Council advanced an 89-room Comfort Inn and Suites at 6218 US Highway 19 on first reading, alongside police pension changes tied to DROP participation.
22 items on the agenda · 7 decisions recorded
On the agenda
- 1Call to Order – Roll Call▶ 0:00
- 2
Pledge of Allegiance
The Pledge of Allegiance was conducted, followed by a moment of silence honoring servicemen and women.
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[00:00:12] We do have a quorum. [00:00:13] I would ask everybody to please stand, join me in the Pledge of Allegiance, and [00:00:16] remain standing for a moment of silence in honor of our servicemen and women at home and abroad.
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Moment of Silence
The meeting opened with the Pledge of Allegiance and a moment of silence.
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[00:00:22] I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America, and to the Republic for [00:00:28] which it stands, one nation, under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all. [00:00:39] Thank you. [00:00:39] You may be seated.
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Approval of October 12, 2021 Special Meeting and October 19, 2021 Regular Meeting Minutes
approvedCouncil approved the minutes from the October 12, 2021 special meeting and the October 19, 2021 regular meeting on a voice vote with no discussion.
- motion:Approve the October 12, 2021 special meeting and October 19, 2021 regular meeting minutes. (passed)
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[00:00:43] Next item is the approval of the October 12th special meeting and October 19th regular [00:00:48] meeting minutes. [00:00:50] We have a motion and a second. [00:00:52] Any discussion? [00:00:53] Hearing none, all those in favor, please signify by saying aye. [00:00:56] Aye. [00:00:57] Opposed, like sign. [00:00:59] Motion passes. [00:01:00] Ms. Manz, recognition of some folks from the fire department?
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Recognition of Newly Promoted Fire Department Captains
The Fire Chief recognized three newly promoted Fire Department captains—Micah Short, Evan DeVore, and Eric Slafke—who were sworn in on October 11th after completing a comprehensive promotional process. The promotions were enabled by the union contract ratified in March that created three additional captain positions.
Eric SlafkeEvan DeVoreMicah ShortMs. ManzCompany Officer Assessment ProcessFire Department union contract (ratified March)NFPA standards▶ Jump to 1:02 in the videoShow transcriptHide transcript
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[00:01:05] Yes. [00:01:06] It's a very proud moment for us. [00:01:09] We have three fine men that we are acknowledging tonight for their advancement to the position of captain. [00:01:23] They competed and excelled. [00:01:27] I'm not going to steal the thunder because I know the fire chief has much to say about [00:01:31] the three of them, so I will ask him to come up front and introduce our three new captains. [00:01:42] Thank you, Ms. Manz and Mayor and Council for the opportunity to introduce and recognize [00:01:47] our three new captains. [00:01:49] This is a rare opportunity for our department to have three captains being promoted at the [00:01:53] same time. [00:01:55] This is due to the latest union contract that was ratified in March allowing for three additional [00:02:01] captains positions. [00:02:03] The captains were sworn in on October 11th, as you will see on the screen, due to the [00:02:10] fact that we had a need to get their boots on the ground right away and in their capacities [00:02:16] as captains. [00:02:18] The three new captains adds a level of accountability and safety to our department in compliance [00:02:26] with NFPA standards, which requires a company officer on every fire apparatus. [00:02:31] Captains play a vital role in the fire service, and especially our department being so small. [00:02:38] Captains are responsible for supervising their crews, apparatus, training of new personnel, [00:02:45] and they are the first link in the chain of command. [00:02:48] Fire officer makes critical split second life and death decisions that impact the outcome [00:02:55] of the incident as well as initiates the next steps in the incident command system. [00:02:59] They're the first officer on the scene and they're required to make those decisions in [00:03:05] a split second. [00:03:08] Also on our department, once they complete their initial training and probationary period, [00:03:16] they will be required to ride up as district chief when there's district chiefs out on [00:03:20] vacation vacancies and what have you. [00:03:25] It was very important for me as chief and city manager to put together a comprehensive [00:03:32] promotional process so we could get the right people in those seats to make those tough [00:03:36] decisions. [00:03:38] We put together an internal company officer assessment process that was comprised of a [00:03:47] written test that was graded by an outside company, tactical scenarios and critical thinking [00:03:55] exercises that were graded by outside chiefs, as well as an interview and a review of their [00:04:01] personnel files. [00:04:02] So after all completion of those processes, the three firefighters behind me successfully [00:04:12] ranked at the top and I'm proud, it makes me proud to stand here and welcome them as [00:04:18] the new captains on the fire department. [00:04:22] I couldn't be more proud of these three for stepping up and pursuing a leadership role [00:04:26] within the department and successfully passing the promotion process. [00:04:29] I'm confident they will serve the department and the city well in their new roles, do their [00:04:35] outstanding performance and leadership qualities that they've shown thus far in their careers. [00:04:42] So without further ado, I'd like to welcome their three wives up here and the firefighters [00:04:49] so they're going to pin on their new badges. [00:04:55] And as they come forward, I'd like to introduce them. [00:04:58] So first we have Micah Short. [00:05:00] He's been with the department since 2013. [00:05:02] He worked on the C-shift and he's now assigned to the A-shift as a captain. [00:05:07] I'd like to welcome, introduce Evan DeVore. [00:05:12] He's been with the department since 2015. [00:05:15] He worked on the A-shift and he's now assigned to the C-shift as a captain. [00:05:20] And Eric Slafke. [00:05:21] He's been with the department since 2009 and he's worked on the A-shift and now he's assigned [00:05:27] to the B-shift as a captain. [00:05:29] So go ahead and pin badges on. [00:05:32] Try not to draw blood on the white shirts. [00:05:50] I'd also like to thank their families for their support, being here tonight and coming [00:06:10] early and taking family photos and thank you again and that concludes our badge pinning [00:06:18] ceremony. [00:06:19] And thank you to the wives for sharing them with us. [00:06:20] Thank you. [00:06:21] Congratulations.
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Proclamation - National American Indian Heritage Month
approvedMayor Rob Marlowe proclaimed November 2021 as National American Indian Heritage Month in the City of New Port Richey. Mary Betts, representing the Pithila Chaskoti Chapter of the Daughters of the American Revolution, accepted the proclamation and spoke about American Indian contributions to U.S. history, including the Iroquois Confederacy's influence on the Constitution and the WWI/WWII code talkers.
Pithila Chaskoti Chapter of the Daughters of the American RevolutionMary BettsRob MarloweChoctaw Nation code talkersIroquois Confederacy / League of Five NationsNational American Indian Heritage MonthNavajo Nation code talkers▶ Jump to 6:26 in the videoShow transcriptHide transcript
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[00:06:48] I'd like to ask Mary Betts to meet me at the podium. [00:07:38] Where as American Indians have been a special part of the tapestry of our great nation since [00:07:54] its inception and where as American Indians have contributed greatly to help ensure the [00:07:59] freedom, prosperity and greatness of the America that we all know and enjoy today, where as [00:08:05] American Indian customs and traditions are respected and celebrated as part of a rich [00:08:10] legacy throughout the United States and where as the first American Indian day was declared [00:08:16] in May 1916 by the governor of New York, in 1990 President George H.W. Bush approved a [00:08:23] joint resolution which officially designated the month of November as National American [00:08:29] Indian Heritage Month and where as National American Indian Heritage Month is an opportune [00:08:35] time to educate the general public about tribes while raising a general awareness about [00:08:40] the unique challenges Native people have faced both historically and in the present and the [00:08:46] ways in which tribal citizens have worked to conquer these challenges. [00:08:50] Now therefore I, Rob Marlowe, Mayor of the City of New Port Richey, do hereby proclaim [00:08:54] the month of November 2021 as National American Indian Heritage Month in the City of New Port Richey and encourage all residents to celebrate the diverse cultures, traditions and histories [00:09:06] of our Native people and to acknowledge the important contributions made by them. [00:09:12] Thank you. [00:09:13] Thank you. [00:09:14] Thank you. [00:09:15] And if you would, if you would like to say a few words. [00:09:27] On behalf of the Pithila Chaskoti Chapter of the Daughters of the American Revolution, [00:09:33] I would like to thank you Mr. Mayor and the New Port Richey City Council for this proclamation [00:09:39] recognizing November as the National American Indian Heritage Month. [00:09:44] There are 574 federally recognized tribes in the United States. [00:09:51] Our country's history has been greatly influenced by these people and their contributions are [00:09:57] numerous. [00:09:58] When Benjamin Franklin and Thomas Jefferson were deciding how to set up our government [00:10:03] and work in our Constitution, they borrowed ideas from the Iroquois Confederacy or the [00:10:11] League of Five Nations. [00:10:14] They have two separate groups, the Elders and the Youngers, much like our Senate and [00:10:19] our House of Representatives. [00:10:21] The symbol for that group was a group of five arrows bound together to show that there [00:10:27] is strength in unity. [00:10:29] Our U.S. seal has a symbol of the eagle with 13 arrows in its left talons representing [00:10:37] our 13 original colonies and an olive branch on the right side representing peace. [00:10:44] And it's appropriate that we do this in November because it's also the month that we honor [00:10:48] our veterans. [00:10:50] And during World War I, a group of Indians were used as code talkers. [00:10:56] They were the Choctaw Nation. [00:10:59] It expanded in World War II and they were from the Navajo Nation and others. [00:11:06] They started out with 29 individuals. [00:11:09] They worked on their codes. [00:11:11] They helped us in the Pacific and from what I understand, it shortened the war there and [00:11:16] probably saved many lives. [00:11:19] By the way, their code was never broken. [00:11:23] So I am proud to be a part of this night. [00:11:25] I am proud of my home, New Port Richey, for the last 48 years. [00:11:31] And on behalf of the DAR, I thank you. [00:11:35] Thank you. [00:11:36] Thank you. [00:11:37] Thank you. [00:11:38] Thank you. [00:11:39] Thank you.
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Presentation by the Environmental Committee RE: Prohibition of Polystyrene Containers at City Events
Agenda item for a presentation by the Environmental Committee regarding prohibition of polystyrene containers at city events. The available transcript contains no substantive content.
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[00:11:40] Thank you. [00:11:41] Thank you.
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- 8Vox Pop for Items Not Listed on the Agenda or Listed on Consent Agenda▶ 11:42
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Cultural Affairs Committee Meeting Minutes - September 2021
approvedon consentThe Cultural Affairs Committee Meeting Minutes from September 2021 were approved as part of the consent agenda without discussion.
- motion:Motion to approve the consent agenda, including the Cultural Affairs Committee Meeting Minutes from September 2021. (passed)
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[00:15:42] meeting, so we're going to forego that. [00:15:44] December 7th. [00:15:46] December 7th. [00:15:47] Okay. [00:15:48] Two meetings from now. [00:15:50] And next is the consent agenda. [00:15:53] Move for approval. [00:15:54] Second. [00:15:55] Any discussion? [00:15:56] None. [00:15:57] All those in favor, please signify by saying aye. [00:16:01] Aye. [00:16:02] Opposed? [00:16:03] Like sign. [00:16:04] Motion passes.
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Parks and Recreation Advisory Board Minutes - August 2021
approvedon consentThe Parks and Recreation Advisory Board minutes from August 2021 were approved as part of the consent agenda.
- motion:Motion to approve the consent agenda, which included the Parks and Recreation Advisory Board August 2021 minutes. (passed)
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[00:15:42] meeting, so we're going to forego that. [00:15:44] December 7th. [00:15:46] December 7th. [00:15:47] Okay. [00:15:48] Two meetings from now. [00:15:50] And next is the consent agenda. [00:15:53] Move for approval. [00:15:54] Second. [00:15:55] Any discussion? [00:15:56] None. [00:15:57] All those in favor, please signify by saying aye. [00:16:01] Aye. [00:16:02] Opposed? [00:16:03] Like sign. [00:16:04] Motion passes.
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- 9.c
Purchases/Payments for City Council Approval
approvedon consentThe consent agenda was moved, seconded, and approved unanimously by voice vote with no discussion.
- motion:Motion to approve the consent agenda. (passed)
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[00:15:42] meeting, so we're going to forego that. [00:15:44] December 7th. [00:15:46] December 7th. [00:15:47] Okay. [00:15:48] Two meetings from now. [00:15:50] And next is the consent agenda. [00:15:53] Move for approval. [00:15:54] Second. [00:15:55] Any discussion? [00:15:56] None. [00:15:57] All those in favor, please signify by saying aye. [00:16:01] Aye. [00:16:02] Opposed? [00:16:03] Like sign. [00:16:04] Motion passes.
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You arrived here from a search for “Comfort Inn and Suites” — transcript expanded below
First Reading, Ordinance No. 2021-2245: Conditional Use for 6218 US Highway 19 RE: Hotel
approvedFirst reading of Ordinance 2021-2245 approving a conditional use to construct an 89-room, five-story Comfort Inn and Suites hotel on a 1.29-acre vacant parcel at 6218 US Highway 19, south of Kaiser University and west of the city's parking garage. The Development Review Committee recommended approval, noting consistency with the comp plan and complementarity with adjacent uses; 60 spaces in the city parking structure are dedicated to support the $10 million project. Council moved approval on first reading and the motion passed.
