Good morning. Let's call this meeting to order of the 26-27 Council year. It is 11.36 a.m. Please forgive me for being just a bit behind schedule. I had another meeting across the street that ran over, but I am so glad to be here for this meeting of the Waterways Commission. We call this meeting to order, and let us do roll call. We'll start on my left. If everyone could go around. I know we do have quorum, but if you could go around and state your name and the organization you're with, we'll start to my left. Andrew Freighton, Waterways Commission. Rockman Johnson, City Council, District 10, Waterways Chair. Mike Gay, District 2. Mike Barker, Waterways Commission. Jim Suber, Waterways Coordinator. Environmental Protection Board. Thank you. We had a little problem last meeting with our mics. If everyone could please stand for the Pledge of Allegiance. The Pledge of Allegiance to the flag of the United States of America to the republic for which we stand, one nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all. Thank you. And if there is a, if I could get, if you've, obviously this is my first meeting, so I have not had a chance to, well, I've looked over the minutes, and I did look at the video, but I will entertain a motion to approve the minutes for the last meeting. It's been moved and seconded to approve the minutes of the last meeting. All in favor, please respond by saying aye. I'll oppose. The ayes have it. And the minutes are approved. Before we go into the, I do want to move, Shannon, am I in the proper posture if I could move the report up a little bit? I know that's under new business. Before Dr. Pinto, or does Dr. Pinto need to go first based on the report that needs to be given? You're at liberty to announce changes in the agenda order, and I do not see Dr. Pinto here yet. Good. So that's a good thing. All right. So we will skip that. I know that report is coming in by mandate of this commission. We do need to make sure that report is there, so I look forward to that. But what I want to do is just spend a moment, because I did prepare some remarks because of the importance of what the Waterways Commission is and what, at least I believe, we can do. So I'd like to, again, welcome you all to this first meeting. And as I was trying to figure out and beginning to move forward into what this would be, what iteration this would be, I thought about a quote I heard from Toni Morrison that said, all water has a perfect memory. And that's a powerful idea. She was a Pulitzer Prize-winning writer, and she said, water remembers the communities that grew beside it, the commerce that carried it, the storms that it survived, the children who discovered the world along its banks, and the generation who depends upon water. When these waters remember us, what I hope they remember is that we served them in a good way. I want them to remember a commission that thought deeply, acted courageously, measured honestly, and left Jacksonville's waterways stronger because we, the people that are seated here today have been entrusted with their care. I'm deeply honored to convene this meeting. And I start with a fundamental conviction that without water, there is no Jacksonville. The St. Johns, of course, flows through the heart of our city. The Trout and Rebalt rivers carry the stories of our northern community. And the Ortega and Cedar rivers shape the neighborhoods on the west. Of course, McCoy's Creek and Moncrief Creeks remind us that the waterways flow through the very heart of urban Jacksonville. And of course, there's Sisters Creek, Pablo Creek, Pottsburgh Creek, Julington Creek, and the Intracoastal, and the countless tributaries that complete this extraordinary system that's found nowhere else in the world but a city like Jacksonville. Now, there are different waters, different neighborhoods, different histories, different stories. But at the end of the day, what we all know is there is one Jacksonville. And our strategic direction organizes the work around four, and I call them currents. You'll see that in the strategic direction report. And those four currents, and you see what I did there with currents, the river as an economic engine, the river as civic identity, the river as a classroom, and what I believe is the most important, the river as our legacy, because that's what it is. Now, as we measure the progress, some of the benchmarks that I hope we will be able to achieve during this council year is to engage at least 500 of our neighbors to get them more involved in understanding our waterways and how they can be of help to preserving what we have here in Jacksonville. I want to engage at least 250 learners or students experiencing the waterways as classrooms for science and history, stewardship, innovation, and citizenship. I'd like to hopefully create at least five meaningful strategic partnerships, connecting government with other organizations through education, higher education, business, environmental organizations, neighborhoods, culture, and the arts. And finally, I hope that we could have at least five substantive policy recommendations that this body will be able to share with the members of the Jacksonville City Council that we can hopefully adopt and move forward on. Finally, well, as a part of that, we would then issue annually, and I hope it's something that continues, this State of the Waterways framework. And thank you, Barbie. I know she's not here, but for the work you did in creating that so the progress can be measured and