On the agenda

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

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   Discussion on Special Events

   discussed

   Council held an informal work session to gather public input on special events in Sims Park and downtown New Port Richey, focusing on event sequencing/frequency, impacts on businesses and residents, wear and tear on the park, notification of nearby residents, food/ticket arrangements, and overall quality. No formal action was taken; council sought input from event organizers, business owners, and residents to develop future guidelines.

   • direction:Council directed staff to gather input and consider establishing guidelines for special events including event frequency, food/ticket arrangements, resident notification, and venue use. (none)

   📍Circle Boulevard📍Grand Boulevard📍Marine Park District📍Railroad Square📍Sims Lane📍Sims Park🏢Bike Fest🏢Chasco🏢Main Street🏢Newport Ridge Rotary🏢Rapid Run🏢Snow Shack🏢Team Feral🏢Trinity Rotary Club🏢West Side Alley Children's Hospital👤Chief Bogart👤Councilman Davis👤Councilman DeBolt👤Councilman Phillips👤Frank Starkey👤Heather Garantino👤Jeff Greenwich👤Joe Jordan👤Jose Cardenas👤Judy👤Liz Weissman👤Ms. Mann👤Rachel👤Regan Weiss👤Susan Hogan-McLennan#Bike Fest#Chasco#Christmas parade#Seafood Festival#Summer concert series#Wrap River Run

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   [00:00:15] I believe we're expecting Councilman Davis here shortly. [00:00:16] We're going to keep this real informal. [00:00:19] I was sort of hoping we'd be down on the floor and sit up here, but we're looking not only [00:00:24] for give us a chance to compare notes with each other, but to get input from the public [00:00:30] on what we need for special events. [00:00:33] Ms. Mann, do you have some opening comments? [00:00:36] Yes, Mr. Mayor. [00:00:38] Without question, special events are a big part of our local culture. [00:00:43] I can tell you that I've served four other communities and nowhere has it been as important [00:00:52] a part of the local culture as it is here in New Port Richey. [00:00:56] In that respect, I have to say that our special events define us and they also impact us. [00:01:05] The reason that the City Council requested that we put together this work session with [00:01:10] them this evening, and the reason that you were invited, is because you're either an [00:01:16] event organizer or because you're impacted either as a result of your residence or as [00:01:24] a result of your business by special events. [00:01:30] In that respect, the purpose of the meeting is to examine specifically how events in Sims [00:01:35] Park impact the downtown area and the park itself, and determine if any changes should [00:01:42] be made in the following subject areas, and I'm going to advance those to you. [00:01:50] The sequencing and the frequency of events. [00:01:53] We want to learn how events impact the downtown area businesses, and are there ways to minimize [00:02:00] any adverse impact of special events to residents. [00:02:05] Lastly, I think we need to ask the question, is the event of benefit to the city? [00:02:11] And lastly, are the type of events that we're hosting truly reflective of the community [00:02:17] values of New Port Richey? [00:02:19] And in that respect, we've asked a real rich representation of the community to be present, [00:02:26] so that we could learn some things from you to help us establish guidelines for future [00:02:33] events in the park. [00:02:36] Okay, Deputy Mayor, would you like to make a call for you? [00:02:42] Thank you all for coming out. [00:02:43] I asked my colleagues a few weeks ago, a couple months ago actually, and Ms. Mantish, if we [00:02:49] could organize this work session and invite people from the community, event coordinators, [00:02:54] business owners, everyone that's involved and is impacted by the events that we have [00:02:58] in our city. [00:03:00] When I first took this job, I was asked by several people that I've known that have lived [00:03:06] in this community for a long time, and just as I, well, several of them had different [00:03:15] reasons for asking me to run for council, but the reason I decided to run is because [00:03:20] I was watching our community decline on a gradual basis over the last decade or so, [00:03:25] and you could chalk it up to the economy, chalk it up to a lot of things, but in my [00:03:29] opinion, that's what was happening. [00:03:31] I think as a community, we've been able to kind of right the ship a little bit. [00:03:35] I think we've made some very, very positive changes to New Port Richey. [00:03:38] I think we're on the right track, but I think the events that we hold, not just in Sims [00:03:43] Park, but in downtown, in our downtown area, are going to define us, and just like I wasn't [00:03:49] happy with the way the city was going as a whole when I decided to run for council four [00:03:54] years ago now, I think we can do better with the events that we hold both in Sims Park [00:04:00] and downtown. [00:04:01] I'm not pointing fingers at anybody or any organization. [00:04:03] I want input from everybody. [00:04:04] We all want input from everybody, but I think the quality of food that we have in our events [00:04:09] could be better. [00:04:10] I think we have to be careful that we're not turning Sims Park into a carnival atmosphere [00:04:15] with the same type of food at every event. [00:04:18] With having too many large events, I'm not trying to say I don't want Chasco anymore. [00:04:22] Chasco is part of our history and our heritage. [00:04:24] The Bike Week or Bike Fest has become a very, very important event as well, but when I speak [00:04:30] to people in the community about people that have attended events in the last couple years, [00:04:37] I don't get a lot of enthusiastic answer or feedback from the folks that I talk to, and [00:04:42] I don't have all the answers, but I'm going to use a quote by a guy named Reagan Weiss, [00:04:47] actually, who just walked in. [00:04:48] He and I were texting back and forth. [00:04:49] He wanted to know what the work session was tonight, and I kind of gave him a brief overview. [00:04:55] He sent me this text, and it kind of sums it all up. [00:04:58] In order to change the view of our city, you have to change the behavior. [00:05:01] In order to change the behavior, you have to change the status quo. [00:05:04] I think we're doing a good job as a city, but I think we can do better with the types [00:05:08] of events we have, the number of events, just the overall quality. [00:05:13] The best example I can use is the Trinity Rotary Club. [00:05:17] Their new members have to have a fundraiser every year. [00:05:20] Was it two years ago now? [00:05:21] It was two years ago. [00:05:22] They decided to have a wine tasting and a craft beer tasting in Sims Park, and it took [00:05:26] a very, very small portion of the park. [00:05:29] They charged $30 for tickets, and I can't tell you how many people asked me when we're [00:05:33] having that again. [00:05:34] I said, sorry, it's not an organization that does an annual event. [00:05:37] It was just a one-time fundraiser they were doing, but my personal opinion is I'd like [00:05:41] to see more quality, smaller events that benefit the community, not just the organization [00:05:47] that's putting the event on, because these events define us. [00:05:51] They're going to help recruit the families that we want living in our downtown community, [00:05:55] and I think we have to be very, very careful with the type of events that we hold. [00:06:01] That's it in a nutshell. [00:06:02] I just want as much feedback as we can get and open discussion, and I want opinions from [00:06:06] everybody if we can. [00:06:07] Great. [00:06:08] Councilman Davis, any opening thoughts? [00:06:09] Councilman Phillips? [00:06:10] No. [00:06:11] Nope. [00:06:12] Okay. [00:06:13] Councilman DeBelton? [00:06:14] I could take 15 minutes, but I really don't want to do that. [00:06:22] You folks are here. [00:06:23] We want to hear your input, like to understand what your thoughts are, because obviously [00:06:30] we up here over the last few years have taken a great deal of time to reinvest your dollars, [00:06:37] your tax dollars, and try to make some improvements, and we just want to continue that forward [00:06:44] momentum and dovetail what we do as a city, what you do as a collective group, and your [00:06:52] non-profits, as well as how we can continue to strive to make each event better and better [00:06:59] every year. [00:07:00] So that's it. [00:07:01] There's my two minutes. [00:07:02] Councilman? [00:07:04] Yeah. [00:07:05] I am delighted to see the crowd that's here and really look forward to the comments, and [00:07:09] I'll hold my comments until afterwards. [00:07:11] Thank you. [00:07:12] Can we go around here and just have them introduce themselves and what organization they're with? [00:07:19] I mean, it'll take three minutes or something. [00:07:21] Yeah, just so we can sort of tell, if we could go around the room and just sing out who you're [00:07:26] with, representing. [00:07:27] Jeff, let's start with you. [00:07:28] Jeff Greenwich, Chattanooga ISF. [00:07:29] Everybody? [00:07:30] Yeah. [00:07:31] El Rodeo, Chattanooga ISF. [00:07:32] El, I'm representing one of the people representing Main Street High. [00:07:33] Hi, my name is Rachel, I'm with Main Street. [00:07:34] I'm up here again, I'm on the strength of Major Chattanooga ISF. [00:07:35] I'm Craig, I'm Chattanooga. [00:07:36] My name is Nick, I'm with Chattanooga ISF. [00:09:30] Hey everyone, I'm Regan Weiss with Team Feral, I'm also part of Rapid Run and a bunch of [00:09:37] different events that I get to play, get to play a small party, but hats off to the city, [00:09:43] hats off to Chief Bogart. [00:09:44] We're going in a great, great direction and just a little bit of fine-tuning here and [00:09:48] there and we're perfect. [00:09:49] Thank you. [00:09:50] Heather? [00:09:51] Heather Garantino with 9-11. [00:09:52] Thank you. [00:09:54] Just being with Ozy Parker. [00:10:00] Joe Jordan, Boulevard B-Final. [00:10:04] Anthony, Miles Preston, Snow Shack on Main Street. [00:10:08] Anthony, Miles Preston, Snow Shack on Main Street. [00:10:12] Anthony, Miles Preston, Snow Shack on Main Street. [00:10:18] Anthony, Miles Preston, Snow Shack on Main Street. [00:10:22] Anthony, Miles Preston, Snow Shack on Main Street. [00:10:26] Anthony, Miles Preston, Snow Shack on Main Street. [00:10:30] Not just a residence. [00:10:33] I'm a Morris resident in West Side Alley. [00:10:44] I'm Liz Weissman from the West Side Alley Children's Hospital. [00:10:48] I'm here to give a lecture. [00:10:50] Can you play the tune for me? [00:10:54] What's Our American Cancer? Would you like the light? [00:11:09] Great. I appreciate every single one of you guys coming out tonight. [00:11:13] Hopefully we'll have a good discussion. [00:11:18] With that, I think we'll open it up for comments. [00:11:26] I would ask if you want to make a comment, if you could print your name on the form. [00:11:32] It helps the clerk actually spell your name right when the minutes happen. [00:11:39] Come on down. [00:11:43] Come on. Somebody's got to want to say something. [00:11:51] Do you want to provide some context, Mr. Mayor? [00:11:53] Yeah. Tell us if there's something that you like or don't like about the events, how we could make them better. [00:12:03] What types of events we ought to be having. [00:12:07] That would be a good... [00:12:09] Just personally, while somebody's deciding they want to come down, [00:12:13] I went to the summer concert Saturday night and that was my idea of heaven, [00:12:20] sitting back and listening to an hour and a half of just nice, relaxing music in the park. [00:12:26] It was pretty cool. [00:12:29] And it was a cheap date for me and my wife, a couple hot dogs and a couple of snow cones. [00:12:35] I'll just say some of the things that have been brought up here before you people came here, [00:12:40] both from Bill and Jeff, was the wear and tear on the park and having one program right after the other. [00:12:46] So some of your organizations, we're looking, too, to coordinate so the park doesn't get beat up so bad. [00:12:54] I mean, I'm not picking on Chasco, but that's one of the longest ones and that's ten days. [00:12:59] It takes its toll on the grass. It takes its toll on the park itself. [00:13:03] And after we put $3 million in it, we want to make sure that it's there for the residents year-round. [00:13:08] So just keep that in mind, too, when we're trying to coordinate different events. [00:13:13] Yes, ma'am. [00:13:16] My name is Susan Hogan-McLennan. I live on Circle Boulevard. [00:13:20] I have family members that have property on Sims Lane. [00:13:26] And our biggest problem is we're not being notified in advance. [00:13:33] We don't care how many functions you have as long as we're notified in advance. [00:13:39] I've lived there for over 40 years, and in the past we were always notified by mail at least a couple weeks in advance. [00:13:52] Now we're getting notices like the day before or the day of the event. [00:13:59] Last Chasco, I don't know if I spoke to any of you gentlemen, we didn't receive the street closure map or any of that. [00:14:07] So I was on phone calling, couldn't get a hold of anyone. [00:14:12] But that's really one of our biggest concerns is that we're notified [00:14:17] because we have driveways that access the Circle and Sims, so it affects us a lot. [00:14:26] So if there are street closures, we have to know. [00:14:30] And that's it. [00:14:31] And that's a very valid concern. [00:14:33] It is, and it's something we can improve, Mr. Mayor. [00:14:36] Thank you. [00:14:38] Part of the reason we brought some of these issues up [00:14:43] is because we see you when you do your setup with the city, [00:14:50] and then you come for either your alcoholic beverage, those kind of things. [00:14:55] And it's nice to have great success, and we feel kind of blessed. [00:15:00] Less than a year ago in January when we opened it up, we just kind of stepped away and it's [00:15:06] really turned around a lot of things in downtown. [00:15:13] Overall, what we're also trying to achieve is, because of that success, we've driven [00:15:20] a higher use of the facility, and we'd like to be able to put together an annual calendar [00:15:29] in some ways so we can get a lot of your paperwork done ahead of time, as well as knowing how [00:15:38] we're going to need to dovetail in with our city staff and our police department, our [00:15:45] fire department. [00:15:47] All those things come into play, and they can either be done very well, or if there's [00:15:54] last minute items, then there's hurt feelings, there's people that are upset, and when the [00:16:01] fire department and the police department and all of them have to utilize their protocols, [00:16:08] it leads to some miscommunications. [00:16:11] And to be honest with you, when I show up at the Wrap River Run, it's 7 o'clock on a [00:16:15] Saturday morning, and I'm not running, because I don't want to be the last one pulling the [00:16:21] wagon coming in, and I have people come to me and express some concerns about it. [00:16:28] And that event this year was as fabulous as I've ever seen. [00:16:32] But there's just some items, and with that, we want to make sure that, and unfortunately, [00:16:38] we have to do our budget now, when it goes rock solid at the end of September. [00:16:45] And all of those moving parts, when you talk about staff, manpower, person power, we just [00:16:53] want to be as accommodating as we can, but also recognize the stresses that we're putting [00:16:59] on to police officers working overtime hours, to our staff, our park staff. [00:17:06] And so over and above that, we're just wanting to make sure that those come together, as [00:17:10] well as that you have key events, and that we might encourage some of the groups to look [00:17:16] to do some other things in other parts of downtown, so that we can better bridge the [00:17:23] dollar exchange with the businesses, because when they're in Sims, you're kind of cloistered [00:17:30] over there. [00:17:32] And we want to make sure that there's a blending between Railroad Square, I know we've closed [00:17:38] off other streets, but really, we want to be as good stewards of helping you with your [00:17:45] events, because we know they're very important to all the non-profits, because they funnel [00:17:52] dollars that you can't go out and raise from private sources, with grant funding, and it's [00:17:58] a great reflection on the city of New Port Richey, that we embrace that, and that really [00:18:04] is where we are. [00:18:06] So that's some of the reasoning why myself and Jeff and others have really talked about [00:18:12] the