Jacksonville Waterways Commission

America. Verjee and justice for all. >> Thanks, everyone. You've had the minutes that have been submitted. I will entertain a motion to approve those minutes from our last meeting It's been moved and seconded. I noticed in those minutes that were sent out, I just wanted to make it clear legislative services did not. We reversed the order of the the minutes of the agenda for last time. So just wanted on the record that those minutes should reflect the fact the agenda was we took it out of order so that we could get to everyone, especially in DR. Pinto was not with us at that time. So with that on the record, it's been moved and seconded all in favor say aye. All opposed. The ayes have it. And the minutes are approved. All right. And this is the time we've all been waiting for statutorily. We have to do this, but it's something I've been looking forward to. I looked at a few of the other past reports. This is the Saint Johns River status report on water quality in manatees. And for that, we have presentation from Doctor Gerard Pinto, Jacksonville University. >> Thank you. So actually, I I just usually give it from seated position over here. That's fine. You'll see the an updated events in the river here. So in terms of rainfall, we are still below normal for the year, probably about 4, 5, inches below normal. And so this is a reason why our salinities, that kind of kicked up a little bit. We're still in somewhat drought conditions. And so many poor. We have 25 to 30 parts 1000 salinity, normalcy waters around. 35 pounds 1000. So it's a little bit lower than normal. There. Jay, you and Dames point bridge between 13 and 18 parts 1000, which is what we expect with brackish conditions. You'll notice downtown and Buckman bridge are slightly elevated 11 to 15 parts 1000 downtown is not too unusual, but it's slightly above normal. And then Buckman bridge is usually below a par putt 1000 under normal conditions. So it's kind of salty down there. I had the opportunity to do a manatee survey last week. There are only about 7 or 8 manatees in the area. Most of them down pass pass the bus Buckman bridge down the Saint Johns and up. Putnam County border down there. But we also notice a lot of dolphins that were quite far down around. And Jackson. That's probably because the salinities elevated in the river down there. There's some graphs here that show you water levels and so on tides. Second page shows the the the rainfall. So. Jackson, a national or-4 for the year. 4 inches. We below have a deficit. There. If you look at the whole basin, the Saint Johns River Basin, where-8 inches there. So still in drought conditions. And I the water management website you'll see that we are still use considerable, correct dry conditions. One other thing I noticed and this is moving on to the 3rd page here have harmful algae blooms. There's a lot of algae in the area. Doctors lake was covered in algae when I flew over it last week. And so there's a considerable algae bloom out there, whether it's producing talks and are not we don't know. But the most recent. Sampling that was done by the Florida Department, environmental protection on the 8th of SEPTEMBER show that Microcystis is around in doctors, lake and around the Shands bridge. But that wasn't producing any So will probably be sampling. That is it in house right now and going through the process. And so we will know. Last month when I wasn't here, there was a red tide for George and left and that's an unusual event. We don't tend to have those here very much. Although they have been some over the years. And these are usually caused by the very high temperatures and rainfall and nutrients that feed these allergies and these blooms. And so the health department put out an advisory because Red tide produces and euro talks and that's dangerous to humans and animals and wildlife and fish. But we didn't see any large a scale fish kills or any fish kills. That I know of. And it seemed to die down very quickly. And so it didn't many people at all that I know. I'm going to move on to Mortalities. We haven't had any last month and this month we had one AUGUST. In Little Pottsburg Creek. We stand at 16 total this year and notably 4 of those are watercraft mortalities. And 3 of those are caused by Channel Canal Lock. And the canal mortalities are unusual and we're keeping an eye on those. The watercraft mortalities we've had as many as 3 or 4 of 5 in the year. In the past. We have a busy port. We have a lot of boats in the area. It's not unusual to have that. We've had lower numbers of mortalities and the love the last few years. Primarily because they've just been less manatees coming up here. Remember, we had that starvation event in the Indian River Lagoon. And we lost about 1200 manatees in Florida. So we just had less manatees coming into the area. And as a result, we didn't have as watercraft deaths, but it seems like those us on pick up again. The final pages kind of give you an idea of the last survey in JULY with amenities were. So if you imagine maybe 6 or so red dots towards the bottom of that map there. That's what I saw last week. So usually by JUNE, when the hours of daylight are starting to decrease. We start to Manatee start to leave and it's kind of little bit counterintuitive because you think the temperatures still high, you'd expect them to stay here. But it's the day like that. They're responding to and they're starting to leave, leave the area. So we're down to 6 or 7 now. And then the map below is a new feature that we started couple of months ago where the public call in their sightings and report their sightings and upload pictures. And there's