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   Strategic Planning Session

   discussed

   Council held a strategic planning work session led by facilitator John Street Matter (name likely misheard) to review progress on the eight-point strategic plan adopted nearly a year prior and provide direction for adjustments. City Manager Debbie presented a red/yellow/green status update and council provided feedback on areas needing improvement, including consistency of service delivery, partnerships with the county and school board, communication/engagement with residents, and clarifying the city's brand/image.

   • direction:Council directed staff to focus strategic plan adjustments on consistency of service delivery, stronger partnerships with the county and school board, more proactive communication/engagement with residents, and clarifying the city's brand/message. (none)

   📍Gulf Drive📍Leisure Lane🏢Publix🏢Whiskey Joe's / Whiskey River (Ben's biker bar)👤Bill Phillips👤Chopper Davis👤Debbie👤James👤John Street Matter👤Judy#Annexation (county trouble spots)#Brand/Image Development#Communication#Community Policing#Develop Community Mindset#Develop Partnerships#Grow the Tax Base#Improve Image of the City#Infrastructure Investment#Mobilized Reinvestment#Strategic Plan

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   [00:00:17] Mr. Mayor, members of the council, I'd like to reintroduce to you John Street Matter who's with us this [00:00:25] evening to help us along in our goal to re-establish our strategic plan. It's [00:00:35] hard to believe but it's actually just less than a year ago that he was with us [00:00:41] last to develop a strategic plan which was a very good guide in decision-making [00:00:51] and it helped us to focus on some of our strategic outcomes. Since nearly a [00:01:00] year has lapsed since we were last together we thought it would be a good [00:01:05] idea to get back together in large part to determine whether the goals are still [00:01:12] appropriate or not and secondly to expand on the goals if that's warranted. [00:01:20] John is going to lead us through the process and I know he's put together a [00:01:25] PowerPoint this evening that we'll rely on to help guide us through this [00:01:33] systematic approach to plan for our future. Very good. Okay. [00:01:38] Terrific. Thank you. There we go, PowerPoint's coming up. Well since the last time we were together as Debbie mentioned [00:01:46] you know we had the session with you. We laid out, I hope you'll recall, sort of [00:01:51] eight principal areas if you will of strategic direction and then Debbie and [00:01:57] I met with the staff on a couple of different occasions and essentially [00:02:00] built out the plan. So you provided the direction, Debbie and her team turned it [00:02:05] into a set of objectives, goals, and measures. And so what we want to do [00:02:10] tonight is really two things. The first is just a quick progress update. It's [00:02:14] been almost a year. So just where are we? Have we made, where are we on track? Where [00:02:19] do we need to make some adjustments and some tweaks? And Debbie will talk about [00:02:22] that in just a moment. And then really to just get your what I call a direction [00:02:27] check. You know are we are we on track? Are there items that need to come off [00:02:30] the list? Are there items that need to be added? Is there just new direction that [00:02:33] we should take? So we're really just trying to keep you up to date and then [00:02:37] make sure that we're headed in the right place and move forward. So those are our [00:02:41] two, our two pieces. I think the first one, the update will be short. The [00:02:45] direction check will take as however long it takes for you to discuss it [00:02:49] fully. So with that, while you're doing that, I wanted to additionally note that [00:02:58] when Chopper Davis reported to me earlier today that he would be unable to [00:03:03] attend, he indicated that he will watch this on tape and then provide his [00:03:09] follow-up comments to us at a later date. [00:03:13] Pardon me. So what I wanted to show you here was that you know there's a there's [00:03:20] a sort of a full word version of the strategic plan. Starts with the item on [00:03:25] the left. As you can see in this case, that's the heading that that shows up in [00:03:29] the in the box on the PowerPoint I'm going to show you in just a second. [00:03:32] There's a set of objectives. What we're really doing on the three columns in the [00:03:36] strategic plan is completing three different questions. You don't need to [00:03:40] read the bullet points. In fact, we're just looking at the columns, right? The [00:03:43] objective is, what do we want to achieve? Achieve X, the goal, by doing what? What [00:03:48] are the goals? What are the things we have to do? And then the, as measured by, is [00:03:51] the third column, right? And so in our discussion tonight, we're going to focus [00:03:55] really on that second column. So we're going to walk through the eight [00:03:59] principal items, mobilized reinvestment being one of them. And then, for instance, [00:04:04] in mobilized reinvestment, there were three objectives around prioritizing [00:04:06] resources, facilitating the process, and permitting to enable investment, [00:04:10] partnering to catalyze investment. So we're not going to get into the deep [00:04:13] goal detail and into the measure detail, but in the follow-up session, Debbie and [00:04:18] I have, when we laid out the engagement, we wanted to have a session with you, and [00:04:22] then she and I will get together with the staff based on the results of what [00:04:26] you'd come up with tonight. And if we need to tweak goals and objectives, or [00:04:30] goals and measures, we will. But our discussion will be primarily on the [00:04:33] first two columns. But I just wanted you to understand how the actual detailed [00:04:37] plan relates to what we're going to talk about tonight. So with that, these were [00:04:43] the, sort of, the eight items that you talked about last time. There's, sort of, [00:04:46] four of them that were strategic direction for the future, mobilizing [00:04:50] reinvestment, growing the tax base, developing a community mindset, and [00:04:54] improving the image of the city. And then, as you see, there's a series of, you know, [00:04:59] those objectives, right? What are the big things we want to get done under each of [00:05:02] those four headings for each of the categories? And then there were also, just [00:05:07] happened to be, four items that you came up that we called enablers, as in our [00:05:10] discussion, that were the things that were necessary to enable that strategic [00:05:16] direction to happen. So developing partnerships, talked a lot about the [00:05:19] relationship with the county in particular, communication, the [00:05:24] community policing improvements that you talked about a lot, and then [00:05:27] infrastructure investments. And so those were the, sort of, four enablers. Again, in [00:05:33] those case, principally with just, sort of, one, what do we need to achieve in each of [00:05:38] those four buckets? So that's the framework that you developed last time. [00:05:42] And again, Debbie and her team have, sort of, built out a whole series of goals and [00:05:45] a whole series of measures underneath that. So what I thought we might do is [00:05:49] just a simple, sort of, red, yellow, green update, right? So this is the legend, right? [00:05:54] Green means, hey, things are on track, we feel good about it, I think the direction [00:06:00] continues to be appropriate. Yellow in the middle, you know, hey look, most of the [00:06:04] things are on track, maybe there's a few goals that are in jeopardy, and [00:06:07] maybe there's some questions about future direction. And then red would be, [00:06:10] maybe that, you know, the direction has really changed, are we still on the right [00:06:16] track, or there may be a number of items that aren't done. So just a simple, you [00:06:18] know, red, yellow, green assessment using this legend. And so what Debbie and her [00:06:24] team did was look at those items to try to give you a update that said, where do [00:06:29] we stand? And so this is what that looks like, right? So on the mobilized [00:06:34] reinvestment and grow the tax base front on the strategic direction was her [00:06:39] assessment that those were green, on track, you know, they're not done. Remember we [00:06:43] laid out, you know, a much longer-term plan than an 11-month plan, so they're [00:06:46] not all finished, but in our estimation, they were on track. And moving forward, [00:06:52] I'll let Debbie talk about the developing community mindset and [00:06:55] improving the image of the city. Those were ones that were generally on track, [00:06:59] but there's a few comments that needed to be made there. And then on the bottom, [00:07:03] partnerships, communication, and community policing, she and the team assessed as [00:07:09] green, and then invested in infrastructure, yellow. So no red, and a [00:07:14] few items that, you know, maybe there may not have been the progress that we wanted, [00:07:18] or maybe a change in direction. I'll let Debbie talk in a little more detail [00:07:21] about sort of her thought process for assessing those yellow. And then [00:07:26] I just want to know what you think. In terms of instilling pride and [00:07:35] ownership in our community, I gave us, or I assigned, a yellow value to that in [00:07:46] large part due to the fact that I didn't think many of the goals that we had [00:07:51] established associated with this specific strategic objective were being [00:08:01] implemented. And some of those things include gathering input through a survey, [00:08:09] we haven't done that, survey follow-up and implementation, clear roles and [00:08:15] contributions from community groups, and establishing an emotional connection [00:08:22] with our residents and members of our business community. I think a lot is [00:08:30] currently in the process of evolving, but I don't think we're to a point where we [00:08:36] can stop advancing that as a strategic direction. Okay, great. And then thoughts [00:08:43] on the image? A lot of pressure on me here, John. I am, I am. I am, I am. Okay, well, sorry, that's [00:08:52] that's brand slash image. So that there were two, there were two sort of [00:08:57] objectives that we took from your conversation, right? There was one that [00:09:01] was, hey, we need to, we need to achieve developing a brand that reflects the [00:09:04] image of the city, and then there was also, hey, we need to deliver on it, right? [00:09:08] You had a, you had a pretty thorough conversation about, it's not just, it's [00:09:11] not just what you say the brand is, it's what do people experience when they are [00:09:15] interacting with the city, when they're at the park, when they're at certain [00:09:18] events, right? What do they experience? And so when Debbie looked through this, [00:09:21] you know, I guess she sort of separated out and said, look, in terms of delivering the [00:09:24] brand, yeah, I think we're doing what we need