[00:01:46]
SEEING NO PUBLIC COMMENT, WE'RE GOING TO MOVE TO ANY ADDITIONS OR DELETIONS TO THE AGENDA.
DO WE HAVE ANY ADDITIONS OR DELETIONS? FOR NEW BUSINESS, WE'RE GOING
[New Business]
TO WELCOME OUR GUESTS FROM FLAGLER HEALTH AND WE'RE GOING TO CONSIDER A RESOLUTION FOR THE ISSUANCE BY THE ST. JOHNS COUNTY INDUSTRIAL DEVELOPMENT AUTHORITY OF ITS REVENUE BONDS, TAXABLE SERIES 2020A AND 2020 B, AN AGGREGATE PRINCIPAL AMOUNT NOT TO EXCEED $240 MILLION. DO WE HAVE ANY REPRESENTATIVES FROM FLAGLER HEALTH THAT WOULD LIKE TO SPEAK AT THIS TIME? GOOD MORNING, MR. HELWIG AND MEMBERS.PLEASE CALL ME SKIP. YOU CAN IMAGINE HAVING A NAME LIKE THAT AS A FIVE-YEAR-OLD.
MY MOTHER GAVE ME A NICKNAME REALLY FAST. ON BEHALF OF FLAGLER HEALTH, I'M GRATEFUL TO BE HERE FOR THE AUTHORITY'S CONTINUING SUPPORT OF FLAGLER HEALTH EFFORTS.
CURRENTLY THE ONLY ACUTE CARE CENTER, WE TAKE OUR EFFORTS SERIOUSLY.
WE APPRECIATE YOU ENABLING OUR EFFORTS, TO GROW AND EXPAND OUR EFFORTS, TO DO SO IN A WAY THAT ENHANCES PUBLIC HEALTH AND PUBLIC WELFARE. I THINK THAT YOU CAN SURMISE FROM THE MATERIALS SUBMITTED, THAT THEY'RE INDICATIVE OF THAT GROWTH OF FLAGLER HEALTH PLUS, NOT ONLY THE POPULATION GROWTH, PRIMARY AND SECONDARY SERVICE AREAS, AGAIN, LOCALLY GOVERNED TOTAL HEALTH CARE ENTERPRISE, OUR DESIRE TO EXPAND OUR MISSION.
SOME OF THAT IS WITH THE PARTICULAR FOCUS ON EXPANDING OUR AMBULATORY FOOTPRINT, IF YOU WILL. THE EXPANSION OF WHAT WE CALL HEALTH VILLAGES, ONE IS OPEN CURRENTLY IN THE WORLD GOLF VILLAGE AREA. FLAGLER HEALTH PLUS VILLAGE THAT OPENED LATE IN 2019. SOME OF YOU MAY OR MAY NOT HAVE HAD THE OPPORTUNITY TO DRIVE BY THE NOCATEE COMMUNITY AND SEE THE HEALTH VILLAGE THAT IS WELL UNDERWAY AND LIKELY TO OPEN IN THE LATTER PART OF THIS FALL. WE ENVISION SIMILAR HEALTH VILLAGES THROUGHOUT OUR MARKETPLACE. AT THE SAME TIME, WE CONTINUE RAPID RECRUITMENT AND EXPANSION OF OUR PHYSICIAN ENTERPRISE TO MAKE SURE THAT WE HAVE CONTRACTS WITH OR WILL EMPLOY PHYSICIANS TO HELP SERVICE THESE VARIOUS ENTERPRISES THAT THIS FINANCING WOULD HELP ENABLE. SO NO SHORT, TODAY JUST WANTED TO EXPRESS OUR ONGOING THANKS, THIS AUTHORITY HAS BEEN CRITICAL TO OUR SUCCESS FOR A LONG LONG TIME.
AND WE SUSPECT WILL BE SO INTO THE FUTURE. AND WITH THAT BRIEF PREAMBLE, I'M CERTAINLY AVAILABLE TO TAKE COMMENTS OR QUESTIONS, FOLEY LAW FIRM AS WELL IS HERE.
[00:05:04]
I THINK HE'S FAMILIAR TO SOME OR MOST OF YOU. THANK YOU VERY MUCH.>> THANK YOU, SKIP. AT THIS TIME I WOULD LIKE TO OPEN IT UP FOR AUTHORITY
MEMBERS FOR QUESTIONS. >> SKIP, I WONDER IF YOU MIGHT JUST GIVE US A QUICK SYNOPSIS OF HOW THE EFFECT OF THE PANDEMIC HAS IMPACTED FLAGLER HEALTH.
YOU KNOW, OBVIOUSLY YOU SAW A LOT OF EARLY REPORTS MONTHS AGO NOW.
THOSE PROCEDURES OUTSIDE OF DIRECTLY RELATED TO COVID BEING SIDELINED AND THERE WAS A LOT OF HOSPITAL CAPACITY I BELIEVE HERE LOCALLY. I'M CURIOUS WHAT THE OUT LOOK IS. WHAT THE LONGER TERM IMPLICATIONS APPEAR TO BE.