a qr code there for you guys. If you would like to do that to you. If you ever see any. And so these are public sightings that showing in this area. With that. I will you have take any questions. We don't have a queue for this. If you raise your hand, all acknowledge of their questions from the commissioners or anyone here. >> Commissioner, you're recognized. Did you call me? I'm The chair doubt upended. Thank you for everything you Has Queens Harbor been pretty good lately or I know the last conversation we had. They were kind stonewalling, you know, a little bit. Just want to make sure we Being as diligent as possible with the deaths over there. >> So I did did get go and look at the lock. And you know, it's a no lock. It has some recess areas that could could do with better supervision MAY be some technologies that could be employed to do that. So far the Queen's Harbour have been kind of reticent to do anything in there. Manager has said that he doesn't believe that the manatees that killed by the law were killed by the lack things they were killed in the intercoastal in Washington to the lock. And so he's disputing the findings of the state. At the moment, us Fish and Wildlife, the federal agencies dealing with them and trying to see if there's some retro fitting that they can do. That's not expensive. That that with can be done to prevent this from happening in the future. So we don't normally have a lot of deaths in those locks. The they allow the animals in and >> And have done so safely for a number years. Last year we had one look death. And then this year, the first, you know, APRIL MAY and JUNE, we had one a month. So that kind of flag something going on that need it closer inspection and so that that's where we are >> I'm not sure would be fruitful to have them come to waterways and explain or or or or see if we can aid them in any way in this and what they're doing. But that's always a possibility. We could always do that some point. >> there any other questions from please? Through the chair? Dr punter. And it seems like every year we hear about the bloom and doctors, Lake specifically. Do we know what's causing it specific and reoccurring always, it seems like unless I'm wrong and doctors like. >> Yes. So the simple answer to that is doctors Lake is sort of a closed kind of a system compared to the river, which actually low slow and lazy. It flows. And doctors lake, you have what we call an increased residents. Time. For that water and those nutrients. Of course, people in Florida lies the yard around there and everything is washing into that system when it rains really heavily. And it kind of sits there for a while. And so that's why you get higher propensity for algae blooms. Just in general. Commissioner, MR. Wheels. >> Yeah, I was actually related to the manatees but Dr pin to answer. My question you have my apologies? No, that's totally fine. Thank you. Thank you. >> Questions I do have a few. But are there any others from? Ok, my question and thank you so much. I appreciate that. They're going to that report. I wanted to know the salinity was there. And and as as well as the algae bloom, are there things that can mitigate those things are the things that can be done that community groups that the city other organizations find. What have you of the things that can be done to mitigate those findings? >> So these allergies that produce these toxins are actually freshwater lg's. So when the salinity kicks up enough, it actually kills him back. And that helps. But on the other thing that feeds these are nutrients. And so we have matured and phosphorus going into the river. And of course, during the spring and summer, we have people fertilizing. So we have to be increase load of that. So, you know, there are various types things that can be done like having buffer zone on shorelines that capture that before it enters the waterway and fertilizing using the city's ordinance. Fertilizer ordinance following that. Making sure you don't use too much making sure you don't put it out when it's about to rain. Kind of thing. So there's this various things that can be done to mitigate it. But for the most part. Reducing nitrogen phosphorus is is is the main thing. And that's what we have our b maps and rtm deals to try to to prevent them from happening. So Tim total maximum daily loads and that the map. So the action plans to try to achieve those the Basin Management action plans. So we'll talk about the state of the report in a minute minute further than this agenda and that report. So that looks at some of those things. And tracks those. >> Thank you. Most of them I had answered is that just announced quite interesting to me that any of those things, the life of the manatee, though they're not adversely affecting. That's my last one that I thank you for being so 30. And yeah, that that's a that's a great question and get a lot. You know, does that do these algae blooms affect the manatees? The Mounties don't seem to be affected. And primarily when I fly, I see algae blooms. I don't see manatees. So they're avoiding the area somehow not in the same areas. These as these things most of the time. >> But, you know, the algae can disappear and the toxin can be there and persist for several several weeks afterwards. And so, you know that everything's being exposed to it anyway. So we've never had any amenities that specifically died from it or had any problems because of it. The manatees that do die and have problems from things like red tide, which is more of a South West Florida thing. And so when we had all right, I was concerned, but it didn't affect anybody. >> Thank you for that. Further questions. We will move on to the next agenda item, which is public comment. The public is reminded, please keep your comments to 3 minutes. You see the information not going to go through reading it, but it has been noticed. You need to remain on topic about waterways. And so we only have 2 public comment cards if there are others. I will entertain a public comment section at the end of their more that come in. But at this time, our first public commenter is MR. John New come forward. Don't forget to state your name and you are welcome to say, address on file when you make your comment. The low. >> I am John Jay new 83. 