to. In terms of the developing a brand, [00:09:28] you assess that as yellow, so I'll let you add to that. That was the difference [00:09:33] between the two. In my estimation, we were further along in developing the blank, [00:09:38] the brand, excuse me, than in delivering the brand. In respect to delivering [00:09:46] the brand, we talked about the maintenance and the upkeep of municipal [00:09:52] facilities and found that our standards are rather inconsistent, and that they [00:10:00] don't set the standards. Sometimes they barely follow the standard that we [00:10:06] expect of others. It also relates to customer service, and we're still [00:10:12] learning to embrace that culture and to ensure a commitment to high quality [00:10:20] standards. We continue to work on that at the department head level on a [00:10:27] regular basis, and we just haven't mobilized the employee base there yet. So [00:10:34] again, remember what yellow is, right? We're moving forward here, but, you know, [00:10:39] could we look at all the items and say, hey, we're on track and we're moving, [00:10:41] etc.? Not necessarily. And so at this point, let's just, I'd like to just [00:10:45] hear from you, right? As you sort of look back at these eight items and the, [00:10:50] you know, the bullet points underneath them in terms of what were we trying to [00:10:53] achieve, what was the direction that you set, what's your perspective? Two things [00:11:00] that stick out with me, as far as, you know, I've been pushing for service ever [00:11:04] since I've been up here. I think we need to operate our City Hall as a [00:11:10] business, and service is everything, and it's not consistent across the board. And [00:11:14] I know that's tough. We have a lot of employees, but an example, a neighbor of [00:11:18] mine called the police department, not to pick on the police department, I'm just [00:11:22] giving you an example. The other day, a couple weeks ago, when Ben, the [00:11:28] biker bar, they've been playing some very, very loud concert music, pretty [00:11:32] much death metal rock, sounds like Pantera's on their backstage, and there's [00:11:35] a lake, and it, you know, it feeds into our neighborhood. And he was told that [00:11:41] they have a permit, there's nothing they can do about it. And this was since we [00:11:43] passed the ordinance, so I, and then I called, and it was taken care of right [00:11:47] away. So just things like that, not to pick on police department, that this is [00:11:51] what I was told by a neighbor. Just an example. An example is that it should, no [00:11:55] matter who calls, it should be uniform. The service level should be the same [00:11:58] for everybody. Okay. Another thing that sticks out to me is develop [00:12:01] partnerships. I would switch that to a dark yellow. I don't think we're doing a [00:12:05] very good job developing our partnership with the county officials, with the [00:12:11] county as a whole. I'm not sure what we've done to partner with the school [00:12:16] board to improve the quality of our schools. Let's see what else is there. We [00:12:23] just need to, we just need to get along better, to be honest with you, with the [00:12:26] county. Those are two things that stick out to me initially. Okay, great. That's [00:12:32] exactly what we were looking for, right? Is your reaction to, this was just our [00:12:35] sort of, here's what we think, what do you think, and mostly want to get exactly [00:12:40] what you just did, right? Here's my comments about directionally, where I'd [00:12:43] see those things going. Mayor, Judy, Bill? [00:12:48] I just wanted to make sure. [00:12:54] Recognizing that there's some... [00:13:08] Absolutely, correct there's some places. [00:13:13] My wife and I had reason to go down to Publix last night and we drove back to [00:13:31] the north and there was an interesting argument going on right in front of [00:13:38] Publix and there were people partway up the street or partway up the shopping [00:13:47] plaza that I think looked like they were up to no good. I had to avoid running [00:13:57] over one person on Leisure Lane and as I got to Gulf Drive my wife pointed out [00:14:03] that I needed to head for the middle of the road so that I wouldn't run over the [00:14:06] prostitute that was walking back in in dark clothing. So we've [00:14:14] definitely got some work and I had a complaint as recently as earlier this [00:14:18] week from a citizen who said essentially the same thing and I assured him we were [00:14:24] trying to work with the county to get annexation done to solve that because [00:14:29] that is one of the trouble spots and it does reflect poorly on the image of the [00:14:34] city. I'm looking through there but I'm thinking and I don't know if this is [00:14:43] gonna be another page that we're gonna be looking at this is it. This is the [00:14:46] page I was gonna look through here and then the second piece really is to go [00:14:49] is to go item by item to really ask you two questions you know what are there [00:14:53] additional items that need to come off or get added and do we need to take [00:14:58] different directions so we're gonna have a more... [00:15:00] discussion about each of the eight, I just wanted to get your level set on the overarching [00:15:04] direction first and then we'll go through each of the eight in just a second. [00:15:09] Thanks. [00:15:10] Well it seems to me that this is the time of the year when not only cities but organizations [00:15:13] kind of do this. [00:15:14] Right. [00:15:15] Or are we where we want to be and how are we getting there? [00:15:24] I think in terms of developing a brand that reflects the city, so I'm thinking something [00:15:29] different when I'm thinking brand. [00:15:30] The fact that we have talked about instilling pride and ownership in our community but we [00:15:38] still seem to be like out of step somehow with the community. [00:15:43] You know social media, we don't really have a brand or a presence, I'm thinking in terms [00:15:52] of like they're known for their, you know, the city of Venice of America, Fort Lauderdale. [00:16:01] So I'm not quite sure that we've crafted the image that we want for our community. [00:16:10] You know we often hear the county, you know, Newport Nowhere, suffering from a poor image [00:16:21] and so I think the important piece that would help with both of those is if we establish [00:16:29] for ourselves what is it that we want to create our city to be within the county. [00:16:37] And I would have to agree that I think the county too is, although you know on the tourist [00:16:43] side they've come up with the nature coast or the natural or whatever, I'm trying to [00:16:48] think of what their slogan is, but you know we've got so many things going for us but [00:16:54] we haven't really solidified that into something concrete so that people will say, you know [00:17:01] there's a city that runs through it, you know. [00:17:03] So I don't know that we've defined ourselves in terms of broader, which would then help [00:17:10] in every one of those pieces. [00:17:12] The fact that we are a vibrant city on a river that has the opportunities that we're looking [00:17:18] at right now with economic development, how do we incorporate that into marketing so that [00:17:23] we can market the city so that it... [00:17:25] Got it. [00:17:26] Got it. [00:17:27] Yeah I think that's a large part of why you coded it yellow yourself, right? [00:17:29] Yes. [00:17:30] It was exactly that point, so good. [00:17:35] And the piece about instilling pride and ownership in our community I think ties in, and I'm [00:17:39] not sure if it's here or if it's in some of the other pieces, but in communicating with [00:17:44] our residents because I think that unless it's a hot button that we're pushing and we [00:17:53] see the city hall filled with people about something particular to them, I think there's [00:18:00] a complacency on the part of our city residents because we don't have that. [00:18:10] I'm not sure how to do that. [00:18:11] I've lived here for 40 years and I'm part of city council, but I know that life goes [00:18:17] on for most people in this town on a day-to-day basis and they have no clue what it is we're [00:18:23] doing or what we're about unless it impacts them directly. [00:18:27] We're fixing their street or telling them they've got to not park on the driveway. [00:18:33] So I think that the communication piece is still in place. [00:18:40] Okay. [00:18:41] Council Member Phillips, anything you want to add without being able to see you in the [00:18:48] room? [00:18:49] I want to make sure I'm including you in the dialogue. [00:18:52] No, I'm okay. [00:18:55] I'm listening in. [00:18:56] I mean, I'm trying the best I can to hear everything that's going on. [00:19:03] I have you muted most of the time due to the fact that I'm sitting in a crowded area and [00:19:08] then will shortly have to jump on an Uber to get to the airport, but I want to at least [00:19:15] listen in to the process and then obviously, like Mr. Davis, I'll look at the tape once [00:19:24] I have to exit the meeting, but overall, we've always agreed we have a lot of work [00:19:34] to do. [00:19:35] We've started from a very tough spot and when there's this much time in between focusing [00:19:45] on what our strategic plan is, it sometimes takes us a little bit to get up to speed, [00:19:51] number one, and number two, obviously, where we were back in June of last year, where we [00:19:59] are today, and how each one of these items kind of fits in, but branded wise, we've never [00:20:08] really determined, I guess, kind of the end game of where we want to be so we can bracket [00:20:14] ourselves in. [00:20:16] So at the moment, every time we make a step forward, we seem to have elements that we [00:20:24] just haven't spent a lot of time addressing, especially over the last five to six months. [00:20:32] Thank you. [00:20:33] Okay. [00:20:34] Thank you. [00:20:35] Yeah, so I'll just try to briefly synthesize sort of the four pieces, the four notes I [00:20:40] took as a result were certainly there's a comment around consistency of service delivery [00:20:45] and just continuing to work on consistent service delivery, consistently applying policies, [00:20:51] all that sort of stuff. [00:20:52] Secondly, an encouragement around the partnerships, particularly as it relates to the school board [00:20:57] and continuing to work with the county to develop those relationships, and especially [00:21:02] with the school board and sort of coordinating on the school board front. [00:21:06] A piece around sort of just continuing more proactive communication and really engagement [00:21:11] is the word that I use, Judy, listening to what you said, right? [00:21:14] Just sort of how do we continually, proactively communicate to citizens what's going on? [00:21:18] How do we drive engagement and get people involved so that they're aware of what's happening? [00:21:24] And then also the idea of sort of in the upper right corner there, just the message still [00:21:30] isn't clear, right? [00:21:31] So we've got to clarify what the message is, clarify the