[Call to Order]
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>> COMMISSIONER SMITH: I CALL TO MEETINGS THIS SPECIAL MEETING OF THE ST. JOHNS COUNTY BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS MAY 19, 2020. THIS SPECIAL MEETING OF THE ST.
JOHNS COUNTY BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS IS BEING CONDUCTED CONSISTENT WITH GOVERNOR DESANTIS'S EXECUTIVE ORDER NUMBER 20-69 SUSPENDING THE REQUIREMENT OF A PHYSICAL QUORUM AND PROVIDING FOR A VIRTUAL QUORUM DUE TO THE CURRENT STATE OF EMERGENCY IN THE STATE RESULTING FROM THE SPREAD OF THE NOVEL CORONAVIRUS COVID-19.
IN ORDER TO FURTHER MITIGATE THE TRANSMISSION OF THE VIRUS, THE BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS HAS ADOPTED PROCEDURES TO CONDUCT MEETINGS USING REMOTE PARTICIPATION UNDER PROCLAMATION NUMBER 2020-3 SO THE PUBLIC AS A MEANS TO COMMENT DURING THE MEETING WITHOUT PHYSICALLY ATTENDING. ALONG WITH PRIOR COMMUNICATIONS INCLUDING EMAIL, THE PUBLIC WILL BE ABLE TO COMMENT BY TELEPHONE WHILE WATCHING THE MEETING VIA IGTV.
THE WEBSITE PROVIDES A TELEPHONE NUMBER TO USE TO CALL INTO THE MEETING EVEN IF MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC DO NOT PROVIDE COMMENT, PARTICIPANTS ARE ADVISED PEOPLE MAY BE LISTENING WHO DO NOT PROVIDE COMMENT AND THOSE PERSONS ARE NOT REQUIRED TO IDENTIFY THEMSELVES. THIS MEETING IS BEING RECORDED. FOR THOSE OF YOU CALLING IN TO COMMENT, IF YOU RECEIVE A BUSY SIGNAL, PLEASE CALL BACK. CONTINUE TO WATCH GTV WHILE YOU ARE COMMENTING BECAUSE THE THREE MINUTE TIMER WILL BE VISIBLE TO YOU.
PLEASE MUTE YOUR PHONE WHILE YOU'RE WAITING TO COMMENT. THERE MAY BE A 5 TO 9 SECOND DELAY BETWEEN VISUAL PRESENTATIONS AND PERHAPS A 30 SECOND DELAY ON VERBAL RESPONSE TIMES. THERE ARE MATERIALS FOR THIS MEETING AVAILABLE ON THE COUNTY WEBSITE AND WANT TO FIND THE MEETING AGENDA, YOU CAN CLICK ON THE AGENDA ITEM TO ACCESS ALL OF THE SUPPORTING MATERIALS. THIS MORNING, WE WILL HAVE Ã CONDUCT A ROLL CALL VOTE AS WE DO HAVE A REMOTE COMMISSIONER WHO IS CALLING AND THIS MORNING. COMMISSIONER BLOCKER, ARE YOU THERE?
>> COMMISSIONER BLOCKER: I AM HERE, MR. CHAIRMAN. >> COMMISSIONER SMITH: GOOD
MORNING TO YOU. >> COMMISSIONER BLOCKER: GOOD MORNING TO YOU AS WELL.
>> COMMISSIONER SMITH: NOW, CLERK, PLEASE CALL THE ROLE.
MUCH. PASTOR JEFF KAPLAN, FREEDOM CHURCH.
GOOD MORNING, SIR. EVERYONE WOULD PLEASE STAND. >> SPEAKER: DEAR HEAVENLY FATHER WE THANK YOU FOR THIS DAY. WE THANK YOU WE LIVE IN A COUNTRY WHERE WE HAVE FREEDOMS WHERE WE CAN COME AND WE CAN PRAY AND WE PAUSE BEFORE THIS MEETING STARTS TO RETURN THANKS TO YOU AND TO ULTIMATELY REMEMBER THAT YOU ARE IN CONTROL OF ALL THINGS. WHILE THERE ARE MEN AND WOMEN IN THIS ROOM THAT MADE A LOT OF BIG DECISIONS, GOD, YOU ARE IN CONTROL AND OVER ALL OF THESE THINGS.
GOD, WE THANK YOU FOR THAT. WE THANK YOU FOR THE OPPORTUNITY JUST TO COME TO YOU BEFORE THIS MEETING. WE PRAY FOR THE MEN AND WOMEN WHO ARE MAKING DECISIONS THROUGHOUT THIS MEETING THAT THEY WOULD BE PEPPERED WITH PRAYER.
THAT THEY WOULD BE SEEKING WHAT'S BEST FOR YOUR PEOPLE. AND WE PRAY FOR THE FAMILIES THAT THEY REPRESENT. THAT YOU WOULD JUST BE WITH THEM AND WATCH OVER AND KEEP THEM. WE PRAY FOR OUR FIRST RESPONDERS, OUR MILITARY THROUGHOUT THE WORLD AND FOR OUR MEDICAL PEOPLE WHO ARE WORKING ON THE FRONT LINES TO KEEP US SAFE AND TO BRING SAFETY TO THOSE OF US WHO NEED IT.
WE PRAY FOR PROTECTION FOR THEM AS WELL. JUST BE WITH US THROUGHOUT THIS MEETING AND WE ASK THESE THINGS IN JESUS'S NAME. AMEN.
>> COMMISSIONER DEAN: PLEASE JOIN US IN THE PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE TO THE FLAG OF
AMERICA. >> 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. >> COMMISSIONER SMITH: THANK YOU. YOU MAY BE SEATED. WE ARE GOING TO GO AHEAD AND
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BEGIN WITH OUR AGENDA THIS MORNING. THE AGENDA WILL BE THE EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT UPDATE AND THEN WE WILL HAVE AN EXTENSION OF THE LOCAL EMERGENCY AND THEN WE WILL HAVE ANY OTHER BUSINESS. WHAT WE WILL DO IS TAKE PUBLIC COMMENT AFTER EACH OF THOSE ITEMS THIS MORNING, SO WE WILL BEGIN WITH MR. CONRAD.>> SPEAKER: GOOD MORNING, MR. JARED. GOOD MORNING, COMMISSIONERS.
