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   General Discussion with Chasco Fiesta Board RE: Upcoming Festivals

   discussed

   Representatives from Easy Event Ride (Bill Grant and Artie Mohler), along with Chasco Fiesta board member Patty Dermer, presented on the success of their golf cart shuttle service during Chasco Fiesta and proposed expanding to a permanent service in New Port Richey, funded primarily through advertising sponsorships (potentially including city-purchased advertising) and tips. Council and staff discussed parking challenges downtown, potential partnerships with churches for paid parking lots, and tying the service to events at the Richey Suncoast/Ruth Eckerd theater and retirement communities. No formal action was taken; this was an exploratory work session discussion.

   📍Grand (Boulevard)📍River Road🏢Camping World Stadium🏢Chasco Fiesta🏢Community Congregational Church🏢Easy Event Ride🏢Florida Dairy Farmers🏢Great Bay🏢JJ Taylor🏢Jacksonville Jaguars🏢Lyft🏢Osceola Heritage Park🏢Pepsi🏢Ruth Eckerd Hall🏢St. Augustine Amphitheater🏢UCF🏢Uber🏢University of Florida👤Artie Mohler👤Bill Grant👤Chopper👤Jeff👤Patty Dermer#Chasco Fiesta Park and Ride#Easy Event Ride app#Locals Night#downtown parking shortage#retirement community shuttle concept

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   [00:00:39] this year and chat about some of the challenges I think we all know we've got facing us coming [00:00:45] up for next year and see what we can do to help Chasco and vice versa. So with that, [00:00:52] Mr. Mayor, as you've indicated to the group, we've convened in order to talk about some [00:00:58] of our successes and maybe some areas for improvement on the part of the city staff [00:01:04] in that regard. I've asked our Parks and Recreation Director, our Police Chief and our Assistant [00:01:08] Public Works Director to be in attendance along with me. And I put together just a small [00:01:14] agenda of what I think the highlights of the discussion should be. And at the conclusion [00:01:20] of the regular agenda, if there's room for any additional topics that you'd like to [00:01:24] cover with us. But thank you for all you do. The first item on the agenda, Mr. Mayor. [00:01:34] Ruth Eckerdhal. How did that work? No, that's number two. Oh, that's two. I'm sorry. Review [00:01:40] Park and Ride. Yeah, I know how that worked. That was great. And we have the people from [00:01:45] Park and Ride here. So if you want to come forward and speak. I'm Bill Grant. He's the [00:01:58] event ride. This is Artie Mohler. Yeah, that's me. Well, we found that the service was needed [00:02:11] and the Park and Ride worked out fantastic. Got to know the city. And from the first time [00:02:18] that I came down to meet with everyone about operating the service, I realized that this [00:02:25] community as it's laid out is almost perfect for a daily service for Easy Event Ride. Carrying [00:02:35] people from all different areas to different parts of the city, particularly in the evening, [00:02:42] to the restaurants and so forth. I just thought I'd let you know we had a lot of fun doing [00:02:48] it and I'd like to expand on the service thereof. Definitely keep that thought. We've got Locals [00:02:56] Night tonight and I am sure that parking is at a premium as we speak downtown. If I may, [00:03:04] Mr. Mayor, did Chesco pay for Easy Ride and then they didn't accept tips or service fees [00:03:14] of any sort? Advertising? It went very well and we think that it's an opportunity for [00:03:31] the city to do this on a regular basis because it did go so well, it was well accepted, and [00:03:38] it should only get better once people are more familiar with the fact that it's available [00:03:43] and where the remote parking areas are. And so we think it's, you know, for us as an individual [00:03:53] event it's quite a burden on us money-wise, but if you spread it out over the year and [00:04:01] over all the events the city puts on, you know, it will be much more affordable. And [00:04:06] I think it's a service that the city of New Port Richey residents and visitors here need [00:04:14] and appreciate because most people who come to downtown, if it's after hours, especially [00:04:22] if they're, you know, in the 35 to 65 age range, they don't really want to walk at night [00:04:29] back to their car for three or four or five or six blocks, but if they can jump on a golf [00:04:37] cart, basically a golf cart train, and be taken back to where their car is parked, it [00:04:44] makes it a lot more attractive for them to come downtown and spend some time without [00:04:49] worrying about, well, we've got to get back, it's getting dark. And so I think this is [00:04:56] a very good opportunity for the city to negotiate a way to keep them here on a more permanent [00:05:02] basis. And I've talked to a couple of people in the city about that, and maybe you have [00:05:09] some questions or comments that you'd like to make or you'd like to share. [00:05:13] Patty? [00:05:14] Hi, Patty Dermer. I would just like Bill to share where he does Easy Event Ride in the [00:05:25] past, you know, and currently operates. He also has an app on the phone. So, I mean, [00:05:32] you guys are currently throwing, you know, parties down in the park all the time with [00:05:36] concerts and, you know, there was the Hawaiian t-shirt one, and there's a lot of rec center [00:05:41] events, and he would like to expand down here with his business and be based here and actually, [00:05:47] you know, be able to offer that all the time. You guys currently have a parking problem [00:05:51] all the time when you have events going on, and we could work hand-in-hand with those [00:05:55] churches that we used at Chasco Fiesta in a way for them to raise money all year long, [00:06:00] and he could set something up that would actually be beneficial to all the residents. [00:06:03] But Bill, why don't you share where you're from and what you do? [00:06:06] Yeah, we have a phone app similar to Uber or Lyft, but because that's a licensed intellectual [00:06:16] property, ours is similar, but not the same. You actually would download the app, and you [00:06:25] could order our service through the app. It also provides to be able to spotlight sponsors, [00:06:32] so you could press on where the driver is, and it pops up who sponsors, and there's a [00:06:38] lot of different abilities on there to promote the area we're working in, and it will show [00:06:44] you who's closest to you for a ride. GPS picks that person, that particular golf cart out or [00:06:52] trolley, so it's a real-time thing that works really well. We haven't launched it yet for [00:06:59] various reasons, but this would be an ideal spot to do it. [00:07:03] Just so we're all clear, you're looking to expand your business to this area or move [00:07:10] your business to this area? [00:07:12] Well, this would be expansion, but we actually work all over. We work in Camping World Stadium. [00:07:21] We're starting at UCF this year, Osceola Heritage Park. We run through the University of Florida. [00:07:27] Various events there, all the football, softball, baseball, performing arts, graduations, recruiting. [00:07:36] We carry the recruits around campus to see if they like the campus, and same thing for [00:07:43] the Jaguars, and we've been doing this right at five and a half years, so you could say [00:07:50] expansion, but it's just another venue, but this would be more of a permanent fixture, [00:07:58] and so we were kind of longing to do this, to have a test place to do that, and this [00:08:08] is, like I said, the first time I ever drove into the city, I looked at the streets, the [00:08:12] way everything was set up, and especially with the way you guys welcomed us. I mean, [00:08:17] that was just fantastic. [00:08:18] I was going to ask, to help you sustain your business, if you were to expand here, there [00:08:22] are events that go on in Dade City and other areas of Pasco that might be interested in [00:08:26] using your services as well, so you're not just here working five events a year. [00:08:30] Well, that was, you know, that's some of the interest there, that the Ruth Eckert people [00:08:35] possibly were going