Sep 15, 2026 Special Board of County Commissioners

[Call to Order by Chair]

[00:00:10]

>> GOOD EVENING EVERYONE, THIS IS THE CALL TO ORDER FOR THE SPECIAL MEETING FOR BUDGET HEARING.

I DO NOT HAVE AN INVOCATION OF PLEDGE SCHEDULED BECAUSE WE DID IT THIS MORNING BUT I FEEL LIKE IT MIGHT BE APPROPRIATE FOR US TO DO THAT SO IF YOU WOULD COME UP AND LEAD US, LET'S CALL THE ROLL FIRST. SORRY ABOUT THAT.

>> PRESENT. >> COMMISSIONER WHITEHURST.

COMMISSIONER ARNOLD. COMMISSIONER JOSEPH.

>> OKAY. YOU COME UP THERE AND LEAD US.

I WOULD LIKE TO ASK MY FRIEND JASON IF HE WOULD ALSO LEAD US INTO PLEDGE AT THAT TIME. TOM IF YOU COULD HELP HIM OUT IN

THE MIDDLE. >> LET US PRAY GRACIOUS GOD WE THANK YOU FOR THIS DAY FOR THIS IS A DATE YOU HAVE MADE AND WE SHALL REJOICE AND BE GLAD WE ASK RIGHT NOW THAT YOUR PRESENCE WOULD BE WITH US AS WE CONVENE THE COUNTY COMMISSIONERS, WE PRAY O LORD THAT YOUR SPIRIT WILL ABIDE AND YOUR WORD DECLARES IN, WALK TOGETHER, HOW COULD THEY BE IN AGREEMENT.

WE PRAY RIGHT NOW YOUR SPIRIT OF UNITY WHICH HAS TRANSFORMED THIS PLACE. GOD WE GIVE YOU GLORY GOD WE GIVE YOU HONOR AND PRAISE. IN NAME WE PRAY.

AMEN. >> PLEASE JOIN ME IN THE PLEDGE.

>> 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 EVERYONE FOR BEING HERE AT THIS SPECIAL MEETING FOR

[Additions/Deletions to Special Agenda ]

>> I DO NOT. >> COMMISSIONER JOSEPH?

>> COMMISSIONER WHITEHURST. >> COMMISSIONER TAYLOR?

>> I HAVE NONE. >> SHOULD I MAKE A MOTION?

>> WOULD THIS BE INAPPROPRIATE TIME TO BRING UP SOMETHING TO ADD TO THE AGENDA FOR THE BLACK HISTORY MUSEUM? WOULD I DO THAT NOW? I WOULD LIKE TO ADD AN AGENDA ITEM NUMBER 2 TO DISCUSS THE FUNDING OF THE BLACK HISTORY MUSEUM. I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT WE HAVE A DISCUSSION ABOUT IT AND THIS IS THE PERFECT TIME TO DO IT WOULD THAT BE ALL RIGHT? WOULD THAT BE ALL RIGHT WITH EVERYBODY? CAN I ADD IT TO THE AGENDA.

>> THANK YOU. >> WE WILL MAKE AGENDA ITEM

[Approval of Special Agenda ]

SPECIAL AGENDA AS AMENDED? >> SO APPROVED.

>> WE HAVE A MOTION DO WE HAVE A SECOND?

>> I WILL SECOND. >> A MOTION TO SECOND AND LET'S JUST VOTE. WE HAVE THE COOL BOXES HERE.

[1. Public Hearing * 5:01 p.m. Public Hearing -- St. Johns County Board of County Commissioners Adoption of Final Millage Rates & Budget for FY 2027. In accordance with sections 129.03 and 200.065 of the Florida Statutes, the Board of County Commissioners (BCC) is required hold public hearings to adopt its millage rates and budget for the next Fiscal Year (FY). Such hearings must be held after 5:00 PM if scheduled on a day other than Saturday. The September 15, 2026, 5:01 PM hearing date has been advertised in the St. Augustine Record. The Florida Statutes further prescribe the specific order for consideration of substantive issues to be discussed during the required public hearings. The first substantive issue of discussion must be the percentage increase in the County's aggregate millage rate over the rolled-back rate necessary to fund the budget. The rolled-back rate is defined as the aggregate millage rate that would generate the same level of prior year tax revenues less certain defined allowances (such as new construction). During such discussion, the general public shall be allowed to speak and ask questions prior to the adoption of any measures by the BCC. The BCC shall adopt by resolution its final millage rates prior to adopting its final budget for FY 2027.]

PLEASE. >> GOOD EVENING CHAIR MURPHY, HERE TONIGHT, FOR THE SECOND AND FINAL HEARING FOR THE ADOPTION OF THE BUDGET FOR FISCAL YEAR 2027.

>> AS WE GO THROUGH IT, THIS HEARING OR THIS PRESENTATION WILL BE SIMILAR TO WHAT WE HEARD ON THE THIRD, I AM GOING TO GO THROUGH A BRIEF PRESENTATION HIGHLIGHTING THE EYE LEVEL OF THE BUDGET, AND THEN WE WILL GO INTO A STATUTORILY PRESCRIBED PROCESS FOR THE ADOPTION OF BOTH THE MILLAGE RATE AND THE ADOPTION. AS BEFORE THE FINAL BUDGET IS ON LINE, IT'S AVAILABLE YOU CAN PRINT IT BY SECTION, YOU CAN VIEW IT ONLINE AS WELL. IT IS THE SAME BOOK AS THERE WERE NO CHANGES AT THE TENTATIVE HEARING.

IT IS THE SAME BOOK AS THE TENTATIVE BUDGET AT THIS POINT.

IT DOES NOT. THE BOARD AT THE MEETING THIS MORNING OR DURING THE DAY APPROVED FUNDING IN THE AMOUNT OF 65,000. THIS BUDGET AT THIS TIME DOES NOT INCORPORATE THAT 65,000 BUT WE WILL AMEND THE BUDGET IF ADOPTED TO INCORPORATE THAT DECISION.

>> THIS IS THE COMBINATION OF WHAT'S BEEN A NINE MONTH BUDGET

[00:05:05]

THROUGH A. OF MEETINGS IN MAY AND JULY WE RECEIVED THE PROPERTY APPRAISALS CERTIFIED VALUES.

AND THEN ALSO UNDERLIE THE 21ST, APPROVED THE RECOMMENDED BUDGET AND PROPOSED ESTABLISHED MILLAGE RATE INTERIM NOTICES.

THE FIRST PUBLIC HEARING ON SEPTEMBER THIRD AND THEN A SECOND AND FINAL PUBLIC HEARING SEPTEMBER 15TH 2026.

THIS IS JUST THE SAME SLIDE FROM THE RECOMMENDED BUDGET HIGHLIGHTS. WE PROPOSED FLAT MILLAGE RATES, DECREASED EMERGENCY RESPONSE RESERVE AS WELL AS INITIATING RESERVE FOR THE TRANSPORTATION TRUST FUND AND FIRE DISTRICT FUND. THOSE ARE THE THREE BIGGEST OPERATING FUNDS. FOR THE COUNTY AS WELL AS EMERGENCY RESPONSE. HAVING THAT RESERVES HELPS US BE MORE RESILIENT WHEN HURRICANES RATHER EMERGENCY EVENTS OCCUR.

WE ARE STILL CONTINUING WITH THE CONSTRUCTION AND OPENING OF NEW FACILITIES, THE PARKS, THE LIBRARIES, ROADWAY IMPROVEMENTS, SHERIFF FACILITIES AS WELL. MOST OF THAT IS PART OF THE BOND APPROVED IN 2025 AS PROJECTS ARE STILL IN PROGRESS AND MOVING FORWARD. THE BUDGET INCLUDES 32.25 NEW FTES ALONG WITH A REDUCTION OF ONE FTE THAT FTE THE REDUCTION IS INVOLVING TO THE SOIL AND WATER CONSERVATION.

FIRST DISSOLVE THAT DISTRICT AND THEREFORE THE POSITION IS NO LONGER NEEDED WITHIN OUR BUDGET. NEW CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT FUNDING THAT IS OVER 264 MILLION TOWARDS NEW PROJECTS, OF THAT 260 MILLION ABOUT 126 MILLION IS IN UTILITIES RELATED TO NEW BORROWING FOR THE UTILITY STRUCTURES.

AND AS ALWAYS WITH THE NOVEMBER ELECTION UPCOMING, THIS BUDGET IS JUST AWARE OF THE POTENTIAL IMPACTS OF PROPERTY TAX REFORM.

SOME OTHER HIGHLIGHTED CHANGES FOR THE RECOMMENDED BUDGET, FIRE RESCUE HAD A COLLECTIVE BARGAINING AGREEMENT COLLECTED BY THE BOARD. SOME INCREASES TO SALARY THAT ARE NOT PART OF THE RECOMMENDED BUDGET THAT ARE ADDED.

TOURIST DEVELOPMENT HAD BUDGET RECOMMENDATIONS, MORE OR LESS FUNDING BETWEEN APPROPRIATIONS. SOME RESERVE TRANSFERS ABOUT 50,000 I BELIEVE. SHEARER'S PARTNER CAME IN WITH AN AMENDED BUDGET REQUEST FOR SALARY AND BENEFITS.

THE CLERK OF COURTS, DOWNWARD, RELATED TO SOME ADDITIONAL STATE FUNDING THEY HAD RECEIVED. AND THEN ALSO FROM THE RECOMMENDED BUDGET THERE WAS ONE ADDITIONAL FTE ADDED.

THE BUDGET INCORPORATES ANY FUNDING WITH THE EXCEPTION OF THE 65,000 TODAY WHICH WON'T BE INCORPORATED BUT DOES INCORPORATE ANY FUNDING RELATED TO AGENDA ITEMS AND THE BIG ONE THERE ABOUT 480 MILLION ALMOST OF PROJECTS THAT WERE FUNDED THIS YEAR TO BE CONSTRUCTED, THOSE PROJECTS ARE NOT YET COMPLETE THEREFORE THE COMPLETION OF THOSE PROJECTS WILL OCCUR IN NEXT YEAR. WE NEED TO CARRY FORWARD THAT APPROPRIATION FROM FISCAL YEAR '26 TO FISCAL YEAR 27.

THAT ADDITIONAL FUNDING, NOT NEW TAXES JUST A REAPPROPRIATION FROM ONE YEAR TO THE NEXT FOR THE COMPLETION OF THOSE PROJECTS AND GRANT BALANCES. AND THEN AS I MENTIONED ON THE THIRD, THERE ARE SOME UPDATED REVENUE ESTIMATES PRIMARILY WITH REVENUE SHARING DOLLARS FROM THE STATE A DOWNWARD TREND THERE.

OF ABOUT 1.3 MILLION. >> PUTTING IT ALL TOGETHER, THE FISCAL YEAR 2027 RECOMMENDED BUDGET WAS 1.455 BILLIN.

WITH THE CARRY FORWARD IN GRANT ADJUSTMENTS OF ADDITIONAL 484 MILLION. THE FINAL ADOPTED BUDGET BEING PROPOSED TONIGHT IS 1,939,752,566.

HERE IS AN OVERVIEW OF THE BUDGET BY FUND.

AS YOU CAN SEE THE LINES GET REALLY SMALL ALMOST NEXT TO INVISIBLE BECAUSE THERE'S 89 INDIVIDUAL FUNDS WITHIN THE COUNTY. SO GOVERNMENTS USE FUND ACCOUNTING TO SEPARATE DIFFERENT FUNDING SOURCES AND IF THEY HAVE

[00:10:01]

BETWEEN THOSE THREE COLLECTIVELY THERE IS A LITTLE BIT MORE THAN 99% OF TOTAL PROPERTY TAXES LEVIED.

AND ALSO JUST TO HIGHLIGHT AS PART OF THE BUDGET WE BUDGET FOR TRANSFERS, WE BUDGET FOR INTERNAL SERVICE FUNDS FOR A CERTAIN PAYROLL BENEFITS. THOSE HAVE THE EFFECT OF DOUBLE COUNTING AND FUND ACCOUNTING. AGAIN IF I GIVE YOU $5 AND YOU SPEND $5 COLLECTIVELY FOR MOST PEOPLE WE'VE SPENT $5 RIGHT? IN FUND ACCOUNTING I SPENT $5 AND THEN YOU ALSO SPENT $5 AND FUND ACCOUNTING IS REALLY $10. IT IS A DOUBLE ACCOUNTING EFFECT OF THOSE TRANSFERS AND INTERNAL SERVICE.

HERE IS A BREAKDOWN OF THE BUDGET BY REVENUE SCORES.

WHERE DOES THE MONEY COME FROM? THE LARGEST AREA THERE, OTHER SOURCES OF REVENUE, THAT PRIMARILY CONSISTS OF FUND BALANCE, THAT'S DUE TO CARRY IT FORWARDS.

THOUGH WE'RE NOT COMPLETED THIS YEAR AS WELL AS UNSPENT RESERVE BALANCES AND THEN ADDITIONALLY THAT INCLUDES UTILITY SERVICES, PLANNED BORROWING. 126 MILLION FOR FISCAL YEAR 2027. SO WHERE DOES THE MONEY GO? WHERE IS IT ALLOCATED TO? AGAIN THE OTHER USES CONSIST OF TRANSFERS BETWEEN FUNDS AS WELL AS RESERVES.

THE GREEN AREA THERE IS PHYSICAL ENVIRONMENT, THAT IS PRIMARILY YOUR UTILITIES AND SOLID WASTE, FISCAL ENVIRONMENT EXPENDITURES.

YOU CAN SEE THE DIFFERENT CATEGORIES AS ON THE CHART TH THERE. AGAIN TO MENTION THERE WERE 32.2 5FTE IS RECOMMENDED AND THEN WE ADDED ONE ADDITIONAL AFTER THE RECOMMENDED BUDGET SO A TOTAL OF 33.2 5FTES.

THE MAJORITY OF THEM ARE GOING TO FIRE EMS, IT'S 30 FIREFIGHTERS POSITIONS IN THERE. PARTIAL YEAR POSITIONS SO THAT'S WHY THE NUMBER IS A LITTLE BIT DIFFERENT THAN THE 30 POSITIONS THAT ARE BEING PROPOSED. AS WELL AS POSITIONS FOR UTILITIES, RECREATIONAL GOLF COURSE PURCHASING AND THEN OFFICE OF PERFORMANCE AND TRANSPARENCY.

ALL OTHER COLUMN THERE WHERE YOU SEE THERE IS A REQUEST OF 16.74 WITH NO ZERO PROPOSED, THOSE ARE THE POSITIONS THAT WERE NOT RECOMMENDED AS PART OF THE BUDGET, PRIMARILY CONSISTS OF LIBRARY SERVICES ABOUT 13 OF THOSE POSITIONS ARE LIBRARY SERVICES AS WELL AS PUBLIC AFFAIRS, HR AND PUBLIC WORKS.

SO CERTAINLY POSITIONS REQUESTED AS PART OF THE BUDGET BUT WERE NOT RECOMMENDED FOR FUNDING AT THIS POINT.

>> CAN I INTERRUPT FOR A SECOND I WANT TO MAKE SURE EVERYBODY DOES NOT INVOLVED IN THIS UNDERSTANDS WHAT AN FTE IS.

>> AND FTE IS A FULL TIME EQUIVALENT.

IF YOU HAVE A FULL TIME POSITION IT'S ONE FTE HOWEVER.

>> THESE ARE EMPLOYEES? >> YES EMPLOYEES.

>> FULL TIME EQUIVALENT EMPLOYEES.

>> HERE IS A BREAKDOWN OF OUR CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT PLAN WITH CARRY IT FORWARDS, OVER 704 MILLION IN THE 27 BUDGET FOR CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT PROJECTS. ON THE LEFT ARE THE TYPE OF PROJECTS FUNDED BY CATEGORY. YOU CAN SEE THE BIGGEST AREAS THERE ARE PHYSICAL ENVIRONMENT, TRANSPORTATION AND PUBLIC SAFETY. AGAIN PHYSICAL ENVIRONMENT IS THAT SOLID WASTE AND UTILITIES. PUBLIC SAFETY CONSISTS OF FIRE SERVICES AS WELL AS ANY FEMA PROJECTS.

THERE'S A COUPLE OF FEMA COASTAL PROJECTS PRIMARILY GRANT FUNDED THAT YOU WILL SEE IN THE PUBLIC SAFETY COLUMN.

ON THE RIGHT IS THE SOURCES OF FUNDING FOR THE CIP PROJECTS.

GRANTS AND OTHER, THAT GRANT IS SUPPORTING THOSE FEMA RELATED PROJECTS FOR COASTAL MANAGEMENT. THAT PROCEEDS THERE 204 MILLION, THAT'S THE UTILITIES 126 MILLION AND NEW BORROWING AND THE CARRY IT FORWARD OF THE PARKS, THE LIBRARIES, THE FIRE STATIONS THE BOND FUNDS THAT WERE BORROWED IN 2025 FOR THOSE PROJECTS.

>> LET ME ASK ANOTHER QUESTION ABOUT THAT PROCEEDS.

TALKING ABOUT UTILITIES. CAN YOU HELP US UNDERSTAND WHAT

THAT'S ABOUT? >> UTILITIES HAS A LARGE

[00:15:02]

>> THIS DEBT THAT THEY'RE TAKING ON IS THERE A REASON FOR THAT.

>> THERE IS. I THINK NEAL CAN SPEAK A BIT BETTER TO THAT BUT THERE ARE SOME PROJECTS THAT ARE REQUIRED FROM THE STATE LEVEL THAT HAVE A TIME FRAME AS TO WHEN THEY NEED

TO BE OPERATIONAL. >> WE ARE BORROWING MONEY TO -- FOR UNFUNDED MANDATES FROM THE STATE.

THINGS THAT WE HAVE TO DO THAT THE STATE IS REQUIRING US TO DO.

MAYBE NEAL CAN HELP ME OUT WITH THIS.

I REALLY WANT TO TRY TO EDUCATE. PEOPLE TALK ABOUT DEBT I WANT TO UNDERSTAND WHAT THAT MEANS TO US ON A BUDGET WHY WE HAVE TO BORROW MONEY, AND WHAT THAT MONEY IS GOING FOR.

>> GOOD EVENING COMMISSIONERS. YES COMMISSIONERS YOU ARE CORRECT, WE ARE A CAPITAL INTENSIVE INDUSTRY BY NATURE OF OUR BUSINESS. UTILITIES HAS TO BORROW ALL OF THE TIME, IT'S VERY COMMON IN OUR PLACE TO DO SO.

EVERY ONE DOES THAT. IN THIS PARTICULAR CASE WE HAVE A LOT OF ENTOURAGE OF PROJECTS. ONE THAT YOU SPECIFIED AND YOU ARE CORRECT YOU ARE ACCURATE IN THAT THERE WAS A SENATE BILL 64 THAT PASSED QUITE A WHILE BACK WHICH REQUIRED THE UTILITIES TO REMOVE OUR DISCHARGES TO OUR BODIES AT THE STATE.

IN ORDER TO DO THAT THAT REALLY STIMULATED A LOT OF PROJECTS.

THAT IS MAJORITY OF A LOT OF OUR BORROWINGS.

IN THIS PARTICULAR BORROWING WE HAVE A WASTEWATER FACILITY, WE HAVE A WATER FACILITY. WE HAVE PIPELINES THAT TRANSFER RECLAIMED WATER FROM ONE PLACE TO ANOTHER.

I DON'T WANT TO SAY TODAY THAT THE ENTIRE BORROWING IS JUST FOR ONE SPECIFIC PURPOSE, IT IS A CUMULATIVE OF A LOT OF THINGS INCLUDING THE REGULATORY MANDATES THAT ARE IMPORTED BY

TALLAHASSEE. >> THUS MANDATE THAT WE RECYCLE ALL OF OUR WASTEWATER AND THEN REUSE IT AND PIPE IT ALL OVER THE COUNTY. WE HAVE TO PAY FOR THAT SO WHEN YOU BORROW MONEY AND THEN IT'S PAID BACK THROUGH THE RATES THAT

WE CHARGE PEOPLE THAT WATER. >> THIS IS NOT TIED TO PROPERTY TAX OR ANY OF THAT STUFF. THIS IS ALL SEPARATE TO.

>> UTILITY OUR ENTERPRISE FUNDS SO IT HAS NOTHING TO DO WITH THE PROPERTY TAX. WE ARE A SELF-FUNDED THROUGH THE COUNTY. WE SERVE OURSELVES THROUGH THE PROCEEDS WE GET FROM THE SALES OF WATER AND WASTEWATER.

HAS NOTHING TO DO WITH PROPERTY TAX.

>> THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR CLEARING THAT UP.

>> SORRY FOR THE INTERRUPTION. >> I DO WANT TO ADD A COUPLE OF THINGS RELATED TO THAT. THESE ARE LONG TERM CAPITAL PROJECTS THAT WILL BENEFIT THE COMMUNITY OVER A LONG.

OF TIME. BY BORROWING AND PAYING THAT DEBT BACK OVER TIME IS NOT ONLY THE CURRENT CUSTOMERS PAYING TOWARDS THOSE PROJECTS IT'S ANY FUTURE CUSTOMERS AS WELL.

AND ALSO RELATED TO THE DEBT, THE DEBT IS IN THE BUDGET BUT IS NOT YET APPROVED BY THE BOARD, THE INTENT IS FOR THAT DEBT TO COME BACK I BELIEVE IN DECEMBER OR THAT APPROVAL FOR THE ISSUANCE OF THAT DEBT IN DECEMBER TO THE BOARD FOR THAT APPROVAL. JUST BECAUSE IT'S IN THE BUDGET DOESN'T MEAN THAT DEBT IS AUTOMATICALLY APPROVED.

>> AGAIN I MADE MENTION THAT THE BUDGET IS AWARE OF PROPERTY TAX REFORM, A LITTLE BIT MORE AFTER MONTH THAN THE BUDGET IS IN EFFECT THERE IS A NOVEMBER THIRD GENERAL ELECTION.

WITH THIS THERE IS THE PROPOSAL TO EXPAND HOMESTEAD PROPERTY EXEMPTIONS FROM THE CURRENT 50,000 TO 250,000 OVER A TWO YEAR. ADDITIONALLY THERE ARE ASSESSMENT CAPS ON NON-HOMESTEAD PROPERTIES, THE CURRENT CAPS UNKNOWN -- NONHOMESTEADED ON COMMERCIAL AND RESIDENTIAL ARE 10% ANNUALLY AND THAT REFERENDUM PROPOSES TO REDUCE THAT FROM 10% TO 5%. AND THEN FINALLY WITH PROPERTY TAX REFORM THERE ARE RESTRICTIONS OR CATEGORIES THE PROCEEDS CAN BE USED TOWARDS SEVEN DIFFERENT CATEGORIES THAT THE REFERENDUM OUTLINES FOR PROPERTY TAX USE.