GOOD TO SEE YOU ALL THIS MORNING. AN UPDATE ON COVID-19 AND A FEW HOT TOPICS THAT HAVE BEEN BEFORE YOU AS THE BOARD AND THAT THE COMMUNITY HAS BEEN INTERESTED IN OVER THE PAST SEVERAL DAYS, ESPECIALLY SINCE GOVERNOR DESANTIS'S FULL PHASE I OPENING THAT I WANT TO BRING TO YOUR ATTENTION.N UPDATE ON SHORT-TERM VACATION RENTALS.
I KNOW THAT EACH OF YOU ARE GETTING A LOT OF COMMUNITY FEEDBACK AS IS ADMINISTRATION
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AND STAFF. JUST SO YOU KNOW WHERE WE ARE, WE WILL HAVE A LETTER AND A PLAN CEMENTED EITHER BY THE CLOTHES OF BUSINESS TODAY, DEPENDING ON WHAT TIME WE WRAP UP YOUR WORK FIRST THING IN THE MORNING. FOR THE LISTENING PUBLIC, JUST SO YOU KNOW, WE DID NOT SUBMIT A PLAN OVER THE WEEKEND INTENTIONALLY.WE HEARD FIRST ABOUT THIS ON FRIDAY AFTERNOON. WE ALSO WANTED TO GIVE THE INDUSTRY AN OPPORTUNITY TO SOLICIT FEEDBACK. I HAVE BEEN DOING THAT MANY MANAGEMENT ASSOCIATIONS AND INDIVIDUAL CITIZENS AND CONSTITUENTS WHO LIVE IN THE COMMUNITY HAVE GIVEN US A NUMBER OF DETAILS AND THINGS THAT ARE IMPORTANT TO THEM.
WE HAVE TAKEN SOME OF THOSE IDEAS, NOT ALL OF THEM, BUT WE HAVE TAKEN A NUMBER OF THOSE IDEAS AND PUT THEM IN THE DRAFT OF THE SAFETY PLAN THAT WE ARE WORKING TO SUBMIT TO THE GOVERNOR'S OFFICE. ADDITIONALLY, THE PLAN WILL INCLUDE SOME OF THE THINGS ARE IN THE GOVERNOR'S ORDERS EXCUSE ME, IN HIS PHASE 2 REOPENING SO WE ARE TAKING SOME OF THE RECOMMENDATIONS AS WELL AS THE DPR PUT OUT A RECOMMENDATION FOR SAFETY STANDARDS WHICH IS A ONE PAGE DOCUMENT. SO WE ARE USING THOSE THREE THINGS, JUST SO THE COMMUNITY IF ANYONE ASKS HOW ARE YOU FORMULATING YOUR PLANS, IT'S BASED ON THOSE THREE THINGS.
WE ARE MIRRORING MORE OF THOSE IDEAS TOGETHER AND WILL SUBMIT OUR PLAN AS WELL AS THE LETTER TO THE SECRETARY TODAY. LIBRARIES ARE NOW OPEN BEGINNING TODAY FROM 10:00 UNTIL 3:00 AT 50 PERCENT OCCUPANCY. THE PRESS RELEASE WENT OUT I BELIEVE ON FRIDAY.FOR THE COMMUNITY, TUESDAY THROUGH SATURDAY THEY ARE ABLE TO VISIT ANY OF THE LIBRARY LOCATIONS IN THE LIBRARY STAFF HAS THE ABILITY ÃTHE AVAILABILITY TO MAKE SURE THE GOVERNOR'S ORDERS ON A 50 PERCENT OCCUPANCY IS BEING DONE.
THE NEXT ONE I WANT TO BRING TO YOUR ATTENTION ÃWE HAVE RECEIVED A LOT OF QUESTIONS AND FEEDBACK ON YOUTH SPORTS, WHICH SPECIFICALLY HOW DOES THAT RELATE TO THE COUNTY BECAUSE WE HAVE NOT DONE, AS EACH OF YOU KNOW, WE HAVE NOT DONE ANYTHING TO RESTRICT THESE EXPORTS, HOWEVER, WE HAVE RESTRICTED RECREATIONAL PERMITTING ON COUNTY FACILITIES WHICH IS WHAT AFFECTS A LOT OF SPORTS ORGANIZATIONS. BEGINNING THIS FRIDAY, WE WILL BE ACCEPTING THROUGH OUR PARKS AND WRECKED DEPARTMENT WE WILL BE ACCEPTING THOSE APPLICATIONS FOR RECREATIONAL PERMITTING ON COUNTY RECREATIONAL FACILITIES, AND ANYBODY WHO'S LISTENING, WE WANT THEM TO KNOW THAT THE PLANTS THAT SHOULD BE SUBMITTED SHOULD FOLLOW THE GOVERNOR'S GUIDELINES. TODAY WILL HAVE TO FIGURE OUT Ã AND MANY HAVE ALREADY SUBMITTED RECOMMENDATIONS, HOW THEY COULD FOLLOW THAT PHASE 1 LESS THAN 10 PEOPLE CONGREGATING SOCIALLY DISTANCING, MANY OF THESE ATHLETIC ASSOCIATIONS ALREADY HAVE PLANS IN PLACE.
THAT THEY HAVE SUBMITTED TO US AND SOME OF THEM MAY HAVE SUBMITTED THEM TO YOU HOW THEY COULD COULD COMPLY WITH THAT. WE DON'T WANT TO RESTRICT ANYTHING.