studied and sustained. Because vision must have consequence. Research must produce action, and leadership must leave evidence. But most importantly, we, those who are sitting at the table, those who are stewards of this waterway must have imagination. Bring the scientist and the fisherman, the environmentalist and the entrepreneur, the artist and the engineer, the neighborhood resident who's watched the same creek for 40 years, and the student asking the question that none of us have even thought to consider. This should be a commission where stewardship and imagination are able to work collectively at the same table for opportunity. Colleagues, the move is already underway. George Washington Carver once said that nature is an unlimited broadcasting station through which God speaks to us every hour if we only tune in. Well, it's in the current of the St. John's that we can tune in, the marshes of Sister's Creek, those other tributaries I mentioned. But our responsibility is to tune in and turn on, to listen carefully, to lead intelligently, to measure what waters can be, to imagine what is possible, and when we leave this space, to leave something important behind. So, let these waters remember we showed up, we listened, we imagined, we acted, and we left our waterways stronger than they have been in the past. Together, we will shape this future. So let's get to work. And if there are questions, I'll be certainly willing to answer them about the Strategic Direction Report. But I spent time once coming onto this commission doing as much research as I could about the past and what we could do in the future. And so I'm really excited to be able to bring those things forward. Since Dr. Pinto is not here for that presentation, I'm going to continue on with the agenda as printed. And if, again, there, you should be able to jump into the queue if there are questions, and I'll be able to see them here. But without any further ado, public comment. And my first and only public comment card is from Lisa Renneman. Please come forward. And you have three minutes. Thank you so much. Sorry about that. Could y'all hear me okay? I usually talk. Okay, good. But they literally run through the heart of our communities and provide us this wonderful opportunity to dip into our past as well as do things to protect our future. So, sir, we stand ready to work with you, to work with you all. We have a team of scientists that do research. We work very closely with the state agencies as well as the city staff to make sure we're out monthly in Rebaut River as well as Moncrief Creek. We have two full-time educators that work with youth. We're hiring a third one. If you know any educators that want to work on environmental work, we're openly hiring a new teacher to work with the future stewards of this great community and these great waterways as well. So, I look forward to working with you. Congratulations on your chairmanship. It's good to see you all. And I look forward to getting to work as well. Thank you so much. Ms. Ryneman, before you leave, I know this is a little, but we're a little different on waterways because we handle waterways. Councilman Gay has a question for you. Yes, sir. Thank you, Ms. Ryneman. On the Broward River, right there at the St. Johns River, there's a recycling plant there. And if y'all could help monitor that area, there's been two or three episodes of shredding material that's been discharged through the air that it rains like, the shredded material is like rain coming down all in the river. So, if y'all could just put that on your radar to help us monitor that out there, I'd really appreciate it. Thank you. Absolutely. And through the chairman to Commissioner Gay, we will definitely look into not only their compliance reports, the permit, we have a team that specialize in that, and we can do monitoring from the land as well as the water. So, thank you for alerting us to that, and we'll get right on it. Thank you for that. And thank you, Mr. Vice Chair. For that, our next speaker, I know the card is coming, but Mr. Nooney, John Nooney, you have three minutes, and I know they will, you can just turn it, go ahead and speak, and then you can give them your card at the end. Thank you. All right. Well, thank you for allowing me to speak. Well, first, I'm going to start off 2026-0004. You know, that is our Parks Trust Fund. Name and address. Name, John Nooney, 8356, Baskin Road, Jacksonville, Florida, 3216. You know, it was established with Ken Amero, former chair of the Jacksonville Waterways Commission and a member of the Northeast Florida Regional Council. And, you know, going forward, you know, public access on our waterways, you know, as we all know, it's the worst ever. You know, 90% of the waterways in Duval County is private. Only 10% is public. And that was in the Resilient Jacksonville report. So, anyway, going forward with Amendment 3, you know, if there is, and if that passes, you know, everyone's going to be looking for a revenue shortfall. So, anyway, here's our find. This is the Florida Inland Navigation District. It's our ad valorem property tax money, 12 counties. You know, here is the Northeast Florida Regional Council, seven counties. And, you know, September 3rd, I'll be at that meeting. But right here, potential impacts of property tax reform, miss paying. So, anyway, I'm going to the other counties. And also, too, I'm wearing my boat ramp billy shirt. Now, for those that may not be aware, you know, I had no idea. But boat ramp, look