On the agenda

1. 1Call to Order – Roll Call▶ 0:00
2. 2

   Pledge of Allegiance

   The Mayor led the Pledge of Allegiance followed by a moment of silence honoring servicemen and women.

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   [00:00:15] Thank you. If you could all stand, join me in the Pledge of Allegiance and remain standing for a moment of silence [00:00:20] in honor of our servicemen and women at home and abroad.

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3. 3

   Moment of Silence

   The council observed a moment of silence and recited the Pledge of Allegiance.

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   [00:00:25] I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America, and to the republic for which it stands, [00:00:30] one nation, under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all. [00:00:43] Thank you. You may be seated.

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4. 4

   Approval of March 6, 2018 Work Session and Regular Meeting Minutes

   approved

   Council approved the minutes from the March 6, 2018 work session and regular meeting.

   • motion:Approve the March 6, 2018 work session and regular meeting minutes. (passed)

   ▶ Jump to 0:48 in the video

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   [00:00:48] Next item on the agenda is the approval of the March 6th work session and regular meeting minutes. [00:00:58] Move for approval. Second. We have a motion and a second. Nothing. [00:01:03] All those in favor, please signify by saying aye. Aye. Opposed, like sign.

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5. 5

   Proclamation - National Service Recognition Day (By Title Only)

   approved

   Council issued a proclamation by title only designating April 3, 2018 as National Service Recognition Day. The clerk was directed to forward the proclamation to the requesters.

   • direction:Clerk directed to forward the proclamation to the parties that requested it. (none)

   #National Service Recognition Day - April 3, 2018

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   [00:01:08] Motion passes. Next is a proclamation, and this is by title only, [00:01:14] proclaiming National Service Recognition Day as April 3rd, 2018. [00:01:20] And I will ask the clerk to forward this on to the folks that requested it.

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6. 6Vox Pop for Items Not Listed on the Agenda or Listed on Consent Agenda▶ 1:28
7. 7.a

   Cultural Affairs Committee Minutes - January 2018

   approvedon consent

   Consent agenda approved by voice vote following close of public comment.

   • motion:Motion to approve the consent agenda. (passed)

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   [00:05:39] Seeing no one else come forward, we'll close FOXPOP and go to the consent agenda. [00:05:44] Move for approval. [00:05:50] Any discussion? Hearing none, all those in favor, please signify by saying aye. Aye. [00:05:55] Opposed? Like to sign? Motion passes.

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8. 7.b

   Purchase/Payments for City Council Approval

   approvedon consent

   Council approved the consent agenda, which included purchase/payments for City Council approval, after no public comment and no discussion.

   • motion:Motion to approve the consent agenda. (passed)

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   [00:05:39] Seeing no one else come forward, we'll close FOXPOP and go to the consent agenda. [00:05:44] Move for approval. [00:05:50] Any discussion? Hearing none, all those in favor, please signify by saying aye. Aye. [00:05:55] Opposed? Like to sign? Motion passes.

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9. 8.a

   2016 Street Improvement Project – Change Order No. 1

   approved

   Council approved Change Order No. 1 with DAB Constructors Incorporated for the 2016 Street Improvement Project, adding $379,527.27 to the contract to bring spending up to the $1.7 million annual paving allocation. Additional streets added include Daly Lane, Executive Drive, Tropic Drive, Water's Edge Drive, and a sidewalk on the east side of Congress Street from Louisiana Avenue to Massachusetts Avenue.

   • motion:Motion to approve staff's recommendation to spend the additional ~$300,000 up under the cap (Change Order No. 1 with DAB Constructors). (passed)

   📍Congress Street from Louisiana Avenue to Massachusetts📍Daly Lane📍Executive Drive📍Gulf Drive📍Madison📍Tropic Drive📍Water's Edge Drive🏢DAB Constructors Incorporated👤Mr. Rivera👤Ms. Manns#2016 Street Improvement Project#Change Order No. 1#Pavement Management Plan#Street Tax

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   [00:06:00] Next is business items 2016 Street Improvement Project, change order number one. Ms. Manns? [00:06:05] Yes, sir, Mr. Mayor. Mr. Rivera is prepared to present this agenda item to you this evening, [00:06:10] the purpose of which is to exceed the contract award amount with DAB Constructors Incorporated [00:06:22] in the amount of $379,527.27. Mr. Rivera? [00:06:29] Thank you. As Council is aware, the original amount awarded for this project was $1,314,040. [00:06:35] I'm going to start all over. $1,314,444.44, [00:06:47] which ended up being $385,556 short of the directive that Council had imposed with staff for the $1.7 million [00:06:53] that was supposed to be allocated annually for the payment management plan. [00:07:05] When we had come to you before in asking for the award of the project, we also had explained that we probably would be coming back with a change order to reach that dollar amount. [00:07:16] We've identified the following additional streets. Can you put the map up? [00:07:23] The additional streets that we identified were Daly Lane, Executive Drive, Tropic Drive, and Water's Edge Drive. [00:07:33] Those are all in the blue markings on that map, and it's attached to your packet. [00:07:38] The red marking is Congress Street from Louisiana Avenue to Massachusetts, where we are proposing to install a sidewalk on the east side of Congress Street. [00:07:52] The funding is available in the City Street Improvement Project, and we would ask that you would approve this change order. [00:07:59] Thank you. I'll open it up for public comment. [00:08:04] Seeing no one come forward, I'll bring it back to Council. [00:08:13] It was refreshing to finally see new asphalt being applied to Congress earlier today before the rent was paid. [00:08:23] It was great timing also, since they're on spring break, so you really do miss out. [00:08:33] I want to compliment you on doing that, because otherwise you'd have every friggin' bus running through it and every entitled parent thinking they can drive all the way around it, which is fine. [00:08:39] Because they drive all through the neighborhoods anyway, which has always been with the neighborhood schools, so that's fine. [00:08:54] I know you're adding these other roads. [00:08:59] I just wanted to be able to answer a couple of citizens' questions. [00:09:04] It's nice that we're doing the residential, but we're doing two arterial roads right now. [00:09:10] The question was asked of me at least twice or three times over the weekend, [00:09:15] why didn't you start on part of Gulf Drive? [00:09:22] I'll ask the question, don't know why, because obviously two arterials and then Gulf Drive is obviously, I'm sure, in the next phase. [00:09:28] I have a secondary question on that. [00:09:35] I understand it was only $300,000 and you couldn't get a long way, but I wanted to be able to ask the question. [00:09:42] Correct, that's part of the issue. [00:09:49] The other item is the engineering firm that we contracted that did our needs assessment called out the roads on the methodology, [00:09:57] used for the condition of the streets, and so we were following the initial five cycles that they had included. [00:10:05] So Gulf Drive will be coming in on the second cycle, which would be next year. [00:10:10] My question is, is staff in the city going to get ahead and have everything ready that come October 1 you're ready to go? [00:10:16] Because obviously you already know where the income stream is, it's dedicated, it's there. [00:10:31] I would hope that you wouldn't start in September analyzing what you're going to do on Gulf Drive. [00:10:37] I would hope that you'd be ready to hit the ground running because, as I said, the revenue stream is there and be able to knock that out. [00:10:46] Gulf Drive is not going to be easy. [00:10:51] It's not going to be as easy as Madison or Congress. [00:10:56] In essence, I just wanted to make sure what the timing line, time elements are, because you're not guessing. [00:11:05] Somebody's not going to take your money away, somebody's not going to go hide it somewhere else, [00:11:10] because you've got people on council that have been very stringent about where those dollars are being spent and how much dollars are. [00:11:17] So can you give me an idea, since I'll be a private citizen, so I know how to stay away from that area, on what dates and what times? [00:11:24] Sure. We started the design for the next project in December, and so we're anticipating that that whole design and the review process will be completed probably in the springtime, [00:11:30] to where we would be able to start our bid documents, get everything ready, [00:11:43] and then we would expect that we would be able to advertise that project at least 12 weeks, maybe 8 weeks prior to October, [00:11:53] to where we'd be able to come before you with a bid award and we could start putting that together. [00:11:59] We're not going to be putting asphalt down, but all of that stuff, the design process and the review process is going on right now for that project. [00:12:06] That's information that only would be known if we asked a question. [00:12:11] And Mr. Mayor, I'd be ready to make a motion, but I think there's other questions. [00:12:18] You just said about bidding that out. [00:12:23] You're not looking at this project, this whole paving initially, for over five years? [00:12:29] We would bid out every year. [00:12:34] And we have a motion? [00:12:39] I would make a motion to approve staff's recommendation to spend the other $300,000 up under the cap. [00:12:44] And we have a second. Anything else from the maker? [00:12:49] No, sir. I got my question. Thank you, Mr. Mayor. [00:12:54] I've had folks contact me to say how great it is to see that the city is doing a proactive approach to street paving. [00:13:03] So it kind of puts into place what we did a few months back with the redirection that we took with the street tax. [00:13:11] And it's great when you have people contacting you to say, you know, you're doing a good job. So well done. [00:13:18] Thank you. Deputy Mayor? [00:13:24] I don't know if the people at home can hear the answer. [00:13:29] I saw all the pink marks going down Madison, and then all of a sudden a week later it was being paved. [00:13:36] And I was like, why are we paving if we're going to tear it up right away and repave it? [00:13:41] So if you would like to answer that for the people at home, I might save you and Bill getting more questions. [00:13:46] Sure. You've got to take care of the sub base before you put the top coat on. [00:13:51] I kind of compared it to when you get ready to paint, you need to take a pressure wash. [00:13:57] You need to do your primer before you put that paint, because the paint is only good as far as how you've prepped that surface that you're applying it. [00:14:05] And the same principle is with that with asphalt. [00:14:10] So there's a lot of areas that needed to be addressed before we put that top coat on. [00:14:15] Thank you. Any other comments, questions? [00:14:20] All those in favor, please signify by saying aye. Aye. Opposed, like sign.

   This text was generated automatically from the meeting video. It is not a verbatim or official record. For exact wording, consult the video or the city clerk.

10. 8.b

    RFP No. 16-009 One (1) Year Contract Extension Agreement - As-Needed Misc. Pipeline Contract Agreement

    approved

    Council approved a one-year contract extension with SHARE Development Company of Central Florida for as-needed miscellaneous pipeline construction services at the current contract price. The original contract dates to April 15, 2016 and included options for two one-year renewals; this is the first such renewal.

    • motion:Approve a one-year contract extension with SHARE Development Company of Central Florida for as-needed miscellaneous pipeline construction services at the current contract price. (passed)

    🏢SHARE Development Company of Central Florida, Inc.👤Ms. Manz👤Phillips#RFP No. 16-009

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    [00:14:25] Motion passes. Next, RFP 16-009. Ms. Manz. [00:14:30] Yes, sir. Mr. Mayor, as you know, the city keeps on contract and as needed miscellaneous pipeline construction contractor. [00:14:41] We are currently in an agreement with Share Development of Central Florida Incorporated. [00:14:46] And that contractual relationship dates back to April 15th of 2016, at which time the contract was signed. [00:15:00] included an initial two-year term and options for two additional one-year [00:15:06] renewals contingent on both parties agreeing as to the terms of a contract [00:15:13] extension. In that respect, SHARE has agreed to continue to provide the [00:15:20] miscellaneous as-needed pipeline for the current contract amount price, therefore [00:15:27] the recommendation before you this evening is to consider approval of [00:15:32] entering into a one-year contract extension with SHARE Development [00:15:37] Company of Central Florida. Thank you. Open it up for public comment. [00:15:42] Seeing no one come forward, I'll bring it back to Council. I just have a question [00:15:48] first. Why just one year instead of two more? The contract specifies [00:15:54] two one-year terms, so we only have the authority in the base contract for one [00:15:57] year at this time. All right, thank you. I make our proposal approval. We have a [00:16:05] motion. Second. Second. To the maker? Nothing more. To the second? No, thank you. [00:16:10] Deputy Mayor? Nothing, thank you. Councilman Phillips? I'm okay, Mr. Mayor, thank you. Thank you. If there's no further [00:16:16] discussion, all those in favor, please signify by saying aye. Aye. Opposed, [00:16:20] like sign. Motion passes. Next, 2017 City Hall Renovations Glass Block Bid Award.

