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1. 1Call to Order - Roll Call▶ 0:00
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   Capital Improvement Fund Budget

   discussed

   Staff introduced the FY 2015-2016 Capital Improvement Project Plan, totaling $25,383,317 across stormwater, Penny for Pasco I & II, water/sewer, CRA, street improvements, and grant funds. Council discussed stormwater priorities including flooding hot spots (West Main behind Burger King, Massachusetts Avenue, Tanglewood Terrace, School Road), the Indiana closed landfill closure status, river basin study purposes, and the need to plan proactively for neighborhood drainage. No formal action was taken; staff sought council input before bringing back a final draft.

   • direction:Council directed staff to incorporate recently identified flooding hot spots and complete out-year columns of the five-year CIP before final reading. (none)

   📍Briarpatch📍Delaware Avenue📍Hacienda📍Hemlock Drive retention pond📍Indiana Avenue closed landfill📍Jasmine Hills subdivision pond📍Marine Parkway retention pond📍Massachusetts Avenue between Congress and Grand📍Massachusetts Avenue near Van Buren📍Orange Lake📍School Road📍Sunnybrook📍Tanglewood Terrace📍U.S. Highway 19📍West Main Street behind the Burger King🏢Burger King🏢SWFWMD🏢Winn-Dixie👤Bell Thomas👤Brian👤Mayor Marlow👤Pete Altman👤Robert Rivera👤Senator Simpson#BP settlement funding#Best Management Practices (BMP)#Capital Improvement Project Plan FY 2015-2016#Hacienda project#Highway 19 Beautification Project#Indiana Avenue Closed Landfill#NPDES permit#No Name Storm#Orange Lake Restoration Project#Penny for Pasco I#Penny for Pasco II#Redevelopment CRA Fund#River Basin Study#Stormwater Project Fund#Water and Sewer Service Fund

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   [00:00:44] Thank you. Mr. Mayor, members of the City Council, the purpose of tonight's work session is to introduce to you the Capital Improvement Project Plan for the fiscal year 2015-2016. [00:00:58] The Capital Improvement Budget includes funding from the Stormwater Project Fund, from Penny for Pasco I and Penny for Pasco II, the Water and Sewer Service Fund, the Redevelopment CRA Fund, street improvements, and also federal and state grant funding sources. [00:01:18] The aggregate of all of the funding sources is a $25,383,317 appropriation, which we're asking you to consider allowing us to dedicate to projects as we'll introduce them to you this evening. [00:01:38] Mr. Altman and Mr. Riviera have worked very hard on the Capital Improvement Project Budget, and they've put together a PowerPoint presentation for you this evening. We're very much interested in your input so that when we come back to you for a final reading on this item, it not only reflects what we think from the City's perspective, but also your collective wishes. [00:02:03] In reference of staff, would you like us to waive and interrupt as we hit specific items? [00:02:09] That'd be great. Real informal tonight. [00:02:11] Okay. [00:02:12] Can I ask where the number $25 million is? Where it comes at? Is that like future? Is that present? [00:02:19] That is for the fiscal year, current. [00:02:23] You have $25 million to spend on capital improvements? [00:02:27] Yes. [00:02:29] I didn't see $25 million. I saw $19 million maybe. [00:02:33] I've double-checked my math today. [00:02:39] I'm looking at this. [00:02:42] You have to look at a couple of them together. [00:02:45] Okay. [00:02:46] That was the City Manager's Maybach fleet. [00:02:51] The City Manager's Maybach fleet makes up the difference. [00:02:56] Go ahead. [00:02:57] Okay. [00:02:58] Pete, do you want to get started? [00:03:00] I'd be happy to. [00:03:01] And Brian, if you want to put the slides up as it relates to the summary. [00:03:06] I guess in any kind of good communication, you try to say what you're going to say and then hopefully you say it and you repeat and summarize it. [00:03:15] So there's a little bit of summarizing and trying to put these huge numbers into perspective and where they would come from and what would be built with them. [00:03:24] I think it's also important from the outset to say that this is a five-year plan, [00:03:28] so part of the process is to look at the needs going out to the next five years and try to identify, you know, [00:03:37] how that will all fit with the revenue streams that are out there. [00:03:41] You can go to the next slide there. [00:03:45] The $25 million is a combination of funds to be expended through stormwater, and you can see how those allocations come out. [00:03:57] One of the things when you add them up, the grant funding support is listed in the document that you have separately to show those sources of revenue, [00:04:08] and the primary portions of grant funding support are, of course, the $800,000 remaining for the Hacienda, [00:04:15] and then we have two other projects that have grant funding, [00:04:18] one being the recently awarded money for the Highway 19 beautification project from the state, [00:04:29] and then thirdly, the Orange Lake restoration project, which receives money from both the BP money as well as from SWFMUD, [00:04:43] and those can be outlined as well. [00:04:48] If we go to the next page, stormwater projects are the first ones following in the city's funds behind Fund 001, [00:04:59] which is the general fund, and in the stormwater utility fund, Robert can of course expound on that, [00:05:06] but if you look and see the extension of those projects, [00:05:12] you'll notice that he's kind of regularly programming in funds on an annual basis. [00:05:18] We did program in the out years funds to be twice what the city would anticipate to spend from its funds, [00:05:25] in some cases due to the potential of getting some grants, [00:05:32] and also recognized in our five-year plan that beginning in 17-18, the stormwater elements would receive some funding from the penny for PASCO. [00:05:41] Mr. Ullman, may I just ask a quick question? What exactly is the river basin study? [00:05:45] River basin study, if you recall, there were folks in the audience who talked about the river dirty and maybe needed to be cleaned. [00:05:53] No, it's definitely, I mean, all our stormwater comes from our streets to the river. [00:05:58] We know it's dirty, so what are we hoping to accomplish with that? [00:06:00] We're going to do a study and then try to figure out a way to prevent that from happening? [00:06:03] If it's all right with you on this, can we just have Robert come up here and give you the details on those? [00:06:08] I'm just trying to get an overall picture of what we're trying to accomplish by having that study done. [00:06:14] Part of it, of course, is to justify projects that may be outside the city limits that would, [00:06:19] where we could show that there was an environmental need to get folks on sanitary sewer. [00:06:24] Sure, that's one of the items. [00:06:26] The other item is in order to get grants for projects and to comply with our NPDES permit, [00:06:33] one of the requirements that we have to do is when we do a stormwater project, [00:06:36] not only do we have to have a flood control element, but we also have to have a water quality element. [00:06:42] We need to identify what type of pollutants are in our river. [00:06:46] Once we do that, when we do these projects, when we, say, for an example, at the outfall pipe, [00:06:52] the BMPs or best management practice elements of those stormwater requirements, [00:06:58] we might, like in downtown, we have a bunch of baskets that collect the beer cans [00:07:04] and the water bottles and diapers and those types of things. [00:07:07] So this will help us identify what type of BMP that we want to insert in some of the projects for the water quality. [00:07:16] So it's just step one to find out what pollutants are in the river [00:07:18] and then try to figure out a way to prevent them from getting in the river? [00:07:21] Yes, sir. [00:07:22] Okay, perfect. Thank you. [00:07:24] And, Robert, if you don't mind sitting there, a lot of these things you have details of. [00:07:30] It doesn't include the Muscovy Duck. [00:07:32] It doesn't include the Muscovy Duck analysis of its damage to Orange Lake. [00:07:38] Just want to make sure we got everything covered. [00:07:40] If we're going to do the river, let's take care of the ducks, make sure they're all in good shape. [00:07:45] Since we have the Whisperer here, we want to make sure the Whisperer stays in good stead. [00:07:51] We can lift that down. [00:07:54] The $271,000 figure represents a project that he's crossed it out and engineered and is ready to go. [00:08:00] The $300,000 figure represents sort of annual plotting forward, Robert, right, [00:08:08] with strategic minor projects and other things. [00:08:13] The $300,000, those are projects that are on a reactive basis. [00:08:18] An example would be Briarpatch when we were doing the road improvement project. [00:08:23] We saw that the stormwater system had a lot of defects in it, [00:08:27] and so we were able to use flood control monies to be able to line that system before we went ahead [00:08:33] and reconstructed the roads. [00:08:37] Robert, would any of these address that ongoing situation at Sunnybrook? [00:08:45] We haven't reviewed it in at least a year and a half or maybe two years, [00:08:48] but I know that that is kind of a recurring thing if you're familiar with that. [00:08:52] It could, but something like that probably would be a partnership with the county and us. [00:08:59] We probably would look at grants on something like that. [00:09:05] Since we're right here instead of trying to come back to it, [00:09:08] it seems like you jump from $300,000 to $600,000 and then it dwindles down. [00:09:11] Do you expect in 16-17 a major project that would double that number? [00:09:19] On page three. [00:09:28] I think there is ‑‑ take the first stab at that, Robert. [00:09:35] A year or two ago, Councilman, when we were meeting with ‑‑ [00:09:39] Chopper, we were meeting with Senator Simpson. [00:09:46] I think Mario was there and indicated that stormwater or spring or water-related projects [00:09:57] into our budget so that he could help us to get state funding. [00:10:00] So to the degree, A, we've had some stormwater problems, [00:10:05] and B, this study is anticipated to come up with some projects [00:10:09] that was just an anticipation of costs. [00:10:14] Robert? [00:10:15] Right. [00:10:16] We're not sure what exactly is going to come about that, [00:10:18] so we wanted to have at least a place filler to where we could see where we were at [00:10:22] as far as the utility goes with numbers. [00:10:25] We would expect that half of that would still be spent. [00:10:28] On those types of projects that we have reactive situations, in other words, [00:10:33] some of the flooding that we've had, we've identified some areas [00:10:37] where maybe there might be some property purchases. [00:10:40] This gives us an avenue where we have funds that we can grab from. [00:10:46] Let me be clear on the revenue side. [00:10:48] So basically what it says is we haven't really done an exorbitant amount [00:10:53] of stormwater‑funded utility projects, [00:10:57] and an average out of that fund that was corrected back in 2012 [00:11:03] to make it standalone generates about $400,000 a year in base revenue. [00:11:08] Is that correct? [00:11:10] Available for projects when it also is funding its whole other enterprise, [00:11:14] which has employees in it and does the maintenance. [00:11:18] Okay. [00:11:23] So the next one, if we can, if there's questions. [00:11:27] Penny for PASCA. [00:11:28] And Penny for PASCA is going to pay for your water truck equipment? [00:11:32] Yes, sir. [00:11:33] Okay. [00:11:34] Because that's an approved charge to that account. [00:11:39] You don't have ‑‑ I mean, are we just addressing 1516 tonight? [00:11:46] Is that all we're addressing? [00:11:49] I mean, this thing's kind of as a ‑‑ [00:11:50] It's our five‑year plan. [00:11:52] We wanted to introduce to you our projected projects for 2015‑16, [00:11:59] but we can talk about any projects. [00:12:01] The reason is there's not very many numbers that I noticed through this thing. [00:12:05] There was very few numbers past 1516. [00:12:07] It was pretty wide open for a five‑year plan. [00:12:11] Am I reading this correctly? [00:12:15] No, you're reading it correctly. [00:12:17] And before we bring you a final draft, we'll finish the remaining columns. [00:12:21] We wanted to get your input on the current year, though, [00:12:24] so we knew what your project priorities were. [00:12:29] And obviously you've been working on this for quite a while. [00:12:33] Are there elements or areas that have come to light in the last 45 days [00:12:41] with our weather events that would expand this list on the left‑hand side? [00:12:51] And is there a net benefit to each one of the neighborhoods? [00:12:59] Because obviously I'm seeing a lot of major ‑‑ [00:13:02] I'm seeing mainly major thoroughfare roads. [00:13:05] I'm just ‑‑ I don't want to back further councils into a situation [00:13:12] where let's say it's 18 or 19 into 20, [00:13:18] that there hasn't been some proactive elements done, [00:13:23] and all of a sudden they get backed into a situation [00:13:28] where they have none of a problem for four years [00:13:32] but didn't even address it in an incremental basis, [00:13:35] and now they've got $800,000, which pulls away from ‑‑ [00:13:40] you know, it's a balanced approach, obviously. [00:13:43] Correct, and I think that we've satisfied those two elements. [00:13:46] What we've tried to do is you'll notice we have a 2015, [00:13:50] 2016 stormwater system improvements. [00:13:53] Those projects mainly are the projects that include the neighborhoods. [00:13:59] This one that we're proposing is off of Delaware. [00:14:02] There's different elements, Delaware Avenue, there's one downtown, [00:14:05] there's the Marine Parkway retention pond expansion, [00:14:09] Hemlock Drive retention pond expansion. [00:14:12] Those types of things are included in these stormwater improvement projects [00:14:17] that address the neighborhood problems, [00:14:20] and the larger projects that you see address the collector roads [00:14:24] or evacuation routes. [00:14:28] And those typically are a little bit more money that we really want to do them, [00:14:33] but they're mainly going to have to be funded by outside sources [00:14:37] with the help of some of the utility funds. [00:14:40] Wouldn't Congress be that down the road? [00:14:42] It possibly could, yes. [00:14:46] Is that Congress a problem in the next five years? [00:14:49] I think we have other issues that might fill Congress Street. [00:14:56] I do before Congress Street. [00:15:00] ones that we're looking at right now that we think we need to address. [00:15:03] I don't mind sharing those so we have a highlight, because we probably have some things that [00:15:09] we've seen or we've had neighbors that have, or people that have pointed things out, [00:15:14] and you know, it's no secret, we have low-lying areas, and thank God we don't have high [00:15:20] tide, full moon, 18 days of weather and a hurricane sitting off the coast, because we [00:15:26] might as well, you know, start getting another set of sandbags put together, I'm just, [00:15:30] if you're going to, you know, bring them to the top now so we can begin. [00:15:34] We're looking at West Main Street behind the Burger King, it seems like that road gets [00:15:38] closed during any kind of summer storm. [00:15:41] That's been a problem for a long time. [00:15:44] Sure. [00:15:45] What about Mass? [00:15:46] Mass Avenue, that has to be a partnership with the county, we have to sit down with [00:15:49] them. [00:15:50] Is that at LeNape? [00:15:51] Mass and LeNape, is that what you're talking about? [00:15:53] Not that way, down off by Van Buren, where it gets, the whole road gets flooded and it [00:15:57] goes over into... [00:15:58] Well, you're right in front of LeNape too, in front of the Winn-Dixie, maybe