brand, and just be more clear [00:21:38] about what those messages are. [00:21:39] Those were sort of the four pieces that I took away from what you've just talked about. [00:21:44] Is there anything else that you would add or that I didn't capture appropriately? [00:21:47] Okay. [00:21:48] So with that, as I mentioned, where we wanted to spend the bulk of our time, let's see here, [00:21:57] James, can you advance the slide for me? [00:22:00] The remote doesn't seem to work. [00:22:03] One more, please. [00:22:04] Thanks. [00:22:05] So we just want to go a little bit further into detail and say, so for each of those [00:22:08] eight, you know, we sort of did a, we just did the look at the whole thing, but for each [00:22:12] of those eight buckets, really two questions, you know, are there any changes in direction [00:22:16] that we need to make? [00:22:17] You set, you know, you set direction almost a year ago that said we need to move this [00:22:21] way, develop partnerships is a good example, right? [00:22:24] And so the first question is, is that still the right direction? [00:22:28] And then the second piece is, are there any adds or deletes where you'd say, and I use [00:22:33] the word objectives here on purpose, right, are there any bullet points there that we'll [00:22:37] look at that you'd say, those need to come off? [00:22:40] I don't think we should be doing that. [00:22:43] There may be some cases where you say, hey, I think there's some things missing here. [00:22:46] The direction makes sense, but the, but I think there's something missing here. [00:22:52] So for instance, if we start with mobilized reinvestment, the three sort of objectives [00:22:56] that we built were to sort of prioritize resources and projects. [00:22:59] You talked about sort of a whole set of development projects, the really focusing in on the permitting [00:23:04] process and the facilitating the process to enable investment, and then are there ways [00:23:09] to partner to catalyze investment? [00:23:11] Are there other partners that could be involved to sort of make some of those projects move [00:23:16] more quickly? [00:23:17] And so those were the three primary objectives that Debbie and her team built out around [00:23:22] this idea of mobilizing reinvestment. [00:23:24] So again, the first question is, is this still the direction in which you wish to head? [00:23:28] And then secondly, anything that needs to be added or deleted from the three bullets [00:23:32] that we've added there? [00:23:34] What are your thoughts? [00:23:35] I'm thinking it might be helpful, and I don't know if you have a slide or not, if we could [00:23:48] show the council what the goals are that we established in respect to each objective. [00:23:57] Do we have that? [00:23:59] I can probably figure out a way to get the Word document on the screen. [00:24:01] We hadn't planned to do that, but I can figure it out. [00:24:04] One of the first goals that we established was improvement to the Recreation and Aquatic [00:24:12] Center project. [00:24:13] We can probably drop that one off since the project will be initiated by the end of the [00:24:21] week. [00:24:24] The other projects that we identified specifically were Fire Station No. 1, completing the SFO [00:24:35] for the VA facility, the Orange Lake project, the Main Street Landings project, the Hacienda, [00:24:45] and implementation of our Capital Improvement project. [00:24:49] At that time, we didn't talk about a parking structure. [00:24:54] You need to decide if it's an appropriate time for us to note that as a project of interest. [00:25:02] And in terms of ones that might be rolled off, the Main Street Landings project probably [00:25:10] could be rolled off. [00:25:12] The Orange Lake project has been completely specified, and bid documents are prepared [00:25:20] to be let. [00:25:21] We're waiting for the Department of Treasury's final approval before we do that, but we're [00:25:26] close enough that we don't have to identify it necessarily as a goal anymore. [00:25:33] I think that it's closer to the implementation stage. [00:25:36] I'd agree with removing both of those. [00:25:40] Okay. [00:25:42] They're not done yet, but I wouldn't list them as a goal at this point. [00:25:49] Probably all three of those. [00:25:51] And I think maybe add on library expansion with the whole fire station thing, because [00:25:56] everyone keeps talking about the library and we can't do anything until we have the fire [00:26:00] station. [00:26:01] Right. [00:26:02] I would think parking, and I've heard different arguments as to whether it should be parking [00:26:10] structure or some other parking solution, but definitely dealing with the parking issue, [00:26:16] because that's about to get really difficult. [00:26:20] When we do the wayfinding with the parking, people might have to get over, a lot of people [00:26:27] think they can come downtown and just pull up to the back of every restaurant or every [00:26:32] store they're going to go to. [00:26:34] That's not what an urban setting like this is. [00:26:37] That's not how it works. [00:26:38] I hear over and over again, there's no parking, but then I go to the Gloria Swanson parking [00:26:43] lot or the parking lot across from Christina's, it's half full, and those two lots are within [00:26:48] 50 yards of pretty much every business or restaurant downtown. [00:26:53] So we have to try to send that message to people, to train people, that if you're going [00:26:59] to Johnny Grits, you may not be able to park right back at Johnny Grits. [00:27:03] If you're going to the Village Pub, they may not have enough parking spaces, but 20 yards [00:27:08] away there's a city parking lot. [00:27:10] If they know where it is. [00:27:11] Right. [00:27:12] There are other surface lots that are fairly close in as well, that I think if we get creative [00:27:19] could be utilized as well. [00:27:25] There may be, we may need to encourage a shuttle to hit some of those, at least during the [00:27:35] bigger events that are driving a large number of people in. [00:27:41] Mr. Mayor? [00:27:42] Yes. [00:27:43] I'd hate to jump in, but I'd like, if we're going to look at parking solutions, we ought [00:27:51] to look at one north of Central, or one north of, not at Central, of Circle, and we need [00:27:59] to look at one south of Main Street. [00:28:04] I would concur. [00:28:06] The ones I was going to mention, Community Congregational and First Methodist both have [00:28:11] large lots on the north side of Central. [00:28:15] If we did something on the south side, presumably where we've talked about having a parking [00:28:26] structure over that combined city-county lot at the south end of Bank, some combination [00:28:35] of that. [00:28:36] But you're right, we need to make sure we've got parking on both sides of Main Street. [00:28:42] Yes, and I think if we only look at one avenue, I think if we don't put them together, I don't [00:28:53] think we maximize our approach in trying to look at the parking demands going on, on [00:29:05] the north side of Sims Park, and then again, what's happening in our downtown core. [00:29:12] I'm a little, I'm really not in favor of trying to take the county's lot behind their building. [00:29:21] I'd like to leave that for a developer, if the county ever leaves that building, but [00:29:26] I am, our lot, part of the roadway there, which obviously is Lafayette, and then whatever [00:29:34] other combination we can do that establishes some elements there, but we definitely need [00:29:44] to get out in front of these parking elements, because everybody that came to us recently, [00:29:51] that was their biggest thing, and supposedly we're supposed to provide parking for all [00:29:56] of these festivals that we do. [00:30:00] at no cost and all those. [00:30:02] And I don't see that happening in other cities around us, [00:30:05] but if we're able to approach [00:30:10] both elements of our downtown, [00:30:12] I think we better enhance people's experience [00:30:17] coming downtown, whether it's festival time [00:30:20] or it's regular use of our downtown [00:30:24] and especially Sims Park. [00:30:26] I was going to say, you know, it reminds me of, [00:30:29] I know this is a conversation we've had for a long time, [00:30:31] but the idea of South Beach, [00:30:35] you know, they have a parking problem. [00:30:36] You can't find a parking spot, [00:30:38] but people park and find a park [00:30:40] and walk into wherever it is they need to go. [00:30:43] I was down in Tarpon Springs about two weeks ago [00:30:45] and it's impossible to find a parking space there, [00:30:48] but we, you know, you found one. [00:30:50] It wasn't right there at the sponge docks, but it was. [00:30:53] So I think that definitely the parking issue [00:30:58] we need to address, [00:30:59] but I think that we also should keep in mind [00:31:01] that a vibrant city like ours, [00:31:05] that's a good problem to have [00:31:06] that people are not able to necessarily. [00:31:08] And it's great when you are experiencing [00:31:15] the times of the year where we have events and activities [00:31:17] and you see people walking long distances, [00:31:21] you know, getting to our downtown. [00:31:23] So I think the two should be on the list. [00:31:26] Right, so it's an addition, right? [00:31:27] I mean, this is exactly what we wanted to do, right? [00:31:29] With sort of additions, deletions. [00:31:30] Debbie talked about a couple that probably come off. [00:31:32] This sounds like it's one that gets added. [00:31:34] You had a conversation about parking [00:31:35] when we talked a year ago. [00:31:37] I think it sounds like you're sort of, [00:31:39] you've moved forward on that [00:31:40] and we need to add that to the list of stuff [00:31:43] that needs to be thought about, right? [00:31:45] Are you understanding it the same way? [00:31:46] I do. [00:31:47] Okay. [00:31:47] There are definitely multiple possible solutions. [00:31:50] I think it's time we need to, [00:31:51] we need to start looking at them [00:31:53] because if the ultimate solution is a parking garage, [00:32:00] we need to be into the ground on that really quick now. [00:32:05] If the solution is something else, [00:32:06] then, well, we need to at least identify that. [00:32:09] Okay? [00:32:10] All right, any other thoughts on the others? [00:32:12] You've now got the sort of the full plan. [00:32:15] So you can see sort of the three objectives [00:32:17] and then that's sort of a series of goals. [00:32:18] Internal processes for improvements, [00:32:19] developing written reference tools [00:32:21] to assist property owners through the permitting process, [00:32:23] consultation assistance to property owners [00:32:25] desiring to make improvements, [00:32:26] and then a set of partners around [00:32:27] seeking development partners, [00:32:29] devoting more attention to the current business community [00:32:31] and maintaining communication. [00:32:33] Any sort of, again, same sort of thing. [00:32:35] Anything there that you think needs to come off? [00:32:37] Anything that needs to be added that's not covered? [00:32:44] Just two