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11. 8.c

    ↳You arrived here from a search for “Recreation and Aquatic Center tennis courts” — transcript expanded below

    2017 City Hall Renovations – Glass Block Bid Award – Consideration for Approval

    approved

    Council awarded the 2017 City Hall Renovations glass block replacement bid to Hayes (Haines) Construction Company of Fort Myers for $343,000 (base bid $223,000 plus $20,000 contingency, though total stated as $343,000). Only one bid was received; staff explained that funding shortfall against the $275,000 facility renovation budget would be covered from CIP funds originally allocated for tennis court resurfacing at the Recreation and Aquatic Center. Councilman Phillips raised concerns about the single bid, budget transparency, and funding source, but the motion passed.

    • motion:Motion to approve the bid award to Hayes Construction Company for the City Hall glass block replacement at $343,000. (passed)

    📍City Hall (north side facade)📍Recreation and Aquatic Center tennis courts🏢Hayes Construction Company👤Councilman Phillips👤Mr. Rivera👤Ms. Manns👤Robert#2017 City Hall Renovations#Capital Improvement Project Fund#Facility Renovations budget line ($275,000)#Tennis court resurfacing reallocation

    ▶ Jump to 16:26 in the video

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    [00:16:27] Yes, sir, Mr. Mayor. Mr. Rivera will present this agenda item to you, and it [00:16:34] is based on the call for replacement of the glass block located on the facade of [00:16:43] the City Hall building. Thank you, Mr. Rivera. Thank you. There was only one [00:16:48] loan bidder for this project, and that was from the Haines Construction Company, [00:16:53] located out of Fort Myers, Florida. Their bid came in at $343,000. [00:17:00] The project includes the removal of the existing exterior glass block wall area [00:17:06] on the north side of City Hall. This area is in need of major repairs, and it no [00:17:13] longer meets the current building code standards. As you can see from this [00:17:17] conceptual drawing, the design of the existing face is glass block, and [00:17:26] it limits you, as far as the curbing of the frontage, it limits you to the [00:17:32] different concepts or the different options that you're [00:17:35] available to you. So in this case, we're basically replacing the glass block with [00:17:41] glass impact panels for this. And on February 16th, 2018, there was one sealed [00:17:50] competitive bid that was submitted. The company that submitted it specializes in [00:17:56] this type of construction, and although it is one bid, staff would [00:18:03] recommend the approval of it for a couple of reasons. Number one, we feel [00:18:08] like the cost of construction is going up on a daily basis. We had the [00:18:14] engineer of record review the quantities and the pricing. He felt like those were [00:18:20] in range of the standard pricing in the industry currently. And then the [00:18:25] other item that we really looked at was, if we were to go back out to bid, [00:18:31] the delaying in the bid process for this project to start would put us into the [00:18:36] rainy season, the storm season that we have, which would more than likely have [00:18:41] the potential to increase construction costs because, as you can see on [00:18:46] the front of this, they're going to have to take out the glass block and that [00:18:50] whole frontage portion there, and then reconstruct a temporary wall that [00:18:55] obviously is going to have to be able to withstand the different storms, and it's [00:19:01] going to have to be constructed according to the code that we have now. [00:19:04] So our thoughts are that if we were to delay the project, then the option we [00:19:10] would recommend, if you didn't want to move forward, would be to start [00:19:14] the project after the storm season, not do it in the middle of it, but we would [00:19:19] recommend that this project move forward. We feel like the contractor is [00:19:25] qualified and the dollar amount is within reason. Thank you. Open it up for [00:19:30] public comment. Seeing no one come forward, bring it back to Council. I have a [00:19:35] question. This is hurricane rated, the new panel specifically? Yes, sir. It would be [00:19:41] according to the standards that we have today, the building codes. Are the [00:19:46] existing glass blocks anywhere close to that rating? No, sir. Thank you. I have a [00:19:54] question as well. So the glass blocks that are there, we're replacing them with [00:19:59] just a single frame of glass? It would be several panels framed out that [00:20:06] you see on a lot of the high-rises. Okay, so the question I have is, is there any [00:20:11] loss of, it would seem like the glass blocks either keep in, you know, air [00:20:15] conditioning, keep out heat, that type of thing. What is the effectiveness of the [00:20:19] replacement of the glass you're putting in? It would be similar to the different options [00:20:23] that we had on the rec center, where we take into account that tent that comes [00:20:27] with that type of, with the type of glass, that would be insulated as well as [00:20:31] reduce your sun. And the tint as well. Okay, yeah, because that was my other thought, is, you [00:20:36] know, a wall of glass, you know, in hindsight, even at the rec center, [00:20:40] Recreation Center, that, that east wall, you know, panels of glass. So that was my [00:20:45] concern. Thank you. Any other questions? Mr. Mayor, I do. I have quite a few. Okay. [00:20:52] First of all, I'm a little disappointed there was just one. Okay. I don't know, and [00:21:01] then when I read the comments about your post-bid evaluation, back to people, why [00:21:08] they didn't bid it, and having a little bit of history on bidding project for [00:21:13] the City of New Port Richey recently, within the last year, at a former [00:21:18] employer. To say I was at pause wasn't even there. First of all, in the package, [00:21:27] you gave us the dollar amount. Didn't reference in the capital improvement [00:21:33] budget where the dollars are at. When I look at the capital improvement budget, [00:21:37] it says facility renovations $275,000. Their base bid was $223,000, and you gave [00:21:44] them a contingency of another $20,000. It got to $343,000. Is that correct? Okay. [00:21:50] I'd like a little math if I'm going to be approving something that's over and [00:21:55] above what was in the budget. Now, if you're going to take money from someplace [00:21:58] else, please just let me know. I don't need to have to go guess. I know you got [00:22:04] money this year, and I know you got money next year. I don't know how long the [00:22:07] project's going to take. Don't know what the pay cycles are, but over and above [00:22:10] that, when I read the comments back, this is where I had concern. One company, [00:22:17] it appeared, didn't bid because they were worried that the cost projection for the [00:22:22] project was under. If they were working off a $275,000 budget that the city [00:22:27] put into place, and that was what was explained to them, then they didn't bid. [00:22:33] Now this company's coming in at $223,000 with a $20,000 contingency. They're at [00:22:38] $343,000. Not sure that company wouldn't have stepped up for another $60,000. [00:22:44] Also, over and above that, is there were some questions about the way that the [00:22:51] bid, and I didn't see the bid documents or any references that backed up these [00:22:56] people saying they didn't bid it because I didn't see the bid documents, and I [00:22:59] didn't go look for them, but it also mentioned that they were worried about [00:23:05] how to properly safety secure the area after taking out the [00:23:13] glass block, because obviously there's a huge liability that if you open that up [00:23:17] and you don't have it structured right, you're going to lose something on that [00:23:20] edge. Understand that, but over and above, to have this come in the way it is, I [00:23:28] understand cost and construction very well, and I understand we don't want to [00:23:33] miss this window, but please give me something that I can use to explain if [00:23:41] somebody comes back, and I think there's a few candidates probably that have [00:23:44] already looked at the budget and probably saw the same thing I did, and [00:23:48] I'm like, you know, give me some understanding before I sit down and [00:23:53] review this and say, where are the dollars at? Where are they going to cycle [00:24:00] from? And time is of the essence, and I agree with that. I just want to make sure, [00:24:07] because obviously we like to get three bids. We like to follow [00:24:12] those protocols. We like to do all those kind of things, so I know I'm a little [00:24:16] harsh, Ms. Manns, but as I said, in evaluating this stuff and then coming [00:24:21] back around, especially at a $60,000 uptick off the $270,000, and if [00:24:27] that's not the right line item, then somebody needs to point it out, because [00:24:31] all it says in the capital improvements is facility renovation at $275,000, and I [00:24:37] looked through all the other things to find where those other things were, so. [00:24:41] Mr. Mayor, in response to Councilman Phillips' questions and concerns, I [00:24:48] apologize that I didn't get your attention before he did, but my intent [00:24:54] was to indicate to you that the budget item that is identified in your memo is [00:25:02] not the correct funding source. The budget indicates that it comes out of [00:25:07] the Development Services Department Operating Fund, when in fact it comes out [00:25:11] of the Capital Improvement Project Fund. Mr. Phillips correctly states the [00:25:17] amount of money that is available in the fund, and what we didn't tell you yet is [00:25:23] that we're planning to use a portion of the Capital Improvement Project funds [00:25:30] dedicated for the tennis courts at the Recreation and Aquatic Center to make up [00:25:35] the difference in the budgeted amount and the bid amount. And we feel, because [00:25:43] we feel that it's much more important to get the glass done, we've already [00:25:46] determined that the structural stability of the tennis court can withstand a [00:25:52] longer period of time before we resurface. We still, though, believe that [00:25:57] we'll be able to tend to the resurfacing before the end of the fiscal year. In [00:26:04] addition to the comment about the bid amount, and I'll ask you to jump in and [00:26:11] help me at some point, Robert, but we don't advertise our engineers estimate. We [00:26:16] don't advertise the amount of money that we've appropriated for a project, so no [00:26:22] bidder would have the benefit of that information, unless they were on [00:26:27] City Council, of course, then they would know. Excuse me, excuse me, that seems [00:26:32] to be, depending on how, everybody can look at the city budget, is that [00:26:38] correct? That's correct. It's a published document. That's correct. So if it said [00:26:43] facility renovations, and if they look through and saw items, especially [00:26:51] under public safety and public facilities, they could have surmised [00:26:55] that there was a million eight for the fire station relocation, 225 for the [00:27:01] stabilization and facility renovations at 275. I think contractors are pretty [00:27:07] astute, and I'd like to understand, I'd like to understand the gentleman [00:27:12] said in his comment back that he didn't bid it because of the, I don't have it in [00:27:20] front of me, I know it was in the document, the targeted amount or the [00:27:25] amount that was appropriated, so there had to be some sharing of information [00:27:30] on, in some range of where that is, and they didn't think to say, I would have [00:27:35] figured that, but that's, you know, I don't know. Sure, and that's correct. I [00:27:40] think we're looking at two different things. In the CIP document, when we have [00:27:44] those dollar amounts in there, they are allocated funds that have a pretty good [00:27:52] idea of a ballpark as far as where we think that project is going to come in. [00:27:57] Now, the project estimate is different. The project estimate is done when you [00:28:02] start your design. After the design is complete, the engineer will give you that [00:28:06] estimate. Both of those items are available to any bidder if they request [00:28:12] it, but we don't advertise it. So, in other words, if one of the bidders looked [00:28:19] at the dollar amount that the city had allocated in the CIP program, that [00:28:24] doesn't mean that that's what that cost is going to be. It could give them a [00:28:29] ballpark figure of where they want to be at, so to speak, but they would probably [00:28:35] have a better idea if they requested the project estimate from the engineer. Now, [00:28:41] the one company, which is a smaller company, when we talked with them, their [00:28:47] main topic of why they didn't bid was because they purely and simply missed [00:28:52] the bid deadline. They had assigned it to an employee, and that employee did not [00:28:57] fail to get it in on the deadline. The other company, you're correct, said that [00:29:03] they were worried about building that structure and how it could stand up, and [00:29:07] they didn't want to get into something that could escalate or [00:29:12] eliminate their profit margin, and so that scared them away. This company, Hayes [00:29:19] Construction Company, after talking with them and really getting some [00:29:23] information on exactly what they do, they're very familiar with building [00:29:28] those types of things, so the project engineer felt very comfortable that what [00:29:35] they were proposing to build with the dollar amount that they submitted, that [00:29:40] they were very capable of doing it. [00:29:42] I didn't have anything about Hayes' qualifications. It's about how it's brought to us and the factoring and the steps through, because obviously it could be as much as a $60,000 or $70,000 uptick in cost. [00:30:00] cost, and some bidders knew that the city, if it came in over, [00:30:08] would still take it to council for consideration. [00:30:11] I'm just saying that you may have [00:30:14] gotten two bids instead of one. [00:30:16] I just wanted to make sure I know [00:30:17] where the funding's coming from, because now we're [00:30:19] delaying something over here that delays something over here. [00:30:24] And that isn't how we stepped out [00:30:27] when we were doing the budget and the CIP [00:30:29] to understand how we were going to try to meet all [00:30:31] these potential improvements in the city. [00:30:35] And especially, we all know that that glass block wall [00:30:38] is well beyond its life, maybe not useful life, but its life. [00:30:44] So I don't have a problem with that. [00:30:45] I'm just talking about how it was brought to us [00:30:48] and how we have to vote on this. [00:30:50] And I want to make sure that I have all the information. [00:30:53] And it wasn't in my agenda package, [00:30:56] and I didn't have time to go searching around [00:30:59] for it for the last five days, trying to figure out [00:31:02] where everything was at. [00:31:03] It may have precluded me asking some questions, [00:31:06] but in the same token, I need to make sure I understand [00:31:10] where the dollars are, because it can affect other things. [00:31:12] But thank you. [00:31:14] If I might add one other thing, I'm not necessarily [00:31:17] a big fan of the blocks. [00:31:18] They're pretty dated, and I think [00:31:20] they were architecturally maybe a state of the art back then. [00:31:25] But I really don't like the look of this. [00:31:27] I'm not sure what the solution would be, [00:31:29] because obviously, it's a wall of glass [00:31:30] that needs to be replaced with glass. [00:31:32] But I just wonder if there's anything more aesthetically [00:31:35] pleasing. [00:31:37] I know I see sometimes walls of glass [00:31:39] like that that has some type of a, not a coating, [00:31:45] but almost a screening, where it's [00:31:46] like a mural that goes away at night with the light. [00:31:51] Do you know what I'm saying? [00:31:53] A mural? [00:31:53] Well, not a mural, but I've seen buildings [00:31:56] that have walls of glass. [00:31:58] And I'm thinking, I think Clearwater, downtown Clearwater, [00:32:01] has some of their storefronts that have their glass doors. [00:32:04] And it's some type of a film or something on it [00:32:08] that is like a palm tree or whatever. [00:32:11] And then in the evening, you see it during the day. [00:32:13] But at night, with the light, you're [00:32:15] just going to be able to see in the window. [00:32:17] The point is, what we're seeing through that glass [00:32:22] is the other wall of our, just aesthetically not pleasing. [00:32:27] And so I was just wondering if there's any other options [00:32:30] that, if only one company responded, [00:32:33] and they responded to, we're going [00:32:35] to replace it with this glass, I'm [00:32:36] just disappointed that there's not [00:32:38] something out there that's, we're in the 21st century [00:32:41] already. [00:32:41] Yeah, well, when we approached the engineer, [00:32:46] we explained to them what we were looking for. [00:32:50] Obviously, first and foremost, we [00:32:52] needed to meet the code. [00:32:54] We felt like it's very important. [00:32:57] This building here is the city's main business [00:32:59] to conduct business. [00:33:01] So whatever we decided to put in there, [00:33:04] we needed to make sure that it met those needs first [00:33:07] and foremost. [00:33:08] And then after that, then we went on to, OK, well, [00:33:11] what can we do to be able to meet the budget dollar [00:33:17] amount that we had available? [00:33:19] And so that limited us to where we were at with it. [00:33:26] Deputy Mayor? [00:33:27] I'm assuming it's going to be tinted glass, correct? [00:33:30] It's not just going to be just glass you look in, [00:33:32] like you're looking through a window in the 1950s. [00:33:35] I'm sure it's going to be up to code. [00:33:37] It's going to look nice. [00:33:38] I mean, if we want to spend $700,000 or some exorbitant [00:33:41] figure, we could have a tarpon jumping out of the water [00:33:43] or do something really cool. [00:33:44] But I mean, it's City Hall, so I'd [00:33:46] rather save that type of money for art projects. [00:33:48] Move for approval. [00:33:50] Thank you. [00:33:51] Do we have a second? [00:33:53] To the maker, anything? [00:33:56] No, thank you. [00:33:56] To the second? [00:33:57] Nothing. [00:33:59] Councilman Phillips? [00:34:01] No, Mayor, I think I've exhausted my comments, [00:34:04] I believe. [00:34:05] Thank you. [00:34:06] Yeah, nothing, thank you. [00:34:10] Yeah, we need to get this thing so that it [00:34:11] meets current hurricane codes. [00:34:13] This building is critical in the event [00:34:16] that we have another Irma-type event, [00:34:19] and having glass that isn't up to the task [00:34:24] is just not safe at this point. [00:34:26] So there's no further discussion. [00:34:29] All those in favor, please signify by saying aye.