it up. He's in St. John's County. It's public access. So, in Clay County, I was at their Board of County Commissioner meeting Tuesday. And Betsy Condon. And here, let me just share with you, like, we're on Pottsford Creek. I'm just down to a minute 14. But, you know, right here, Clay County, Commissioner Condon, chair. Of the Florida Association of Counties, Agriculture, and Rural Affairs, ARA Committee. Citrus Grove, 4-H. Amendment, that would be a cash cow. I had over 50 citrus trees on Pottsford. You know, that's just one revenue potential. So, in other words, when I'm at Clay County, I say, you've got Black Creek. Well, you know what? If Amendment 3 passes, Clay County can have Pottsford Creek for the benefit of Clay County. And St. John's County. You know, so anyway, there's 67 counties. Only down to 20 seconds. But right after this, I'll be taking this up. And, you know, again, when it comes to public access on our waterways, you know, it can happen today, immediately. And so, thank you for allowing me to speak. And I'll fill out the card. Thank you, Mr. Nooney. We appreciate it. That was rejected. Thank you. All right. And the last card, and also, if anybody wants to speak, we'll do it again at the end, since there are not many here, is Trey Ford, who, coincidentally, there's an elected official. Trey is the supervisor with Duval Soil Water Conservation District. And allow me to recognize, for only about a day or two more, council member elect, who on Monday will be officially sworn in as council member, Monet Holder. Congratulations on your election to the Jacksonville City Council. And we'll see you as council member on Monday. Mr. Ford. Thank you. Trey Ford, representing Duval Soil and Water, as well as St. John's River Keeper. And I wanted to invite the honorable members of the council here to join us on a boat trip. We take a boat trip through our Resilient Rebaud program into the Trout River and Rebaud Rivers, which Resilient Rebaud is basically a program that, for the first time ever, the River Keeper has been able to hyper-target a portion of the 310-mile river. And look at an area that's vulnerable to flooding, vulnerable to water pollution, things of that nature. So, we'd love to have any of you guys come on to that trip. And I specifically wanted to highlight an email that I received because I feel like there's a gap in how we're able to handle the river and the tributaries as it relates to neighbors. She basically writes that she's the one who was talking about trees down in the creek near Dexter Drive feeding into the Trout River. And what's happened here is it's kind of too small for Florida Department of Environmental Protection. The city doesn't typically get involved, but basically this tree is blocking not major boating, but recreational boating like kayaks and things like that. So, the onus is now on her as the one who cares to get the trees cut and things like that. So, if we could discuss in the future meetings these kind of in-between things where we're not sure if it's the state, the city, as far as River Keeper is concerned, we're glad to help. But just, again, one of the best things about our city is the river. So, just wanted to make sure that everybody can enjoy it, as somebody mentioned, as far as water access and water enjoyment. Thank you. Supervisor Ford, thank you. Let me say, as we move on, please pass along, and we can talk afterward. 630 City is always a resource. MyJax, making sure that they fill out tickets, always a resource. Even if they can't do it, do that actual work, they can push it into the body that needs it. So, I'd recommend going to myjax.com or 630 City. Thank you. And, again, we'll do it again if there are other speakers at the end. Let's move forward. We have done item number seven, which is new business with a strategic direction report. So, moving on to item number eight, unfinished business. On the last meeting of this commission under Chair Amaro, there was a move for the Waterways Commission to convene a task force on vessel speed regulation at Fort George River and Sandbar. Each of you will find at your stations and those in the community, I think there are copies out there as well. So, for the Waterways Commission to convene this task force, we don't need a vote on the task force, but I did, based on that information, move it forward. You will find all the details and everything in the handout, so we can certainly take any questions now from legal counsel or for those that I can answer. I've researched it as much as I could. I also want to thank Commission Member Matthew D. Jones, who will be chairing this effort, and Jay Hobson and Scott Thomas, who are the other members who were appointed, who will bring back on or before November 1st. Obviously, we were hoping to have this meeting earlier, but due to Finance Committee schedules, we were not able to have this meeting. If November 1st does present a problem, let us know so that we can extend that time and publicly notice it. But right now, as a part of the charge, which, again, you'll all find, November 1st is the day that we would look forward to get that report back and then probably report it out for our final meeting of the year. Any questions about the convening of this task force or comments? No? Thank you very much. We can move on to the next quarter of business. One of the things I know that this council has heard over and over again, and I know it's in, I'm fortunate to have my friend and colleague, Councilman Gay, as vice