BECAUSE WE ARE HEARING SOME REPORTS OF SMALLER HEALTH CARE SYSTEMS STRUGGLING.
OTHERS THAT ARE DOING JUST FINE. I WONDER WHERE FLAGLER FITS
INTO THAT SPECTRUM. >> I APPRECIATE THE QUESTION. AND IT'S SPOT ON, VERY INTUITIVE AND I THINK THAT YOU KNOW, THE EFFECTS OF THE COVID PANDEMIC ARE SOMEWHAT GEOGRAPHICALLY DISPROPORTIONATE, SOME OF THAT DEPENDS ON POPULATION DENSITY OR OTHERWISE. I WOULD TELL YOU BACK IN THE EARLY GOINGS, BACK IN THE MARCH TIME FRAME, REALLY THROUGH THE LATTER PART OF MAY, EVEN THROUGH JUNE, FLAGLER HEALTH PLUS WAS RELATIVELY UNSCATHED, RELATIVELY FEW PATIENTS THAT WERE POSITIVE.
GOOD NEWS IS WE CERTAINLY STILL HAVE ADEQUATE CAPACITY. BUT THE COVID-19 POSITIVE PATIENTS THAT REQUIRE HOSPITALIZATIONS ARE AT THE HIGHEST LEVELS THEY'VE BEEN IN THE SHORT-TERM HISTORY AND YET STILL, WE HAVE ADEQUATE CAPACITY, NOT ONLY OF STAFF AND NEGATIVE AIR PRESSURE ROOMS, WHICH IS IMPORTANT WITH ANY RESPIRATORY LADEN DISEASE PROCESS. WE ARE STILL ABLE TO GET MOST OF THE CRITICAL PROTECTIVE EQUIPMENT AND SUPPLIES THAT WE NEED. SO FAR SO GOOD.
BUT I WOULD TELL YOU THAT WE'RE KEEPING A CLOSE EYE ON THE MORE RECENT NUMBERS.
BECAUSE I THINK THAT THE CORRELATION OF THE STATISTICS THIS TIME IS DIFFERENT THAN WHAT WE SAW INITIALLY. SO WHEN WE BEGAN TO THINK ABOUT COVID POSITIVE CASES AND HOSPITALIZATIONS AND THOSE THAT REQUIRE VENTILATORS, ALL THREE OF THOSE METRICS COME TOGETHER FOR US NOW. SO WE'RE WATCHING CLOSELY, STILL AT CAPACITY.
AS TO THE IMPACT ON OUR FUTURE, I THINK THERE IS GOING TO BE A SHORT-TERM ELEMENT AND MAYBE A MODERATE TERM ELEMENT. SO IN THE SHORT-TERM, WE'RE VERY FOCUSED ON MAKING SURE THAT WE HAVE FAIRLY RESTRICTIVE PROCESSES IN PLACE AT THE HOSPITAL AND OTHER CLINICS, TO MAKE SURE THAT WE'RE PROTECTIVE OF PEOPLE AND THAT WE CAN SAFELY SERVE ALL.
WE'RE A LITTLE CONCERNED THAT, I THINK OUT OF DEFERENCE TO SAFETY, SOME PATIENTS ARE SAYING MAYBE I SHOULD DEFER PROCEDURES, THAT CERTAINLY HAS AN IMPACT ON US.
WE DON'T THINK THAT WILL LAST FOR VERY VERY LONG. WE CERTAINLY HOPE NOT.
BUT REST ASSURED, WE'RE KEEPING A CLOSE EYE ON THIS. WE ARE CONCERNED THAT IF THIS MOST RECENT SURGE OR SPIKE OR WHATEVER WORD YOU WANT TO PUT ON IT CONTINUES OR ACCELERATES, IT WILL BE INTERESTING TO WATCH THE THINKING AROUND ELECTIVE PROCEDURES AGAIN IN PARTICULAR.
SO YOUR QUESTION IS RIGHT ON. WE HAVE RUN SEVERAL SENSITIVITY MODELS AROUND WHAT WOULD THAT LOOK LIKE, NOT ONLY FROM A PATIENT SAFETY PERSPECTIVE, BUT ALSO FROM OUR ECONOMIC PERSPECTIVE. AND YOU'RE EQUALLY RIGHT TO SAY I THINK THERE WERE SOME HEALTH SYSTEMS WHO MAY NOT HAVE BEEN RELATIVELY FINANCIALLY STRONG AS US OR OTHERS THAT ARE ON THE BRINK BECAUSE OF THIS THING. THAT IS HAPPENING IN THIS COUNTRY.
SO FAR NOT HERE. THANK YOU FOR THAT QUESTION. >> THANK YOU.
AND OBVIOUSLY, THOSE THAT DO DRIVE THROUGH NOCATEE KNOW THE PROGRESS OF THAT FACILITY HAS REMAINED YOU KNOW, ONGOING, EVEN DURING SOME OF THE SHUTDOWNS AND SO FORTH.