    This text was generated automatically from the meeting video. It is not a verbatim or official record. For exact wording, consult the video or the city clerk.

12. 8.d

    Wastewater Treatment Plant (WWTP) Influent Bar Screen-Change Order

    approved

    Council approved Change Order No. 1 with Lakeside Equipment Corporation in the amount of $40,293 to purchase a second Influent Bar Screen for the Wastewater Treatment Plant's South Channel, taking advantage of lower-than-budgeted pricing from the original bid.

    • motion:Approve Change Order No. 1 with Lakeside Equipment Corporation for $40,293 to purchase a second Influent Bar Screen for the WWTP. (passed)

    🏢Lakeside Equipment Corporation👤DeVos👤Phillips👤Robert#Change Order No. 1#South Channel#Wastewater Treatment Plant Influent Bar Screen

    ▶ Jump to 34:30 in the video

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    [00:34:31] Aye. [00:34:32] Opposed, like sign. [00:34:34] Motion passes. [00:34:35] Next is the Wastewater Treatment Plant Influent Bar Screen [00:34:40] Change Order. [00:34:42] Yes, sir, Mr. Mayor. [00:34:43] This is change order number one with Lakeside Equipment [00:34:47] Corporation in the amount of $40,293 for an Influent Bar [00:34:53] Screen to be used at the Wastewater Treatment [00:34:56] Plant in the South Channel. [00:34:59] And Robert can tell you a little bit more about the agenda item [00:35:02] and respond to what specific questions you may have of him. [00:35:05] Sure, we had talked about this in our couple meetings [00:35:09] past as far as when we had the bid award. [00:35:13] The staff had budgeted $95,000 for the purchase of the one [00:35:18] grinder, and then we were planning [00:35:20] on coming to you next year with another $95,000 budgeted [00:35:25] to purchase the second one. [00:35:27] During this bidding process, it appeared [00:35:30] that there became a bidding war between the manufacturers, [00:35:34] and the one came in at $54,000, which was almost half [00:35:39] of what we had budgeted. [00:35:41] We went into discussion with the manufacturer [00:35:43] to see if they could supply us with another one [00:35:46] to where we could go ahead and take advantage [00:35:49] of the reduced pricing. [00:35:52] They were in agreement. [00:35:53] You'll notice that this cost is about $10,000 less. [00:35:57] It's $40,293. [00:36:01] That's because this screen is a little bit smaller [00:36:03] than the first one that we came to you with. [00:36:06] And so we're asking you to approve the change order [00:36:10] so that we can go ahead and purchase the second screen [00:36:14] and still have the money that we've [00:36:17] got allocated to be able to use it for that. [00:36:20] Thank you. [00:36:21] Open it up for public comment. [00:36:24] Seeing no one, come forward to bring it back to council. [00:36:26] Move for approval. [00:36:27] Second. [00:36:27] To the maker. [00:36:28] Nothing. [00:36:29] To the second. [00:36:29] No comments, thank you. [00:36:30] Councilman Phillips. [00:36:32] One point, Mr. Mayor. [00:36:33] Councilman DeVos. [00:36:34] Thank you, no comment. [00:36:35] I'm amazed that these things are as expensive as they are. [00:36:38] When I think screens, I think what's on my windows. [00:36:40] And I know this is something a lot more. [00:36:42] That's a little different task. [00:36:44] And a lot different task, yes. [00:36:47] If there's no further discussion, all those in favor, [00:36:49] please signify by saying aye. [00:36:50] Aye. [00:36:51] Aye. [00:36:51] Opposed, like sign. [00:36:52] Motion passes.

    This text was generated automatically from the meeting video. It is not a verbatim or official record. For exact wording, consult the video or the city clerk.

13. 8.e

    First Amendment to the Agreement for City Attorney Services

    approved

    Council approved the First Amendment to the Agreement for City Attorney Services with Tim Driscoll, renewing his contract that had inadvertently lapsed in September 2017. After discussion led by Councilman Phillips about aligning terms, the motion was amended to extend the contract through September 6, 2019, keeping the $150/hour rate and 16 hours per week unchanged.

    • motion:Approve the First Amendment to the Agreement for City Attorney Services, extending Tim Driscoll's contract through September 6, 2019 with all other provisions unchanged. (passed)

    🏢Bryant Miller Olive👤Bill Phillips👤Debbie Manns👤Joe Poblick👤Tim Driscoll#First Amendment to the Agreement for City Attorney Services

