[Call to Order]
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>> WE WERE NOW CALLED TO ORDER THE SPECIAL MEETING OF THE ST. JOHNS COUNTY BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS, APRIL 28, 2020. THIS MORNING, WE WILL GO AHEAD AND ADDRESS SOME OF THE NEW WAY WE ARE HANDLING THINGS. WELCOME TO THIS SPECIAL MEETING OF THE ST. JOHNS COUNTY BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS.N ORDER TO MITIGATE THE TRANSMISSION OF THE CORONAVIRUS AND REDUCE RISK OF THE COVID-19 ILLNESS, THE GOVERNOR HAS SUSPENDED THE REQUIREMENT OF THE SUB PHYSICAL CORD OF THE BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS AND HAS ADOPTED PROCEDURES TO CONDUCT MEETINGS USING REMOTE PARTICIPATION EMERGENCY PROCLAMATION NUMBER 2020 Ã THREE SO THE PUBLIC HAS MEANS TO COMMENT WITHOUT PHYSICALLY ATTENDING.
ALONG WITH PRIOR COMMUNICATIONS INCLUDING EMAIL THE PUBLIC WILL BE ABLE TO COMMENT WATCHING VIA THE ELEVISION. THEY PROVIDE THE TELEPHONE NUMBER TO USE TO CALL INTO THE MEETING. EVEN IF MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC DO NOT PROVIDE COMMENT, PPARTICIPANTS ARE ADVISED PEOPL MAY BE LISTENING AND DO NOT PROVIDE COMMENT AND THOSE PERSONS ARE NOT REQUIRED TO IDENTIFY THEMSELVES. PLEASE NOTE THIS MEETING IS BEING RECORDED. FOR THOSE OF YOU CALLING IN TO COMMENT, IF YOU RECEIVE A BUSY SIGNAL, PLEASE CALL BACK. IN ADDITION CONTINUE TO WATCH GTV WHILE YOU ARE COMMENTING AND THE TIMER WILL BE VISIBLE TO YOU. PLEASE MUTE YOUR PHONE WHILE YOU ARE WAITING TO COMMENT AND PLEASE BE AWARE THERE MAY BE A 5 TO 9 SECOND DELAY IN THE VISUAL PRESENTATIONS IF WE EXPERIENCE ANY TECHNICAL DIFFICULTIES, WE WILL RECESS BRIEFLY WHILE THERE IS A RESULT OF THE RESUME MEETING. MEETING MATERIALS ARE AVAILABLE ON THE COUNTY WEBSITE UNDER AGENDA MINUTES AND WE WILL BE TAKING ROLL CALL VOTES AND ALL VOTES WILL BE ASKED YES I AM. GOOD MORNING.> COMMISSIONER BLOCKER ARE YOU ONLINE?
>> COMMISSIONER BLOCKER: YES SIR. >> COMMISIONER SMITH: GOOD MORNING. AND THEN CONGRESSMAN RUTHERFORD YOUR OWN AS WELL?
>> YES SIR. >> GOOD MORNING TO YOU. THANK YOU FOR CALLING IN.
WE WILL NOW HAVE THE CLERK CALLED THE ROLE. TREATMENT
>> COMMISIONER SMITH: WE WILL ASK THE INVOCATION IF EVERYONE WILL PLEASE STAND.
>> WE THANK YOU FOR THIS DAY. THIS IS THE DAY YOU HAVE GIVEN TO US AND WE REJOICE AND WE THANK YOU FOR YOUR SON JESUS CHRIST THANK YOU FOR THE OPPORTUNITY TO GATHER THIS MORNING AND WE ASK THAT YOU WOULD BLESS THIS MEETING ACCORDING TO YOUR WILL.
WE PRAY FOR OUR COUNTY FOR EVERYBODY WHO'S INVOLVED AND WE PRAY WILL HELP ASSIST AND LEAD US ACCORDING TO YOUR WILL. AMEN. WOULD YOU PLEASE JOIN ME IN THE PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE? 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.
YOU MAY BE SEATED. LET'S START THIS MORNING, MR. CONRAD CONGRESSMAN RUTHERFORD, IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO GIVE AN UPDATE TO SHERWOOD APPRECIATE THAT.
>> THANK YOU. I WILL BE GLAD TO. CAN YOU HEAR ME?
>> MR.SMITH: YES, SIR WE SURE CAN. >> CONGRESSMAN RUTHERFORD: I THINK I WOULD LIKE TO TALK ABOUT THE RESULTS OF THE CARES ACT AND THEN WE WILL TALK ABOUT THE CARES ACT 2.0 AS IT'S COME TO BE KNOWN, AND TALK A LITTLE BIT ABOUT SOME OF THE CHANGES.
IN THE FIRST THE GOOD NEWS IS 74 PERCENT OF THE LOANS THAT WERE MADE, THAT'S OVER 1.2 MILLION LOANS, 74 PERCENT OF THOSE LOANS WERE $150,000 OR LESS.
WHICH TELLS US THAT A LOT OF THAT MONEY WAS GOING TO SMALL BUSINESSES.
WHERE IT WAS INTENDED. NOW, OBVIOUSLY, THERE ARE THOSE OUTLIERS THAT HAVE FAMOUSLY MADE IT ONTO TELEVISION AND THE INTERNET LIKE SHAKE SHACK AND RUTH'S CHRIS AND NOW WE ARE
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HEARING ABOUT THE LA LAKERS. AND JUST TO GIVE YOU A LITTLE INDICATION, WE WANTED TO GET THIS MONEY OUT AS QUICKLY AS POSSIBLE FOR SMALL BUSINESS SO THEY COULD GET IT ON OUT TO THEIR EMPLOYEES. BECAUSE ANOTHER THING THAT I SEE A ON TWITTER AND OTHER SOCIAL MEDIA IS THE ALLEGATION THAT ALL OF THIS MONEY IS GOING TO SMALL BUSINESS, BUT NONE OF IT IS GOING TO INDIVIDUALS. WHAT ABOUT THE INDIVIDUALS? AND THAT COULD NOT BE FURTHER FROM THE TRUTH. THIS MONEY IS SPECIFICALLY GOING TO SMALL BUSINESS FOR THEIR WORKERS. THOSE ARE INDIVIDUALS. AND SO WE ARE TRYING TO MAINTAIN THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN EMPLOYERS AND EMPLOYEES BY GIVING SMALL BUSINESS TO DOLLARS. IF THE SMALL BUSINESS CAN GET THIS LOAN, NUMBER ONE, IF THEY DON'T UTILIZE 75 PERCENT OF THAT LOAN, FOR PAYROLL, THEY WILL HAVE TO PAY THAT MONEY BACK AS A LOAN, AND IT WILL NOT GO INTO THE GRANTS CATEGORY WHERE THEY DON'T HAVE TO PAY IT BACK. THAT'S NUMBER ONE. THEY HAVE TO USE 75 PERCENT THAT THEY HAVE TO PASS ON TO THEIR EMPLOYEE. THEY WERE TRYING TO GET THE MONEY OUT VERY QUICKLY AND SO THE ONUS HAS BEEN PUT ON THE BORROWER, NOT THE LENDER TO MAKE SURE THEY QUALIFY AND THAT THEY QUALIFY. WHAT THAT MEANS IS THESE GROUPS LIKE SHAKE SHACK AND RUTH'S CHRIS AND LA LAKERS WHO CLEARLY WERE NOT THE INTENDED RECIPIENT, THOSE LOANS MAY HAVE GONE THROUGH BUT ONE THING WE DID UNDER THE CARES ACT WAS WE CREATED AN OVERSIGHT COMMITTEE WITHIN THE INSPECTOR GENERAL'S OFFICE, GAVE THEM $25 MILLION TO HIRE ADDITIONAL FORENSIC AUDITORS BECAUSE WE ARE GOING TO GO THROUGH ALL OF THESE LOANS, AND THESE BEGAN AS LOANS WHICH MEANS THEY NEED TO BE REPAID UNLESS 75 PERCENT STANDARD AND THAT CAN SHOW THAT THE BUSINESS HAS A LEGITIMATE NEED.AND THAT'S WHERE A LOT OF THE OUTLIERS YOU HEAR ABOUT LIKE LA LAKERS AND OTHERS, THEY ARE NEVER GOING TO MEET THE NEED AND THEY ARE GOING TO PAY THAT BACK ANYWAY.
WHETHER THEY VOLUNTARILY GIVE IT BACK OR WE HAVE TO CALL IT BACK LATER, AND FORCE THEM TO PAY FOR THAT LOAN, THAT'S GOING TO HAPPEN. SO ONE THING THAT CONCERNED ME WAS THE FACT THAT CONSTRUCTION WAS AT THE TOP OF THE LIST. THE NUMBER ONE INDUSTRY THAT RECEIVED FINANCIAL AID WAS CONSTRUCTION. AGRICULTURE WHICH IS IMPORTANT TO US IS NOT ONLY IN FLORIDA BUT IN NORTHEAST FLORIDA, AGRICULTURE WAS IN THE BOTTOM THIRD. I THINK PART IF THAT IS BECAUSE OF THE RESTRICTIONS ON THE PPP PROGRAM, AND SO WHEN WE WENT INTO THIS SECOND LAUNCH OF MONEY THE CARES ACT 2.0, ONE OF THE THINGS WE FOCUSED ON WAS MORE ON AG BEEFING UP THE LOANS AND GETTING THOSE AVAILABLE THAT'S THE ECONOMIC INJURY DEVELOPMENT LOAN, THAT'S UNDER THE SBA.
ALSO OPENING IT UP TO THE PPP PPROGRAM AND HAVE LESS THAN 500 EMPLOYEES.
THERE WAS AN AMOUNT SET ASIDE FOR SECRETARY PURDUE. THESE WERE FOR DIRECT PAYMENTS TO PURCHASE COMMODITIES AND OTHER PROGRAMS RUN OUT OF THE USDA AND WE INCREASE FROM 30 TO 50 BILLION. THE OVERALL CARES ACT 2.0 WAS 484 BILLION AS I'M SURE YOU HAVE SEEN. 350 ABOUT GOING TO PPE. ANOTHER 50 BILLION TO THE VASSAR LOANS MSV A. ANOTHER THING WAS 50 BILLION AND I THINK IT'S VERY IMPORTANT AS
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WELL, SOME OF THE FEELINGS PEOPLE HAVE THAT THE LARGER BANKS ARE GIVING A LARGER Ã MAKING A LARGER PART OF THE LOANS, NO ONE LENDER HAS LENT MORE THAN FIVE PERCENT, AND I THINK THAT GOES PRETTY WELL ACROSS THE BOARD. WE WANT TO MAKE SURE THEY GOT DOWN TO THE SMALL LENDERS AND COMMUNITY. SO 60 BILLION OF THE 484 BILLION HAS BEEN SET ASIDE FOR COMMUNITY FINANCIAL INSTITUTION.SO THESE ARE SMALL DEPOSITORY INSTITUTIONS, CREDIT UNIONS BOTH STATE AND FEDERAL, COMMUNITY FINANCIAL INSTITUTIONS LIKE MINORITIES AND CERTIFIED DEVELOPMENT COMPANIES. AND THE WAY THAT MONEY IS BROKEN DOWN, 30 BILLION IS FOR THOSE THAT HAVE 10 TO 50 BILLION OR MILLION IN ASSETS AND 10 MILLION AND BELOW.
30 BILLION IN EACH OF THOSE CATEGORIES. SO THAT WILL ENSURE SOME OF THESE SMALL LENDERS ARE CAPABLE TO PARTICIPATE. I WILL MENTION THIS ALSO.
75 BILLION WAS SET ASIDE FOR RURAL AND CHILDREN'S HOSPITALS WITH 825 MILLION GOING FOR DIRECT PAYMENTS TO COMMUNITY HEALTH CENTERS. AS YOU KNOW SOME HAVE BEEN MOST HIT BY THIS DISEASE AND MOST OF THOSE COMMUNITY HEALTH CENTERS ARE IN THOSE NEIGHBORHOODS.
SO WITH THAT, I WILL MENTION TWO OTHER THINGS. THE STOCK SCHOOL VIOLENCE ACT, I WANT TO MAKE YOU AWARE OF THIS. ONE IS [INDISCERNIBLE] BUREAU OF JUSTICE ADMINISTRATION ASKING THEM TO EXTEND THE APPLICATION DEADLINE FOR THE STOP SCHOOL VIOLENCE PROGRAM. THAT'S ÃI THINK IT'S 125 MILLION BECAUSE A LOT OF OUR SCHOOL BOARD, OBVIOUSLY, IS GOING THROUGH TOUGH TIMES BY NOW AND THEY MAY NOT HAVE HAD TIME TO MAKE THE NEW DEADLINE FOR THAT GRANT PROCESS. YOU KNOW, THAT GRANT ALLOWS SCHOOL BOARDS TO CREATE THIS MENTAL HEALTH NETWORK WITH THE POLICE AND THEIR SCHOOLS, IDENTIFY THOSE KIDS WHO MIGHT HAVE THE POTENTIAL TO BECOME ACTIVE SHOOTERS AND THEN ALSO IT PROVIDES DOLLARS FOR CRIME PREVENTION THROUGH ENVIRONMENTAL DESIGN.
AND THEN THE OTHER LETTER THAT I WANT THAT I THINK WILL BE INTERESTED IN THIS WE ARE ASKING FEMA ÃTHERE IS A 25 PERCENT MASK ON FEMA DISASTER LOANS FOR LOCALITIES WE ARE ASKING THEM TO WAIVE THE 25 PERCENT. IT DOESN'T MAKE SENSE TO DO THAT WHEN WE ARE TRYING TO HELP STATE AND LOCAL TO REQUIRE THEM TO PLACE A 25 REQUIREMENT ON THEM FOR A MASK SO WE ARE ASKING THEM TO GIVE US A REPRIEVE ON MAC.
SO WITH THAT, MR. CHAIRMAN, I'M OPEN FOR ANY QUESTIONS THAT YOU MAY HAVE.
>> ARE THERE ANY QUESTIONS FOR CONGRESSMAN RUTHERFORD? THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR THE UPDATE AND THANK YOU FOR CALLING AND. AND THANK YOU FOR WHAT YOU DO
FOR US IN D.C.. >> WELL, THANK YOU, AND I LOOK FORWARD TO CONTINUING TO WORK WITH YOU ALL TO MEET THE NEEDS OF ST. JOHNS COUNTY AND YOUR CONSTITUENTS AND MIND.
SO THANK YOU. >> REHAB WAS WITH US REPRESENTATIVE STEPHENSON.
DO YOU HAVE ANYTHING YOU WOULD LIKE TO SAY? >> IT IS REALLY GOOD TO SEE YOU ALL. I KNOW EVERYBODY HAS BEEN WORKING HARD THROUGH THIS PROCESS AND YESTERDAY I ALSO WANT TO THANK COMMISSIONER JOHNSON WHO'S BEEN URGING ME TO COME AND SHARE AND IT'S TAKEN ME A WHILE TO GET MY ARMS AROUND WHAT I CAN SAY TO YOU
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THAT MIGHT BE HELPFUL TO YOU AND TO YOUR CONSTITUENTS. SO WHEN I LOOKED AT IT LAST WEEK ÃI WILL TRY TO BE EXPEDIENT. IN DECEMBER WE GOT THE NEWS OF THE FIRST TESTS IN CHINA. THIS CAUSED A GREAT DEAL OF FRUSTRATION.BY APRIL, THE GOVERNOR BEGINS TO ADDRESS OPENLY THE UNEMPLOYMENT COMPENSATION SYSTEM PROBLEMS. THE FIRST TIME I REALLY HEARD THEM TALK ABOUT THE PROBLEMS AND PROBABLY BECAUSE I WAS MOST AWARE OF IT ABOUT THIS IN A PRESS CONFERENCE HE SAID UNDER NORMAL CONDITIONS THE PROCESS TAKES THREE WEEKS. THIS WAS NEWS TO ME AND I THINK THAT'S PART OF THE EXPECTATIONS. SINCE THEN HE HAS APRIL 15 SECRETARY JONATHAN SATURN OVER THAT MISSION WHICH REMAINS OVER THE DEPARTMENT OF ECONOMIC OPPORTUNITY. HE HAS INCREASED MANPOWER, COMMUNITY POWER TO HELP THE SYSTEM DEAL WITH THE SURGE OF APPLICANTS, AND I THINK THEY HAVE REFERRED TO IT AS KIND OF A JALOPY TRYING TO DO A REALLY BIG JOB. IT'S NOT ALL BEEN PRETTY GOOD MONEY IS BEING DISTRIBUTED AND THEY ARE OPERATING NOW AT A RATE THAT IS IN MY UNDERSTANDING 5 TO 6 TIMES WITH THE ORIGINAL CAPACITY WAS. AND SOMETIMES THE RESPONSES ARE AWKWARD AND FRUSTRATING. SO I WANTED TO JUST KIND OF BRIEFLY SAY SOME OF THE THINGS WE HAVE LEARNED. I THINK IT WAS ABOUT APRIL Ã MAYBE APRIL 19.
WE HAD THE ABILITY TO HAVE MORE INFORMATION HELP CONSTITUENTS GET THEIR STUFF IN THE SYSTEM.
AND WE HAVE LEARNED A LOT ABOUT IT BECAUSE THE SYSTEM IS EVOLVING IN THE VOCABULARY THEY TALK ABOUT THE SYSTEM HAS EVEN CHANGED. THEY USED TO TALK ABOUT IT IN DIFFERENT NAMES. NOW THE ENTIRE SYSTEM IS DISCUSSED AS CONNECT AND THERE'S DIFFERENT PARTS OF THE PROCESS LIKE THE APPLICATION PROCESS WHICH IS MORE ACCESSIBLE TO PEOPLE BUT SOME OF THE PARTS ARE NOT ACCESSIBLE.