56 Bascom Roe, Jacksonville, Florida, 3, 2, 2, 1, 6, City Council district 4 cpac planning district. 3 school board district 3. >> And like a good >> Finishing with the crew. >> Is there? >> were my fwc had you to spin off the Fish and Wildlife Commission. You know, Chris, when I wonder if you still a representative for the North Florida region. No, it's also fwc fishing with Brady. And, you know, I just want to know him just got 2 minutes. But, you all to chime on a couple of other things. But, you know, we're in boat ramp Billy shirt. And for those that MAY not know that Saint Johns County but public access on our waterways in Duval actually anywhere is just getting crushed. And when you check the minutes. You know, you just see how I was reflected in that. And so anyway, first one is going to be 2026, 0, 3, 9, 6, That is the movie Trust fund, you know, be making a donation. Bring that one up. The next one is 2026. 0, 0, 0, 4, That's the Parks Trust fund. And you know, you could use that for the bridge up there. And so, anyway, you know, when you go through and you got the manatee stuff, well, you know, you got Manatee Pottsburg Creek, but another thing there's gonna we just had a public hearing, but 2026, 6.70, that's another $103,000. You know, and that's another manatee agreement with j you and that was in neighborhoods and finance. But, you know, non waterways. So in other words, you're getting, you know, picking and choosing, which comes before waterways. Ask about that one. So to me, it means doubled it. Okay. Emily, down to 50 seconds. But right now also on the agenda is fined. I hope Hoiles I hope, you know that MR. Barker who's been excused, he's also going to be on that fine subcommittee. You'll find here it is. It is or balloon prop 12 counties East coast. The state of Florida been going to them for decades. And right now, you know, there's only 3 properties on that potential finally and acquisition list where one of them along with the and boiling. So we're taking the show on the road. Here's Clay County. You know, here, Saint Johns County years, the Northeast, Florida Regional Council, no SEPTEMBER 3rd. And then here's resilient Jacksonville. You know. And I'll tell you something. One second left. Visit Florida. Thank you, MR. I appreciate next speaker will be. >> MISS Lee interest Bell. As she makes her way down bill, you will be proud to know. That I have my angler. Sure. I am proudly in support of and I will join you. I promise you one day. I'm coming to join you. Fission on way to bridge and you don't have to help me because it's been a long time since I've been on that out there. Fish that high. >> I don't play when it come You know, I'm good morning. You're more teacher's my address is on fire. And John China are here to represent the George Breeze Fishing Pier State Park. >> so Pitt breach and I want to just say thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. We were not here but id id. Bethany gave me video. And I want to give you a 2 thumbs up. Cause heart is proud and the actions of grant Blake, we handed had a limo to say, but he's not here. But we want to thank you because you all say that we were not going to be forgotten and we really appreciate that. You don't know how much. But whatever we do, we just aches it, that it will be. Expert day. Because we have waited 30 years. This has been a long time. And if they dp having nothing to do with to be years. They don't intend to do anything. But we say the wheel because he all things are possible and we believe that. Thank you. We love you. >> Thank you, MISS Bill. Good to see you really want to have to say I know this is a little unorthodox, but I must say I have not seen a more fear spider for your community. That our vice chair Mike Gay, you MAY not. I don't hear it a lot, but I see you behind the scenes really fighting to get that bridge open on the state level. The federal level locally, you have a really fierce champion to get that done. And so whatever we can do, vice chair gate, certainly we're right behind you. You want I recognize the vice chair about the drug Trade Bridge. >> Thank you, MR. Appreciate Ms Bell her group been a steadfast and consistent on our efforts to get this resolved out there. We we're continuing to have an meetings LeBron Burkett. We we exploring grant options as well. Working with the state. And I just want to encourage the group in NOVEMBER when Duval delegations here meeting, please, please come in and share your passion with So we can have that transferred to them as well to where they understand the the seriousness need of getting it's a fishing pier, but it's a historic fishing pier and it is something that needs to be restored and opened back up to the public because it's that's what it was intended for. And we see other peers getting as we just need to make it happen. Thank you. >> if they're not to prolong it, councilmember best advice chair. I know that many of us on the day's even brought up taking the community benefits, agreement, funds and helping you to do it. Unfortunately, General Counsel's