN WATER SONG IN RIVER TOWN.

AFTER MAKING SEVERAL CALLS ON MY BEHALF.

SHE WAS ABLE TO PUT ME IN CONTACT WITH CHARLES BUBBA CRANE. AND RESTORED ELECTRICAL SERVICE.

SHAYNA WAS WILLING TO LISTEN AND MORE THAN THAT SHOWED TRUE EMPATHY IN TAKING THE APPROPRIATE OKAY.

SOWED ME ALL THE QUALITIES OF A SERVANT LEADER.

ST. JOHNS COUNTY GOVERNMENT IS FORTUNATE TO HAVE THESE PEOPLE.

WE HAVE THE BEST STAFF IN THE STATE.

WE HAVE DOCUMENTED EVIDENCE OF THAT AND WANT TO THANK THEM ALL AGAIN FOR DOING SUCH AN EXCELLENT JOB UNDER GREAT SCRUTINY. FOR WHAT IT'S WORTH.

THANK YOU SO MUCH. THAT CONCLUDES MY REPORT, MR.

CHAIR. >> THANK YOU, SIR.

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

>> OKAY. I JUST HAVE ONE THING AND I THINK I WANT TO LOOK AT JOY AND NATALIE.

I WAS GOING TO BRING UP THE NURSE KID CENTER AND THEIR REQUEST. I RECEIVED YOUR E-MAIL THIS MORNING JOY, DID YOU RECEIVE THAT E-MAIL MATTER?

YOU CAN COME UP IF YOU WANT TO. >> YES, I HAVE.

WE HAVE ACTUALLY COMMUNICATED OVER THE E-MAIL AS WELL.

I AM LOOKING FORWARD TO HEARING THAT.

>> I WOULD JUST LIKE TO SAY THAT BEFORE WE GO FORWARD WITH ANY OF THIS, I KNOW THERE'S MORE WORK TO DO.

I WANTED TO GIVE YOU AN OPPORTUNITY TO JUST GIVE US THE CLIFF NOTE VERSION OF WHAT YOU'RE TRYING TO DO IN ST. JOHNS

COUNTY AND. >> YES.

THANK YOU. MY NAME IS NATALIE VAN LENTON.

THE FOUNDER AND EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF NOURISHED KIDS CENTER. WE ARE A NON-PROFIT.

AND WE ARE ASKING FOR $65,000 TODAY TO HELP SUPPORT A PILOT

[02:10:06]

THIS THE MUTT ST. JOHNS AS THE LEADER IN EARLY CHILDHOOD NUTRITION AND NUTRITIONAL EDUCATION.

THIS WILL FACILITATE A SIX MONTH PILOT PROGRAM AT 1210 COMMERCE LAKE DRIVE IN ST. AUGUSTINE. IT WILL SERVE 100 CHILDREN FOR SIX MONTHS. THE SCHOOL RECEIVES A HOT LUNCH, TWO REFRIGERATED SNACKS AND NUTRITIONAL CURRICULUM THAT TEACHES CHILDREN FOOD IS FUEL AND MEET THE FARMER EVENTS.

WE FACILITATE THIS ENTIRE PROCESS.

THIS PILOT PROGRAM WILL TRACK A REDUCTION OF SICK DAYS AND INCREASE IN FOCUS OF THE CHILDREN OVERALL DEMEANOR AND REDUCTION OF THE AFTER-LUNCH CRASH THAT MANY DAY CARES TALK ABOUT AND EXPOSURE TO A VARIETY OF PRODUCE.

THE TOTAL COST OF THE PILOT IS $130,000, OR $130,000.

I AM ASKING FOR COUNTY TO SUPPORT US WITH HALF AND I'M ACTIVELY FUNDRAISING THE REST MYSELF EVERY DAY.

OUR PLAN IS TO REDUCE THE COST BY INCREASING OUR PURCHASING POWER TO WORK WITH FIVE TO SIX HEAD START PROGRAMS AND WILL WORK WITH THE SCHOOL BOARD TO GET US IN ONCE THE PILOT IS COMPLETE. FIRST I NEED DATA AND I NEED TO MAKE SURE THIS WORKS ON A SMALL SCALE BEFORE EXPANDING INTO MORE SCHOOLS. I HAVE SEVEN YEARS EXPERIENCE OF NATIONAL FOOD SUPPLY AND SEVEN YEARS OF OVERSEEING THE DIETICIANS IN MAYO CLINIC IN JACKSONVILLE.