impact, because if we don't do it well, we all look a little, we don't look as good [00:18:20] as we can, and the more forward planning we have, and also knowing how big of an impact [00:18:29] we add back to your bottom line, is a great ambassador for us, when we're out there trying [00:18:36] to bring businesses to New Port Richey, or possibly a huge business opportunity in the [00:18:42] Marine Park District, that all speaks well, but if we don't have that shared information, [00:18:48] we can't put that out there, and when somebody gives us a negative, we can't come back and [00:18:54] say, well, we just raised $50,000 or $300,000 for these non-profits that are really helping [00:19:02] to help the west side of 19, helping the west side community, which is really, most of us, [00:19:10] and some of us, I think three or four of us grew up here, and I know Judy's been here [00:19:14] quite a long time, so. [00:19:15] All my life, Bill. [00:19:18] Well, she reminds us that she has come from New York, because she compares a couple of [00:19:23] neighborhoods occasionally, which is great, but see, that's the kind of input we're kind [00:19:27] of looking for, because we can only operate if we have good information. [00:19:32] We can assume a lot of different things, and put ourselves in your shoes, and we don't [00:19:37] want to do that, because it creates some negatives across the board, so. [00:19:42] Great point, and in a nutshell, for me, it comes back to supply and demand. [00:19:45] Sims Park is in demand for events. [00:19:48] Would anyone disagree with that? [00:19:50] Everyone wants to have their event in Sims Park. [00:19:52] So the way I look at it, not just as a council member, but as a resident of the city, if [00:19:56] we have a park that's in demand, we should be demanding better, higher quality events [00:20:02] that are going to attract people that aren't just looking to come hang out downtown, not [00:20:06] spend any money, and leave. [00:20:08] And Councilman brought up a great point, though, it doesn't have to just be in Sims Park. [00:20:12] I think as a community, just like Lee said from SIP, I honestly wish we had more representation [00:20:17] today from the business owners downtown. [00:20:19] I see a few of you in the audience, but I was hoping to have a much larger turnout. [00:20:23] She had an idea about shutting down Grand Boulevard and having a wine tasting and craft [00:20:27] beer and things like that in front of the local restaurants, just to help benefit them [00:20:31] as a business once a month, the last Friday of every month. [00:20:37] The talk doesn't have to just be geared towards Sims Park. [00:20:40] I'm not an event planner, it's not my profession, but I wish I had a good one here, because [00:20:45] I would love to brainstorm. [00:20:46] I've had some good conversations with Jose Cardenas, Frank Starkey, Casey and Kira, none [00:20:52] of which are here. [00:20:53] Frank told me he was going to be here to get some input from them on what works in other [00:20:56] municipalities that are successful, what works with the Seafood Festival in Homosassa, with [00:21:01] the festivals they hold in Safety Harbor. [00:21:04] They're different quality events than we're having in our park, and I think we can do [00:21:07] better. [00:21:08] I'm not saying that we need to just start from scratch, but it's my opinion that just [00:21:14] because you had an event there the last five years doesn't mean you should be a shoo-in [00:21:17] to have the same event, just to keep it going, if nothing changes. [00:21:21] One thing I hear from a lot of residents, and I back them 100%, when you have food in [00:21:26] the park, no one likes standing in line to buy a ticket, and then standing in another [00:21:31] line to get food. [00:21:33] They don't like it. [00:21:34] I mean, it's a pain. [00:21:36] It slows you down, you're standing in two lines. [00:21:39] I was trying to recruit a lobster vendor who was in my Rotary Club, who was actually at [00:21:43] the Bike Fest, and just to kind of get a little more seafood during the Seafood Festival, [00:21:51] and he spoke to, I don't know who he spoke with from Main Street, but they wouldn't veer [00:21:56] off the whole ticket sale thing. [00:21:57] He's like, well, I'm not going to do it then. [00:22:00] It's not worth my time, but yet this guy is in such demand all over the Tampa Bay Area, [00:22:05] he's booked like weeks out, and he sells out of lobster rolls everywhere he goes. [00:22:09] He lives here, he's in Newport Ridge Rotary, but we can't get him to come to our own seafood [00:22:13] festival, because they won't change the way they sell their food. [00:22:17] I mean, he's just looking for one flat fee, if anything above that, he's going to profit [00:22:21] off of. [00:22:22] If he does really, really well, charge him more the next year. [00:22:25] But Reagan, if you want to come make a comment. [00:22:28] Yeah, they can't hear you. [00:22:29] Come down to the mic, though, Reagan. [00:22:31] And once again, I'm not trying to... [00:22:34] Yeah, just so everybody knows, we are being broadcast, so it is important that you come [00:22:40] up to talk into the mic. [00:22:42] All right. [00:22:43] So, Reagan Weiss, once again, city resident, advocate of the city of Newport Ridge. [00:22:47] Everyone here does a phenomenal job, you all know that. [00:22:50] But what you're saying is, so who decides the venues? [00:22:56] Who decides if you're going to have your event in Sims Park, or who makes it a better decision [00:22:59] to have it at one of our other parks? [00:23:02] In regards to guidelines, what you're saying is, why don't you just have... [00:23:06] If you want to fix the food truck issue, why don't we just get the consensus of city [00:23:10] council and then set the guidelines? [00:23:13] If you set guidelines, we have to follow those guidelines, Main Street or whoever the case [00:23:17] is. [00:23:18] So who is it? [00:23:19] Is it Main Street that sets these food trucks up? [00:23:21] Is it city council? [00:23:22] Who is it? [00:23:23] I think that's a question that a lot of people just don't know. [00:23:25] The event sets it up. [00:23:28] The event decides what they bring to us. [00:23:30] If we're happy with the placement of where it's going to be, we're happy with their presentation [00:23:34] as far as... [00:23:36] Chasco. [00:23:37] I'm not picking, just... [00:23:38] Because they're huge. [00:23:39] Love Chasco. [00:23:40] So Chasco comes and says, this is what we're going to do, right? [00:23:42] We say... [00:23:43] You say, yeah, you're in. [00:23:44] Fire safety, police... [00:23:45] But does it go down in the weeds deep enough, like we're going to sell tickets where you [00:23:51] have to use to buy food? [00:23:52] Or is that up to the event plan? [00:23:54] That's up to the event plan. [00:23:55] It's probably up to the event organizers, but it's not outside the purview of the council [00:24:01] to establish a guideline and to impose it as a requirement for an event to be conducted. [00:24:10] So I'm not saying pull the whole city and spend thousands of dollars on serving the [00:24:14] city of New Port Richey, but if you get an event planner that can come in here as a consultant, [00:24:20] get their ideas, then get the consensus together, and if you guys set the guidelines, that's [00:24:25] it. [00:24:26] You guys are the bottom line. [00:24:27] You're the top. [00:24:28] We can't crawl over the wall. [00:24:29] If you set the guidelines, we're there. [00:24:30] That would be with any event. [00:24:31] If it's a Chamber event, if it's a Chasco event, if it's a Team Feral event, or whatever [00:24:35] the case may be, you're setting the tone. [00:24:37] So for argument's sake, we have the Christmas parade, right? [00:24:42] So if we set the Christmas parade, we say, all right, guys, no more bead throwing, because [00:24:45] we don't need that. [00:24:46] It's trashy anyway. [00:24:47] That's my opinion. [00:24:48] And for the Christmas parade, I'm sorry, I don't need to hear rap music, this and this [00:24:52] and this. [00:24:53] You guys have to play Christmas-themed music, period. [00:24:55] You're set. [00:24:56] That's it. [00:24:57] You're done. [00:24:58] That's the guideline. [00:24:59] You can't pass that. [00:25:00] For 4th of July, when the fireworks, awesome, key event, John Gillis, love it, he's a great [00:25:04] guy, gives to the community. [00:25:06] For his key event, or key of, what is it again? [00:25:11] Thank you, KIA Fest, thank you. [00:25:13] When the fireworks are, when the fireworks are going, why is it just not patriotic music, [00:25:20] right? [00:25:21] Why are we not just doing that? [00:25:22] So if we took a 1950s perspective, 1930s, whatever the case may be, went back in time [00:25:27] a little bit and tweaked it to today's world, if you set the guidelines, I hate to be repetitive, [00:25:31] but you're the end, you're the dead end. [00:25:34] So we can't go past you. [00:25:35] So why, isn't it that simple of a fix? [00:25:38] Well, that's a great idea, but I'll have to back Jeff that we're not event planners, you [00:25:43] know, so we're not going to come up here and tell you what kind of music to play at your [00:25:48] event. [00:25:49] I mean, this is a pick out one particular thing. [00:25:51] But why? [00:25:52] You're the city of New Port Richey. [00:25:53] It's your, this is you. [00:25:56] This is, you know, your S on your chest, right? [00:25:58] You guys are walking around, you're the city, and guys, this is what you're allowed to do. [00:26:01] If you want to be in our city, a part of our great city, and be part of our historic city, [00:26:07] and everyone in it, this is what you have to do. [00:26:10] If not, go to the next city. [00:26:12] We'll see you later. [00:26:13] You want to change the people, you want to change the demographics, set the guideline. [00:26:16] And you're going to see only certain people show up. [00:26:19] That's my opinion, though. [00:26:22] If I'm not mistaken, the piece that we as a council are yaying is the alcohol piece [00:26:28] of it. [00:26:29] The, as far as a special event is concerned, for there be an entity that suggests that [00:26:36] you can only have X, Y, or Z, I mean, the genre of music is as diverse as this community. [00:26:43] So, you know, I'm not sure that that would be fair, really, for- [00:26:47] I'm saying for specific events. [00:26:48] If you're going to have a jazz event, you're going to have jazz music. [00:26:50] If you're going to have country music, that's a country music event. [00:26:54] I just think if you're, I shouldn't, and I've said this again and again on a social media [00:26:58] platform for me and Mary, you've heard this a million times, I shouldn't have to hear [00:27:01] a Ride Sally ride during Christmas time. [00:27:04] It's comical and it's funny, but I shouldn't have to hear it. [00:27:06] And no one should have to hear it. [00:27:07] Well, specific to that Christmas activity, so for many years I was involved in the Main [00:27:14] Street organization, attended many conferences that Main Streets host, and the challenge [00:27:22] with a Christmas activity or a holiday activity or whatever, you really cross a very delicate [00:27:28] line to suggest that you can only have church music or that you can't have church music. [00:27:34] As a matter of fact, to the point where you, it's very difficult to suggest that you're [00:27:42] going to have only Christian, Christmas, holiday, whatever you want to call it. [00:27:51] It's almost a censorship if we were to say we only want to have this type of music or [00:27:59] that type of music or that type of music. [00:28:01] And I think that what plays to the success of an event is if they're successful, people [00:28:06] continue to come and then they know what they've hit as far as their community is concerned. [00:28:15] But aside from music, basically what you're proposing is that if you're going to have [00:28:18] food sales in the park, you're going to sell it like this? [00:28:21] Correct. [00:28:22] The city's going to set that? [00:28:23] I don't think that's going to fly with a lot of event coordinators, and I'd like to hear [00:28:27] from y'all on your opinion as far as that goes. [00:28:29] Please. [00:28:30] From someone else, absolutely. [00:28:31] Thanks, guys. [00:28:32] Wait a minute, Steve, before you come down, the lady in the back was sitting up here before [00:28:39] she got bumped in line, so please. [00:28:45] I didn't realize you'd walked all the way back to the back. [00:28:47] Yeah, definitely. [00:28:48] Come on down. [00:28:49] Deb Morris, Indiana Jive, Av, whatever, Indiana. [00:29:02] Okay, as a resident, we love to attend the events at Sims and downtown, and we support, [00:29:09] we try to go to everything, whether we think it's something we'll like or not, and it usually [00:29:13] ends up being really something that we like. [00:29:16] So, and this is just my husband and my opinion, just so you guys know. [00:29:22] We do love the idea of the smaller, kind of better quality events, like the Sunset Series. [00:29:29] We were there Saturday night. [00:29:31] My gosh, you couldn't have made it better. [00:29:33] The weather was perfect, the band was awesome, the crowd was awesome, all those, it seems [00:29:39] like all of them have been like that last year and this year, and I can remember really [00:29:44] looking forward to this year for the, and are they over? [00:29:48] I believe they're planning a fall series. [00:29:50] Okay. [00:29:51] Just awesome. [00:29:53] Love the road races, the triathlon, looking forward to it, may even try to participate [00:29:57] in it. [00:29:58] But the Wrap River Race. [00:30:00] I did do this year, it was awesome. [00:30:02] It's just fun to run around the city [00:30:03] and it's just all the races we do support. [00:30:11] I do agree about the events sometimes [00:30:14] feeling a little carny. [00:30:19] Just, yes, it does feel like that [00:30:23] and I think that goes along too with the ticket sales [00:30:26] and we are people that if we're hungry [00:30:29] and we're down there and I have to go wait [00:30:32] and I'm like, oh, I'd love to have that. [00:30:34] Oh, I have to get a ticket, forget it, I'll go home. [00:30:37] Or I'll go someplace else. [00:30:38] I just absolutely will not do that. [00:30:39] I kind of understand it with beer [00:30:41] because you do have to get a ID check and get a wristband. [00:30:45] So that is probably a different animal, I don't know. [00:30:48] But the whole for food, we'll not have any [00:30:53] instead of waiting. [00:30:56] And the Seafood Fest, the few times we've been, [00:30:59] it's always an extreme disappointment [00:31:01] with no fresh seafood. [00:31:03] We have the river, there could be boats there. [00:31:06] There's plenty of, yeah, [00:31:10] not really understanding that event. [00:31:17] And I kind of feel like the advertising [00:31:18] might be a little bit better. [00:31:20] I'm not a big social media person. [00:31:21] I don't Facebook or anything. [00:31:23] So maybe that's where it is. [00:31:26] But a lot of times you can miss those little signs. [00:31:30] We do have a business, it's not in New Port Richey, [00:31:32] unfortunately, we'd love to be a part of the city. [00:31:36] And I advertise it. [00:31:38] Mario can talk to you after the meeting. [00:31:40] We advertise it there. [00:31:42] If I'm here, I pick up flyers [00:31:43] and I put them on my tables at work [00:31:44] because I want people, like we moved to New Port Richey [00:31:48] from the now Trinity, which is still New Port Richey to me. [00:31:52] But I want them to come here and enjoy what we have [00:31:56] because where are they going? [00:31:57] They're going, driving to Dundee Interstate Harbor, [00:31:59] but we're so much closer. [00:32:00] So I advertise, but I just do feel like [00:32:04] maybe the advertising is not as great. [00:32:09] So that's all. [00:32:10] Thank you guys for listening and hosting this tonight. [00:32:12] While Steve is headed up, [00:32:14] I think he wanted to come up next. [00:32:15] I'll agree on the comment about the tickets. [00:32:17] It reminds me of nothing so much as walking [00:32:20] into the gum department store on Red Square, [00:32:23] going and picking out the item that you want, [00:32:26] and then going to somebody who would sell you the item, [00:32:30] and then going yet again to somewhere else [00:32:32] in order to pick up the item. [00:32:35] It's the old Soviet model and it's just sort of icky. [00:32:40] You're on. [00:32:41] Yeah, I just have a few observations. [00:32:43] My name's Steve Sherdell. [00:32:44] I've been a volunteer with Main Street [00:32:45] and a board member since 2005. [00:32:48] I've been a chamber board member, [00:32:50] I don't know how long, quite a while. [00:32:52] Was on