I JUST GOT TO WAIT A MINUTE, SO WE CAN MAKE SURE WE'RE ALL ON THE RECORD HERE. OKAY, WE ARE NOW ON THE RECORD. THANK YOU. GOOD MORNING, LADIES AND GENTLEMEN. TODAY IS THE 7th OF MAY, 2015. THIS IS THE VOLUSIA COUNTY COUNCIL PUBLIC PARTICIPATION SECTION OF THE VOLUSIA COUNTY CONE MEETINGS. FIRST THINGS FIRST, BEFORE I READ THE DISCLAIMER WE HAVE, IF YOU ARE STANDING IN THE BACK OF THE ROOM HERE, AND YOU WOULD LIKE TO HAVE A SEAT, THERE IS AMPLE SEATING DOWNSTAIRS IN THE TRAINING ROOM. WHEN I CALL YOUR NAME FOR PUBLIC PARTICIPATION, I'LL GIVE YOU PLENTY OF TIME TO COME UP THE STAIRS AND SIT IN THE FRONT ROW HERE, SO YOU'LL BE READY. IF YOU'D LIKE TO GO AHEAD AND DO THAT, PLEASE BE COMFORTABLE AS POSSIBLE. YES, WE DO HAVE VIDEO AND AUDIO. THIS IS A VERY RARE OCCASION WE ARE VIDEOING THIS. ALSO, THOSE OF YOU THAT ARE STANDING IN THE BACK, IF YOU'LL NOTICE WE HAVE SEVERAL NEWS MEDIA CAMERAS OUT HERE, SO PLEASE, YOU CAN'T BE BACK THERE HAVING A CONVERSATION, YOU HAVE TO BE VERY QUIET. BACK TO THE NORMAL BUSINESS, THE VOLUSIA COUNTY COUNCIL WELCOMES YOUR INVOLVEMENT AND IS INTERESTED IN HEARING YOUR COMMENTS. PLEASE COMPLETE A PUBLIC PARTICIPATION SLIP AND INDICATE IN THE SUBJECT LINE THE ISSUE YOU WISH TO ADDRESS. YOU MAY USE THE BACK IF YOU HAVE TO. AFTER YOU ARE RECOGNIZED BY THE COUNTY CHAIR, STATE YOUR NAME AND ADDRESS FOR THE RECORD BEFORE BEGINNING YOUR COMMENTS. YOU MAY SPEAK UP TO THREE MINUTES, EITHER DURING PUBLIC PARTICIPATION OR WHEN AN AGENDA ITEM IS HEARD. WHICH MEANS YOU GET TO SPEAK AT EITHER/OR, NOT BOTH. THE COUNTY COUNCIL WILL NOT ANSWER QUESTIONS OR REQUESTS DURING PUBLIC PARTICIPATION. PLEASE BE COURTEOUS AND RESPECTFUL OF THE VIEWS OF OTHERS. PERSONAL ATTACKS ON COUNCIL MEMBERS, COUNTY STAFF OR MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC ARE NOT ALLOWED. VERY WELL. WITH ALL THAT, GOOD MORNING AND LET'S GET RIGHT TO THIS. WE HAVE SOME PEOPLE THAT WOULD LIKE TO SPEAK THIS MORNING. I WOULD LIKE TO CALL MR. THOMAS PAJACK, I UNDERSTAND YOUR WIFE HAS A DISABILITY. COME ON AROUND AND LET'S GET YOU SETTLED. FIRST PERSON UP, MR. JOHN VAN DORF. AND AFTER MR. JOHN VAN DORK, MORT CULIGAN. PEOPLE CALLING THESE NAMES SINCE WE HAVE A LOT, SO THEY CAN COME UP FRONT WHERE IT'S EASY TO GET TO THE MICROPHONE. DR.MICHAEL WALDNER? IS THAT CORRECT? COME UP AND HAVE A SEAT. JENNIFER STAG.
JOHN NICKELSON AND I THINK THAT SHOULD DO IT. THAT'S ALL THE PEOPLE WE HAVE FOR MORNING PUBLIC PARTICIPATION. THIS MAY TAKE OUR FULL-TIME. MR.VAN DORF. I UNDERSTAND YOU ARE A FIREFIGHTER?
NO.
PAST FIREFIGHTER?
PAST COUNTY EMPLOYEE, CORRECTIONS.