>> WHEN YOU SAY THIS TALKING ABOUT PROPERTY TAXES.

>> CORRECT. AND THEN AT THE BOTTOM HERE ARE THE ESTIMATED REVENUE IMPACTS. THESE ARE PROVIDED BY THE OFFICE OF ECONOMIC AND DEMOGRAPHIC RESEARCH.

IT'S A RESEARCH BRANCH OF THE STATE LEGISLATURE FOR FISCAL ANALYSIS. FISCAL YEAR 28 THE FIRST YEAR OF

[00:20:02]

THE REVENUE IMPACT IS ESTIMATED TO BE $68.3 MILLION OR 16% OF WHAT OUR CURRENT PROPOSED PROPERTY TAXES ARE FOR FISCAL YEAR 27. IN FISCAL YEAR 2029 WITH A SECOND PHASE OF THE EXPANDED HOMESTEAD EXEMPTIONS TO 250,000, THAT RECURRING REVENUE IMPACT INCREASES TO 136.1 MILLION OR ABOUT 32% OF OUR FISCAL YEAR 2027 PROPOSED PROPERTY TAXES.

AND THEN THOSE ESTIMATES INCREASE EACH YEAR WITH THE ASSESSMENT CAPS ON HOMESTEADED PROPERTIES MOM HOMESTEADED PROPERTIES AS WELL AS ANY ASSUMED ADDITIONAL HOMESTEADED PROPERTIES THAT COME ONLINE. AND FISCAL YEAR 2032, THE RECURRING REVENUE IMPACT OF PROPERTY TAX REFORM IS CLOSE TO 200 MILLION PER YEAR. 191.6 MILLION OR ABOUT 45% OF OUR CURRENT PROPOSED PROPERTY TAXES FOR FISCAL YEAR 2027.

SO GETTING INTO TAXES, THERE'S REALLY TWO COMPONENTS TO TAXES.

YOU HAVE YOUR TAXABLE VALUES WHICH ARE DETERMINED BY THE PROPERTY APPRAISER'S OFFICE, AND THAT STARTS WITH YOUR JUST OR MARKET VALUE LESS ANY ASSESSMENT LIMITATIONS AND EXEMPTIONS AND THOSE COULD BE YOUR HOMESTEAD IF THEY ARE LIMITED TO 3% PER YEAR.

AND HAVE A $50,000 CURRENT $50,000 EXEMPTION.

AND THAT GETS YOU TO YOUR TAXABLE VALUE.

TAXING AUTHORITIES OR SAINT JOHNS COUNTY IN THIS CASE TAKE THAT TAXABLE VALUE AND ASSIGN A MILLAGE RATE TO IT OR A TAX RATE. WE ARE PROPOSING FLAT MILLAGE RATES FOR THIS YEAR BUT IT'S REALLY THAT TAXABLE VALUE AS DETERMINED BY THE PROPERTY APPRAISER'S OFFICE DIVIDED BY 1000 BECAUSE MILLAGE RATES ARE TAXED PER THOUSAND OF VALUE.

TIMES THOSE MILLAGE RATES AND THAT'S HOW YOU GET THE TAXES.

ONE OF THE COMPONENTS AGAIN FROM THE PROPERTY APPRAISER'S OFFICE DETERMINING TAXABLE VALUE HERE IS A HISTORICAL VISUAL OF OUR TAXABLE VALUE OVER THE LAST TEN YEARS.

YOU CAN SEE THERE WAS A SPIKE POST COVID 19 WHERE THE ADDITIONAL TRANSACTIONS WITH CURRENT PROPERTIES AS WELL AS ANY PROPERTIES THAT MAY HAVE CONVERTED TO SHORT TERM RENTALS.

CERTAINLY HAD A SPIKE POST COVID 19 AND YOU CAN SEE THE TREND IS THAT SPIKE IS COMING DOWN EVEN LOWER TO TRENDS PRIOR TO COVID.

WE DID HAVE A SPIKE IN TAXABLE VALUE AND WE SEE THAT TREND COMING DOWN AND WE EXPECT THAT TREND TO CONTINUE FOR NEXT YEAR AS WELL UNTIL WE SEE ANY KIND OF CHANGE IN THE TRANSPORT FOR FISCAL YEAR 2027 IT'S AN OVERALL 6.7% INCREASE IN TAXABLE VALUE.

AND THAT IS MADE UP OF 3.7% FOR NEW CONSTRUCTION, THESE ARE PROPERTIES THAT WERE NOT IMPROVED LAST YEAR, NOW THEY IMPROVED PROPERTY HAS AN IMPROVED VALUE AND WE BENEFIT FROM THE TAXES RELATED TO THAT IMPROVED VALUE.

THE OTHER PIECE IS REALLY ALL OTHER PROPERTIES THOSE ARE PROPERTIES THAT WERE HERE LAST YEAR, NO REAL CHANGES TO THEM.

OR NO SIGNIFICANT CHANGES AND THEY MAKE UP 3% OF THAT 6.7% INCREASE. HERE IS JUST A HISTORICAL ON AGAIN INCLUDES THE HEALTH DEPARTMENT AS WELL HEALTH FUND.

THE MILLAGE RATES THE COUNTYWIDE MILLAGE RATES OR THE GENERAL FUND TRANSPORTATION, AND THE COUNTY HEALTH FUND.

THE FIRE DISTRICT IS COUNTYWIDE WITH THE EXCEPTION OF THE CITY OF SAINT AUGUSTINE. THEY PROVIDE THEIR OWN FIRE SERVICES AND PROVIDE THEIR OWN ASSESSMENTS TO SUPPORT THOSE FIRE SERVICES. AND IN FISCAL YEAR 2021 THERE WAS A FULL ROLLBACK OF THE MILLAGE RATES, THAT WAS DONE IN RESPONSE TO THE SPIKE OF TAXABLE VALUES FROM COVID 19.

WE DID DO A ROLLBACK IN FISCAL YEAR 2021 AND THEN ADDITIONALLY LAST YEAR THE BOARD APPROVED A NET MILLAGE REDUCTION YOU WILL SEE AN INCREASE TO THE FIRE DISTRICT BUT THERE WAS A MORE THAN OFFSETTING DEEP FREEZE TO THE GENERAL FUND MILLAGE RATES. TO PROVIDE THAT NET MILLAGE REDUCTION FOR FISCAL YEAR 2026 AND THEN AGAIN FOR FISCAL YEAR 2027 WE ARE PROPOSING FLAT MILLAGE RATES.

>> CAN YOU GO BACK -- ONE MORE FORWARD.

[00:25:01]

THERE A REASON FOR THAT? >> YES SO AS PART OF THE OVERALL EXPANSION OF THE FIRE PROFESSIONAL SERVICES THE INCREASE OF ADDITIONAL STATIONS NECESSITATED ADDITIONAL FIREFIGHTERS TO OPERATE THOSE STATIONS.

IN LOOKING AT THE FIRE DISTRICT FUND LAST YEAR LONG TERM, MORE THAN JUST THE CURRENT YEAR WE REALIZED THAT PROPERTY TAX REVENUE AS THE INCREASES WERE DECLINING, WERE NOT NECESSARILY GOING TO SUPPORT THOSE OVERALL OPERATIONS.

AS WELL WHEN THE BOARD APPROVED, THE BOARD AT THAT TIME WHEN THEY AROUND THE FIRE STATIONS THERE WAS THAT KNOWN THAT THERE WAS GOING TO HAVE TO BE THAT SUPPORT TO OPERATE THOSE FIRE STATIONS.

FIRE SERVICES IS DEFINITELY HR INTENSIVE, IT'S A LOT OF PEOPLE THAT PROVIDE THE SERVICES. IT DEFINITELY CERTAINLY RECURRING COST RELATED TO THAT. THE RECOMMENDATION FOR THAT LAST YEAR WAS TO INCREASE THE FIRE DISTRICT MILLAGE AND THEN AGAIN AS AN OFFSET AND MORE OF AN OFFSET TO DECREASE THE GENERAL FUND MILLAGE TO RESULT IN THAT OVERALL REDUCTION.

>> HERE ARE WHAT WE WERE PREPARING FOR FISCAL YEAR 2027.

AGAIN I PROVIDE IN THE COLUMN THE CALCULATED ROLLBACK RATE AND THAT DEFINITION OF THAT IS THE SAME LEVEL OF TAX AS YOU WOULD HAVE RECEIVED IN THE PRIOR YEAR WITH THE EXCEPTION -- EXCEPTION OF NEW CONSTRUCTION. I DO PROVIDE THAT ROLLBACK RATE BUT WHAT WE ARE PROPOSING FOR FISCAL YEAR 2027 ARE FLAT.

THAT RIGHT COLUMN. FLAT MILLAGE RATES AND THAT WOULD GENERATE IN TOTAL JUST A LITTLE BIT MORE THAN 426 MILLION IN PROPERTY TAXES FOR FISCAL YEAR 2027.

>> I JUST WANT TO HIGHLIGHT THIS, THIS IS THE VOTE WHERE THAT MILLAGE VOTING REQUIREMENTS MATTERS.

NEW THIS YEAR IS AN UPDATE TO FLORIDA STATUTE 200065, ANYTHING ABOVE AND UP TO 110% OF THE ROLLBACK RATE REQUIRES A TWO-THIRDS VOTE OF THE GOVERNING BODY.

AND FOR US THAT WOULD BE FOR -- FOUR VOTES IN APPROVAL.

RIGHT NOW WE ARE 2.14%, WAS ANY -- WAS REQUIRED FOR ANYTHING OVER THE ROLLBACK. THEY WOULD ONLY NEED A MAJORITY VOTES, WHICH IS THAT 2.14% ABOVE THE ROLLBACK.

AND THEN HERE IT'S A VISUAL OF WHERE I DO OUR PROPERTY TAXES GO UP HERE BECAUSE THE COUNTY PROVIDES A LOT OF SERVICES.

WHAT YOU WON'T SEE ON HERE ARE UTILITY SERVICES AS GAIL MENTIONED UTILITY IS NOT SUPPORTED BY PROPERTY TAXES.

PLENTY OF OTHER FUNDS ARE NOT RECEIVE REVENUES THAT ARE NOT PROPERTY TAXES. OF THE 89 FUNDS IN THE PROPERTY ONLY TEN LEVY A MILLAGE RATE. FOR OUR FISCAL YEAR 2027, PROPERTY TAX ALLOCATION FOR THE SHERIFF'S OFFICE IS ABOUT 31%.

27% FOR FIRE RESCUE AND EMERGENCY SERVICES.

13% FOR ROADS AND TRANSPORTATION.

7% FOR PARKS, RECREATION AND LIBRARIES.

7% FOR COUNTY BUILDINGS FACILITIES, MANAGEMENT AND INFRASTRUCTURE AND TECHNOLOGY INFRASTRUCTURE.

ADDITIONAL 5% FOR GENERAL GOVERNMENT OPERATIONS.

5% FOR THE REMAINING CONSTITUTIONAL OFFICERS.

2% TOWARDS ECONOMIC ENVIRONMENT AND 3% FOR HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES EXPENSES. THE MAJORITY OF PROPERTY TAXES ARE GOING TO THE PUBLIC SAFETY THE SHERIFF'S OFFICE FIRE RESCUE. WITH THE THIRD LARGEST CATEGORY BEING OUR TRANSPORTATION MAINTENANCE AND INFRASTRUCTURE.

WITH THAT I'LL GET INTO THE MORE PRESCRIBED PROCESS FOR ADOPTING THE MILLAGE RATE. I WILL BEGIN WITH A DISCUSSION OF THE PERCENTAGE INCREASE OVER THE ROLLBACK RATE AND THEN OPEN IT BACK UP FOR PUBLIC COMMENT AND THEN FROM THERE I WILL MOVE -- WE WOULD MOVE TO REQUEST THE BOARD FOR APPROVAL FOR THE FINAL MILLAGE RATE AND THE FINAL BUDGET RESOLUTION.

[00:30:06]

THAT PERCENTAGE INCREASE OVER THE ROLLBACK RATE AGAIN IS 2.14% AND THE SPECIFIC PURPOSE FOR THE INCREASE OVER THE ROLLBACK RATE FOR EACH TAXING UNIT IS TO MAINTAIN LEVELS OF SERVICES INCLUDING ROADWAY AND DRAINAGE INFRASTRUCTURE, CONTINUE FIRE RESCUE EXPANSION, RECRUITMENT AND RETAINAGE AND AS WELL AS PLAYING FOR POTENTIAL PROPERTY TAX REFORM.

WITH THAT I WILL OPEN IT UP FOR PUBLIC COMMENT.

>> OKAY. BRING UP PUBLIC COMMENT.

>> WE WILL TAKE PUBLIC COMMENT. WHEN YOU COME UP TO THE BOARD PLEASE, THIS IS THREE PODIUMS UP HERE, IF YOU HAVE ANYTHING TO SHOW PLEASE UTILIZE THE MIDDLE AREA AND PLACE SOMETHING ON THE X FOR THE OVERHEAD CAMERA TO DISPLAY.

YOU HAVE A LAPTOP YOU CAN SET THAT UP FOR ANY USB PRESENTATIONS AND THEN AFTER PRESENTING PLEASE PROVIDE THE MATERIALS FOR STAFF AT THE COURT OF THE CLERK.

>> GOOD EVENING. >> GOOD EVENING COMMISSIONERS.

I'M HERE TONIGHT TO ASK YOU TO RECONSIDER USING TAXPAYER DOLLARS TO FUND THE USE AND EXPANSION OF THE FLOCK CAMERAS.

WITHOUT STRONGER PUBLIC DISCUSSION, OVERSIGHT AND LIMITS. MY CONCERN IS NOT ABOUT WHAT THESE CAMERAS ARE INTENDED TO DO TODAY, MY CONCERN IS THE IDEA THAT A SYSTEM CREATED FOR ONE PERSON -- PURPOSE CONGRATULATE EXPAND INTO SOMETHING MUCH BROADER OVER TIME.

WE ARE TOLD THESE CAMERAS ARE PRIMARILY FOR FINDING STOLEN VEHICLES AND ASSISTING LAW ENFORCEMENT INVESTIGATIONS.

BUT REASONABLE CITIZENS MUST ASK, WHAT HAPPENS FIVE YEARS FROM NOW. WHAT WILL THE PURPOSE CHANGE, WHO DECIDES IF IT CHANGES, WILL TAXPAYERS GET ANOTHER OPPORTUNITY TO WEIGH IN ON THIS BEFORE THE SYSTEM EXPANDS.

TECHNOLOGY DOES NOT BECOME LESS POWERFUL OVER TIME IT BECOMES MORE POWERFUL. THE SYSTEM THAT BEGINS AS A TOOL TO SOLVE SPECIFIC CRIMES CAN BECOME A MUCH LARGER NETWORK THAT COLLECTS INFORMATION ABOUT ORDINARY CITIZENS WHO HAVE DONE NOTHING WRONG. BEFORE SPENDING OUR TAX DOLLARS ON THIS TECHNOLOGY I BELIEVE THE COUNTY SHOULD FIRST ESTABLISH CLEAR LIMITS, HOW MANY CAMERAS WILL THERE BE, WHERE WILL THEY BE PLACED, WHO CAN ACCESS THE INFORMATION, HOW LONG DATA IS RETAINED AND WHAT PREVENTS THE SYSTEM FROM EXPANDING BEYOND ITS ORIGINAL PURPOSE. THIS IS A BUDGET DECISION, EVERY DOLLAR SPENT ON FLOCK CAMERAS IS A TAXPAYER DOLLAR THAT CANNOT BE SPENT SOMEWHERE ELSE. BEFORE COMMITTING PUBLIC FUNDS TO SURVEILLANCE SYSTEM TAXPAYERS DESERVE TRANSPARENCY ACCOUNTABILITY AND A VOICE. AS FOR PUBLIC SAFETY, I WOULD SUPPORT OUR LOCAL COUNTY LAW ENFORCEMENT, PUBLIC SAFETY SHOULD NOT REQUIRE UNLIMITED, UNFETTERED GOVERNMENT MONITORING WITHOUT CLEAR BOUNDARIES SET AND AGREED UPON BY CONSTITUENTS.

I RESPECTFULLY ASK THIS COMMISSION TO PAUSE FUNDING FOR CURRENT AND ANY ADDITIONAL FLOCK CAMERAS AND REMOVE THEM FROM OUR COUNTY ROADWAYS UNTIL THESE QUESTIONS ARE ANSWERED AND THE PUBLIC HAS A MEANINGFUL OPPORTUNITY TO BE HEARD.

I UNDERSTAND THAT WHILE MANY LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICERS AGREE WITH THE USE OF VLOG CAMERAS, A LARGE PORTION IF NOT THE MAJORITY OF OUR CITIZENS AND THE SHERIFF'S OF -- OF THE SHERIFF'S DEPARTMENT AND THIS COMMISSION I'M SORRY, IF NOT THE MAJORITY OF THE CITIZENS OF THE SHERIFF'S DEPARTMENT AND THIS COMMISSION THAT YOU GUYS WORK FOR AND REPRESENT DO NOT.

I HEAR A LOT OF PEOPLE SAYING WHEN YOU'RE TRACKED BY YOUR CELL PHONES. I UNDERSTAND THAT, WE AGREE TO SELL PHONES. WHEN I PICK UP MY PHONE AND PUT IT IN MY POCKET I AGREE TO CARRY THEIR CELL PHONE AROUND.

IF I DO NOT WANT TO BE TRACKED BY MY CELL PHONE, I LAY IT ON MY NIGHTSTAND. IF THAT'S A CONCERN OF MINE I DON'T HAVE TO CARRY IT. I DO NOT HAVE A CHOICE ON THESE FLOCK CAMERAS ON THE SIDE OF THE ROAD.

THEY'RE BEING FORCED UPON THE CONSTITUENTS OF THIS COUNTY.

I ALSO HEAR THE ISSUES WHAT YOU WERE RECORDED EVERYWHERE IN PUBLIC. LET ME EXPLAIN SOMETHING.

WE HAVE RIGHTS AS CITIZENS THAT ARE GOD GIVEN AND PROTECTED BY OUR CONSTITUTIONS. THE GOVERNMENT DOES NOT HAVE RIGHTS. WE HAVE RIGHTS AS PEOPLE.

THE GOVERNMENT ITSELF DOES NOT HAVE THE RIGHT TO DO THIS.

I REALLY HOPE YOU GUYS CONSIDER TAKING THE FUNDING.

>> CAN WE GET YOUR NAME AND ADDRESS.

>> I WROTE IT DOWN, SEAN MORRISON.

[00:35:04]

>> THANK YOU. >> YOU GUYS LOOK FAMILIAR, HAVE

NOT SEEN YOU IN A WHILE. >> CALEB MASTERS SAINT JOHNS COUNTY. I DON'T KNOW -- I. HOPE I CAN USE THE THING UP HERE REAL QUICK?

>> JUST FOR A QUICK SECOND. THAT'S ME YESTERDAY, YOU KNOW I DID NOT FIND THAT MISSING CHILD YESTERDAY? FLOCK CAMERAS. BUT YOU KNOW WHO DID? ALL OF OUR DEPUTIES WHO WERE OUT THERE FOR DAYS LOOKING FOR HIM.

AND THE CITIZENS OF THIS COUNTY. THAT'S WHO FOUND THAT KID.

SO I WANTED TO THROW THAT OUT THERE.

ON TOP OF IN PUBLIC SERVICE THE TAX DOLLARS ARE PRETTY MUCH UNLIMITED. THEY CAN BE USED HOWEVER, YOU SPEND THEM WILLY NILLY NO ONE SEEMS TO REALLY CARE.

IN CORPORATE IF YOU GOT TO THE END OF THE YEAR, FOURTH QUARTER AS WE ARE AND YOU CAN'T PAY YOUR OFFICERS BECAUSE YOU SPENT THE MONEY ON OTHER STUFF THERE'S GOING TO BE A REDUCTION IN FORCE, YOU ARE CUTTING EMPLOYEES.

YOUR HIGHEST PAID EMPLOYEES SO THAT YOU CAN PAY THE OTHER EMPLOYEES. AND THEN YOU ARE GOING TO GET LOOKED AT BECAUSE YOU DID NOT BUDGET PROPERLY.

NOW I DON'T WANT ANY OF OUR OFFICERS NOT TO GET PAID, I KNOW THAT THE BUDGET IS GOING TO GO THROUGH BECAUSE WHO WOULD WE BE IF WE DID NOT PAY OUR OFFICERS WOW I AM AWARE THAT IT'S GOING TO GET PUSHED THROUGH. BUT WHAT I WOULD LIKE TO SEE IS A PROMISE FOR NEXT YEAR STARTING JANUARY OUR OFFICERS GET PAID FIRST. THEY GET THEIR RAISE, EVERYTHING ELSE COMES AFTER THAT. PAY THESE GUYS WHAT THEY ARE WORTH, EVERYTHING YOU SPEND AFTER THAT SPEND IT ON OTHER STUFF NOT FLOCK OF COURSE. SPEND IT ON THE OTHER STUFF, DO WHAT YOU NEED TO DO, BUDGET ACCORDINGLY.

THE OFFICERS COME FIRST. THEY GET PAID THEN YOU DO WHAT YOU NEED TO DO. THE LAST THING I WOULD LIKE TO SAY IS I WOULD LIKE TO REQUEST A MOTION TO AMEND THE FISCAL YEAR 2027 BUDGET DEFINED THE 500 000APLR UPKEEP AND MANDATE AND REMAINED ALL OF THE A PR WITHIN SAINT JOHNS COUNTY AND ORDERED THE 3 MILLION SURVEILLANCE CONTRACTS -- CONTRACTS TO PHASE THEM OUT ENTIRELY. [APPLAUSE]

>> GOOD EVENING. >> I'M DON CAMPBELL, A RESIDENT HERE FOR 30 YEARS AND SPEAKING OUT AGAINST FLOCK.

SHERIFF HARDWICK HAS GOT FLOCK CAMERAS LICENSE PLATE READERS.

BUT THAT'S LIKE CALLING YOUR REFRIGERATOR AND ICE MAKER.

SURE IT MAKES ICE BUT THAT'S NOT WHY IT'S IN THE KITCHEN.

THESE CAMERAS DON'T JUST SNAP A PLATE, THEY TRACK US, LOG OUR MOVEMENTS AND PUT IT INTO THE SERVICE ENGINE.