WHAT WE HAVE FOUND IS BECAUSE IT'S SUCH A DYNAMIC BY THE TIME SOMEBODY ELSE'S THROUGH THE
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SYSTEM THE MESSAGING HAS CHANGED. THAT INFORMATION WILL BE FINE THE FLAGSHIP AND INFORMATION SOURCE IS NOW AT FLORIDA JOB START TO WORK I THINK THE SYSTEM IS NOW CUING PEOPLE BETTER ON THE FORMAT PEOPLE NEED TO RESIST THE URGE TO FILE A SECOND APPLICATION. IF YOU HAVE MULTIPLE CLAIM NUMBERS YOU MAY RECEIVE AN INELIGIBLE NOTICE AS THEY VOID THE DUPLICATE CLAIMS. I BELIEVE THAT CONTINUES AND IT JUST MAKES PEOPLE VERY NERVOUS BECAUSE THEY GET AN INELIGIBLE CLAIMS IF THEY CAN PAY ATTENTION IT CAN HELP THEM AND WANT A DUPLICATE CLAIMS, IT ALSO SLOWS THE PROCESS BECAUSE THEY HAVE TO ELIMINATE DUPLICATES. AS FAR AS 1099 PEOPLE, APRIL 10, 1999 CONTRACTORS WHICH INCLUDE HAIR SALONS, REAL ESTATE AGENTS IN MANY SELF-EMPLOYED WORKERS, THEY BEGAN WITH WHAT THEY CALL RAPID RECOVERY ASSISTANCE APPLICATION AND THEY FIRST VERIFY THEY ARE NOT ELIGIBLE FOR STATE BENEFITS AND THERE'S A REASON FOR THAT AND IT INVOLVES OPTIMIZING THE LINK OF BENEFITS THAT MAY BE ACCESSIBLE TO THEM IF THEY ARE BOTH COVERED BY STATE AND THE FEDERAL PANDEMIC. THIS IS VERY CONFUSING TO PEOPLE, HOWEVER, ALL THE INITIAL APPLICATION START WITH ÃTHEY HAVE TO DETERMINE HOW TO TREAT THEM. THERE IS AN ADDITIONAL INFORMATION FOR MANY IF NOT ALL 1099 AND SELF-EMPLOYED PEOPLE, WE JUST BEGAN SEEING THE PANDEMIC UNEMPLOYMENT ASSISTANCE THIS IS PROVIDED UNDER THE CARES ACT AND IT'S BEING ADMINISTERED THROUGH THE STATE. PEOPLE THAT HAVE CLAIMS ARE BEGINNING TO RECEIVE A NOTICE ON THEIR CLAIMANT'S SCREEN WITH PUA INFORMATION AND BEING QUEUED TO GO IN AND GET ADDITIONAL INFORMATION REQUIRED BY THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT FOR THIS RESPONSE.FOR SELF-EMPLOYED PEOPLE, THIS INVOLVES SOME EXTENSIVE DOCUMENTATION AND I'VE BEEN SEEING PICTURES OF THE RESPONSE AND THEY NEED TO BE PREPARED. THEY ARE NOT WRITING CHECKS
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WITHOUT DOCUMENTATION BOTH FOR THE STATE AND FEDERAL UNEMPLOYMENT.THEY WILL COME BACK FOR THE STATE HAS GOVERNOR DESANTIS HAS SUSPENDED THE NEED TO GO IN AND CLAIM YOUR WEEKS. THEY HAVE ALSO SUSPENDED JOB SEARCH.
OFFICES AROUND THE STATE ARE AVAILABLE BY PHONE AND EMAIL AND ARE TRYING TO ASSIST PEOPLE. WE DO HAVE A WAY TO HELP PEOPLE RAISE THE ATTENTION OF DEPOT.
THERE'S ALSO NOW THE WAY TO DIRECTLY EMAIL DEL ON THEIR WEBSITE UNDER A REQUEST Ã REQUEST A RAPID RECOVERY ASSISTANCE CONTACT SO IT SEEMS KIND OF BUREAUCRATIC BUT IF YOU TAP ON MAC, YOU WILL SEE WHERE YOU CAN EMAIL ÃYOU HAVE TO HAVE A CLAIMANT NUMBER TWO INTO THE SYSTEM AT THAT POINT. IT IS VERY FRUSTRATING BECAUSE IT INVOLVES A WEIGHT IN ONE OF THE THINGS WE HAVE ALSO BEEN DOING UNCERTAINTY ABOUT [INDISCERNIBLE] AND I CAN'T TELL WITH CERTAINTY WHEN THEY WILL RECEIVE THEIR TRACKS. WE HAVE BEEN OFFERING LINKS TO THE U.S. TREASURY WEBSITE WHICH PROVIDES SOME BASIC FINANCIAL COUNSELING INFORMATION FOR PEOPLE WHO NEED TO STRETCH THEIR CASH DURING THIS DIFFICULT TIME.
INCLUDE NEW THINGS AS HAS BEEN ADVISED BY UTILITIES AND MANY CREDITORS TO REACH OUT AND LET THEM KNOW THEY ARE EXPERIENCING DIFFICULTY AND SEE HOW THEY CAN ACCOMMODATE THAT.
UNDERSTAND CREDIT CARD COMPANIES ARE DOING THAT. I THINK THE MOST EXCITING THING AND I WANT TO ASSIGN BECAUSE SOME PEOPLE AREN'T AWARE OF IT IS THE GOVERNOR IS WORKING ON REOPENING THE FLORIDA EFFORT AND LISTENING IN ON SOME OF THOSE CONVERSATIONS VERY EXCITING AND PEOPLE STARTED CONTACTING ME WANTING ME TO MAKE SURE THEY REMEMBER THIS AND MAKE SURE THEY REMEMBER THAT. THE GREAT THING IS THERE IS ONLY WHERE THEY CAN SUBMIT THEIR COMMENTS TO MAKE SURE THEY HAVE A VOICE AND RAISE ISSUES TO THE GOVERNOR AS THEY WORK TO REOPEN IN A PRAGMATIC WAY.
FROM ALL I HAVE READ AND I TRIED TO STAY OUT OF THE HEALTH ISSUES BECAUSE I'M NOT A DOCTOR. FROM ALL I HAVE READ THE DIFFERENT MORE DENSELY POPULATED AREAS HAVE RISK BUT RAW AREAS HAVE RISK TWO. WE ARE SEEING INFECTION RATES ABNORMAL NURSING HOMES, WORKERS COMING IN. BUT THE REALLY INTENSE PROBLEMS SEEM TO BE IN DENSELY POPULATED AREAS WHERE THERE'S A LOT OF CHANCE FOR PEOPLE TO BE PATCHED TOGETHER IN THE MASS TRANSIT AREA. I THINK FLORIDIANS HAVE DONE A GREAT JOB BEING CAREFUL AND I'M REALLY LOOKING FORWARD TO HOSPITALS AND DOCTORS OFFICES THAT HAVE BEEN ISOLATED. I NEED A HAIRCUT AND I DON'T WANT TO JEOPARDIZE SOMEBODY'S LIFE FOR THAT. IT WILL BE NICE TO SEE THINGS GET BACK TO NORMAL AND IT WAS GREAT TO DRIVE DOWN HERE TODAY. MY OFFICE IS AVAILABLE FOR QUESTIONS.
CINDY STEPHENSON, FLORIDA HOUSE DISTRICT OR NON-FURTHER SOUTH AS PAUL DISTRICT 17 AND TRAVIS HUDSON. I KNOW ALL OF THE OFFICES ARE BEING RESPONSIVE AND TRYING TO HELP PEOPLE HAVING DIFFICULTIES IN THIS TIME GET THEIR QUESTIONS AND ANSWERED.
IF I CAN BE OF ASSISTANCE PLEASE DON'T HESITATE TO CALL ME.
>> THANK YOU FOR COMING TODAY. ANY QUESTIONS? >> WANT TO SAY THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE. I KNOW YOU ARE BEING PULLED IN A THOUSAND DIFFERENT DIRECTIONS. YOU VERY WELL DESCRIBE THE SYSTEM THAT INCREASES ACTIVITY BY 1000 PERCENT. IT WASN'T DESIGNED FOR THE VOLUME AND BY YOU SHARING THE FRUSTRATIONS YOUR HEARG FROM INSIDE THE GOVERNMENT PROVIDES REASSURANCE TO PEOPLE THAT IT'S
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NOT JUST THEM AND THEY ARE TRYING TO PROCESS AND WHILE IT MAY KNOW WHAT YOU ARE DESCRIBING KNOWING THEY ARE NOT ALONE IS VERY HELPFUL. KNOWING THAT THERE ARE CHANGES THAT ARE BEING MADE TO SHUT DOWN THIS PAST WEEKEND GOVERNMENT DOES NOT CHANGE QUICKLY. GOOD EFFORT, SITUATIONS LIKE THIS AREN'T IDEAL FOR GOVERNMENT TO RESPOND QUICKLY BUT YOU HAVE. WE APPRECIATE WHAT YOU ARE DOING TO MAKE THIS HAPPEN. I KNOW IT'S COMPLICATED BUT I DO APPRECIATE YOU BRINGING THISTO OUR ATTENTION TODAY. >> THANK YOU. I WILL SAY ONE LAST THING.
WE ARE REFERRING PEOPLE BACK TO THE GREAT HOTLINE YOU SET UP. ST. JOHNS COUNTY CARE FOR SOMETHING TO THAT EFFECT. THE 24-HOUR HOTLINE YOU HAVE SET UP.
AND HE REMINDED ME OF SOMETHING ELSE THAT MIGHT BE HELPFUL FOR PEOPLE.
THERE IS ALSO AT THE FLORIDA JOBS.ORG WEBSITE A LINK TO A DASHBOARD, AND IF YOU LOOK AT THE SUMMARY, YOU CAN SEE THE NUMBER OF CLAIMS PROCESSED AND DUPLICATE CLAIMS AND YOU CAN KIND OF SEE THE PROCESS OF PRODUCT DRESS WHICH THE ULTIMATE GOAL IS THE NUMBER OF CLAIMS FILED IN THE CLAIMS PROCESS BUT THE NUMBER OF VALID CLAIMS WITH PEOPLE RECEIVE THEIR RESOURCES THEY NEED TO SURVIVE DURING THIS TIME. SO IF YOU GET A QUESTION PLEASE DON'T HESITATE TO CALL ON ME AND I KNOW I'VE REACHED OUT TO YOUR EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT STAFF
WITH THE SAME QUESTION. >> ANY OTHER QUESTIONS? THANK YOU, REPRESENTATIVE
[Item 1]
STEPHENSON. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. THAT BEING SAID, MR. CONRAD WE WILL MOVE INTO AGENDA ITEM NUMBER ONE EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT UPDATE.>> HOW ARE YOU THIS MORNING? A COUPLE OF QUICK UPDATES. PUSUALLY WHEN I COME UP HERE GIVE YOU AN UPDATE ON THE DATA WHERE WE STAND AS FAR AS CASES, NEW CASE COUNTS AND ALL OF THAT INFORMATION. THIS MORNING I HAVE ASKED DOCTOR ALCOTT TO SHARE THAT INFORMATION WITH YOU. I WANT TO TRY TO MOVE QUICKLY THROUGH I STAND BY FOR QUESTIONS. THE DOCTOR WILL PRESENT THAT AND THEN AFTER HER, WE HAVE EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT TO GIVE YOU AN UPDATE ON LOGISTICS AS WELL.
TWO THINGS ARE LIMITED REGULAR ATTENTION IS MONEY. THE FIRST THING IS REALLY FOR THE GENERAL PUBLIC. I KNOW THE COMMUNITY IS ASKING ABOUT THE BEACHES.
GOOD TO BE STANDARD THE BEACHES. AS EACH OF YOU ARE RECEIVING A NUMBER OF EMAILS SO ARE WE AND I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT TO ADDRESS THAT.
OUR COMMUNITY HAS DONE VERY WELL AND I RECEIVE DAILY REPORTS FROM LAW ENFORCEMENT AND SITUATION REPORTS ON THE BEACH HOW THE RESIDENTS ARE RESPONDING.
THEY ARE WILLINGLY COMPLIED WITH THE GUIDELINES SET IN PLACE.
SO THEY HAVE BEEN VERY HELPFUL DURING THIS TIME. BUT AS WE ALL KNOW, IT'S TIME TO KIND OF MOVE BACK AS THE GOVERNOR BEGINS TO LAY OUT HIS REOPENING PLAN AND HOPEFULLY THIS WEEK WE ARE EXPECTING TO SEE SOMETHING ABOUT IT. BECAUSE THAT'S WHEN PART OF HIS EMERGENCY ORDER WILL EXPIRE. SO IN REGARDS TO OUR BEACHES, WE ARE NOW OPEN FROM 6:00 UNTIL NOON SEVEN DAYS A WEEK WITH A MOVIE RESTRICTED BEACH SO YOU HAVE TO KEEP MOVING.
NO UMBRELLAS, TENTS, THINGS OF THAT NATURE THAT PROMOTE A STATIONARY PRESENCE.
YESTERDAY WE HAD A POLICY GROUP MEETING WHICH INCLUDED THE HEALTH DEPARTMENT EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT AND ALL OF LAW ENFORCEMENT AGENCIES AND WE DISCUSSED WHAT LOOKS LIKE REOPENING THE BEACHES AND AT THIS POINT WE DECIDED TO HOLD WHERE WE ARE BUT FOR THE SHORT TERM. WE WANT ÃI WILL TELL YOU WHAT THE PLAN IS FOR THE COMMUNITY FOR THE FUTURE SO WHAT THEY KNOW SO THEY WILL KNOW WHAT TO EXPECT.
SO WHAT WE HAVE DONE AS WE HAVE REACHED OUT BOTH TO THE CITY OF JACKSONVILLE AS WELL AS TO THE STATE OF FLORIDA TO THE GOVERNOR'S OFFICE TO DETERMINE IF THERE WILL BE PENINGS AT OUR STATE PARTS OF THE CITY OF JACKSONVILLE WILL BE LOOKING FORWARD TO OPEN WITH US AT THE SAME TIME. THE REASON FOR THAT IS WHY EACH OF YOU KNOW WE HAVE THE ABILITY TO MAKE OUR INDEPENDENT DECISIONS AND ST. JOHNS COUNTY. THERE IS A LOGISTICS ISSUE TO CONSIDER. ONCE WE OPEN OUR BEACHES. AS YOU NORMALLY CLOSE THE BEACHES, THERE WERE LOGISTIC ISSUES WITH THE COMPRESSION BECAUSE OF THE OTHER BEACHES AROUND US CLOSE NOW THE STATE PARKS FROM GUANA, ANASTASIA, THE CITY OF ST. AUGUSTINE BEACH IN THE CITY ALL THE WAY UP TO THE NORTH PART OF THE COUNTY, WE HAVE SEVERAL HUNDRED PARKING
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SPOTS THAT ARE SO CLOSED DOWN. SO IN MOVING TO AN EXTENDED PERIOD OF TIME WE WOULD NEED SOME RELIEF BECAUSE WE KNOW WITH THE MORE HOURS WE HAVE, THE MORE THE COMMUNITY FROM SURROUNDING COMMUNITIES AS WELL AS OUR COMMUNITY WILL USE THE BEACHES.WE ARE LOOKING FORWARD TO THAT. WE EXPECT ÃI SPOKE WITH THE GOVERNOR'S OFFICE YESTERDAY AND WE ARE HOPEFUL ÃI CAN'T MAKE ANY GUARANTEES THIS WEEK AS PART OF HIS LAYOUT HE'S GOING TO OPEN STATE PARKS. NO GUARANTEE THERE. SECONDLY I'VE ALSO SPOKEN WITH THE MAYOR'S OF THE JACKSONVILLE BEACHES AREAS AND I HAVE SPOKEN IN COORDINATION WITH MAYOR CURRY AND THEY ARE EXPECTING ALSO TO OPEN POTENTIALLY EARLY NEXT WEEK FOR AN EXTENDED DAY.
SO WHAT THAT SAYS TO ST. JOHNS COUNTY AND WHAT IT MEANS FOR YOU AND THE LISTENING PUBLIC IS THAT HOPEFULLY BY THE END OF THIS WEEK OR THE BEGINNING OF NEXT WEEK WE WILL BE LOOKING AT AN EXTENDED OPENING WITH THOSE MOVING RESTRICTIONS IN PLACE. PIT'S IMPORTANT TO KNOW WE WANT THE COMMUNITY TO KNOW HERE IS WHAT WE ARE WAITING ON AND HERE IS WHAT WE ARE LOOKING FOR AND HERE'S THE COORDINATION WE HAVE HAD WITH THE SURROUNDING COMMUNITIES AS WELL AS THE STATE OF FLORIDA. SO TO THIS POINT WE HAVE SAID THERE'S NO TIMELINES, THERE'S NO SET DATES. WE ARE ASSESSING AND EVALUATING WILL CONTINUE TO DO THAT THROUGH THE PROCESS AND WE RECEIVED WORD THAT IS A COORDINATED THEY ARE HOPING TO MAKE AN ANNOUNCEMENT TODAY FOR EARLY NEXT WEEK TO STATE OF FLORIDA I DO WANT EVERYBODY TO KNOW SAFETY ALWAYS REMAINS THE TOP CONSIDERATION. WE ARE LOOKING AT A LOGISTICS ISSUE SO WE MOVED ON PAST SAFETY AND SAFETY WILL ALWAYS BE A PART OF THE FACTOR IN THE EVALUATION AND ANALYSIS. THAT IS WHY WE A TASK FORCE UPDATE.
I'M GOING TO GO THROUGH A COUPLE OF THINGS THAT MAY HIGHLIGHT.
THERE IS A SMALL BUSINESS RECOVERY PROGRAM WE HAVE BEEN WORKING ON.
