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>> WE HAVE MET FOOD BANKS, WE HAVE COUNCIL ON AGING OUTREACH PROGRAMS MAY NEED TO MAKE SURE
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THEY HAVE THE RESOURCES THEY NEED. WE HAVE CONDUCTED TWO CALLS,[00:28:20]
CONFERENCE CALLS TO MAKE SURE WE ARE FOLLOWING ALL SOCIAL DISTANCING.[00:28:23]
TO SEE WHAT THEIR UNMET NEEDS ARE. I'M HAPPY TO REPORT OUR SOCIAL[00:28:29]
SERVICE NETWORK INSIDE OF ST. JOHNS COUNTY HAS NOT HAD ANY SHORTAGES OF ANY SIGNIFICANCE.[00:28:33]
BUT WE CONTINUE TO COMMUNICATE. AN AGENCY MAY HAVE MORE DIAPERS THAN THE OTHER AGENCY, SO THEY ARE COMMUNICATING AND NETWORKING WHICH IS A GREAT WAY TO NETWORK IN ST. JOHNS COUNTY.THEY ARE SEEING PEOPLE COULD BE LAID OFF FROM PRIVATE INDUSTRY, LOSING THEIR JOBS, MAYBE THEY WILL HAVE DIFFICULTY WITH RENT. ALL OF THOSE THINGS NEED TO BE WORKING TOGETHER SO WE CAN KEEP THE SAFETY NET IN PLACE. WHAT'S THE NUMBER ONE THING WE THOUGHT THAT MAY BECOME AN ISSUE WOULD BE FOOD COMMODITIES, MAKING SURE FOOD BANKS AND ALL OF THESE AGENCIES HAVE FOOD. SO WE STRATEGICALLY PLACED ST. JOHNS COUNTY.
WE ORDERED A TRUCK LOAD OF WATER AND FOOD FROM THE STATE POC WHICH ARRIVED YESTERDAY.
HELF READY MEALS SO OF COUNCIL ON AGING NEEDS TO GIVE PEOPLE SEVEN DAYS OF FOOD INSTEAD OF A SINGLE DAY DOES NOT REQUIRE REFRIGERATION AND THEY CAN DO THAT DROP OFF.
DROP IT OFF. THEY DON'T HAVE TO SEE ANYBODY. THE FOOD IS HERE AND IS ARRIVED LAST NIGHT. WE HAVE A LOGISTICAL STAGING AREA AND WE HAVE IT RUNNING.
WE PREPOSITIONED OURSELVES WITH THAT. WE CONTINUE WITH CONTINGENCY PLANNING SHOULD OUR SYSTEM NEED ASSISTANCE WE ARE IN CONSTANT CONVERSATIONS WITH FLAGLER HOSPITAL INSIDE THE EEOC TRYING TO MEET THOSE NEEDS. YOUR EEOC IS UP AND RUNNING AND WE ARE ALSO DOING IT REMOTELY. WE HAVE LEGAL TEAM ON STANDBY, OUR PURCHASING TEAM IN THE
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COUNTY. WE ARE DOING A LOT BY PHONE BUT WE ARE GETTING THE JOB DONE FOR YOU. WE WILL CONTINUE TO RUN AT THIS LEVEL TO THROUGHOUT THIS DISASTER SHOULD WE NEED TO GO TO A LEVEL I, WE WILL COME BACK AND HAVE THAT DISCUSSION.MANY OF YOU HAVE VISITED THE EEOC AND CERTAINLY WE APPRECIATE THAT.
WE APPRECIATE THAT SUPPORT AND WE APPRECIATE THE SUPPORT OF OUR RESIDENTS THAT ARE CALLING IN AND SAYING THANK YOU AND CAN THEY BRING ANYTHING TO US. WE APPRECIATE THAT AND WITH THAT, DO YOU HAVE ANY SPECIFIC QUESTIONS FOR EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT FOR THE EMERGENCY
OPERATIONS CENTER? >> MR. BLOCKER: THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR YOU AND YOUR TEAM, THE GREAT WORK YOU ARE DOING. I KNOW YOU ARE PUTTING IN COUNTLESS HOURS AND KEEPING THE FAMILIES IN ST. JOHNS COUNTY SAFE. WE OWE YOU A TREMENDOUS DEBT.
A QUESTION ABOUT THE TESTING. OUR COUNTY ADMINISTRATOR BREATHED A SON.
IS THERE ANY ANTICIPATION OF OPENING ANY ADDITIONAL TESTING CENTERS IN ST. JOHNS COUNTY OR
IN THE REGION THAT YOU ARE AWARE OF? >> NOT AT THIS TIME.
AS MR. CONNOR TALKED ABOUT WE HAVE THE REGIONAL SYSTEM SET UP AT JAC HORSE, WHICH IS DESIGNED FOR ST. JOHNS COUNTY AND SURROUNDING COUNTIES TO UTILIZE THAT SYSTEM.
FLAGLER HOSPITAL HAS THE TESTING IN THE FRONT OF THE HOSPITAL THAT IS RUNNING FROM 8:00 UNTIL 12:00 AND THEY'VE EVEN EXTENDED THAT. THE DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH IS DOING THEIR TESTING. WE CONTINUE TO TALK TO THE STATE OF FLORIDA ABOUT COLLECTION KITS BECAUSE WE CAN'T OPEN IT WITHOUT HAVING A COLLECTION KIT IN THE TESTING AND ALL OF THOSE DIFFERENT THINGS. THAT IS PART OF THE CONTINGENCY PLANNING. DO WE NEED TO GO DOWN THIS ROAD AND WE ARE NOT THERE YET TO OPEN ONE TODAY OR TOMORROW BUT WE DO HAVE THOSE DISCUSSIONS ALMOST DAILY INSIDE THE EEOC.
>> JUST TO ADD TO THE RESPONSE, ONE OF THE DIFFICULTIES IN FACT WHILE I'M SITTING HERE I HAVE A QUESTION RAISED ABOUT THE ADDITIONAL TESTING SITE. JUST SO YOU ARE AWARE ONE OF THE ADDITIONAL DIFFICULTIES AND THOSE ADDITIONAL TESTING SITES IS STAFFING.
AND SO THE IMPRESSION I'VE BEEN LED TO BELIEVE AS FAR AS YOU HAVE TO HAVE SOME KIND OF DOCTOR TO OVERSEE THAT AND THEN YOU HAVE TO HAVE CERTAIN AMOUNT OF LICENSED RNS AND LPNS THAT ARE THERE. SO RIGHT NOW, I KNOW AT LEAST WITHIN ST. JOHNS COUNTY SO MUCH OF THE FOCUS IS AT THE DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AS WELL AS FLAGLER.
SO AS IT'S BEEN REFERENCED IS CONSTANTLY BEING EVALUATED AND DISCUSSED EVERY SINGLE DAY.
JUST SO YOU ARE AWARE ONE OF THE BIG DIFFICULT CHALLENGES IS THE PRIVATE STAFFING TO HELP
SUPPORT THAT. >> THANK YOU. LET ME JUST CLARIFY AGAIN.
IF YOU CAN KIND OF BEGIN TO DELINEATE WHAT THE DIFFERENCE IS IN THE TESTING SITES YOU
HAVE THE ONE IN JACKSONVILLE. >> WE DO.HE FEDERAL SITE IN JACKSONVILLE AT JAC HORSE STADIUM, AND THAT IS A REGIONAL TESTING SITE. JUST FOR GOOGLE BUT ST. JOHNS, CLAY, BAKER, THE SURROUNDING COUNTIES. WE HAVE A FLAGLER HOSPITAL HAS A TESTING SITE IN THEIR FACILITY IN ONE OF THEIR PARKING LOTS.
AND IT'S OPEN FROM 8:00 UNTIL 12:00. I BELIEVE IF THEY HAVE PEOPLE IN LINE THEY ARE EXTENDING HOURS AND YOU MUST HAVE A DOCTOR'S ORDER OR THEY DO HAVE NURSES THERE SCREENING IF YOU ARE SHOWING SYMPTOMS. AND THEN THEY WORKING THROUGH THAT THREE-STEP PROCESS. THE DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH HAS THEIR PROCESS AT HHS AND I DO NOT HAVE ALL OF THE SPECIFICS OF THEIR PROCESS BUT I BELIEVE IF YOU'RE HAVING SYMPTOMS OR YOU HAVE A NOTE FROM YOUR DOCTOR, THEY ARE HANDLING NOT THROUGH THE FLORIDA DEPARTMENT
OF HEALTH. >> CAN WE GET THOSE FROM YOU ALL? THAT WAY WE CAN LET OUR CONSTITUENTS KNOW IF THERE ARE QUESTIONS ABOUT THAT.
AND THEN THE FLAGLER SITE IS A SEPARATE SITE? >> ABSOLUTELY.