to be here this evening. I understand that they have shows, and it [00:08:41] would help us, you know, come into this area, but running a more permanent service, like [00:08:47] an Uber or a Lyft low-speed vehicle, what we found in areas where we work a lot, we [00:08:54] operate for the St. Augustine Amphitheater. It's free parking out on the ocean, which [00:09:01] is a good mile and a quarter from the gates, and we've been, we're in our fourth year [00:09:06] or fifth year there now, carrying people back and forth, and it's different than doing the [00:09:10] big events, where you load in, you learn the area and so forth and so on. This could be [00:09:16] developed into a much larger, marketing-wise and exposure-wise for the city and for us. [00:09:26] More regular? [00:09:27] Yeah, just to be here all the time. [00:09:28] So it could maybe tie into the theater, if we really got that up and going and utilized. [00:09:33] That was one of the thoughts that I had had, was that the theater's clientele, my understanding [00:09:41] is they're... [00:09:42] Your age. [00:09:43] Or older. [00:09:44] Oh, that's me. [00:09:45] Yeah, more like chopper's age. But some of them, it's not that they don't want to walk [00:09:53] very long distances, they may not physically be able to, but the sort of event where they [00:10:00] could park their car in a convenient parking location, jump on the shuttle and be delivered [00:10:07] to the front door of the theater so they walk in on the red carpet, I would think would [00:10:11] be just phenomenal. [00:10:14] Well, yeah, one second. Actually, our service, I started the business based on helping people [00:10:23] with those physical limitations, because I saw a couple at a Jaguar game walking, they [00:10:30] walked about 1,000 feet in 100 degree heat. The lady was a fairly good-sized lady, her [00:10:37] right ankle was swollen, and finally a golf cart, a maintenance cart, stopped and gave [00:10:44] them a ride. [00:10:45] And that's what, I mean, that's what we're all about. That's our focus, is to give people [00:10:49] with physical... [00:10:50] I mean, like at the University of Florida, you can pick up students all day long that [00:10:53] don't need a ride. [00:10:54] They can walk across campus and barely lose their breath, but that was my big focus. [00:11:00] I retired from the pest control business, and I saw a need and tried to develop it, [00:11:06] and that's where we are now. [00:11:08] Yeah. [00:11:09] Questions? [00:11:10] I think there's probably a need for that, and I just want to know what kind of ride [00:11:17] service you had between Friday and Sunday, the whole nine days. [00:11:22] I mean, what happened during the middle of the week? [00:11:24] I'm sure you had a lot more on Friday and Saturday nights than you did during the week. [00:11:28] Well, the past two weekends, we ran the University of Florida... [00:11:33] What about Chasco? Chasco? [00:11:35] What would I do here? [00:11:37] No, no, I'm just saying, how did the rides go? I mean, how much... [00:11:40] Oh, for the festival? [00:11:41] Yes. [00:11:42] I'm sorry. I misunderstood. Okay. [00:11:44] Well, at first, people had to understand what we were doing. [00:11:48] Okay. [00:11:49] They don't know if the golf cart's for them or not. [00:11:52] So it takes experience, but you realize what's going on just by the look on their face. [00:11:57] When you work enough of these events and you also find out who really needs a ride [00:12:01] and who doesn't need a ride, you make yourself available by following the traffic, [00:12:07] where they park, which the two church lots over in this direction or that direction. [00:12:13] Yeah, that direction. [00:12:15] And you see who really needs a ride, and you come to them and say, [00:12:20] hey, this is what we're here for, this is what we're doing. [00:12:22] Since you brought that up, I mean, if we had that service on a regular basis, [00:12:27] and anybody can chime in, where are the churches going to be in this particular case? [00:12:31] I mean, are they going to volunteer their property, [00:12:33] or are we going to see more of these white and green and white signs that are going to tow? [00:12:37] I don't think you can answer that. [00:12:41] Chopper, I can speak for one of those churches over there. [00:12:45] We thought we'd died and gone to heaven to have them coming up and picking up people [00:12:50] and carrying them from the parking lot in. [00:12:52] You don't see the wear and tear on your property? [00:12:55] I'm just asking. [00:12:56] I mean, this is realistic. [00:12:58] I mean, there's green and whites and green and red signs all over town. [00:13:01] Don't park here or you're going to get towed. [00:13:03] No, the Chesto Fiesta resulted in the men's club making enough money, [00:13:10] we have purchased an AED for the sanctuary. [00:13:13] Yeah, we were real happy. [00:13:15] Oh, you charged then for the people to park there? [00:13:17] Yeah. [00:13:18] Okay, well, I don't know that. [00:13:20] I mean, I live two blocks from here. [00:13:21] The two Saturdays, yeah. [00:13:22] That would be something we could identify different churches in the area [00:13:26] who would want to do that on Friday and Saturday nights because there is an event going on, [00:13:29] and that would be an opportunity for them to raise money for their church. [00:13:32] That's what I'm agreeing. [00:13:34] You know, everything's on the table here tonight. [00:13:36] That's why I'm bringing it up. [00:13:38] Currently we have one on River Road we can use too, which isn't too far from downtown, [00:13:41] but a pretty good walk if you're not in the best shape as well. [00:13:44] So there's a bunch of spots there right now. [00:13:45] How much did you charge? [00:13:47] Five bucks, same thing as Community Congregational did. [00:13:50] And what would happen for us, right across the street, [00:13:55] because they're marginally closer to the park, theirs would fill up. [00:14:01] And as soon as their lot filled, then we would start seeing ours fill. [00:14:05] And we saw the same thing with the shuttles. [00:14:08] Early in the day, the shuttles were working right up, [00:14:12] almost right next to the sanctuary at Community Congregational. [00:14:16] And as the parking filled, they kept getting closer and closer to the intersection [00:14:22] and then at some point jumped over and started grabbing folks from us. [00:14:28] Mr. Mayor? [00:14:29] Yeah. [00:14:30] If I could jump in. [00:14:31] I just want to say for the record that I'm on the steering committee with these fine folks of the Chatscope. [00:14:36] But I'm sitting here today on this side trying to play the role over here. [00:14:43] So with respect to the events, that's what we're here for the work session for today. [00:14:48] And the comments that are being made about making it permanent [00:14:51] are perhaps because the events can produce the advertising that they put on their carts [00:15:00] That's the revenue. [00:15:00] So back to the question of whether they were charging [00:15:03] or got tips, they did get tips. [00:15:05] They accepted tips. [00:15:06] They didn't require tips. [00:15:08] And the thing is, the ride does not cost you. [00:15:10] If you don't have money, you can still get a ride. [00:15:12] So it's not a for-fee system. [00:15:17] They have their economics of how they would do it otherwise [00:15:20] on a regular basis. [00:15:21] But what I wanted to bring up was the whole parking issue [00:15:25] of, you know, Chopper lives two blocks away. [00:15:27] We've got a whole bunch of people in the city who live [00:15:30] 10 blocks or 20 or 30. [00:15:32] So what I think is good about the idea is that it's our [00:15:35] residents that are going to get the free service. [00:15:37] They're the ones that are not going to have to get in their [00:15:40] cars and come downtown and find a parking space. [00:15:42] Or they're the ones that might not have to. [00:15:45] So as much as events are about drawing new people in, and [00:15:48] we've had this discussion. [00:15:49] I know, Jeff, you'd mentioned it before. [00:15:50] There's a different group that comes for events, maybe, than [00:15:53] daily, is that their service would accommodate