between, [00:16:02] maybe, you know where LeNape... [00:16:03] That area too, right, correct, by Davis. [00:16:05] Is that in our jurisdiction or county? [00:16:07] It's joint. [00:16:08] It's joint, okay. [00:16:09] So on the other side. [00:16:10] It's amazing that those two bars... [00:16:11] Have we verified that the Winn-Dixie folks, that the developers kept that drain field [00:16:17] under that parking lot in proper order? [00:16:23] Because I understand that there is a drain field... [00:16:25] All under that parking lot. [00:16:28] Quite a drain field under there, and if it's not been properly maintained, then everything [00:16:34] that comes off of that feeds back into us, and that's the reason it was required on the [00:16:38] developer's side to obviously put that in. [00:16:41] That was a construction element, whether it was from us or the county, it still has a [00:16:45] ripple effect. [00:16:47] Another area that we had problems with was Tanglewood Terrace, School Road, we've got [00:16:54] some issues over there that we need to address. [00:16:57] So we have, you know, identified some of the areas that we believe need to be addressed [00:17:03] as soon as we can, because obviously we don't, you know, because we're never properly identified [00:17:12] in the newspaper as, you know, we get thrown in with everybody else when it's actually... [00:17:17] I wish the Times or that somebody would come up with a catchy phrase that says unincorporated [00:17:22] New Port Richey or whatever, because every time I think New Port Richey, I think we've [00:17:26] got three quarters of our own place flooded out, and that's not the case. [00:17:29] But over and above that is, I really, in a couple of years, if we're going to balance [00:17:34] the approach, which we have over the last few years, is obviously I really don't want [00:17:39] to see this place packed out with people that are saying you haven't done anything [00:17:42] in my backyard. [00:17:44] And so I think if you state them and raise them up, then everybody can begin to look [00:17:50] at those. [00:17:51] And, you know, we've got a bunch of politicians that are running next year and going to run [00:17:56] another two years after that, and people want local projects. [00:18:00] And I personally think when you're talking about this Indiana closed landfill, I think [00:18:06] you really need to start in 18 sometime, 17, 18, analyzing that, because, you know, [00:18:12] the environmental impact five years down the line of what they're going to make you do [00:18:15] and how you're going to address those kind of things, I think you need to be way ahead [00:18:19] of that, and I think you need to have whatever kind of grant funding or whatever for cleanup [00:18:24] or old landfills, because to me, that's a ticking time bomb over there, you know. [00:18:34] But that and identify these flood situations, because obviously Mr. Bell Thomas and Mayor [00:18:43] Marlow and myself back in 12 made that fund balance itself and be self-sufficient, because [00:18:49] it was a general fund drag for about nine years prior to that, because other people [00:18:54] didn't want to step up and charge people $70 a year for stormwater when it was an upside [00:19:01] down revenue, or an upside down fund, so, you know, that was one of the first steps [00:19:05] we took, so, and if we have those issues, then I think people understand that you're [00:19:11] going to raise that money, attack that problem, and take it down piece by piece, so relatively [00:19:18] speaking that's, to me, that's a pretty good sound approach. [00:19:23] Very good point, Stu, you know, just being an insurance business, you know, we're always [00:19:28] tracking hurricanes, we have one heading towards Florida right now, but I can't remember [00:19:32] last time that we had to deal with water drainage from rain on top of tidal surge, and we've [00:19:39] never really been hit, I mean, Hurricane Elena kind of sat out there, I was in middle school [00:19:43] at the time, and churned, but we didn't get a lot of rain from it, it held it tight in, [00:19:47] I would just hate to see the combination. [00:19:50] No Name Storm was the one that really caught us at... [00:19:54] But it came, it was quick, you know, some of these hurricanes churn out there and generate [00:19:58] a lot of rain, and continuously pushing tides in, I can't remember the last time we've had [00:20:02] to deal with that, and we're getting streets flooded right now just from rain water, so [00:20:06] you throw a tidal surge on top of that, it scares me, so I would say the storm water, [00:20:10] I mean, I know it's top priority, but I'm just re-emphasizing that. [00:20:14] Yeah, the No Name was strictly a tidal event, there wasn't any appreciable rain, the combination [00:20:22] of that with what we've had the last month, would be pretty wicked, that's a scary thing. [00:20:29] That may be kind of where I'm going with this, a lot of empty spaces in here that we may [00:20:33] be able to address a little bit. [00:20:35] Thank you. [00:20:36] And I'm sorry, Robert, you were ticking off the streets and the ones that are priority, [00:20:40] did you suggest that mass between Congress and Grand is a priority? [00:20:46] We need to look at it, and we need to put it up in the forefront. [00:20:51] I guess before we go on, too, just another note with the recent storm that you all were [00:20:56] talking about, Robert has shared some cost estimates, and the costs are not in the storm [00:21:02] water side, they're in the street side, so failure to do the storm water caused you money [00:21:07] to be paid on the transportation side, so we've got, we've anticipated in this budget [00:21:12] that our balance has been drawn down by the repairs that he's anticipated happening in [00:21:18] this, so we're not dreaming that we have more money than we do, and it's going to take [00:21:24] a considerable amount, which I'm sure will be a few and a lot worse. [00:21:27] Does that road construction work, or that, I guess, that damage correction, does that [00:21:37] qualify against the gas tax elements that they, with us in the county? [00:21:42] There's two portions of it. [00:21:44] The construction side of it? [00:21:45] Correct. [00:21:46] Okay. [00:21:47] Well, there's two parts of that gas tax, too, so we're now having to, from this year forward, [00:21:53] now that you have the second part, we're tracking both revenue streams, because the one can [00:21:58] be handled on, can handle maintenance, and the other one can only handle, you know, comprehensive [00:22:04] plan level road construction, and, uh. [00:22:08] Gotcha. [00:22:09] I bet in Indiana, landfill is, are we just monitoring the gases, is that kind of what's [00:22:16] going on now? [00:22:17] We're in the closure phase of that permit, and it's still showing that it's active. [00:22:26] We're pretty much almost closed with the water sampling, it's showing that the, we have some [00:22:31] violation of the secondary water standards, but other than that, the groundwater is pretty [00:22:36] healthy. [00:22:37] The problem that we're running to is the methane gas. [00:22:40] We've got a couple of the vents that are in the inside of the landfill, and also around [00:22:46] the perimeter, and those get tested every quarter to determine just about how, if the [00:22:53] methane will determine whether or not the landfill is dormant, or whether it's still [00:22:57] active from its results. [00:22:59] How many of your professionals kind of gauge it over the last, whatever, 10, 15, how many [00:23:06] years? [00:23:07] Can they kind of give an estimate down the road? [00:23:11] It was kind of a double-edged sword, because when we applied for the permit, they required [00:23:16] that we cap the landfill with a lining and with clay, and that kind of trapped that methane [00:23:23] gas in there for probably 10 years, wasn't allowing it to vent out like it should. [00:23:30] Of course, when we went to go apply for our extension, because you can't apply for a closure [00:23:36] if your site is still active, that was when DEP changed their opinion and said, hey, we [00:23:41] want to see some venting of these closed landfills now, so that we can accelerate the process. [00:23:49] We've been doing that probably for the last five years or so, and it looks like we're [00:23:54] having great progress, more so than what we did the first 10 years. [00:23:59] We are anticipating a closure to come, but not, in your eyes, short-term, is probably [00:24:07] one or two years. [00:24:08] We're probably looking at at least another 10 years prior to being able to close it. [00:24:13] That's what I was kind of wondering, I'm sure the environmentalists and the scientists [00:24:18] and engineers can watch the numbers and kind of give us an idea of how long. [00:24:23] Sure, but what we were talking about with this project is on the backside of the landfill, [00:24:28] there's a pond that ends up draining that whole subdivision on Jasmine Hills. [00:24:34] Over the years, that pond has started to deteriorate with the banks and with the culvert pipes. [00:24:41] We're looking at getting in there to take care of that pond and rehabilitate it before [00:24:45] it starts entering into private property. [00:24:47] May I ask just a quick question, since you have the slide up? [00:24:52] What does the asterisk symbolize along the Orange Lake Restoration Project and the U.S. [00:24:56] Highway 19 Unification? [00:24:58] Those are projects that have grants, and those figures are in that document there. [00:25:03] Why are they listed under Penny for Pasco, too, then? [00:25:06] They're coming from Penny for Pasco. [00:25:08] The city's funds from Penny for Pasco are in there. [00:25:11] The highway beautification, the numbers of that are in the yellow in the back, and we [00:25:17] can review them, but that just came in lately. [00:25:21] We're here trying to say this is the cost of these projects, and those have a grant [00:25:26] component to them. [00:25:29] So if we're ready to look at that, I'd direct your attention to the bottom number, which [00:25:34] is the $1,369,150, and that number represents all of the capital improvements that the department [00:25:40] heads who are here in their individual departments, whether it's fire equipment or patrol cars [00:25:49] or improvements to our different facilities within the city, those are all encapsulated [00:25:58] in the capital elements of the budgets that you all have seen over the past month or so. [00:26:05] In total, that's $1,369,250. [00:26:07] Two million comes into Penny for Pasco, so this is a, you know, included in that number, [00:26:13] of course, was fixing up some of the completion of the city hall. [00:26:17] There was other capital improvements in there. [00:26:19] That's a pretty substantial number. [00:26:21] In the long term, when the 10 years is up, you know, the goal will be that the city will [00:26:26] have worked its way out of its slump and able to manage its own capital if, in fact, [00:26:32] there isn't an extension of the Penny for Pasco. [00:26:36] So following these revenue streams and where the money's going is, as, Chopra, you've mentioned [00:26:43] this year, but also having to look out to see what's the effect of all of this in the future. [00:26:48] Yes, I mean, this page right here, it's got one year on it. [00:26:54] Just because it's Penny for Pasco, one, and once we complete the use of it, there won't [00:27:00] be any additional funding under one. [00:27:03] Then I had a problem with this page, because it didn't have any titles. [00:27:08] I ran into the same problem. [00:27:12] Titles on... [00:27:13] On the top. [00:27:14] It doesn't show up on our copy. [00:27:16] Oh, your copy didn't print? [00:27:18] Right. [00:27:19] Okay. [00:27:20] All right. [00:27:21] Well, that's why this is the proposed version, I guess. [00:27:24] Somehow or another, their headings didn't print on the reprints that were handed out. [00:27:31] So on the five bars there, it's 16, 17, 18, 19, and 20 years. [00:27:38] And maybe I'd like to... [00:27:39] I mean, I understand, but it just, you know, it's... [00:27:43] Apologies for that. [00:27:44] I would like to introduce to you that there is someone else here, Dwayne Draper, who is [00:27:49] our city's bond counsel, who has been... [00:27:54] We've been in touch with in relation to the fact that there's a contemplated financing [00:28:00] involved with the city. [00:28:01] And so he will be available to address questions, and he's here to kind of observe and see what... [00:28:06] Mr. Draper serve any other capacity on any other boards or anything within the city? [00:28:17] Looking at the board behind, of course, as Debbie had mentioned, the Sims Park and the [00:28:23] Recreation Center expansion utilize the remainder of the balance. [00:28:29] One thing we did try to do this year that you didn't see last year was identify the [00:28:33] total project cost and what we would anticipate would be spent this year. [00:28:38] For example, in the Sims Park completion, if you look at the narrative, you'll see that [00:28:43] we had assumed or anticipated that $925,000 would have been spent by September 30th. [00:28:50] So we don't have the bills in, we're not sure how active or what tranches of money they're [00:28:56] going to request, but we've also tried to identify the total project cost at that point [00:29:01] and also identified in the grants that $200,000 of that is coming to us back from the state. [00:29:09] So the current year or the 2016 number that's up there represents $2,310,000 to come from [00:29:20] the Penny for Pasco, the other $200,000 to come from the grant. [00:29:27] You all know that project well. [00:29:30] But when you do that, when I look at your notes compared to what the construction amount [00:29:34] is, $2,001,000 and then the $200,000, that's $2,310,000 and not $2,510,000. [00:29:41] I must be missing something on page 13 on your notes. [00:29:45] I'm sorry, am I looking at the wrong place? [00:29:48] Page 13 at the bottom, it says your notes, you got $2,001,000 from Penny 1 and then you've [00:29:52] got the $200,000, to me that's $2,310,000 and the number you have for the total is $2,510,000. [00:30:00] And so that's going to circle them. That's a correction. [00:30:03] And to go back to penny one, so obviously we still had we in that we had [00:30:08] $3,800,000. And with that, that's on page 10, obviously, the remainder of [00:30:18] all of that funds to cover the first 10 years of the penny, the five, those [00:30:23] two items are being absorbed by the Sims Park improvements, and then the [00:30:28] recreation expansion, those, that's what you're anticipating for those [00:30:32] dollars. Yes, sir. The monies that were transferred to the general fund [00:30:35] absorbed the small balances and the other buckets. And that takes into [00:30:39] effect all of the savings that we've incurred from some of the other capital [00:30:44] projects? Or is that another budget item by the budget line? [00:30:51] I would say yes. I mean, that's what you have in that area. When you talk [00:30:55] about the other capital projects, like the roof and the other, some of those [00:30:59] savings basically came back to the benefit of the city's general fund [00:31:02] because the penny money wasn't sufficient to cover those costs. [00:31:10] Because once again, I was hoping that with those savings that we would take [00:31:13] those and target those into five or six of the neighborhoods, either before the [00:31:19] end of this year, moving the first quarter of next fiscal year, and get [00:31:24] some bang for our buck with those back in our neighborhood, since that's where [00:31:27] the revenues came from, and make some immediate impacts back into those so [00:31:32] that we kind of, you know, kind of jumpstart some things. But that's a [00:31:36] place I've been so many times over the last year that I keep, feel like I just [00:31:40] need to push a button and let the tape run. I have a real problem with investing a lot of [00:31:46] money in a, you know, aquatic