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   Recommendation for In-Kind Support for Special Events

   discussed

   Council continued discussion of in-kind support for FY17-18 and FY18-19 special events. Staff (Ms. Mance) recommended approximately $56,000 for FY17-18 and $53,000 for FY18-19, but Councilman Phelps proposed using ~$25,000 of unspent CRA Main Street Landings funds to raise the FY17-18 allocation to $75,500, increasing amounts for several events and separating the Holiday Street Parade from Chasco Fiesta. Council reached consensus to move forward with Phelps's higher allocation plan on a two-year rolling cycle.

   • consensus:Council reached informal consensus to adopt Councilman Phelps's higher special events allocation plan totaling approximately $75,500 for FY17-18, using reallocated CRA Main Street Landings funds. (passed)
   • direction:Direction to move special events budget discussions to a two-year rolling cycle, with next discussion of FY18-19 and FY19-20 to occur around August. (passed)

   📍Railroad Square🏢Chasco Fiesta🏢Cody River Bike Fest🏢Cody River Seafood and Blues Festival🏢Freedom Fest🏢Holiday Street Parade🏢Kia Fest Main Street Blast🏢Main Street Landings🏢Night in the Tropics🏢River Lights Boat Parade👤Bill Phelps👤Councilman Davis👤Crystal👤Elaine👤Judy👤Mr. Armstrong👤Ms. Mance#Community Redevelopment Agency (CRA)#FY17-18 budget#FY18-19 budget#MOU for special events#Main Street Landings Incentive Program#Tourist Development Council (TDC)#budget page 212 line 62.53

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   [00:00:15] Very good. [00:00:16] This is a continuation of a discussion we had two weeks ago, seems like yesterday, but [00:00:26] anyway, about in-kind support for special events. [00:00:29] Ms. Manz, you want to kick it off here? [00:00:31] Sure, Mr. Mayor. [00:00:32] I'd be glad to. [00:00:34] As was indicated to you at your last work session, this is a difficult time of year [00:00:46] because it is when we consider the amount of in-kind support that we're able to extend [00:00:54] to our community-wide special events. [00:00:57] And as is the case this year, as has been the case in previous years, the amount of [00:01:05] the requests exceed the amount of funding available, and so we have to make decisions [00:01:11] as to how to trim the budget so that they come into compliance with the appropriation [00:01:19] that was set forward in the fiscal year 17-18 budget. [00:01:27] And last year, an amount of just over $55,000 was appropriated to support special events. [00:01:35] A good number of factors are considered in respect to coming up with the final recommendation. [00:01:45] Probably among those, though, is the amount of other forms of support that the City extends [00:01:52] to the event organizers. [00:01:58] Also, some consideration is given to the use of the net profit, the economic impact of [00:02:08] the event to the City's business community, and also the past performance of the event [00:02:14] organizer. [00:02:17] The recommendation that I set forward for your consideration was a two-year recommendation, [00:02:26] and it reduced the amount of contributions in the year 18-19, typically between $500 [00:02:37] and $1,000 or $2,000, so that it could be in line with what we expect to be an even [00:02:46] more challenging fiscal year than we had this year. [00:02:50] I'm sure you'll recall that we had to cut almost five positions this past fiscal year [00:02:56] to balance our budget, and to go forward with your collective wish that the millage rate [00:03:05] be reduced. [00:03:08] Next year, we're expecting it to be even more difficult, and so we have recommended an appropriation [00:03:15] of $53,000 in 18-19. [00:03:19] In the current fiscal year, we're recommending $56,000. [00:03:25] Mr. Mayor, do you want me to go through the specific recommendations again for the dollar [00:03:29] figures? [00:03:30] I should have put together a PowerPoint so that we could put it up on the screen for [00:03:35] those in attendance. [00:03:36] That'll be fine. [00:03:37] For the benefit of any of you that weren't here at the last workshop, the idea that we [00:03:46] had was to set up a two-year recommendation, the first year being the year that the budget [00:03:56] is concerned, but then a second year that's at least provisionally giving all of the event [00:04:01] organizers some idea what they can expect the following year so they can do advance [00:04:05] planning. [00:04:08] The classic example of why this is necessary is the Cody River Bike Fest, which starts [00:04:16] days after the start of the fiscal year, and if they don't get that information until September, [00:04:22] it's really hard to advance plan. [00:04:26] I know Chasco is working a year out as well, so trying to give everybody as much advance [00:04:31] notice, understanding that that second year may get adjusted during the next budget cycle [00:04:38] as we come up with that year plus the following year. [00:04:43] The goal is going to be to keep this on a two-year rolling cycle so everybody just has [00:04:49] a pretty good idea what they've got to deal with and there are no unpleasant surprises. [00:04:55] With that being said, Ms. Mance, do you want to go through? [00:04:57] Sure, I will. [00:04:59] Chasco Fiesta is the first event. [00:05:03] Last year, we appropriated an amount of $36,795. [00:05:12] This year, we're recommending $30,000. [00:05:17] Their request was for $45,000. [00:05:21] In the fiscal year 18-19, we are recommending $29,000. [00:05:28] Freedom Fest was an event that was celebrated for the first time this past fiscal year, [00:05:39] and the costs associated with that event were $6,022. [00:05:45] We are recommending for 17-18 an appropriation of $4,500. [00:05:50] Just a quick question, so the