On the agenda

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

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   Strategic Planning Session

   discussed

   The City Manager and facilitator John Streetmatter presented a status update on the 2016 Strategic Plan, reviewing progress on its eight strategies via a red/yellow/green rubric. Council discussed direction changes, particularly around downtown parking concerns tied to the Hacienda Hotel reopening, the Gloria Swanson lot reorientation, potential new housing product types (granny flats, form-based code), and the distinction between CRA-funded reinvestment and municipal reinvestment.

   • direction:Council directed staff to add parking implementation work items (including Hacienda parking strategy) to the strategic plan goals. (none)
   • consensus:Council suggested establishing more regular open-door engagement / dedicated sessions with the commercial real estate community. (none)
   • direction:Council suggested adding a new objective around expanding available housing product types (e.g., granny flats, form-based code) under mobilizing reinvestment. (none)

   📍Adams Street toward Indiana📍Corner of Main and Grand📍Gloria Swanson lot📍Pridgen property🏢Chasco🏢Community Congregational Church🏢DeVry🏢Duke Energy🏢First Methodist Church🏢Hacienda Hotel🏢Lakeside Inn🏢Main Street Landing🏢People Places🏢Trinity Hospital🏢Verizon👤Councilman Altman👤Councilman Starkey👤Debbie Manz👤John Streetmatter👤Mario👤Mr. Bridgen👤Mr. Gunderson👤Ms. Raizoni👤Robert#2016 Strategic Plan#CIP process#CRA Plan#Form-based code#Gloria Swanson reorientation project#Granny flats / accessory housing#Parking Study#Wayfinding Project (Phase 2)

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   [00:00:15] This is a strategic planning session. We're going to be reviewing the update [00:00:22] for the strategic plan. So Ms. Manz. Thank you. As all of you are already aware, the [00:00:28] strategic plan is a tool that we rely on. We rely on it in two respects. One, to [00:00:35] establish performance objectives. And secondarily, it's been traditionally used [00:00:41] to plan for expenditures in the upcoming fiscal year. The current plan, as you can [00:00:52] see from the title, was drafted in 2016. It was drafted by the elected officials [00:01:00] that held seats at that time. John Streetmatter was the facilitator that we [00:01:07] worked with at the time to develop the plan, and the result of which was eight [00:01:16] strategies were identified that were intended to improve the city. They were [00:01:22] to mobilize reinvestment, to increase property tax values, to develop a [00:01:29] community mindset, to improve the image of the city, develop partnerships, [00:01:35] communicate effectively, continue community policing efforts, and to invest [00:01:41] in infrastructure. Based on those strategies, some objectives and goals [00:01:49] and action items were put in place, in large part, through the elected officials [00:01:57] along with the participation of the department heads of the city. And the [00:02:03] plan has been updated annually, although the department heads and I talk about it [00:02:10] with more regularity, as we're interested in achieving the action items [00:02:16] that are set forward for us. The purpose of tonight's session is to report to you [00:02:25] on the status of the implementation of the previously stated action items, as [00:02:31] well as to determine what strategies, goals, objective, or action items may or [00:02:38] may not be appropriate anymore. We're anxious to get the input of the two [00:02:44] elected officials that haven't sat at the table as it relates to the strategic [00:02:49] plan, so that it truly is representative of our collective thinking and vision [00:02:57] for the city. And with that, I'm going to turn it over to John and let him start [00:03:03] his part of the presentation, which will kind of work through together. Great, [00:03:09] thanks, Debbie. Well, it's a pleasure to be with you. The one thing that I would add [00:03:14] to what City Manager Mann has said is, you know, what we've put in front of you [00:03:19] is, you know, a color-coded rubric, if you will, red, yellow, green. Let me just talk [00:03:24] briefly about that. You know, all we're trying to do there is just sort [00:03:28] of have a simple way to communicate pretty visually where things stand, but [00:03:32] it's important to note that green doesn't necessarily mean that it's [00:03:34] completed. So you're going to see some items that are ongoing and underway that [00:03:39] are color-coded green. What that means is that we feel confident that they're on [00:03:42] track. In discussions with the city staff and the department heads and others, what [00:03:48] they've identified is, this is on track and we expect it to go. So it's a [00:03:54] combination of things that have been completed and are on track. Yellow was [00:03:58] really a way to say, look, we still believe this is on track. It's not [00:04:02] without its challenges. In many cases, as you'll see, there might be some [00:04:05] significant implementation challenges. Still directionally headed that way, [00:04:09] resource to handle it, but maybe some challenges. And then red, there aren't [00:04:15] very many items that are red. The ones that are red are likely, are most [00:04:20] commonly around resource challenges, where, you know, we set a direction, we [00:04:24] talk about an action step in the initial plan or in an update, but we're [00:04:28] just not resourced to accomplish it. And so we'll highlight those as we go. [00:04:30] There's only one or two places that are that way. So with that, what you know, what [00:04:36] you have in front of you on page four is really just the one pager that Debbie [00:04:39] talked about a moment ago, where you've got eight strategies, and then within [00:04:42] that, we tried to distill it down to a few objectives and measures that you [00:04:45] created when you initially created the plan. We're going to focus our update [00:04:50] today around the action steps. So the sort of the goals and some of the [00:04:55] measures we're not going to spend as much time on because we thought you'd [00:04:57] be focused on what are the actions that we're taking and where do we stand. And [00:05:00] so that's the idea there. So with that, it's page five in your plan. I also [00:05:06] have a PowerPoint slide of it if you want to follow along. There's really two [00:05:10] primary things we want to do tonight. The first is just to give you an update on [00:05:13] where things stand since the last time we were with you a year ago, where have [00:05:16] you made progress, where has the city added some items. In some cases, some [00:05:22] items have been completed and come off of the plan. And then the second piece is [00:05:26] really around a direction check, which is really about two questions. Are there any [00:05:29] changes in direction that need to be made? You know, as we're a year down the [00:05:33] road from where we were the last time we talked, there's new council members. And [00:05:36] so, you know, are there any changes in direction where you'd say, hey, when we [00:05:40] initially laid this out, this is what we thought was important. We don't [00:05:44] think that's important as much anymore. And then secondly, are there any [00:05:48] particular objectives? So, you know, direction is sort of at the highest [00:05:51] level. Are there any particular objectives or action items that you [00:05:54] believe are important? So that's really what we're talking about when we talk [00:05:58] about direction check. I'll ask those couple of questions as we go through [00:06:01] each of the strategies. So with that, as City Manager Mance talked about, on the [00:06:08] mobilized investment reinvestment front, there are really three primary objectives [00:06:12] around just getting more focused around projects and identifying key projects [00:06:16] and moving those forward, as well as continuing to work on the permitting [00:06:21] process and then partnering with other entities to catalyze investment. And so [00:06:27] you'll notice that on your printed version, you've got the red, yellow, green [00:06:33] assessments, mostly green here. And then the items in italics are the items that [00:06:38] are new to this update. So we thought it was important to update you on a couple [00:06:42] of things. Most notably, that there are sort of drafts in place on the permitting [00:06:46] front. You'll also notice that there's a number of things that have happened as [00:06:52] it relates to the CRA plan, the Trinity Hospital site. And then really all in the [00:06:56] partner front, that there's some items as it relates to the economic development [00:07:01] partners, hiring a lobbyist to really stay connected to the state issues and [00:07:04] advocate for the city's behalf for the significant action that's been taken [00:07:08] since the last time. And then just to really focus on maintaining relationships [00:07:12] with the commercial real estate community. So sort of how can we partner [00:07:15] with folks. And then a set of things as it relates to the the CIP project and [00:07:21] CIP process, to just keep projects going. You've got a couple of those projects [00:07:25] coming online. So that'd be what I would would say as it relates to mobilized [00:07:28] reinvestment. Debbie, anything that you would add as we talk about there? [00:07:31] One thing that I wanted to add is related to the facilitating the [00:07:36] permitting process to enable investment. We indicated that drafts were in place. [00:07:42] What we should have indicated is that a good number of pieces have already been [00:07:47] developed. There are a few remaining of which drafts are in place. So we felt [00:07:53] comfortable coloring that green and saying that it's far enough along [00:08:00] and we're certain that it'll be brought to completion. And in specific regard to [00:08:10] partnering to catalyze investment, you know, we did say build and maintain [00:08:15] relationships with commercial real estate community. But we think we've done [00:08:20] much to establish relationships with them. At this point it's just a matter of [00:08:26] staying connected to them because they are such an important commercial for the [00:08:32] city. And they need to have their linkages to myself and the city staff [00:08:37] and feel comfortable using us as the resources we should be. [00:08:44] Would it behoove us to have an open-door policy or meeting with the commercial real estate? [00:08:50] Kind of tell where we're at and ask where they're at and, you know, kind of have a [00:08:56] mind versus mind. That's a great idea. I mean, I have been invited to speak in [00:09:03] front of them from time to time. I think Mario has as well. But the more interface [00:09:08] we have with them the better. So whether it's a dedicated session. It's either here [00:09:13] or at their building, one or the other. Mm-hmm. That's a great suggestion. Thank you. [00:09:18] And so with Debbie's comments, what other comments do you have as it [00:09:22] relates to just overall direction, overall thoughts? Yeah, that's great. That's where I'd [00:09:27] like to go now is just your thoughts based on this one before we move to the [00:09:30] next one. We hit a page, we can discuss it. Exactly. Exactly. So any changes in [00:09:34] direction that, you know, you would suggest here? Any particular [00:09:39] objectives that you believe are important? I will tell you that as soon as we got [00:09:43] into office we had a meeting at, a meeting put on by a private entity, the [00:09:49] People Places. And they started talking about some different types of housing. [00:09:54] We've