Ord. Ordinance No. 2021-2245
- motion:Move for approval of Ordinance 2021-2245 on first reading, granting conditional use for a hotel at 6218 US Highway 19. (passed)
6218 US Highway 19Comfort Inn and SuitesKaiser UniversityNewport Richey Hotel GroupStonehavenThe Butcher's BlockWade TrimBrad CorneliusEric SimoneMarie FrickMr. MurphyMr. PetersMs. MannPaul SimoneCity parking garage (350 spaces, 60 dedicated to hotel)Highway Commercial Zoning DistrictOrdinance No. 2021-2245US-19 corridor revitalization▶ Jump to 16:05 in the videoShow transcriptHide transcript
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[00:16:05] Next is First Reading Ordinance 2021-2245. [00:16:10] This is Ordinance Number 2021-2245, an ordinance of the City of New Port Richey, Florida, providing [00:16:15] for approval of a conditional use for a hotel in the Highway Commercial Zoning District [00:16:20] for the property located at 6218 U.S. Highway 19, as legally described herein, providing [00:16:25] for any necessary conditions on said use, and providing for an effective date. [00:16:30] Yes, sir. [00:16:32] Mr. Mayor, members of the City Council, we have Mr. Paul Simone in attendance, along [00:16:38] with his son, Eric Simone, to represent this project to you, which is for a conditional [00:16:47] use to establish a hotel in the Highway Commercial Zoning District. [00:16:53] The 1.29-acre parcel of property is located immediately south of Kaiser University and [00:17:01] just west of the City's parking deck, and Mr. Cornelius is prepared to give us a short [00:17:08] PowerPoint presentation. [00:17:10] Thank you, Mr. Cornelius. [00:17:11] Thank you, Ms. Mann. [00:17:13] And I promise this will be very short. [00:17:15] I am Brad Cornelius with Way Trim, serving as your Consulting Planner. [00:17:19] And as the Mayor said, and as the City Manager just presented, you have your first hearing [00:17:24] tonight for the conditional use for the proposed hotel on U.S. 19 at 6218 U.S. 19. [00:17:31] Thank you. [00:17:32] The applicant owner, just for the record, is New Port Richey Hotel Group. [00:17:36] The land use and zoning on this property is Highway Commercial. [00:17:39] Currently, as you all know, the property is currently vacant, and what the request is [00:17:43] is for construction of a hotel with 89 rooms. [00:17:48] There's an aerial of the property, of the site, and you can see outlined in red is the [00:17:52] subject site. [00:17:53] As Ms. Mann says, it's directly south of the new Kaiser University there on U.S. 19, within [00:17:59] what we'll call the complex of the Kaiser University, the City Park and Garage, and [00:18:04] then potentially this hotel. [00:18:08] Why is this before you this evening? [00:18:09] Well, in your Land Development Code, hotels within the Highway Commercial Zoning District [00:18:14] are required to be approved as a conditional use by the City Council, so that's why this [00:18:19] is before you this evening. [00:18:20] It requires your all approval for this to be developed as a hotel. [00:18:25] Within your code, basically, you just need to make three findings for a conditional use. [00:18:29] One is it contributes to the revitalization within the zoning district along U.S. 19. [00:18:34] It's compatible with the character of that zoning district, and third, it's compatible [00:18:38] with the other uses within that zoning district that's there. [00:18:42] Those are the three standards by which you look at this conditional use. [00:18:47] In terms of the characteristics of this use, you have specific requirements within your [00:18:51] code for a hotel. [00:18:53] This does meet all of those requirements. [00:18:55] You have to have at least 25 rooms. [00:18:56] This has 89 rooms, so it exceeds that requirement. [00:19:00] It requires that all the guest rooms have to be accessed from interior hallways. [00:19:04] This also meets that requirement. [00:19:05] All rooms are interior to the hotel. [00:19:08] They have to provide for a covered drop-off area or a formal entryway. [00:19:12] This project does provide for that covered drop-off area at the front of the building, [00:19:16] which you'll see here shortly. [00:19:18] And finally, the height cannot exceed five stories or has 75 feet. [00:19:22] This proposed hotel is five stories, and it's less than 75 feet. [00:19:26] So it does meet all your requirements for a hotel to be approved within this zoning [00:19:30] district. [00:19:33] This is just a real quick site plan. [00:19:34] It's a very straightforward, simple site plan. [00:19:36] They're placing a hotel on the property, providing some on-site parking. [00:19:42] It fits well on there. [00:19:43] The DRC has reviewed this site plan. [00:19:44] It meets all your land development code regulations required for open space and landscaping and [00:19:48] the like. [00:19:49] So it is a very straightforward site plan. [00:19:52] Nothing unique or unusual about it. [00:19:55] This is a rendering of what the building may look like once it's constructed. [00:19:58] And you can see there to the front, the covered entryway there to the front. [00:20:02] And that's what we will expect to see once, if this does get approved. [00:20:07] Next please. [00:20:09] To close this up, the Development Review Committee, we did review this conditional use, and we [00:20:13] did find that this proposed hotel is consistent with your comprehensive plan and your land [00:20:16] development code. [00:20:18] We also believe it complements revitalizations within the US-19 corridor and the gateway [00:20:22] to your downtown. [00:20:23] And finally, we also very strongly believe it complements the adjacent recently constructed [00:20:27] Kaiser University and City parking garage, all coming together as one unified kind of [00:20:31] node there for the city. [00:20:33] So the Development Review Committee does recommend approval of this conditional use. [00:20:37] And with that, I'd be happy to answer any questions. [00:20:42] Questions before we open it up for the public? [00:20:44] Just go back to the picture of it. [00:20:46] Is that the front part of there, the narrow part, is that the west side? [00:20:54] I believe that is. [00:20:55] That's the west side, yes sir. [00:20:59] I just, why I ask the question, and for you people that are going to build it, we've done [00:21:05] a great job at the front look of the parking lot, the west look of the parking lot and [00:21:10] the west look of Kaiser. [00:21:11] I just would like that to reflect that same look. [00:21:14] Yes, and there will be. [00:21:16] There's a lot of focus on that landscaping along that frontage on 19 to maintain that [00:21:20] consistency. [00:21:21] Yeah, even the building too, because usually the side of the building isn't necessarily [00:21:25] the best view of it. [00:21:28] Yes sir. [00:21:29] This isn't a final site plan for the project, and I can attest to the fact that developers [00:21:34] have been very responsive in terms of ensuring that it is a first rate product and it represents [00:21:43] not only the Comfort Inn and Suites, which is the brand that they'll be promoting at [00:21:49] the site, but also themselves as local developers as well. [00:21:54] That's great, that's great. [00:21:56] I mean, people are saying what that building behind Kaiser University, when I tell them [00:22:00] it's a parking lot, it really doesn't look like a parking lot, so it's a compliment and [00:22:05] I just want that to continue. [00:22:06] Yes sir. [00:22:07] I'd like to additionally add that 60 of the spaces in the city's parking structure are [00:22:11] dedicated for use to support this project, this $10 million project as well. [00:22:19] My question, how many on-site spaces on the hotel property there? [00:22:24] Let me, and I apologize, I don't have it off the top of my head. [00:22:28] I believe there's in the neighborhood of about 40-some on-site on the property itself, and [00:22:34] then the balance that's required would then be in the parking garage, so together there's [00:22:38] sufficient parking. [00:22:39] So without the parking garage, this project couldn't happen. [00:22:43] It definitely benefits and supports it to occur, yes sir. [00:22:49] At this point, we will open this up for public comment. [00:22:54] Seeing one person coming forward, if you could identify yourself, name and address for the [00:23:02] record please. [00:23:03] Hello, Eric Simone. [00:23:04] Hi, I'm Paul Simone. [00:23:10] The address on record is 6218 US Highway 19. [00:23:17] We're very excited to be here, and we love the city of New Port Richey. [00:23:23] I can't express how excited we are, father-son project, family operated for 25-plus years, [00:23:30] and this will be my first hotel from start to finish with my father, so I'm excited. [00:23:34] Who's in charge? [00:23:35] Just kidding. [00:23:36] Yeah. [00:23:37] Any comments or questions you want to make? [00:23:43] Any questions about the hotels, they'll be block and plank, been building for 35 years, [00:23:50] so we take pride in when we build new construction, so it's a nice fit for this area, and when [00:24:01] we're done with this, we'll rip the banks in and out and add some more to New Port Richey. [00:24:07] More surprises to come. [00:24:08] Looking forward to the grand opening. [00:24:13] Anybody else? [00:24:16] Come on down if you... [00:24:17] Yeah, Eric. [00:24:18] Thank you, gentlemen. [00:24:19] Marie Frick from the Butcher's Block. [00:24:33] How many spots does the parking garage have? [00:24:36] 350 parking spaces. [00:24:37] So we're okay by them using some of the spots and then being able to park? [00:24:41] Yes, we have ample parking. [00:24:43] Thank you. [00:24:46] Anyone else? [00:24:52] Seeing no one else come forward, I'm going to close public comment and bring it back [00:24:55] to council. [00:24:56] Move for approval. [00:24:57] Second. [00:24:58] To the maker. [00:24:59] Yes, just a couple of things to the comments that were made, particularly to the parking [00:25:05] and the need of the parking garage for the space, and just to recap the deal that the [00:25:13] city manager made, the property that the city's parking lot is on would have been the space [00:25:21] for the parking for the hotel, but they transferred the parcel back to the city in order for us [00:25:31] to be able to build the garage to provide additional public spaces more than would [00:25:37] have been required. [00:25:38] So this density is such a critical factor. [00:25:42] We just came back from a conference, a number of people over and over reporting that to [00:25:47] keep our shops with business and to have a vital downtown, we need folks that will scramble [00:25:56] out close by to be able to use the facilities. [00:26:02] In fact, there are some of the things that we just saw last week that a grocery store, [00:26:09] for example, in a more dense community with apartments or whatever else may come on the [00:26:17] property the city owns adjacent to that in the future, that the grocery stores and the [00:26:25] retail found that the number of parking spaces that were required were less because so many [00:26:31] of the customers lived right on site. [00:26:33] I think we're not Tampa by any means, but there's a Publix in Tampa down near Ybor there [00:26:42] that has no parking spaces that I can see, but there are an awful lot of those loft apartments [00:26:48] around. [00:26:49] So part of the strategy of downtown and to speak to the number of people here that are [00:26:55] in retail, that have invested in their businesses, is to have folks like a hotel, residence, [00:27:04] university, but also more people living close to downtown is what it takes to make all this [00:27:10] work. [00:27:12] I think it's a great first step and it's a chance for us to get a little more packed [00:27:16] in with that parking garage and still accommodate those things. [00:27:19] So I think it's a great project. [00:27:20] Do you have a second? [00:27:22] No, nothing. [00:27:23] I think we've addressed it. [00:27:24] Mr. Peters? [00:27:25] No, sir. [00:27:26] It's going to be a nice project. [00:27:27] Very good. [00:27:28] Mr. Murphy? [00:27:29] I'm looking forward to seeing the final design when it comes out, and it's going to be another [00:27:32] great addition to New Port Richey for sure. [00:27:34] I've certainly been excited to see dump truck loads of dirt showing up on the parcels, so [00:27:38] I know you guys are ready to get moving on it. [00:27:43] It is exciting. [00:27:46] That whole revitalization area, I think it's going to help everybody, including our retailers [00:27:52] that are right down there at Stonehaven, and also between Stonehaven and Kaiser. [00:27:59] If there's no further discussion, all those in favor, please signify by saying aye. [00:28:04] Aye. [00:28:05] Opposed? [00:28:06] Like sign. [00:28:07] Motion passes.
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- 10.b
First Reading, Ordinance No. 2021-2246: Amendments to Police Pension Ordinance
approvedCouncil approved on first reading Ordinance 2021-2246, amending the Police Officers' Retirement System to update the definition of retirement (commencing at DROP entry), allow DROP participants to serve as trustees but not vote for elected trustees, and update the required minimum distribution age from 70½ to 72 to comply with IRS changes. The actuary determined no cost impact.
Ord. Ordinance No. 2021-2246
- motion:Motion to approve Ordinance 2021-2246 on first reading. (passed)
AltmanMs. MannsMurphyArticle 4 of Chapter 17, Code of OrdinancesDROP programOrdinance 2021-2246Police Officers' Retirement SystemSection 17-51Section 17-53Section 17-56Section 17-57Section 17-60Section 17-65.1▶ Jump to 28:09 in the videoShow transcriptHide transcript
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[00:28:09] Next is the first reading, Ordinance 2021-2246. [00:28:14] This is Ordinance Number 2021-2246, an Ordinance of the City of New Port Richey, Florida, [00:28:19] providing for amendment of Article 4 of Chapter 17 of the Code of Ordinances of the City of [00:28:22] New Port Richey, pertaining to the Police Officer's Retirement System, providing for [00:28:26] amendment of Subsection A of Section 17-51, Definitions to Amend the Definition of Retirement. [00:28:34] of Section 17-53, pertaining to the Board of Trustees. [00:28:38] Providing for amendment of Subsection H of Section 17-56, pertaining to the required [00:28:43] distribution date. [00:28:45] Providing for Amendment of Subsection C of Section 17-57, Pre-retirement death, pertaining [00:28:50] to required distribution date. [00:28:52] Providing for amendment of Subsection E of Section 1760, Optional Forms of Benefits, [00:28:58] pertaining to the required distribution date. [00:29:01] Providing for amendment of Subsection B of Section 17-65.1, Minimum Distribution of Benefits, [00:29:07] pertaining to the required distribution date. [00:29:09] Providing for codification, providing for severability of provisions, repealing all [00:29:12] ordinances in conflict herewith, and providing for an effective date. [00:29:15] Thank you. [00:29:16] Ms. Manns? [00:29:17] The purpose of this ordinance relates to the New Port Richey Police Officers Retirement [00:29:24] System, and in respect to the three sections of the ordinance, the Board of Trustees actuary [00:29:34] performed an analysis to determine that there is no cost under the state minimum funding [00:29:44] requirements associated with any of the changes that are being proposed. [00:29:49] The specific changes relate, as indicated by the city attorney, to the definition section, [00:29:56] first of all. [00:30:00] change related to that section is a change to reflect that retirement commences at the [00:30:07] time of entering the drop program. In regard to the second change, it is a change in respect [00:30:19] to the Board of Trustees, and the Board of Trustees is being amended to reflect that [00:30:26] a drop participant can actually be elected to serve as a member of the trustees on the [00:30:33] board but may not vote for an elected trustee as a drop participant. The third section relates [00:30:43] to benefit amounts and eligibility, pre-retirement death, optional forms of benefits, and minimum [00:30:51] distribution of benefits. And all of those sections are being amended to provide for [00:31:00] a recent change in the Internal Revenue Code that changes the required distribution age [00:31:07] from 70 and a half to the age of 72. And with that, we are recommending that you adopt the [00:31:14] ordinance or consider approving the ordinance at first reading, and we'll bring it back to [00:31:19] you for a second reading. Thank you. Open it up for public comment. Seeing no one come forward, [00:31:25] bring it back to council. I move we approve. Second. To the maker. So it's just modernized [00:31:31] and getting into compliance without a cost, so we need to move on. Deputy Mayor, I believe you were [00:31:37] the first, second. I agree, nothing more. Mr. Murphy? Nothing. Mr. Altman? No, sir. In that [00:31:45] case, all those in favor, please signify by saying aye. Aye. Opposed, like sign. Motion passes. Now we're
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- 11.a
Recommendation of In-Kind Support for Special Events
discussedCity Manager presented annual recommendations for in-kind support of special events totaling roughly $60,000: Chasco Fiesta ($37,000), Kia Fest ($6,500), Cody River Bike Fest ($5,500), and Holiday Street Parade ($11,000). Multiple speakers from the Chamber of Commerce, Bike Fest organizers, and downtown businesses urged council to increase funding, particularly for the Bike Fest and Holiday Parade. Discussion was extensive but the transcript ends before a final vote is recorded.