OKAY, GOOD.
I'M HERE TO SPEAK ABOUT THE FIREFIGHTERS.
I NOTICED YOU DIDN'T HAVE AN ADDRESS.
PAST LAW ENFORCEMENT.
GO AHEAD AND STATE YOUR NAME AND POSITION.
JOHN VAN DORF, FROM ORMOND BEACH. I'M HERE TO TALK ABOUT THE FIRE FUND.
THREE MINUTES ON THE CLOCK, PLEASE. THANK YOU. YOU HAVE THREE MINUTES, SIR.
AS YOU MIGHT REMEMBER I WAS HERE A MONTH AGO SPEAKING ABOUT THE FIRE FUND. THE COUNTY WISHES TO RAISE TAXES ON UNINCORPORATED TAXES TO SUPPORT THE COUNTY FUND. I THINK Y'ALL ARE TAKING THAT UP AUGUST OR SEPTEMBER OF THIS YEAR. EARLIER THIS YEAR YOU HAD MEETINGS WITH THE COMMUNITY ABOUT WHY THIS TAX HAS TO GO UP ON THE UNINCORPORATED TAXPAYERS. I CAME HERE LAST MONTH AND ARTICULATING AN ARGUMENT THAT THE FIRE FUND IS BEING RATED TO COVER EVAC SHORT FALLS. I ATTENDED ONE OF THOSE COMMUNITY MEETINGS AND MR. RECKONWALL, WHO SUPERVISES E VAC CONFIRMED ON VIDEO THIS FUND IS USED TO COVER SHORT FALLS IN E VAC. THE PROBLEM I HAVE WITH THAT IS E VAC IS A COUNTY WIDE SERVICE AND A SHORT FALL THAT HAPPENS IN SAY, NEW SMYRNA BEACH, SOMEONE DOESN'T PAY THEIR E VAC BILL, IT COMES OUT OF THE COUNTY FIRE FUND. LAST MONTH WHEN I WAS HERE THE COUNTY MANAGER ASSURED THIS BODY AND ME THAT THAT'S NOT TRUE. HE HAD PROOF. I THINK THAT'S HIS EXACT WORDS. I MADE A PUBLIC RECORDS REQUEST REQUESTING THAT PROOF. VIA E-MAIL. A MONTH HAS PASSED AND I HAVE NOT GOTTEN MY PUBLIC RECORDS REQUEST. I JUST WANT TO SEE MR. DINNEEN'S PROOF. I THOUGHT I'D COME HERE TODAY AND MAKE A PUBLIC RECORDS REQUEST IN THE PUBLIC, ON THE RECORD, FOR MR. DINNEEN'S PROOF THAT THE COUNTY FIRE FUND SUPPORTED BY UNINCORPORATED TAXPAYERS IS NOT BEING RATED TO SUPPORT EVAC SHORT FALLS, AS MR. RECKONWALL, THE PUBLIC PROTECTION DIRECTOR, HAS SAID ON VIDEO TWICE. IN FACT, I BELIEVE, IF MY OPINION IS RIGHT, HE CONFIRMED IT THE SECOND TIME A MONTH AGO, IN FRONT OF THIS BODY, THAT IT WAS BEING USED. THAT IS ALL. JUST WANT MY PUBLIC RECORDS. IF I COULD GET THAT, I WOULD BE HAPPY.
THANK YOU, SIR.
THANK YOU.
MR. MARK CULLIGAN. YOU KNOW THE RULES.
EXCUSE ME.