talked about granny housing, granny flats, changing to form-based code. It was [00:10:00] all this discussion. It was right after we got in about, you know, a couple of [00:10:03] months ago. So if you're going to mobilize reinvestment, then it's fine to [00:10:09] change your permitting process. But if you don't change the availability of new [00:10:15] product types, then I would say that's got to be a new objective. I don't know [00:10:21] if you all agree with me or not. We'll see some of that on the next page as well. We [00:10:24] talk about sort of real property and commercial property. I think, if I [00:10:27] understand you correctly, as we get to the next objective around increasing the [00:10:33] property tax revenue, increasing commercial revenue, I think, I think we're [00:10:37] getting to where we're getting. What makes that different from reinvestment? If we're going to mobilize [00:10:43] reinvestment, we want to motivate people to do something? No question. Yeah, so. Got it. [00:10:49] It could actually go either place, I think. I jumped the box. No, no, no, it's quite [00:10:55] all right. I just, it was more a reassurance that I think we're going to [00:10:58] dive even deeper into that topic. If we don't, let's make sure we do. I want to [00:11:05] make sure we get all the ideas. On the key projects as well, I mean, we just [00:11:09] identified some in our CRA plan. So, just one other side note, as you're talking to [00:11:14] us as a work session of City Council, this reinvestment and redevelopment is a [00:11:19] CRA function, and that's one of the difficulties I have, and I think most of [00:11:24] the people in the city have, is trying to start to compartmentalize and package [00:11:30] them in the area where the revenues are. I think it's a big confusion to a [00:11:35] lot of people. I think there are folks that want municipal reinvestment in our [00:11:40] library, our fire stations, our public facilities, and yet, you know, what's the [00:11:47] objective going to be of the CRA in order to build that? Got it. Any thoughts there? [00:11:53] No, I agree, and we'll update. Okay, thank you. Any other thoughts? And we do have [00:12:00] the library later on in the plan. [00:12:05] Yes, I think Councilman Sarkey? It's good to see a lot of green. That means we're acting on what we [00:12:10] outlined a couple years ago, right? One thing that stands out to me, it's green, [00:12:15] but to me, it's not done as... I know this is parking study, it's the first step to [00:12:20] parking solution. I'm still really early, you know, the Hacienda is on here as well, [00:12:24] and I'm personally still pretty nervous about the parking issue once the Hacienda [00:12:29] opens, to be honest with you. Obviously, we don't have the funding to build some [00:12:33] big elaborate parking garage at this point, and I know, I think what we're [00:12:36] doing with restructuring the lot behind the Health Insurance Building is a [00:12:40] great start and a great idea, but just, I just picture myself as someone who's [00:12:44] never been to downtown Newport, and I'm coming to stay in this historic boutique [00:12:47] hotel, and I drop my wife and kids off and luggage up at the little, wherever [00:12:52] the little entry level is going to drop off level is going to be, and then where [00:12:55] do I go, right? You know, my battling people because there might be a concert [00:13:00] at the park that weekend, and you know, I've been to the Lakeside Inn, and [00:13:04] they have a pretty large designated parking area on site for that beautiful [00:13:09] hotel over there, and I'm just really alarmed that we're going to get this [00:13:12] beautiful downtown jewel that our whole community has been working on for years [00:13:17] and years and years, finally open, and just everyone's so excited about it, and [00:13:21] then just not knowing where the staff's going to park, and having just a [00:13:25] designated parking lot for staff and for guests, it still alarms me quite a bit. [00:13:30] My wife and I took a cruise around town. [00:13:37] Very instructive. There was quite a bit of parking that was available, it just [00:13:43] wasn't anywhere where you would expect it. [00:13:52] But as we we went up Adams Street towards Indiana, community [00:14:01] congregational was 25, maybe 30 percent occupied. The main First Methodist lot [00:14:09] was completely empty, except for the Duke Energy truck that was going to get [00:14:14] power so we could have a service Sunday morning. And the Red Apple lot, the one [00:14:25] separate from their building, that was back in the day the primary parking [00:14:31] lot for First Methodist, that was completely empty. The lots out here were [00:14:39] empty. It got busy when you went down to the DeVry parking lot. The lot next to [00:14:48] Verizon was full. There were some spaces on that side street that goes by Del Seth, [00:14:53] and then the Miam lot was full. [00:15:00] as was the pridgin property, and there was tons of stuff parked there. [00:15:08] We've talked on and off about parking garages. [00:15:12] I'm of the mind right now, if we can come up with a way of institutionalizing [00:15:20] the shuttle-type service that Chasco had very successfully during Chasco Fiesta, [00:15:28] we may not need to spend five or six million dollars on a parking structure. [00:15:34] I'm not sure what the annual cost would be to encourage the shuttles, [00:15:41] but I suspect we could do an awful lot of it for five million dollars. [00:15:46] And I'm in favor of the shuttle service as well, but I'm just thinking long term [00:15:50] that that's not the definitive solution to our downtown parking. [00:15:55] Maybe during events, and like you said, you're the mayor, you grew up here, [00:15:58] you were driving around looking for open spots, but I just keep trying to put myself, [00:16:02] once again, in the shoes of a guest to our downtown at the Hacienda [00:16:06] that's never been to our downtown, and I would be 100 percent lost [00:16:09] after I drop the family off at the front door. [00:16:11] And we may need better parking signage to get to some of those auxiliary lots, [00:16:15] and we may need to make arrangements with some of the organizations [00:16:19] that own the private lots to make them available. [00:16:22] That's right, and we are moving in that direction with the parking plan. [00:16:28] And Robert, correct me if I'm wrong, but I think the reorientation of the Gloria Swanson [00:16:35] results in 133 parking spaces, which is a considerable increase [00:16:43] over what currently exists there. [00:16:47] And we are even hopeful that we'll be able to get that plan implemented [00:16:53] prior to the Hacienda reopening. [00:16:57] We will continue to have discussions with Mr. Gunderson, though, [00:17:01] because we do have to have his employee part in places that make sense [00:17:07] rather than what's convenient for them. [00:17:10] And as part of the Gloria Swanson reorientation project, [00:17:16] we do establish some better on-street parking opportunities. [00:17:21] I'm aware of that. [00:17:22] Oh, okay. [00:17:23] Ms. Raizoni, do we have a projected number of daily staff members [00:17:28] that will be at the Hacienda, both weekend and weekdays? [00:17:38] We're going to have about 60 staff for the Hacienda, [00:17:42] so that's what he's indicated in terms of his staff level for the Hacienda once it's open. [00:17:46] Now, there might be some shift work involved there. [00:17:48] Sure, they're going to be 24-7. [00:17:52] I'm trying to get an idea, like from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Monday through Friday, [00:17:56] how many employees are going to be in there on a weekend, [00:17:59] how many employees are looking, nighttime shifts, things like that. [00:18:02] I did reach out to him. [00:18:03] I can reach out to him because he comes in twice a week. [00:18:06] But just to a quick address, I think the other question is when we might get hope, [00:18:09] he's still shooting for just after Christmas or sometime around that time of the year, which is positive. [00:18:16] I assume it would be a concern of his as well as the owner of the hotel. [00:18:20] It would be a top concern of mine, so I'm sure it's something that's coming up. [00:18:23] I'll get that answer for you. [00:18:24] We did dedicate a portion of the lot. [00:18:26] We haven't worked out the mechanics of how we ensure that the people parking there are truly patrons of the hotel, [00:18:33] but we've dedicated at least half of the existing spaces for that purpose. [00:18:37] Right, and that's my thing. [00:18:38] If I knew that was going to be sufficient enough, I'd be good. [00:18:41] But no one's showed me those numbers where you were going to be good. [00:18:44] How much on-site parking is on the physicals? [00:18:48] Zero. [00:18:49] Yeah, zero. [00:18:50] Very limited. [00:18:51] From what I've been told, the front's going to be more of a drop-off. [00:18:53] They're going to put a lot of that pavement, put a lot of landscaping in, [00:18:56] and then the back's going to be all there and take the fence away and have all green grass. [00:19:00] So it's not going to be a whole lot of on-site parking at all. [00:19:03] It'll look pretty, though. [00:19:04] Yeah. [00:19:06] Okay? [00:19:07] Thank you, Marion. [00:19:08] Great. [00:19:09] Thank you, Councilman Starkey. [00:19:10] Any other thoughts before we move on to the next one? [00:19:12] Are you going to put another, like, block in there where you've got action items? [00:19:17] It's like what was just discussed would be, you know, continue parking initiative, [00:19:24] or what's going to be the result after today's meeting? [00:19:27] Yeah, so that's the difference between what we, for presentation's sake, [00:19:30] what we could show you on a slide and what's actually existing here. [00:19:33] So the item that Councilman Starkey just talked about is sort of, [00:19:36] is in the goals column on your printed copy. [00:19:39] Right. [00:19:40] So you'll notice, so it essentially gets updated there. [00:19:44] Yes. [00:19:45] Yes, it would get updated there to include some additional work items [00:19:52] that'll need to be tended to to ensure that we're implementing the parking study [00:20:00] and the provisions of it and providing adequate parking for the Hacienda [00:20:04] and other visitors to the downtown area. [00:20:07] Part of the effective implementation of the Hacienda is to deal with the parking strategy, right? [00:20:11] I think that's what you're getting at, right? [00:20:13] That's exactly what I'm getting at. [00:20:15] Part of the successful implementation of the project is not to just get it out of the ground, [00:20:18] but to make sure that it works from a parking perspective. [00:20:20] And the same old green square there, so. [00:20:22] Yeah, right. [00:20:23] Right. [00:20:24] Again, this is a great example of green doesn't mean done. [00:20:29] And you're raising some additional things we've got to make sure we get covered [00:20:32] to make sure it stays green. [00:20:34] If we run into issues on parking, we should expect it to turn yellow [00:20:37] and eventually red if they weren't addressed. [00:20:39] Is there a closure date on Gloria Swanson's expansion? [00:20:43] We're hopeful to have that project completed before the Hacienda opens, [00:20:48] and we're pretty confident that it will. [00:20:51] Okay. [00:20:52] We were cutting ribbons the day of Chasco started for the ramps. [00:20:58] Perfect timing. [00:20:59] May I ask one more question? [00:21:00] That might be April 15th there. [00:21:01] Councilman Altman, you might, I don't know if you want to say anything publicly if you know, [00:21:04] but I know you have a pretty