[This transcript was generated automatically from audio using AI and hasn't been reviewed by a person -- it can contain mistakes, including plausible-sounding sentences that were never actually said. Treat it as a starting point, not a verbatim record.]

[0:00] Order. It is Tuesday, June the 30th. It is just after 9 o'clock. And before we begin the meeting,
[0:08] it's obvious to everybody that the mayor is not present at the meeting. Unfortunately, the
[0:16] mayor's mother had a very serious accident like yesterday. She was, I believe it was a hit
[0:23] run accident where she was very seriously injured. She is in intensive care. As we speak,
[0:31] the mayor is on route up to, to as he would expect to be with his family and with his mother
[0:37] at this time. So he will not be attending this meeting. So I'm sure I can say for my colleagues here,
[0:43] all of our thoughts and prayers are with the mayor right now who's going through obviously a very
[0:48] different time with his, with the action to his mother. And so we obviously wish him well.
[0:55] And I believe John, you had a message from the Mayor that you wanted to help us with.
[1:06] I do, Vice Mayor, thank you. So this isn't going to be a message from the Mayor that we received
[1:13] this morning. Just sent this morning said I'm unable to be there this morning and I would request
[1:19] the City Council vote to excuse my absence as my mom is in a horrible accident and is in ICU
[1:24] and I'm headed to New York City now but I would appreciate if you could read this statement
[1:28] into the record. As I've expressed to both you, both of you, it was sent to both the City Manager
[1:34] and myself. As I've expressed to both of you at my pre-agenda briefing and I'm not in favor of
[1:39] the City passing a mandatory mask requirement, I believe this is overreach by the government.
[1:44] I believe there are strong legal concerns against a mandatory mask requirement which could
[1:49] It costs the city a lot of money and court fees.
[1:51] I've always been for strongly encouraging people over mandating.
[1:55] I do believe everyone should take personal responsibility and not require any government intervention.
[2:02] Thank you, John.
[2:03] So that's, that was a mayor received this morning, John?
[2:08] It was, Vice Mayor, just shortly before the meeting.
[2:11] Okay, thank you.
[2:12] I appreciate that.
[2:13] Do you need a motion to excuse the mayor?
[2:18] We need to have an invocation first, and then we have a roll call, and then we do it.
[2:24] That's the order of play.
[2:26] So, may we have an invocation, which you may have led by Jason Morn.
[2:30] Thank you.
[2:32] Before I say this, I draw some sadness from the fact that I wrote this originally three invocations ago,
[2:38] and I hope it was the only time that I was going to read it.
[2:41] We're now 114 meetings later and I'm going to read it for a third time.
[2:47] Dear God, lay cam and tranquility upon our people in this most trouble time.
[2:52] Gift our medical scientists and researchers with new insights.
[2:56] Bless deeply our police officers, emergency services and staff.
[3:00] Visit wisdom, clarity and foresight upon the city council.
[3:04] The stow, indefatigable strength upon our most vulnerable citizens.
[3:08] Grant untroubled sleep and waking joy to our young.
[3:11] join with us your children and defend against this virus and together let it
[3:15] seat it damned to history forever. Amen.
[3:21] I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America and to the Republic for which it stands.
[3:29] One nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all.
[3:35] Thank you, George.
[3:36] Thank you.
[3:36] Thank you.
[3:37] Chair.
[3:42] So I have a roll call, please, please.
[3:46] Ms. Smith.
[3:47] Here.
[3:48] Mr. Johnson.
[3:49] Here.
[3:49] Mr. Dory-Wayne.
[3:51] Pardon me.
[3:52] Mr. Denham.
[3:52] Here.
[3:53] Mr. Mon.
[3:54] Here.
[3:54] Thank you.
[3:55] Okay, thank you.
[4:01] Move to excuse, Mayor Ruein.
[4:02] Second.
[4:03] We have a motion.
[4:05] Excuse me.
[4:05] I just a voice.
[4:06] It will be sufficient.
[4:07] All those in favour?
[4:08] Aye.
[4:09] Aye.
[4:10] The mayor is excused and we understand the reason for
[4:14] Williams, Diane, once again, he's going to have a very troubled time and we have thoughts
[4:19] are all with him.
[4:23] I would like, after roll call, to go to Council comments. So, is there
[4:28] any brief comments you have to make? We'll obviously be discussing the agenda items in detail,
[4:33] but if there's any comments we have before we start the meeting, Richard, do you want to
[4:37] kick us off?
[4:38] Vice Mayor, thank you. I just as soon, I think my comments would all be related to the topic,
[4:43] So I'm going to pass. Thank you.
[4:45] Okay. Thank you.
[4:47] Mine as well.
[4:48] Okay.
[4:49] Send my best wishes to the Mayor and his family.
[4:51] Yeah, of course.
[4:52] Do you want to join with both the four of you?
[4:55] Okay.
[4:56] Okay.
[4:57] So the agenda this morning is going to be
[5:00] We dedicated to the COVID-19 issue that we have confronting us, and we will have public comment
[5:09] and the public comment will be on every item which is on the agenda. I would remind people
[5:15] that this meeting is a special meeting designed for the COVID-19 issue that we have in
[5:20] confronters. Any other important issues you may have are rather keep those to air. The next
[5:27] Council meeting which is going to be July 14th. So with that I want to kick this meeting
[5:35] off with the discussion whether we go on to face mask which you can imagine has had
[5:41] an enormous amount of interest by people. We have received a lot of emails and public
[5:48] comments and will not be reading those into the record but we all have a copy and they will
[5:55] be part of the record. I don't know how many we had but there was how many how many
[6:01] most did we get?
[6:05] 377 pages and 77 pages. 377 pages so we are not going to read them
[6:12] in the record but I will kind of assure you they will be part of the record. So let
[6:17] we begin by talking about the face mask issue. Each of you do not have the
[6:23] proclamation in front of you, but we do have a proclamation for that.
[6:28] So what I'm going to try and do is to go briefly through the notes that I've prepared for
[6:35] this draft emergency proclamation.
[6:38] And this draft emergency proclamation is mandating the use of face coverings all-sanible, and this
[6:46] of course is my necessary as a result of the outbreak of the coronavirus.
[6:50] virus.
[6:51] All believe this is necessary.
[6:54] The coronavirus pandemic is still with us, it is not over, and all of the most recent
[7:00] science suggests that in our state and locally cases are increasing.
[7:07] So the reason for the emergency proclamation is that the best intelligence from CDC and
[7:14] other health experts recommend hand washing, social distancing and wearing a mask.
[7:21] is our best defense against the spread of the pandemic.
[7:26] This is not an ambiguity about this message.
[7:31] Unfortunately, in our community, it is evident that two of these three regulations
[7:35] are not being practiced.
[7:37] Mic observations suggest that is particularly true of our visits to the island.
[7:43] Because of this, it makes our citizens people who live here,
[7:47] where their home is or made more vulnerable to contracting the virus.
[7:55] The city has done an effective job in opening up our community, going a long way to getting
[8:01] islanders back to work, allowing business to open and hospitality establishments but didn't
[8:06] to work and guess.
[8:08] It is now necessary, too, when there's laws to pivot and provide an extra degree of protection
[8:16] for the citizens of Sanibel. Therefore, this emergency
[8:21] proclamation requiring the wearing of masks is deemed necessary to provide that extra
[8:26] protection to our citizens.
[8:30] There are some sensibly explosions from this proclamation, past
[8:36] masks would not be required while visiting the beach or on the shared youth path, on the
[8:41] golf course, or any open space where social distancing is not difficult.
[8:45] So most would be required by anyone entering any public building to include food and general
[8:53] retail stores,
[8:57] restaurants prior to being seated, restaurants prior to being seated.
[9:02] In other words, when you enter a restaurant, there's usually a period of time when everyone
[9:06] mills around until they seat his fan for them, a master's required at that time.
[9:11] But when they are seated, they are not required, obviously, to wear a mask.
[9:14] city hall, theaters, and library or any location where social distancing is difficult are required
[9:24] to wear them off.
[9:26] The population reads that an emergency proclamation of the mayor of the city of Sanable relating
[9:34] to the declared state of local emergency resulting from the outbreak of the coronavirus disease
[9:43] is COVID-19, expanding the declared state of local emergency,
[9:48] mundane to use of face coverings and providing an effective date.
[9:52] That is the draft proclamation, which is before us.
[9:58] I would like to open it for you.
[10:00] Council, comments on this proclamation?
[10:05] Hold it, you want to start off? Yeah, Mr. Vice-Mayor, what I would like some clarification from our city attorney, I appreciate. The mayor did have some comments that he related to us, and I would like it publicly spoken about regarding the constitutionality of us being able to pass on sort of an ordinance. Thank you, Premier. I'm meant to invite the attorney up to tell us of the policy situation we face with the men not being here.
[10:30] So I meant to do that, and I forgot, I'll wonder if you could brief us on what the policy
[10:39] that we are faced with right now.
[10:42] The clerk, too, Vice Mayor and Councilwoman Smith.
[10:44] So one thing important to know is that this is not an ordinance, it's not a law,
[10:50] in a sense, we're not going through the process that we would pass an ordinance,
[10:54] which requires a first reading and a second reading and a public hearing on the matter.
[10:58] These emergency-related restrictions are being issued pursuant to the proclamation
[11:06] powers that the mayor has within Chapter 22 of the Sanibel Code, as far as the
[11:13] constitutionality and how that flows, the Tenth Amendment to the United States Constitution
[11:19] provides that basically any powers that aren't provided to the Federal Government
[11:25] that are reserved to the States, and there's police power within that, flowing down from that to the States.
[11:31] You then have state emergency powers, that is chapter 252, chapter 252 within that of the Florida
[11:40] statutes, provide certain emergency powers to local government, to municipalities, to county governments.
[11:47] And then looking at our specific charter and our code, chapter 22 of the code,
[11:55] provides that those emergency-related powers are housed with the authority of the mayor,
[12:01] or in the absence of the mayor, with the vice mayor.
[12:04] So when we are talking about, our council is talking about this morning potential
[12:09] restrictions and has over the past three or four months, it's all through that same lens
[12:15] with that power flowing down. So I am very comfortable that it is a constitutional
[12:23] act to, you know, require the wearing a face mask in these times if that's what
[12:31] Council chooses to do. And I have this a little more history than Council would want, but that theory
[12:40] where, you know, individual liberties are subordinated to public health has been something that has been a part of the fabric of society and a holding by the United States Supreme Court since at least 1905 and 1905 trying to eradicate smallpox.
[13:02] And there was an individual who challenged the mandate for vaccination against smallpox, a pandemic worldwide pandemic.
[13:10] challenged it in the State of Massachusetts, and ultimately that court case went all the way up
[13:15] to the Supreme Court, and the Supreme Court said, no, your individual liberties are subordinated
[13:21] to those of the public good.
[13:23] So, in essence, the United States Supreme Court said, state, if you want to strap that individual
[13:32] down and stick a needle in their arm to vaccinate them for the public good, then you may do so.
[13:37] And that person's individual liberties are subordinated to the greater good.
[13:44] And I would say in parallel to this, certainly looking at the potential of mandating
[13:50] a mask is a less intrusive way to address a pandemic than would be a mandatory vaccination.
[13:56] And so I am confident that if a case ever flowed all the way up to the United States Supreme
[14:02] Court, that same precedent would hold, and it would be a non-issue.
[14:06] It's not to say anybody can't sue anybody over anything, it happens.
[14:10] We certainly saw that happen almost immediately after Orange County enacted their emergency
[14:15] order.
[14:16] One of their state representatives elected to sue them, so anybody can sue anyone for
[14:21] anything, but I don't believe that ultimately that argument is one that wins the day.
[14:27] So therefore, John, should we make a decision to support this particular proclamation or any
[14:34] Any other proclamation we might bring up today, we can make it effective today.
[14:41] We may not make it effective putting practice today, but we can make it proclamation effective
[14:48] today.
[14:48] Is that correct?
[14:50] Yes.
[14:51] So with respect to Vice Mayor, any action that Council takes today, same as any action taken
[14:57] in the last three months, as long as, you know, those, you know,
[15:00] The actions are deemed by Council to be in furtherance of public health and safety and good and in protection and light of the state of local emergency that we're under. I absolutely, you can pass those and you can make them effective whenever you wish. Okay. Is there any questions from Council of John to the attorney about about the policy that we're facing right now? Not specifically, but the general arrangements about what we're trying to do today.
[15:28] and our powers of this council today, with the mayor being absent.
[15:33] No, I think that he has answered the main question.
[15:36] I did have a discussion with him on some other items in regards to that, but that was
[15:40] probably the main question that I did want to have answered because we want to make
[15:44] sure that we're certainly following the Constitution and we are not in breach of anything
[15:48] by doing so on anything that we are possibly passing.
[15:51] Richard, are you happy with that?
[15:53] Vice Mayor, I'm fine.
[15:54] I think I have general information.
[15:56] Councilwoman Smith had the question that I had, so thank you.
[16:01] You know, we can certainly call on John, again, if we need to, so I'm good.
[16:07] Yes, and what about you, you had Tony on the Court here?
[16:11] I yield to Court Council's opinion on this to avoid the question, but I also would note
[16:15] that it's not a question if the issue is not presented.
[16:19] Indeed.
[16:21] Okay, so I think we've cleared out the policy issues.
[16:25] Holly, did you want to kick us off with this particular proclamation?
[16:29] Does he find of us the drug proclamation?
[16:31] Sure, I'd be happy to.
[16:32] And first of all, I'd like to say I was in a position last week.
[16:36] I was down in Monroe County and Monroe County two days before we went on our fishing trip,
[16:43] put the mask, ordinance in place, and while I was there, they even strengthened the mask
[16:47] ordinance.
[16:49] I just wanted to let the council know what I saw.
[16:51] I mean, basically it was when you were under a roof,
[16:55] you were required to wear a mask.
[16:57] I did reach out, actually I'll throw it
[17:01] to the Florida League of Cities,
[17:02] the benefit that we have through the Florida League of Cities,
[17:04] we get to meet a lot of people.
[17:06] So I was able to call on several of the commissioners
[17:09] in some of the municipalities while I was there
[17:13] to get kind of a feel of what was going on from their end.
[17:16] And as you know, the keys is very much like Sanibel.
[17:19] It's a tourist destination.
[17:21] Everybody else comes from somewhere.
[17:24] They were a lot, they kept their economy open
[17:26] to in many ways, but did close it off to tourists
[17:29] and this masks ordinance that they put in place
[17:33] was through the county commission,
[17:36] but then each municipality did have their own.
[17:39] The county commission, because it's a tourist-based area,
[17:42] All of Monroe County, they did come together the Mayors and the County Commission when they drew up their proclamation.
[17:50] But then some of the areas, just like if Lee County chose not to have their mask ordinance,
[17:55] there are some areas that may choose to have theirs on their own because their demographics might be different like ours.
[18:01] So I thought it was very beneficial being down there.
[18:03] I want to thank you for bringing forward this proclamation.
[18:06] I think it's important.
[18:07] I think for the record, there has been two attempts at this.
[18:11] and both have failed. I think that we are five weeks from when we were able to fully open our economy.
[18:19] I can tell you in speaking to many of the island hoteliers, managers, businesses going very well.
[18:29] I have not had anyone that I have spoken to, certainly I haven't spoken to the whole realm,
[18:35] that said that they would be against a mask ordinance at this point.
[18:40] Many of them already have it in place in their own businesses.
[18:43] And that's what we did want to encourage when we tried to encourage.
[18:47] Unfortunately, it is not being held around the island, which is, I believe,
[18:52] why looking at the ordinance, why you brought this forward.
[18:55] In terms of questions, just a, if you want me to look at the ordinance itself.
[19:00] If you have some questions, if you have questions regarding the ordinance,
[19:03] Would we have the opportunity to amend or adjust this? Should we see that to be appropriate?
[19:09] Very good. One of the areas, I do support this ordinance, something I put that very clearly.
[19:15] One area that I did look at is when we looked and I looked at other ordinances that have gone in place
[19:23] is on the last one of the last warehouses, when we are mandating it through Labor Day.
[19:28] There are many municipalities that have not put an end date on there. As you may or may not
[19:33] No, Monroe County is through June of 2021 and I thought that was pretty lengthy and I asked the question to some of the commissioners their concern was not their slow time but next season and that was their reason for extending that many of the ordinances and I did speak with the attorney about this if there was some other wording that we could use that maybe doesn't have the end date right after Labor Day maybe it's open until the commission are
[19:59] our...