things. [00:32:44] I think we're doing a good job [00:32:45] actively seeking development partners. [00:32:48] Come across a couple that are doing [00:32:51] some good things in the city right now, [00:32:52] so let's stay the course there. [00:32:59] I don't think we're doing a good enough job [00:33:00] devoting more attention to the community, [00:33:03] to the business community, [00:33:05] especially restaurants, bars, trying to attract retail. [00:33:12] I still want to have a work session [00:33:15] and invite all of the event coordinators [00:33:18] that do events in our city and in Sims Park, [00:33:23] along with the bar owners, restaurant owners, [00:33:26] and business owners in our downtown, [00:33:28] and come up with a plan to make sure, like I said, [00:33:33] that Sims Park isn't just leased out as a fairground, [00:33:36] so organizations that need to raise money [00:33:40] to keep their organizations going can do so. [00:33:44] I think we're fine allowing organizations to use our parks, [00:33:49] but the number one goal for any event in our park [00:33:52] and in downtown, in my opinion, [00:33:54] should be to better the quality of life [00:33:57] for the residents here that are vested [00:33:59] and spend their money and live in New Port Richey, [00:34:01] and for the business owners. [00:34:02] I think I had a very good meeting [00:34:04] with Mr. Starkey and Mr. Cardenas a couple weeks ago, [00:34:09] and we touched on this and came up with some good ideas [00:34:12] to discuss during the meeting, [00:34:15] but I think we need to look into higher quality, [00:34:17] smaller, more frequent events based around our businesses. [00:34:20] That was exactly the crux of the discussion that, [00:34:24] matter of fact, I probably still got the thing in my pocket, [00:34:28] the Hospitality Management Association group [00:34:31] that was meeting over at SIPT this afternoon, [00:34:34] and looking, I'll give this to Ms. Mann [00:34:37] so she can make copies, [00:34:39] talking specifically about the different events [00:34:46] that perhaps the Hospitality Management group, [00:34:49] that's our bars and restaurants primarily, [00:34:52] might want to get involved in. [00:34:55] There was a fairly extensive discussion [00:34:59] Steve Scherdel was leading [00:35:01] about the reasons that the Main Street group [00:35:04] had done what they did with some of their larger events [00:35:09] and talked about the beer and wine sales in the park [00:35:11] and all of that. [00:35:13] And the sense I got was that the members [00:35:18] of the Hospitality Management group, [00:35:20] and there were 15, 18 people there at the meeting, [00:35:25] they would be very receptive to trying to organize [00:35:30] some of these smaller events on a much more frequent basis [00:35:35] that become super block parties, if you will, [00:35:39] where we close down Railroad Square, [00:35:41] we close down a block or two of Grand Boulevard [00:35:45] and have a party in the street for different types of events, [00:35:49] not necessarily all tied into the consumption of alcohol, [00:35:56] but covering a broad variety of things. [00:36:00] And I think we've got a potential partner in that group [00:36:04] to put some of that together. [00:36:07] And that addresses the issue, as I told them, [00:36:11] we've got some concerns that Sims Park [00:36:14] is in the process of being loved to death [00:36:16] because it's not having a chance to breathe between events. [00:36:19] The best example I can think of is the one put on [00:36:22] by just recent, a newer event, [00:36:24] was the one put on by, I think I spoke about this [00:36:26] a couple of weeks ago, by the Trinity Rotary, [00:36:28] the wine and beer tasting in the park. [00:36:31] It was a small event, people loved it. [00:36:33] People continuously ask me, [00:36:34] when are we having an event like that? [00:36:36] They're willing to pay the $30. [00:36:37] I want people that are willing to pay $30 [00:36:39] to go to an event like that. [00:36:41] In our city, those are the people that are gonna spend money. [00:36:43] And I guess I'm just over beer trucks [00:36:45] with Bud and Bud Light at every event. [00:36:47] I think we need to focus on higher quality, [00:36:49] smaller events that promote our businesses [00:36:51] and enhance the quality of life [00:36:53] for the people we're trying to attract to live here, [00:36:55] is the bottom line. [00:36:56] And I think that that plays into the branding [00:37:00] that we were talking about and this sense of community, [00:37:03] because, and I personally could not be more delighted [00:37:07] to know that that HMA group is up and running. [00:37:12] It was very instrumental in pulling those guys together [00:37:14] and it's tremendous to see just the, [00:37:19] where we are now with them, that, [00:37:22] and I think part of that is because there is a cohesiveness [00:37:25] and there's new players in the downtown, [00:37:28] and I think it's playing into a youth, [00:37:31] a more youthful branding. [00:37:34] And so I think that that exists. [00:37:37] They're working together too, right? [00:37:38] They are, they're working together [00:37:39] and they're recognizing that what we have as a downtown [00:37:43] and small cities like ours that are main street programs [00:37:47] do more of those on the street activities [00:37:51] and adds to the quality of life [00:37:53] because it's the kind of activities [00:37:55] that our residents can just walk into their downtown [00:37:58] and expect and know that on a more regular basis, [00:38:01] those are the kinds of things [00:38:02] they're gonna be able to come into. [00:38:04] Okay. [00:38:05] Just one more thing. [00:38:05] I know it's not always about alcohol [00:38:06] and I'm not trying to say it is, [00:38:07] but my wife and I and some friends went down to Dunedin [00:38:13] on Sunday and spent the day down there [00:38:15] and worked our way back up, [00:38:17] stopped in different restaurants, bars, getting appetizers. [00:38:20] And I think there's six and two pending microbreweries [00:38:23] in downtown Dunedin alone. [00:38:25] And the culture and the atmosphere [00:38:26] that these microbreweries have brought to the town [00:38:29] and the people that, the more vibrant, younger community [00:38:35] that's wanting to live in that downtown atmosphere [00:38:38] and be a part of that culture was just mind blowing to me. [00:38:41] And it's not that you ought to go drink beer every Sunday, [00:38:44] that's not the point, but it's just created a culture. [00:38:46] And I think that's what we're missing. [00:38:48] I'm not saying we need six microbreweries [00:38:50] just open up right off the bat, [00:38:51] but they had a culture and an atmosphere down there. [00:38:55] And it's not because of anything else other than, [00:38:58] I can't really put my finger on it, [00:39:00] but it was distinctive and we don't have it here. [00:39:04] All right, this is exactly the kind of conversation [00:39:07] we wanted to have, right? [00:39:08] We've got a couple of additions, a couple of deletions. [00:39:11] We wanted to get your thoughts on where are we [00:39:13] and what does the future look like, right? [00:39:15] So clearly a set of things around sort of how do we, [00:39:19] how do we coordinate, facilitate, drive partnerships [00:39:22] amongst event coordinators, the business owners, [00:39:24] the HMA, all that sort of stuff, build on it. [00:39:26] And the parking thing that we talked about earlier. [00:39:29] Anything else on this one before we move on? [00:39:31] Mr. Mayor. [00:39:32] Go ahead, Bill, go ahead, Bill. [00:39:35] Thanks. [00:39:36] I apologize. [00:39:38] I have to leave now. [00:39:39] I have to try to get out to the airport so I can get home. [00:39:42] Okay. [00:39:43] So I just wanted to let you know that. [00:39:45] Thank you. [00:39:46] You don't have to listen to the voice from the sky. [00:39:49] Thank you. [00:39:51] Safe travels. [00:39:52] Safe travels. [00:39:52] Bye, Bill. [00:39:54] Go ahead, Judy. [00:39:57] I hope I didn't lose my train of thought. [00:39:59] What was I saying? [00:40:02] Oh, darn it. [00:40:03] You said you had one more item you wanted to tag on to. [00:40:06] Oh, yeah, the microbrewery. [00:40:08] The area that we have in our downtown that's ideal for that [00:40:11] is the two buildings right next door to Frank Starkey. [00:40:14] You know, that used to be the old fire department [00:40:17] that has the wall, you know, the brick wall. [00:40:19] And we made it so that it opens on to Nebraska. [00:40:23] You know, and I think that we are there. [00:40:26] We are so close because we can attract [00:40:28] that kind of business now [00:40:29] because we've got businesses like SIP's. [00:40:31] Because that is ultimately the benchmark, [00:40:36] I think, for a downtown. [00:40:39] This meeting I was at was actually at SIP. [00:40:42] So it was, yeah, very much so. [00:40:46] All right, so if we'll go to the next page, James, [00:40:49] that'd be great, thanks. [00:40:51] Actually, one more. [00:40:52] Thanks. [00:40:53] Oops. [00:40:55] Oh, can I? [00:40:56] Okay, got it. [00:40:57] I guess we're in preview or something, right? [00:40:59] So on the grow the tax base piece, [00:41:02] you talked about sort of a series of objectives [00:41:04] around sort of annexation and growing the tax base. [00:41:08] A set of things around residential, [00:41:10] sort of upgrading the residential housing stock [00:41:12] with the goals being around sort of full implementation [00:41:14] of the inspection program. [00:41:15] You had just done that when we first put the program [00:41:18] together, the certificate of occupancy program, [00:41:21] the reinvestment program, and then on the business front [00:41:24] to really focus in on attracting the targeted businesses. [00:41:27] So incentives, mini-agreements, et cetera. [00:41:30] So those are the, you can see the goals there. [00:41:32] But again, same two questions, right? [00:41:34] Is this still the right direction? [00:41:36] And then, you know, any tweaks that you would make [00:41:38] in terms of either adding items that are missing [00:41:40] or things that you'd say need to come off the list? [00:41:45] What are your thoughts here? [00:41:49] I think all three of those things. [00:41:50] The annexation piece, I know that it's not just us [00:41:54] necessarily driving that bus, [00:41:55] because there's other constraints, [00:41:57] whether it's state or whatever, [00:41:59] other things that need to, that are in place [00:42:01] that either prevent us from or impede us from doing that. [00:42:05] But I think that that is something [00:42:07] that we talked about very recently. [00:42:10] There's just some logical places in our city, [00:42:13] you know, to even out the, so that there's no confusion [00:42:16] that you are or are not in our city. [00:42:18] And tied into that, and to the whole piece, [00:42:22] is communicating the reasons for making us attractive [00:42:29] that people would want to annex in. [00:42:31] And it also ties in with the residential piece, [00:42:35] and I had made note of that, [00:42:39] how important those grant