center that doesn't bring us ad valorem tax, where [00:31:51] we put it back in the neighborhood and it brings us ad valorem tax, you know, and [00:31:56] increases the value of the properties in the community. We have significant funds in, [00:32:01] I think, and you'll see that I think we have six hundred thousand dollars in the [00:32:04] budget for neighborhood improvements in another bucket. [00:32:11] Go forward. [00:32:14] Can we move on to Penny for PASCO 2? I'll just comment on that, just throwing my two [00:32:22] cents in the, if we build nice things, I think we're going to attract residents who are [00:32:26] going to help take care of our neighborhoods, so we're not constantly [00:32:28] having to come up with ways to fix them back up. Fire station in Penny 2, we have [00:32:39] a year one, we've anticipated, you know, we'd probably be fortunate considering [00:32:44] the amount of time and the point at which that project is in to be able to [00:32:48] utilize 2.1 million in the current coming up year, but that's a 3.1 million [00:32:55] dollar, that's a 3.3 million dollar project for which the USDA has indicated [00:33:06] and the grant loan from them appears to be eminent and available. One of the [00:33:13] positions on their loans is that they won't give you the money along the way, [00:33:17] you have to go and get a bridge loan from a bank or you have to fund it [00:33:20] yourself, so in our strategy we've identified that as part of the finance [00:33:25] strategy. Do we have an interest carry on that bridge loan for a while? Yes. Any [00:33:32] idea what the timeline on that is? Because obviously that affects your [00:33:35] lending capabilities in other areas if you have that liability out there, is [00:33:39] that correct? Right. And how did we get the 3.3 million on a project that we [00:33:44] just barely looked at? It's a plug figure. Okay, well there's this, and that's fine [00:33:51] and I'm okay with that, just state it up front that it's a plug number because [00:33:56] you know, we've had some other plug numbers over the last year and we've [00:34:02] had both decreases on some side, we've had some increases, so if it is a plug [00:34:07] number using other projects, then that's fine. There were some effort made [00:34:13] in discussion with Public Works in their construction division and also I think [00:34:19] out there there was familiarity with one of the recent Pasco County, one of their [00:34:25] more modern statements and discussion with the development and the contractor [00:34:29] who built that, so we also went over this in great detail with the USDA who brought [00:34:35] in an architect to meet us upstairs and reviewed the allocation of costs that's [00:34:39] in that grant. And that's fine, I'm doing this for two purposes, one for my [00:34:44] edification but much more for the citizens who's going to say how'd you [00:34:48] get 3.3 million dollars and if we offer that information at the front side then [00:34:52] we can move on to the next to the next elements. It's just, it's more of a [00:34:56] okay, we've identified that need, we want to keep our places in those [00:35:03] lines but just want to make sure, especially on the bridge loan side and [00:35:08] and obviously how we're going to finance through the process. So it's an educated plug. [00:35:13] Okay. So basically we're going to get two million a year from Penny Pasco too. [00:35:18] We're going to, what we're saying is if we go through with the financing [00:35:23] that's been envisioned in this document and if the City Council agrees that it [00:35:28] likes the plan and it wants to do those projects and it doesn't pull additional [00:35:32] projects out, then the next step is going to be to get a financial advisor to look [00:35:36] at is to say short-term two loans, wrap loan, how much interest, how long is the [00:35:42] money going to be out there, what's the best thing to do. I don't think that was Mr. D, I don't think that was [00:35:45] Chopper's question. Chopper's question was straightforward. It said are we [00:35:49] anticipating two million dollars per year revenue from the Penny for Pasco too [00:35:56] on an annual basis? Two million dollars a year for for the next ten years in that [00:36:01] Penny for Pasco. Is that what we're estimating we're going to receive as a [00:36:04] gross number from the Penny for Pasco too? That's exactly what I want to know. [00:36:09] I thought you were talking about the fire station though. We weren't going to use money for the fire station. [00:36:13] Don't change the subject. Answer his question which was my question to redesign. [00:36:17] So what we have... Yes or no question. Let me show you. It's two [00:36:24] million and five and sixteen and the untitled two million and seventeen it's [00:36:28] two million one hundred in the untitled two million seventeen eighteen it's two [00:36:32] million two hundred and then the unsighted two two million nineteen is [00:36:37] two million three hundred and goes out to four hundred. There has been a strong [00:36:41] growth and it's one of the positive things about this revenue stream is we [00:36:45] get a percentage based on a calculation. I just want to know. You're saying Ralph we're [00:36:52] going to get two million a year? Yes. We've got a growth factor to it so it's [00:36:57] going to grow to 2.4 million at the end of the term. [00:37:03] Along right with you can you just pick up right where you left off because that [00:37:08] was... About what? Just the revenue and what's happening with that? Only that as [00:37:13] the county grows at a faster pace than us if it does the sales tax revenues are [00:37:17] increasing faster than our own population. So despite the fact our [00:37:21] population has been pretty stable for the last and we've been benefiting from [00:37:26] continued growth of the sales tax because we have a straight percentage we [00:37:31] collect from the county's overall take. [00:37:42] The wayfinding is in there, the landscaping is in there, there's another [00:37:47] place that you'll find the Neighborhood Improvements Councilman, a different pot. [00:37:55] I'd like to let's go through the project names we go to the next part and get [00:38:04] them out of the back in the box. The Community Redevelopment Agency up on [00:38:15] the screen behind I thought it was important to show that the plan in there [00:38:21] has a single major project in this five-year plan and it's accomplished [00:38:26] in the next couple of years and that's a parking improvement. So this was [00:38:30] discussed at the most recent meeting and we got a price of $11,000 a parking [00:38:38] space as a current price of a parking garage. The study that was done 10 years [00:38:44] ago called for about 240 parking spaces. The size of that would effectively encase [00:38:50] this part of the city's parking behind the Bank Street there and part of the [00:38:57] triangle behind the extension of Nebraska Avenue and part of the property [00:39:03] owned by Mr. Pridgen currently. So we spoke to him because I know there was a [00:39:08] question, Bill, about exactly where specifically it would go and in [00:39:15] discussing with that property owner across the street from the park, his [00:39:19] response was, man, you know in St. Pete and these other communities when you [00:39:23] fire up the activities that you have a place for people to park but there's a [00:39:29] potential revenue stream. In fact, he indicated he's making a good penny [00:39:33] every time there's an event there on the parking on that property there. But he [00:39:37] expressed further an interest in developing in the town. He's interested [00:39:42] in the density and building a product and he's also interested in talking to [00:39:45] us about, you know, trading off and working with the city for whatever it [00:39:49] wants. So just so you know, there's a willingness from the property [00:39:53] owners back there where you all had specifically identified and, Chopper, you [00:39:57] showed that picture where you go back behind or have a narrow corridor. There's [00:40:04] a willingness to adopt that philosophy in the development of a parking garage [00:40:09] on that property and work cooperatively with the city. Where's this money coming [00:40:13] from? This is from the refinancing. If we cross that bridge, but as far as [00:40:19] this parking goes, you just mentioned a study from 10 years ago. We just passed [00:40:23] approval to change, you know, the density for the downtown corridor, you know, [00:40:29] with the space that we were looking at. Are we taking that potential growth into [00:40:35] effect? Are we still basing our number of parking spots needed from a study from [00:40:39] 10 years ago? Well, it's an affordability thing, too, and I mean, you know, the idea of a [00:40:43] parking garage is that you can use public funding, and Duane has got a lot [00:40:48] of experience with this as well, for public spaces. But if you build [00:40:51] residential and they're required to have parking, what often happens is you get [00:40:55] the developer to pay for that extra level or the top level or the next level [00:40:59] and those become private and part of the development agreement or part of [00:41:02] the developer's costs. So we wouldn't build the parking for the unit to live [00:41:08] in and park their car in, but we would have to have public parking, obviously, [00:41:12] for the needs that the city has in its intention to have customers and people [00:41:17] downtown and that sort of thing. Would ASCO be used for this building garage? Yes. [00:41:25] Certain elements of it. I just want to be very careful if we actually [00:41:29] cross that bridge and look into a parking garage that we do it right. I [00:41:33] mean, it's a huge, huge project and we don't want to build it and say, oh, I wish we [00:41:37] would have built more. I wish we would have built a larger. I wish we would have put it here. [00:41:39] Absolutely. You know, we're doing all these studies for density and [00:41:42] projections for downtown. Let's just be extremely, extremely careful because [00:41:46] this would be a huge project. You're gonna have sleepless [00:41:51] nights about how we did it and what we did it until it actually gets in. [00:41:56] But I grant you that, yeah, we don't want to have to go back in eight years and [00:42:01] spend another three million dollars. Which we would have done this. Yeah, particularly if the [00:42:04] prision property immediately across Main Street from the Hacienda is developed [00:42:09] into something with fairly high density use. And I can see that happening. [00:42:17] That central parking garage just south of there is going to be very popular. [00:42:25] I think when you take that approach that that's something that the [00:42:28] city is considering and something that it might do, I think that sends the right [00:42:31] message. It gets you away from parochialism, number one. But number two, [00:42:37] it shows you that, you know, it's kind of if you build it, they will come. [00:42:42] It really is the field of dreams thing. You build the field and the people show [00:42:45] up. But in this case, if you put the parking, then that solves a majority of [00:42:51] the problem that you have with a lot of your retailers and a lot of the things [00:42:54] that are on our other streets. Because they don't have a place to go. [00:42:58] I'm by no means opposed to a parking garage or that location. I just want to [00:43:02] be sure it's done right. I know we're not even close to there yet, but it just [00:43:05] got me. You can always have tow signs there. Yeah, one of the adjacent [00:43:13] property owners who was part of the downtown, who indicated to us [00:43:20] recently that if we went forward with the parking garage, that he would apply [00:43:26] for a permit to build a mixed-use hatched or project next to it. Mr. Alvin, [00:43:36] I'm gonna make this statement one time. Money talks, everything else walks, all [00:43:41] the rest of it's cheap. That's right. Because if we want to go back and be [00:43:45] hindsight's 40-40, not 20-20, we could spend two hours talking about all the [00:43:50] people that told us what they were gonna do. Until I see a check or I still [00:43:55] see their bank statement, they can talk all they want. But at the end of the day, [00:43:59] you know, rubber meets the road. Mr. DeLuca, he owns the property in the parking lot [00:44:04] behind the building. And that really is a project that has been at least 10 [00:44:09] years in the talking stage. And there was keen interest in it. And it was, for [00:44:14] whatever reason, you know, put aside. But I think that it is important that we do [00:44:19] it right and that we make sure that it's not just a parking garage. If in the, you [00:44:24] know, looking at other cities that have done this, where they incorporate [00:44:28] multi-use of it, make it attractive and not even aware that it's a parking [00:44:33] garage, but it serves the purpose. Next time you all are in Kissimmee Area Drive and look at the [00:44:36] parking garages they've built. And they're currently building at Downtown [00:44:39] Disney. They're absolutely amazing. They're very pleasing to the eye. I'm not [00:44:42] saying we're Disney money. I'm just stating that they're [00:44:47] extremely high-tech. You drive in, it tells you how many spots are open in [00:44:50] each lane. There's a lot you can do with parking garages. And that's my point. It's [00:44:54] gonna take a lot of funding. And if and when we do it, I just want to be sure we [00:44:57] do it properly. [00:45:00] There's another section in the but you can move on to the next one if you'd [00:45:04] like there when we get into transportation. Yeah I want to stay I [00:45:09] want to stay on this page. There's a couple of things. Yeah the penny too. [00:45:15] Wayfinding, I think that number needs to be doubled. I think it needs to be [00:45:20] $300,000. You don't have to spend it but I think you need to have it because I'm [00:45:27] sorry I'm on page 11 the pink the pink or the what is there that salmon hey you [00:45:35] get a lady to tell us what color yeah my color won't get any argument my color [00:45:42] palette isn't quite there at the end of the day if we're going to do a proper [00:45:47] wayfinding program I don't I would prefer not to have this come back a [00:45:52] couple of times I would like to say you've allocated that money because I [00:45:57] think the wayfinding starts at the end of the city goes to the other end it [00:46:02] goes side to side we spend a lot of time on our quarters but the big you know we [00:46:08] there's a number of places in the city that people just can't seem to find I [00:46:12] don't care what it is so Bill if we can in usefulness of this tool as you look [00:46:19] at the penny page opened up and you were to say I think that needs to go up a [00:46:23] hundred and fifty thousand then the bottom number of ending balance goes [00:46:27] down to four hundred thousand but you know so but I agree that's Phillips I [00:46:32] mean I don't I'm not the expert to tell you we need 300,000 money means but it's [00:46:36] more than just wayfinding I mean it gives our downtown character and it's [00:46:40] more just putting a steel sign up saying the rec center is that way I mean if [00:46:43] we're gonna do it let's do it right let's add the nautical theme let people [00:46:46] know there's a river running downtown and make it our own I would book [00:46:51] anything like any kind of public transportation sign so it's a great [00:46:54] point I would I would put something into it and I don't know that it needs to be [00:46:59] hundred and fifty thousand dollars but we have got to do something at the [00:47:06] intersection of Main Street and u.s. 19 so that people know that there is a city [00:47:13] to come into and I'm sure part of that goes with with the landscaping stuff [00:47:17] that we're that we've gotten the funding on but they have the gateways [00:47:20] that were 19 mr. mayor under environmental that allocates