office advisors you can't so weird if yours ideas the community has as a whole. We'll be more than happy to entertain them so that we can get that bridge back open. Thank you again for the work you're doing. Let's move onto agenda item number 7, which is new business. The first order of business. There is item number 2026, 6, 4, 8, entertain a motion to move the The bill has been moved and seconded. Could I get one of the council to explain the bill, please? >> Or do thought we had >> To the chair routinely? It would the representative from planning to appeal to explain the bill. >> MR. If you could come and give some context to the bill, thank you. That's an I apologize. >> Good morning, everyone on. It's good to see you all again. For the record at Luka Kovac for the Planning Department. With me this morning. And I have Hayden Phillips for the application and the questions that you folks MAY have hopefully we for you. This morning. We are looking at a large scale land use amendment. It's numbers elf 61. 36. 26 a its ordinance numbers. 2026 6.48 It's a transmittal ordinance because it's a large scale. And what basically is going to happen City Council approves bill, it will then be referred to the state for the state's review. If the state reviews it and doesn't have a problem with it, he will come back to the city for the city Council to provide a option gardens generally wants. It leaves here in goes to the state and comes back and we started up again for more round public hearings. Will take about 6 months. This application. We are looking at now the public hearing dates, the planning Commission will look at this application this afternoon. The first City Council public hearing this schedule for Tuesday, SEPTEMBER 22nd he and the Land Use and Zoning Committee of City Council. We'll look at this application on Tuesday, OCTOBER 6 and the final City Council public hearing is scheduled for Tuesday. OCTOBER 13th. Here's some specifics of this application. It is located at 9800 Plummer Road. 0 Kings Crossing Drive, Paddington Way. 0 Garden Street and 0 Messer Road. Its actually consists of several properties. The subject site 300 point. 8, 7, acres of which 167.1 7 acres are wet lines. It's currently in the agricultural land use category and it's proposed to go into the rural residential land use category. It is located in the off upper reaches of the trial river located in the Trial Creek on Main branch, drainage basin, which then eventually flows into the Trout River Basin. It's a looking at the development potential right now for this property under the current agricultural land use category. You can have up to 120 single-family dwellings with a density of one single family home per 2 and a half acres. And that's when there is. And there isn't any sanitary water and sewer available for the property. Under the proposed. We're all residential land use category. You can have 2 scenarios scenario. One, you can have maybe up to 300 single-family dwelling units with the density of one dwelling unit per acre. When there is no sanitary water and sewer lines available, however, under scenario you can have up to 600 single-family dwelling units with sanitary and sewer or water lines available and a density of 2 single family dwelling units per acre. Now looking at the lane current land use map, you'll see the areas located within the agricultural land use category and it's surrounded by the agricultural land use category except the area to the North East is World residential and it's being proposed to extend that boundary down to the application site. We're looking at an aerial photo or aerial map of the application site. You'll notice that most of the area is either forest land or wooded wetlands. There are some past year and some overgrown past year. There is an open sand pit located to these south west of the application site that is within the boundary. Now looking at some of the surrounding uses. If you look. West of the site, you'll notice basically is past year. But north, you'll see a large lot. Single-family subdivision with an average, lot of 2 and a half acres or more for each lot. Then you have some Pastor land a little bit of timber in a few lakes. If you go. East of the site to have wetlands and pasture. And then if you look south, you have various uses. You have wetlands. You have pasture land. You have timber single-family homes. There's a salt my out. There's a sand mining operation. You have some mobile homes. I for mention that. But then there's several single-family development subdivisions to the South. Now, the area is located in 2 to development areas. You have the rural development area and the suburban development area since the application is going into rural residential, we do not need to extend its suburban development line. So that's going to stay the same. What's important, though, is that the sanitary sewer and water lines are on Garden Street to extend the. Water line. You need to bring it in about little over 3900 square feet or you can start developing watch water and sewer. And this, of course, are line, has to be extended about little over 5100 feet. This area basically shows it's a Florida Department of Transportation. It's a land cover classification map which basically says that the area is either a mix of. Some type forest land or different wetland types can pasture land. This area basically shows the city's GIs wetlands layer, but it shows the areas that could potentially be developed out of the wetlands. And so you have to areas on the north part of the application site and one area to the Southwest. Portion of this site totaling about 133.4 acres. Now to develop the site. You need