SO THAT IS A GOOD SIGN. I MEAN, ASSUMPTION I GUESS WOULD BE THAT YOU ALL FEEL CONFIDENT ENOUGH IN THAT STRATEGY TO KEEP PLOWING FORWARD.
>> WE DEFINITELY DO. WE THINK IT'S IMPORTANT TO MOVE AHEAD, TO DO SO CAREFULLY, FINANCIALLY AND OTHERWISE. BUT I THINK WE HAVE A SOLID PLAN THAT ADDRESSES WHAT PATIENTS IN THIS MARKET NEED AND WE THINK THAT WE CAN DO THAT IN A WAY THAT IS DIFFERET THAN SOME OTHERS. IT DOESN'T MAKE OTHERS BAD. IT JUST MEANS THAT WE'RE GOING TO DIFFERENTIATE ON DIFFERENT ELEMENTS THAT WE THINK ARE BETTER FOR THESE PATIENTS AND
CONSUMERS OF HEALTH CARE SERVICES. >> OTHER QUESTIONS?
>> MY QUESTION, SKIP, WAS MORE SPECIFIC TO EXHIBIT A, THAT YOU HAD OUTLINED THE DIFFERENT PROJECTS, AND I WAS JUST CURIOUS, I KNOW THERE IS INTERLOCAL AGREEMENT WITH
[00:10:02]
FLAGLER COUNTY AND PLANS TO EXPAND IN FLAGLER COUNTY. I KNOW THERE WAS ALSO AN ANNOUNCEMENT WITH PARTNERSHIP WITH UF HEALTH POTENTIALLY. ARE THOSE SEPARATE, IS THIS MOVE INTO FLAGLER COUNTY, IS THIS YOUR FIRST FOREY INTO FLAGLER COUNTY AND IS THEREPOTENTIAL FOR LONGER TERM DO YOU SEE? >> I APPRECIATE YOU PICKING UP ON THAT. ALTHOUGH WE HAVE HAD SOME SMALLER, FOR LACK OF A BETTER WORD, TIME SHARE AGREEMENTS, WE HAD RENTED SPACE IN PHYSICIAN OFFICES IN FLAGLER COUNTY, MANY MANY YEARS, THOSE WERE RELATIVELY SMALL OPERATIONS, ON BEHALF OF MANY PRIVATE PHYSICIANS HERE IN OUR MARKET GROUP WERE CHOOSING TO SERVE SOME OF THE PATIENTS IN FLAGLER COUNTY. THIS MOVE IS MORE SUBSTANTIVE AND WE INTEND TO HAVE A HEALTH VILLAGE THERE. SO THERE WILL BE A BROAD RANGE OF SERVICES.
AND AT LEAST FROM OUR PERSPECTIVE, WE THINK WE CAN DELIVER THE HEALTH SERVICES DIFFERENTLY. BUT TO THE STRATEGY POINT, I THINK IT'S BOTH AN OFFENSIVE AND DEFENSIVE MANEUVER FOR US AND ONE THAT MAKES SENSE. AND IT'S PROBABLY LOST YOU KNOW, TO NO ONE IN THIS ROOM, THAT WE AT FLAGLER HEALTH PLUS, AS A MID-SIZED COMMUNITY HEALTH SYSTEM, WE KIND OF LIVE IN THE LAND OF GIANTS. WE'RE SURROUNDED BY WELL CAPITALIZED, SOME NAME BRANDED NATIONAL HEALTH SYSTEMS, THAT IS OKAY.
I JUST THINK IT MAKES US STRONGER. SO YES.
AND THE OTHER THING, WITH REGARD TO PALM COAST IS WE RECENTLY HAVE EMPLOYED SOME ORTHOPEDIC SURGEONS WHO PREVIOUSLY WERE AFFILIATED WITH THE ADVENT HEALTH SYSTEMS. VIRTUALLY ALL OF THOSE ORTHOPEDIC SURGEONS HAVE BEEN OR A RESIDENT IN ST. JOHNS COUNTY. SO YES, YOU PICKED UP ON SOMETHING THAT IS IMPORTANT TO OUR OVERALL STRATEGY. WE WILL CONTINUE TO EXPAND IN PALM COAST.
SO THE ORTHOPEDIC OFFICE IS OPEN THERE. DONE RENOVATIONS TO A BUILDING THAT WE RENT IN THE TOWN CENTER THERE AND THEN THIS HEALTH VILLAGE WILL START TO BOOST THAT UP. WITH REGARD TO THE UNIVERSITY OF FLORIDA, STILL IN THE LETTER OF INTENT PHASE, BUT I THINK THE THING I WOULD WANT TO EMPHASIZE FOR FOLKS HERE TODAY IS THAT WE CERTAINLY DON'T ENVISION THAT AS A MARRIAGE OF FULL ECONOMIC INTEGRATION.
SOME COMMUNITY HOSPITALS DO THAT. THEY SAY I DESIRE TO BE ACQUIRED BY OR FULLY INTEGRATE WITH OR MERGE WITH A LARGE HEALTH SYSTEM.