separately [00:47:24] actually but I'd like to suggest that it not just be there I would like to see us [00:47:29] create the parameters of our city so that folks know where the city is and [00:47:36] I'd like I'd like it so I don't know that that's necessarily wayfinding but a [00:47:39] definition so that they are crossing over into the city or leaving the city [00:47:45] clear definition yeah we and we've done that they've tried to do that in the [00:47:49] past and especially with the with the street signs they used to have the logo [00:47:54] and all those other kind of things but you know it it seems and I remember back [00:48:00] in and to that in 1992 and 93 when we were developing streetscape and some of [00:48:06] the signs and naming the parking lots that you know that's what you were [00:48:10] going to piggyback off of and it seems to have gotten kind of piece milled and [00:48:14] hodgepodge over the years so I think I prefer though the idea that we've if [00:48:19] we're branding the city and we're branding it and and I think we've done an [00:48:24] excellent job with the with the rope theme that we have around or several of [00:48:28] our parks and some of that courting around the signs you know then let that [00:48:33] be the definition and as an end you know as an exit or an entryway that that be [00:48:37] it not that it just be a sign but that there be some definition of that of that [00:48:43] branding yes absolutely 300,000 in there there's somebody come and buy [00:48:48] Oh Robert can take it out of the highway 19 beautification Robert because not to [00:48:54] take that project any smaller but you told me that you didn't think it was [00:48:57] going to come in at a million is that correct okay so we won't take it out of [00:49:03] there will and the only the only other thing is that since senator Simpson has [00:49:07] been on a he's been on a PR campaign for the last three weeks because every [00:49:13] time I've heard him speak he's talked about Springs water cleanup all those [00:49:20] items so either him and a combination of himself and Amanda Murphy or whatever I [00:49:26] think we need to take the great preserve entrance in the engineering and I think [00:49:30] we need to see how best we can package those because everything that happens [00:49:36] coming off of that into the Great Preserve does wonderful things for the [00:49:41] environment as well as it does wonderful things for that overall park in that [00:49:46] that area so if we have to find some things that are going to help clean up [00:49:52] you know the Springs and the water table and all those kind of things I think [00:49:56] that's a perfect with those that's six acres that we do that and I and over and [00:50:02] above that I believe that somewhere in that entrance area into the Great [00:50:07] Preserve on the off of Congress in Louisiana there there needs to be some [00:50:11] kind of a community garden area identified you know right on the six [00:50:18] acres we bought the backs up to the Great Preserve I think that somewhere as [00:50:22] you come in that main entry off to one side or the other we need to accentuate [00:50:27] a community garden setting for that group because I just think that ties all [00:50:32] together as well as with the schools and everything else that's in that area I [00:50:37] just think that that gives it a much more complete feel as you come in I'd [00:50:43] have to go look at that one the the other place not to get too far off in [00:50:47] the weeds if you'll pardon the expression but the the north part of the [00:50:54] the Francis Avenue Park seems like an obvious location to be out with you [00:50:59] more than one doesn't doesn't offend me at all what about I think you're there [00:51:05] thanks but we'll put additional funds into that category I think it's real [00:51:12] important to put some some eggs in in one basket instead of because it's a [00:51:21] six baskets thank you 36 eggs a next order ensure the sexy stuff just going [00:51:39] through that there are certainly projects was completing the meters [00:51:44] Robert I don't know if you just want to give an overview of that we don't have [00:51:47] a big slide for that because it's all I think most of these projects that you [00:51:53] see before you are ones that we always work on year in and year out if you have [00:51:58] any questions I'll be glad the meters are pretty well we're moving right along [00:52:04] and we're on schedule Wilson directed completion day for the Madison streets [00:52:08] can we have any idea when we're going to be we started the design so we're [00:52:18] probably looking at maybe construction happening sometime around this area [00:52:26] that would be nice mr. Rivera on on the water and sewer especially in the [00:52:33] reclaimed waterside what's our ultimate goal there what's it what what's our in [00:52:42] game in game is to first of all finish what we started when we talk about low [00:52:48] hanging fruit the North River neighborhood is that last portion where [00:52:54] the yards are are pretty large and people have existing potable irrigation [00:53:01] meters so once we take care of that we're working with New Port Richey they [00:53:07] received a grant to purchase reclaimed water from us to irrigate some of their [00:53:15] large properties and we tried North River about maybe 15 years ago and I [00:53:22] don't think that our outreach program was formed well enough what we're going [00:53:27] to try to do is go back and divide that that project into three smaller projects [00:53:33] get grant grant funding and try to do the reclaimed projects in a steady pace [00:53:39] but always do them with grant funding to where we can still continue on but we're [00:53:45] not draining the utility because when you look at the utility it has a couple [00:53:50] priorities first and foremost between water reinvestment and sewer [00:53:55] reinvestment it kind of leaves reclaim off to the side to to where those [00:54:01] capital investments or expenditures are so large you have to be very careful or [00:54:07] or in the end trying to do the right thing can kind of basically put you [00:54:12] under. What's the ROI on that? As a reclaim obviously it's a [00:54:19] potential revenue source at some point in the future. Yes and no as it stands [00:54:26] right now there's access reclaim I mean if you take this year where we've had a [00:54:32] wet a wet season for probably the last five months most of the people that have [00:54:39] irrigation I have turned off I know I have so now it would continually shift [00:54:46] between a commodity versus you know just trying to dispose so you have to [00:54:51] find a happy median and you can't put all your eggs in anything that would keep [00:54:55] us from having to pay the county to take them water off our hands to me is a good [00:55:01] thing. Right and that's why I think the New Port Richey deal is is to our benefit [00:55:05] because now they have to have that capital expenditure and then we can sit [00:55:10] there and already supply them water that we're already having to pay. I can't [00:55:14] speak for for Jeff but as being one of the people in the North River community [00:55:20] you tell me you've got reclaimed water in front of my house I will be running [00:55:25] down here to sign up for it. Yeah and with our third town hall meeting being [00:55:32] this Thursday at Gulf High that's a that's a plug by the way I want everybody [00:55:35] to know that seven o'clock it'll be the third of our three meetings to let the [00:55:39] community come out and talk about a wide range of enhanced services everything [00:55:43] else and once we complete that there will be provided back to council and to [00:55:48] citizens and everybody else the overview from comments that were gained from the [00:55:53] citizens not from us what their concerns were and what they were focused on and I [00:55:59] will tell you that at the first meeting there was a high there were a number of [00:56:03] questions asking about reclaimed asking about you know potential plant or former [00:56:09] plans and where it had come and then obviously what that does long term as a [00:56:14] city image so I'm just that's the reason that I'm trying to get an idea what the [00:56:19] end game is because obviously there's going to be some other key commercial [00:56:25] areas that are going to come around in the next few years we just want to make [00:56:30] sure that we have the ability to provide them with the best services possible [00:56:35] also to at the reclaimed waters I saw when I lived in Woodridge Estates is you [00:56:39] offer that product people pay to get irrigation systems installed you know [00:56:44] because it's expensive run your sprinklers during the dry season I've [00:56:46] learned that I have a huge yard it's very expensive but once once that got [00:56:50] approved for Woodridge Estates a ton of neighbors went ahead and got irrigation [00:56:54] put in and their yards look so much nicer so just couldn't beautify all the [00:56:57] neighborhoods but yeah I mean that's a we're talking about a very large [00:57:01] neighborhood and so they're earlier the better yes it would be very well [00:57:04] receptive my yard being one of the ones that'll look a lot better we've got [00:57:08] reclaimed because I just quite frankly I cannot afford to run the sprinklers on [00:57:12] my my yard because it's probably 40 bucks every time I run through the cycle [00:57:17] at this point [00:57:20] I never knew we had a treasure island in city New Port Richey either I'm trying [00:57:41] to I'm thinking and I know a lot of places but I'm never heard of a place [00:57:44] called Treasure Island just just to talk about reclaimed and stormwater and [00:58:02] some of that and since I don't have my finger on the pulse what's uh any any [00:58:09] word out there on Magnolia Valley not that subdivision but the old golf course [00:58:15] because I know it looks like a floating element I'm just you know but when it [00:58:19] does dry out I mean you know and everybody's thrown that property [00:58:24] around for 30 years so I mean the bank was going through its process and then [00:58:32] it ultimately made a deal and got it back to the family who indicated that [00:58:37] they were looking to open up nine holes of the golf course but that was four [00:58:41] months ago and I'm not sure how they're gonna that's that's oh that was four [00:58:47] months ago we haven't heard anything else but we've kept our we've kept our [00:58:51] connections out there and our meters and a hopeful up on the screen I guess the [00:59:03] Street Improvement Fund is the other biggie in the Capital Improvement Fund [00:59:08] and went through the one project on the parking garage the other is minor but [00:59:23] it's the excuse me one moment don't wait for me I'll be right back [00:59:33] the multi-use is that a bike path yes I'll bring this up now I don't know [00:59:43] where it's going to go but the Tourist Development Board finally might be [00:59:50] addressing a project that they can use their money that 11 million or whatever [00:59:57] they've got it whatever the figure is that they might [01:00:00] to be able, might be trying to unite the county [01:00:05] through bike paths, and there's projects in the west, [01:00:09] there's projects in the center, [01:00:10] and there's projects in the, you know, Starkey. [01:00:13] You're from over Starkey. [01:00:15] So it's just that we need to maybe let, [01:00:19] hook the city into this project when it's moving out, [01:00:23] because it's the first thing, you know, [01:00:25] we had the wire grass, ball fields, [01:00:27] we had these other things, and it just, [01:00:29] you know, everybody was, [01:00:31] there's a problem at the county level. [01:00:33] County commissioners, they all have their own pet projects, [01:00:35] they don't work together, kind of like we work together, [01:00:37] they don't work together. [01:00:39] So it's been fighting over this money, [01:00:40] and there's another study out saying [01:00:43] that there should be something out there, [01:00:45] but there's not hotels to house the people out there. [01:00:51] So it's actually, we put a project out there, [01:00:56] everybody's gonna stay in Hillsborough County. [01:00:58] So this, there might be a multi-use bike paths [01:01:03] that are gonna hook the county all together. [01:01:05] So we just need to be aware [01:01:07] that that's coming along slowly, [01:01:09] but we might be able to hook into that project. [01:01:12] And so, you know, before we decide exactly how much [01:01:16] and where it is, we might keep an eye with the county. [01:01:19] The Pinellas Trail has done wonders [01:01:22] for several of the communities on that route. [01:01:25] And part of it is coming up by our plant [01:01:29] in that area up there. [01:01:31] One of the things you might suggest to them [01:01:34] at your meetings is look at those overpasses over 19, [01:01:40] much like they've got down in Pinellas County [01:01:42] over some of the major roads there. [01:01:45] Yeah, it was the first time that we, you know, [01:01:48] gotta go back to the Board of County Commissioners. [01:01:52] At one of our- [01:01:53] It was something that came out of us to send it. [01:01:56] Please give them a first tax update. [01:01:58] At one of our last NPO meetings, I brought that up, [01:02:00] that the need, we actually had a gentleman [01:02:01] from the DOT, FDOT, to present a study of the US-19 [01:02:06] and the fatalities on US-19. [01:02:08] After he was done, I told him about, you know, [01:02:11] the need in our city limits and other portions [01:02:13] of US-19 in Pasco County for the walkable [01:02:16] and bikeable overpasses. [01:02:18] So it was quite ironic to me, [01:02:20] he did this presentation on how dangerous US-19 is, [01:02:24] and then when I asked him about, you know, overpasses, [01:02:27] he said they couldn't afford it. [01:02:29] So that's where we were last NPO meeting. [01:02:33] In the redevelopment fund allocations, [01:02:35] can somebody highlight for me what our endeavor is [01:02:41] to go down that path of the paddle sports center [01:02:44] and the water activity? [01:02:45] We just spent $2 million on, [01:02:47] or gonna be over $2 million on Simms Park, [01:02:50] and that was one of the major places that was looked at. [01:02:53] Just trying to figure out, are we doing studies? [01:02:56] What's the 50 and the 102? [01:02:59] Because obviously that's on page 40 on the overview page. [01:03:03] Am I ahead of something? [01:03:04] I thought I was. [01:03:05] I thought I was. [01:03:06] No, I'm gonna go back to that. [01:03:07] I'm trying. [01:03:08] You know, I don't gloss over redevelopment [01:03:11] or CRA or any of that. [01:03:12] It's just, I'm just, and that, [01:03:15] and then define for me what the $1.5 million [01:03:20] in incentives is. [01:03:21] I need to understand that. [01:03:27] Is that something that we've obligated for [01:03:30] or that we have in pending agreements? [01:03:32] Because that's what triggers in the back of my mind. [01:03:36] I'm just trying to make sure that I understand [01:03:38] all these moving parts here. [01:03:41] I'll be happy to get that started [01:03:42] and then we can call Mario down. [01:03:45] He's the expert on the waterfront activities. [01:03:48] But the dollar, starting with the, [01:03:51] we talked about the garage. [01:03:53] The next one, the waterfront activity center. [01:03:55] The last time that the city council talked about that [01:03:58] was when you had the presentation from Mr. Shipley. [01:04:02] And the last thing he did was indicate [01:04:05] that his next step would be to look at [01:04:07] the potential of available locations. [01:04:10] So it's in there because it was never dismissed. [01:04:14] It's also in there because there was an interest [01:04:17] in going after tourism funding. [01:04:20] And because, of course, tourism is in the news every day. [01:04:24] It's breaking records in Pinellas and Hillsboro. [01:04:28] So whether it be a