[20:00] Council chooses to end it, or maybe it extends for as long as our executive order extends. So that was one, one area that I did have a question on. Another area was on, on the violation part. Now, it talked about businesses and other places of public accommodation are encouraged to adopt a no-mass no-service policy. To me, if we are putting in place a mask ordinance, then they're required to have a no-mass, you know, well, they're not required to have a no-mass
[20:29] No service policy, but I think that's a little bit vague because I think if we're looking at having masks as a
[20:36] requirement, then I'm not sure if that's a little redundant saying, you know, you can't have service.
[20:41] But again, that's for consideration.
[20:43] Do you have a recommendation, Aaron?
[20:45] I wrote it to you just to say.
[20:46] Well, I do.
[20:49] So I looked at, since Monroe County and others have put through their
[20:55] their ordinances. I will tell you right now 14 counties throughout the state of Florida
[20:59] have a mask ordinance and I believe 46 municipalities have passed those. I did pass a link
[21:06] to Olive Council, the city attorney and the city manager. That's a great link that we
[21:11] can go to that has every ordinance and all the wording in each ordinance. I thought one
[21:17] area if it was council's pleasure today to pass some sort of an ordinance for a mask recommendation
[21:22] requirement, is a question came up of signage, you know, who provides the signage.
[21:29] Palm Beach County actually has a link to some signage.
[21:34] It could be tailored.
[21:35] This is something, if it were to pass, that the city attorney could work with the city with a vice mayor on or the mayor upon his return depending on how quickly we need to do this.
[21:46] But it's actually a hot link, so people can print these.
[21:49] They have one for the restaurants, they have one for the businesses.
[21:52] So basically it's a signage saying it's a requirement.
[21:55] I will say when I was in the keys, any place that you walked into, there was the signage there of the requirement.
[22:02] And it showed the municipality that called that.
[22:05] I can tell you for the businesses, they would much rather say the city of Santa Bel did this and it's not our call aid.
[22:12] And it does put a little bit of some of the feedback back to the city and
[22:19] not to the businesses that are trying to encourage.
[22:22] And I think they have been trying to encourage signage.
[22:25] So this is one consideration that that way they can print out what they need, if it's approved.
[22:30] All right, well, I told you when I had in mind, holy was that, you know,
[22:38] So, every ought to appear is to pass policy on a particular issue, and I was going to suggest
[22:44] that should we pass this policy, we should leave it to the staff, and the chief to worry
[22:50] about how we enforce it, and how we communicate this to them, and that would be a good suggestion,
[22:56] and I would leave it to the staff who are much more able to meet the decision on how we should
[23:01] do that.
[23:01] But that is a very excellent recommendation.
[23:04] I'll leave it to the staff to do that.
[23:06] And I'm happy to, you know, if this went through, happy to help in any way that it can
[23:10] or provide that because it's always good to just have some extra set of eyes yours
[23:14] possibly.
[23:15] If we certainly don't know how long the mayor is going to be gone, I've looked at other
[23:19] proclamations with accommodations so if there's someone that wants to kind of look at this,
[23:23] I think it's good for all of us to have that litmus test.
[23:25] And you had some comments with regard to timing of this.
[23:28] My thoughts on this was that we're going to meet Freddie Reggley, we can amend or adjust
[23:34] or extend it or shorten it, depending on the situation that we find at the time.
[23:38] And so, you know, I'm open to any suggestions of putting something different with regard
[23:44] to timing, but to me, I believe it's something we'll meet regularly on and extend it.
[23:50] And as we think, as with Councilor things, if I could, one of the reasons that I did say
[23:56] something about maybe not having a September 7th is because we, as you know, we're getting
[24:01] emails, the city's getting emails, the management associations are getting emails, the hotel's
[24:06] saying, what's going to happen on this date? And we don't know. So if we didn't have
[24:12] a date firm like September 7th, the day after Labor Day, people might already be saying,
[24:18] okay, on September 8th, we have to wear masks. So we might not know that now. So it's really
[24:23] encouraging people that this is fluid. We're not sure.
[24:27] what would you have you a recommended date? I would we did speak to the city I did
[24:34] talk to the city attorney about that and maybe looking at for as long as the
[24:38] emergency order is an effect and I'd certainly like to have some input from
[24:43] from my fellow council members as well but we were looking at as long as the
[24:48] emergency order is an effect or until council votes to what is the date when
[24:55] and these orders in effect is about a jose in effect.
[24:58] Is there a date?
[25:00] When the mayor has got in place an emergency order, what is the date of that? When is that?
[25:09] What's the termination of that?
[25:11] So, just two things, and as I'm hearing, I know Council is speaking about it as an ordinance,
[25:18] but I just want to clarify, for those that are listening, this is not an ordinance.
[25:22] An ordinance can note something that is permanent in nature, and I just want to clarify
[25:25] The proclamation is a temporary restriction, and that is important from the timing
[25:32] perspective of effectiveness because these are temporary in nature, and the authority
[25:38] to do so, excuse me, stems from the powers as long as the title of local emergency
[25:45] is in place.
[25:46] And so the State of Local Emergency was originally enacted, I believe, in May 18.
[25:55] and it has been extended, the State of Local Emergency has been extended every single week by proclamation.
[26:05] And so every seven days it is.
[26:07] So just to circle background to the broader question, when Council has suggested to the mayor to issue proclamations in the past for certain restrictions,
[26:18] It's done so in different ways, and some of them you've provided a date certain, and
[26:23] in other ones, you have simply stated until, you know, for the duration of the state
[26:28] of local emergency, until and unless council or the mayor extends it or shortens it.
[26:36] Would you have any problem with doing, like Holly suggested, and that is have something
[26:43] on the Labor Day as a date when this would last or should we pass this ordinance?
[26:51] And then review it as time goes by to see whether we need to extend it or reduce it.
[26:56] Would that be appropriate?
[26:57] So it would be Vice Mayor, I will say I won't speak for Councilwoman Smith, but the way
[27:02] the proclamation is currently written provides for Labor Day as an end date.
[27:07] And certainly Council could extend it or shorten it at any time before then, Councilor
[27:11] the mayor, I should say, I believe Councilman Smith's point was, should we make it, instead
[27:16] of having a date certain, have it open-ended, and you can do any of those things?
[27:22] Well, I wonder, I would like to get the decision from that from my colleagues here.
[27:28] Just the other point I would make is my thoughts on this proclamation, should we pass it, it would
[27:34] coming to effect on, I believe, Thursday, Friday, 1 a.m. or 12 o'clock, is that correct?
[27:43] The way the draft is...
[27:44] What's the...
[27:45] 12 o'clock, 1 a.m. Friday.
[27:47] And what would it date with that?
[27:48] 12 o'clock, 1 a.m. Friday, July 3rd.
[27:52] Okay. So if indeed this comes, we decide to make this effective, it will come into place
[27:58] at that date and be extended to when, folks, have you got any thoughts on that, Jason?
[28:06] I just had a quick question, no matter what we call this, this is going to carry
[28:08] whether the full force of the rule of law with the city behind it.
[28:13] It will, temporary otherwise.
[28:15] Have you any thoughts on the date when this should be extended to?
[28:21] No, because I oppose it.
[28:23] Okay.
[28:24] If I could comment, just so happens that Labor Day September 7th is my birthday, and
[28:32] I can't think of a greater birthday gift than to be able to have the comfort level
[28:38] that mask are no longer required in public spaces.
[28:42] But having said that, I also have concerns that just as we've experienced over the last
[28:48] 100 days, we don't know what we're going to be faced with, and we don't know what's, you know,
[28:57] September 7th rolls my other than my birthday. Well, there's nothing special about
[29:02] September 7th of the Labor Day, I guess you could consider it that way.
[29:06] So my concern is, is that if we set that date, we set an expectation that we're going
[29:12] to be held to, and I think as Councilman Smith pointed out, there may be some folks
[29:17] that are making long-term plans and such based on that date, and I don't know that
[29:23] I'm comfortable with setting that.
[29:26] I think I'm more comfortable with not setting an end date, and then this council
[29:30] gets together on a regular basis.
[29:32] We can make decisions as the environment changes, and as we see fit, we can tack
[29:37] with that way.
[29:39] So, wording on that would you would find more appropriate?
[29:42] Yes, sir.
[29:43] Okay, and I think, Holly, you feel the same way?
[29:45] I do.
[29:45] Okay. Okay.
[29:48] Judge, have you got any thoughts comments on this?
[29:52] I know that's one of those things you wrestle with, and we've been talking about it for a long time,
[29:55] and as your counsel Winston and Polly said correctly, we've run this up.
[30:00] I've got the flagpole. I'm disgusted a great deal. There are a lot of people who have opinions on this, and a lot of the people that I talk to today are either at work or looking after their children, so they're not here.
[30:14] I suppose I'll run citizen thoughts I had about this regarding where my opposition is coming from. I believe at this time a ban is unenforceable, frankly, without turning one citizen against another.
[30:29] citizen. I think this particular ban actually breeds contempt for the law, and for the rule of law,
[30:37] because people are not going to follow it in large numbers. The will of the people is what is
[30:43] required for the actual executions of the law, not the police department or not code enforcement,
[30:49] and not convinced of that will. Frankly, there's not enough code enforcement officers, and the thought of
[30:56] I'm putting the police in a situation where they now need to oppose families having a nice day on the beach or wherever else we're just going to decide to ban this is a horror to me because of the current media oppression, they're suffering nationwide.
[31:11] I don't think we should be teeing up their negative interactions with the citizenry.
[31:16] I expect to see personal responsibility carry the day in this and not citizens naming names.
[31:23] I expect businesses that wish to enforce this kind of a rule to just do so.
[31:28] If it's the old saying, no shirts, no shoes, no masks, no dice, well then so be it and enforce it.
[31:35] I'm not going to give cover for commercial enterprises who say one thing and then don't do the other.
[31:41] I expect citizens to regulate their activities, not regulate other people's.
[31:46] If you do not want to be exposed to this and I suggest you do not, I did not expect everybody
[31:50] in a business or in summer that I wish to go to change their beliefs or lifestyles
[31:56] in order to make me feel better about myself.
[31:58] It's a dead end path and it leads to conflict and disunity in the community.
[32:04] I think all of us need to come together and help each other.
[32:08] And that's why on the issue solely of personal responsibility, not solely, but on the issue
[32:14] of personal responsibility, that duty that citizens have to each other to do their part.
[32:18] If you're, besides somebody who's 70 or 80 years old, you should be doing your best to make sure that they're okay.
[32:24] That does not mean I expect you to carry 15 masks with you.
[32:29] I am opposed to this and I'm making it clear from the start I have spent so much time
[32:35] wrestling with this particular issue and I do not see the effectiveness when weighed against the
[32:40] destructiveness to the community itself and its members, which is my first responsibility and I think
[32:45] the real public safety and public health issue that's a foot on this particular issue.
[32:50] Vice Mayor.
[32:51] Okay, thank you.
[32:53] Vice Mayor Fickett, ask some additional comments.
[32:58] The first one I had jotted down to myself is the no-mask, no-service policy.
[33:05] And I, speaking as a business person, I have some concerns about that.
[33:11] But the reason saying is that each of our businesses are very different.
[33:16] And while that may be appropriate for some, it may not be appropriate for all.
[33:22] Speaking for myself, we've found ways to work around that and work around it effectively
[33:29] so that if we do have folks that are concerned about their personal liberties and whether they
[33:35] wear a mask or not, there's alternatives to that and we've been able to be successful with
[33:39] that.
[33:39] I'd like to continue that.
[33:43] I don't see, I
[33:48] don't think that extends into, you give the person a choice when they're
[33:54] inside a building with other people where you're not able to socially distance.
[34:00] I don't think that that's an alternative to this, but there are other alternatives.
[34:05] For instance, we use delivery and curbside pickup.
[34:09] We do it very effectively and it works well for us.
[34:13] We found that to be true.
[34:16] I am a very strong proponent of personal responsibility.
[34:20] You have heard me here on the day as speak of that and specifically to these ideas.
[34:28] And it guided me in my last decision when we took this topic up.
[34:35] And I feel very confident about the vote that I took then and I'll feel very confident about the vote I take today as well.
[34:46] Unfortunately, what we've seen is that personal responsibility has not taken care of this, if you will.
[34:58] and just I would like to go on.
[35:00] On the record it's saying, one, I feel very strongly about my personal responsibility and my personal rights to live my life as I choose to. But I also will point out, and I've done so many times in the past, and I'll continue to do so as my personal right to live my life the way I want to extends all the way up into the point that it infringes on someone else's personal right to live their life as well. And that's where I settle on this.
[35:29] this topic, and I have very serious concerns.
[35:35] As you all know, we instituted a policy in my place of business back in the very beginning.
[35:43] We put our staff and mask as a matter of fact.
[35:47] I wore my original mask that we issued to staff members on day one as soon as we could get them in our hands.
[35:54] We have since followed a policy of requiring masks inside the building and
[36:02] applying to continue to do so.
[36:04] I had hoped that businesses on the island, much as Jason spoke of, had followed
[36:11] that and gone that direction and had that happened.
[36:16] I don't think we would be here discussing it today.
[36:19] But I very much appreciate the conversation we're having today and I look forward
[36:23] to hearing from everyone and making a good decision in the best interest of all concern.
[36:30] You know, Richard, thank you for that.
[36:33] I feel the same way you do with regard to personal responsibility.
[36:38] I think it's the way we should be running our life.
[36:42] Unfortunately, with this scourge, which is upon us, and clearly wearing a face mark mask is
[36:51] indeed a means by which we can curtail, possibly, and be one of the things we can curtail the
[36:57] spread of this pandemic. Unfortunately, people are not adhering to that and are not taking
[37:03] the personal responsibility, and it appears to me to be, from my observation, that the
[37:09] citizens that live on the island, the people that have a home here, the people that, well,
[37:17] they call us their home and they live on the island, I think they are indeed practicing
[37:21] this sort of discipline in where I'm asking. It seems to me, from my observation, that
[37:27] the visitors to where I'm on, are less likely to where I'm asking, and I'm only bringing
[37:37] this proclamation forward because of my observations that it's not being a dear to on our island.
[37:46] and in the protection of our citizens, I think it's necessary now to make the wearing
[37:51] of masks a mandatory requirement. I wish I didn't have to do this, but unfortunately,
[37:57] the responsibility which you refer, and I agree with, is not being a dear to, so therefore
[38:02] I have brought this proclamation forward.
[38:07] I would like at this time I have read the proclamation
[38:11] and I would like to enter a motion to accept this proclamation and to do this to allow
[38:20] continued conversation by City Council and to allow the people that are here in the City
[38:27] Hall to make their comments, so I would make a motion to approve this proclamation and I
[38:32] would look for a second for that.
[38:34] I would second with a question, if I may, with a date.
[38:38] Could we make an adjustment or?
[38:40] No, I agree with you.
[38:42] There should be, I don't know what the right wording is, but we would keep it as an
[38:47] indefinite.
[38:48] What's the correct wording for that?
[38:50] Just a point of order, Vice Mayor, since you are chairing the meeting, it would be, it
[38:56] wouldn't be proper for you to make the motion, it would be proper for someone else.
[39:01] I will offer that to somebody else.
[39:02] I would, I would enter, I would make that motion to accept the proclamation with the amended
[39:09] language to the end date being left open. I would leave that to the City Attorney and the
[39:14] Vice Mayor to work on that language. Thank you, Councilman Smith.
[39:17] So that we may continue conversation and discussion and fully discuss this and hear from all concerned,
[39:23] I'll second. Thank you. We have an emotional second and we're now going to open out for discussion and
[39:29] And I'm going to invite the people that are here with us today to make a brief comment.
[39:35] I'm going to start with the people that are on my right or you're left hand side.
[39:39] Karen, I see your hand up, so for
[39:45] anybody that's not familiar with this, the routine is
[39:48] that you state your name and you come to the front of the hall to make your statement.
[39:54] Thank you.
[39:56] Good morning.
[39:57] Can you hear me with the mask on or should I take it off?