costs that you're talking about are the city's costs? [00:05:58] Those are the city expenses related principally to the police department and the public works [00:06:06] department and the fire department. [00:06:09] Is it not necessarily the MOU cost? [00:06:15] The MOU cost covers those expenses, yes. [00:06:26] The Holiday Street Parade was supported in the amount of $2,500. [00:06:32] This year, we're recommending $3,000 for the current year and $2,500 for the next fiscal [00:06:43] year. [00:06:46] The River Lights Boat Parade was supported in the previous fiscal year to the amount [00:06:52] of $1,000. [00:06:53] We are recommending an appropriation of $3,000 for the current fiscal year and an appropriation [00:06:59] of $2,500 for the following fiscal year. [00:07:04] Cody River Bike Fest received $6,000 in the previous year. [00:07:10] We're recommending $6,000 for the current fiscal year and $6,000 for the following fiscal [00:07:18] year. [00:07:22] Night in the Tropics did not receive any funding in the prior fiscal year and we are not recommending [00:07:29] that it be funded for either 17-18 or the 18-19 fiscal years. [00:07:36] Cody River Seafood and Blues Festival, the prior year was $5,000 in city support. [00:07:45] We're recommending an appropriation for the current fiscal year in the amount of $4,500 [00:07:51] and in the succeeding fiscal year of $4,000. [00:07:57] Kia Fest Main Street Blast was supported in the amount of $5,000 during the previous fiscal [00:08:04] year. [00:08:06] We are recommending that that tradition be continued and that they receive $5,000 in [00:08:12] 17-18 and then in 18-19. [00:08:17] And as part of my communication to you, we indicated or we provided a chart indicating [00:08:27] the amount of city support in comparison to overall expenses and that was at the request [00:08:34] of Councilman Davis. [00:08:36] And for Bike Fest, the city supported the event, 59% of total costs, Holiday Street [00:08:47] Parade was 31% of total costs, Chasco Fiesta was 91% of total costs, and Cody River Seafood [00:08:57] Festival was 75% of total costs, and Kia Fest Main Street Blast was 46% of total costs. [00:09:06] How is Chasco so high? [00:09:11] Chasco has always been higher than the others and in large part it's because they don't [00:09:19] receive any other form of subsidy from the city for the event. [00:09:28] And as I understand it, it's because they give back their proceeds to non-profits. [00:09:33] I understand that. [00:09:34] I just was confused by that percentage that we were covering and that's, theirs seemed [00:09:40] way high in that compared to the others. [00:09:42] Just nine days as opposed to two or three, it's a massive street parade with, you know, [00:09:54] they get tandem support, they get a lot of other agencies that come into town, thank [00:10:01] goodness, because of, you know, all the people that show up and it's, they've done a really [00:10:11] good job of scaling it back a little bit because five, six years ago it was off the [00:10:17] charts and, of course, I really liked the day that it rained because I got to see more [00:10:22] of my friends, what I call the real Chasco Fiesta folks that got to hang out in the parade [00:10:28] route. [00:10:29] Of course, I like to be heckled by my old friends as much as possible, so, but I think [00:10:35] when you take those number of days and consistently work a day and two weekends. [00:10:40] Well, I understand that and maybe I asked the question wrong because Chasco Fiesta is [00:10:45] so big I would have figured that what we were providing them on a percentage basis would [00:10:50] have been a lot smaller because they've got concerts and all sorts of other stuff where [00:10:55] they're making money and bringing revenue in from a whole bunch of sources besides just [00:11:01] the city. [00:11:03] Maybe I need to make the point clear that the percentage is based only on the city expenses, [00:11:08] not the total of that expense. [00:11:10] Okay, that's where I was confused. [00:11:13] Okay. [00:11:17] Once again, so everyone's clear, it's basically in-kind services, police, fire, and public [00:11:21] works, correct? [00:11:22] Yes, it is. [00:11:23] I'm sure there's some recreation in there. [00:11:25] Very little, typically. [00:11:30] Discussion? [00:11:31] Anybody want to kick off? [00:11:32] Bill? [00:11:33] No, no. [00:11:34] Go ahead, Judy. [00:11:35] Go ahead, Judy. [00:11:36] I'm fine. [00:11:37] That's okay. [00:11:38] I'm collecting my thoughts. [00:11:39] Go ahead. [00:11:42] Yeah, I've looked at this, you know, obviously, and when we were doing the budget last year [00:11:48] we obviously brought this along with everything else that we looked at during the whole process. [00:11:55] And up until the very end, you know, you don't know where the budget's going to be approved. [00:12:01] You don't know if all of the other services are going to be funded the way they are with [00:12:07] the street lights and the paving and all those things. [00:12:10] And obviously, we're working with information now, which is, what is it, almost 90 days [00:12:17] after, through the first quarter. [00:12:22] So, after two previous meetings and input across the board, and then, of course, at [00:12:31] our last meeting, we actually had some business owners here that told us what events they [00:12:36] like, and we all have our own ideas about what we want with Railroad Square or how we [00:12:42] want to do other things in the downtown, all those things that are out there. [00:12:46] So, I went back and I looked at Ms. Mann's recommendation, which was her recommendation [00:12:53] she made coming up to the budget, at the budget, and it's been standard carried out through [00:12:59] then. [00:13:01] We have new information that's been presented