the executive committee for a while. [00:32:54] And very involved with local community events. [00:32:58] I've been blessed to be able to be the emcee [00:33:00] for the 9-11 observance for a number of years. [00:33:06] And the one thing that I just want to try [00:33:08] to share with everybody, and this is not my opinion, [00:33:11] this is just the facts as I know them. [00:33:13] So maybe that is my opinion, I don't know. [00:33:15] But the big challenge for most of the groups [00:33:18] that are involved are the funding [00:33:19] for the events that they do. [00:33:21] And one of the interesting things about the advertising, [00:33:23] and this lady's point was well taken, [00:33:25] it's very, very difficult to advertise the events [00:33:28] in today's world with a limited budget. [00:33:31] My radio station, I happen to be blessed [00:33:33] to be an owner of the group. [00:33:35] And we don't charge most of the community. [00:33:38] Some insist to pay because they appreciate what we do. [00:33:41] But we do a lot of things for free. [00:33:43] Unfortunately, most media in the Tampa Bay area [00:33:46] don't follow the same model. [00:33:47] They won't run your newspaper ad for free. [00:33:50] They won't run your cable schedule for free. [00:33:52] They won't run your radio ads for free. [00:33:54] So we're always hampered by the economics of the situation. [00:33:58] One of the things about the ticket sales, [00:34:00] I mean, I hate them as well. [00:34:02] Honestly, I do. [00:34:04] But when Main Street experimented [00:34:05] with eliminating the ticket sales, [00:34:08] we found out that it was hard to attract vendors [00:34:10] if they had to pay an equivalent [00:34:12] to what Main Street made off the ticket sales [00:34:15] in advance to come in for real estate. [00:34:17] Because if it rained, they lost their shirt. [00:34:21] They would pay that high amount, [00:34:22] they wouldn't make the sales, [00:34:23] they wouldn't get the revenue. [00:34:25] When Main Street went to ticket sales, [00:34:28] revenues in one year went up about 30%, [00:34:30] which means to tell you on an honor system, [00:34:32] they were underreported. [00:34:34] In a perfect world, find better vendors, [00:34:36] find honest people, all those other things. [00:34:38] I get that, but one of the things that I've noticed [00:34:41] because I'm a business guy [00:34:42] and I've been through a lot of ups and downs, [00:34:44] it's a whole lot easier to troubleshoot [00:34:47] from the armchair in your living room [00:34:50] about how it could be done better [00:34:52] and sometimes difficult to implement it on the street. [00:34:55] So I'd just like you to think about that. [00:34:58] One of the other things I'd like you to think about [00:35:00] is that during the years of decline, [00:35:03] 2008 and nine were the two worst years [00:35:05] in the history of commercial radio, bar none. [00:35:07] I think they were horrible years for the city here. [00:35:10] I think the city was saddled with a lot of debt. [00:35:13] Yet through that time, we had quality events. [00:35:15] Now, maybe some people didn't like our choice in music [00:35:18] and some people thought we were inviting some people in [00:35:20] that didn't fit the right socioeconomic group, [00:35:23] but Chasco labored on. [00:35:25] And the Main Street events labored on [00:35:27] through a down economy, sometimes losing money, [00:35:30] sometimes putting on an event [00:35:32] because we thought it benefited the bars [00:35:34] and the restaurants in the downtown, [00:35:36] which if you wanna hear something really crazy, [00:35:38] there's people that don't think [00:35:39] we should have bars downtown. [00:35:41] I happen to like a bar on occasion. [00:35:44] So my point is, I think it's like the bumper sticker, [00:35:46] peacefully coexist. [00:35:48] I mean, I think there are some groups here [00:35:50] that have represented their love for the city, [00:35:53] the ability to put on good events. [00:35:55] Constructive criticism is a great thing. [00:35:57] Maybe we can eliminate the ticket sales, [00:35:59] but I think there should be, there doesn't have to be. [00:36:02] It's your city, you can do whatever you want, [00:36:03] even though I feel like it's my city, [00:36:05] even though I don't live within the limits, [00:36:07] I live in Gulf Harbors, but it's always been my hometown. [00:36:11] And I think that you have to give, [00:36:14] you should give a little bit of consideration [00:36:16] to the history of the people that were there for the city [00:36:19] when the city wasn't able to promote itself. [00:36:21] I know Derek Pontlitz, who's a friend [00:36:23] and who serves on the chamber board with me, [00:36:25] tells a story over and over again [00:36:26] that he located his business downtown [00:36:29] because of the great events the city has. [00:36:31] And those included our seafood festival [00:36:33] with Not Enough Seafood and our music festivals [00:36:37] with Ride Sally Ride or whatever. [00:36:38] Whatever mistakes we've made, [00:36:40] the whole point is we weren't doing it to screw up. [00:36:43] We were doing the very best that we could [00:36:45] with limited resources. [00:36:46] A lot of times, no resources. [00:36:48] The Main Street program used to be funded $50,000 a year [00:36:51] from the city. [00:36:52] We went through a period where personally, [00:36:53] I came monthly and gave the presentations here [00:36:56] and we had people that wanted to totally defund Main Street [00:36:58] and see it not exist anymore. [00:37:00] And there was a push made for that to happen. [00:37:02] So, you know, take all those things into consideration. [00:37:05] I hope that this is truly a sincere expression of, [00:37:10] hey, how can we make this better? [00:37:12] I'm afraid that some of us feel like it may, [00:37:14] how can we make it different [00:37:16] for the sake of it being different? [00:37:18] When Scott McPherson was mayor, [00:37:20] he formed a special events committee. [00:37:22] I was on it. [00:37:23] Judy Parker, who's the aide to Senator Simpson was on it, [00:37:26] a number of other people in the area. [00:37:28] And we were tasked by the mayor of trying to come up [00:37:30] with alternative events for the city. [00:37:32] We just ran into the same problem, [00:37:34] the economic model. [00:37:36] We don't have the ability to fence off the place [00:37:38] and sell tickets. [00:37:39] So it can't be like Vinoy Park in St. Petersburg. [00:37:42] It can't be a paid concert [00:37:43] like Coachman Park in Clearwater. [00:37:46] So that's the point I'd like you to think about, [00:37:48] that sometimes there are economic limitations [00:37:51] that if they were removed, [00:37:53] we'll do whatever you'd like us to do. [00:37:55] If we're not scuffling to fund an organization, [00:37:57] if the Bike Fest wasn't fighting [00:38:00] to come back into existence in 2014, [00:38:02] we would have done things very differently. [00:38:04] But we started out with an event that had gone away, [00:38:07] was in danger of leaving our city for a long time. [00:38:10] Some people think bikers are nasty people [00:38:12] and we shouldn't have them in our downtown. [00:38:14] I happen to like bikers. [00:38:15] I think they're some of the nicest people [00:38:16] on the face of the earth, you know? [00:38:18] So the whole point is, you know, [00:38:20] please take all that into consideration. [00:38:23] We want to be a part of the process. [00:38:24] We just don't, and I don't mean to speak [00:38:26] for Mr. Gray and the Chasco people, [00:38:28] but they may share the sentiment [00:38:29] that we don't ever want to feel like [00:38:30] we're on the outside looking in [00:38:32] after all the years that we stepped up to that [00:38:34] when nobody else was willing to play. [00:38:36] So those are my comments, thanks. [00:38:37] Thank you very much, Steve. [00:38:39] Very good, Jon. [00:38:40] Hi, I'm Kristen King. [00:38:50] I think most of you know me. [00:38:52] I'm here representing Keep Pasco Beautiful [00:38:54] and the Pasco Upcycle Festival. [00:38:56] We actually have our application in, [00:38:57] our event's going to be November 18th. [00:39:00] It was supposed to be November 11th. [00:39:02] We actually changed it because there's a blackout [00:39:04] in the park the day that we were going to have our event, [00:39:06] which was fine. [00:39:08] First off, I want to say your park staff is amazing. [00:39:12] The events are as successful as they are [00:39:14] because they go above and beyond to help us out there, [00:39:18] you know, planning and day of and everything else. [00:39:21] In regards to where we have the events in your city, [00:39:25] I actually, our first Pasco Upcycle Festival, [00:39:27] we had out at the Little Everglades Ranch in Dade City, [00:39:30] which is absolutely gorgeous, [00:39:32] and it's in the middle of nowhere. [00:39:34] So we were like, let's bring it into a downtown venue. [00:39:37] We actually walked around New Port Richey [00:39:39] and spent a lot of time trying to figure out [00:39:41] where we could have this event, [00:39:43] whether we were going to try and do something in Sims Park [00:39:47] versus doing Railroad Square or somewhere downtown. [00:39:50] I will say that we picked Sims Park for multiple reasons, [00:39:54] one of which is that we were going to have bands, [00:39:56] so the amphitheater was there. [00:39:58] If you do not, if you have something downtown, [00:40:01] now you have to pay for a stage, [00:40:03] you have to pay for generators. [00:40:05] It's much more complicated. [00:40:07] So that was one of the things, [00:40:08] reasons we decided to have it there, [00:40:10] along with the bathrooms. [00:40:12] You know, you have amazing bathrooms now in Sims Park. [00:40:14] If you go to do something in that Railroad Square area, [00:40:17] that becomes an issue as well. [00:40:20] With our Upcycle Festival, we went around [00:40:22] and we spoke to a lot of the local businesses [00:40:25] before we had the event. [00:40:28] We actually told them we had some bags [00:40:30] that we gave to people when they took surveys [00:40:32] and said that they could put coupons or flyers [00:40:34] or information in there [00:40:35] because we wanted to work with the local businesses. [00:40:38] We had a few food trucks. [00:40:41] We had five food trucks. [00:40:42] We actually had partnered with Tampa Bay Food Trucks [00:40:45] to handle the food. [00:40:46] This year, we're going to try and use [00:40:48] a little more local people. [00:40:50] We're actually out there right now [00:40:51] trying to look at different things people are doing. [00:40:53] Our event is a little bit different [00:40:55] in that we're not looking at this as a fundraiser. [00:40:58] This is an educational opportunity. [00:41:00] We tie it into America Recycles Day. [00:41:02] And so people say, well, how did you have 85 vendors? [00:41:06] We didn't charge vendor fees. [00:41:08] We were specific on a type of vendor that could come in. [00:41:11] We wanted it to be upcycled type vendors, [00:41:14] but I felt like we were very strategic [00:41:18] in how we planned our event. [00:41:19] We were a new event, but we wanted to, [00:41:22] we do bluegrass and folksy type music. [00:41:25] You know, it's a shorter event. [00:41:27] It's 10 to four. [00:41:28] It's a daytime event. [00:41:29] We were very cautious of what kind of an impact [00:41:31] we had on the park itself. [00:41:33] We wanted to make sure it was a clean event [00:41:35] and everything else. [00:41:36] So, and I love Chasco. [00:41:38] I've done Chasco before. [00:41:40] Us newbies too, we're in here. [00:41:42] We all, we want to work with the city. [00:41:44] We want to work with the businesses [00:41:46] and the community plays, you know, a big part in that. [00:41:49] I will say from an event holder's perspective, [00:41:53] I was definitely a little bit frustrated [00:41:55] with your development department and the permitting process. [00:41:59] There's two sides of the event planning. [00:42:02] So you have the event permit that runs through Elaine [00:42:07] and the parks department and they do a great job [00:42:09] and everybody is pretty much on the same page, [00:42:11] but there's also permits that have to be pulled, [00:42:14] tent permits. [00:42:15] Sometimes you'll have to pull electrical permits [00:42:17] through the development department. [00:42:20] Those things tend to change and they don't always tell you [00:42:22] when things are changing. [00:42:23] And sometimes it's not communicated to the events. [00:42:27] For the smaller events, I consider myself, [00:42:30] you know, a small event. [00:42:32] We had estimated attendance of 3,300. [00:42:35] When you're finding out a couple weeks prior to the event [00:42:37] of, oh no, now you have to do these additional permits [00:42:40] and stuff, it can be super frustrating. [00:42:42] So we want to do the right thing. [00:42:44] We want to play by the rules. [00:42:46] We love the city of New Port Richey. [00:42:48] We love being here. [00:42:49] That's just our perspective from our event. [00:42:52] Thank you. [00:42:54] Yes, please come on down. [00:43:07] Yes, Bob. [00:43:08] My name is Bob Riley. [00:43:09] Again, I'm from Community Congregational Church. [00:43:12] Proud to be part of the events many times. [00:43:16] One of the things I think we need to be conscious of, [00:43:19] many of the people that come to the events [00:43:23] have to park their car, have to walk their children. [00:43:26] We have families, a lot of families. [00:43:29] They love coming to the events. [00:43:31] The activities that actually result from your work, [00:43:36] the work of the other people in the room [00:43:39] that may be sponsoring is fantastic. [00:43:41] I think it can grow. [00:43:43] The people come back year after year. [00:43:46] I see them because I park their cars. [00:43:50] We have a large parking lot behind our church. [00:43:52] Many times the lot is not attended, [00:43:55] but it's open to the people who do want to park, [00:43:57] and you walk through our driveway, [00:43:59] and there you are in Sims Park. [00:44:01] It's wonderful. [00:44:03] There are times that we do charge for it. [00:44:05] We ask for a donation. [00:44:06] If people don't have the money, they park anyway. [00:44:09] It's fine. [00:44:11] It's safe. [00:44:11] It's a great area. [00:44:13] The point that I'm bringing up, [00:44:14] the families and the individuals that do come, [00:44:17] come because they love to come. [00:44:20] We need to keep embracing that, [00:44:22] and I do that with the people that come into the lot. [00:44:25] As they park their cars, we're courteous to them. [00:44:27] Many of the people that have come and parked [00:44:31] have come to our church. [00:44:32] It's a nice thing. [00:44:33] We do well with it. [00:44:35] The point being, we need to appreciate [00:44:38] the wonderful families that do come to these events, [00:44:40] so we need to streamline what we can [00:44:44] to have them come back over and over again. [00:44:48] The families are perhaps our most important resource [00:44:52] that we need to develop, [00:44:53] but we try to do what we can do to keep them happy. [00:44:58] We all need to do what we can do. [00:45:00] to bring them a quality event. [00:45:02] I'm glad to hear that Community Congregational is open to the parking. [00:45:07] I go over to First Methodist and our youth group has made a bundle some times with the [00:45:12] parades and all. [00:45:13] That's right. [00:45:14] As a matter of fact, I've worked with Bill Lewis over there and I'm trying to get him [00:45:16] to do a little bit more parking because when we fill up, I want to fill them up. [00:45:21] Absolutely. [00:45:22] It all works hand in hand because it's safe. [00:45:25] People have a good place to park. [00:45:27] But the two churches do work together. [00:45:30] I'm concerned sometimes because people do fly up and down Pennsylvania Avenue and that's [00:45:37] a crossing area. [00:45:39] Unfortunately, it's the only way around when we block off the circle and when we block [00:45:43] off Grant Boulevard. [00:45:46] One of the issues, and hopefully we'll get some other folks to talk about this as well, [00:45:54] we've got a fairly large apartment complex that should be under construction this fall. [00:46:03] The first phase is going to take out the old paved parking area from where First Baptist [00:46:10] Church was. [00:46:11] The second phase, that I would guess will be within a year of that, will take out the [00:46:15] entire empty lot immediately south of that. [00:46:18] Parking is going to be worse. [00:46:21] Interesting. [00:46:22] It's getting less and less. [00:46:25] That's okay. [00:46:26] We can use our engineering and all work together on it because, again, it's