5760 Main Street6324 Grand BoulevardBurns CenterButcher's BachChamber of CommerceChasco FiestaChildren's Burn Foundation of FloridaCody River Bike FestFire 9, Station 43 of Pasco CountyHoliday Street ParadeKia FestMain Street OrganizationRotary Club of HolidayThe KangarooBrian KoderbringCarl MalloryJohn GillisMarie FrickMayor McPhersonThomas CarpagnoneTim FussellTina FarrellAmerican Rescue ActFY 2021-22 in-kind special event fundingY2K Millennial Party▶ Jump to 31:51 in the videoShow transcriptHide transcript
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[00:31:51] going to go into the business items. I will let you know that 11D has been pulled. I was advised [00:31:59] by the city manager that that needs to actually be discussed at a CRA meeting, so it will be [00:32:05] scheduled accordingly. Yes, sir. Mr. Mayor, I plan to bring that before you on November 16th. Very good. [00:32:12] So the next item is the recommendation for in-kind support for special events. [00:32:18] Yes, sir. This item is an annual item at which time I ask you to consider [00:32:25] an appropriation of funds to support our recognized annual [00:32:32] special events, which are hosted by our local not-for-profit organizations. Letters were sent [00:32:40] out early this year to ask our local not-for-profits what type of events were going to occur, [00:32:53] and we typically like to discuss these items concurrent with our budget cycle, [00:33:00] and unfortunately, we weren't able to do so as a result of the fact that a good number of the [00:33:07] organizers did not complete their packet submissions to us in a timely fashion. In [00:33:17] fact, some of them are still due to submit some of the required documentation to us at this time. [00:33:26] That being said, we did establish an appropriation in the amount of $60,000 to support [00:33:34] our in-kind support of our local events, and this year, the Main Street Organization [00:33:52] indicated to us that they would not be hosting any large-scale events. [00:33:57] We have KIA Fest, which has really become a one-day event, and through the generosity of [00:34:10] the owner of the establishment, Mr. John Gillis, he has assumed all of the costs associated with [00:34:18] the event. It has become a one-day event, and the city handles some of the [00:34:27] costs of city staff associated with the event, leaving really only three events [00:34:35] left to consider, the first being Chasco Fiesta, and I'm not certain if we have a representative [00:34:43] from Chasco Fiesta in attendance this evening or not, but they did submit a complete application [00:34:51] to us, which will be helpful to you in determining the true public benefit of the event. [00:35:00] I try to give you the best of information from their income and expense information so that you [00:35:07] can see the economic and charitable and entertainment expenses associated with the event. [00:35:16] We also have Cody River Bike Fest, and I do see in the very back of the room, Tina Farrell [00:35:24] is in attendance, and we have the Holiday Street Parade, which has become very popular [00:35:32] in terms of community support, and those are the four events that I have recommended be funded [00:35:42] for the 2021-22 fiscal year. I put together a matrix based on variables [00:35:55] and of community support, economic impact to the business community, reflection on the image to the [00:36:03] city, and charitable benefit to our residents. You may have different variables that you would [00:36:11] like to have reflected, but my recommendation is to fund Chasco Fiesta in the amount of $37,000 [00:36:21] to fund Kia Fest in the amount of $6,500 to fund the Cody River Bike Fest in the amount of $5,500 [00:36:36] and to fund Holiday Street Parade in the amount of $11,000. You'll recall that none of the events [00:36:47] occurred during the 21 year as a result of COVID. I did give you a historical matrix, [00:36:59] though, indicating what the funding amounts were for previous years up to 2020 and what their [00:37:09] 2022 funding request was, and I'm prepared to respond to any questions that you may have of me. [00:37:15] Thank you. I'll open up for public comment. [00:37:30] Good evening, Council and City Manager. If you look on page 143 of the packet, that is our [00:37:37] application for basically a P&L for this event. The Holiday Parade has been put on for many, [00:37:42] many years by the Chamber of Commerce and, people forget, the Rotary Club of Holiday. There [00:37:48] is no better Rotary Club in the state that can put on a parade like the Rotary Club of Holiday, [00:37:52] and they never get enough credit for that. Because this obviously showed up as just the [00:37:57] chamber, but it's not. It's also the Rotary Club of Holiday that's stepping before you. [00:38:02] Between the two organizations in the city, we've been able to put this on for many, [00:38:06] many years. The problem is, it's a loser. It loses money. The chamber and the Rotary Club [00:38:14] can't afford to subsidize it, so we're in a battle where we love doing this, but at some point, [00:38:23] when it comes to pulling money out of your pocket, you can't do it. If you look at the [00:38:27] estimate that is listed here, you'll notice under expenses, there's nothing for labor, [00:38:32] yet both organizations put in hundreds of hours of labor that should show up as an [00:38:37] $8,000, $9,000 charge, just like the city services that would show up. [00:38:43] We don't mind that. It's a community event, a very important event, but we just are not in [00:38:48] positions to lose money for the event. The city has been very gracious to make sure the last [00:38:54] two to three years we've been in that situation. Right now, if you looked at the original P&L, [00:39:00] we basically were going to make $100, well, a couple hundred dollars. The problem with that is, [00:39:05] there's been some new requirements. For instance, we're now being requested to put dumpsters out. [00:39:09] We've never done that before. That's additional cost that's not on here. We have a barricade [00:39:14] situation. This is the first parade in the county since the county split the barricades up. Zephyr [00:39:20] Hills has some. Dade City has some. Thank goodness we have the most over here, but not enough for [00:39:26] our parades. We have two-mile-long parades. We need a lot of barricades. We have to have the [00:39:31] barricades. It's safety. The problem is, the city is working with us, but they can't get all of the [00:39:38] barricades over here in a timely manner. I don't have a truck with a hitch that I can haul, and [00:39:44] you wouldn't want me to haul a trailer anyway, so we may now have to spend money to pay somebody to [00:39:48] go pick up the barricades and take them back. That's a cost that's not even in this P&L. [00:39:55] If you look at it, I can give you some good news. The reason why I think we haven't been [00:40:00] able to make profit is we have a $5,000 title sponsor. We haven't had a title sponsor in so [00:40:05] long. I can't even tell you when it was, but five, six, seven years ago. If we have that, [00:40:10] we would be okay. The good news is we projected $4,000 in sponsors, and we're at six right now, [00:40:18] positive. We also projected $3,500 in floats, and we're at $1,350. I do think the $1,350 will go up, [00:40:25] don't get me wrong. The problem is when I take the $14,000 that was budgeted here for the in-kind [00:40:31] and move it to $11,000, I now lose $4,360 if we held the parade today. If I go to my board of [00:40:38] directors and tell them it's going to cost us $4,360 to put a parade on, I don't know what the [00:40:45] answer is. I don't have a vote. I believe the parade is incredibly important to this community. [00:40:51] I believe it's more important this year than ever. We haven't had one in a while. I think you're [00:40:57] going to bring in 20,000 people. That parking garage will be full, I guarantee you, and the [00:41:02] businesses in downtown will be full. I'm asking you to go ahead and leave it at the $14,000 [00:41:10] instead of the recommended $11,000, but I will make this promise. If we profit $1,850, I'll write a [00:41:17] check to the city. If we profit $2,900, I'll write a check to the city. If we profit $3,100, I'll [00:41:23] write a $3,000 check to the city, and Rotary and I will split $50 or $100 each. We are not [00:41:31] stopping. We're still trying to get entries. We're still trying to get sponsors. It may be okay, [00:41:36] but I just ask you to work with us. This is too important for the community [00:41:40] to put us in this situation, so I just request that you keep it at $14,000, and I assure you [00:41:47] if the numbers turn better, I'll get that $3,000 back to you. I promise. Thank you very much. Any [00:41:52] questions? Mr. Mayor, just a note, if you'll allow me. We are recommending $5,000 over what we [00:42:03] recommended in 2020 for the event, and we're still waiting for an audited financial statement [00:42:11] from the chamber from 2019 to document their expenses. [00:42:20] Mr. Mayor, you had a question? Is this a Friday night, all day Saturday, [00:42:25] or is this just all day Saturday? Well, Friday is set up, so there's things going on Saturday, [00:42:30] but it's really an all day Saturday. Yeah, it's a one day event. Other than Chasco, [00:42:37] that brings in $40,000 or $50,000. Estimates, I never have liked that, but I know there's 10,000 [00:42:43] to 15,000 people easily there. I just couldn't remember. It's been a couple of years. There's [00:42:49] a lot of work going on the two days before. Public works, without them, we couldn't get this done. [00:42:54] I can just tell you that right now. They're working Friday. They're working Saturday. They're [00:42:58] going to Dade City. Dade City's parade is the night before, and we have to pick up those [00:43:03] barricades the next morning, and they've been able to help us out with that. It's getting [00:43:07] complicated. It was really easy in the old days. You sent out one request, and you had all the [00:43:10] barricades, but it's gotten to the point that it's just, again, if we could ever find a title [00:43:17] sponsor, we'd be okay, but we haven't. Putting the burden on two non-profits, who's already giving [00:43:25] thousands of dollars of non-reimbursable expenses on this, to put the burden on us to potentially [00:43:31] lose $3,000, $4,000 is a pill that I don't think I can swallow. I don't know. That's the only [00:43:37] reason why I ask, but I will give you the guarantee. I'll give it back if we turn the positive thing. [00:43:41] We do turn in a P&L every year of the event, so we'll do it again. Thank you for your consideration. [00:43:47] Thank you. One other question. We're looking for some kind of profit-loss statement from 19 and 20 [00:43:57] then? We didn't have an event in 20, so we're looking for the 19 still. Okay. Anyone else? [00:44:05] Yes. How are you? Tim Fussell, 6324 Grand Boulevard. Hey, I just wanted to say that I appreciate [00:44:21] you even considering any of these events. These events are what keeps us alive in the city, [00:44:27] and I think you should look at it as an advertisement for the city, because you get, [00:44:33] we've probably had 40,000 people here at Bike Fest. You just said that he had like 20,000 or [00:44:40] something like that for Kia Fest. My issue is that every bit of the money that comes in for Bike Fest [00:44:47] goes back out as a charitable donation. Currently, there's two non-profits, Burns Center and then [00:44:55] one other, that we are a children's fund, that we donate money to for this Bike Fest. [00:45:00] Currently, from this past year, they're going to make [00:45:03] approximately $30,000 from Bike Fest. [00:45:07] Not a penny goes to anybody else. [00:45:09] Nothing is paid to anybody for doing this event. [00:45:12] It's all charitable. [00:45:14] It's all labor. [00:45:16] It's paid for. [00:45:17] It's free. [00:45:17] We do it on our own. [00:45:19] The businesses donate to it. [00:45:21] I know I donate to it. [00:45:23] And we have a great event. [00:45:25] This event this year saved me. [00:45:28] And we didn't do it last year. [00:45:31] And boy, did it show. [00:45:33] And fortunately, it came along at a time where we were able [00:45:37] to pick up a little bit of money, make some back [00:45:39] payments, and get things paid for that we [00:45:41] couldn't do last year. [00:45:43] So the $5,000 that you're talking about donating to the [00:45:48] Cody River Bike Fest, I really think you [00:45:51] ought to increase that. [00:45:52] Personally, I think you ought to quadruple it. [00:45:54] But I don't think you're going to do that. [00:45:56] But you ought to at least double it. [00:45:59] And you're getting it in return for the [00:46:03] advertisement for the city. [00:46:06] Everybody that comes down sees the city. [00:46:08] There's not one issue that happened during Bike Fest. [00:46:12] As with the other events, there's no law enforcement [00:46:18] really needed. [00:46:20] Well, it's needed. [00:46:20] But that comes about where we have problems at Bike Fest. [00:46:26] Or the Chasco, or any of them, for that matter. [00:46:30] But that's my say. [00:46:31] I just felt like you were a little short there on the [00:46:34] in-kind monies for Bike Fest. And I was hoping you would [00:46:37] reconsider that. [00:46:39] Thank you. [00:46:39] Thank you. [00:46:40] Anyone else? [00:46:43] Seeing no one else come, they are coming. [00:46:46] OK. [00:46:47] Thank you. [00:46:56] Hello. [00:46:57] My name is Thomas Carpagnone. [00:47:00] I belong to Fire 9, Station 43 of Pasco County. [00:47:05] This club is made up of paid, volunteer, and retired [00:47:10] firefighters across the nation. [00:47:12] So I've been on the board since the return of the Bike [00:47:16] Fest in 2014. [00:47:19] We're a not-for-profit. [00:47:21] We split the money with Tina Frills, a charity she splits [00:47:26] it with us. [00:47:27] And since that, up to this year, we've gave $75,000 to [00:47:33] the Children's Burn Foundation of Florida. [00:47:35] That money goes to, it helps the children for a camp that [00:47:42] we put on in November. [00:47:45] And it's a five-day camp. [00:47:47] All these kids are burned in various states, some not so [00:47:52] severe, some very severe. [00:47:55] They all have buddies. [00:47:56] And all the buddies at the camp are all [00:47:58] firefighters and nurses. [00:48:01] This money goes to feeding them, clothing them, and [00:48:05] buying any extras. [00:48:07] And we all go to the event ourselves. [00:48:10] And some of us help out at the event of the burn camp. [00:48:16] Like I said, this money is very important for this event. [00:48:21] And without this money, these kids cannot enjoy this event. [00:48:27] If you ever would like to go and see, it brings tears to [00:48:30] your eyes if you see these kids. [00:48:34] Locally, there's eight or nine clubs, fire and iron clubs, [00:48:37] that all donate to this and help out. [00:48:41] Our club gives, donates the most amount of money. [00:48:45] I'm proud of that. [00:48:46] I work hard at that. [00:48:48] Our club also volunteers all our time with this event. [00:48:53] We put up all the barricades. [00:48:55] We take them down. [00:48:56] We work all the beer trucks. [00:48:58] We help out wherever we can. [00:49:00] And we've been doing this, like I said, since 2014. [00:49:03] So I think, really, you should look at what this event brings [00:49:09] for us, not only for the downtown businesses, but also [00:49:14] for the not-for-profit and what it does for these children. [00:49:18] Thank you. [00:49:19] Thank you. [00:49:29] Good evening. [00:49:31] I'm