everybody [00:15:57] trying to help promote the restaurants on a regular basis, [00:16:01] sustained by maybe some advertising. [00:16:03] So I don't think they're here asking the city for money. [00:16:06] If they are, that's a surprise to me for [00:16:10] underwriting the service. [00:16:12] But I do think that they see the city as a potential [00:16:14] advertising customer. [00:16:16] And that's just me talking and letting you know my [00:16:18] understanding of the city. [00:16:19] I think the other part of Chopper's question, though, was [00:16:22] what we had a pretty good idea of what happened on the [00:16:24] weekends, but what happened during the week itself? [00:16:27] Did you see much traffic then? [00:16:33] There were certain times of the day we were busy, but not [00:16:37] as busy as the weekend. [00:16:38] But we had the service running the entire time. [00:16:41] In the evenings, when the bars and the restaurants were a [00:16:47] little more active, I guess you could say, we still had [00:16:52] two or three vehicles running the entire time. [00:16:55] That's not saying it was super busy, that they were [00:16:59] running out of gas. [00:17:01] Were they picking up at the bars and restaurants? [00:17:03] Back and forth, just back and forth. [00:17:07] I'd take people over to the restaurant, drop them off. [00:17:10] They'd call me, come pick them up, take them over to a [00:17:13] parking area or back to the festival, and then the whole [00:17:16] cycle all over again the next day, [00:17:18] sometimes the same people. [00:17:19] I actually took a lot of people to their neighborhoods [00:17:23] down grand, and I mentioned that we were thinking about [00:17:30] having this type of service, because traffic studies showed [00:17:33] low-speed vehicle cuts down on traffic. [00:17:36] Well, you've got six people occupying two or three cars. [00:17:41] If you've got them on the golf cart, they're not plugging up [00:17:43] traffic, but that's one thing. [00:17:46] But they seemed like I had given them a Christmas present [00:17:49] if they could call a golf cart to come and take [00:17:52] them around town. [00:17:54] I think it'd be kind of unique if New Port Richey were the [00:17:58] first to have it. [00:18:01] I'm just trying to figure out who's going to pay for it. [00:18:03] So during concerts in the park, if it's a city event we pay [00:18:07] for, would the city then be paying for the shuttle service? [00:18:10] And then aside from events like you were talking about, just [00:18:14] getting your app and being here on a somewhat regular basis [00:18:17] over the weekends and whatnot. [00:18:19] So in Mount Dora, there's a gentleman that does it, and [00:18:21] there's a business. [00:18:22] He works strictly off tips. [00:18:24] I talked to a guy who's a retired police [00:18:25] officer from Orlando. [00:18:27] He makes a few hundred dollars every day in tips, and he does [00:18:29] it all day long. [00:18:30] There's cards at every business. [00:18:32] So if you were here not just for events, but on a somewhat [00:18:35] regular basis, let's just say every weekend, would you be [00:18:38] charging riders or just working off tips? [00:18:40] Just tips. [00:18:41] Just tips, OK. [00:18:42] And sponsorship. [00:18:44] We have tips and sponsorships. [00:18:47] And we can change the marquees in many different ways. [00:18:49] If you go to easyeventride.com, you can see [00:18:52] Florida Dairy Farmers. [00:18:53] We've got a big giant letter E, letter Z. We've got a giant [00:18:58] dairy cow on top. [00:18:59] Someone took a picture of us. [00:19:01] And in Pepsi and in Jacksonville, we have several [00:19:06] different sponsors. [00:19:07] And we've managed to keep all our sponsors for the entire [00:19:11] time, because the exposure with the golf cart is way [00:19:14] cheaper, possibly, than other forms of media [00:19:17] to advertise with. [00:19:18] I'll check out your website. [00:19:19] E-Z-E-V-E-N-T-R-I-D-E-S, or just no S? [00:19:23] R-I-D-E, singular. [00:19:24] OK, .com? [00:19:25] Easyeventride.com. [00:19:27] Thank you. [00:19:27] The Facebook page really has more. [00:19:29] It's kind of a laid back tailgater type Facebook page. [00:19:33] And you can see, you can go all the way down to our very [00:19:36] first event in 2014. [00:19:41] You got JJ Taylor and Great Bay around here [00:19:44] might be good sponsors. [00:19:47] Real quick, just to clarify, as an example with the [00:19:51] gentleman, the retired police officer that does that, he [00:19:54] does that with one golf cart. [00:19:56] We have a fleet of golf carts and major support vehicles [00:19:59] that we have to, so we have large insurance obligations [00:20:03] we have to meet. [00:20:04] So because of that, there's more of a cost base for us, or [00:20:07] larger cost base. [00:20:08] So what we try to do is we try to come in and we try to make [00:20:12] as huge an impact on a community as we can. [00:20:16] And what we saw, or what we identified right off the bat [00:20:19] was the impact that we could make would be in the parking [00:20:22] problem that you have downtown. [00:20:23] You have some really, really attractive businesses there [00:20:26] that are going to attract a crowd. [00:20:28] But people, when the parking is really bad, they tend to [00:20:32] kind of not come. [00:20:33] All right? [00:20:34] What we're talking about is, as an example, we saw one [00:20:38] retirement community. [00:20:40] You can tell them what the name of the road was. [00:20:42] We went by it when we did the tour. [00:20:44] But this retirement community, these are people, my [00:20:48] father and my mother, as they got older, their eyesight got [00:20:51] worse, and they didn't like driving at night. [00:20:53] So they would be less apt to drive at night. [00:20:56] My vehicle alone holds 20 people. [00:20:59] Mine is a trolley. [00:21:00] It's not a golf cart. [00:21:01] And the trolley holds 20 people. [00:21:03] So we could routinely go by to the management at the [00:21:07] retirement communities and say, you can run it on your [00:21:10] calendar, we can have events where we can take people out [00:21:13] to dinner or whatever. [00:21:15] And they can ride into town, they can do whatever they want [00:21:17] to, and as soon as they're through, they can notify us on [00:21:20] their app, and we can come back and pick them up. [00:21:22] This would really increase the amount of traffic that goes [00:21:26] downtown, which would increase revenue, and which would help [00:21:29] the city to attract new businesses. [00:21:31] So what we're really looking at here is a situation where, [00:21:36] yes, I think we can expand our business, but at the same time [00:21:40] we can help New Port Richey to attract new businesses, and [00:21:44] to increase your revenue base, and so on and so forth. [00:21:47] So what we're looking at, basically, is the main source [00:21:51] of income for us isn't tips. [00:21:53] It's going to be our advertising on the vehicles. [00:21:57] And what we're thinking is a lot of our venues, rather than [00:22:00] coming to them and say, we want so much a month from you in [00:22:03] order for us to run our vehicles. [00:22:06] Then all they get in exchange is us running our vehicles. [00:22:09] But if somehow we can help you with advertising, where the [00:22:14] city can come in and basically purchase some of the [00:22:17] advertising from us, say a third or a fourth of it, then [00:22:22] at that point, then the city would be benefiting from it, as [00:22:26] well as we would be benefiting from it. [00:22:28] It would be kind of a mutually beneficial arrangement. [00:22:32] So what we would like to see, if possible, we'd like for the [00:22:37] city to toss around possibly purchasing [00:22:40] some of the advertising. [00:22:41] Then by doing that, we wouldn't have to sell as much [00:22:45] advertising to the local businesses, and we could split [00:22:48] it up, so that normally we would only [00:22:50] sell one entire marquee. [00:22:52] We could split up the marquee, so the smaller businesses [00:22:55] could purchase small sections of it, and it wouldn't be so [00:22:58] hard to come up with the money to sponsor us. [00:23:01] And that's