[40:01] Kannon, story, Hans, Sinabell, resident. And frankly, loads to be here today, but I think
[40:08] this situation is of enough moment that I'm willing to take the risk. I believe our
[40:13] community would be best served if you required masks in all businesses. We did the
[40:19] hard work of shutting down, distancing, and masking, thereby making the island relatively
[40:27] safe. Unfortunately too many of our visitors are not following simple medical
[40:34] guidelines. Mask went out, distance went possible. The order would give cover to
[40:41] businesses that have not gotten on board. They should know that many residents, the
[40:48] people that they depend upon year around, are already noting who was helping to
[40:54] keep us all safe and who isn't. I am sure that they will no doubt remember long after
[41:03] this is over.
[41:07] Surely, if you can go to get a haircut, which my husband did, with the
[41:11] barber masked and him masked, you can shop with a mask on. As always, thank you for the
[41:20] your service to the island and be well.
[41:23] Thank you.
[41:24] Thank you.
[41:24] Anybody else on the my right hand side?
[41:26] Yes, please come forward.
[41:29] I don't recognize people with a mask on any more.
[41:31] Okay, that's better.
[41:35] You're okay, thank you.
[41:39] If you don't mind, I will.
[41:41] Thank you.
[41:42] That's better for me.
[41:42] I'm hard enough to hear to start with.
[41:44] Claudia Burns, Senate Bill resident.
[41:47] Thank you for being here.
[41:49] And thank all of you for donating your time
[41:52] and expertise to our community, with the purpose of protecting the sanctuary quality of this island
[42:00] and the well-being of its residents, all of which takes hours and hours of your time and energy.
[42:08] And although your efforts seem at times not to be appreciated, I can assure you they are.
[42:15] What you have voluntarily gathered today to discuss may be one of the most crucial considerations of
[42:21] your tenure, but I'm confident you will weigh all facets of our situation carefully,
[42:27] and your decision will be the best possible for the residents of Sanibel.
[42:33] Unfortunately, that decision may have adverse effects on our economy, but that is a dilemma
[42:41] facing our entire nation, and we don't have the resources to solve it on our own.
[42:49] Just when it seemed, we might be able to return to the old, comfortable, normal.
[42:56] COVID-19 reminded us that it may not be such a good idea, that we'll just have to accept
[43:02] a new normal once we figure out what that is.
[43:07] There's no way we could have known what the consequences of reopening our island to
[43:12] short-term rentals would be unless we gave it a try and it made sense to follow the
[43:19] lead of our new governor who's had a pretty good track record so far. But we are not the
[43:24] only small resort community in Florida that's suffering the consequences of doing so.
[43:32] The other day I was talking to someone who lives in a small town in the panhandle called
[43:36] nice bill, by the way, which is also inundated with vacationers during the summer months.
[43:43] She told me that before they reopened to renters, her county had under 10 cases of the virus.
[43:52] Now they have over 700.
[43:57] I know you don't want to see that happen on Sanibel, so I trust you to wrestle with this very
[44:04] difficult dilemma until you arrive at a decision that puts our citizens and our environment
[44:11] ahead of financial interests.
[44:14] There is no decision that will be right for everyone, of course.
[44:19] But I trust you will pull all of the experience and wisdom you bring to your leadership positions
[44:27] to make the very best decision possible.
[44:31] Thank you again for volunteering to devote hours and hours of your time to benefit the residents of our beautiful island.
[44:40] We truly do appreciate your willingness to donate your expertise and dedication to our benefit.
[44:47] Thank you.
[44:48] Thank you.
[44:48] Is there anybody else on the right hand side, Mr. Herty?
[44:52] Mayor Herty,
[44:59] good morning.
[45:00] Good morning, council. Thank you for everything you do. And I was made special notion or notice of a comment that was just made that you donate your time. I think you should all be paid. Somebody should have some kind of an ordinance to say. I know it goes to the referendum and so forth. But the time of donating your time compared to everybody else in the country. I think you should be compensated somehow, but that's another point.
[45:28] For the record, you know, having sat in these seats many years, I pretty much know how this is all going to go.
[45:34] And I will tell you, for the record, we will do whatever the city directs us to do, as we always have been.
[45:42] And employees will continue to do.
[45:44] I am opposed to a mandatory ordinance that customers have to wear.
[45:49] mask my people, all of my people in every one of my restaurants have been masked up for
[45:56] quite some time now and so and I think that's important that that's things that I can
[46:02] control but from a mandatory standpoint I would not be in favor of this. I think we
[46:08] have to take personal responsibility for our actions and so forth and I think this mandatory
[46:17] situation is just something that can't be enforced, and I would be opposed to it.
[46:24] But again, whatever the council decides, that's the direction we will take.
[46:29] And as I said, I'm pretty sure how it's going to fall.
[46:32] So thank you for your time and your efforts.
[46:34] Thank you, Marty.
[46:35] Thanks, Board.
[46:48] I'm Deborah McKelkin, resident of Sanabelle.
[46:52] I'm very concerned about the mask situation and
[46:57] And I want to respond to that as my, what I was going to say might have changed a little
[47:04] bit during their listening to your discussion.
[47:07] There are many people on the island who have followed the protocols recommended by such
[47:15] people as the president of Lee Memorial, Lee Health, Dr. Antonucci, to wear masks, masks,
[47:26] of masks, and yet people coming to the island seem, I agree with Vice Mayor Dunham that
[47:36] they don't appear to be following any of the guidelines for safe practices.
[47:44] I urge you to take immediate action, which you seem to be vacillating between you amongst
[47:49] you about wearing masks.
[47:53] And the following of six foot distances become much more difficult around the island than it had been.
[48:03] Many people that live here who I've spoken to, if they find a business that doesn't require masks, they don't go in.
[48:13] They don't go to restaurants where people where the servers aren't wearing masks.
[48:22] and that really restricts what people who live on Sonnebel can do if you're afraid to go to places that you usually frequent.
[48:33] Please take into account that COVID-19 cases have gone up 500% in the past two weeks in Florida.
[48:41] Many of the larger cities have decided to close their beaches.
[48:47] And re-examine how maybe this opening too soon is backfiring on some of our situations here.
[49:00] In order to protect the health of Santa Bill, city staff, the city council, the employers
[49:07] and owners of businesses and restaurants, we're all work on, and all who work on Santa
[49:14] Honorable, the residents and also now the many visitors from the spread of COVID-19.
[49:21] It's imperative that City Council take an action to implement the measure of wearing masks
[49:28] regardless of the reluctance to do so by Governor DeSantis.
[49:32] It's not really, it's watching out for your fellow citizens and visitors to not spread the virus.
[49:44] Thank you.
[49:44] Thank you.
[49:45] Thank you.
[49:46] Anybody else on the right hand side?
[49:49] On the left hand side.
[49:50] Anyone wish to speak on this topic?
[49:52] On the left hand side.
[49:53] Yes.
[50:07] My name is Arlene Dillon. I'm a 15-year full-time resident of Sanabelle.
[50:14] The governor of Florida has left the governing to you to all the local jurisdictions in the state of Florida to do what is best for their local communities. That means you are tasked with doing what is best for Sanabelle. Despite weeks of petitioning you to put a mass restriction in place on Sanabelle, you have continued to resist this while strongly recommending
[50:39] that people follow CDC guidelines and, as we have heard, not doing that when they come here.
[50:46] There's clear evidence and data to support that many Floridians and other visitors to our
[50:50] great states are not following CDC guidelines and that has unfortunately led to many more cases
[50:57] and deaths. So let me take a moment to address your main concern, the Sanibel economy.
[51:04] Let's look at a future that can potentially be ten times worse than the present.
[51:09] If we don't do something to curtail the cases of COVID-19 on Sanabelle now,
[51:14] our future looks potentially dire.
[51:17] What will the economy look like in 2021 when our usual seasonal renters and snowbirds start
[51:23] to read stories this summer and fall about how Sanabelle did not do all it could
[51:28] to stem the tide of this disease.
[51:31] How our small, idyllic island that so many from up north
[51:35] glowingly, several meetings ago discussed,
[51:39] is now a hotspot for COVID-19 cases
[51:41] because we did not stand up to do the right thing.
[51:45] Stories potentially in papers like the Chicago Sun Times,
[51:49] the Minneapolis Star Tribune, the Detroit Free Press,
[51:52] the St. Louis Post, the Spatch, the Des Moines Register,
[51:55] the Indianapolis Star, the Philadelphia Inquirer,
[51:58] and the Cleveland Plain dealer just to name a few
[52:01] who, by the way, do cover Sanibel News.
[52:04] What will they say to their families
[52:06] when it comes time to decide where to go next winter
[52:09] for a couple of months?
[52:10] How is Sanibel going to appeal to them
[52:12] when they see that we have not done all we could do
[52:15] to protect our island in this time of crisis?
[52:20] Now let's look at for a minute at what's happening today
[52:22] in our retail and restaurant businesses.
[52:24] People are getting sick and employees are scared
[52:27] to come to work. And I know that personally from several who have told me this but are afraid
[52:32] to come forward for fear of losing their jobs. So guess what? They've asked me to come
[52:37] and talk for them. But honestly, I'm just as frightened as them. I don't want to make
[52:42] enemies on this island. I love this island and most of the people in it and everybody
[52:46] on this council that I know personally. So it makes me sick to even say that we're afraid
[52:52] We need to come forward to say what we're feeling, except for thank you to almost 300 people
[52:57] who did write letters.
[53:00] So what does that say about Santa Bel and our economy, and more importantly, how much
[53:04] we actually do care about our citizens and our workforce?
[53:07] At this time you have announced 17 cases on Santa Bel, and according to the CDC, we need
[53:13] to multiply that by 10, so that's 170, give or take a few.
[53:18] Think about what I'm saying before you vote on this proclamation.
[53:21] I have appealed to you many times before, and I'm asking that you vote this temporary
[53:28] proclamation ordinance wherever you want to call it in.
[53:32] And if you won't do that, I'll leave you with this with what Dr. Fauci said last week.
[53:37] Let's forget the politics and look at the data.
[53:40] Thank you.
[53:42] Anybody else on the my left hand side?
[53:45] Just on the good
[53:52] morning.
[53:52] Good morning.
[53:54] Hi, Jeannie Haas, Sanabelle resident.
[53:57] I already spoke in May, so y'all know how I feel.
[54:00] It's on the record.
[54:01] And I think as Marty said, we kinda know
[54:03] how it's gonna go down.
[54:04] So I just wanna offer some comments.
[54:07] I think you should really consider exempting churches
[54:11] and allowing the churches to make their own decisions
[54:14] for people being massed or in worship.
[54:16] I know a lot are already social distancing.
[54:19] I think that's really an important point.
[54:23] I also want to, as listening to the statistics, and I think it's really important for everyone
[54:29] to not allow fear to take hold because statistics, if we test 100 people and five people are
[54:35] positive, it's a 5 percent, right?
[54:37] If we test a million people and 50,000 are positive, we still have the same percentage, but
[54:43] the cases have exponentially gone out the window, but the percentage is the same.
[54:47] And so as we are testing millions, I think it's 1.2, I saw in Lee County or in Florida, whatever.
[54:55] Of course, our numbers are going to go up because the testing is going up, but the percentage
[55:00] If you look at the percentages, it's hanging pretty, whatever the word is, pretty much the same. So, if someone says something's gone up 100%, well, that can mean from 1 to 2. So you just need to make sure that you're looking closely at the statistics and the percentages because just to say a thousand percent sounds overwhelming. But if you really look at the thousand percent, it's often very different than it would seem.
[55:30] I also want to address the issue with masks and this is all over the internet and the CDC.
[55:34] As soon as you touch your mask, it's contaminated, that's just reality.
[55:38] So I see people all the time, I'm guilty of it, I have one shoved in my pocketbook, I've
[55:44] seen coming out of the glove box, my husband one time pulled a dirty handkerchief out of his
[55:48] pocket and just put it over his face, the reality is if I had to guess the majority of
[55:53] masks are contaminated, unless you walk into a store and they hand you one and you put it
[55:57] over one time use. I don't think most people are taking their cloth once
[56:02] home tonight and disinfecting them and hanging them. I just I don't think
[56:05] that's happening. I've been in a lot of stores and a lot of places on the
[56:10] island so that's a whole other piece of this is that it almost gives a false
[56:14] sense of whatever the protection that in reality I've read one article and I
[56:21] think the CDC backs us up. If you wear the mask, the bacteria build up inside
[56:27] If it's not disinfected and cleaned, it's actually worse.
[56:31] So there's so much to this and so much education that needs to be done.
[56:38] I just wanted to stand up and speak about things that are factual and statistical and also.
[56:45] I don't know why they're closing beaches.
[56:48] I personally, the salt air is where they would send people for consumption.
[56:52] It's super healthy for your lungs.
[56:54] It's one of the best places to be is on a beach.
[56:58] I personally have not seen any groups of 30 or 40 people.
[57:02] I see family groups, I see, and I don't, I'm not saying the sandwell is going to close
[57:06] their beaches.
[57:07] But that's also a knee jerk sort of thing, I think, not really based in fact.
[57:14] So those are my three points, the church's healthy salt air statistics, please be careful
[57:21] about throwing out the numbers of, oh, we've had a this percent rise and really be accurate
[57:27] because what bothers me when anything is the fear that I see among people this.
[57:32] I looked at the statistics for Lee County, 770,000 plus population in Lee County.
[57:38] You go to Reginald County. I'm sorry. Okay, really quick. As of June 22nd,
[57:43] the mortality rate from COVID was about 0.20. That is so far below the flu death.
[57:50] Thank you.
[57:51] Mortality rate in 2018, if you can just, this is all online, if you look at Lee County Statistics.
[57:56] So anyway, I just would encourage people to live wisely.
[57:59] Thank you.
[58:00] Wash your hands.
[58:01] Thank you.
[58:01] Thank you.
[58:02] Any glass on the left hand side?
[58:04] Yes, sir.
[58:11] Good morning.
[58:14] My name is Eric Delman-Vack.
[58:15] I'm a recent Santa Bel resident.
[58:17] I only have one comment.
[58:18] I'll be fast.
[58:19] That won't even turn yellow.
[58:20] I totally echo the comments in this house that I ask that you, if you pass this, consider allowing houses of worship, places of faith.
[58:27] to make their own decision, I think the idea of no mask, no participation in that particular
[58:33] example is a pretty far stretch, that's all.
[58:38] Anybody else on the left hand side wish to make a comment?
[58:42] Okay, let's bring you back to cancel.
[58:44] I, I listened to what the judgment said and was several other parties, and I, and in full
[58:52] agreement with the principle that people should have self-discipline to understand the importance
[59:04] of wearing a mask. I don't think there's any doubt that wearing a mask, although it's
[59:12] not 100%, it does provide some effective control of the spread of it. So I agree with the thoughts
[59:22] that Council in the morning suggested that we should allow personal responsibility to
[59:30] affect our decisions. Unfortunately, on the island, this just not happened. I am alarmed
[59:39] by the number of people that are in business establishments without a mask.
[59:47] I personally,
[59:51] I might have a decision, I won't go to a restaurant, that's affecting economy.
[59:56] I actually got a restaurant probably two or three times a week.
[59:59] I don't go to a restaurant.
[1:00:00] Because, I'm nervous about the fact that people that do not have the discipline to wear a mask. I was in an establishment which sells food and there was probably eight people in a group. I suspect they were visitors, I'm not sure. Nobody was wearing a mask. Nobody was self-distancing. So, you know, whereas I support the thoughts of self-discipline, it's just it's not being practiced.
[1:00:27] and I am very loathe to put forward this proclamation. I feel that it shouldn't
[1:00:36] be necessary but unfortunately I'm finding from my personal experience that it
[1:00:42] is necessary to have a proclamation which does affect mandate people to
[1:00:50] wear a mask because the self-discipline is just not working and I am personally
[1:00:56] very alarmed about the spread of this virus. I'm very alarmed. We can argue there's only
[1:01:04] a few people who have died, but if one person dies that's one too many. I'm very alarmed
[1:01:09] by the spread of this pandemic. I'm fearful that it might get worse. I'm hopefully won't.
[1:01:18] I believe that the mask is not a cure of the spread of this pandemic. It is a simple step
[1:01:25] that everyone can take to help in preventing the spread of this virus.
[1:01:33] I recognise that washing your hands and self-distancing is also important.