opportunities are [00:42:41] for our residents, because when they implement it, [00:42:44] it's just a snowball effect. [00:42:46] Small little, small little... [00:42:50] Improvements. [00:42:51] Improvements, thank you. [00:42:52] To a block, just has a snowball effect. [00:42:55] And you can see that when you're driving into the city now. [00:43:01] Okay. [00:43:04] Plays as well with attracting targeted businesses. [00:43:08] Okay, terrific. [00:43:09] Other thoughts? [00:43:11] In my opinion, as far as annexation, [00:43:12] we need to head west with that plan. [00:43:20] I would not rule out heading east as well. [00:43:24] Interestingly enough, the purchase of the utilities [00:43:29] over on the eastern side of the city, [00:43:32] that we did a couple months ago, [00:43:34] has garnered some interest from some of the people [00:43:36] that live there. [00:43:37] Okay, now that we've got New Port Richey water, [00:43:41] when can we get New Port Richey sewer, [00:43:43] and when can we start having police coverage? [00:43:46] And I do not want to say anything [00:43:49] that might be considered negative [00:43:52] about the county and its services, [00:43:54] but there are people out there [00:43:56] that would just love to pay the extra [00:43:59] to be residents of the city of New Port Richey, [00:44:02] and get the level of services that, [00:44:05] particularly our fire, police, and public works [00:44:08] have been providing to city residents for years. [00:44:12] Okay. [00:44:14] May I touch on, I'm not sure how to correlate this, [00:44:17] or if I should even bring it up with a different slide, [00:44:20] but when I look at businesses [00:44:22] and attract targeted businesses, [00:44:24] it's kind of frustrating for me when I see, [00:44:28] we have so much frontage on 19 that runs through our city, [00:44:31] compared to the actual municipality of New Port Richey, [00:44:35] yet I continue to see new businesses [00:44:37] being built on 19 in New Port Richey. [00:44:41] And I ask myself, why, why is that? [00:44:43] Why is there a Wawa just south of us, [00:44:46] brand new gas station? [00:44:48] Why is there a Wawa north of us in New Port Richey? [00:44:51] Why are they building a Hardee's, [00:44:52] a brand new Dunkin' Donuts, a Culver's, [00:44:54] all in that little area on 19 in New Port Richey, [00:44:57] and why is that not happening in New Port Richey? [00:45:00] One of the issues I think we have and I still don't know how to tackle this issue and I'm sure the chief [00:45:06] I've been staring at you for a while here because when I think crime and I think of you [00:45:14] Because you're a number one crime fighter [00:45:16] We have to we have to and I don't know how legally to do it [00:45:20] We have to we are not going to grow and improve our us-19 [00:45:24] Corridor in my opinion while we have these extended stay motels [00:45:29] They basically [00:45:30] Tear down the surrounding areas around each one of them neighborhoods businesses everything how many times you read in the paper? [00:45:37] A murderer was arrested in one of the hotels on 19 in our city limits [00:45:42] Crazy lady, I don't know. She's crazy. Please forgive me very upset lady [00:45:46] Just stabbed her boyfriend in the chest in front of the Royal Palm Inn Friday night [00:45:51] These are the type of people and I know there's nice families are living there that are down there luck as well [00:45:56] But if we're gonna try to improve the u.s. [00:45:58] 19 quarter within our city limits, I don't see how we're gonna be able to track new businesses and target businesses and nice [00:46:05] Hotels homewood suites places like that that you see up and down 19 and holiday in Hudson while we have these extended stay [00:46:12] hotels and motels they are absolutely [00:46:15] just having a [00:46:17] Devastating devastating effect on the surrounding of your area each one of them [00:46:20] It is just a haven for criminal activity and we have big ones we have little ones and they're everywhere [00:46:26] Everywhere along our u.s. 19 quarter and we have to figure out a way to combat them [00:46:30] I mean, I know that businesses have a legal right in our country to remain open [00:46:35] But if they're having such a negative effect on our local economy [00:46:39] We have to come up with a game plan. I don't know the answer [00:46:42] I'm just telling you but isn't that part of the I mean the chronic nuisance ordinance is are we able to I mean [00:46:50] It's only so much we can do with that. It's I'm just wondering if maybe a land development strategy might be appropriate because [00:46:58] We need to start [00:47:01] being more aggressive and [00:47:03] Raising some of these structures and then we can be more effective in attracting targeted businesses [00:47:11] but as long as these hotels [00:47:13] are in existence and [00:47:17] Have extended stay policies like deputy mayor starki is indicating [00:47:26] We're we're just it's an impediment to our growth [00:47:30] They're not targeting business travelers are working here for a couple weeks [00:47:33] I mean by any means it's it's absolutely absurd and the used car dealerships if you want to have a nice used car dealership like [00:47:40] Julian's Auto case in my opinion, that's fine. But the one further north of that. I won't say the name of it [00:47:44] That's completely dirt and gravel and you can't even walk between the cars [00:47:48] They have so many there and then they park that semi-trailers in the media of 19 to unload the cars [00:47:54] Because they only have room to pull their trucks and unload them. That's unacceptable. Why are we putting up with that? I [00:48:01] Mean it's right by my house too. But everyone that drives up and down 19 sees it. It's [00:48:06] You know buildings like Argus financial who's gonna want to move in there? [00:48:10] That could be a nice building but look at the surrounding businesses [00:48:13] You know, it's we we have to we have to come up with a game plan to [00:48:19] to develop that US 19 corridor and and [00:48:23] Come up with a plan to to fight against the criminal [00:48:26] The businesses are harboring harboring criminals in criminal activity. Okay, you could make a pretty good argument for bulldozing everything [00:48:35] basically from Main Street to the bridge on the the east side of us 19 and [00:48:40] Probably almost as good an argument on the west side. They're the the nice buildings [00:48:47] and [00:48:49] Decent businesses are [00:48:52] Almost the exception compared to the the ones that deputy mayor Starkey is talking about. Absolutely [00:48:58] Aren't who's gonna want to try to open a nice business and have that riffraff around you all the time [00:49:02] I mean just the one homeless camp and I see people going from the Royal Palm Inn to this homeless camp on old [00:49:07] I brought up last week. They trespassed 31 people from that place the FDOT entrance in the homeless camp [00:49:13] they're working diligently to have the [00:49:15] property owner either clear the property out or [00:49:19] Or you know put a fence around it where people cannot get in but you know, they they've cleared it out [00:49:24] They've started clearing up Brazilian [00:49:25] I don't know if it's a county or colony Cove or the condo Association or we're doing part of it behind Southgate [00:49:31] They're clearing out those Brazilian peppers right now. And there's you wouldn't I mean there's camps camps everywhere [00:49:36] they just go in a area this big and it opens up and they're hidden by these but these these [00:49:41] Brazilian peppers and other plants that have grown [00:49:44] It's working back there. So I mean we have to go over the big go after the vagrancy issue [00:49:49] We have Weston 19 and and the businesses and especially like said these hotels on 18. They're just they're tearing us down [00:49:55] We're not going to grow and prosper with them there in my opinion [00:49:58] the attraction for me with their chronic nuisance ordinance was [00:50:02] Observing in Pinellas County where they actually raised the building and and so if we need to revisit that thing again that ordinance again [00:50:10] But that's that's why that was in place. I mean [00:50:16] It takes so long [00:50:17] I mean, how long did we battle with the travel and just get them closed down for six months now? [00:50:21] They're open they go a year without any one getting murdered or [00:50:25] Anything crazy and then we have to start all over again. I mean, it's a great ordinance and it has [00:50:30] It's the objective is good, but it's we saw these hotels and hotels, you know [00:50:35] I think we need to revisit that as I said [00:50:37] I mean that was the attraction when when I contacted the folks in an Indian Rocks Beach [00:50:41] That was what I was observing them raising the building and it was no real follow-up, right? Thank you a suggestion [00:50:49] Thank you [00:50:50] Okay, any other input on this item and obviously there's a linkage to the to the crime piece there where we captured as well. But [00:50:59] Next [00:51:02] Was the one you've talked about earlier [00:51:04] You talked about sort of we talked about develop a community mindset. It's really pride and ownership of community clear messaging [00:51:09] Gathering input through the survey the survey follow-up [00:51:12] Involvement in the implementation clear roles and contributions from community groups all with the idea of establishing an emotional connection [00:51:19] as [00:51:20] as Debbie mentioned earlier, she sort of coded this yellow for a variety of reasons, but [00:51:25] Again directionally, it's the way you want to head anything you want to add anything you want to delete [00:51:30] What commentary do you have here from a direction perspective? [00:51:34] Clearly there's work to be done. We've captured that already [00:51:36] We don't need to rehash those but any specific any specific additional thoughts you have here that would help [00:51:42] You know Debbie and her team as they build out the the adjustments they want to make [00:51:46] The thing I might suggest is it kind of ties in with a few screens back when we were talking about [00:51:54] Few screens back when we're talking about working with our [00:51:57] with our [00:51:59] creating partnerships and we have [00:52:01] the folks that are renting our building that have a website or whatever and they do [00:52:09] They do video shows web shows and and I think there's so many wonderful things that we're doing on a daily basis [00:52:17] You know just from our police department our fire department. Just let people know whether it's [00:52:23] Just [00:52:25] Let them know and and maybe partner with those folks whatever I'm not even suggesting what it is they do but that's a great idea [00:52:32] Oh great. I thought we were kind of doing that where we're not we are but we can expand our efforts [00:52:37] I mean sure people don't people don't really mean when we met a leadership pass go and not this past class of the class prior [00:52:43] They didn't even know Sims Park was being revamped. They didn't know we're working on Hacienda [00:52:47] There are so many positive things that