THE SHERIFF HAS GATHERED IGNORANCE AND MISINFORMATION, SAYS IF YOU'RE NOT COMMITTING VIOLENT CRIMES THERE'S NOTHING TO HIDE. BUT IF NOTHING TO HIDE IS THE METRIC WHY IS THE SHERIFF THE MAJORITY OF THIS BOARD USE A LOT TO SCRUB THEIR HOME ADDRESS FROM PUBLIC RECORDS IN THE NAME OF SAFETY. SAFETY FOR THEM, CAMERAS FOR US, THEY VANISHED, WE GET CATALOGED. NOW LOOK AT WHO PAYS.

SHERIFF'S OFFICE RUNS ON PROPERTY TAXES.

FLOCK RUNS ON PROPERTY TAXES. SHERIFF HARD WORK DOES NOT PAY PROPERTY TAX BUT HE DOES PAY OUT MONEY FOR A CAMERA ON HIS ROAD.

THAT IS A PRIVATE SECURITY SYSTEM WITH A PUBLIC INVOICE.

OUR SHERIFF SAYS THE CAMERAS DO NOT CONTINUOUSLY TRACK WHERE SOMEONE TRAVELS, THEN WHY FOUR CAMERAS AT ONE EXIT.

SAYS FLOCK DOES NOT SHARE THE DATA THEN HE ADMITS THEY SHARE WITH OTHER COUNTIES AND THE FBI. SO WHICH IS IT? AUDITS MAKE IT SIMPLER. OVER 6000 OTHER AGENCIES HAVE ACCESS TO OUR CAMERAS. DOES NOT A COUNTY TOOL, THAT'S A LOCAL SURVEILLANCE WITH A NATIONAL PASSWORD.

HE SAYS HE'S TRANSPARENT AS THEY COME THEN HE SHUTS THE COMMENTS OFF. IF HE SO OPEN WHY CAN'T THE PEOPLE PAYING HIM TALK BACK TO HIM? SO THE PATTERN IS NOT HARD TO FOLLOW, THEY HIDE THEIR ADDRESS AS WE GET WATCHED. THEY PAY NO TAX BUT WE PAY FOR THE CAMERA ON HIS ROAD. HE SHARES THE DATA YOU'RE NOT SHARING THEN HE HITS MUTE AND CALLS US IGNORANT.

THROWING OUT TRANSPARENCY AS THEY COME.

NONE OF THIS IS AN ARGUMENT AGAINST PAYING DEPUTIES MANY POLICE, WE NEED THEM PAID WELL ENOUGH TO LIVE IN THE COUNTY THEY CONTROL. TAKE THE FLOCK MONEY AND PUT IT IN DEPUTY PAY. NO CAMERAS THEN THE RES.

NOT BOTH. IF THIS BOARD FUNDS FLOCK AND CALLS IT SUPPORTING LAW ENFORCEMENT YOU ARE NOT BACKING THE OFFICERS, YOU'RE JUST BACKING SURVEILLANCE OF NEIGHBORHOODS THAT CAN'T AFFORD TO LIVE IN.

I ASK THIS BOARD TO AMEND THE 2027 BUDGET AND STRIKE THE $500,000 FOR ALPR UPKEEP REQUIRED PHYSICAL REMOVAL OF EVERY ALPR UNIT FROM SAINT JOHNS COUNTY ROADS AND AUDIT THE REMAINING SURVEILLANCE CONTRACTS SO WE CAN PHASE THEM OUT ENTIRELY. THE RAISE IS RESPECT FOR THE DEPUTIES. TAKING THE CAMERAS DOWN IS RESPECT FOR THE CITIZENS. VOTE ACCORDINGLY.

THANK YOU. >> THANK YOU.

>> GOOD EVENING. >> I LOST MY PLACE, GIVE ME ONE

SECOND. >> YOU WANTED SOMEONE ELSE TO GO

[00:40:09]

FIRST? >> GOOD EVENING EVERYONE SEAN CARPENTER, 762 PLEASANT COLONY LANE IN ELKTON.

I WOULD LIKE TO START BEFORE I GET INTO WHY I AM TALKING ABOUT WHAT I'M TALKING ABOUT JUST TO GIVE YOU A LITTLE BIT ABOUT ME BECAUSE I DO KNOW MOST OF YOU. AND I AM POLITICALLY TO THE RIGHT OF ALL OF YOU MAYBE EXCEPT AN BUT BESIDES THAT I AM A LIFELONG REPUBLICAN I'M ACTIVE IN REPUBLICAN POLITICS, I SUPPORT OUR LAW ENFORCEMENT I ACTUALLY WANT TO COMPLIMENT SHERIFF HARDWICK RIGHT NOW, HE HAS DONE AN AMAZING JOB IN REHABILITATING HOMELESS PEOPLE, HE'S BEEN DOING REALLY GOD'S WORK ON THAT AND REUNITING THESE HOMELESS PEOPLE WITH THEIR FAMILIES AND GIVING THEM A LIFE AGAIN.

SO I AM NOTHING BUT COMPLIMENTARY FOR WHAT THEY'VE BEEN DOING. IN FACT MY ONLY INTERACTION WITH A SHERIFF'S DEPUTY AND THE ENTIRE TIME I'VE LIVED HERE WAS WITH A FALSE ALARM, SOMEBODIES HOME SECURITY SYSTEM WENT OFF AND IT WAS NOTHING THE LADY WAS ABSOLUTELY PLEASANT.

THAT BEING SAID I KNOW THAT SOME OF THE CRITICISMS OF THE PEOPLE WHO HAVE BEEN SPEAKING OUT ARE THAT THESE PEOPLE ARE THE DEFUND THE POLICE, AGITATORS FROM THE LEFT.

AND THAT IS NOT ME. BUT THESE FLOCK CAMERAS AND THE AUTOMATED LICENSE PLATE READERS ARE A VIOLATION OF OUR FOURTH AMENDMENT RIGHTS AND THEY ARE A CLEAR AND PRESENT DANGER NOT NECESSARILY -- NOT DEFINITIVELY FROM SHERIFF HARDWICK AND NOT DEFINITIVELY FROM THE PEOPLE THAT ARE IN THIS ROOM AND IN THIS COUNTY. BUT WE ARE SIX YEARS REMOVED FROM PROBABLY THE MOST SHAMEFUL DRAGNET IN LEGAL HISTORY HERE IN THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA WHERE OPT MAGARIAN GRANDMOTHERS WERE TRACKED DOWN WITH SWAT TEAMS AFTER WALKING THROUGH THE CAPITOL BUILDING ON JANUARY SIXTH.

SO THAT'S WHAT HAPPENS WHEN OUR DATA GETS SENT OUT TO A THIRD PARTY WERE ANY LAW ENFORCEMENT AGENCY IN THAT COUNTRY CAN ACCESS THAT DATA AND USE IT. WHAT'S GOING TO HAPPEN IS IF GOD FORBID A DEMOCRAT GETS IN THE WHITE HOUSE THEY'RE GOING TO USE THAT DATA AND THEY ARE GOING TO PROSECUTE THEIR POLITICAL ENEMIES BASED ON KNOWING EXACTLY WHERE THEY ARE AT ALL TIMES, AND HAVE A COMPLETE BEHAVIORAL PROFILE ON IT.

I DO RECOMMEND THAT YOU AMEND THEIR BUDGET AND TAKE OUT THE MONEY THAT'S GOING TOWARDS THE FLOCK CAMERAS, PUT IT TOWARDS THE SHERIFFS AND IF NOT I WOULD ENCOURAGE YOU TO SET UP A CITIZENS ADVISORY BOARD THAT HAS REAL AUDIT AND OVERSIGHT AND THAT REPORTS TO YOU NOT TO THE SHERIFF AND THE SHERIFF HAS TO GIVE THEM REAL INFORMATION ABOUT WHAT'S HAPPENING AND WHAT WE DO

WITH IT. >> MY NAME IS MIKE GILL I'M ASKING YOU TODAY TO STRIKE ALL AUTOMATIC LICENSE PLATE READERS FROM THE BUDGET. AND PUT FORWARD A MOTION TO STOP THIS IMMEDIATELY. I WANT TO START WITH THE SHERIFF OFFICER'S OWN WORDS, FROM OUR LAST MILLAGE RATE MEETING.

IN SEPTEMBER 2025 THE SHERIFFS OFFICE APPLIED FOR A STATE BOARD OF IMMIGRATION ENFORCEMENT FOR $1 MILLION PER YEAR THAT WAS FOR THESE FLOCK CAMERAS. OF THAT MILLION 595,000 WAS FOR LICENSE PLATE READERS, 23 MORE FOR FLOCK CAMERAS ROUGHLY $18,000 APIECE PLUS NINE MOBILE TRAILERS TO TAKE FROM 180 TO 203. HERE'S WHAT THAT APPLICATION -- APPLICATION SAYS IT'S FOR IN THE AGENCY'S OWN WORDS.

IT CAPTURES THE DATE AND TIME AND LOCATION OF PASSENGER VEHICLES AND THE DATE OF STORED UP TO ONE YEAR.

NOT 30 DAYS, UP TO ONE YEAR. THEN DIRECT QUOTE, WE WILL SHARE THE DATA WITH OUR FEDERAL AGENCIES AND ALLOW LAW ENFORCEMENT TO DEVELOP A PATTERN OF LIFE TO POTENTIALLY IDENTIFY HOME AND WORK LOCATIONS AND PLAN ENFORCEMENT ACTIONS.

THESE ARE NOT LICENSE PLATE READERS FROM COMMISSIONER MURPHY'S HIGHWAY PATROL DAYS THESE ARE MODERN DAY AI TRACKING. AND THEY ARE CREATING A PATTERN OF LIGHT OF EVERY PERSON THEY PHOTOGRAPH.

EVERY ONE HERE. THE TRAILERS CARCASSES CAN BE DEPLOYED AT VARIOUS CHECKPOINTS AND AREAS WITHIN THE COUNTY AND THAT THESE MOBILE SURVEILLANCE PLATFORMS CAN BE OVERT IN NATURE AS NEEDED. WE HAVE MOBILE TRAILERS THAT CAN TAKE THESE PHOTOS AS WELL. IT'S NOT JUST A BLACK CAMERA ON A STICK. A PATTERN OF LIFE IS HOME AND WORK LOCATIONS, ONE YEAR RETENTION SHARED WITH AGENCIES, CHECKPOINTS. IT IS NOT MY CHARACTERIZATION OF ANY THING, IT IS NOT ACTIVIST CHARACTERIZATION, THE

[00:45:05]

JOHNSON COUNTY -- COUNTY TEXAS. >> I WILL HAVE TO GO FAST.

>> JOHNSON COUNTY WAS LOOKING FOR A WOMAN WHO HAD AN ABORTION SO WHAT THEY DID, THEY SEARCHED EVERY SINGLE CAMERA IN SAINT JOHNS COUNTY, THIS IS NOT A HYPERBOLE, IT'S NOT HYPERBOLIC, OTHER AGENCIES ARE SEARCHING FOR THEIR VALUES IN OUR COUNTY AND OUR STATE OF THE PEOPLE THEY PHOTOGRAPH HERE THAT IS WHAT HOT LISTING MEANS, ALL THESE CAMERAS ARE HOT LISTED, EVERY SINGLE AGENCY WITH A PASSWORD CAN ACCESS IT AND SEARCH FOR THEIR STATE VALUES. THEIR RULES.

SO YOU CAN EXPECT WE WILL ALL BE SEARCHED BY EVERYBODY FOR WHATEVER REASON THEY COME STU. YES, I THINK THE FINAL POINT I WANT TO LAND HERE WITH IS IT ISN'T -- THIS IS NOT AN ISSUE OF SOME LADY WHO MIGHT HAVE HAD WANTED AN ABORTION.

IT'S AN ISSUE THAT ANYONE'S VALUES, LIKE I WAS TALKING ABOUT A FUTURE WITH A DEMOCRAT, GAVIN NEWSOM WANTS TO PROPOSE A TAX BASED ON MILEAGE OF CARS, HOW DO YOU DO THAT? YOU TAKE EVERYONE'S RECORDS OF HOW FAR THEY DROVE AND YOU APPLY A MILEAGE RATE TO IT AND TAX THEM.

THIS IS THE FUTURE WE ARE BUILDING AND IT'S A PRISON OF OUR OWN. PLEASE STRIKE THIS.

>> THANK YOU. >> GOOD EVENING.

>> GOOD EVENING MY NAME IS FORREST BARNES, FIRST OFF THIS IS NOT JUST ABOUT SO-CALLED LICENSE PLATE READERS, THIS IT'S ABOUT THE CONSTITUTION. DID WE NOT ALL TAKE OATHS TO OUR SACRED CONSTITUTION BEFORE TAKING OFFICE, BEFORE JOINING THE MILITARY AND BEFORE JOINING THE LAW ENFORCEMENT AGENCY? I KNOW SOME OF US IN THIS VERY ROOM TOOK THAT OATH AT LEAST TWICE. THE NOTION BEING PUT FORWARD THAT THESE CAMERAS ARE MERE LICENSE PLATE READERS IS EITHER BEING PUT FORWARD OUT OF IGNORANCE OR WITH MAL INTENT TO FURTHER WHAT THIS ACTUALLY IS. THIS IS WARRANTLESS MASS SURVEILLANCE OF AMERICAN CITIZENS.

THE FOURTH AMENDMENT WAS WRITTEN TO KEEP US HAVING -- FROM HAVING OUR PAPERS AND EFFECTS AND ANALYZED, SPECIFICALLY BY OUR GOVERNMENT. THE SUPREME COURT CODIFIED THE FACT THAT OUR PAPERS AND EFFECTS INCLUDE OUR ID.

THESE COMMUNIST CAMERAS CAN DRAW ASSOCIATIONS, OF FEATURES ON OUR CARS, TAGS AND EVEN SOME ARE CAPABLE OF FACIAL RECOGNITION WHICH I WILL -- WHICH ULTIMATELY LEADS TO THE SEIZURE OF OUR -- OUR GOVERNMENT. THE FALSE IDENTITY OF WALMART AND TARGET IDENTIFYING US BECAUSE THEY DO NOT CARE THE BADGE NOR THE FORCE OF GOVERNMENT BEHIND THEM.

WE ARE ALSO VOLUNTARILY ENGAGING IN COMMERCE WITH THOSE STORES ON THAT INFO. WE CAN CHOOSE TO NOT SHOP AT THESE PRIVATE STORES BUT WE CANNOT REALISTICALLY CHOOSE TO STOP GOING ABOUT OUR NORMAL LIVES DRIVING ON PUBLIC ROADWAYS. THESE GOVERNMENT CAMERAS WANT OUR IDS WITHOUT OUR CONSENT, WITHOUT A WARRANT, PROBABLE CAUSE, CIRCUMSTANCES OR REASONABLE ARTICULABLE SUSPICION OF A CRIME. WHICH ARE, THE PREREQUISITES WHICH MUST BE MET BEFORE OUR GOVERNMENT HAS THE AUTHORITY TO PLAN OUR IDS ACCORDING TO THE VERY CONSTITUTION WE SWORE OUR LIVES IN SACRED HONOR TO. THERE IS NO GREY AREA HERE.

IF YOU SUPPORT USING THESE CAMERAS, THEN YOU SUPPORT BREAKING THAT OATH. COMMISSIONERS, PLEASE MAKE A MOTION TO REMOVE ALL WARRANTLESS MASS SURVEILLANCE A IMMEDIATELY FROM ST. JOHN'S AND OUR PUBLIC RIGHT OF WAYS.

THANK YOU. >> THANK YOU.

>> GOOD EVENING. >> MY NAME IS JUSTIN MILLER 515 SAINT AUGUSTINE FLORIDA. REALLY QUICK, HERE IN THE CENTER I HAVE A QUESTION IF IT CAN BE ANSWERED AFTERWARDS, I JUST SAW A DIFFERENCE IN THE RATES FOR THE SAINT AUGUSTINE SOUTH LIGHTING DISTRICT. DON'T NEED THIS ANSWER TILL

AFTER. >> PLEASE SUBMIT THAT SO WE CAN

SEE IT. >> I'M JUST TRYING TO FIGURE OUT IF THERE ARE OTHER DIFFERENCES AND IF SO IF WHAT THAT MEANS JUST BECAUSE THE PRESIDENT OF THE ASSOCIATION FOR THE NEIGHBORHOODS. WE WOULD LIKE TO REPORT BACK TO MORROW EXACTLY WHAT THAT MEANS. OTHER THAN THAT, I WOULD LIKE TO GO AND TALK ABOUT FLOCK AND OTHER SURVEILLANCE, THE SURVEILLANCE THAT WE HAVE HAD HAPPENING PERSONALLY AM AGAINST IT. I BELIEVE ALL SORT OF SURVEILLANCE SHOULD REQUIRE A WARRANT.

MORE IMPORTANTLY WE ARE HAVING FLOCK, ACCESS AND WE HAVE PROGRAMS LIKE STINGRAY THAT ALSO TRACK PEOPLE THROUGH THEIR MESSAGES. CERTAIN TEXTS ARE BEING SENT OR WHAT -- HAD A WARRANT WHICH IS PRETTY CONCERNING BUT MORE THAN THAT, RIGHT NOW WE HAVE AI ON A SPECTRUM THAT WE'VE NEVER REALLY SEEN BEFORE. WE JUST HAD AN ISSUE WHERE THEY FOUND OUT THAT ONE OF THE NEW AI MODELS IS TRAINING, ATTACKED A

[00:50:04]

ACTUALLY THOUSANDS OF THEM THEY HACKED ANOTHER WEBSITE, THEY SET UP A FORUM, THEY TALKED TO EACH OTHER, THEY TALKED ABOUT SACRIFICING EACH OTHER. THEY FOUND A WAY TO GO BACK AND ACTUALLY FIGURE OUT THE ANSWERS BUT THEY HACKED OTHER WEBSITES SO THEY CAN TRY TO PROVE THEIR WORK AND NOT GET CAUGHT KNOWING THAT THEY ARE GOING AROUND. BUT KNOWING THAT THEY WORKED TOGETHER IS -- HAS BEEN AN ISSUE.

ALL OF THIS IS BEING PUT INTO FLOCK TO UNDERSTAND PEOPLE'S MOVEMENTS. IT'S REALLY TO A POINT NOT ONLY IS IT BEING COLLECTED IT'S BEING STORED.

THE AGENTS ARE ABLE TO HACK INTO BASICALLY ANYTHING RIGHT NOW INCLUDING OUR OWN GOVERNMENT SO THERE'S A BIG ISSUE WITH THAT.

NOT ONLY IS ALL THIS DATA BEING COLLECTED THERE IS THE POTENTIAL FOR OTHER COUNTRIES TO GET ACCESS TO IT AND UNDERSTAND, EVERYTHING ABOUT PEOPLE'S PATTERNS, MOVEMENTS, INDIVIDUALS, THE NEW FLOCK CAMERAS, THEY COLLECT BLUETOOTH INFORMATION SO THEY CAN IDENTIFY YOUR WATCH, THEY CAN IDENTIFY YOUR EARBUDS, EVERYTHING ELSE, THEY PUT ALL OF THAT TOGETHER ALONG WITH THE COMMERCIALLY AVAILABLE DATA.

TO UNDERSTAND EVERYTHING ABOUT YOU AND IT'S REALLY DANGEROUS

FOR US TO PUT OUT THERE. >> THANK YOU.

>> GOOD EVENING. >> JASON DAVIS 119 EAST ASPEN AVENUE. GOOD EVENING COMMISSIONERS.

LAW ENFORCEMENT VEHICLE SEEING A VEHICLE DROP DOWN -- DRIVE DOWN A PUBLIC ROAD IS ONE THING AUTOMATIC CAMERAS SEEING LICENSE PLATE AND CREATING A SEARCH OF PEOPLE'S MOVEMENTS IS A DIFFERENT THING WE NEED TO REMEMBER SOMETHING SIMPLE.

WE PUT CURTAINS ON THE WINDOWS OF OUR HOMES NOT BECAUSE WE ARE CRIMINALS OR BECAUSE WE HAVE SOMETHING TO HIDE, WE HAVE CURTAINS BECAUSE PRIVACY IS A RIGHT OF EVERY CITIZEN.

ST. JOHNS COUNTY IS AN EXTRAORDINARILY SAFE COMMUNITY, IN FACT OUR OLD SHERIFF'S OFFICE THEY RECORDED ZERO CRIMINAL HOMICIDES IN 2025. SO WHEN A COUNTY VOTED -- FELT OVERWHELMING WITH LAW ABIDING CITIZENS TAXPAYERS HAVE A RIGHT TO ASK WHY DO WE NEED AN EVER EXPANDING CAMERAS, THAT ARE NOT SUSPECTED OF A CRIME BUY CAMERAS DON'T AUTOMATICALLY EQUAL MORE SAFETY. CITIES SUCH AS CHICAGO AND NEW YORK HAVE EXTENSIVE SURVEILLANCE SYSTEMS AND STILL EXPERIENCE VIOLENT CRIME. AND THIS IS A BUDGET MEETING, SO THERE'S ANOTHER QUESTION. WHAT ARE TAXPAYERS GETTING FOR THEIR MONEY? BEFORE COMMITTING EVEN MORE TAXPAYER DOLLARS TO FLOCK, THIS COMMISSION SHOULD HAVE A CLEAR EVIDENCE -- SHOULD HAVE CLEAR EVIDENCE THESE CAMERAS ARE REDUCING CRIME AND HAVE TO JUSTIFY THEIR ONGOING COSTS.

WE OWE TAXPAYERS COMPLETE TRANSPARENCY ON EXPENSES AND ACCOUNTABILITY FOR EVERY DOLLAR SPENT.

THE SUPREME COURT HAS ALSO RECOGNIZED THAT MODERN TECHNOLOGY CAN FUNDAMENTALLY CHANGE THE PRIVACY EQUATION, AND RILEY AND CARPENTER THE COURT PLACED IMPORTANT FOURTH AMENDMENT AND GOVERNMENT ACTS AS A CERTAIN DIGITAL INFORMATION INCLUDING SENSITIVE LOCATION INFORMATION.

THAT DOESN'T AUTOMATICALLY ANSWER THE LEGAL QUESTION ABOUT FLOCK BUT IT SHOULD CAUSE THIS COMMISSION TO ASK ONE.

ARE THESE CAMERAS AND DATABASES BEING OPERATED CONSISTENTLY WITH THOSE CONSTITUTIONAL PRINCIPLES? HAS INFORMATION ABOUT OUR MOVEMENT EVER BEEN ACCESSED IMPROPERLY? WHO SEARCHES IT? WHO RECEIVES IT? HOW LONG IS IT RETAINED? WE NEED TRANSPARENCY -- TRANSPARENCY. THE SHERIFF WON'T BE SHERIFF FOREVER AND THESE COMMISSIONERS WON'T HOLD OFFICE FOREVER.