THAT IS NOT OUR OBJECTIVE. WE VIEW THAT LETTER OF INTENT AND ULTIMATELY IF IT TRANSLATES TO DEFINITIVE AGREEMENTS TO BE EITHER YOU KNOW, SPECIFIC SERVICE LINE THINGS THAT WE WOULD DO OR WE DON'T HAVE THE CLINICAL EXPERTISE OR SOMETHING SPECIFIC TO A GEOGRAPHY WHERE WE REQUIRE THE RESOURCES OF UF. PARTICULARLY PHYSICIANS. HE BEAUTY OF UF IS IT HAS A TREMENDOUS MEDICAL SCHOOL AND PRODUCES PHYSICIANS. I THINK THOSE ARE THE SORTS OF RESOURCES THAT ALL HEALTH SYSTEMS ARE GOING TO NEED GOING FORWARD.
US HAVING A POSITIVE RELATIONSHIP WITH THE UNIVERSITY OF FLORIDA AND UF HEALTHY THINK IS TO ALL OF THIS DISCUSSION. WE'RE AN INDEPENDENT BUNCH, IN A WAY THAT I THINK IS STABLE AND MEASURED. WITH OUR EXPANSION SOUTH AND NORTH, IF YOU WILL, IT'S IMPORTANT FOR US TO HAVE SOME FORM OF RELATIONSHIP CLINICALLY
WITH A LARGER HEALTH SYSTEM, FOR VERY SPECIFIC THINGS. >> THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU. APPRECIATE THE QUESTION VERY MUCH.
>> ANY OTHER QUESTIONS? THERE WAS A LETTER FROM OUR CPA, MR. O'CONNELL.
HENRY, JUST WANTED TO TAKE A MOMENT AND GIVE YOUR PERSPECTIVE BASED ON YOUR
LETTER. >> YEAH. I REVIEWED THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS FOR THE YEAR, SEPTEMBER 30TH, 2018, 2019, A SET OF INTERIM STATEMENTS ALONG WITH THE MOST CURRENT BOND RATING OF BBB+, HAD SEVERAL CONVERSATIONS WITH CHAUNCEY ABOUT IT AS WELL. IN REGARDS TO THE COVID QUESTION, THEY HAVE IN THE DOCUMENTS, WIGGLE ROOM REFERENCED TO POTENTIAL BOND EXPERIENCE.
IN THE EVENT THEY FEEL DOWNWARD PRESSURE ON THE RATING, DUE TO ADDITIONAL DEBT LOAD AND POSSIBLE EFFECTS OF COVID. THEY HAVE PUT IN PLACE MEASURES TO SHORE UP THE ISSUE IN THE EVENT THE PANDEMIC INCREASES AND THE FINANCIAL OUTLOOK DECREASES, RATING DIPS.
BOND INSURANCE, PREMIUM PAID WHERE THEY ACTUALLY BUY THE RATING OF THE INSURER.
IT BECOMES MORE OF A STRAIGHT OUT FINANCIAL DECISION WHETHER THE COST OF THE INSURANCE IS OUTWEIGHED BY THE INTEREST SAVINGS. AND ON A SIDE NOTE, DOING THAT IT'S ANOTHER FORM OF THIRD-PARTY CREDIT ENHANCER ON TOP OF THE FUNDS AVAILABLE FOR FLAGLER, THEIR FUTURE REVENUES AND THE ASSETS THAT ARE CURRENTLY MORTGAGED BY THE
[00:15:10]
GROUP. WITH THOSE COMMENTS, I FEEL THAT THEY'VE SATISFIED ALLASPECTS OF THE FLORIDA STATUTE. >> THANK YOU. >> ASK MR. JEFF DOBSON OUR
ATTORNEY FOR ANY FEEDBACK. >> OKAY. >> JEFF, WE WOULD NEED TO HAVE
TWO MOTIONS, CORRECT? >> INTERLOCAL AGREEMENT. >> YEAH.
ONE WHICH WOULD BE PASSAGE OF RESOLUTION NUMBER 2020-02, WHICH IS THE MAIN ONE.
AND THEN WHILE IT MAY NOT BE REQUIRED, I WOULD PREFER THAT THERE BE A MOTION SPECIFICALLY
TO APPROVE (INAUDIBLE) >> AT THIS TIME I WOULD LIKE TO OPEN IT UP FOR ANY MOTIONS.
>> BOTH OF WHICH ARE INCLUDED IN THE PACKET. >> YEAH.
>> I WOULD BE HAPPY TOP MAKE A MOTION THAT WE APPROVE THE ISSUE AND THE INTERLOCAL
AGREEMENT. DO IT SEPARATELY OR -- >> IT COULD BE AT THE SAME
TIME. >> ONLY IF YOU GET A NEGATIVE VOTE WOULD I REQUIRE YOU TO
VOTE ON IT SEPARATELY. >> MY MOTION STANDS FOR THE APPROVAL OF BOTH THE ISSUE AND
THE INTERLOCAL AGREEMENT WITH FLAGLER COUNTY. >> I SECOND THAT MOTION.