[1:01:40] But please, I really plead with people that wearing a mask is a necessary step to at least
[1:01:51] preventing the spread of this disease any further.
[1:01:53] It is my belief that if everyone was to wear a mask, as is shown by a number of
[1:02:00] communities that have worn a mask, the level of pandemic does decrease and it is
[1:02:06] controlled. So I am very much in favor of this proclamation. I believe it's very
[1:02:15] necessary and I, as I've said before, I wish that we didn't have to do this but I
[1:02:21] I just feel that we can't trust on the self-discipline of the people around us to adhere to
[1:02:30] wearing masks and so, therefore, I am very supportive of this proclamation, and I pass
[1:02:35] it back to my council colleagues.
[1:02:37] Mr. Vice-Mayor, if I may.
[1:02:39] You can make a ahead, please.
[1:02:42] And I appreciate all of Jason's comments that he made, and I certainly do appreciate all
[1:02:47] of the comments that you've made, Mr. Vice Mayor,
[1:02:48] and I stand behind those, when we look at things
[1:02:52] like unenforceable, how are we going to enforce?
[1:02:55] We had put out a request to say,
[1:02:58] we really want people to wear masks.
[1:03:00] We tried that, and it didn't work.
[1:03:04] It hasn't helped.
[1:03:06] It's helped a degree, but not to the degree
[1:03:08] that we need it to on this island.
[1:03:11] When you mandate something, most of the people
[1:03:14] are going to comply.
[1:03:15] I truly believe that if you don't mandate it, then why do they need to?
[1:03:23] Our economy, since we opened up, has done quite well.
[1:03:27] I know the hotels are pretty much full capacity.
[1:03:32] I have been in touch with the Vacation Rental Management Association
[1:03:35] of Sanabell and Captiva.
[1:03:37] They are going very strong.
[1:03:39] There are some comments about whether or not having the tourism
[1:03:43] and come back to our island is the problem.
[1:03:45] Well, you know, I look at anyone as a potential carrier,
[1:03:49] whether you're a visitor, whether you're a resident,
[1:03:51] and I can tell you the vacation rental managers
[1:03:53] and the hotels are doing so much to make sure
[1:03:57] that we are all safe.
[1:04:00] And this mask proclamation is a step that we can take
[1:04:07] to keep us safe.
[1:04:09] And I think it's time for that step to be taken.
[1:04:12] We do not want to roll back where we were before, and I think if the small, I consider it
[1:04:19] more of an inconvenience, I just do not see the downside.
[1:04:23] In our proclamation there's the exemptions, I think those are very fair exemptions.
[1:04:29] So I just believe if this one step that we can take to keep our economy going and potentially
[1:04:37] limit the spread.
[1:04:39] You know, now Florida is being stopped in other borders.
[1:04:44] So let's realize that this is all over the country, everywhere.
[1:04:49] We're a tourism-based economy, and we've got to protect our citizens.
[1:04:53] We've got to protect our employees, our families, and our guests.
[1:04:56] And so I fully support this.
[1:05:00] And I did not want to see this happen. I did support at the two previous times as well as it failed. But now we're five weeks further and we have to look at our state and look at what we can do to protect ourselves. I would have one question for the city attorney because I think it's a fair comment that has been brought up in regards to the places of worship. I don't know legally if that's a concern. I'd like your feedback on that. The virus doesn't have a border.
[1:05:28] So I don't, you know, I'm a little concerned on if that is something that we should be looking at
[1:05:36] and I would appreciate your input on that.
[1:05:38] Council, I'd be glad to provide perhaps a definition of a place of public accommodation
[1:05:45] within the proclamation before it's issued to clarify that point.
[1:05:48] Generally speaking, a place of public accommodation does not include places of worship.
[1:05:54] So, you know, a church or a synagogue or the like, unless you're in a situation
[1:06:01] where that facility is being rented out to a private party, but when it's being,
[1:06:06] when it is a place of worship, being used as a place of worship, you know,
[1:06:12] it wouldn't be considered a place of public accommodation.
[1:06:14] So in writing this, the intent was that place of worship would not be included,
[1:06:20] but certainly we can spell that out in black and white to make that clear, if that's Council's preference.
[1:06:26] I would, I don't know if we need to amend my motion, but I certainly think that clarification,
[1:06:33] the more we have layman's terms, because these proclamations have a lot of legal ease,
[1:06:39] so the more we can outline clarity, so there's not a question, I would very much appreciate that,
[1:06:45] should it be Council's pleasure to pass this proclamation today?
[1:06:49] And then the nice thing about proclamations as opposed to a resolution or an ordinance
[1:06:56] where the verbiage needs to be precise and exact when you pass it.
[1:07:01] In this case, you're passing your intent and so we can make modifications
[1:07:08] between now and when it's finalized and the vice mayor executes it.
[1:07:12] In fact, totally, if I couldn't add a comment there, the City Attorney and I did discuss
[1:07:18] churches specifically and we agreed that we would not include churches, would be excluded
[1:07:25] from this proclamation.
[1:07:27] Thank you very much.
[1:07:28] So we've already discussed that and we agree that.
[1:07:30] Okay.
[1:07:31] One thing I need to say, you know, we are voted as a nonpartisan island and it saddens
[1:07:41] me because I think this has been politicized and my duty is to the citizens of this island
[1:07:48] we have had and I will say we've had probably almost 400 emails on this and overwhelmingly
[1:07:55] the citizens have requested that we put this in effect.
[1:07:58] We have had tourists that have sent in numerous tourists that say, you know, please, we're
[1:08:04] doing it here.
[1:08:04] So, I looked back two years ago when we were in a crisis, a water crisis and the signs
[1:08:12] that were around the silent, Republican Democrat water.
[1:08:17] And I look at this today and I say, Republican Democrat health.
[1:08:22] And I think at this one step, I've listened to the scientists, I've listened to the medical
[1:08:27] community, I've spoken to some of the Lee Health board, I have not found any medical
[1:08:34] professional, not to say that they're not out there, that has not said that wearing a mask at this point is one of the most important things we can do, along with social distancing of six feet and washing our hands, and that is what I'm making my decision on today for our citizens and our guests, our employees and our families. Thank you.
[1:08:59] Any other counsel comments?
[1:09:01] Certainly. Thank you, Vice Mayor. One thing I'd like to open up with is that, and I'm not speaking on behalf of my fellow councilmembers, but I do want to go on the record is that, you know, we've received a tremendous amount of input.
[1:09:16] Some of it here in council chambers as well as emails. And I know for one, I have taken the time to read as a matter of fact I was catching up this morning before I came in.
[1:09:26] And so I just like for that to go on the record and with the assurance of the public that your words are considered, your input is valuable, no matter where it comes from.
[1:09:39] If I didn't respond to you, please don't take that as an indication that I didn't read your comments.
[1:09:45] Quite honestly, I'd still be replying if I tried to reply to each and every single one of them, but thank you for that.
[1:09:52] The other comment I'd like to make is, it's again, it hits on something that I've believed
[1:10:00] And for some time, as you all know, I'll operate a business and business has to look at the numbers. And we heard today from public input the emphasis on numbers and being careful with statistics and such. And I very much agree with that. And because when you do have, when you go from one to two from a percentage standpoint, that is a tremendous increase.
[1:10:28] So it's very important that you look beyond just what the numbers are and what I refer to as the story behind the numbers.
[1:10:37] And I think one of the things that is clearly pointed out is the story behind the numbers is that this thing is getting worse.
[1:10:45] There's no question in my mind whatsoever.
[1:10:47] However, the all-rate is climbing, and all the numbers point to, and I, one of the things
[1:10:53] that I look at when I review the statistics coming back from the Department of Health
[1:10:58] is the positivity rate of the tests that are being taken.
[1:11:01] The positivity rate is going up.
[1:11:04] There's no question about that, so it's not just a matter of, we're testing more people.
[1:11:09] Yes, thank goodness we are testing more people, and people are getting results, so that
[1:11:13] But they know, because many of us may be walking around having the infection and not even
[1:11:19] realize it, there's so many asymptomatic people that have been tested and didn't realize
[1:11:25] that they had it.
[1:11:28] In the past, we used the strongest possible language up to not including an ordinance
[1:11:36] or a proclamation requiring a mask usage.
[1:11:41] And I think one of the things that I've seen is that it wasn't enough.
[1:11:49] We feel short.
[1:11:53] Masked are required for safety and as the scientific and the medical field has commented repeatedly,
[1:12:00] mask do make a difference, washing your hands, make a tremendous difference.
[1:12:04] Not putting yourself in a position or a place where you cannot safely distance and you
[1:12:15] cannot safely protect yourself from this disease puts you at risk.
[1:12:22] Wearing mask, I view that as I'll go out on my business and for just a second I do that
[1:12:30] from my customers. I wear my mask for my customers. I require my staff to wear a mask for not only for each other, because as an essential business, we remained open during this whole time, and I had grave concerns for my staff members because they were being exposed to people walking through the store passing through the register.
[1:12:53] We took every step that we could possibly take to make sure that they were safe as possible.
[1:13:01] That of their families because when they leave work, they go home and they potentially may expose their families to that as well.
[1:13:11] And lastly, I wear my mask for myself and my family, however it has little to no impact on me.
[1:13:21] I wear my mask for you and I ask that you wear a mask for me.
[1:13:25] We don't have a long-term solution at this point where I've heard in the scientific
[1:13:33] community and the medical community, we are going through this more quickly than we've
[1:13:39] tackled anything else before.
[1:13:42] We are making strides daily.
[1:13:48] I wrote down the term solutions, Mick, and I think that's probably, you know, we're
[1:13:53] going to have to address it, and it's going to be a have to be addressed in a whole
[1:13:56] variety of ways.
[1:13:58] We're going to, you know, I heard one person talk about returning to normal.
[1:14:04] One of the thoughts that I have is that returning to normal is probably not going to
[1:14:10] I think we are clearly defining a new normal and what it's going to look like in the future, but at this point I'm not prepared for that.
[1:14:19] I think we need to do whatever we can do both personally and as a legislative body here on the island to support that.
[1:14:30] I do recognize that at a federal level and a state level and possibly potentially even at a county level this step has not been taken.
[1:14:38] But I look at that a little bit differently, maybe than others do, is I look at that is that this is one of those instances where one size does not necessarily fit all.
[1:14:50] And I think what, and I don't want to put words in the Governor's mouth, but I think I've heard him intimate something along these lines is that he's allowing those local.
[1:15:05] So, in the past, I did not support this because I wanted that personal responsibility. I wanted all those things that I've heard spoke of today to kick in and make sure that people did the right thing. Not only for themselves, but for their fellow person that is alongside of them. I'm not seeing that on a regular basis.
[1:15:29] on a large scale. And because of that, I look forward to moving forward with this.
[1:15:38] I thank you for your wisdom. I wish you'd have a very much appreciated.
[1:15:41] Thank you. Is there any other council comments?
[1:15:46] I want to start by saying how much I appreciate the three of you, not only as city council members,
[1:15:53] but also as people I enjoy discussing the issues of our time with and coming to resolutions.
[1:15:59] But my admiration and affection for all of you is only countered by my own honesty to myself about how I feel about things.
[1:16:09] And we all feel that way and share with each other in good faith.
[1:16:13] I am opposed to this because I believe at this time I wish to follow the governor.
[1:16:19] I wish to follow BOCC, the county commission.
[1:16:23] There's no other local city in South West Florida, all the South West are that has instituted a complete mask rule, if you will.
[1:16:36] I believe that the police will be put in an untenable position.
[1:16:40] I don't think this is the time for that sort of thing.
[1:16:44] I believe certain people will be licensed to torment their fellow citizens, like they're wearing a scarlet sea.
[1:16:51] and we'll narrow and nearly enjoy that.
[1:16:54] I expect personal responsibility from citizens.
[1:16:59] I want citizens to regulate themselves,
[1:17:01] not spend their time regulating others.
[1:17:04] If you don't wish to be exposed, then don't go out.
[1:17:07] If you want other people to change their lifestyle
[1:17:10] so that you may do things that interfere with theirs,
[1:17:14] that is not an acceptable reason to me.
[1:17:20] I do not like the idea of the government
[1:17:22] providing cover to commercial activities. That's not our job, but we support our economy
[1:17:28] here, and we certainly do everything we can, but you don't get to talk out both sides
[1:17:31] of your mouth, and these are the times that try men's souls as the old saying goes,
[1:17:37] and you need to make decisions based on what you believe is right.
[1:17:42] Not have the government compel people to do things that you may not have the civic courage
[1:17:47] to do yourself. These are the times to stand up and act on what you believe in.
[1:17:51] And unfortunately, like I'm having to do right now, I believe in the long run that this
[1:17:58] ban will do damage to our community, for a short term feel good effect that does not
[1:18:06] show the results we intend to get.
[1:18:10] I think many reasons are presented today to say that we're actually creating COVID traps
[1:18:15] and masks that people are dragging around the place.
[1:18:19] I'm more concerned, the long-term fabric of our community and what has bound us together
[1:18:24] and with those who've come to visit us and who so many of them end up living here, and
[1:18:30] planning for the retirements from their experience.
[1:18:33] I applaud and commend Richard Johnson who has proved and through empirical evidence that
[1:18:41] a business can apply rules like this and people will follow it.
[1:18:44] And just like all businesses, you're going to run into a lunatic and sometimes those
[1:18:47] people just need to be asked to shop somewhere else if they don't want to comply.
[1:18:51] That's the nature of private business, and it's also the nature of government.
[1:18:56] So at this time, I pose a max ban for the respectfully to my fellow council members.
[1:19:03] I pose a mask ban for the actual greater good of our community.
[1:19:08] Thank you, Vice-Maria.
[1:19:09] I respect your comments, Jason.
[1:19:11] Thank you, Jason.
[1:19:12] Absolutely.
[1:19:13] If I want to make a conclude, we're bringing this about because there is a health emergency
[1:19:21] and other reason for us to do it, either there is a health emergency.
[1:19:25] And clearly from all the evidence that I have read, the masks do make a difference.
[1:19:31] They do help prevent the spread of this virus.
[1:19:36] And my concern is, should we not pass something and people still go along and nobody
[1:19:42] wearing a mask, then shame on us, shame on us if that happens because I'm not confident
[1:19:50] that if we don't have a ban on a proclamation requiring masks, I don't think people
[1:20:00] Well, let the increasing wearing masks will increase, I think it's still going to be what it is today. So we have a motion, we have a second with some revised language, which we have. I have. Do I need to read the proclamation again, city clerk? Are you okay?
[1:20:20] Would you like me to read the proclamation? Vice Mayor, you do not need to read it because it's not necessarily the exact same form as what will be passed. I understand the motion.
[1:20:28] then I would like to call for question on this matter.
[1:20:32] Mr. Johnson?
[1:20:36] Yes.
[1:20:37] Mr. Denham?
[1:20:38] Yes.
[1:20:39] Mr. Mon?
[1:20:40] No.
[1:20:41] Thank you.
[1:20:42] So with that, we have concluded this piece of business and this proclamation is now
[1:20:46] enforced.
[1:20:47] I'm suggesting, as said, he manages to the attorney that this will go into effect on the date
[1:20:54] which is Friday 12 o'clock, 1 a.m. is that correct?
[1:21:00] That's the way it's currently prepared, by some way, and I'll finalize the importance
[1:21:03] with the Justice Department.
[1:21:06] And I think with the revised language, this I would like to do is to go into effect.
[1:21:12] Thank you.
[1:21:13] Thank you.
[1:21:16] Councillor Gough.
[1:21:16] Do we want to continue discussions on other topics or do you want to short break?
[1:21:21] But what else is on the agenda that's announced for a due process reasons?
[1:21:27] Okay, I would wish us to discuss the possibility of considering beach parking as a temporary
[1:21:42] man on beach parking on Saturday, public parking on Saturday, but I would like to discuss
[1:21:50] that I see whether because it's been brought to my attention by a numerous in my messages
[1:21:55] that we should consider this again, I would like to open this up for discussion by Council.
[1:22:02] Whatever, whatever one support that. I do support that. I think under
[1:22:06] agenda it allows us to do so because it does speak to COVID any sort of COVID.
[1:22:12] I believe the agenda allows us to talk about any issue which is COVID-related and so I'm taking
[1:22:17] the opportunity to do that, and I would like, at least to begin, a discussion on that.