BUT THIS SURVEILLANCE INFRASTRUCTURE MAY REMAIN LONG AFTER ALL OF YOU ARE GONE. SUPPORTING LAW ENFORCEMENT DOESN'T REQUIRE SURRENDERING OUR PRIVACY OR WRITING A BLANK CHECK FOR SURVEILLANCE. PRIVACY IS NOT SUSPICIOUS BEHAVIOR IN FISCAL ACCOUNTABILITY ISN'T ANTI-POLICE. BOTH ARE RESPONSIBILITIES OF GOOD GOVERNMENT, I WOULD LIKE A REQUEST THAT THE COMMISSION MAKE A MOTION TO REMOVE ALL ALPR FROM ALL COUNTY RIGHT OF WAYS.

>> THANK YOU. >> GOOD EVENING.

>> ALEXIS DAVIS. I AM HERE TO SPEAK AGAINST USING TAXPAYER MONEY TO FUND FLOCK CAMERAS.

I WANT TO ADDRESS THE ARGUMENT THAT WE OFTEN HEAR, IF YOU HAVE NOTHING TO HIDE YOU SHOULD NOT BE WORRIED ABOUT CAMERAS.

WHAT ARE YOU TRYING TO HIDE? THE ANSWER IS REALLY SIMPLE.

PRIVACY ISN'T ABOUT HIDING WRONGDOING, PRIVACY IS ABOUT KEEPING THE FREEDOM TO LIVE OUR LIVES INDEPENDENTLY WITHOUT BEING CONSTANTLY TRACKED AND REPORTED BY THE GOVERNMENT.

MOST PEOPLE LOCK THEIR DOORS, CLOSE THEIR CURTAINS AND PROTECT THEIR PERSONAL INFORMATION NOT BECAUSE THEY'RE DOING SOMETHING WRONG BUT BECAUSE PRIVACY IS A BASIC ASPECT OF A FREE SOCIETY HERE IN THE LAND OF THE FREE ARE WE HERE DEBATING WHETHER MASS SURVEILLANCE IS JUSTIFIABLE, PAID FOR BY TAXPAYERS WHO FOLLOW THE LAW? FLOCK CAMERAS DO NOT JUST RECORD CRIMINALS THEY CREATE AN INDUSTRY GOVERNMENT OF EVERY ONE, THEY COLLECT INFORMATION ABOUT ORDINARY PEOPLE GOING TO

[00:55:04]

THE QUESTION IS NOT WHETHER ANY ONE PERSON HAS SOMETHING TO HIDE, THE QUESTION IS WHETHER WE WANT TO CREATE A SYSTEM WHERE EVERYONE IS MONITORED JUST IN CASE.

GEORGE ORWELL WARNED US OF THE DANGER OF BEING WATCHED BY DEFAULT AND INSTALLING A SYSTEM THAT RECORDS EVERY DAY TRAVEL BRINGS THAT RIGHT TO ST. JOHNS COUNTY.

FURTHERMORE THE STATE RARELY STAYS LOCAL NOR IS IT A ONE TIME COST. FLOCK NETWORKS ROUTINELY SHARE LOCATON HISTORIES ACROSS REGIONAL DATABASES WITH MINIMAL LOCAL OVERSIGHT ALL WHILE LOCKING OUR TOWN INTO AN ANNUAL SUBSCRIPTION COST. OUR TAXPAYER DOLLARS COULD BE MUCH BETTER SPENT ON ROAD IMPROVEMENT OR OTHER ESSENTIAL PUBLIC SERVICES. PUBLIC SAFETY MATTERS BUT WE SHOULD BE CAREFUL ABOUT SPENDING LIMITED TAXPAYER DOLLARS ON TECHNOLOGY THAT VIOLATES THE PRIVACY AND CONSTITUTIONAL RIGHTS OF LAW ABIDING CITIZENS. WANTS A SURVEILLANCE SYSTEM IS INSTALLED AND EXPANDED IT IS VERY DIFFICULT TO ROLL IT BACK AND GOVERNMENTS RARELY DO SO. IF THE COUNTY GOVERNMENT WANTS TO USE THIS TECHNOLOGY IT SHOULD FIRST APPROVE IT AS NECESSARY, AND PROTECTED BY STRICT RULES. THERE SHOULD BE TRANSPARENCY, PUBLIC INPUT, LIMITS ON DATA RETENTION AND STRONG ACCOUNTABILITY. THE BURDEN SHOULD NOT BE ON RESIDENTS TO PROVE THEY DESERVE PRIVACY, THE BURDEN SHOULD BE ON THE GOVERNMENT TO PROVE THE INCREASED SURVEILLANCE IS WORTH THE COST AND THE RISK. AM NOT ASKING FOR LESS SAFETY, I'M ASKING FOR SAFETY MEASURES THAT PROTECT BOTH OUR COMMUNITY AND OUR RIGHTS. PLEASE DO NOT MAKE TAXPAYERS UNDER SURVEILLANCE SYSTEM, PUBLIC CONSENT.

THANK YOU. [APPLAUSE]

>> GOOD EVENING. >> GOOD EVENING, DAVIS, BUSINESS OWNER. THANK YOU FOR AN OPPORTUNITY TO SPEAK, I WANT TO ADDRESS THE ARGUMENT WE HEAR IN SUPPORT OF FLOCK CAMERAS AND OTHER AUTOMATED LICENSE PLATE READER SYSTEMS. THERE IS NO EXPECTATION OF PRIVACY IN PUBLIC SO PEOPLE SHOULD NOT CARE IF THEY ARE RECORDED. THAT ARGUMENT MISSES A FUNDAMENTAL ISSUES AND I DON'T FEEL THE TAXPAYERS SHOULD BE FUNDING IT. THIS IS NOT SIMPLY ABOUT TRANSPARENCY, IS NOT JUST ABOUT WANTING TO KNOW HOW LONG DATA IS STORED AND IF IT HAS ACCESS TO. THOSE ARE IMPORTANT QUESTIONS BUT THE LARGER ISSUE IS WHETHER THIS TYPE OF SURVEILLANCE IS CONSTITUTIONAL IN THE FIRST PLACE.

THERE IS A MAJOR DIFFERENCE BETWEEN BEING OBSERVED IN PUBLIC AND BEING SUBJECTED TO A GOVERNMENT CREATED SYSTEM THAT ANALYZES YOUR MOVEMENTS. SEEING SOMEONE DRIVE DOWN THE ROAD IS NOT THE SAME AS CREATING A SEARCHABLE DATABASE OF WHERE EVERY VEHICLE HAS TRAVELED, WHEN IT HAS TRAVELED, AND POTENTIALLY BUILDING A RECORD OF A PERSON'S ACTIVITIES OVER TIME.

THE FACT THAT WE MOVE THROUGH PUBLIC SPACES DOES NOT MEAN YOU SHOULD SURRENDER ALL PRIVACY. THE CONSTITUTION -- PROTECTS PEOPLE AGAINST UNREASONABLE SEARCHES AND SEIZURES AND IT PROTECTS THE RIGHT TO BE SECURE IN OUR HOUSES.

A PERSON'S MOVEMENTS AND ASSOCIATIONS CAN RELY DEEPLY PERSONAL INFORMATION ABOUT OUR LIFE TREATING EVERY INNOCENT PERSONS VEHICLE, MOVEMENTS AS DATA TO BE COLLECTED AND SEARCHED WITHOUT WARRANT RAISES SERIOUS CONSTITUTIONAL CONCERNS.

THE ARGUMENT THAT IF YOU HAVE NOTHING TO HIDE YOU HAVE NOTHING TO FEAR HAS BEEN USED THROUGHOUT HISTORY TO JUSTIFY EXPANDING GOVERNMENT SURVEILLANCE BUT CONSTITUTIONAL RIGHTS DO NOT EXIST ONLY FOR PEOPLE WHO ARE SUSPECT OF WRONGDOING FEAR THEY EXIST TO PROTECT EVERYONE. THE QUESTION IS NOT WHETHER A LICENSE PLATE IS VISIBLE THE QUESTION IS WHETHER THE GOVERNMENT SHOULD BE ALLOWED TO CONTINUOUSLY COLLECT AND SEARCH INFORMATION ABOUT LAW ABIDING CITIZENS WITHOUT INDIVIDUALIZED SUSPICION OR WARRANT. I BELIEVE THESE SYSTEMS REPRESENT NONCONSTITUTIONAL EXPANSION OF SURVEILLANCE, POWER AND I AM ASKING THE COUNTY TO REMOVE FLOCK CAMERAS ENTIRELY RATHER THAN NORMALIZE A SYSTEM THAT TREATS EVERY RESIDENT AS A SUBJECT OF INVESTIGATION. PUBLIC SAFETY IS IMPORTANT BUT CONSTITUTIONAL RIGHTS ARE NOT OPTIONAL.

WE SHOULD NOT SACRIFICE THE FREEDOMS WE ARE SWORN TO PROTECT IN EXCHANGE FOR A PROMISE OF SECURITY.

THE SHERIFF REQUESTING ADDITIONAL FUNDING TO SUPPORT FLOCK CAMERAS IS RIDICULOUS. IT'S FRIVOLOUS AND UNNECESSARY SPENDING. CITIZENS ARE FORCED TO MAKE CUTS, AND BUDGET TO LIVE WITHIN OUR MEANS, OUR GOVERNMENT SHOULD BE REQUIRED TO AS WELL. WE SHOULD NOT BE BURDENED WITH THE ADDITIONAL COST FOR LAW ENFORCEMENT TO PAY FOR SPYING ON CITIZENS IN CASE SOME DAY THEY MIGHT COMMIT A CRIME.

TODAY I RESPECTFULLY ASK THIS BOARD TO MAKE A MOTION TO CONSIDER REMOVING THE CAMERAS FROM OUR COUNTY RIGHT OF WAYS.

THANK YOU. WE SERVE THE GOD, COUNTRY AND

CONSTITUTION. >> THANK YOU.

>> GOOD EVENING. >> GOOD EVENING MY NAME IS RYAN ROBINSON I LIVE AND WORK IN SAINT JOHNS COUNTY.

I STAND HERE TONIGHT AS A TAXPAYER, A NEIGHBOR AND A STRONG SUPPORTER OF PUBLIC SAFETY.

WE ALL WANT SAFE NEIGHBORHOODS AND DEEPLY VALUE OUR SHERIFFS AND DEPUTY BUT AS WE REVIEW LAW ENFORCEMENT EXPENDITURES WE SHOULD BE ASKING ARE WE SPENDING PUBLIC FUNDS ON ACTUAL COMMUNITY

[01:00:01]

THAT IS A QUARTER BILLION SNAPSHOTS OF INNOCENT DRIVERS COMMUTING TO WORK, DROPPING KIDS OFF AT SCHOOL AND RUNNING ERRANDS TO PRODUCE A NUMBER OF ARRESTS YOU COULD FIT IN A SINGLE SCHOOL BUS. ONE-THIRD PARTY VENDORS BUILD CENTRALIZED PATTERN OF LIFE PROFILES SHOWING WHERE WE LIVE, WORK AND WORSHIP IT STRIPS AWAY EVERYDAY PRIVACY AND CREATES A MASSIVE HONEYPOT FOR HACKERS. FURTHERMORE THESE SYSTEMS ARE FOR -- FAR FROM INFALLIBLE. OVERRELIANCE ON MATCHES LEAD TO CATASTROPHIC ERRORS. INNOCENT CITIZENS WITH ZERO CRIMINAL RECORDS SUBJECTED TO HIGH RISK FELONY STOPS.

RELYING ON SOFTWARE OVER TRADITIONAL POLICE WORK EX -- EXPOSES TAXPAYERS TO METIS -- MASSIVE CIVIL RIGHTS LIABILITY.

WORST OF ALL TRUE OVERSIGHT IS BEING BLOCKED FROM PUBLIC RECORDS WERE REQUESTED TO SEE WHO IS SEARCHING THIS DATABASE THEY QUOTED A PRICE TAG OF $152,000 JUST TO RELEASE THE AUDIT LOGS. THE AGENCY ADMITS IT DOES NOT TRACK FALSE POSITIVES AND DESPITE THEIR POLICY 41.35 EXPLICITLY COMMANDING AN ANNUAL EVALUATION OF THE PROGRAM'S EFFECTIVENESS THE SHERIFF'S OFFICE ADMITTED IN WRITING THAT NO SUCH RECORDS EXIST. WE DO NOT HAVE TO COMPROMISE OUR CONSTITUTIONAL RIGHTS FOR SAFETY.

PROVEN HUMAN CENTERED APPROACHES LIKE COMMUNITY POLICING, ENVIRONMENTAL DESIGN AND TARGETED VIOLENT CRIME INTERVENTION ARE FAR MORE EFFECTIVE AT REDUCING CRIME BY BUILDING TRUST RATHER THAN TRACKING CITIZENS.

UNDER THE FOURTH AMENDMENT 247 WARRANTLESS TRACKING ON PUBLIC ROADS IS FUNDAMENTAL OVERREACH. I ASK THIS BOARD TO NIGHT TO TAKE A FIRM STAND FOR CONSTITUTIONAL RIGHTS, AMEND THE FISCAL YEAR 2027 BUDGET, DEFUND THE $500,000 A LPR UPKEEP, MANDATE THE PHYSICAL REMOVAL OF ALL A LPL UNITS, AUDIT THE REMAINING $3 MILLION IN SURVEILLANCE CONTRACTS TO PHASE THEM OUT ENTIRELY AND REFUSE FUTURE RENEWALS.

LET'S KEEP SAINT JOHN'S COUNTY SAFE, FISCALLY RESPONSIBLE AND FREE. THANK YOU.

[APPLAUSE] >> GOOD EVENING.

>> HELLO. I HAVE PREPARED A FULLY SOURCED RISK ASSESSMENT ON THE ALPRS SYSTEM AND I GAVE IT TO THE CLERK AND A QUICK SUMMARY THUS COMING AROUND TO YOU FROM THE ATTORNEY HERE. YOU HAVE HEARD FROM RESIDENTS WHO DO NOT WANT TO BE WATCHED, I AGREE WITH THEM OF COURSE.

BUT I SPENT 12 YEARS IN ARMY GREEN BERET, SPECIALIZING IN INTELLIGENCE DOING THE WATCHING. I RAN A PROGRAM THAT USED HOSTILE -- AGAINST OUR OWN SPECIALIZED OPERATIONS UNIT TO TEACH THEM HOW THEY CAN BE EXPLOITED.

I WANT TO TELL YOU WHAT THIS TECHNOLOGY IS FROM THE OTHER SIDE OF THE COIN. A CAMERA PHOTOGRAPHS EVERY CAR THAT PASSES IT KICKS OFF IT READS THE PLATE AND CHARACTERIZES AND PUSHES IT TO A PRIVATE COMPANY SERVER WHERE IT STAYS FOR A YEAR. SOUTH COUNTY HAS A RECORD OF WHERE EVERY CAR HAS BEEN FOR 12 MONTHS AND NO ONE IN THIS MEETING CONTROLS IT. FLOCK DOES.

IN MY WORK THAT COLLECTION WAS A HARD.

EVERYTHING ELSE IS EASY. TAKE A PLATE, RUN IT AGAINST THE STATE'S RECORDS AND YOU HAVE A NAME.

AT COMMERCIAL RECORDS AND YOU HAVE A HOME, A PHONE, RELATIVES AND ASSOCIATES. LAY THAT TOGETHER WITH SOCIAL MEDIA AND A PHOTO OF A CAR BECOMES A FULL INTELLIGENCE WORKUP OF A PERSON, WHERE THEY LIVE, WHERE THEY WORK, WHO THEY SEE AND WHEN. THE SHERIFF'S OFFICE KNOWS THIS.

IN THE GRANT APPLICATION THE STATE APPROVED LAST DECEMBER A WROTE ONE YEAR OF STORAGE QUOTE ALLOWS LAW ENFORCEMENT TO DEVELOP A PATTERN OF LIFE TO POTENTIALLY IDENTIFY A HOME AND WORK LOCATIONS. THAT IS THE STATED PURPOSE.

HERE THE PROBLEM. NEITHER WE NOR YOU GET TO CHOOSE WHO ACTUALLY USES IT. THAT DATA IS FED TO FEDERAL AGENCIES AND WHETHER IT IS IN THE VENDOR'S NATIONAL SHARING NETWORK THE SHERIFF'S OFFICE. WHERE'S, THE SYSTEMS COMPROMISED. CONGRESSIONAL STAFF FOUND AT LEAST 35 FLOCK CREDENTIALS CIRCULATING IN CRIMINAL MARKETS AND ACCOUNTS FOR SALE ON RUSSIAN CYBERCRIME FORUMS. THE BUYERS ARE UNKNOWN. THAT IS A POINT.

THE SHERIFF'S OWN POLICY REQUIRES AUDITS OF THE PROGRAMS I REQUESTED THEM, THE 27TH OF AUGUST AND HAVE NOT RECEIVED THEM HERE NOW THINK ABOUT WHO WANT THIS ARCHIVE THE MOST. NOT THE DEPUTY WITH A GRUDGE BUT A FOREIGN INTELLIGENCE SERVICE OR SOME SORT OF FORIGN ADVERSARY. THIS COUNTRY IS HOME -- THIS COUNTY IS HOME TO MANY MILITARY SPECIAL OPERATIONS AND INTELLIGENCE PROFESSIONALS AND THEIR FAMILIES.

AND ADVERSARY WITH IT YOUR OTHER MOVEMENT HAS THEIR HOME, THEIR ROUTINE, THEIR SPOUSES COMMUTE, THEIR CHILDREN'S SCHOOLS AND THE DAY THE ROUTINE CHANGES BECAUSE THEY DEPLOYED.

THAT IS HOW YOU PICK OUT THE ONES WORTH TARGETING.

I KNOW BECAUSE THAT'S WHAT I DID AGAINST OUR NATION'S ADVERSARIES OVERSEAS. THE DEFENSE DEPARTMENT HAS WARNED THAT GEOLOCATIONAL DATA EXPOSES ITS PERSONNEL AND INCREASES RISK TO FORCE BUT THIS COUNTY IS NOW GENERATING THAT DATA FOR THEM. IN THE PRIVATE SECTOR BEHIND

[01:05:03]

I'M NOT QUESTIONING THE SHERIFF OR THE BOARD, YOUR ATTENTIONS ARE NOT AT RISK HERE. THE PROPOSAL IS TO REMOVE THAT

FROM THE FUNDING. >> THANK YOU.

[APPLAUSE] >> HELLO, MY NAME IS ANGELA, I'M ACTUALLY NOT HERE TO TALK ABOUT FLOCK CAMERAS, I'M ACTUALLY HERE TO TALK ABOUT OUR EXTENSION CENTER AND OUR 4H YOUTH DEVELOPMENT PROGRAM WHICH MANY OF OUR COMMISSIONERS ARE FAMILIAR WITH I AM A VERY PASSIONATE VOLUNTEER AND YOUTH LEADER. AND I HAVE BEEN SINCE I'VE COME TO THIS COUNTY IN 2017. I KNOW THAT THERE ARE WITH OUR AMENDMENT THREE THERE ARE SOME PROPOSALS TO POSSIBLY LOSE SOME OF OUR EXTENSIONS IN OUR FUNDING.

I WOULD REALLY HATE TO SEE THAT HAPPEN FOR OUR YOUTH.

IF ANY OF YOU HAVE BEEN TO OUR PUBLIC SPEAKING CONTEST YOU HAVE SEEN SOME OF OUR YOUTH REALLY DEVELOP AND MOST RECENTLY AT THIS LAST ONE, THERE WAS A BOY THERE NAMED JASON.

WHEN I FIRST MET JASON HE WOULD TALK LIKE THIS AND YOU COULD NOT UNDERSTAND A WORD HE WAS SAYING. AND IF YOU WERE THERE AND YOU SAW HIS SPEECHES YOU WOULD SEE HOW MUCH HE IMPROVED.

ALL OF THAT IS POSSIBLE BECAUSE OF HAVING A FUNDED EXTENSION CENTER. THE EXTENSION CENTER IS NOT JUST ABOUT OUR YOUTH. IT'S ALSO ABOUT OUR HOMESTEADERS, OUR FARMERS AND ANYBODY ELSE IN THIS COUNTY WHO WANTS TO TAKE THE TIME TO LEARN HOW TO CAN, PRESERVE FOOD, BE MORE SELF-SUFFICIENT, LEARN HOW TO FARM.

LEARN HOW TO GROW PLANTS WHICH I HAVE A BLACK THUMB.

I NEED HELP IN THAT AREA. AGAIN BACK TO OUR YOUTH.

HOPE -- HELP OUR YOUTH BECOME ADULTS RESPONSIBLE LIKE US.

ABLE TO SPEAK IN PUBLIC AND BE EDUCATED.

AND TALK ABOUT THE SUBJECTS THEY ARE PASSIONATE ABOUT.

I KNOW EVERYONE HAS TALKED ABOUT THE FLOCK CAMERAS TONIGHT AND HAS ASKED FOR THEM TO BE DEFUNDED AND IF THAT IS THE CASE INSTEAD OF GIVING IT TO THE SHERIFF'S DEPARTMENT I ASK THAT YOU PLEASE GIVE IT TO THE EXTENSION CENTER BECAUSE LIFE WITHOUT THEM WOULD BE A LOT MORE CHALLENGING FOR A LOT OF US RESIDENTS WHO DO LIVE IN THE AGRICULTURAL AREAS OF THE COUNTY AND IT WOULD ALSO BE DETRIMENTAL FOR SOME OF OUR OLDER VOLUNTEERS LIKE THE PEACEMAKERS WHO SPENT A LOT OF TIME COMING IN TO TEACH CHILDREN SOMETHING THAT THEY ARE PASSIONATE ABOUT AND TO KEEP THE LEGACY OF THE LANE. I ALSO WANT TO MENTION A COUPLE OF OTHER CHANGES AND HOW IT HAS AFFECTED SOME OTHER KIDS.

MY OWN CHILD PERSONALLY, IT HAS HELPED HER EARN SCHOLARSHIPS WHEN SHE WOULD NOT HAVE HAD A CHANCE TO EARN THEM AND BEING IN A LOWER FUNDED AREA OF THE COUNTY WHERE PEOPLE ARE POOR AND MAYBE DON'T MAKE AS MUCH MONEY IN PEOPLE IN NOCATEE IN YOUTH DEVELOPMENT IS VERY IMPORTANT FOR THEM TO GROW INTO STRONG ADULTS. SO THANK YOU AGAIN.

>> THANK YOU. >> ANYONE ELSE?