water activity [01:04:33] such as the one in Charlotte, [01:04:34] or whether it be a flat water activity [01:04:36] as Mario has talked about to get people on the water. [01:04:42] But that there's no intended use for anything beyond, [01:04:46] as I envision now, the next step to evaluate that [01:04:50] and let you all discuss what kind of activity [01:04:52] and whether or not there's a private person out there [01:04:55] that would fund that. [01:04:57] And I had some similar notes. [01:04:59] The one place where I actually put a sticky note [01:05:01] was on 43 because there's a $14 million item [01:05:05] for a waterfront activity park. [01:05:08] And that caught my attention. [01:05:10] And that's all sort of speculative saying [01:05:12] that there has to be some kind of an investor [01:05:15] who would be attracted to something like that. [01:05:17] So if the city was to get tourism money, [01:05:22] if we were fortunate to have that, [01:05:24] it would have to be owned by a city [01:05:28] and or operated by a non-profit entity. [01:05:32] And that's how they do it. [01:05:34] I don't know if Mario's got the details on that. [01:05:37] But we put it in there because it didn't get dismissed [01:05:40] and there was some excitement in the audience about it. [01:05:42] But there's certainly no identified funding. [01:05:45] And we've inserted words like speculative and potential [01:05:48] into the dialogue. [01:05:50] Well, that's the reason I brought it up, obviously, [01:05:52] is that we've taken some of those potential places [01:05:58] in our downtown that we looked at a while back. [01:06:01] Over and above that, the six acres at the Ray Preserve. [01:06:07] And then we bought the island in the middle of the river [01:06:10] there going into that area. [01:06:13] And if that's the case, and whether Mario or whoever [01:06:18] wants to speak with it, because we've [01:06:19] looked at the river as three different elements. [01:06:23] Is that right? [01:06:24] Mr. Iazzoni's shaking his head back there. [01:06:27] You've got the river going out to the Gulf, [01:06:32] going out through New Port Richey. [01:06:33] That's one distinct zone. [01:06:36] Then you come from there, from the Main Street Bridge [01:06:39] to the Grand Boulevard Bridge. [01:06:42] And that has a character of its own. [01:06:45] And then there's always been the talk of, [01:06:47] because of the height of the Grand Boulevard Bridge, [01:06:50] getting boats and all those underneath, [01:06:52] what you would do activity-wise, it [01:06:53] would take you back into the Gray Preserve [01:06:57] or down that, what I call down river, back into that area. [01:07:02] So if we were going to target some dollars to understand [01:07:06] that better or to find out what the platforms are that we could [01:07:11] generate interest or a public-private element, [01:07:14] I'm just not seeing the water park thing as the thing. [01:07:18] I'm thinking those three elements [01:07:20] to drive your ecotourism or whatever the catchphrase is. [01:07:24] You're absolutely right. [01:07:25] And Mr. Iazzoni, before you launch into that, [01:07:27] I also wondered if there is any more conversation [01:07:30] with the county. [01:07:31] I know there was a lot of hoopla with the idea of this [01:07:34] being the harbors area, and it extended all the way up [01:07:37] to the SunWest Mine and down to wherever. [01:07:40] So is there any more conversation [01:07:41] on their part about that and the blue way between our properties [01:07:45] and North? [01:07:46] In terms of, we've had good discussions with the county [01:07:50] on trying to establish that catalytic component where [01:07:54] the county would act first in the harbors info plan. [01:07:56] That's been a goal in the economic development, [01:07:58] to try to get them focused on one site. [01:08:00] And that's a good dialogue, and we [01:08:03] think we have them focused on a good site. [01:08:06] The blue way project, no, there hasn't [01:08:09] been any recent conversation in regard to them. [01:08:11] But it has helped us understand what Councilman Phillips [01:08:15] expressed, is that, yeah, originally, I [01:08:17] think we started off with a rather substantial concept [01:08:19] because it was successful in another city in Charlotte. [01:08:22] That was more indicative of a trend from the millennia [01:08:24] on what they were purchasing in terms of tourism services. [01:08:27] I do have 25 years experience in this industry. [01:08:30] And what you do when you start with a big concept [01:08:33] is begin to break it down and find out [01:08:35] where you base the concept. [01:08:36] And we just have such a tremendous natural resource [01:08:39] here. [01:08:40] We have this rather unique river that [01:08:42] has motorized from one side of the bridge [01:08:44] out to the Gulf of Mexico, beautiful sets of mangroves [01:08:48] that are a maze that people are actually accessing these days. [01:08:51] And then we have this whole trend in paddle sports, [01:08:54] not necessarily the whitewater. [01:08:56] It's just the fact that we call it a form of, [01:08:59] we used to call it gravity sport. [01:09:01] But for the most part, the millennials [01:09:04] have really kind of latched onto it [01:09:06] in terms of what we see in St. Pete. [01:09:07] And what I've been doing is, by throwing that concept out, [01:09:11] what has happened is that one of the most [01:09:14] interesting persons that came to town [01:09:16] was a guy by the name of Dave Hepp, who's from St. Pete. [01:09:19] He worked up at Charlotte as a sports activities director. [01:09:22] And he contacted us and said, I want to come by. [01:09:24] And now he's working over in Oklahoma City. [01:09:26] So it's been a learning process for us [01:09:28] in terms of how do we evolve and open up [01:09:32] the natural resources we have from a tourism type market. [01:09:35] That's really what the concept that we're looking at. [01:09:37] And when you look at Oklahoma City [01:09:40] and when you look at what they learned up in Charlotte, [01:09:42] it's the flatwater. [01:09:43] Ironically, that people are actually [01:09:46] active participants with. [01:09:49] In Charlotte, they have over 700 people a day [01:09:51] cross their docks, which they didn't build big enough [01:09:54] to access the Cottawa River, to simply learn [01:09:56] how to stand on a paddleboard, paddle their kayaks around. [01:09:59] And then the Oklahoma City is actually [01:10:02] a huge flatwater complex. [01:10:03] And if you again look at what they're doing down in Sarasota, [01:10:06] it's flatwater. [01:10:06] So the activity, and again, when I was in the industry, [01:10:10] what we found also was that, yes, we [01:10:12] have this really cool thing called whitewater, [01:10:14] but people really are engaged on the flatwater component, which [01:10:18] is really the awareness that we came to. [01:10:21] The goal here is how do we strategically [01:10:24] implement a very effective tourist development program? [01:10:29] And that's what I like to see that money allocated for, [01:10:31] is unlocking the natural resources [01:10:33] that we have here in terms of, you [01:10:37] have to base and root that first before you kind of look [01:10:41] at phase one and possibly phase three. [01:10:43] But there is tourist development dollars out there, [01:10:46] and we certainly should be fairly [01:10:47] aggressive at trying to develop a concept [01:10:49] and how we tap into that. [01:10:51] I would tend to take that second section a little further [01:10:54] upstream than my colleague would. [01:10:57] I'd probably extend it all the way to Francis Avenue. [01:10:59] But one of the things we've talked about [01:11:05] is the kayak canoe-type docking facilities at Francis Avenue. [01:11:12] And that area immediately upstream from Francis Avenue [01:11:17] before you get into the Gray Preserve [01:11:20] is probably the ideal part for newbies [01:11:24] to be out on the water, learning how to use that stuff. [01:11:29] You're far enough upstream, you don't [01:11:31] have to worry about the oysters you do downstream. [01:11:34] It's deep, it's safe, and it's wide. [01:11:38] So they could get out there and do quite a bit of learning [01:11:41] without hurting themselves. [01:11:43] Yeah, and those are your key focal points. [01:11:44] Gray Preserve, Francis Avenue Park, Sims Park, [01:11:46] and then the Portagee Waterfront, and then up to the Gulf. [01:11:49] It's interesting. [01:11:51] You learn as you evolve the idea, [01:11:53] but you have to root that community first. [01:11:55] And you have to get them coming up here. [01:11:57] And you like to say, you know, Francis Avenue Park [01:12:00] is really interesting in terms of a really authentic [01:12:03] outdoor wildlife experience. [01:12:04] I'm pitching the Gray Preserve any time [01:12:05] I have somebody come into town, because it's [01:12:07] just a beautiful area. [01:12:09] And so I look at that money that's [01:12:11] allocated more as a mechanism in terms of, [01:12:15] how do we kind of get there from here? [01:12:16] And I've, in the city manager, I've [01:12:18] shared some good conversations regarding [01:12:20] what Councilman McNeil was talking about, [01:12:22] is that, you know, how do you kind of map that? [01:12:25] But you really have to start, you know, [01:12:28] we have a vision in terms of a direction we want to travel. [01:12:30] And we're looking mainly at their services [01:12:33] that that group is consuming. [01:12:35] And I really feel that New Port Richey [01:12:38] has incredible natural assets, [01:12:39] a very diverse level of natural assets. [01:12:42] And you can do everything from, you know, [01:12:46] dragon boats to gondoliers. [01:12:49] I mean, there's just so much opportunity there. [01:12:51] And I think we have to kind of figure out how we do that. [01:12:53] I think we're on the right track. [01:12:54] New Port Richey's on the right track. [01:12:55] They're getting a significant amount of funding [01:12:57] to hopefully build a super boat ramp in the park [01:13:00] that's not really utilized to the best of its capability. [01:13:04] And then with the dredging with Gildog, [01:13:05] I mean, once that's done, [01:13:06] that's going to open up more parking, [01:13:08] just give people a place to come and start from, [01:13:11] and then maybe entice them to come up the river, [01:13:14] not just out to the Gulf. [01:13:15] You can do an interesting triathlon. [01:13:17] Some of the things you look at, you know, [01:13:18] we can do a paddle sport triathlon, [01:13:19] which is a combination of, you know, [01:13:23] biking and paddling and all those interesting things. [01:13:25] And, you know, that's what, you know, [01:13:28] that's what the Tampa Bay area does [01:13:30] in terms of sports activities these days. [01:13:32] I would love to see, if we're going to keep the dollars, [01:13:35] let's correctly identify the categories [01:13:38] as far as evaluating those elements of the river, [01:13:44] number one. [01:13:45] Number two is to determine if you had kayak, [01:13:50] if you had true kayak launch at Francis Avenue, [01:13:56] or is it better to have it as a component part [01:13:59] of the gray preserve element? [01:14:03] Because whichever one, once you establish that, [01:14:08] it's going to drive a parking issue. [01:14:10] It's going to drive a parking scenario. [01:14:13] And we have to be attuned to that both ecologically, [01:14:18] but also functionality, [01:14:20] because we see what happens in downtown [01:14:24] with the boat ramp stuff. [01:14:26] And, you know, and everybody tells us [01:14:27] how we need to expand and do all that. [01:14:30] And it's like, but most of you people putting them in [01:14:31] don't live in the city, but you're impacting it. [01:14:34] So if we're going to use this money, [01:14:36] then let's evaluate the river elements, [01:14:39] but also which one of those, [01:14:42] or the combination of those fit in well [01:14:45] with what's happening up at Gildogs [01:14:47] and the kayak launch we're putting into Sims Park. [01:14:50] So there's a whole series of things. [01:14:51] I think we're going to see it. [01:14:52] I think it's on the way. [01:14:54] I think we're going to see vans [01:14:55] traveling through our downtown, [01:14:57] transporting people started at Gildog [01:14:59] and ended up. [01:15:00] Great Preserve, and are getting right back to that. [01:15:02] I was in the outfitter business for many years, [01:15:04] and to answer your question, [01:15:06] it's almost an outfitter mentality, [01:15:07] but I think we'd like to root that outfitter downtown, [01:15:10] you know, as kind of like, you know, a focal point, [01:15:13] and that way you don't put too much pressure [01:15:15] on the more environmentally sensitive areas. [01:15:17] Yeah, with all due respect to Geldogs, [01:15:19] I just soon have the outfitter downtown as well. [01:15:23] No, I agree as well. [01:15:24] I'm just saying that Poetry Waterfront, [01:15:27] you're not taking away from New Poetry, [01:15:28] but they have the space, you know, [01:15:31] and it's just a great starting point, [01:15:33] and then, you know, the site that sticks out in my mind [01:15:37] is where the Market Off Main is. [01:15:40] That's right downtown on the river. [01:15:41] That could be a great projected site [01:15:43] for something like that, [01:15:44] but no, I'm not saying we don't need one. [01:15:45] I'm just saying it's all, I just, [01:15:47] I think it's gonna happen. [01:15:48] It's all just tying in. [01:15:49] We just have to work from the cusp. [01:15:51] Tom can talk about his experience in the nightlife in town, [01:15:55] and I can talk to the experience [01:15:57] of the boat rentals. [01:15:58] We had that little, [01:16:00] my family had that little [01:16:01] Spoonbill's Bait and Boat store there, [01:16:03] and the most successful part of that, [01:16:07] and we managed to survive a while, [01:16:10] was the rental of the little gnu [01:16:12] with the little small motors, the electric motors, [01:16:15] the people that would come in [01:16:16] and like to be able to putt along into the backwaters, [01:16:20] and so some kind of a small boat rental, [01:16:25] a kayak, whatever is out there. [01:16:29] Yeah, a question for Bill. [01:16:33] Do you know if, is the section, [01:16:35] the six acres, is that suitable for doing launching as well? [01:16:46] In my tour with Ms. Fierce and Mr. Rivera, [01:16:50] we got lost. [01:16:51] We got in, and we got our way back out, [01:16:54] but once you got in the overgrowth and stuff, [01:16:56] I really, I don't know how it gets to the riverside, [01:17:00] so I would, I remember as a youth [01:17:03] used to going up the riverside and going back that way, [01:17:06] but I don't know. [01:17:07] I think it may be too soggy at the end of the day. [01:17:10] I was in, the last time I was up in there [01:17:12] was probably 40 years ago, so. [01:17:15] Yeah, so, but at the end of the day, [01:17:16] I just think, as you said, [01:17:18] I think making it a downtown element [01:17:21] and then filtering it, [01:17:23] I think you're right with the neighborhoods. [01:17:25] I just want to make sure that, you know, [01:17:28] if you offer those launching points [01:17:30] that you have adequate services, [01:17:32] which I know we're going to do with the bathrooms [01:17:34] at Francis Avenue in the coming years, so it's fine. [01:17:37] Okay. [01:17:38] I just want to say a couple things. [01:17:41] I mean, you've all touched on it, [01:17:42] but the Tourist Development Board [01:17:46] was invited to a workshop with the PCC, [01:17:51] and we got into the whole tourism thing, [01:17:53] and a term that I brought up there [01:17:56] that I had heard, I won't take claim to it, [01:17:58] but I heard is that with New Port Richey and New Port Richey, [01:18:02] now that we're working together, [01:18:03] that a river runs through us, [01:18:06] and I saw the light go on in both Mariano and Starkey's eyes, [01:18:12] and here they are, the