[1:22:22] And would you like to go ahead and make some comments on this?
[1:22:27] And, Vice Mayor, if I want to object to it, simply because those stakeholders may be affected
[1:22:33] by that haven't received any notice whatsoever, and if it's your decision to proceed with
[1:22:38] it, I happily shall, in that case, I'd like to take a five-minute break or.
[1:22:42] So, your objection is that this is because it's not related to COVID, or because of COVID?
[1:22:48] No, no, no, because I think if you're related to COVID and you could put anything up as
[1:22:52] walk-on, shutting the parking lots or shutting the beaches, there's a different group of
[1:22:59] people that should be heard on the matter.
[1:23:01] I don't mind us talking about it if that's the majority's decision here, but it would be
[1:23:06] the untoward and extreme not to mention that that is not specifically mentioned and a sweeping
[1:23:13] generality of COVID-19 could cover anything under the sun.
[1:23:16] Well, the only reason I feel comfortable bringing forward is because we've discussed beach parking
[1:23:22] public, beach parking numerous times in the past and we've agreed that this is something
[1:23:28] which is worthwhile and is worthwhile in protection of our citizens and because there we have
[1:23:33] a emergency situation where beaches are being closed on the other coast, which is going
[1:23:39] to encourage people to get in their cars and drive here if we have our, leave our beach
[1:23:45] parking open. I think this is a concern, a considerable concern, and I don't believe
[1:23:52] that this is something which we can wait a week or two or several weeks before we affect
[1:23:58] the decision on whether or not we need to close beach parking. I think it's a crisis situation
[1:24:03] which we confront. It's an emergency situation. My view is we need to consider this and we
[1:24:10] need, if it is the—if it is the wisdom of this Council, that I would like to consider
[1:24:16] this as another proclamation that we should endorse and pass today. I don't think we can
[1:24:24] wait a week or two or three or—to the next Council meeting before we can discuss this,
[1:24:28] or to have someone like me put together a brief as to why it's necessary.
[1:24:36] I believe we are talking about a crisis situation and I believe therefore it is a wisdom,
[1:24:41] it is my wisdom and I hope the wisdom is counsel.
[1:24:44] This is worthy of discussion and it's worthy if we think it is a crisis I've described
[1:24:50] that we should have a proclamation.
[1:24:55] I guess we already have a proclamation on beach parking, I want to continue.
[1:25:00] I'll tell you that previous proclamation for a period, certainly to extend through the July 4th weekend. That would be what I would print. So I'm I'm preempting what you wish to say there. Holly, so I apologize for that, but I was trying to address my colleague. And I took it that and I've really registered the objection because it was worthy of knows. And we're also missing our mayor and we're one short for dealing with this. I am not
[1:25:29] going to walk out and protest if you wish to discuss this, and it looks like if the
[1:25:33] others wish to discuss it, I'll, of course, participate in this, but I just like
[1:25:37] giving citizens heads up on something as serious as shutting down the bargain.
[1:25:43] That's it's just, I'm putting it on the record.
[1:25:45] Okay, Mr. Dockin and Maya, they'll need attorney in front of me here.
[1:25:50] Is this appropriate for us to discuss this at this time, and is it appropriate,
[1:25:54] so should we wish to consider a proclamation on this matter?
[1:25:58] It is Vice Mayor, and I promise that statement by saying, circling back to what we talked
[1:26:07] about in the beginning, which is the emergency powers in a state of local emergency
[1:26:12] or house with the mayor, so it's not in his stead, the Vice Mayor.
[1:26:18] So it's not to say that a meeting is required at all of counsel.
[1:26:24] Every single proclamation that has been issued today could have been by the mayor
[1:26:28] without consultation of all of City Council. It is, I think, a professional respect
[1:26:34] for, you know, five opinions, why you've gathered each time before there have been
[1:26:39] the majority of any kind of substantive actions to be taken. So I say that because
[1:26:47] those actions could be taken by you in the absence of the mayor without a meeting.
[1:26:52] But irrespective, even if that wasn't true, I would say that this broad discussion
[1:27:00] regarding coronavirus disease 2019, COVID-19, including but not limited to potential
[1:27:05] adoption or modification of COVID-19 related restrictions, broadly covers anything,
[1:27:11] you know, under the sun, related to COVID-19.
[1:27:13] And so I don't believe that additional notice beyond that would be required, even if-
[1:27:22] But can I just say that we're not talking about closing the beaches, we're talking about closing beach parking.
[1:27:30] I want to make that distinction because it's an important distinction.
[1:27:35] I support the discussion.
[1:27:37] I think that it's extremely timely, especially with everything that's happening throughout the beach areas around the state right now.
[1:27:44] And if we want to wait and have this discussion, our council member had asked for a five minute recess.
[1:27:50] Do you want to continue with?
[1:27:51] Yeah, let's take it to 10 to the right.
[1:27:53] Mr. Vice-Mayor, I don't think it sounds like everybody would like to discuss it,
[1:27:57] and I'm always loved to discuss things that rest at my city count.
[1:28:01] Well, I like when I'm on the clock being paid more than this, but.
[1:28:06] A Vice-Mayor, if I may chime in before we break, I too agree that we should have a discussion.
[1:28:14] I think it is relevant to the situation, and I thank you very much, City Attorney,
[1:28:19] because I was looking forward to hearing from you and making sure, as you well know,
[1:28:24] we all use him as a guide post for what we do and how we do so in a legal manner.
[1:28:30] So with that clearance, I would support a break in the return process.
[1:28:35] I just showed a German and I would suggest we return at 20 minutes for further discussion on this topic.
[1:28:41] That's right. Thank you.
[1:28:41] We forgot we passed our...
[1:28:46] Sorry.
[1:28:49] Thank you.
[1:28:51] Sorry.
[1:28:51] Mr. Regan.
[1:28:52] Sorry, Mr. Regan.
[1:28:52] Sorry.
[1:28:53] Excuse me.
[1:28:54] No, the photo is regaining.
[1:28:55] I'm going to be in a hurry to go.
[1:28:56] Question?
[1:28:57] Yeah, I guess.
[1:28:57] I feel hearty.
[1:28:59] I'm in that megabillum.
[1:29:00] Okay.
[1:29:01] What's...
[1:29:02] This is the whole photo.
[1:29:04] This is the...
[1:29:06] You're very...
[1:29:07] I mean, I've been daily contact with Terry.
[1:29:09] You smell that?
[1:29:10] Yeah.
[1:29:11] I know.
[1:29:11] I know she's been on the give-up five minutes.
[1:29:13] There to, you know, she's been on the give-up five minutes.
[1:29:16] All the other thing that burns out is a delicate balance between
[1:29:22] the one should be different.
[1:29:23] And you have to bring forward that something
[1:29:26] and pushing so much during you have elk.
[1:29:29] Yeah, yeah.
[1:29:30] So that's what it is.
[1:29:33] Two or three times so far.
[1:29:35] You know, I've heard from him or through his JA.
[1:29:38] Okay.
[1:29:39] You see, the agenda allows us to have a wide ranging discussion on anything associated
[1:29:46] with this coronavirus disease, and I want to proceed with that mandate.
[1:29:52] And so, I have suggested, it is a suggestion that we discuss the possibility.
[1:30:00] Bringing back the proclamation which prevents opening of the beach parking on Sanabelle. I'm going
[1:30:13] to ask Holly Smith, Councillor Smith if she would at least bring us into this discussion. You
[1:30:22] want to do that or do you want me to continue? Mr. Vice-Mier, why don't you continue as you
[1:30:27] brought that forward and I'd love to add to the conversation.
[1:30:31] Let me say what I repeat what I've already said and it's worthwhile saying again.
[1:30:37] The reason that I believe this is a worthwhile discussion and the possibility of considering
[1:30:43] a proclamation is for the reason that the closure of breaches on the west coast, the June
[1:30:51] July 4th we can be on. I believe that people will naturally want to find a beach which
[1:31:00] they can record on. I think there's a good reason to believe that that might be San
[1:31:05] Abel and I believe we will get any substantial number of people that want to be on our island
[1:31:13] And in this time of this pandemic.
[1:31:17] So therefore my view is that for a period of beginning a maybe a Friday of this week
[1:31:27] through the following week, which I've called the week of July the 4th, that we should
[1:31:36] consider closing public parking on our beaches for that period of time.
[1:31:42] And the reason for that is, for the same reason there's masks, is that I'm trying to have
[1:31:50] due consideration for the people that live on this island, for the people that make this
[1:31:56] home on their home, and to protect them against the massive of visits here over the coming
[1:32:05] quality we can and beyond. I believe it's I would describe it as a crisis situation. I believe
[1:32:14] we have a situation which is an immediate and I have been inundated with numerous requests
[1:32:22] from a large number of citizens, but this is encouraged to be encouraged and therefore
[1:32:30] I would suggest that we consider a move to consider the proclamation of halting beach
[1:32:40] parking, public parking on the beaches, we did that for a limited period of time of
[1:32:47] around seven or eight days beginning on this coming Friday.
[1:32:52] That is what I wish, and if you want that as a motion, that would be a motion which I would
[1:33:00] I would consider. Thank you.
[1:33:04] I would second for discussion.
[1:33:05] Okay.
[1:33:08] If I may.
[1:33:09] You can't, please go ahead.
[1:33:12] We have had, again, nearly probably 400 emails.
[1:33:16] So I don't think this is a surprise that this is being brought up today.
[1:33:36] I said, you sound glad to me help you.
[1:33:39] I will be taking caller number three this morning, a long time listener, first-hand caller.
[1:33:50] VICE mayor, just one point to make it, you made the motion and Councilman Smith's
[1:33:56] second motion just to reiterate from before, if and when you do decide to take
[1:34:02] action, you can second the motion as the Chair just not make the motion.
[1:34:06] I'm on target, Pamela.
[1:34:16] Well, my one question would be, as we don't know, possibly the mayor could be listening
[1:34:20] in if that's a phone call coming from the mayor, so let's just make sure.
[1:34:25] And I'm sure he would be able to get in contact through another means.
[1:34:29] It's not him, it sounds like well.
[1:34:31] Okay, so we can continue.
[1:34:35] Robo call.
[1:34:37] I'll just go ahead and continue.
[1:34:39] So as I believe I was saying, we've had at least 400 emails.
[1:34:44] And I can't even fathom the number of emails that we're discussing.
[1:34:48] The potential closer on Santa Bel's beach paid parking.
[1:34:53] The East Coast has essentially many
[1:35:00] Members have closed down. There are many municipalities around here that have also made some decisions. There was an email sent out last night regarding where not Lee County is not closing down their beaches, we understand. Call your county is meeting right now. Naples, I believe, putting back in the restrictions that they put in place during the period that they had their restrictions in. I don't have those in front of me.
[1:35:28] Marko Island is also considering discussing, so this is not just Santa Bel that potentially
[1:35:36] is looking at this.
[1:35:38] As I stated before, this holiday weekend, all of our accommodations are full.
[1:35:44] And to add to that, you know, I'm concerned about the interactions, I'm concerned about our
[1:35:51] natural resources, the strain on our natural resources.
[1:35:53] as we have seen our, the council has seen the photos that, like none other, I've seen
[1:36:00] before, on the east end of the island where it's tent to tent and looks more like a, almost
[1:36:06] an east coast fully capacity, in full capacity beach, then we're used to seeing it here.
[1:36:14] I would actually support the closure for as long as the east coast beaches are closed.
[1:36:20] I believe that their closure, if I'm not mistaken, was from the 3rd through, I believe, the 7th.
[1:36:28] I'm glad that you're bringing up this discussion, because I do think that we can have an action on this, and if it's supported, it's supported, if it fails, it fails.
[1:36:38] I believe that when we were looking at the revenue loss and the city manager might be able to help me on this one,
[1:36:44] We were looking before Beach Parking came back open at zero revenue.
[1:36:51] Was it through July, City Manager, if I could ask you please?
[1:36:54] No, July was going to be, was going to be 50%, we were 50% revenue.
[1:37:02] I believe.
[1:37:03] Okay, City Manager, could you just
[1:37:08] remind us, because I think that's important that we have had it can be
[1:37:12] I need a minute to check those numbers for you, but I'd like to thank you.
[1:37:18] So we do have a couple of county beaches that would remain open, but my concern is the heavy
[1:37:26] capacity that we could have with so many of their restrictions and beach closings in other parts of the state.
[1:37:35] I think probably a place to start while the City Manager looks into those numbers for us is what are we trying
[1:37:41] to accomplish specifically, and we've always had this, I don't like walk-ons, I don't
[1:37:46] like that there's no due process for people who may want to comment on this specific issue,
[1:37:52] and I understand the immediacy that the vice mayor has shared, and therefore I would
[1:37:57] agree to discuss it, but I want to know exactly what we're trying to accomplish, because if
[1:38:02] we've already got weekend people coming and the beaches are going to be packed with people who
[1:38:07] made reservations anyway, closing our parking lots, I'm not entirely sure how that affects
[1:38:16] the situation except to punish local day trippers or others who may not live on the beach
[1:38:23] and wish to park in a public parking lot.
[1:38:27] I'm also, and it's terribly unfortunate but absolutely understandable that we're missing
[1:38:35] the mayor at this time simply because I like his insights, his special relationship
[1:38:39] and he always maintained it with the county commission and I would have loved to have a
[1:38:44] feel of what his feelings were on that.
[1:38:48] And what the, what repercussions are for the same argument we were confronted with before
[1:38:53] about, you know, for future issues, if the county remains open for everything and we shut
[1:38:59] down our beaches, the cause will be full, et cetera.
[1:39:02] And I'm going to think shut down our beaches, shut down the public parking, which I concurred with the outset of this unpleasantness quite frankly.
[1:39:11] And so my question is, you know, and that's just to frame up a discussion while we wait, is, what is it we want to accomplish exactly by doing this?
[1:39:20] And then I think we can sort of work backwards from, all right, if that's the goal, then how do we, how do we effectuate that goal?
[1:39:26] Well, if I kind of post an opinion on that, I mean, simply it will reduce the numbers
[1:39:33] of people that are on the beach.
[1:39:36] If I recognise that their hotels as Smith suggested, I'll fully booked, so we're not closing
[1:39:44] the beaches as such, I just think it reduces the number of people that enter our beaches,
[1:39:52] and it also allows us to better control the number of peaches, the people that are on your beaches.
[1:39:58] So it's really...
[1:40:00] I think if we do this we will reduce the number of visitors coming to Ireland, reduce the number of people coming to our beaches. I don't believe they're going to come to the island just to go to our restaurants. I believe they will come to the island because they want to go on their beaches. So I think it will reduce the number of people that come to Ireland for a short period of time of seven or eight days. That's why. So it's really a numbers problem. And I'm, you know,
[1:40:29] So it is a tough job being up here.
[1:40:34] It really is.
[1:40:35] But one of the things that, in my 16 years on Council, it's necessary to do is to listen
[1:40:42] to those people that put me in office.
[1:40:45] To listen to them and try to understand what they're telling me.
[1:40:51] The people that put me in office are telling me that please try and limit the number of people
[1:40:57] that are on our beaches.
[1:40:58] and I'm responding to that. Now, for a variety of reasons, we may believe this is not
[1:41:05] good, right or fair, but I'm responding to the needs of our citizens. The putman often
[1:41:13] says, look, it is going to be a difficult weekend. There's going to be a large number of
[1:41:18] people coming from the West Coast and other places to this island. Please, will you try and
[1:41:25] see if we can minimise the effect of these people. That is what I'm trying to do. I'm listening
[1:41:31] to the citizens of this island once again, repeating myself. I'm listening to the people that live
[1:41:37] on this island, that make this island their home, and this is what I'm hearing from them. So it's a
[1:41:43] really a numbers problem. It's trying to reduce the numbers of people coming onto our island and
[1:41:48] getting onto our beaches. Now we may not all like what we're trying to do, but it does satisfy
[1:41:53] the needs of what I consider to be the majority of the citizens, those people who live on
[1:41:59] Air Island.
[1:42:05] Vice Mayor, if I may, I too am glad that we're having this conversation because I think
[1:42:12] had we not had this conversation, we would have been not carrying out our responsibilities.
[1:42:18] So I'm glad, as I spoke earlier, I'm glad that City Attorney opined so that I knew that
[1:42:25] We were on firm ground there from a legal standpoint as far as notice goes and such.