>> ALL IN FAVOR. >> AYE. >> THE RECORD SHOULD REFLECT
THAT THE VOTE WAS UNANIMOUS. >> WELL, I CAN SAY WE APPRECIATE THE OPPORTUNITY TO PARTNER WITH YOU. AND I KNOW I'M ENCOURAGED BY WHAT YOU'RE DOING IN THE COMMUNITY. HOW YOU GUYS ARE LOOKING TO EXPAND SERVICES AND YOUR VISION. SO I THANK YOU FOR EVERYTHING YOU GUYS ARE DOING.
>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH, MR. HELWIG AND AUTHORITY MEMBERS. WE GENUINELY AND SINCERELY APPRECIATE YOUR PAST AND CONTINUING SUPPORT OF OUR EFFORTS.
LIKEWISE, WE ARE SINCERE IN OUR EFFORTS AS WELL. >> THANK YOU.
>> KEEP GOING, STAY HEALTHY OUT THERE. >> YEAH, INDEED.
Y'ALL TOO. >> OKAY. SO MOVING ON THE AGENDA, WE HAD THE PRESBYTERIAN RETIREMENT COMMUNITY OBLIGATED GROUP PROJECT.
WE NEED TO REVISE THE INTERLOCAL AGREEMENT, CORRECT? >> YEAH.
THE REVISED -- YEAH. BECAUSE THAT, IF YOU RECALL, PRESBYTERIAN WAS FOUR OR FIVE DIFFERENT COUNTIES, GETTING THEM ALL TO AGREE ON THE SAME DOCUMENT IS ONE OF THE MIRACLES
OF MODERN DAY. >> YEAH. THAT WAS AT OUR LAST MEETING.
E HAD APPROVED THAT. AND SO THIS INTERLOCAL AGREEMENT FOR PRESBYTERIAN RETIREMENT COMMUNITIES, THIS IS THE MOST UPDATED DOCUMENT AFTER DIFFERENT COUNTIES HAD A CHANCE
TO -- >> YES. >> I THINK THERE'S FIVE
COUNTIES. >> ORANGE COUNTY AND SOME OTHERS.
>> PINELLAS, I THINK. >> YEAH. >> AND THEN THE INTERLOCAL REQUIRES THAT YOU REPORT IT IN EACH OF THE COUNTIES, SO THAT WILL BE DONE.
>> ANY QUESTIONS ON THAT, ON THE REVISED INTERLOCAL AGREEMENT?
LIKE TO OPEN THE FLOOR FOR MY MOTIONS TO APPROVE THAT. >> MOTION TO APPROVE.
>> SECOND. >> ALL IN FAVOR. PLEASE LET THE RECORD SHOW THAT THAT PASSED UNANIMOUSLY. MOVING ON TO THE ST. JOHNS COUNTY BUSINESS GRANT PROGRAMS. JEFF HAS BEEN GREAT KEEPING US UPDATED. I WAS HOPING YOU COULD SHARE
WITH THE GROUP. >> AS MENTIONED IN THE LAST MEETING, ST. JOHNS COUNTY HAD IMPLEMENTED TWO GRANT PROGRAMS TO ASSIST OUR SMALL BUSINESSES. THE SMALL BUSINESS EMERGENCY GRANT PROGRAM AND THEN THE BACK TO BUSINESS GRANT PROGRAM. BOTH OF THOSE PROGRAMS RIGHT NOW APPLICATIONS ARE NO LONGER BEING ACCEPTED. WITH THE SMALL BUSINESS
[00:20:02]
EMERGENCY GRANT PROGRAM, WHICH IS WHAT YOU ALL PROVIDED GRANTS FOR TO HELP FUND, $5,000 GRANTS WERE PROVIDED TO 34 DIFFERENT BUSINESSES, TOTALING $170,000. AND THEN THE BACK TO BUSINESS GRANT PROGRAM, WHICH IS BEING MANAGED BY AN INDEPENDENT CONTRACTOR, THAT WAS FUNDED THROUGH CDBG FUNDS, COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT BLOCK GRANTS FEDERAL FUNDS, SO WHILE THE APPLICATIONS WERE BEING REVIEWED, THERE WERE ADDITIONAL GUIDELINES THAT CAME INTO ACCOUNTS THAT WE NEEDED ADDITIONAL DOCUMENTATION FROM THE APPLICATION.SO MANY OF THOSE ARE STILL BEING REVIEWED. AND AS OF THE END OF LAST WEEK, 14 APPLICATIONS WERE APPROVED WITH ANOTHER 150 BUSINESSES BEING CONTACTED TO GET ADDITIONAL DOCUMENTATION. SO THAT WHOLE PROCESS IS ONGOING STILL.
THERE IS CURRENTLY A TOTAL OF A LITTLE OVER $585,000 IN CDBG FUNDING.