MY NAME IS MORETON CULIGAN. IT'S A CITY THAT DOES NOT BELIEVE IN ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT AT ALL. IT'S A CITY INCAPABLE OF ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT. SUN RAIL HAS BEEN IN DE BARRY OVER TWO YEARS AND NOT ONE PROJECT HAS STARTED IN THE AREA. IT LOOKS LIKE A TIME WARP FROM THE 170s. IT'S AN -- 1970s. IT'S AN EMBARRASSES. IT'S HAND STRUNG WITH ORDINANCES AND CODES LEAVING LAND OWNERS WITH, COMMERCIAL LAND OWNERS WITH NOTHING TO DO. THEY CAN'T DEVELOP ANYTHING. EIGHT YEARS AGO DE BARRY HAD A LAND OWNER TRY TO DEVELOP A HOKAH ROOM, DE BARRY TURNED THAT DOWN. THEY CAN'T EVEN OPEN A SMALL WAL-MART WITHOUT GOING THROUGH A LAWSUIT. EVEN WHEN THE CITY COUNCIL VOTES FOR ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT, THE CITY SUES AGAINST IT. DE BARRY IS DOMINATED WITH A CITY THAT DOES NOT BELIEVE IN ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT. IT TALKS THE TALK, BUT CANNOT WALK THE WALK. IT IS A CITY THAT DOESN'T CARE ABOUT THE FUTURE, DOESN'T CARE ABOUT JOBS, REVENUE OR ANYTHING ELSE. IT CARES ABOUT ITS RIDICULOUS SMALL TOWN ATMOSPHERE. DE BARRY LAST NIGHT REFUSED TO EVEN ADJUST ITS CODES TO ADVANCE THE DE BARRY DESTINATION PROJECT, WHICH WOULD BE THE FIRST PROJECT TO OPEN UP IN THE SUN RAIL AREA ON 1792. OF COURSE THEY FAILED THERE AGAIN, BECAUSE THE CITY OF DE BARRY CITY COUNCIL IS A FAILURE. DE BARRY HAS VERY LITTLE REPRESENTATION IN THE COUNTY AND ACTUALLY IT DESERVES NONE. SPEAKING ON ECONOMIC TERMS, IT'S A CITY TO BE ASHAMED OF. IT'S A BLIGHT ON THE COUNTY AND REFUSES TO IMPROVE ITSELF AND JOIN THE 21st CENTURY.
THANK YOU, SIR. DR.WALTER WALLDEN. SAY IT AGAIN? WELL, YOU'LL SAY IT ON THE RECORD. STATE YOUR NAME AND ADDRESS.
DR. WALTER WALLDEN IN ORMOND BEACH, FLORIDA.
PLEASE BEGIN. YOU HAVE THREE MINUTES.
I'M HERE TO TALK ABOUT WHAT SHOULD BE HOPEFULLY A NONPARTISAN, NONCONTROVERSIAL ISSUE AND THAT IS FLORIDA PACE e-VEST FUNDING. THE FLORIDA PACE PROMISE IS A CLEAN ENERGY PROGRAM. IT PROVIDES LOW INTEREST RATE FUNDING FOR HOMEOWNERS, BUSINESSES, NONPROFITS, TO IMPROVE PROPERTIES EITHER THROUGH AN ENERGY EFFICIENCY OR HURRICANE DISASTER PREVENTION, STRONGER ROOFS, THINGS OF THAT NATURE. THIS IS OBVIOUSLY A BENEFIT TO THOSE ORGANIZATIONS, BUSINESS OWNERS, HOMEOWNERS, BUT IT'S ALSO GOOD FOR ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT. IT HELPS -- IT'S AN ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT IS CLEARLY A BIG ISSUE IN OUR COUNTY AND THIS HELPS PROVIDE, IT'S A STATE FUND OF ABOUT $200 MILLION CURRENTLY. I WAS TOLD AS A HOMEOWNER TO TAP INTO THESE FUNDS. NO MATCHING COST FOR THE COUNTY, NO LIABLE FOR THE COUNTY. IT'S JUST A POOL OF MONEY THE STATE FILLS FROM TAX ASSESSMENT. AND ALL THE STATE HAS TO DO IS APPLY TO BE AVAILABLE, ELIGIBLE RECIPIENT FOR THESE FUNDS AND THE MONEY CAN HELP PUT CONTRACTORS TO WORK, RAISE PROPERTY VALUES, WHICH AGAIN, WILL BE A BENEFIT TO INDIVIDUAL RESIDENTS SUCH AS MYSELF NEEDING TO DO REPAIRS ON AN OLDER HOME WITH A ROOF, AND ALSO HELP THE CAUSE OF DOMESTIC DEVELOPMENT FOR THE COUNTY. IT'S FAIRLY STRAIGHTFORWARD I WAS TOLD TO APPLY FOR THIS. SO I'M HOPING THAT WE'LL MAKE IT A PRIORITY TO DO SO AS WELL. I'VE REACHED OUT TO THE COUNTY MANAGER, THREE COUNCIL PEOPLE, AND HAVE YET TO RECEIVE A RESPONSE. SO FOR THE GOOD OF VOLUSIA COUNTY I'M HOPING THIS IS AN ISSUE THAT THE COUNTY GOVERNMENT CAN LOOK SERIOUSLY AT. FRIEND OF MY, JENNIFER STAG, WHO IS SENIOR MANAGER FOR FLAGLER MANAGEMENT WAS KIND ENOUGH TO COME WITH MARY ME TODAY TO SPEAK TO THIS ISSUE.