chair of the commission. Is there an update, Mr. Vice Chair, on the George Quady Bridge that you can possibly provide about what's going on and if the community is going to have access to that piece of our city? All right. Thank you, Mr. Chair. This is a big mountain that we're climbing right now. So what I'm looking at doing with our state legislators is trying to come up with grants that we can, just like they did at Mayport for that Mayport Pier, I believe it was $12, $13 million that they just received there. So I've got our public works and grant writers looking to find possible grants, and I hope to zero in on that with our state legislatures to try to get some funding to rehabilitate what we can out there, add new what we can, to be creative, to be creative, to be efficient, to get the most fishing access to our George Crady constituents out there, to get them back fishing. And just a little history, as of right now, the saw pit side, which is the Duval side, it is closed off, and it can only be accessed from the Nassau side. And so we're diligently trying to get that open back up, to get the fishing, people back fishing there. So nothing definite concrete, but it's a step at a time, and we'll eventually get there. And if it's all right with you, I'd like to go ahead and also address the Shad Creek issue as well, that's not on the agenda. And we had a, me and Brian Burkett with the Parks Department, we had a Zoom call with FWC this morning discussing options and possibilities, and this has probably been the most positive meeting that we've had in the last three years that I've been working on this with FWC. So we're hoping in the next few months to get some legislation solidified with the state, and that'll let us start a process to getting the boater safety out there. And the other item that we're requesting is for JSO and FWC to step up the patrols out there, because in the weekends, Saturdays and Sundays out there, it's like an expressway of boats and jet skis that just is a shortcut to the sandbar at Fort George that we're having to deal with. And so the more documentation that we can show that there is a problem there, it's not that it's not a problem, we just don't have it documented. And so we've got to start getting it documented to help us get safety enforcements out there before something does seriously happen. And so that's a kind of update on both of those. Thank you, sir. If I may, Mr. Vice Chair, and I don't want to put you on the spot, do we know, and I know you said you're working through grants and everything for, and I'm so honored that we have the representative here as well who may be able to push it when you're in session next year. I know there have been so many people from the Crady Bridge community that have been emailing and calling and coming to council meeting. Do we have a timeline and a cost? Do you know so that we can all kind of maybe pitch in the help? The cost has been a moving target, and so we've had speculation from $15 million to $100 million. It's right now what we're trying to do is I've seen some potential grant information this morning. It's not where we'll need to be, but if we can find a way to get that grant, that gets our studies in the engineering moving forward as we try to find the other potential resources. But here recently, a while back when I did talk to the FDEP about it, is that we need a plan. We need to know what we're going to be able to do out there because without a plan, we're all just going in circles. And so that's where I'm pressing them as well. To get that plan, we can identify the actual cost, and then we can start working toward that goal. Thank you. Got you. Thank you for that, Mr. Vice Chair. And I understand, I know it's your district, but we are all here to support you whatever you need. It's the city. That's right. It's the city of Jacksonville. Amen. Amen. Thank you for that. Those are the updates that we have in Unfinished Business. Any of the other commissioners that are here, do you have any comments or anything that you need to add for today? Any questions, comments? Yes, sir. You're recognized. Through the chair and to the commission, I would just like to put my two cents in on the George Crady Pier. That is Jacksonville's equivalent to a national monument. Those people have got to be able to fish on that. It's a structure. It's some of Northeast Florida's best fishing is there, and the residents just want to fish. Everybody has the right to fish. With proper repair, that could accommodate a lot of people being able to saltwater fish. And I just think we need to get back behind it and see what we can do to make it happen. Thank you. That's all. Thank you. Any other comments? With that, before we adjourn this meeting, Dr. Pinto will not be making it for this meeting. However, we will still be in state statute following the law if he does make his report via next meeting. So at our next meeting in September, the St. Johns River status report on water quality and manatees will happen at that meeting. And again, if you have any questions, you can always reach out to our team at Legislative Services or any of the offices. With that, we've got all the public comments. And your comments, Commissioners, thank you for your service. And I look forward to working with you to move our river and water quality in Jacksonville, the rivers and tributaries. I want to do our part to make sure that everybody gets to enjoy them. Thank you. And this meeting is now adjourned. Thank you.