good relationship with Mr. Bridgen. [00:21:07] Do we have any kind of, I know he's thrown some ideas out there, [00:21:09] do we have any kind of projection time-wise on when he might want to do something with that lot? [00:21:15] The city manager was in on this visit, [00:21:19] and he indicated that he wanted to be underway and in construction with something in September. [00:21:25] Oh, really? [00:21:26] But, you know, the question is whether or not what he has in mind is going to fit with our vision [00:21:31] of what the downtown is and what it will do and what other options there are. [00:21:35] So, you know, those are going to be big issues for us to be tackling in the next months, I think. [00:21:42] He hasn't shown the picture, but he's indicated all residential, [00:21:46] complete coverage of that lot across the street, [00:21:49] and I'm not so sure if there's any additional parking other than for the residential component that's in there. [00:21:55] As you mentioned, I was told the Main Street Landing project with 90-some units has 120 parking spaces. [00:22:02] So certainly, back to the mayor's comment, [00:22:06] we've got to develop a way in which we can get the right kind of parking spaces available to the people that need them, [00:22:16] not the business owners parking on the main roads, as some do every day. [00:22:22] I recognize that old truck there at the corner of Main and Grand. [00:22:25] I don't know if it's advertisement or what, but, you know, there's going to be other parking elements, too, right? [00:22:31] There's education. [00:22:33] The public's got to realize as this develops downtown that they're not going to be able to park in front of the store they want to go to, [00:22:39] which they have in the past. [00:22:41] And I think the second phase of the wayfinding project will be helpful, too, [00:22:45] in helping those people from out of town identify places to seek parking and... [00:22:55] It's become the health city. [00:22:57] They have to walk to where they're going. [00:22:59] We are due to meet with Grady Pridgen on April 25th, and I'll have a better report for you after that meeting takes place. [00:23:05] I think I had no idea the time frame was so close for what he's going to do for that. [00:23:10] Development is in windows, and I think the folks are saying that we're in a window right now, [00:23:15] and if they're going to do something, they want to do it. [00:23:17] And this is the time for us to look at the alternatives. [00:23:21] Speaking of parking, though, it was addressed at the Guinness Book attempt by the Dodd family, [00:23:30] who owns the house right next to us on the corner, [00:23:33] that they thought that would be a great place along with Mr. Spence's office for a nice parking lot [00:23:39] that's on the edge of the city that can potentially be a sort of shuttle end [00:23:46] so people could park if we did have some kind of local transportation. [00:23:50] But he has offered that up, and it's something we might want to consider as additional downtown parking someday. [00:23:59] I don't know if I even conveyed that to you, Debbie. [00:24:01] He just told me about that Saturday. [00:24:02] But now I know. We'll talk more about it tomorrow. [00:24:05] Well, whether it makes sense or not, I just mentioned it. [00:24:08] Okay. Any other items? [00:24:12] Okay. If we turn to the next, where the plan focuses on real property tax revenue, [00:24:21] to Councilman Altman's point, there is a relevant goal here, [00:24:25] which talks about sort of developing a long-term annexation plan. [00:24:28] The item that you see at the bottom of the expanded tax base item at the top there, [00:24:33] identified preliminary enclaves and are moving forward as the first step in that sort of longer-term annexation plan, [00:24:39] and so that's why it's been added here. [00:24:42] I'm going to go to the bottom of the page, and then I'll work my way back to the middle. [00:24:46] You also see a number of items, the civil infraction program, [00:24:49] code enforcement fines on tax bills, and the urban core residential study. [00:24:52] There are new items since the last time that you saw the plan. [00:24:56] And then working our way up on the rental rehabilitation program, [00:25:01] sort of identifying financing resources to support property owners [00:25:04] as they sort of upgrade and or reinvest in property. [00:25:08] This is what I was referring to earlier, Councilman Altman. [00:25:11] And then the Implement Certificate of Appliance program is read currently, [00:25:16] and it was read from the beginning of the plan, frankly, [00:25:19] because we're just sort of not resourced to do it and haven't been. [00:25:22] So it continues to be on the plan because you talked about it as an initial action item. [00:25:26] Currently, there aren't resources to do it, and that has been the case as we've gone along, [00:25:31] but I did want to highlight that to you. [00:25:33] That's one of the red items that exists. [00:25:35] Anything you would add to any of this? [00:25:38] The Certificate of Compliance program I think is very important [00:25:43] because we do have houses that experience multiple title transfers [00:25:51] and are never inspected by the city. [00:25:53] We are now looking at rental properties, [00:25:55] but we're not really looking at owner-occupied properties from a more discerning eye. [00:26:08] And it could be something that we could build a program around in the future. [00:26:14] It could be that the fees for the program pay for the staff associated with the program. [00:26:20] But from the administration's perspective, [00:26:23] we need to really build the program a little bit further along [00:26:28] so that you can determine whether or not it's of interest to you. [00:26:34] I'm not harmless and sold on that program personally. [00:26:36] What I think we need to focus on right now is using our city employees [00:26:41] to be the eyes and ears on the street, and I brought this up before. [00:26:44] I can't tell you how many times I've passed a sofa thrown in the bushes in the city limits, [00:26:50] and I know city employees drive by. [00:26:52] I see our rental inspectors out inspecting rental properties, [00:26:57] and just the other day I saw a car, [00:26:59] and then right next door was probably three code violations. [00:27:03] And I want to be sure our employees, especially, for example, our rental inspection employees, [00:27:09] they're not just total tunnel vision on the address that they're going out to inspect that day or the addresses. [00:27:16] If they see something next door in that neighborhood or on their way, [00:27:19] they need to let code enforcement know, right? [00:27:22] I think it starts with you, to be honest with you. [00:27:27] I know you've been working on it, but we have to do a better job from the top all the way down. [00:27:33] With our city employees, let them know what the vision of this city is, [00:27:36] and if you're going to be employed here, you're on board, right? [00:27:40] If you see kids acting like jerks in Sims Park, you may not work in the park, [00:27:44] but you're an employee on your lunch break, you need to let the police department know. [00:27:49] You know what I mean? [00:27:50] I hear horror stories from some things that happen in Sims Park that you wouldn't believe it. [00:27:55] Honestly, from our employees that work in the park, I speak to them on a regular basis, [00:27:59] and it absolutely blows my mind. [00:28:00] I'm very excited about this auxiliary policing program, [00:28:03] but I'm very vigilant when I drive around the city and when I look for code enforcement [00:28:08] or code violations and things that aren't right that need to be addressed, [00:28:12] and I think our staff who are on the street and not just working in City Hall on a regular basis [00:28:17] need to be just as in tune as I am when they're driving around the city. [00:28:21] I agree with you, Councilman, or Deputy Mayor, pardon me, Starkey, 100%. [00:28:27] We have tried a couple of different methods to make, you know, [00:28:32] some of our larger departments of the city interface with some of the other departments [00:28:37] that they would need to as it relates to city matters. [00:28:41] We do that through a number of initiatives, including making them sit together [00:28:46] at employee get-togethers just so that they get more comfortable and they do share information, [00:28:52] and I do think that some progress has been made, albeit it is something that needs to continue as a priority. [00:29:02] A continual process for sure. [00:29:05] Back on this page, again, increasing real property tax revenue is probably the core objective of the CRA. [00:29:14] We just passed another extension of time, so we have a 30-year window and a whole new CRA plan. [00:29:22] I think, again, two things. [00:29:26] One, we might just need to identify that this is the CRA's objective [00:29:34] and have the CRA have that as its top objective. [00:29:40] And annexation is not the CRA objective, it's the general funds, [00:29:45] it's the city's objective to get more money into the general fund. [00:29:48] Right. [00:29:49] The existing land and structures within the city really have become the obligation of the CRA. [00:29:57] The general fund can't really afford to do as much. [00:30:00] to that, and that's where we're going to be finding ourselves with the [00:30:04] transportation dollars and the Penny for Pasco dollars and all of the funds [00:30:08] that are available to us for either purpose, and sort of dividing that out [00:30:14] so that we can properly support the city's infrastructure, you know, the [00:30:17] city's structures themselves, and also know that, you know, we're supporting [00:30:22] the CRA's objective. I think what's missing is an actual developing a [00:30:31] quantitative goal, you know, and I presented this in 2015 when I worked for [00:30:38] the city, that for the city manager in our budget document, which was to [00:30:45] actually identify how many people do we expect to move in, and how many of them [00:30:49] are going to come from annexation, and how many of them are going to come from [00:30:52] infill, and how many of them are going to come from changing our land use to [00:30:56] allow for granny flats or whatever, and so there has to be some quantitative [00:31:03] goal. All of this is kind of, you know, nebulous. It's like we're working on it, [00:31:10] but it's like by the time our city turns a hundred, which is five years from now, [00:31:16] or however many years is left, we should be at a population of 20,000, because [00:31:24] that's how all of the numbers that Mario's CRA people run, is how much tax [00:31:29] based growth and how much revenue we're going to get. So I think we need to get [00:31:35] mathematical about what we're doing. That's my point. [00:31:39] Okay, I'll pass on that. [00:31:48] And I want to say one more word out too, and that is curb appeal, because on here [00:31:55] we see what we expect the residents to do, and how we're going to train and [00:31:59] implement them, but increasing the property tax revenue means increasing [00:32:05] the value of the properties, and that goes right back to our alley studies, to [00:32:09] our curb appeal, to the way we manage and maintain, as Deputy Mayor Starkey had [00:32:15] mentioned, the job we have to do. And would you talk about the alley plan, I [00:32:25] think, later in the final? The alley plan, as well as maintaining the municipal [00:32:30] properties as well, all for the sake of what you're describing, right? It's sort [00:32:33] of, there's a number of people who have their responsibilities to make things [00:32:37] look great. That's the tricky