>> GOOD EVENING. >> HELLO, DENVER COOK PROTECTED ADDRESS. I WOULD ASK IF YOU WOULD GIVE ME TWO OF HIS FIVE PEER SO THAT YOU GUYS COULD SEE HIM.

>> I APPRECIATE EVERYONE TO COME IN AND TALK ABOUT CAMERAS, I RESPECT YOU, I LOVE THE WORK OF THE DEPARTMENT AND WHAT YOU DO.

WITH THAT SAID, IF YOU LOOK UP HERE WE TALK ABOUT 2026, YOU LOOK AT THE TOTAL PROPERTY TAXES, $399 MILLION AND THAT'S WHAT YOU GUYS ARE HERE TO TALK ABOUT.

EITHER ROLLBACK OR FINAL. IF YOU DO A FULL ROLLBACK YOU ARE STILL SEEING $414 MILLION INCREASE.

THAT'S DOING A FULL ROLLBACK. YOU ARE STILL GOING TO COLLECT 14 MORE MILLION DOLLARS THAN YOU DID LAST YEAR.

IF YOU DON'T DO A ROLLBACK YOU ARE COLLECTING 26 MORE MILLION DOLLARS THAN YOU DID IN 26. THAT 12 MILLION EXTRA DOLLARS FROM PEOPLE WHO ALREADY WERE HERE.

14 COMES FROM IT, 12 FROM THE BACKS OF US WHO HAVE BEEN PAYING TAXES FOR YEARS, OUR HOME VALUES HAVE NOT GONE UP.

OTHER THAN BY WHATEVER THE PROPERTY APPRAISER SAYS.

I WANT YOU TO THINK ABOUT THAT WHEN YOU MAKE YOUR VOTES.

YOU ARE ASKING FOR 12 MILLION EXTRA DOLLARS FROM THE PEOPLE WHO HAVE BEEN LIVING HERE FOR YEARS.

NOT THE DEVELOPERS AT THE NEW HOMES OR THE NEW BUSINESSES.

CAN YOU GET TO THAT OTHER ONE. WHICH IS AMENDMENT THREE.

[01:10:06]

THERE'S ONE THING I WANT TO POINT OUT TO THIS.

MR. CHAIRMAN OF THE PARTY, IT'S SOMETHING WE'RE LOOKING FORWARD TO. THIS CHART WHICH WAS PUT TOGETHER BY A WELL KNOWN ORGANIZATION CALLED 28 A $68 MILLION CUT TO YOUR FUNDING. AND 136,000,000 IN 2029.

136 MILLION IS COMPOUNDED. YOU'RE GOING TO LOSE 68,000,000 IN 28. YOU'RE GOING TO LOSE 67,000,000 IN 29. IT'S 16 AND 16 NOT 16 AND 32.

BEYOND THAT WE WOULD HAVE MADE THE SPENDING AND THE DEPARTMENT'S. 20, 30 AT THE 191 MILLION.

I DON'T KNOW WHY WE WERE EVEN PUTTING THOSE NUMBERS UP THEN TO SCARE PEOPLE. IT SIMPLY COMPOUNDED INCOME.

YOU ARE NOT AN INCOME GENERATOR, YOU ARE NOT JOHNSON & JOHNSON, YOU ARE NOT COCA COLA. YOU ARE NOT ONE DAYS TRYING TO FIGURE OUT HOW TO KEEP YOUR INCOME GOING.

YOU ARE TAKING OUR MONEY FOR SERVICES.

WILL I SAY THIS WILL BE WITHOUT CHALLENGES? IT WILL BE WITH CHALLENGES. WE WILL MAKE SOME TOUGH DECISIONS INCLUDING ADDING NEW TAXES PERHAPS WE NEED TO INCREASE AND GET THE OTHER $0.06 IN GAS TAX, WE HAVE BUCKIES WE COULD DO. THAT WOULD GO DIRECTLY TO FIXING THE ROADS PROBLEMS AND HAVE SOME SALES TAX.

THAT'S GOING TO REQUIRE YOU GUYS TO DO A BIT OF WORK.

THANK YOU. [APPLAUSE]

>> GOOD EVENING. >> JUST A MOMENT PLEASE.

>> SORRY. COUNTY COMMISSIONERS, CITIZENS OF SAINT JOHN COUNTY, GOOD MORNING.

I'M GENERAL NUISANCE, MY BADGE NUMBER IS HOTEL ALPHA HOTEL ALPHA, OSCAR. LIMA ALPHA LIMA HOTEL, I AM HERE ALONG WITH COLONEL ERNEST AND PRIVATE CITIZEN AND WE REPRESENT THAT CLOWN ARMY, WENT INTERNATIONAL... IN THE NAME OF NATURAL LAW WHICH IS THE PRINCIPLE UNDERLYING OUR CONSTITUTION. THAT ALL BEINGS ARE ENDOWED WITH GOD GIVEN RIGHTS THAT THE GOVERNMENT IS SWORN TO PROTECT.

TO DAY WE APPROACH YOU ON BEHALF OF GENERAL LADD, GENERAL OVERREACH, GENERAL OVERLOAD, GENERAL AI APOCALYPSE, GENERAL DISRESPECT AND DISREGARD OF THE BILL OF RIGHTS, GENERAL LAWLESSNESS OF BYLAW ENFORCEMENT, THE MINISTER OF PROPAGANDA AND MANY PRIVATE CITIZENS.

OUR PURPOSE HERE TODAY IS CLOWN ARMY OFFICIALS AND NICE ENCOURAGEMENT OFFICERS IS TO ISSUE OFFICIAL NICE CITATIONS AND EDUCATIONAL TOOLS TO ASSIST YOUR UNDERSTANDING OF THE BILL OF RIGHTS AND YOUR ROLE IN SAFEGUARDING IT.

WE WILL BEGIN WITH OUR PRAYER TO SAINT STEWART WHO IS A PATRON SAINT OF CLOWNS POLITICIANS, POLICE OFFICERS AND SOMETIMES FOOLISH. OH, HOLY SAINT STUPID PLEASE HELP THE STUPID INSYNC OUR BLIND SPOTS AND HELP US TO SEE WHERE WE HAVE BEEN WRONGED AND TO CORRECT OUR ERRORS.

AMEN. NOW FOR NICE CITATIONS, SHERIFF HARDWICK YOU'RE AN ARMY VETERAN AND OFFICER OF 30 PLUS YEARS, THANK YOU FOR YOUR SERVICE MY BROTHER IN ARMS. COMMISSIONER MURPHY 30 YEARS AS STATE TROOPER AND A MEAN BARBECUE. THANK YOU, SIR, MY BROTHER IN ARMS. COMMISSIONER ARNOLD, YOU HELPED THE VULNERABLE PEOPLE THROUGH CHARITABLE WORKS, THANK YOU.

COMMISSIONER WHITE -- I CAN'T READ WHAT I WROTE, WHITEHURST, OF COURSE THAT YOU ARE. COMMISSIONER WHITEHURST, YOUR SUPPORT OF VETERANS AND FIRST RESPONDERS THANK YOU COMMISSIONER TAYLOR YOU BROUGHT TOOLS TO PROTECT THE HEART OF PEOPLE, THANK YOU COMMISSIONER JOSEPH YOU RAISED US NAVY SEALS, BY GOSH SUPERMOM THANK YOU. NOW, AREAS FOR IMPROVEMENT, BY YOUR AUTHORITY ST. JOHNS COUNTY UNWARRANTED SEARCHES AND DIRECT VIOLATION OF THE FOURTH AMENDMENT WHICH EXPLICITLY PROTECTS AGAINST UNWARRANTED SEARCHES.

YOU ALSO SHARE THIS DATA WITH ICE WHO IS RESPONSIBLE FOR THE DEATH OF AN INNOCENT TOURIST ON OUR STREETS LAST JULY.

INITIATING FULL COMMISSIONER SHERIFF COUNCIL MEMBERS THIS IS THE TYPE OF CRIME THAT WE WANT TO STOP BEFORE IT HAPPENS.

IN 1768 SEMI ORLEANS PROCLAIMED THE NATIONS THAT IF A NATION'S CONSTITUTION IS DESTROYED SO WHETHER NATION ITSELF BE DESTROYED. TO HELP YOU FULLY UNDERSTAND THIS WE'RE ISSUING YOU THESE BILL OF RIGHTS FLIP-FLOPS WHICH CONTAIN THE BILL OF RIGHTS INSIDE OF THEM.

PLEASE IF YOU WILL. WE ASK YOU TO PLEASE WEAR THEM AND FEEL HOW THE STEPS YOU TAKE CAN EITHER PROTECT OR DESTROY THE BILL OF RIGHTS. FINALLY WE ASK YOU TO DEFUND THE 500 KALPR THANK YOU. THANK YOU.

IF YOU WANT TO DISCUSS THIS MORE YOU KNOW HOW TO FIND ME SHERIFF.

[01:15:02]

>> THAT DOESN'T MAKE ME FEEL SAFER.

>> WHO DO WE GIVE THESE TO TO PASS THEM OUT?

>> I THINK YOU SHOULD GIVE THEM TO KIMI WEST, THAT'S WHAT I

THINK YOU SHOULD DO. >> WE HAVE A PAIR FOR EACH OF

YOU. >> THANK YOU.

AND WE HAVE YOUR NICE CITATIONS HERE AS WELL.

>> WONDERFUL, YOU CAN GIVE THAT TO THEM ALSO.

SHE'LL TAKE CARE OF THAT FOR YOU.

[LAUGHTER] >> GOOD EVENING GOOD EVENING, YOU ALL KNOW ME. I AM GOING TO BE USING THE OVERHEAD HERE, IF YOU COULD ZOOM IN A LITTLE BIT THAT WOULD BE GREAT. I'M GOING TO SHOW YOU HOW EASY OUR DATA HAS BEEN SPREAD ACROSS THE COUNTRY.

SO THIS IS A SIMPLE WEBSITE, HAVE I BEEN FLOXED.COM, ANYONE CAN GO TO IT. AND WHEN YOU GO HERE YOU WILL CLICK AT THIS TOP AREA AND YOU WILL CLICK ON AGENCIES.

WHEN YOU GET HERE YOU CAN TYPE IN THE SEARCH AGENCY AND WE WILL DO THAT BUT I WANT TO TAKE A LOOK AT THE NUMBER DOWN HERE.

6598 AGENCIES. LET'S KEEP THAT NUMBER IN MIND.

NOW I WILL CLICK HERE AND WE WILL SEARCH ST. JOHNS COUNTY.

WE WILL PULL IT UP, PHOTO, SHERIFF'S OFFICE.

IT IS GOING TO PULL UP ALL THE INFORMATION IT HAS COLLECTED.

THIS INFORMATION ALL COMES FROM OUTSIDE OF FLORIDA.

THIS IS FROM OTHER AGENCIES. I NEED THAT TO SINK IN, OTHER AGENCIES HAVE REPORTED ALL OF THIS DATA.

SO I'M NOT GOING TO DO ALL OF THEM IT'S FOR DEPUTIES I'M NOT GOING TO CLICK ON THAT PAGE BUT WE ARE GOING TO GO TO THIS SCENE AND THIS OVERVIEW. OPERATORS ARE ANOTHER NAME FOR DEPUTIES, AND IF YOU SEE HERE AT THE TOP OPERATOR NAME AND THAT YOU WILL SEE THESE NAMES. WE HAVE 279 OPERATORS HERE IN SAINT JOHNS COUNTY, YET THERE IS 57,774 TRUNCATED NAMES FOR OUR AGENCY. THAT MEANS THAT NAMES HAVE BEEN PUT IN DIFFERENTLY EVERY -- AT LEAST 207 TIMES PER OFFICER.

THAT TELLS YOU SOMETHING. NOW, THERE'S A LOT OF OTHER INFORMATION ON HERE IT WILL LEAD YOU BACK ALL TO THE ORIGINAL PUBLIC RECORDS FROM OUT OF STATE.

ANOTHER THING I'M GOING TO LOOK AT IS CLEARING REPORTS.

WE'RE GOING TO LOOK DOWN HERE AND YOU WILL SEE NETWORKS RIGHT HERE, THAT'S THE AGENCY'S. THIS IS SAINT JOHNS COUNTY SEARCHING, RESEARCHED 6500 AND WHATEVER IT IS AGENCIES.

THAT IS ACROSS THE COUNTRY. ACROSS THE COUNTRY WE DID A SEARCH FOR DISORDERLY CONDUCT, ALSO ALL OF THOSE AGENCIES CAN SEARCH OUR STUFF. OUR CAMERAS, THEY CAN SEARCH OUR DATA, EVERYTHING. THE LIST LITERALLY GOES ON AND ON AND ON. THIS IS JUST STUFF THAT HAS BEEN FROM OUTSIDE AGENCIES. NOW LET ME HURRY AND MAKE THIS QUICK BECAUSE THERE'S AUDIT LOGS.

THERE ARE -- LET ME COME DOWN HERE I WILL POINT THIS OUT.

OF THE CASES RELEASED ON HERE 190,000, 109,660 OF THEM HAVE NO CASE NUMBER ASSOCIATED WITH THEM.

ISN'T THAT WORRISOME? JUST A LITTLE BIT? AREN'T WE A LITTLE WORRIED? I MEAN COME ON.

IF THIS DOESN'T TELL YOU ENOUGH, THIS IS ALL ACTIVE.

ANYONE CAN GET THIS, ANYONE CAN LOOK AT THESE PUBLIC RECORDS.

I AM URGING YOU TO MAKE A MOTION TONIGHT TO TAKE ALL OF THESE CAMERAS DOWN. AND IT.

THANK YOU GUYS. [APPLAUSE]

>> GOOD EVENING. >> I'M COLONEL ERNEST REBEL CLOWN ARMY, THANK YOU EVERYONE FOR BEING HERE AS SOMEONE WHO HAS DONE A LOT OF VOLUNTEER SERVICE, I KNOW THAT MOSTLY NO ONE APPRECIATES IT, 10% OR IS IT 100% OF THE WORK IS DONE BY 10% OF THE PEOPLE, I'M A HUGE FAN OF OUR LAW ENFORCEMENT, I'M A HUGE FAN OF OUR FIREFIGHTERS, I'M A HUGE FAN OF OUR COUNTY SERVICES, I LOVE THIS TOWN AND I LOVE MY COUNTY AND I LOVE MY COUNTRY.

THAT BEING SAID FOR ALL OF THE PEOPLE THAT CAME UP TODAY TO SPEAK ON FLOCK, IF EVERY SINGLE PERSON IS A REGISTERED VOTER WE WOULD HAVE ENOUGH FOR A JURY OF OUR PEERS TO SAY NO, THANK YOU, WE DO NOT WANT THIS IN OUR COUNTY, WE DO NOT WANT THIS IN OUR TOWN, WE DO NOT WANT THIS IN OUR COUNTRY AND I WOULD HOPE AND URGE EVERYONE WHO WAS PARTIALLY MAYBE ON THE FENCE TO THINK ABOUT THAT. EVERY SINGLE PERSON WHO CAME UP TO SPEAK ON THIS HAS SPOKEN AGAINST IT.

THANK YOU SO MUCH. [APPLAUSE]

>> ARE THERE ANY OTHER PUBLIC COMMENTS AT THIS TIME?

[01:20:05]

>> OKAY, BACK TO WADE, LEAD US THROUGH THIS.

>> THANK YOU FOR CONSIDERATION, THE SEPARATE RESOLUTIONS, THE FIRST OF WHICH IS THE FINAL BUDGET RESOLUTION, IT DID PROVIDE PACKETS WITH THE RESOLUTIONS TO YOU FOR YOUR LEISURE. UP ON THE SCREEN ARE THE PROPOSED MILLAGE RATES OR THE FINAL PROPOSED MILLAGE RATES FOR FISCAL YEAR 2027 AND AGAIN THESE ARE PROPOSED TO BE FLAT FROM FISCAL YEAR 2026 AND THAT REPRESENTS ABOVE THE ROLLBACK

2.14% ABOVE THE ROLLBACK RATE. >> THANK YOU, ANY DISCUSSION OF

THE BOARD? >> DID YOU HAVE ANYTHING?

>> THANK YOU CHAIR. FIRST OFF I WOULD APPRECIATE EVERYONE COMING OUT TODAY I APPRECIATE THE ENTERTAINMENT VALUE YOU GUYS THAT WAS GREAT. THAT BEING SAID I DO THINK THAT WE AS A BOARD DO NEED TO DISCUSS WHAT IS BECOMING A VERY I WON'T CALL IT A HOT TOPIC OR A FLAVOR OF THE WEEK BUT IT IS THE FLOCK CAMERAS AND THE DIFFERENCE IN THE AI TECHNOLOGY THAT IS BEING OPERATED WITH VERSUS THE STANDARD LICENSE PLATE READERS.

I THINK THAT AGAIN, I MIGHT BE THE ONLY ONE WHO FEELS THIS WAY BUT I THINK AS A BOARD WE NEED TO DISCUSS WHERE WE STAND AND WHAT WE BELIEVE BECAUSE IT IS A SIGNIFICANT AMOUNT OF FUNDING AS WELL AS THE FACT THAT I THINK THERE'S A PLACE IN COUNTY ROADWAYS THAT THE SHERIFF'S OFFICE WAS GRANTED.

SPECIALLY USED PERMITS, ADMINISTRATIVELY.

I DON'T THINK IT WAS ANYTHING THAT EVER CAME ABOVE THE BOARD.

>> WE ARE NOT AWARE OF ANY SPECIAL USE PERMITS FOR FLOCK

CAMERAS. >> THROUGH THE CHAIR TO COMMISSIONER ARNOLD CARTWRIGHT OF WAY PERMITS I BELIEVE MR. CALDWELL IS HERE, WE HAVE ISSUED RIGHT OF WAY PERMIT.

>> THAT WAS HANDLED ADMINISTRATIVELY WOW THAT NEVER

CAME BEFORE THE BOARD WOW. >> THEY DO NOT COME BEFORE THE

BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS. >> THE ESSENCE OF TRANSPARENCY, AS A BOARD WE NEED TO HAVE A CONVERSATION ABOUT THIS BECAUSE SOME PRETTY -- THERE'S BEEN A LOT OF LEADERSHIP ACROSS THE STATE THAT HAS BEEN MAKING SOME PRETTY HARD AND STEADFAST POSITIONS ON THIS KIND OF STUFF. I'M GETTING THE EMAILS AND THE PHONE CALLS AND THERE'S A LOT OF A LOT OF VALID CONCERN THERE PIER ABOUT NOT NECESSARILY THE LICENSE PLATE READERS BUT THE AI TRACKING CAPABILITIES AND WHAT THEY ARE OR WHAT THEY MAY BE AND WE DON'T EVEN KNOW IT. I WANTED TO OPEN THIS ITEM UP

FOR DISCUSSION. >> THANK YOU COMMISSIONER ARNOLD. I HAVE BEEN VERY VOCAL IN MY SUPPORT OF LICENSE PLATE READERS, I THINK LICENSE PLATE READERS HAVE SERVED A VERY VALUABLE TOOL, HAS SERVED AS A VERY VALUABLE TOOL IN LAW ENFORCEMENT, I'VE BEEN VOCAL AND SUPPORTIVE OF US USING IT BUT I ALSO REALIZE THAT THERE ARE QUESTIONS THAT WE NEED ANSWERS TO AND AS WE GO FORWARD, I KNOW THAT THE SHERIFFS AND THE SHERIFF'S OFFICE AND THE MEN AND WOMEN THAT WORK THERE CAN HELP US PROVIDE THAT INFORMATION SO I WOULD SUPPORT A CONVERSATION WHERE WE CAN SIT DOWN AROUND THE TABLE AND DISCUSS OUR DATA, THE AI CAPABILITIES AND THE CAMERAS THAT WE HAVE HERE WHO SEES THE DATA, HOW LONG IS THE STORED, THOSE ARE QUESTIONS THAT ARE FAIR TO ASK.

I WOULD SUPPORT A CONSENSUS FOR STAFF TO SET UP A MEETING SO WE CAN SIT DOWN AND GET SOME OF THE ANSWERS TO SOME OTHER QUESTIONS

WE HAVE HAD. >> I THINK WE'RE HERE TO -- TONIGHT TO DISCUSS THE CONTINUED FUNDING OF THIS SURVEILLANCE.

>> I'M JUST ONE VOTE OF THE FIVE BUT I STAND WITH THE SHERIFF AND PROGRAM. THAT'S MY PERSONAL FEELINGS ON IT BUT WE CAN CERTAINLY HAVE A DISCUSSION ABOUT IT.

>> COMMISSIONER JOSEPH. >> I WOULD BE WILLING TO DISCUSS IT BUT I STAND WITH THE SHERIFF, THANK YOU.

>> IF HE DOESN'T MIND I WOULD LIKE TO HEAR FROM THE SHERIFF.

I KNOW WE HAVE TALKED ABOUT THE $500,000 A YEAR, THERE'S SOME ADDITIONAL FUNDS, WE HEARD $3 MILLION I KNOW THAT I HAD A MEETING WITH HIM WITH HIM AND HIS STAFF AND IT WAS REALLY

[01:25:05]

>> JUST TO CLARIFY, I THINK MY VOTE AND MY RECORD HAVE SHOWED UP AND NOTHING BUT SUPPORTIVE OF PUBLIC SAFETY AND OUR FIRST RESPONDERS. I THINK WHERE WE ARE AT RIGHT NOW IS DANCING A FINE LINE BETWEEN PUBLIC SAFETY AND THAT

BIG BROTHER OUT THERE. >> I THINK WE NEED TO MANAGE THAT, I KNOW WE HAD SPOKEN ABOUT EVEN HAVING SOME TYPE OF PRESS CONFERENCE, TO HAVE SOME OF THESE CONCERNS, BECAUSE THERE IS A LOT AND WE DON'T KNOW WHAT TO BELIEVE.

WE WERE HUGE SUPPORTERS OF THE DEPARTMENT, WE NEED TO PUT OUR FUNDS INTO YOUR PEOPLE AND WHAT HAPPENED THIS PAST WEEKEND WAS SUCH AN EXCELLENT EXAMPLE OF WHAT CAN HAPPEN WHEN EVERYONE WORKS TOGETHER. THAT YOUNG MAN.

>> GOOD EVENING MR. CHAIR AND COMMISSIONERS, NONE OF YOU SPOKE ABOUT NOT SUPPORTING THE SHERIFF'S OFFICE, THIS IS NOTHING ABOUT SUPPORTING THE SHERIFF'S OFFICE.