IF THEY CAN FOLLOW THE GOVERNOR'S ORDERS, WILLING TO GIVE THEM THE OPPORTUNITY TO DO THAT AND THEN AS HIS ORDERS EXPAND, SOME OF THE RESTRICTIONS WILL LOSE THEM FOR WHAT THEY WILL HAVE TO DO. THEY WILL SUBMIT THOSE APPLICATIONS AND WILL BEGIN ACCEPTING THEM ON FRIDAY AND HOPEFULLY WE CAN TURN THIS AROUND WITHIN 24 TO 48 HOURS TO GIVE THEM A GREEN LIGHT. THAT'S THE UPDATE THAT I HAVE ON KIND OF SOME OF OUR OPENINGS. JUST SO YOU KNOW ON THE SMALL BUSINESS EMERGENCY GRANT PROGRAM, WE HAVE HAD BETWEEN 55 AND 60 APPLICATIONS THUS FAR AND NOW WE HAVE BETWEEN FIVE AND 10 THAT HAVE BEEN ACCEPTED INTO THE PROGRAM AND MONEY HAS BEEN DISPERSED.
I WANT TO SAY THERE'S ABOUT 30 TO 35 THAT ARE MISSING A FEW PIECES OF DOCUMENTATION.
SO THE REVIEW TEAM IS WORKING WITH THE SUPPLICANTS TRYING TO GET THE DOCUMENTATION AND SOME OF IT MAY BE AS SIMPLE AS A BUSINESS LICENSE OR SOMETHING THAT THEY LEFT OUT IN THEIR INITIAL APPLICATION. ONCE THEY RECEIVE THAT, THEY WILL BE ELIGIBLE AS WELL AND THE FUNDS WILL BE DISPERSED. WE WOULD ENCOURAGE ANYONE HIS LISTENING TO GO ON THE WEBSITE AND LOOK AT THE REQUIREMENTS AND CONTINUE TO APPLY. WE HAVE NOT RUN OUT OF FUNDS YET IN THAT PROGRAM. I'M GOING TO TURN IT OVER TO THE HEALTH DEPARTMENT FOR THE HEALTH DEPARTMENT AND EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT UPDATE AND I WILL STAND BY FOR ANY QUESTIONS.
>> COMMISSIONER SMITH: COMMISSIONER DEAN IS A QUESTION OR A COMMENT FOR YOU.
>> COMMISSIONER DEAN: COUNTY, FOR REOPENING OF SHORT-TERM RENTALS, WE WERE PREPARED TO SAY SHE CALLED HER CONRAD MENTIONED TO BE SUBMITTED TO DBPR. YOU MIGHT ASK WHAT'S THAT.
THAT'S THE DEPARTMENT OF BUSINESS AND PROFESSIONAL REGULATION.
AND SO THE REASON I'M ASKING THAT, THAT'S WHERE WE ARE SENDING OUR SAFETY PLAN.O IF ANYONE OUT THERE ÃAND I'M SURE EACH OF US HAVE BEEN CONTACTED BY A NUMBER OF SHORT-TERM RENTAL OWNERS WHO WERE IN EXTREME FINANCIAL HARDSHIP DUE TO THE CORONAVIRUS ÃYOU MIGHT WANT TO SEND COMMENTS TO THE SECRETARY OF DBPR RATHER THAN THE GOVERNOR'S OFFICE.
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IT COULD GET BOGGED DOWN THERE. SO THAT'S JUST A BIT OF A PSA I WANTED TO MENTION.>> SPEAKER: IF I MAY ADD TO THAT, I WANT THE PUBLIC TO KNOW, WE DON'T KNOW BUT THE TURNAROUND TIME ON THESE IS GOING TO BE OUT. AS I STATED WE WILL TRY TO GET IT OUT TODAY OR FIRST THING IN THE MORNING. WE DON'T KNOW HOW QUICKLY THEY ARE TURNING AROUND. THEY HAVE A SITE YOU CAN CLICK ON AND SEE WHEN THEY WERE BROUGHT IN AND THEN WHEN THEY BEEN ACCEPTED. AS OF YESTERDAY, THEY WEREN'T SHOWING ANYBODY THAT THEIR PLANS HAD BEEN APPROVED YET. THAT DOES NOT MEAN IT'S NOT APPROVED. IT COULD'VE BEEN A DELAY ON THE TECHNOLOGY SIDE.
ONLY THE COMMUNITY TO KNOW WE ARE TRYING TO GET A TURNAROUND AS QUICKLY AS WE CAN.
ESPECIALLY REAR CONSTITUENCY MAY BE CONTACTING YOU, ONCE WE GET THAT TURNAROUND SUBMITTED WE DON'T KNOW HOW LONG THE PROCESS WILL TAKE. WE JUST WANT TO MAKE THAT
CLEAR. >> COMMISSIONER SMITH: ANY OTHER QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS? DOCTOR ALAN COTT. . GOOD MORNING.
>> I HAVE A STATUS UPDATE ON COVID-19. I WOULD LIKE TO BEGIN WITH AN OVERVIEW OF THE RECENT COVID-19 CASE NUMBERS. CURRENT AS OF YESTERDAY.
THE TOTAL TESTS IN THE STATE OF FLORIDA ARE ALMOST 700,000 WHICH IS ABOUT 3.2 PERCENT OF FLORIDA'S POPULATION UNDERSTANDING THAT SOME OF US MAY HAVE BEEN TESTED MORE THAN ONCE AND WITH HAD A PERCENT POSITIVE OF ABOUT SEVEN PERCENT.
IN ST. JOHNS COUNTY, WE HAVE ABOUT THE SAME PERCENTAGE THAT HAVE BEEN TESTED ABOUT 3.3 PERCENT. HOWEVER OUR PRESENT POSITIVE HAS BEEN HALF OF WHAT THE STATE OF FLORIDA HAS HAD. TOTAL CASES TO DATE AS OF YESTERDAY WAS ABOUT 232 HOSPITALIZATIONS ABOUT 80 PERCENT OF ALL CASES VERSUS 70 PERCENT IN ST. JOHNS COUNTY.