THANK YOU, DOCTOR. MRS.STAG, YOU'RE NEXT.
GOOD MORNING, JENNIFER STAG. I AM A RESIDENT OF FLAGLER COUNTY. I WORK FOR FLAGLER COUNTY GOVERNMENT, 1769 EAST MOODY BOULEVARD IN BUNELL, FLORIDA. I WANTED TO SPEAK TO THE BENEFITS OF THE PROGRAM. FLAGLER COUNTY DIDN'T HAVE ISSUES. THE BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS WHOLE HEARTEDLY EMBRACED IT AS AN OPPORTUNITY TO HELP THE RESIDENTS IMPROVE THEIR INFRASTRUCTURE, TO IMPROVE BUSINESSES, NONPROFITS, FAITH BASED. SO AS I SAID, OR AS IT WAS STATED, IT'S NO LIABILITY TO THE COUNTY. IT JUST SIMPLY IS AN AGREEMENT THE COUNCIL WOULD NEED TO ENTER INTO WITH THE e-PACE REPRESENT iS. WE HAVE CONTACTS AVAILABLE, SO IF SOMEONE FROM THE COUNCIL COULD GET BACK IN TOUCH WITH US THAT WOULD BE MUCH APPRECIATED AND GLAD TO GIVE YOU ANY MORE INFORMATION TO HELP SUPPORT THIS CAUSE.
THANK YOU, MA'AM. ALL RIGHT, NOW, THE NEXT TWO PEOPLE ARE GOING TO SPEAK ABOUT ITEM NUMBER 2, BUT THEY'RE SPEAKING NOW BECAUSE THEY WILL NOT BE ABLE TO STAY FOR THE MEETING. SO JOHN NICHOLSON, MICKELSON?
NO, YOU'VE GOT THAT WRONG.
HOW DO YOU PRONOUNCE YOUR NAME?
NO -- [INAUDIBLE] --
THIS IS A DIFFERENT ISSUE?
[INAUDIBLE]
COME ON UP. THIS IS YOUR TIME.
JOHN NICKELSON, 413 NORTH GRAND VIEW AVENUE. THIS IS NOT ABOUT BEACH DRIVING. THIS IS ABOUT A PARK. UNFORTUNATELY, I'VE BEEN SPENDING A LOT OF TIME IN MIAMI, MY MOTHER IS 90 AND SHE LIKES THIS PARK, TROPICAL PARK. USED TO BE AN OLD HORSE RACING TRACK. THE COUNTY TOOK IT, BOUGHT IT, AND ADDED ALL KINDS OF AMENITIES. THIS COUNTY, DADE
COUNTY, WAS VERY FORWARD THINKING, 50, 60 YEARS AGO WHEN THEY ACQUIRED PROPERTY IN ADVANCE. WHEN DEVELOPERS CAME IN, THEY WERE TO SET ASIDE LAND FOR PARKS. IF IT WAS IN AN AREA THAT WOULD CREATE 10,000 HOMES, THEY HAD TO CONTRIBUTE X AMOUNT OF DOLLARS TO BUY A PARCEL SO IT COULD BE A PARK, SO THE COUNTY DID NOT HAVE TO PURCHASE THE AMENTS FOR THOSE AREAS. THE SCHOOL BOARD DID THE SAME THING. THE DEVELOPERS, IF THEY WERE GOING TO PUT IN 10,000 HOMES, HAD TO PUT IN X AMOUNT OF LANDS FOR THE HOMES THOSE SCHOOLS WOULD GENERATE. WE DO HAVE SOME KIND OF PROGRAMS FOR THAT WITH THE DEVELOPMENT FUNDS, I ASK THAT WE SET ASIDE A CERTAIN AMOUNT OF LAND. THE COUNTY IN TROPICAL PARK HAS 275 ACRES. I BROUGHT YOU THESE, I WAS TOLD I COULDN'T GIVE IT TO YOU UNTIL NOW, SO I'LL GIVE IT TO YOU AT THE END OF MY SPEECH, THEY HAVE AMENITIES LIKE SOCCER FIELD, FOUR FOR ADULTS, FOUR FOR KIDS. BASEBALL FIELDS, FOUR FOR KIDS, FOUR FOR