to us on other fronts as it impacts our city [00:13:10] budget. [00:13:11] The major one is, we had $587,000 budgeted in this year's budget. [00:13:20] I don't care where you've got it in the community redevelopment, because it's a transfer of [00:13:26] money, but we had a $587,000 expenditure before the end of this fiscal year to Main Street [00:13:35] Landings. [00:13:36] We're not spending that money this year. [00:13:39] It's not going to be spent. [00:13:41] So, in looking at what was originally requested, and looking at the events, which I think after [00:13:50] we've gone through everything, we pretty much have agreed at this point in time, these are [00:13:56] our major events, I believe. [00:13:59] We can debate how much we like one over the other, what the impact it has, pluses and [00:14:05] minuses, but I think from a community perspective, we've been delivering, or those have been [00:14:12] our community events deliverables for a number of years. [00:14:17] We've added a couple of new ones in. [00:14:21] You know, I think the veterans thing is outstanding. [00:14:25] I'm going to see how interesting it is when it's not on a weekend, but I'll let it breathe [00:14:30] on the way it does, and that's fine. [00:14:33] So, in doing that, and I was the one who said, let's do it on a two-year budget path, [00:14:39] because, you know, to go through this exercise over and over again without looking out over [00:14:44] a 12 or 18 or 24-month time period, it's a whole lot of subjectivity, and there gets [00:14:53] to be a lot of, well, you do this, and we do that, and all that, and I'm kind of over [00:14:58] the back end. [00:15:00] and forth, so as I usually do, I put something together that I'd like to present to you, [00:15:08] because if I don't, I'm not doing my job, being on council. [00:15:13] So I'm going to hand these to you, and I want, if you could pass these around, Judy, you [00:15:19] I do want to say, before you look at the two pages, that the PowerPoint is more up-to-date [00:15:36] than what I've handed you, because in the last 15 minutes before I got here, I was able [00:15:41] to find some reference points, and those are on the PowerPoint. [00:15:48] And if you need the reference point from the budget, I believe it's on page 212, under [00:15:56] Community Redevelopment Agency, line 62.53, which is Main Street Landings Incentive Program [00:16:04] at $587,500. [00:16:08] If that's different, I called Crystal earlier today, but those are the numbers that I had [00:16:17] to work off of. [00:16:19] If you would go to the first slide, please. [00:16:22] Oh, that's me, isn't it? [00:16:25] Where do I point? [00:16:31] Yeah, you need to work it from there, because, all right. [00:16:37] The first page that you see here is exactly what Ms. Mance has recommended. [00:16:43] It's $30,000, $4,500, $3,000, $3,000, $6,000, nothing for Night in the Tropics, $4,500, [00:16:52] and $5,000. [00:16:54] My question initially was, if that, the $4,500 for Freedom Fest, if it was an expenditure [00:17:00] that we've already incurred, if it hadn't, it shouldn't be in this fiscal year, because [00:17:05] it won't be happening until the next fiscal year. [00:17:08] I understand we have spent some money this year, and it's a bit more than the $4,500, [00:17:14] so I'm clear there. [00:17:17] My recommendation was, Ms. Mance has indicated $56,000 for this year's expenditures. [00:17:25] I said if you rolled over a half a million dollars of the Main Street landings funds, [00:17:32] and if you got interest on it, I don't know what that is, but if you took the $87,500 [00:17:38] away from the $587,500, and took the $87,000, and you allocated $25,000 of it, that would [00:17:49] allow you to keep another balance of $62,500 for other city projects. [00:17:57] So my recommendation was to take that $25,000, apply it in this calendar year, and I broke [00:18:07] it out this way. [00:18:09] I said, on average, we've been spending about $35,000 with Chasco Fiesta. [00:18:15] I said, let's spend $35,000. [00:18:18] But I also spun out the street parade, so that they weren't co-mingled together, because [00:18:24] none of the other events co-mingle parades with the event. [00:18:30] Because when Mr. Armstrong was here, he indicated what the challenges are they've been having [00:18:33] with the parade, and I said, I think we're in better financial shape. [00:18:39] I think that it's in our best interest to see if there's more legs that can happen with [00:18:45] these events. [00:18:47] And with doing that, I said $35,000 to Chasco, $5,000 to the street parade, raised the Freedom [00:18:54] Fest from $3,000 to $4,500, raised the Holiday Street Parade from $3,000 to $4,500. [00:19:02] The River Lights with the Winter Fest, I got the impression, even though I was not there [00:19:07] that day, that that was an event that really had some really nice legs to it. [00:19:13] That resonated with a lot of people. [00:19:15] You missed a great event. [00:19:16] Well, you know, I was at UCF watching them win a football game, and I couldn't get back [00:19:21] fast enough. [00:19:22] So I'm saying that we allocated, we were going to do three. [00:19:26] I said, why don't we raise it to five and really focus on that? [00:19:30] I said the Cody River Bike Fest was going to be at, I believe, is it five or six, Ms. [00:19:35] Mann? [00:19:36] Six. [00:19:37] I said take it to $7,500, because I think it's going to grow, and I think it's going [00:19:41] to take more in-kind services from the city to be part of that event. [00:19:48] What event do you say is going to grow? [00:19:49] Bike Fest, because I think it's coming back around. [00:19:54] I think as people get more consistent with it, I just think it's an event that's going [00:19:58] to have more dynamics to