IT'S A SEPARATE SITE SET UP BY FLAGLER HOSPITAL. THEY RECEIVED COLLECTION KITS AND ARE USING FLAGLER HOSPITAL STAFF TO RUN THAT SITE. THEY HAVE DOCTORS AS MR. CONRAD ALLUDED TO BUT YOU HAVE TO HAVE A DOCTOR WITH OVERSIGHT TO MAKE THOSE DECISIONS, THOSE MEDICAL DECISIONS, AND THEY ARE DOING THAT THROUGH THEIR ENTIRE FLAGLER PROCESS.
>> ONE MORE QUESTION. AS FAR AS OUR FIRST RESPONDERS AND LAW ENFORCEMENT, IS THERE A PROCESS OR PLAN FOR THEM TO BE TESTED AS WELL AS THEY ARE INTERACTING WITH THE PUBLIC? WHAT THEY GO TO THAT REGIONAL SITE, OR CAN YOU KIND OF EXPLAIN THAT TO US?
>> YES, SIR. THE REGIONAL SITE IS OPEN TO FIRST RESPONDERS AND CERTAINLY WITH ALL OF THE PARTNERSHIP INSIDE THE EMERGENCY OPERATIONS CENTER WITH THE FLORIDA DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH, IF ONE OF THESE AGENCIES CAME TO US IN SUCH A NEED HIS ASSISTANCE, THE FIRST THING WE DO IS GO TO THE LOCAL DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND SAFETY HELP REMEDY DISTRESS AND TO BE TESTED FOR THE BENEFIT FOR SUBMISSION THERE WAS A BARRIER TO THAT, FLAGLER HOSPITAL WOULD BE OUR NEXT WE HAVE PRIVATE DOCTORS IN THE COMMUNITY THAT HAVE OFFERED TO STEP UP AND ASSIST FIRST RESPONDERS. WE HAVE A MULTILAYER SYSTEM IN
PLACE TO TAKE CARE OF FIRST RESPONDERS. >> I APPRECIATE IT.
>> COMMISSIONER DEAN? >> MR. DEAN: LINDA, I WANT TO THANK YOU FOR PROVIDING SUCH CLEAR AND CORRECT INFORMATION. THE REASON I RAISED THIS POINT AS I WAS WATCHING THE 6:00
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LOCAL NEWS LAST NIGHT AND IF ANYONE CAUGHT THIS ÃBUT THE LOCAL NEWS IN JACKSONVILLE REPORTED YESTERDAY THAT TIA BANK FIELD TESTING CENTER WAS ONLY OPEN AND AVAILABLE TO DUBOIS COUNTY RESIDENTS. I DON'T KNOW WHERE THEY GOT THAT INFORMATION, BUT THAT'S WHAT THEY SAID. AND IT'S GOOD THAT WE ARE HAVING A PUBLICLY BROADCAST MEETING TO LET EVERYONE IN ST. JOHNS COUNTY, OUR RESIDENTS, NO THAT THE TESTING CENTER IS, IN FACT, A REGIONAL CENTER. IT'S NOT ONLY EXCLUSIVELY FOR DUBOIS COUNTY RESIDENTS. WAS ACTUALLY PUZZLED PATRICK WHEN I HEARD THAT BECAUSE THAT'S WHAT IT SOUNDS LIKE, THAT WOULD BE A CONSTITUTIONAL ISSUE AMONG OTHERS, BUT IT'S OPEN. I JUST WANT TO CONFIRM THAT SOOUR RESIDENTS KNOW WHAT'S GOING ON. >> THANK YOU, COMMISSONER
DEAN. COMMISSIONER WALDRON? >> MR. WALDRON: WHAT TO TELL YOU THANK YOU. YOU ALL ARE DOING A GREAT JOB. CAN YOU GET THE NUMBERS THAT THEY CAN CALL OVER SO PEOPLE WATCHING WILL HAVE THAT?> IF YOU HAVE GENERAL QUESTIONS ABOUT COUNTY GOVERNMENT, LIBRARIES OPEN, THOSE TYPE OF QUESTIONS YOU CAN CALL THE EEOC AT OUR NORMAL BUSINESS NUMBER AT 824-5550 AND THAT LINE IS OPEN FROM 8:00 UNTIL 6:00.
LET'S TAKE 245550K IF YOU HAVE SPECIFIC HEALTH QUESTIONS AND YOU NEED MEDICAL ASSISTANCE FROM A NURSE TO THE DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH CALL 209 3250. SAME HOURS FROM 8:00 UNTIL 6:00
THE ST. JOHNS COUNTY EEOC. >> THANK YOU VERY MUCH. ANY OTHER QUESTIONS?
>> WE DO HAVE ARE THOSE THAT CAN'T SEE, WE HAVE LAW ENFORCEMENT HERE THIS MORNING.
WE HAVE CHIEF FOX FROM ST. AUGUSTINE AND CHIEF HARDWICK FROM ST. AUGUSTINE BEACH AND COMMANDER BEAVER. IF YOU WANT TO ADD ANYTHING YOU'RE MORE THAN WELCOME TO COME FORWARD. IF YOU HAVE ANYTHING YOU WOULD LIKE TO SAY.
THANK YOU FOR COMING. 2300 A1A BEACH BOULEVARD. FIRST OF ALL, I WANT TO THANK YOU ON BEHALF OF LAW ENFORCEMENT JARED AVERETTE STEPPED OUT.
I APPRECIATE THE SUBMISSION SUPPORTING US AND GIVING US THE ECONOMY TOGETHER TO WORK WITH YOUR STAFF ON THINGS YOU THINK IS BEST FOR OUR COMMUNITY AND THAT'S MANAGEMENT OPEN SPACE ON THE BEACHES WE MADE MISTAKES LAST WEEK NORMAL TIME FOR SPRING BREAK FOR COLLEGES AND OUR LOCAL ÃOUR EDUCATIONAL INSTITUTIONS. WITH THAT BEING SAID WE HAD ISSUES WE HAD TO DEAL WITH LIKE WE NORMALLY WOULD FOR DURING OUR SPRING BREAK PERIOD.
I THINK WITH YOU GIVING US THE AUTONOMY TO MAKE DECISIONS TOGETHER COLLECTIVELY, IT'S HELPED OUT. YESTERDAY CLOSING OUR PUBLIC PARKING LOT IS HARD BECAUSE LOCAL BUSINESS PEOPLE, THIS ONE SIT HERE TODAY, IT MAKES THEM TOUGHER ON THEM TO COOPERATE AND WITH THEIR LOCAL BUSINESSES HAVE TO ACTUALLY MAKE THEM PAY THE BILLS.
YESTERDAY I DROVE COMMISSIONER WALDRON CALLED TERESA AND HE SAW FROM HIS OWN EYES THE COMPLAINTS WE WERE GETTING WERE NOT CORRECT. WITH ALL DUE RESPECT, RESPECT OUR CITIZENS IN OUR COMMUNITY BUT THE BLESSED PLACE WE SAW THEM USING A LOT OF ARTICLES SAYING THE OPEN SPACE AND PEOPLE USING THE CDC GUIDELINES.
AS I DROVE COMMISSIONER WALDRON DOWN THERE YESTERDAY WE DID NOT SEE ONE VIOLATION OF THE GUIDELINES. IT WAS SPACED OUT VERY WELL ALL THE WAY FROM THE STATE PARK WHICH IS CLOSE ALL THE WAY DOWN TO ALMOST OCEAN TRACEROUTE AND THE CROWDS THINNED OUT AFTER THAT. WE GOT SOME CHALLENGES AHEAD TO SEE IF IT TRULY IS WORKING.
OUR COMMANDER BEAVER IS HERE AND CAN ADDRESS THIS PART OF OUR COUNTY.
OUR BUSINESSES ARE BARELY SURVIVING AND I SUPPORT IT AS LONG AS WE CAN KEEP THESE BUSINESSES OPEN WITH OUR DRIVE TO AN HOUR TAKEOUT AND DELIVERY SYSTEM.
IT'S LETTING THESE BRICK-AND-MORTAR BUSINESSES SURVIVE AS LONG AS THE CANAPC WAIT STAFF IN THESE PERSONNEL THAT ARE GOING TO BE STRUGGLING.
I APPRECIATE EVERYTHING YOU'RE DOING FOR US AS WE FALL UNDER YOUR EMERGENCY DECLARATIONS THANK YU VERY MUCH AND I WANT TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS YOU MIGHT HAVE FOR US.
>> WE DO HAVE A QUESTION FOR YOU BUT I WANT TO SAY THANK YOU FOR YOUR PERSONAL CALL AND ON THE GROUND BOOTS ON THE GROUND ADDRESSING OF THINGS. IT'S NICE SOMETIMES WE GET A DIFFERENT PERSPECTIVE FOR WHAT WE RECEIVE COMMUNICATION FROM THE RESIDENCE OR TOURISTS OR WHATEVER IT MAY BE. I THANK YOU FOR YOUR PERSONAL ADDRESS ESPECIALLY SATURDAY WHEN IT WAS REALLY IN THE HEAT OF THINGS. IT REALLY MEANT A LOT TO ME.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH. >> MR. WALDRON: THANK YOU, CHIEF.