a coordination [00:46:31] effort. [00:46:33] We do what we can do and you guys do what you can do. [00:46:36] Again, the people still come back. [00:46:39] Yeah, they'll stand in line a little bit, but they love what we do in New Port Richey. [00:46:44] Bottom line. [00:46:45] I've got my Google Earth up if people are thinking what I'm doing. [00:46:51] Keep running around and getting a bird's eye view. [00:46:55] He has a great point. [00:46:58] We've looked at it through part of our conversations about, and please understand, we've been working [00:47:05] on the parking issue for about six months now. [00:47:08] It's been under discussion for about a year, but we're in the early phases of the parking [00:47:13] on the north side of Sims Park and then something on the south side near the downtown core. [00:47:22] Please recognize that we are working on that, but he brings up a great point that we really [00:47:28] should consider some type of barricading to where it doesn't block anybody's driveway [00:47:36] that has access near the church, but we really do need to turn that. [00:47:43] Once they make that turn and they go shooting down to make the right on Adams, we really, [00:47:50] during events, we ought to consider making that a little less of a, I guess, a rich target [00:47:58] zone as you walk across because all they would do is go down Indiana and come to the corner [00:48:03] and go right, left, or straight. [00:48:06] I appreciate you bringing that up because we're not on that side of the event most of the time. [00:48:11] We had a serious situation with the Main Street blast this year. [00:48:16] Apparently where they normally, and I was working the parking field so I didn't even [00:48:21] get to see it, where they normally have the caissons or whatever they put the mortars [00:48:28] in that they shoot off, it must have been a little closer to the church property than [00:48:35] it was in the past. [00:48:37] I think, what is it, a 300 foot, some kind of a regulation between where a person can [00:48:44] be and where the things shoot off. [00:48:46] Anyway, what it did, it amounted to making a very difficult entry to the food area and [00:48:55] to the, let's say, the other children activities. [00:49:01] People were trying to walk through our driveway and they were forbidden to walk on the sidewalk [00:49:05] which normally is open. [00:49:07] Again, this is something that is correctable down the road. [00:49:10] I'm not complaining about it. [00:49:12] We had to kind of courtesy some of the people and guide them around onto Adams Street and [00:49:18] then they got into other areas where they wanted to go. [00:49:22] They came back to the parking lot and they were happy so it works out if you want it [00:49:26] to work out. [00:49:28] I do think, I do think we need to consider what we have to do to make the people happy [00:49:36] that come to it. [00:49:37] That's my concern. [00:49:38] Deputy Mayor. [00:49:39] It's not really a concern, but it's just an observation. [00:49:43] Our acreage downtown is not growing, it's not going to grow. [00:49:47] You would know that better than anybody. [00:49:48] It's pretty much set, right? [00:49:50] The size of the events are growing, in my opinion. [00:49:52] The amount of people coming to the events are growing. [00:49:56] With such a small four square mile, four and a half square mile city we have, when we see [00:50:01] tens of thousands of people at Chaska, we know the majority of those people don't live [00:50:04] in our city limits. [00:50:05] There are people who live in West Pasco, East Pasco, all around. [00:50:09] Maybe if Ms. Manns, we could talk to the county, Mr. Biles of the county and see if the commission [00:50:13] thinks when we have these larger events, to find larger parking lots, such as maybe the [00:50:19] rec center parking lot, suite bay, and see if the county will partner with us, even [00:50:24] though it's an event held in our city limits, the entire county is benefiting in attending [00:50:28] the event, and maybe use some of their transit shuttle buses to shuttle people back and forth [00:50:33] free of charge. [00:50:35] It works out ultimately, Jeff. [00:50:37] It's just, as I say, we do have a group of people that do keep coming back. [00:50:42] Of course, we want them to come back. [00:50:46] It's only saying that whatever you're doing, they're coming back. [00:50:49] So keep doing it. [00:50:50] And just tweak it. [00:50:52] It's all good. [00:50:53] Thank you. [00:50:54] Yeah, I went by the Main Street Blast and was just absolutely amazed at the number of [00:51:00] people that were there. [00:51:02] And the community congregational lot was full. [00:51:06] First Messages lot was full. [00:51:07] The city hall lot was full. [00:51:10] Dr. Gluba's parking lot was full. [00:51:13] It was just, it was packed more than I can remember. [00:51:17] And I had to wonder if some sort of shuttle system, the Kia Trolley or something from [00:51:25] Pasco County Transit wouldn't help get people in, because it is, it's tight now and it's [00:51:31] going to be really tight here in the next year. [00:51:40] And they couldn't get through. [00:51:41] So that's something I think we can work with the fire department and make sure that is [00:51:47] a little easier next year. [00:51:48] Yes. [00:51:49] Good evening. [00:51:50] Jeffrey Cranage, Executive Director for Chasco Fiesta. [00:51:54] First of all, thank you for hosting Chasco for the last 74 years. [00:51:58] It's an honor to be the Executive Director once again. [00:52:03] One of the things that Chasco is doing is, a lot of people have noticed, is the quality [00:52:07] of attendees who have attended Chasco the last few years has been on the incline. [00:52:14] A lot of that has to do with the change that we've had with our entertainment committee. [00:52:19] We're actually bringing in better national acts that are either local or national. [00:52:27] But we're looking for better quality music and performers. [00:52:30] And that's changing the attendees that come and watch these concerts each evening. [00:52:35] The genres that we do throughout the week, we don't just stick to one type of music every [00:52:39] night of the week. [00:52:40] Every night it's a different type of genre. [00:52:42] We start with the family night, which is hosted and pretty much paid for and advertised by [00:52:51] the Dove. [00:52:52] I'm sorry. [00:52:53] No, I'm sorry. [00:52:54] Joy FM. [00:52:55] Excuse me. [00:52:56] Joy FM. [00:52:57] We've built partnerships with Q105 and WQIK to promote both the classic rock night as [00:53:02] well as the country night. [00:53:04] And we're looking at higher-end artists for both those weekends. [00:53:08] This was the first year that Chasco actually had a two-weekend ticketed concert. [00:53:13] And by doing those ticketed concerts, we saw that the attendees were here to spend money. [00:53:21] They were more respectful. [00:53:24] Just different change in the people who came and attended. [00:53:27] Councilman Davis, I know you had mentioned something about helping keep the park a little [00:53:32] bit cleaner and neater. [00:53:34] And one of the things we implemented last year... [00:53:36] It's not really cleaner and neater. [00:53:37] It's just the wear and tear. [00:53:38] It's the wear and tear and abuse. [00:53:39] Just because tents are up for 10 days or tables and chairs or whatever. [00:53:44] And one of the things, what we tried to do this year was limit the number of golf carts [00:53:47] that we actually allowed in the park, because we know with the soggy grass and the weight [00:53:51] of the golf carts and multiple being in there, that does take a wear and tear on the side, [00:53:57] plus safety of the people in the park. [00:53:59] If you noticed, we actually had Chasco support vehicle stickers on our golf carts. [00:54:05] One of the things that we talked about that we're going to try to implement for this year [00:54:08] is actually have a golf cart parking area, so when people do want to come in with their [00:54:12] golf carts, they do have to stop at a certain point. [00:54:15] That's just a huge safety issue that we saw over last year. [00:54:20] Our advertising dollars, I know we just had the TDC meeting on Wednesday, and Chasco spent [00:54:26] almost $40,000 this year to advertise through several different networks. [00:54:31] We only get a percentage of that back from the TDC department. [00:54:35] They are a gold medal sponsor due to the amount of money that they give us, but we actually [00:54:40] explored doing television commercials this year, and we ran two 30-second segments over [00:54:44] three weeks on Spectrum. [00:54:47] We spent $10,000 advertised outside of Pasco County, and Spectrum, in return, gave us $5,000 [00:54:52] of in-kind in Pasco through major networks. [00:54:56] They also did a very good market survey on what areas they were going to touch, what [00:55:01] demographics they were going to look at, who watches what. [00:55:04] They did all that for us. [00:55:05] We have it in black and white. [00:55:06] We were more than happy to share it with you all, but those are some of the things that [00:55:11] we're looking at doing this year. [00:55:13] As far as the shuttle, I've been working very close with Jeff Butchco and Jeff Bailey. [00:55:18] They're the operations managers and directors and marketing director with the newly remodeled [00:55:24] Quality Inn down in New Port Richey. [00:55:27] They have dumped over $3 million in that building in the last two years trying to fix it. [00:55:32] I know New Port Richey Police Department does do off-duty detail there. [00:55:37] I spoke with Honor, their assistant general manager. [00:55:41] They're really cleaning the place up. [00:55:43] Our promoter that we use to bring in these national acts for our two major weekends, [00:55:48] he called me up after coming down and doing the walk-through when we had the park set [00:55:51] up and getting ready to go. [00:55:53] He had called me and said, Jeff, put my national acts there. [00:55:56] They changed that place around. [00:55:57] That place is looking really good. [00:55:58] They'll be okay. [00:56:00] With all the new renovations that he's doing, we're making them the official hotel of Chasco [00:56:04] Fiesta. [00:56:05] With that being said, I'm working with another organization that is a not-for-profit because [00:56:10] Chasco's purpose is to support 26 not-for-profits in Pasco County. [00:56:15] Our not-for-profits are not from outside Pasco. [00:56:17] They are Pasco-based not-for-profit organizations. [00:56:20] Even though Chasco is a not-for-profit organization, we don't make any money. [00:56:25] We have enough money to pay the salary of an executive director when it's all said and [00:56:28] done. [00:56:29] We hope that that money's still there at the end of the summer so I can get paid. [00:56:35] With those being said, we're going to try and utilize Jeff's parking lot over there [00:56:42] at the Quality Inn for our major sponsors so that they can go and do the meet-and-greet [00:56:46] with the performers before the concert and then shuttle them back and forth so that their [00:56:53] cars are away from downtown and we still have that shuttle service going. [00:56:58] There's a lot of new things that we're trying to develop for this year to try and alleviate [00:57:01] some of that parking out of the park and also working with our vendors. [00:57:07] Chasco does not do the ticket thing except for the beer because we basically signed an [00:57:11] agreement with our vendor. [00:57:13] All of our vendors are repeat vendors. [00:57:16] All but three of them are not-for-profit vendors and they are pretty much on a right of refusal. [00:57:24] We reach back out to them at the beginning of the year and they tell us whether or not [00:57:28] they want to come back. [00:57:29] If they don't want to come back, then we allow another vendor to take their place. [00:57:33] I think you guys have done a nice job. [00:57:38] The net this year is that you got caught by the drought also. [00:57:41] We didn't get the rain until later. [00:57:44] Over and above that, it's impactful. [00:57:47] Then when the years you do catch rain, it's gotten torn up a little bit. [00:57:53] Over and above that, it got debris the week after your event and there was something that [00:57:59] weekend. [00:58:00] Then a week later, Main Street had an event. [00:58:05] Then after that, we ended up putting in two new shade structures and actually brought [00:58:14] in brand new sod. [00:58:16] Otherwise, I'm not sure what Rap River Run would have run into. [00:58:20] They had it tough enough trying to get through brand new sod. [00:58:26] We need to understand what the impact is so that we've got the right kind of dollars outlined [00:58:34] for the facility. [00:58:35] Obviously, there's safety and risk issues that come. [00:58:40] Over and above that, I will tell you that you can still ... Elaine Stunder, before she [00:58:47] goes, there was a gentleman here on Saturday night who's the lead singer of Harold Melvin [00:58:53] and the Blue Notes. [00:58:55] He was here to see Sean Brown play. [00:58:58] Sean didn't invite him up on stage and he lives in Northport. [00:59:03] He wants to come play, and I don't know about you, but Elaine's going to shoot me because [00:59:10] I'm taking one of her acts away. [00:59:12] Elaine Stunder, I already got him. [00:59:14] Well, then you guys need to negotiate something out. [00:59:18] I'm just saying that people enjoy the venue. [00:59:21] Obviously, we've enhanced it with some other elements. [00:59:25] The other is if there's any other way to discuss with the property owner that has the major [00:59:31] parking lot down at the corner of West Main, where the old Suncoast News is at, and doing [00:59:37] some staging there, which I know it all comes about. [00:59:43] Those things are important. [00:59:45] It's just my thing is that making sure that everybody sees how we can keep from, I guess, [00:59:55] running down the project because then we know we have to come back around. [01:00:00] My concern with Chasco, quite frankly, is the fact that given the number of days it's [01:00:05] there, it pretty well will destroy the sod in numerous areas of the park. [01:00:11] We either need to budget to re-sod the place and probably give it a little bit of breathing [01:00:20] time after Chasco so it can recover. [01:00:26] It was unusually bad this year just because of the drought, but there are sections of [01:00:33] the park that are just now starting to look decent after what we put them through starting [01:00:40] with Chasco Fiesta and running through everything else that has happened since then. [01:00:45] I think the issue with that, we brought this up before as far as giving the park a break [01:00:49] with the exception of Kia Fest, which is normally on the 4th of July or right around [01:00:54] there, is that people want to have their events in the spring and the fall, which I understand [01:00:58] because it's so hot when it's not, so that's something we have to take into consideration [01:01:04] when we're talking about what events and spacing them out because everyone wants their event, [01:01:08] you know, not everyone, but that's the prime time of year. [01:01:12] And with Chasco, when we plan Chasco, and this is mostly for the residents' knowledge, [01:01:16] what a lot of people don't realize, we actually have to plan Chasco based on the tides on [01:01:20] that last Saturday and work all the variables backwards. [01:01:24] So for this year, we had four dates picked between March 9th and April 15th-ish, right [01:01:31] around there, because of that high tide factor. [01:01:34] You know, for me to be able to get two boats up and down that river side by side can be [01:01:40] challenging if you don't have an experienced boat captain in certain parts of that channel. [01:01:44] So for the residents that are attending this meeting wondering why Chasco is never the [01:01:49] same time each year, it's always within a certain time, that is a reason for that is [01:01:53] that that tide chart hinders our dates. [01:01:58] And I guess the only advice I have for, you do a phenomenal job with Chasco, I mean, it's [01:02:02] a well-oiled machine, the amount of work that goes into planning such an event, I can't [01:02:05] even fathom, but with that and the bike fest, I understand you want it bigger and better [01:02:10] every year, but just once again, keep in mind our city's not growing, you know, and we can [01:02:14] only sustain so many people during events, so advertise, advertise, advertise, get quality [01:02:19] people in here, but, you know, we can't double the size of Chasco in eight years and think [01:02:23] everyone's going to, we're going to have room for it, it's not going to work. [01:02:26] Thank