it. [00:20:01] That's just me, because one year we took them out of the park because we were working on [00:20:07] it. [00:20:08] Then it's come back. [00:20:09] Then I didn't do anything with Night in the Tropics. [00:20:14] Cody River Seafood Fest, I raised it to $7,500. [00:20:18] I took Kia Fest from $5,000 to $6,500. [00:20:22] That basically got me to $75,500 and left $4,500 out there of that extra $25 that would [00:20:31] be in that as the year goes along, if there's another event, if there's some other things [00:20:37] you could do, then as council, you could make that decision, but you've already got [00:20:42] dollars there. [00:20:44] I think with the dynamics of what's happening with these events, I don't know why at budget [00:20:51] time we drew that line that said $50,000 or $55,000 was acceptable, but I think this year, [00:20:58] especially where we've come from, what we know is happening without any other budget [00:21:02] amendments out there that I would support and I would recommend that you add that in, [00:21:10] make the allocations, and at the end of the day, see how we can enhance those projects [00:21:17] with our dollars, and obviously, you see where they're going to come back to in 2018, but [00:21:25] at budget time, you've got three and a half months to look to see if there's other funds [00:21:29] available and what are their allocations in 18-19 that you're not going to have to [00:21:35] make and the advent of higher real estate values and all those, so in my mind, we don't [00:21:43] get to 86-6, we get to 75-5, you've got $4,000 to work on as you encourage other events on [00:21:53] Railroad Square or other things that are out there, and at that point, you don't have to [00:21:58] go find that money, it's in a reallocated budget, and to me, I just think, as I said, [00:22:09] I felt comfortable with making this recommendation to my colleagues. [00:22:13] Thank you. [00:22:14] Thank you. [00:22:15] Ms. Mance, just a question from the peanut gallery, Councilman Phelps is talking about [00:22:21] using CRA dollars, is that legal? [00:22:25] It is legal, yes. [00:22:28] But it would be an appropriate expenditure of CRA funds. [00:22:31] One, Mr. Mayor, but also, what you also could do is that you could do a budget amendment [00:22:39] to not do the same transfer to the CRA from the main city general fund, so it could be [00:22:45] handled either way, but CRA dollars, from my understanding, when it first brought up [00:22:50] community policing, matching dollars for other elements, and also for community enhancement, [00:22:59] I don't know the proper term. [00:23:01] I just wanted to make sure that that was broad enough that we wouldn't find ourselves in [00:23:05] a bind. [00:23:06] No, sir, and it's only $25,000 at the end of the year. [00:23:12] Deputy Mayor, thoughts? [00:23:15] Well, excellent job, Bill. [00:23:20] Thank you for doing that. [00:23:22] And I think that one of the conversations that we had with one of the work sessions [00:23:27] was how did we determine that $56,000, and I think in our conversation we had talked [00:23:32] about changing that figure. [00:23:35] I think it was Mr. Davis at one point that had suggested it. [00:23:40] Having been on the TDC, and I know Mr. Davis being on the TDC, that does become, you know, [00:23:47] when there's a number that's carved in stone somehow, and then we're trying to think, well, [00:23:52] where did that number come from? [00:23:54] It made sense on TDC to move that dollar amount up as the quality of events took place, as [00:24:00] more events were added, that type of thing. [00:24:06] If this makes sense, the only question, I have a couple of questions. [00:24:10] I'm still a little confused about the MOU versus actual costs. [00:24:17] What's showing on here as actual costs is the MOU. [00:24:23] There's no actual, it's not showing for veterans, that's the only one that I'm kind of familiar with. [00:24:29] But it seems that the dollar amount that the MOU was, there was still quite a considerable [00:24:35] amount of money that was owed from the organizer. [00:24:39] So I'm thinking the same thing. [00:24:40] Is that the, am I making, am I, the MOU, which we use now, the use agreement, where [00:24:55] we do the sheets that look like this, that type of, is that what you're talking about? [00:25:00] These are, we do estimated costs at the SET meeting, following the event, we collect all [00:25:06] the actual costs from the different departments, and that goes to finance. [00:25:10] That's what the invoice is generated from. [00:25:12] So those costs should match what this is. [00:25:16] The only cost that would not show on what Ms. Manns has is rentals and damage deposits. [00:25:24] So those would be the costs for city services, and the parks costs are, could be some slight [00:25:32] material cost, toilet paper, that kind of thing. [00:25:35] Does that answer the question? [00:25:37] Yeah, I guess it does. [00:25:39] But my experience with working that over the years was that the estimated costs were in [00:25:46] place against what was anticipated that the city was going to in kind, but it very often [00:25:54] would be that the actual costs then were higher in some cases. [00:26:00] So the bottom line cost back from the organization would be higher than was. [00:26:07] So those percentages of whatever that percentage is, that could change. [00:26:11] The only time that I know of that the cost was higher were a couple situations where [00:26:19] the event organizer added, I think the year that CHASCO came and added a second weekend [00:26:26] of alcohol, and we'd met the first time and had estimated costs for one weekend, so then [00:26:31] those costs did change, we had to come back and revisit. [00:26:34] So you have some situations like that that does