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I WANT TO THANK COMMANDER BEAVER AS WELL. MAYBE HE CAN COME FORWARD AND CHIEF FOX I MIGHT HAVE A QUESTION FOR THE THREE OF YOU ENTER AGENCIES.AS THE MORE WE CAN DO AS A BOARD TO SUPPORT A WRITTEN DOCUMENT I THINK ONE OF THE THINGS WE HAVE TO BE MINDFUL OF IS YOU HAVE LIMITED RESOURCES AND MANPOWER, AND YOU HAVE TO PUT PEOPLE ON SHIFTS, AND WE STILL HAVE PEOPLE COMMITTING CRIMES OUT THERE.
YOU HAVE A LOT OF RESPONSIBILITIES. ARE THERE STEPS THAT WE CAN DO TO HELP YOU FACILITATE THIS, OR WHATEVER AGENCY STRUGGLES ARE. I APPRECIATE YOU GUYS DO NOT FALL UNDER OUR JURISDICTION BUT YOU ARE HERE TO SUPPORT THE COUNTY AS WELL AND OUR
RESIDENTS >> I DO WANT TO SAY TO MAKE SURE I CAN SPEAK FOR ST.
AUGUSTINE POLICE DEPARTMENT WE HAVE NOT HAD AN UPTICK IN CRIME TO PRECUT AN UPTICK IN MENTAL HEALTH RELATED ISSUES BUT I THINK WE CAN ALL AGREE WE SEEN AN INCREASE IN SUICIDE THREATS AND ACTUALLY SUICIDES. I THINK WE'RE GOING TO SEE MORE.
THE AGENCIES WILL WORK TOGETHER WITH SOME KIND OF HOTLINE. NOW COMMISSIONER AND FORMER MAYOR GEORGE ADDRESS SOME ISSUES AS FAR AS WHAT WE DO AS A COUNTY.
THE THREE AGENCIES BY ME ARE GOING TO SUPPORT SOMETHING TO HELP OUT OUR GROUP HAD BEEN PHENOMENAL FOR US BUT ONE THING HERE WE ARE NOT SEEING AN UPTICK IN AND WE HAVE A LOT OF PRESENCE OUT THERE WHICH COMMANDER BEAVER CAN SPEAK ABOUT IN ST. JOHNS COUNTY SHERIFF'S OFFICE TRIP COLLABORATIVELY WE WORK TOGETHER AND WE'VE BEEN DOWN THIS ROAD BEFORE NUMEROUS TIMES WITH EMERGENCIES. THIS IS MUCH DIFFERENT THAN A HURRICANE OR AN EVACUATION, BUT WE HAVE WORKED TOGETHER SO WELL AND THE LAST FOUR YEARS WITH THREE EVACUATIONS OUT OF FOUR YEARS. IT'S GIVEN US A TIME TO TEST LINDA AND HER CREW IN THIS RELATIONSHIP WE HAVE IN THIS COMMUNITY.
WE HAVE THE COMMISSIONERS BACKING US IN MICE AND CITY COMMISSIONERS BACKING ASLEEP Ã IT'S NOT PERFECT WE ARE GOING TO MAKE SOME MISTAKE. WE ARE TRYING TO FIGURE THINGS OUT ON THE FLY AS LEADERS. I THINK WE ARE DOING WELL SO FAR. WE HAVE MISTAKES AND ROUGH
ROADS AHEAD OF US. >> I APPRECIATE YOU MENTIONING. WE HAVE THE ONE SUICIDE ATTEMPT ONE OF MY CONSTITUENTS WHO IS A VETERAN. I APPRECIATE YOU GETTING ON THE PHONE AND BEING ABLE TO DIFFUSE THAT. THAT'S SOMETHING WE ARE NOT FULLY TRACKING IS THE NUMBER OF PEOPLE WHERE THE MENTAL HEALTH IS BEING CHALLENGED AND SOME HAVE UNDERLYING CONDITIONS THAT ARE CHALLENGING RIGHT NOW FOR US.
SO COMMANDER BEAVER >> COMMISSIONERS, THANK YOU AND I WILL ASK YOU FOR ECHO WHAT HE SAYS I THINK OUR RELATIONSHIP WITH LAW ENFORCEMENT EMERGENCY SERVICES AND FIRE RESCUE GUYS ARE TOGETHER WE HAVE A PLAN IN PLACE AND WE ARE STICKING TO IT.
THE NORTH PART OF THE COUNTY WAS A LITTLE CHALLENGING OVER THE WEEKEND.
I SPENT PROBABLY ABOUT 15 HOURS MYSELF SATURDAY AND SUNDAY COMBINED.
WE HAD A RISE IN PATRONS COMING TO THE BEACH ON SATURDAY SUNDAY WAS BETTER AND YESTERDAY THE BROADCAST FROM VILANO BEACH ALL THE WAY UP TO JAX BEACH LINE THERE WAS LESS THAN 500 PEOPLE ON THE BACH. WE HAD TWO CALLS FOR SERVICE ONE WAS FOR LOCAL HOMELESS PERSON AND I THINK THE DEAD SEA TURTLE OR SOMETHING ALONG THE BEACH.
NO PROBLEMS EVERYBODY COMPLYING TO THE CDC RECOMMENDATIONS. I THINK IT'S KIND OF IRONIC BECAUSEMOST PEOPLE SITTING ON THE BEACH HAVE A CIRCLE DRAWN AROUND THEM IN THE SAND SO THEY ARE VERY ATTENTIVE TO HOW CLOSE PEOPLE ARE GETTING TO THEM. THEY DIDN'T WANT TO LOSE THAT PRIVILEGE. I THINK AS A COMMUNITY, WITH WHERE WE ARE WITH THE BEACHES, I THINK WE ARE EXACTLY WHERE WE NEED TO BE. I THINK WE ARE SERVING BOTH SIDES VERY WELL. AND WE APPRECIATE THE SUPPORT FROM YOU ALL IS WELL.
>> I THINK THAT WAS AN INITIAL CONCERN WE HAD PEOPLE FROM OUTSIDE OR OTHER PARTS OF THE STATE COMING. THE ISSUE IS NOT THE RESIDENTS. THE RESIDENTS ARE DOING WHAT THEY NEED TO DO. I THINK YOU HAD SOLDIERS FROM FORT STEWART COMING DOWN ENJOYING SPRING BREAK AND MAYBE WE SHOULD CONTACT THEIR CHAIN OF COMMAND ABOUT SOME OF THEIR ATTITUDE TOWARDS LAW ENFORCEMENT AND THEIR SENSE OF PRIVILEGE.
THANK YOU FOR THE CONSTANT COMMUNICATION. YOU'VE BEEN ON THE PHONE WITH ME FOR FIVE TIMES A DAY. APPRECIATE EVERYTHING YOU'VE DONE IN THE CONSTANT COMMUNICATION AND ALL THAT. CHIEF FOX, DO YOU HAVE ANYTHING HI
>> I WANT TO REITERATE EVERYTHING THE CHIEFTAIN COMMANDER BEAVER HAS SAID.
YOU ENJOY A COUNTY AND ITS LAW ENFORCEMENT AGENCY IS VERY COHESIVE AND A LOT OF OTHER COUNTIES IN THE STATE OF FLORIDA TRIED TO GET KIND OF THE RELATIONSHIPS WE HAVE.
LAW ENFORCEMENT AS A WHOLE, YOU CAN RELAX AND CONCENTRATE ON OTHER THINGS.
THANK YOU. >> WE HAVE ANOTHER QUESTION HERE.
>> I REALLY DIDN'T HAVE ANY QUESTION. I JUST WANT TO SAY THANK YOU ESPECIALLY TO THE CHIEF FOR TAKING ME AROUND YESTERDAY AND I DROVE DOWNTOWN YESTERDAY AFTERNOON ALL THE WAY DOWN TO MATANZAS AND I DID NOT SEE ISSUES I WAS GETTING EMAILS ON.
I APPRECIATE WHAT COMMANDER BEAVER IS DOING AND ASSURES OFFICE AS A WHOLE.
YOU HIT IT RIGHT ON THE HEAD. WE ARE THE NUMBER ONE COUNTY AND WE GET ALONG GOOD.
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ALL THE GOVERNMENT BODIES GET ALONG WELL AND TAKE CARE OF OUR PEOPLE.A LOT OF PEOPLE FORGET THE MENTAL SIDE OF IT. I'M GETTING A LOT OF EMAILS.
I GO TO THE BEACH TO RELAX AND WALK. I NEED TO DO THAT TO GET AWAY.
AND ONE THING WE'VE KIND OF MISSED IS A LOT OF PEOPLE PROBABLY TWO OR THREE WEEKS NOW AND THEY ARE HITTING A BREAKING POINT. AND THEY NEED TO BE ABLE TO GET OUT AND GO OUT AND ENJOY FRESH AIR AND IF WE CAN KEEP THE BEACHES OPEN AS LONG AS IT'S NOT A HEALTH ISSUE, WHICH WE ARE NOT SEEING IT AS AN ISSUE. CDC IS SAYING IT'S NOT.