part about these goals and objectives, they're all [00:32:41] trying to go in the same direction, so maybe you can take a piece of one and [00:32:45] put it somewhere else. Okay, is there anything else that you wanted to add on [00:32:49] the CRA front? I promised you we'd come back to it when we got back to this [00:32:53] piece, I want to make sure we've covered it fully. I think that there's going to need to be [00:32:56] some serious community education about the CRA, because when the folks that are [00:33:05] expecting street improvements, or some of the city functions, see investment to [00:33:14] partner, private partnership, let's say the Grady Pritchard deal, or whatever [00:33:19] else, deal with the gateway, and they see the resources that the city is putting [00:33:24] into its investment, and that there has been a tendency in the past to wonder, [00:33:29] you know, how come all that money is going that way, and not this way? So it [00:33:35] would be helpful to just kind of be clear, to make sure everybody knows what [00:33:38] pockets of money are where, and what those objectives are, because there's [00:33:42] always a fight over limited resources, and it always ends up with somebody. [00:33:46] Is that every other Tuesday, the public doesn't come, or it sits at home and listens? [00:33:51] We try, yeah. And I think, I was out traveling around once with Debbie, and I [00:33:57] think she said it had a great line, because she's been in this field forever, [00:34:00] but she said when, you know, that public, private money will follow public [00:34:06] money. So if we put the infrastructure, you know, stuff in, and we put the curb [00:34:10] appeal, and then the public money, with the public money, the private [00:34:15] money will come. The third strategy, it's, this is all still part of increased real [00:34:22] property tax revenue, it just didn't fit on one slide, is around the value on the [00:34:26] commercial property front. And again, you see a number of action items here. As we [00:34:32] talked through it with the staff, they felt like that there had been progress [00:34:34] made on the motel front along US 19, still lots of work to do on the used car [00:34:38] dealerships, that's why that was still yellow. And then a number of items at the [00:34:43] bottom, a couple related to ordinances, sort of both, not just sort of bringing [00:34:49] ordinance to the council, but also to your point, Councilman Altman, about sort [00:34:53] of communication, about proactively communicating those new ordinances to [00:34:56] businesses to make sure that they know about them, not just implementing it, but [00:34:58] making sure that we know them. It's a different point than you were making as [00:35:01] it relates to the CRA, but around this idea of communication. And then a retail [00:35:05] analysis and shopability study that have both been done, shared with the [00:35:10] downtown community as well, to just add some data to that effort. And so that's, [00:35:15] there's a number of those new items at the bottom as it relates to the [00:35:18] commercial real estate piece of this. And I think the thing that I'd like to add [00:35:23] as an action item, is we as a city staff need to do a better job disseminating [00:35:29] information within the organization about new ordinances or existing [00:35:35] ordinances that might not be being implemented as effectively as they could [00:35:44] be. I think that's all part of that marketing, I think that's all that part [00:35:50] of that marketing project. It's in yellow still. Yeah. Part of the marketing [00:35:55] package, excuse me. You know, that's, that's, that's an ongoing, yeah, that's [00:36:01] been yellow for as long as I'm here, and it's been yellow since I came here. It's [00:36:05] much further along in that yellow than it's ever been. It's a different shade. It's [00:36:10] getting greener, but it's still yellow. We've got draft, we're now putting the graphics [00:36:15] together, so. Well, the website, you know, our website's an example of it. And that's helpful. I think what you were [00:36:21] getting at is sort of the, there's proactively communicating new ordinances [00:36:23] to new businesses, that's sort of the external piece. Right. There's also an [00:36:26] internal piece to make sure that those new ordinances are communicated [00:36:29] consistently across the city staff, so everybody knows what's happening. Okay. [00:36:33] Gotcha. We can certainly make that update as well. Okay. Any other thoughts, questions [00:36:38] here? Okay. Real quick, anything real deep, but we're talking about communicating new [00:36:44] ordinance to new businesses. An ordinance that we just decided to enforce was the [00:36:49] enclosures around the dumpsters, and I've had a couple of business owners that put [00:36:53] a couple grand into theirs and made it look really nice, and are pretty upset [00:36:56] because we still have other business owners, not just in downtown, but in the [00:36:59] city limits, visible from pretty, pretty highly traveled roads that have no [00:37:06] enclosures. And, you know, more than one business owner has come up to me and said, [00:37:10] Jeff, why did I have to comply and invest this money, yet I'm looking at this guy [00:37:14] across the street, hasn't done anything. And that's, and that's the employees driving [00:37:18] around and won't pass that information back, which you just got through saying, [00:37:21] won't pass it back to the city. I'm not even talking about employees, I mean, I just, it's, I agree with what you're [00:37:25] saying, but, and there's some dumpsters, I'm not going to call out any businesses, but [00:37:28] downtown, they're very visible, that still have no enclosures around them, and we've [00:37:32] had this, period, not just the front, we've had this ordinance in force for a long [00:37:36] time, we just decided to enforce it a few months ago, and then we amended it to add [00:37:40] the cover, and I just, I agree with the business owners that have invested the money, I'd [00:37:45] be pretty upset, too, if I'm still looking at the dump, you know, I did mine, why [00:37:48] aren't they doing theirs, you know? At what point are they going to be fine enough [00:37:51] where they have to do it, or are they getting fine yet, because, in my opinion, it's [00:37:53] been long enough? They aren't getting fine yet, they haven't been, but we did [00:37:59] back up the implementation date when we put into effect the fact that you could [00:38:05] get a permit without a fee for the establishment of the dumpster, but I know [00:38:15] that the police department is on it, Sergeant Jay has a calendar of what the [00:38:21] implementation dates are, and we will be issuing violations. What date is that, so [00:38:25] I can let these business owners that have already complied know? I don't know, [00:38:29] do you know, Lieutenant? [00:38:37] Okay, if you could get that date, I'd like to communicate it. That doesn't count [00:38:43] the dumpsters that are in horrible shape, like the one behind the two-story [00:38:46] building, just down the block from here, next to the convenience store, the gates [00:38:50] been opened, the wood is rotted, and there's trash laying all around the back [00:38:55] of that double, that apartment on Nebraska, between Fitzgerald's and [00:39:01] Madison. I was going to take a picture of it and send it to you, but I just didn't get [00:39:06] it done. It's been that way for days. An enclosure around the dumpster behind the [00:39:10] health department, which is probably the county's, could you see? LC as well? [00:39:14] Actually said we would replace it as part of our parking lot project, so yes. [00:39:20] Yeah, if you could let us know in the city manager's report Friday, because, you [00:39:24] know, these business owners are asking me, and I don't know what to tell them. I'm [00:39:27] like, I'm with you, I'd be mad too. Good, anything else? Okay, the next strategy we [00:39:39] address here is around developing a community mindset. The not listed goals [00:39:46] here around sort of clear messaging about pride and community, clear roles, [00:39:48] setting the tone, and so you notice a number of new action items that have [00:39:53] been added here, almost two-thirds of the page here, but a number of citizen [00:39:57] groups, not intended to be an exhaustive list, but pavement management, CDBG, [00:40:02] preservation board, and some other items, and then the department heads in [00:40:08] particular talked about adding, you know, a couple of action items that they've [00:40:11] been focused on as it relates to sort of family-friendly events, so, you know, where [00:40:16] the city can do that to make sure that they're doing that, recognizing that [00:40:19] there are a number of private events where the city doesn't control what [00:40:23] happens, but to sort of work with those permitted events to try to establish a [00:40:27] family-friendly atmosphere. If I may, I do have to commend our staff for the city [00:40:31] events that we're putting on are phenomenal. They are so well attended, [00:40:34] people rave about them, they've just been a huge success, so everyone that [00:40:38] works on getting those together, the concert series, Moves in the Park, Parks [00:40:42] and Rec, everyone that's involved to staff, it's just, I mean, just top-notch, [00:40:46] done a phenomenal job, and our community loves them. We appreciate the compliment. I have to [00:40:51] tell you that when I told Elaine that we were going to have a concert series and [00:40:55] that she was in charge, she said, I don't know how to book talent, I can't do this, [00:41:02] and she's done a phenomenal job of booking talent and organizing the events. [00:41:07] I'd like to expand on this a little bit. I was around town yesterday for the Sunday [00:41:14] in the City series, which is actually really cool, and happened to walk in and [00:41:21] spend a little bit of time talking to Brian Hackman over at Cody River Brewing, [00:41:25] and he made the point that I had not really thought of a whole lot, but [00:41:31] because the concert series that Elaine's organizing typically runs from 7 to 8 [00:41:39] 30, when the concert's over, the people that are going to that concert then [00:41:46] descend on the downtown and the downtown businesses, and Brian made the point, when [00:41:52] we have some of these other bigger events, they're typically running the [00:41:57] concert until 1030 or 11 o'clock, and at that point people just go home. So these [00:42:04] smaller one-evening type things that are running for an hour and a half are [00:42:10] actually having a positive benefit for the businesses downtown. On that point, [00:42:15] sorry to have to follow up with you on that, but during the Chaska we had music [00:42:20] every night during the week, and I had made arrangements with some of the [00:42:25] highly paid acts that we brought from out of town to do extra sets in town, and [00:42:30] both the Cody River Brewery and Ordnance One on a Tuesday night was like, oh it's [00:42:35] dead here. Actually, SIPs agreed to hire the one [00:42:39] fellow, and they were busy. So I think that that comment might cause us [00:42:44] to want to get these things over a little sooner, but also make sure that [00:42:49] we're coordinating these big events with the downtowns, and the downtown [00:42:53] can benefit from some of this entertainment, but they can play an [00:42:56] extra set, you know, after the thing is over, and just invite people down, which [00:43:01] is what happened. And that's an excellent point, because the [00:43:05] extra set thing did seem to go over pretty well as well, and it's the same [00:43:10] sort of thing. You've got somebody in