increase costs. [00:26:39] And the other piece is that a couple of things, so long as we're talking about the dollar [00:26:44] amounts as well, I think the, if we can remember back in the day, we were making, we were having [00:26:51] these conversations prior to the, it was probably in maybe April that all the organizers would [00:27:00] submit their paperwork and their numbers so that we were having this discussion during [00:27:05] budget time so that when the budget was set for the following year, it worked. [00:27:11] So my suggestion would be that whatever we resolve tonight, and I like the idea that [00:27:16] it's a two-year plan because I think that would be helpful to the organizers, but I [00:27:20] think that next year about this time is when we should be talking about the next two years [00:27:27] so that we're looking at... [00:27:29] If I might interrupt, I would suggest the next time we ought to be talking about the [00:27:33] following two fiscal years probably should be about August of this year. [00:27:40] Yes, we should be talking about it, but I'm suggesting that we advise, so it used to be [00:27:45] the process was that all of this numbers and figures and who was doing what went to the [00:27:50] Parks and Rec Department and they were making recommendations for the budget that we were [00:27:54] looking at in August, yes, so that it is then ready for the budget so that when we're [00:28:00] making our decisions... [00:28:01] Excuse me, I would hope that in August we'll be talking not about 17-18, which will be [00:28:06] almost over at that point, but talking about 18-19 and 19-20. [00:28:10] Yes, well if we make our decision tonight, we'll already have 18 and 19 in place, but [00:28:16] next year when we're talking about two years, I think that we need to... [00:28:20] This time of the year for the organizers to be working with Elaine, let's say, that's [00:28:25] where all of this is coming from. [00:28:27] Okay. [00:28:28] Yeah, you follow me now? [00:28:29] Okay, that would be my thought. [00:28:31] And then this is a good plan for this year, and so if I'm reading this correctly, the [00:28:42] 17-18 is the fiscal year that we are currently in? [00:28:46] Yes. [00:28:47] Uh-huh. [00:28:48] Okay. [00:28:50] And then the next year, we're looking back at 53. [00:28:54] You didn't mess with 18-19? [00:28:56] I didn't project out because not knowing what the experience of the event is, and every [00:29:03] year we get better experience information, number one. [00:29:07] Number two, this to me, the out years is a baseline. [00:29:14] Then it allows you to look at what you have, where their events are. [00:29:18] You get to analyze them, and then from there, depending on the favorable experience of [00:29:26] a couple of things, property value, eventually we're going to get out of the subsidization [00:29:35] side of the CRA, meaning we're not going to be spending a million for, like on Main Street [00:29:42] Landings. [00:29:43] You're not going to be spending the same money. [00:29:45] You're going to spend it, you may spend it differently, but it's going to allow you to [00:29:49] have additional dollars, as long as, I say this warily. [00:29:57] Not just for special events. [00:30:00] and the like here in West Pasco, but we've basically not been getting our due. [00:30:08] Commissioner Catherine Starkey posted something on Facebook. [00:30:12] It was a link today to a list that showed the per capita spending on recreation and [00:30:20] cultural affairs. [00:30:22] Pasco County was $40-something, and I think Hillsboro was $212. [00:30:30] Just looking at our recreation and aquatic center budget, Parks and Rec, we're spending [00:30:35] almost twice as much as the county is per capita just on that, and that doesn't count [00:30:39] what we're spending on special events and other things. [00:30:44] I haven't checked it since we started the meeting, but Commissioner Starkey is getting [00:30:50] pasted on how come you aren't doing something to make things better in West Pasco, and getting [00:30:57] clobbered as a result. [00:31:00] But the cultural events, the special events, the cultural things, the movies in the park, [00:31:06] this is all part of what makes New Port Richey New Port Richey. [00:31:10] As Councilman Starkey mentioned about doing some more smaller events, I personally would [00:31:17] love to see that. [00:31:20] I've said that on multiple occasions. [00:31:23] There was some discussion about the expense of street closures when you do that, and I [00:31:31] distinctly remember when we had the ribbon cutting and grand opening for Railroad Square, [00:31:38] the idea back then was that we could train somebody from Main Street or some other organization [00:31:45] how to unlock the box and flip the switch that lowers the crossing arm so they could [00:31:50] close the street without having to mobilize half of the Public Works Department to get [00:31:55] over there and do it for them. [00:31:58] And I think that was a good idea way back when, and it's still a good idea today. [00:32:04] We need to be able to do some of these things. [00:32:06] If we're going to have, for lack of a better term, a block party on Grand Boulevard, just [00:32:14] a first Friday or second Friday or third Saturday, whatever, event, do it exactly like a block [00:32:23] party gets done in the neighborhood, like my neighborhood, or what I would anticipate [00:32:31] that they will do this coming year for the soapbox derby that the Cub Scouts put on over [00:32:39] at the Methodist Church, which is somebody from the Public Works Department will come [00:32:44] by a day or two before the event and drop off barricades and say, all right, when you [00:32:49] guys are ready, put the barricades up, and when you're done, put them back over here [00:32:53] on the sidewalk and we'll pick them up the next work day. [00:32:57] This is not rocket science. [00:32:58] It should not cost thousands of dollars to have a first Friday type event where you close [00:33:04] a one or two block area of Grand Boulevard for two or three hours and have a party. [00:33:11] It doesn't have to be that expensive, and it shouldn't be. [00:33:14] We shouldn't be spending huge amounts on Public Works, and if we can do that sort of thing [00:33:19] on a regular basis that's not expensive, I mean, get Joe Carl to buy the music and [00:33:29] have him perform on his stage. [00:33:30] You don't even need to be outdoors. [00:33:33] Get the other guys to do the same thing, and just have something that gives people an excuse [00:33:38] to come down on a Friday night or a Saturday night or whatever and spend a few hours downtown. [00:33:44] Walk down, have drinks at one of the bars, have dinner at one of the many fine restaurants [00:33:50] we've got, take in a show, whatever, but low-cost, low-key type things that can happen on an [00:34:01] almost weekly basis, at least monthly, that I think would add a lot of a positive vibe [00:34:09] that we want to see here in the city of New Port Richey, and then you've got the combination. [00:34:13] You've got the balance. [00:34:14] You've got the Chasco Fiestas, which is a great annual event. [00:34:18] It is our signature event. [00:34:20] You've got Main Street Blast, which is our Fourth of July, and you've got all these little [00:34:25] things going on the rest of the year around these six or eight big events. [00:34:32] I think it works out well if we do that. [00:34:35] It does not have to cost a lot of money. [00:34:38] I'm very concerned about next year. [00:34:44] Somebody said a couple hundred years ago that no one is safe in person or property so long [00:34:50] as the legislature is in session, and that's as true today as it was back then. [00:34:57] I don't know what they're thinking, and if somebody does, I'll be the first to share [00:35:04] with you, but if they put that amendment on the ballot and people are nuts enough to [00:35:12] actually do it, they will decimate not only municipal services across the state, but county [00:35:18] services as well, because both are highly dependent on property taxes, and it is an [00:35:25] ugly scenario. [00:35:29] We're not facing it in the current fiscal year, and so given that we've been told that [00:35:36] it would be legal to take a little bit of this money that we're not going to spend on [00:35:42] Main Street, I can understand doing that. [00:35:44] I do like the idea that we keep that, at least for the time being, 18-19 number where it [00:35:50] is, just understanding that there's a lot of uncertainty until those people get out [00:35:55] of Tallahassee. [00:35:57] I think, you know, obviously you seize the opportunity. [00:36:03] I know since 2012 or whatever, we've tried not to be naysayers. [00:36:07] We've tried to be very positive. [00:36:09] I think we have the opportunity. [00:36:12] I think if you refine them, I just think at the end of the day, it's kind of like letting [00:36:20] Sims Park breathe after we kept poking it quite a bit, and you see the outcome of that. [00:36:28] If I say I'm not going to do this today because I'm worried about what's going to happen in [00:36:31] six or eight months, to be honest with you, in most cases, we're not promised tomorrow. [00:36:35] We're really not. [00:36:37] So from my standpoint, to me, I think it's doable, otherwise I'd probably, because I'm [00:36:46] as pragmatic and conservative in a lot of ways, but I think that, I just think it's [00:36:54] the right thing to do at this point in time. [00:36:56] Councilman? [00:36:57] Yes, I just wanted to insert. [00:36:59] So years back, the Main Street organization was hosting a monthly car cruising. [00:37:06] And the way that it worked was it was a blanket application so that each month it was a flat [00:37:13] that $100 fee, because the cost that are involved with an event is your application [00:37:18] fee and then the rest of the fees. [00:37:21] I think that that is classically the Main Street program's effectiveness, is having [00:37:28] small events in the downtown. [00:37:31] But I think to both Councilman Starkey's point and to your point, Mayor, and Bill's as well, [00:37:40] doing those simple, whatever you call them, first Friday, second Saturday, whatever, I [00:37:44] think that we might want to look at, and I certainly want some input from the organization, [00:37:50] but if that's going to be something that is going to be small and continuing, then I think [00:37:56] that the cost for that, for the organization, it should almost be a blanket annual. [00:38:05] You're going to do an event once a month, whatever it is, that we should look at that [00:38:09] as well, because there, too, you have your application fee, your $100, your $100, it [00:38:15] amounts to about $400-something. [00:38:16] Just write it up. [00:38:17] Just flatline it. [00:38:18] You'd say it's seven out of 12 months, because I don't, I'm just saying the summertime, you [00:38:25] know, it's a dog days of summer, I mean, and once you get into hurricane season, you know, [00:38:31] that. [00:38:32] Yeah, and whatever it needs to be, whether it's a cruise, whatever. [00:38:35] I agree. [00:38:36] I mean, do you have a flat fee, and you can, do you just close the arms and roll them in? [00:38:41] Not every small event has to shut down a street and have vendors come in. [00:38:44] I mean, some of the ideas that Jenny was having was just having, like, art shows at the breweries [00:38:49] that are going to be open. [00:38:50] Just small things like that to incorporate the businesses as well, just to bring people [00:38:54] downtown, have