IT'S NOT ÃIT'S A LOT OF WORK YOU ARE DEALING WITH BOTH SIDES.
IT'S HARD. >> ONE THING I DID WANT TO SAY OUR HOTELS ARE OPERATING AT ABOUT 30 PERCENT. WE SEE THE NUMBER DROPPED TO ABOUT 50 PERCENT LAST WEEK FRIDAY TO ABOUT 30 PERCENT THIS MORNING. I FEEL THE HOTELS BASED ON WHAT THEY ARE SAYING TO US IS THEY CAN GET DOWN TO THE 20 PERCENT OCCUPANCY THEY JUST CAN'T OFFICIALLY OPERATE BASED ON 20 PERCENT I THINK OUR RESTAURANTS LIKE ABOUT WORK IN THE CITY OF ST. AUGUSTINE BEACH I WOULD SAY ABOUT HALF ARE OPEN AT NINE OR 8:00 AT NIGHT IT'S TRULY THEY ARE SHUT DOWN. THEY ARE DONE. I SUPPORT OUR BUSINESSES STAYING OPEN AND IT WAS ÃYOU SAW THIS YESTERDAY. WE HAD SO MANY SURFERS IN THE WATER. THAT'S WHAT WE WANT TO SEE. WE WILL GET MENTAL HEALTH ISSUES AND WE WILL DEAL WITH MORE AS WE GET DEEPER INTO THIS THING.
I APPRECIATE YOUR SUPPORT AND THANK YOU FOR SUPPORTING US. >> IF I CAN, I KNOW TO SPEAK FROM MR. REED, I KNOW HE TOURED THE CITY YESTERDAY AND THERE ARE ADDITIONAL BUSINESSES WITHIN THE CITY. ENABLES US TO BE ABLE TO PROVIDE ACCURATE INFORMATION PEOPLE HAVE GENUINE CONCERNS ABOUT THE PERCEPTIONS VERSUS THE REALITY.
WE ARE NUMBER ONE BECAUSE OF THE PEOPLE. I'VE SAID IT MANY TIMES.
THIS IS WHERE IT PLAYS OUT. PEOPLE IN LARGE MAJORITY ARE DOING WHAT THEY'RE SUPPOSED TO DO. IT MAKES YOUR JOB EASIER AND MAKES EMS PLASMA JOB EASIER AND HEALTHCARE SYSTEM HAS BEEN JOB EASIER AND THAT'S WHY WE CAN KEEP THE BEACHES OPEN.
PEOPLE ARE DOING WHAT THEY'RE SUPPOSED TO DO AND WE ARE NOT HAVING TO IMPOSE FROM THE GOVERNMENT'S PERSPECTIVE ADDITIONAL RESTRICTIONS ON THEM THAT EXACERBATES MENTAL HEALTH, PHYSICAL EXERCISE, AND THE LIST GOES ON. I WANT TO COMMEND YOU AND YOUR RESOURCES FOR EVERYTHING YOU'RE DOING. WE ARE HERE FOR YOU JUST AS WE ARE FROM EVERYBODY ELSE. IT'S IMPORTANT WE HAVE THESE MEETINGS ON A REGULAR BASIS TO LET PEOPLE HEAR THIS FIRSTHAND AND NOT JUST YOUR SOCIAL MEDIA POSTS.
FOR WHO KNOWS WHAT AGENDA. YOU SEE IT FIRSTHAND, IT GIVE IT TO US FIRSTHAND AND WE ARE ABLE TO GIVE BACK TO PEOPLE. REGARDLESS OF WHAT YOU'RE READING, EXPERIENCE IT FOR YOURSELF. IT'S BEING ABLE ÃI WANT TO SAY THANK YOU FOR EVERYONE.
I WANT TO THANK ALL HEALTHCARE WORKERS FOR WHAT THEY ARE DOING TO BE ABLE TO ADDRESS THE CONCERNS THAT PEOPLE HAVE AND RECOGNIZE THE ACTUAL NUMBERS OF DIAGNOSED PEOPLE WITH THIS VIRUS OR INFLUENCE OR WHATEVER IT MAY BE TOO TAKE PRECAUTIONS. I HAVE EXTENDED FAMILY MEMBERS WITH COMPROMISED IMMUNE SYSTEMS. THEY HAVE BEEN TAKING PRECAUTIONS MOST OF THEIR LIFE BECAUSE OF IT. THEY ARE DOING MORE SO NOW THAT THEY ARE ABLE TO MAKE THOSE DECISIONS ON THEIR OWN BASED ON THE INFORMATION YOU ARE PROVIDING TO US AND THAT WE ARE PROVIDING TO OUR COMMUNITY DID THIS AND OTHER FORUMS. IT'S HAVING THAT REGULAR, ACCURATE INFORMATION THAT KEEPS ME CALM MORE HERE THAN IN SOME OTHER LOCATIONS.THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR YOUR SERVICE TO OUR COMMUNITY.
I KNOW IT CAN BE CHALLENGING AT TIMES BUT WE WANT TO THANK YOU SINCERELY AND OPENLY FOR JOB
WELL DONE >> COMMISSIONER WALKER? >> THIS QUESTION IS MORE FOR
MR. CONRAD >> THANK YOU FOR COMING TODAY AND THANK YOU FOR YOUR REPORT
AND THANK YOU FOR PRESENTING DATA.ERY HELPFUL. >> MR. BLOCKER: MR. CONRAD I APPRECIATE THE BRIEF AND I WANT TO COME BACK. I WANT TO SEE IF YOU CAN MAKE SOME RECOMMENDATIONS FOR THE BOARD CAN GIVE YOU GUIDANCE ON MAKING RECOMMENDATIONS TO EVALUATE WHAT WE CAN DO TO TAKE SOME PRESSURE OFF SMALL BUSINESSES HERE.
IF THAT MEANS WAIVING FEES FOR CERTAIN THINGS. I KNOW WE HAVE LIMITED FUNCTIONS HERE BUT WE HAVE A LOT OF SMALL BUSINESSES THAT ARE STRUGGLING ALI MARIE LAKE JESSUP. WE WISH TO FIND WAYS OF HOW TO DO THIS.
WE HAVE SO MANY BUSINESSES THAT ARE DELIVERING FOOD, KEEPING ESSENTIAL SERVICES OPEN.
DON'T KNOW WHAT THE ANSWER IS THAT I'M HOPING YOU CAN LOOK INTO THIS AND GIVE US RECOMMENDATIONS TO THE BOARD IS WILLING TO GIVE YOU THAT GUIDANCE.
WHAT WE CAN DO TO TEMPORARILY SUSPEND SOMETHING SO WHATEVER WE CAN DO TO KEEP THESE
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BUSINESSES GOING. I DON'T HAVE AN ANSWER HERE BUT I KNOW SOME OTHER COMMUNITIES HAVE LOOKED AT WAIVING FEES FOR LICENSING OR BUSINESSES OR APPLICATIONS THE BUSINESS CAN KEEP MOVING AND SUPPORT THAT. I DON'T KNOW HOW YOU WANT TO DO THIS.IF WE WANT TO DO CONSENSUS >> ARE GOING TO RESPOND TO A COUPLE OF THINGS.
AS YOU ARE AWARE WE PUSHED OUT TO THE CHAMBER OF COMMERCE AND WE'VE BEEN WORKING HAND-IN-HAND AND I'VE BEEN WORKING WITH MR. PORTER TO GET ANYTHING WE ARE GETTING PUSHED DOWN FOR THE FEDERAL LEVEL OR STATE LEVEL TO SUPPORT LOCAL BUSINESSES. THERE IS SBA LOAN OUT THERE KIND OF THE BRIDGE THE GAP LOAN. AS LEADERS $50 MILLION IN STATE FUNDING FOR LOCAL BUSINESSES TO HELP GET THERE I THINK IS AT ZERO PERCENT INTEREST RATE DURING THIS TIME TO HELP SUPPORT LOCAL BUSINESSES. I CAN TELL YOU YOUR FINANCE TEAM HAS BEEN LOOKING INTERNALLY TO SEE WHETHER ANY COUNTYWIDE AREAS WHERE WE CAN HELP SUSPEND ANY TYPES OF FEES. A LOT OF THESE FEES THAT ARE GENERATED THEY ARE STATE LICENSING BOARDS AND FEDERAL LICENSING. WE ARE LOOKING TO SEE IF THERE'S ANYTHING THAT WE CAN DO. I CAN TELL YOU A COUPLE OF THE AREAS WE ARE LOOKING AT OUR EMS LATE FEES I SPOKE TO THE CHIEF ABOUT THAT AND DURING THIS PERIOD OF TIME THE EMERGENCY ORDER THERE IS SOME LATE PAYMENTS ON SOME FEES WE ARE LOOKING AT SUSPENDING THIS TO PEOPLE WHO MAY BE GOING TO THE SITE DEALING WITH A FAMILY MEMBER OR LOVED ONE LAID OFF BECAUSE OF THEIR EMPLOYMENT. THAT'S ONE AREA WE ARE TAKING STEPS TO SUSPEND THOSE DURING THIS ORDER.S WELL AS DISCONNECTION SERVICES AND LADIES WITH UTILITIES. WE ARE SCOURING EVERYTHING WE DO AND EVERY OPERATION THAT WE
DO TO SEE WHERE WE CAN HELP SUPPORT THOSE. >> THANK YOU.