    ▶ Jump to 36:54 in the video

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    [00:36:54] Next is First Amendment to the Agreement for the City [00:36:56] Attorney. [00:36:57] Yes, sir, Mr. Mayor. [00:36:58] In early 2017, I proposed to you that we [00:37:04] contract for in-house legal services [00:37:07] rather than contracting out for legal services. [00:37:11] In September of 2017, we, I'm sorry, pardon me. [00:37:17] In September of 2016, we entered into an agreement [00:37:21] with Mr. Driscoll for the providence of city attorney [00:37:26] services. [00:37:27] We have determined this to be an effective and an efficient [00:37:31] means by which to garner legal services. [00:37:35] And Mr. Driscoll has served the city well in that respect. [00:37:40] His contract was up for renewal on September 6 of 2017. [00:37:46] Inadvertently, we did not do so. [00:37:49] At this time, we are asking you to renew his agreement [00:37:53] until September 6, 2018. [00:37:56] All other provisions of the contract, [00:37:59] including the hourly rate and the hours per week, [00:38:01] will remain the same. [00:38:03] Thank you. [00:38:03] I'll open this up for public comment. [00:38:06] Seeing no one come forward, bring it back to council. [00:38:09] Move for approval. [00:38:10] Second. [00:38:10] To the maker. [00:38:11] Nothing. [00:38:12] To the second. [00:38:12] I think Tim's doing a great job. [00:38:15] Councilman Phillips. [00:38:15] Yeah, Mr. Mayor. [00:38:18] Ms. Manns, isn't it true that you actually [00:38:23] went out for legal services like Mr. Driscoll's back in 2015 [00:38:28] with Mr. Poblick? [00:38:30] So it wasn't a new thing. [00:38:34] When Mr. Poblick got the judge job, [00:38:40] he no longer could serve the city, [00:38:41] though we would have loved to have him serve the city. [00:38:44] He no longer could under his obligation. [00:38:47] So it wasn't a new service that Mr. Driscoll. [00:38:51] It's something that we had had in place prior to that [00:38:54] after we stopped our service relationship with Bryant Miller [00:39:01] Olive. [00:39:02] Is that correct? [00:39:03] Councilman Phillips, I truly appreciate the correction. [00:39:06] Yes. [00:39:08] Most people don't, but I appreciate [00:39:09] that you appreciate it. [00:39:11] We did originally contract with Joe Poblick. [00:39:15] That was for an excess of a one-year period of time. [00:39:18] So it was probably 15, if I'm thinking back correctly, [00:39:22] that we decided to hire an in-house attorney. [00:39:26] And Mr. Poblick. [00:39:27] I'm looking at actual budget numbers and stuff, [00:39:29] because I'm trying to understand the allocation of dollars. [00:39:32] Because obviously, my memory obviously [00:39:35] isn't as good as it used to be. [00:39:37] But in 14, I thought we were still doing some work with BMO [00:39:41] and with Mr. Poblick came in. [00:39:45] Because I see where the costs are. [00:39:47] That's the other thing that wasn't in your cover memorandum, [00:39:50] was to stay on the cost side. [00:39:52] And if my colleagues would entertain me for a moment, [00:39:57] since we missed his date in September, [00:40:00] could we not tie his employment agreement [00:40:07] to the same ending time of your first five years, which [00:40:11] comes up in June of 2019? [00:40:14] I mean, we're only going to do this for like five months [00:40:16] and then come back and do it again. [00:40:19] Because you're the only two officers within the charter [00:40:22] that the council has purview and oversight over, [00:40:30] as a city manager and city attorney. [00:40:32] Otherwise, we have to delegate and do stuff [00:40:34] all through the manager. [00:40:38] So I'm just saying that we're only [00:40:39] going to be here like another six months. [00:40:41] And he's going to come back, unless you [00:40:42] want to dance again in six months [00:40:45] for another group of people. [00:40:46] I don't know. [00:40:47] In response, I'm certain that the city attorney would go along [00:40:50] with me and would consider extending the date so [00:40:56] that it's concurrent with the reading at this time, [00:41:01] if that meets with your approval. [00:41:02] That's fine. [00:41:05] But if you're asking me financial questions, [00:41:08] I'm not certain that you are. [00:41:10] The rate per hour that we pay Mr. Driscoll is $150. [00:41:15] Yeah, I understand. [00:41:16] I'm seeing where the dollars are allocated [00:41:18] and where they were with BMO, and then with Mr. Poblick, [00:41:21] and then where they've come out, where we've projected [00:41:23] them to be this year. [00:41:24] And obviously, I know he does work when he's not here, [00:41:27] but he's in-house two days a week, I believe. [00:41:30] That's correct. [00:41:31] 16 hours per week, every week. [00:41:34] Like I said, my wife's not watching tonight, [00:41:39] but I wanted a little more specificity of the information. [00:41:43] Because she loves when I use that word, [00:41:45] because she gives me extra points at home [00:41:49] because I used it. [00:41:50] The other note that I think may be appropriate for me [00:41:53] to advance at this time is that we still [00:41:55] do use BMO from time to time on special services and projects, [00:42:00] as is required. [00:42:02] Councilwoman? [00:42:03] So to Mr. Phillips' point about extending, [00:42:10] we're looking at this to extend it to the end of 2018? [00:42:15] No, in September. [00:42:17] Yeah, what did I say? [00:42:19] To the end of 18. [00:42:21] It's this proposal's through September 6. [00:42:24] Of this year? [00:42:25] Yes. [00:42:26] Yes, OK. [00:42:26] Six months, seven months. [00:42:28] Right. [00:42:29] And then at that time, we would be reviewing it to extend it, [00:42:35] which we would have done last year had we not missed it. [00:42:37] I'm not certain that I understood [00:42:39] Mr. Phillips' point completely, but it [00:42:41] sounded like he wanted to extend the contract to 3-2019 [00:42:45] so that it would be a one-year term commencing this evening [00:42:49] if the approval is granted by you. [00:42:54] I'm not sure if that's what you, if you were changing [00:42:57] the month or the year. [00:42:58] No, I actually was trying to tandem it along [00:43:01] with Ms. Mann's employment agreement, which [00:43:03] goes out to June. [00:43:04] And since they're the only two officers or two dedicated [00:43:11] employees to the charter that we have purview over, [00:43:16] I just thought that if we extended it out [00:43:18] and it was tandem together. [00:43:21] But if that's, like I said, I was, I didn't know. [00:43:24] I didn't want to know if you wanted to do it again [00:43:26] another six months, because obviously it's going to be, [00:43:28] it's going to be a budget item, everything else. [00:43:30] That's the only reason I put it out there, [00:43:32] because it works. [00:43:33] You want to admit it? [00:43:34] Yeah, I mean, I would suggest that if we [00:43:36] were going to do that, that we just keep it with his date. [00:43:38] Because this September, if we were [00:43:40] able to do that to September 2019, [00:43:43] that would be my suggestion rather than change the date up. [00:43:46] I don't know the advantage of tandeming it with you. [00:43:49] You made the motion. [00:43:50] Would you like to amend it 12 months from today? [00:43:52] Do you want to line it up for when Ms. Mann's contract comes [00:43:55] up? [00:43:56] Do you want to do it until September 2019? [00:43:58] How long do you want to work for us, Tim? [00:44:00] What are you comfortable with? [00:44:02] The contract is set up so that you [00:44:04] can extend it to September 6 of 2019 [00:44:08] if you want to, without having to change the contract. [00:44:10] And I'm agreeable to that. [00:44:11] All right, let's go September, and that'll [00:44:14] put it in a budget year of 19. [00:44:16] Did you second that yet? [00:44:17] I did second. [00:44:18] And let me point out too, Ms. Mann's wasn't it your idea [00:44:20] to get an in-house attorney that's here on premise? [00:44:23] That's correct. [00:44:23] And I think that was a very, very good decision. [00:44:26] Mr. Povic did a great job for us. [00:44:28] We miss him. [00:44:29] He's a fantastic judge, I'm sure. [00:44:31] And Mr. Driscoll is doing a great job. [00:44:33] And it's really comforting as well [00:44:35] to have Brian Miller, all of Unretainer. [00:44:36] It's a very, very good municipal law firm. [00:44:39] So it's good to have back up there. [00:44:41] And I will say that I've been doing this for 30 years. [00:44:42] I've never done it this way. [00:44:44] And I really think it's a very effective way [00:44:46] to obtain legal services. [00:44:47] And it's worked out really well. [00:44:49] So I think it makes a lot of sense the way you're doing it. [00:44:52] And it's always fun to send some of my more unusual emails [00:44:55] to Mr. Driscoll. [00:44:55] Yes, I'm available for those as well. [00:44:58] And if I might just insert, I cannot. [00:45:00] I believe that it's four years already, because they flew by in a heartbeat. [00:45:03] I've had the honor of, privilege of working with many city attorneys, and I have to say [00:45:09] that I, and then I, with no reflection on any of, anyone else, but you do a commendable [00:45:14] job, and I do appreciate you explaining in layman's terms sometimes very complicated [00:45:21] issues, whether they're related to this particular thing, or some of the issues that I've come [00:45:27] up with during the course of my time here. [00:45:29] So thank you for that. [00:45:30] Very good. [00:45:31] My understanding, we have a motion and a second on the floor. [00:45:33] The motion is to extend the contract through September 6th, 2019, so we're not doing this [00:45:41] again in six months, and is there any other discussion? [00:45:47] Hearing none. [00:45:48] All those in favor, please signify by saying aye. [00:45:50] Aye. [00:45:51] Aye.

    This text was generated automatically from the meeting video. It is not a verbatim or official record. For exact wording, consult the video or the city clerk.

14. 8.f

    Resolution No. 2018-07 Supporting Habitat for Humanity's Town and Country Villas Project

    approved

    Council unanimously approved Resolution 2018-07 expressing support for Habitat for Humanity's Town and Country Villas Project, which will redevelop substandard housing on Van Doren Avenue and Leisure Lane by constructing 35 homes in the first phase across 30 of 99 lots over a five-year period. Councilmembers emphasized the need for the county and Habitat to fully transform the area with sidewalks, street lighting, and renovation of all 99 lots, not just the initial 30.

    Ord. Resolution No. 2018-07

    • motion:Move to approve Resolution 2018-07 expressing support of Habitat for Humanity's Town and Country Villas Project. (passed)

    📍Seven Springs📍Van Doran Avenue and Leisure Lane🏢Habitat for Humanity🏢Kmart🏢Tampa Bay Regional Planning Council👤Carolyn👤Chief Bogart👤Councilman Davis👤Councilman Phillips👤Deputy Mayor Starkey👤Jack Mariano👤Mr. Gillis👤Ms. Manz👤Robert Knapper#Resolution 2018-07#Southgate#Town and Country Villas Project#annexation work session