a beer at the brewery. [00:38:56] I mean, if Steve, you want to come down and talk about some of the ideas, I don't know [00:38:58] if you want to do that publicly yet or not, but the stuff she was bouncing off me, I loved. [00:39:03] Yeah, I mean, I do have a couple of comments that I appreciate. [00:39:06] The first thing I wanted to say is how much I appreciate the city and the city council, [00:39:12] and if I ever seem unappreciative on behalf of the organization, that wouldn't be on behalf [00:39:16] of them, and it's not on me at all. [00:39:18] I appreciate what the city does, and I want to say, first of all, thank you for a very [00:39:22] forward-thinking way of looking at events in the downtown, because I think what we all [00:39:27] agree is when I got here, I didn't know what a Chesco was, and they taught me quick, and [00:39:31] I learned it's our local festival, and then it became my festival, and when people come [00:39:36] into this area, it's amazing how many of those things they gravitate to, and they have memories. [00:39:41] My kids have Chesco memories from grade school and high school, so I want to say thank you [00:39:46] for being so forward-looking on this. [00:39:48] I do think the events do enhance the city. [00:39:51] We all work very hard to make them happen. [00:39:54] I just wanted to explain one of the reasons we didn't ask for more funding in some of [00:39:57] the areas was we thought working with a finite pool, we tried to be sensitive to the total [00:40:02] amount of money available, because, you know, if we had to increase our events at the expense [00:40:08] of Chesco or at the expense of Bike Fest, then you have the not-for-profits working [00:40:12] against one another, and that wasn't really our intention. [00:40:15] But honestly, the proposal of the larger funding for the major events that we do would actually [00:40:21] help fund the smaller events, because there is a trickle-down for us. [00:40:25] If we have a real expense of $8,000 and the city forgives us $7,500 instead of $4,500, [00:40:32] that's $3,000 we end up with at the end of the festival. [00:40:35] That's seed money for the next event in Railroad Square, because sometimes we need a sponsor, [00:40:41] but if we have that seed money, that money we save from other events, then we're able [00:40:44] to go forward. [00:40:45] So I am excited about the small events. [00:40:48] I think that with the budget available and if we could do something on some of the minor [00:40:51] fees, I think it's great. [00:40:53] But I just wanted to say thank you. [00:40:55] And I don't mean to always speak for the organization. [00:40:56] I think we should have Nancy come forward. [00:40:58] She's done a great job as our Executive Director. [00:41:00] But I wanted to say again, thank you. [00:41:02] I think it's, you know, it's wonderful that the events are appreciated, and I just wanted [00:41:08] to say that I think we all feel like we're working together to enhance the city and make [00:41:12] it better. [00:41:13] So I just wanted to say thank you. [00:41:14] I'll go on record on the little tiny things, particularly if we're not involving a street [00:41:21] closure, or if they're doing the closing themselves. [00:41:26] I think from a city permitting process, a nominal charge is really all that's necessary. [00:41:32] I don't see... [00:41:33] The band books concert in the park, I mean, you don't shut anything down, just a couple [00:41:36] guys with a guitar and an amplifier and people watching them play in the river. [00:41:39] Those are the events I'm talking about. [00:41:41] Right, but see, Jeff, those events, is there an MOU cost to us, you know what I mean, to [00:41:48] the city? [00:41:50] So that's what I mean. [00:41:51] When you're doing that event, first of all, any event that you do in the city that does [00:41:55] not involve closing streets, and I think the key is if it's more than 500 people you expect, [00:42:02] I'm trying to think what generates it being a special event as opposed to, you know, downtown [00:42:09] merchants can do promotional events and activities that are not special events if it doesn't [00:42:15] reach a threshold of a certain amount of people and doesn't close streets. [00:42:20] Several things on the ordinance that call it, trigger an event, closing a street, 50 [00:42:27] people or more in attendance, estimated attendance, those are two of the biggest triggers that [00:42:33] by ordinance it's deemed an event. [00:42:35] Well, you need to enhance that ordinance. [00:42:38] If you're going to flat fee it, then just, you know, 50 people, I invited... [00:42:44] My family would come down, 35. [00:42:46] It would be my mom's side of the family, absolutely, for Thanksgiving, we'd have to get a permit [00:42:52] in Clearwater to put 65 of my mom's relatives there. [00:42:55] Except on a Friday night nowadays, honestly. [00:42:59] So if those are the cases, those need to be tweaked up a little bit, and because I invited [00:43:04] high school buddies of mine from 73 to 78 and had 25 guys at my house, if I'd had another [00:43:10] 10, I probably would have had to get a daggone permit over on Riverside. [00:43:13] They were hard enough to keep in. [00:43:14] If you'd invited my class, 72, you would have. [00:43:18] So I think I hear a saying, and I don't want to put words in all of our mouths, but in [00:43:26] order to be able to allow the Main Street organization, for instance, which again, that's [00:43:31] just part of the DNA of the Main Street program, is to do those kinds of events and activities. [00:43:39] I think we would need to address the fact that if that's, you know, we are a Main Street [00:43:44] city, part of what they do, a monthly downtown event, then I think that that would be something [00:43:49] that