you, sir. [01:02:27] Thank you. [01:02:28] Good evening, I'm Chuck Gray, and pleased to be here to talk to you about this for a [01:02:40] minute. [01:02:41] I'd like to thank Steve for the comments he made, I think I agree with a lot of what he [01:02:46] said, but to follow on to what we were talking about a minute ago with transportation, I've [01:02:52] noted over the past couple of years that one of the problems that all of the events probably [01:02:57] have, especially if they're in the evening, is that a lot of people like to come, but [01:03:04] if they park five or six blocks away, they're afraid to, or they're just hesitant to have [01:03:11] to walk at night to wherever their car is parked, so I think it's a great idea to try [01:03:19] to come up with some kind of a shuttle system that we can, that all events could conceivably [01:03:23] use and be able to offer people a ride back to their certain areas, we could even designate [01:03:31] parking lots outside the city, we've got the Board of Realtors building, we've got the [01:03:36] rec center, we've got all kinds of places, and as you said, out by 19, where the old [01:03:45] shopper used to be, so, and in addition, of course, I know you've been working on the [01:03:51] concept for the parking structure, and I think that's going to be extremely important, not [01:03:57] only for events, but also for the hacienda, which I enjoy working on as well, because [01:04:05] as you know, if you go to any type of facility like that, for example, in Tampa, or wherever [01:04:12] it might be, most all the people are parked, they don't park their own cars, and so it [01:04:19] would be not unusual for someone to pull up there for an event, have their car taken to [01:04:25] a parking lot, to a parking structure, and picked up, in other words, valet parked, so [01:04:33] I think that's a great idea, a great concept. [01:04:36] Parking is always going to be a problem for us, Jeff, and it's going to continue to be [01:04:40] a bigger problem, and just so you know, at ease, we're not necessarily trying to make [01:04:46] Chasco Fiesta bigger, but we do want to make it better, so we realize what our limitations [01:04:53] are, but, you know, there are ways to make it grow without making it grow, as far as [01:04:58] our footprint's concerned. [01:05:01] So we're happy to work with the city, we're thrilled with the way the city has worked [01:05:06] with us, the mayor, and city manager, and each of you on the council, and we look forward [01:05:13] to just continuing. [01:05:16] I know when we started this whole thing with Chasco, back after the no-name storm, nobody [01:05:21] wanted to have anything to do with it, but we, and it was spread all over the county, [01:05:25] we brought it together and put it in the city where it was when I was a kid, and it's really [01:05:32] turned out to be a wonderful event, and we have a number of great events, just like we're [01:05:36] talking about Elaine, the events she's having, so we appreciate the opportunity to be here [01:05:43] and take part in the city, and many of us who have grown up here and been part of this [01:05:47] city since its beginning, so we look forward to continuing to work with you. [01:05:53] Thank you very much, Chuck. [01:05:57] Good evening, I'm Victoria Barley, I've been a resident for 15 years, I served on the West [01:06:08] Pasco Board of Realtors for 10 years, as well as West Pasco Chamber of Commerce for 10 years. [01:06:13] I come, I'm going to write this after I finish talking, I really am here to share quite a [01:06:18] bit of gratitude for the leadership that has occurred in the city over the last three years. [01:06:23] I work with Wrap Over Run, and I was part of the committee of bringing back Bike Fest, [01:06:27] but I learned a lot of my volunteerism through Chasco Fiesta when I first moved here 20 years [01:06:32] ago. [01:06:33] It's so interesting to me that so many people who were volunteering then are still volunteering [01:06:41] now. [01:06:42] The development of this city and the leadership of this city, two areas which I'm very, very [01:06:47] proud of, one is Elaine Smith Park and Rec, and the other is the Police Department of [01:06:53] the City of New Port Richey. [01:06:54] I cannot ever work with the nicer people. [01:06:58] When you're running private events, you get very stressed, you get nervous, you forget [01:07:02] things. [01:07:03] They are the two departments that truly calm you down and treat you with respect. [01:07:08] It doesn't always happen with city employees. [01:07:11] I do also want to thank the council for extending Ms. Mann's contract. [01:07:17] That to us has been a tremendous benefit, her leadership, your willingness and knowledge [01:07:23] and expertise to make that choice. [01:07:26] I want to share my gratitude for that. [01:07:29] In reference to Wrap Over Run, which is 10 years, 10 years seems to be my number, except [01:07:34] I've lived in the city for 15, so I don't really know what's going to happen after this [01:07:38] year. [01:07:39] But 10 years ago, we started Wrap Over Run. [01:07:42] The City of New Port Richey did help us financially for the first two years. [01:07:46] We did have to ask for some donation because we couldn't cover all of the cost. [01:07:50] Since then, we have paid our bill in full and have been happy to do that for the following [01:07:55] eight years. [01:07:57] We have grown from participants in the summer heated months, from they said we wouldn't [01:08:03] be successful, they said it wouldn't happen. [01:08:07] We had 325 runners we thought were going to be there the first year. [01:08:11] We ended up with 450. [01:08:13] We screwed up the timing. [01:08:14] We messed up everything. [01:08:15] There was nothing perfect. [01:08:17] And nothing worked. [01:08:18] It just, period, didn't work. [01:08:20] But because of the attitude of the volunteers, the city staff, everybody that was involved [01:08:25] with it, guess what? [01:08:28] We just had our 10-year second week in June and we had over 1,500 people there. [01:08:35] It continues to grow as a family event, but the really great part of it is two years ago [01:08:40] when you did the reconstruction of the park. [01:08:46] It just blew people's minds. [01:08:47] Yes, we had to make changes in the route and the way we do things, and so we as event planners [01:08:56] have to make changes, but we're willing to do so. [01:08:59] The only thing that is so important in my life, probably mostly because I'm getting [01:09:04] older, I'm not sure, is just the way we're approached. [01:09:08] Being kind, being suggestive, being patient, you know, treat others the way you want to [01:09:14] be treated. [01:09:15] It's so very, very important, and I know it's hard to convey, but I see that attitude changing [01:09:22] within the city staff and with the city employees, and for that I'm very, very grateful. [01:09:27] I believe it's under Ms. Mann's leadership. [01:09:30] You guys are the ones that hired her, so again, we remain very grateful. [01:09:34] I wanted to also agree with Steve Schradel. [01:09:37] He's also always such a very humble guy. [01:09:40] He's always got good input, and he tends to speak for the city. [01:09:45] I'm a city lover. [01:09:46] My husband's a city lover. [01:09:48] We have been dedicated to the city when it's been good and when it's been bad. [01:09:52] We've been here cleaning streets. [01:09:54] We've been here, you know, eating food, drinking beer, having a great time, and supporting [01:10:01] the city. [01:10:02] We will continue to do so. [01:10:04] The direction in which the city is going is marvelous. [01:10:08] Hopefully everything will become consistent, and one suggestion, who put on the sunset [01:10:13] series? [01:10:14] Who's responsible for that? [01:10:18] So as you're in budget process, my recommendation for nice wine and cheese events, and the events [01:10:26] that the city wants to put on and wants to see, maybe you can include that in your budget [01:10:30] as you did for the sunset series, and start to bring some of those visions that you have [01:10:36] forward in the city as you have done the sunset city. [01:10:39] You will still get the community support through the volunteerism that you will need, and other [01:10:45] organizations getting on board to help you. [01:10:49] But as you said, we're pretty much maxed out with all of the events that we're actually [01:10:52] doing currently. [01:10:53] But I'm sure, as I've seen the city step up over the last 15 years, they certainly will [01:10:59] step up, as they have for the sunset series, which we love, and we would do for any other [01:11:04] ideas that you may have. [01:11:06] Thank you. [01:11:07] Thank you. [01:11:08] There are actually... [01:11:09] Just a second before she goes away. [01:11:12] Was it Wrap River Run that came this year and asked that they could have alcohol in [01:11:16] the morning? [01:11:17] Yes, sir. [01:11:18] Okay. [01:11:19] I just want to have a little discussion here about application. [01:11:20] I mean, you were trying to throw that in at the end, and had you worked on that prior [01:11:27] to, or was it just kind of an idea that came up at the end? [01:11:30] No, actually, we survey our runners every year, and in the last seven years, they have [01:11:35] asked what would make us better. [01:11:37] It would be great if we could have a beer after the race. [01:11:40] We chose not to do it because there were certain vendors in downtown that would open [01:11:44] early, that we could go and support their business and have a beer, and so we did that [01:11:50] for a couple of years, actually, but it only ended up to be 10 people here, 10 people there, [01:11:57] and so over a period of those five, seven years, only one restaurant then chose to open. [01:12:04] So in our survey, we surveyed probably about 3,000 people. [01:12:09] They said that it would be great if they could have a beer after the race, and so I [01:12:13] never brought it up until this year because, you know, we had to go through the whole chain [01:12:21] of getting board approval through YFA to be able to share our documentation as to why [01:12:26] we were presenting this on a family event, and so it took time to be able to present [01:12:32] it. [01:12:33] Well, that's whether we approved it or disapproved it isn't really where I'm going with this. [01:12:39] And this really goes out to all of you, because we don't really see your event until maybe [01:12:45] a month or two before up here, and we're approving your event. [01:12:50] Maybe the city's gone ahead and approved it, but aren't you approaching this, you know, [01:12:54] maybe three months in advance, and in Chasco's case, I mean, you've been working on it for [01:12:58] 11 out of 12 months, maybe take off a month from, you know, middle of April to middle [01:13:05] of May, and so that's kind of where I, and the thing that we're looking at up here was, [01:13:10] you know, we want to be part of your program the whole year, or whatever, if you start [01:13:15] six months or seven months or four months, but it seems like you're doing your application [01:13:21] even though you've got dates for Chasco. [01:13:23] Have you got an application in yet? [01:13:25] I just printed it up this morning. [01:13:27] Yeah, so my point is you really haven't, you know, done your application into the city. [01:13:33] We haven't really looked at it, so that's kind of where we were talking about we'd like [01:13:37] to get a yearly event, you know, program, and so that we're actually dealing, you're [01:13:42] actually starting to deal with the REC department for your event, the application part, and [01:13:49] then also we heard that, you know, you run into some problems with the development department. [01:13:53] Well, you probably wouldn't be running them at the end if we weren't, so I think maybe [01:13:57] it's a communication that has to happen between, you know, the city and the city staff, the [01:14:03] city council, and your events, so we can help you year-round. [01:14:06] By the way, the development part is one of my favorites also. [01:14:10] I will let you know my application was submitted to the city in January for the alcohol. [01:14:15] My event's in June. [01:14:17] Is that something common with these running events, like in other areas, to have a beer afterwards? [01:14:21] I didn't have an issue with having a bunch of beers and coolers and the runners having [01:14:24] a beer, but just a backlash that I was expecting from people in the city. [01:14:29] Some people just don't like a beer in the park, and then we were worried about people [01:14:33] having bans and wanting alcohol sales to start at 10 a.m. rather than noon, and I think that [01:14:38] was the reason behind it. [01:14:39] I personally, if it's something they do at other places and they get done running and [01:14:42] they want a beer, I mean, I don't have a problem with just having it so early in the morning. [01:14:46] It was like 7 in the morning, though, you were asking. [01:14:48] Well, we're working on that issue. [01:14:50] 7 o'clock in the morning. [01:14:52] We're only allowed certain hours in the ordinance. [01:14:56] I think it's 11 or 12 until, and that's... [01:15:00] In evolution, Steve brought up that when Mary McPherson was here, that was one of the first [01:15:08] times they talked about having beer in the park, and there was a big review about that. [01:15:14] But I think part of it's driven by our ordinance, and we'd have to make a special exception [01:15:21] to allow that early morning. Every time we allow a special exception, then it can become [01:15:28] the norm, and then we have to kind of work our way through it, so that's part of it. [01:15:34] We had applied for a special exception. I think that we're going to do it again, and [01:15:40] we will explain it better. At the time the city council was meeting, I was not aware [01:15:46] to be here, and poor Andy had to do it by himself, and he was not part of the whole [01:15:51] application process. So we are going to submit it again, and the reason there have been other [01:15:57] races that have been far more successful than ours right off the bat, year one, simply [01:16:04] because they had beer. So I don't see us getting any bigger than we are. We have a [01:16:09] beautiful 10-mile, we have a beautiful, I mean, 10K and a 5K. We have to work on the [01:16:15] kids' fun run, and we will make the routes even greater now that the park is the way [01:16:22] the park is. And so we look forward to further growth in families, probably not so much in [01:16:28] numbers, I would guess. I'm not sure. But thank you very much. We're very, very grateful. [01:16:36] Thank you. And just for everybody to know, the summer concert series was put on by the [01:16:42] recreation department. There has also this past year been a band books concert series [01:16:50] that was put on by the library. Most of those events in the library series were actually [01:16:57] done at the little natural amphitheater in Sims Park that some of you may not even realize [01:17:02] exists. It's right down by the bridge. But it's a very nice, if you've got an event [01:17:10] that you're expecting 60 or 80 people to come listen to music, it's a beautiful place. [01:17:16] We had one event. It had rained that day, and as the sun was going down, the sky was [01:17:24] just multicolored, and it was reflecting off a smooth as glass river. It was like heaven [01:17:31] on earth. And it was just, it was a really neat way to spend a Thursday evening. [01:17:35] Those are the type of smaller events I'm talking about. I'd like to see more of it. It doesn't [01:17:40] take a whole lot to put them together, very, very successful on a smaller basis. But it [01:17:44] adds a culture to our community that draws people. And I just think it's great, and I'd [01:17:50] like to see more of it. Another example is Tasty Tuesday. I mean, that's growing, right? [01:17:58] It is, indeed. [01:17:59] Ms. Dillinger told me back in the day that that had to be held at the library because [01:18:02] it's a library event. Are we able to move that if we need larger space to have it continue [01:18:07] to grow? [01:18:07] Yes, it is possible to relocate it to another venue. [01:18:10] That was a particular conversation I had with Ms. Mance because there's interest in a market [01:18:17] in the downtown now that we have the fresh market with rights. It just seems like a natural [01:18:21] thing to move that, so. [01:18:24] Indeed. Good evening, Rod. [01:18:27] Hey, how are you? First of all, I want to thank you guys for inviting me to come. I [01:18:33] don't think there's probably a business owner in the city that's in the middle of everything [01:18:37] that goes on in Sim Park as we are. So we are right there in the front door. [01:18:42] Ground zero. [01:18:42] Yeah, we're