access roads. Now, this property already has a series of access roads, you know, Trad verse and through the property. Some of those access ready, Cross wetlands. Now, if you're going develop some of these areas for single-family subdivisions. You need to improve the access roads, which I'm sure that's what's going to be done engineered. You MAY have some impact or increase impact to the wetlands from the improvements of the access roads. But that has to be mitigated approved by the Saint Johns River, Water Management District. This is the only access to way. Public Street. This is the access off of Garden Street. And this is already there. But this is what it looks like. Now. This is a wetlands map using the city's GIs system. The wetlands map isn't often accurate, but it does gives us idea of what's out there. You have approximately 167.1 7 acres total and wetlands of which 135 point '09 Acres is category to wetlands. Other words, wet ones that have a direct impact on the city's waterways. And basically you have the Trout River Creek and some of the drainage areas that feed it. Then you also have an additional 32 point. Oh, acres of wetlands. These are Category 3 wetlands that do not have a direct impact of wetlands. Now, those particular wetlands, if they do get wet and flood, they do not drain directly into the waterway system, but instead percolate down into the soil surface and into the high water table. It MAY eventually reach the waterway system but asked that it takes some time. And then there's a filtration process that happens if that were to happen. This map shows the area. The 100 year Flood Zone the a e flood zone. You have 126.4 acres of the application site within that zone and then a smaller number of the 500 year flood zone, which I have ex is 4.7, 4 acres. Most of all your wet lines now, most not all are within the 100 year flood zone. Now, this area is an adaptation action area map. And that's a combination of 2 things. It's a 500 year Flood. Plus a Category 3 flood surge. However, because this property is so far west from the coast and it's higher elevations, the category 3 flood surge really does not effect this area. So you're looking at the area which pretty much is the 500 year flood zone. Now, this is celebration map with the various elevations of the property. The highest elevation is 61 feet above sea level and the lowest elevation is 25 feet above sea level. The lower elevations of this property fall. The wetland area. If you look at the elevations closely, you'll notice that there's no real creek bed that traverses through this property, even though we have areas that we claim our waterways, if it does, Ron, it runs during a heavy torrential downpour over a period of time where water accumulates and then does flow. Now, this is the soils map and you have wetland soils. From the survey. This is from the usda soil survey. You have the act area called 22 Evergreen with Sky. Not then you have the 35 lynnhaven find sand. You have a Rutledge McKee find sand and the have the Yulee clay. Now these are all wetland soils. However. So what soils maps aren't really that accurate, although it does give me an idea of what's out there. One of the biggest mistakes I find, for example, is that in some cases what described as wetland soils is not a wetland soil. It all. So if you look to the north of the Apple on the application site, the northern portion you'll see a lot of lynnhaven wetland soils. These as I look closer are not really wetlands at all. And it will be determine what areas are wetlands when the development has to go before the water management district get a wetland boundary, be termination and that they can take a closer look. But lot of that area's not wetland soils and all I can just tell just from the property itself. This is a drainage basin map shown most of the application site is within the Trout River Basin. There's a small area called on main branch that never was named that drains into Trout River. So you could basically say it's all within the Trout River and then the final slide shows how this this application drains. It drains from the site to the Hyundai branch of the Trout Creek. And that's a main branch and also it drains into the Trout River, which then eventually drains. Eastward into the Saint Johns River. And that's the last slide. Hayden and myself will be glad to entertain any questions that you MAY have. >> Thank you for the presentation, MR. Covid other any questions from many members. Of the commission. It's not it's been moved and seconded all in favor of this proposal. Please say Aye. All opposed nay. There are others. Opposed. You can record your back. You got it. This passes. Thank you so much. Our next order of business. Is going to be item number 2026. 6.98, Dr Pinto, if you could give us a brief explanation as to the necessity. >> Okay. Thank you. I received an e-mail MR. Richardson from. Environmental Protection Board. And I'm basically going to read his e-mail to you because this is very concise. And spells out what this is talking. Speaking to. So the this is for the state of the River report, the 19 state of the River report. Legislation appropriating funding for the 19 state of River report was introduced to council on Tuesday. So that's the 8th of SEPTEMBER. Believe assigned to several committees along the waterways. And it will go before the agenda on tracks. Waterways Commission meeting today. The legislation will order 2026 6 mine 8. It's simply appropriating 111,200. And 33 dollars to Jacksonville University for the 19 state of the River report. This continues funding for the project, which the Jacks will environmental Protection Board has funded