the park, and then you're sort of dragging [00:43:14] over into town. We were going to spend another, and they were open till 11, 1130, which, you [00:43:20] know, the bars can stay open later. It might be an inconvenience to them, but [00:43:25] folks that listen to music and want to follow and get them closer up, look, [00:43:28] they'll follow, a matter of some flexibility. I have to also ask, [00:43:33] are we authorizing putting cones and lines across our parking lots on [00:43:39] Main Street to prepare for food trucks or whatever? Because I noticed that [00:43:45] Sunday or whatever, that people are roping off our city parking spaces. [00:43:51] No, and we have actually, is this the pierogi truck that you're referring to? He actually is [00:43:58] exceeding the number of square feet that our ordinance allows by parking both the [00:44:04] trailer and the truck, and so we have asked the business owner to make [00:44:11] arrangements with him to disconnect so that he doesn't exceed, I think it's 40 [00:44:17] square feet. And a local resident picked barbecue, they'd go on Nebraska as [00:44:25] others, so I was a little surprised to see that front door blocking off the city's streets. [00:44:31] Yeah, it was like two and a half parking spaces, so huge on Main Street. [00:44:36] Councilman Davis, you had something? Yeah, the only suggestion that I get was that in our [00:44:42] events in the park that there's not water for sale, soda for sale, something [00:44:49] like that, and of course, the more the events, the hotter it gets. I don't, we [00:44:53] don't really need to be bringing the ambulance for people that pass out, so, you know, [00:44:57] consider, you know, some bottled water. [00:45:00] of water on ice and, you know, some non-profit can make a couple of bucks. [00:45:05] They've done that. [00:45:06] They could. [00:45:06] Not as consistently as we'd like. [00:45:10] I've seen one booth that's not even as big as this table, you know. [00:45:15] Popcorn. [00:45:16] Yeah, but I'm just saying that they want liquid. [00:45:20] And they're not saying beer at all. [00:45:21] They're just saying. [00:45:22] Right. [00:45:22] You know, as it gets hot, just having something. [00:45:24] Buying concessions, and Mike is, you know, very much touting the fact that he said he sold $1,500 worth of ice cream, Mr. [00:45:35] Ottaway did, this past concert. [00:45:38] And he was out by the time I got over there. [00:45:39] I was thinking of the park itself, you know. [00:45:42] Yeah, well, he was, no, he was in the park. [00:45:44] Oh, okay, I didn't know that. [00:45:44] Yeah, and in fact, the, and I don't recall the name, but the folks that have the hot dog cart that is usually in the Swanson lot also want to get in on the rotation to be physically inside the park as well for some of these. [00:46:03] Yeah, he may be chilling there, but, you know, when the Pride event was there, too, they tried to get everybody to go downtown, but there was no liquid in that park. [00:46:10] And water, water and soda would go a long way towards, particularly in the summer months. [00:46:15] It's just properly, you know, stationed so people see them, too. [00:46:19] Okay, that's a good point. [00:46:20] Great. [00:46:21] Anything else on the community mindset front? [00:46:26] Okay, the next one is the one that Councilman Davis alluded to a moment ago around improving the image of the city. [00:46:32] There's sort of three aspects to this, developing a brand image that reflects the city, deliver high quality municipal services, and enhance quality of life. [00:46:39] Yeah, I would characterize the discussion with the, with the department heads as very similar to what you described, which is, you know, making progress on the brand front, given the resources and attention there, a lot of focus around changing the, and delivering high quality municipal services, a new goal there around sustainability, and then obviously all the items as it relates to the website, the utilities being added to the web presence. [00:47:10] Additional sustainability minded projects, the sense I got from listening to the staff is that sort of the items that they control around improving image, we're working really, really hard to improve. [00:47:19] It really becomes a strategic question for this board of, do you choose to, you know, fund a full brand campaign or not to date? [00:47:27] That's been challenging from a resource perspective, right? [00:47:29] And so it's, let's improve the image. [00:47:31] Let's make sure we got a good story to tell and do what we can to communicate it effectively through the web. [00:47:37] At the same time, as we deal with the challenges of a full blown branding campaign, that's just how I would, would characterize it as it relates to this, this, this whole strategy is working really hard to improve the municipal services, doing what can be done within the resource constraints as it relates to the branding campaign and, and overall effect. [00:47:57] What would you add? [00:47:58] I would add that I agree with your assessment and the, the biggest part for the staff has been not only do we not have the resources, but when's the right time? [00:48:11] When have we made enough corrective measures and advanced enough that we've got a great story to tell? [00:48:22] And, and I think some of our reservations have been related to that. [00:48:27] I think that we're better prepared now than we've been in quite some time. [00:48:34] And I do think that if you're in agreement, now might be the time to start to look at and determine what a true marketing campaign would cost and what it would involve. [00:48:48] It'd be worth taking a look at, you know, three, four, five years ago, I, we, we weren't at the point where it would have made any sense. [00:48:58] People would have said, oh, that they're just advertising fluff. [00:49:02] We've, we've got the substance now that if we start advertising the things that are actually happening in New Port Richey that are, that are going on and the reasons that this is such a great community. [00:49:17] I think we can make a, a, a viable marketing push without lying to people. [00:49:23] We're, we're telling the truth. [00:49:25] This is a really great place. [00:49:28] I, I'm, I've been advocating for a position in the city, a marketing position in the city to be right hand to Debbie since I came here. [00:49:38] And I don't really want to farm it out to somebody because they're going to, the guy that you're going to sell it, that's, that's going to sell us, you know, the product is not going to do the work. [00:49:47] He's going to find somebody at, you know, $10 an hour to do our marketing. [00:49:51] So I would rather have more control of it. [00:49:54] And I would, you know, entertain still looking at it during the budget season of, of that being a position. [00:50:00] The timing is, is perfect for us to, to take a look at that. [00:50:04] Right. [00:50:04] And that, and that's, I, like I said, I've been advocating that. [00:50:08] Yes. [00:50:10] Yeah. [00:50:12] So we need to figure out if we're going to do an in-house or, or hire somebody. [00:50:15] But as far as timing, I would say the time is now, not two years. [00:50:20] And we're building upscale apartments in two different locations. [00:50:23] We have new, nice restaurants, bars, tons of new business opening up. [00:50:28] There's, the Haas Inn is opening up. [00:50:31] Are we going to wait until these apartments open and maybe not fully rent? [00:50:35] Yeah, I'm, I'm hoping there's going to be a waiting list to get into them. [00:50:38] But I just think the time is now to do it, not two or three years from now. [00:50:42] With the momentum we have going right now, they're downtown. [00:50:45] With the ordinance we're passing that the public knows we're addressing the, the, the U.S. [00:50:50] 19 corridor, which is a tough one to tackle, but we're doing it and, you know, and we're going to, I hope, continue to aggressively do it. [00:50:58] Yeah. [00:50:59] I mean, are we Boca Raton? [00:51:00] Are we, you know, Sarasota, Los Angeles? [00:51:04] We're new for Richie and we have to get our story out there and get the history out there. [00:51:08] Let them know what's going on because I still talk to people that come downtown. [00:51:12] Oh, I didn't, you know, I didn't know ordinance one was open. [00:51:14] I didn't know you guys had food trucks. [00:51:15] I didn't know you guys had concerts in the, in the park. [00:51:17] And these people live in West Pasco, not people from Georgia. [00:51:20] You know what I mean? [00:51:20] It's, it's, the time is now. [00:51:22] And we definitely need more than just a couple of Facebook posts at a, at a concert come on down an hour before. [00:51:27] You know, that might be, that's not marketing. [00:51:29] If we're paying someone, if we're paying someone to do that, I hope it's not a lot of money because we need a lot more than that. [00:51:36] The difference, I guess, that I was trying to suppress is I think we've got a story that we need to be promoting now. [00:51:43] And so I would agree with you. [00:51:44] Now is the time for us to take a look at this, whether it's in-house, outside or some combination. [00:51:49] I just, I think, I think we just, I think we found that having in-house lawyers a lot better than having a firm. [00:51:57] You know, we found that over the last few years. [00:51:59] Our soccer club, Florida Premier FC, has a marketing director. [00:52:03] You know, it's, it's, you need it. [00:52:05] So I'd like to come back square one again to the way in which you're graphically showing this and suggest that maybe as you go through the entire document that you ought to color code top section, CRA, bottom section, city. [00:52:20] We have two large corporations here. [00:52:22] The CRA is two and a half million dollars. [00:52:25] We've got to make sure that when we talk about what the objectives are, that, that, that, that's the discussion with that limited resource there. [00:52:35] Because there's, you know, piling another employee cost under the general fund, Joppa, is going to be hard, you know, because it's already. [00:52:43] I didn't say general fund. [00:52:43] Oh, I know, I know. [00:52:44] I'm not, I'm not debating you. [00:52:46] I'm just saying, to me, to be able to say, you know, this is CRA and this is general business would be a big help because it's, I think it's critical. [00:53:00] And on that topic too, it helps us because, you know, everyone knows, you know, the city of New Port Richey mismanaged their CRA funds and it's had a very negative impact on the way county officials and state officials view municipalities using CRA funds. [00:53:16] When you hear those horror stories from around the state, you know, you don't use CRA funds to pay salary. [00:53:20] You just don't, you know, and, but that's happened. [00:53:23] And I'm not trying to put New Port Richey down by any means, but it, by doing that, it's showing them we're doing this properly. [00:53:29] We're using these funds, how they're supposed to be used. [00:53:31] We have objectives, we have goals, we have timeframes on how we're going to implement this. [00:53:35] And it just, it helps that battle, I think. [00:53:38] But I do like the twin analogy that Chopper made about being brothers or cousins, you know, because they are so intertwined that I understand, you know, that we can talk back and forth about it. [00:53:52] But to Jeff's point again, clearly demonstrating our devotion to the redevelopment goals and our separation, I think, is important. [00:54:04] I think also that all these apartments being built out on 54, the people from Tampa are going to see those first and they're going to rent those. [00:54:12] And then they're going