THESE ARE QUESTIONS AND CONVERSATIONS THAT THEY ARE ALLOWED TO DO. TO QUESTION THE SHERIFF'S OFFICE JUST LIKE THE COMMISSIONER DID LAST MEETING WAS ASKED AS THOSE QUESTIONS. I AM GOING TO ACTUALLY ASK THE CHIEF BECAUSE I DO HAVE A SUBJECT MATTER EXPERT INTERNALLY THAT ACTUALLY STARTED THIS PROGRAM WITH THE SHERIFF'S OFFICE BEFORE HE CAME -- BECAME YOUR SHERIFF.

ONE THING I WILL SAY THIS OF COURSE, SOME THINGS AS WE GOT HERE AND SPOKE ABOUT TONIGHT. NOT EVERYTHING BUT SOME OTHER THINGS WE SPOKE ABOUT IS EXACTLY TRUE.

IN 2017 AS I TOLD YOU LAST TIME SAINT JOHNS COUNTY OFFICE IMPLEMENTED LICENSE PLATE READER TECHNOLOGY WITH A COMPANY CALLED VIGILANT WHICH HAS BEEN BOUGHT OUT BY MOTOROLA.

WE SWITCHED TO FLOCK CAMERA SYSTEM.

THERE IS CURRENTLY 17 DIFFERENT COMPANIES THAT HAVE SOME TYPE OF LICENSE PLATE RECOGNITION OR% SOME TYPE OF ALPR LICENSE PLATE READER TECHNOLOGY. WITH THAT BEING SAID, WE ACTUALLY HAD THAT TALKING BASED ON PREROB BUT BASED ON INFORMATION I HAVE FROM MY STAFF WAS WE DID DO THREE YEARS OF RETENTION WITH THE -- THE ORIGINAL LICENSE PLATE READER TECHNOLOGY. WE WENT TO THE FLOCK SYSTEM AND WENT TO ONE YEAR. SINCE THIS CONVERSATION STARTED COMING UP OVER THE LAST YEAR WE'VE TIGHTEN THAT DOWN TO 30 DAYS, SO THAT GENTLEMAN WAS EXACTLY RIGHT, HE WASN'T LYING.

IT WAS ONE YEAR TECHNOLOGY WHEN THEY DID THE PUBLIC RECORDS REQUEST. WE TIGHTENED OURSELVES UP AS WELL. WE HAD TWO MINUTE USERS, WE ELIMINATED THE AMOUNT OF USERS. AND THEN ONE THING WHEN A LICENSE PLATE READER WHEN IT TAKES A PICTURE OF A CAR IN TIME, ONE TIME I'M JUST SAYING CROSSING THE INTERSECTION TAKES A PICTURE OF THAT LICENSE PLATE. IF THAT LICENSE PLATE HAS TO BE READ IT GOES TO THE NCIC WHICH IS A NATIONAL CLIMATE INFORMATION. WE HOTLIST THE VEHICLE TONIGHT THAT WAS USED IN. [APPLAUSE] BURGLARY, THE DEPUTY SHERIFF MAKES A DECISION WHICH WE TIGHTENED UP AS WELL. THE DEPUTY SHERIFF COULD HOTLIST THE CAR IN THE SYSTEM SO IF THE CAR POPPED UP IN THE SYSTEM AS BEING A SUSPECT IN THIS EXAMPLE FOR A BURGLARY IT WOULD BE HOT LISTED. WOULD THAT GENTLEMAN ACTUALLY SPOKE ABOUT. A SUPERVISOR APPROVES THAT HOTLIST BUT WHEN THE HOTLIST IS RAN LET'S SAY THAT LICENSE PLATE READER CATCHES THAT CAR IN INTERSECTION 95 IT ACTUALLY TELLS THE DEPUTY OR THE DISPATCH THAT CAR CROSSED IT.

NOW WE RUN IT. THAT ONE LEAD OF A LOT OF OTHER INVESTIGATIVE TECHNIQUES THAT HAVE TO BE REUSED.

THIS IS PROBABLY A SPECIAL COMMISSION MEETING, YOU COMMISSIONERS AND GIVEN THE PUBLIC A CHANCE TO SPEAK AND US TO AS WELL. BUT LET'S JUST GO DOWN THIS ROAD RIGHT HERE. I KNOW THE GENTLEMAN SAID 35 BUT THIS YEAR ALONE IN SAINT JOHNS COUNTY HOW MANY LIVES COST HALF A MILLION DOLLARS WOW I DON'T WANT TO GIVE YOU A BUNCH OF EXAMPLES, I WANT TO GIVE YOU AN EXAMPLE.

ENCHANTMENT LEAVES WORK FROM A RESTAURANT NEAR STATE ROAD 16.

IS ON THE SCOOTER AND HE HITS -- HE HEADS WESTBOUND IN THE EVENING HOURS. A YOUNG LADY UNBEKNOWNST TO US HITS HIM AND EJECTS HIM INTO THE DITCH WHERE HE LAYS DEAD FOR 18 HOURS. THE NEXT MORNING A CITIZEN SEES THE BODY IN THE DITCH, THEY CALL THAT SAINT JOHNS COUNTY OFFICE.

WE COLLECT EVIDENCE WITH PHOTO PATROL WHICH GIVES US AN LEADS US TO BASED ON EVIDENCE FROM THE HEAD LENGTH THAT WAS BROKEN LEADS TO WHITE HONDA. WE HAVE A WHITE HYUNDAI THAT KILLED SOMEBODY IN SAINT JOHNS COUNTY PIER SO HOW MANY LICENSE OR CARS TRAVEL 18 HOURS ON STATE ROAD 16 WESTBOUND FROM THE AREA THAT KNEW ABOUT THE OUTLET LOCK -- OUTLET MALLS.

WE ENTER THAT BASED ON A HEADLAMP THAT'S BROKEN ON THE SIDE PIER WE USE THAT TO SAY HOW MANY WHITE HONDA CROSSED THIS AREA 18 HOURS AFTER THIS MAN LEFT WORK.

WE CAN GO BACK ROUNDS, WE TALKED TO THE PLACE OF EMPLOYMENT.

[01:30:03]

WE PUT A WHITE HONDA INTO THE SYSTEM, OUR REALTIME INTELLIGENCE PICKS UP A WHITE HONDA.

IT ACTUALLY CROSSED THAT AREA AT THE TIME OF THE DEATH OF THE INDIVIDUAL. WE MADE CONTACT WITH THE INDIVIDUAL. SHE WAS PHYSICALLY LOADING THE VEHICLE. WITH REMNANT OF THE MAN'S BODY, DNA, HAIR, FIBERS ON THE CAR, ONTO THE RECORD TO TOW IT TO A REPAIR SHOP TO GET A FIXED PIER SHE DID NOT KNOW WHAT SHE HIT.

NOW SHE'S BEING CHARGED AND HELD ACCOUNTABLE.

WE HAD A 12-YEAR-OLD GIRL WHO WENT TO A BUS STOP, SAW THIS CASE A FEW WEEKS AGO. SENTENCED TO TWO LIFE SENTENCES.

WE HAD THE 12-YEAR-OLD GIRL GO TO THE BISHOP WHO SHE MET ON A SOCIAL MEDIA PLATFORM AND HE HER BEFORE SHE WENT ON THE BUS.

SHE GOES ON THE BUS, AS AN ADULT AND THOSE ARE VERY DISTINCT IDENTIFIER AND THE CAR THAT SHE SAYS IN HER CPT INTERVIEW.

CHILD PROTECTION TEAM INTERVIEW. SHE SAYS THE CAR LOOKED LIKE THIS. IT WAS A SILVER CAR AND IT HAD DAMAGE ON THE CAR. WE ENTER THAT INTO THE LICENSE PLATE READER SYSTEM AND WE HELD THE GUY ACCOUNTABLE WHO HAD 13 LITTLE GIRLS AT BUS STOPS DOWN IN THE COUNTY.

I DON'T KNOW WHERE THAT HALF A MILLION DOLLAR PRICE TAG, HOW DEEP DOES IT GO, HOW MUCH IS A BODY WORK.

HOW MUCH IS A GIRL WORTH. SO I CAN GO THROUGH ALL THESE CASES AND THERE AS WELL, THEY'RE EXACTLY RIGHT.

WE ARE. AND EVERY ONE OF THEM SAID THEY LOVE THE WAY SAINT JOHNS COUNTY OFFICE DOES THEIR WORK.

WE WILL DO IT BETTER FOR YOU HERE AS WELL.

I JUST THINK THERE'S A WAY THAT WE CAN MEET IN THE MIDDLE MEANING THAT OUR CAMERAS ARE GOING AWAY OVER HALF HE SAID 183 I WAS TOLD 182 BY MY STAFF SO EITHER HE IS RIGHT OR I'M WRONG OKAY OR WE ARE BOTH WRONG. EITHER WAY THAT BEING SAID ABOUT HALF OF THOSE WILL GO AWAY AT THE END OF THIS MONTH, THEY HAVE BEEN VERY -- TRANSPORTATION SENT THE LETTER OUT GIVE US 30 DAYS, BASICALLY TILL THE END OF THE MONTH AS WE CONTINUE TO FIGURE OUT WHERE ARE WE GOING TO GO FROM THERE.

MEANING WE WILL SHUT DOWN THE ONES I THINK ARE THE PRIORITY WHICH IS INTERSTATE 95. WE GET MOST OF OUR CRIME OR OUR CRIMINALS ARE AWARDED OUT OF STATE.

WE AVERAGING 150,000 CARS IN INTERSTATE 59 AND MOST OF THEM ARE NOT CITIZENS THAT ARE SITTING BEHIND ME.

I TEMPLATE THE -- I TELL YOU THESE NUMBERS, JUST THIS YEAR ALONE 29 STOLEN CARS RECOVERED. I THINK YOU ALL KNOW WHAT COMES WITH A STOLEN CAR. ANOTHER CRIME WILL BE COMMITTED.

WE HAVE 23 STOLEN TAGS RECOVERED, SAME CONCEPT.

IT STEALS A TAG OFF THE CAR WHILE YOU ARE SLEEPING AND CONTINUE TO MOVE AROUND DIFFERENT JURISDICTIONS WITH STOLEN TAGS. WE HAVE 35 WHICH I THINK IS THE GENTLEMAN BACK THERE, 35 WANTED PERSONS ARRESTED.

THOSE ARE PEOPLE THAT ARE WANTED ON WARRANTS THAT ARE STOPPED AND HIT ON A FLOCK CAMERA. WE HAVE A 62 PERSONS THAT WERE CHARGED IN CRIMES, 132 FELONY CHARGES WERE CLEARED.

54 MISDEMEANOR CHARGES WERE CLEARED AND WE RECOVERED 35 MISSING PERSONS IN 2026 ALONE. AGAIN NOT SURE WHAT THOSE VALUES ARE BUT I CAN TALK TO VICTIMS AND GIVE YOU AN ESTIMATE OF WHAT THEY FEEL AND THAT TO. AND THIS IS ONE OF THOSE CONVERSATIONS, EVERY SECOND, EVERY LEAD, EVERY VICTIM MATTERS. AND THIS IS NOT SIMPLY A LEAD.

THE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES, HE WAS ON AIR FORCE ONE AND HE MAKES A COMMENT ON AIR FORCE ONE.

HE BASICALLY SAID THE QUESTION CAME FROM STAFF ON THE PLANE AND SAID WHAT IS YOUR THOUGHT ON AI AND HE GIVES A STATEMENT ON AI TECHNOLOGY. AND THEN HE SAYS HE WAS ASKED A QUESTION OF WHAT IS YOUR THOUGHT ON THE FLOCK TECHNOLOGY BEING USED BY POLICE AND HE SAID HE SUPPORTED IT.

ET, ITS ON AIR FORCE ONE YESTERDAY.

THE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES SUPPORTS FLOCK WITH PARAMETERS, WITH BETTER POLICIES AND PROCEDURES IN PLACE. I COMPLETELY AGREE.

WE'VE REACHED OUT TO SOME OF THESE PEOPLE BACK HERE MOST OF THESE PEOPLE THEY KNOW ME MY ENTIRE LIFE, THIS IS NOT A PERSONAL ATTACK. WE WOULD WALK OUT OF HERE, WE TALK TO EACH OTHER. VERY RESPECTFUL.

THEY HAVE A VOICE AND WE ARE LISTENING TO YOUR VOICE, WE ARE.

BEFORE I CALL THE CHIEF UP HERE TO CLOSE OUT TO SEE IF I'M MISSING ANYTHING BECAUSE THERE'S A LOT OF THINGS IN HERE BUT FOR THE -- OVER 40 CASES HAVE BEEN CHALLENGED IN FEDERAL COURT.

40 CASES HAVE BEEN CHALLENGED ON THIS PARTICULAR AMENDMENT AND VIOLATION OF USING LICENSE PLATE TECHNOLOGY AT THE FEDERAL LEVEL COURT OF APPEALS AT THE FEDERAL DISTRICT COURTS AT THE STATE COURTS TO INCLUDE FLORIDA AS WELL.

NOT ONE OF THESE CASES HAVE BEEN IN FAVOR OF LICENSE PLATE READER TECHNOLOGY THAT'S ILLEGALLY BEING USED ON PUBLIC ROADS OR HIGHWAYS. HERE'S THE OTHER THING AS WELL.

WE HAVE AN ADDITIONAL 100 LICENSE PLATE READERS IN THE SAINT JOHNS COUNTY. THEY DON'T BELONG TO US.

THEY BELONG TO YOUR NEIGHBORHOODS WHERE YOU HAVE ASKED YOUR NEIGHBORHOODS HAVE ASKED TO PUT YOUR TECHNOLOGY, YOU PAY FOR THEM, AND SAID SAINT JOHNS COUNTY OFFICE CAN WE -- CAN YOU MONITOR OUR LICENSE PLATE READERS WHEN WE HAVE A CRIME BEING COMMITTED IN OUR NEIGHBORHOODS.

WE'VE BEEN DOING THAT AS WELL. I THINK ALSO TO MAKE SURE YOU ADDRESS THE HOS, BECAUSE THE OTHER THING THE GENTLEMAN SAID.

THE SHARING OF DATA WAS OUT OF HAND.

EVERY FEDERAL AGENCY. WE WERE SHARING WITH THE FBI AT

[01:35:02]

WE SHARED WITH SAINT JOHNS COUNTY ONLY.

WE TIGHTEN IT UP AND GET OUT OF HAND.

I DON'T KNOW WHAT THEY ARE DOING INDIANA STATE POLICE, MY LICENSE PLATE, AS SOON AS WE ACTUALLY SHUT OTHER AGENCIES SHUT DOWN WE RECEIVE A PHONE CALL. THEY CALLED US AND SAID, HEY, CAN WE GET YOUR LICENSE PLATE READER TECHNOLOGY, WE SHUT DOWN AND THE NEIGHBORING COUNTY. WE HAVE A NEW PROCEDURE IN PLACE, YOU HAVE TO GET YOUR CASE NUMBER.

SO THEY JUST CAN'T PULL OUR DATA.

IT HAS TO BE SHARED BY REALTIME INTELLIGENCE.

AND BEFORE I CALL THE CHIEF UP HERE I WILL CLOSE OUT MY COMMENTS WITH THIS. IF YOU WANT TO KNOW WHY I DON'T PAY PROPERTY TAXES COME WALK IN MY MILITARY BOOTS FOR 25 YEARS, COME WALK IN MY BOOTS IN TWO YEARS IN MILITARY SERVICE OVERSEAS IN A COMBAT ZONE. COME WATCH THE BLOOD OF MY HAND OF JEWISH SOLDIER KILLED WITH ME IN COMBAT IN JULY OF 2004 AND I WILL LIVE WITH IT FOREVER BECAUSE -- IN 2003.

YOU WANT TO KNOW WHY I DON'T PAY TAXES, THREE YEARS AGO THE VA SAID YOU QUALIFIED TO NOT PAY TAXES.

SO IF YOU WANT TO QUESTION MY MILITARY SERVICE AND BASH ME UP HERE I'M NOT AFRAID TO TALK ABOUT IT.

I SERVE MY COUNTRY, I WOULD DO IT AGAIN TOMORROW MORNING, MY WIFE IS MY PROUDEST AND BIGGEST FAN, BUT IF YOU WANT TO KNOW WHY I DON'T PAY TAXES, I PAY TAXES MY ENTIRE LIFE.

I'M EMBARRASSED I DON'T PAY TAXES IN SAINT JOHNS COUNTY BUT I GIVE IT BACK IN MY TIME AND MY SERVICE AND MY COMMITMENT TO PROTECT AND SERVE THE PEOPLE OF SAINT JOHNS COUNTY PIER MY

QUESTIONS PLEASE. >> I HAVE A QUESTION IF THAT'S

OKAY MR. CHAIR. >> THE FLOCK CAMERAS THAT ARE BEING REMOVED FROM THE STATE RIGHT OF WAYS, ARE THOSE GOING IN THE TRASH OR ARE THOSE BEING RELOCATED TO COUNTY ROADWAYS.

>> THE DIRECTION WE WERE GIVEN WAS TO TAKE DOWN THE POLES CONNECTING DOWN THE CAMERAS. YOU HAVE KNOWN THIS NOW LEADERSHIP ACROSS LEGISLATURE HAS BACKED OFF A BIT.

NOW THEY'RE SAYING REMOVE CAMERAS AND LEAVE THE POLES UP, LEGISLATURE IS BEING PUSHED TO IMPROVE TO GET THAT BY THE NOVEMBER ELECTIONS TO LET LAW ENFORCEMENT.

WE HAD A MEETING TODAY WITH 30 PLUS SHERIFFS DOWN IN ORLANDO, FLORIDA. I'M ON THE COMMITTEE SELECTED BY THE OFFICE. TO GET BETTER PARAMETERS IN PLACE FOR POLICIES IN PLACE, IS LED BY SHERIFF ATKINSON OUT OF WALTON COUNTY. AGAIN IT'S WE ARE IN LIMBO RIGHT NOW WE HAVE MET WITH BROTHERS AND SISTERS TO GIVE US BETTER DIRECTION AND WE ARE GOING BY THE -- WE WERE GOING TO ABIDE BY IT LIKE I TOLD YOU BEFORE, WE WILL ABIDE BY THAT.

IF YOU AS A COMMISSION DECIDE TONIGHT YOU WILL REMOVE THAT $500,000, I THINK YOU LET THIS PROCESS OF THIS MONTH PLAY OUT.

WE'RE TRYING TO SEE WHAT THIS MONTH IS PLAYING OUT AND IT TIGHTENS UP AS WELL. GIVE US A CHANCE TO MEET WITH A CITIZENS. THEY HAVE MY CELL PHONE NUMBER, I GAVE IT TO HIM TONIGHT, THE DAVIS FAMILY HAS IT.

THEY KNOW WHO I AM. WHAT IF MY ADDRESS IS PROTECTED, IT'S -- GOOGLE ME. I MADE A COMMENT TO YOU LAST TIME I HAD A LICENSE PLATE READER IN FRONT OF MY HOUSE.

WAS NOT IN FRONT OF MY HOUSE IT'S OFF A ONE A TO MY NEIGHBORHOOD AND YOU HAVE TO CALL THE FEDERAL BUREAU OF INVESTIGATION, I WAS ASKED BY MY STAFF AND SAID WHY IS THAT CAMERA NEAR MY HOUSE. AND THAT SHERIFF, WE HAD TO INVESTIGATE YOU BECAUSE YOUR PUBLIC OFFICIAL.

THAT'S ALL. I MADE THE COMMENT I PROTECT MY FAMILY, YOU HAVE FAMILIES AS WELL BUT I'M NOT WORRIED ABOUT PEOPLE IN THIS COMMUNITY. THIS COMMUNITY TAKES CARE, EVERYONE WHO SPOKE TO NIGHT. WE DON'T HAVE ANYTHING AGAINST EACH OTHER, AS A PEOPLE OUTSIDE THIS COMMUNITY THAT DON'T CARE FOR THE CONSTITUTIONAL SHERIFF, YOU KNOW WHO THEY ARE.

CHIEF LET'S STEP ON UP. >> I DO WANT TO TELL YOU THIS, THERE WAS A YOUNG MAN IN HERE, WHOSE NAME IS RILEY WILLIS AND WE ACTUALLY MET WITH HIM, HE WALKED INTO OUR OFFICE YESTERDAY, IT WAS PRETTY IMPRESSIVE.

OUR SOCIETY IS IN GREAT HANDS WITH OUR YOUTH COMING UP KHAKIS AND ROTC, THE OTHER KID GRADUATE.

WE HAD A GROWN UP CONVERSATION IN OUR OFFICE ABOUT LICENSE PLATE READER TECHNOLOGY WHERE HE PRESENTED IT AT NATIONAL STATE.

BUT HE WAS PRETTY IMPRESSIVE. >> DO YOU WANT TO ASK A QUESTION

AGAIN? >> ARE THE FLOCK CAMERAS THAT ARE BEING REMOVED FROM THE STATE RIGHT OF WAY IS GOING TO BE PUT UP ON COUNTY RIGHT OF WAYS, ON LOCAL ROADS OR ARE THOSE DONE

WOW. >> WE PLAY ON BY THE END OF THE MONTH WHICH IS THE 30TH DAY IS REMOVING THEM FROM ALL THE POLLS. THE COMPANY WILL REMOVE THEM FROM THE POLLS AND WE HAVE NO PLANS OF PUTTING THEM UP ANYWHERE ELSE. THE OTHER THING I WANT TO CLARIFY THE TRAILERS WE HAVE, WE HAVE A BUNCH OF -- BURGLARIES IN THE NEIGHBORHOODS, WE'RE TRYING TO ELIMINATE OF COURSE IF WE HAVE CRIMES COMMITTED CRIMES REPETITIVE CRIMES BEING COMMITTED IN AN AREA, YOU ALL KNOW THIS.

AS A SUBURBAN OF JACKSONVILLE AND WE ARE TRYING OUR HARDEST TO FIGHT THEFT UP THERE, BURGLARIES AND SOMETIMES YOU HAD TO TAKE THIS TECHNOLOGY AND MOVE IT CLOSER TO WHAT THE CRIMES ARE BEING COMMITTED BASED ON CRIME STATS AND DATA.

>> THANK YOU, I APPRECIATE YOUR TIME.

[01:40:02]

>> YOU WANT TO GET YOUR SUBJECT MATTER EXPERT OVER HERE.

>> HE DOESN'T REALLY WANT TO BUT I WILL.

>> LET ME JUST REPEAT THIS TO SAY THAT I WOULD LOVE FOR US TO SIT DOWN AND HAVE A WORKSHOP AND TALK ABOUT SOME OTHER STEPS YOU GUYS ARE TAKING TO PROTECT THE DATA BECAUSE I KNOW THAT WE HAVE THE ABILITY IF I'M UNDERSTANDING RIGHT, WE HAVE THE ABILITY TO KEEP ALL OF OUR DATA IN HOUSE AND NOT SHARE IT WITH ANYBODY,

IS THAT CORRECT? >> THAT'S WHAT WE ARE DOING.