annually since inception. So this started and took the 2007, 2008 year. It provides a snapshot of the health of the Saint Johns River. There are also a couple of waivers attached to the legislation. There's a waiver to allow for the continuous nature of the funding. There's a waiver to allow for the j you to receive the funding without going through the competitive bid process competitive award process rather. And this invokes and an exemption of the procurement code because is listed as an appropriate thing listen in the appropriating legislation. >> All the waivers are normal and have been done with the past funding of the report. And with that, I think that captures everything. James Richardson wanted to convey. >> I know that it MAY be able to speak to this to you and I'll be happy to answer any questions, too. MR. Wells, you're recognized. Thank you. >> Thank you. Yeah. The Environmental Protection Board has a really felt this is a an important process to happen every year to help synthesize data that's already being collected on the river and provide it in a digestible format and one place. Environmental Protection Board does have a funding mechanism. We collect fines and fees from violations of end pds permits, sewage, overflows things like that. The intent of that fund is not for recurring expenses. So we were not really supposed to fund things every year. The same thing over and over and considering the importance for the city at large and the economic development of the city all of that. We felt like it made more sense for the city of Jacksonville to actually pick up the cost of it happy discuss that any further if there questions. You know, we feel like this is very important document. We feel like it's a very important exercise and we feel like it's something that the city really should support happy to take any questions along with Dr Pinto. Thank you, MR. Boyle's I know I did some research and spoke with MR. Richardson personally, are there questions from anyone else here? >> I do have a problem with type But council blue. So did you have something at? Please be very much in support of this. Delectable us is a co-sponsor. Once this does move forward. Things that I want to ask for your original presentation, but it's because we're talking about this. I want to ask, are there whether be the end, the reporter summer. The report does it provide action items? Does it say these are things that the city of Jacksonville can do right now to help kind of? Support the health of the river. Obviously, we know Basin Management action plans exist, which provide a slew of different things that major partners could do. But even if it's okay, there's there's seagrass that we could that the city of Jacksonville could be putting in without having to go through, you know, state appropriation, another larger efforts. Look at the things that we can do to help clean up the river. Right. This second that are in this report. And I'm just I'm asking that because candidly, I haven't read the whole thing. Right out of it. Thank you. Councilmember out of an abundance of caution. If I could before we move on, if I could get this and I know this is discussion, but I wanted to make sure we're procedurally proper. I want to take motion to move this forward It's moved and seconded back to discussion. I was going to say that the whole whole point of the report is to convey what what what is happening with the river and what people can do on an individual level. >> As well as to convey what the manager the management agencies are doing. But on individual level, what you can do to 2. Improve the health funds and state of the river. I don't have that captures exactly do that. There is a look the beginning of the report. There is a guide to the public. So their 5 sections report, the first part is a guide to a general guide to the public in that section. There are a lot of areas that are outlined that the public can follow to improve the plight of the of the river terms of some of the things we talked about early and nutrients going into the river and so forth. But for systems so on to prevent, you know, don't blow your trash down the down the suit, the with the drains things like that. So there are some things on an individual basis. They can be done. Councilmember recognized. >> Thank you, chair yet. No. I mean, I think my pursuit in this right is. We're policy. Got 3 policymakers up here is obviously a 19 member city council about the mayor's office and others. You know, none of us are really experts, environmental policy. And so we're we're big, dumb. You know where politicians, we don't always know everything. And so to be able to have report where you could pull a few look, here's here's a draft. Resolution ordinance, whatever else back in the day. But it's the water management district. We had a big push trying to go to local governments so that they could enforce water restriction laws, right? We gave ordinances to sitting up to beach and Atlantic Beach Jacksonville and all the other ones saying you're here's something you could pass right now and things like that are a benefit value to us. And so has this report. It's published every year. I know that we hear a lot about the things that are occurring in the river, right this second, right? There's the phosphorus levels, the nation levels as what's going on. But it doesn't know. We say he will can what can be done right this second, policy making body can do our >> Quality. >> Division within the city of Jacksonville can do right. The second. It be helpful to have. And I know that the members of the public, you know, it's good. So they know which fertilizers not to use and things like