BUT THROUGH THE CARES ACT, ST. JOHNS COUNTY IS RECEIVING $46 MILLION IN FUNDING FOR SPECIFIC COVID-19 RELATED EXPENSES. AND TOMORROW'S BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONER'S MEETING, THERE WILL BE A DISCUSSION ON HOW THESE FUNDS WILL BE ALLOCATED AND THE DIFFERENT PROJECTS. SO ONE OF THE RECOMMENDATIONS IS TO PROVIDE TEN THOUSAND DOLLARS TO HELP SUPPORT OUR SMALL BUSINESSES AND THIS WILL BE DONE TO PROVIDE ADDITIONAL FUNDING TO THE BACK TO BUSINESS GRANT PROGRAM. BUT ALSO TO POSSIBLY FUND A THIRD GRANT PROGRAM. AND THIS PROGRAM WILL INCLUDE LESS ELIGIBILITY REQUIREMENTS SO THAT MORE BUSINESSES CAN QUALIFY. IT'S STILL ALL YOU KNOW, DEPENDING ON TOMORROW'S BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSION MEETING AND YOU KNOW, WHAT THEY DETERMINED WHAT THEY WOULD LIKE TO DO WITH THIS FUNDING. ONE OTHER THING WOULD BE TO RETURN OR REALLOCATE THE FUNDING THAT WAS USED TO ASSIST THE SMALL BUSINESS PROGRAM.
AND THEN ALSO THE CDBG FUNDING. SO IN TOMORROW'S MEETING, IT WILL BE RECOMMENDED TO RETURN OR REPURPOSE THE $250,000, THAT THE IDA PROVIDED TO THE COUNTY FOR THIS GRANT PROGRAM.
IF YOU SO DESIRE, WE CAN PROVIDE YOU WITH ANOTHER UPDATE AFTER TOMORROW'S MEETING TO LET YOU KNOW WHAT WAS DETERMINED AND DECIDED. AND TO ALSO EXPLORE OR TALK ABOUT POSSIBLE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT PROJECTS THAT COULD BE SUPPORTED IF YOU DECIDE TO
REPURPOSE IT. >> THANKS FOR THE UPDATE. SO IF I UNDERSTAND IT, I THINK WE WERE, BECAUSE OF OUR ABILITY TO MOVE AND BE NIMBLE FIRST OUT OF THE GATE, CDBG FUNDS, HUD FUNDS WERE BEING CONSIDERED BY THE COMMISSION. SO WE HAD GRANTED $250,000 TO THE COUNTY TO BE USED TO HELP SMALL BUSINESSES RIGHT AFTER THE INITIAL EFFECTS OF COVID.
180,000 OF THAT WAS USED TO ASSIST SMALL BUSINESSES WITH 70,000 REMAINING.
>> 170 WAS USED TO ASSIST SMALL BUSINESS FUNDS. >> 170 WAS USED.
AND THEN THE CDBG FUNDS, WHICH I BELIEVE AT ONE POINT, INITIALLY THERE WAS A THOUGHT IT WAS GOING TO BE 2.1 MILLION. THAT ENDED UP BEING ABOUT HALF A MILLION, IS THAT CORRECT?
>> SO THOSE FUNDS WILL BE PUT BACK INTO WHAT THEY WERE ORIGINALLY INTENDED FOR.
AND THE CARES ACT FUNDING WOULD THEN COVER THE ADDITIONAL FUNDING.
SO 585 PLUS THOUSAND IN THE BACK TO BUSINESS GRANT PROGRAM WAS CDBG FUNDS THAT WERE COVID-19 SPECIFIC RELATED. > OKAY. AND THEN THE CARES ACT WAS
PASSED AND ST. JOHNS COUNTY IS RECEIVING? >> 46 MILLION.
>> 46 MILLION. >> AND THE STAFF IS GOING TO RECOMMEND TO THE COMMISSION TOMORROW THAT A PORTION OF THAT BE USED FOR ADDITIONAL SMALL BUSINESS
>> TEN MILLION. >> TEN MILLION. >> SO I GUESS DEPENDING ON THAT DECISION, WE'LL HAVE TO, DEPENDING ON WHAT THE RECOMMENDATION IS, THE RECOMMENDATION MIGHT BE THAT FUNDS ARE RETURNED. I THINK WE'LL HAVE TO MAKE SOME DECISIONS AND HAVE DISCUSSIONS AROUND HOW DO WE UTILIZE THAT. DO WE ASK THE COUNTY TO LOOK AT
[00:25:08]
REALLOCATING THAT TO SMALL BUSINESSES DURING THIS TIME AS ADDITIONAL GRANT PROGRAM, DO WE LOOK AT OTHER DEVELOPMENT PROGRAMS. I THINK IT'S SOMETHING THAT WE SHOULD PROBABLY DISCUSS. SO I DON'T KNOW IF THERE IS ANY THOUGHTS, AT LEAST INITIALTHOUGHTS OR FEEDBACK ON THAT. >> I MEAN, ONE THOUGHT WOULD BE TO POTENTIALLY CONSIDER DIRECTING SOME OF THOSE FUNDS, IF NOT DIRECTLY TO THE BUSINESSES, PERHAPS TO THE SUPPORT APPARATUS THAT WOULD ALLOW THESE OTHER FUNDS TO GET DEPLOYED MORE QUICKLY.