WE HAVE ALSO IMPLEMENTED A PPE BUSINESS ASSISTANCE AND I WILL TALK ABOUT THAT.
THEY HELP SUPPORT OUR LOCAL ECONOMY AND THAT WILL BE SHOP AND DIE ST. JOHNS COUNTY.
I WILL GIVE YOU UPDATES ON THOSE NUMBERS AND STANDBY FOR QUESTIONS.
>> THANKS A LOT. AS YOU CAN SEE THIS IS OUR ÃAS WE DISCUSSED IT'S BEEN APPROVED BY THE BOARD UP TO $2.1 MILLION TO ASSIST SMALL BUSINESSES ACQUIRE JOB RETENTION AND ECONOMIC SURVIVAL. HERE'S THE TIMELINE WE ARE LOOKING AT.
LASTLY WE SO WE HOPE TO GET IT UP IN A WEEK OR TO AND NEXT TUESDAY WE WILL PRESENT IT TO YOU ALL FOR FINAL ACTION WE HOPE TO LAUNCH THAT APPLICATION TO BEGIN THAT PROCESS ON 16 MAY. AND THEN THERE ARE THE DOLLARS WE SAW THOSE LAST WEEK OF HOW THOSE DOLLARS WOULD BE ALLOCATED WHERE WE WOULD BE GETTING A $2.1 MILLION FOR THE SMALL BUSINESS RECOVERY PROGRAM. THE NEXT ONE IS IDA GRANTS AND LESS LIKE THE INDUSTRIAL DEVELOPMENT AUTHORITY VOTED UNANIMOUSLY TO PROVIDE A COUNTY GRANT OF $250,000 TO SUPPORT THE COUNTIES COVID-19 RESPONSE EFFORT.
WE WILL WORK ON IMPLEMENTATION OF THIS AND WE WILL ÃTHERE'S LITTLE DIFFERENCES PARTNER WITH THE CHAMBERS AS WELL AND WE WILL BE INVOLVED WITH ALL OF THESE TWO HELP ASSIST US WE WILL DO THE MONTHS MAY 16 AS OF NOW. THIS IS A PPE ASSISTANCE
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INITIATIVE AND WHAT THIS DOES IS TAKE FUNDING WE HAVE BEEN GIVEN ALREADY BY THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT THAT IS USED TO GAIN ACCESS TO PPE AND WE WILL ROLL THIS OUT AS PART TO PURCHASE PPE WANT TO GIVE YOU AN UPDATE ON THE RESIDENT HOTLINE AND THE BUSINESS HOTLINE.SINCE LAUNCHING THE BUSINESS ASSISTANCE HOTLINE HAS TAKEN IN 46 CALLS IN THE RESIDENCE ASSISTANCE HOTLINE HAS TAKEN IN 273 CALLS. IT'S ABOUT FIVE TIMES THE AMOUNT. AND THEN WE ARE ALSO IN THE MIDDLE OF THE RPR ACADEMY STAFF HAS BEEN WORKING ON THAT AND WE WILL LAUNCH THAT ON FRIDAY. THERE'S HOPEFULLY AN APPLICATION TO GO ON SOCIAL MEDIA AND WE'VE DONE MARKETING AND BRANDING WITH THAT.
THE FIRST PHASE OF THAT WILL BE A SHOP AND DINE ST. JOHNS COUNTY.
WE HAVE ALREADY PUT ON OUR SOCIAL MEDIA AS WELL AS OUR WEBPAGE, THE COUNTIES WEBPAGE, THERE IS A MAP YOU CAN GO AND SEE WHAT BUSINESSES ARE OPEN. WE WILL CONTINUE TO UPDATE THAT AND THEY WILL BE ABLE TO GO AND SEE WHAT RESTAURANTS, WITH TINY ESTABLISHMENTS.
AS WE MOVE FORWARD WE WILL OBVIOUSLY AS WE GET THE GOVERNOR'S OPENING PLAN.
HERE'S A MEETING SCHEDULED BETWEEN I'M KIND OF WAITING TO SEE WHERE THE GOVERNOR LANDS ON THIS SO WE CAN SEE WHAT HE'S DONE AND WORKS FOR OUR COMMUNITY BASED ON THE RECOMMENDATIONS. I WILL STANDBY FOR ANY QUESTIONS YOU MAY HAVE TO ME ABOUT THE BEACHES OR ANYTHING RELATED TO ECONOMIC RECOVERY AND I WILL TURN IT OVER AT THIS TIME TO THE DOCTOR TO GIVE YOU AN UPDATE ON THAT SIDE OF THINGS.
>> THANK YOU. ARE THERE ANY QUESTIONS? >> THANK YOU FOR THE SUMMARY.
I AGREE. WE HAVE TO BE IN COLLABORATION WITH OUR NEIGHBORS TO KEEP THE PRESSURE POINT WHEN NOTHING ELSE IS AVAILABLE. EVERYBODY PARTICIPATING IN SOME SEMBLANCE OF UNIFORMITY, IT RELIEVES THE PRESSURE ON ANY ONE POINT OF ACCESS WHETHER IT'S THE BEACHES OR PARKS OR WHAT HAVE YOU. THE ANTICIPATED OPENING OF THE BEACHES FOR EXTENDED HOURS, BUT THAT ALSO BE RESTRICTED AS NOW FOR JUST WALKING AND EXERCISE
OR BLANKETS, BEACH UMBRELLAS, COOLERS, ETC.? >> AT THIS POINT THAT WOULD BE EXTENDED FOR ÃWITH THE SAME RESTRICTIONS IN PLACE. WE ARE LOOKING AT THAT EACH WEEK AND PART IF THAT IS AN ENFORCEMENT THAT PUTS AN ADDITIONAL BURDEN ON LAW ENFORCEMENT BUT WE ALSO RECOGNIZE THAT WE ARE STILL NOT COMPLETELY OUT OF THE WOODWORK IN RELATION TO THE SOCIAL DISTANCING AND THE RECOMMENDATIONS FROM THE CDC AS WELL AS THE GOVERNOR. WE WANT TO KIND OF SEE SOME OF THE RECOMMENDATIONS THEY PASSED DOWN. INITIALLY BEGINNING EVEN THOUGH IT WOULD BE EXTENDED HOURS IT
WILL STILL BE WITH THE SAME RESTRICTIONS IN PLACE. >> THAT'S HELPFUL TO KNOW.
WHEN I GET THOSE CALLS I CAN EXPLAIN THE SAME THING TO THEM. PARKS AND RECREATION FACILITIES, WHICH ARE LOCALLY OWNED, NATURE WALKS AND PAINS, PROGRAMS, ARE STILL OPEN FOR
INDIVIDUAL USE BUT NOT FOR ORGANIZED ACTIVITIES YET. >> THAT'S CORRECT.AND WE HAVE NOT CLOSED ANY OF THE PARKS AND RECREATIONAL ACTIVITIES OR FACILITIES TO THIS POINT OTHER THAN FOR THE PERMITTED ACTIVITIES AND GATHERINGS AS WELL AS THE PROGRAMS.
THEY'VE ALREADY MADE UP IN THE ENTIRE TIME. >> I'M SURE IT'S TOO EARLY TO SAY BUT I WANT TO LET PEOPLE KNOW THAT OPENING THEM UP TO ORGANIZE ACTIVITIES IS ON THE HORIZON BUT NOT ONE ANYTIME SOON SO I DON'T WANT ORGANIZE GROUPS TO THINK THAT THIS OPENING WILL ALLOW THEIR ORGANIZATIONS TO RESERVE IT DURING ALL OF THE TIMES.
I WANT TO MAKE SURE I UNDERSTOOD THAT. THAT'S IT.
>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH. ANY OTHER QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS? MR. MACCORMACK? I THINK THE CHAIR KNOWS AND SOME OTHER COMMISSIONER KNOWS WITH AT LEAST ONE OTHER INQUIRY FROM A SENIOR CITIZEN TO THE BEACH REQUIRED ACTIVITIES.
WHICH DO THE ADMINISTRATORS EMERGENCY ORDER ARE DESCRIBED AS WALKING, RUNNING, EXERCISING, SURFING, BIKING, FISHING, SWIMMING OR OTHER ÃOR PSUCH OTHER USES THAT REQUIRE PHYSICAL ACTIVITY. I JUST WANTED TO SORT OF ASK Ã I KNOW WE HAVE THREE
[00:45:02]
REPRESENTATIVES OF OUR THREE LOCAL LAW ENFORCEMENT AGENCIES. AND THAT WOULD BE INTERPRETED PARTICULARLY FOR OUR SENIOR CITIZEN CADRE OF VERY GENEROUSLY IN TERMS OF WHAT CONSTITUTES PHYSICAL ACTIVITY. THERE IS ÃTHERE IS AN ADA PROVISION AS WELL IN THE EMERGENCY ORDER, BUT IF I AM INCORRECT IN MY DESCRIPTION OF THE, IT WILL BE INTERPRETED, I THINK, VERY GRACIOUSLY FOR OUR SENIOR CITIZEN CADRE AND PLEASE CORRECT ME.SEEING NONE, THANK YOU. >> THANK YOU. ANY OTHER QUESTIONS?
COMMISSONER DEAN? COMMENTS? >> NO QUESTIONS AT THIS TIME.
I MIGHT HAVE ONE FOR THE DOCTOR. WE WILL SEE.
>> COMMISSIONER BLOCKER?> NO, SIR. NOT AT THIS TIME.
>> THANK YOU. JUST ONE MORE THING. I WANT TO LOGISTICALLY LAY IT OUT FOR YOU. I AM GOING TO COME UP WHEN THEY ARE DONE WITH THEIR PRESENTATION. WE HAVE A RESOLUTION PREPARE FOR YOU TODAY IN RELATION TO BUILDING PERMIT FEE WAIVERS AND MR. DUNN AND MR. WHITE ARE HERE TO ADDRESS THOSE SHOULD THE BOARD HAVE ANY QUESTIONS BUT THOSE ARE RESOLUTIONS AND A CONSISTENCE THAT WILL NEED BY THE BOARD AND I SAVED THAT FOR LAST. I DID MENTION AS PART OF THE RECOVERY UPDATE AND EFFORT THAT'S GOING ON BUT WE WILL DO THAT AFTER MRS. STOKE AND THE
DOCTOR. >> THANK YOU VERY MUCH. AFTER?
>> GOOD MORNING. I CAN BEGIN WITH AN UPDATE OF THE NUMBERS IN ST. JOHNS COUNTY. I'M USING THE DATA FROM YESTERDAY MORNING SIMPLY BECAUSE WE STILL HAVE PROVISIONAL DATA THAT WE ARE WORKING ON FOR TODAY.
OUR TOTAL TESTS. STATE OF FLORIDA AS OF YESTERDAY INCLUDED 358,127 TESTS. THERE IS ABOUT 1.7 PERCENT OF OUR POPULATION IN FLORIDA COULD WE RECOGNIZE THAT SOME OF OUR INDIVIDUALS ARE TESTED MORE THAN ONCE FOR US TO DECLARE THEM AND THEY GAVE US A TOTAL PRESENT POSITIVE OF ABOUT NINE PERCENT.
IN ST. JOHNS COUNTY, OUR TOTAL TESTS INCLUDED ABOUT 4619, WHICH IS ABOUT 1.7 PERCENT, WHICH MIRRORS THE STATE OF FLORIDA AND OUR PRESENT POSITIVE IS ACTUALLY FOUR PERCENT. HOSPITALIZATIONS IN THE STATE OF FLORIDA, 16 PERCENT OF ALL CASES IN GENERAL WE HAVE SEEN HOSPITALIZATIONS VERSUS 18 PERCENT IN ST. JOHNS COUNTY AND GREG GAFKE ARE CONCERNED FOR FLORIDA WE HAVE FOUR PERCENT OF ALL CASES IN ST. JOHNS COUNTY, TWO PERCENT OF ALL CASES. PUBLIC HEALTH FOCUS. MONITORING AND CONTACT TRACY.
IN PUBLIC HEALTH OUR FOCUS CONTINUES TO BE ON EARLY CASE IDENTIFICATION.
ISOLATION AND CONTACT TRACY. ATTEMPTING TO CURB THE SPREAD OF THE DISEASE.
TO REITERATE, WHEN THE DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH RECEIVES NOTIFICATION THAT A PERSON HAS TESTED POSITIVE FOR COVID-19, THE DEPARTMENT CONDUCTS AN ECOLOGICAL INVESTIGATION.
BASED ON CDC GUIDANCE TO IDENTIFY INDIVIDUALS WHO MAY HAVE HAD CLOSE CONTACT WITH A PERSON WHO TESTED POSITIVE. THOSE INDIVIDUALS ARE THEN ADVISED TO SELF ISOLATE FOR 14 DAYS. AFTER THEIR EXPOSURE TO THE VIRUS AND THEN TO CONTACT HER HEALTHY COUNTY DEPARTMENT AND HEALTHCARE PROVIDER IMMEDIATELY IF THEY DEVELOP SYMPTOMS. AND WE CONTINUE TO MONITOR THOSE INDIVIDUALS THROUGHOUT THE COURSE.
AS NEEDED. WE CONTINUE TO OPERATE AND HOUSE SEVEN DAYS OF THE WEEK 8:00 UNTIL 6:00 P.M. AS WE HAVE DONE OVER THE PAST SIX WEEKS AND AS ALWAYS, WE ARE AVAILABLE AND TAKING CALLS 24/7. NOW TO OUR VULNERABLE POPULATION AND LONG-TERM CARE FACILITIES. ONE OF THE CRITICAL AREAS WE CONTINUE TO MONITOR DAILY.
TRYING TO LIMIT OUR BREAKS AS LYRIST AS THE PRINCIPAL TO HAVE THE BRUTALITY IN THE VERY VULNERABLE POPULATIONS. WHO LIVE AND CONGREGATE SETTINGS SUCH AS OUR ELDERLY WITH PRE-EXISTING COMORBIDITY DISORDERS. ON TO THE MITIGATION STRATEGY.
SOCIAL DISTANCING HAS WORKED. AND IT'S WORKING. AS YOU ARE ON FRIDAY FOR AS OF FRIDAY, APRIL 3, OUR GOVERNOR, RON DESANTIS, ISSUED A STAY AT HOME ORDER FOR 30 DAYS.
REQUIRING ALL PERSONS IN FLORIDA TO LIMIT THEIR MOVEMENTS AND PERSONAL
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INTERACTIONS OUTSIDE OF THEIR HOMES TO ONLY THOSE NECESSARY TO OBTAIN OR PROVIDE ESSENTIAL SERVICES OR CONDUCT ESSENTIAL SERVICES. WE NOW HAVE REAL DATA INDICATED THAT IT'S HIGHLY LIKELY THAT COMMUNICATION EFFORT AND SOCIAL DISTANCING, IN OTHER WORDS PHYSICAL SEPARATION IS HAVING A POSITIVE EFFECT SINCE WE ARE NOTING A DOWNTURN IN THE NUMBER OF CASES AND I AM CAUTIOUSLY OPTIMISTIC ABOUT THE FUTURE. BUT USE THE WORDS OF OUR GOVERNOR FROM THE LAST COUPLE OF DAYS AS YOU GO FORWARD, ARE YOU DOING THAT IN A WAY THAT'S SAFE, SMART, AND IN A STEP-BY-STEP PHASED APPROACH? IT'S NOT TURNING ON A LIGHT SWITCH AND SUDDENLY WE'RE BACK TO FEBRUARY 1. IT'S NOT GOING TO WORK THAT WAY.GOVERNOR DESANTIS'S WORDS ARE WORDS OF HOPE AND CAUTION AS WE MOVE FORWARD.
FIRST, SHOULD WE BECOME COMPLACENT AND EASE UP PREMATURELY ON ALL SOCIAL DISTANCING, THE TRAJECTORY OF THE PANDEMIC COULD DRAMATICALLY CHANGE FOR THE WORSE AND ECONOMIC COSTS WOULD CONTINUE TO GROW. RECOGNIZING THE SIGNIFICANT PORTION OF INDIVIDUALS WITH CORONAVIRUS LACK SYMPTOMS IN OTHER WORDS, THEY ARE ASYMPTOMATIC, AND THAT EVEN THOSE WHO EVENTUALLY DEVELOP SYMPTOMS CONSIDERED PRESYMPTOMATIC CAN TRANSMIT THE VIRUS TO OTHERS BEFORE SHOWING SYMPTOMS, THE CDC RECOMMENDS WEARING CLOTH FACE COVERINGS IN PUBLIC SETTINGS WHERE OTHER SOCIAL DISTANCING MEASURES PROVED DIFFICULT TO MAINTAIN. REGARDING GETTING BACK TO WORK. QUESTIONS CONTINUE TO BE ASKED DOES COVID-19 RECOVERY GUARANTEE COMMUNITY? IS REINFECION STILL POSSIBLE? THE SIMPLE ANSWER IS WE DO NOT NOW. THERE HAS BEEN MUCH DISCUSSION AS TO THE IMPORTANCE OF UNDERSTANDING WHETHER PEOPLE HAVE ARTY BEEN SICK ARE IMMUNE TO THE VIRUS. AS IT IS BELIEVED THIS INFORMATION BE CRUCIAL TO ALLOWING ECONOMIES TO BACK UP AND RUNNING BY ALLOWING SOME PEOPLE TO SAFELY GO BACK TO WORK. MANY BELIEVE THAT ANTIBODY TESTING CAN BE USED TO RETURN PEOPLE WITH IMMUNITY TO THE WORKPLACE OR KEEP THEM THERE STARTING WITH HEALTHCARE PROFESSIONALS AND EMERGENCY FIRST RESPONDERS. ALLOWING PEOPLE TO REENTER SOCIETY BASED ON THEIR ANTIBODIES STATUS ASSUMES THAT PAST INFECTION GUARDS AGAINST REINFECTION AND ALL THE LIKELY HAS YET TO BE WELL DEFINED. MORE TO FOLLOW.