that. But, you know, hey, does the city of Jacksonville passed a fertilizer law? Not saying we know. So you do that, though. I mean, I would like it point being things like that in this document or can there be in the upcoming documents? Well, what we can certainly take that back to a group in an address that more fully. But I think for the most part, we're trying to convey to the public. Easily digestible manner. What the state of the river is in terms of what some of policies that are already action. B maps and things like that that are ready and action are achieving are not achieving. And so in some ways that brings focus to like, for example, in our water quality. We've seen reductions and nitrogen input, certain parts of the river. But we've identified that there are some problem areas that are have high nitrogen. So that MAY be something can bring more focus actually in the existing policy. But yes, the that's a good point. Thank you. Thank you both. Do you have one final point? Thank you. Put it this way. We're spending over 100,000 our taxpayer money in the side like to see some exact things. Policymakers can do. We had some the critical quality of life committee and that was done a couple years ago and are then council PRESIDENT Turns Freeman, a COUNCILMAN Michael Boylan. There was one for housing, one for homelessness, one for health care. 3 different reports that provided policy recommendations. I know that I pulled that report off off the table, which I know some counselors always do, but I do because the work's already been done and it's good to be able to say, hey, guys, look, we can pass this. We can do this. We can do that tomorrow. We're actually having a press conference at 9.30, because of something I was in one of those documents, right recording a rental registry which is going to benefit all Duval County. Clearly not environmental issue. So I apologize for bringing that up. But the point is these reports can be very helpful, especially the policymakers who don't always know what they're doing. So if we're going to be putting this kind of money to this report, which I'm glad we do every year because the river is the river is the reason why the city exists. Let's make sure that we have maybe a few policy recommendations make sure we can, you know, really kind of drive forward how we keep this river healthy. Tend to agree. Thank did you it? And you really notice. Thank. Thank you. DR. Pinto. No more discussion. For all in favor. It's been moved and seconded all in favor. Please say aye. All opposed the ayes have it. And 2026 68 has passed little bit of a deviation and item number 8, rather than just the find subcommittee. If we could do all of the committee updates in this portion. So we'll call subcommittee updates. >> We'll start with the find what we work on the find subcommittee formation last but ifs, if I could. The artificial reef. From chair Hardesty. If there's an update from you on the artificial Reef Task Force or committee subcommittee weather. >> Yes, thank you very much. This kind of an update because we had not had a meeting in several months due to the break and then I was out of town. But I have great news to report and you MAY have seen it on the news and that sort of thing that we've got a lot of traction lately. But we deployed our first artificial reef the city has directly been involved with in in and large capacity at the end JUNE. And this was a reef about 28 miles off of Jacksonville from a port and the deployment, quite frankly, gone any smoother The barge left Green Cove Springs made it out a port and >> the whole love. The whole deployment was done by like 9 o'clock in the morning. We started at first light was extremely successful with very large concrete culverts that were donated by some the various businesses in town. And the exciting thing is, is that the Jacksonville Offshore Sportfishing Club has really picked this this project up. I still scratch my head is to. As to why we hadn't been doing this for quite some time. The money has been there in grants, both state and federal grants out there for many, many years. It was just there for us to quite frankly, tap into. And now we are tapped. The other exciting part of it is developing into a more. Public-private, a relationship than even I thought was was possible. And with the Jacksonville Offshore Sportfishing Club setting up foundation 501, c 3. And they are actively seeking contributions, both money and in kind contribution for for the. The things that are being deployed as the reef itself. Our plan is and we are actively pursuing to deploy 3, Reeves this coming year. As I said last, you know, in JUNE, it was our first reef. But this thing is really picked up steam quite well. And so we will be developed deploying hopefully 3 more Rhys this year. And we're in the application process right now for some of these state grants. Governor DeSantis says authorized multi-million expenditure to develop this because I think he realizes barely very acutely how important this is not only environmentally to the coastline of Florida, but also economically, it's true economic driver. We've talked about it multiple times and in commission it is all the way from sales of gasoline. The boats too bait and tackle filling a local hotels, motels. There's just a tremendous number of aspects to the recreational fishing. A industry and and diving. That is a real benefit to Jacksonville. Just to remind you. Commissioners, we have we had been the state leader for many years back in the 70's 80's brief deployment. This is an opportunity to get right back. There and be a leader again and Okaloosa County right now is number one reef deployment