VERSUS 18 PERCENT IN FLORIDA AND WITHOUT THE CONCERN, WE HAVE ABOUT FOUR PERCENT OF ALL CASES IN FLORIDA WITH ABOUT A TWO PERCENT OF ALL CASES IN ST. JOHNS COUNTY.
REGARDING PUBLIC HEALTH FOCUS, MONITORING AND CONTACT TRACY AS WE ALL MOVE FORWARD, GOVERNOR DESANTIS SAVE SMART STEP-BY-STEP PLAN FOR FLORIDA'S RECOVERY, THE DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH IN ST. JOHNS COUNTY CONTINUES TO FOCUS ON THE FOLLOWING FIVE TO PROTECT OUR COMMUNITY AGAINST COVID-19 PROTECT THE VULNERABLE. INCREASE TESTING, PROMOTE THE SOCIAL DISTANCING. SUPPORT HOSPITALS AND PROTECT HEALTHCARE WORKERS AND PREVENT THE INTRODUCTION OF DISEASE FROM OUSIDE OF THE STATE. IN SUPPORT OF EACH OF THESE PRIORITIES, OUR FOCUS CONTINUES TO BE ON EARLY CASE IDENTIFICATION, ISOLATION, AND CONTACT TRACY AS THIS WILL CURB THE SPREAD OF DISEASE IN OUR COMMUNITY.
I SHARE BEFORE WHEN THE DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH RECEIVED NOTIFICATION A PERSON HAS TESTED POSITIVE, FOR COVID-19, THE DEPARTMENT CONDUCTS AN EPIDEMIOLOGICAL INVESTIGATION BASED ON CDC'S GUIDANCE TO IDENTIFY INDIVIDUALS WHO MAY HAVE HAD CLOSE CONTACT WITH THE PERSON WHO TESTED POSITIVE. THIS IS A ROBUST AND COMPREHENSIVE PROCESS TO IDENTIFY ALL COVID-19 CASES AND TRAYS AND ISOLATE ALL CONTEXT OF EACH IDENTIFIED CASE.HIS IS OUR EXPERTISE AND WILL BE DUE FOR COVID-19 AND OVER 100 OTHER REPORTABLE DISEASE IS BEHIND THE SCENES IN EVERY COMMUNITY IN FLORIDA AND ACROSS THE NATION EVERY DAY.
WE ARE ALWAYS AVAILABLE 24/7 WITH THE NURSE ON CALL AFTER HOURS AND ON WEEKENDS.
IN ADDITION, OVER THE PAST NINE WEEKS SINCE COVID-19 WE OPERATE IN HOUSE SEVEN DAYS A WEEK AS WELL AS CONTINUING TO BE AVAILABLE AND TAKING CALLS FOR COVID-19 AND NOT COVID-19 CASES 24/7. I AM HAPPY TO REPORT OUR RECENT PUSH PCR LABORATORY TESTING ON THE GOVERNOR'S [INDISCERNIBLE] WE HAVE MET AND EXCEEDED THIS GOAL.
THE DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH CONTINUES WITH THEIR FOCUS ON LONG-TERM CARE FACILITIES ALONG WITH AN AGENCY FOR HEALTHCARE MINISTRATION AND WE ARE WORKING DAILY TO AWAIT OUTBREAKS OF COVID-19 AT THESE FACILITIES. WE HAVE TWO GOALS. ONE, KEEP COVID-19 FROM ENTERING OUR LONG-TERM CARE FACILITIES. IDENTIFY ANY COVID-19 INFECTIONS EARLY. EARLY EDUCATION INFECTION CONTROL, AND IDENTIFICATION OF POSITIVE COVID-19 CASES AND LONG-TERM CARE FACILITIES ALLOW US TO IMPLEMENT IMMEDIATE ACTIONS TO AVOID LOSS OF LIFE. IN SUPPORT OF FLORIDA'S PRIORITY TO INCREASE TESTING FOR LONG-TERM CARE FACILITIES, WE ARE SHIFTING OUR TESTING PRIORITIES IN SUPPORT OF GOVERNOR DESANTIS'S FLORIDA,'S LONG-TERM CARE TESTING STRATEGY WHILE CONTINUING TO MAINTAIN OUR ON-SITE TESTING FOR CONTEXT OF POSITIVE CASES AND OTHER CDC PRIORITIES.
A GENTLE REMINDER TO A REMINDER OF THE IMPORTANCE OF WEARING A FACE MASK.
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THE CONVINCING EVIDENCE OF ASYMPTOMATIC TRANSMISSION CONTINUES TO SUPPORT THE RECOMMENDATION OF WEARING FACE MASKS OR CLOTH FACE COVERINGS IN PUBLIC SETTINGS.THIS RECOMMENDATION FOR THE GENERAL PUBLIC TO USE SOME FORM OF FACEMASK OR CLOTH FACE COVERING WHEN IN CROWDED OUTDOOR OR INDOOR SPACES IS A KEY MITIGATION STRATEGY OR OTHER SOCIAL DISTANCING MEASURES CANNOT BE MAINTAINED. AS A REMINDER, THE BEST AND MOST UP-TO-DATE INFORMATION IS AVAILABLE AT THE WEBSITE. PLEASE CONTINUE TO PRACTICE SOCIAL DISTANCING. MAINTAINING AT LEAST SIX FEET FROM THOSE AROUND YOU IN SOCIAL SETTINGS AND DO NOT COMPLICATE IN GROUPS OF MORE THAN 10 PEOPLE.
USE GOOD HAND HYGIENE AND USING HAND SANITIZER AND SOAP AND WATER.