>> NOW WITH THIS REPORT BE COMPLETE WE WILL OPEN UP AGENDA ITEM NUMBER ONE FOR PUBLIC
COMMENT. >> MR. BLOCKER: AT THIS TIME THE BOARD WRITER PUBLIC COMMENT ON AGENDA ITEM NUMBER ONE. IF YOU HAVE PUBLIC COMMENT, PLEASE COME FORWARD.
PLEASE LINE UP. PLEASE STATE YOUR NAME AND ADDRESS.
IF YOU HAVE ANY OVERHEAD MATERIALS, PLEASE PLACE THEM THERE WHEN YOU'RE DONE HANDING
THEM TO THE CLERK. >> JOHN REYNOLDS 5013. COMMISSIONERS, THIS IS NOT A GOOD MEETING. WE ALREADY KNOW LAW ENFORCEMENT IS DOING A GOOD JOB.
HOW COME THE HEAD OF THE HEALTH DEPARTMENT IS NOT HERE AND DIDN'T HAVE A REPRESENTATIVE THAT THEY COULD SEND? THERE'S ONLY ONE EXCUSE FOR THE HEAD OF THE HEALTH DEPARTMENT NOT BEING HERE. THE PERSON HAD A DEATH IN THEIR FAMILY.
THAT'S THE ONLY ONE. I CANNOT BELIEVE THAT I DID NOT HEAR ONE THING FROM ANYBODY WHO IS MEDICAL. THE DOCTOR PAID BY THE STATE. I THOUGHT THAT THE WOULD BE ALL YOU WOULD WANT TO FIND OUT. DO YOU KNOW HOW MANY RESTAURANTS THERE ARE HERE? 97. THAT'S WHAT I WANT TO HEAR ABOUT.
I WANT TO HEAR ABOUT THE WORKERS. WHERE WE OUT ON THAT? I'M GLAD THIS IS ONLY A SEVEN DAY EXTENSION BECAUSE I DO AGREE WITH THE GOVERNOR.
I DON'T THINK FLORIDA SHOULD CLOSED DOWN. HT IS THE ENEMY OF THE BUYERS.
IT'S HOT HERE AND IT'S DIFFERENT HERE. ALSO WANT TO ADD ON DEATH HAPPENS ALL THE TIME. I WORKED IN A HOSPITAL AS A VERY YOUNG KID.
12 TO 14 VOLUNTEER 14 TO 20 AS A PAID WORK EVERY WINTER DEATH AFTER DEATH AFTER DEATH.
JEALOUSY PULLED FROM A JOB TO HELP THEM BRING BODIES OLD PEOPLE DIE, YOUNG PEOPLE DIE.
GOD CALLS US IN A LOT OF DIFFERENT WAYS. BUT I REALLY DO ÃI CANNOT HELP TO WONDER THAT WAS WHAT I REALLY CAME HERE FOR. I REALLY THOUGHT A DOCTOR WOULD BE TELLING US SOME REAL MEDICAL STUFF. AND I DO WANT TO SAY WHAT EVERYBODY HAS SAID HERE, WE DO HAVE ALSO LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICERS.
EVEN THOUGH I BUMP HEADS WITH ONE OF THEM ONCE IN A WHILE, HARDWICK IS A GREAT PERSON.
AT THAT MEETING THAT WE JUST HAD AT THE CITY, HE HAD THE BEST ATTITUDE OF EVER OUT OF A LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICER ABOUT DEALING WITH PEOPLE NOT WANTING TO SLAP HANDCUFFS ON THEM.
SO COMMISSIONERS, I WILL BE LOOKING FOR IF THERE'S ANOTHER MEETING IN SEVEN DAYS AND I SURE HOPE YOU WILL SUMMONS THE DOCTOR.F YOU CAN'T GET THE DOCTOR, I HOPE THAT SOME OF THE PEOPLE THAT LIVE IN THIS COUNTY AND SUPPOSED TO BE ONE OF THE WELL-TO-DO COUNTIES AND WE
DON'T HAVE A DOCTOR AT THE COUNTY COMMISSION MEETING. >> THANK YOU, MR. REYNOLDS.
>> GOOD MORNING. >> 570 A1A BEACH BOULEVARD. I JUST WANTED TO THANK YOU FOR HOLDING THIS MEETING BECAUSE ONE OF THE NUMBER ONE IMPORTANT ISSUES IS TO KEEP THE PUBLIC APPRAISED OF ALL CURRENT AND ONGOING INFORMATION THAT WE ARE ABLE TO OBTAIN.
I WANT TO THANK PUBLICLY OUR POLICE FORCE AND THE ACTIONS WE HAVE TAKEN TO ENSURE WE CAN
[00:55:10]
KEEP THE BEACHES AT LEAST AVAILABLE IN THE WAY THAT WE CAN.ONE OF THE MOST CONCERNING ISSUES THAT I HAVE PERSONALLY IS THE MENTAL HEALTH ASPECT OF THIS ENTIRE CRISIS. IN EVERY SITUATION IN AMERICA THAT WE HAVE EXPERIENCED FROM 9/11 TO SCHOOL SHOOTINGS TO BOMBINGS 2 TO ANYTHING THAT GOES ON IN OUR COUNTRY, WE HAVE ALWAYS PROVIDED A CRISIS HOTLINE FOR SUPPORT COUNSELING FOR AFTER THE FACT.
WE ARE NOT AFTER THE FACT IS THIS. WE ARE IN IT, BUT WE AREN'T SEEING A SIGNIFICANT INCREASE IN SUICIDES. THERE IS A SIGNIFICANT INCREASE IN MENTAL HEALTH AWARENESS. I'VE MADE A COMMITMENT TO STAY OPEN UNTIL WE ARE FORCED TO CLOSE OR UNTIL SALES DON'T ALLOW US TO CONTINUE TO BE OPEN AND WE ARE NEARLY TO THAT POINT. I HAVE THREE EMPLOYEES WHO THAT JOB IS THEIR ONLY JOB AND THAT'S HOW THEY SUPPORT THEMSELVES. ONE IS A SINGLE MOTHER.
SO I WOULD ASK THE PUBLIC TO PLEASE SUPPORT YOUR LOCAL BUSINESSES THAT ARE OPEN.
I HAVE HAD AS A COMMISSIONER A COUPLE OF EMAILS ABOUT INDIVIDUAL EXPERIENCES OF INDIVIDUAL PLACES NOT ABIDING BY THE REQUIREMENTS TO BE ABLE TO BE OPEN.
I ASKED THAT NOT EVERYONE PLEASE DON'T JUDGE EVERYONE BASED ON ONE EXPERIENCE.
IN MY OWN BUSINESS, WE HAVE GONE ABOVE AND BEYOND WITH THE DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND THE STATE GUIDELINES ARE REQUIRING US TO DO. TRYING TO MAKE A SAFE EXPERIENCE FOR EVERYONE. ABOUT US BEING OPEN. MY EMPLOYEES ARE GOING TO LOSE THEIR JOBS. AND THERE IS ÃI KNOW THERE IS A LOT OF TALK ABOUT BENEFITS THAT MAY BE AVAILABLE BUT NOT AVAILABLE ON AN IMMEDIATE ASPECT SO I WOULD ENCOURAGE EVERYONE TO CONTINUE TO SUPPORT LOCAL BUSINESSES AS LONG AS YOU CAN AND I THINK ALL OF YOU FOR THE WORK AND CONTINUED COMMUNICATION WITH ALL OF THE PUBLIC.
THANK YOU. >> THANK YOU. ANY FURTHER PUBLIC COMMENT AT THIS TIME? PLEASE COME FORWARD. MR. CHAIRMAN NOT SEEING ANY
[Item 2]
FURTHER PUBLIC COMMENT, WE WILL CLOSE PUBLIC COMMENT. >> THE PUBLIC, CLOSE WE WILL
MOVE ALONG TO AGENDA ITEM NUMBER 2. >> THANK YOU MR. JARED.
FOR AGENDA ITEM NUMBER TWO NUMBER WILL BE THE EXTENSION OF LOCAL STATE OF EMERGENCY.
THE BOARD MAY REMEMBER THAT AT ITS LAST REGULAR COMMISSION MEETING MARCH 17, THE BOARD APPROVED EMERGENCY PROCLAMATION 2020-1, WHICH INSTITUTED A LOCAL STATE OF EMERGENCY.