[1:42:31] As I look at this issue, I'm going to try to offer up some comments that maybe I haven't heard already.
[1:42:39] And although I did hear this, I want to emphasize that we are a sanctuary island.
[1:42:46] We do strive to live in harmony with nature as well as each other, the diversity aspect
[1:42:56] of our environment.
[1:42:59] I do recognize that our hotels and motels and rental accommodations are, this is a peak
[1:43:06] weekend for them, and as a result they are enjoying brisk business if you will for this.
[1:43:14] I do have some concerns about the environmental aspects, and I know as a community, and this council, not me, but this council years ago, made a choice to limit the exposure that we have people on our beaches, and we principally do that through beach access, if you will.
[1:43:39] I will go on the record and say I am not in favor of closing the beaches and I state it that way exactly closing our beaches.
[1:43:49] I do believe that the residents and others that are here with us and spending time with us do have a, I think we have an obligation to provide that to them.
[1:44:01] I think we also have an obligation to the environment as well as the citizenry here to make sure that we manage that beach load that we have exposure to this weekend normally I would not be too concerned about this because I think the steps and measures that we have in place are adequate for normal times.
[1:44:28] And as we've all stated and we've heard from others, we are in unprecedented times dealing
[1:44:36] with this COVID crisis and how we got here to this conversation in the first place.
[1:44:42] Without being too much more long-winded, I think that we do require some additional steps
[1:44:49] to manage beach load for this holiday weekend.
[1:44:54] and I will go on the record also is saying.
[1:45:00] I'm not convinced that we need to have as long a period of time. I think the peak time that we're dealing with is the 4th of July weekend, not necessarily beyond that. I'll also go on the record saying that by using the tool, the management tool that we have available to us, and we've used in the past, is by utilizing those public parking areas that we control on, on Sanable. And what we can do then is limit the number of folks that are
[1:45:29] going to end up on our beaches. We've already seen some environmental damage to what's
[1:45:35] taken place and I'd like to, as best as possible, minimize the additional damage that might
[1:45:41] occur because of additional loads on our beaches. With the announced closures on the East
[1:45:49] Coast and neighboring communities, I think it is going to put some additional pressure on
[1:45:55] our beaches. I would suggest that we consider a shorter time period and what's where we're most
[1:46:04] at risk. The other thing that I and I heard loud and clear in our earlier decisions that we were
[1:46:13] denying residents of Lee County the ability and I think if we were to allow those beach parking
[1:46:22] permits those permit holders to utilize those other areas, I think that would be an appropriate
[1:46:29] discussion for us to have today, too.
[1:46:32] Okay, trying to listen to what you just said, I would accept part of a motion which the attorney
[1:46:39] tells me I can't make someone needs a mate, that we should, I'll be willing to accept you
[1:46:46] I think you said the 7th through the 7th, I didn't say the 7th, I wanted to focus on
[1:46:53] that peak period.
[1:46:54] Okay.
[1:46:55] I would agree with that, and I think we need to decide what that peak period really
[1:47:00] is.
[1:47:01] I would agree with that.
[1:47:02] I wouldn't find objection.
[1:47:03] I want to make it very clear for everybody in the listeners.
[1:47:06] We are not closing the beaches.
[1:47:09] We are not closing the beaches.
[1:47:11] We are closing beach public parking.
[1:47:15] And we're doing this to try and prevent the numbers of people that congregate on our beaches.
[1:47:24] And you're right. I'm doing this because of the environmental damage.
[1:47:29] And we are found over the last weeks when we began to open our beaches,
[1:47:35] the amount of litter and garbage which are left on the beaches.
[1:47:40] I think that will be enhanced over this weekend.
[1:47:42] And so I am willing to change my view on what it was to align with your Mr. Johnson.
[1:47:53] When I look at and just looking at some dates as we're discussing, so we, I have my calendar
[1:48:01] I did in front of me, and the dates of Friday is the third and Monday is the sixth.
[1:48:09] Sorry, the Monday is the third and Monday is the sixth.
[1:48:13] I believe the East Coast beaches are closed from the 3rd to the 7th, which is a Tuesday.
[1:48:21] The peak period probably would be the Friday through the Monday, just for discussion,
[1:48:28] if it was Council's pleasure.
[1:48:29] Why don't you, Mr. Smith, make an emotion with those days in for the closure of beaches for
[1:48:35] a short period of time, a beach parking for a short period of time?
[1:48:38] Well, excuse me, we've got a motion on the table, all you need to do is amend it.
[1:48:43] I have been told that I can't make a motion, Mr. Pardon me.
[1:48:46] I have been told by the attorney that in someone else needs to make a not-me.
[1:48:49] So the motion was withdrawn?
[1:48:51] Yes, I have to withdraw that, but I'm asking Mrs. Smith, if she would entertain a motion,
[1:48:56] with the dose that she suggested.
[1:48:58] Well, let me ask first, would we like to have further conversation, or would you?
[1:49:01] Okay, because I believe Jason is looking, and I am ready to make a motion when that's...
[1:49:07] Okay, I was going to ask Jason, do you want to write me further comments?
[1:49:11] I can leave it for after the motion to make—want to make a motion as an opportunity for comments
[1:49:15] just to keep it clean.
[1:49:17] Okay.
[1:49:18] Thank you, Holly.
[1:49:19] Councillor Womensmith.
[1:49:20] I'm sorry to interrupt.
[1:49:21] Just before you make the motion, I have a couple little questions if you may.
[1:49:26] By the way, John, I'm going to open it for public comment, so I'm not forgotten there.
[1:49:30] Okay.
[1:49:31] I just wanted to be clear, is it only paid beach parking that you're talking about?
[1:49:38] That was going to be part of my motion, the city-owned paid beach parking lots.
[1:49:45] And I see that the city manager standing up with a question.
[1:49:49] So I want to make sure that so-
[1:49:51] Thank you, Councilwoman Smith.
[1:49:52] And so that would not include, for instance, the city boat ramp or the fishing pier.
[1:49:59] here.
[1:50:00] Is that correct? Well, I'm glad you would include. Yes, it's not considered parking. Thank you for bringing that forward because I think that's a very important consideration, because I think that the traffic to the, to the boat ramp would be quite extensive as well. Okay. And one of the things we learned, like all of this, there's no playbook and there's lessons learned. One of the things we learned when we did the last closing was first,
[1:50:29] Just a couple facts to put out there not advocating either side just a couple facts one just remind everyone
[1:50:35] We have an interlocal agreement with the county where we have two beaches that are actually owned by the county
[1:50:41] But we manage and I think it's the first or second sentence of that interlocal says
[1:50:46] Whatever the county policy for beaches are at that time is in place
[1:50:50] Understood just make sure everybody listening understands. That's in place number two
[1:50:56] We have beach parking at different types of lots.
[1:51:01] We have the paid lots, an example that would be lighthouse.
[1:51:05] There you can have the beach parking permit if you're a resident, but
[1:51:08] also you can put money in in the meters.
[1:51:10] We have lots like the end of Fulgar, the end of Nareda, a number of lots that are by permit only.
[1:51:18] There is no meter there.
[1:51:20] And to get a permit, you have to either have an A permit or a B permit.
[1:51:25] Since COVID has hit, we've re-opened selling A permits.
[1:51:30] If you have a B permit, your B permit is still in effect, talked over first,
[1:51:35] but we have not restarted selling B permits just because of the capacity
[1:51:39] with our layoffs of not having that.
[1:51:43] Then we did find some locations.
[1:51:45] Once we closed the B paid parking where people were going
[1:51:49] and the best example of those would be the end of Bailey Road,
[1:51:53] the end of Dixie Beach where people were saying I'll take the fine and I'll park
[1:51:59] there anyway because it's I'm already in the car I've got the kids we got the
[1:52:05] sand buckets I'll take the give me the fine and so we did some additional
[1:52:10] closure at some hotspots that were getting excessive demand even though they
[1:52:18] normally would have had a beach sticker but we had people who were willing to
[1:52:22] just take the fine in the stead. Subsequent to that, council increased as an emergency
[1:52:31] to find for illegal parking. And once that was in place, and we have it widely publicized,
[1:52:37] we saw a significant decrease in the number of illegal parking at those locations because
[1:52:44] of as ugly as the signs are, we do have them very widely posted and distributed. So I just
[1:52:51] I just wanted to make sure we all had those facts as we were going forward.
[1:52:54] So it's not just, so when we refer to pay beach parking, that would be your lighthouse, your outgiers.
[1:53:01] It does not include the boat ramp, and then of course, as council may recall,
[1:53:06] when we had the boat ramp close to everyone seeing about residents who do not live directly on the water,
[1:53:13] but our boat owners and have purchased an A sticker were very vocal in their ability,
[1:53:20] and they felt their equal opportunity to vote when they had relied on their a sticker
[1:53:24] for access.
[1:53:26] So, City Manager, you understand the intent of what we're trying to do.
[1:53:30] Yes, very much.
[1:53:30] I understand that.
[1:53:32] Well, when we had that intent the last time, it's just that as we wanted to do these steps,
[1:53:36] we don't.
[1:53:36] So, I want to make sure the language does fulfil your request here to be sure that we are
[1:53:43] clear in what it is we indeed, but it is in my intention or our intention, sorry, not
[1:53:48] my intention to include the played parking on the beaches and help us with the language
[1:53:57] and what that is. I think you understand what the intent is.
[1:54:01] Well, the misread always defer to the Council member for Ms. Smith's strontia.
[1:54:05] If I may, because I think Council Member Johnson brought up a very good point, we have B stickers,
[1:54:11] and those are non-resident stickers, B and B.C.
[1:54:15] So, although it might be difficult logistically, would it be an alternative to say those with
[1:54:29] any A or B stickers in the appropriate lots because these are allowing the B stickers to
[1:54:41] come on to them?
[1:54:42] Which took every bit of our resources when we were not in a holiday weekend. Okay, we're closed.
[1:54:48] If we were able to do just the full gurs and arenas those if we tried to staff and try to sort out at a beach as large as
[1:55:00] House or our gears and try, we would not have sufficient staff for this weekend to be able to man it and only allow in the A's and B's at those. The way we did it during the closure was initially when everything closed. And then we did open some select lots that had permits. But we designated the paid from the park. You would have to have an attendant there. And you would have to have even being closed. It is a very difficult thing to enforce this on top of everything else.
[1:55:29] on a holiday weekend.
[1:55:31] So, I'm really asking you to guide us on what is appropriate, based upon the staff
[1:55:35] and we've got it available.
[1:55:37] Do you understand the intent?
[1:55:40] For the record bill, and I would suggest that we close down the same beaches that we did
[1:55:47] before, the fishing pier has a beach access area also, it's just called the pier, but it is
[1:55:55] a beach.
[1:55:55] And the same with the boat ramp, the boat ramp has a beach access as well.
[1:55:59] So it would be the boat ramp, the pier, lighthouse, and then all the other paid parking except
[1:56:04] for Bowman's and Turner, and Turner's really not our jurisdiction, but we manage it.
[1:56:09] So that I think would be a step in the right direction if we were to do that.
[1:56:15] And I would, we have had great legislation if we could bring that back up because it did
[1:56:21] It allowed the AC stickers at the boat ramp, the residents to be able to launch their boats.
[1:56:28] I do recall that that was open and there was an attendant there that was checking.
[1:56:33] I believe that was the one area that did have an attendant.
[1:56:38] Can we pull back the legislation that we had in place previously?
[1:56:44] Would that simplify?
[1:56:46] Why?
[1:56:47] Yes.
[1:56:49] So, we can, Councilwoman Smith, it ended up as the City Manager said, kind of piecemail.
[1:56:54] We did one thing, and then we had to make a few adjustments to address it to get it the way that ultimately
[1:57:01] everyone wanted it.
[1:57:02] But the one amendment was a proclamation dated March 22nd, and it provided, as you just
[1:57:13] said, at the city boat ramp parking lot to allow AC and A permit holders to access
[1:57:18] the facilities.
[1:57:23] I'm trying to pull that finish proclamation because I, if we don't need to reinvent
[1:57:29] the wheel, then that would probably serve us best because I think the end result will
[1:57:35] be the same as what we had in place at that time.
[1:57:38] So what we have, Councilwoman Smith, is in Proclamation and Resolution 20-14, there is
[1:57:47] a list of appended to it from Exhibit A all the way through Exhibit I, all the different
[1:57:57] proclamations that the mayor made on his own, and that was a ratification, if you will, by
[1:58:04] council of those different acts. And so it isn't clean, it's all contained within this
[1:58:10] proclamation resolution 20-1014, but they are the different ways that parking has been
[1:58:20] addressed are appended in different exhibits. So we would need to make something clean regardless.
[1:58:27] We can pull it all from this, but it's, so for instance, Exhibit A addresses closure of beach parking at Bowman's Blind Pass, Lighthouse in the Fishing Pier, Exhibit D addresses the proclamation that ordered closure of the City Boat ramps and Boat ramp parking in City Pier, then Exhibit F by proclamation dated March 22nd, ordered closure of beach parking at the northern terminus of Dixie Beach Park.
[1:58:57] Beach Road and Bayley Beach Road exhibit G attached addresses closure of boat ramp parking lot,
[1:59:07] but allowing AC and A permit holders to access it.
[1:59:12] And then exhibit H to that orders closure of beach parking at the terminus of Beach Road except as to A permit holders.
[1:59:20] So I believe all the information is contained within 20-014, but
[1:59:25] but it's not clean where we could copy-paste it.
[1:59:28] Right.
[1:59:29] My question to you, I said the attorney, is can you craft some legislation or a proclamation,
[1:59:36] which will adhere to what the police chief is looking for on the city manager looking
[1:59:40] at all, which is actually intent of doing what we're trying to accomplish?
[1:59:45] Vice Mayor, I can absolutely write whatever council ultimately votes on to direct us to do,
[1:59:52] absolutely.
[1:59:54] The problem is, I think, what the chief has explained is a little bit different
[1:59:59] then what?
[2:00:00] Smith is described, and once there's a consensus, certainly, we can write it however you want.
[2:00:04] Smith, try not to make it too complicated.
[2:00:06] And that's it. And I'm not too, I just wanted, and I think this is more for discussion
[2:00:12] right now is we're having this discussion right now. I'm not really prepared to say what
[2:00:18] emotion will be. I did want to, to have the discussion as councilmember Johnson did
[2:00:24] talk about the parking, however, the logistics of that might be too difficult and I think if
[2:00:30] we're looking at a very short window like other places are, then the simpler that we
[2:00:37] have this, the better. I think that we would like to see the allowance of the boat ramp
[2:00:44] parking for AC, for those that boat, I think that's an important aspect.
[2:00:48] Yeah, we accommodated that before I think we overs, it was an oversight and then we changed it and we was, it was, uh, we
[2:00:55] stepped, we stepped that we haven't passed that, that's not a problem.
[2:01:01] There's not a problem.
[2:01:02] Not, not the boat ramp.
[2:01:03] No, and I, I certainly don't want to put a undue burden on the police department where they find
[2:01:14] themselves that they just absolutely cannot handle it.
[2:01:17] But I will say, I do want to impose upon you, chief, and your officers that we go up to that point so that we can.
[2:01:31] I think, you know, we talked about intent, and I think Councilman Smith, I think you're exactly right.
[2:01:38] I think we're not exactly sure what the intent is, so I do encourage us, we have a full conversation about this.
[2:01:45] So we can be clear of our intent so that City Attorney can draft the proper legislation because I know I've left the room sometimes thinking that was my intent, but I don't know that it got out and got into the legislation.
[2:01:58] So rather than trying to wind this back, I'd like to do it once and I'd like to do it right if we can.
[2:02:05] Just for the record in my intent was to allow as much flexibility as we can with the parking areas.
[2:02:13] the beach and I want to hesitate using the beach parking areas because I know that's where it
[2:02:18] got us with the boat ramp and I don't want to go back there again with the parking areas so that
[2:02:23] we can manage the crowds on the beaches but at the same time give as much availability as we can
[2:02:36] to the folks that live here and have purchased permits to be in those parking areas.
[2:02:43] So, that's my intent.
[2:02:46] I think we need to have some additional language with regard to, and Chief and State Manager,
[2:02:50] I'll rely on you to, if I push you too far to indicate that and just say, you're putting
[2:02:57] me in a position that's untenable, and I don't want to do that.