ground zero. [01:18:45] We're real close. [01:18:46] Right. And one of the things that I wanted to say is it's very easy to play armchair [01:18:51] quarterback. I know that two years ago, I tried to help Chuck out, and I failed miserably. [01:18:58] And thinking that, oh, this can't be this big a deal to try to get a couple of bands [01:19:01] here and put some things together, and I really let him down. So publicly, I apologize to [01:19:06] Chuck. But one of the things that I can tell you from listening to everyone speak is, number [01:19:14] one, Regan, I actually agree with. I think that there could be some guidelines that you [01:19:19] guys put into place. Everybody can play by the rules as long as you know what the rules [01:19:23] are. As far as the parking, I come from a motorsports background. So for 25 years, I [01:19:30] lived in areas or were at areas, and I live in them, where we tried to get 100 to 200 [01:19:35] to 300,000 people from one position into another one. And I think that off-premises parking [01:19:42] and shuttling people back and forth is definitely the answer. Look at NASCAR. They can show [01:19:47] you how to do it very, very simply. [01:19:49] One of the other things that I've seen, too, is that at their events where they have off-site [01:19:54] parking, they will have other types of things there. So you may have some food trucks at [01:20:02] a particular place where they're parking at. You may have some tents. You may have a craft [01:20:06] fair there, so that you can take part of that massive amount of peoples and kind of distribute [01:20:12] it around a little bit without taking anything away from the particular venues or the charities [01:20:18] that are trying to raise money there. I think that's a very simple fix, to be truthful with [01:20:23] you. But as a business owner, the one thing that I want to say is that I think that the [01:20:29] mindset of the business owners downtown, we need to change our mindset. I don't think [01:20:34] that we need to look at it and go, oh man, it's another event, and look at it from the [01:20:38] negative side. I mean, I'm a business owner that's sitting there, that you guys and these [01:20:44] people are marching tens of thousands of people in front of my business. How much money would [01:20:49] that cost me? I couldn't spend the marketing dollars to make that happen. So I think that [01:20:56] the downtown business owners, we need to get together and decide how can we best benefit [01:21:01] from it, instead of looking at it and going, oh my gosh, it's another event, and the streets [01:21:06] are going to be full, and no one's going to be able to park. We need to look at the advantage [01:21:11] that that's bringing to us, and it's powerful. I mean, I'm surely, and that's our responsibility. [01:21:18] It's not the city's responsibility. It's not the organization's responsibility. It's [01:21:22] the business owner's responsibility to take advantage of the traffic that you're putting [01:21:25] in front of us, and I think that that's something that we need to work together on, and the [01:21:32] other thing, too, is what I do think the city can do is that all of these events bring tens [01:21:39] of thousands, some of them maybe even hundreds of thousands of people to our community, but [01:21:44] what are we doing to let those people that come here know what we're actually looking [01:21:49] for? I've had some of these conversations with Mario, and he's been awesome with that, [01:21:55] and I think that's the opportunity that, from a city standpoint, that we're missing. So [01:22:00] again, we've got Main Street Landing coming. We've got the Starkey Project. I've been in [01:22:05] all of these meetings, and people talking about, well, are you going to be able to put [01:22:08] people in them? Well, guess what? If we've got 100,000 people coming down here, and we're [01:22:12] letting people know that, guess what's going to be on this piece of property right here? [01:22:18] Do you not think that we could probably fill that up with one event? [01:22:23] And so the other thing, I mean, as we walk down through the main streets in the different [01:22:26] cities, the buildings that are being renovated that are open for business, we need to let [01:22:32] those visitors know that, and I think there's something, again, as a business community [01:22:37] that we could do to benefit from that traffic, because they're coming from all over. They're [01:22:42] coming from all over the place. So when we got them down here, let's let them know what [01:22:46] the downtown area is all about, and hey, we're looking for a microbrewery, or we're looking [01:22:50] for this, or we're looking for that. Do you know anybody that might be interested? [01:22:56] But all in all, I think the events are great. They are a tremendous amount of work. I never [01:23:01] had any idea how much work they were. I do agree that we have to protect the asset of [01:23:08] Sims Park, as far as the wear and tear on it, and some things that we could do to make [01:23:12] sure that the park stays healthy. Because one of the things that I see is that sometimes [01:23:19] you come to the event, and there's so much stuff going on there that you really never [01:23:24] get to see how beautiful the park is, because you can't really see it all. [01:23:29] So I think from the parking standpoint, if you would consider having some of the other [01:23:35] things off location a little bit, I think that would be a big help. Trolleys are easy [01:23:39] to do. So anyway, thank you. [01:23:43] Thank you. And that's a good point about getting the business owners together. I know my first [01:23:49] reaction to Bike Fest is, oh boy, a bunch of tattooed motorcycle guys showing in. And [01:23:55] I kept that attitude right until I realized the amount of money they were putting into [01:23:58] those bikes and realized they were my demographic. So it is interesting. Now my challenge is [01:24:08] to get them to come in the door. [01:24:10] Well, just to be fair, that is an excellent point, Rod, and that's a challenge for anyone [01:24:19] that is working with the downtown merchants. Because we have to realize that they are business [01:24:26] owners themselves, and one of the reasons why probably some of them are not here is [01:24:29] because they're putting in a day's work or they don't have the staff to come out, especially [01:24:35] in the evening. But that mindset is so critical, because we're talking about upscale and events [01:24:44] that we want to host. And for those of us who can remember the cycling event that took [01:24:49] place a few years back, and that was an event that those cyclists are just unbelievable [01:24:57] in terms of the demographic that they represent. And if we had the opportunity, perhaps timing [01:25:05] is everything, and I'm sure there's lots of other things that played into them not returning, [01:25:11] but we as a community really did not embrace that event. And that could have made an incredible [01:25:18] difference in the type of businesses that would have been open to accommodate for the [01:25:23] fact that there was that event. So anyway, it is an important thing to recognize that [01:25:29] we do have, you know, what we have here and what an attraction it is for any event or [01:25:38] event planner. [01:25:39] Thank you. Heather? [01:25:42] Thank you. First of all, I'd like to thank the city for having this, and also for the [01:25:46] work of all your staff. I've worked many times with your park and recs department and [01:25:49] also now working with Robert on several different events, so I thank you for that. I do agree [01:25:55] with the wear and tear. You do see that, but part of the problem is you also just opened [01:25:59] up the park and then you turned around and had your event right on top of it. So your [01:26:03] sod hadn't even gone in, and then we had the drought. So there's a lot to that, and I do [01:26:10] think timing of the events. You made a very valid point when you were talking about we [01:26:16] have all these parks. We have so many parks within the city. Most city residents don't [01:26:20] realize the parks that we have. For example, the new park that you're developing to go [01:26:24] with the 80 Acres that's going to be coming off over by Goff Middle School. That's a place [01:26:30] where a lot of people could use it. I think if you want other people to use those, first [01:26:35] thing you need to do is start having a couple of city events there so people can go there [01:26:39] and see what they are, and then they could envision their events at those places. Number [01:26:44] two is you have to list the events. With the parking availability, is there the number [01:26:49] of people that would house? Just like you said, you could use that one band area that [01:26:53] could hold 60 people, but how much parking would be allowed there? Is that one that would [01:26:57] have to be a walking for the city residents or something that we could bring other people [01:27:02] in? Are you having buses that are coming in? When it was brought up about the shuttling, [01:27:08] that's an excellent idea. I went to several events down in Clearwater. It said free parking, [01:27:13] free shuttle. I was the first one there. No way did I want to go down to the beach with [01:27:18] my car and try and find parking. I went into a free parking, got free shuttle. I was happy [01:27:23] to do that. I think that's a very important thing as we move forward. If we could have [01:27:30] in the prior to your application something online that would say, here are all the list [01:27:35] of our parks. Here's the size of our parks, the number of people that it can hold. Here [01:27:40] are the parking spaces that are available that we could get you there, or you could [01:27:45] work out some type of different thing. The other problem with that is bugs. Are those [01:27:51] parks sprayed? Are there no ants? Are there mosquitoes have been sprayed and things like [01:27:57] that? That's another issue when you're trying to plan those. I appreciate that Chasco had [01:28:02] two ticketed events this year. I think it helped some of the people to go home after [01:28:08] the parade. It provided maybe less fights in the evening hours after some people were [01:28:15] hot and tired from the parade. That's another important thing. I love the gentleman's idea [01:28:20] of bringing back the 1950s. I moved here in 76. We never locked our doors. We didn't lock [01:28:27] our cars. It was beautiful back then. We used to walk the streets and think nothing [01:28:31] of it. To go back to that would be lovely, but that requires your events coordinators [01:28:39] to say, we would like to have Christmas music or holiday music at our parades. That requires [01:28:45] the event people to bring those things in. You would be sued for saying that. You know [01:28:49] it and I know it, and so does your lawyer. So those are the type of things you have to [01:28:53] be careful, but it doesn't mean that you can't suggest to the events people that they [01:28:58] might want to make those suggestions to the different people that are coming. I agree [01:29:03] with the idea that if we had an event committee that might be able to actually hash out some [01:29:07] ideas and give you some suggestions on different ways to do things. You have people here that [01:29:12] have been doing events for 50 years and more, and they have done a fabulous job. Behind [01:29:18] me is a room full of volunteers with the best ideas. This isn't really the setting to hash [01:29:22] out ideas. You might want to give them the ability to do that with one or two meetings. [01:29:28] Don't hold up your staff forever, but one or two meetings where some ideas could really [01:29:31] flow and conversations could be had. I don't know if this is against the ordinances. I'm [01:29:38] a little behind on those, but if you could put up, you have those beautiful televisions. [01:29:43] I know some cities have those different billboards, and I'm not really a big fan for billboards [01:29:50] on 19, but if you could have one of those beautiful ones that either change and you [01:29:54] have three different signs, or if you could get one that the television is similar to [01:29:59] what you have in Sparta. [01:30:00] where you could advertise the events that are coming forward. [01:30:04] That's another thing. [01:30:04] Here you've got everybody driving through 19, [01:30:07] but they aren't coming down Main Street. [01:30:09] Well, let's tell them what we're doing [01:30:10] and when we're doing it. [01:30:12] Advertisement money is a big issue. [01:30:14] People want to come to the events [01:30:15] and they read about it in the paper the next day [01:30:17] and they say, oh, I would have gone if I had known. [01:30:19] Well, let's tell them while they're on 19. [01:30:21] That's just a way to do it. [01:30:24] And you could control that. [01:30:30] Again, I think you need to sell the other parks in our city [01:30:34] and share what we have and when they're going to be open [01:30:37] because there are some. [01:30:38] The other thing is you've already, [01:30:40] you know, I'm not a big fan of the building. [01:30:42] So you've already blocked the view of the river [01:30:44] on the one side. [01:30:45] So why not buy up the Altman land [01:30:48] and make that a three-story parking garage [01:30:51] and make it a city parking garage where you can make money? [01:30:54] To me, that's a good way of making money [01:30:56] and you've already blocked the view anyway. [01:30:58] So it wouldn't be a problem there. [01:31:01] And I love the idea for the elderly [01:31:03] to be able to get valet parking, at least for a part of it. [01:31:07] That's something that we need. [01:31:08] We do have a lot of elderly people that are coming. [01:31:11] The other thing that's so nice about our city [01:31:14] is we have a variety of things. [01:31:16] We have things that are for the family. [01:31:18] We have things that are for the adults, you know, [01:31:21] and we have things that we can bring everybody to. [01:31:24] And that's what you need. [01:31:27] You need to keep that variety [01:31:29] because we have a variety of people that live here. [01:31:30] It's not everything for the children. [01:31:32] It's not everything for families [01:31:34] because every event is a little bit different. [01:31:36] And I think you have to be able to have a variety of things [01:31:40] to meet all the needs of your city. [01:31:41] So I thank you for everything that you do do. [01:31:43] You do a great job and your staff is fabulous. [01:31:47] So thank you. [01:31:48] Ms. Mance, I think that's an excellent point she made. [01:31:51] If we could get Elaine or somebody on her staff [01:31:55] to just do a workout on each of the parks, [01:32:00] at least the major ones, [01:32:03] what sort of people load they can take, [01:32:09] what amenities they have, [01:32:10] and more important, how many parking places they've got. [01:32:14] I know we had the Boquat Festival this spring [01:32:18] at Francis Avenue Park, [01:32:22] and I'm guessing that's going to wind up getting relocated [01:32:25] because it ran out of parking very quickly. [01:32:28] And that may have outgrown that park. [01:32:30] But for some of the smaller item things, [01:32:33] maybe that's a place to look. [01:32:35] Same thing, Grape Reserve and the others. [01:32:37] But having a list that shows how many spaces are available [01:32:42] and what features are there [01:32:45] if somebody wants to do an event [01:32:47] would definitely be helpful as a handout, if nothing else. [01:32:51] We'll do so, Mr. Mayor. [01:32:53] I also like the ideas of having an event committee [01:32:56] just brainstorm and sit down, [01:32:57] and people from each organization [01:32:59] and talk about what works for their event, [01:33:01] what may not work. [01:33:06] I'm not 100% sure. [01:33:07] I just want to lay the guidelines down, [01:33:09] and we're catching up heat up here [01:33:10] for having so many ordinance [01:33:13] and telling people what they can and can't do, [01:33:14] parking on the grass, everything. [01:33:17] But I do like the idea of us having somewhat guidelines, [01:33:21] but just like with the pavement committee, [01:33:23] just let's get it from the people [01:33:24] that are actually planning the events [01:33:26] and get their input and their opinions, [01:33:28] and let us get that feedback [01:33:30] and then decide what we want to do. [01:33:37] Come on down, Dan. [01:33:40] My name is Dan Deedy, and I live on the Circle Boulevard. [01:33:46] First of all, I'd like to just reiterate [01:33:50] what these people have said before me, [01:33:52] and I've been listening. [01:33:53] They've taken just about everything [01:33:54] that I wanted to say about the good things [01:33:56] that the city's been doing. [01:33:58] I think that one of the big things [01:34:01] of attracting people to the city [01:34:04] is the fact that it's a community. [01:34:06] One of the big things of attracting the young people [01:34:10] was the renovation of Sims Park. [01:34:12] I drive past there every day when I leave my house, [01:34:16] and I do see all the kids having a good time. [01:34:20] I see people having events, birthday parties, [01:34:24] stuff like that, under those awnings. [01:34:27] And so I'd like to say that I think [01:34:30] that you guys are doing a real good job [01:34:32] with the way you're moving forward with the city. [01:34:35] That being said, I'd also like to... [01:34:38] I'd like to thank Mr. Rivera. [01:34:41] He heard of some concerns that I had [01:34:43] about some traffic problems, [01:34:45] and he came to my house when they decided [01:34:48] they were going to do a three-way, [01:34:49] all-way stop sign on Washington and the Circle. [01:34:52] And we had a discussion about that, [01:34:54] and I appreciated that. [01:34:55] Anytime I've had any problems [01:34:57] with that type of a utility deal, [01:35:00] I call Mr. Rivera. [01:35:01] He was always there. [01:35:02] Also, with the police department, [01:35:04] I'd like to say that anytime I've called [01:35:07] and I've dealt with any of the staff [01:35:10] there at the police department, [01:35:11] any problems that we might have, [01:35:12] there was some homeless people [01:35:14] sleeping in the church next door [01:35:16] and things of that nature, [01:35:18] and they were, I mean, right on it. [01:35:21] So thank you for that. [01:35:23] I appreciate it. [01:35:24] Also, with the traffic problems, [01:35:26] I will say that initially, [01:35:28] and I had spoke to the mayor about speed bumps. [01:35:31] I was here once before about that, [01:35:33] and, of course, I caught more heat from my wife [01:35:36] than I did from you, [01:35:38] and she was not in favor of that. [01:35:41] And so when the all-way stop signs were put up, [01:35:44] and I will tell you that that has slowed [01:35:46] that traffic down considerably. [01:35:52] Mr. Riley was up here from the church, [01:35:54] and when I look out my back window, [01:35:57] I look right out at Adams and Pennsylvania Avenue, [01:36:00] right by that church parking lot, [01:36:02] and I can tell you that it probably would be a good idea [01:36:06] to put an all-way stop sign right on that corner. [01:36:10] Pennsylvania Avenue has become a speedway [01:36:12] behind the church in the morning. [01:36:14] They come flying through there [01:36:16] because they don't have to stop. [01:36:18] People are stopping on Adams, [01:36:20] but Adams is actually almost a busier street. [01:36:23] A lot of this traffic is circumventing the circle [01:36:27] now that the stop signs are up, [01:36:28] coming down that way [01:36:30] so that they don't have to stop two or three times [01:36:32] and going down Adams. [01:36:34] And there's no stop sign on Pennsylvania Avenue [01:36:37] east or west. [01:36:39] So you might want to consider something like that for safety, [01:36:42] especially at the fact that it's a busy street [01:36:45] and they do use that parking lot [01:36:47] for a lot of the events that are going on. [01:36:49] So that was something that I thought [01:36:51] that might be in consideration. [01:36:54] One of the things that I think would be a good idea [01:36:58] to help the businesses downtown, [01:37:02] I've been to several car shows in different cities, [01:37:05] Dade City, down in Dunedin, [01:37:08] and they hold them in the downtown area. [01:37:11] One of the things that happens with the car show [01:37:13] is that they tear up that grass. [01:37:17] And it's an event that brings a lot of people, [01:37:21] but a lot of those people go from the parking lot [01:37:23] to the car show back to the parking lot. [01:37:26] They do have some vendors around [01:37:28] that supply with drinks and food and things like that. [01:37:31] However, if that event was downtown, [01:37:34] I think that would expose those people [01:37:36] to the businesses downtown a lot better. [01:37:39] So that was one thing that I thought [01:37:41] might be something to help the businesses downtown. [01:37:50] I would like to see if there was any way, [01:37:53] and I really haven't discussed this with you yet, [01:37:55] but I'd like to see if there's any way [01:37:57] that we can have one police officer, [01:37:59] when they have the main events like Chasco Fiesta [01:38:01] and the Christmas Parade on Pennsylvania Avenue, [01:38:05] right by that parking lot behind the church. [01:38:09] People who come from this area are respectful enough. [01:38:14] Most of the people that come from out of the area [01:38:16] are not really concerned about the people that live there. [01:38:19] I'm a little disappointed tonight that there's probably [01:38:21] only about three or four of us residents that are here [01:38:24] and more of your event planning people, [01:38:27] which is what this is about. [01:38:29] But I think that the city needs to have a little bit consideration. [01:38:35] I think that there's probably one, two, three, four, [01:38:39] there's probably five people, including myself, [01:38:43] that live on the circle, that actually live on the circle. [01:38:47] And I sometimes get the feeling that [01:38:50] even though we get good cooperation, [01:38:54] and again, I don't want to complain, [01:38:57] but there's certain things that happen that I think that [01:39:02] the council, in their wisdom of doing things right, [01:39:07] is doing a good job, but you have to live right there [01:39:11] during some of these events to know what goes on. [01:39:15] And if you don't, you'll never know. [01:39:17] All you'll see is the people on the day of the event, [01:39:19] but you don't see what happens. [01:39:21] Constantly climbing over, you know, fences were put up [01:39:24] to keep people out. [01:39:27] Climbing over my back fence constantly, you know, [01:39:29] from that back road to Pennsylvania Avenue. [01:39:35] So that's why I request about having a police officer back there. [01:39:40] I remember years ago when I worked for the sheriff's office [01:39:42] and I went to Mo Rickus and asked him for that. [01:39:44] He says, well, why don't you do that? [01:39:46] You work for the sheriff's office. [01:39:47] Why don't you patrol that street? [01:39:50] I wasn't happy about that. [01:39:52] It wasn't my job. [01:39:56] But I think that the car show downtown would be a good thing. [01:40:01] And then I would be remiss if I didn't say this, [01:40:09] and I know probably those of you that I've talked to on the council [01:40:13] have probably heard this from me. [01:40:14] It's just a never-ending thing with me is the carnival. [01:40:18] And the carnival, again, doesn't bring people to the downtown businesses. [01:40:24] They congregate in that one area. [01:40:28] The people that come to that, I mean, [01:40:31] you could probably set up an event in the parking lot across from the Hacienda, [01:40:36] just like they had this year with the kiddie rides in it, [01:40:39] and satisfy the people who bring their little children to the carnival. [01:40:44] The big kids that go there don't go there to enjoy a carnival. [01:40:49] They've encroached on our residents more and more each year. [01:40:53] This year they were almost up to the stop sign on Central Avenue. [01:40:57] A couple of years ago I had them asking me if it was what I thought about. [01:41:02] I think it was, I don't know who runs that, but I don't know if it was the chamber [01:41:05] or whoever it was, would I object to them moving the carnival further around the lake. [01:41:10] And I said, yes, I would. [01:41:11] I said, next thing you know they're going to be right across the street from my house. [01:41:15] And for the amount of length of time that that thing is on there, [01:41:19] I think that it would best suit the residents, [01:41:22] the few residents of us that do live there all year long. [01:41:25] And I've been living there since 1989. [01:41:27] I've been in this county since 1976 and living on the circle since 1989. [01:41:32] It's almost 30 years now, and I've seen the changes that not only you guys have done, [01:41:37] where previous administrations have not really stepped up to do that kind of work, [01:41:45] and including the setbacks that you had back in 2008, which really put a hurtin' on the city. [01:41:51] And I think you bounced back really, really good. [01:41:54] But I do think that you need to take some special consideration in some of the events [01:41:59] that are planned for the few residents that live down there. [01:42:04] Now, many years ago I was told that at that time they were talking about high-end condos [01:42:14] that they were going to build around the lake eventually, [01:42:18] or at least in the Baptist Church parking lot and the location where the church itself was. [01:42:25] And when those condos were put up, that the carnival would go away from its location. [01:42:31] I wasn't happy about that remark because I felt that that was to say that it was okay for the few residents [01:42:37] that lived there to put up with that, but not when they built the high-end condos. [01:42:42] So I'm wondering what's going to happen now when Mr. Starkey puts up his high-end rental buildings [01:42:50] on the corners over there. [01:42:51] Are we still going to have the carnival, or is it going to go away? [01:42:54] Or put in a place where it's more accessible to people like they used to have it out on 19 years ago? [01:43:01] I don't see what benefit it brings to the city. [01:43:05] I don't know anything about the money that it brings to the city, if any. [01:43:08] I know that they have to put down deposits for the damage that they might do. [01:43:12] They tore up the curbing that was just put in a week before they finished it, [01:43:19] week before the event happened. [01:43:23] They don't care about our city. [01:43:26] They really don't. [01:43:28] They're there to make money, period. [01:43:30] And so I think that that's something that you need to take into consideration [01:43:34] when thinking about putting that thing back in there every year. [01:43:37] So anyway, I thank you for the opportunity to speak. [01:43:42] And, again, I'd just like to say that I appreciate what's being done [01:43:48] and I appreciate the cooperation from the staff of the city. [01:43:52] So thank you. [01:43:56] Thank you. [01:43:57] Yes, sir. [01:43:58] Come on down. [01:44:08] Hi, I'm Rex Phelps. [01:44:09] I live at Central and Jefferson. [01:44:11] I'm a resident. [01:44:13] Been here since 2012. [01:44:15] Enjoy what goes on in the city. [01:44:17] I've listened. [01:44:18] I spent an hour and 45 minutes listening to what's been going on. [01:44:23] Good ideas all around. [01:44:25] I think the city council needs to have their set guidelines. [01:44:31] I like the idea of the guidelines for the events in Sims Park. [01:44:36] I live two blocks east of Sims Park. [01:44:42] People walking by, people parking. [01:44:45] Chasco Fiesta. [01:44:47] Shoot, the house that I live in was the guy that wrote it. [01:44:53] And so that was Gerben DeVries. [01:44:58] The issue that you have. [01:45:00] is the residents, just as the gentleman before me said, are here all year. [01:45:08] People who come to our city are here for a period of time short, [01:45:13] and they go to the fiestas, they're great. [01:45:20] Parking is a very big issue. [01:45:23] Speed is a very big issue. [01:45:25] Fortunately, we're taking care, I think, of the speed problem on Central Avenue. [01:45:29] I'm sure it's going to go over to Pennsylvania, I'm sure it's going to go over to Indiana, [01:45:33] but I don't live there. [01:45:37] You see, and that's the attitude. [01:45:40] Not in my backyard. [01:45:42] That's not where we are here. [01:45:44] The carnival, I hadn't given it much thought, but you know what? [01:45:48] That's probably a pretty good thing, unless you're making a lot of money off of it. [01:45:53] That's a mess, just a hot mess. [01:45:56] We go down to most all the events at the park, and when there's a carnival down there, [01:46:01] it's kind of hard to negotiate through it. [01:46:05] If you want people to come and spend money in New Port Richey, [01:46:09] which basically is what those things are all about, the kids don't have the money to spend. [01:46:16] I have the money to spend. [01:46:19] The kids' parents, maybe. [01:46:22] But most of the people that I see, like at the Sunset Concert the other night, [01:46:29] I'm 70, so I guess they're not my age. [01:46:32] They're a little younger. [01:46:34] But they're good people, and they enjoy the music, and they don't tear stuff up. [01:46:42] I was told when I moved to Central and Jefferson that it was a high crime area. [01:46:51] Show me. [01:46:53] It's not. [01:46:54] That guy over there probably had as much to do with it. [01:46:57] Never had a problem, don't have a problem. [01:46:59] The people walking up and down the sidewalk in front of my house are sometimes strange. [01:47:05] But then aren't we all? [01:47:07] So, I mean, in the middle of the night, there's some odd stuff going on. [01:47:11] But, hey, it's a public street and highway. [01:47:13] They have every right to do that. [01:47:15] These guys are around. [01:47:18] My point being, as you make your decisions on what you want to have the city become [01:47:24] and what you want to have the city do, [01:47:27] my suggestion is that you take into account an elevation of who's actually you want to come into the city. [01:47:39] The business owners want people whose debit cards clear. [01:47:45] They don't want somebody to come in there raising sand and, oh, Billy Ned. [01:47:51] The bikers can't afford those motorcycles at 15 bucks an hour, I'll tell you. [01:47:57] I've got one. [01:47:59] Those guys do just fine. [01:48:03] And I don't think they're a lot of problem. [01:48:06] Their motorcycles are allowed, but then so is mine. [01:48:11] Make your level of stuff where the vendors will want to come here because that's where the profit is. [01:48:21] And that's what we're all after. [01:48:23] As far as what you're doing on Central and Jefferson and the Sims Park place, [01:48:30] as long as they're not tearing up the park and we're not fixing it, [01:48:35] then you guys are doing a tremendous job on that. [01:48:38] It's a nice place to go sit and watch a concert. [01:48:42] Hopefully we can keep it that way. [01:48:44] Thank you. [01:48:45] Thank you. [01:48:59] I'm Leah with Rock the Boat Productions, but I'm also with Rights Natural Markets. [01:49:03] I've got a couple different perspectives here. [01:49:05] And unfortunately, my more vocal business partners couldn't be here tonight, so bear with me. [01:49:12] Everything that I've heard here tonight is great input, and it's right on par. [01:49:19] But I do kind of see a difference in perspectives between those that are fundraising with events [01:49:25] and those that are looking to establish an image for the city. [01:49:28] So creating events as a fundraiser, it's an expensive proposition. [01:49:35] So your goal is to get as many people as you can spending as much money as they have. [01:49:41] So that's where you get these giant blowout events in the park, [01:49:44] and that's the difference in perspective when you're trying to create an image for the city. [01:49:50] The smaller, more intimate events is what kind of attracts a different crowd [01:49:55] and kind of builds an excitement and an energy for the city over the long haul. [01:49:59] So you're looking at more of a short-term goal and a long-term goal. [01:50:03] And Mr. Starkey, you had mentioned Safety Harbor. [01:50:07] I recall maybe about ten years ago they actually hired someone specifically to plan events for the city. [01:50:14] And it's been a long process, and they've made mistakes along the way, [01:50:18] but they continue to grow and improve, and they're at the stage that they are [01:50:22] because they had someone dedicated to creating those image-creating building events for the city. [01:50:29] And a quick search on the city of Dunedin's website on their special events page, [01:50:34] they have a link, they say you want to host a special event. [01:50:37] The link says click here for our event policies and procedures manual, [01:50:42] and it lays out everything for every size of event. [01:50:45] So it's not necessary to reinvent the wheel. [01:50:48] There's a lot of cities that are doing really great things. [01:50:51] They're a little further ahead than we are, so we might as well borrow some things from them that have worked in the past. [01:50:58] And as far as the perspective from the business owners downtown, [01:51:03] I'm the marketing