ADULTS. BASEBALL DIAMOND, E QUEST RAIN, FISHING, BOATING, ET CETERA. I'M ASKING THE COUNTY TO CONSIDER IN ALL THE LAND THAT'S VACANT -- [INAUDIBLE] -- WENT TO THE CITY LAST NIGHT TO ASK FOR THINGS. FIND A WAY OF ACQUIRING 300 ACRES TO DO THE SAME THING THEY HAVE HERE, SO FUTURE GENERATIONS CAN GO TO THE LOCATION AND HAVE ALL OF THE AMENITIES, RATHER THAN HAVING A LITTLE BIT HERE, LITTLE BIT THERE, LITTLE BIT SOMEWHERE ELSE. THEIR PAVILIONS THERE, I WAS THERE LAST WEEKEND, THERE WERE 17 PAVILIONS BEING USED FOR BIRTHDAY PARTIES AND GATHERINGS. THERE'S GOING TO BE A LOT OF PEOPLE IN THIS COUNTY, WE'RE GOING TO HAVE TO HAVE SPACES FOR THEM TO CELEBRATE BIRTHDAYS, HANUKKAH, WHATEVER. WE NEED THE SPACE. I'M ASKING YOU WE SET ASIDE LAND FOR PARKS AND ALL FUTURE DEVELOPMENTS AND ESPECIALLY THIS LARGE ONE. THANK YOU.
THANK YOU, SIR. NO, YOU GIVE THEM DIRECTLY TO STAFF. MRS.ZIMMERMAN. NO, WAY OVER THERE. WAY OVER. ALL RIGHT. LAST PERSON UP IS MR. THOMAS PAJEK. ANYONE ELSE THAT WISHES TO SPEAK ABOUT AN ITEM THAT'S NOT ON THE AGENDA TODAY? OKAY, SEEING NO MOTION, WE'LL FINISH WITH YOU, SIR. YOU HAVE THE FLOOR. NAME AND ADDRESS AND YOU HAVE THREE MINUTES.
GOOD MORNING. WE LIVE IN DELTONA, 890 WEST GOUCHO CIRCLE. WE PAY OUR TAXES AND ELECT FINE PEOPLE TO MAKE DECISIONS ON OUR BEHALF. SUSAN IS DISABLED, SHE HAS MULTIPLE SCLEROSIS. SUSAN GETS TO WALK THE BEACH, EVEN WITH HER LIMITED MOBILITY. THIS HAS BECOME PART OF HER ONGOING THERAPY. SHE IS SAFE AND HAS ACCESS TO THE VEHICLE. THEY ALL CANNOT BE HERE TODAY, BUT I CAN, SO I'LL SPEAK ON THEIR BEHALF. I'M SUSAN'S MATE. I'M HER CARE GIVER AND PROTECTER. IT'S POSSIBLE SOME DAY YOU OR ONE OF YOUR LOVED ONES WILL BE IN MY POSITION. I WANT TO READ AN EXCEPT FROM THE AMERICANS WITH DISABILITY ACTS. A PUBLIC ACCOMMODATION SHALL NOT SUBJECT AN INDIVIDUAL OR CLASS OF INDIVIDUALS ON THE BASIS OF A DISABILITY OR DISABILITIES OF SUCH INDIVIDUAL OR CLASS DIRECTLY OR THROUGH CONTRACTUAL LICENSING OR ANY OTHER ARRANGEMENT. TO A DENIAL OF THE OPPORTUNITY OF THE INDIVIDUAL OR CLASS TO PARTICIPATE IN OR BENEFIT FROM THE GOODS, SERVICES, FACILITIES, PRIVILEGES, ADVANTAGES, OR ACCOMMODATIONS OF A PLACE OF PUBLIC ACCOMMODATION. SECONDLY, WITH REGARDS TO PRIVATE SUITS, ANY PERSON SUBJECTED TO DISCRIMINATION ON THE BASIS OF DISABILITY IN VIOLATION OF THE ACT OR THIS OR ANY PART WHO HAS REASONABLE GROUNDS FOR BELIEVING SUCH A PERSON IS ABOUT TO BE SUBJECTED TO DISCRIMINATION IN VIOLATION OF THE