I DESCRIBED AT THE TIME THAT IT HAD A SEVEN-DAY SHELF LIFE. THIS IS NOW THE SEVENTH DAY, AND SO WHAT I WOULD LIKE TO PRESENT TO YOU AND IF WE COULD PUT IT UP ON THE OVERHEAD, A EMERGENCY PROCLAMATION WHICH I BELIEVE WOULD BE 2020 ÃTWO WHICH WOULD EXTEND THE LOCAL STATE OF EMERGENCY FOR A SEVEN-DAY PERIOD. I WILL NOTE TO YOU THAT THE COUNTY ATTORNEY COMMUNITY THERE'S BEEN SOME DISCUSSION ABOUT WHETHER THE GOVERNOR COSMIC ORDER EMERGENCY ORDER 20 PÃ12 FOR 22 WOULD TAKE AWAY THE NECESSITY OF THE SEVEN-DAY LOCAL STATE OF EMERGENCY OF RENEWALS OR EXTENSIONS. MY SENSE IF THAT IS THAT THE LOCAL STATE OF EMERGENCY SHOULD BE EXTENDED THROUGH THE SEVEN-DAY.
. I THINK FOR TWO REASONS. FIRST OF ALL, DURING THE BEGINNING STAGES OF THIS MATTER, IT IS VERY HELPFUL FOR THE BOARD AND THE PUBLIC TO KIND OF GET A PERIODIC REPORT AND NUMBER 29, A DISCUSSION WITH EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT AND COUNTY ADMINISTRATION, WE FEEL THAT THIS BUS POSITION IN THE COUNTY FOR IT LATER BOTH TO TAKE EMERGENCY ACTION AND POSSIBLE REAL EXTRAORDINARY EXPENSES THAT COME THROUGH
[01:00:08]
BECAUSE OF THIS EMERGENCY. TODAY, ALSO, I WOULD LIKE TO HAVE THE BOARD CONSIDER ASECOND EMERGENCY PROCLAMATION THAT HAS BEEN PREPARED BY Ã >> CAN WE HANDLE ONE AT A TIME? > JUST AS A HIGHLIGHT TO THAT, SO AGAIN, THE SEVEN-DAY EXTENSION, COMMISSIONER, IS UP
TO THE BOARD. >> THANK YOU. COMMISSIONER WALDRON?
>> MR. WALDRON: I THOUGHT WE WERE GOING TO HAVE PUBLIC COMMENT.
>> IF YOU WANT DESCRIBE PUBLIC COMMENT >> YOU GOT NO
>> SURE. AND AGAIN, I THINK AROUND THE NATION AND THE STATE OF FLORIDA, THERE HAS BEEN A LOT OF DISCUSSION AND THINKING ABOUT HOW TO HANDLE I THINK, WHAT WOULD OTHERWISE HAVE BEEN NORMAL BUSINESS, AND COUNTY ADMINISTRATION, AS YOU HAVE HEARD, AND CERTAINLY THE COUNTY ATTORNEY'S OFFICE IS VERY AWARE OF THE BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS POSITION THAT YES, THE FEDERAL AND STATE GUIDANCE AND REQUIREMENTS NEED TO BE ADHERED TO, THE CDC GUIDANCE IN THE FLORIDA GOVERNOR'S, BUT ALSO TO THE GREATEST EXTENT REASONABLY POSSIBLE TO FURTHER AND MAINTAIN THE BUSINESS OF THE COUNTY, AND YOU HAVE HEARD SOME OF THE PUBLIC COMMENT ABOUT THAT ALREADY, SMALL BUSINESSES, KEYBOARD ITSELF, THE BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS BUT ALSO MANY SUBTLE APPOINTED BOARDS THAT THE DATE COMMISSIONERS HAVE A PLANNING AND ZONING CONTRACTORS REVIEW BOARD LIBRARY ADVISORY BOARD ETC.. THERE ARE MANY APPOINTED BOARDS WHICH IN THE REGULAR COURSE OF BUSINESS, THEY HAD THEIR PERIODIC BUSINESS. THEY DO THEIR AGENDAS AND THE PUBLIC'S BUSINESS GETS MOVED FORWARD. AND THE CURRENT STATUS WITH THE SOCIAL DISTANCING AND SOME OF THE NUMBERS LIMITATIONS, THE GOVERNOR HAS PUT OUT EMERGENCY ORDER 20-69, WHICH PERTAINS TO LOCAL GOVERNMENT PUBLIC MEETINGS,AND IT DOES ALLOW FOR KIND OF LOCAL PROCEDURES TO BE RECOGNIZED AND IMPLEMENTED. AND SO MR. SORIA AND OTHER MEMBERS OF THE COUNTY ATTORNEY'S OFFICE HAVE PUT TOGETHER, I THINK, A PACKAGE FOR THE BOARD TO CONSIDER WILL LIKE TO HAVE MR. SORIA GO THROUGH THAT WITH YOU.
IF THE BOARD FEELS COMFORTABLE IMPLEMENTING THOSE TODAY, THEN THE BOARD MAY DO SO.
IF THE BOARD DOES NOT FEEL COMFORTABLE AFTER THE PRESENTATION IN QUESTION, SHOULD MR. SORIA WILL SORT OF DESCRIBE KIND OF THE NEXT PLAN TO DO THAT TIMEWISE.
SO MR. CHAIR, IF I MAY AT THIS TIME, INVITE THROUGH YOU MR. SORIA TO COME OUT.
>> MORNING. >> GOOD MORNING MR. CHAIR AND BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS.
THIS IS ANOTHER EMERGENCY PROCLAMATION FOR YOUR CONSIDERATION AS PATRICK HAS STATED. WHAT THIS DOES IS THIS IMPLEMENT THE USE OF
COMMUNICATIONS MEDIA TECHNOLOGY CEFT WHICH IS THE PROVISION >> ANY OTHER PROVISION OF THE SUNSHINE LAW FOR THE FLORIDA CONSTITUTION. ALL IT DID WAS SAY A BOARD DOES NOT HAVE TO PHYSICALLY BE IN THE SAME ROOM TO HAVE A QUORUM. IT MAY USE THIS COMMUNICATION'S
[01:05:04]
MEDIA TECHNOLOGY TO FACILITATE THE PUBLIC BUSINESS. EVERYTHING ELSE, THE COUNTY AND LOCAL GOVERNMENT AND PLANNING AND ZONING AGENCY TO COMPLY. WE HAVE TO PROVIDE NOTICE.WE HAVE TO PROVIDE THE RIGHT TO BE HEARD. SET UP MINIMUM PROCEDURAL GUIDANCE FOR HOW TO DO THAT AND COMPLIANCE. WE ARE RECOMMENDING THE ADOPTION AT A MINIMUM OF CHAPTER 28.09, FLORIDA ADMINISTRATIVE CODE WHICH IS THE STATE RULES AND THAT'S WHAT THE STATE AGENCIES USE FOR THEIR GUIDANCE WHERE THEY CONDUCT THESE KIND OF MEETINGS SO WE ARE NOT THIS RULES OF REASONABLENESS IF THE BOARD CHOOSES TO ADOPT THIS. THERE ARE SOME AVAILABILITY AND THE ABILITY FOR EACH BOARD TO HAVE SUPPLEMENTAL RULES TO CARRY OUT AND FOR THE OFFICIAL BUSINESS.
OTHER THAN THAT IF YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS I CAN SEND IT THROUGH THE REST OF THE PAGES AND WE
CAN LOOK AT WHAT THE REST OF THE PROCLAMATION IS LIKE >> ANY QUESTIONS OR MR. SORIA?
>> WE WILL DO PUBLIC COMMENT. >> THIS TIME WE WILL HEAR PUBLIC COMMENT ON THESE AGENDA
ITEMS. PUBLIC COMMENT COMPORT >> NOT SEEING ANYONE COME
FORWARD AND JUST CHECKING ON CALLS. >> AT THIS TIME WE WILL CLOSE
PUBLIC COMMENT. >> ANY QUESTIONS OR ANY ÃI WILL ENTERTAIN A MOTION.
COMMISSIONER JOHNSON? >> MR. JOHNS: I WILL MAKE A MOTION TO EXTEND THE EMERGENCY
PROCLAMATION NUMBER 2020- 2 >> SEVEN MOTION AND A SECOND. ANY DISCUSSION? SEEING NONE, PLEASE VOTE. EXTENSION OF PROCLAMATION 2020-2 PASSES 5 TO 0. I ENTERTAIN A MOTION FOR EMERGENCY PROCLAMATION REGARDING EMERGENCY ROLES TO
CONDUCT BUSINESS THROUGH CEFT. >> I MAKE A MOTION PROBABLY EMERGENCY ROLES FOR LOCAL
GOVERNMENT PUBLIC COMMUNITY IS TO CONDUCT COMMERCIAL NINEMAC >> SECOND.