WE ENCOURAGE EVERYONE TO STAY HEALTHY. AS ALWAYS, MY HEART REMAINS TO BE WITH THE FAMILIES AS THEY STRUGGLE WITH ILLNESS AND GRIEF.
THANK YOU. >> ANY QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS? COMMISSIONER BLOCKER?
COVID NO, SIR. >> COMMISSIONER SMITH: THANK YOU.
GOOD MORNING. >> GOOD MORNING, COMMISSIONER. DIRECTOR OF EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT, SAYING JOHN'S COUNTY. THE EEOC CONTINUES TO WORK MISSIONS FOR COVID-19. TO DATE, WE HAVE HEADED OUT OVER 150,000 PIECES OF PPE AND HAND SANITIZER TO OUR PARTNER AGENCIES. LAST WEEK, I TALKED ABOUT FEMA BRINGING IN A LARGE AMOUNT OF CLOTH FACE COVERINGS, AND WE RECEIVED 3900 IN THE FIRST SHIPMENT AND WE HAVE BEEN SENDING THIS OUT TO OUR CRITICAL INFRASTRUCTURE GROUPS AND WE CONTINUE TO DO THAT TODAY REACHING OUT TO OUR FOOD PANTRIES IN THE AGRICULTURE COMMUNITY. OVER THE WEEKEND, THE STATE SENT OUT AN EMAIL ASKING IF COUNTIES WOULD LIKE TO RECEIVE MORE OF THE CLOTH FACE COVERINGS, AND SO WE ASKED FOR ANOTHER PALLET AND THOSE SHOULD BE ARRIVING WITHIN THE WEEK TO ST. JOHNS COUNTY TO HELP ADDITIONAL INDUSTRIES AND FOR US TO RESUPPLY HERE IN OUR COUNTY.
SO WITH THAT UNLESS THERE'S ANY QUESTIONS? >> COMMISSIONER SMITH: ANY QUESTIONS? THANK YOU. ALL RIGHT.
WE WILL MOVE ALONG INTO PUBLIC COMMENT ON THIS PARTICULAR AGENDA ITEM.
COMMISSIONER WALDRON? >> COMMISSIONER WALDRON: AT THIS TIME, THE BOARD WILL HEAR PUBLIC COMMENT. ON MATTERS THAT ARE NOT ON THE REGULAR AGENDA.
REGULAR AGENDA ITEMS WILL HAVE THEIR OWN PUBLIC COMMENT PERIOD.
ANY PERSON WISHING TO ADDRESS THE BOARD SHOULD COME TO THE PODIUM OR PHONE AND STATE HIS OR HER NAME AND ADDRESS. EACH PERSON WILL BE PROVIDED THREE MINUTES TO SPEAK AND SHALL COMPLY WITH THE BOARD'S RULES OF DECORUM. COMMENTS SHOULD BE ADDRESSED TO THE BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS AS A WHOLE, NOT TO ANY INDIVIDUAL COMMISSIONER AND MAY NOT INCLUDE A DEMAND FOR AN IMMEDIATE RESPONSE FROM THE BOARD.NO PERSON ADDRESS THE BOARD WITH ANY PERSONAL IMPERTINENT OR SLANDEROUS REMARKS WITH BOISTEROUS BEHAVIOR. MEMBERS OF THE AUDIENCE SHOULD REFRAIN FROM ANY DISRUPTIVE DEMONSTRATION OF APPROVAL OR DISAPPROVAL OF ANY COMMENTS. FINALLY, I WOULD ASK THAT ANY SPEAKER THAT PRESENTS ANY OVERHEAD MATERIAL PLEASE PRESENT THAT MATERIAL TO STAFF OF THE CLERK OF THE COURT TO BE ENTERED INTO PUBLIC RECORD. THANK YOU.
IF ANYBODY WOULD LIKE TO SPEAK, PLEASE COME FORWARD AND WE WILL TAKE PHONE CALLS.
>> SPEAKER: IF I MAY CLARIFY Ã IT WOULD BE ON THESE AGENDA ITEMS.
DO WE HAVE ANY PHONE CALLS? >> SPEAKER: YES.>> COMMISSIONER SMITH: YOU ARE ON THE LINE. GOOD MORNING AND GIVE YOUR NAME AND ADDRESS FOR THE RECORD,
PLEASE. >> SPEAKER: GOOD MORNING, MR. CHAIRMAN THIS IS ED SLAVEN BOX 3084, ED SLAVEN.COM CLEANUP CITY OF SAINT AUGUSTINE. LET ME KNOW THAT STATEMENT THEY HAVE YOU READ IS STILL UNCONSTITUTIONAL AND STILL Ã THE COUNTY ATTORNEY GOT IT WRONG WHEN HE WROTE IT AND IT'S STILL WRONG. I WANT TO THANK EVERYBODY INVOLVED. THE COUNTY STAFF AND COUNTY PROFESSIONALS AND THE COMMISSIONERS AND BUSINESS OWNERS, MEDICAL PROFESSIONALS, EVERYBODY WHO HAS RESPONDED SO WELL IN ST. JOHNS COUNTY. TO THE CORONAVIRUS. AND WANTED TO CALL YOUR ATTENTION TO SOMETHING THAT I WOULD LIKE TO ASK FOR YOUR HELP ON.
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WE ONLY HAVE LESS THAN A WEEK NOW, BUT IT CAME TO MY ATTENTION A COUPLE OF DAYS AGO OVER THE WEEKEND THAT THE VETERANS ADMINISTRATION NATIONWIDE, APPARENTLY, IS TELLING THE BOY SCOUTS AND GIRL SCOUTS THAT THEY CANNOT PUT FLAGS ON GRACE IN OUR NATIONAL CEMETERIES. NOW, I TALKED TO ONE OF THE SCOUT LEADERS HERE IN ST.AUGUSTINE, AND HE BELIEVES THAT THE BOY SCOUTS HERE ARE PERFECTLY COMPETENT TO DO SOCIAL DISTANCING MASKS AND TO PUT THE FLAGS ON THE RACE. WE HAVE ALWAYS DONE THIS.