IT STRIKES ME AS DISAPPOINTING THAT WE DON'T HAVE MORE MONEY OUT THERE ALREADY.
IT LOOKS LIKE WE'VE GOT 48 BUSINESSES THAT HAVE BEEN AWARDED SOME SORT OF RELIEF.
A LOT MORE THAN 48 BUSINESSES THAT I'M SURE ARE HOPING FOR, LOOKING FOR THAT MONEY.
150 OTHERS. SO NOT A CRITIQUE OF ANYBODY. BUT WHAT IS IT GOING TO TAKE TO HUSTLE, GET THIS MONEY IN THE SYSTEM. I KNOW WE HAVE TO WATCH FOR ALL OF THE TYPICAL WASTE, FRAUD AND ABUSE. MY THINKING WOULD BE HOW CAN WE DEVELOP, WHETHER IT'S PARTNERSHIPS WITH PRIVATE ENTERPRISE OR SECURING MORE RESOURCES WITHIN THE COUNTY TO GET THROUGH THOSE REVIEW PROCESSES FASTER, TO GET THE MONEY TO THE BUSINESS OWNERS MORE QUICKLY. THAT MIGHT BE A GOOD PLACE TO REDIRECT SOME OF OUR SPENDING. IF IT HELPS GREASE THE SKIDS A LITTLE BIT ON THE TEN MILLION
THAT IS COMING. JUST A THOUGHT. >> WELL, I KNOW DEPENDING ON THE GRANT PROGRAM, THERE WERE DIFFERENT CRITERIA THAT OURS, I THINK WE TRIED TO MAKE OURS AS UN UN UN UNEVENIMCUMBERED AS POSSIBLE. THAT IS WHY THERE IS AN OUTSIDE PARTY ADMINISTERING THAT,
CORRECT? >> THAT'S CORRECT. THEY SPECIALIZE IN ALL OF THAT.
ONE THING WITH THE PROGRAM THAT YOU ALL HELPED FUND, IT WAS FOR BUSINESSES WITH FIVE TO 20 EMPLOYEES AND THEN ALSO SINCE IT WAS AN EMERGENCY GRANT PROGRAM, IT WAS FOR BUSINESSES THAT HAD NOT RECEIVED ANY TYPE OF FUNDING AS OF THE DATE OF THE APPLICATION BECAUSE IT WAS KIND OF SUPPOSED TO BRIDGE THAT TIME BETWEEN THE TIME THAT THEY HAD APPLIED AND THEN RECEIVED THE FUNDING. SO IF YOU KNOW, THOSE RESTRICTIONS WERE LOOSENED, THEN I THINK I WOULD OPEN IT UP, YOU KNOW, IT WAS AVAILABLE FOR BUSINESSES SMALLER AND DIDN'T HAVE QUITE AS MANY REQUIREMENTS, THERE WOULD BE MORE BUSINESSES THAT WOULD
QUALIFY. >> WELL, I THINK OBVIOUSLY, WHAT HAPPENS TOMORROW, I THINK PROBABLY A LOT HINGES ON THAT. BUT IT'S SOMETHING THAT WE SHOULD BE THINKING ABOUT KNOWING THAT GOING INTO NEXT MONTH, WE'LL HAVE SOME DECISIONS TO MAKE AROUND THAT.
I JUST WANTED TO PROVIDE THAT UPDATE AND THANK YOU, JENNIFER. >> YOU'RE WELCOME.
ANY OTHER THOUGHTS OR DISCUSSIONS ON THAT? >> I WOULD LIKE TO MOVE TOWARDS
[Approval of Minutes]
OUR APPROVAL OF MINUTES. YOU GUYS CAN FIND TOWARD THE BOTTOM OF THE AGENDA PACKET.PRETTY BIG PACKET. BUT IT'S PAGE 348. JUNE 8TH.
WE HAVE A MOTION TO APPROVE THOSE? >> MOTION TO APPROVE.
>> FURTHER DISCUSSION. >> SECOND. >> ALL IN FAVOR.
>> AYE. >> AYE. >> MOVING ON TO TREASURER'S
[Treasurer's Report]
REPORT. SHOULD HAVE FINANCIALS IN HERE. HENRY, DO YOU HAVE ANYFEEDBACK? >> NO. I PROVIDED THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS.
MOUNT, FROM OUR CD. BUT I BELIEVE IT WAS $300.
IT WILL BE ON JULY'S STATEMENT. WE'LL HAVE IT AT NEXT MONTH'S MEETING.
I BELIEVE, WAS THE LETTER SENT TO AMERIS BANK? >> YES.
>> GOOD. OTHER THAN THAT, THERE IS ONE CHECK WRITTEN BY A FIRM FOR 857. AND BESIDES THE BOND ISSUES, I THINK THE CLOSING IS COMING, I THINK PRC WAS SEPTEMBER MAYBE. OCTOBER. PRC.
NOT FLAGLER. >> IS THAT SEPTEMBER? >> YEAH.
>> CLOSING FOR PRC. >> CLOSING. YEAH.