>> MOTION BY COMMISSIONER WALKER AND THE SECOND BY COMMISSIONER WALDRON.NY DISCUSSION? SEEING NONE, PLEASE VOTE. THIS ALSO PASSES 5 TO 0. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. YOU FURTHER EXPLANATION. IS THERE ANYTHING ELSE THAT
NEEDS TO COME BEFORE THIS COURT TODAY? >> ONLY THAT I NEED TO APOLOGIZE THAT I HAD TOLD THE BOARD ITS MARCH 17 MEETING WITH MR. SORIA'S LAST MEETING WITH YOU. THAT TURNED OUT TO BE NOT CORRECT.
SO THANK YOU. >> THANK YOU VERY MUCH. COMMISSIONER DEAN?
[Additional Item 2]
>> I'M GOING TO HAVE COMMISSIONER COMMENTS TODAY? >> WE CAN.
>> I DO HAVE SOMETHING TO SAY BECAUSE I ACTUALLY IT'S SORT OF WHEN WE HAD OUR ORIGINAL DISCUSSION I ONLY ASK ONE QUESTION AND IT SKIPPED BY ME THAT I WANTED TO HAVE A BRIEF DISCUSSION WITH MY FELLOW COMMISSIONERS. IT'S THE ONLY TIME WE HAVE A CHANCE TO TALK. I JUST WANTED TO TAKE A MOMENT AND I WILL TRY TO BE BRIEF.
I WANT TO SHARE WITH YOU THAT I HAVE STRUGGLED OVER THE LAST WEEK WITH THE ISSUE OF WHETHER OR NOT WE SHOULD CLOSE OUR BEACHES. THERE ARE PROS AND CONS AND EACH OF US HAVE GOTTEN NUMEROUS EMAILS BOTH PRO AND CON. I HAVE.
I'M SURE YOU HAVE TOO, AS STAFF HAS. AND AS A COMMISSIONER, I CAN ONLY RELY ON THE BEST MEDICAL ADVICE TO MAKE THAT DECISION. AND BASED ON DISCUSSIONS I HAVE HAD WITH OUR EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT DIRECTOR AND OUR ADMINISTRATOR, THE MEDICAL ADVICE IS LEANING TOWARD AND PROBABLY HEAVILY BUT IT'S GOOD IF WE CAN KEEP OUR BEACHES OPEN TO FOOT TRAFFIC AND CLOSE THE PARKING LOTS AND LET THE PEOPLE WHO WISH TO GO AND GET SOME
[01:10:07]
EXERCISE, SOME SUN AND SOME OUTDOOR EXPERIENCE IF WE FOLLOW THE RULES AND IF THE BEACHGOERS FOLLOW THE RULES TO STAY IN SMALL GROUPS, TO EXERCISE CAUTION WITH GETTING IN CROWDS.AND IT'S BEEN A TOUGH DECISION. BUT I WAS LEANING TOWARDS SUGGESTING TO EACH OF YOU WE CONSIDER CLOSING OUR BEACHES. BUT BASED ON THE BEST INFORMATION I HAVE RECEIVED THIS MORNING, THE MEDICAL ADVICE THAT I AM GETTING, THE PROFESSIONAL ADVICE THROUGH OUR EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT DIRECTOR AND OUR COUNTY ADMINISTRATOR AND FROM THE DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND FROM CDC IS THAT IF THE FOOT TRAFFIC, IF THE BEACHGOERS FOLLOW GOOD PRACTICES OF SOCIAL DISTANCING AND MAKING SURE THEY ARE WASHING THEIR HANDS AND THAT IT'S BEST FOR THEM FROM A MENTAL HEALTH STANDPOINT AND IT'S BEST FOR OUR LOCAL BUSINESSES FROM A LOCAL ECONOMIC STANDPOINT AND WE ARE SORT OF TRYING TO THREAD A NEEDLE AND I WANT TO GIVE YOU ONE QUICK ANECDOTAL EXAMPLE. I DON'T WANT TO TAKE UP A LOT OF TIME BUT I WANT TO SHARE THIS BECAUSE I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT FOR YOU TO HEAR WHAT I EXPERIENCED LAST NIGHT ANECDOTALLY. I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT FOR COMMISSIONER TO HEAR THIS AS A LOCAL BUSINESS OWNER AND A COMMISSIONER, AND THAT IS WE DECIDED ÃI DIDN'T DECIDE, MY WIFE TOLD ME ÃTO GO TO DINNER AND TO GO PICK UP DINNER AT KYLE HARDEN RESORT IN ST. AUGUSTINE BEACH AT SAINT HILLEGAS, THAT'S THE RESTAURANT. SO I CALLED THEM AND WENT AND PICKED UP AN ORDER.
AND I'M STANDING THERE NEXT TO THE CASH REGISTER AND DESPERATELY NICE FAMILY, A FAMILY OF FOUR PROBABLY THE HUSBAND AND WIFE WERE IN THEIR LATE 40S AND THE TWO TEENAGERS WERE 15 AND 17. IF I HAD TO GUESS. AND I SAID ARE YOU ALL ACTUALLY HERE STAYING? YES. WE ARE HERE FOR A WEEK.
WE JUST ARRIVED AND ARE HERE FOR A WEEK. AND I SAID, WELL, I'M GLAD YOU CAME. ARE YOU LOOKING FOR TO GOING TO THE BEACH? WE ARE FROM LAKELAND. JUST IN POLK COUNTY. NO BEACHES.
AND WE ARE FROM LAKELAND WE HAVE BEEN PLANNING THIS WEEK VACATION FOR SIX MONTHS.
I DON'T GET A LOT OF TIME OFF AND I'VE HAD TO WORK THIS IN AND WE ARE VERY EXCITED TO BE ABLE TO BE HER FOR A WEEK AND WE ARE GOING TO BE VERY CAUTIOUS ABOUT ÃI SAID I DON'T MEAN ÃI DON'T WANT TO GET PERSONAL AND THE COUNTY COMMISSIONER AND I WANT TO FIND OUT SOME FEEDBACK AND HE LOOKED AT ME AND SAID, COMMISSIONER, I WANT TO THANK YOU FOR KEEPING THE BEACH (AND THAT SORT OF HIT ME. AND IT PROBABLY HELPED LEAD TO A DECISION WHICH I THINK IS PROBABLY THE CORRECT DECISION AS WE GO FORWARD THIS WEEK IS TO HAVE LIMITED ACCESS TO THE BEACH AND EVERYONE PRACTICE. I JUST WANT TO SHARE THAT WITH
YOU. IT HAPPENED LAST NIGHT. >> THANK YOU, COMMISSIONER
DEAN. ANY OTHER COMMENTS? >> I WANTED TO AGAIN THANK OUR FIRST RESPONDERS, OUR HEALTHCARE WORKERS THROUGHOUT THE COUNTY AND THEY BEEN UNDER A LOT OF STRESS AND ALSO COUNTY STAFF AND OUR EMPLOYEES ARE MAKING ADAPTATIONS THE TAKING THE WORKING DIFFERENT JOBS THEY ARE NOT USED TO DOING AND I APPRECIATE THAT TRYING TO HELP THE COMMUNITY. AND I REALLY APPRECIATE SOME OF THE EMAILS AS WE GET ÃSINCE WE'RE NOT DOING ANYTHING THEY DON'T SEE WE HAVE TWO WORK SEVEN DAYS A WEEK 8 TO 10 HOURS A DAY. WE ARE ON THE PHONES WITH EACH OTHER.
WE HAVE OUR COUNTY ADMINISTRATOR HERE FROM TIME TO TIME.
WE MIGHT BE IN THE PHONE UNTIL 7:00 AT NIGHT ABOUT DIFFERENT CHANGES.
I JUST WANT EVERYONE TO KNOW THROUGHOUT THE SCHOOL PANDEMIC, BE PATIENT.
IT'S GOING TO TAKE TIME TO GET THROUGH THIS. WE WILL BE SAFE AND REGULATE YOURSELF I HAVE COMPROMISED FAMILY MEMBERS. WE ARE CAREFUL WILL WE GO AND ALSO THIS WILL ALSO PASS. IT WILL TAKE A LITTLE WHILE BUT WE WILL GET THERE AND WE WILL BE BETTER FOR IT. WE WILL COME TO THIS AND HAVE A BETTER UNDERSTANDING AND IF IT APPENS AGAIN WE KNOW WHAT WE NEED TO DO.