I THINK WE OWE IT TO OUR VETERANS TO DO THAT. NOW, I TOTALLY UNDERSTAND IF THE ANNUAL MEMORIAL DAY EVENT IS POSTPONED FOR GOOD REASON, TO PROTECT THE HEALTH OF OUR ELDERS, THE GREATEST GENERATION WHO ATTENDS THOSE EVENTS BUT I REALLY APPRECIATE IT IF YOU COULD HELP ON THAT. AND THEN I AM ALSO DELIGHTED TO READ THAT ST. AUGUSTINE HIGH SCHOOL IS GOING TO HAVE AN IN PERSON GRADUATION WITH ACCOMMODATIONS FOR HEALTH PROTECTION. I'M REALLY GLAD TO HEAR THAT. BUT APPARENTLY, ONLY ONE OF OUR EIGHT HIGH SCHOOLS IN ST. JOHNS COUNTY IS DOING THAT. AND THE PROBLEM HAS TO DO WITH WHAT WE HAVE HAD HERE IN ST. JOHNS COUNTY FOR EONS, WHICH IS HIERARCHAL AUTHORITARIAN LEADERSHIP. THE SCHOOL SUPERINTENDENT, NEAR AS I CAN TELL BECAUSE HE HASN'T RESPONDED AND AN OPEN RECORDS REQUEST MADE THE DETERMINATION TO CANCEL HIGH SCHOOL GRADUATIONS ON HIS OWN. HE DID NOT CONFER WITH THE PARENTS OR THE STUDENTS OR THE GRADUATES, THE TEACHERS, ANYBODY. AND I AM REMINDED OF THE FACT THAT WE USED TO HAVE A SCHOOL SUPERINTENDENT IN ST. JOHNS COUNTY UNTIL I THINK ABOUT 1988 HE WAS ELECTED AND OTIS MASON WAS A FINE SCHOOL SUPERINTENDENT ELECTED TWICE.
AND THE MAN HERE ABOLISHED THE POSITION OF ELECTED SUPERINTENDENT AND THEY NOW HAVE AN APPOINTED ONE. I AM PERFECTLY WILLING TO CONSIDER THE IDEA OF A COUNTY CHARTER THAT WOULD INCLUDE AN ELECTED SCHOOL SUPERINTENDENT. I THINK THERE'S ENOUGH ARROGANCE TO GO AROUND IN GOVERNMENT, AND THIS DECISION BY THE SCHOOL SUPERINTENDENT WITHOUT ANY CONSULTATION WITH THE AFFECTED PEOPLE. THAT'S THE KIND OF DECISION-MAKING WE DON'T NEED. BUT THANK YOU FOR THE PUBLIC COMMENT YOU A LOT OF EACH OF THESE MEETINGS. I KNOW A COUPLE OF YEARS AGO THERE WERE MEETINGS UNDER PRIOR COUNTY COMMISSION CHAIR PRIOR COUNTY ADMINISTRATOR. WHETHER THERE BE AN EMERGENCY DECLARATION AND IT WAS HELD IN CONFERENCING AND WASN'T EVEN TELEVISED.
YOU ARE DOING THE RIGHT THING THANK YOU AGAIN FOR FIRING MICHAEL DAVID WANCHICK AS
COUNTY ADMINISTRATOR. THANK YOU. >> COMMISSIONER SMITH: GOOD MORNING. PLEASE STATE YOUR NAME AND ADDRESS FOR THE RECORD, PLEASE.
>> SPEAKER: GOOD MORNING. TOM REYNOLDS, 50 FORGETTING CT., ST. AUGUSTINE BEACH.
32080. THANK YOU FOR TAKING PUBLIC COMMENT.
THE FIRST THING I WANT YOU COMMISSIONERS TO KNOW IS YOU PROBABLY ALREADY KNOW THIS, THAT THE DATA CHIEF FOR THE FLORIDA DASHBOARD WAS OUSTED, WAS FIRED.
SO THE NUMBERS THAT YOU HEAR ARE NOT ACCURATE NUMBERS AT ALL.
THERE ARE TWO KINDS OF NUMBERS THAT THE MEMBERS OF THE GOVERNOR DESANTIS WANTS TO PROJECT AND THEN THERE'S REAL NUMBERS. THE REAL NUMBERS ARE GOING TO TAKE A WHILE TO GET TO AND IT IS ABSOLUTELY VERY DANGEROUS THAT DESANTIS IS CHOOSING TO GO DOWN THIS ROAD. IT'S VERY SAD TO ME. NUMBER TWO, COMMISSIONERS, I AM REALLY SURPRISED THAT THE DOCTOR IS NOT ADDRESSING WHAT HAPPENED YESTERDAY.
WHAT HAPPENED YESTERDAY ON NATIONAL TELEVISION IS AN ABSOLUTE SIN.
THE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES IS RECOMMENDING HYDROCHLORIC LOAN, PRESCRIPTION DRUGS. THE DOCTOR SHOULD BE DOWN DENOUNCING DRINKING BLEACH THE DOCTOR SHOULD BE DENOUNCING USING BODY PARTS. RIGHT NOW WE HAVE A MISINFORMATION CAMPAIGN. WE HAVE ELDERLY DYING ALL OVER OUR STATE, ALL OVER OUR COUNTRY AND THEY ARE DYING ALONE. HOW SAD TO DIALOGUE? BECAUSE WE HAVE A FEDERAL GOVERNMENT THAT HAS FAILED US AND NOW FOR SOME REASON, THE GOVERNOR HAS DECIDED TO FOLLOW THE FOOTSTEPS OF THE FEDERAL FAILURE. SO NOW WE HAVE FABRICATED NUMBERS ON BOTH SIDES. THIS IS GETTING CRAZIER AND CRAZIER IN THE STATE OF FLORIDA. COMMISSIONERS, WHEN YOU MAKE DECISIONS, YOU REMEMBER YOU HAVE A CITY HERE IS HOME TO THE NATION ÃIT'S THE OLDEST CITY IN AMERICA.