we're doing here in our city limits that nobody knows about [00:52:51] and all people know is [00:52:53] You go to YouTube and just type in New Port Richey and see what comes up. It's not pretty and [00:52:58] You know, so unless we're we're getting that message out there both on Facebook and any other [00:53:03] Meaning we can use [00:53:06] People aren't going to know about it, you know, and that will help us to find our city limits or municipality as well [00:53:12] to the surrounding I [00:53:14] Mean just think of the opportunities we have. I mean, yeah, I'm in a rotary then [00:53:19] Talking today about [00:53:20] You know, there are people that can kayak they can they can canoe they can use that River [00:53:26] They can go out on the at the Gulf right right from our door [00:53:29] And they don't know that and all of that stuff should be right on our website [00:53:33] So they don't need to go someplace else [00:53:35] but develop a relationship with my network one and let them do something for us that really really shows what what a [00:53:42] great city we have Rod the the owner of my network one came out to the [00:53:47] The event that the rec center put on out of the Great Preserve a few weeks ago and he was blown away [00:53:53] He had no idea that it existed [00:53:56] I walked him around and out onto the boardwalk and all and his eyes just [00:54:01] Literally got bigger and bigger the further we walked [00:54:03] He was ready to get one of his guys to come back out there with a drone to start taking pictures because he had no [00:54:11] Idea and he drives by it every single day on his way to work [00:54:17] And within within a couple blocks of it and had no idea it was there. We're not getting the message out [00:54:23] and [00:54:25] He's probably a pretty good resource [00:54:27] he's got the [00:54:29] The the cameras he's got the drones. He's got the TV studio [00:54:34] To to sit down and talk about all the right stuff to make here's any and he's right here in downtown, New Port Richey [00:54:42] here's here's the [00:54:44] The stuff that New Port Richey has that makes it special and [00:54:49] Get that word out because I know I've been on those same YouTube [00:54:53] Searches and like you say it's it's not pretty [00:54:59] Keep going we have to keep doing the right things, but it's an evolution as well [00:55:03] Right we wouldn't we wouldn't have expected it to be done today, right? [00:55:06] But so but I'm hearing clearly from you right directionally. Absolutely. We want to keep moving in that way a [00:55:13] Bunch of communication items, which will capture you know, it's it's almost like the you know, I must get daily [00:55:19] I mean, I'm I'm I know and again [00:55:21] I we know it because they come and tell us but we were we were here at Council a few weeks ago on isn't there a [00:55:26] police officer that's going out to he's gonna go to Jordan for [00:55:31] I mean, I think that's something that our community wants to know that you know get to know your employees [00:55:36] We've got a 200 and some odd employees and everyone [00:55:39] I mean, it reminds you of that old Naked City story, you know [00:55:42] How many people in a story behind all of them? [00:55:45] But I think that that helps create a connection with our community [00:55:49] so they get to know these employees and it's whether it's a you know, a thumbnail sketch about each of them or [00:55:57] You know again on our website through the kind of social media, okay [00:56:04] Um [00:56:06] With that's that's a tie-in to a discussion that you we had earlier improve the image of the city was really about two pieces [00:56:11] Right brand an image developing a brand image that reflects the city and then secondly delivering the brand [00:56:16] You see the sort of develop the brand launch the campaign [00:56:19] proactive marketing public information officer signage and then on the maintenance and upkeep of the municipal buildings high quality customer service across the city [00:56:27] Commitment to quality high standards through throughout the employee population where the where the goals you talked earlier about in your overall assessment about sort of [00:56:35] The consistency of service delivery the messaging making sure that we got far more clear messaging [00:56:41] And you know, so what does the city stand for obviously ties into the communication pieces as well any additional comments you'd make here [00:56:48] We need to reach out to the media more [00:56:50] There's a nice little piece of just Monday news 9 about the palm trees going in and improvements for making downtown [00:56:55] Read it online. Let's let's when we do something positive. Let's reach out to Suncoast news Robert Napper Bay News 9 [00:57:03] Let them know we're doing this, you know, they're all looking for a good story rather than a negative story. Yeah, good stuff. Absolutely [00:57:10] and as we're doing our [00:57:14] Redevelopment in in the city and you know looking at the parking and the other things [00:57:19] Let's look at some of the smaller things we can do in the in the process of that [00:57:24] That will distinguish us from every other city in the state [00:57:31] On [00:57:33] I'm not sure it was I think the Sierra Club [00:57:39] Put me on a email hit list for people to contact about [00:57:45] Pushing the city to go a hundred percent [00:57:47] Green energy and I I responded to a couple of emails I got [00:57:54] turns out one of the people that I responded to is the wife of the person that has the [00:57:59] the the electrical program over at Marchman and one thing led to another and a [00:58:06] Couple of us made a a trip up there on Friday [00:58:10] To that was Barrett dough. All right. Yes. Okay, so [00:58:14] Barrett dough. All right. Yes. Okay, and I went up and [00:58:19] toured [00:58:21] their facility [00:58:23] they've got a [00:58:25] Fairly large solar array actually tucked between a couple of the buildings. They've got a trailer that has [00:58:32] solar stuff [00:58:33] panels built onto it [00:58:35] And and got to talking and just kicking around ideas of how we might [00:58:42] Take a look at that sort of thing the cost of that's coming down [00:58:47] Fairly quickly. I don't know that it's to the point of being economically viable yet, but if it's not it will be [00:58:55] Probably sooner rather than later. We've got parcels in [00:59:00] New Port Richey [00:59:01] That we can't do anything with [00:59:06] That might be good sites for putting up a solar array and the city could then sell the electricity to Duke and [00:59:13] Make some money on the deal [00:59:15] There's a landfill east of Congress on the north side of Indiana [00:59:20] Comes immediately to mind there is no way we can ever build anything on that parcel [00:59:26] But we could put solar arrays on it [00:59:29] and it might be that as we [00:59:31] Start looking at at roof projects from here on out on city buildings look at that. There is a large [00:59:42] Dry hole on the north side of the Recreation and Aquatic Center [00:59:47] If you stuck the solar panels up just a little bit [00:59:50] So you'd have to worry about them getting flooded when the few times a year that there's actually water in that retention pond [00:59:57] You know you might could put there and [01:00:00] That's big enough you could actually generate a fair amount of electricity. [01:00:06] If we were to embark on something of that, if it's economically viable, that would garner [01:00:14] a lot of positive attention for the city. [01:00:18] Likewise looking at charging stations around town. [01:00:22] We've got the electric golf cart ordinance or the golf cart ordinance now. [01:00:26] We've got more electric vehicles that are coming on to market. [01:00:31] We ought to be taking a look at that if the opportunities are there. [01:00:38] If we're out in front on something that's still considered relatively cutting edge and [01:00:42] we can do it without breaking the bank, we could get a huge amount of positive exposure [01:00:50] and it ties right back to that same millennial cohort that Frank Starkey is looking to fill [01:00:55] his apartments and that we're looking to try to attract to come and make New Port Richey [01:01:00] a long-term home. [01:01:01] That sets us apart. [01:01:02] It's a good and innovative idea. [01:01:03] A great example I can think of is just the urban, I brought up a couple weeks ago again, [01:01:08] but the urban agriculture ordinance, the amount of positive exposure it's brought our city [01:01:13] and the tasty Tuesdays and the great things the library's doing as well that ties in with [01:01:17] all of that has really just given us more positive exposure than I can think of from [01:01:21] any other source and it didn't cost anything. [01:01:24] And my church is even looking at putting an urban garden in on a vacant lot that they've [01:01:28] got. [01:01:29] I mean, it's starting, these sort of things are starting to snowball. [01:01:33] And now we're looking at rice, organic grocery, they're going to be purchasing, you know, [01:01:37] hopefully some New Port Richey grown vegetables and tomatoes. [01:01:42] It's really, really cool and people get hooked on that kind of thing and it draws people, [01:01:47] I think. [01:01:48] And all that sort of stuff will improve the image of the city. [01:01:52] We could not have paid enough money for the exposure we got on the urban gardening in [01:01:59] the St. Pete Times. [01:02:00] I mean, a front page story and then a huge editorial about New Port Richey and urban [01:02:07] gardening, we absolutely could not have paid for the ads necessary to get that sort of [01:02:12] exposure. [01:02:13] Right. [01:02:14] Okay. [01:02:15] Any other items here? [01:02:16] Well, I'm thinking it's part of the image of the city, but it's actually more the structure. [01:02:24] So recently we had some wind storms and I was amazed that one storm that evening, how [01:02:31] many bucket trucks were in my neighborhood trimming trees because of the wires. [01:02:39] And I went in my own backyard to take a look and I was amazed at just the entanglement [01:02:44] of wires that come off poles and whatever. [01:02:46] I don't know that we're able to request any of those wires or lines or whatever to go [01:02:53] underground or differently, but it is just a nightmare. [01:02:59] And I'm thinking that now with Frontier and Verizon or Spectrum or Bright House or whoever [01:03:04] it is, I'm hearing that they're investing in areas like Wesley Chapel and Tampa in getting, [01:03:13] whether it's fiber optics or whatever. [01:03:15] I'm just thinking that that's something we need to think about because that wasn't even [01:03:18] a storm. [01:03:19] It was just wind that came through. [01:03:22] And just some of those branches that fell on the wires, it just, as I said, it just [01:03:28] was amazing. [01:03:29] And that wasn't even a storm. [01:03:30] That's a good point. [01:03:31] Yeah. [01:03:32] I think I'll put it in our objectives for investing in infrastructure. [01:03:36] Yeah. [01:03:37] That's probably where it belongs. [01:03:40] Yeah. [01:03:41] Good point. [01:03:42] All right. [01:03:43] Let's