I THINK IT'S SCHEDULED FOR SEPTEMBER. >> SO THAT WILL BE ANYWHERE FROM ROUGHLY 180,000. FLAGLER'S BOND ISSUE, $240 MILLION NUMBER I THINK HAS
[00:30:07]
A LOT OF VARIABLES IN IT IN REGARDS TO REFUNDING BONDS, TO PROVIDE ADDITIONAL LIQUIDITY.BUT OTHER THAN THAT, LOOK FOR EITHER NEXT MONTH OR SEPTEMBER, BUDGET TIME.
ELECTION OFFICES. >> YEAH. I HAVE A QUICK QUESTION.
I'M SURE I HAVE AMNESIA. WHAT WAS DECIDED ABOUT THE EXPENSES TIED TO LAST YEAR'S, OR THIS YEAR'S PLAYER'S CHAMPIONSHIP? WERE THOSE FUNDS, DO YOU KNOW IF THOSE FUNDS ARE BEING REFUNDED OR APPLIED TO NEXT YEAR.
I KNOW THOSE TICKETS MAYBE WERE USED FOR A COUPLE OF THE EARLY ROUNDS, BUT NOT THE LATTER WHEN
IT WAS CLOSED TO THE PUBLIC. >> I WAS GOING TO ADDRESS THAT WHEN I DO THE BUDGET.
IF I'M NOT MISTAKEN, THE LAST E-MAIL, I BELIEVE IT WAS EITHER A CONVERSATION OR E-MAIL FROM MELISSA, WAS HALF THE MONEY IS APPLIED TO NEXT YEAR. I'M KIND OF INTERESTED ON HOW I'M GOING TO ACCOUNT FOR THAT ON THE GOVERNMENTAL SIDE. I'M SURE IT'S GOING TO BE A RECEIVABLE FOR NOW. BECAUSE IF THE EVENT DOESN'T HAPPEN.
I'M PRETTY SURE IT WAS HALF WAS EXPENDED, THE NUMBER OF DAYS. >> THE TOUR IS HAVING EVENTS, JUST NO SPECTATORS, RIGHT? HOPEFULLY BY THEN WE WILL BE IN A DIFFERENT PLACE.
>> MAKE A MOTION TO APPROVE. >> SECOND. >> ALL IN FAVOR.
>> AYE. >> UNANIMOUS. >> MOVING ON TO IDA MEMBER
[Reports]
REPORTS. >> I WOULD SIMPLY CONGRATULATE YOUR FIRM ON BEING RECOGNIZED AS ONE OF THE 50 FASTEST GROWING COMPANIES IN JACKSONVILLE, I THINK TWO YEARS
IN A ROW. SO CONGRATULATIONS, MR. FOLEY. >> THANK YOU.
I WOULD LIKE TO CONGRATULATE YOUR FIRM ON BEING ONE OF THE 50 FASTEST GROWING FIRMS IN NORTHEAST FLORIDA THIS YEAR. I'M LOOKING FORWARD TO SEEING YOUR SMILE ON VIDEO.
BUT THANK YOU. HOPEFULLY WE CAN, YOU KNOW, WORK WE'RE TRYING TO DO HERE, CONTINUE TO HAVE A RISING TIDE FOR ALL OF OUR LOCAL BUSINESSES.
I WOULD SAY MEMBER REPORT, FOR MYSELF, IT'S A PART OF THE RECORD NOW, AND IT'S IN YOUR AGENDA PACKET. BUT THE LETTER THAT WAS DRAFTED AND SENT TO AMERIS BANK IS IN THERE. I JUST WANTED TO AGAIN, ACKNOWLEDGE THEIR SUPPORT.
AND ALLOWING US TO BE FLEXIBLE WITH US ON THAT CD FOR THE GRANT AND THAT WE'VE MADE SOME, JUST A PUBLIC ACKNOWLEDGMENT BECAUSE THEY WERE A TRUE PARTNER IN ALLOWING US TO DO THAT. I SEE MS. CATHY NEWMAN FROM THE CHAMBER.
I JUST WANTED TO ASK IF YOU HAD ANYTHING. OKAY.
THANK YOU. AS FAR AS NEXT MEETING, REGULAR MEETING WILL BE AUGUST 10TH.
ANY CHANCE THAT THINGS WILL CHANGE AS FAR AS TIME? BECAUSE I KNOW WE HAD TO CHANGE
THIS DUE TO AVAILABILITY. >> I'LL HAVE TO CHECK THE AVAILABILITY OF THE AUDITORIUM AGAIN. I HAVE A FEELING THAT IT WILL STILL CONTINUE TO BE IN THE AUDITORIUM. WE'LL TRY TO KEEP IT AT THE SAME TIME.
BUT I'LL LET YOU ALL KNOW. >> SAME TIME, 11 OR 3. >> SAME TIME AS OUR NORMAL
TIME. >> ANYONE ELSE? >> MR. CHA
>> WITH THAT, I WOULD LIKE TO MAKE A MOTION TO ADJOURN OUR MEETING.
>> SECOND. >> ALL IN FAVOR. >>
* This transcript was compiled from uncorrected Closed Captioning.