representatives of this area. [01:18:15] So, you know, I think that that gildog [01:18:18] kind of sparked it, maybe, [01:18:21] but I think that whole merchant association [01:18:25] they have up there, and then us latching onto them, [01:18:28] and maybe getting our chambers involved with them, [01:18:32] West Pasco Chamber, I should say, not our chamber, [01:18:34] but it just, it's something in the 30 years [01:18:37] that I've been here that I've never seen developed [01:18:40] is our own river, our own natural resource, [01:18:43] and it's starting at the mouth of the river, [01:18:46] so we just needed to keep in touch with New Port Richey [01:18:50] and as they're growing, [01:18:51] because they're a step ahead of us with its dredging there, [01:18:53] like you said, and, you know, [01:18:55] utilizing Miller's Bayou in their race. [01:18:58] The Miss Daisy, or the river taxi idea [01:19:01] that gets people from gildogs up to the Sims Park area. [01:19:04] Absolutely, that's what we have to focus on. [01:19:06] It's just an untapped resource. [01:19:09] Absolutely. [01:19:10] Yeah, and I think that that is something [01:19:12] that we had talked about years ago, [01:19:14] you know, and the Miss Daisy in our park, [01:19:17] because it's been positioned in such a place [01:19:19] to do the river cruises as well as the sunset cruises. [01:19:22] So, you know, I think that that's a really key piece. [01:19:26] Talked about this book forever. [01:19:27] I think they're happier up there. [01:19:28] Not really. [01:19:30] Well, go on. [01:19:31] Just to throw out the one other wet spot [01:19:34] that nobody's talked about, which is Green Key, [01:19:36] and just to remind the board [01:19:38] that the city owns the northern half [01:19:43] of the bulkhead of Green Key out there. [01:19:46] On the property appraiser's website [01:19:48] at the city's holdings, [01:19:49] you'll see that it's even platted as a subdivision. [01:19:52] So, you know, some, at least minor exploration [01:19:55] of the city plan that's out there, [01:19:58] and it's any potential for another touch spot [01:20:01] at Green Key or any coastal development. [01:20:05] That's what everybody, folks that have been in here, [01:20:08] have said, you need a beach. [01:20:09] Well, we know the water doesn't pound a beach out, [01:20:12] but there is some coastal land owned by the city [01:20:16] that often goes undiscussed. [01:20:18] I hate to back up on that, [01:20:21] but was that put in play with some of the BP elements? [01:20:27] Because obviously that drove settlement items [01:20:30] if you had pure coastline, and I don't know. [01:20:33] It's unfortunate that that wasn't an element [01:20:38] because my thought always was if the city could ever, [01:20:42] if the city had more waterfront or land [01:20:48] that was impacted by that, [01:20:50] we would have been in another place. [01:20:53] And everybody's always thought that, you know, [01:20:55] why didn't the city have Robert K. Reese [01:20:57] or Green Key Beach and all that and all those elements? [01:21:00] Because that obviously drives a lot, [01:21:02] drove a lot of numbers and will [01:21:04] from some of the additional BP settlement. [01:21:06] Get some money from the county based on that. [01:21:08] That's another partnership. [01:21:09] They own the one side with the beach side [01:21:13] and we own all of the wooded area. [01:21:15] The money's already been allocated, [01:21:17] though it's too late for that correction. [01:21:17] Yeah, but if it's been allocated to the county, [01:21:19] doesn't mean that we can't get a piece from the county. [01:21:20] Just throwing it out. [01:21:21] That is a resource that y'all have. [01:21:22] I'm not suggesting that. [01:21:24] It's not in the budget, but something to remember. [01:21:27] Thank you. [01:21:29] Thank you. [01:21:30] Thank you, Mario. [01:21:31] Now to the street improvement. [01:21:36] We're getting through it. [01:21:40] If you're ready, if you look up the Morton multi-use path, [01:21:44] it's probably time for him to come back down. [01:21:47] I guess that's underway. [01:21:50] We've anticipated in our narrative [01:21:54] that we would have spent some money [01:21:56] before the year was out on that project. [01:22:02] We jumped right over Plath Road. [01:22:05] Did we? [01:22:06] I'm sorry, I'm looking up there, [01:22:07] and that's why I'm not following the chart. [01:22:10] It just is, you're talking about this multi-use path [01:22:14] and connecting to Starkey Park. [01:22:18] I mean, that's either Plath Road is an access [01:22:21] to that way, or Massachusetts. [01:22:27] Actions in which might work better for us [01:22:29] and the county to hook us together. [01:22:32] If I may, on that larger topic, [01:22:35] I had a discussion with the person [01:22:37] who had just been, is being replaced, [01:22:39] who represents the DOT on the state [01:22:43] Florida Greenway and Trail System plan. [01:22:47] The first question she asked was, [01:22:49] did we have a master plan? [01:22:52] Farther down on the list, there is money in there [01:22:54] to do exactly as you're saying, [01:22:56] which is try to coordinate with the state [01:22:58] Greenway Trail System, and then the county. [01:23:01] MPO has an individual that also is working [01:23:05] on the development of that trail from Pinellas, [01:23:08] the Pinellas Trail, which comes up to Marine Parkway [01:23:11] on 19 off of Gulf Trace, comes through Gulf Trace. [01:23:17] The connection of the Pinellas Trail [01:23:19] to the Greenways Trail through Starkey, [01:23:22] as you're mentioning, would create a link [01:23:24] that would come from the Atlantic Ocean [01:23:27] and give the quickest route to the Gulf of Mexico [01:23:30] for someone who was on a tourist trip, [01:23:33] on a bicycle trip across the state [01:23:35] to take that Greenway path. [01:23:37] The individual from the state said [01:23:39] that these side trips, because the original plan, [01:23:42] the existing plan calls for going along Trinity, [01:23:44] along the suburgatory trail there, [01:23:49] through Trinity and out to the other side of 54 [01:23:54] to meet the Starkey Park. [01:23:56] But as the Edwards and the folks from DOT said, [01:24:00] the state is looking for side trips [01:24:03] that can be of interest to the tourists [01:24:05] who want to bicycle across the state, [01:24:07] who would like to maybe pass through an area of interest [01:24:10] or a recreational facility or some small town. [01:24:13] So I think there would be excitement from them, [01:24:17] from funding from the statewide basis as well [01:24:20] as making it part of the Florida Greenway Trail plan. [01:24:27] I'll share that with you all. [01:24:30] Lobbying, it's always lobbying. [01:24:37] The Morton plant, it's under, [01:24:39] ready to get started with the construction, Robert? [01:24:43] Yes, we'll be starting within the next couple of weeks. [01:24:46] Project will be moving on. [01:24:48] Plath Road, we've got a completion date of October 9th. [01:24:53] So a lot of these, we've gotten in place, [01:24:58] the design started, and hopefully by October [01:25:01] we'll be heavy into the construction activities. [01:25:05] Can we go back to the top [01:25:07] where we talk about street improvements in the project? [01:25:09] Is that Madison? [01:25:11] Is a good portion of that Madison? [01:25:13] Madison as well as Congress. [01:25:16] A lot of the Orito Park area [01:25:19] where those roads are just dilapidated. [01:25:21] Okay, by Pine Hill, okay. [01:25:24] All right, and those are collector roads. [01:25:27] Yes, sir. [01:25:28] Those are collector roads. [01:25:29] Correct. [01:25:30] Okay, all right. [01:25:32] And then Plath is just what's left over [01:25:35] by what we're supposed to be finished [01:25:36] by the end of the fiscal year? [01:25:38] Yes. [01:25:39] And for sake of the audience and everything, [01:25:42] you're underway with that, [01:25:44] and that's about a $360,000 paving project? [01:25:49] Correct. [01:25:50] And so that's supposed to be, [01:25:52] so by Christmas people will be able to drive back there [01:25:55] without having the mayor take his little car [01:25:57] and end up where you can't see the top of it [01:26:00] on some occasions, is that right? [01:26:02] And that's also, is it truly no cost [01:26:06] to the residents on that street, right? [01:26:09] Correct, it's no cost to the residents, [01:26:10] depending from where it's going. [01:26:12] Because that was the biggest stumbling block [01:26:13] for everyone, the county was gonna do it, [01:26:15] they didn't want that road done [01:26:16] because they were gonna be assessed it, [01:26:18] but obviously it gives us the right entrance way [01:26:21] into the Great Preserve. [01:26:22] Along the same lines, it looks like we're all but ready [01:26:25] for asphalt on the redone section of Grand [01:26:29] between the incubator and Bank Street. [01:26:33] Correct. [01:26:34] So that should be asphalt within the next couple of weeks? [01:26:42] And you touched on the neighborhood improvement projects, [01:26:45] is that strictly the grant funding elements? [01:26:49] No, that's money pledged from, [01:26:51] it's related to the finance plan. [01:26:54] So if you look at that chart, Bill, [01:26:57] look at the area on the top where it says proceeds of bond, [01:27:02] we're putting $4 million in the next year [01:27:05] and $2 million, one in, to the programming [01:27:08] in the following year. [01:27:09] So $6 million is the upfront. [01:27:12] The goal was to try to spend a good bit of money [01:27:16] between now and the end of 2018 [01:27:19] so that we would be able to have that count [01:27:22] towards our calculations for the distributions [01:27:24] of the street gas tax for the next five years. [01:27:30] I understand that, but that creates [01:27:34] a chicken and egg scenario to me. [01:27:37] Chicken meaning that we have to go borrow [01:27:40] a bunch of money to do some of this [01:27:42] and then we have to have the elements to pay that [01:27:44] and we get some credit for that, [01:27:50] but it also, it gets you so far down the road [01:27:56] and if you decide not to do that, [01:28:01] next thing you're doing is you're X-ing all these out. [01:28:03] So there's a bunch of analogies you can do [01:28:08] and I won't use half of them that I'm thinking of right now, [01:28:11] but I understand where we are. [01:28:17] It's just that if we approve this, [01:28:18] then we're in some way saying that we're gonna go borrow. [01:28:24] It's, as again, it's a chicken and the egg element here [01:28:26] and it has some concerns, [01:28:29] but I'm just gonna put them out there [01:28:31] and then my final one is, once again, [01:28:36] we're back to the point where we're talking [01:28:38] about improving our residential areas [01:28:42] and part of the way that you impact that [01:28:44] from visual is good roads into those, [01:28:48] but in this five-year capital plan, [01:28:51] we don't look to do anything of any significance [01:28:54] until 2020. [01:28:56] Now, don't get me wrong. [01:28:57] They have to pay an allocation [01:28:58] for what we do on some of theirs. [01:29:00] That's the way it's traditionally been done. [01:29:02] It doesn't mean you have to do that going forward, [01:29:04] but residential paving programs, [01:29:08] we want everybody to fix their house up. [01:29:09] We want everybody to do all these things, [01:29:12] but in the same token, if the roads don't look good, [01:29:16] I don't know. [01:29:17] I'm looking at a balance issue. [01:29:19] I don't know. [01:29:20] That's what triggered this to me. [01:29:21] So I wanted to make sure that we kind of talked about [01:29:24] or at least- [01:29:25] If I could talk to you about that philosophy, Bill. [01:29:28] The Penny for Pasco funds, [01:29:31] the potential of demonstrated debt service in there [01:29:35] was under a quarter of the annual revenue. [01:29:39] It still has to pay for police cars. [01:29:41] It still has to pay for things [01:29:43] until the city's revenue stream increases. [01:29:46] So the story is always the same. [01:29:48] Unless there's increased property value in town [01:29:50] or unless there's increased population [01:29:53] to create more tax revenue for the city, [01:29:55] then it'll come to that day of reckoning [01:29:57] where you either have to cut back on something [01:29:59] or rather- [01:30:00] an assessment or whatever. [01:30:02] The goal is to avoid assessments and to try [01:30:04] to get the engine of the CRA cranked up [01:30:09] so we get as much of the county tax money [01:30:11] back in as quickly as we can to try to allow the CRA [01:30:15] to pay back the debt. [01:30:17] Here's a strategy, Bill. [01:30:18] I'm not saying it's perfect, or I haven't demonstrated it, [01:30:25] or we have this way done it the best we can. [01:30:28] Again, we're going to need some financial advisor [01:30:32] to help you to get the advice from an outside third party [01:30:36] as to what kind of projects you want to do. [01:30:42] I work for the taxpayers, and they [01:30:44] don't want to pay the ad valorem tax they're paying now. [01:30:48] They want the millage to come down. [01:30:50] That's who I work for. [01:30:52] Instead of spending. [01:30:55] The millage will continue. [01:30:56] The reason the millage is at nine [01:30:58] is because the property values are so low at half. [01:31:00] Nine and a half because the property values are at half. [01:31:03] Look at the taxes paid on somebody [01:31:05] that has a smaller house outside the city limits [01:31:08] in a community that's maintained well, [01:31:10] and they're paying a much lower millage rate, [01:31:13] but they're paying twice the cost. [01:31:14] The best comparator is the city of Portage. [01:31:16] We all know that. [01:31:16] We want to bring the property values up [01:31:19] so that we can lower the millage rate. [01:31:20] Everyone talks about the millage rate is so low with Portage. [01:31:22] Well, look at their assessed value. [01:31:24] The majority of their population [01:31:26] is on the river with gulf access. [01:31:28] So obviously, their millage rate can be substantially lower [01:31:31] because their assessed value is so much higher [01:31:32] because they're waterfront properties. [01:31:34] But I think we're all in agreeance [01:31:35] that that's the goal is to increase [01:31:37] the values of our properties, be it through improvement. [01:31:42] We have to do it as a city and as residents. [01:31:44] We have to work together. [01:31:45] And to me, it's pretty obvious. [01:31:49] We understand the millage rate's high. [01:31:50] If we improve values, we can drop the millage rate. [01:31:54] That's our number one goal, I would say, correct? [01:31:59] But doing that, we need to establish, as a council, [01:32:06] what our objective is, what we're [01:32:11] willing to live with as far as debt service targets, number [01:32:16] one, how long they would be out there, [01:32:19] how long it would be obligated to the city [01:32:23] to reach those goals. [01:32:25] Because I think I've heard, during some other conversations [01:32:31] we've had, that we really don't want [01:32:33] to go outside the useful life of the CRA, [01:32:36] and or, in some cases, the useful life of the Penny [01:32:39] for Pasco and that fund, because we don't [01:32:43] want to take that debt out. [01:32:44] Even though we could, you could take it out 30 years. [01:32:47] But that last 12 years is really in a quandary [01:32:53] to make sure that you've got the right revenue stream. [01:32:55] So I think if we set the parameters correctly, [01:32:58] then we can factor in what we get back. [01:33:02] And if it, so that's where I'm at. [01:33:05] I agree. [01:33:07] And if we do allocate those dollars, [01:33:10] what is our expectation in raising values [01:33:13] and what it would have? [01:33:15] You know, all of those things come together for us [01:33:17] to make a good decision for the city. [01:33:21] And there's a lot of variance in those projections, too. [01:33:23] I