[2:03:01] But I do want to, for a very short period of time, I do want you to recognize that I'm
[2:03:06] going to ask you for a supreme effort in this parking for the weekend.
[2:03:09] I do just want to remind council and again, I believe it was an unintended consequence
[2:03:15] that we experienced over Memorial Day when we have the situation where Bowman's is open
[2:03:21] and Captiva is open and all of our other beaches are closed.
[2:03:26] What we do see is illegal parking in residential neighborhoods at condos and I've sent you
[2:03:32] police reports of the commercial areas and commercial areas which then also pulls police
[2:03:37] resources to those areas. So I just want to make certain everybody understands once
[2:03:43] Bowman fills, when Bowman's the only beach, again I'm not advocating, it's your policy
[2:03:47] decision. I just want to make sure we all remember this from that short time ago, Memorial Day
[2:03:51] Weekend, that once Bowman's filled, those cars often look for alternative parking on Santa
[2:03:58] Bell. We do our best to enforce it, but our experience has been, we didn't experience as much
[2:04:04] of that once the other beaches then were reopened but once the families here and they're in their
[2:04:10] vehicle and they're intending to go to the beach we find that they often find a place to park
[2:04:17] and go to the beach.
[2:04:25] Start of this discussion based on the underlying question which all
[2:04:30] leaders and governments should consider you know what are we trying to accomplish and what
[2:04:35] what is our intent, and how do we execute upon that?
[2:04:39] And the answer to that question in a general sense
[2:04:42] that's been provided today is that we want
[2:04:45] to reduce the numbers of people on the beach
[2:04:48] to reduce the spread of COVID-19 on the island,
[2:04:51] which in and of itself is not a bad intent at all.
[2:04:55] In fact, it's the appropriate intent to try and slow it
[2:04:58] That's great.
[2:05:00] However, not being said, it appears that the net result, if I think about this anecdotally, the net result is that we are going to exclude date trippers who come here for the day, who directly to the beach, stay on the beach, don't interact with citizens, give back in their car, and drive off the island, and that's the end of that. On the other hand, what we're going to do is allow people from out of town who've traveled here for a weekend,
[2:05:29] to come and stay all over the island, who are definitely going to interact with
[2:05:34] citizens, they're going to go to restaurants, they're going to go to shops, they're
[2:05:37] going to go to civic attractions, and they're going to be all over the bike paths.
[2:05:42] So my, with that anecdotal observation, at least in my opinion, what are we accomplishing,
[2:05:50] apart from making people feel good, but not actually accomplishing the goal that should
[2:05:57] make them feel good. And I just want that born out for consideration if you think about
[2:06:02] it as ourselves and as was artfully put, you know, with the bucket and spade in the
[2:06:07] car. I know what all of us would do if we were somewhere else, so we'd find a spot
[2:06:11] to park and we's our way out to the for the nothing else not to be shouted at all the way
[2:06:16] home by the kids. And so I take that into account when I talk about what is the rail
[2:06:20] policy of what we're trying to accomplish here, and the net effect, if we don't want
[2:06:27] people interacting with citizens to spread this, then why are we stopping the people
[2:06:31] who aren't going to interact with citizens?
[2:06:34] Just an observation for discussion purposes.
[2:06:37] Q. My question to you, sir, is, um, why did we do it the last time?
[2:06:40] Why did we close the breach parking last time?
[2:06:42] K. Oh, listen, I was fully in support of closing the breach of last time.
[2:06:45] Q. But why did we do it the last time?
[2:06:46] K. We did it because that was, I'm sorry, this is, if you want to make this into a
[2:06:50] I'm not sure if it's our auditory or then let me answer the question.
[2:06:53] Sorry, because being mildly unfair to me.
[2:06:55] Oh, I wanted to make sure the question was approved.
[2:06:57] No, I supported it before because we were in a real emergency situation where nobody
[2:07:01] knew what was happening with anything.
[2:07:02] This was being done around about, we'd had some problems with the County Commission
[2:07:07] that they wanted to keep it open.
[2:07:08] Then we had overflowing all over the island as we discussed.
[2:07:12] Then we had to raise the fees because people were just about parking, people's gardens
[2:07:15] and leaving $50 on the windshield wiper and saying thanks so much for the excellent
[2:07:19] parking. This is technically cheaper than the public parking, anyway. To no appreciable
[2:07:26] result, but I accepted that at the time because we were faced with a novel and news situation.
[2:07:32] Now that we are revisiting it again, and all the attendant problems are reported by staff
[2:07:38] in the police department. Now that we are revisiting again, we've got to look at it sober and with
[2:07:43] And I, to our previous experiences, will this two days, for the weekend, make any actual difference.
[2:07:53] They accept a torment, people look on to stay here, and or make people feel better.
[2:07:57] While the very people that we're trying to stop are going to be going around the end,
[2:08:02] who are just flying in or driving in for the weekend, and staying in, it seems to be on the order of thousands,
[2:08:09] quite frankly, from the occupancy numbers.
[2:08:11] are going to be the ones who are in the restaurants, ostensibly spreading the COVID.
[2:08:18] I just want to make sure that we're getting the net benefit for the, for the, for the
[2:08:22] cost benefit analysis, and I just want it said, so if it turns out that way, well at least
[2:08:26] we reflected upon it and we discounted the, the concern, but it has to be said from the
[2:08:30] other side.
[2:08:32] I think that my concern, what is the benefit, is that with the East Coast beaches being
[2:08:41] closed, with the restrictions being put in some of the municipalities around us, that
[2:08:47] I'm extremely concerned about the, we're already past whatever carrying capacity is on our beaches.
[2:08:55] The people, the hotels are going to be filled, the beaches are going to be filled, the vacation
[2:08:59] rentals are going to be filled, there's a huge impact on our natural resources, and that's
[2:09:05] really what my concern is as well. So, to me closing the paid lots similarly to the East
[2:09:14] Coast is probably going to be a benefit to our environment, and it is limiting probably
[2:09:23] a much more increased interaction on our beaches with individuals that although it's already
[2:09:30] going to be very heavy on our beach, if you look at some of the pictures that we've seen
[2:09:36] all over, there's not a lot of places for these tents to go, so that will limit the amount
[2:09:43] of impact to individuals' six foot distancing, as well as the natural resources.
[2:09:49] I mean, we've all read that there's concern about, we've got nesting season right now.
[2:09:54] I see the tents right up to the NEST, SCCF has...
[2:10:05] I have concerns about that. So I'm looking at both of those, Jason, and saying this short window of three or four days that a whole other coast is looking at right now would probably be a benefit to our island community. And our citizens have spoken to that as well. So that's why I'm looking at it.
[2:10:29] It's not an easy decision.
[2:10:31] I don't like that we might have to make this decision,
[2:10:35] but that's where I'm coming from.
[2:10:38] No, and I appreciate and understand that.
[2:10:40] And there's, however, the environmental issue has never
[2:10:44] been brought up to my remembrances when it came to closing
[2:10:50] Beach Park and nor have we ever done that before,
[2:10:53] nor has anybody ever suggested.
[2:10:55] And while that would be a nice way for me to justify
[2:11:00] I consider that to be a red harem because then we can be closing the parking lots every
[2:11:04] time we think it's going to be a busy weekend to save the environment.
[2:11:08] It's just, I don't like to, you know, conflate those two things.
[2:11:12] COVID-19, oh, now it's also the, I mean, there's nobody who's more to protect, the snowy
[2:11:17] plovers, et cetera, from predation by coyotes.
[2:11:20] And everybody said, well, let the coyotes, these things are supposed to happen.
[2:11:23] Well, people on the beaches are supposed to happen and it is going to continue.
[2:11:27] And quite frankly, as a population increases this area, there's no way to escape that fact.
[2:11:33] So are we setting a precedent now that beaches are to be closed or parking lots are to be closed if we think it's going to be busy around particular times?
[2:11:42] Are we not better sequestering those areas of particular environmental import once they've been identified rather than saying to the public you're not welcome?
[2:11:53] That's all.
[2:11:53] I don't think there's a right answer to that.
[2:11:55] And there is.
[2:11:57] And this is unprecedented.
[2:11:58] And you know, just as our decision earlier with the Mass is really unprecedented.
[2:12:04] You know, no, I don't see this as a precedent for closing down our beaches.
[2:12:07] I see this as, you know, as a statewide emergency that we need to look at and address.
[2:12:13] Well, there's a specific environmental issue.
[2:12:15] We're going to raise that issue for the islands.
[2:12:18] I think it's a perfect storm.
[2:12:20] Mr. Vice-Mayor, Councilor.
[2:12:25] John, did you want to make a point?
[2:12:27] If I may, thank you.
[2:12:29] The one point that I wanted to make is in making restrictions under the current
[2:12:35] emergency declaration, they should be pertinent only to the emergency that we're dealing
[2:12:39] with.
[2:12:40] So while I know there is a parallel concern about nesting, that shouldn't be a reason
[2:12:45] for the decision today.
[2:12:48] The second point I wanted to make is, I know, Council had a question about beach parking
[2:12:55] and rates. I know Director Chapel is here to speak to what the use rates are, to what
[2:13:03] extent Councilman Mon was referencing. You know, the point of it, I believe what Director
[2:13:09] Chapel will say is that beach parking was max or close to max last weekend. So I don't
[2:13:16] know that it's going to be substantially different usage wise, when you're maxed to some degree,
[2:13:25] but I know that he could provide more detail than that if you wanted to give consideration
[2:13:30] to those.
[2:13:31] I'd be nice to see you.
[2:13:32] Thank you.
[2:13:32] We've got to see a couple of times.
[2:13:35] God's have back down.
[2:13:36] Nobody's escaping this.
[2:13:39] Thank you.
[2:13:39] Steve Chaper finance director.
[2:13:41] So there was a question asked before about what the – so back in April, when we looked
[2:13:45] to the budget and we started to analyze, try to analyze what the pandemic economically would
[2:13:53] have affected Sanibel. We were anticipating a zero revenue in the third quarter, so that's
[2:14:00] April and June. That was what we had anticipated and at the same time for the fourth quarter, we had
[2:14:05] anticipated what we're trying to estimate based on 75% of the revenues from last year's actual
[2:14:15] So in the fourth quarter, so in July, August, September, we took the actual revenues from
[2:14:20] 2019 and just took 75% of those.
[2:14:23] So we were expecting some revenue to come in from that.
[2:14:28] So what's actually happened now is that obviously we opened parking was resumed on June 1st.
[2:14:35] So what we've seen in June is about a five, we're about a five to 6% increase compared to
[2:14:44] last year is probably how we're going to finish June. But that still puts us, with current
[2:14:51] estimates of parking revenues staying the same as last year, that still puts us down
[2:14:58] I don't know what I'm talking about.
[2:15:00] And that's with estimating, parking, being open for the rest of the year. So there's a financial effect of that as well. And obviously, this would be, that we can coming up would be one of the largest weekends that we historically have during the summer. Just wanted to clarify that. Interesting point. And first of all, thank you, Attorney Agnew, because thank you for not letting me get off an tangent that I, that I shouldn't be going.
[2:15:29] to appreciate that. Did you indicate that last weekend we basically at full capacity at
[2:15:37] all of our beaches? The parking lots capacity, we actually look at the space utilization,
[2:15:44] so add a near capacity for beach parking. Yes, we've had some record weekends, and a good
[2:15:52] portion of that is permit parking. I'm excused to be hourly parking, where we're charging
[2:15:57] by the hour.
[2:15:59] I wonder if you don't mind. I'd like to get a few words in, but I'm sorry. Okay. Thank you.
[2:16:14] Good discussion, as always. I have a great deal of respect for everything that goes on here on the
[2:16:20] days, and whether I agree with a agree or not, I do. One thing we can all agree on is that we all
[2:16:28] have a responsibility to voice our opinions and really say what's on our mind and what
[2:16:35] we feel is true and honest.
[2:16:38] When looking at this, the thing that I'm looking at while we did talk about the environmental
[2:16:43] concerns and thank you for pointing that out, I really look at the opportunity for folks
[2:16:52] to recreate safely. And what I mean by that is that the beach areas have been identified
[2:17:00] through across the world as an area that folks can safely recreate. The thing that is
[2:17:09] most important to me for that safe recreation is that they're able to socially distance
[2:17:15] in between themselves, and I think when I originally spoke of this and talked about
[2:17:22] managing the traffic on our beaches, the beach carrying capacity, and such, that was
[2:17:29] definitely one of the things that I'm looking at is that how are we going to be able
[2:17:34] to provide a beach area for folks to safely recreate, in other words,
[2:17:41] people aren't going to wear a mask, our ordinance doesn't call for them to wear a mask on the beaches, but what they do need to do is they need to properly distance between their family and social groups, and I think by managing the parking areas, we have a better shot at helping people have a place because Jason, as you point out, the pales and shovels and spades are loaded up, and people are going to come to the beach, and if they are fortunate enough to be able to
[2:18:10] find a legal place to park because I'm going to strongly encourage that they do exactly
[2:18:14] that. Is that they need to find a place to land on the beach as well. And I want us
[2:18:21] to do everything that we can do to make sure that they have a good experience and a safe
[2:18:27] experience while they're here on our beaches. And I think for that reason is why I am looking
[2:18:32] for us to manage the volume of people. I have gone back and looked at the reports of Steve
[2:18:38] I was thinking about you this morning about 620 did go back and look at that and I'm this is not a
[2:18:45] financial decision although I realize that that's looming in the background and as Holly and I've
[2:18:51] recognized we're going to have to deal with that in the future but this is but it is a true indicator
[2:18:57] of what we're seeing going on in our public parking area our paid parking areas and it's for that reason
[2:19:03] and that I wanted us to have this conversation and make these considerations.
[2:19:09] So, Mick, I think I was the tail end of council comments, so I'm ready to hear public comment on this subject as well.
[2:19:17] Okay. Thank you.
[2:19:19] I'll have an offer of public comment.
[2:19:20] I so, why don't we have you first, please?
[2:19:30] Thank you.
[2:19:31] Patience Rodriguez, business partner of select vacation properties.
[2:19:35] I strongly encourage this passing.
[2:19:37] We are busier for the July week, so anything we can do to limit day trippers I think is in the best interest for the island as a whole.
[2:19:47] I would also throw out the suggestion of maybe increasing the fine, make it a thousand for this weekend.
[2:19:54] It's a very short period of time, so it's only four days.
[2:20:00] The public beach parking. It's not a life sentence, it's not a month, it's four days, and we're already busy from the vacation rental aspect. So I think that this is just one step in the right direction to help limit the numbers on the beach so that those who are here renting, and our guests are here for a week, and they are going to be supporting the businesses. But my guests are going to the beach, and then they're going to the private property to cook
[2:20:29] in the kitchen, so I would again strongly encourage passing this and again suggest possibly increasing the fines for this weekend, when we possibly close down the public beach parking.
[2:20:42] Thank you.
[2:20:55] There you are.
[2:20:58] Good morning, Claudia Burns, Senator Boehrson, I'd like to put in a word for the environment.
[2:21:06] Yes, we are different than other places.
[2:21:09] We are not just a beach for human beings to recreate, enjoy, whatever.
[2:21:15] We have a very important responsibility to provide nesting habitat for several threatened
[2:21:23] species, including the shorebirds and the sea turtles.
[2:21:27] details. While our beaches were closed, the parking, whatever, the incident of nesting
[2:21:38] actually increased. Now, the staff and volunteers from SECF are on that beach every day, every
[2:21:47] single day, at the crack of dawn. They see what's going on. We get reports of horror stories,
[2:21:54] of nests being vandalized, et cetera.
[2:21:58] I'm not sure that people who come and spend money
[2:22:01] to stay here on the island are creating that damage.
[2:22:07] One of the reasons they're here
[2:22:09] is because they respect our respect for the environment.
[2:22:14] It's very important to take that into consideration
[2:22:17] when you are making discussing usage of the beaches.
[2:22:21] This is prime nesting time.
[2:22:24] We are one of the few places where these animals have left, now, to nest.
[2:22:30] And we have a very important responsibility there.
[2:22:33] So I'm very much in favor of closing the paid parking.
[2:22:39] Thank you.
[2:22:40] Thank you.
[2:22:42] I don't think any more than, sorry, you come forward and didn't see your hand on.