to realize that they've got 10 chain restaurants to go to and no city center. [00:54:18] And they're going to find New Port Richey and you won't be able to get into either one of the complexes, central or main street lanes. [00:54:23] It might be a year or so. [00:54:25] That's why we should be telling the story, you know, in the marketing. [00:54:29] Yeah, I agree with that. [00:54:31] I think now is definitely a time to get that ramped up. [00:54:33] I've always felt that we needed that anchor, that something cohesive to pull the city together, to really have a story to talk about. [00:54:41] And that's the Hacienda. [00:54:43] Apartments are great. [00:54:44] All those, you know, rivers are great. [00:54:46] But that's something really unique. [00:54:48] And that's what we really needed. [00:54:49] So I think definitely now is time to get that rolling. [00:54:52] And your theme is Hollywood, culture, art, entertainment, theater, you know, all of those things. [00:55:01] There was a brand new business I stumbled into. [00:55:04] It's been open a week. [00:55:05] The little art show next to Sullivan's, art studio next to Sullivan's. [00:55:10] Yeah, well not, yeah, between the gallery and the Sullivan's. [00:55:13] And that's local artists. [00:55:15] All this whole art vibe and music vibe is what we can sell to bring people in. [00:55:20] And on that topic, so we need to get something going with Ritchie's Suncoast Theater. [00:55:25] I know Ed Beckman, when he ran for mayor, that was one of his staples of what he wanted to get going. [00:55:30] Let's get their board directors, which I don't know if y'all know, includes Susan Dillinger, Doreen Summers, our former city clerk, is now on the board. [00:55:39] And Chuck Gray's on it, Kelly Hackman. [00:55:42] Let's get them here. [00:55:43] Let's get a work session. [00:55:44] Sit them down. [00:55:46] And what's, just confront them in a positive manner. [00:55:50] What's the objective for this gem that we have? [00:55:53] Hacienda's opening. [00:55:55] Chaska's partnering with Ruth Eckert Hall. [00:55:59] You know, we need, that venue needs to be more than just hosting a few plays a year. [00:56:04] And they're great plays. [00:56:05] They are. [00:56:06] But it's a completely, and I'm just going to give Ed credit for bringing this up during his campaign, it's a huge positive, positive resource. [00:56:15] We have downtown that is 100 percent completely underutilized, in my opinion. [00:56:21] Great. Thanks. [00:56:23] This discussion is exactly why we do this, right? [00:56:26] The clear direction you've provided around the, hey, the time is now to tell the story is exactly why we have this kind of conversation. [00:56:32] So thank you for the clear direction. [00:56:34] And we can take the appropriate actions to move forward. [00:56:38] But that's exactly why we do this. [00:56:40] Is now the time or not? [00:56:41] You've said pretty clearly, yeah, we think it is. [00:56:43] So that's very, very helpful. [00:56:45] Bob Langford, as well, is on that board. [00:56:46] Bob Langford resigned, I'm sorry, over the weekend. [00:56:49] That's a loss to that board and to what we're trying to do with that facility. [00:56:53] It's a huge loss. [00:56:54] And that right there alarms me. [00:56:56] Let me tell you that there are folks that are talking about doing what you're saying with them, I understand. [00:57:03] So I don't know all the details, but that needs to be utilized on a regular basis. [00:57:08] That could be matinees, bringing people in during the day to help the shop. [00:57:11] Just for homework for you guys, take a look at the Valerie Theater in Inverness. [00:57:19] I think the success that Chesco appears to have had in working with Ruth Eckert is very instructive that Ritchie Theater ought to be taking a look at it. [00:57:34] I did some rough numbers in my head about what that Eddie Money concert must have grossed. [00:57:40] And it was a lot of money. [00:57:43] And I suspect more than any concert has ever grossed in the history of Chesco. [00:57:49] I think it's pushing $50,000, but the costs are there, too. [00:57:53] You have to pay real marketing and have a real team, and you have to do it right. [00:57:58] So that's one of the problems we've had in town is a lot of folks want to just keep doing them the same way we always have, and it's time to pick it up. [00:58:06] Get them in here. [00:58:06] Get a work session. [00:58:07] Let's sit down. [00:58:08] What's your objectives? [00:58:09] As the board for that facility, what's your objectives? [00:58:12] What's your plans? [00:58:13] So we know. [00:58:15] Great. [00:58:16] Thank you. [00:58:18] We gave them some money. [00:58:20] Did we ever give them that money, or did they never produce? [00:58:22] They never provided any of the financial reports that we requested. [00:58:28] There was also, was that the black box thing I wasn't in on? [00:58:31] Is that the money you're talking about? [00:58:33] No, it was a Christmas thing. [00:58:34] Things that were never going to go into Peter's garage or something. [00:58:37] No, Christmas children thing. [00:58:39] Not this past Christmas, like a year ago. [00:58:42] Okay. [00:58:43] Our next strategy is around developing partnerships. [00:58:46] And so no new actions here other than the items that when we initially set out the plan were related to sort of building these relationships and starting them. [00:58:58] They now exist, and there's regular meetings between Debbie and the county administrators or assistant administrators and other bodies that you talked about. [00:59:09] So, you know, I think there's, this is almost entirely green based on the fact that these relationships exist and are in sort of maintenance mode as opposed to have to create the mode. [00:59:20] That's right. [00:59:21] The only thing that I'd add is we colored to inventory current relationship and perform needs and opportunities analysis as yellow because we consider that to be ongoing. [00:59:33] Because that changes as the community changes. [00:59:37] Right. [00:59:37] You're shifting, shifting where you're spending your time and where you're spending your efforts. [00:59:40] Right. [00:59:41] Okay. [00:59:43] The next one is related to communicating effectively. [00:59:46] This is where I mentioned a number of additional action items around the implementation of the city app, the redesign of the web presence, both redesigning existing functionality and then consolidating functionality to make it easier. [01:00:00] to deal with all on one page. And then, you know, developing new functionality was mentioned [01:00:05] earlier about utilities now being able to be accessed here, but other things coming [01:00:09] along. But the app really is the forefront of what we talked about in the most recent [01:00:15] update. It's an ongoing effort. There's always more and more things to do to communicate [01:00:19] as we've talked about even today in the internal communications that you've talked about here. [01:00:23] But sort of the big update, big news, if you will, from the last time we talked is a number [01:00:29] of things around the app, the web presence, and some of those items. What would you add? [01:00:32] Anything you would add there? [01:00:35] I would jump in and say that one of the things that surprised me when we had the park and [01:00:40] ride, the shuttle that was here, and talking to the owner who is interested in trying to [01:00:46] settle in on a more regular basis is that his business model is to sell the advertisement [01:00:52] and if you saw that big shuttle sign, and also in driving, giving out coupons for some [01:01:02] money off on a restaurant or bar or whatever, and that the communication is part of the [01:01:11] sort of like a double benefit if you've got a good message to get out there as the visibility [01:01:18] of it. [01:01:20] Are you comfortable on disclosing what the cost was for the park and ride, what we paid, [01:01:24] what CHASCO paid to use the shuttle service? [01:01:26] It was $7,000 for the week, for the nine days, but it was primarily, they brought the big [01:01:35] trams for the big events to shuttle large folks like they do at the ball fields. And [01:01:41] then it was, during the week, it was a couple hundred dollars a day, but $200 per cart per [01:01:49] day. [01:01:51] Four-seater or six-seater cart? [01:01:52] Those were the little six-seaters, but they brought seven of them and we only contracted [01:01:56] for two, so they swarmed the place. [01:01:59] I'm just thinking like, it's a lot of money, and I'm thinking down the road, maybe broker [01:02:06] it out right now and hire out shuttle services, but down the road, if it's successful, I mean [01:02:11] the city can buy some golf carts and some little cool looking trolleys and hire, use [01:02:16] parks and rec staff or staff that want to get a little overtime, and for $7,000, you [01:02:22] can pretty much buy a six-seater golf cart. [01:02:25] That reminds me of what I said about 25 years ago that didn't go over too good with the [01:02:30] police department at the time, but I suggested we have a shuttle and put a cop in there so [01:02:35] that they would see who's coming and going all the time. [01:02:37] I'm looking for thoughts right out there. I mean, it might be something to look into [01:02:42] down the road, just buying around, golf carts, and have a seat. [01:02:46] It's cheaper than a $5 million building. [01:02:49] That's my point. I mean, that's where I got it from. [01:02:54] It really is. [01:02:55] But the cost is advertising. The cool thing is, is our local Main Street groups, our Rock [01:03:00] the Boat people, the events being on, they can get sponsors, the Kia guy, whoever, and [01:03:07] they will pay money, and he says that's how he makes his money, to pay for the equipment. [01:03:13] And then the drivers are generally retired or semi-retired, tip only. [01:03:18] Anyway, that's another topic, but it is a rolling billboard. It gets a lot of attention, [01:03:24] and you can see it. [01:03:25] My wife forgot. She's got a little time now. She's off the board. She'd love it to do a little tour. [01:03:28] I think we might want to think about that. [01:03:31] We don't know how long it will take to do it. [01:03:35] Before happy hour. [01:03:37] Anything else as it relates to communicating? Mayor, I'm sorry. [01:03:40] I was going to suggest we might have some PI lawyers that would like to advertise on the shuttles. [01:03:50] But there are other businesses that spend huge amounts of money on marketing billboards [01:03:58] and other things. To hook some of those folks in to actually underwriting the shuttle service, [01:04:07] I think it's worth exploring. [01:04:10] Well, what I had proposed to the guy, because he was talking about his business plan, [01:04:16] and I had suggested that because we have this art and music thing, even the rec centers, [01:04:23] as well as the other events, if there was a percent of the advertising that was put into a fund, [01:04:32] like an entertainment fund, it could be a rolling fund where it could help to underwrite some of the entertainment [01:04:38] and music events or downtown events, that that would even put, like people will buy socks, [01:04:44] because for every pair you buy, they give some to a homeless person. [01:04:47] I mean, if I'm going to ride the shuttle or if I'm going to buy this advertisement, [01:04:50] some of that money can go in to a seed fund. [01:04:55] So that was just the initial discussions I had with him. [01:04:58] I'd like to change this to communicate slash market effectively. [01:05:03] Can you tell I've been working on taxes for two weeks? [01:05:18] I'm just all of a sudden opening up here. [01:05:21] Finally let you