Brian Koderbring, 5760 Main Street. [00:49:34] Coming up to talk about the Bike Fest and what it does for [00:49:38] us, and for the whole town. [00:49:41] I mean, this is a three-day event that brings people in [00:49:44] that are just like, they never probably come downtown, or [00:49:47] they don't come down often. [00:49:49] And it's just the increase of people that brings a lot of [00:49:53] money for businesses. [00:49:55] And I really think that for a three-day event that is [00:49:58] involved in closing the streets and making it so that [00:50:03] people are walking past the businesses, there's a lot of [00:50:07] stuff going on, like other events that are in the park. [00:50:09] And not everything always trickles [00:50:13] downtown to the businesses. [00:50:15] So for me, this is a really important event, because it [00:50:18] does bring a lot of business. [00:50:19] And I hope that you guys can consider the in-kind to be [00:50:24] increased, because I think it would be very important. [00:50:26] So thank you. [00:50:27] Thank you. [00:50:28] Anyone else? [00:50:29] Marie Frick from the Butcher's Bach. [00:50:46] I really wasn't prepared to say anything, but I will tell [00:50:48] you, being a new business in the city, when we did have the [00:50:52] Bike Fest, that was the busiest that we've been. [00:50:54] And in order for these businesses to survive, and [00:50:57] it's not just about the businesses, because we do [00:51:00] donate, and we have to have these types of events. [00:51:04] The idea is to build the city of New Port Richey, make it [00:51:09] big, get our name out there. [00:51:10] And by doing the events that we do donate, or it does donate [00:51:14] to the charities, that's what will help, I think, everyone. [00:51:18] And I hope you reconsider giving more money to the Bike [00:51:21] Fest and these other events that we have in downtown. [00:51:25] Thank you. [00:51:25] Thank you. [00:51:27] Anyone else? [00:51:36] Hi, guys. [00:51:36] I'm Carl Mallory, the owner of the Kangaroo that we recently [00:51:40] opened last month. [00:51:41] And Bike Fest was one of our first events. [00:51:44] And I've got to say, it was a great event. [00:51:47] It helped us out for a new business. [00:51:49] We had zero problems, zero issues. [00:51:53] It was a great, great weekend for us. [00:51:55] It was great to start our business out with an event [00:51:58] like that. [00:51:59] Everything was very well organized. [00:52:01] It was a great, great weekend with no problems. [00:52:04] So it was definitely for the city, and we [00:52:07] had a great experience. [00:52:09] Welcome to New Port Richey. [00:52:10] Thank you, guys. [00:52:10] I appreciate it. [00:52:12] Anyone else? [00:52:14] Seeing no one else coming forward, we're going to bring [00:52:17] it back to council. [00:52:19] Mr. Mayor, I would love to frame something I've been [00:52:24] asking for four years to discuss without any success, [00:52:27] which is the fact that if you look at the city's original [00:52:31] ordinance when Chasco Fiesta and holiday parades were [00:52:36] regular events, and Chasco's celebrating its 100th year as [00:52:40] a parade, which originally supported the city library. [00:52:46] And that's where that money went. [00:52:50] This whole ordinance that we're under, where you have [00:52:55] your committee that examines all the costs in order to make [00:52:58] sure we collect it, was put into place during hard times [00:53:03] for the city. [00:53:05] Now the city has been fortunate to receive funding [00:53:09] from the American Rescue Act. [00:53:10] It's been made whole for any damages that have occurred to [00:53:14] it during the time, and had additional money [00:53:16] for us to support. [00:53:18] But the businesses that Rescue Act tells us to support are [00:53:24] the businesses that were closed, the bars, the [00:53:26] restaurants, and the impacted businesses that we've had. [00:53:31] In the old days, if it was a civic organization, the city's [00:53:37] law was that crowd control was covered by the city. [00:53:45] And that was on the books, and it didn't matter if it was [00:53:47] just one, or two, or three events. [00:53:49] But I understand the Main Street program, and the need [00:53:54] for us to have smaller events, and wine strolls, and keep [00:53:58] that revenue coming in more steady. [00:54:01] And I think they've focused, as have the city, on those [00:54:04] kind of events. [00:54:06] But to have these events that really are our heritage, that [00:54:13] are being held up by volunteers, whether it's the [00:54:16] chamber, the Rotary Club, the volunteer, all-volunteer [00:54:19] Chasco Fiesta, or this new event here, or the 4th of [00:54:24] July celebration. [00:54:26] I know from doing the Millennial Party, when [00:54:30] everyone thought Y2K was going to come, and we had our big [00:54:33] party in the park, that there's nothing like seeing [00:54:36] the families that otherwise wouldn't enjoy the [00:54:39] entertainment that's put out, or be able to experience the [00:54:43] small-town atmosphere coming from all over. [00:54:46] So to me, I have to agree with the old ordinance that we [00:54:52] should go back to. [00:54:54] And even, I think, Mayor McPherson had admitted, and I [00:54:59] think you may have been around when it happened, Mr. Mayor, [00:55:02] that when the city was in tough times, it determined [00:55:06] that it needed help because of the extra cost incurred by [00:55:10] these events to the city. [00:55:12] Now in the last couple of years, our budget for the [00:55:15] city police department went up several hundred thousand [00:55:18] dollars, and a lot of that was because of late-night bars, [00:55:24] the new crowds we have in the city, the Black Lives Matter, [00:55:30] the Proud Boys, all of those things that occurred that [00:55:33] caused us overtime in the city that we had to eat. [00:55:38] And now we have these events that are [00:55:39] doing something positive. [00:55:41] We have overtime in the budget. [00:55:44] This money is an allocation that we make to decide how [00:55:48] much effort we want to put out as a city. [00:55:52] I think the time for quantifying all those costs [00:55:56] needs to be reexamined. [00:55:57] And I've been asking to look at that old ordinance. [00:56:00] It was changed for a reason that doesn't exist anymore, [00:56:03] and we're still applying it. [00:56:05] That being said, I don't know what to say tonight, except [00:56:09] I happen to be on the Chasco Fiesta Committee. [00:56:13] The old ordinance said if you need security, you can go and [00:56:18] ask for security from the police department. [00:56:21] The new rule is we'll tell you how much security you need, [00:56:25] and we'll set the budget. [00:56:28] And if it's higher than what we agree to give, we send a [00:56:33] bill, and when I was finance director, I was prompted to [00:56:39] collect some of those bills that weren't paid. [00:56:42] Events that rain out, and yet we still have to pay the bills, [00:56:45] and we turn to these, whether it's the Main Street Group or [00:56:50] any event, and say, you still owe us money, it is hurtful to [00:56:56] the folks who dedicate their time and effort [00:56:58] to these good causes. [00:57:00] And I think it doesn't mean we have to throw the baby out [00:57:05] with the bathwater. [00:57:07] We have a lot of events that are in town that are not [00:57:10] these heritage. [00:57:12] Four events a year is all I'm asking for, is to say, let's [00:57:16] keep an event for each season, and let's, as a city, be a [00:57:21] partner in those events. [00:57:23] Maybe we look at their records, still ask for their [00:57:25] financials, review it, and say, hey, you've got to give [00:57:30] us a little bit of this money back, kind of the offer made [00:57:32] by the chamber. [00:57:34] I'd rather ask everybody to keep better records, let us [00:57:38] know next year how it went, what you did, and then kind of [00:57:42] I won't be here then, probably. [00:57:46] But that's what I have to say. [00:57:50] I appreciate all the effort that's going in. [00:57:52] The staff time alone that it takes to have these meetings, [00:57:55] to add up all these costs, is probably more than it's worth [00:58:00] in my mind. [00:58:02] I was here when we went through that difficult time [00:58:05] with Mayor McPherson, and by way of explanation for what we [00:58:13] were dealing with, and not to pick on Chasco, but we did an [00:58:19] analysis of what it was costing us to provide support [00:58:24] for Chasco alone, and it was well into six figures. [00:58:30] This was at the same time that Chasco was not exercising any [00:58:35] budget control whatsoever. [00:58:38] They had a country music concert one year where they [00:58:41] paid the main act something like $45,000, and they got [00:58:47] $13,000 in gate. [00:58:50] That's not sustainable. [00:58:53] Now, mercifully and to the credit of the Chasco Fiesta [00:58:57] folks, they have tightened up their ship enormously over the [00:59:02] years, and they're doing some things to make sure that [00:59:06] they're not facing these massive budget shortfalls. [00:59:13] But just throwing it up and saying we're going to cover [00:59:16] any cost whatsoever, I can't support for any event, Chasco, [00:59:22] the parades, any of them. [00:59:24] I will say that the Holiday Street Parade strikes me as [00:59:29] one that, of all of the events that we have all year round, is [00:59:35] probably the one that you could most notably categorize as [00:59:40] having no visible means of support. [00:59:43] There's just not a whole lot of sponsorship money that [00:59:48] anybody's going to come up for, and I appreciate what the [00:59:53] chamber has done and what the Holiday Rotary Club have done, [00:59:55] because it's tough. [00:59:56] And that's part of the reason that we decided. [01:00:00] Some years ago, to set a limit on what amount the city was going to be willing to pay for [01:00:10] special events, that number is certainly open for discussion. [01:00:17] But I think we need to have some fiscal discipline of our own, and we can't just say that the [01:00:24] events can come in and we will give them an open checkbook to cover whatever expenses [01:00:29] they happen to come up with. [01:00:30] That's not prudent. [01:00:31] It is not a good use of the taxpayers' dollars, and I would absolutely oppose that. [01:00:37] I do think, though, that we need to have a discussion about these. [01:00:43] I'll toss it out. [01:00:45] I understand where these have been historically. [01:00:51] I don't have a problem with the staff recommendation. [01:00:56] If there is somebody that wants to make some adjustments to that, I probably don't have [01:01:01] any problem with that either, because these are all very good events. [01:01:06] I would caution the folks at Chasco, who I know must be watching, and you're on the committee, [01:01:14] you'll relay my comments to them, and also to Bikefest, that historically have used the [01:01:22] Gloria Swanson parking lot. [01:01:25] There is a rather large pink building that's going to be open and operating here within [01:01:29] the next two or three months, and that parking lot is not going to be available, point blank, [01:01:36] will not be available for special events to spread out into. [01:01:43] Clearly, Chasco has done that historically, Bikefest has done that, I'm trying to remember [01:01:48] if we've had any others, but I think some of the others have as well, but we're going [01:01:53] to have to get creative about where we park some of these events, and not directly related [01:02:01] to the funding discussion, but I would like us at some point to discuss the utilization [01:02:09] of the park itself, and how that is set up for these special events, Chasco being the [01:02:18] probably worst offender because of the length of the event, but the park gets just hammered [01:02:24] when we have that event. [01:02:27] There was some of that this year with Bikefest, partly due to the fact that we had sprinklers [01:02:34] running, I think, just before they came in with trucks, and Tina and I actually talked [01:02:37] about that on site, that very quickly turned sod into mud, but that's a discussion for [01:02:46] a different night, and I'll leave it at that, and I'm interested to hear what my colleagues [01:02:50] have to say. [01:02:51] Deputy Mayor? [01:02:52] I'm going to take a different approach to this, I'm going to take the approach for Brian, [01:02:59] Carmen, some of the businesses that aren't here downtown. [01:03:06] I'm going to give you a couple examples. [01:03:08] One is when I owned Jilly's, on Chasco Fiesta, I made a month's business in one day, so that [01:03:17] was the 13th month of the year, so especially with the COVID coming out, to support the [01:03:23] businesses downtown is my number one thought, economic development. [01:03:29] Any kind of event like this that comes along, like somebody brought up that this is a spring, [01:03:34] fall, summer, winter situation with these four events. [01:03:40] Another example is when Joe Carle owned the Carle Reef, he said that if I had a Bikefest [01:03:45] once a month that I wouldn't even open up the rest of the month, so there's an example [01:03:49] of what we're doing, these events are helping our businesses downtown, and Tim, you got [01:03:55] up and spoke too. [01:03:57] Those kind of things that we're supporting the businesses downtown by putting our staff [01:04:04] out there and helping them, we're helping the businesses, not only the non-profits. [01:04:08] So that's the way I want to look at it, and even Lisa got a hold of me afterwards, she [01:04:13] said, a lot of people came and bought stuff at her store, but since they were on a bike, [01:04:18] they couldn't really take it home, so she said she would put it on a layaway kind of [01:04:22] thing for two weeks, get them a chance to come back up, or she would mail it to them. [01:04:27] So we're helping these businesses, and I think that the Bikefest is the one that I think [01:04:33] is the weakest here, Kia's got a major sponsor in the Kia for the 4th of July event, Chasco's [01:04:42] a 9-day event, I haven't studied their numbers that much, but that's a good, healthy start. [01:04:50] The Holiday Rotary, that's really a one-day event. [01:04:53] So when we look at the Bikefest, that's one where I have a real weakness, and I would [01:04:59] really like to see that up around 10 grand, especially for a 3-day event. [01:05:03] And these people that are coming to town are not poor people, they've got a toy that's [01:05:07] worth somewhere between $15,000, $20,000, and $100,000 toy that they ride into town, [01:05:13] and they've got a couple bucks in their pocket. [01:05:15] They're going to help all our businesses down, they're going to eat, they're going to drink, [01:05:19] they're going to hang out in the park, they're going to stick around for the music and the [01:05:23] purveyors that the event gets. [01:05:26] So other than the three, the other three I kind of see were close, but I think the Bikefest [01:05:32] were way off, and I'd like to see around 10 grand. [01:05:36] Mr. Peters? [01:05:38] So we've backed ourselves in a corner, haven't we? [01:05:41] We set a budget for $60,000 for these events, and the staff recommendation comes up to $60,000, [01:05:48] and that doesn't meet any of the applicants' wants or needs. [01:05:52] So I think we as a council have to make a decision on making some budget adjustments [01:05:59] if we so want to move that direction. [01:06:04] The, you know, you look at the applications, and the application for Chasco, maybe it's [01:06:12] because they're experienced for 