WE HAVE TURN SHARING OFF. >> IT HAS BEEN TURNED OFF, WE NO LONGER SHARE DATA. WE HAVE SHARED DATA SINCE THE INCEPTION WITH AGENCIES, LAW ENFORCEMENT AGENCIES ALL OVER THE COUNTRY, THAT IS TRUE. THAT WAS SAID HERE, THAT IS ACCURATE. WE HAVE MADE CHANGES THAT WE NO LONGER SHARE DATA, WE AGREE I THINK THE SHERIFF SAID WHEN WE TALK ABOUT THERE NEEDS TO BE PARAMETERS AND WHAT NOT, WE TOTALLY AGREE. AND I THINK WE HAVE A VERY STRONG POLICY THAT DICTATES HOW WE USE IT BUT I THINK WE ALSO RECOGNIZE THAT IS NOT THE SAME EVERYWHERE ELSE, EVERY OTHER LAW ENFORCEMENT AGENCY DOESN'T FOLLOW THE RULES THAT WE FOLLOW.

THE SHERIFF IS WORKING WITH IT SHERIFF ASSOCIATION IN OUR LEGISLATURE TO TRY TO PASS SOME KIND OF STRICT LEGISLATION ABOUT HOW THE DATA CAN BE USED OR HOW THE SYSTEMS CAN BE USED AND SOME TYPE OF OVERSIGHT. I THINK WE TOTALLY AGREE WITH THAT. FOR THE TIME BEING UNTIL THAT IS DONE WE HAVE TURNED OFF DATA SHARING SO WE SHARE WITH NO

AGENCY. >> ANY OTHER QUESTIONS?

GO AHEAD, SIR. >> THANK YOU MR. CHAIR.

CHIEF, YOU ARE FAMILIAR WITH THE OUTCOME IN THE SUPREME COURT CASE THAT JUST WAS RULED ON IN AUGUST?

>> YES. >> A RECURRENT -- CURRENTLY IN

COMPLIANCE? >> WE ARE IN COMPLIANCE WITH ALL FEDERAL STATE LAWS, THIS TECHNOLOGY HAS BEEN CHALLENGED OVER 40 TIMES AND NEVER HAS A COURT RULED AGAINST IT.

>> IN SATURATE VERSUS THE UNITED STATES DID NOT MAKE FLOCK CAMERAS ILLEGAL COUCHES FOR THOSE WHO WERE UNAWARE, IT DID MAKE WARRANTLESS DATA COLLECTION OF OUR CELLPHONES ILLEGAL AND THAT WAS NEW. THAT WAS A NEW CASE LAW BEFORE THIS LAW, WERE WE DOING WARRANTLESS COLLECTION OF PEOPLE'S CELL PHONES ON THE STREETS OF ST. JOHNS COUNTY?

>> FLOCK CAMERA SYSTEM DOES NOT COLLECT ANYTHING FROM

CELL PHONES. >> SO THERE WAS AN AI COMPONENT

TO THE FLOCK SYSTEM? >> THE AI COMPONENT HELPS US IDENTIFY TYPES, MAKE AND MODEL OF VEHICLES BUT THERE WAS NO DATA COLLECTION OTHER THAN A PHOTOGRAPH OF A TAG IN THE REAR

END OF THE VEHICLE. >> NOT WARRANTLESS DATA COLLECTION OF CELLPHONES HAPPENING IN SAINT JOHNS COUNTY.

>> THERE'S NOT WARRANTLESS, THERE'S NO FACIAL DETECTION ASSOCIATED WITH THE TECHNOLOGY, NONE.

>> I THINK THIS HAS BEEN A GOOD CONVERSATION JUST COMMENT TO THE BOARD BECAUSE IS NOT LAW ENFORCEMENT VERSUS PEOPLE WHO DON'T SUPPORT LAW ENFORCEMENT, I THINK THAT'S BEEN STATED TIME AND TIME AGAIN. WE KNOW THE GOVERNOR OF OUR STATE SUPPORTS LAW ENFORCEMENT, WE ALSO KNOW THAT THE FUTURE GOVERNOR IN MY OPINION, THE GUY I AM VOTING FOR SUPPORTS LAW ENFORCEMENT BOTH OF THOSE MEN HAVE BEEN EXTREMELY OUTSPOKEN, THE GOVERNOR DESANTIS CALLED IT OUT OF CONTROL. FUTURE GOVERNOR SAYS HE AGREES WITH GOVERNOR DESANTIS 1000%, FORMER SPEAKER OF THE HOUSE PAUL RENNER, ARMY VETERAN, BIG SUPPORTER OF LAW ENFORCEMENT WHEN HE WAS IN THE FLORIDA HOUSE EXPRESS HIM GREAT CONCERNS AND SO THERE'S A LOT OF MURPHY -- MURPHY LAW ENFORCEMENT, THERE'S A LOT OF CURRENT LAW ENFORCEMENT WHO HAVE TAKEN STANDS AND EXPRESSED CONCERNS ABOUT A FLOCK CAMERA SYSTEMS. OBVIOUSLY NO ONE CAN SUGGEST THAT WE DON'T SUPPORT LAW ENFORCEMENT HERE IN SAINT JOHNS COUNTY, THE BUDGET THAT WAS IN PLACE IS $82 MILLION WHEN I WAS ON THE CAMPAIGN TRAIL AT 2020. THE BUDGET WE ARE CONSIDERING APPROVING TODAY IS $151 MILLION. WE'VE NEARLY DOUBLED THAT BUDGET IN SEVEN FISCAL YEARS, NOBODY CAN SUGGEST WE DON'T SUPPORT AND HAVE INVESTED IN OUR LAW ENFORCEMENT.

I DO THINK THAT QUESTION HERE IS THE CONSTITUTIONALITY OF IT AND POSSIBLY THE UNINTENDED CONSEQUENCES.

WELL I THINK HAVING A ROUNDTABLE DISCUSSION IS A GREAT IDEA AND I SUPPORT THAT I THINK WE SHOULD SET THAT FLOCK CAMERAS ASIDE, STAND WITH LAW ENFORCEMENT AGENCIES WHO HAVE TAKEN TIME TO SEND THIS, INSTEAD OF KEEPING SOMETHING GOING TO WHICH THERE ARE SERIOUS CONCERNS ABOUT. NAUSEA SERIOUS CONCERNS OF MEMBERS OF THE COMMUNITY, NOT FROM COUNTY COMMISSIONERS WHO DON'T KNOW THE FIRST THING ABOUT KEEPING PEOPLE SAFE BUT FROM LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICERS, SHERIFF'S, LEADERS IN OUR STATE IN OUR COUNTRY HAVE EXPRESSED THOSE CONCERNS.

I DO THINK IT'S TIME TO SET THE FLOCK SYSTEMS ASIDE PUT THEM TO

[01:45:07]

>> I DO HAVE ONE QUESTION. I KNOW WE'RE TALKING A LOT ABOUT FLOCK, DO WE HAVE OTHER TYPES OF CAMERAS OR IS FLOCK THE ONLY

ONE? >> THERE ARE 17 CURRENT BRANDS OUT THERE BUT OUR CONTRACTORS FLOCK AS WE SPEAK.

TO OUR SOUTH, THEY HAVE OTHER CONTRACTS SO OTHER SHERIFF'S OFFICE, CITY POLICE DEPARTMENTS HAVE OTHER CONTRACTS COULD BE MOTOROLA, I DON'T KNOW WHAT THEY ARE USING.

>> THANK YOU. >> LET ME ASK THE QUESTION TO THE DIRECTOR. WHAT KIND OF IMPACT DOES A MORATORIUM ON THE USE OF FLOCK CAMERAS IN SAINT JOHNS COUNTY

PUT ON YOUR REALTIME DATA? >> -- IMMEDIATE IMPACT AND SIGNIFICANT IMPACT. I WILL TELL YOU FLOCK CAMERA SYSTEMS IS PROBABLY THE MOST UTILIZED KROME -- CRIME SOLVING TOOL THAT WE HAVE IN LAW ENFORCEMENT.

I WILL SPEAK THAT PROBABLY IT EVER EXISTED IN LAW ENFORCEMENT.

THERE'S PROBABLY NOT ONE CRIME THAT OCCURS SHORT OF SOMETHING HAPPENING INSIDE SOMEONE'S HOUSE WHERE THERE'S NOT SOME TYPE OF USEFUL INFORMATION THERE. WE USE THAT DATA REALTIME, WE CAN FLAG PEOPLE COMING IN AND THE SHERIFF MENTIONED WE HAVE STOLEN CARS COMING DOWN FROM JACKSONVILLE OR ORANGE COUNTY AND IN FROM THE OTHER COUNTY. FULL OF UNWANTED TYPES THAT COME INTO SAINT JOHN'S AND WE KNOW WHAT THEY ARE DOING AND ARE COMING IN HERE AT 2:00 IN THE MORNING.

WE GET A PING AND WE GET A LOCATION OF WHERE THEY ARE AND THAT'S A REALTIME HIT AND WE'RE GOING AND WE'RE SEARCHING FOR THEM AND WE'RE FLOODING THAT AREA WITH DEPUTIES AND WE'RE CONTACTING THOSE PEOPLE, WE ARE CRASHING THOSE PEOPLE OR WE'RE CHASING THOSE PEOPLE OUT OF THE COUNTY.

AND WE CAN ONLY SUGGEST WHY THEY ARE HERE TO DO AT THAT TIME FROM TWO COUNTIES OVER. BUT I GUARANTEE IT IS NOT ANYTHING PRODUCTIVE. THAT A REAL CONCERN FOR US.

WE HAVE MURDERERS, WE HAVE CHILD ABDUCTORS, WE HAVE -- WE HAVE SEEN IT IN EVERY COUNTY SURROUNDING US, VERY SERIOUS CRIME. AND I WILL TELL YOU AS I STAND HERE TODAY THERE IS NO TECHNOLOGY THAT EXISTS ON EARTH THAT CAN REPLACE A LICENSE PLATE BY A STRANGER.

AND I DON'T MEAN TO PUT FEAR BUT I SPENT A LOT OF YEARS WORKING IN OUR SPECIAL VICTIMS SIDE OF THE HOUSE AND OUR INVESTIGATIVE SIDE OF THE HOUSE AND THE CHILD ABDUCTION WAS OUR BIGGEST CONCERN OF ALL TIME. WE KNOW HISTORICALLY THAT A CHILD'S ABDUCTED THEY WILL BE BATTERED AND MURDERED WITHIN 60 MINUTES. SO THAT DOESN'T GIVE US A LOT OF TIME TO GO SEARCH AND FIGURING OUT WHAT'S GOING ON.

WE MERELY HAVE MINUTES TO LOCATE THAT CHILD AND TRY TO RESCUE THEM BEFORE SOMETHING TRAGIC HAPPENS AND WE HAVE SEEN IT.

WE HAVE SEEN IT IN PUTNAM COUNTY, WE HAVE SEEN IT ALL AROUND US. WE HAVE BEEN BLESSED AND FORTUNATE THAT THAT TRAGEDY HAS NOT OCCURRED HERE.

BUT IT'S A MATTER OF TIME AND WHEN IT DOES IT WILL NOT BE THE BLOOD ON OUR HANDS BECAUSE WE ARE DOING EVERYTHING WE CAN TO PROTECT OUR CITIZENS. AND THAT'S THE TRUTH.

>> ORDER PLEASE. >> THANK YOU, SIR.

>> I DID HAVE A QUESTION. IT'S MORE ABOUT THE DATA BECAUSE WE'VE HEARD THAT FLOCK ACTUALLY OWNS THE DATA.

SO I THINK THAT'S A HUGE CONCERN, IT'S THAT WE KNOW THAT DATA IS NOT STAYING HERE IN ST. JOHNS COUNTY.

WE CAN SEE THAT. IS BEING ACCESSED ALL OVER THE WORLD. I THINK THAT IS A BIG CONCERN THAT THE DATA IS ACTUALLY OWNED BY FLOCK.

>> THE DATA THAT THEY COLLECT IS AGGREGATED DATA, IS NOT LICENSE INFORMATION, THEY ARE NOT SELLING INFORMATION, THEY CANNOT PICK OUR CONTRACT SAYS THEY CANNOT SELL DATA.

I KNOW THAT'S BEEN SAID, THAT'S NOT TRUE.

THE AGGREGATED DATA THAT THEY CARRY CARRIES NO IDENTIFYING INFORMATION WHATSOEVER. THEY ARE CARRYING HOW MANY VEHICLES OR HOW MANY ARE BEING COLLECTED HOW OFTEN IS THE SYSTEM BEING ACCESSED. THAT'S AGGREGATED DATA THEY COLLECT PEER THE TAG READS, THAT YOU HAVE BEEN SHOWN, THAT'S FROM SHARED DATA FOR ANOTHER LAW ENFORCEMENT AGENCY THAT HAS PUT THAT OUT PUBLICLY THAT HAS MADE THAT INFORMATION PUBLIC.

WE RECOGNIZE THAT AND WE HAVE TAKEN AWAY ACCESS TO SHARING TO ANY LAW ENFORCEMENT AGENCY BECAUSE WE DO RECOGNIZE THAT IS A PROBLEM HERE I TOTALLY AGREE I THINK WE ALL TOTALLY AGREE, I KNOW THE SHERIFF TOTALLY AGREES. SO WE HAVE REMOVED ACCESS TO SHARING FROM ANY LAW ENFORCEMENT.

WE DON'T SHARE WITH AND WE DON'T TAKE FROM PEER.

>> IS THERE STILL AN AVENUE FOR A DEPARTMENT IN GEORGIA TO CALL

[01:50:04]

THE TAG NUMBER. >> THAT WOULD BE SOMETHING THAT WOULD BE ENTERED INTO THE NCIC SYSTEM THAT WOULD BE HIT ANYWAY?

>> THE WAY OUR SYSTEM WORKS, ANYTHING THAT IS LISTED THAT IS THE NATIONAL CRIME INFORMATION CENTER OR THE FLORIDA CRIME INFORMATION CENTER. THOSE ARE THE TWO DATABASES THAT EVERY LAW ENFORCEMENT AGENCY IN THE STATE OF FLORIDA OR THE NATION USES TO MAINTAIN WARRANTS AND WANTED AND MISSING PEOPLE THOSE TYPES OF THINGS. SO ANY TAG THAT WOULD BE ENTERED INTO ONE OF THOSE SYSTEMS WOULD ALERT ON FLOCK.

SO IF I HAD A STOLEN CAR, A WANTED PERSON, A MURDERER THAT'S ASSOCIATED WITH A VICTIM DRIVE INTO THE COUNTY THE FLOCK SYSTEM ALERTS, IT MATCHES OUR DATA, IT AGAINST A DOWNLOAD OF HOTLIST IF YOU WILL, DOES A COMPARISON AND SAYS, THAT VEHICLE CONTAINS THAT MURDER SUSPECT OR THAT WANTED PERSON OR IT'S STOLEN, IT'S THIS LOCATION RIGHT NOW. THAT'S HOW THAT WORKS.

>> OKAY. >> I HAVE ONE MORE QUESTION.

>> THROUGH THE CHAIR, IT MAY BE ACTUALLY FOR COMMISSIONER TAYLOR BECAUSE YOU WERE PRESIDENT OF THE, I SPOKE TO SOMEONE WHO'S A THAT'S ELECTED TO HAVE A FLOCK CAMERA, THE DEPUTIES WERE THERE AND TOLD THE NEIGHBORS WHAT IT COULD DO.

AND THE CONVERSATION THAT BOTHERED ME SO MUCH WAS THAT IT SOUNDED LIKE THE CDD BOARD MEMBERS WERE GOING TO HAVE ACCESS TO THE CAMERA DATA. WAS THAT -- DID THAT HAPPEN? I NOTE YOU RESTRICTED EVERYTING NOW.

>> THEY HAVE NO ACCESS TO ANY DATA WE COLLECT, ZERO.

ANY COMMUNITY MEMBERS CAN BUY A CAMERA FROM ANY VENDOR AND PUT IT ANYWHERE THEY WANT, HO A'S CAN DO THAT AND THEY PROVIDE ACCESS TO WHEREVER THEY CHOOSE. BUT DON'T CONFUSE ACCESS WITH

THAT SYSTEM IS OUR SYSTEM. >> IT WAS FLOCK.

>> I UNDERSTAND BUT THAT'S NOT OUR FLOCK.

IT COULD BE FLOCK IT COULD BE MOTOROLA.

>> BUT YOUR DEPUTIES WEAR THAT CDD MEETING,.

>> OUR DEPUTIES CAN ACCESS DATA FROM FLOCK CAMERAS SO I THINK THAT'S WHAT YOU'RE CONFUSING, WE ARE NOT PROVIDING INFORMATION TO AN HOA FOR THEM TO BE ABLE TO ACCESS THE DATA.

AND I WILL TELL YOU THE MAJORITY OF THE COMMUNITIES AND I AM FAMILIAR WITH SOME COMMUNITIES THAT DO HAVE FLOCK DATA.

OR HAVE PURCHASED THEIR OWN FLOCK CAMERAS AND THEIR OWN SYSTEM. I'M NOT AWARE OF ANY COMMUNITY THAT LOOKS AT THAT DATA. THEY IN FACT TURNED IT OFF, I'M NOT SAYING IT DOESN'T OCCUR, I'M JUST SAYING I'M NOT FAMILIAR

WITH IT. >> I THINK 25 YEARS AGO MY COMMUNITY PUT A CAMERA UP, THE COMMUNITY COULD SEE THAT INFORMATION. I'M NOT SURE.

I HEAR WHAT YOU ARE SAYING, AND I THINK THAT IT'S IMPORTANT THAT WE TAKE STEPS TO MAKE SURE THAT THERE ARE THINGS IN PLACE, I KNOW YOU ARE TELLING ME THAT BUT I WOULD LOVE TO BE ABLE TO SAY SOMETHING DIFFERENT. LET'S SAY IF WITHIN 30 DAYS WE DON'T HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY TO SIT DOWN AND TO BE CONCLUSIVELY CONVINCED THAT THIS DATA IS BEING PROTECTED THAT WE WOULD MOVE FORWARD WITH A MORATORIUM, I WOULD HATE TO TIE THEIR HANDS TO DAY WITHOUT GIVING THEM AN OPPORTUNITY TO SIT DOWN AND SAY THIS IS WHAT WE USE THE DATA FOR AND THIS IS WHO SEES IT AND TO SHOW ACTUAL POLICIES IN PLACE BEFORE WE PULL THE PLUG ON

SOMETHING LIKE THAT. >> I HEAR YOU.

I THINK WE ARE VERY CLOSE ON THIS, IT'S GOING TO SOUND LIKE WE ARE DISAGREEING BUT I THINK WE SEE THIS ISSUE THE SAME WAY.

I'M IN FAVOR OF PULLING THEM NOW AND THEN HAVING A CONVERSATION, YOU ARE IN FAVOR OF. [APPLAUSE]

>> HE'S GOT A LEGITIMATE POINT TOO AND THANK YOU FOR THE SUPPORT BUT WE HAVE LAW ENFORCEMENT WHO BELIEVES IN THESE THINGS, WE HAVE A LOT ENFORCEMENT WHO DON'T BELIEVE IN THESE THINGS, IT'S A NUANCED ISSUE HERE I'M NOT TRYING TO I THINK WE SEE THIS THE SAME WAY. THAT'S THE POINT I'M TRYING TO MAKE. I'M JUST IN FAVOR OF PULLING IT OUT AND THEN EXPLORING YOU WANT TO EXPLORE AND THEN LOOK AT PULLING IT LATER. I WOULD LIKE TO ON THE SIDE OF LIBERTY, I WOULD WANT TO ON THE SIDE OF CAUTION IN TERMS OF PROTECTING THE PRIVACY OF THE PEOPLE OF SAINT JOHN'S COUNTY AND I UNDERSTAND YOUR POSITION, I'M NOT CALLING YOU A BAD GUY OR ANYTHING, OR ANYBODY A BAD GUY. NOT AT THE MOMENT.

NOT AT THE MOMENT. THAT'S WHERE I AM WITH IT.

>> MR. CHAIR IF I CAN MAKE A COMMENT.

GIVE ME JUST A MINUTE SHERIFF IF YOU DON'T MIND.

[01:55:04]

I ALSO HAD A GUY IN MIDDLEBURG, MY CAR HIT THE FLOCK CAMERA AND HE STOPPED ME AND IT WAS HIS MISTAKE AND HE APOLOGIZED AND WHATEVER SO I'VE HAD BOTH SIDES OF THIS BUT I AM NOT WILLING TO -- AND I'M SURE I WILL BE OUTVOTED, THAT'S FINE, I'M NOT VOTING TO IMMEDIATELY GET RID OF THEM.

I WOULD RATHER LIKE E-BIKES, IT'S THE NEW THING AND THIS IS LIKE THE TOOTHPASTE IS OUT OF THE TUBE.

WE HAVE TO SOMEHOW PULL IT BACK IN AND HAVE SOME MORE WAYS TO PROTECT THE DATA AND LESS TIME AND ALL THAT.

I JUST WANTED TO SAY THAT ABOUT MY AREA.

I THINK YOU KNEW THAT BECAUSE YOU MET WITH 200 PEOPLE AND NO ONE HAD A CONCERN ABOUT IT. I KNOW THE SAW GRASS THEY HAVE THEIR OWN, THEY SEE THEIR OWN. I KNOW YOU GUYS DON'T BUT I KNOW DIFFERENT ATRIAL WAYS DO HAVE THEM AND THEY ALSO GIVE TICKETS.

>> JUST TO CLARIFY THE HOA IS NOT THE SHERIFF'S OFFICE.

S NOT THE SAME SPIRIT THEY OWN THE PROPERTY. Select to skip to this part of the video">S NOT THE SAME SPIRIT THEY OWN THE PROPERTY.

>> I WANT TO MAKE A COMMENT MR. CHAIR.

>> ONE SECOND. I WANT TO SAY TO COMMISSIONER WHITEHURST. WHEN I LOOKED AT HIM AND HE TELLS ME IT'S THE MOST EFFECTIVE TOOL TO FIGHT CRIME IN ST. JOHNS COUNTY, THAT PUSHES THE NEEDLE TO ME AND IT'S WHY I WOULD AGREE TO GIVING THEM A TIME. TO COME BACK TO THE BOARD AND SAY THESE ARE THE SAFEGUARDS WE HAVE IN PLACE, THESE ARE THE INSURANCES WE HAVE FOR OUR PEOPLE.