    ▶ Jump to 45:52 in the video

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    [00:45:52] Opposed? [00:45:53] Like sign. [00:45:54] Motion passes. [00:45:55] Next is Resolution 2018-07. [00:45:57] Sure. [00:45:58] Mr. Mayor, members of the Council, the purpose of this resolution is to support Habitat for [00:46:03] Humanity as it relates to their Town and Country Villas Project. [00:46:08] It was actually Councilman Phillips that suggested that we pass a resolution of support of the [00:46:15] project to address substandard living conditions at Van Doran Avenue and Leisure Lane, which [00:46:23] is located on the west side of US 19, just south of Cross Bio. [00:46:30] The Habitat for Humanity organization has purchased 30 lots in the subdivision. [00:46:39] Their plan for the first phase of the project is to construct 35 homes. [00:46:46] There are 99 lots in the subdivision, so their plan calls for a five-year period of [00:46:54] time before the project is fully culminated. [00:46:59] Certainly the revitalization of that area will have a positive impact on the City of [00:47:05] New Port Richey, and so we're asking your consideration of the resolution. [00:47:09] Thank you. [00:47:10] This is public rating of this resolution. [00:47:12] Any comments from the people here? [00:47:17] Seeing no one come forward, I'll bring it back to Council. [00:47:20] Deputy Mayor. [00:47:21] Can I read the title? [00:47:22] Oh, please do. [00:47:23] That's all right. [00:47:24] Resolution 2018-07, a resolution of the City Council of the City of New Port Richey, Florida, [00:47:27] expressing support of Habitat for Humanity's Town and Country Villas Project. [00:47:31] Thank you. [00:47:32] Deputy Mayor. [00:47:33] I appreciate Councilman Phillips bringing this suggestion up for a resolution. [00:47:36] As you know, I've been very, very devoted to getting these two streets that we all have [00:47:40] up here. [00:47:41] It took quite a bit of convincing on our part, I think, to the county to finally get them [00:47:44] involved. [00:47:45] It actually took a pretty hands-on newspaper article with Robert Knapper spending some [00:47:53] time on these two streets, and myself and Chief Bogart. [00:47:56] That was enlightening to myself, even though very eye-opening. [00:47:59] I drive through there on a regular basis, but until you're actually in an undercover [00:48:04] police car from 9 a.m. until, say, what were we, 2 p.m., there's so much more that goes [00:48:10] on there. [00:48:11] And I do support the Habitat for Humanity program, however, I've expressed my concerns [00:48:17] to Ms. Mance, who I believe she passed on to the manager of the project from Habitat. [00:48:22] I just want to be sure they do it right, because if you just put 30 little new Habitat homes, [00:48:27] elevated homes, in between these trailers that have yet to be demolished, that's not [00:48:31] going to solve the problem. [00:48:32] These two streets need sidewalks, they need street lighting, they need to create a neighborhood. [00:48:37] So I hope the county continues to support Habitat. [00:48:39] I know they've lent them $500,000, but there's a lot more than just building 30 homes to [00:48:46] transform these two streets to where they need to be. [00:48:49] So I just hope they stay the course and don't put up 15 and then an extra 10 and then just [00:48:54] forget about what's there because they haven't purchased the lot or didn't have the funding [00:48:58] to do so. [00:48:59] We need to work together. [00:49:00] If it takes state money or any resource that we can find to help renovate these two streets [00:49:05] on a broad scale, not just replacing some of the units and some of the parcels, it needs [00:49:10] to be done. [00:49:11] I'm assuming the city will help out in any way we can, but the county needs to continue [00:49:15] to work with Habitat and make sure these two streets are completely renovated and transformed. [00:49:21] Sidewalks, street lighting, let's get all the lots done, all 99, not just 30 of them, [00:49:25] because if not, I think you're going to have the same clientele that's in there just occupying [00:49:29] these small homes five years down the road and nothing will change. [00:49:36] Entertain a motion? [00:49:37] Move to approve. [00:49:38] Second. [00:49:39] We have a motion and a second. [00:49:40] To the maker, anything else? [00:49:41] Nothing further. [00:49:42] Councilman, I believe you were the second. [00:49:44] Yes, thank you. [00:49:46] To Mr. Starkey's point, too, I think it's very appropriate that as those houses go in, [00:49:52] I think that it should develop a pride of ownership, if that's the right word, for that [00:50:00] community, and it definitely needs to, it should definitely improve the overall look [00:50:07] of it. [00:50:08] It definitely will need to stay on top of the county about this, because I would hate [00:50:16] to see, rather than elevating it, that the homes that go in there create just a sense [00:50:23] of complacency. [00:50:24] So definitely thank you for, and whoever it was, I don't know if it was Mr. Phillips, [00:50:29] Mr. Davis, that suggested the original resolution, but certainly working cooperatively with the [00:50:34] county is a good thing. [00:50:35] Councilman Davis, I believe you were the second, second. [00:50:39] I don't think I got it all out, but that's okay. [00:50:42] I just hope that Habitat can get these first 30 homes up, because I think you'll get some [00:50:50] support from the neighborhood, those 30 homes, because now they're owners and they're going [00:50:55] to have a chance in life, and so they'll want their neighborhood to look a little bit better, [00:50:58] so you'll have their backing as well as the county, you know, in New Port Richey. [00:51:04] Thank you. [00:51:05] Councilman Davis, or Councilman Phillips, rather. [00:51:07] Davis, too. [00:51:08] Yeah. [00:51:09] No, I'd love to take credit, but I actually, the idea came to me from Jack Mariano when [00:51:16] I saw him at the Tampa Bay Regional Planning Council, and so I passed it along to Ms. Manz, [00:51:20] and I'm glad we were able to move some things forward. [00:51:23] Obviously this particular area has had a very big profile, not only in the paper, but [00:51:29] obviously it impacts our city, it impacts Mr. Gillis's new development that he's doing, [00:51:35] who actually tore down the old Kmart, and I don't know if you've seen that, but there's [00:51:40] a vista behind all this cars parking out there that you never knew because the big Kmart [00:51:46] was blocking those, and I'm sure that with that and then the continual interaction between [00:51:55] the city and the county on this area and how it evolves in the future will have a great [00:52:03] impact on Mr. Gillis's development, as well as it bridges over to Southgate, and if you [00:52:10] can make that area return back to its earlier days, it'll allow our police department, county [00:52:19] sheriff's department, and everybody else to focus on other parts, and I think that it's, [00:52:25] you know, we need to do all we can to positively impact the city residents that are in and [00:52:34] around here, but also want to show our support, and I understand that there's an event, I [00:52:42] believe it's next week, for the habitat. [00:52:46] I have it on my calendar, I just don't know how to pull it up, but there'll be a kind [00:52:51] of a groundbreaking or an announcement with that, and I think that it's important that [00:52:55] some of the city staff and some of the people be there to show support for that over and [00:53:00] above council, but that area, as it transitions back to what it needs to be, will really be [00:53:11] a benefit, and as many of you might know or not know, the first Habitat for Humanity house [00:53:16] built by the Habitat for Humanity in West Pasco was in New Port Richey. [00:53:22] It backs up to the parking lot that's over by Schrader, and what used to be, or, excuse me, [00:53:28] Schwetman, and that tells you how old I am, because it happened in 93 or 94, something [00:53:35] along that, my first time here, so they're a wonderful group, and I applaud them for [00:53:41] getting in here and making the first step, and then we'll need to help them carry the [00:53:46] ball over the goal line, I believe. [00:53:48] And Phillips, that event is on April the 5th at 11 o'clock at Seven Springs. [00:53:54] Super, thank you. [00:53:55] And Mr. Mayor, if I may just make one other comment, for those of you, as I said before, [00:54:00] I can't believe it's four years that flew by with the city attorney, so I can't put [00:54:06] a time on it, but I want you all to recall several years ago, and there was a gentleman [00:54:11] that lived on that block, he was a marine, I believe, an elderly gentleman, and he was [00:54:17] one of the first people that came to council and implored us to assist with that development. [00:54:25] The reason I'm bringing that up is because I'm reminded that sometimes it appears that [00:54:31] nothing happens, or it takes forever to happen, so I grant you, it took time to happen, but [00:54:36] I'm pleased to see that we are now in the position where we're definitely making incredible [00:54:42] improvement in that particular area, and it took a collaborative effort of, you know, [00:54:49] citizens, people, county, city, and I'm just very pleased to see that we're there. [00:54:54] Thank you. [00:54:55] Thank you. [00:54:56] I've been an outspoken critic of the mess that's there, sometimes getting me into a [00:55:01] little hot water for saying what I think about that Leisure Lane, Van Doren area. [00:55:08] It's nasty. [00:55:09] It needs to be cleaned up. [00:55:12] The county is now actively involved in being a part of that solution. [00:55:18] Habitat for Humanity has jumped in and said that they want to be a part of that solution. [00:55:24] My wife has already volunteered me to help with construction of the houses, so when that [00:55:31] starts happening, you'll see Carolyn and I out there attempting not to injure ourselves [00:55:37] with hand tools. [00:55:39] This is really, I think, a great move for that neighborhood, and I would point out to [00:55:46] the folks that are watching tonight or that are in the audience that next Tuesday night, [00:55:52] we have a 5 o'clock, 5.30, 5 o'clock work session on annexation, and one of the areas [00:56:02] that will be under discussion is this Leisure Lane, Van Doren area, which is completely [00:56:08] surrounded by the city of New Port Richey, and the long-term goal, as far as I'm concerned, [00:56:16] is to get the place cleaned up, get some new housing in there that actually is habitable, [00:56:22] and then get it into the city so that we can do the other improvements that are necessary [00:56:27] and provide the police and other services that are necessary to keep that a nice area. [00:56:32] So I'm excited about this. [00:56:34] I think it's a great step forward, and I commend the county and Habitat for stepping forward. [00:56:42] Any further discussion? [00:56:45] Hearing none, all those in favor, please signify by saying aye. [00:56:48] Aye. [00:56:49] Opposed? [00:56:50] Like sign. [00:56:51] Motion passes. [00:56:52] Next, city manager performance evaluation.

    This text was generated automatically from the meeting video. It is not a verbatim or official record. For exact wording, consult the video or the city clerk.

15. 8.g

    City Manager Performance Evaluation

    discussed

    Council conducted the annual performance evaluation of City Manager Debbie Manns. Deputy Mayor and Councilman Davis offered largely positive reviews praising her leadership across most departments, while Councilman Phillips delivered an extensive critique citing missed opportunities (notably the VA submittal), delays on multiple projects, and weaknesses in finance, communications, and project management. No formal vote was taken; written evaluations were provided to the city manager.

    📍Hacienda📍Main Street Landings📍Orange Lake📍Plath Road📍River Road📍Sims Park📍US 19 and Main Street📍Walden Lake property📍former incubator🏢Kimley-Horn🏢Main Street organization🏢Port Richey🏢Tyler Technologies🏢ULI (Urban Land Institute)🏢VA👤Bernie👤Bill Phillips👤Brian👤Councilman Davis👤Debbie Manns👤Deputy Mayor👤Frank Starkey👤Kim👤Mario👤Ms. DeBeltano#CRA restructuring#City website rollout#FY 2018-2019 budget#Fire department physical plant#Hurricane 2017 response#Linderick water system service#Park Master Plan#Parking study#Parklet event#Police contract#Recreation and Aquatic Center opening#Strategic Plan#Street Paving Program Phase One#VA submittal package#Van Doren tour#Wayfinding signage