AS ALWAYS, OUR PUBLIC HEALTH MESSAGE AS A REMINDER OF THE BEST AND MOST UP-TO-DATE INFORMATION IS AVAILABLE AT WWW.FLHEALTH.GOV/ COVID-19. I MUST REITERATE TO CONTINUE Ã PLEASE CONTINUE SOCIAL DISTANCING, MAINTAINING AT LEAST SIX FEET FROM THOSE AROUND YOU IN SOCIAL SETTINGS. USE GOOD HAND HYGIENE AND WASH OUR HANDS WITH SOAP AND WATER IF SOAP AND WATER ARE NOT AVAILABLE THEN WE WOULD LIKE TO OFFER HAND SANITIZER WITH 60 PERCENT MINIMUM.CALL INTO AN ARM SLEEVE AND IMMEDIATELY DISPOSE OF IT IN THE TRASH IF YOU USE A TISSUE AND PLEASE STAY HOME IF YOU ARE SICK. THERE IS STILL SO MUCH WE DO NOT KNOW ABOUT THIS VIRUS. RENO THAT SCIENCE WILL GET US THE PROVEN EFFECTIVE TREATMENT AND THE CREATION OF A VACCINE. JUST AS SCIENCE HAS ALLOWED US TO REDUCE OR DELAY INFECTIONS AND SAVE LIVES. AS ALWAYS, MY HEART REMAINS WITH INDIVIDUALS AND FAMILIES AFFECTED AS THEY STRUGGLE WITH ILLNESS AND GRIEF. THANK YOU FOR THE OPPORTUNITY.
>> ARE THERE ANY QUESTIONS FOR THE DOCTOR? >> I HAVE A QUESTION, MR. CHAIRMAN. DOCTOR ALCOTT, FIRST OF ALL I WANT TO EXPRESS MY DEEP APPRECIATION FOR YOUR PARTICIPATION NOT ONLY IN OUR PRESENTATIONS TO THE COMMISSIONERS BUT I KNOW A LOT GOES ON ON A DAY-TO-DAY BASIS WITH YOU AS PART OF OUR MANAGEMENT TEAM, OUR CRISIS MANAGEMENT TEAM AND SHARE SHORT AND LINDA.
SO THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR YOUR WORK. I HAVE A QUESTION.
I SAW AN ARTICLE THAT THE STATE DEPARTMENT IS LOOKING AT WHAT MAY BE A BETTER TEST KITS.
I WANT TO ASK YOU ABOUT TEST KITS, THE ARTICLE, THE INFERENCE WAS THERE MAY BE A TEST KITS FOR INDIVIDUALS THAT MIGHT BE QUICKER AND MORE SIMPLE AND MAY BE VERY COST-EFFECTIVE AND WE MAY NOT HAVE SPECIFIC ANSWERS TODAY BUT MAYBE YOU COULD LOOK INTO THIS
[00:55:09]
AND COME BACK NEXT TUESDAY. I WOULD LIKE TO HAVE AN ONGOING DISCUSSION.I THINK A LOT OF PEOPLE IN ST. JOHNS COUNTY, THERE IS AN EASY AND SIMPLE AND COST-EFFECTIVE WAY TO TEST FOR THE VIRUS, I THINK THAT WOULD BE A GOOD STEP IN ENCOURAGING WHAT'S GOING FORWARD WITH ECONOMIC RECOVERY. THAT IS WHERE THE RUBBER MEETS THE ROAD.
ARE WE SICK OR NOT SICK IS VERY SIMPLE TEST. I HOPE I AM MAKING SENSE.
>> YOU ARE MAKING SENSE. AND BEFORE I RESPOND TO THE QUESTION I DO WANT TO THANK YOU FOR YOUR SUPPORT AND ALL OF OUR COMMISSIONERS. AND I WANT TO ALSO POINT OUT A TRIBUTE TO MY STAFF AND MY TEAM IT MAKES IT HAPPENED FOR US AND WITH US EVERY DAY AND I APPRECIATE THEIR SUPPORT AND THEIR LEADERSHIP AND YOUR SUPPORT AD LEADERSHIP.
AS REGARDS TO YOUR QUESTION WE ARE ALL HOPING ÃTHERE ARE SEVERAL TYPES OF TESTS.
AND THERE IS SEVERAL STUDIES THAT I KNOW THAT THE STATE OF FLORIDA AND THE CDC ARE LOOKING AT AT THESE TESTS. NOW, THERE'S TESTS WHERE WE ARE LOOKING DIAGNOSTICALLY.
IF YOU COME BACK IN THE WORKPLACE, SHOULD I AND CAN I TEST YOU EVERY COUPLE OF DAYS WITH SCREENING AND THEN TEST YOU EVERY COUPLE OF DAYS TO DETERMINE YOUR NEGATIVE.
FROM A TEST POINT OF VIEW WE WOULD LOVE TO HAVE A VALID ONE. AS OF YET, WHILE WE HAVE ABOUT 2 TO 4 THAT HAVE BEEN APPROVED BY THE FDA THE JURY IS STILL OUT AS TO HOW HAS BEEN WORKING WITH CDC TO DETERMINE WHAT TEST WOULD BE BEST FOR US AND WE DO EXPECT SOME IN THE PIPELINE AND WE SHOULD HAVE IT IN THE NEXT WEEK OR TWO. IF YOU DON'T MIND I WILL CONTINUE TO RESEARCH THAT AND HOPEFULLY NEXT WEEK OR THE NEXT COUPLE OF WEEKS I SHOULD HAVE
AN ANSWER FOR YOU. >> THANK YOU SO MUCH. >> COMMISSIONER BLOCKER, ANY
QUESTIONS? >> NO, SIR. NOT AT THIS TIME.
>> LINDA STOUGHTON YOUR EMERGENCY DIRECTOR. 100 EEOC DRIVE.
THIS MORNING I WENT TO FOCUS ON LOGISTICS. SINCE THIS STARTED BACK IN MARCH WE HAVE PUSHED OUT OVER 109,428 ITEMS. THE SIGNIFICANCE AND THAT IS THIS WEEK WE PUSHED OUT 40,000 SURGICAL MASKS AND 1395 MASKS DUE TO THE TWO LARGE SHIPMENTS THAT WE RECEIVED FROM THIS EMERGENCY OPERATION CENTER. THAT EQUATES TO THE EEOC SUPPORTING 71 PARTNER AGENCIES AND DEPARTMENTS WITHIN ST. JOHNS COUNTY.
THAT WAS A PRETTY HEAVY LIFT AND I WANT TO DO A QUICK SHOUT OUT.
IT'S THE WAREHOUSE WE ARE RECEIVING AND DISTRIBUTING ALL OF THESE ITEMS FROM THE LENDER THE HAND WITH THE ST. JOHNS COUNTY SHERIFF'S OFFICE PROVIDE SECURITY AND MANPOWER AND PARKS AND RECREATION WE ARE ABLE TO SEND OVER MANPOWER TO HELP MANAGE THOSE EQUIPMENT ALONG WITH OUR STAFF FROM EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT. AS WE SEE WITH DISASTERS, SUPPLY CHAINS CAN START VERY SLOWLY. IT TAKES TIME TO BUILD.
WE ARE SEEING A SIGNIFICANT PLACE IN THE ITEMS THAT ARE COMING IN.
THEY ARE ALL NEEDED AND WE ARE TURNING THEM AROUND WITHIN 24 TO 48 HOURS TO GO 71 AGENCIES.
HAT'S ALL I HAVE TO REPORT TODAY UNLESS ANYBODY HAS ANY QUESTIONS.
>> THANK YOU. ANY QUESTIONS FOR MRS. STOKE? COMMISSIONER DEAN?
>> NONE >> COMMISSIONER BLOCKER? >> NO, SIR.
>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH. APPRECIATE IT. BACK TO YOU, MR. CONRAD.
>> AT THIS TIME I WOULD ASK MR. DUNN TO COME FORWARD AS WELL AS MR. WHITE I THINK THEY ARE ON STANDBY TO PRESENT THE FEE WAIVERS IN ANOTHER COUNTY ATTORNEY'S OFFICE HAS THE
RESOLUTION SHOULD THE BOARD WISH TO GO FORWARD >> GOOD MORNING CHAIRMAN SMITH AND COMMISSIONERS. JESSE DUNN DIRECTOR FOR THE OFFICE OF MANAGEMENT AND BUDGET AND AS I PRESENT THIS, I'M GOING TO ASK ST. JOHNS COUNTY BUILDING OFFICIAL HOWARD WHITE TO APPROACH THE PODIUM. HE'S GOING TO PROVIDE AS WELL A PERSPECTIVE ON THE BUILDING COMMUNITY ASSOCIATED WITH THE FEE SCHEDULE RECOMMENDATIONS TODAY.
[01:00:04]
AS YOU KNOW, COMMISSIONERS, YOU ARE EMPOWERED AND CERTAINLY DO SET FORTH THE FEES.AT THE BEGINNING OF THE FISCAL YEAR AND THROUGHOUT AS NECESSARY, THE FEES ASSOCIATED WITH TODAY'S AGENDA ITEM OBVIOUSLY ARE RELATED TO COVID-19.
RESPONSE, KIND OF TWO SETS OF THEM. THE FIRST ONE IS RELATED TO THE ON BEACH ACCESS OR WHAT WE CALLED MAYBE THE DRIVING PAST, THE SEASON PASS AND THE RECOMMENDATION FOR THIS YEAR IS TO RECOMMEND THAT THE SINGLE-SEASON, SUMMER OF 2020, IF YOU WILL, BE EXTENDED INTO 2020 TO THE SECOND PORTION OF THE FEES ARE ASSOCIATED WITH AND WERE DISCUSSED BUILDING AND WERE SELECTED TO PROVIDE WORKING WITH ED HOUSTON ARE RECOMMENDING A 30 PERCENT REDUCTION TO MANY BUILDING SERVICE FEES FIRE PLAN REVIEW FEES UNTIL AUGUST 4 AND THAT'S IN LINE WITH THE COUNTY COMMISSION'S FIRST MEETING IN AUGUST AT WHICH TIME THERE IS AN APPEAL CLAUSE IN THEIR RELATED TO LOCAL BUSINESS FEES.
IF THE BOARD DESIRES. WITH THAT I'M GOING TO ASK MR. WHITE.
>> GOOD MORNING, MR. CHAIRMAN. POWERLITE, BUILDING OFFICIAL OF ST. JOHNS COUNTY.
I WOULD BE REMISS IF I DID NOT OPEN BY THANKING YOU MR. CHAIRMAN AND THE COMMISSION FOR YOUR LEADERSHIP THROUGHOUT THIS CRISIS. I WOULD ALSO LIKE TO THANK MR. CONRAD AND HIS TEAM AND I WOULD ESPECIALLY LIKE TO THANK THE STAFF AT THE PERMITTING CENTER FOR THEIR UNDYING DEDICATION BEGINNING DAY ONE ON THE FRONTLINE KEEPING THE CENTER OPEN FOR THE CONSTRUCTION INDUSTRY I THINK WE REALIZE HOW IMPORTANT THAT FACTOR IS TO OUR COMMUNITY. AND ALSO, I WOULD ALSO LIKE TO THINK NORTHEAST FLORIDA HOMEBUILDERS ASSOCIATION. UP IN CONSTANT COMMUNICATION WITH THEM OVER THE WEEKS AS WELL AS THE ST. JOHNS BUILDERS. I BELIEVE THAT I CAN DEMONSTRATE TO YOU THE ABSOLUTE FEAR THAT TOOK PLACE INITIALLY IN THE MONTH OF MARCH WHEN THE CONSTRUCTION INDUSTRY THOUGHT THE BUILDING DEPARTMENT PERMIT CENTER AND SINCE THEN I THINK THAT FEAR HAS BEEN ALLEVIATED TO A LARGE EXTENT BY THE FEAR THAT WE HAVE REMAINED OPEN. I MUST TELL YOU THAT HAS NOT BEEN AN EASY TASK. AGAIN I WOULD LIKE TO THANK THE STAFF.
THEY HAVE BEEN OVER THE TOP IN WHAT THEY HAVE PROVIDED. OUR GOAL HERE WITH THE FEE INCENTIVE IS TO KEEP THINGS MOVING. EIGHT OR NINE WEEKS AGO ST.
JOHNS COUNTY WAS STILL SETTING RECORDS IN TERMS OF PERMITTING THROUGHOUT THE STATE OF FLORIDA. WE DO ANTICIPATE A DROP OFF IN PERMITTING.
WE HAVE BEGAN TO SEE THAT SOMEONE HERE IN THE MONTH OF APRIL, AND WE ANTICIPATE THAT WE WILL PROBABLY GO FORWARD, THUS THE INCENTIVE THAT IS BEFORE YOU TODAY.
AND I WANT TO EMPHASIZE THAT THIS IS NOT JUST FOR THE BIG HOMEBUILDERS IN JAMES JOHNS COUNTY. THIS IS FOR THE MOM AND POP OPERATIONS.
THIS IS FOR THE PLUMBER THAT COMES TO YOUR HOUSE, THE ELECTRICIAN, THE MECHANICAL CONTRACTOR. THE ROOFER THAT'S GOING TO REROOF YOUR HOUSE AND SO FORTH AND SO ON. SO WE BELIEVE THEY NEED A LITTLE ASSISTANCE TO MAKE SURE THAT WE COME OUT OF THIS AND WE GET BACK TO WHERE WE WERE EIGHT OR NINE WEEKS AGO.
[01:05:14]
AND WITH THAT, MR. CHAIRMAN AND COMMISSIONER, I WILL BE HAPPY TO TAKE ANY QUESTIONS.>> THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE THIS MORNING. ANY QUESTIONS?COMMISSIONER
JOHNS. >> I WANT TO THANK YOU AND YOUR STAFF FOR SAFELY CONTINUING OPERATIONS TO THE EXTENT POSSIBLE. PEOPLE DON'T MISS WHAT THEY DON'T CLACK. THE FEAR OF NOT HAVING THIS PROCESS AVAILABLE THE BARE NECESSITIES OF HAVING A PLUMBING REPAIR OR A ROOF REPAIR OTHER THINGS THAT PEOPLE JUST THINK YOU DO. YOU PUSH A BUTTON AND THE RESULTS COME OUT.
THEY DON'T RECOGNIZE THE LOGISTICS OF WHAT IT TAKES TO BE ABLE TO DO SO IN AN ENVIRONMENT LIKE THIS SAFELY. THANK YOU FOR YOU AND YOUR STAFF IS NOT CREATIVITY AS WELL AS ALL OF OUR OTHER STAFF. IT'S ALWAYS SINCERE TO SAY YOU ARE DOING A HERCULEAN JOB SO WELL THAT PEOPLE DON'T EVEN NOTICE WHAT THEY COULD BE MISSING BECAUSE YOU ARE YOU ARE GOING ABOVE AND BEYOND TO MEET PEOPLE'S NEEDS IN A SAFE MANNER.
YOU CONSISTENTLY DO IT THROUGHOUT THE YEAR AND ITS PEOPLE BEHIND THE SCENES.
IT'S NOT US. WE DON'T DESERVE THE CREDIT FOR HOW WELL OUR COUNTY RUNS.
IT'S STAFF MEMBERS, EMPLOYEES FROM TOP TO BOTTOM AND LEFT TO RIGHT THAT MAKES ST. JOHNS COUNTY NUMBER ONE AND THIS IS JUST ANOTHER PERFECT EXAMPLE OF HOW NOBODY NOTICES WHEN YOU'RE DOING A JOB NOT JUST WELL BUT ABOVE AND BEYOND EXPECTATIONS. AN EASY OUT WOULD HAVE BEEN TO CLOSE THINGS AND HAVE PEOPLE GO HOME AND TO BE PAID SOMETHING BUT THE RESULTS WOULD HAVE BEEN MUCH MORE NOTICEABLE DOWN THE ROAD. BY MINIMIZING THE IMPACT HE WILL ENABLE PEOPLE TO BE ABLE TO GET BACK TO WORK SAFELY AND MEET THEIR NEEDS BETWEEN NOW AND THEN AND SAFELY AS WELL. ANYTHING ELSE THAT'S DOING SUCH A GREAT JOB IT DOESN'T ÃYOU ARE NOT ASKING FOR IT OR EXPECTING IT YOU ARE DOING WHAT YOU CAN TOO HELP PEOPLE OUT.
I'M SURE THAT COMES FROM ALL OF THE COMMISSION BOARD AS WELL >> THANK YOU.
WE DO APPRECIATE THAT. I CAN TELL YOU THE BUILDING INDUSTRY HAS BEEN VERY THANKFUL AND GRACIOUS. AS YOU KNOW, THE BUILDING CONSTRUCTION INDUSTRY LITERALLY AFFECTS EVERY BIT YOU COULD IMAGINE. THE ENTIRE INDUSTRY HAS BEEN GRATEFUL WE HAVE MANAGED TO STAY OPEN FOR THIS PERIOD OF TIME.
THANK YOU FOR THOSE KIND WORDS. I APPRECIATE IT. ANY QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS,
COMMISSIONER DAN? >> NONE. >> KOSHER BLOCKER?
>> NO, SIR. >> VERY GOOD. WHAT WE ARE GOING TO DO NOW.
ANYTHING ELSE? >> ONE TECHNICAL NOTE ON THIS I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT.
NONE OF THESE FEES ARE ASSOCIATED OR PLEDGED ON ANY OUTSTANDING COUNTY DEBTS.
I THINK THAT'S IMPORTANT TO NOTE THEREAND IT JUST OCCURS TO ME YOU PROVIDED A SUGGESTED MOTION. I'M GOING TO READ IT TO YOU FOR THOSE COMMISSIONERS WHO DO NOT HAVE THAT PARTICULAR SENTENCE TODAY. THE SUGGESTED MOTION IS A MOTION TO ADOPT RESOLUTION 2020 AMENDING THE ST. JOHNS COUNTY FEE SCHEDULE FOR 2019.