out? [01:05:24] Yeah, well, I just snuck out. [01:05:26] Tick, tick, tick, tick, tick. [01:05:29] Next up is a significant item around continuing community policing improvements. [01:05:38] And so you'll notice a couple of things new at the top. [01:05:40] So Councilman Starkey mentioned earlier the establishment of the downtown beat patrol [01:05:45] to put some additional feet on the ground in the downtown area. [01:05:51] And then the chief actually added a piece around sort of the code enforcement [01:05:56] as it relates to this community policing as well. [01:05:59] So the efficiency and educational outreach of code enforcement officers, [01:06:03] going along with what you described earlier. [01:06:06] The items around anti-prostitution and drug enforcement are largely the same [01:06:10] and continue to be the focus of the chief. [01:06:14] Anything you would add here? [01:06:18] No. [01:06:19] About prostitution? [01:06:20] Just anything in general as it relates to community policing. [01:06:24] It's an issue for me. [01:06:26] It's a big issue. [01:06:28] Yeah. [01:06:32] I meant more broadly. [01:06:33] Okay, good. [01:06:35] In terms of code enforcement, the things we're talking about are like the municipal civil infraction tool [01:06:42] that we've implemented this year [01:06:44] and some of the efficiencies that use of a computer system lends to the staff [01:06:53] that they don't currently rely on. [01:06:56] Now we've got them relying and they're going to be able to process their violation notices [01:07:04] and everything from the car without having to go back to the office. [01:07:08] One thing we had a couple pages back was business tax receipts. [01:07:13] I understand that we're finding businesses that don't have business tax receipts. [01:07:17] Do we have any kind of checks and balances on that [01:07:20] or are we trying to implement some kind of checks and balances? [01:07:23] We're actually trying to redraft the whole business tax receipt program. [01:07:30] I don't know that we have found anybody yet, [01:07:34] but we have sent out a letter saying you didn't renew your tax receipt. [01:07:40] We know you're in business in the city. [01:07:42] You have 30 days in which to obtain your business tax receipt, [01:07:47] and if you don't in that 30 days, then you will be cited. [01:07:52] Well, I think there's businesses that go in. [01:07:54] They didn't renew it. [01:07:56] They never got one. [01:07:57] I think we have that going on, too. [01:07:59] I'm sure that there's some of that. [01:08:00] I think we're doing a real good job at identifying the rental properties in town, [01:08:04] the house rentals. [01:08:06] We are now, yes. [01:08:08] If we are working on a program, then we'd be able to track these people, too. [01:08:11] We are working on it with the finance department and the fire department [01:08:14] because they're typically the first ones to notice [01:08:16] when a business tax receipt is not in place. [01:08:21] When are we going digital, did you say, with code enforcement? [01:08:24] They have currently the capability of it. [01:08:28] We're requiring it, though, in conjunction with adoption of the Tyler system. [01:08:38] Are the code enforcement officers embracing it? [01:08:42] I hired a plumber last week. [01:08:46] The plumber was out. [01:08:48] There's no paper involved anymore. [01:08:50] The plumber right at my house, iPad, everything's done electronically. [01:08:54] The guy, the bug man. [01:08:57] Bug man's been doing my house, my parents' house from Crenshaw for, same guy, [01:09:01] 30-plus years. [01:09:02] He's all digital. [01:09:03] He's like almost 80 years old. [01:09:04] He's all, here you go, sign here, digital. [01:09:06] I mean, that's going to, would you agree, Lieutenant, [01:09:09] just help our code enforcement officers to be out there on the street so much [01:09:14] rather than going back, filling out the paperwork, back at the station. [01:09:18] We got to get that going ASAP because. [01:09:21] We do have two new, relatively new, [01:09:24] ordinance officers that rely exclusively on the computer, [01:09:28] and they have been very effective in helping to train the third ordinance [01:09:34] officer that's a little bit more resistant to use the tools that are [01:09:40] available to her. [01:09:41] Can you take a picture of the iPad, draw it up, send it out, you're done, right? [01:09:44] Yes, eventually. [01:09:46] I know it sounds really easy, but, I mean, [01:09:49] it's going to help them be on the street instead of back at the station. [01:09:52] I can't wait for it. [01:09:54] I am waiting for it, and I'm excited. [01:09:58] Eager to see it get implemented faster, sooner, more efficiently. [01:10:03] Mr. Mayor, did you have something you wanted to add? [01:10:05] Okay. [01:10:07] Okay, and then finally, the last strategy is around investing in infrastructure. [01:10:12] Again, a prioritized plan for investment, five-year CIP. [01:10:17] The updates since last time, a lot of emphasis around sidewalks. [01:10:24] Alleys continue to be part of that process as well, [01:10:27] pursuing state resources to implement the septic to sewer conversions. [01:10:31] In addition, just sort of on a case-by-case basis, [01:10:35] assessing the development impacts on the existing infrastructure rather than a [01:10:38] comprehensive approach, but certainly doing that on a case-by-case basis as we [01:10:42] go. [01:10:44] And so really just sort of the continuation of the focus around the five-year CIP [01:10:50] and the sidewalks and alleys pieces are the new pieces as well as the resources [01:10:54] for the septic to sewer conversion, trying to get additional resources for that. [01:10:59] What would you add, Debbie? [01:11:00] I thought in the action items we had something on the library project. [01:11:07] We do. [01:11:10] I didn't touch on it specifically as earlier. [01:11:14] That's my fault. [01:11:15] It's on page nine, enhanced quality of life, design [01:11:19] and develop the library improvement project. [01:11:21] So that's a new addition as well. [01:11:23] I just failed to call it out when I was walking through it verbally. [01:11:26] All right, thank you. [01:11:27] But that's where it is. [01:11:28] It exists and was added. [01:11:30] Anything on the infrastructure front? [01:11:32] Yes, and I'm just curious. [01:11:35] I don't know if it's purposeful or they just aren't here today, [01:11:38] but neither the finance or the planning department is represented here today. [01:11:42] Is that correct? [01:11:43] That is correct. [01:11:45] The planning director is in attendance at a training event, [01:11:49] and I was expecting the finance director to be here. [01:11:53] So – [01:11:55] Oh, no, the finance director is off work today, I'm remembering. [01:11:59] I would also point, again, back to bifurcating this document, [01:12:06] is that investing in infrastructure for the things you've mentioned here is a – [01:12:12] we have these resources in Penningford Pasco. [01:12:14] We have them in our utility funds. [01:12:17] But there's a whole other investment in infrastructure, [01:12:21] which is in the public-private partnership, which becomes a CRA investment, [01:12:25] which becomes a development – a partner in a development. [01:12:29] And so to invest in infrastructure is going to be new infrastructure for redevelopment [01:12:37] or for new development and, you know, upgrading infrastructure we have. [01:12:42] And there's two separate kind of thoughts in my head how that would be divided. [01:12:48] Does that make sense to anybody? [01:12:55] I think it's confusing, but it's not something that we can not do. [01:13:02] It's something – if it's the direction of the council, we'll do it that way. [01:13:06] So here's the thing. [01:13:08] We just have a 30-year window for redevelopment, [01:13:12] and I came from the CDD, Community Development District, world for 16 years or thereabout. [01:13:20] They're designing and planning infrastructure for new communities. [01:13:24] There are certain areas of our city that have been identified for major improvement, [01:13:30] most directly the gateway, you know, is what we've got going on out there. [01:13:37] The infrastructure is old. [01:13:38] There's drainage issues. [01:13:39] There's water lines, sewer lines. [01:13:42] The funding of that should not come from the existing strategic plan [01:13:48] where we're constantly upgrading our water lines and sewer lines. [01:13:52] It should come from a redevelopment partnership with the private person [01:13:57] who's going to come and invest money. [01:13:59] This goes back to something that was said a couple of weeks back, I think, [01:14:02] when we discussed whether we would use financing in the CRA, [01:14:07] and there was a discussion about 20-year financing, [01:14:09] and I came and said, hey, it's 30 years for infrastructure, [01:14:13] and if the project is going to occur, instead of in the past, [01:14:17] we learned our lesson when we bought some of these properties that we still hold [01:14:23] or took a while to develop, to using our capability to work with private investors [01:14:30] to make things happen. [01:14:31] So there's a whole different kind of infrastructure, which is a rebuilding versus improvement. [01:14:39] We did that with Frank Starkey in renovating the junk shop. [01:14:47] And a great example, too, that every time I think about it, I get more excited about is, [01:14:51] I mean, nothing's happening right now, but from the bridge, [01:14:54] the bridge east is our historic, beautiful downtown, right? [01:14:57] Right. [01:14:58] I just see so much potential. [01:15:00] you know, public-private partnership from the bridge to 19, just make that the new modern [01:15:07] downtown zone of New Port Richey, and there's so much potential, it's not a huge amount [01:15:12] of space. [01:15:13] And I think the owners of Jilly's have told me they're waiting for the Main Street landings [01:15:19] to open up and then they're going to decide what they're going to do with that property. [01:15:22] We're going to see it, I think, once you get, you know, 90 units and, say, 180 people. [01:15:30] I'm visualizing an entire new district. [01:15:34] Well, that's my point. [01:15:36] That comes into a different range. [01:15:38] So it doesn't hedge into the revenue sources or the plans that we're developing as a city. [01:15:45] It comes into a developer partner coming in and saying, I've got these three parcels to [01:15:50] put together and you want the corner on 19 in Maine, and so we're going to have to rebuild [01:15:55] all of these things. [01:15:57] That's going to take a bond and that's going to have to be done in conjunction with a development [01:16:01] commitment. [01:16:02] Somebody's going to build and put $30 million or $25 million. [01:16:05] So that's what I learned when I was trying to recruit. [01:16:09] All the years I was in the CDD business, I kept talking to these major developers, trying [01:16:14] to get them to come to our city, because that was always my thing. [01:16:18] And always, none of the projects were big enough for them. [01:16:21] So, you know, we may see some big projects, and if we do, that would be the proper usage [01:16:28] of a long-term bonding capability to make those things happen. [01:16:33] Yeah, and that would make sense to me if we were going to do some big something in that [01:16:39] gateway area. [01:16:41] And I'm agreeing with those of you who were saying, you know, like Chopper just did, once [01:16:48] Main Street Landing goes online, I think the two-strip shopping plazas, the one on the [01:16:56] north side with John Stewart and Pasco Camera, and the one on the south side right across [01:17:02] River Road, I think