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    [00:56:54] Ms. Mann. [00:56:55] Thank you, Mr. Mayor. [00:56:56] As provided in my employment agreement, I'm entitled to an annual evaluation of my performance [00:57:03] as your city manager, and in that regard, I look forward to your open and productive [00:57:09] communication. [00:57:10] Very good. [00:57:11] I'll open this up for whoever would like to start. [00:57:19] Deputy Mayor? [00:57:23] It's been no secret that I'm a Debbie Manns fan. [00:57:25] I think she does a phenomenal job as our city manager. [00:57:28] I don't need to – I'm going to give her the report that – or the evaluation that [00:57:33] I have so she can review it. [00:57:34] I'm not going to go over numbers or anything at this point, but she runs a tight ship. [00:57:39] Not everyone always likes that. [00:57:41] There's different managing styles, but a city manager is a very, very difficult position. [00:57:46] She or he has five bosses to try to keep happy and pleased, and we all have different opinions [00:57:51] as to what we feel is important, more important than other items and whatnot. [00:57:57] She's a very, very busy lady. [00:57:58] I think she's done phenomenal things for this city. [00:58:01] There's a lot of things that she's done to move this city forward that happens behind [00:58:05] the scenes that the public does not hear about, won't hear about. [00:58:10] She doesn't like tooting her own horn, but I'm, for one, thankful that we have her [00:58:14] as our city manager, and I'd like to keep her here as long as she's willing to work. [00:58:18] Thank you. [00:58:19] Davis? [00:58:20] Yeah, if I'm going to review somebody, I'd kind of like to see Ida, so I'm going to [00:58:25] come down here and discuss it. [00:58:27] Thanks, Mike. [00:58:32] Evaluation. [00:58:33] First of all, I'd like to say, Debbie, that I have always had an open-door policy, or [00:58:41] you've always had an open-door policy. [00:58:43] It doesn't make any difference what time of day, or even some evenings, or even early [00:58:49] in the morning, your door's been open, and I've been welcomed in there. [00:58:53] The best way that I can take a look at your performance is to look at the departments [00:58:58] and see which departments that I think you've done a great job, and it's departments where [00:59:02] you need to do some work. [00:59:05] One of the first departments, of course, is the library. [00:59:07] I think your hire there is an excellent, I think it's going to change the whole atmosphere. [00:59:12] I think I've already seen there. [00:59:13] I've been in a couple of meetings, or one that I can think of right off the top of my [00:59:17] head, where you had some of the employees in there, and they're working with the new [00:59:21] director. [00:59:22] It's just a whole different atmosphere in there. [00:59:24] I think you're going to get a lot more out of your employees there than we did in the [00:59:28] past management. [00:59:29] The police department, Kim and I are on the same page from day one. [00:59:34] I think you got here a month before I did, and I think your leadership's phenomenal. [00:59:40] I see your men out in the field, and I think this is some of the direction that you get [00:59:45] from Debbie. [00:59:46] Your men and women in the field are community orientated. [00:59:51] People walk up to them and talk to them, and all that's changed in the time you've been [00:59:55] here, and of course, you've been here for the same amount of time. [00:59:58] Public works. [01:00:00] I think if we're looking for direction there when it comes to community service or customer [01:00:06] service, I think, excuse me, customer service, I can't think of another department that has [01:00:11] customer service, and I think that's under your direction. [01:00:14] You've wanted customer service from the day you stepped in town, and I think you get it [01:00:19] probably a Class A Act from the whole Public Works Department, and of course, that's under [01:00:24] your leadership, too. [01:00:25] Fire Department Resources, you've been Bernie's partner from day one, wherever you go, you [01:00:32] haul Bernie, and Bernie's learned a lot from you, and I think that's going to continue. [01:00:37] Fire Department, the only thing that I'm really concerned about there is whenever I see, and [01:00:41] I've seen it a lot recently with Shift A, that they only have five people on board. [01:00:47] When you only have five people and you have two fires, you can't go in the building unless [01:00:51] you've got three people on that particular fire. [01:00:54] So I am concerned any time I see a five on a shift, and like I said, Shift A's had some [01:01:00] problems there. [01:01:02] IT, if there's anything that I would like to see, IT is not necessarily making a department [01:01:08] head, but they should be at the department head meetings. [01:01:13] He sees what is happening in one department, might see it coming in the other department, [01:01:17] and may be able to stop the problem before it escalates to something that the whole city [01:01:23] has to deal with, so sometimes I think that he should be involved more, maybe not as a [01:01:30] department head, but some more of the department head meetings. [01:01:35] You've done, through your direction, I think you've finally got a team there that's an [01:01:41] asset to him. [01:01:42] I've seen some struggling people underneath him, and I think you've got some great people [01:01:46] there. [01:01:47] And I think you've also taught Brian project dedicated, what would be the word, probably [01:01:59] something, delegated responsibility. [01:02:03] I think you've taught him that, if the one thing that I think I've seen you teach him [01:02:07] is that in the economic department you've taken somebody, you're real good at working [01:02:14] with government employees, and in Mario you do not have a government employee, I mean [01:02:19] he thinks on his own, he comes from a different source, and I think you've done a great job [01:02:24] at letting him go. [01:02:25] He's done a great job with Frank Starkey's property, both downtown and on the lake, Hacienda, [01:02:32] Main Street landings, and of course we all know he's in the mix now with US 19 and Main [01:02:38] Street. [01:02:39] If he's over there listening, he's got to work at the hospital area, and he's got to [01:02:44] work north on 19. [01:02:47] I don't know the answers, but I'm sure he'll get out there and rattle the cages. [01:02:54] I had the opportunity recently with the recreation department, I had an excellent interview with [01:03:01] an employee that worked there 11 years, he told me a couple things that I was surprised [01:03:07] and I came to talk to you about that concerned me and possibly could have been a lawsuit [01:03:13] and you weren't even aware of it, and I encouraged him to have a meeting exit interview with [01:03:19] you and he did have it, and so now you know the situations that are, and so I think sometimes [01:03:25] maybe more communication with the rec department or maybe the rec department needs to communicate [01:03:33] more with you, maybe a small desk in their office over there to see what's going on once [01:03:38] in a while. [01:03:41] I think I've got everybody except finance and I quite honestly, I think that us as a [01:03:48] board have been very patient, I guess would be the term, waiting for that to come around [01:03:54] and it hasn't come around yet. [01:03:58] You're aware of the audit problem, we're a year behind in Tyler, we asked for quarterlies [01:04:04] a couple meetings ago, they haven't surfaced, and now I'm hearing we're having a payout [01:04:10] problem in town, I just recently heard that on the street, so if I get A's and B's in [01:04:18] every category, but when it comes to finance I can't even see a passing grade, if I was [01:04:25] you I'd move your desk down to the finance department. [01:04:28] Thank you. [01:04:29] Thank you. [01:04:30] And I think what you meant to say was that she let Mario loose, not let him go. [01:04:40] Councilman Phillips. [01:04:44] Mr. Mayor, this is the hardest time of the year for us, except for when we have to do [01:04:51] the budget or we miss dates or we do whatever, because whatever we do it appears that we're [01:04:58] punitive in one way and we're complimentary in the other, and at the end of the day, obviously [01:05:06] being in the business community and having to sit through being evaluated by my bosses, [01:05:11] I've always tried to take that approach. [01:05:18] This year, obviously, because I'll be leaving council, just like anything else, I spent [01:05:27] a lot of time going through this, but first I have to say that I've been disappointed [01:05:33] in us as a council when it comes to how we've approached doing performance appraisals for [01:05:41] the manager. [01:05:42] And the reason I say that is that we hire consultants to bring us presentations, they [01:05:49] bring us stuff, we're not happy, we want more buzz, we want more all that, but if we don't [01:05:56] establish that with our own main manager, and the only person that we really, under [01:06:03] the charter, have the ability to direct. [01:06:06] We're not supposed to be in the day to day. [01:06:09] We see people, we talk, we say hello, we try to be cordial, but every time we do try to [01:06:14] have communications, we either conduit through you, and if they have conversations, I know [01:06:20] the department heads are reporting back to you, which is fine, that's fine, but at the [01:06:25] end of the day, I tried to look at this this year, but I was hoping that when you offered [01:06:34] the salvo of five or six different evaluation elements, that we would take a little time [01:06:42] to restructure that, because to me, some of the things that's in this performance appraisal [01:06:49] are somebody that's just been on a job one year, and I'll touch on a couple of them. [01:06:55] And I asked for quite a bit of information, because I wanted to see where your contract [01:07:00] was, what you've done for the department heads, what you've done for the employees, [01:07:06] because obviously you can't keep all that information together two or three years in [01:07:09] a row, whether it's one budget or through the whole cycle. [01:07:15] With that said, you're asking for my input, and as you well know, when we were interviewing [01:07:22] you, after you've been hired, and after you've been here, I've never been shy, either up [01:07:28] here or behind closed doors to give you my evaluation, and so here we go. [01:07:36] On the positive side this year, you know, the police contract finally got done after [01:07:41] a couple of years in limbo, the second video screen in Sims Park, the park master plan, [01:07:49] the health insurance relatively no increase, the Hacienda grant money, the social event [01:07:55] at the Hacienda, the recreation and aquatic center opening, and that's got two sides [01:08:01] to it, and then just a lot of the other things that we've done in the downtown, you know, [01:08:05] the downtown palm trees, that was an overall discussion, and there's a lot of other things [01:08:10] out there, and for us not to spend some time and go through this, you know, you, when it [01:08:19] talked about the administration side, to me, you've had a good year across the board. [01:08:25] Not superior and not outstanding, and obviously that comes with more time here. [01:08:32] I've given some credence to the fact that you had to live through your first hurricane [01:08:39] in your response times to all that, plus having major staff people or department directors [01:08:44] out and making those work, but this year there's been a number of challenges, you know, the [01:08:52] execution provided by your department directors on the annual budget, development department [01:08:58] customer improvements and permitting, and we just saw in your report last Friday that [01:09:02] you're going to be looking at that again. [01:09:04] That's been something there. [01:09:07] Project planning and timeliness of completion, revised update. [01:09:11] I would have hoped by now you would have started to do revised job descriptions for all your [01:09:16] department directors because their jobs have to change. [01:09:20] They have to get better. [01:09:22] They have to do things more. [01:09:24] You had an assistant city manager. [01:09:28] He was, his position was eliminated in last year's budget, and you took on those responsibilities [01:09:33] again, but in the same token, your department heads need to get to understand better what [01:09:39] council's looking for and improve, so my thing, it's improved delegation and assignment of [01:09:45] projects moving into the physical year 2018-2019. [01:09:50] Focus on better communication by the economic development director as it relates to inquiries [01:09:54] about properties in the city, plus more focus on improving neighborhoods and key factors [01:09:59] in the city recovery. [01:10:04] On the leadership side, again, you know, you experienced your first hurricane, 2017. [01:10:09] Staff and employees did an excellent job getting the city through the event and back up and [01:10:12] running in short order. [01:10:16] Your leadership skills have never been in question, but there are some areas of focus [01:10:19] for next year. [01:10:21] Improve the effectiveness of city council meetings, especially the work session meetings [01:10:26] that were marginally effective in 2017. [01:10:30] More pre-meeting communication with council or understanding the key goals, objectives, [01:10:36] and questions before you come to the meeting. [01:10:38] We spent a lot of time in some of these meetings going over and over and over things, and people [01:10:43] said, well, give me an example. [01:10:45] Well, we talked about funding for special events. [01:10:48] We went through three meetings, three workshops. [01:10:52] The CRA presentation that we had recently, and those are some of the ones that were there. [01:10:58] You know, I think there needs to be a little more collaboration between each of your departments. [01:11:03] They do a good job, but I think there's always that, better on their projects, better on [01:11:09] their presentations. [01:11:11] We had a couple tonight. [01:11:12] There's some other things that, as council people get busy, they need to have as much [01:11:16] information as possible to make good decisions so that they don't get delayed and they don't [01:11:21] stall. [01:11:23] And I'm really imploring you to look at creating some real strong bench strength in some of [01:11:29] your major departments. [01:11:32] You know, obviously police, public works, economic development. [01:11:38] And again, review the job descriptions of your directors and update them to meet the [01:11:42] needs of the future. [01:11:44] Might have to eliminate some tasks and enhance others to better serve our citizens. [01:11:49] I think that was highlighted in the ULI event that we had. [01:11:59] Initiative and communications. [01:12:00] Ms. Mann actually graded about 3.5. [01:12:02] I always hate having a 3 and a 4 and all those kind of things. [01:12:06] I think Ms. DeBeltano has had struggles with that over the years, too, where you have to [01:12:10] go between good and superior. [01:12:13] She needs to offer additional solutions to the council on several items by asking extended [01:12:18] open-ended questions to assist in moving items more efficiently through the process. [01:12:24] Example, special event funding, multiple department director presentations and meeting, goals [01:12:30] and enhancement for the CRA. [01:12:32] And we still don't have any idea about the physical plant, the fire department physical [01:12:37] plant needs that's been out there for a while and we've got a million aid in our capital [01:12:41] budget for next year. [01:12:44] There's a whole series of things here, but obviously, you know, in looking at many of [01:12:48] the agenda package last year, and this goes under the problem-solving and the judgment, [01:12:53] needs to be closer attention to detail. [01:12:55] It was a little better than the year before, but there's still several last-minute attachments [01:12:59] provided or items pulled right before the meeting. [01:13:03] This causes me, and I'm saying me specifically, I'm not speaking for anybody else, to review [01:13:09] incorrect information or waste time on the agenda items that was not going to be presented [01:13:15] and going to be presented later. [01:13:18] Improvement is needed from some of Ms. Mann's department director, again, on their presentation. [01:13:23] There was little movement off some of her positions when it came in creation to some [01:13:28] new fees without corresponding ad valorem tax rates, and that's because I was on the [01:13:34] back end of that particular conversation. [01:13:38] And lack of offering options on key work session items, which made it necessary to [01:13:43] have multiple meetings. [01:13:46] Planning and organization. [01:13:48] I have a whole thing here, but, you know, we tout our successes, but we had some major [01:13:55] misses this year, major misses. [01:13:58] The VA submittal package, which was not communicated well enough to counsel, and I have documentation [01:14:06] in my file, which I'll provide to all my colleagues and others, that we missed it. [01:14:12] We missed that opportunity. [01:14:13] We've been planning for that thing for over two years, and when you read the elimination [01:14:19] letter, it's unfortunate, because to me, that was one of the linchpins of the next step [01:14:28] of making New Port Richey its own entity, its own place, not being described against [01:14:33] the land or Mount Dora or Dunedin. [01:14:38] Those jobs and what that would have generated were going to be monumental to this city in [01:14:44] conjunction with annexation and all the other things that would have come, and to miss that [01:14:50] and not even get out of the gate to be at stage two, really, really, and as I've gone [01:14:58] back and [01:15:00] looked at some of the information, it's unfortunate because those 750 jobs minimum in our backyard [01:15:09] and the things it would have done up and down 19, our neighborhoods, all those kind of things. [01:15:14] Delays in getting key approvals for the police and fire agreements, those stretched out. [01:15:20] The strategic plan of the city, I was hoping that would be done by budget time so we could [01:15:25] implement some things and then whoever comes in would have an opportunity to make it better. [01:15:31] But now we're just finishing it up. [01:15:34] The rec center improvements were delayed, audit to the state, phase one of the street [01:15:39] paving program, we're already six months in when we already knew you got approval of the [01:15:45] revenue stream and I was hoping to see some of that earlier. [01:15:49] Dredging of Orange Lake, traffic quieting speed humps on River Road, I don't know why [01:15:54] we haven't done that for those residents but it seems like it's never ending that it doesn't [01:16:00] work there but it works everywhere else because I go out Plath Road every day and I got four [01:16:06] speed bumps that I go over. [01:16:09] Orange Lake dredging, wayfinding signage, implementation of Tyler Technologies, no timing [01:16:15] on that. [01:16:16] Delay and no information about the rollout of the city website. [01:16:19] I have a brand new picture, you know, that was supposed to go on the website and I was [01:16:23] hoping to get at least two months of mileage out of it so somebody could throw stones at [01:16:28] it or put it up on a wall and throw some darts at it but I don't know anything about the [01:16:33] website. [01:16:34] Parking study with no post report goals and objectives, we're just, yep, we got the report, [01:16:39] now we got to do this next thing. [01:16:42] And here are a couple things that I see coming up in the future, advising council members [01:16:46] not to attend the parklet event on that night that it happened because it hadn't been approved [01:16:51] by city council. [01:16:52] It put council members and to me in a precarious position because it was there and now we're [01:16:58] going to have to have open conversations about it. [01:17:00] I was hoping that there would have been a much better attention to detail with that [01:17:06] but it is what it is, it's already been there. [01:17:09] Water and sewer usage declined by New Port Richey, the impact on the utility income stream, that [01:17:14] concerns me in the next couple of years. [01:17:17] Van Doren tour issues which created a number of issues with the county. [01:17:21] It played itself out but we had to go through some real tough times in settings that we [01:17:27] had. [01:17:28] The city video, I can't tell you how many people I saw this weekend that said, is that [01:17:35] all? [01:17:36] What did you do? [01:17:37] And I had to keep saying, I really didn't know anything about it and they said, Bill, [01:17:42] you should have known about it. [01:17:44] Delinquencies of the tenant in the former incubator, that's big. [01:17:48] CRA restructuring delayed due to the presentation by Kim Lee Horne and the strategic plan. [01:17:56] There are a number of things in here and then I went about and looked at public relations, [01:18:05] I looked at the productivity. [01:18:07] Some of the things that came out of the ULI study are stuff that we've been talking about [01:18:10] for two years, both up here on council and in the citizenry. [01:18:14] They came in and rehashed some stuff. [01:18:16] If I hear we've got good bones one more time, I want a bone density discussion. [01:18:22] Because at the end of the day, your bones are really good but I don't think we're showing [01:18:28] our bones out to everybody. [01:18:30] To me, they didn't offer a lot of solutions those days and I wish they would have and [01:18:35] we should have held their feet to the fire. [01:18:38] I'm being told that we weren't on the lead on that. [01:18:41] We had other people leading that group down the road. [01:18:45] That's fine. [01:18:46] I just feel like they're coming to our city. [01:18:48] At the end of the day, they're going to come to us and ask for money. [01:18:52] They're going to ask for things. [01:18:55] Again, I've been talking about the neighborhoods for five years now and I hope that in some [01:19:03] short order it will happen. [01:19:07] I'm almost done. [01:19:08] I know everybody's like, okay, but Miss Mangione, we get this one time a year and you'll see [01:19:14] all of my comments in my report. [01:19:18] But again, when it comes to communication, agenda information, department heads, reviewing [01:19:25] and pre-meeting communications, improving the communications on immediate, intermediate, [01:19:33] and final goals are the information that is being covered. [01:19:37] Remind council and everyone on what the estimated timeline of events will be and what the proposed [01:19:44] completion date is as it's being discussed. [01:19:51] Then I have a whole list of specific items because everybody says, well, Bill, you need [01:19:54] to be specific in those and I am. [01:19:57] I will share those with Miss Mangione. [01:20:01] We missed that. [01:20:03] We didn't do our job on getting the full collection on the Walden Lake property. [01:20:08] We don't know where we are in the physical plant for the fire department. [01:20:15] I'm concerned that we haven't adequately looked at the Linderick water system service, which [01:20:26] the county is going to bring to us very short order, in conjunction with the way we bought [01:20:31] our last. [01:20:32] We had two hires in the Main Street organization and those didn't work out. [01:20:40] And again, there's a number of other items on here, but the other that came to me, and [01:20:46] it comes again, is the video, the website, and then the cycle of the event last year, [01:20:53] I believe lost some positive momentum that we could have gained with the public in making [01:20:58] key modifications to Grand Boulevard from the bridge to Delaware because that's a two-lane [01:21:03] street now that everybody thinks is a raceway and the chiefs over here are having to dedicate [01:21:10] people to make people slow down when out of that event, I hoped that we had come up with [01:21:15] a way to shorten it down to one large lane on both sides and do something really neat [01:21:21] from the bridge into Delaware with larger sidewalks, golf cart areas that let people [01:21:27] get access to better parts of the city, a whole series of things. [01:21:30] But at the end of the day, you know, Ms. Manns has done an admirable job, but I've described [01:21:38] it as the city is either entering into where we're going to be shifting into fifth gear [01:21:43] or sixth gear, and we need to be better, collectively better. [01:21:49] That starts up here on council and goes all the way through to the employees. [01:21:54] And then I looked at different pay increases that we have within city over the last three [01:21:59] or four years, and I think that this year, I can say it now and I'll probably be back [01:22:05] in September to say it again, I think you need to raise the percentage and the pay for [01:22:17] the city employees and forego yours and the department heads who have done well for the [01:22:25] last three. [01:22:26] But at the end of the day, the only reason that they look so good and you look so good [01:22:32] is they get it done every day. [01:22:35] And if that isn't the mantra that the new council takes moving forward, then unfortunately, [01:22:42] we didn't do a good enough job to make that happen previously, because here's the math [01:22:47] that I use. [01:22:49] If you give a 2% raise increase or two and a half to a department head and to the manager, [01:22:56] that's a substantial increase in their base pay. [01:22:59] A 1.5 to 1.7% increase on a $30,000 or $40,000 a year person really doesn't move the needle. [01:23:10] But if you give 2% to the manager or to a department head, that's $15,000, $18,000, [01:23:16] $2,000. [01:23:17] That does move the needle. [01:23:19] So overall, I have appreciated working with Ms. Manns. [01:23:25] I thought she was the right hire when we have. [01:23:27] I still think she's the right person here. [01:23:30] I am looking for, again, her grades or whatever, if they want to still use this form, to get [01:23:40] up into that superior range again. [01:23:42] And I think that takes real insights into your directors and then down to the employees. [01:23:49] Thank you, Mr. Mayor. [01:23:50] Thank you. [01:23:51] Councilwoman? [01:23:52] Well, I have, as I indicated with the city attorney as well, I've served under several [01:24:01] city managers during the course of my time here on council. [01:24:07] And if we were going to be using, I don't particularly care for when they say outstanding [01:24:14] or superior or excellent or whatever, you know, how do you quantify what makes something [01:24:18] outstanding or superior over good or whatever? [01:24:21] So I don't necessarily, I did not necessarily go with the point system. [01:24:26] But what I was looking at and really thinking on over the last couple of weeks in preparing [01:24:33] for the evaluation is the effectiveness of where we are as a city. [01:24:40] And I think that as a leader, she has been able to gather the strength of her department [01:24:47] heads so that we are, they are all pulling the boat in the right direction, in the same [01:24:53] direction. [01:24:54] I give her kudos for selecting the key people in the different departments that have made [01:25:00] significant changes in the overall attitude of the city. [01:25:06] I can see that she has created a collaborative team building environment for her staff. [01:25:14] This is a different, this is a different staff that I see now than I saw even just a few [01:25:22] years back prior to her, obviously the new faces. [01:25:27] But just the different atmosphere within the staff across the board. [01:25:33] And I think that it says a lot about a leader when they can recognize the accomplishments [01:25:41] of their staff and other agencies who are working on behalf of the city without claiming [01:25:48] it as their own success. [01:25:49] She is very quick to point out the successes of her staff and I have seen consistently [01:25:55] over the last year or two that effort to bring us key people, whether they are police [01:26:03] or fire or staff members. [01:26:05] I appreciate the fact that she has done a consistent job with more frequent kudos to [01:26:12] staff rather than the hackneyed once a year holiday party. [01:26:17] I appreciate and I think that staff appreciates her, the lunches or the breakfasts, giving [01:26:24] them some free reign and coordinating that. [01:26:26] And it just has created, I think, a cohesiveness on the part of staff which ultimately reflects [01:26:32] on their performance. [01:26:37] As far as her relationship with myself, she has maintained a consistent availability to [01:26:42] myself and she has worked to facilitate thoughts and ideas into cohesive policy development. [01:26:48] She has kept me abreast of key plans and activities of the city and the staff through her memoranda [01:26:53] and personal briefings and her weekly reports are much appreciated. [01:26:57] In our age of information overload, she has consistently keeps the information concise [01:27:02] and timely. [01:27:04] She has maintained an honest, truthful and professional relationship with myself as a [01:27:10] council member and I appreciate her positive attitude and approach to new ideas, issues [01:27:15] and complaints. [01:27:17] She responds to correspondence, requests and complaints quickly and appropriately and has [01:27:22] facilitated an open two-way communication that has encouraged mutual honesty and respect. [01:27:28] And I can say that that is a far cry from what I had experienced with previous city [01:27:35] managers. [01:27:38] She devotes her time and energy to the job. [01:27:40] I think, I don't recall seeing a more active city manager that immerses herself or embeds [01:27:50] herself into what's going on in the community. [01:27:53] She attends more, whether they're large or small, simple events or activities. [01:27:59] She encourages that with her staff as well. [01:28:03] And she has demonstrated high ethical standards. [01:28:07] She stays active in professional organization and regional issues. [01:28:11] She's made an effort to understand general community issues and concerns. [01:28:15] Ms. Manns was transplanted here from Northern City. [01:28:19] I don't know that I've ever heard her say, that's not the way we did it there or we used [01:28:25] to do it like this there. [01:28:26] She has completely and fully immersed herself in our community and calls this city hers. [01:28:34] And it's evident by her devotion to the city that she truly loves the city. [01:28:39] And I believe that it transcends her job, but more that it has become, we have become [01:28:45] her family. [01:28:46] She has truly transplanted herself and is continuing to bloom here. [01:28:51] She's made an effort to understand community issues and concerns and she remains involved [01:28:56] and active in the community. [01:28:57] She represents the city well and in a professional and positive manner. [01:29:01] There's not a time where I have attended League of Cities, Suncoast League, Tourist Development [01:29:06] Council or any other of the professional or county organizations that I have not heard [01:29:12] people speak of her highly. [01:29:14] Not necessarily even knowing that I'm part of the city, but I've heard comments and I've [01:29:19] heard and I've been advised at those meetings at times, complimentary remarks about our [01:29:30] city manager. [01:29:32] And she's worked effectively with organizations including the Chamber of Commerce, including [01:29:36] Pasco County, including the school district and other agencies. [01:29:40] Overall, I'd say that her performance has been above average in her position as city [01:29:44] manager. [01:29:45] And one thing that is really very positive for me is in this business of people managing, [01:29:54] managing the crowd up here and managing her staff, managing city residents. [01:30:00] She really has exemplified what I consider to be grace under fire. [01:30:07] She is gracious, and she has a gracious humility about herself. [01:30:10] She is one to admit readily when she's made an error, whether it's in judgment or decision-making. [01:30:19] And that really, truly says a lot, I think, about a leader. [01:30:25] No one believes that Ms. Manns walks on water. [01:30:31] One of the crowning moments in my time up here is having been responsible, not clearly on my own, [01:30:41] but for the hiring of Ms. Manns. [01:30:43] And I do believe, as Mr. Phillips mentioned, that she is the right person for the job, and she has done us proud. [01:30:52] With that said, you know, she is human, as we all are. [01:30:57] Have there been some errors or misjudgments, whether it's character or perceptions or people? [01:31:08] I think what I'd like to see as something just very fresh in my mind, [01:31:15] you know, the situation with the parklet issue that just came up, it's a shame that it panned out the way that it did. [01:31:21] I think that it's recoverable, and I think that we can make good strides with it. [01:31:25] But one of the things that I think it does point at, and I hope that we can correct this, [01:31:33] I think that we sometimes forget that the implementation of the permitting process [01:31:43] or the development department or whatever, that sometimes we forget that what we know, [01:31:47] and I'm not saying we, but we as a city know the process or procedures that need to happen. [01:31:53] I think we really, truly need to make a one sheet, whether it's a cover letter or whatever, [01:32:00] and I apologize that I haven't looked into what it is that we do pass out to people, [01:32:05] but I think we really clearly need to have just, you know, a walking through, [01:32:12] so that people do not leave here thinking that, you know, applying for something [01:32:17] and writing a check for it means that it's done. [01:32:21] That is something that we have struggled with with the city from as far back as I can recall, [01:32:27] going all the way back to the early 2000s when we collectively created a, I think we called it the street talk, [01:32:36] where we brought in the city business owners, the landlords, the tenants, [01:32:42] gathered everybody together to collectively hear their input on how we could improve things, [01:32:48] and one of the things that we heard consistently was the, I'm not quite sure what word to use, [01:32:57] because I think that part of it is an ignorance on people's part, generally speaking, [01:33:02] because they just don't understand what needs to happen when you're working with the city in terms of the permitting process, [01:33:08] and I know that we did create a brochure of sorts to help people understand that, [01:33:14] so maybe we just need to revisit that again, because I would clearly like to see something that, [01:33:19] and again, maybe you already do this, but I think that I would like to see something that just spells out, [01:33:26] first you're going to do this, then you're going to do this, then you're going to do this, whatever those things are, [01:33:33] and then when you, whatever X, Y, Z is to create that formula, [01:33:39] because it troubles me when situations like the parklet that came up, [01:33:46] that the light is shown, it shines on some ineptitude on the part of the city, [01:33:52] when that clearly I do not believe is the reality, but I don't like hearing, [01:33:57] because people say, you know, you say something long enough or as many times, and then it becomes so, [01:34:03] and I just don't think that that is, I think that the city staff has made a clear effort, [01:34:08] and a Herculean effort to help people understand the inner workings of how things happen, [01:34:15] so if there is going to be a critique or criticism that somehow plays into the performance of the city manager, [01:34:23] I just would really like to see that piece happen, because that, as I said, is something that is too long gone on. [01:34:34] But again, I think that we have seen tremendous, a tremendous increase in the level of cooperation with our, [01:34:48] between residents and staff, and I think that leadership in the city under Ms. Manns is, [01:34:57] we are working in a very positive direction, I'm pleased to see that we're moving in that direction, [01:35:02] do we need improvements, we, you know, everyone can use improvements, [01:35:07] but I do think that overall Ms. Manns is the right person for the position, [01:35:14] and it's been my pleasure working with her, and I said, again, as I say, I appreciate her humility. [01:35:25] She has always created an atmosphere of, you know, that open door, and that's something that I do definitely appreciate, [01:35:38] so that concludes my performance appraisal, and I too will pass on to you the script that I wrote, [01:35:50] the information, as well as the performance that you gave me. Thank you. [01:35:59] Thank you. I had the pleasure of filling this out, and like Councilman Davis, [01:36:07] the place that I marked lowest was on the planning organization. [01:36:14] The first item was Meade's deadlines, and the 2016 audit was charitably way late. [01:36:25] Hopefully the 2017 will be much closer to on time, [01:36:29] and that I would put down as probably a key thing to bird dog over the course of the next few months, [01:36:39] to get that done on a timely basis. Ms. Manns is very popular with the staff and the public, professional development. [01:36:47] She's been in leadership PASCO this year, and that takes a significant dedication of personal time, [01:36:53] because that's weekends and time that otherwise she might be able to spend with her family. [01:37:02] Councilman DeBella-Thomas sort of alluded to it, but Ms. Manns has an extraordinarily difficult job dealing with five of us, [01:37:13] and I would categorize that as somewhat akin to herding cats, [01:37:19] and if any of you recall the Super Bowl ad from a few years back, you'll understand what I'm talking about, [01:37:29] because the five of us all come from very different backgrounds. [01:37:32] We have different opinions on any number of things, different personalities, [01:37:37] and she's done a fairly good job of managing to keep all of us mostly happy, so I commend her on that. [01:37:46] I told my wife that I was working on the performance appraisal for the city manager, [01:37:54] and that was going to come up tonight, and her comment was, [01:37:58] this is the best city manager we've ever had, and I can't speak forever, [01:38:03] but I can speak for the time that I have served on city council, and I would have to agree with her. [01:38:09] I think Ms. Manns is absolutely the best one since the mid-2000s, so very happy that we've got her. [01:38:21] And with that, it would probably be appropriate if somebody would like to make a motion regarding salary, [01:38:30] or we can defer that to another meeting after you've had a chance to digest what everybody has said. [01:38:35] I'll go along with that idea. [01:38:37] Yeah, I might as well. [01:38:38] Okay, we will defer then.