we'd need to look at in terms of a plan. [00:43:51] You can write the language in the ordinance that says, if you are funding this group with [00:43:56] city dollars on an annual basis, then you can set the criteria, because there's not [00:44:02] too many of them. [00:44:03] Main Street, I can't think of too many others, cultural freedom in Main Street. [00:44:09] The only other thing is that we do need to let Nancy speak tonight. [00:44:14] We didn't let her speak last time. [00:44:15] She was shaking her head no violently back there. [00:44:17] Well, I don't care. [00:44:18] She's going to come down and sit in the chair, because last time she never got here. [00:44:22] So if she wants the opportunity, I want to make sure that we get that insight. [00:44:28] But if we're funding a group internally within the city, then write a subset into the ordinance [00:44:33] that says, if you're funding an organization within the city annually to an amount over [00:44:39] X, then you can flatline their expenses on specific events if they do 7 out of 12 months. [00:44:46] I don't care how you write it. [00:44:48] You can dress it up all you want, but I think you can do that. [00:44:51] If I could just make one more point that's been on my mind since my conversation with [00:44:54] Ms. Pearl, actually. [00:44:57] We're always talking about getting quality people for our [00:45:00] or committees, cultural affairs committee, right? [00:45:02] So Jenny is very, very well versed [00:45:05] at what works with these smaller events. [00:45:07] She's gotten involved in attendance and meetings. [00:45:09] She can't be on the cultural affairs committee [00:45:11] because she doesn't live in the four and a half square miles [00:45:15] of New Port Richey. [00:45:15] I think that's something that we need to look at [00:45:17] as a council because I think we're missing out on talent [00:45:22] with some of our potential committee members [00:45:24] that may be vested here for one reason. [00:45:26] They may have a very, very good reason [00:45:28] as to why right now they cannot move into the city limits, [00:45:31] whether it be when they bought their house, [00:45:33] lost a job, this, that, or whatever, [00:45:36] but they could be an asset to that committee. [00:45:38] And I just think it's something that we need to look at [00:45:40] as a council and have the discussion [00:45:42] that just because you don't live in the city limits, [00:45:45] in my opinion, shouldn't prevent you [00:45:47] from being on certain committees [00:45:49] if you can enhance those committees [00:45:51] and have a positive impact on our city. [00:45:53] I think that the committees that are outspoken [00:45:56] from city residents are non-city residents. [00:45:59] Not all of them. [00:46:00] Not all of them. [00:46:00] I don't know. [00:46:02] We definitely ought to look at that. [00:46:03] We'll look at the cultural affairs committee. [00:46:05] That's a good suggestion. [00:46:07] Actually, what I want to do when I came down, [00:46:10] I wanted to come down the last meeting [00:46:12] and I want to do it tonight, [00:46:13] is I wanted to tell you I appreciate everything you're doing [00:46:17] on looking at all of this and trying to come up [00:46:19] and help all of us do our jobs. [00:46:23] And it's a tough job. [00:46:25] You guys have a tough job [00:46:27] because you're trying to make everybody happy. [00:46:30] And I understand that. [00:46:31] And I just appreciate everybody taking this time [00:46:35] away from their evenings to work on this problem. [00:46:40] And everything you're doing, I'm happy. [00:46:42] I'm pleased to see it. [00:46:44] I'm an experienced, so I'm not jaded yet, [00:46:49] but I do appreciate all of you. [00:46:52] And I just want you to know that. [00:46:54] It's really been great working with you. [00:46:57] And I've had no complaints in everybody I've dealt with [00:47:00] in the city, in the council, [00:47:02] and you guys are just great. [00:47:04] All right? [00:47:05] Thank you. [00:47:06] Thank you. [00:47:06] Any other comments? [00:47:07] Nancy, hasn't the young lady that Jeff is speaking, [00:47:11] aren't you in close consort with her? [00:47:14] She is. [00:47:15] She's actually going to try to do an art display [00:47:18] in our unit, that secondary unit we have. [00:47:22] She wants to put an art display in there. [00:47:24] And we're starting with that [00:47:26] and doing some coordination with some of that with her too, [00:47:30] which will be nice. [00:47:31] You know, it will bring some of her work into our city. [00:47:35] So we're going to be hopefully seeing [00:47:38] a little bit more of her. [00:47:42] Bill, any final thoughts on this? [00:47:49] No, I think we're good. [00:47:52] I don't have anyone else in the audience [00:47:54] want to say anything. [00:47:55] It's an informal work session. [00:47:56] If you have any ideas or input, come on up. [00:48:01] I've had what I had to say. [00:48:02] Do we have adequate direction? [00:48:05] I do have adequate direction. [00:48:08] At this point, this might be an instance [00:48:13] where I'm actually being more fiscally conservative [00:48:17] than Councilman Phillips. [00:48:20] And although it's a legal use of funds [00:48:25] to dedicate CRA to support community events, [00:48:30] I'd like you to give me a chance between now [00:48:32] and the time that we consider this matter as a council [00:48:37] to see if I can find some general fund dollars [00:48:40] to support the additional $25,000. [00:48:43] Fair enough. [00:48:44] Whatever you find it. [00:48:46] Okay. [00:48:47] I think the $25,000 is a comparable add. [00:48:51] At that point, I guess we're to communications.

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

3. 3Communications▶ 48:55
4. 4Adjournment▶ 1:02:46