ZERO PERCENT OF THIS MONEY IS GOING TO MYSELF OR THE SALARY.

I'M AVAILABLE FOR QUESTIONS. AND THE ONLY OTHER THING I WOULD LIKE TO SAY THIS PILOT WILL POSITION US TO BE THE LEADER IN EARLY CHILDHOOD NUTRITION AND HAVE THE TRUST TRUE FARM TO DAY

CARE SUPPLY CHAIN >> ANY QUESTIONS?

>> YES, SIR. COMMISSIONER WHITEHURST.

I SAID THIS TO NATALIE, MY WIFE WOULD VOTE YES FOR THIS.

SHE HAS BEEN WORKING HARD TO GET THE FOOD DYES AND ALL THE AWARENESS WHAT IS IN THE FOOD ESPECIALLY AT THE YOUNG DEVELOPMENT AGE AND ON BEHALF OF MY WIFE, THANK YOU.

>> SO CAN I, THIS IS A QUESTION FOR YOU RICH.

WITH ONLY FOUR COMMISSIONERS HERE, IS THERE A WAY FOR ME TO

GET CONSENSUS TO DIRECT STAFF -- >> YOU HAVE TO HAVE A MOTION.

OKAY. I WOULD JUST LIKE TO MAKE A MOTION TO DIRECT STAFF TO WORK WITH NATALIE ON LOOKING AT WAYS

WE CAN HELP FUND >> SECOND.

>> OKAY. WE HAVE A MOTION AND SECOND.

>> DO WE NEED TO HAVE PUBLIC COMMENT FOR THIS -- PUBLIC

COMMENT THEN. >> OKAY.

AT THIS TIME. WE WILL TAKE PUBLIC COMMENT.

>> DO I GO SIT DOWN. >> SEEING NONE, WE WILL CLOSE

PUBLIC COMMENT. >> OKAY.

I WOULD LIKE TO THEN, SORRY, FIGURE OUT THIS THING.

COMMISSIONER ARNOLD, YOU HAVE THE FLOOR.

>> I WAS JUST GOING TO SECOND. WE HAVE A MOTION AND SECOND.

LET'S VOTE. GIVE US AN OPPORTUNITY TO VOTE HERE. OKAY.

THAT PASSES 4-0 AND THAT IS JUST TO DIRECT STAFF TO WORK WITH YOU. I THINK WE'RE ALREADY IN THE MIDDLE OF THAT. I WANTED TO PUT IT ON THE RECORD TO MAKE SURE THAT WE GOT THIS DONE.

THANK YOU VERY MUCH. GREAT JOB TODAY.

I ONLY HAVE ONE OTHER THING. I CAME HERE LAST YEAR ASKING FOR CONSENSUS BUT I CAN'T HAVE CONSENSUS.

I WANT TO MAKE A MOTION TO ASK YOU WAIVE THE PARKS AND REC FEES FOR THE JIMMY JAM BARBECUE COMPETITION IN JANUARY.

IT'S AN AMAZING GROUP OF PEOPLE THAT TAKES 100% OF EVERY DIME THEY MAKE ON THE FUNDRAISER AND GOES RIGHT BACK TO THE COMMUNITY. IT'S A WONDERFUL WAY TO BRING A SPOTLIGHT TO ST. JOHNS COUNTY IN THE NATIONAL BARBECUE WORLD.

THEY DO A GREAT JOB. I WOULD LOVE TO MAKE A MOTION TO

[02:15:03]

>> SECOND. >> I HAVE A SECOND.

ANY DISCUSSION? OKAY.

MOTION SO DO WE NEED TO HAVE PUBLIC COMMENT ON THIS.

>> PUBLIC COMMENT ON THIS. >> OKAY.

SEEING NONE, WE WILL CLOSE PUBLIC COMMENT.

>> FANTASTIC. THANK YOU.

LET'S VOTE. GIVE US A CHANCE TO VOTE.

OKAY. THAT PASSES 4-0.

AND THAT CONCLUDES MY REPORT. CAN I PASS THIS OVER TO YOU.

MS. ANDREWS. NO REPORT TODAY.

>> MR. KOMANDO. >> NOTHING

* This transcript was compiled from uncorrected Closed Captioning.