I APPRECIATE EVERYBODY'S WORKING TOGETHER >> I WANT TO THANK YOU FOR HAVING THIS MEETING. I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT FOR OUR CONSTITUENTS TO SEE WE ARE ABLE TO CONDUCT BUSINESS IN A SAFE MANNER AND THAT WE ARE LISTENING AND REACTING AND
[01:15:03]
RESPONDING AND LEADING OUR CONSTITUENTS. WE ARE NOT HAVING DAILY MEETINGS ON CAMERA BECAUSE THAT TAKES A HOST OF PEOPLE THAT HAVE TO WORK CLOSELY TOGETHER AND MOST OF THE INFORMATION HAS ALREADY BEEN BROADCAST. PEOPLE KNOW WHAT TO DO.THIS IS NOT A HURRICANE SITUATION. IT IS MUCH MORE FLUID AND CHANGING MORE QUICKLY AND THE STATE HEALTH DEPARTMENT IS LEADING THE CHARGE IN PROVIDING THE INFORMATION TO US WHICH WE ARE DISTRIBUTING EFFECTIVELY. I'VE NOT HAD ONE PERSON TELL ME HOW WE NEED TO CONDUCT OUR BUSINESS DIFFERENTLY. THEY SAY WE ARE NOT VISIBLE AND I ASKED THEM WHAT THE VISIBILITY WOULD DO OTHER THAN PROVIDING A SENSE OF CALM AND SEEING A PERSON ON CAMERA OR IN PERSON AND I HAVE NOT HAD A DIRECT CONSISTENT RESPONSE AS TO WHAT BENEFIT WOULD BE PROVIDED. HAVING THIS MEETING ONCE A WEEK FOR THE PRIMARY PERSON Ã PURPOSE OF EXTENDING EMERGENCY DECLARATION I THINK IS IMPORTANT. CONDUCTING ANY OTHER BUSINESS AT THAT TIME, I THINK IS ALSO IMPORTANT. HAVING ANOTHER RESOURCE FOR INFORMATION THAT PEOPLE MAY NOT HAVE INTERNET ACCESS TO IS IMPORTANT. SO I THANK YOU FOR HOSTING THIS MEETING. I THINK STAFF FOR CONDUCTING IT IN A SAFE MANNER WHERE PEOPLE ARE SPREAD OUT. WE ARE CONDUCTING BUSINESS BECAUSE IT'S THE BUSINESSES AND INDIVIDUALS WHO WERE EMPLOYED BY THOSE BUSINESSES THAT WILL BE MOST GREATLY AFFECTED IN THE LONG RUN. NOBODY WANTS TO GET SICK. NOBODY WANTS SOMEONE TO PASS AWAY FROM THIS OR ANY OTHER ILLNESS. WE WILL HAVE ILLNESSES AFTER THIS. WE NEED TO BE ABLE TO CONDUCT OURSELVES IN A WAY AND WE ARE.
I DON'T WANT TO IMPOSE LOCAL GOVERNMENT RULE OVER EVERYBODY WITH INDIVIDUALS ARE MAKING THE CORRECT AND RESPONSIBLE CHOICES AS THEY SEE FIT FOR THE INDIVIDUAL HEALTH.
THAT'S WHAT'S BEEN MOST HEALTHY FOR OUR COUNTY FOR OUR STATE AND THE COUNTRY IN THE WORLD.
YOU ARE SEEING DIFFERENT RESPONSES AT DIFFERENT STATES IN DIFFERENT COUNTRIES ARE EFFECTIVELY WORKING IN THOSE GIVEN SITUATIONS. YOU NEED THE FLEXIBILITY TO BE ABLE TO SELF MONITOR AND TAKE RESPONSIBILITY FOR OUR ACTIONS. THE FEW IRRESPONSIBLE ONES WILL BE IRRESPONSIBLE FROM HERE ON OUT AND THE LAW ENFORCEMENT HAS EDUCATED PEOPLE WHENEVER THEY SEE THINGS THAT ARE NOT BEING CARRIED OUT RESPONSIBLY.ND IT'S BEEN DONE IN A POSITIVE AND PROACTIVE MANNER. I JUST WANT TO THANK YOU FOR ALLOWING THIS MEETING TO OCCUR TODAY AND FOR OUR STAFF AND FOR EVERYONE ELSE WAS DOING SO AND IN A RESPONSIBLE MANNER.
WE ARE NOT HEAVY-HANDED WITH GOVERNMENT CONTROL.>> I WANT TO THANK ALL THE COMMISSIONERS FOR BEING HERE TODAY. IT'S A VERY GOOD THING AND A VERY POSITIVE THING.
THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE. I DO ALSO WANT TO SAY THIS AND I DON'T ÃI KNOW EVERYBODY IS BUSY IN ANOTHER DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH IS BUSY, BUT I TOO ASKED THAT THEY BE HERE TODAY.
THERE'S NO REPRESENTATION AND THAT, TO ME, IS A SERIOUS MATTER THAT WE NEED ÃTHE NEXT MEETING THAT WE DO HAVE, I WOULD LIKE TO HAVE THE DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH HERE TO ANSWER QUESTIONS. THAT'S A PART OF THE COMMUNICATION PROCESS THAT I THINK NEEDS TO BE EXTENDED AND EXPANDED, AND THERE'S A COMFORT LEVEL WITH HAVING A PROFESSIONAL HERE, NOT FOLKS MAKING DECISIONS THAT DON'T HAVE A PROFESSIONAL APPROACH.
I DO REQUEST THAT WE DO ALL WE CAN TO MAKE SURE WE DO HAVE THE DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH REPRESENTATION HERE. PREFERABLY TO HAVE THE DOCTOR HERE.
ANYTHING ELSE NEED TO BE SAID TODAY? >> I JUST WANT TO THANK OUR COUNTY STAFF. THIS HAS ALREADY BEEN SAID BUT THE COUNTY ADMINISTRATOR AND HIS TEAM. FOR THE GREAT WORK THEY ARE DOING.
I LIKE TO READ A PASSAGE I THINK IS IMPORTANT DURING THIS DIFFICULT TIME.
THIS IS FROM JOSHUA CHAPTER ONE OF VERSE NINE. HAVE I NOT COMMANDED YOU, BE STRONG AND COURAGEOUS, DO NOT BE FRIGHTENED, DO NOT BE DISMAYED FOR THE LORD YOUR GOD IS WITH YOU WHEREVER YOU GO. I THINK THAT'S IMPORTANT IN MY FAMILY AND I HAVE REFLECTED ON THAT BECAUSE THESE ARE UNCERTAIN TIMES. THIS IS NOT SOMETHING YOU CAN PICK UP A RIFLE AND FLIGHT. THIS IS THE HIDDEN ENVIRONMENT AND OFTEN TIMES THE WAY PEOPLE REACT TODAY WILL DETERMINE THE OUTCOME ON THE BACKEND OF THIS BECAUSE EVENTUALLY WHEN THIS IS OVER WITH WE HAVE TO PICK UP THE ECONOMY TO MOVE ON AND THERE WILL BE LOSS OF LIFE AND A LOT OF HEARTACHE. SOME PEOPLE CAN'T EVEN GO TO FUNERALS.
A MEMBER OF MY CHURCH THAT IS DEATHLY ILL RIGHT NOW AND UNFORTUNATELY WE HOPE HE RECOVERS BUT HIS FAMILY WON'T EVEN BE ABLE TO ATTEND HIS FUNERAL IF HE DOESN'T.
IT'S IMPORTANT FOR US TO REMEMBER THAT AND TO MAKE THE CHOICE RIGHT NOW TO DO THE RIGHT THING SO WE CAN PROTECT THE PUBLIC AND PROTECT OUR COMMUNITY SO THANK YOU VERY
MUCH. >> THANK YOU, MR. CHAIR.ASED ON THE COMMISSIONER COMMENTS TODAY, WE WILL NOTICE A SEVEN DAY EXTENSION MEETING FOR MARCH 31 AT 9:00 A.M. IN THE
AUDITORIUM UNLESS OTHERWISE DIRECTED. >> THE BOARD'S NEXT REGULAR MEETING IS SCHEDULED FOR APRIL 7. THAT WILL HAVE A DIFFERENT DYNAMIC LAND THIS SPECIAL
[01:20:07]
MEETING IT WILL BE QUASIJUDICIAL HEARING TYPE THING AND WE ARE GOING TO HAVE TO WORK THROUGH, I THINK, SOME OF THE PRACTICAL ASPECTS OF NOTICE FOR THAT AND JUST KIND OF THE PRACTICAL PROCEDURES. THE PHONE CALL IN TODAY, I THINK, IT WORKED.I THINK FOR THE QUASIJUDICIAL TYPE THING, WE'RE GOING TO HAVE TO SORT OF WORK THROUGH SOME OF THAT. I JUST WANT TO HAVE THE BOARD'S EXPECTATIONS AND NOT REGULAR MEETING WITH THE CEFT PROCESS WILL BE DIFFERENT AND THERE MAY BE A FEW BLOCKS.
I JUST KIND OF WANT TO SET YOUR EXPECTATIONS. BUT THE BUSINESS OF THE COUNTY
WILL GET DONE. THANK YOU. >> THANK YOU.
ANYTHING ELSE? >> NO, SIR. >> I JUST WANT TO SAY THANK YOU BEFORE WE DEPART. THANK YOU, MR. PHILLIPS FOR ALL YOUR EFFORTS THIS
* This transcript was compiled from uncorrected Closed Captioning.