basically what we're recommending. [00:23:04] That's what we'd like to see. [00:23:06] Based on the amount of cars and people I saw downtown the [00:23:10] last two weekends, especially since it's so open, there's [00:23:13] an immediate need, I would say. [00:23:17] Yeah, I agree. [00:23:18] And I'll say that the parking's only going to get [00:23:20] worse downtown. [00:23:22] We've got three big projects, at least, that we know that's [00:23:24] going to bring more people and more cars. [00:23:27] So I don't see why, if it's not mutually beneficial to [00:23:30] everyone, it's definitely a good idea, and that's [00:23:33] something that we need to look at. [00:23:35] I think the alternative that's been kicked around for [00:23:39] probably as long as I've been involved with city government [00:23:42] has been to build a huge parking garage. [00:23:45] And from my perspective, we could do a lot of advertising [00:23:51] and work on the shuttles. [00:23:54] For the $5 or $6 million, it would cost us to build a [00:23:56] parking garage. [00:23:59] Currently, when I come downtown, my friend lives a [00:24:02] few blocks down, and I go park there and [00:24:04] golf cart downtown. [00:24:05] And then go golf cart back and take my car home. [00:24:08] So I mean, it's great what you're doing. [00:24:10] And I live in New Port Richey. [00:24:12] It's nice. [00:24:12] I can just kind of cross 19 if I want to take my golf cart [00:24:16] all the way here. [00:24:16] So it definitely ties into the whole city golf cart vibe you [00:24:20] guys got going. [00:24:21] I know there's golf cart night where everybody comes. [00:24:27] You guys know I've been in town a long time. [00:24:30] And a couple years when I owned a bar, I went around to [00:24:33] the different bars and asked them to donate $50, or I think [00:24:37] it was $50 or $100. [00:24:38] And we would get free cab rides home. [00:24:42] And then the cab company would get a hold of me at the end of [00:24:44] the night, or the end of the week, or end of the month. [00:24:47] And then we'd settle up with them. [00:24:49] So I think that you probably might necessarily not only [00:24:52] need vendors to put their, maybe they don't want to [00:24:56] donate as much as it would be to advertise on your vehicle, [00:24:59] but they might donate to the program knowing that their [00:25:01] customers would be able to get a ride. [00:25:03] So that worked out real well. [00:25:05] And then surprisingly, just a little sidebar, two of the [00:25:08] businesses that did the most use of that cab ride service [00:25:13] never donated. [00:25:21] We also use another form of advertising. [00:25:26] And that is promotional material that we give out off [00:25:29] of the golf carts. [00:25:32] And we've also advertised upcoming events by giving a [00:25:37] coupon to someone, or a family, or whomever, [00:25:42] particularly like for the agricultural fair or [00:25:45] something in Jacksonville. [00:25:47] And if it's in the size of a business card, it doesn't [00:25:50] usually hit the ground. [00:25:52] It'll stay in their pocket or in the purse. [00:25:54] I found that out. [00:25:56] But it's kind of personalized. [00:25:58] When everybody gets on the cart, it's [00:26:00] like a party, friends. [00:26:02] Oh, thank you so much, Bill, for the ride, [00:26:04] that kind of thing. [00:26:05] And well, I'd like you to take a look at our sponsors. [00:26:09] I'll hand them the card because they make this [00:26:12] possible. [00:26:13] And we find that a lot of that gets redeemed, and it's [00:26:16] appreciated. [00:26:18] Any other thoughts or comments on this? [00:26:23] I'd just like to say that it's an opportunity for the city [00:26:27] of New Port Richey to be the first, really, to do [00:26:31] something like this. [00:26:32] And I like that idea. [00:26:34] It addresses an issue that I think we saw most acute, [00:26:38] starting with the Chasco and the other big events. [00:26:43] But it's got applicability beyond that, which as soon as [00:26:48] I saw it in operation, that became clear. [00:26:52] You know where we're going? [00:26:53] I do, Mr. Mayor. [00:26:54] OK. [00:26:55] Let's go to the second item. [00:26:56] That's the Ruth Eckert Hall. [00:26:57] How did that work out, Chuck? [00:27:00] It worked out very well. [00:27:02] They taught us a lot. [00:27:04] And we've been doing it for 25 years, and some of it not [00:27:09] right, not the right way. [00:27:12] We learned a lot, and we were looking forward [00:27:15] to learning a lot. [00:27:17] One of the things that we did well was we were able to sell [00:27:20] individual seats this year, rather than sell a ticket and [00:27:24] have everybody get in a big line. [00:27:26] And whoever got to their seat first, that was their seat. [00:27:29] So that worked really well. [00:27:31] It was a lot of work to get that done. [00:27:34] We brought an engineer in, and we put her on a cad. [00:27:37] And we strip tied all the seats together so nobody could [00:27:40] move them. [00:27:42] And we put them in sections and numbered the seats. [00:27:46] And it was hard to believe that that could be done. [00:27:50] But it was done, and it was done very successfully. [00:27:53] And it works just as smooth as silk. [00:27:56] And we're very happy with that, because that gives people [00:27:59] the opportunity to buy a seat and get up and go get food or [00:28:04] whatever they wanted to get, come back, their [00:28:06] seat's still there. [00:28:08] And so we're going to expand that. [00:28:11] And Ruth Eckert has already indicated that they'd like to [00:28:15] come back again next year. [00:28:17] And as time goes on, maybe expand their role. [00:28:21] And they liked the venue. [00:28:24] They liked a lot of the things that the city had to [00:28:28] offer, so many of those people. [00:28:30] In fact, probably a third of the leadership of the people [00:28:37] that are doing concerts for Ruth Eckert actually live in [00:28:40] Pasco County. [00:28:42] And the one person that's in charge of hiring all the [00:28:49] music and the artists and everything happens to be a [00:28:53] personal friend of mine. [00:28:55] I coached him in Little League. [00:28:58] So we have a personal connection. [00:29:00] And that really worked out well. [00:29:03] Peter knew him as well. [00:29:05] And we've talked about a number of other things that [00:29:09] Ruth Eckert could get involved in in town. [00:29:11] One was potentially the little theater. [00:29:14] And so that's something that we can explore at some stage. [00:29:19] But I think they bring a lot to the event. [00:29:24] They have a vast network of email users, probably around a [00:29:34] quarter of a million, that they send out to when they [00:29:39] have an event like this. [00:29:42] And I noticed that there were a lot of comments from [00:29:47] attendees that said that they noticed that the quality of [00:29:54] the event goer this year was much better than it had been [00:29:59] in the past. [00:30:00] We had our security there, but they brought their security for that particular night and they were very professional. [00:30:13] Of course, they were fully paid as well. [00:30:16] But they were very professional. They were very strict. [00:30:19] They didn't mess around. [00:30:20] No, they didn't mess around. [00:30:22] And we had a little bit of adjustment to deal with that, but overall it was a good thing. [00:30:28] So that worked well. [00:30:37] We had some growing pains trying to decide how to handle meet and greet. [00:30:42] So there were a lot of last-minute changes that had to be adjusted to and things like that [00:30:48] that next year we'll know a little bit more how to deal with it. [00:30:53] But overall, I think they were very happy with what happened and how it turned out [00:31:00] and how we had the park set up. [00:31:03] They were very impressed with what the city has done. [00:31:07] And Debbie has been involved with all the electronics that we had down there, [00:31:14] the video walls and so forth that Brian played a very important role in. [00:31:20] So those are all things. [00:31:23] They've been doing this series called Ruth Eckert Hall on the road. [00:31:29] And so this was the first