county in the state of Florida. And that's a small little county. But they are reaping the benefits of the shot in the arm that these reefs give them. So I'll I'll be bringing you regular reports. Now. And one thing I would Mr, CHAIRMAN, as if the artificial Reef committee could have a place on the agenda and we'll just revisit that as we need it. Sometimes I won't have a report, but I will certainly keep this commission you know, informed. Does anybody have any questions >> then see right there. Any thank you for Thank you. And it will be added moving forward. Have a document. Our next subcommittee report. I'm sure it's nothing nothing yet. But Commissioner Jones, if you want to bring up to speed on the Fort George. I send our speed task force. >> Thank you, As of right now we're forming a formal committee hearing for the Joint Task Force just so everything can fallen. Sunshine long be publicly noticed. Thank you. And that's currently in the works right now. Thank you much. I would like to add one thing to MR. Hardesty. Reese, equal revenue. Bottom line. Jackson has the capability to be the next key West. It's millions of dollars in revenue, especially. We have world-class tournaments. People travel from all over the world to come here to fish. It's a lot of revenue for the city. So I think we all stand behind that. And it was done was 0 packed tax payer dollars. It wasn't for initially. Older ones to lot of stuff was donated that. You know, someone that wanted to ask was rumors floating around there and I wanted to it. It can be done with 0 packed taxpayer dollars as well. But if we can stand behind that program, the benefits that that will pay in 20 years from now, absolutely. But thank you for all your hard work with that MAY I please, please, please. Yeah, this this one was done with taxpayer dollars are out there. They're they're your market sitting there and basically comes down to. >> Who was going tap into that resource. It is going to be expended and why not? Duval County. So so this one in particular was, but the reason and then you hit a grate point. The reason that it is so important to what the Jacksonville offshore sport fishing clubs done in setting up this foundation is that as we move forward, I anticipate that there will be a number of deployments. It will be all privately funded or a combination and and let me backtrack a little bit this also had private funding involved with it because to get off the ground to get the the very detailed application done and to get the folks that had experience doing artificial reefs. The taxable offshore Sportfishing Club stepped up and basically funded that application process and engaging the consultant to end so it was in order to get this to happen. It was what club did was instrumental in getting its to the finish line. It got us to the starting line in order to to make this happen. So they are to be commended. And they've been a great to work with. Thank you for the update. >> This is my second meetings, mayor, making sure that I stay and the right posture. So thank you. And I didn't say, but I sent him a killer's words that legal counsel has been a superstar, making sure that I'm ready for this. So thank you, Shannon. And Rebecca for moving things forward. Our next order of business. And again, thanks for that. And both of the updates is going to be the Florida in what ways Navigational district find subcommittee formation. As you know, there is a subcommittee by that must be formed. So we will I believe at this point we don't have anyone earmarked for that position. But if we could take a we do have someone. I do not see that on my Commissioner Barker, we will. We will entertain. We'll hear from you. Thought he was going to well, I was under the impression we had to form the subcommittee. Forgive my ignorance because you could you get on the mice that we can't. Because I want to be on the record. I thought we had to form it based on what I read and we discussed. >> Right. And you can to the chair. You can form it. In one of 2 ways. One would be a charge memo or you can simply declare it and then declare that commissioner Barker is the chair. And then give him the discretion to what we recommend or request some other committee members. Any subcommittee can have non commission non waterways, Commission members so long as the chair commissioner Barker is the chair of the subcommittee. Let me ask you this. Is this something and forgive might not understanding of this because I went back and read the previous commissions. >> Does the waterways Commission every session have to declare this particular subcommittee. 2 to reform it each time. That's what I was little confused about. >> That is the best practice at it. Little confusing, but I didn't see it that way. So thanks for helping So without any further ado to move things along, commissioner Barker will be reappointed as chair. >> Of this and MR. Wells, if you will speak to this also just so it's on the record when MR. Hall's reaches out comes back and needs other committee members, a commission subcommittee members. We will then appoint them at our next meeting if necessary. Okay. That's fine. I dive typically worked with Michael Barker on that committee >> love to tin. You participating. It's a lot of fun. Please report to join in the fun. I maybe I can be in real ex officio and come out. >> touring all the waterways. That's kind of my thing I've been trying to go to as many waterways as I can get to around the city while I'm in this space. So thank you for thank you. >> Are there any other comments, comments? Questions, concerns. It's not. Thank you for your service. Thank you to the community for your public