100 years, right, but really complete and economic, including [01:06:18] the economic impact to the city and the number of people that attend, and of course that's [01:06:22] a long event, right? [01:06:25] And you know, kind of, you get your gut feelings, you know, I've attended these events, I've [01:06:31] seen the people, I've seen the business, and you can see the value, but there ought [01:06:36] to be some way we can quantify, you know, what we give to what events, and based upon [01:06:45] either participants or length or, you know, whatever, there's a way to kind of figure [01:06:53] that out so we make, you know, good use of our dollars in a productive way, in a way [01:06:58] that's even and fair for the participants. [01:07:03] So you know, that's another work to be done, so to speak, to get that, kind of get that [01:07:09] figured out. [01:07:11] The applicants, I know the staff looked at that and looked at the applications, and within [01:07:16] that $60,000 budgeted accordingly to those, to their best estimates on that. [01:07:26] And sure, the holiday parade was doubled in considerations, right? [01:07:35] Chasco was by far the largest with a recommendation of 37, but that's a, what, is that a nine-day [01:07:41] event, I think, right? [01:07:44] And so it's going to be a situation where, it sounded like my fellow council members, [01:07:55] you know, like the idea and the support, it looks like we might have to make a budget [01:07:59] change. [01:08:00] Mr. Murphy? [01:08:01] Yeah, I think these, all these events that we have in our city are just very important, [01:08:07] not only for the businesses financially, but for our identity, our morale. [01:08:12] I mean, it's something that people talk about and come to see us. [01:08:16] I think anytime we can draw people to our cities, it's a great thing. [01:08:21] I mean, I'd be open to adjusting the budget, too, to make some changes. [01:08:25] You know, if that's something we need to talk about, I don't know, but... [01:08:30] Yeah, I don't have a problem if we want to do that, and Deputy Mayor, I will tell you [01:08:37] that even though I'm not a real big fan of Bike Fest, I did come down to it, and I happened [01:08:44] upon a toy that was parked in the downtown that was somewhere north of $400,000. [01:08:53] So there's some serious money, and they were coming in specifically to see the bikes and [01:09:00] see Bike Fest, so... [01:09:03] I have just a correction to your interpretation of what I said, Mr. Mayor, and also just a [01:09:08] comment about the accounting, you know, function of the budget and the budget change that you're [01:09:16] suggesting we may need to make. [01:09:19] First of all, the comment I made about civic associations was only to crowd control. [01:09:27] So it didn't say that we wouldn't charge for a rental of a park facility. [01:09:34] It was just if we have an event, it brings people downtown, the city is going to provide [01:09:38] crowd control if it's a civic organization, because there was a time when there was actually [01:09:43] a reason to try to recruit events and activities to help support the business, which is what [01:09:49] everybody's talked about. [01:09:50] So I'm not saying that we just give things away, and if you ask anybody to calculate [01:09:56] their value, the chances are it's going to be higher than someone from the outside who [01:10:00] may calculate the value. [01:10:02] So I appreciate the fact that you say there's $100,000 worth of costs, but I would also [01:10:07] divide 365 days by the $6 million budget and tell you that we incur costs every day of [01:10:15] the year. [01:10:16] So, you know, we're not trying to use these events to help us to pay for our normal services. [01:10:23] And so when you, to the accounting part, we have a provision in our city council for $60,000, [01:10:30] which we say is for in-kind services. [01:10:33] We also have a police department budget, a fire budget, and all the other budgets, and [01:10:37] they have the figures in there for what they need to run the city. [01:10:42] So when I was the finance director and I was looking at how these were recorded, we never [01:10:48] made a journal entry, perhaps until our new finance director has come here, if she has, [01:10:54] to transfer the money. [01:10:56] And what is that entry? [01:10:58] Do we reduce the amount of overtime in the fire, in the police department, the fire department's [01:11:03] budget? [01:11:04] No. [01:11:05] It is an in-kind figure that we put out there. [01:11:09] So my only request is not to give anything away, but to say, considering what we've all [01:11:15] gone to, considering the small amount of the discrepancies, I don't think we have to change [01:11:20] the budget. [01:11:21] I think all we have to do is say, you know what? [01:11:23] Put your event on, let's look at these numbers, and then let's come back to the city council [01:11:29] and say, man, you know, are we going to do this again, or was it worth it? [01:11:35] But if you decide you have to change the budget, I don't know still if our financial statements [01:11:42] are reducing the actual costs of our line items in our different departments. [01:11:47] That's where the expenses are occurred when the city pays salaries to its employees. [01:11:52] So it is an accounting calculation that was just an allocation that really said not we're [01:12:01] going to be out this money, but said this is how much of our time we're willing to give [01:12:06] to these events. [01:12:08] And so I really think that we think about cash coming out of the city's pocket. [01:12:15] We can't say we lost $100,000 because it was another week and we incurred whatever happened. [01:12:22] It happened to be a good event instead of a protest, or a wild brawl at 2 in the morning [01:12:28] from a bar that wasn't following its rules, or a drug deal that happened in a park. [01:12:36] So it's what the city does. [01:12:38] So we're saying this is about how much we can afford to do, and then to send a bill [01:12:43] to the nonprofits or to those entities that are out there busting their butt to put these [01:12:48] events on, we need to maybe counsel them and say, hey, this is too much. [01:12:53] But this whole billing process, I think, is more administrative costs than it's worth. [01:13:02] Well, Councilman, you know, there is some out-of-pocket expense. [01:13:06] You know, the park, the cost of the park, for example, I mean, those events, either [01:13:13] one can be resorted afterwards. [01:13:15] There's going to be some out-of-pocket costs associated with that. [01:13:18] I just think that, you know, it's only fair to organizations to understand what kind of [01:13:24] support they'll have so they can plan the events accordingly. [01:13:28] And I think that, you know, there is some cost to the city, but there is definitely [01:13:35] benefit to the city. [01:13:36] All I'm saying is, you know, there ought to be some way that we can evaluate it appropriately. [01:13:42] We talk about, you know, we have some of these events, it's hard to judge them equally [01:13:49] because, I think it's already pointed out, some of the events have some major sponsorships, [01:13:54] almost sponsors the entire event, right? [01:13:58] And many of the, a couple of the others give out, you know, a lot of money to charities. [01:14:02] I'd love to see, you know, the charities, the burn, the burn, the burn units and hospitals, [01:14:10] I think that's great. [01:14:11] I'd love to see a little money peel off for charities that directly affect the folks that [01:14:16] live in the city as well on these events that the city is sponsoring. [01:14:20] But, you know, I just want to be able to quantify, you know, why we give, how much we give. [01:14:28] And so, if you have event one versus event two, that everybody kind of understands why [01:14:34] that money was different. [01:14:36] Sure. [01:14:37] It might be alcohol, maybe not. [01:14:39] There's a lot of variables, I understand. [01:14:41] Yeah, Debbie, there hasn't been really a discussion about any of the other three, either from [01:14:48] up here or from the audience, except for the Bike Fest. [01:14:52] Is there $4,500 that we could find to support that, or is there something? [01:14:56] Support what? [01:14:57] I'm sorry. [01:14:58] The Bike Fest. [01:15:00] Well, they only asked for $8,500 to start. [01:15:03] Oh, I'm a nice guy then, you know, I didn't even... [01:15:05] And I wanted to make that point clear. [01:15:08] Okay, well then I'm saying, okay, is there $3,000 that we can find? [01:15:12] I would definitely recommend taking $1,500 out of the 4th of July and moving that over [01:15:21] to Cody River Bike Fest as a start. [01:15:27] Don't we have a culture, don't we have a budget in the City Council, some money that [01:15:33] we use? [01:15:34] This isn't in your budget. [01:15:35] Oh, this is us, okay. [01:15:36] This is it. [01:15:37] Okay. [01:15:38] So, you got it up to $7,000? [01:15:39] Is that what you're saying? [01:15:40] Yes, I have it up to $7,000 currently. [01:15:41] Can we get Pete's money, Pete's paycheck? [01:15:42] That would take three years, so... [01:15:58] Is there a way to find maybe another $1,000? [01:16:00] With your direction and the support of two others, I could, yes. [01:16:06] I'd like to make a proposal that we go along with the numbers that are here and see if [01:16:09] we can get Bike Fest up to $8,500 in my bike proposal. [01:16:14] Do I have a second? [01:16:18] Second someone? [01:16:23] So I make a proposal that we get it up to $7,000. [01:16:27] Is that... [01:16:28] It's not about the one event. [01:16:31] Well, I'm just trying to be fair among all four events is what I'm trying to do. [01:16:39] May I suggest, and I don't have a copy of the city budget in front of me, but if we [01:16:53] were to able to find some amount of money somewhere that we could move into this and [01:17:01] take it from $60,000 to $65,000, we would be able to deal with both the Cody River [01:17:06] Bike Fest and the Parade, if that's available anywhere. [01:17:20] Mr. Mayor, I would certainly attest to the fact that the money would be available, but [01:17:25] I would be most uncomfortable doing that until I saw the financial statements from their [01:17:31] last event. [01:17:33] So I'm going to make a motion that the city provides the amount of support that the city [01:17:43] manager has recommended to these events and that it cuts its own budget to match those [01:17:50] figures so we are not sending bills. [01:17:54] Now that doesn't take into consideration if there's damage because these events all have [01:17:58] to have damage deposits. [01:18:00] So these events have to put back what there was, but I say if that's what we can give [01:18:08] and that's the way you all want to look at it because I've tried to suggest that this [01:18:13] is just an allocation of resources we're already deploying every day, but if you want to act [01:18:20] like we have to go find money after that discussion, then I'm just going to say I make a motion [01:18:30] that we cap our expenditures at the amount of our support. [01:18:38] And if for whatever reason anyone from the city staff believes that that's not enough [01:18:47] to put these events on, then you can come back and ask us to change our budget later. [01:18:55] So my motion is to approve the budget as presented, but I don't want to see us sending [01:19:02] a bill. [01:19:03] This is their budget. [01:19:06] This is how much city services you get. [01:19:09] Some have said we don't need as much as they think is being imposed on them. [01:19:14] So let's give all of the events the support that we have recommended. [01:19:23] That's my motion. [01:19:24] Do we have a second? [01:19:30] I'm not sure I understand when you say how much. [01:19:35] So are you looking at the recommendations amount? [01:19:38] The $60,000 allocation I approve. [01:19:42] That is a figure that we have said we want to pay to support these events. [01:19:47] Where the rub it comes is when we decide and we impose expenses beyond what we agree [01:19:54] to pay. [01:19:55] It's hard enough for these events to find their sponsors, put on their events, get the [01:19:59] port-a-potties, do all the things they have to spend. [01:20:02] It would be nice if we said, okay, this is how much we're going to give you. [01:20:07] And if that means that we have to use a policeman who happens to be on duty to be on hand in [01:20:11] case there's a problem, or we have to tell them that we can't run and fetch the fences [01:20:18] and you have to bring your own trailer to get it. [01:20:22] We've got volunteers that would do whatever they had to. [01:20:26] And I think we can work together and keep it at the $60,000. [01:20:30] It's the extra bill that's been sent that is what's affecting this. [01:20:35] And it's affecting the attitude between the events and our own departments. [01:20:40] And that's not fair either to our police department or to our public works or to anybody else. [01:20:45] Oh, the city is charging us too much. [01:20:49] We're giving. [01:20:50] We've decided we're going to give $60,000 worth of value out. [01:20:53] Let's give it out. [01:20:54] And let's say that's what we're giving. [01:20:56] And if you need more, come back and ask us and tell you you got a sponsorship but you [01:21:00] really want to have this or that and you can change your plans. [01:21:05] There's no sense looking for money. [01:21:11] That's my motion. [01:21:12] Do we have a second? [01:21:13] I'd like to hear a little out of Matt. [01:21:14] So basically what you're saying is take it out of the expenditures. [01:21:23] I'm just saying that's what we give them. [01:21:25] And we're not going to book more cops. [01:21:29] If we can't do it and they want to have something that we think is going to cost more, then [01:21:34] they have to come back. [01:21:36] They put their petition out. [01:21:37] They tell us what they're going to do. [01:21:38] We should be able to support it for the figures there are. [01:21:42] And good God, we're working every day. [01:21:44] All our departments are working. [01:21:47] I don't know what cost we think we're going to overrun. [01:21:54] I mean, what are they? [01:21:57] What are we worried about? [01:22:01] So we'll pick on KFS for the moment since they're not here. [01:22:08] If the promoters of that under your scenario, if I understand this, ask for us to provide [01:22:18] services and we determine that those services are going to cost $10,000 instead of $6,500, [01:22:27] then since we can't bill for the excess, we're just going to tell them, no, you can't [01:22:32] have your event because it's too expensive? [01:22:35] The old ordinance says you can go and hire a private security firm if you want. [01:22:39] But I had that discussion right here and I was told, no, we have to have policemen at [01:22:44] every post and all of the sorts of things we have. [01:22:48] We can't. [01:22:49] I think it's unethical for us to be the deciders of how much we want to impose on our expenses. [01:22:57] Now if we really are, and we are worried about the safety of our community and our public, [01:23:03] we worry about that every day. [01:23:05] Keep your people close at 2 o'clock, at 3 o'clock. [01:23:08] They have to do whatever they have to do and you call out people for overtime all the time. [01:23:14] So we're anticipating that these events are problematic, so we have to make sure we're [01:23:18] well suited to have them on duty and watching and they are safe. [01:23:24] And I don't mean to pick on the police department, but it's probably 75% of the costs. [01:23:31] And if there's beer, you know, every community development