ACT IN PART, MAY INSTITUTE A CIVIL ACTION FOR RELIEF, INCLUDING APPLICATION FOR A PERMANENT OR TEMPORARY INJUNCTION RESTRAINING ORDER OR OTHER ORDER. UPON TIMELY APPLICATION THE COURT MAY PERMIT THE ATTORNEY GENERAL TO INTERVENE IN A CIVIL ACTION. THE AMERICANS WITH DISABILITIES ACT IS NOT A CITY LAW, NOR STATE LAW. IT IS A FEDERAL LAW. IF YOU VOTE IN FAVOR OF THIS MEASURE TO CLOSE BEACH DRIVING, I BELIEVE THAT YOU COULD BE KNOWINGLY, WILLFULLY IN VIOLATION OF THIS FEDERAL LAW AND VIOLATING THE CIVIL RIGHTS OF DISABLED AS A GROUP. MANY DISABLED PEOPLE LEAD SHELTERED LIVES BECAUSE OF THEIR DISABILITY AND UNABLE TO ENJOY MOST OF THE THINGS WE TAKE FOR GRANTED. TO DRIVE ON THE BEACH, PARK, GET OUT OF THEIR CARS IN A SAFE ENVIRONMENT IS LIBERATING, INVIGORATING AND EMPOWERING. WHICH OF YOU WOULD DEPRIVE ANY OF THEM OF THIS SIMPLE FREEDOM? THEY ARE YOUR CONSTITUENTS, TOO. ARE THEY TO BE CAST ASIDE BECAUSE THEY ARE DISABLED OR ELDERLY? DO THEY NO LONGER COUNT? I ASK YOU TO ADVOCATE FOR THEM AND THEIR QUALITY OF LIFE AND RIGHTS. WHEN YOU RAN FOR THIS POSITION, YOU DID NOT HAVE TO BUY THE SUPPORT OF THE DISABLED. THEY GAVE IT TO YOU. DON'T ALLOW THOSE WITH POWER AND PRIVILEGE BUY YOUR VOTE TODAY. LADIES AND GENTLEMEN, MEMBERS OF THE COUNCIL, THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR YOUR TIME.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH, SIR. NO, NO, NO, NO, NO, NO. WE WILL MAINTAIN ORDER IN THESE CHAMBERS. DON'T DO THAT, FOLKS. PLEASE DON'T. IF WE HAVE ANOTHER OUTBURST LIKE THAT DURING THE MEETING, I WILL HAVE TO CLEAR THE CHAMBERS, SO WE DON'T WANT TO DO THAT. SO LADIES AND GENTLEMEN, WITH THAT, WE WILL BE IN RECESS FOR 13 MINUTES UNTIL 9:00. [ RECESS ]
CHAMBERS WILL PLEASE COME TO ORDER. GOOD MORNING, LADIES AND GENTLEMEN. I HAD TO SPEAK UP, THERE ARE QUITE A FEW PEOPLE HERE IN THE ROOM TODAY. SO, SORRY FOR THAT. GOOD MORNING. TODAY'S DATE IS MAY 7, 2015. THIS IS THE VOLUSIA COUNTY COUNCIL MEETING. A ROLL CALL, PLEASE.
YES, SIR. MS. DENYS. MR. LOWERY. MR. PATTERSON, MR. WAGNER. MS. CUSACK. MR. DANIELS. MR. DAVIS. ALL PRESENT.
THANK YOU. WHERE IS MS. DENYS? I HEARD HER. OKAY, IF WE COULD MAKE WAY AND MAKE SURE THAT THE COUNCIL MEMBER COMES BACK HERE. THERE WE GO. I HEARD YOU AND I JUST WANTED TO MAKE SURE THAT YOU WERE ABLE TO GET UP. ALREADY, TODAY'S INVOCATION AND PLEDGE WILL BE LED BY FATHER JOSEPH SAMAAN FROM THE ST. DEMETRIUS GREEK ORTHODOX CHURCH, IF THE COUNCIL WOULD PLEASE RISE.