time they had a chance to do it up here, [00:31:34] but a lot of their market is starting to come from Pasco County. [00:31:38] So they have identified that this is an opportunity for them to come to the mountains [00:31:44] instead of bringing the mountain to them. [00:31:47] So they also brought a lot of other ideas, things that we, maybe some changes that we should make, [00:31:59] some ideas that we should pass along to you at some stage. [00:32:04] Not necessarily have to go through all that tonight, [00:32:06] but I think suffice it to say that they were very pleased with what we did, what we had. [00:32:14] As it turned out, one of the suggestions that they made, [00:32:17] and I think it's a good one, is that because of their name, [00:32:24] I think it has a lot to do with the caliber of people that show up, [00:32:28] but they said that one of the things that we should do is have more control of the venue [00:32:37] because there were too many people coming in, [00:32:40] bringing their coolers full of beer and all kinds of stuff and food, [00:32:45] and they weren't buying anything from the vendors, the nonprofit people, [00:32:48] and they were just standing outside listening to the music and drinking their own beer. [00:32:54] We can easily control that venue, and I think that's the thing that we should take a close look at. [00:33:02] That was a comment that I think Mr. D had made, sitting back in the back, [00:33:06] about people that he saw at his house that would park and then would haul coolers, [00:33:12] and we brought that up to the chief as something to watch on all the events at this point. [00:33:17] Right, and I do think if we put proper signage up and we put certain gates in certain positions, [00:33:24] it will be very easy to control the access points, [00:33:28] and they will know who's coming and going, [00:33:30] they will know what they're bringing in and what they're not bringing in, [00:33:33] and I think that the city has a right to do that, [00:33:36] and I think we have a right to do that if we're making this kind of investment for the public, [00:33:41] and it's going to be a lot easier for the police department to handle those crowds [00:33:48] because there will be better crowds. [00:33:50] You'll have less opportunities for criminal enterprise, [00:33:55] and it will just be a much more upgraded event altogether. [00:34:00] So I think that was one of the main points that they made that they would like to see happen. [00:34:09] I'm glad to hear that, and I'm glad you mentioned the theater. [00:34:14] We've been hoping to get a workshop set up with the theater board as well [00:34:20] to talk about maybe some of the things we're learning from you guys and from the others. [00:34:25] It just, to me, seems almost natural if Ruth Eckert is going to bring in a nationally known act [00:34:35] and have them play at the Capitol or at Ruth Eckert Hall, for that matter, on Tuesday night. [00:34:42] Why not have it at Ritchie Theater on Wednesday night? [00:34:47] Because you'd get a whole other group of people [00:34:50] that wouldn't necessarily drive all the way down to Clearwater [00:34:53] but could probably fill the theater. [00:34:56] Yeah, easily. [00:34:58] I mean, the downside is that it's a much smaller venue than the Capitol Theater, [00:35:06] but it is a great venue, and I think in some ways the size could be used to our advantage [00:35:14] to be more intimate and maybe the ticket prices are a little bit higher. [00:35:22] And then, of course, this park and ride thing that we're talking about could be just another icing on the cake. [00:35:31] I'm glad you brought the theater up, and I know we're here to talk about Chasco, [00:35:34] but just so everyone knows, Chuck is currently on the theater board. [00:35:37] He is a board member that is willing to and wants to sit down and have a work session, [00:35:42] not just a tour of the theater, but a work session with the city. [00:35:45] I don't think he was personally notified, [00:35:47] but the city reached out to the board and asked to have a work session, [00:35:52] but I called him personally, and he said he'd be more than willing to. [00:35:55] And I think your relationship with Ruth Eckert Hall with Chasco is just a great, great, great partnership. [00:36:01] I agree with you with the coolers and stuff. [00:36:03] That's easy to handle next year. [00:36:05] You just let people know there's no coolers in the park. [00:36:07] Parade's done. You're done. [00:36:09] If you want a beer, you buy it off the vendors, especially during the concerts [00:36:12] and the events you all are putting on, and they'll sell more beer. [00:36:15] They'll sell more food items, but I just think it's a very, very good relationship to have that you've engaged, [00:36:21] and I'm very happy that Ruth Eckert Hall was happy with what they saw as well, [00:36:26] not just with the concert, but the city, the event, what we have going on downtown with the Hacienda opening. [00:36:32] I can just see people coming, staying at the Hacienda, going to a concert at the theater, spending the weekend here, [00:36:38] and this is what we've been working on for years and years and years, [00:36:40] so to not even entertain that opportunity for the theater board to not do that, to me, doesn't make a whole lot of sense. [00:36:47] So I really, really hope they reconsider and understand that we're not here to tell them how to do their job [00:36:52] but to just have open discussions of what we think and what the community thinks would be the best for that theater. [00:36:58] So I urge you to continue to stay on that board. [00:37:00] You're an asset to the board, and I think your relationship with Ruth Eckert Hall is a very – it makes me excited. [00:37:07] Yeah, I'd have to compliment the city and Debbie in particular because she's done such, as we all know, [00:37:14] she's done such a wonderful job down there in the park, and Elaine, what she does with the recreation board, [00:37:21] and when I brought them down to see the park for the first time, even though they live in West Pasco County, [00:37:29] they hadn't been here before, and they were just blown away. [00:37:33] So thank you, Debbie. You did a great job. Elaine, yeah. [00:37:38] A good project for all of us. [00:37:40] Yeah, yeah, it was well worth it. So that money that you spent was well spent, I can tell you that. [00:37:49] Comments? Chopper? [00:37:50] Yeah, I'm very interested in the expansion of the concert venue, both whether it's the country night or the rock night, [00:38:02] and I think a pattern that I see is the Clearwater Jazz Festival. [00:38:07] It's got a wide-open venue, too, which they control with just some fencing, and they do a really good job at it. [00:38:16] So I think just maybe not around the circle what you're doing now, but the whole park to some degree, [00:38:23] moving the fence back and being open when it's appropriate to be open and closing it up when it's time to be closing it up. [00:38:30] That, number one, and so I think that's very easy to do. [00:38:33] Number two, I think it also would allow for, like the Jazz Festival, they have assigned seating, but they also have general admission. [00:38:42] And so I think that would open the back part of the park, the east side of the park would open up for general admission, [00:38:47] which would allow more people to come, more money, and that would grow there. [00:38:51] And number three, they used to allow coolers, and now all of a sudden they said no more coolers. [00:38:58] And in one year, it was done. [00:39:00] But they also changed where all the vendors are. [00:39:08] It's all in one area, so you have to get up from your seat and go over. [00:39:11] It's not in the middle of the park, kind of like what we're doing. [00:39:13] So it's redesigning it on your part and then us okaying it if that's what it takes. [00:39:19] We discussed some entrance and exit points with Ruth Eckert where it would be very easy to close the park off. [00:39:25] We've already got the Native American area where the fence actually closes, and we barricaded the one section off. [00:39:33] So we really just have to close off Bank Street and the entrance off of Main. [00:39:38] And we