>> I APPRECIATE THE NOTE IN THE RECOMMENDED MOTION. WE HAVE NO OTHER COMMENTS.
>> I THINK IT WOULD BE HELPFUL. I DON'T KNOW THAT THIS HAS BEEN PLACED ONLINE I THINK IT WILL BE HELPFUL IF I SET IT DOWN AND FLIPPED THROUGH IT VERY QUICKLY IF I MAY DO THAT.
AND I BELIEVE SENIOR ASSISTANT COUNTY MS. LIBBY IS ON THE LINE.
SHE HAD SOME QUESTIONS. >> I AM HERE. >> THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
SO THIS ÃTHE RESOLUTION PART IS QUITE SURE BUT IT WILL GO TO THE SCHEDULE FEES AND SERVICES WHICH I WILL QUICKLY FLIP TO AS TO I THINK THE HIGHLIGHTED CHANGED ONES.
AND SO WHAT THE EFFECT OF THIS ÃTHIS RESOLUTION IS IS TO SUPERSEDE THE RESOLUTION WHICH HAD ADOPTED THE MOST RECENT SCHEDULE OF FEES AND SERVICES AND SO THOSE ARE ALL THE SORT OF PAST ONES THERE. I JUST WANTED TO GO HERE FOR THE SECTION 3, THE FEE WAIVERS.
IF THE BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS FINDS IT IN THE BEST INTEREST OF THE COUNTY FOR
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PUBLIC PURPOSE TO WAIVE ANY FEES, THAT WOULD BE A FINDING OF THE BOARD SHOULD THE BOARD PASS AND ADOPT THIS AND AS MR. DUNN JUST SAID, THE EXCEPTION OF ANY FEES, THE BCC IS PROHIBITED FROM WAVING BY CONTRACT OR BY LOCAL STATE OR FEDERAL PROVISION AND OBVIOUSLY I WILL INCLUDE IF THERE ARE ANY PLEDGED BOND REVENUES. SO THIS WILL GO ÃIT'S EFFECTIVE MAY 1, WHICH IS THIS FRIDAY AND THIS RESOLUTION WILL BE AUTOMATICALLY REPEALED AS I BELIEVE IT HAD BEEN DESCRIBED BY THE ADMINISTRATOR. THAT'S ESSENTIALLY IT.WHAT I WOULD LIKE TO DO IS VERY QUICKLY KIND OF FLIPPED THROUGH SOME OF THE I THINK ADJUSTED FEES HERE. YOU WILL SEE THE BEACH SERVICES AS MR. CONRAD HAD DESCRIBED THE BEACH NOW FOR THE FEE WOULD BE GOOD FOR THE 2020 AND 2021. AND BY THE WAY, THAT PRVISION WILL SURVIVE THE REPEAL Ã AUGUST 4, REPEALED ÃTHAT IS CONSTANT IF SOMEBODY PURCHASES ONE OF THOSE. . .
AND THEN WE HAVE THE BUILDING SERVICES FEES AND THESE KIND OF ÃYOU CAN SEE THE HIGHLIGHTING ON THEIR THOSE ARE WORTHY PARTICULAR FEES IF ANYONE WOULD LIKE TO GO OR HAVE ANY QUESTIONS ABOUT THESE IN PARTICULAR PLEASE LET ME KNOW. FURTHER FEES FROM THE BUILDING PDEPARTMENT. HERE. PERMIT FEES GAS PERMIT FEES AND THE MECHANICAL PERMIT PHASE. THOSE ARE ALL INSPECTION FEES I THINK THROUGH THE BUILDING DEPARTMENT. SO FOR DEVELOPMENT REVIEW, THERE ARE SEVERAL, IT'S LARGELY THERE FEES FOR DEVELOPMENT REVIEW FOR THE VARIOUS TYPES OF APPLICATIONS THAT GO THROUGH OUR GROWTH MANAGEMENT DEVELOPMENT REVIEW PROGRAM. IT'S PRETTY MUCH TOP TO BOTTOM ON THOSE FEES. AND FOLLOWING HERE. BASICALLY FOR THE FIRE INSPECTION REVIEWS, ETC., IN HERE. AND I BELIEVE THOSE ARE THE FEES AS HIGHLIGHTED IN YELLOW. DO YOU HAVE ANY FURTHER COMMENTS FOR THE BOARD?
>> NO FURTHER COMMENTS. >> THANK YOU, MR. CHAIR >> ANY QUESTIONS?
COMMISSIONER JOHNS? >> I APPRECIATE THE SPEED WITH WHICH THIS IS PUT TOGETHER ON A TREK THIS IS A QUESTION FOR JESSE OR HOWARD. QUESTIONS WILL COME ABOUT.
ONE THING IS WHERE DO PEOPLE NOT JUST THE EVERYDAY CONTRACTORS BUT WHERE DO THE HOMEOWNERS AND THOSE WHO DON'T NEED TO PROCESS THESE FEES WHERE WILL THEY BE ABLE TO RECOGNIZE THE 30 PERCENT REDUCTION AND PART TWO IS IS THERE ANY MECHANISM FOR DISTRIBUTING THIS INFORMATION TO THE HOMEOWNER TO MAKE SURE THEY ARE EXPERIENCING THE FEE REDUCTION AND THAT CONTRACTORS, THAT ONE PERCENT THAT MAY NOT PASS THAT FEE REDUCTION ONTO THE PAY OR OF THE BILL. I'M ON A NINE PERCENT OF OUR CONTRACTORS WILL PASS THAT REDUCTION ON ITS THAT ONE PERCENT THAT GETS PLAYED OUT IN THE MEDIA, AND THEY SHOULD IF THEY ARE NOT BEING HONORABLE. MAYBE ASKING A QUESTION THAT MAY NOT BE ABLE TO BE ASKED TODAY. AS WE ARE LOOKING THROUGH THIS I WANT TO MAKE SURE EVERYONE
[01:15:02]
BENEFITS FROM THIS THAT THEY SHOULD AND HOW TO FIND IT TO BE ABLE TO DO SO.>> I CAN ANSWER COMMISSIONER JOHNS. A COUPLE OF LOCATIONS AND THEN I WILL ASK MR. WHITE IF HE HAS ANY OTHER LOCATIONS.ON THE WEBSITE WHERE OUR FEE SCHEDULE IS IT WILL BE PUT UP THERE IS THE REVISED FEE SCHEDULE OVER THE NEXT 90 DAYS.
WE HAVE OUR ST. JOHNS COUNTY THAT LAYS OUT EVERYTHING WHAT WE'RE DOING FOR ECONOMIC RECOVERY AS WELL AS ALL PRESS RELEASES AND ANY ADDITIONAL INFORMATION DURING THIS TIME SO IT WILL BE ON THE PAGE WE CAN GET BACK UP WITHIN 24 HOURS SO THERE'S TWO LOCATIONS IN AN ELECTRONIC FORMAT AND I WOULD ASSUME THE PERMIT CENTER WOULD HAVE IT FOR ANYBODY WHO GOES INTO THE BUILDING WHERE SOME RESTRICTIONS ARE LIFTED SO THOSE WOULD BE THE THREE LOCATIONS AS OF NOW. OVER THE NEXT 24 HOURS THAT PEOPLE WOULD BE ABLE TO GET TO
THAT MATERIAL OTHER THAN JUST THE CONTRACT. >> IS THERE A MECHANISM FOR ENFORCEMENT OR IS THERE A NEED TO LOOK INTO MAKING SURE THE FEE REDUCTION IS PASSED THROUGH TO BENEFIT THE HOMEOWNER OR BUSINESS OWNER THAT'S REQUESTING THE SERVICES
PROVIDED BY CONTRACTORS? >> AT THIS POINT THERE'S NOT A MECHANISM FOR US TO BE ABLE TO DETERMINE WHETHER OR NOT THE CONTRACTOR IS PASSING OUT ONTO THE HOMEOWNER.
SO BEING ABLE TO HAVE THOSE FEES IN A FORMAT WHERE THE HOMEOWNER CAN SEE THEM AND HAVE THEM READILY AVAILABLE IS REALLY THE BEST WAY FOR THE COUNTY GOVERNMENT STANDPOINT THAT WE CAN HELP PROVIDE THOSE FEES AND HOLD THE CONTRACTORS ACCOUNTABLE FOR PASSING THE FEES OFF BUT THAT'S THE ONLY MECHANISM IN PLACE AS OF NOW IS THE ACCESSIBILITY TO REVIEW THE
FEES. >> NOT EXPECTING TO GET UNETHICAL BEHAVIOR BUT JUST WANT PEOPLE TO KNOW THERE IS A MECHANISM TO BE ABLE TO VERIFY THAT THEY ARE RECEIVING THE BENEFIT OF THE FEE REDUCTIONS AND THAT PEOPLE ARE NOT JUST MAKING AN ADDITIONAL PROFIT.
IT'S A FAIRLY SMALL COST TO AN OVERALL COST. THANK YOU, MR. CHAIR
>> MR. CHAIR JUST TO KIND OF FOLLOW UP ON COMMISSIONER JOHN'S QUESTION.
CORRECT ME IF I'M WRONG AND I THINK THIS COULD GO TO THE ADMINISTRATOR OR ANY OF OUR DEPARTMENT DIRECTORS THAT HAVE SPOKEN, THESE PAY REDUCTIONS PERTAIN TO NEW APPLICATIONS THAT ARE FILED ON OR AFTER MAY 1 ALL THE WAY THROUGH AUGUST 4. THEY APPLY TO NEW APPLICATIONS THAT ARE SUBSTANTIALLY COMPLETED. THAT IS MY ÃIS THERE ANY DIFFERENCE OR THOUGHT ABOUT THAT? I SEE NONE.N OTHER WORDS, IF THERE WAS AN APPLICATION THAT WAS DONE TWO MONTHS AGO OR SOMETHING LIKE THAT AND IT'S IN THE PROCESS THIS WOULD NOT APPLY TO THAT. IT WAS FILED IN SUBSTANTIALLY
IN COMPLETE FORM THROUGH AUGUST 4. >> GOOD MORNING, EVERYONE.T THIS TIME THE BOARD WILL HEAR PUBLIC COMMENT ON MATTERS THAT ARE NOT ON THE REGULAR AGENDA AND ALSO AGENDA ITEM NUMBER ONE. THE OTHER REGULAR AGENDA ITEMS WILL HAVE THEIR OWN PUBLIC COMMENT. .
ANY PERSON WISHING TO ADDRESS THE BOARD SHOULD COME TO THE PODIUM OR PHONE IN AND STATE HIS OR HER NAME AND ADDRESS. EACH PERSON WILL BE PROVIDED THREE MINUTES TO SPEAK AND TO COMPLY WITH THE BOARD'S RULES OF DECORUM. COMMENTS SHOULD BE ADDRESSED TO THE BOARD AS A WHOLE. NOT TO INDIVIDUAL ÃNO PERSON MAY ADDRESS THE BOARD WITH ANY PERSONAL OR PERTINENT OR SLANDEROUS REMARKS OR BOISTEROUS BEHAVIOR.
MEMBERS OF THE AUDIENCE SHOULD REFRAIN FROM ANY DISRUPTIVE DEMONSTRATION OF APPROVAL OR DISAPPROVAL OF ANY COMMENTS. FINALLY I WOULD ASK ANY SPEAKER THAT PRESENTS ANY OVERHEAD MATERIAL PLEASE PRESENT THE MATERIAL TO THE STAFF AND CLERK OF COURT TO BE ENTERED INTO THE
PUBLIC RECORD. THANK YOU. >> GOOD MORNING, MR. MILLS
>> TOM REYNOLDS 50 BRIGANTINE SUITE 2080 THIS IS ONLY PUBLIC COMMENT ON THE FEES?
>> NO, SIR. IT'S ON ALL OF IT >> ALL OF NUMBER ONE.
ARE YOU GOING TO HAVE A SEPARATE PUBLIC COMMENT FOR THE EXTENSION?
>> YES. >> OKAY. I ASKED THE COMMISSION TO VOTE NO ON THE FEES. WHO ARE YOU GIVING THE DISCOUNT TO? YOU ARE TELL ME THE BUILDERS TO MAKE ANY MONEY? FURTHERMORE THIS IS A WEALTH OF INFORMATION. CAN I GET THIS UP ON THE SCREEN, PLEASE? YOU WANT TO GIVE BUILDERS A DISCOUNT BUT I WANT TO POINT OUT WHO'S NOT GETTING A
[01:20:07]
DISCOUNT. ASSISTED LIVING FACILITIES WITH THE PRESSURE THEY ARE UNDER, THEY ARE NOT GOING TO GET A DISCOUNT, BUT WE ARE GOING TO GIVE BUILDERS A DISCOUNT? BECAUSE IT'S ABOUT BUILDERS AND DEVELOPERS AND THEIR CORPORATE ATTORNEYS AND THEIR LOBBYISTS.THEY GET A BREAK. WHAT I AM NOT HEARING IN THIS ROOM IS ABOUT HOURLY EMPLOYEES.
WHAT BRAKES ARE THEY GETTING. AS THE COUNTY SET UP A FUND FOR THEM? ARE WE ISSUING CHECKS? DID I MISS SOMETHING HERE I WANT TO THANK CINDY STEPHENSON FOR COMING HERE. I DON'T WANT TO FORGET THAT. I LOOK AT THIS AND I LOOK AT THE DISCOUNTS FOR BUILDERS AND I THINK TO MYSELF, HERE WE GO AGAIN.
I KNOW IT'S A REAL CONCERN OF BUILDERS AND DEVELOPERS. I KNOW WE HAVE BEEN CODDLING THEM FOR YEARS. AND THE PGA, I KNOW IT'S A REAL CONCERN FOR GOLFERS.
BUT I HAVE TO TELL YOU SOMETHING. GIVING THEM A DISCOUNT NOW, BUILDERS, DEVELOPERS, THEY HAVEN'T MADE ENOUGH MONEY? THEY DIDN'T PUT ANY AWAKE? AND THE FEES ARE ALREADY TOO LOW. I AM ACTUALLY THINKING TO MYSELF WHEN I'M LOOKING AT THE FEES, THESE FEES SHOULD BE TRIPLED BECAUSE THERE'S NO WAY SOME OF THOSE FEES WITH THE COST OF ADMINISTRATION SENDING PEOPLE OUT DURING THIS INSPECTION THEY ARE PAYING FOR ITSELF. TO VOTE FOR THIS TODAY IS TO SAY HOURLY EMPLOYEES ARE GETTING NOTHING. I DIDN'T HEAR ONE THING EVER IN THIS ROOM ABOUT WHAT THE FATHER ALMIGHTY COMMANDS US TO DO. HE DOESN'T ASK OR SUGGEST HE SAYS TAKE CARE OF THE HELPLESS. TAKE CARE OF THE LESS FORTUNATE.
WHAT I SEE IN THIS COMMISSION MEETING ROOM YEAR AFTER YEAR IS TAKING CARE OF DEVELOPERS AND BUILDERS. SHAME ON ANYBODY THAT GOES FOR THE SPEAR
>> ANYBODY ELSE? I SEE WE HAVE TWO PHONE CALLS. GOOD MORNING AND THANK YOU FOR CALLING IN. IF WE CAN HAVE YOUR NAM AND ADDRESS FOR THE RECORD, PLEASE.
>> ALEX CRANE PARK 307 PONTE VEDRE BLVD. >> STILL AHEAD, SIR.
>> HELLO, THIS IS ALEX VANDERBURG. I APPRECIATE THE OPPORTUNITY TO COMMENT. [INDISCERNIBLE] BEACH TO OPEN UP IN THE NEXT FEW DAYS.
BUT I AM CONCERNED [INDISCERNIBLE] WHAT CAN BE DONE ON THE BEACH.
I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT THAT YOU CONSIDER FOCUSING ON [INDISCERNIBLE] GET RID OF A BUNCH OF POINTLESS RULES. I HAVE ENTERED INTO EVIDENCE THROUGH ÃBY EMAIL EVIDENCE ABOUT THE TRANSMISSION OF THE VIRUS [INDISCERNIBLE] ALSO THE ULTRAVIOLET RADIATION FROM THE SUN IS EFFECTIVE AT KILLING THE VIRUS. IT SEEMS TO ME WE ARE ENCOURAGING PEOPLE TO BE OUTSIDE. AND IT HAS LITTLE HEALTH IMPACT IF PEOPLE SIT ON THE BEACH OR SIT ON THE TOWELS AS OPPOSED TO BE ABLE TO SIT ON CHAIRS.
THEY EXCHANGE THIS MORNING THAT I HEARD SUGGESTS [INDISCERNIBLE] AS OPPOSED TO ASKING THESE KINDS OF PERTINENT QUESTIONS. [INDISCERNIBLE] UNNECESSARY
RULES THANK YOU FOR YOUR CONSIDERATION. >> THANK YOU, MR. ALEX.
[01:25:18]
GOOD MORNING. PLEASE STATE YOUR NAME AND ADDRESS FOR THE RECORD, PLEASE>> MY NAME IS HENDERSON I LIVE AT 1581 MASTERS DOCTOR I HAVE A QUESTION CONCERNING THE PUBLIC USE OF FACEMASKS. I WOULD LIKE TO SEE THE CITY COMMISSIONERS DISCUSS THE USE OF FACEMASKS, AND I WOULD LIKE TO SEE THEM MODELING GOOD BEHAVIOR TOWARDS THAT, AND I WAS KIND OF WONDERING WHY SO FEW PEOPLE WERE WEARING FACEMASKS.