district in Florida, if they have [01:23:36] their own amenity center, they require an off-duty police officer or somebody to manage [01:23:41] the beer sales. [01:23:43] And that's an expense that has to be paid. [01:23:47] But I think that we tell the nonprofits, work within your budget, and if we think that that's [01:23:52] more than we can handle, then we say we can't do the event. [01:23:57] That's what I was understanding. [01:23:59] I'm not a fan of the private security, I'm trying to remember who it was, had one back [01:24:07] in the day and it was quite frankly an unmitigated disaster. [01:24:12] They were, I won't say totally out of control, but for all practical purposes, it was not [01:24:19] a good situation. [01:24:23] I'm uncomfortable with that because if we've got, we figure out, you know, based on this [01:24:32] allocation that that's going to be it and there's no way for us to pick up any additional [01:24:40] expense that, you know, I mean, Bike Fest is next October, if we come up in August and [01:24:50] start figuring out what it's going to cost for the police and the public works and everything [01:24:55] else to deal with that, and that's more than that $5,500, I don't want to be the one that [01:25:01] has to tell Tina Farrell that the event is off because we can't provide enough services [01:25:07] on the money that's budgeted. [01:25:10] That's not fair to us, it's not fair to her, it's not fair to the folks that she will have [01:25:14] already contracted for. [01:25:16] I think that's a mistake. [01:25:19] The way you've, the scenario you've put would be a mistake, but the reality is we are paying [01:25:24] millions of dollars for all of our services that we have. [01:25:28] The city's not going to go broke. [01:25:31] We have the money in the budget. [01:25:33] We've never, to my knowledge, made a transfer of this $60,000 for anything, it is invisible [01:25:38] money that we're saying this is how much of our time we're going to give away because [01:25:42] every year, every expense in every department is in that department, and every year we've [01:25:47] set that budget accordingly. [01:25:49] So for whatever reason, the special events are the one activity that we have, which is [01:25:55] the positive activity, that we've decided we want to be reimbursed for our time. [01:25:59] Our business community has come up and said, this is where we make our money, we've helped [01:26:05] them to pay the rent, to lure them into town, and we're doing everything we can to help. [01:26:11] But for some reason, we want to quantify this. [01:26:15] Are we sending a bill to the bars when we have to be out there every night? [01:26:22] Do we bill our businesses in town? [01:26:26] No. [01:26:27] We provide the service. [01:26:28] They pay taxes, though. [01:26:31] And that's what I want to reiterate when I spoke, was that these businesses are asking [01:26:37] for us to help these people, these four entities, and they are paying the taxes, and we want [01:26:44] to help these businesses. [01:26:45] We want these businesses to stay here. [01:26:47] We don't want them to leave and then say, hey, I used to be downtown. [01:26:51] I was downtown with Jilly's one fall by myself. [01:26:55] There was no restaurants, there was no bars. [01:26:57] It was terrible, terrible. [01:27:00] So they're asking us, you know, a few of them that came tonight, they're asking us [01:27:04] to support them with their tax money, you know, give their tax money back to in services. [01:27:12] And that's what I'm here talking about. [01:27:14] The businesses want us to help them, not the non-profits, the businesses, the ones that [01:27:20] are paying the taxes that end up giving us the monies to be able to decide to do this. [01:27:25] All right. [01:27:26] So since I don't seem to be getting anything, I'm going to go with your motion then and [01:27:30] make a new motion to say that we should increase the allocation of funds in this division in [01:27:38] an amount that will meet the requests of both the Bike Fest and the Holiday Parade. [01:27:49] And that we don't cut back whatever that new number is. [01:27:53] That would add $6,000 to the total. [01:27:57] So my motion is to solve this today. [01:28:00] I've made plenty of points. [01:28:03] I'll second it. [01:28:05] We have a motion and a second. [01:28:08] Discussion? [01:28:13] I would support the motion. [01:28:17] I would like for Ms. Manns to assure us that she's gotten a level of comfort with financials [01:28:27] from these organizations before anything gets dispersed. [01:28:31] I think that's... [01:28:32] Yeah, I do not have a level of comfort either with a proposed budget or with the financial [01:28:38] data that I have received at this point. [01:28:41] But no funding will be dispersed until I am comfortable. [01:28:45] That would be my... [01:28:47] I'll add that to the proposal if you go along with that. [01:28:51] No. [01:28:52] No, I don't go along with it. [01:28:54] We make a motion, we're going to put the money out there, and she's going to have to do what [01:28:58] she has to do. [01:28:59] We don't need to put that into the motion. [01:29:02] It's a given. [01:29:06] With that, I'm comfortable with it. [01:29:08] Mr. Peters? [01:29:09] Yeah, I'm okay with it. [01:29:11] I still think that, let's go ahead and move on with this, but I think we have to revisit [01:29:16] this whole program. [01:29:20] Because it's only fair to the applicants so they can know what they can expect. [01:29:25] And maybe we can work out some kind of formula, depending upon, someone wants to put a vent [01:29:30] on with sponsors or non-sponsors, and then if it's non-sponsors, then it's the city. [01:29:36] And is that something that we want to be the sponsorship in to sit in? [01:29:39] So I don't want us to come back and have the same discussion again next year, because [01:29:45] guess what? [01:29:46] The numbers are going to change, costs are going to go up, we're going to go from four [01:29:49] days to three days, or three days to four days, all that's going to change, right? [01:29:53] And so, you know, I'll support that motion, but we've got to come back and revisit this [01:29:59] so this is not... [01:30:00] As sloppy as it seems to be right now. [01:30:02] Okay. [01:30:03] Good point. [01:30:04] Good point. [01:30:05] Mr. Murphy? [01:30:06] Yeah, I agree with Councilman Peters. [01:30:07] And we have to be comfortable with the financials from these organizations, because it's really [01:30:09] not fair if some are run really well and some are not. [01:30:13] That's not fair to taxpayers, the events, you know, everything. [01:30:17] So that's something we really need to... [01:30:20] Just to clarify, they may all be run extraordinarily well, we just don't know, and I think that's [01:30:27] the key issue right now. [01:30:30] We don't. [01:30:31] Right. [01:30:32] Yeah, I... [01:30:33] And I'd appreciate any suggestions from any of you about how we could present this information [01:30:42] in a fashion that'll make it more clear for you and easier to muddle through the very, [01:30:49] very difficult decision in determining how to fund and differentiate between different [01:30:56] funding levels for all these very worthy, not-for-profit organizations. [01:31:02] I think one thing that would help would be if we insist that these four organizations [01:31:13] put in their proposal for 23 while we're still in the budget process. [01:31:20] And I think that's what you attempted to do this year, and it just didn't... [01:31:24] Very persistent, Mr. Mayor. [01:31:25] It didn't happen. [01:31:28] We've got to have those numbers when we're looking at our budget and how much money we're [01:31:31] going to set aside for stuff. [01:31:34] CASCO was the most responsive, and I'm disappointed to tell you that the others didn't fall suit. [01:31:43] FiteVest was next. [01:31:45] Okay. [01:31:46] Well, that's good. [01:31:48] And it is important, I think, that we designate the amount of support that we're providing [01:31:56] up front, and I'll let the organization remain nameless to protect the... [01:32:03] Your own life? [01:32:04] Clueless. [01:32:05] But we had a director for one of our events back some years ago, before we started doing [01:32:13] this, that basically told us the reason we weren't on any of the banners as a sponsor [01:32:18] is because we didn't provide any support to the organization, and of course, we were providing [01:32:25] tens of thousands of dollars worth of support, and subsequent to that, we've gotten our sponsorship [01:32:31] recognition. [01:32:32] But that was their executive director that made that comment, and it's like, you've got [01:32:38] to be kidding. [01:32:39] Mayor, may I just make one last comment? [01:32:41] I just have to say this. [01:32:44] All four of these events, there are hundreds of hours of volunteer time that people have [01:32:53] put in. [01:32:54] I participated in them. [01:32:57] I did a float in the Christmas parade. [01:32:59] I can't believe how much time I spent doing the float, but to see all the people out there [01:33:03] getting lined up and getting organized, and these are volunteers, right? [01:33:08] And they're doing it for the spirit of the community, and we hate to pile something else [01:33:17] on you volunteers, but we've got to have the numbers, and we've got to understand that, [01:33:23] because otherwise, we're not being responsible. [01:33:26] So we appreciate all that volunteer time, and we don't mean to pile on, to put more [01:33:30] stuff, to come up with the numbers and get them in on time, but that's just critical. [01:33:35] Otherwise, we'd be irresponsible. [01:33:37] But thanks for all the volunteers for all the events. [01:33:41] Any further discussion? [01:33:43] Hearing none, all those in favor, please signify by saying aye. [01:33:46] Aye. [01:33:47] Opposed, like sign. [01:33:49] Motion passes. [01:33:52] Next sewer collections, four-inch portable pump purchase. [01:33:54] Go ahead, Robert. [01:33:56] Please, if you would. [01:33:58] Thank you. [01:33:59] This request for council to consider for approval is an attached proposal from Thompson Pump [01:34:06] and Manufacturing Company in the amount not to exceed $51,805. [01:34:12] This is for the purchase of a four-inch portable pump. [01:34:16] The pricing is in accordance with the current Florida Sheriff's Association contract titled [01:34:22] heavy equipment. [01:34:24] This falls under line item 276. [01:34:27] The portable pump that we are requesting is a piece of equipment that's used extensively [01:34:32] by the sewer collections to provide bypass pumping under emergency conditions and facility [01:34:38] construction repairs. [01:34:41] The sewer collection staff is recommending the purchase of this bypass pump in order [01:34:45] to provide additional lift station backup capability under emergency conditions. [01:34:52] The division currently has two portable pumps in their inventory to manage 71 lift stations [01:35:00] and it has become apparent over the last few stormy seasons that we've had that an [01:35:07] additional pump would fulfill our needs as well as being able to use it during the regular [01:35:14] parts of the year when we do have power outages that do occur. [01:35:19] So we would recommend the approval of the purchase. [01:35:22] Thank you. [01:35:23] Open it up for public comment. [01:35:24] Move approval. [01:35:26] Second. [01:35:27] Discussion? [01:35:28] Safety first. [01:35:31] Hearing none, all those in favor, please signify by saying aye. [01:35:34] Aye. [01:35:35] Opposed, like sign. [01:35:37] Motion passes. [01:35:38] Next, water treatment plant chemical analyzer purchase. [01:35:42] This item for your consideration of approval is attached proposal submitted by ChemScan [01:35:47] Incorporated. [01:35:49] This is in the amount not to exceed $37,310 and this is for the purchase of one chemical [01:35:55] analyzer. [01:35:57] ChemScan is the sole source manufacturer of the equipment. [01:36:02] We're allowed to purchase sole source as part of our purchasing guidelines. [01:36:07] If you approve the analyzer, it will be installed at the water treatment plant. [01:36:13] It is a critical component for our water quality and disinfection process of the water treatment. [01:36:20] The existing analyzation system has been at the plant since 2011. [01:36:26] This is the same brand being requested and why we did the sole source was because of [01:36:31] the reliability and the performance. [01:36:33] The manufacturer's operating and maintenance replacement recommendation is 10 years. [01:36:40] After 10 years, the lower box is the only portion of the analyzer that's serviceable. [01:36:46] And then after 15 years, you can no longer have any kind of certified servicing that [01:36:53] would be performed with it. [01:36:55] So with that, we would recommend that you move for approval. [01:36:59] Open up for public comment. [01:37:02] Seeing no one come forward, bring it back to council. [01:37:04] Move for approval. [01:37:05] Second. [01:37:06] Any discussion? [01:37:07] Hearing none, all those in favor, please signify by saying aye. [01:37:12] Aye. [01:37:13] Opposed, like sign. [01:37:15] Motion passes. [01:37:16] Next, 1920 Street Improvement Project change order number one. [01:37:21] Yes, Mr. Rivera will be presenting this item with a PowerPoint. [01:37:25] Thank you, Mr. Rivera. [01:37:29] And so as we said, this is the change order number one to the 2019-2020 Street Improvement [01:37:37] Project. [01:37:38] It is coming to a close. [01:37:40] The change order, while it may be titled change order number one, it basically is the 2021 [01:37:47] Street Improvement Project. [01:37:51] Now the change order amount is not to exceed $1,249,575.11. [01:37:58] This is from Ajax Paving Industry of Florida. [01:38:03] They currently are the ones that are still in town. [01:38:06] Now when we reviewed the change order, typically we get a change order that's submitted to [01:38:13] us and it goes line by line item with the same unit pricing as the existing contract. [01:38:20] Ajax said that they couldn't do that. [01:38:22] We reviewed our contract and our contract does allow us to go ahead and to go into negotiations [01:38:28] with the contractor if the project is open and see if we can't agree to a fair and equitable [01:38:36] price range. [01:38:38] Now due to the COVID staff shortage, the asphalt energy-based material and concrete [01:38:44] pricing increases, we ended up talking with the engineer of record and having him review [01:38:53] it. [01:38:54] He took and reviewed nine tasks in that submission that were over $20,000 each line item, which [01:39:01] totaled over $1 million to see where those prices stood and that's where that 20% price [01:39:11] range came into play. [01:39:13] Now when staff reviewed it and we did talk with the engineer, we believe that there's [01:39:17] some valued engineering that we can perform to get that percentage down to around 15, [01:39:22] maybe a little bit lower. [01:39:25] Some of those things would be eliminating the bid process and the contract phase. [01:39:30] That would also eliminate a lot of time. [01:39:34] The bid process would take us about three to four months before we started putting any [01:39:39] asphalt down. [01:39:40] I don't know if you all have been watching or reading the newspaper where DAB, D-A-B, [01:39:48] Contracting Service was one of the largest contractors around. [01:39:52] They went bankrupt. [01:39:54] They had pretty much the majority of the FDOT projects. [01:39:58] Ajax paving has taken over a lot of those. [01:40:01] They took over the interchange at State Route 56. [01:40:06] After all of this discussion, we're