see. [01:03:44] Moving along. [01:03:45] Here we go. [01:03:46] So now we get to the sort of the enablers. [01:03:47] I think we're going to see some of these topics I think we've touched on in talking about sort [01:03:51] of the strategic direction pieces, the infrastructure one that the city manager just mentioned a [01:03:55] second ago. [01:03:56] So we talked about partnerships here. [01:03:59] You talked specifically sort of goals around the school board, coordination between city [01:04:05] manager and county administrator, and then sort of throughout departments, and then making [01:04:09] sure that county services are delivered within the city limits. [01:04:13] You talked earlier about sort of particularly the gap as it relates to the school board, [01:04:19] and there's more that can be done here. [01:04:21] Other thoughts and anything you want to add on here? [01:04:24] More than just the school board, I think we need to partner with the print. [01:04:27] Like didn't we just have a meeting with Principal Jones regarding the Great Preserve as well? [01:04:36] And I did talk to him about a student government day which we'll be hosting in September. [01:04:40] I think we need to reach out to principals of the schools in our city limits and make [01:04:45] them, I mean Randy Kainsfeld's an awesome guy, he's running Schwetman, who's the principal [01:04:53] at Gulf High right now? [01:04:55] Kim Davis. [01:04:57] And then Rich Elementary as well, and make them feel as part of the community, not just [01:05:02] a school that's in our city limits. [01:05:04] I think we can do a better job of doing that. [01:05:06] Whether we have a little field trip day with the kids, come and check out City Hall, just [01:05:09] implement things like that to involve the schools with the city. [01:05:13] I think it would go a long way. [01:05:15] You know that, again, very timely, we had a Rotary meeting today. [01:05:19] The children that are in the Interact program are the leaders of the future. [01:05:25] Those kids are so well poised, they're connected, they know about community service, they're [01:05:30] engaged with their community. [01:05:32] And we had talked long ago about creating a youth group here. [01:05:39] I know we've got it with the rec center, but those would be just the kinds of kids that [01:05:42] you'd want to invite to participate with us. [01:05:48] And the other partnership I think that is really important is the one that we continue [01:05:53] to develop with our hospital. [01:05:55] North Bay Morton Planned Hospital has invested multi-million dollars into our community. [01:06:00] They'd be great partners. [01:06:03] We've got a phenomenal recreation center, they've got a cardiac. [01:06:08] It just seems like it should blend somehow, that we connect with them for the kinds of [01:06:13] things that we want to do for our employees as well as for our community. [01:06:19] That's a great idea. [01:06:20] I mean, I'm going to go back to the county as well. [01:06:23] I feel like we've taken steps back with our relationship with the county officials since [01:06:27] this time last year, mainly because of the Van Dorn Leisure Lane issue. [01:06:32] But we have, and we have to get past that. [01:06:35] We have to start, not start from scratch, but work on that relationship. [01:06:39] We have to work together for common goals. [01:06:43] I don't think we're in a good place right now as far as that goes, and I think we can [01:06:48] not point fingers at anybody either way, but let's put that behind us. [01:06:52] I mean, have we ever invited maybe the county commissioners here one at a time to maybe [01:06:58] tour our city, let them know what we're doing? [01:07:00] No, we have not. [01:07:02] Why don't we do things like that? [01:07:04] I mean, the county commissioners from East Pasco don't come to our city much unless it's [01:07:09] an event here. [01:07:11] Let's see if they can take time out of their day or their schedule to come walk around [01:07:14] with the city manager or with the mayor, let them know what our goals are, why we want [01:07:19] to be able to work with them. [01:07:20] Each individually, because of the Sunshine Law, but let's reach out to every one of the [01:07:25] county commissioners and see if they can set aside a day, not just an hour, but a good [01:07:29] couple hours to maybe eat lunch downtown and tour the area and let them know what we're [01:07:33] working on and why we need their help. [01:07:35] And certainly we can include the leisure lane, Vandoren, as part to say, okay, here, we're [01:07:42] ready to step up. [01:07:44] We need your help to make this happen, because we're going to. [01:07:49] The sort of rolling back to the school board, my wife had suggested, and I've heard a couple [01:07:56] other people kick around similar ideas, as we go to build the new section of the Gray [01:08:03] Preserve, if perhaps in concert with the school board, build a building that is, for lack [01:08:16] of a better term, an educational building that would have inside the entire story, if [01:08:27] you will, of the Cody River, from where it starts up at Cruz Lake to where it hits the [01:08:34] Gulf of Mexico, and show dioramas or whatever, of how it changes over that course of travel [01:08:46] and the Starkey Park would be a perfect place to do it. [01:08:50] You'd be two blocks from Gulf Middle School, Gray Preserve, you'd be two blocks from the [01:09:00] middle school, where the students could walk down there, look at the educational materials [01:09:05] and then actually go out and walk through the Gray Preserve and see it firsthand. [01:09:11] I think there's a wonderful opportunity there. [01:09:14] I don't imagine that that sort of structure would necessarily be particularly expensive [01:09:19] to build. [01:09:20] I want to touch on the different wildlife that's in the preserve, photos and definitions [01:09:24] of what that family is. [01:09:29] Any other items? [01:09:30] What else do we need to partner with? [01:09:34] We've got a tremendous community of Boy Scouts and Eagle Scouts. [01:09:41] They don't even know how they can partner with us, but that I think is another group. [01:09:53] The reason I mentioned the Eagle Scout project that you're talking about would be a perfect [01:09:58] fit. [01:09:59] The great Eagle Scout project. [01:10:00] Absolutely. [01:10:01] Let's partner with the Mainstreet Group and the other organizations that do events in [01:10:04] our city and make sure we're just on the same page. [01:10:06] It's been back and forth and it's been going on for a long time with different organizations. [01:10:13] Let's let them know what we're looking for and what we're not looking for. [01:10:16] I don't know that it's necessarily a partnership, but definitely communication and coordination. [01:10:21] Close coordination with the city of New Port Richey as they're doing the things that they're trying [01:10:27] to do and their multi-use path system being the classic example. [01:10:33] To the extent that we can coordinate with them and make sure that anything that they [01:10:38] do and what we do actually meshes would be so much the better so that we have some consistency [01:10:45] between our two cities. [01:10:47] Okay. [01:10:48] Great. [01:10:49] The other suggestion that I might have would be to develop partnerships with the real estate [01:10:56] community. [01:10:58] I think that there's much we can learn from them and they can very much be our advocate [01:11:07] in changing people's mindset about the community. [01:11:10] Absolutely. [01:11:11] And then you're right here in our city, don't you? [01:11:16] Right. [01:11:17] Yes. [01:11:18] Great. [01:11:19] Any other items? [01:11:24] Okay. [01:11:25] Again, we've touched on this one a little bit earlier and obviously it's an enabler [01:11:31] of a whole bunch of things. [01:11:32] This was around communicating effectively. [01:11:34] Talked about public information officer, more use of electronic, social media, video content, [01:11:40] integrated web presence, communication look and feel. [01:11:44] And you talked about a lot of things as it relates to web, social media, more proactive [01:11:49] reach out to media. [01:11:50] You've talked about sort of more proactive communication and engagement from citizens. [01:11:53] You've touched on this a little bit already. [01:11:56] We've obviously captured those. [01:11:57] Any additional items you would cover as we talk about this item? [01:12:00] I would work hard on that coordination, much to my dismay because I don't tend to go to [01:12:07] that particular city website too often. [01:12:10] Our city website? [01:12:11] Well, not our city website, but our New Port Richey Library website, which is missing [01:12:17] something that is absolutely critical in this day and age. [01:12:22] You can't read anything on it. [01:12:24] There's a reason. [01:12:25] It's not mobile. [01:12:26] It's not a mobile site. [01:12:27] It's not a mobile site. [01:12:28] The city's primary site is. [01:12:30] But what we probably need to do, and Ryan's back there, is find all of these little sub-sites [01:12:40] that we've got and make sure that all of them, first of all, are tied to each other, [01:12:48] but secondly, that all of them are mobile friendly. [01:12:52] I mean, quite frankly, wouldn't have thought that the library would not have been mobile [01:12:57] friendly. [01:12:58] You're absolutely right. [01:12:59] I own, as I've said before, a property and casualty insurance agency and we're a franchise [01:13:03] and there's 120 locations statewide and we each pay about $360 a month that we pool together [01:13:09] for our website and we have a very, very good gentleman out of Miami that runs it [01:13:13] and he presents to us at our three owner's meetings a year and he always goes over the [01:13:18] Google Analytics. [01:13:19] I wish I had the numbers in front of me. [01:13:20] The amount of traffic to our website from mobile devices from the last three years went [01:13:25] from like 25% to like 80%. [01:13:28] And people are not sitting down at PCs to find what they want anymore. [01:13:31] It has to be mobile. [01:13:33] It's a sea change. [01:13:34] It is. [01:13:35] And like I say, when I saw it, I was sitting somewhere where I wasn't at a computer and [01:13:40] I pulled it up and it's like, oh my, it's not mobile friendly. [01:13:44] How did we? [01:13:45] That changed to happen really fast. [01:13:47] Yeah. [01:13:48] And it is probably because they put their new website up faster than the city did when [01:13:54] Brian and the city got going on our most recent iteration. [01:14:00] Mobile friendly was already on the radar. [01:14:04] What else? [01:14:05] All right. [01:14:09] This was the, you talked about policing a little bit. [01:14:12] That was clearly an area of focus last time and with the team, Kim obviously put together [01:14:19] a number of things here as well as part of the staff around sort of a number of anti-prostitution [01:14:24] strategies and drugs in particular with a whole series of steps to take here. [01:14:35] So thoughts or comments here? [01:14:36] You touched on this a little