WHEN IT IS A CDC RECOMMENDATION. I GO IN THE POST OFFICE AND NONE OF THE POSTAL WORKERS ARE WEARING FACEMASKS. I SEE YOU GUYS IN ALL OF THESE PPEOPLE COMING UP TO THE PODIUM THIS MORNING AND NO ONE IS WEARING A FACEMASKS EXCEPT FOR THE DOCTOR WHO HAD IT UNDER HER CHIN AND WASN'T WEARING IT PROPERLY.
>> YES, MA'AM. WE WILL TAKE THAT UNDER ADVISEMENT.
>> OKAY. THANK YOU. >> IF WE COULD HAVE YOUR NAME
AND ADDRESS >> GOOD MORNING, THIS IS ED SLAVEN BOX 3084, ST. AUGUSTINE, FL, CLEANUPCITYOFSTAUGISTINE. BLOGSPOT.COM. FIRST, I WANTED TO THANK OUR FIRST RESPONDERS AND THE COUNTY AND CITY STAFF'S AND THE MEDICAL PROFESSIONALS FOR ALL THE WORK THEY HAVE BEEN DOING DURING THIS CRISIS AND I WANT TO THANK THE COMMISSIONERS WERE CONVENING EVERY WEEK AND DOING IT RIGHT AND COMPLYING WITH 119 AND 286 UNLIKE OUR FRIENDS DOWN IN FLAGLER COUNTY WHO ARE HOLDING MEETINGS AND EXCLUDING THE PUBLIC ENTIRELY.
I WANT TO AGREE WITH THE ONE CALLER I JUST HEARD ABOUT REOPENING THE BEACHES.
I HAVE SOME EXTENSIVE DISCUSSIONS WITH OUR FIFTH DISTRICT COMMISSIONER HENRY DEAN OVER THE PAST SEVERAL WEEKS ABOUT THE ISSUE AND THEY NEED THAT PHYSICAL RELEASE AND I THINK THE SCIENCE WILL SUPPORT THAT AND THERE WERE SENSATIONALISTIC THINGS ABOUT JACKSONVILLE BEACH I DON'T THINK THEY APPLY TO OUR COUNTY AND I THINK THE BEST EVIDENCE IS DRONE PHOTOGRAPHS. I WANT TO ECHO WHAT TOM REYNOLDS SAID ABOUT THESE FEES.
PLEASE VOTE NO. IN THE MERE FACT THE NATIONAL CORPORATIONS AND THE OWNERS AND THE CONTROLLERS OF THE PEOPLE THAT CONTRIBUTE TO CLINICAL CAMPAIGNS COULD PUT THIS ON THE AGENDA TODAY AND I DON'T THINK THEY ARE SUFFICIENT NOTICE AND I THINK YOU ARE WINGING IT AND COULD SOMEBODY PLEASE ASK THE STAFF WHEN WAS THE LAST TIME THESE FEES WERE RAISED? WE JUST FOUND OUT IN ST. AUGUSTINE BEACH LAST YEAR THERE FEES HAVE NOT BEEN RAISED IN OVER A DECADE.AND IT SEEMS WHEN YOU HAVE A CORRUPT ONE-PARTY RULE COUNTY AND IT'S ALL IN YOUR DISCLOSURES ON THE SUPERVISOR OF ELECTIONS WEBSITE.
YOU GET A SITUATION WHERE THEY GET WHAT THEY PAY FOR. MEANWHILE, MR. REYNOLDS HAS RIGHTLY ASKED IN THE PAST WHAT ABOUT THE HOMELESS PEOPLE OR THE WORKING PEOPLE OR THE PEOPLE WHO DO MOST OF THE WORK AND ARE LIVING AND DYING IN THIS COMMUNITY.HERE'S THE CONCERN FOR THEM AND WHERE Ã WHY ARE WE ASKING PATEL AND ALL OF THESE RICH HOTEL PEOPLE WOULD YOU MAKE ROOMS AVAILABLE TO QUARANTINE IF THEY HAVE TO QUARANTINE AND THERE ARE SMALL OTHER PEOPLE LIVING THERE OR IF THEY WERE HOMELESS. BRUCE KENNEDY'S FAVORITE BIBLE VERSE WAS TO WHOM MUCH IS GIVEN MUCH IS EXPECTED. APPARENTLY THE NATIONAL CORPORATIONS THAT HAVE THESE BUILDING COMPANIES THEY EXPECT THE MOON AND THE SUN AND THE STARS AND THEY WANT YOU TO GIVE THEM EVERYTHING. I THINK YOU SHOULD TURN DOWN THIS MOTION AND ASKED THE STAFF TO REDIRECT THEIR ATTENTION SO THE ISSUES TOM REYNOLDS HAS BEEN RAISED AND HE IS A VERY WISE MAN. AND THERE'S NOTHING MORE FOR THE AMERICAN CITIZEN TO GO TO A MEETING AND TO SPEAK AND TO HAVE THEIR CONCERNS IGNORED.
[01:30:05]
I THINK YOU WILL NEED TO ADOPT VIRAL IN THE COUNTY COMMISSION WHEN I CALLED THE GARY SNODGRASS RULE WHERE HE WAS MAYOR IF YOU ASK A PART QUESTION AT THE PODIUM AND [INDISCERNIBLE] ENHANCES THE STAFF ANSWER RIGHT THEN AND THERE.PLEASE ANSWER ALL THESE QUESTIONS. AND I THANK YOU AGAIN FOR YOUR
SERVICE. >> IF WE COULD HAVE YOUR NAME AND ADDRESS FOR THE RECORD,
PLEASE. >> MY NAME IS JOHN MY ADDRESS IS 548 DOMENICO CIRCLE I LIVE IN ST. AUGUSTINE SHORES. I TUNED IN A LITTLE BIT I WANT TO JUST MAKE SURE THAT EVERYBODY IS OPERATING OFF THE SAME NUMBERS ON GETTING OUT OF THE NEWSPAPER HERE.
I'M GOING BACK FROM ABOUT A MONTH TO INDICATE ON MARCH 27 ST. JOHNS COUNTY HAD 33 CASES OF THIS VIRUS. A MONTH LATER ON APRIL 27, WE HAD 204 CASES AND THAT MEANS WE HAD 170 CASES IN THE LAST MONTH GOING BACK TO THAT SAME DATE MARCH 27 WE HAD EIGHT HOSPITALIZATIONS WE HAVE EIGHT HOSPITALIZATIONS. SO THE NUMBERS TO ME SEEM TO INDICATE THAT WE HAVE NOT YET REACHED OUR PEAK AND WE ARE NOT LEVELING OFF AND WE ARE CERTAINLY NOT GOING INTO A DOWNWARD TREND AND I'M SURE THAT YOU FOLKS WOULD BE INTERESTED IN HAVING THAT INFORMATION BEFORE YOU MAKE ANY ADDITIONAL DECISIONS ABOUT OPENING THINGS UP IN THE COMMUNITY. THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
>> THERE ARE NO MORE CALLERS FOR PUBLIC COMMENT AT THIS TIME.
>> ANY OTHER PUBLIC COMMENT AT THIS TIME? I SEE NO MORE PUBLIC COMMENT.
>> THANK YOU, MR. CHAIR. APPRECIATE ALL OF THE PUBLIC COMMENTS WE HAVE HAD TODAY.
SINCERELY. I DID WANT TO COME BACK FOR A MOMENT TO THE BUILDING PERMIT FEES. AND JUST TO REMIND THE BOARD AND THE PUBLIC THAT THE BUILDING PUBLIC FEES RESTRAINED BY STATUTE THEY CAN BE A PROFIT-MAKING OPPORTUNITY OR SORT OF BASED ON HOW MUCH A BUILDER CAN PAY, PER SE. BUILDING PERMIT FEES ARE RESTRAINED BY FLORIDA LAW TO GO TO THE COST OF THE BUILDING INSPECTION PROGRAM, AND IT'S MY UNDERSTANDING THAT GO IN B AND OUR BUILDING DIRECTOR AND OUR DIRECTOR OF GROWTH MANAGEMENT HAVE REVIEWED BASICALLY THE AMOUNT IN THE BUILDING PERMIT FEE FUND AND REVIEWED THESE PROPOSED REDUCTIONS AND FOUND THERE IS STILL SAFELY SUFFICIENT FUNDS TO MEET THE DEMANDS OF THE BUILDING INSPECTION PROGRAM. MAY HAVE ANAFFIRMATION OF THAT? MR. DUNN IS SHAKING HIS HEAD YES AND OUR BUILDING DIRECTOR IS SHAKING HIS HEAD YES. I DID JUST WANT TO POINT THAT OUT, THAT THOSE FEES, LIKE MANY TYPES OF COUNSEL FEES, ARE SORT OF RESTRICTED IN THE AMOUNT THAT LAWFULLY CAN BE CHARGED.
THANK YOU. MR. CHAIR? >> ANYTHING ELSE?
I WILL ENTERTAIN A MOTION ON THIS RESOLUTION. >> I WILL MAKE A MOTION TO ADOPT RESOLUTION 2020 Ã147. AMENDING THE ST. JOHNS COUNTY FEE SCHEDULE FOR SERVICES
PROVIDED BY ST. JOHNS COUNTY DEPARTMENT FISCAL YEAR 2020. >> I HAVE A MOTION BY
COMMISSIONER JOHNSON AND A SECOND. >> SECOND
>> I HAVE A SECOND BY COMMISSIONER BLOCKER. ANY DISCUSSION? SEEING ON WE WILL GO THROUGH VOICE ROLL CALL VOTE.
[01:35:04]
>> I WILL BE A YES AS WELL. IT'S A 5 TO 0 VOTE ON RESOLUTION 2020 Ã147.
[Item 2]
? WE WILL MOVE ALONG IN OUR AGENDA TO AGENDA ITEM NUMBER TWO. MR. MACCORMACK? AN EXTENSION OF THE LOCALEMERGENCY. >> THANK YOU, MR. CHAIR. I HAVE PLACED ON THE OVERHEAD THERE WHAT WOULD BE IF APPROVED BY THE BOARD A SEVEN DAY EXTENSION TO WHAT THE BOARD HAD DONE ONE WEEK AGO TODAY, EXTENDING THE LOCAL STATE OF EMERGENCY, BASED ON THE INFORMATION PROVIDED BY THE ADMINISTRATOR. YOU HAVE HEARD FROM THE FLORIDA DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH, THE DIRECTOR OF EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT AND SOME PUBLIC COMMENT. FIRST, LET ME SAY LAST WEEK THIS BOARD ACTUALLY PASSED TO EMERGENCY PROCLAMATIONS. NUMBER NINE WAS THE SEVEN DAY EXTENSION WHICH GOT US DUE TODAY DUE TO THE COVID-19 SITUATION. THE OTHER PROCLAMATION WAS NUMBER 10 AND THAT WENT TO A VERY PARTICULAR CIRCUMSTANCE AT PORPOISE POINT AND THAT TRIGGERED SORT OF AN OPPORTUNITY TO THE PROPERTY OWNER OR PROPERTY OWNERS THAT WERE SUBJECT TO THE AREA DESCRIBED IN THAT EMERGENCY PROCLAMATION TRIGGERED SOME OPPORTUNITY UNDER STATE LAW TO DO SOME PROTECTION TO THE PROPERTY.
THAT PROCLAMATION DOES NOT NEED TO BE EXTENDED. THERE'S A PROCLAMATION THAT IS TRIGGERED AND THERE IS NOT A NEED TO EXTEND THAT. THE COVID-19 THAT IS WHERE THIS EMERGENCY PROCLAMATION 2020 AND I BELIEVE IT WILL BE Ã11, IS THAT CORRECT?
>> YES >> RIGHT. SO MERELY WHAT EXTENT FOR SEVEN DAYS. FOR THE LOCAL STATE OF EMERGENCY.
>> THANK YOU, MR. MACCORMACK. ANY QUESTIONS OR DISCUSSIONS? WE WILL OPEN IT FOR PUBLIC
COMMENT >> WE WILL NOW CLICK PUBLIC COMMENT ON AGENDA ITEM NUMBER
TWO. THE EXTENSION. >> TOM REYNOLDS.
OBVIOUSLY YOU GENTLEMEN ARE GOING TO PASS IT AGAIN. I'M WONDERING WHERE WE ARE BECAUSE I HAVE NOT HEARD HAVE YOU OFFICIALLY PASSED THIS FOR SOCIAL DISTANCING I'M SURE THE BEACH SHOULD BE OPEN. I JUST WANT TO REMIND YOU THAT'S A CLOSE QUARTERS BUTTS COUNTY OWN PROPERTY IT REALLY WILL BE IN THE BEST INTERESTS TO CANCEL THEM AND ALSO JUST SO YOU KNOW THE CITY OF ST. AUGUSTINE BEACH HAS A PARKING LOT ON A STREET RIGHT THERE WHERE YOU GO THERE ON THE COUNTY BEACHES. SELLING ALCOHOL AT JAX BARBECUE. HAVE IT ALL ON VIDEO AND FILM THERE WERE OVER 43 PEOPLE AND THEN A COUPLE OF EMPLOYEES IN A CITY PARKING LOT. THE CITY OF ST. AUGUSTINE BEACH DOES NOT HAVE AN OPEN CONTAINER ORDINANCE. PEOPLE CAN WALK DOWN THE STREET CARRYING BOOZE AND EVERYTHING ELSE. I WOULD APPRECIATE IT IF YOU COULD GET SOME WORD ON THAT SUMMER CONCERT. SAVE THE CHILDREN FROM SEEING
DRUNK ADULTS AGAIN. >> ANY OTHER PUBLIC COMMENT? >> THERE ARE NO CALLS FOR
PUBLIC COMMENT AT THIS TIME. >> WE WILL NOW CLOSE PUBLIC COMMENT.
>> WITH PUBLIC COMMENT CLOSE I WILL ENTERTAIN A MOTION ON THE EMERGENCY PROCLAMATION
EXTENSION. >> I WILL MAKE THE MOTION. >> A MOTION TO ENACT EMERGENCY PROCLAMATION A PROCLAMATION EXTENDING DECLARATION OF THE STATE OF LOCAL EMERGENCY AS PROVIDED BY CHAPTER 252 PART ONE, FLORIDA STATUTES AND BY ST. JOHNS COUNTY ORDINANCE
[01:40:01]
NUMBER. >> SECOND >> I HAVE A MOTION AND A SECOND. ANY DISCUSSION? SEEING ON WE WILL GO WITH A ROLL CALL VOTE.
THAT UNANIMOUS VOTE TO PROCLAMATION NUMBER 2020-11. MOVING ALONG IN THE AGENDA TO
[Item 3]
ANY OTHER BUSINESS THAT NEEDS TO COME BEFORE THE BOARD. ADMINISTRATION?ANYTHING? >> NO, SIR. >> COUNTY ATTORNEY, ANYTHING
ADDITIONALLY? >> I WOULD JUST LIKE TO MAKE A COUPLE OF COMMENTS ABOUT THE LEGAL AID SERVICES THAT ARE PRESENT OUT IN THE COUNTY THROUGH THIS COVID-19 SITUATION. THEY HAVE BEEN ACTIVE WITH THEIR GENERAL ISSUES THAT ARE OPENED. THEY ARE NOT OPEN FOR FACE-TO-FACE BUT BY PHONE, EMAIL, ETC. AND THE LEGAL AID PROGRAM IN ST. JOHNS COUNTY HAS BEEN ACTIVELY WORKING ISSUES SPECIFIC TO THIS PANDEMIC INCLUDING A CONSUMER ISSUES RELATED TO BANK ACCOUNTS, CREDITORS TRYING TO SEIZE CARES ACT STIMULUS CHECKS, LANDLORDS TRYING TO EVICT TENANTS, LENDING COMPANIES TRYING TO FORECLOSE AND SUCH OTHER CURRENTLY PROHIBITED PRACTICES.
THESE ARE AS DESCRIBED BY THE LEGAL AID DIRECTOR IN THE COUNTY.
FURTHERMORE, THEY REPRESENT ANYONE WHO HAS BEEN DENIED A BENEFIT THAT HE OR SHE HAS APPLIED FOR IN THE PROGRAM SUCH AS UNEMPLOYMENT, FOOD STAMPS, MEDICAID AND SO FAR ÃAND SO
FORTH. THANK YOU, MR. CHAIR. >> THANK YOU MR. MACCORMACK.
I WANT TO RECOGNIZE COMMISSIONER COSTA. THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE AGAIN TODAY. I HAVE ONE THING AND I WILL COME TO YOU AND SEE IF YOU HAVE ANYTHING AS WELL. I WOULD LIKE TO HAVE JUST A THOUGHT I WOULD LIKE TO RUN BY THE COMMISSION. WHAT I WOULD LIKE TO DO IS ASK IF THERE WOULD BE ANY DESIRE OR APPETITE TO HOLD DURING OR AFTER OUR SPECIAL MEETING SCHEDULED POSSIBLY FOR MAY 12, I WOULD ASSUME WE ARE LIKELY TO HAVE ONE. THAT'S AN ASSUMPTION.
EVEN IF NOT, TO HAVE A SPECIAL MEETING AT THAT TIME IN REGARD TO HOLDING A HEARING FOR SOME OF OUR TWO CONTROVERSIAL ÃMORE CONTROVERSIAL AT LEAST WE WILL HAVE PUBLIC COMMENT ITEMS THAT ARE NOT ON THE SCHEDULE FOR MAY 5 OR THE MAY 19 AGENDAS AT THIS POINT.
THAT WOULD BE DEALING WITH GATE, THE A1A APPEAL, AND ALSO THE STRATUS BOULEVARD ITEM THAT WE HAVE HEARD BEFORE, BUT THE APPLICANT TOOK IT BACK INTO THE PUBLIC FORUM.