mean, it's not a typical thing to do. [01:33:26] Yes, it is. [01:33:29] Monies that could be earmarked for the neighborhoods, [01:33:34] buying in the city, buying in with the neighborhoods, [01:33:37] saying we're on your side, help yourself, we'll help you. [01:33:43] I think that's part of the idea of the residential grant [01:33:45] money that's in the operating budget as well. [01:33:49] And the one factor that we haven't put on the table [01:33:52] that we have kind of, you know, we've [01:33:53] touched on peripherally in meetings and conversations [01:33:57] is, if we're going to do this and we're providing [01:34:01] levels of service and we have areas outside the city that [01:34:05] are receiving services from our water department or whatever, [01:34:09] there does have to be a thought as to an annexation platform [01:34:18] that could either square borders or that we [01:34:21] could go and offer ourselves. [01:34:24] Now, we might get kicked to the curb, [01:34:25] but you never know until you ask somebody. [01:34:27] I personally think that, from a standpoint, is it feasible? [01:34:32] I don't know. [01:34:33] Do I speculate in my mind and drive down the road [01:34:35] thinking about it? [01:34:36] If there was a way to incorporate C-Force [01:34:39] into the city of New Port Richey, what the major impact [01:34:42] that would have, number one. [01:34:44] Number two, we could alleviate some of the sheriff's costs [01:34:48] out there, because our police department [01:34:50] is all over that area. [01:34:51] So there's a whole series of things. [01:34:53] But I think as a complete package, [01:34:55] when you talk about debt, you talk about neighborhoods, [01:34:58] you talk about service, you also have [01:35:00] to have the ability to say, I think you want to come join me. [01:35:04] I think we've done a pretty daggum good job. [01:35:06] They may tell you, well, I don't like this, [01:35:08] I don't like this, I don't like this. [01:35:09] But you have water charges that can be allocated, [01:35:13] a whole series of things. [01:35:15] I think if you don't ask, a lot of cases in my business, [01:35:19] if I don't ask for the order, nine times out of 10, [01:35:22] they're not going to say, I like you a whole lot [01:35:24] and I'm going to spend that money. [01:35:26] So I just think that that balances the entire package. [01:35:29] That goes along with what I said last week in communications. [01:35:32] If we have to have a project, and then we [01:35:34] have to market our project, you can't just sit here [01:35:38] and talk about it and not go any further. [01:35:40] Well, as far as annexation goes, I [01:35:42] would agree that the seaports would be the first focal point, [01:35:45] in my opinion, and then work your way south coastline. [01:35:48] Yep. [01:35:53] Uses of this funding from grants? [01:35:56] We have funding summary of grants. [01:36:00] Before we get to the funding summary side, a couple of items [01:36:04] we've sort of crossed over. [01:36:07] There's an expense item in the capital expenditure [01:36:14] button for replacing those nasty Dutch Elm disease trees [01:36:20] downtown. [01:36:21] They're like this? [01:36:22] Oh, they're horrible. [01:36:24] I suggested, and you guys may throw walnuts at me or something, [01:36:32] but I suggested to Del Deschamps [01:36:35] with the environmental committee last night [01:36:38] that they might ought to try to find us some nice shade type [01:36:42] trees that could go up there that would provide either fruit [01:36:45] or nuts as a side vending. [01:36:49] And so I've got him at least thinking about that. [01:36:52] And the other, before I forget it, [01:36:53] the wayfinding, particularly if we're [01:36:55] going to raise the amount we're going to do for wayfinding, [01:37:00] it would tie back into what Chopper was talking about [01:37:03] as well. [01:37:05] Let's do some of that wayfinding in the way of bike routes [01:37:08] to show people safe ways of getting around town [01:37:11] without getting run over. [01:37:12] I think that's a component. [01:37:15] And of course, I come from the first time [01:37:17] on council where we were developing streetscape, [01:37:20] and that was the new entity, and you were slowing down traffic. [01:37:23] You were doing all those things. [01:37:25] And the trees have forever been a football. [01:37:29] Live, die. [01:37:30] Now, the ones that have survived the most and do the best thing [01:37:34] right here in City Hall, right in front of City [01:37:36] Hall in the library. [01:37:37] I mean, they are absolutely massive. [01:37:39] And that's, I guess, what everybody's dream [01:37:41] might have been. [01:37:42] Then I go back to the retail side of the business [01:37:45] I was on for 21 years in the real estate side, [01:37:48] and people were talking. [01:37:49] And then as the evolution and the problem [01:37:55] with trying to keep those trees alive and everything, [01:37:57] then I come back to the thought process. [01:38:00] Let the, like years ago, let the buildings speak for themselves [01:38:05] and let them have the character. [01:38:08] Then everybody says, what do you do with those grates? [01:38:10] And there's a whole series of things [01:38:12] you can think about, because at the end of the day, [01:38:15] retailers want signage. [01:38:17] We want a distinct downtown. [01:38:19] I don't think we can get away from the trees. [01:38:21] I'm talking about both sides, because I [01:38:23] remember when we were running that streetscape out [01:38:26] and what our goals were. [01:38:28] And then, of course, now we are 25 years later. [01:38:31] So I just, I don't think there's any, there's no real answer. [01:38:35] It's just that what would benefit, [01:38:39] because we do spend dollars on a regular basis to replace them. [01:38:45] We have to service them. [01:38:47] Our machinery that comes downtown, [01:38:50] if we don't do it right, we have people come to us, [01:38:52] tell us that we have the street sweeper, [01:38:54] and then we have the blower, instead of the blower [01:38:56] in the street. [01:38:57] So we have all those things that come into play. [01:38:59] So I just throw that out, that at the end of the day, [01:39:03] that's the quandary we get in with trying [01:39:06] to market our downtown. [01:39:08] And I would agree. [01:39:09] The elms tend to look dead half the year, [01:39:12] and the rest, they look like they've got the mange. [01:39:16] So we've got to find something else. [01:39:18] The crepe myrtles, we have them in the wintertime, [01:39:20] hang some wreaths on them, wrap them in lights, [01:39:22] and it's just a stock. [01:39:23] And then they grow back in the spring. [01:39:24] They're absolutely gorgeous. [01:39:26] Anyway, give some thought to something [01:39:28] other than replacing the elms with more elms. [01:39:34] So that was it. [01:39:36] To the finance side. [01:39:41] Before we do that, do we need a break? [01:39:43] I'm good tonight. [01:39:45] We'll move to the next slide, too. [01:39:46] Let's see what else we're trying to talk about. [01:39:48] This was just a cash flow of what [01:39:50] was coming in and out over the three-year period through 18. [01:39:53] I think you just looked at the bottom number [01:39:56] there and see that the utilization of the funding [01:40:01] sources and the projects that are in your book [01:40:05] don't leave, aren't going to end up, [01:40:08] if that's implemented, like the penny for Pasco 1, [01:40:11] where you found where the investments weren't made [01:40:14] until now when we have that build up. [01:40:19] And let me be clear. [01:40:22] You got $3.5 million projected for the fire station. [01:40:27] It wasn't $3.3, it was $3.5 on the first deal, [01:40:31] on the first page. [01:40:32] And we're anticipating a US Department of Agriculture. [01:40:35] So we're going to spend the money, [01:40:37] and that's going to be reimbursed back to us. [01:40:39] Is that kind of the way that I understand it? [01:40:40] No, they're going to loan it to you. [01:40:41] The $3.1 is going to be a loan? [01:40:43] OK. [01:40:44] It's a bridge, and it's a bridge loan. [01:40:45] I mean, the idea there, again, is [01:40:47] that the results of the study that's being done [01:40:51] and the determination as to a central station, [01:40:56] operational costs, whatever else is there, [01:40:58] that hopefully there's some efficiencies in that, [01:41:03] in addition to the improvements that are needed for safety [01:41:06] purposes. [01:41:10] But anyhow, we can move to the next slide if you want. [01:41:13] I'll provide you all with an electronic version of all this [01:41:16] if you'd like, revisiting all the projects. [01:41:19] That's the money that's being shown [01:41:20] to be spent in the current year. [01:41:22] That's the money that adds up, but for the water and sewer. [01:41:27] And maybe that's where the differences [01:41:29] are in the totals of CHOPPER. [01:41:31] If we put the water projects on there, [01:41:33] that's when you end up at the $25 million figure. [01:41:40] Yeah, it just wasn't here, and we started off [01:41:42] with this number that wasn't even. [01:41:47] So I'll send all that to you all, and if you don't mind [01:41:52] and if you're willing, I'd ask if maybe you could hear [01:41:57] after he's watched us from our counsel as to whether crazy [01:42:03] or whether what our next step would be and get his advice. [01:42:08] It's free at this point. [01:42:10] This is one lawyer that doesn't charge us. [01:42:11] Can you come see us a couple times [01:42:13] before you make an assessment about our sanity or not? [01:42:17] Because, I mean, some of us know where we're at. [01:42:25] Thanks for having me here tonight. [01:42:27] Again, my name is Dwayne Draper, and I work and reside in Tampa. [01:42:32] And I've been in the public finance business for 23 years, [01:42:35] first as an investment banker and then [01:42:37] as a bond lawyer for the last two decades. [01:42:39] Just had my 20th anniversary at the firm. [01:42:42] And I've been privileged to serve as bond counsel [01:42:44] to the city since around 2004. [01:42:48] And I think I've had an opportunity [01:42:52] to absorb some of what I've heard tonight [01:42:53] and in some prior conversations with Peter. [01:42:56] And as a policy matter, there is a school of thought [01:43:00] that it is appropriate to finance some [01:43:03] of the long-lived useful assets or long-lived assets [01:43:07] that we've seen described tonight with debt, [01:43:12] commensurate with the useful life of the assets being [01:43:15] financed in appropriate levels. [01:43:19] And so the thought is that he or she who is here now, [01:43:26] who may not be here later, ought not [01:43:28] pay a disproportionate share. [01:43:31] And he or she who's not here now but comes later [01:43:34] ought to pay for some of these projects. [01:43:37] And that's a way in which to match that up [01:43:39] and to be able to manage your budget. [01:43:42] I'm a legal advisor. [01:43:43] I'm not a financial advisor. [01:43:45] And I think what the city is contemplating in connection [01:43:48] with these capital assets that it would like to, [01:43:54] or these investments that it would [01:43:55] like to consider making in the community [01:43:57] is to figure out a way in which to cost effectively structure [01:44:01] those financing elements. [01:44:06] And a financial advisor, an independent financial advisor, [01:44:08] can be very helpful in helping you figure out [01:44:11] what affordability you have in light of your revenues [01:44:16] and your current obligations and your priorities [01:44:20] in light of certain revenue sources that [01:44:22] may be expiring in the years to come [01:44:25] or may need to be renewed or considered to be renewed, [01:44:29] things that are within your control, what's not [01:44:31] within your control, how you might structure [01:44:34] the financing or financings in terms of private negotiated [01:44:38] sale, bank loan, public offering, [01:44:40] competitive versus negotiated. [01:44:42] There's a variety of decisions as you [01:44:43] would go through this process, what you're comfortable [01:44:46] borrowing, if any, in connection with this process. [01:44:49] And I think us as your legal advisor, a financial advisor, [01:44:54] helping Peter and the city manager, [01:44:56] and ultimately you all as the decision makers, [01:44:59] figure out how best. [01:45:00] to handle this over the horizon [01:45:02] that you're most comfortable with. [01:45:03] And so, you know, from that perspective, [01:45:06] what I've heard is you've got some debt structured [01:45:10] in that is now refinanceable [01:45:13] based upon historically low interest rates. [01:45:18] It appears based upon what I hear financial advisors [01:45:21] suggesting is that what's going on outside of, [01:45:25] in China, et cetera, may very well create [01:45:28] a longer period of time [01:45:31] where rates may stay historically low. [01:45:33] So it's a good opportunity to be looking at [01:45:35] what you might be able to do [01:45:36] in terms of refinancing your existing debt [01:45:39] and structuring some of your new debt. [01:45:40] And that's what a financial advisor would help [01:45:43] you all understand in terms of what you're... [01:45:48] So if you decide to borrow, [01:45:50] I'm here to help from a legal perspective [01:45:53] to make sure that that's done efficiently and properly. [01:45:55] I've done that for you in the past [01:45:57] and I look forward to the potential opportunity [01:45:59] to do that for you in the future. [01:46:00] And... [01:46:08] Certainly willing to come back and assist you all. [01:46:13] We usually get paid out of the ultimate financing proceeds. [01:46:17] So we're not here like necessarily on the hourly clock, [01:46:19] that type of a thing. [01:46:20] It's sort of a contingent fee relationship. [01:46:22] That's the way in which [01:46:24] public finance professionals work. [01:46:26] So it's not at all unusual for me to see you several times [01:46:30] during the process of, which takes months oftentimes [01:46:33] to package what it is that you all are comfortable with. [01:46:37] With that, I'll stop and see if... [01:46:40] Or any of you have any additional questions for me [01:46:44] or any thoughts that I should hear. [01:46:47] I don't have any questions at this time. [01:46:51] Thank you. [01:46:52] Thank you. [01:46:53] Thank you, Mr. Drew. [01:46:57] Thank you. [01:47:02] That the last slide there? [01:47:06] Well, that was just a... [01:47:09] Nevermind. [01:47:12] That's something you have, which is what... [01:47:14] It's almost two hours in. [01:47:15] I'm not sure I can follow that. [01:47:16] No, I think the bottom line is that was used [01:47:19] in order to try to be as fully disclosed the costs [01:47:24] that might be predicted in the budget [01:47:26] the way it's outlined. [01:47:28] Thank you very much. [01:47:28] And those screens that you saw, you'll send to us? [01:47:32] Yes. [01:47:32] Thank you. [01:47:33] Happy to send them to you first thing in the morning. [01:47:36] Any questions about the proposed capital expenditure budget [01:47:39] from anybody? [01:47:41] How many more times will we see this [01:47:43] before we make a final decision? [01:47:44] It obviously has to be part of the next for the... [01:47:49] That's up to you and the mayor, I guess. [01:47:52] We'll present it to you and... [01:47:58] Based on what we took away today, [01:47:59] we've added a little bit of money to wayfinding [01:48:02] and other than that, I haven't heard anyone saying [01:48:05] to take anything out. [01:48:06] We're looking for a little more detail, I guess. [01:48:09] This will hit at two budget hearings [01:48:14] coming up in September, which we're coming up on really quick. [01:48:19] Sorry. [01:48:21] Needed by penny for Pasco one [01:48:23] and that penny for one completes it. [01:48:25] It's two. [01:48:27] There is no phase two. [01:48:28] That's been sort of pushed out. [01:48:30] In fact, if you... [01:48:31] I