could do that with barricades after the parade and just leave it that way on the weekend nights. [00:39:43] And then that would control the entrance of backpacks and coolers. [00:39:49] Well, as I said, they use fence. [00:39:51] They have a six-foot fence. [00:39:53] They put it up, and instead of all this cloth stuff that you do, you just close it off. [00:39:57] And during the day and whatever, and then sometime at the night, if you don't have an arm band, [00:40:03] you don't have a ticket, you've got to leave an hour or so before that. [00:40:06] I'd just like to comment before I get too far along with this. [00:40:09] People bringing in knapsacks and coolers and all that, they don't allow that in Tampa, [00:40:14] whatever the stadium is now in Tampa and those other venues. [00:40:18] In fact, I don't think Ruth Eckert lets people carry in anything. [00:40:24] And there's no reason. [00:40:26] And if we were to block off the park, like is being suggested, it would not be hard for us to enforce that. [00:40:34] You put up signage and tell them you're subject to search. [00:40:41] End of story. [00:40:43] Part of the comments and feedback is, you know, there's a lot of people in the park, [00:40:46] but there's the netting up, and you can't see through it. [00:40:48] So on those paid nights where we actually are trying to really generate revenue to cover the costs. [00:40:57] So on the nights where we're paying the paid concerts, not the free nights, [00:41:01] but the nights where we're having the paid concerts, if we can control the park [00:41:04] and we charge this very small admission, if you go to the Strawberry Festival, [00:41:07] before you even enter in there, you have to pay for parking, and you have to pay $14 to go in. [00:41:12] You go to the Florida Fair, you have to pay to go in. [00:41:14] So it's very expensive to get the quality acts that are actually going to bring people downtown. [00:41:18] So we need to do something where we can capture an income stream, [00:41:21] so that we can actually get bigger and better talent. [00:41:25] So by controlling the alcohol and the food that people can bring in the park, [00:41:29] they're going to be buying from the vendors, they're going to be drinking and buying from us. [00:41:34] It's going to be helping support get bigger volume to the nonprofits. [00:41:38] And it's also going to get us higher quality vendors in the park and better food. [00:41:43] Again, it is going to control the type of people that we actually are bringing to the event, [00:41:47] because if you can't afford to pay the $3 to come in, [00:41:50] or the $5 that we're going to charge for the admission on the two paid nights, [00:41:54] then we're not going to have those kind of people that we don't want at the event, at the event. [00:41:58] Because, you know, if you can't afford the $5, then you're not going to be here. [00:42:03] But that would also allow us to sell the seats to the people that actually want to sit [00:42:08] and enjoy the concert up front in the stage blocked off. [00:42:12] But if you're just around the park, and you want to hear the music, [00:42:14] and you just want to move about and go maybe walk over to the natives for a while, [00:42:18] it's still allowing you and allowing the artists to see that, hey, [00:42:22] there's thousands of people listening to you that they're not capturing because that screen's up. [00:42:27] So that's the main thing that we really want to change about the Chasco Fiesta this year, [00:42:32] is on the two paid concert nights, we close the park, we charge a small admission, [00:42:36] and we don't allow people to bring in food or beverages into the park. [00:42:39] Chuck, are you thinking something like the fencing that's around the Hacienda right now? [00:42:44] Yeah, in fact, I just happened to be driving by, [00:42:48] I was going over to Patty's today to go over some things, and she lives in New Port Richey. [00:42:53] And I noticed one of the very few things maybe that New Port Richey has done a good job of [00:43:00] is that park on Bay Boulevard, they have that type of a fence there. [00:43:05] It looks like a wrought iron fence, but it's aluminum, and I think it's six feet high. [00:43:10] And they close it every evening, and it gives them the ability to control that waterfront park. [00:43:16] And I think that would be a great idea for the city to do around Sims Park. [00:43:23] You open it when it's open, you close it when it's closed, [00:43:26] and when you have an event there, you can control who comes and goes. [00:43:30] And, I mean, that's, to me, that's, and I think Cam has made the point, [00:43:37] is that that's a good way to do it, because it's a safety issue. [00:43:44] It's a quality of life issue. [00:43:47] You know, we're trying to do all these things to make this a better place for everybody to be and to live. [00:43:55] And this is just one of the things that we can and, in my opinion, should do to make it a better place. [00:44:02] I'm a little torn on that one. [00:44:04] I understand the need for a fence to keep paying people in during those two events, [00:44:09] but that's like a LumaGuard fence, like the Bill Woodard Fence Company, right? [00:44:13] So they just have it on the east side. [00:44:16] The rest of that park is surrounded by water, so it's relatively easy. [00:44:19] It's one entrance. [00:44:20] We have Sims Park wrapping around Orange Lake. [00:44:22] It would be very, in my opinion, very, very difficult to fence the entire park with that fence, [00:44:27] and then you're talking about fencing around Orange Lake, and it's just. . . [00:44:30] Jeff, Jeff, no, no, no, not around the lake. [00:44:33] I'm only talking about the. . . [00:44:34] Just around the concert area. [00:44:35] Yeah, but I would like to, I would like to walk down there with you, if you have time, [00:44:41] and anybody who's on the council, and just show you what we see and what we've already looked at. [00:44:47] Just give us a drawing. [00:44:48] Yeah, and we can give you a drawing. [00:44:50] And believe me, it would be a lot simpler than you think. [00:44:53] I thought the same thing you thought. [00:44:54] The river cuts it off from the west, right? [00:44:56] You've got the Hacienda cutting off most of it from the south, so it's just Bank Street. [00:45:00] It would be basically where those little metal poles that come out at Bank Street, where [00:45:05] the park starts, the water park, so you wouldn't fence that off, the splash pad would still [00:45:09] be open. [00:45:10] So it would be, you already have a fence there right now, so you just come off that to the [00:45:14] Hacienda and then across Main Street. [00:45:18] I just want to say, I'm kind of, I just don't want to fence our park in with the community, [00:45:23] not downtown. [00:45:24] It's, you know, two blocks from, or a block and a half from the main Grand and Boulevard, [00:45:28] you know. [00:45:29] I like the temporary fence, kind of like they use at Coachman Park. [00:45:32] Here's what I would ask, Chopper, just keep an open mind about it, let's go down and look [00:45:38] at it and talk about the best way to do it, because I think there, maybe there's some [00:45:43] place in the middle, but I think, I think the benefit, you know, in my mind, the benefit, [00:45:53] you know, outstrips the downside. [00:45:55] Again, the topic here is about the event, and so you're helping to advise us on city [00:46:02] policy, so I think that's the message. [00:46:04] And I'm bringing you the message that Ruth Eckert gave me as well. [00:46:09] Definitely the temporary fencing would work. [00:46:12] The other discussion we can have, I personally wouldn't have any problem with them basically [00:46:20] blocking off all of that with temporary fencing, you know, down by Main Street, where the people [00:46:27] are flooding in from the south, and along Bank Street, like you said, that, on a temporary [00:46:36] basis for Chasco, I can see where that might make some sense, and I don't imagine that [00:46:42] temporary type of fencing would be that outrageous to do. [00:46:47] I mean, heaven knows we had it all the way around Orange Lake for a while, during the construction. [00:46:53] Yeah, I think, I'm