WE HAVE A LOT OF ELDERLY PEOPLE HERE. PLEASE ALWAYS PUT THEM FIRST IN YOUR THINKING. BECAUSE WE HAVE A REAL SERIOUS DANGER RIGHT NOW IN OUR STATE OF FLORIDA AND IN THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA. AND THERE IS ABSOLUTELY NO WAY THAT I COULD POSSIBLY EVER BELIEVE THAT MASSACHUSETTS, MICHIGAN, HAS MORE DEAD PEOPLE
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FROM THE CORONAVIRUS IN FLORIDA. WE HAVE ALL OF THOSE PEOPLE THAT PASSD AWAY BUT HAVE NOT BEEN TESTED YET IN THE STATE OF FLORIDA.YOUR DECISION-MAKING ÃYOU REMEMBER, HISTORY IS NOT GOING TO BE KIND TO THIS GENERATION.
I HOPE THEY WILL BE KIND TO YOU BECAUSE I HOPE THE DECISIONS YOU COUNTY COMMISSIONERS ARE MAKING IS REALLY PUTTING THE TRUTH THERE. AND ANOTHER THING TODAY ALSO, ARE WE GOING TO ADDRESS AND CALL OFF ANY FUNCTIONS AT THE ST. JOHNS COUNTY PIER OF JUNE 1, 2021. THAT WOULD BE SMART DECISION-MAKING AND AUTHORITY HAPPEN AND IT'S ABOUT TIME THE COMMISSION STOP LISTENING TO STATE AND FEDERAL AUTHORITIES IS PUTTING IT ALL TOGETHER. HANK YOU VERY MUCH, COUNTY COMMISSIONERS.
>> COMMISSIONER SMITH: GOOD MORNING. PLEASE STATE YOUR NAME AND
ADDRESS FOR THE RECORD. >> SPEAKER: SANDRA MARVIN RIVERVIEW DOCTOR, ST.
AUGUSTINE. I WANTED TO INQUIRE ABOUT THE STATUS OF SHORT-TERM RENTALS THE GOVERNOR DESANTIS HAS SENT TO THE COUNTY TO MAKE THE DECISIONS FOR REOPENING THOSE PROPERTIES. I UNDERSTAND MOST OF THE COUNTIES IN THE SURROUNDING AREAS HAVE ALREADY SUBMITTED THEIR SAFETY PLANS. I WANTED TO SEE IF ST. JOHNS COUNTY IS THAT IN PROCESS AND WHAT THE STATUS IS. SPEAK TO MISS MARVIN, IF YOU HAD CAUGHT THE BEGINNING OF THE MEETING WE HAD THAT UPDATE. WE WILL HAVE IT TO THE STATE THIS EVENING OR FIRST THING IN THE MORNING. WE DO NOT KNOW HOW LONG THE PROCESS WILL TAKE TO BE APPROVED OR DISAPPROVED. BUT WE HAVE BEEN FORMULATING IT
AND IT SHOULD GO OUT TONIGHT AND TOMORROW MORNING. >> SPEAKER: THANK YOU.
I DID MISS THE FIRST FEW MINUTES. >> SPEAKER: THANKS FOR CALLING.
GOODBYE. >> COMMISSIONER SMITH: I SEE NO MORE ON THE PHONE.
ANY MORE PUBLIC COMMENT? YES, MA'AM. >> SPEAKER: I ALSO MISSED THE FIRST FEW MINUTES SO I UNDERSTAND YOU ARE GOING TO PROPOSE SOMETHING.
IS THERE ANY WAY THE PUBLIC CAN GET A COPY OF WHAT YOU'RE GOING TO PROPOSE BEFORE YOU PROPOSE IT? ON VACATION RENTALS? I HAVE BEEN CALLING SINCE FRIDAY. I CAN'T EVEN FIND OUT WHO'S DRAFTING IT BUT I WOULD LIKE TO
SEE A COPY OF IT BEFORE YOU PRESENTED IF POSSIBLE. >> SPEAKER: WE CAN SEND YOU A COPY OF IT. BACK TO THE COMMENTS THIS MORNING, IF I MAY REITERATE THAT IF YOU DON'T MIND. WHAT WE HAVE DONE IS IN FORMULATING OUR FAMILY ACCEPTED FEEDBACK FROM THE COMMUNITY AND I BELIEVE YOU RECEIVED AN EMAIL FROM YOU AS WELL TAKING THE FEEDBACK FROM A LOT OF THE INDUSTRY AS WELL AS LOCAL VACATION RENTAL OWNERS, TAKING A LOT OF THEIR FEEDBACK AND USE THAT IN COMPLIANCE WITH THE GOVERNOR'S ORDERS AS WELL AS DBPR PUT THAT CLAIM TOGETHER FROM THERE AND WE WILL DRAFT A LETTER SO THAT SHOULD BE GOING OUT TODAY. IF NOT TODAY DEPENDING ON WHAT TIME WE FINISH UP HERE, FIRST THING IN THE MORNING. IF YOU WILL PROVIDE YOUR EMAIL TO STAFF OR TO MS. LUNDQUIST WE WILL MAKE SURE WE SEND YOU A COPY WHEN WE SENT ÃIT'S PROBABLY GOING TO BE PRETTY
CLOSE TO WHEN WE SENT IT OUT. >> DID YOU ALL EVER GET KEVIN'S PROPOSALS?