mean, this is five years, so that's why I'm asking. [01:48:34] There is no contemplated second phase in this project. [01:48:39] I think the project totals allow for the few additional [01:48:43] add-ons that you all have been talking about, [01:48:45] the greens. [01:48:47] What about the Orange Lake pier, would that... [01:48:51] That'll be implemented next construction season [01:48:54] and the reason that that has been delayed [01:48:57] is because it's been grant funded. [01:48:59] So rather than using city resources, [01:49:01] we're gonna wait till next year and let the grant... [01:49:04] There's no reason to work that into this. [01:49:05] Right, right. [01:49:07] Hemorrhage came up. [01:49:10] Great presentation from the chief. [01:49:16] Well, we could program money in for that purpose. [01:49:24] I think this is the time to do it during construction. [01:49:32] 30 or 40 cameras around town now. [01:49:39] Building in the vicinity. [01:49:41] City hall and the library. [01:49:44] And we have them at the... [01:49:46] We have them at public works. [01:49:48] Yeah, we have a public works. [01:49:50] The garage. [01:49:51] Yeah, right. [01:49:52] As I said, we have 30 or 40 now, right? [01:49:55] At least. [01:49:57] So this would... [01:49:58] Pardon me? [01:50:01] So I think this is the time if we're in the middle [01:50:04] of construction there. [01:50:06] A lot of money we're putting there. [01:50:14] Yeah, I mean, if that's something [01:50:15] Councilman Davis is interested in, [01:50:17] I'm up to entertaining the idea. [01:50:21] I would propose we would wanna look at the key areas [01:50:24] of the park where obviously the playground, [01:50:26] entrance by the amphitheater, [01:50:29] look at viable site locations for the cameras, [01:50:34] get a cost projection, and then go from there. [01:50:36] Brian, you would probably know [01:50:40] level of cameras that we would need and what we... [01:50:49] You said that the other day you got, [01:50:51] you figured out what those guys were doing [01:50:53] with one of the cameras. [01:50:56] Yeah, so as you say... [01:50:57] Right here on this premise. [01:50:59] Yeah, that's the same with his knowledge [01:51:01] of the equipment, you know, [01:51:05] and you guys' placement of them. [01:51:07] I'll definitely put some numbers together for you. [01:51:09] Right, absolutely, yeah. [01:51:12] Well, if that's all we've got on budget, [01:51:14] why don't we do communications and reports real quick [01:51:16] and we'll get you out of here. [01:51:18] Jeff? [01:51:19] Were you able to get the pictures up, Brian? [01:51:20] Yep. [01:51:20] I took these photos at one of our city parks [01:51:23] on the way to the meeting tonight. [01:51:25] This is the River Drive Park. [01:51:28] I'm pretty sure we passed approval [01:51:30] that we could implement a $500 fine [01:51:32] for public dumping, including landscape materials. [01:51:36] I can assure you this is not from the residents [01:51:38] that live around that park. [01:51:40] What's gonna happen, if you want, [01:51:42] there's like two or three different angles. [01:51:43] It takes up a third of the park, [01:51:46] and Public Works is gonna pick this up. [01:51:50] We're gonna have dead grass, [01:51:52] and then we're gonna get more dumping. [01:51:54] That's where we should put a camera. [01:51:56] Not a camera. [01:51:57] If we have to have a police officer... [01:51:59] This is just one side. [01:52:00] I could take you around the city [01:52:01] and show you just new sites [01:52:03] where commercial landscape companies, [01:52:06] majority of them, some of them live in our city limits, [01:52:10] are just picking new spots and creating new dumping. [01:52:13] Look at this. [01:52:13] This is one of our parks. [01:52:14] This is a city park. [01:52:16] Unacceptable. [01:52:17] Wayne Allens' property on Mandy [01:52:19] not only has suddenly developed a huge pile of brush, [01:52:23] but it has picked up scrap aluminum [01:52:26] and some other stuff that's being illegally dumped there. [01:52:28] Between the road at the Jasmine Park, [01:52:29] right there by where Mrs. Hook works, [01:52:31] and I asked the chief and Liz to go by, [01:52:34] and the landscape person that was there [01:52:36] that I saw dumping told them, [01:52:38] we just, this is from Mrs. Hook's house. [01:52:42] But then I saw them there two days later, [01:52:45] so it's just, I know we're stretched thin [01:52:48] with our police department and our code enforcement, [01:52:50] but we can't have this going on throughout our city [01:52:52] because it's gonna continue to get worse. [01:52:53] We're gonna have dead grass under there, [01:52:54] and that pile's gonna look like that [01:52:56] three months from now. [01:52:58] So if we could come up with an action plan on that, [01:52:59] that would be great. [01:53:00] Maybe we can get some of those same employees, [01:53:04] grocery carts to kind of look out for our parks. [01:53:07] Anybody, I mean, but we have to catch them in the act. [01:53:10] What's a license plate? [01:53:12] Wouldn't that be where a camera would help? [01:53:14] You talk like a 10 million landscape company [01:53:17] with a $500 fine, they're not gonna do it again. [01:53:21] Like I said, I could take you around the city, [01:53:23] that's just one location. [01:53:25] Thank you. [01:53:26] Chopper? [01:53:27] Is that your car, like mine, [01:53:29] parked in the road, taking your picture? [01:53:30] Because I show that on my town hall meeting pictures, [01:53:39] I have to point out that that is my car. [01:53:41] I am parked in the intersection. [01:53:43] That does look like a parking ticket somewhere. [01:53:49] I just want to thank Mario for going down [01:53:52] to the conference in St. Petersburg. [01:53:54] Thank you, Debbie, for sending him. [01:53:56] I understand that we picked up a couple of awards [01:53:59] and PEDC is meeting tomorrow morning. [01:54:02] They asked me if I would bring the award to show them [01:54:05] and they were very keenly interested in that. [01:54:07] And that was essentially a partnership [01:54:10] between the city and PEDC [01:54:12] and Mario so eloquently shared [01:54:16] what the backside of that award was [01:54:18] and essentially it was to help the community understand [01:54:21] that the city is keenly interested [01:54:23] in educating the community [01:54:25] to the fact that we are open for business [01:54:27] and the education portion of it is at the incubator. [01:54:29] So really happy that that happened. [01:54:32] Thank you very much. [01:54:32] Thank you. [01:54:33] I had the opportunity to go to an Okra occasion [01:54:37] last night at the New Port Richey Public Library. [01:54:41] Any of you who've known me for any length of time [01:54:43] know that Okra and I don't normally get along [01:54:46] but my wife loves it. [01:54:47] So we went. [01:54:49] Not quite sure how many people we'd expect. [01:54:53] Del Deschamps and the folks from the environmental committee [01:54:56] were not expecting very many people. [01:54:57] I think they probably had 35 people show up [01:55:01] to sample various Okra dishes [01:55:03] and I graciously let all of them do all the sampling [01:55:08] but it was pretty good. [01:55:11] And for any of you that are more into birthday cake [01:55:16] like I am, they're having a birthday cake celebration [01:55:20] at the West Pasco Historical Society [01:55:23] at one o'clock on Saturday [01:55:24] and I think all of you have probably gotten invites [01:55:27] and it's open to the public [01:55:29] so anybody that's in the audience or watching on TV, [01:55:32] come on down on Saturday. [01:55:34] Mayor, I'm so sorry. [01:55:35] I neglected to mention the last event of the summer [01:55:38] for the Main Street Organization is this Friday [01:55:42] and we're very pleased [01:55:43] that the Parks and Recreation Department [01:55:46] stepped forward with a really neat initiative. [01:55:49] Let's Keep Pasco Active, it's called a Friday Challenge [01:55:53] and they're going to be there [01:55:54] with an initiative called Are You as Tough as a Marine? [01:55:58] So the Marines who work with the car club [01:56:02] that does the classic car cruising, [01:56:04] they are always raising funds for Toys for Tots. [01:56:09] So the Toys for Tots folks, [01:56:10] they are bringing their military vehicles down [01:56:12] and so with on-site Marines there, [01:56:16] they're putting together this initiative [01:56:18] that the community can participate in, [01:56:20] just 30 second little fun things that they're doing [01:56:22] and they've created some prizes for that as well. [01:56:26] So hopefully y'all will come down [01:56:27] and maybe see who's tougher, cops or firemen [01:56:30] and all that type of stuff. [01:56:32] So that is this Friday night from five to 11, [01:56:36] music and other activities in the downtown. [01:56:40] Thank you. [01:56:41] Bill. [01:56:42] Thank you very much, Mr. Mayor. [01:56:44] And just a final note that the third [01:56:49] and final town hall meeting will be held [01:56:52] this Thursday night at 7 p.m. at the Gulf High Cafeteria. [01:56:56] And after that, we'll have a list and the information [01:57:01] from the input from the citizens [01:57:03] regarding a number of different aspects [01:57:06] from parking to code enforcement [01:57:10] to a whole series of things. [01:57:11] And last week's was at the Recreation Center. [01:57:14] I wanna thank you for the Recreation Center. [01:57:16] It was a competition after the library set up. [01:57:22] I'm not sure what I'm gonna expect at Gulf High [01:57:24] because it'll be three or four days [01:57:26] into their new school year, [01:57:27] but both locations provide us great opportunity [01:57:32] to present our information to citizens, [01:57:35] great input and with all of the boards that we have [01:57:39] that people get a chance to look at afterwards. [01:57:41] So those two events have helped to share information [01:57:46] and have some very lively discussions [01:57:48] about a number of different topics [01:57:50] in the city of New Port Richey. [01:57:54] As part of the capital plan and some of the other things [01:57:56] as we go through the budget, [01:57:58] really do wanna see the final breakdown [01:58:01] between penny one and penny two [01:58:02] so that we always have a source to go to [01:58:05] as to what our projections are gonna be, okay? [01:58:08] Next, and this can be a three or four month assignment [01:58:13] or something, I really would like to see an aerial map [01:58:16] of the city of New Port Richey [01:58:20] with highlighted on it the properties that we own, [01:58:24] where they're located with a brief description [01:58:29] and the value that the county assesses to it. [01:58:32] Because once again, I know we have 10 acres. [01:58:35] I knew it was on the other side of 19. [01:58:36] I didn't know it actually backed up. [01:58:38] I didn't know some of the things about [01:58:43] with green key and those kinds of things. [01:58:45] And I just think it's helpful for us to be able, [01:58:48] because part of the conversations that we had [01:58:51] at a couple of the citizen town hall meetings [01:58:53] do touch upon some of the vacant city properties [01:58:57] and some other things and bring that all back at one time. [01:59:00] But I really would like to see some kind of an aerial [01:59:04] that just shows where those are. [01:59:06] And I don't mean the roadway right away, [01:59:09] that kind of stuff. [01:59:10] I'm talking about properties and information like that. [01:59:15] We've all been receiving encouraging emails [01:59:18] from some of our citizens, [01:59:20] but I will tell you that I am not going to be harassed. [01:59:24] I am not going to continue to take valuable time [01:59:27] from our staff to stop what they're doing [01:59:31] to negotiate over and over again on projects [01:59:34] that our staff is tasked with to represent us on. [01:59:40] I no longer find it entertaining [01:59:44] to get five paragraphs about business discussions [01:59:52] that we're not involved in until they're brought to us. [01:59:55] And I'm not going to insert myself [01:59:57] into what we give staff the ability to. [02:00:00] interact with, and I plan to have a one-on-one conversation with a couple [02:00:07] of the citizens that continue to put stuff in my inbox, which when I [02:00:12] reply, it will be public record. Okay? I wanted to thank the Recreation Center [02:00:18] for the home show. I had a chance to go by there on Saturday. I was there from 12 [02:00:25] 10 until about 1 15. Steady crowd, nice setup, you know, there's always rooms for [02:00:33] always room for better. If you do it consistently, it gets better and better, [02:00:38] and that's what I anticipate that will do. Let me see, I have three other items. [02:00:45] The next one, Friday night, October the 16th, right after the homecoming [02:00:53] parade for Gulf High in downtown New Port Richey, which Gulf High is one of [02:00:57] the only few schools left in the state of Florida that has a homecoming parade, [02:01:02] which I think is a really nice event. The railroad square will be renamed [02:01:09] Buccaneer Boulevard, but we're inviting the public out from 7 to 11 that night [02:01:13] as we close down that particular railroad square, invite Gulf High and [02:01:19] Hudson grads back to enjoy downtown New Port Richey. The three settings that are [02:01:24] there, there will be music, there will be, I hope to have a proclamation from the [02:01:29] city, but overall we're inviting people back on that October evening to [02:01:35] enjoy downtown New Port Richey. A lot of conversations about New Port Richey and [02:01:42] their waterfront, and how that's being evolved out, and those kind of things, and [02:01:45] how our cooperation with New Port Richey has evolved and continues to evolve, and [02:01:50] as we begin to market ourselves and way find and all those things, I want it to [02:01:59] be the best New Port Richey that we can be. I don't want to be compared to other [02:02:03] cities in the Tampa Bay Area. I eventually want them to compare [02:02:07] themselves to us, because nobody else has a river running through it. Eventually [02:02:12] we'll have two business development areas along with a hospital, so at the [02:02:18] end of the day they can compare themselves to anybody else, but I want [02:02:21] them to have to in the future with our river and our elements, the best New Port Richey. So if anybody wants to come tell me why we don't measure up to somebody [02:02:32] else, please have a good time, go down there. And finally I got to spend a [02:02:38] little time watching citizens in action, government in action. I got to see our [02:02:48] legislative delegation, and I don't know if all of you know, but the vote to go to [02:02:55] a charter was not approved, which means they will not be writing a charter, at [02:03:01] least at this point in time. It went down 8 to 7, I'm sure Ms. Manns has some [02:03:07] additional information because she took copious notes, but there was a number of [02:03:13] things there, and at the end of the day it was just decided that it wasn't [02:03:16] something that Pasco County should endeavor to take time out now to do. [02:03:23] Now, is there other steps that could happen? Yes, and will it be a topic that [02:03:27] will be brought up in the future? Sure, but at the same token, after a few months [02:03:33] of meetings and everything, that citizens group that was put together, it [02:03:37] was defeated on an 8 to 7 vote. So that's all I have, Mr. Mayor. Thank you very much. [02:03:42] Nothing this evening, Mr. Mayor. In that case, I'll... Another thing, I'm not going to be here for the [02:03:49] meeting Thursday night, Bill, and I won't be here for a night in the tropics. [02:03:53] Contrary to Bill's belief, I am the oldest here, and I will be joining my high [02:03:58] school mates of 50 years. Very good. On that note, I'll entertain a motion to [02:04:04] adjourn.

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3. 3Adjournment