OH, GOD, JESUS CHRIST, OUR GOD, THE SON OF THE LIVING GOD, YOU LOVED WORLD. YOU HAVE COME FOR THE SALVATION OF YOUR CREATION. YOU ARE THE LIGHT OF THE WORLD. THE ONLY TRUE LIGHT THAT ILL LUMENS THE DARKNESS. WE SUPPLICATE YOU TO BLESS ALL OF YOUR SERVANTS WHO ARE PRESENT HERE, ALONG WITH THEIR FAMILIES, THEIR NEIGHBORS, AND COWORKERS. REMEMBER, LORD, OUR GOD, ALL OF YOUR PEOPLE WHO HAVE ASKED US TO PRAY FOR THEM. REMEMBER YOUR PEOPLE THAT WE HAVE IN MIND AND THOSE WHOM WE HAVE FAILED OR NEGLECTED TO REMEMBER. REMEMBER, LORD, WITH YOUR MERCY, ALL OF YOUR SERVANTS WHO ARE IN NEED OF YOUR MERCY. ESPECIALLY THOSE WHO HAVE NOBODY ELSE TO PRAY FOR THEM. VISIT IN YOUR MERCY THE POOR, THE SINGLE PARENTS, THE OR FANS, THE--THE ORPHANS, THE PRISONERS, THE MENTALLY ILL, THE JOBLESS, THE NEEDY, THE HOMELESS. THE REJECTED. THE VICTIM OF THE CRIMES, EXTORTIONS, AND THE OUTCASTS. EXTEND YOUR HAND TO COMFORT THOSE WHO SUFFER FROM ADDICTION, DEPRESSION, THE HOPELESS AND THE HELPLESS. COMFORT AN EASE THE PAIN OF THOSE WHO ARE VICTIMS OF WARS, ATROCITIES, PERSECUTION, AND OPPRESSION. COME AND VISIT OUR CITY, OUR NATION, AND YOUR ENTIRE WORLD WITH YOUR MERCY, COMPASSION, AND LOVE. BLESS THIS MEETING AND ALL OF YOUR SERVANTS WHO ARE RESPONSIBLE FOR IT. LET YOUR PEACE AND GENTLE SPIRIT COME AND VISIT US TO GUIDE US IN YOUR PRECEPTS. CAST YOUR DIVINE LIGHT INTO THE HEARTS, MINDS, AND SOULS OF YOUR SERVANTS, THE COUNCIL PEOPLE WHO CARE FOR THE AFFAIRS OF THE PEOPLE THAT ARE ENTRUSTED TO THEIR HANDS. SHINE INSIDE THEIR HEARTS THE KNOWLEDGE OF YOUR TRUTH. SHIELD THEM WITH THE PROTECTION OF THE WORD OF YOUR HOLY REVELATION. DEFEND THEM WITH YOUR LEGIONS OF ANGELS. PROTECT THIS MEETING AND ALL OTHER MEETINGS FROM EVERY O POSING AND DESTRUCTIVE SPIRIT, BRING CONSOLATION TO THE HEARTS OF THE PEOPLE, SO ALL OF US CAN LIVE IN HARMONY, PEACE, AND LOVE WITH EACH OTHER. GIVE US UNDER STANDING TO FEEL AND COMPREHEND THE PAIN AND THE NEED OF EACH OTHER. AND TO RESPOND TO IT WITH GENTLENESS AND UNDERSTANDING. UNITE US WITH ONE MINDS AND WITH ONE HEART THROUGH YOUR DIVINE GRACE, SO THAT THROUGH THIS UNITY YOUR LOVE AND PEACE MAY PREVAIL AMONG US AND THROUGH US TO ALL OF YOUR PEOPLE. LORD, PLEASE LISTEN TO OUR PRAYERS BECAUSE WE CALLED UPON YOUR GREAT AND HOLY NAME AND HAVE JOINED OUR PRAYERS TO THE SUPPLICATIONS OF ALL OF YOUR HOLY PEOPLE, WHO THROUGHOUT THE ANALES HAVE PLEASED YOU AND GAINED YOUR FAVOR. FOR YOUR NAME IS HONORED AND GLORIFIED BY ALL THE POWERS OF HEAVEN, FATHER, SON, AND HOLY SPIRIT, TO WHOM BELONG ALL GLORY, HONOR, AND WORSHIP, UNTO THE AGES OF AGES. AMEN.