I WOULD LIKE TO HAVE THOSE TWO ON THAT DATE, IF TERE IS SOME CONSENSUS FROM THE BOARD TO BE ABLE TO ADDRESS THEM AND BASICALLY ON THEIR OWN WHERE WE HAVE THEIR OWN OPPORTUNITY TO BE ABLE TO HEAR PUBLIC COMMENT, ETC. IS THERE ANY DISCUSSION OR DESIRE FROM THE BOARD?
COMMISSIONER JOHNS FOR >> THANK YOU, MR. CHAIR. I AM IN FAVOR OF DOING SO.
I JUST WANT TO MAKE SURE WE CAN DO SO SAFELY. I DON'T KNOW IF THERE'S ANY WAY TO GAUGE THE NUMBER OF PEOPLE WHO PLAN TO ATTEND TO MAKE SURE WE HAVE ADEQUATE CAPACITY EVERYBODY HAS BEEN ATTENDING THE MEETINGS SINCE THE STARTED HAS BEEN DOING SO.
PEOPLE ARE SITTING WHERE THE SEATS ARE DESIGNATED AND I WANT TO MAKE SURE WE HAVE THE CAPACITY TO ENCOURAGE ÃTO ALLOW PEOPLE TO PARTICIPATE IN PERSON VERSUS ON THE PHONE.
I THINK WE CAN FIND A WAY TO DO IT. I JUST WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT
IT'S ENFORCEABLE. >> AND THAT'S ONE OF THE REASONS WHY HAVING IT ON ITS
OWN IN ITS OWN MEETING WOULD BE HELPFUL. >> IT WOULD BE HELPFUL TO HAVE
THEM AT SPECIFIC TIMES TWO SEPARATE GROUPS >> WE CAN DO THAT.
WE CAN DISCUSS THAT AS WELL. HAVE A SET TIME FOR EACH. WE SURE CAN.
ANY OTHER COMMENTS? COMMISSIONER WALDRON? >> I UNDERSTAND WE NEED TO GET MOVING WITH SOME OF OUR MEETINGS. ONE THING I WOULD LIKE TO DO IS MAKE SURE IT'S PROPERLY ADVERTISED AGAIN. EVEN IF WE HAVE TO EAT THE COST OF SENDING OUT INFORMATION. IT'S A GREAT IDEA. JUST GETTING THE RIGHT PEOPLE AND MAKING SURE WE STRESS AND ADVERTISING THEY CAN CALL IN AN EMAIL US.
[01:45:05]
THE COLONS ARE WORKING VERY WELL. >> COMMISSIONER DEAN?
DO YOU HAVE ANY COMMENTS? >> I SUPPORT YOUR SUGGESTIONS. I THINK IT'S A GOOD ONE.
AND I WOULD RECOMMEND WE GO FORWARD. >> COMMISSIONER BLOCKER,
ANYTHING YOU WOULD LIKE TO ADD? >> MR. CHAIRMAN, I TRUST YOUR JUDGMENT.
I THINK IT'S A WISE PLAN AND I SUPPORT IT. MY ONLY CONCERN WOULD BE WE
MAKE SURE WE GET THE NOTICE AHEAD OF TIME. >> YES SIR, ABSOLUTELY.
>> ANY PUBLIC COMMENT? >> ANY PUBLIC COMMENT ON IS HOLDING A SPECIAL MEETING ON
THE 12TH? >> THE SPECIAL MEETING ÃTHE GATES STATION.
THE APPEALS UNDER THE VARIANCES. IT'S NOT WHETHER IT WILL BE
THERE OR NOT. >> IT IS THE MATTER OF THE VARIANCES >> THE HEARING OF
THE APPEAL >> I DON'T SEE ANY COMING FORWARD.
>> WE DON'T NEED TO HOLD A VOTE ON THAT. WE HAVE CONSENSUS FROM THE
BOARD. >> THE CHAIR HAS THE AUTHORITY TO CALL A SPECIAL MEETING
>> VERY GOOD. THAT'S WHAT WE WILL DO. IS THERE ANYTHING ELSE THAT
NEEDS TO COME BEFORE THE SPORT? COMMISSIONER DEAN? >> TWO QUICK ITEMS. SINCE MY GOOD FRIEND ED SLAVEN MENTIONED ME BY NAME EARLIER IN THE PUBLIC COMMENT I JUST WANT TO REINFORCE WHAT I THINK HUNTER CONRAD DESCRIBED VERY CLEARLY.
THAT THERE IS A DISTINCTION BETWEEN THE HEALTH CRITERIA AND ESSAY DUE CRITERIA WITH RESPECT TO OPENING OUR BEACHES SUNRISE TO SUNSET, AND IT'S A SAFETY FACTOR WITH REGARD TO BEACHGOERS AND TRAFFIC NOT SO MUCH A HEALTH ISSUE REGARDING THE COVID-19 IMPACT ON THE BEACH. SO TO BE CLEAR, I JUST FEEL THAT I COMPLETELY SUPPORT THE IDEA OF GETTING OUR BEACHES OPEN AND I REALLY LOVE SUNSHINE MYSELF.
BUT WE HAVE TO BE ABLE TO HAVE THE SAFETY FACTOR ALSO BECAUSE RIGHT NOW FROM THE HEALTH FACTOR AND THAT'S OUR POSITION. ECONDLY I JUST WANT TO QUICKLY REITERATE THE ISSUE OF THE [INDISCERNIBLE] THE REASON I BROUGHT THAT UP AND THE DOCTOR SPOKE TO IT IS I THINK THAT AS WE GO FORWARD AS A COMMUNITY, IT WILL LEAVE ALL OF US IN THIS COMMUNITY WE CALL ST. JOHNS COUNTY IF WE FEEL LIKE THAT EITHER ONE OF US OR ONE OF OUR FAMILY MEMBERS MIGHT POSSIBLY HAVE SYMPTOMS OF THE ILLNESS AND THE VIRUS THAT THERE IS A VERY INEXPENSIVE, VERY EFFECTIVE AND VERY QUICK TEST KIT, WHICH IS WHAT I READ AND IS UNDER CONSTRUCTION BY OUR STATE SURGEON GENERAL AND IS QUICKER THAT CAN MAKE THOSE AVAILABLE.
THIS IS GOING TO TAKE SEVERAL MORE MONTHS, MAYBE EVEN LONGER, TO GET THROUGH THIS EXTENDED PERIOD BUT WE WILL HOPE FOR THE BEST AND BE PREPARED TO DEAL WITH THE WORST.
I WOULD LIKE AN UPDATE ON A SOMEWHAT CONTINUAL BASIS TO SEE IF WE COULD GET A RELATIVELY CHEAP, EFFECTIVE, AND QUICK TEST KIT FOR INDIVIDUALS THAT THEY CAN PURCHASE OR MAYBE WE CAN CONSIDER THE COUNTY MAKING THOSE AVAILABLE IF ÃAND WE CAN GET A SUPPLY OF THEM.
THAT'S WHY I BROUGHT IT UP. AND THAT'S WHAT I HAVE THIS MORNING.
THANK YOU. >> THANK YOU, COMMISSIONER DEAN.
COMMISSIONER BLOCKER? ANY COMMENTS? >> MR. CHAIRMAN AGAIN, I WANT TO COMMEND YOUR LEADERSHIP DURING THIS PERIOD. THIS HAS BEEN A CHALLENGING TIME FOR EVERYBODY. I APPRECIATE THE DECORUM THE BOARD HAS SHOWN AND I APPRECIATE MR. MACCORMACK AND ALSO MR. CONRAD. MR. CONRAD HAS SHOWN GREAT LEADERSHIP DURING THIS, AND I'M JUST GRATEFUL FOR THAT. IT'S IMPORTANT TO HAVE THAT LEADERSHIP AND WE ARE FORTUNATE TO HAVE IT. THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU. COMMISSIONER WALDRON? >> MR. CHAIRMAN, I HAVE A COUPLE OF ITEMS I WOULD LIKE TO BRING UP. FIRST ONE TO HELP BUSINESSES
[01:50:04]
OUT, LOCAL BUSINESSES MAINLY. I WOULD LIKE THE BOARD TO CONSIDER ASKING STAFF TO RELOOK AT OUR PURCHASING POLICY WHERE IF WE HAVE A LOCAL BID FROM A LOCAL COMPANY FOR THE ST. JOHNS COUNTY ADDRESS THAT IF THEY ARE WITHIN A CERTAIN PERCENTAGE WE CAN WORK ON THAT.I SEE IT WHERE IT'S UP TO FIVE IN SOME JURISDICTION AND LOWERS AND OTHERS THEY WOULD BE THE COMPANY THAT THEY MEET THE CRITERIA THAT WE WOULD NEGOTIATE.
THIS, I THINK WOULD HELP OUR LOCAL BUSINESSES WAY MORE THAN WHAT WE DID WITH FEES EVEN THOUGH I THINK THAT'S A GOOD IDEA. THIS WOULD HELP OUT TREMENDOUSLY. YOU KNOW IT PUTS EVERYBODY Ã COMPANIES THAT DO A LOT OF WORK IN ST. JOHNS COUNTY, THEY WANT TO BE A LOCAL COMPANY BECOME Ã THAT'S IT.
I DON'T KNOW WHAT THE BOARD BECAUSE MY THOUGHTS ARE ON THAT.
>> ANY COMMENTS OR DISCUSSION ON COMMISSIONER WALDRON'S REQUEST IN REGARD TO A LOCAL PURCHASING POLICY?> I WOULD SUPPORT THAT. I THINK IF WE NEED TO DO ALL WE CAN TO SUPPORT OUR LOCAL SMALL BUSINESSES AND MAKE SURE THAT THEY HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO DO BUSINESS WITH US IN THIS COUNTY. SO I WOULD PRETTY STRONGLY
SUPPORT THAT OBJECTIVE. >> THANK YOU, COMMISSIONER DEAN.
COMMISSIONER BLOCKER? >> I THINK THAT'S A GREAT IDEA. I THINK THERE'S A GOOD EXAMPLE OF THAT IN OTHER PARTS OF THE STATE. I THINK THAT'S GOING TO BE CRITICAL AND I APPRECIATE COMMISSIONER WALDRON BRING IT UP.
ONE OF THE THINGS TO BE MINDFUL OF IS AS OUR LEGAL STAFF LOOKS AT THAT IS IT'S A LOOK AT HOW ACTIVE WE CAN BE IN KIND OF LOOSENING UP PROCUREMENT RULES AND MAKING SURE WE STAY IN THE ETHICAL LEGAL GUIDELINES BUT FACILITATE LOCAL ST. JOHNS COUNTY BUSINESSES AND I THINK
IT'S A GREAT IDEA AND I'M FULLY SUPPORTIVE. >> I AM IN SUPPORT AS WELL.
LET'S MOVE FORWARD. >> IS THERE A WAY TO POSSIBLY HAVE THAT BY NEXT WEEK? I WILL BRIEF YOU AND SAY HERE IS ÃWE WOULD GO TO WORK ON IT TODAY AT THE VERY LEAST WE CAN PROVIDE A COUPLE OF DIFFERENT OPTIONS OF WHAT THAT MAY LOOK LIKE AND ALLOW YOU TO GIVE FURTHER DIRECTION MAYBE NOT FINALIZING IT NEXT WEEK BUT BEGINNING TO MOVE THAT PASSED HOPEFULLY ON THE 16TH DEADLINE WE WILL LOOK TO OPEN UP THE SMALL BUSINESS MAYBE THIS WOULD BE A GOOD TIME TO ROLL OUT SO I WILL NEED TO GET WITH OMB OUR PURCHASING DEPARTMENT AND COUNTY ATTORNEYS OFFICES AS WELL. WE WILL DO OUR VERY BEST.
>> THANK YOU. DO WE NEED ANY PUBLIC COMMENT? > I WOULD ALLOW PUBLIC COMMENT. BEFORE ÃMAY I MAKE A BRIEF COMMENT TO THE BOARD? THE COUNTY HAS FROM TIME TO TIME IN THE PAST LOOKED AT THE LOCAL PREFERENCE CONCEPT AND THE ÃI WILL SAY WHEN THE COUNTY IS WHAT'S CALLED A MARKET PARTICIPANT, THERE CAN BE SOME AREAS THAT THE COUNTY CAN LOOK AT. FAVORING LOCAL BUSINESSES AS OPPOSED TO WHERE THE COUNTY IS A MARKET REGULATOR. IF IT REGULATES, IT CAN'T DISTINGUISH BETWEEN COUNTY AND NON-COUNTY, ETC. BUT FOR PURCHASING, I THINK THERE MAY BE SOME OPPORTUNITY TO DO THAT. SO I GUESS MY COMMENT IS IN THE PAST THE BOARD HAS LOOKED AT THAT CONCEPT AND IT HAS NOT Ã IT HAS NOT OPTED ÃTHE BOARDS THAT HAVE LOOKED AT THAT HAVE NOT OPTED TO ÃBUT THIS IS A DIFFERENT SITUATION. I DON'T THINK THE COUNTY HAS FACED ANYTHING LIKE THIS. COVID-19 AND SORT OF A GENERAL VERY NEGATIVE ECONOMIC EFFECT IS HAVING EVERYWHERE BUT ALSO IN ST. JOHNS COUNTY. THIS MAY BE A DISTINGUISH HER.
I WANTED TO PUT THAT OUT. WE WILL BE WORKING WITH MR. CONRAD TO BRING OPTIONS TO THE BOARD JUST TO PUT THAT OUT THERE THAT ONE THING THE BOARD MAY KEEP IN MIND THAT SHOULD IT CHOOSE AFTER INQUIRY AND PUBLIC INPUT TO ACTUALLY INPUT SOMETHING LIKE THAT, THERE MAY BE SOME SENSE THAT IT'S FOR KIND OF DAY. DURING THIS ECONOMIC SPECIAL CIRCUMSTANCE RATHER THAN GENERALLY THROUGHOUT THE COUNTIES FUTURE FOR THE NEXT 10
[01:55:08]
OR 20 YEARS.>> THANK YOU. JUST SO YOU KNOW GOING INTO THIS, THERE IS ALSO ÃTHERE MAY BE SOME GUIDELINES TO FEMA AND FEDERAL PURCHASING TO REMAIN ELIGIBLE FOR THIS FEMA, ANYTHING WE ARE BUYING RELATED TO THIS RECOVERY EFFORT IF WE WANT TO BE ABLE TO RETAIN AS REIMBURSEMENT COSTS. THERE MAY BE GUIDELINES TO USE IT FOR ANYTHING DISASTER RELATED AND WE CAN PROVIDE YOU IF IT'S A SHORT TERM PAIN. I WANT THAT TO BE ON YOUR RADAR THAT THERE MAY BE SOME FEMA AND FEDERAL PROHIBITIONS AGAINST IT DURING THE RECOVERY PURPOSE OF
IT. >> THANK YOU. >> WE WILL HAVE PUBLIC COMMENT
ON USING LOCAL COMPANIES. I KNOW I SAW A CALL COME IN. >> THIS WOULD REALLY BE ON THE BOARD'S DIRECTING THE ADMINISTRATION AND THE ATTORNEY'S OFFICE TO BRING THAT COMMENT. THIS WOULD NOT BE FOR A FINAL DECISION ON THE ACTUAL POLICY.
>> IS A CALLER ON? NOW? PLEASE GIVE YOUR NAME AND
ADDRESS OF RECORD, PLEASE. >> PLEASE GIVE YOUR NAME AND ADDRESS FOR THE RECORD, PLEASE
>> GOOD MORNING. THIS IS ED SLAVEN, BOX 3084 CLEANUP CITY OF SAINT AUGUSTINE. I UNDERSTAND WHERE YOU ARE COMING FROM.
WHEN MY MOM WAS THE PURCHASING SECRETARY AT A COUNTY COLLEGE IN NEW JERSEY SHE RAISED THIS ISSUE AND WHEN I WAS IN LAW SCHOOL I STUDIED ON THIS AND I THINK YOUR COUNTY ATTORNEY NEEDS TO LOOK AT THE COMMERCE CLAUSE BECAUSE I DON'T THINK WE CAN DISCRIMINATE AGAINST BUSINESSES THAT ARE FROM OUT OF COUNTY. YOU MAY WANT TO AND IT MAY BE POLITICAL AND IT MAY BENEFIT SOME OF YOUR CONTRIBUTORS BUT THAT DOG WON'T EVEN HUNT AND I DON'T THINK DURING A TIME LIKE THIS WE NEED TO BE DOING THINGS FRAUGHT WITH CONSTITUTIONAL RIGHTS VIOLATIONS. IF SOME BIDDER, A VENDOR, WANTS TO FILE A PROTEST OR GO TO COURT THEY ARE GOING TO WASTE YOUR LEGAL RESOURCES. AND YOU HAVE TO ASK YOURSELF A QUESTION. WHO BENEFITS. COULD THE CHAIRMAN ARTICULATE Ã COULD THE OTHER PEOPLE ARTICULATE WHO IS IT THAT'S NOT GETTING CONTRACTS RIGHT NOW YOU WANT TO HAVE CONTRACTS YOU THINK WOULD HAVE CONTRACTS IF YOU GAVE THEM A PREFERENCE? AND I THINK IT'S FRAUGHT. IF YOU LOOK TO FEDERAL PROCUREMENT WE DO HAVE GUIDELINES THAT HAVE CERTAIN LEEWAY FOR VETERANS OWNED AND WOMEN'S OWNED BUT I DON'T THINK YOU NEED TO BE DOING THIS IN THE MIDDLE OF THE CORONAVIRUS CRISIS.
I THINK IT'S POLITICAL BANTER. AND I WOULD LIKE TO SEE SOME RESEARCH BEFORE ANYTHING LIKE THIS IS DONE AND PRIORITIES. YOUR LEGAL OFFICE THERE, THEY ARE WORKING AT HOME AND IS THIS REALLY THE PRIORITY YOU HAVE FOR THEM RIGHT NOW? THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU, MR. SLAVEN. >> I SEE NO OTHER PUBLIC COMMENT.