open-minded, I'm more than happy to walk and see what areas y'all are [00:46:58] talking about. [00:46:59] The decorative Alumaguard type fencing looks nice, we could kind of tie it in to making [00:47:04] the park look very, yeah. [00:47:07] You've got some of that fencing there anyway, around the, on the employ ground, around the [00:47:11] Hacienda, yeah. [00:47:12] Right, exactly, it's basically what's around the Hacienda right now, just bringing it up [00:47:16] towards Main and whatnot, so if there's just limited areas, we would have to add that too, [00:47:20] to make it easier for the concerts, where it's not going to like, when I look at it, [00:47:24] why is it, when you look from the outside of the park, it doesn't look like a park that's [00:47:29] fenced in, where it's tough to get in and out, we don't want that feeling, I don't want [00:47:32] that feeling for Sims Park by any means, but I'm more than willing to walk the area and [00:47:36] see what you're talking about, because the only other alternative is a chain link fence [00:47:39] during, pretty much during events, right? [00:47:41] Yeah, that's all, that's all, that's all the Coachman Park does, just during events. [00:47:45] Matt, you got any thoughts on this? [00:47:46] No, just, just willing to take a look at that, see what you've got in mind. [00:47:51] One other thing, that when they moved the vendors at Coachman Park for the Jazz Festival, [00:47:56] they moved it onto asphalt, and that would probably really help Sims Park a lot, because, [00:48:02] you know, ten days of the vendor being there, that's what wears out the grass and causes [00:48:08] the, you know, deterioration of the grounds, for lack of a better way of putting it, even [00:48:13] though the people are actually walking on the sidewalk, the vendors are plodding their, [00:48:17] you know, whatever, for ten days, twelve days, by the time they set up and tear down, so, [00:48:23] you know, opening that park all up to you guys makes it easier for maybe you to have [00:48:27] the vendors in a different spot, too. [00:48:32] Thoughts? [00:48:33] Cool. [00:48:35] Some good ideas, I really commend you guys for getting Ruth Eckert involved in that, [00:48:41] just, it seemed like a good thing. [00:48:47] Future location of the carnival, this, we've got the Hacienda opening, God willing, right [00:48:53] about the first of the year, and they are going to have half of that Swanson parking [00:48:59] lot all by themselves, which I think puts us in a crunch, either we figure another place [00:49:05] to put the carnival in the park, or we figure an alternate location and depend on shuttles [00:49:11] to get people betwixt and between. [00:49:15] Toss it open for thoughts. [00:49:16] Brian, can you bring up the aerial? [00:49:17] Let me do the lower earth aerial and see. [00:49:18] I talked to Ms. Mann, she was under the impression, I thought, that even with the, if you zoom [00:49:25] in over by the Hacienda and Gloria Swanson parking lot a little bit, even with half that [00:49:30] lot being for the Hacienda, that we could still have the carnival there? [00:49:36] This was a while ago we spoke. [00:49:39] And since that time, I'd have to say that I do think, principally, Monday through Friday, [00:49:47] we do have to reserve some spots for use to the business community. [00:49:54] We do also, though, have a project underway, which we're in design development for, which [00:50:01] would be creating some additional spots on the north side of the lot and reorienting [00:50:07] the interior, and the yield is probably going to result in between 25 to 30 new spots. [00:50:16] This is one of the main reasons I asked my colleagues to have a work session, not to [00:50:20] just go over this past Chasco, which was a huge success, but I'll be honest with you, [00:50:25] before every Chasco since I've been on council, the month or two leading up to it's very stressful [00:50:29] for the organizers. [00:50:30] I get a lot of phone calls from residents, I get a lot of phone calls from business owners, [00:50:34] phone calls from people with the Chasco organization, and I'm just trying to keep everyone happy. [00:50:40] And I'd just like to, leading into this next year, so it's not two months prior, are we [00:50:45] going to have the carnival? [00:50:46] Are we not? [00:50:47] I would just like to, and it doesn't have to be finalized tonight, but figure out where [00:50:53] the Chasco Steering Committee understands what to expect from the city financially, [00:50:57] both with in-kind contributions, and I have the numbers from the Debbie sent us for the [00:51:02] city management support for the last three years, and where there's no gray area with [00:51:08] the carnival, where it's going to be, how much space we're going to have. [00:51:12] I think as a city and Chasco Steering Committee, we really need to just get this figured out [00:51:17] and so there's no surprises once we get closer. [00:51:20] Well, you know, right now we don't use the part of the parking lot that is dedicated [00:51:26] to the Hacienda. [00:51:27] We only use those two sections. [00:51:28] Brian, do you have a pointer? [00:51:29] There. [00:51:30] Chuck might be able to use it. [00:51:31] Now the problem is the businesses are using the bottom half of that lot right now pretty [00:51:38] much on a daily basis. [00:51:40] You guys have been in the top half, and if there's only two halves, that sounds like [00:51:45] the Hacienda winds up. [00:51:46] If there's only two halves. [00:51:47] With the other, with the half where the carnival's been. [00:51:54] Everybody watch their eyes. [00:51:55] Put your eye out. [00:51:57] I've got to figure out which button to push. [00:52:01] Watch your eye. [00:52:02] Yeah, watch yours. [00:52:05] Is this the right way? [00:52:06] Let's see if you've got something red up there on the screen. [00:52:09] The green thing? [00:52:10] Green. [00:52:11] There it is. [00:52:12] There you go. [00:52:13] For a second he had it. [00:52:15] Got it, Brian. [00:52:16] I got you. [00:52:17] All right, you got it. [00:52:18] Okay, so anyway, this area right here is the area we've been occupying. [00:52:26] And so the other two areas, which are down here, will still be available to the Hacienda. [00:52:36] So our understanding initially was that the Hacienda was going to need these two spots. [00:52:45] So, okay, that's fine because we're not in those two spots. [00:52:50] We're, you know, we understand that that's going to take away some, having it here is [00:52:58] going to temporarily, for those nine days, take away some parking spaces for anybody [00:53:04] who may typically want to park in this area if the Hacienda filled this area. [00:53:12] And, however, you know, as a business owner in the downtown area, I have to provide my [00:53:22] own parking for my own business. [00:53:25] I'm not fortunate enough to have a city parking lot near where I am. [00:53:32] And so I'm not as sympathetic maybe as some others might be. [00:53:39] But, you know, there is parking along behind these buildings, which goes down this way [00:53:44] and over this way. [00:53:46] So there's parking there. [00:53:48] And then there's parking here. [00:53:50] Pull the picture up a little. [00:53:51] There we go. [00:53:52] Thank you. [00:53:53] There's a, this alleyway here, this is all parking. [00:53:57] And this is all parking. [00:54:00] And so the only parking that we're talking about picking up is just this right here. [00:54:08] And that's my point, Chuck. [00:54:10] The parking on an ongoing day-to-day basis, not counting people bringing their kids in [00:54:17] to play in the playground and all, the bottom half of the Swanson lot is in use daily by [00:54:24] the businesses that are immediately adjacent to it. [00:54:27] And so you can't take another half of that out without creating a major hit to every [00:54:36] single one of those businesses fronting Main Street there. [00:54:40] Mr. Mayor? [00:54:41] Yeah. [00:54:42] The two points, one being that our concern for parking is not just for the event itself, [00:54:52] but also for what may be happening on the lots that are now serving as parking lots. [00:54:57] So we've got the fortune of the vacant land