AND BEFORE TAKING THAT STEP. I WOULD ASK YOU TO CONSIDER THAT IF YOU WOULDN'T MIND. I AM SURE THAT IF SOMETHING HAPPENS TO MORROW OR TO NIGHT, SOMEBODY WOULD APPRECIATE THE OPPORTUNITY TO GET -- TO USE THIS TECHNOLOGY WHILE WE DETERMINE BUT I DON'T THINK IT'S, I DON'T THINK WHETHER OR NOT THERE IS A MORATORIUM OR NOT I JUST DON'T THINK PULLING THE PLUG TONIGHT, I DON'T THINK THERE'S A STRONG ENOUGH ARGUMENT FOR THAT. I'LL ASK YOUR INDULGENCE ON THA

FOR ME. >> I APPRECIATE THAT.

I AM WHERE I AM ON THIS, AND I'VE REALLY CONSIDERED WEIGHING BOTH OPTIONS. I THINK CHIEF CRONIN IS IN A FIGHT AND I THINK THEY WOULD ACCEPT ANY AND ALL TOOLS ABOUT CATCHING THE BAD GUYS. NOT KNOWING THE CHIEF VERY WELL AT A VERY PASSIONATE PUTTING PEOPLE IN JAIL WHO COMMIT CRIMES. YOU CAN GIVE THEM ANY AND ALL TOOLS, THAT HIS JOB, HE WILL GO GET THEM AND HE WILL USE ANY WEAPON IN HIS DISPOSAL TO GO GET THEM, ONE OF HIS JOBS IS TO ENSURE THAT WE ARE NOT VIOLATING PEOPLE'S PRIVACY.

AND I THINK THAT IS THE FINE LINE THAT I'M UNWILLING TO BLOW HERE AND GIVING THE CHOICE WHERE I'M 50/50, THOSE GOOD ARGUMENTS TO BE HAD ON BOTH SIDES, THERE'S GOOD PEOPLE ON BOTH SIDES.

I WILL AIR ON THE SIDE OF PRIVACY, I WILL AIR ON THE SIDE OF LIBERTY NOT BECAUSE I THINK ANYBODY IS DOING ANYTHING BAD OR THEY ARE BAD PEOPLE BUT THE STORIES THAT THE SHERIFF TOLD, THE STORIES YOU WOULD KNOW IN THOSE STORIES WHICH ARE COMPELLING, EMOTIONAL STORIES IT DID NOT PREVENT THE CRIME.

THE CRIME STILL HAPPENED. IN THE CITY OF CHICAGO WHERE THEY CAN TICKET YOU BUY A CAMERA IF YOUR TIRE GOES OVER THE WHITE LINE, THEY HAD A MORE SURVEILLANCE IN THAT CITY THAN ANYWHERE ELSE I KNOW OF, THEY HAVE ONE OF THE HIGHEST MURDER RATES PER CAPITA. IT MIGHT MAKE PEOPLE EASIER TO CATCH BUT IT DOESN'T KEEP US SAFE.

I'VE HAD A LOT OF TIME TO RESEARCH IT, THINK ABOUT IT, PRAY ABOUT IT, AND WHERE I AM TONIGHT MAKING THE DECISION UNDERSTANDING YOUR POSITION I THINK WE NEED TO ON THE SIDE OF

PRIVACY. >> SHERIFF YOU HAVE THE FLOOR.

[APPLAUSE] >> I WILL CLOSE OUT AND AGAIN FIRST OF ALL, DONALD TRUMP, PHYSICALLY SAID ON AIR FORCE ONE HE SUPPORTS A FLOCK. IF IT WAS SO IMPORTANT FOR THE GOVERNOR TO SHUT DOWN WHY DID HE NOT SHUT IT DOWN IMMEDIATELY LIKE YOU ARE DOING TONIGHT WOW I ASKED ALL FIVE OF YOU TO MEET WITH OUR STAFF TO SIT DOWN AND MEET WITH US AND DISCUSS LICENSE PLATE READERS AND THE GOVERNOR GAVE US 30 DAYS.

[02:00:09]

THE MORATORIUM, WHICH I'M NOT SURE IS LEGAL, I'M ASKING YOU FOR THE FULL 30 DAYS, THE MONTH OF SEPTEMBER LIKE OUR GOVERNOR AND THE STATE OF FLORIDA IS SUPPOSED TO ALL OF A SUDDEN TONIGHT, YOU PULL THE TRIGGER. IF YOU DO DO THIS, THAT $500,00 DOES NOT NEED TO GO AWAY. YOU KNOW I CAN USE IT FOR THE STAFF THAT WORKS IN THE OFFICE, MIGHT DISPATCHERS COME AS YOU KNOW, THEY START AT $30,000 WHE I BECAME YOUR SHERIFF FIVE AND HALF YEARS AGO YOU ALL THE HELP THEM TO GO TO $55,000.

I WILL EASILY FIND A PLACE FOR THAT $55,000.

WHATEVER YOUR DECISION IS, I SUPPORT YOU.

WE WILL MOVE FORWARD. THANK YOU.

>> THANK YOU. I SAID 30 DAYS, I WOULD BE MORE THAN HAPPY TO AGREE WITH THE SHERIFF TO TAKE THESE LAST TWO WEEKS TO CONSIDER OUR OPTIONS BEFORE WE MAKE A DECISION ABOUT THAT. THAT IS MY POSITION.

>> TWO WEEKS. AND THEN WILL REVISIT.

>> IT'S RIGHT AND THE MIDDLE. >> IF I COULD ADDRESS THAT MORATORIUM QUESTION. I THINK YOU HAVE THE MEANS OF DOING THINGS WITH REGARD TO THE FLOCK CAMERAS, I DON'T KNOW THA MORATORIUM IS THE CORRECT WORD. AFTER DIRECT YOU TO THE FLORIDA STATUTE BECAUSE THE SHERIFF OF CONSTITUTIONAL OFFICER, IN ELECTED OFFICE OR STATUTORY CONTROL OVER OPERATIONS AND EQUIPMENT, SO WE ARE HERE FOR A BUDGETARY MATTER, YOU DO CONTRO THAT MATTER, YOU CAN REDUCE HIS OPERATING BUDGETS, BUT AS FAR A DIRECTING HOW HE CONDUCTS OPERATIONS, THAT IS AN INDEPENDENT FOR A CONSTITUTIONA OFFICER.

IN FORWARD SINCE HEY ARE IN THE COUNTY RIGHT-OF-WAY, THERE MAY BE OTHER MECHANISMS I JUST DON' WANT TO LEAVE YOU WITH THE

THOUGHT OF A MORATORIUM. >> LET ME JUST SAY I THINK WE HAVE CONSENSUS TO ASK FOR QUESTIONS OF LEGAL OVER THE NEX TWO WEEKS TO SEE WHAT WE CAN DO AS COUNTY IF APPROPRIATE.

I WOULD BE CERTAINLY WILLING TO AGREE TO A CONSENSUS TO DIRECT STAFF TO GIVE US OUR OPTIONS FO THAT.

AND REPORT BACK OVER THE NEXT TWO WEEKS.

FAIR? YOU GET THAT WORKS.

>> NOW LET'S WORK MOVE TO THE [INDISCERNIBLE] WE HAVE TO MOVE TO THE MILITARY NOW. WHAT WE HAVE AS WE HAVE A RECOMMENDATION OF FLATS, THAT I OUR DISCUSSION FOR NOW.

I WOULD LOVE TO PULL OUR COMMISSIONERS AND SEE HOW THEY FEEL ABOUT IT. I CAN TELL YOU, WAIT WHEAT SLIGHT REDUCTION LAST YEAR, I'M INCLINED TO ASK FOR A SLIGHT REDUCTION BECAUSE EVEN WITH ALL THE CHALLENGES WE FACE COMING U WITH THREE, I THINK WE NEED TO SHOW WE ARE CONTINUING TO TRIM THE WAY WE CAN AND THAT IS MY FEELING ABOUT IT.

I ALSO KNOW THAT I AM ONE OF FOUR AND RESPECT YOUR OPINIONS.

>> MY ONLY QUESTION IS WHERE DOES THE CUT COME FROM VERY I'M ALWAYS IF WE REDUCE THAT, WHERE WILL THE MONEY COME FROM IN OUR

BUDGET? >> CAN YOU FIND ME A CUT?

>> AS PART OF THE SEPTEMBER 1ST BUDGET WORKSHOP PRESENTATION, I DID HAVE A SLIDE IN THERE THAT SHOWED THE GENERAL FUND RECURRING REVENUES VERSUS RECURRING EXPENSES, AND CURRENTLY WE ARE AT ABOUT A 2.8 MILLION DOLLAR SURPLUS OF RECURRING REVENUES TO EXPENSES, IF THERE WAS A REQUEST FOR A REDUCTION COME OUT WE COULD CERTAINLY PULL FROM THAT TO .8, AND THAT WOULD PUT US A SET OF BREAKEVEN REVENUE TO EXPENSES.

IN THAT ASPECT WE COULD POTENTIALLY PULL THAT FROM

RESERVES. >> WHAT KIND OF A INCREASE WITH

THAT LOOK LIKE? >> CAN YOU GO TO SITE 19 AND BELIEVE IT WAS? I BELIEVE IT WAS .0469 MILLAGE RATE REJECTION. SOMEWHERE AROUND THERE.

THERE IT IS. IT IS A SLIGHT REDUCTION, IT'S NOT A LOT OF IMPACTS. I THINK WE LOOKED ABOUT A

[02:05:01]

>> OKAY. THAT IS MY RECOMMENDATION, AS A .0569 REDUCTION IN THE MILLAGE RATE, BUT IT WILL TAKE HOW MANY

VOTES TO NEED TO GET THAT? >> ANY BOAT ABOUT THE ROLLBACK RATE FOR TONIGHT WILL REQUIRE A LEAST FOUR AFFIRMATIVE VOTES.

>> OKAY, SO LET ME MAKE A MOTIO TO REDUCE THE MILLAGE RATE BY 048469 PERCENT AND SEE IF I CAN THROW THAT OUT THERE AND SEE IF I CAN GET A NIBBLE. MOTION TO SET THE MILLAGE RATE AT A REDUCED RATE OF A LOW THE PLAT RATE.

AND THAT DOES NOT RECEIVE A SECOND, SO THAT DIES.

>> ANYBODY ELSE? WE HAVE TO HAVE SOME KIND OF.

>> I WILL MAKE THE MOTION. TO KEEP MOTION TO ADOPT THE RESOLUTION 2026 DASH 313, IMPROVING THE FISCAL YEAR 2027 FINAL MILL IS RAGE AS SET BY TH PORT OF ST. JOHNS COUNTY, FLORIDA FOR ALL PROPERTY IN ST. JOHN'S COUNTY IS OF JANUARY 1ST

2026. >> SECOND.

>> WE HAVE A SECOND AND A MOTION .

LET'S VOTE. THAT PASSES 4-1.

YOU HAVE YOUR FLAT MILLAGE RATE. I THINK THERE'S ONE MORE.

>> MOTION TO ADOPT RESOLUTION 2026 DASH.

>> 314. APPROVING FISCAL YEAR FINAL BUDGET OF THE BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS OF ST. JOHNS COUNTY FLORIDA USING THE TAXABL VALUE OF 63,000,698,000 TO HUNDRED $42 GENERATING AN ESTIMATED 426 MILLION, 6,000 TO DOLLARS IN TAXES RESULTING IN A TOTAL POLISH

>> TO BE OF EMOTION? >> I WILL SECOND.

>> WE HAVE A MOTION IN THE SECOND, LET'S VOTE.

THAT PASSES 4-1. WHAT OTHER KIND OF WORK DO WE

NEED TO DO TONIGHT? >> THAT INCLUDES THE BUDGET PROCESS. THANK YOU.

>> OKAY, AGENDA ITEM NUMBER TOO WAS THE BLACK HISTORY MUSEUM.

SO LET ME BRING THAT BACK AND SAY SEVERAL YEARS AGO, COMMISSIONER ARNOLD, IT USED TO BE HER HEADED THE FIGHT TO BRIN THE BLACK HISTORY MUSEUM TO ST. JOHNS COUNTY.

ONE OF THE THINGS WE HAVE DETERMINED OVER THE LAST YEAR O SO IS THAT THE STATE IS GOING T REQUIRE SOME SKIN IN THE GAME AND THE FOUNDATION HAS ASKED FO $125,000 AND I THINK IT WOULD B A GREAT DISCUSSION FOR US TO SE HOW WE CAN FUND THAT TO KEEP OU FOOT ON THE GAS SO THE FOUNDATION CAN GET THEIR FOOT O THE GAS FOR THEIR OWN FUNDRAISING EFFORTS FOR MATCHIN FUNDS SO THE STATE CAN THEN REALIZE THAT WE MEAN BUSINESS AND COME OFF SOME FUNDING OUT THEY'RE OWN.

I WOULD LIKE SOME IF ANYONE ELS HAS ANY COMMENTS OR THOUGHTS ON

THAT? >> I WOULD LIKE TO STAFF TO SEE WHERE WE COULD FIND THE MONEY. I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT WE KEEP THE MOMENTUM GOING. I APPRECIATE THE SUPPORT.

>> YOU GUYS HAVE WORKED REALLY REALLY HARD ON MAKING SURE THAT ST. JOHNS COUNTY IS IT, AM I THINK WE NEED SOME SKIN IN THE

GAME. >> I THINK WE HAD THAT DISCUSSION IN I THINK THEY COUNTY ATTORNEY'S OFFICE POSITION IS THAT IT'S NOT AN ELIGIBLE USE, SO WHAT IS LEFT I

GENERAL FUND RESERVE FREUD. >> MOST OF THE REQUEST WE CAN'T

DO WITH TDC FUNDS. >> OKAY.

THERE MAY BE AN WAY TO ALTER IT BUT MOST OF THEM YOU CANNOT.

>> DOES ANYBODY ELSE HAVE ANY COMMENTS ON THIS?

>> I NOTE THAT THE SKIN IN THE GAME THE STATE PLANTATION IS LOOKING FOR, WE'VE GOT TO FIND LOT OF MONEY TO HELP BUILD THE MUSEUM. SO $125,000 FOR THE FOUNDATION, I'M NOT SURE HOW THAT GETS US, WE NEED BETTER ADVOCACY IN TALLAHASSEE WE NEED BETTER REPRESENTATION HERE IN SOUTH FLORIDA TO BRING PRIVATE-SECTOR DOLLARS TOWARD CONSTRUCTING THE BUILDING. WE HAVE MADE SO LITTLE PROGRESS ON GETTING THE FUNDING TO ACTUALLY CONSTRUCT THE BUILDING

[02:10:01]

$125,000 SEEMS LIKE A RELATIVEL SMALL AMOUNTS, HOWEVER WITH PROPOSITION THREE LOOMING OVER OUR HEADS, I KNOW WE WENT OVER THIS AT THE LAST BUDGET HEARING THAT OUR PUBLIC SAFETY IS TAKIN NEARLY EARLY 80 PERCENT OF THE INCREASE IN OUR WHICH IS A WISE INVESTMENT OF OUR TAX DOLLARS BUT THAT MEANS 80 PERCENT OF TH INCREASED SELF I HAVE MILLION DOLLARS HAS TO BE.

OVER EVERY OTHER DEPARTMENT IN THIS COUNTY.

IT'S GOING TO START TO LOOK LIK A LOT OF MONEY AS THE NEEDS FOR PUBLIC SAFETY CONTINUE TO INCREASE AND THE INCREASE TO OU BUDGET DIMINISH. I WOULD LIKE TO SEE US PUT MORE EFFORT INTO GETTING FUNDING FOR THE CONSTRUCTION OF THE MUSEUM.

>> DO WE HAVE A REPRESENTATIVE FROM THE FOUNDATION HERE? THERE HE IS. COULD YOU COME UP HERE JUST A MINUTE. GIVE HIM A MICROPHONE.

THEY GO. >> SO YOU CAME TO THIS BOARD WITH THE REQUEST FOR $125,000 A COUPLE OF MEETINGS AGO, WOULD YOU EXPLAIN WHAT THAT WOULD DO FOR THE FOUNDATION?

>> WE CALLED ITS CAPACITY BUILDING FUNDING.

BUILDING THE CAPACITY TO GO OUT AND SECURE THE PRIVATE AND OTHE FUNDS THAT ARE NEEDED BEYOND TH STATE, SO ALL THE CONVERSATIONS THAT WE HAVE HAD IS THAT A THIR OR SO WOULD BE THIS DATE TO COME , BUT MAY BE MORE, A THIRD OR SO WOULD BE PRIVATE, AND THE OTHER WOULD BE BONDING POTENTIALLY FROM THE COUNTY AND PERHAPS OTHER COUNTIES, SO IT'S BUILDING THE CAPACITY TO RAISE 25 DISH MAKE 50 MILLION IN PRIVATE FUNDS, BUT WE HAVE TO PUT A PLAN TOGETHER TO GO OUT AND SECURE THOSE FUNDS.

THAT IS WHAT THIS IS COMIC CAPACITY BUILDING, COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT SO WE CAN BE STATEWIDE IN OUR OUTREACH, HIRING A CONSULTANT TO IDENTIFY A STRATEGIC PLAN FOR RAISING 30- $50 MILLION FREIGHT YOU DON'T JUST GO OUT AND DO IT, YOU HAVE TO HAVE A PLAN TO EXECUTE. ALL OF THAT IS INCORPORATED.

ALSO AN ECONOMIC IMPACT STUDY. WE PLAN TO WORK CLOSELY WITH VISIT FLORIDA AND OTHERS SO EVERYBODY UNDERSTANDS THE ECONOMIC IMPACT. LASTLY, THIS IS 100-$120 MILLIO OF CAPITAL INVESTMENT IN ST. JOHN'S COUNTY.

THIS IS LITERALLY UNPARALLELED. SO IT IS POTENTIALLY TO HUNDRED $50 MILLION IN TOURISM, INCREMENTAL TOURISM DOLLARS EVERY YEAR. SO WE ARE VERY BLESSED TO HAVE THIS OPPORTUNITY. NOW WE NEED TO MOVE FORWARD.

>> THANK YOU SO MUCH, I APPRECIATED.

I WOULD MAKE A MOTION THAT WE TRY TO FIND A WAY TO WHEN I SAY TO DIRECT STAFF TO FIND THE FUNDS FOR $125,000, AND THE REASON I AM ASKING FOR THAT IS THAT WE HAVE WORKED REALLY REALLY HARD TO GET THIS HISTORY WHERE IT PROLONGS, WHICH IS IN ST. JOHN'S COUNTY. WE ARE THE EPICENTER FOR BLACK HISTORY, NOT ONLY IN FLORIDA, BUT ON THE EAST COAST AND TO HAVE THAT HERE IS IMPORTANT. IF THAT'S WHAT IT TAKES, UNDERSTANDING OUR BUDGETARY LIMITATIONS GOING FORWARD, ESPECIALLY AFTER NOVEMBER 3RD, BUT IF WE CAN FIND $125,000 IN

OUR EXCESS FUNDS,. >> THE BALL ROLLING FOR THIS, I THINK WE OWE IT TO NOT ONLY OUR COUNTY, BUT TO AFRICAN-AMERICAN EVERYWHERE, FOR US TO STEP UP AND GET SKIN IN THE GAME TO BRING THIS, BECAUSE YOU'RE RIGHT , THE POTENTIAL FOR THE CONSTRUCTION DOLLARS, FOR THE TOURISM EXPONENTIALLY OVER THE NEXT 20 YEARS COULD BRING BACK 1,000 FOLD OVER THIS $125,000.

BUT WITH AN UNDERSTANDING THIS MIGHT BE THE SEED MONEY THAT MIGHT BE OF THE SEED MONEY IN W ARE ABLE TO GET FOR A WHILE.

I WOULD MAKE A MOTION TO DIRECT STAFF TO FIND THAT $125,000 FOR THE BLACK HISTORY MUSEUM FOUNDATION AND GET THEM STARTED REPAIR FIGURE I WANT TO MAKE SURE WE ARE CLEAR ON THE

[02:15:01]

FOR STRAIGHT GRANT FUNDING IS NOT ELIGIBLE AS WELL, SO WE DIRECTION FROM THE BOARD IF IT IS TO REMOVE $125,000 FROM THE GENERAL FUND RESERVE, THAT IS THE OPTION.

>> THAT WOULD BE MY MOTION COMMITTED TO REMOVE IT FROM THE GENERAL REVENUE FUNDS. FOR THE BLACK HISTORY MUSEUM.

THAT IS MY MOTION. >> I AM SUPPORTIVE OF IT, BUT I WANT TO WAIT UNTIL AFTER THE TA VOTES.

I'VE TOLD YOU THAT BEFORE, AND THAT IS, OTHERWISE, IT'S A GREA OPPORTUNITY. I ALSO WANT TO SEE THE SESSION START AND GET THE GUYS BEHIND THIS GOING.

BUT, FO TAX THING DOESN'T PASS, THEN YEAH, OKAY.

SORRY. >> IF I CAN COMMENT.

>> THERE IS A MOTION ON THE FLOOR PER.

>> I WILL SECOND. >> IS SO WE HAVE A MOTION AND A

SECOND. >> IS SO I WILL REMIND YOU YOU HAVE A BOARD RULE REGARDING FUNDING,.

>> CAN I MAKE A MOTION TO WAIVE THE RULE.

AND CAN I GET A SECOND FOR THAT. >> WE HAVE A SECOND.

LET'S VOTE ON THAT. THAT PASSES 4-1 TO WAIVE THE RULE. NOW WE GO BACK TO OUR ORIGINAL MOTION TO FROM GENERAL FUND DOLLARS TO FUND $125,000 FOR TH FOUNDATION I DON'T KNOW IF IT'S NECESSARY FOR THE COMMENTS, SO LET'S GO AHEAD AND VOTE ON THAT. AND SEE HOW WE DO.

>> OKAY, THAT PASSES 3-2. SO THANK YOU SO MUCH.

THANK YOU FOR YOUR WORK. I THINK THIS IS A HUGE PUSH FORWARD FOR THE NOT ONLY THE AFRICAN-AMERICAN COMMUNITY, BUT OUR COMMUNITY AS WELL BECAUSE W ARE JOINT COMMUNITY IN I APPRECIATE THE TIME. THANK YOU STAFF, THANK YOU COMMISSIONERS FOR THIS, I THINK WE ARE ON THE RIGHT TRACK, I THINK IT'S GOOD TIMES AHEAD FOR US, AND I THINK YOU SO MUCH FOR YOUR VOTE. ANYTHING ELSE TO COME BEFORE TH BOARD? THEN WE WILL STAND

* This transcript was compiled from uncorrected Closed Captioning.