>> MR. CHAIR, IF I MAY FOR ONE MOMENT. I HAD MADE THE COMMENTS DISTINGUISHING WHERE THE COUNTY REGULATES VERSUS WHERE THE COUNTY PARTICIPATES AS A PURCHASER TYPE OF THING AND OF COURSE, WE WILL FOR ONLY RESEARCH BUT IT'S MY SENSE THAT WHERE THE COUNTY REGULATES IS WHERE THE COMMERCE CLAUSE ISSUE MAKES ITS PRESENCE
>> THE OTHER THING I WANT TO DO IS KIND OF EXTEND MY CONDOLENCES TO THE FAMILY OF AL BRENNAN WHO PASSED AWAY I THINK LAST TUESDAY. HE WAS A GOOD FAMILY FRIEND AND HAS BEEN AROUND OUR FAMILY FOREVER AND HE HAS ÃHE DID A GREAT JOB FOR THE COMMUNITY
OVER THE YEARS. >> THANK YOU. COMMISSIONER JOHNS COMMIT
>> A COUPLE BRIEFLY. KIND OF ALONG THOSE LINES I WANT TO EXTEND MY CONDOLENCES TO EXTENDED FAMILIES HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS WHO UNEXPECTEDLY LOST THEIR LIVES.
IT'S A TRAGEDY ANYTIME WHEN IT'S A CHILD IT'S ESPECIALLY HARD TO BE ABLE TO UNDERSTAND
[02:00:01]
HOW THOSE THINGS HAPPEN. THE SCHOOL BODY WHO LOST THEIR LIVES THERE.WE TALKED IN THE PAST. FOR SHORT TERM WHATEVER YOU WANT TO TALK ABOUT.
I HAVE LEARNED SINCE THEN WE HAVE FEWER THAN 1000 BUSINESSES IN OUR COUNTY WITH LESS THAN 20 EMPLOYEES. WE HAD A $16 MILLION SURPLUS LAST YEAR AND BEFORE THIS WE WERE EXPECTING A $16 MILLION SURPLUS THIS YEAR WE ARE LOOKING INTO.
CAPITAL EXPENDITURES INFRASTRUCTURE AND MAINTENANCE. SOME OTHER AREAS AND WOULD LIKE TO SEE IF THE BOARD HAS AN APPETITE TO INCREASE TO $2 MILLION BASED ON USING THE MONEY AS A LOAN SO WE ARE NOT IGNORING THE CAPITAL NEEDS BUT DELAYING IT BY SIX MONTHS TO A YEAR TO REFUSE MORE MONEY TO THE LESS THAN 1000 BUSINESSES FEWER THAN 20 EMPLOYEES BASED IN OUR COUNTY. TO SEE WITH THE LOGISTICS LOOK LIKE OBVIOUSLY WE CAN'T ÃWE HAVE TO HAVE MAINTENANCE DONE ON ITEMS THAT ALREADY EXIST BUT TO SPEND MONEY ON CAPITAL EXPENSES NEW CONSTRUCTION BUSINESSES ARE GOING UNDER IS HARD FOR ME TO DIGEST AND I KEEP RINGING THIS UP AND IF I DON'T HAVE ÃLET ME KNOW I'M Ã I'M NOT THE SMARTEST GUY WHEN IT COMES TO MACROECONOMICS. IN MANAGING MILLIONS OF DOLLARS I SPENT OVER $2 MILLION IN ONE WEEK FOR AN EMERGENCY OUTAGE. IN THE ORK WAS SUCCESSFUL AND WAS DONE ON TIME BUT THAT DOES NOT MAKE ME AN EXPERT. I'M LOOKING TO THE EXPERTS TO SEE IF THE COUNTY COMMISSION LEADERS WOULD ENTERTAIN LOOKING AT MORE OF THE CAPITAL SIDE OF THE ALLOCATIONS THAT HAVE NOT YET BEEN EXTENDED FOR A SHORT-TERM LOAN. THE MONEY COULD STILL GO TO THE EXPENSE IS ALLOCATED BUT DELAYED BECAUSE PEOPLE IMMEDIATELY NEED FUNDING IN THEIR BUSINESSES TO KEEP EMPLOYEES SO THAT THEY CAN PAY FOR FOOD AND PAY FOR MEDICATION. PEOPLE WANT TO WORK. THIS IS NOT LIKE THE RECESSION 12 YEARS AGO WHERE THERE WAS NO DEMAND FOR SERVICES AND PRODUCTS.
PEOPLE AE ABLE TO GO BACK TO WORK SOMETHING AS SIMPLE AS A HAIRCUT I'VE HEARD MENTIONED.
PEOPLE WILL BE ABLE TO GET A HAIRCUT AND THEY WILL GET THE FINANCES.
I DON'T KNOW WHERE THE DOLLAR AMOUNT IS AN DID NOT WANT A KNEE-JERK REACTION.
ZERO INTEREST LOAN CLOSE TO THAT. WE HAVE TO PAY FOR OUR OVERHEAD TO FIND SOME WAY TO ADMINISTER IT. THERE ARE PROCEDURES THAT HAVE TO BE PLACED LOCALLY HOW TO DISTRIBUTE THE MONEY SO IT'S NOT GOING TO UNINTENDED ORGANIZATIONS. NOT JUST WITHIN STAFF BUT WITHIN OUR COMMUNITY BUT TO DO SO QUICKLY ON A LARGER SCALE IS CURRENTLY BEING PROPOSED I WANT TO THROW THAT OUT TO THE BOARD AND IF THERE IS AN INTEREST I WON'T BRING IT UP ANYMORE BUT IT SEEMS LIKE WE HAVE THE CAPABILITIES FOR THE SHORT TERM TO BE ABLE TO PROVIDE THAT STOPGAP CASH FLO THAT PEOPLE
NEED. I WANT TO BE >> SO THOSE ARE THE PEOPLE WHO I WANT TO HELP THE MOST NOT OF THEIR OWN ÃNOT MAKE IT REAL COMPLICATED TO MAKE SURE ÃI
[02:05:13]
THINK IT'S IMPORTANT TO KEEP IN MIND WE HAD ASKED OUR COUNTY STAFF TO LOOK INTO TANGIBLE, LEGAL, ACTIONABLE OPPORTUNITIES TO HELP THE PUBLIC IN SMALL BUSINESSES.I THINK MR. CONRAD AND THE TEAM, JESSE DUNN AND JOE ANDREWS HAVE GREAT OPPORTUNITIES FOR US. MY THOUGHTS WOULD BE LET'S BE CAUTIOUS AND SEE THESE PROCEDURES AND POLICIES PUT IN PLACE AND WE NEED TO DO ANYTHING FURTHER THAN THAT WE CAN COME BACK AND REVISIT BUT I THINK RIGHT NOW WE ASK OUR EXPERTS TO LOOK INTO THIS.
WE ASKED OUR LEGAL STAFF TO VET THIS AND THEY CAME UP WITH SOME OPTIONS AND OPPORTUNITIES ON THEIR OWN VOLITION. MR. CONRAD CREDITS HIS LEADERSHIP AND MS. ANDREWS AND MR. DUNN WORKED ON THIS FOR SOME TIME AND PUT A LOT OF WORK INTO IT, PRESENTED US WITH GREAT OPTIONS. I THINK FOR NOW WE NEED TO CONSIDER THOSE OPTIONS AND I THINK WE NEED TO TRUST OUR STAFF AND BE CONFIDENT WITH WHAT THEY PRESENTED TO US AND WE NEED TO BE ÃIF WE NEED TO DO MORE DOWN THE ROAD WE CAN DO THAT.
>> COMMISSIONER WALTER? >> THANK YOU, MR. CHAIRMAN. KIND OF ASKED MR. CONRAD, IS THERE A WAY ÃMY CONCERN [INDISCERNIBLE] DO WE KNOW HOW MANY OF OUR LOCAL BUSINESSES
HAVE APPLIED FOR THE CARES ACT? >> I DON'T HAVE THAT NUMBER, COMMISSIONER
>> IS THERE A WAY TO FIND THAT OUT? >> WE CAN CHECK WITH THE
CHAMBER AND SEE IF THEY HAVE ANY UPDATES ON THAT. >> YES.
I'M NOT DISCOUNTING WHAT COMMISSIONER JOHNS WAS SAYING, I THINK IT'S A GOOD IDEA, BUT I WANT TO MAKE SURE IT GETS BACK TO THE EMPLOYEES. I THINK SOME OF THE REASON WHY WE HAVE PEOPLE IN OUR COUNTY, I DON'T KNOW THIS AND I WAS GOING TO ASK THAT QUESTION AND PROBABLY EMAIL CONGRESSMAN RUTHERFORD, IF YOU WORK FOR A COMPANY THAT HAS APPLIED FOR THE CARES ACT AND GOT THE LOAN THAT'S SUPPOSED TO GO TO PAYROLL I DON'T THINK YOU CAN APPLY FOR UNEMPLOYMENT. AND THAT'S WHY A LOT OF PEOPLE MAY BE GETTING DENIED, BUT IS THAT MONEY COMING DOWN? AND I DON'T KNOW IF WE HAVE ENOUGH PEOPLE OR STAFF TO COORDINATE IT TO MAKE SURE IT IS. BECAUSE THAT'S THE ISSUE IS WHETHER YOU HAVE BUSINESSES OUT THERE THAT WILL TEST THE MONEY AND USE IT FOR WHAT THEY WANT TO USE IT FOR SAVE FOOT OR THEY TAKING THE MONEY TO PAY A MORTGAGE AND AS A ZERO PERCENT LOAN OR THEY GOING TO GIVE IT OUT TO THE EMPLOYEES. AND THAT'S ALWAYS A TOUGH THING BECAUSE I AM WONDERING HOW MANY TIMES THESE SAME BUSINESSES ARE GOING TO GET THE APPROVALS AND HOW WE DECIDE WHICH BUSINESSES WENT OR NOT. JUST LIKE WE HAVE A LOT OF BUSINESSES THAT ARE STILL PARTIALLY OPENED THAT ARE TRYING BUT THEY ARE NOT MEETING WITH THE NEED TO MAKE TO STAY AFLOAT. AND THAT'S ANOTHER INDUSTRY WE HAVE TO WORRY ABOUT. RESTAURANTS, HOTELS, ALL THESE INDUSTRIES AND ST. JOHNS COUNTY ARE REALLY HURTING. YOU NOW, BUT WILL THAT MONEY GET BACK TO THE EMPLOYEES? BECAUSE THAT'S THE HARD THING THERE. IF THERE IS A WAY WE CAN FIND THAT OUT, HOW MANY BUSINESSES HAVE APPLIED, WHAT THEIR PLANS ARE.
IT'S REALLY A LOGISTICAL NIGHTMARE TO TRY TO PUMP MONEY OUT OF IT BUT THE GUIDELINES Ã IT'S AN 800 PAGE DOCUMENT. MAYBE YOU ALL CAN READ 800 PAGES FRONT AND BACK AND GET IT ALL, BUT I WOULD HAVE TO READ IT A COUPLE OF TIMES. THANK YOU.
>> MR. CHAIRMAN, THIS IS COMMISSIONER BLOCKER. CAN I HAVE ONE THING TO WHAT
COMMISSIONER WALDRON SAID? >> YES, SIR. >> I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT I THINK COMMISSIONER WALDRON HIT ON THIS. THE DOLLARS THAT WE HAVE, IT'S ALL TAXPAYER DOLLARS. BUT THERE IS A DIFFERENCE IN FEDERAL INCOME TAX THAT GOES TO THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT OR STATE SALES TAX. THAT'S VERY DIFFERENT FROM OUR LOCAL AD VALOREM PROPERTY TAXES AND I WOULD LIKE TO SEE A HARD LOOK AT THAT IF WE CONSIDER SOMETHING LIKE THIS FROM OUR LEGAL TEAM TO MAKE SURE WE ARE EVEN LEGALLY ABLE TO DO THAT.
GAIN, IT'S TAXPAYER DOLLARS AND IT COMES FROM A DIFFERENT SOURCE.HE FINDING THAT COMES FROM OUR PROPERTY TAXES VERY DIFFERENT THAN WHAT WE PAID IN FEDERAL INCOME TAX, AND THE OBLIGATION TO THAT IS IMPORTANT SO I THINK WE NEED TO FULLY AFFECT THAT BEFORE WE GO ANY FURTHER. AGAIN, I THINK OUR STAFF ALREADY HAS PUT A LOT OF WORK INTO THIS. I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT TO KEEP IN MIND.
THANK YOU, MR. CHAIRMAN. >> THANK YOU. I HAVE A COUPLE OF COMMENTS I
[02:10:02]
WOULD LIKE TO MAKE ON IT TOO. IN REGARD TO NUMBER ONE THE FUNDING WHAT WE HAVE AGREED TO DO IS REACH BACK AND SECURE SOME OF IT FROM 2019 AND LIKEWISE TO LOOK AT UTILIZING THOSE FROM 2020. SOME OF THOSE ARE INFRASTRUCTURAL PROJECTS AS WELL AND I BELIEVE THEY ARE PRETTY SUBSTANTIAL WHETHER THE SIDEWALK OR DRAINAGE ISSUE OR THINGS LIKE THAT AND WE CHOSEN TO TAKE THOSE DOLLARS AND UTILIZE THEM AND FROM ANOTHER THING AND YESTERDAY IT WAS VERY HELPFUL GOING THROUGH THE MEETING AND LISTENING TO THE REASON THAT WAS PORTRAYED THERE REGARDING TO THEM PROVIDING UP TO $250,000 TO ALSO ASSIST LOCAL BUSINESSES. THERE'S A DIFFERENCE BETWEEN A GRANT PROGRAM AND A LOAN PROGRAM. IN A LOAN PROGRAM MORAL REQUIRE A TREMENDOUS AMOUNT OF ADMINISTRATION. IT'S NOT NEARLY AS INTENSE AS IT WOULD BE TOO ESTABLISH A LOAN PROGRAM. IN REALITY IT WOULD BE ALMOST LIKE A BANK WE WOULD HAVE TO HAVE SOMEBODY OVERSEEING THAT AND I HAVE A LITTLE BIT OF RESERVATION ABOUT DELVING INTO THAT REALM I THINK IT WAS PRESIDENT REAGAN SAYS THE CLOSEST THING TO LIFE IS A BUREAU AND WHEN YOU ESTABLISH ANOTHER BUREAU. WE HAVE UNINTENDED TAX FEDERAL DOLLARS THAT ARE COMING IN. WHETHER THEY ARE RESTRICTED OR NOT.YOU WILL OVERSEE THOSE IT'S A GRANT PROGRAM WHICH WE ARE OVERSEEING.
THAT WILL BE OVER $2 MILLION AND WITH THE ADMINISTRATIVE COSTS THAT ARE ASSOCIATED WITH THAT. IF I REALIZE THAT CORRECTLY. I WOULD LIKE TO SEE THAT ÃIF THERE IS A NEED WE CAN COME BACK AND REVISIT THIS. I THINK IT'S A GOOD IDEA JUST TO HAVE SOME REAL SERIOUS CONCERNS ABOUT ALL THE TAXPAYER DOLLARS AND THE COSTS THAT ARE ASSOCIATED WITH IT. THE UTILIZATION OF SOME OF OUR STAFF FOR THAT.
BUT WE DO HAVE SOME DOLLARS. LET'S SEE WHAT THEY DO AND LET'S MOVE FORWARD WITH IT.
IF THAT THING HAS DRIED UP IN A COUPLE OF HOURS THEN WE HAVE A REAL ISSUE.
SOMEWHERE BEYOND MAY 16 I BELIEVE WOULD BE REASONABLE. >> THAT'S HELPFUL.
I APPRECIATE IT. MATT IF THERE'S NOT A DEMAND FOR [INDISCERNIBLE] I'M THANKFUL FOR THE RESIDENTS IN THE BUSINESSES AND PEOPLE ARE STARTING TO BE MORE COMFORTABLE WITH BE SAFE AND KEEP BUSINESSES FUNCTIONAL IF IT'S SOMETHING IS NOT AS URGENT AS IT APPEARS TO BE, I HOPE [INDISCERNIBLE] THE MONEY WILL MEET THOSE NEEDS.
I DON'T WANT TO PUT ANY MONEY WHERE IS NOT NECESSARY AND IT WILL BE EFFECTIVE.
THEY ARE LOOKING FOR SOURCES THAT HAVE NOT RECEIVED ANY THING FROM THE CARES ACT OR THEY ARE UNEMPLOYED AND RESIDENTS HAVE ÃEMPLOYEES HAVE RECEIVED EMPLOYMENT CHECKS.
I WANT TO DO WHAT I COULD TO MAKE AN OFFER TO SEE IF THAT WAS AN AENUE THAT WOULD BE NECESSARY. IT'S NO DIFFERENT THAN BACKYARD CHICKENS AND WAS JUST NOT A DEMAND FOR REPRESENTATIVE STEPHENSON TALKED ABOUT A RARE SOURCE AND I SAT ON THE NORTHEAST FLORIDA CAREER SOURCE PORT AND WE HAD A MEETING LAST WEEK BY TELEPHONE WHICH WAS VERY GOOD. THEY ARE READY TO OPEN AS SOON AS THE GOVERNOR WILL ALLOW THEM WE WILL TAKE PRECAUTION SOCIAL DISTANCING AND ALLOW PEOPLE ALTERNATE THEIR WORKSTATIONS
[02:15:01]
AFTER SOMEBODY COMES IN. SO EVERYTHING IS KIND OF READY AND THEY ARE NOT ALLOWED TO LOOK AT THIS STUFF BUT THEY ARE READY TO HELP WITH PEOPLE AND KIND OF PEERED UP.THE ANSWER A STATEMENT. WE HAVE THREE PAGES OF
* This transcript was compiled from uncorrected Closed Captioning.