those are going to be in play probably sooner rather than later. [01:17:07] Well, it's a huge place. [01:17:08] It doesn't have very much storefront, but it's got, you know, but it's a huge, I mean, [01:17:13] like I said a few weeks ago, you're halfway to 19 there, just for those two complexes. [01:17:19] And you've got Chalice and Waller, and then you're almost there. [01:17:23] So I think they're, talking about that Sharkey's, I think that there is a new business actually [01:17:30] going to be going in next there. [01:17:32] So yeah, someone was just talking to me about that the other day. [01:17:35] So it's peaking interest already over there. [01:17:39] That goes back to marketing again, though, because the city's marketing can help to bring [01:17:43] the right people into these new housing, which adds to the excitement and the business, which [01:17:49] helps it to grow. [01:17:50] So again, I'm going to join in with you all and say, I guess it's time for us to make [01:17:57] our play. [01:17:58] I'd like to say one thing. [01:18:01] This is put, you put this together with your staff, you know, and John, I just would like [01:18:06] any of you, if anything sparked your mind, since you did this workforce and in our discussions [01:18:12] up here that you would like to add. [01:18:15] Councilman Altman makes a really good point. [01:18:25] Just so that you know, and that issue in discussions with the city manager, when we meet with prospective [01:18:30] developers, that's something that is always, I would say in our quiver and the gateway [01:18:37] conversation about the gateway district, I think is something that the city is focusing [01:18:40] on doing that right, where we've looked at the Rivergate project and we do talk to a [01:18:45] number of individuals. [01:18:47] We continue to try to evaluate their project, but infrastructure has come up in that topic [01:18:52] in terms of the CRS capacity to do that. [01:18:55] And I think we understand clearly that should a project be substantial enough, that that [01:18:59] would be something that we would come to you to be able to go forward with. [01:19:03] But like you say, it's a partnership that occurs with the investment capital. [01:19:07] So therefore they have a need in terms of what they want to see. [01:19:10] So to be able to understand what their needs are before we identify the type of infrastructure [01:19:14] is important because they're going to be carrying a component of that investment capital also. [01:19:19] So we do clearly understand that infrastructure is an essential component when we look at [01:19:23] these larger projects. [01:19:24] Thanks, Mario. [01:19:25] Anything else you need? [01:19:27] No, I just, we've talked through it sort of at the eight strategy level. [01:19:32] Just my final question is, are there any, you know, overall points you'd like to make [01:19:38] around direction of the strategic plan and direction of the city that didn't come up [01:19:42] through the review of the eight strategies? [01:19:44] I just wanted to make sure we got everything. [01:19:46] I think I'm comfortable with it. [01:19:47] I've got a couple other topics that are only peripheral to this. [01:19:53] We've covered everything that I intended to cover. [01:19:54] I just wanted to make sure we had opened it up for broader questions in addition to the [01:19:58] eight. [01:19:59] The only thing that I, a question I have is this, you know, this is the end of a three-year [01:20:02] project, you know, and I'm, I would like to be looking out three more years. [01:20:06] So where are we going in that direction as far as strategic down the road? [01:20:12] If I understand the question correctly, John and I will update our plan based on the comments [01:20:22] that you've had this evening, and then we will work with the staff to develop additional [01:20:30] goals and action items that will need to be put in place to achieve the strategy that [01:20:37] you're looking for. [01:20:39] And by the time we get around to budget, because that's the next time we'll really talk about [01:20:45] the pavement hitting the road, we'll have specific proposals for you to consider. [01:20:51] Because I'm, in the real business world, you just go from year to year. [01:20:56] You look out three or five years, and this kind of is coming to an end in my mind. [01:21:01] Yeah, the next cycle is something that is undetermined at this time, but you're right. [01:21:10] Just as this was a multi-year plan, it'll be time for us to sit down again after we [01:21:15] get the budget adopted and talk about what the next cycle is. [01:21:20] Did I respond appropriately? [01:21:21] Thank you. [01:21:22] I had a couple of items I wanted to bring up, one of them peripheral related to this. [01:21:28] We've had some discussion of a pedestrian overpass at Marine Parkway and US 19. [01:21:38] I forwarded to Ms. Manns a link to an article. [01:21:44] It appears that the Department of Transportation, Deputy Mayor, has approved a crossing of a [01:21:53] state road in Dunedin, specifically so that golf carts can get across. [01:22:01] And we may want to explore that for that Marine Parkway, and also for that matter, Grand at [01:22:10] 19, to link the two cities and get the people on the west side over to the east side. [01:22:17] There is now precedent for it, and they did it in Dunedin, and they just did it. [01:22:24] The other item, got a note from Florida League of Cities today, there is a vote scheduled [01:22:31] for Wednesday on committee substitute for House Bill 9, involving CRAs. [01:22:38] I have emailed Representative Mariano. [01:22:42] I would encourage my colleagues to do the same, particularly Councilman Altman, because [01:22:48] one of the things I mentioned to her was the fact that these are not unlike the CDDs. [01:22:56] With your experience, both with CRAs and CDDs, you might be able to provide her with some [01:23:02] chapter and verse on how similar those are and why we need to have the legislature basically [01:23:10] leave hands off of the CRAs. [01:23:14] Do you have the stuff you got from the League of Cities to us? [01:23:19] I can. [01:23:20] Would you please? [01:23:21] Yes. [01:23:22] It just came in today, and like I say, on Wednesday, April 17th, they're going to consider [01:23:28] this bill. [01:23:31] We need to do something, either today or tomorrow, to get in touch, particularly with [01:23:36] our representatives. [01:23:37] We're still working with MPO on trying to get, you know, we've moved it up on the priority [01:23:43] list for the overpass at Marine Parkway. [01:23:46] As far as Grand I-19, I don't think they're going to be looking at that. [01:23:48] We're doing the underpass most likely, right there. [01:23:51] And just a couple of quick things I have before we leave is, great job to Councilman Altman [01:23:56] and your colleagues on the Chasco Steering Committee, I thought it was a great Chasco. [01:24:00] It didn't seem as large as they have been in the past. [01:24:03] I wasn't there every night by any means, huge, very busy schedules, time of year with my [01:24:07] children's sports and whatnot, but it just got great reviews from everyone I spoke to [01:24:11] that was downtown, you know, during the weekends and during the week for Chasco. [01:24:16] It just was a really, really great event this year. [01:24:19] To forward along a couple of complaints I've heard regarding golf cart registration, I [01:24:24] guess there's only one person in the police department that can do it, and a couple of [01:24:29] people said they went down there, he wasn't there, and one gentleman emailed me last [01:24:34] week and said he called the police department, they said come on down, you know, he took [01:24:39] time off from work in the morning to go do it and got there, and then the gentleman wasn't [01:24:42] there. [01:24:43] What's his name again, real nice guy? [01:24:44] Robert. [01:24:45] Robert. [01:24:46] And then, so he was pretty upset, you know, he called the police department and said come [01:24:49] on down, and then went there, and once again he wasn't there. [01:24:51] And then a couple other points that were brought up to me is, it's tough for some people, especially [01:24:57] to get down there during the week to register your golf cart, you have to pretty much take [01:25:00] off work at half day in the morning or leave work early in the afternoon. [01:25:04] If we could maybe set up maybe one Saturday morning a month, I think it would be a good [01:25:10] idea. [01:25:11] Yeah, we certainly can do that. [01:25:12] Just to help people, because if not, then you're driving around without stickers and, [01:25:14] you know, and then you wait too long, you're in May, June, July, and you pay the money, [01:25:17] it's only $25, but, you know, it's not based on the year, it's a fiscal calendar year, [01:25:23] so if you do it late in the year, you're only good for two or three months, so. [01:25:26] We'll also ensure that more than one staff person is trained and capable of administering [01:25:32] the sticker. [01:25:33] Yeah, he does a great job, but it's pretty simple, show your insurance, check the blinkers [01:25:36] and driver's license and all that, and you're good. [01:25:41] Anybody else? [01:25:42] I just have not had the opportunity to congratulate my colleagues on your re-election, and sorry, [01:25:49] it was not purposeful not to get in touch with you, but I've been under the bright lights [01:25:54] of the... [01:25:55] I'm glad my signs are down. [01:26:03] And... [01:26:04] Tough, what some people talk about when they have a beer under their breath. [01:26:08] And I would be remiss if I didn't mention one of our fonts of new and innovative ideas [01:26:14] snuck into the back of the room. [01:26:18] Regan Weiss is, I think, going to make a presentation to us at some point in the not-too-distant [01:26:25] future. [01:26:26] It occurred to him that a putting green in the Orange Lake area might be nice, and he's [01:26:32] been out trying to figure out how expensive it would be, and I suspect trying to find [01:26:36] out if there are people who would be willing to help underwrite to make it happen. [01:26:42] And there is actually some room, so Regan, thank you for the work that you've been doing [01:26:47] in that regard. [01:26:48] And in Sims Park, it's going to have to be nice, isn't it? [01:26:52] Yeah, if it's going to be there, and the one drawing... [01:26:55] The lake was the historic place for it. [01:26:57] Well, the drawing that he put on Facebook was around the lake. [01:27:03] If I'm looking at it, it's just to the east of the Veterans Memorial. [01:27:09] So yeah, there's some opportunities. [01:27:12] There was some question about driving ranges, and we figured dropping golf balls through [01:27:17] Sammy Williams' front play class windows probably would not be cool. [01:27:23] But a putting green is probably safe, and I appreciate the coming up with an idea, something [01:27:29] that would tie back to our history of having Saracen and golf here. [01:27:36] And while you're here, Regan, I'll go ahead and recognize you, too. [01:27:39] I mean, it took some city, quite a bit of city funding as well, and a great job by our [01:27:43] employees to install the lights, but it was Regan's idea to actually get the lights at [01:27:50] the Main Street Bridge. [01:27:51] He spearheaded it and had a GoFundMe page, and you brought it up, and we saw it out through [01:27:56] to the end, and it looks great, and I get compliments on it weekly. [01:28:01] Yeah, absolutely. [01:28:04] Anything else for the good of the body? [01:28:07] Seeing none, thank you all, and I'll adjourn this meeting.

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3. 3Adjournment