>> SPEAKER: WE DID. THE RNA IS A LARGE ORGANIZATION THAT DOES RENTALS AND THEY'VE SUBMITTED THE PROPOSAL TO US AND WE USE SOME OF THAT AS PART OF OUR SAFETY PLAN.
>> SPEAKER: SO DID YOU LIMIT IT TO ONLY PEOPLE FROM THE STATE OF FLORIDA?
>> SPEAKER: DON'T BELIEVE IN OUR PLAN ONLY LIMITS THE STATE OF FLORIDA HOWEVER, IT DOES LOOK AT THE GOVERNOR'S ÃI DON'T KNOW IF YOU HEARD THE GOVERNOR ON FRIDAY SAID HE WILL NOT ACCEPT SAFETY PLANS WITH PEOPLE COMING FROM THE ARTWORK OR HOTSPOTS SO THERE IS LANGUAGE IN THERE ABOUT HOTSPOTS AND SOME RESTRICTIONS ON CERTAIN STATES
>> AND DID YOU SAY IT WILL BE THREE DAYS COMMIT >> THAT'S NOT PART OF OUR PLAN
TO >> I THINK YOU VERY MUCH FOR YOUR APPRECIATION.
>> COMMISSIONER DEAN: I THINK IT WAS MS. PLAYLIST WHO ASKED ME.
MS. BAYLESS, I THINK IT WAS YOU THAT ASKED ME AND WANT TO MAKE IT CLEAR AND I WANT THE STAFF TO CONFIRM IT WITH A YES OR HEAD NOT THAT THE QUESTION WAS, DOES THERE HAVE TO BE A SAFETY PLAN FOR NOT ONLY THE COUNTY BUT IN ADDITION, ST. AUGUSTINE AND ST. AUGUSTINE BEACH.ND I THINK THE ANSWER IS NO, JUST THE COUNTY SUBMITS THE PLAN AND THAT WILL COVER ALL THREE
JURISDICTIONS. >> TOOK THE CHAIR AND COMMISSIONER DEAN, THAT'S MY UNDERSTANDING AS WELL. I'VE SPOKEN WITH A NUMBER OF THE COMMISSIONERS AND SOMEONE
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FROM THE BEACH SO BEFORE WE FINALIZE THAT, I WILL ALSO SURE THAT UP WITH MR. REED AND MR. BOYLE WHO IS THE BEACH CITY MANAGER TO MAKE SURE THEY ARE GOOD WITH THE PLAN AS SENDOFF.I DON'T NOW ARE NOT 100 PERCENT SURE THAT IT COVERS THEM THAT'S MY UNDERSTANDING THAT THE GOVERNOR ORDER SAYS THE COUNTIES ADMINISTRATOR SHALL SUBMIT THE PLAN FOR THE COUNTY BUT WE WANT TO MAKE SURE WE'RE IN COORDINATION WITH OUR MUNICIPALITIES AS WELL.
>> COMMISSIONER DEAN: IT REMINDED ME OF THE QUESTION ABOUT THE TWO CITIES I JUST WANTED TO BRING IT UP. I THINK AS I READ THE ORDER, IT REQUIRES COUNTY TO SUBMIT NOT EACH MUNICIPALITY IN ADDITION TO THE COUNTY AND THAT'S THE WAY I READ.
BUT YOU CONFIRMED IT. THANK YOU. >> COMMISSIONER SMITH: ANYMORE PUBLIC COMMENT ON EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT UPDATE? MR. CHAIRMAN, I SEE NONE.
[Item 2]
>> COMMISSIONER SMITH: WE WILL NOW MOVE ALONG TO AGENDA ITEM NUMBER TWO.
THE SPECIAL MEETING. MR. MACCORMACK? >> SPEAKER: GOOD MORNING, COMMISSIONERS. HAPPY FOR YOU FOR CONSIDERATION IN EMERGENCY PROCLAMATION WHICH WOULD HAVE THE EFFECT OF EXTENDING FOR FURTHER SEVEN DAYS, THE LOCAL STATE OF EMERGENCY. THE BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS HAS DONE THIS SINCE THE INITIAL DECLARATION FOR EACH SEVEN-DAY PERIOD. YOU'VE HEARD TODAY FROM YOUR ADMINISTRATOR FROM DR. ALANCOTT THE DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH, FROM YOUR EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT DIRECTOR AND THE PUBLIC.SO THIS EMERGENCY PROCLAMATION IS PROFFERED FOR YOUR
CONSIDERATION. THANK YOU. >> COMMISSIONER SMITH: ANY COMMENTS, QUESTIONS FROM THE BOARD? WHAT NUMBER WOULD THIS BE?
>> SPEAKER: 14. >> COMMISSIONER SMITH: WE WILL OPEN IT UP FOR PUBLIC COMMENT.
>> WE WILL HAVE PUBLIC COMMENT ON EMERGENCY PROCLAMATION. I SEE NONE.
>> COMMISSIONER SMITH: WE ARE BACK TO THE BOARD. I WILL ENTERTAIN A MOTION.
>> I MAKE A MOTION TO APPROVE PROCLAMATION EXTENDING THE DECLARATION OF THE STATE OF LOCAL EMERGENCY AS PROVIDED BY CHAPTER 252 PART ONE FLORIDA STATUTES BY ST. JOHNS COUNTY
BOARD EMERGENCY PROCLAMATION NUMBER 2020 Ã14. >> COMMISSIONER SMITH: HAVE A MOTION, DRIVE A SECOND? ON A SECOND BY COMMISSIONER WALDRON.
ANY DISCUSSION? WE WILL PROCEED WITH A ROLL CALL VOTE.
I USUALLY START WITH COMMISSIONER DEAN.
>> COMMISSIONER SMITH: I WILL BE A YES AS WELL.T PASSES 5 TO 0. IS THERE ANY OTHER BUSINESS TO COME BEFORE THIS PBOARD DURING THIS SPECIAL
* This transcript was compiled from uncorrected Closed Captioning.