[2:22:55] I guess one thing that's always struck me when we discuss the beach is that the beach is actually a continuum of beaches that are all attached, I mean people can walk from one end to the next and often do.
[2:23:10] So by eliminating the paid parking, say for example on tarp and bay, you're eliminating the people who can flop their stuff down,
[2:23:21] take up a lot of room and then go looking for shells all the way down West
[2:23:27] Gulf which does infringe on other people's safety and I think that I was just
[2:23:37] thinking in terms of the paid parking being closed in particular just from
[2:23:43] what I've witnessed at other weekends where people will actually park by
[2:23:49] valleys and drag their stuff so it's you're it's you know people are going to get to the beach
[2:23:59] but if we can make it more difficult and they know that it's happening maybe it won't be as relevant
[2:24:05] it'll be it won't be as prevalent we're pulling that number on the parking spaces but the I did
[2:24:14] want to let council know that call your has passed their legislation keep in mind what call your
[2:24:20] The last time was not the beach parking lots, but the actual beach.
[2:24:24] And theirs is 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. that they've just voted to close theirs for the holiday.
[2:24:31] Naples has not yet voted.
[2:24:33] So, sorry, call your county is closing the beaches from 11 a.m.
[2:24:38] During the holiday weekend to 5 p.m.
[2:24:41] So 11 a.m. to 5 p.m.?
[2:24:43] If you remember when ours were closed, they wanted people to be able to go out, walk on the beach for exercise, and
[2:24:48] go out for the sunset and they were trying to avoid that peak sunbathing hour. I don't
[2:24:56] they use that term, but.
[2:25:00] Councillors, 11 a.m. to 5 p.m., is that what you're saying? They're going to be closed from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. But they did not do their parking lots. They're set up differently. There's that's nobody could walk on their beaches during those hours, but they have passed that here just in the last few moments.
[2:25:18] Okay, I wonder if there's any people on the my left hand side who would like to bill.
[2:25:26] Thank you very much, Mayor Bill Harky, Senate Bill resident. I'm in favor of the proposal to close down the beach,
[2:25:34] But I would suggest from a public relations viewpoint if this is accepted that you publicize it as widely as you can.
[2:25:44] I don't know what avenues you use outside of the region, but you need to get the word over to the East Coast.
[2:25:50] So the people who have the pales and the shovels and everything already loaded in the car don't make the trip over here to find it's not open.
[2:25:58] They at least know while they're still home they can make other arrangements because that would just exacerbate the issue of people
[2:26:04] being mad at Sanibel for closing down. So I would accept, I would suggest, very wide publication
[2:26:10] of the decision if it's made. Thank you.
[2:26:13] Thank you. Anybody else on the left hand saw it? We should say anything.
[2:26:20] So any none that's bringing about any other council comments.
[2:26:25] You know what? Before Judy just announced, Collier was closing. I was looking at this.
[2:26:31] I've started to look at it differently thinking how can we close it for three days
[2:26:37] when it's been open at a hundred percent almost for the last few weekends.
[2:26:43] Call your closing has a real impact to us right now.
[2:26:48] And that really brings me back to saying that now the east coast is closing, south of
[2:26:55] us is closing, the push is going to be to Lee County.
[2:27:02] And I think it's very difficult, I appreciate what they were doing.
[2:27:06] And I look at the police to think about the hours that they close it and going and trying to get people off the beach in certain hours, you can't do that.
[2:27:18] You can clearly, but I just, that's not an hour's limitation is not something that I think would be viable here on the island.
[2:27:29] But with call your closing, I'm much more strongly looking at closing.
[2:27:35] closing our paid lots, similarly to when we had that proclamation in place originally,
[2:27:46] I would favor keeping our A and A C boat ramp stickers open, and the A and A stickers
[2:27:54] open as previously. I'm just not sure how to verbalize that. As we were talking, I was
[2:27:59] trying to look up the passage that we had before, and I'm still trying to find that, so I'm
[2:28:06] not ready to put the motion into words. Maybe someone else is ready to do that if there's
[2:28:12] an appetite for that, but this information that we just got, I think, is extremely important
[2:28:16] to our community.
[2:28:18] We're struggling here.
[2:28:20] Clearly.
[2:28:21] John, to try and find the, I think when I heard from Holly that she hasn't
[2:28:29] intent, but she's not sure how to put the words around it. So can you help us with
[2:28:33] that? Can you help? What is trying to do there? Provide the appropriate words. I understand
[2:28:38] what her intent is, but she's having difficulty putting words to it. I am. We went through so
[2:28:43] many before. Can't we make it simply what the chief suggested? Isn't that just the simplest
[2:28:50] thing to do?
[2:28:54] Sounds like a general, but the chief suggested with the modification to
[2:28:58] to allow A and A.C. parking sticker holders to use the boat ramp, that's my understanding.
[2:29:06] Yeah, I would think if we, if you close all paid parking, we don't address the A, the A stickers that are like West Gulf Drive and everything, just don't address them, close all the paid parking and the only exception is to allow A and A.C. stickers at the boat ramp.
[2:29:22] I would put that in a motion that we would close our paid parking with the exception of
[2:29:28] the A and AC stickers at the boat ramp.
[2:29:33] And then I guess you just got to define a duration.
[2:29:37] I would look at the duration,
[2:29:41] excuse me.
[2:29:44] I would look at the duration from Friday,
[2:29:52] actually Thursday at Friday at 12-01 on June
[2:29:59] life.
[2:30:00] To Monday at 5 p.m., I'm not sure, city manager, thank you. Whatever day you pick, we would ask that you make it the end of the day. We need time to go out and take signs that you don't want to. No, I'd rather make it midnight and then we'll have it open for that next morning. So I don't, we can't accommodate people queued up at every lot waiting to get in for sunset. So if you can make it midnight,
[2:30:29] Then what we did the last time was we went out at the end of the shift, took signs
[2:30:33] down, so by the next morning they were all open.
[2:30:36] So that is the seventh, because much of you want to close on Monday?
[2:30:41] The long weekend.
[2:30:42] Right.
[2:30:43] Then that would be the seventh at 12.01.
[2:30:48] 11.59.
[2:30:49] 11.59.
[2:30:50] So that way it would be closed on the sixth, because it is a long weekend.
[2:30:55] So that would be your motion?
[2:30:56] That would be my motion.
[2:30:57] Do you have a second for that, Mr. Johnson?
[2:31:01] I will second.
[2:31:02] I would like to have some a little bit of additional conversation, but yes, second.
[2:31:08] I think, and it's one of the points that I was considering, as I prepared for this conversation,
[2:31:14] because I did fully expect for us to talk about beach parking and the loads.
[2:31:20] I think the communication aspect of it is one of our residents pointed out is extremely important.
[2:31:28] And that's where I get to the fairness and the expectation, and I will set the expectation as is that we need to do everything in our power to get this communicated, and we have a very broad audience, and Councilman Smith, as you pointed out, we've got beaches closing and restrictions going in place.
[2:31:50] And I suspect that there may be some additional.
[2:31:54] My concern is, is that with our guests that typically come over from the East Coast,
[2:32:00] we need to find a way that we can get that word out to them as well.
[2:32:03] I'm sure the news media will help us with that.
[2:32:06] Let's hope that they get it reported accurately when they do so.
[2:32:12] The other is, is that City Manager, I was going to ask, is if it's number one possible
[2:32:20] Can we, and then number two, should we?
[2:32:23] Can we do some electronic signage off-Island so that we can alert folks to the fact before they come through that toll booth that the restrictions that we put in place, and then secondarily, and I guess that's a question for my council members for us to take up is that should we do that?
[2:32:43] Well, number one is that only with county approval, we have in the past been able to obtain
[2:32:49] county approval from the city when we had too much traffic and we had our traffic
[2:32:56] initiatives, they did accommodate us.
[2:32:58] The same signs we're using for that is what we're using currently, you know, when you come
[2:33:03] on Cosway Boulevard, we own two signs.
[2:33:05] We could ascertain if there's additional signs, we can ascertain if the county would give
[2:33:10] us permission for those signs.
[2:33:12] As you have probably noticed over the years, the county regularly does give nonprofits permission to put up signs for their special events, you know, off Island.
[2:33:22] But it does take approval because it's in the county right away to put signage up.
[2:33:26] I know when we had our close, we had a lot of communication with the county because they have advanced electronic signage that they've had to modify a few times to get the language right about the toll situation and about the causeway situation.
[2:33:41] So, particularly if the, if you remember the last time we were closed, the Causeway Islands were closed, so it was easier to have a consistent message, if some of it I would imagine will depend on where the, what message the counties trying to put out, if any, it beyond their statement yesterday about the Causeway Islands, but certainly with council's direction, we could contact the county for that type of permission, but the boundary line is right where you come on, seen about Island, and from that point on as you can see with our current
[2:34:11] signage, we have been trying to educate our visitors.
[2:34:15] I am getting concerned about the number of signs, just the ability for people to comprehend
[2:34:19] it.
[2:34:20] Even the electronic signs have, you get about a 14-second message, is the maximum panel
[2:34:27] length, so it's not a lot of time to educate people on all the details of this legislation.
[2:34:34] We find for the beach parking lots, the best place to educate, for the parking fines, the
[2:34:39] call is at the entrance to those speeches.
[2:34:43] I do agree with you, city manager.
[2:34:45] I too am concerned with the amount of signings that we have.
[2:34:48] But I think in this case, I think we have an obligation.
[2:34:51] I mean, we have an over and over again, the better the education and the more advanced the
[2:34:57] notice.
[2:35:00] Compliance, and I think Santa Bel has a long history of that of trying to educate and put out that message.
[2:35:08] One, have we opened it up to public comment? Is anyone in public comment? What are having you just further discussion about this issue?
[2:35:18] I'll see you now, Mr. Vice Mayor. I do have one question basically for the chief with the boat ramp parking. The last time I had had several inquiries,
[2:35:31] start this season. For those that are fishermen, I know that there were hours on the ramp being open and closed.
[2:35:38] I believe it was seven in the morning till seven at night or six at night. Would it be very difficult to allow overnight parking in that parking lot?
[2:35:48] And I'm going to defer to you as to what would work best for you being able to monitor that lot.
[2:35:55] No, it wouldn't be difficult to allow that, but I would say we'd still allow it all to that group of people, the A and A.C.
[2:36:02] Oh, absolutely, absolutely, but that has come across and many people do go fishing in the evening or very, very early in the morning.
[2:36:11] So if that would not be a concern for you, I would like to make sure that that is related in our, should Council want this to pass that that would be opened up for overnight parking or
[2:36:25] There are no hours, just A and A.C.s.
[2:36:27] Secures.
[2:36:28] We can handle it.
[2:36:29] Thank you.
[2:36:30] I think we have a motion in a second as you want to.
[2:36:34] Is that a city manager?
[2:36:37] Thank you.
[2:36:38] I'm sorry, city manager.
[2:36:39] Vice mayor.
[2:36:41] Before you go, before you call the question, if I could,
[2:36:45] I'd like for the city attorney to make sure that we have lined up
[2:36:49] the motion and the intent.
[2:36:51] So if you could, you understand our intent.
[2:36:58] That was a question.
[2:36:59] Thank you, Councilman Johnson.
[2:37:01] Okay.
[2:37:03] I think the only question that I have, the motion as I heard, it was close all beach
[2:37:07] parking.
[2:37:08] There had been discussion previously about all the beach parking.
[2:37:13] There had been discussions also about other roads that had been heavily used, which
[2:37:19] perhaps were not associated with beach parking, and I'll defer either to the chief
[2:37:25] of the city manager to correct me on whether these are paid or not, but whether you
[2:37:30] wanted to address, for instance, Dixie Beach Road, Bailey Beach Road, Beach Road.
[2:37:39] I guess maybe those are the two, Dixie Beach Road, and Bailey Beach Road.
[2:37:43] And how do we currently regulate parking in those areas today?
[2:37:47] It's a really legally parked.
[2:37:52] Slaughter.
[2:37:52] They're A-stickers.
[2:37:54] I can live with leave in those open, because that's for our residents and so forth.
[2:37:59] And if people parked there, we can enforce that with the fine.
[2:38:04] That's so.
[2:38:04] But my intention is for this to be as clean as possible.
[2:38:07] So leave it as it is, don't change it.
[2:38:09] So I believe that I do understand.
[2:38:11] It'll be all paid parking and the only carve-out, if you will, is for A and A-C-stickers,
[2:38:19] at the boat ramp.
[2:38:23] Chief, I think I heard you said you could live with that.
[2:38:25] Good manage that.
[2:38:27] Repeat what you said, city attorney, I missed that.
[2:38:30] And I said close, all paid beach parking, correct?
[2:38:34] So not, all paid beach parking with the exception of to AC stickers,
[2:38:45] those with A and AC stickers for the boat ramp, correct.
[2:38:48] So that would, I guess, when we say paid, we're really talking about hourly paid, right?
[2:38:54] So that that would allow, for instance, Dixie Beach, Alipayne open and good.
[2:39:00] Okay, yeah.
[2:39:00] Okay, are you, are you from China?
[2:39:03] I'm comfortable with that, the city manager did not have another comment to make when you stood up.
[2:39:09] I was a part of the future.
[2:39:13] Yes, my name is Johnson, are you happy with your second?
[2:39:16] Not happy, but I think it's the right decision to make.
[2:39:19] Okay.
[2:39:21] I wonder if we can call this, do you have any, can we, I trust in the three of you, but when we did this
[2:39:29] before, it was hand in hand with ending short, temporarily stopping short-term
[2:39:33] rentals under the governor's order, and I agree with it then because the people who are
[2:39:40] going to immerse themselves in the community, and I'm sorry, and this is just to address
[2:39:44] not to anybody specifically. But if I'm taking my wife somewhere and we're hiring a house,
[2:39:49] I'm not making your sit in the kitchen there and cook it. We're going to go out to the restaurants.
[2:39:52] I mean that's the, for us, that's the worst plan ever to say, look, I bought you all the stuffed
[2:39:57] So what I'm
[2:40:00] What's transpiring here is that the people are going to come directly to the island, go out on the beach, not interact with citizens, get back in their cars and leave the island, are being prohibited, and the people that are coming here to stay in houses for the weekend or hotels are going to interact with citizens, restaurants, shops, everything else, and those people are being encouraged. So, I'm only disagreeing just because I don't think it's in my opinion. In my opinion, that accomplishes what the intent is to limit the spread of
[2:40:29] of COVID-19.
[2:40:32] Thank you.
[2:40:32] Thank you.
[2:40:33] Thank you.
[2:40:33] I'll bless you.
[2:40:36] It's a clock.
[2:40:36] I think we have a motion.
[2:40:38] A second.
[2:40:38] I wonder if you can call us a question.
[2:40:41] Ms. Smith.
[2:40:41] Yes.
[2:40:42] Mr. Johnson.
[2:40:43] Yes.
[2:40:44] Mr. Denham.
[2:40:45] Yes.
[2:40:45] Mr. Mon.
[2:40:46] No.
[2:40:46] Thank you.
[2:40:48] Leave that.
[2:40:49] Close is that motion.
[2:40:53] Once again, can you remind me when the date is again?
[2:40:57] It will be the third at 1159 or 1201.
[2:41:04] 1201.
[2:41:04] Thank you.
[2:41:05] And it will end on the 7th.
[2:41:07] Thank you.
[2:41:08] 6th at 1159.
[2:41:10] Thank you.
[2:41:11] You're welcome.
[2:41:12] I—it is now 12 o'clock all there of close and that.
[2:41:15] I—I don't know whether we have any other issues, but they were the two major issues I think
[2:41:18] we had on the table, and that's the someone else who wants to bring up in the House.
[2:41:23] I'm ready to call this meeting to close.
[2:41:25] My only final closing comment is thoughts and prayers go out to the Rurene family.
[2:41:33] I'm sure that we all feel that way, and I think we'd be resident if we didn't mention that at the close.
[2:41:40] So thank you.
[2:41:40] I don't know whether you feel the same as I do, but I've been on Council for 16 years.
[2:41:45] This is probably one of the more difficult Council meetings that I've attended,
[2:41:49] whether I sat in this seat or I sat in that seat.
[2:41:52] So I'm going to call this meeting to close.
[2:41:54] Thank you.
[2:41:55] Thank you.
[2:41:56] We have.