thinking that 15 to 20% is not bad. [01:40:14] We have seen a lot of our bids and things like that around 40%. [01:40:21] Just reminded of our fire station that those bids came in considerably higher than what [01:40:27] this percentage was. [01:40:29] We figured that at best, we should come talk with you. [01:40:34] We should get your input. [01:40:36] Our recommendation would be to proceed with this. [01:40:39] We've got the contractor locked in, and so it's better than closing out a project. [01:40:44] We can continue on, and hopefully by the time the economy gets back to normal, we'll be [01:40:50] back into the next project, the 2022 project. [01:40:56] I know you can't see this, but I just wanted to show you the aerial map of the whole project [01:41:02] and tell you that the good news is that this is cycle six. [01:41:07] This is the last project that will be jumping around town. [01:41:11] The 2022 project we'll be bringing to you at our next council meeting, that will all [01:41:19] be located in a centralized area set towards the south of town. [01:41:25] Hopefully, we'll be able to switch from higher mobilization costs to where we can now have [01:41:31] some lower costs in our contract bids to where we can even put more asphalt down. [01:41:39] We start off on Olsner Street. [01:41:41] This is west of 19. [01:41:44] This would be starting at the bridge at the New Port Richey city limits, going south to Avery [01:41:50] Road, and then we have the Lady Fish Court that's down to the south. [01:41:57] We swing over to the east part of town, north end of the city limits, with Manatee Point [01:42:04] Drive, Tarpon Lane, which is in the North River neighborhood, as well as Green Street [01:42:11] and Dartmouth. [01:42:14] Wanted to just call out those two streets. [01:42:17] There are a lot of other streets that are right around there that are in about the same [01:42:20] condition. [01:42:21] We felt like those were the worst ones. [01:42:23] The other thing that we're looking at is we do have a drainage project that we're in the [01:42:29] middle of starting some development design. [01:42:33] That's one of the things that we look at. [01:42:35] We want to make sure that we're not starting to pave some of these roads, and then a couple [01:42:39] years down the road, turn around and have to dig them up and tear them up and then reconstruct [01:42:43] them. [01:42:44] That's a reason for just having those two streets there. [01:42:50] Then we move over to Adams Street between Massachusetts and Central Avenue. [01:42:55] That's by Richey Elementary and the police station. [01:42:59] That section of Adams is in pretty bad shape. [01:43:03] Then we move over to Van Buren Street from Massachusetts Avenue to Indiana Avenue. [01:43:09] That's in front of the rec center right there. [01:43:12] We move over to Kentucky Avenue and finish that area that we started last year. [01:43:18] That would be from Congress Street to Hills Drive. [01:43:22] Then we have Illinois from Grand Boulevard to Monroe, Georgia Avenue, Monroe Street to [01:43:27] Van Buren, Louisiana Avenue from Madison to Pinecrest. [01:43:35] Then finally, we've got Delaware Avenue from Lafayette Street to Grand Boulevard, Georgia [01:43:41] Avenue from Lafayette Street to Grand, and then High Street from Aspen to George Street. [01:43:48] That's right around that applicant end site. [01:43:52] The funding, as you are aware, is out of the Street Improvement Dollar Fund, 701. [01:43:58] We would recommend approval. [01:44:00] With that, I'll answer any questions you may have. [01:44:04] Any questions? [01:44:06] Just to be clear, this is a 2021 project, right? [01:44:12] It's the 2021, yes, sir. [01:44:13] This paving would actually occur this year still then? [01:44:18] It possibly could. [01:44:20] The contractor, when we talked with him, he said if we did get it approved, he'd be able [01:44:24] to start his concrete work in December. [01:44:27] That's what they start off with. [01:44:33] Just one other question. [01:44:36] Part of the service calls for resurfacing when they actually will go through and rather [01:44:41] than just repay, they go in and grind up and repay, right? [01:44:44] I don't know what that technique is called, right? [01:44:47] We would mill. [01:44:49] We do that on all these streets or some we do that way and some we don't, right? [01:44:53] It's very few that we do not mill. [01:44:56] The reason is, is if you look at all of our roads, we've already got... [01:45:00] two, sometimes three, overlays on top of one another. [01:45:04] And we need to get them back to the original grade. [01:45:06] That all contributes to additional flooding, [01:45:08] and that's what we're trying to eliminate. [01:45:10] And that's what I was referring to as a grade. [01:45:13] You know, I still think that sometimes, [01:45:16] I don't know what happened on Massachusetts, [01:45:21] on the west side of Congress, [01:45:26] when it rains, you know, that puddles up really bad [01:45:29] along there, we paved that road not that long ago, [01:45:32] but the water doesn't drain off the road there. [01:45:35] That's where the Winn-Dixie is, that street, [01:45:40] that stretch of road there, if you know [01:45:41] what I'm talking about. [01:45:43] And so that's why I was asking that, [01:45:45] because you talked about the grade, [01:45:47] and just, you want to make sure when we do that, [01:45:50] we don't hold water on the roads, right? [01:45:54] Open it up for public comment. [01:45:56] Seeing no one come before, bring it back to council. [01:46:00] I'm going to move for approval, [01:46:01] but I just want to make one comment. [01:46:02] Second. [01:46:03] Okay, the 20%, I'm kind of happy [01:46:09] that it's only 20%, number one. [01:46:11] But the other thing is that we want Ajax, [01:46:14] they've been doing a good job, [01:46:16] and we want to keep them around, you know, [01:46:17] for more cycles than just the six cycle. [01:46:20] I think they've been the ones [01:46:21] through the first five, correct? [01:46:23] No, sir, they've been through the majority of them, [01:46:26] but we did have DAB, [01:46:28] and we had Florida Contractor Services. [01:46:31] But I'm familiar with that name, [01:46:32] so they must have been around for a while. [01:46:34] And I'd like to keep them around, [01:46:36] so they're going to be fair with us, [01:46:38] as long as we're fair with them. [01:46:39] So that's why I propose we pass this ordinance. [01:46:43] Thank you. [01:46:44] Second. [01:46:44] Yeah, I know there's been some new legislation [01:46:47] related to what makes a capital improvement project, [01:46:49] and subjecting cities to the rules of the state. [01:46:54] I think we'll probably try to follow them anyway. [01:46:56] But to the point of the cost of asphalt rising, [01:47:00] and your response that we're doing the milling [01:47:04] and using our own asphalt, [01:47:12] we still have to buy a lot of asphalt. [01:47:14] I don't know, what's the outcome from the milling? [01:47:18] Does that lower our cost of asphalt, right? [01:47:21] It would lower, it balances out. [01:47:23] So, due to the fact that this would begin in the winter, [01:47:28] when it's not raining all summer long, [01:47:31] and it's probably the best time for us to do this project, [01:47:35] I second it, and I'll support it. [01:47:42] Done. [01:47:43] Mr. Parker? [01:47:45] Yeah, the costs and everything are just so crazy right now, [01:47:48] it's hard to even keep up. [01:47:51] It changes daily, it seems like, [01:47:52] but it's just, you know, it's part of it right now. [01:47:55] So, I'll support it, obviously. [01:47:57] Mr. Peters? [01:47:58] I'm excited, this is the last of six phases, [01:48:02] and so we've got up to a certain standard, [01:48:04] I look forward to our improvements going forward [01:48:08] that might include some sidewalk work. [01:48:10] I think some of this includes sidewalk work as well, right? [01:48:13] It does, and to add to your comment, [01:48:17] the rows were ranked from one to 10, [01:48:20] and so now, where we're at, [01:48:22] we've caught up with all the ones that were under six, [01:48:25] so everything that we're doing now is six and above. [01:48:29] Or it was when they ranked them. [01:48:31] Correct, correct. [01:48:33] Good point. [01:48:35] There's no further discussion, all those in favor, [01:48:36] please signify by saying aye. [01:48:38] Aye. [01:48:39] Opposed, like to sign? [01:48:41] Motion passes. [01:48:42] Next, we have a quarterly cash [01:48:43] and investment performance report. [01:48:45] Yes, and Mrs. East will be reporting [01:48:50] on our cash and investment performance report, [01:48:53] and it's as of September 30th, 2021. [01:48:57] Yes, good evening. [01:48:59] So as you know, per the city's investment policy, [01:49:05] I should present to you a quarterly investment report, [01:49:08] and I did include that in your agenda packet. [01:49:11] In addition to that, I have a brief PowerPoint [01:49:14] that will summarize the report that was provided. [01:49:17] Next slide. [01:49:20] So at the end of quarter four, also our fiscal year-end, [01:49:25] the city's investment and cash portfolio [01:49:28] totaled 33,471,277 dollars. [01:49:35] That amount was made up and included [01:49:41] approximately 5.5 million in our checking account, [01:49:44] and then the investment funds totaled [01:49:47] 28,021,742 dollars, and the details of that [01:49:53] are the breakdown of that. [01:49:55] You'll see that in the State Board of Administration, [01:49:58] also known as our Florida Prime account, [01:50:02] the city held 12,454,551 dollars, [01:50:08] and that made up approximately 37% of our portfolio. [01:50:13] Next is our Florida Municipal Investment Trust Fund, [01:50:16] which we held 4,376,452 dollars, [01:50:24] and that made up 13% of the city's total investments. [01:50:28] And then finally, we had 11,190,739 dollars [01:50:35] in U.S. Treasury obligations. [01:50:38] The income earned for this quarter [01:50:40] is slightly higher than last quarter, [01:50:43] but still underperforming when we compare it [01:50:47] to previous years, but you'll see that the total earned [01:50:52] was only 6,232,000, and as the, you know, [01:50:58] obviously the pandemic has had a great effect [01:51:01] on the interest rates now, and so as the world [01:51:06] and the nation recovers from that, [01:51:08] and the economy recovers, we'll see an increase [01:51:11] in interest earned on these investments. [01:51:13] May I stop you? [01:51:14] The rate of return there, that .08%, [01:51:18] that is eight one-hundredths of a percent, [01:51:24] is that for just the quarter, [01:51:26] or is that the annualized number? [01:51:29] For the T-bills, that is an annualized number, [01:51:34] just because it's something we invest in over a different, [01:51:39] in this case, three months. [01:51:41] So over the three months, we purchase those at a discount, [01:51:44] and so the discount is, you know, [01:51:49] the .08% that we purchase it at. [01:51:53] And so when we, when those mature, [01:51:56] we'll get .08% plus the principal at that point. [01:52:00] So you'll see that that's very low. [01:52:04] One of the main reasons we invest in these T-bills, [01:52:07] or the U.S. Treasury obligations, [01:52:09] is because of our policy. [01:52:11] It allows for us to invest 50%, [01:52:14] up to 50% of our city funds in this type of investment. [01:52:20] And so it's the, it actually is our largest bucket [01:52:25] that we can invest in. [01:52:26] And so since we did have some extra revenue from our, [01:52:30] you know, funds from bonds, [01:52:33] recently, bonds that we recently issued, [01:52:36] that was the one category [01:52:37] that we were able to put that money in, [01:52:40] even though it doesn't earn, necessarily, [01:52:42] a high amount this quarter, [01:52:46] or even right now, due to the economy. [01:52:49] And I will point out, so the investment right above that, [01:52:53] the Florida Municipal Investment Trust, [01:52:55] that rate of return should actually be .01, not .10. [01:52:59] So that is a mistype on my part. [01:53:04] Next slide. [01:53:07] So this slide just provides you with a visual [01:53:10] of what our breakup is for the portfolio. [01:53:13] It really is the same information from the previous slide. [01:53:17] 37% of the city's funds is invested in Florida Prime, [01:53:21] 34% in our U.S. Treasury obligations, [01:53:25] 16% in checking, [01:53:27] and 13% in our Florida Municipal Investment Trust. [01:53:31] And this composition, the way that it's laid out, [01:53:34] is in compliance with the city's policy. [01:53:41] So this slide provides you a change [01:53:43] from the previous quarter, [01:53:45] and you'll see that over the course of the quarter, [01:53:48] our total portfolio was reduced by $5,088,371. [01:53:55] The biggest changes come from the U.S. Treasury obligations. [01:54:00] You'll see that we did have one of those T-bills [01:54:03] that matured, and so those funds were transferred [01:54:05] into the checking account to cover water [01:54:09] and sewer construction project costs [01:54:11] and our parking garage. [01:54:13] And the same goes for the Florida Prime, [01:54:16] that $856,200 reduction transferred into our checking [01:54:21] to cover those construction projects. [01:54:24] Normally at fiscal year-end, [01:54:26] our checking account balance is less [01:54:28] than the previous quarter, [01:54:30] just because you typically have year-end expenditures [01:54:32] to cover, but because of those transfers, [01:54:35] we actually netted a positive, [01:54:37] and a slight positive in the checking account. [01:54:40] But normally, fiscal year-end, [01:54:43] you would see a dip in that checking account balance. [01:54:47] And that's it for the report. [01:54:49] Questions, anyone? [01:54:52] Thank you very much. [01:54:56] Next item is a request to establish [01:54:57] a new Code Enforcement Officer Supervisor position. [01:55:02] Yes, sir, Mr. Mayor. [01:55:02] The request is actually two-fold. [01:55:04] In addition to asking you to consider supporting [01:55:09] the establishment of the position, [01:55:11] I'm additionally asking you to consider approving [01:55:14] a budget amendment in the amount of $48,670 [01:55:19] to sustain the expenses associated [01:55:24] with the salary and benefits [01:55:28] associated with the position for the remainder [01:55:33] of the fiscal year 21-22. [01:55:37] As all of you are aware, [01:55:38] the police department is currently responsible [01:55:45] for the administration of the Code Enforcement Division. [01:55:50] In that respect, a police sergeant is assigned [01:55:54] the responsibility of administering [01:56:01] the Code Enforcement Division. [01:56:04] And he delegates all of the responsibility [01:56:08] and serves as the leader of that division [01:56:12] that has proven to be a very effective model for the city. [01:56:17] And the essential functions, though, [01:56:22] don't really necessitate that the position [01:56:25] be a sworn officer. [01:56:27] My proposal then is that we create a civilian position [01:56:32] in lieu of it being a sworn officer [01:56:37] and that that person serve as the supervisor. [01:56:44] In addition to the current duties that are being performed [01:56:49] by the police sergeant, [01:56:53] the chief and I discussed some additional duties [01:56:57] that we would like the position to perform. [01:57:01] And we came up with a list of things. [01:57:04] One of the most significant will be [01:57:07] the administration of the motel ordinance, [01:57:11] which becomes effective in March of 2022. [01:57:17] And that is the time when the transient population [01:57:25] becomes restricted in our motels. [01:57:29] And we will have to be conducting weekly checks [01:57:34] of our registries to make sure that people [01:57:36] are not living in our motels as a permanent placement. [01:57:42] We will also be developing specialized enforcement training [01:57:49] to report code violations, coordinating program activities [01:57:55] with special projects and rehabilitation programs, [01:58:00] and conducting neighborhood meetings to discuss [01:58:02] and address issues and provide information [01:58:07] on necessary resources. [01:58:10] With that, the typical strategic and tactical planning [01:58:16] of the division will remain the same. [01:58:19] And the chief and I are prepared to respond [01:58:23] to any questions that you may have. [01:58:24] Again, we're asking you to establish [01:58:27] the civilian position of a supervisor [01:58:30] and to approve the resulting budget amendment. [01:58:33] Thank you. [01:58:34] Any questions? [01:58:36] Open up for public comment. [01:58:38] Seeing no one come forward, bring it back to council. [01:58:42] Move for approval. [01:58:43] Second. [01:58:44] To the maker. [01:58:45] Yes. [01:58:46] The code enforcement people carry a badge, [01:58:49] but would this person carry a badge also then? [01:58:52] Yes. [01:58:53] Okay, it's just they're not a police officer. [01:58:54] They're not a sworn officer, that's correct. [01:58:56] And then who's the supervisor of the rental, [01:58:59] the officers or actually firemen [01:59:02] that handle the rental inspections? [01:59:05] Keith Bauer is the supervisor in charge [01:59:09] of the rental inspection program. [01:59:11] Would that be at all put in possibility [01:59:15] in that same program? [01:59:17] You know, under that same supervisor? [01:59:19] Very independent of each other. [01:59:20] Okay, I mean, this is your, [01:59:22] you're running the show, [01:59:23] I don't have any clue, I'm just asking. [01:59:25] Sometimes I appreciate when you let me chop her. [01:59:27] Mm-hmm. [01:59:28] Okay. [01:59:29] Okay. [01:59:30] Okay. [01:59:30] Okay. [01:59:31] Okay. [01:59:32] You can at least smile when you say that. [01:59:35] Okay, thank you. [01:59:36] Mr. Peters. [01:59:37] Yeah, so it seems to me like this could be [01:59:39] actually a cost-effective move. [01:59:44] Some of the benefits and so forth associated [01:59:46] with a police officer is a little bit more [01:59:50] than it might be for a civilian position. [01:59:51] So I think that the code enforcement people [01:59:56] do a great job, they've got a great attitude, [01:59:58] and hopefully that'll continue. [02:00:00] No, I like it. I think it's going to work well. It will kind of utilize the personnel [02:00:08] better. [02:00:09] Mr. Altman? [02:00:12] Where's the $40,000 going to come from? [02:00:15] The budget transfer is attached to the agenda item, and in large part the transfer is coming [02:00:22] from salaries and wages and code enforcement. I'm sorry, it's from code enforcement. Help [02:00:31] me out, Crystal. And it's coming from the two dispatchers that we have taken out of [02:00:39] the budget, part-time wages and some cleaning allowance and overtime. And it's coming from [02:00:47] the two dispatchers that we have taken out of the budget, part-time wages and some cleaning [02:00:51] allowance and overtime in the police department budget. So $44,770 in part-time wages, a $500 [02:01:03] cleaning allowance, and $3,400 in overtime for support services. [02:01:10] So remove the funding of two part-time dispatchers to cover the cost of this one position? [02:01:18] That which we did not need to replace the two part-time dispatchers from the budget [02:01:22] that was presented to us? [02:01:24] We don't believe that we do, and Chief, correct me if I misspeak, but we have a hard time [02:01:33] recruiting for part-time dispatchers. We've had the positions open for some period of [02:01:38] time. [02:01:38] That's fine. That's enough. [02:01:42] Thank you. If there's no further discussion, all those in favor, please signify by saying [02:01:46] aye. [02:01:46] Aye. [02:01:47] Aye. [02:01:47] Opposed, like sign? [02:01:50] No. [02:01:51] Okay, 4-1. We have now gone to communications. I'll kick it off. We had a workshop with the [02:01:58] county and New Port Richey this morning. I was very pleased that all four of my colleagues [02:02:11] made the effort to come and participate in that. I think it was well worthwhile, and [02:02:18] I believe the county commissioners noticed us by our attendance, so very pleased. [02:02:26] Saturday we've got, as I mentioned earlier, the Stonehaven Farmer's Market, which is, [02:02:32] I believe, 8 to noon. I mentioned to Ms. Manns that we might want to consider adjusting the [02:02:38] hours on the parking garage to get it open, and she's going to open that at 7, which means [02:02:43] anybody coming early for the Farmer's Market will be able to park there in the garage and [02:02:48] walk the short distance down to the Farmer's Market, which will be, I think, really good. [02:02:56] Did get one complaint via email about speeding on High Street east of Madison, and I explained [02:03:10] we were working on getting some people trained to use radar and do some other things, but [02:03:16] that I would have passed it along to the powers that be that we need to have some folks watching [02:03:26] that apparently. They're using it as a shortcut, and it may or may not be related to the kids [02:03:32] getting out of Gulf High, but it's an ongoing issue, so I'm just relaying that. [02:03:40] And, last but not least, it's nothing significant, but if I could see Ms. Driscoll and Ms. Manns [02:03:48] after the meeting, I've got, just want to bring you up to speed on a phone conversation [02:03:52] I had today. Mr. Murphy? [02:03:56] So, yeah, good meeting today with the county commissioners, some good conversations about [02:04:01] some things. Hopefully, things will move forward a little quicker. There are a couple events [02:04:08] coming up this week. I think Thursday is the Wine Walk. [02:04:11] I believe you're right. [02:04:12] On Main Street, and I think Friday, Widow Fletcher's is doing a scavenger hunt. So a [02:04:19] couple things going on, and it was, in this past Halloween weekend, it was quite busy [02:04:24] downtown, so that was nice to see. So that's all I have. [02:04:29] Mr. Traumann? [02:04:30] Yeah, just to explain my last vote. I mean, we're just barely into November, one month [02:04:35] into the new year. We just completed a budget. We added additional people into the personnel. [02:04:41] I just voted against it because this is a little early in the year for us to be starting [02:04:45] to reposition, but I wish him well and no hard feelings. I just would like to see this [02:04:53] kind of discussion continue, and I am worried about the overall expenditures. Maybe it will [02:05:01] work out. I hope it does. [02:05:05] I do want to thank my colleagues for coming to the Florida Redevelopment Association and [02:05:10] the city manager, and I think that the time for, as I've said over and over again, the [02:05:18] time for cities is now. The funds that have been coming into cities, the ability for us [02:05:24] to make things happen is visible. There are a lot of things that we did approve in the [02:05:30] budget that I would like to learn some about before March. In particular, I think some [02:05:36] of the American Rescue Act allocations that have been sort of made by the resolution that [02:05:42] you presented to us incorporated, of all things, $50,000, I think, into doing some things to [02:05:48] help in our downtown. So when you travel to other cities, those of you that took the walking [02:05:54] tour probably can report better than me. I know I've taken it before, but did a little [02:05:59] walking too. You can see the benefit of enhanced outdoor dining in some of the alleys that [02:06:07] were repurposed, and I'm excited to get the Muldrow project out and show. One of the common [02:06:15] themes is the importance, Debbie, of making sure that the general fund operations understand [02:06:24] the strategic use of those funds, because they seem sometimes to be icing on the cake [02:06:35] when there are real needs, which all of the departments do have. You've done a great job [02:06:40] of keeping our facilities up, and so I'm very happy. But at the same time, when we switch [02:06:48] hats and go over to the CRA, its success is critical. To the financial report that was [02:06:57] shown and the millions of dollars that we have invested, I'm sure you're going to announce [02:07:03] and I guess you've welcomed them to all of us, but our new economic director, welcome [02:07:07] to our city. Great first meeting for you to have, but it's exciting to have the economic [02:07:15] outlook. There are so many projects that sometimes require funding. The whole process of the [02:07:24] CRA is to get that development. We all saw Zephyr Hills outnumber us in population, not [02:07:30] that it's a race or anything, but the density is going to be critical from what we heard [02:07:35] from the business people. And so we've got to plan the dive and then dive the plan, and [02:07:43] we have a lot of plans out there and I'm really hoping to see the city dive into those plans [02:07:50] and perform them. One thing I noticed from years ago in Gainesville, because we had recruited [02:07:56] the Gainesville Mr. McGurn in, but the city of Gainesville has had difficulties with Alachua [02:08:03] County balking against some of what, you know, pushing them in terms of their CRAs, and we [02:08:11] have the benefit of having self-control as a non-chartered county, but the city of Gainesville [02:08:17] as a city invested some of its funds, not invested, but loaned to the CRA as we have [02:08:24] loaned to the CRA money, and the interest rate that we've put to the CRA blows our investments [02:08:32] in our investment side out of the water. So if we have faith in ourselves, we might look [02:08:38] to see some of those self-funding opportunities because that money comes back and it does [02:08:44] channel back into the general fund. So I hope that from an economic strategy for the next [02:08:50] 30 years that we have left of the life of this thing, that there is a strategy that [02:08:56] will keep the general fund alive and funded, and perhaps some of that strategy may be having [02:09:03] the general fund even consider loans when necessary. I know we've loaned some money [02:09:10] on a short-term basis, but we've got these big projects, and they need to come to fruition [02:09:18] for us to get the sales tax, business community, and everything to work so that we can maintain [02:09:24] our general fund. So that was a topic that other cities are all struggling with, and [02:09:31] it's very important. I know when I worked here, I had heard some grumbling among others [02:09:39] about how much is invested in the pretty stuff versus stuff that may seem to be critical. [02:09:45] Now we're at a point with the water rising and all the funding that's coming from other places. [02:09:55] To gather that funding up and use it to rebuild our infrastructure. So infrastructure is more [02:10:02] critical now than it has ever been, and I would defer to Mr. Peters to talk about what's [02:10:08] happening in the flood zones and the insurance, and I've heard some really scary things about [02:10:14] what's going to happen with our insurances that's going to cause us to have a lot of that [02:10:20] kind of property in our city. So there's a lot of strategy, but we've got a lot of smart people [02:10:25] around, and I know we're in good hands. It's exciting, but it also requires a lot of effort. [02:10:32] Thank you. [02:10:37] The only thing I was really happy, it seemed like we had a 5-0 vote today as far as the [02:10:43] county commissioners is working with us on the annexation, and I think that's real important. [02:10:48] We're trying to get this figured out inside our own city, but that's all I have. [02:10:54] Mr. Peters. [02:10:59] Yeah, I'd like to compliment Councilman Allman on his presentation at the meeting down in Port Myers [02:11:04] this past week. He did an excellent job, and really today I was really proud to be part of this city. [02:11:10] As we represented there with the county and the city of New Port Richey, particularly our city manager, [02:11:18] how well she was prepared and presented agenda items on that. [02:11:23] It really helps when you've got someone that strong negotiating with county administrators [02:11:32] and county commissioners, so I'd really like to compliment you. Excellent job, Debbie. [02:11:40] One other thing, though. It got a little cooler weather, right? [02:11:45] It feels good. [02:11:50] I'd just like to remind us that we still have a little issue that we've talked about that we haven't done too much about.
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.
- 11.b
Sewer Collections 4" Portable Pump Purchase
discussedCouncil briefly discussed revisiting trash pickup procedures during winter months before spring, mentioned interest in underground trash containers, and welcomed Chuck Valdez as the new economic development director. The agenda item title references a sewer pump purchase but the transcript does not address that topic.
- direction:Council expressed interest in revisiting trash pickup procedures during the winter months before spring. (none)
Florida League of CitiesChuck Valdezeconomic development director hiretrash pickupunderground trash containers▶ Jump to 2:11:52 in the videoShow transcriptHide transcript
Auto-transcript · machine-generated, may contain errors
[02:11:55] I'd like to revisit our trash pickup. [02:12:00] It seems like, I don't know if it's because of weather change or so forth, it appears that Public Works has caught up [02:12:05] and is doing a good job. I see some piles starting to pile up again. [02:12:10] But I think it's a good time for us to revisit that and get something in place here in the winter months [02:12:15] before we get back into spring. [02:12:20] Whatever changes we might make, it'll take time to get that acclimated to our residents and the systems in place. [02:12:25] I don't want us to forget about that. It's going to be important. [02:12:30] I would agree, go along. [02:12:35] Also, like those underground trash containers that would be great right across from the social and some of our new facilities. [02:12:40] Only a million bucks, I guess. [02:12:45] Yeah, a million dollars. [02:12:50] I saw those at the Florida League of Cities conference. I was afraid to ask. [02:12:55] It's the truck that picks them up. [02:13:00] I just wanted to take this opportunity. [02:13:05] I know that I touted pretty loudly the accolades of Chuck Valdez to you [02:13:10] in a writing I had to you last week and to the department heads as well. [02:13:15] He's a quite welcome addition to the staff as our economic development director. [02:13:20] Please join me in welcoming him to the staff. [02:13:25] There's no further business. I would entertain a motion to adjourn.
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.
- 13Adjournment▶ 2:13:17
- 11.c
Water Treatment Plant (WTP) Chemical Analyzer Purchase
Consideration of purchase of a chemical analyzer for the Water Treatment Plant.
- 11.d
- 11.e
2019/2020 Street Improvements Project – Change Order No. 1
Approval of Change Order No. 1 for the 2019/2020 Street Improvements Project.
- 11.f
Quarterly Cash & Investment Performance Report
Quarterly cash and investment performance report.
- 11.g
Request to Establish New Code Enforcement Supervisor Position
Request to establish a new Code Enforcement Supervisor position.
- 12Communications