director at Wright's Natural Market, [01:51:06] and I will let you know that Jeff and I are already planning events for 2018. [01:51:10] So he's very excited about having events on Railroad Square, [01:51:14] and we've got great relationships with quite a few of the business owners downtown already. [01:51:19] So we're really looking forward to bringing everybody together [01:51:22] and making some cooperative events that kind of help establish that image for our downtown. [01:51:27] So just so you know, that's kind of in the works. [01:51:32] So thanks. [01:51:33] Thank you. [01:51:34] Thank you very much. [01:51:41] Anyone else? [01:51:43] Colleagues? [01:51:44] Closing comments, thoughts? [01:51:50] I appreciate the input. [01:51:52] That's exactly what we were looking for this evening. [01:51:55] There's a couple of questions that I'll visit with Ms. Manns about, [01:52:01] so that she can talk to the specific sponsoring group, sponsoring folks, [01:52:10] so that we can better understand what your goals and objectives are for your events [01:52:20] and for your organizations. [01:52:22] Because if we're on the same page, [01:52:24] I think it would be nice to have some small planning meetings or charrettes [01:52:30] or whatever you want to call them, so that we can continue that dialogue. [01:52:35] And I'll leave it to Ms. Manns and her staff [01:52:38] to pick the right people to be at those events, those elements. [01:52:42] I personally would like to hear about them afterwards. [01:52:45] I don't think you need our personalities at the meeting, [01:52:48] because obviously we bring things that we have over the years. [01:52:53] And one of my biggest things is I'd love to find out the rock your boat [01:53:01] and with some of the businesses, how we make that bridge between drawing people [01:53:08] and telling the story, as he said, as Rod had mentioned. [01:53:16] If you kind of convey who you are and what you are looking for, [01:53:23] I think you begin to bring that type of message across. [01:53:30] So I'm looking forward to that. [01:53:32] And, again, just appreciate the open opportunity to hear about things that are on your minds, [01:53:41] kind of understand where we are, especially as we're in our budgeting process now, [01:53:46] because we have a lot of moving parts, and we all want them to dovetail together [01:53:51] for the overall citizens, the neighborhoods, the economic development, [01:53:57] which drives values for our homes and values for your businesses. [01:54:04] So I appreciate that very much. [01:54:05] Thank you. [01:54:06] Thank you, sir. [01:54:07] Councilwoman? [01:54:08] Yeah, we really appreciate everybody's input and all of the comments that were made. [01:54:13] I think that one of the things we need to realize is there's an ebb and flow in activities [01:54:23] and events and in the growth and development of the city. [01:54:27] If we go back 15 years ago or so, there were things that were tried and worked [01:54:37] because the downtown merchants that were involved in them helped make them work. [01:54:43] As the Main Street landings came into place, there was a vitality and an excitement in the downtown. [01:54:50] There were another crop of merchants that came into the community that were excited [01:54:59] about the smaller sidewalk activities. [01:55:03] Those of us who have lived here long enough will remember when there was the art walks [01:55:09] and there was shop and strolls and the railroad square activity had started. [01:55:16] I think it was a three-year period when we attempted to really make a car show work. [01:55:25] I think it was a good three and a half years or so of trying to help make that work. [01:55:32] Mr. Deedy, it is known by lots of small cities that have historic downtowns that that is the place, [01:55:39] the logical place to host those type of things. [01:55:42] What we found at the time, and maybe it's a time to revisit them now, [01:55:46] but at the time, believe it or not, and I know it's hard to believe, [01:55:50] but the merchants didn't want the car shows there because, quite frankly, [01:55:56] what we found is a lot of the car people themselves came, set up shop to show off their cars, [01:56:03] brought their coolers and their food and stayed right with their car. [01:56:07] Naturally, you can understand why that's a very valuable item that they have there. [01:56:11] People that did come into our city to look at the car show, several of the merchants would close [01:56:19] and we would explain to them, it's like having a party and inviting people to your house and then you go out. [01:56:24] Maybe now, as I said, it's another crop of merchants in the downtown. [01:56:32] Maybe exploring that in different places, that might work. [01:56:38] I think that cities have their own personality and borrowing from other cities is a great thing. [01:56:50] Small cities, especially with us being a Main Street city, [01:56:55] we have the opportunity to borrow from other cities or steal ideas from other cities. [01:57:00] It's a very cooperative group because we all find ourselves in that same situation, [01:57:05] wanting to make a vital downtown so that it's walkable, that people want to come to it, [01:57:10] that you're making your downtown a destination. [01:57:13] I have to say that I'm so encouraged by the merchants that are in the downtown now, [01:57:20] just as evidence of several of you that are here tonight, even though there's not more of them, [01:57:25] but just those of you who have shown up, who have an interest in what's going on in the city [01:57:31] and have welcomed the opportunity to work with each other, creating a cohesiveness among each other [01:57:39] and also working with the entities that are wanting to host events. [01:57:43] I'm encouraged by that and I'm excited about what our city is doing. [01:57:48] Yes, we do have other parks. [01:57:51] I think we all concentrate on Sims Park because it is a spectacular venue. [01:57:58] All over the years when I was hosting events for the city, time and again I would hear the vendors that came, [01:58:05] the entertainment, the people that came for entertainment, the people that came for the event as attendees [01:58:12] all came back with the same thing. [01:58:14] They thought the park was beautiful. [01:58:16] Now, even more so, and it truly is a beautiful location. [01:58:23] If you look on the city website, I'm not sure if it's Facebook or if it's Parks and Rec Department [01:58:29] that recently put up some videos of the Gray Preserve. [01:58:36] It's true. [01:58:38] We really are so blessed to live in the community that we live. [01:58:42] The fact that we have the weather that we have, drought or rain or whatever, [01:58:47] during the course of a year, we truly do live in a small part of a paradise. [01:58:52] I'm encouraged and excited about what we can do collectively. [01:58:56] I love the idea of sharing ideas and I think it's been my mantra for all these many years [01:59:03] that we all need to be pulling the boat in the same direction. [01:59:05] I think that having this kind of free flow of information as well as continuing to have the dialogue [01:59:14] on the conversation, we can only improve. [01:59:17] I would love to throw into the mix, if we do have a continuing dialogue on this [01:59:24] with folks who are hosting events in the city themselves. [01:59:28] I really would love to explore, and I know tonight is not the time, [01:59:33] but I really do want to explore the options that we have with those video screens. [01:59:37] We spent a lot of money to get them up there, and I think we are not maximizing their use, [01:59:44] and I think that we need to explore a better way to allow them to be used. [01:59:52] I know that one of the selling points for us when we were needing to vote on this [01:59:57] was that we were not going to charge event holders for it. [02:00:00] of them, but we kind of built in a backside of that that I'm not sure that [02:00:04] event holders are able to use them to the best extent and really can use them [02:00:08] to enhance the events. So I really would like to explore that as well. [02:00:13] But thank you again for coming in and I just appreciate that we do have this [02:00:18] opportunity to share information. Thank you. Thank you. [02:00:21] Councilman Davis? I just, we got a little comment here just at the end and it was [02:00:28] image versus fundraising and I think that's where we kind of brought us all [02:00:36] together here tonight was that we're trying to find our image and trying to [02:00:40] find fundraising and we've got to mesh those two things together and I think [02:00:45] this tonight is the start of trying to do that because we want our events to [02:00:51] grow, we want our events to help the image of the city and so there's [02:00:57] working together as I think is real important and it's it's not image [02:01:01] versus fundraising but image and fundraising working together. Deputy [02:01:09] Mayor? Very well said. I agree. It's been, thank you all for coming out. It's been [02:01:14] great getting different perspectives from from whether you live here, whether [02:01:18] you do event here, whether you're a business owner. I just think we have to [02:01:23] continue to work together and be very very careful as we work as a city in a [02:01:28] community to redefine our image in a positive fashion. That's that's that's [02:01:34] my number one goal when it comes to event planning and the events that we do [02:01:38] in our city. I'm very very happy to oblige and help organizations raise [02:01:44] funds. I think it's very very important. The Rotary Club that I'm involved with [02:01:48] raises a tremendous amount of money every year with just one event. We're [02:01:51] very very blessed to be able to do so but as a council member and a resident [02:01:57] I'm very very concerned with the image that we're portraying with our city. [02:01:59] We're making positive, I think very progressive and positive decisions that [02:02:05] are that are paying off and we have to continue to be careful as we as we once [02:02:09] again strive for that. Thank you. I love some of the suggestions were made [02:02:15] particularly doing the more of the small-scale things, moving them to the [02:02:22] extent possible downtown, for example the car shows. I know there were some issues [02:02:28] before on that. I think we have a new opportunity now with those type events [02:02:36] primarily because we got rid of those really nasty Drake elms and put palm [02:02:42] trees in. It's amazing to me how much the sidewalks have opened up just [02:02:51] getting rid of the elms and putting the palms back in. I saw a picture from it [02:02:57] must have been back in the the 20s or 30s of the downtown and they had palm [02:03:02] trees back then and it's starting to look a lot like that and I think that's [02:03:07] good. So we have have some opportunities. We need to avoid some of the mistakes [02:03:13] in the that we had in the past. Famously, New Port Richey Main Street some years [02:03:22] ago did Night in the Tropics and they put all of the tents up on the edges of [02:03:26] the street and of course at that point all of the businesses were blocked off. [02:03:31] We do events in the future we can get them into the middle of this get the [02:03:35] tents in the middle of the street so that people are walking on either side [02:03:38] and they did that at the last event that Main Street did on Grand. They did that. [02:03:43] It pushes people out towards the outside so that they see things like SIP. [02:03:49] They see things like Kelly's White Hair and Tea Room and the other [02:03:54] businesses and it encourages them to go in and take advantage of it. So I think [02:03:58] that's a really positive change and it's something that we can do more of now [02:04:04] because we've got more sidewalk. I understand Mr. Deedy's point on the [02:04:10] the carnival. Like it or not the the growth of the new apartment complex on [02:04:21] at Central and the lake is going to have some impact on that. In defense of [02:04:30] Chasco I don't know their exact numbers because I haven't delved into their [02:04:35] finances at all but it's my understanding that for the at least the [02:04:40] last number of years the carnival has pretty much covered the freight for the [02:04:46] whole event. So it's not reasonable to suggest the carnival needs to go away [02:04:52] completely but they're going to have to be some adjustments as things fill [02:04:59] up in the downtown. I don't know what all those adjustments ultimately [02:05:06] will be but it's something that I think we all need to keep an open mind about [02:05:11] and we need to work with the folks at Chasco. If they can find more [02:05:16] opportunities to to bring in ticketed events, that may take some of [02:05:23] the pressure off of them from a financial statement. I don't know that [02:05:29] anybody on the Chasco steering committee expected Starship to sell more tickets [02:05:36] than the country music concert did. I think it was a very pleasant [02:05:42] surprise for everybody. I was over at the information booth selling [02:05:47] tickets and it was just amazing. There are some changes in the [02:05:52] demographics of the people that are looking to come down and personally I'm [02:05:56] convinced that Chasco is going to take what they learned this last year and [02:06:02] next year's is going to be even more awesome. As far as fundraising [02:06:12] and realistically, the one that's I think has had the hardest time of this [02:06:18] is Main Street because for any number of reasons, but primarily because of the [02:06:26] financial stress that the city's been under for the last decade, they don't get [02:06:31] the money that they used to in the way of direct city operations. This is [02:06:37] not the night to really discuss it but maybe we need to as a council [02:06:43] revisit how we fund Main Street, what we expect of them, and if it takes the [02:06:49] pressure off them so they're not trying to run a whole bunch of little [02:06:52] fundraising events but can instead spend more time working on a couple of really [02:06:59] nice ones. Main Street Blast was amazing and that was a Main Street event. Maybe [02:07:06] get the Seafood Festival so it's bigger, better, and more productive for them but [02:07:12] then not mess with a bunch of other stuff unless it's directly aimed at [02:07:18] enhancing the traffic walking into the business stores in the downtown. I'm up [02:07:25] to having that discussion and I would hope my colleagues would at least think [02:07:29] about it. Video screens, you know, we're looking at entryways. Those video [02:07:36] screens are amazing. If we had one of those on Main Street that somewhere up [02:07:42] towards the highway they could announce all the stuff as people are driving in. [02:07:47] Let them know that Chasco Fiesta is going to be on whatever months it is [02:07:53] next year. Let them know that the Cody Man Triathlon is coming up in November. [02:07:58] Let them let them know that we've got a Veterans Day program that's going to be [02:08:04] happening on November the 11th. Let them know there's a 9-11 program coming up [02:08:08] and get that information out. The little boards that the police department has, [02:08:17] they just don't cut it for that. I mean they're probably better [02:08:22] used for what I saw them using them today which was watch out a police speed [02:08:27] trap ahead and then haha we made you slow down. It was great but if we could [02:08:37] look at it perhaps a higher res screen that in color that could actually get [02:08:44] that information out on a regular basis as we have some of these things that are [02:08:47] making New Port Richey what it is from an event standpoint. I think that would [02:08:51] be tremendous and that's that's something that we need to look at. [02:08:56] If I'm not mistaken, I'm sorry that Miss Fierce is not here, but I think that we [02:09:00] actually were exploring an opportunity to put one near either corner of the [02:09:05] either the southwest corner or the northwest corner of Main and 19 as an [02:09:13] entryway an entryway sign that was going to be able to. Am I mistaken? Not at this [02:09:18] point but it's certainly on the list now. Okay well with that I will join my [02:09:24] colleagues in telling you I greatly appreciate all of you coming down and [02:09:28] spending a couple hours with us tonight. I think we've had a good discussion. It's [02:09:31] given me some ideas thoughts in hearing what you guys have to say and hopefully [02:09:37] we can continue this forward and and continue to make the special events one [02:09:41] of the things that makes City of New Port Richey what it is. Thank you very much.

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3. 3Adjournment