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16. 8.h

    Three Minute Report: Development Department

    Development Department director Lisa presented a three-minute update covering building permits (890 issued since October, $29.8M in value), slum/blight and condemnation cases, joint code enforcement operations (Operation Clean Sheets on US-19 hotels and Operation Clean Streets at mobile home parks), planning division activity including 36 DRC cases and the Rivergate Phase 1 site plan featuring Aldi at Main and US-19, annexation consulting, downtown parking study, wayfinding signage, and a new quarterly city beautification award first given to the Barbaro family on Shane Lane.

    📍Shane Lane📍US-19📍corner of Main and 19🏢Aldi🏢Tyler Technology👤Barbaro👤Lisa#City Beautification Award#DRC (Development Review Committee)#Downtown Parking Study#Land Development Review Board#Operation Clean Sheets#Operation Clean Streets#Rivergate Phase 1#Wayfinding Signage Program

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    [01:38:44] The next item is the three-minute report from the Development Department. [01:38:50] Thank you. [01:38:51] Good evening. [01:38:53] I'm going to spend 180 seconds giving you an update of what I've been doing since the last time we've talked. [01:39:01] A lot of the time we spend in my department is researching customer inquiries. [01:39:06] We get questions like, how did something get approved? [01:39:09] What's the history on the property? [01:39:11] We have to make interpretations on some of the grayer areas of what the code standards are. [01:39:18] We have all been working in my department on making sure that the Tyler Technology folks have their updated information [01:39:24] from us so they can move that project along. [01:39:29] You don't expect us to read that last page. [01:39:31] No, we don't. [01:39:32] Okay, thank you. [01:39:33] We don't expect you to. [01:39:34] No, there's no test at the end either. [01:39:36] The two volunteer receptionists that we have at the front counter in the lobby have been busy with the walk-in customers [01:39:43] and the phone calls. [01:39:47] In terms of the building division side, since October we've had over 950 permits that were submitted and reviewed, [01:39:54] and this chart shows the types of permits that have been issued. [01:39:59] There have been 890 permits issued. [01:40:02] The majority of those, which is in that large orange piece of the pie, [01:40:06] are for miscellaneous items like paving and tree permits and right-of-way permits. [01:40:11] Those permits have resulted in over 2,000 inspections, and the permit application value is over $29.8 million. [01:40:22] The building division also is responsible for the slum and blight and condemnation activity, [01:40:27] and sometimes council sees those, but sometimes you don't. [01:40:31] We have processed eight slum and blight cases and three condemnation cases. [01:40:37] The building division also works closely with the code staff. [01:40:41] We worked on two different specific operations, Operation Clean Sheets, which was an enforcement of hotels on US-19, [01:40:51] as well as Operation Clean Streets, which was an enforcement at mobile home parks. [01:40:57] They often work together to testify at the magistrate meetings in court. [01:41:01] We do have biweekly meetings with the code staff to go over code interpretations and enforcement issues, [01:41:08] and we consult with the city attorney on regular matters. [01:41:13] From the planning division, we're busy reviewing the permits for compliance with zoning. [01:41:19] We had 36 cases that were reviewed by the DRC this past six months, [01:41:24] and 10 cases were processed through the Land Development Review Board. [01:41:29] This shows the site plan for Rivergate Phase 1, which is at the corner of Main and 19, [01:41:36] and this is going to feature Aldi as a tenant. [01:41:40] We also have been working with the annexation consultant, [01:41:44] and we're going to be talking about that next Tuesday at the 5 o'clock work session. [01:41:49] We've been working with the consultant that's prepared the initial phase of the downtown parking study. [01:41:55] We're working with that consultant on short- and long-term strategies for the implementation of that project. [01:42:03] We worked on the wayfinding signage program. [01:42:06] This is the one, as you've probably been there, you've seen what we had installed at the rec center, [01:42:11] and it's going forward for the other facilities. [01:42:16] We also worked on some bike racks. [01:42:19] We kind of come up with some concepts in planning, and then we send it off to the vendor, [01:42:22] and they come up with what will be hopefully some additional bike racks around city facilities. [01:42:29] We also created in the grant division, we created a city beautification award, [01:42:36] which will be awarded on a quarterly basis to residential property owners, [01:42:40] which go above and beyond city standards. [01:42:44] We're going to include an article about this in the next city newsletter. [01:42:48] This shows a property owned by the Barbaros, who live on Shane Lane in the city. [01:42:54] They created an outstanding landscaping of their property. [01:43:00] They also had changed the roof and the shutters and the windows on their property through the use of some grants, [01:43:07] and they did earn the first beautification award. [01:43:11] Those are my 180 seconds. [01:43:14] Any questions for Lisa? [01:43:18] Thank you very much.

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17. 9Communications▶ 1:43:20
18. 10Adjournment▶ 2:10:48