earlier, Jeff, but any other thoughts that you have as it [01:14:40] relates to really attacking crime and the public perception of the community? [01:14:45] We have to go over the route from the areas that are harboring the prostitutes and the [01:14:50] drug addicts. [01:14:52] Policing is one thing, but you can police Southgate all day long until those two streets [01:14:57] are actually cleaned up and taken care of. [01:15:00] It's not going to go away. [01:15:01] I mean, I was telling Debbie the other day, I have friends that live in Seaforest, more [01:15:03] than one family has told me this before, that drive to Trinity Publix to go grocery shopping. [01:15:08] Yeah. [01:15:09] Because their lives don't feel safe going to Southgate. [01:15:12] I mean, I drive through Southgate parking lot every day, every day. [01:15:17] And I'm not trying to be a police officer, but I want to know what our citizens are dealing [01:15:22] with. [01:15:23] And not once in the last three months have I driven through there and not seen a prostitute [01:15:28] or a strung out person on the covered overhang alone, not even to get into what's on the [01:15:34] northwest side on a regular, regular basis. [01:15:37] So policing is one thing, but we have to help our police department out. [01:15:40] We have to go after these vagrant homeless camps like we're doing. [01:15:46] That's another key aspect of partnering with the county. [01:15:49] We have to partner. [01:15:51] We did a pretty good job. [01:15:52] The county did a great job, I feel like, on the Olsner property. [01:15:55] But they're going to, the chief knows this, you're on the Homeless Coalition as well, [01:15:59] aren't you? [01:16:00] They move from one pocket to another pocket, as does the criminal element. [01:16:02] We shut down travel in. [01:16:04] Those people didn't leave our city limits, they just went to another area. [01:16:06] They moved to Leisure Lane, Van Doren, to the Royal Palm, to other areas. [01:16:11] We have to combat these areas that are harboring the criminal element to help our police department, [01:16:15] because if not, we're just going to keep having to hire police officers. [01:16:18] I mean, it's just chasing your own tail, in my opinion. [01:16:22] I don't see Leisure Lane, Van Doren getting fixed until we annex it and go in and just [01:16:26] start doing the sort of heavy-duty enforcement that I know our police department can do. [01:16:33] And it's not just police, it's code enforcement and everything else. [01:16:39] The place is a dump, point blank. [01:16:42] There are houses there with no sewer, they've got open cesspools in the yards, and the county [01:16:51] has condemned a bunch of buildings, but I would guess you've probably got more buildings [01:16:56] that should be condemned than should be allowed to stand in that area. [01:17:04] Until we go in and clean it up, you're not going to clean the problem up at Southgate. [01:17:08] And I spoke to the sheriff, and I said the same thing I said to our chief, is that I [01:17:13] don't want you guys to have to continue to police it and police it. [01:17:16] We just need to get rid of the slum and blighted properties. [01:17:20] That's just one example. [01:17:22] We have them all the way up and down our city limits. [01:17:26] As long as these criminals and these vagrants that don't want to help themselves have a [01:17:31] place they're comfortable staying and crashing and getting out of the sight of our police [01:17:37] department, they're not going to go anywhere. [01:17:39] We have to make it uncomfortable. [01:17:41] We have to let these people know that you're not welcome here. [01:17:44] You're not welcome here. [01:17:45] If you want to be a positive part of our New Port Richey society, you're not welcome [01:17:50] here. [01:17:51] We're not going to just hold your hand while you walk up and down Main Street asking people [01:17:54] for money and drive people that are paying an exorbitant amount of taxes to live on the [01:17:59] water to Trinity to go to Publix. [01:18:03] When I heard those things, it didn't make me sad, it made me mad. [01:18:07] It's completely unacceptable, and we have to do a better job. [01:18:11] We have to make these people know you're not welcome to live in the woods in our city limits. [01:18:15] You're not welcome to walk around our downtown and ask people for money with open containers [01:18:19] and around Southgate and up and down 19th. [01:18:22] Just if you haven't done it and you're on council, you haven't done it recently, hop [01:18:26] in one of the police cars, do a ride-along, not just for a prostitution sting, just up [01:18:31] and down 19th for a good four or five hours. [01:18:34] The amount of traffic on bikes and foot with backpacks is mind-boggling to me, and they're [01:18:41] up to no good, and they're walking through my neighborhood, they're walking through all [01:18:45] of our neighborhoods, and it's unacceptable, and to me it's more than policing. [01:18:49] We have to go after the root of the problem, the areas that are harboring this criminal [01:18:52] element. [01:18:53] We have to be more aggressive. [01:18:54] That's my two cents. [01:18:59] Starting with our main street, right in the library and the property across the street, [01:19:06] that too is an unbelievable situation. [01:19:09] Okay. [01:19:10] Other thoughts? [01:19:12] Anything else? [01:19:14] Drug enforcement, definitely, because that's driving a bunch of this. [01:19:17] Right. [01:19:18] It's part of the route, right? [01:19:19] As you say, right? [01:19:20] Attack the route. [01:19:21] That's a very clear headline here. [01:19:22] All right. [01:19:23] The last one was around investing in infrastructure. [01:19:28] So you know, the sort of by-doings were to sort of needs assessment there to just make [01:19:34] sure we're spending our money in the right places, prioritize plan for investment, whether [01:19:37] that's sidewalks, et cetera, prioritize those investments, and then budget dollars to hit [01:19:43] those, and then the approach around sort of the development piece. [01:19:47] You've already touched on the buried lines piece, or just sort of what do we do with [01:19:50] elevated lines as something to factor into that overall prioritization. [01:19:56] But thoughts here? [01:19:57] Again, the idea is just to sort of get our arms around where we're going to invest in [01:20:01] infrastructure, prioritize it, and bring those items forward to the council. [01:20:05] Any thoughts here from a directional perspective? [01:20:07] I think we've got streets and alleys coming up, PDQ. [01:20:11] We do. [01:20:12] I'm going to take a note. [01:20:15] I know we've had people working, a citizens group working on getting some recommendations [01:20:19] for us. [01:20:21] Okay. [01:20:22] Anything else on this front? [01:20:27] Okay. [01:20:29] Well, so this is what we wanted to do today, right, was just sort of take a step back and [01:20:39] ten months in, say, where have we made progress, where haven't we, and get just additional [01:20:42] direction from you. [01:20:44] And so, you know, I've taken a lot of notes, I know the city manager has as well. [01:20:48] We'll follow a similar process to what we did prior, which is that now Debbie and I [01:20:53] and her team will get together and take what you've done here and make the adjustments [01:20:58] to the plan, right? [01:20:59] And how do we actually turn it into, pardon me, how do we turn it into a work plan, modify [01:21:04] the objectives, and turn it into the goals, and that really direct the day-to-day effort. [01:21:10] But this is what we wanted to do today, was just hear from you, directionally, where we [01:21:13] wanted to go. [01:21:14] City Manager Manz, anything you'd like to say, and then we'll turn it to the council [01:21:19] for any closing comments they have. [01:21:21] I don't have any additional comments. [01:21:23] I feel that the discussion was good today, and as Mr. Streetmatter has indicated, we've [01:21:30] both taken some good notes. [01:21:34] This is a living document, no question about it, and so it's really helpful to the staff [01:21:42] and I to have your renewed commitment to it, so thank you for that. [01:21:47] Great. [01:21:48] Any comments from the three of you as we go forward? [01:21:53] Well, my comment would be that I'm proud to be involved in the city where we are, and [01:22:00] although the investment that we made in our park was multi-million dollar, it was a small [01:22:10] thing that we did, you know, looking at that park and creating what it is now, but it has [01:22:15] had absolutely, catastrophically positive results in our city, and I think that continuing [01:22:24] with those kinds of upgrades and tweaking really is going to help with the overall sense [01:22:32] of community pride and helping to brand us. [01:22:37] I think that, you know, early on we took some heat for raising the bar on that park, but [01:22:45] by doing it the way that we did it, with the excellence that we did it, made all the difference [01:22:49] in the world, and I think that if we continue to look at each area of our city and keeping [01:22:57] that in mind, like what small things, what small improvements can we do, not to suggest [01:23:03] that what we just talked about is small improvements, these are major things that we need to do, [01:23:07] but focusing in and zero, you know, laser vision on them will really make the difference. [01:23:17] With that said, I know that we only have five square miles of our city, there's a distinct [01:23:23] difference coming into our downtown than being on the south end of Madison Street, for instance, [01:23:30] and seeing that community that's there, but if we drive towards improving all of the areas, [01:23:38] it will be measurable that people will be able to see when you come into our city limits, [01:23:45] that you're in the city limits of New Port Richey, because we've been paying attention [01:23:49] to the details that need to take place, and I think that talking about a vision for it, [01:23:56] I mean, even the visual of it should be distinctly you are in New Port Richey and not in Newport. [01:24:04] Other thoughts? [01:24:06] No, well said, we just, the bottom line is we have to continue to set high standards [01:24:12] and not settle for anything less, and Sparks is a great example, Judy brought it up, I [01:24:16] just Googled it, it's 4.6 star review out of 5 stars, over 300 reviews, if you would [01:24:24] have done that three years ago, it would have been a totally different feedback, and [01:24:31] we have to keep doing what we're doing, come up with innovative ideas that will work, but [01:24:37] don't be scared to, people give it to me all the time, nothing's going to change, same [01:24:41] old New Port Richey, if we have that attitude, nothing will change, we have to continue to [01:24:45] set the bar higher with our goals and expectations of our city, and I think if we do that and [01:24:50] follow through, we'll be fine. [01:24:51] That's productive. [01:24:52] Great. [01:24:53] Thanks very much. [01:24:54] Thank you.

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3. 3Adjournment