across from the Hacienda that was used for [00:55:06] private parking, and people were paying five bucks, I think, even on the concerts, maybe [00:55:10] more, I'm not sure, per night. [00:55:13] That is anticipated to also be gone. [00:55:15] So I think Councilman Starkey brought it up six, eight months ago that he was worried [00:55:21] about what was going to happen. [00:55:22] I don't mean to put words in your mouth, but that we are struggling with a parking problem. [00:55:26] Debbie's identified how many, did you say 30 new parking spaces? [00:55:30] Between 25 and 30. [00:55:32] The question I have is the Hacienda itself, in theory, should be booked every night of [00:55:38] the Chaskofi as they're fully booked and fully active. [00:55:41] And what we haven't done, and what I think the Steering Committee needs to do, is work [00:55:46] with the Hacienda folks as well and get some feedback from them quickly as to what their [00:55:51] expectations are with respect to if we have a park and ride, can you have employees shuttle [00:56:00] week, are there going to be temporary relocations of some of those needs, do the business owners [00:56:04] want to be told, here's a parking lot for you, we're going to bring you in and out of [00:56:08] business every day. [00:56:09] I think it really is about communication, which is kind of important, to get that sorted [00:56:14] out, and if there are agreements from the private folks that, hey, we would like to [00:56:18] have this here or not, because if the Hacienda doesn't want to see the carnival next to them, [00:56:24] then we should know that, because then that's going to force the committee to look at what [00:56:30] you're asking, which is, is there going to be a rejiggering of the model? [00:56:35] Are the Native Americans going to move? [00:56:37] Is some of the stuff going to go around the back? [00:56:39] Do you bifurcate the rides with games of chance? [00:56:45] I've been saying, and this is not a committee-discussed issue, but my own personal thing, when you [00:56:52] talk about the old play that you remember, I remember the non-profits doing the games [00:56:59] of chance on Nebraska Avenue when I was a kid. [00:57:01] That was when the Junior Service League and the others had that. [00:57:04] So what's the long-term model? [00:57:07] But I do know that the most major revenue for the event is the $50,000, $60,000 that's [00:57:14] earned from that. [00:57:15] So if we could replace that revenue, or if we could somehow change the dynamics, then [00:57:26] maybe we're looking at the entire setup as to whether that needs to be changed. [00:57:30] I would ask, if we talk to the city and or both, talk with the Hacienda fellow to determine [00:57:37] whether he would be open for some shuttling or some valet parking or something like that. [00:57:43] You bring up two good points. [00:57:45] When I first started getting these phone calls when I was first on council, I had no idea [00:57:48] that, and I don't think a lot of our residents realize, that the Carnival makes the Chasco [00:57:54] Steering Committee over $50,000. [00:57:57] I never would have thought that, but that's reality, what it is. [00:58:01] That's one great point that I don't think a lot of residents realize. [00:58:04] Number two is, I'm glad the EZ Event Ride is here, because aside from the Chasco, I [00:58:10] still am very, very concerned with parking once the Hacienda opens. [00:58:14] I think that's going to be a very, very good opportunity for your company to help out both [00:58:19] the Hacienda and the city. [00:58:20] Because how many employees did we say on average are going to be in the Hacienda during any [00:58:25] 12-hour shift? [00:58:26] Mary gave us a number. [00:58:27] I can't remember. [00:58:28] It was higher than I thought. [00:58:29] Yeah, I don't believe it, but it may be all together he had 40 or 50 employees. [00:58:33] Yeah, not at one time, but the number during the day and then when the shifts change at [00:58:37] night was, bottom line, much higher than I thought it was going to be. [00:58:40] On top of, when I keep comparing the Hacienda to the Lakeside Inn, Lakeside Inn has a very [00:58:46] good amount of parking on premise. [00:58:48] The Hacienda does not do that. [00:58:49] From what I've been told, Jim is really considering the whole back area is going to be green leading [00:58:54] into the park, and the front area is going to be not just an asphalt parking lot, but [00:58:59] some very, very lush, beautiful landscaping with some paving type surface. [00:59:04] It's going to look nice. [00:59:05] It's going to look nice, but it's going to take away some parking spots. [00:59:09] The Hacienda, I think, is just something that you all need to partner with this right off [00:59:13] the bat. [00:59:14] At first, don't hate me for saying this, because we get along and we agree on a lot, but we [00:59:20] don't always agree on everything. [00:59:22] I'm a fan, especially since with the boardwalks in and the carnival there is eight, nine days [00:59:27] a year. [00:59:28] I think it adds a pretty cool atmosphere to downtown and Chasco. [00:59:33] Be where it is. [00:59:34] I've brainstormed and talked to Chuck, and I've just tried to come up with alternative [00:59:38] locations, and there's just none close. [00:59:41] That's been the part that I've struggled with as well, is what actually works. [00:59:48] My concern basically boils down to the parking issue, because if we use half of that, [01:00:00] In 2020, for the carnival, we've got to have a place to have the cars that would otherwise [01:00:09] be there being somewhere else. [01:00:14] It may be, if we've got the shuttles working full bore, that gets incorporated in with [01:00:23] the Hacienda. [01:00:24] I just don't want to add a demand for 50 more cars beyond what we've got right now without [01:00:29] compensating for the issue. [01:00:32] I don't know if I'm welcome or not, but during the Chasco Festival, did you not use remote [01:00:40] parking? [01:00:41] Yes. [01:00:42] We did. [01:00:43] Is that still available? [01:00:44] It won't be enough then? [01:00:49] Well it's the remote parking we use with churches. [01:00:53] Okay. [01:00:54] I'm talking about during the festival. [01:00:57] You're going to have an additional demand for 50 cars just based on the Hacienda. [01:01:05] And then we're going to lose probably 80 or 100 spots across the street from the Hacienda. [01:01:13] So we're going to be looking on an ongoing basis during Chasco, having to figure out [01:01:20] where to put 120, 130 additional cars somewhere. [01:01:25] The reason I was bringing it up is, do you use your schools currently, their parking? [01:01:31] No. [01:01:32] Well, we can maybe use the high school, but we could definitely use the middle school, [01:01:38] but not the high school. [01:01:39] We set up a parade in the high school parking lot. [01:01:42] The reason I was saying is, one of our other venues does just that. [01:01:45] Yeah, Ritchie Elementary. [01:01:46] Pierce, you are old. [01:01:47] Let the revenue go back to the school, so the school cooperates fully, and they use [01:01:55] the school parking. [01:01:56] And then we just shuttle back and forth from the school to wherever you need to take them. [01:02:03] They do that in Key West. [01:02:04] They do that with the high school during Fantasy Fest and New Year's Eve. [01:02:08] Yeah, Camping World Stadium does that in Orlando, and they've got three schools they use. [01:02:12] Let me just give you a couple of numbers that I just took a look at. [01:02:15] Right here, even if they modify it, right now there's roughly 30 spots there for the [01:02:21] hotel. [01:02:22] Then this area here, there's 44. [01:02:24] So I'm thinking that they probably have enough for the 42 rooms. [01:02:29] It's them dealing with their own employees, and coordinating that, and partnering with [01:02:34] that. [01:02:35] So really, for the guests between this and this, I think the guests will be fine, instead [01:02:39] of the employees. [01:02:44] Chopper, the problem is the businesses down at the bottom of that picture that are using [01:02:48] another 40 of those spaces. [01:02:50] I'm just saying right now, that's where the numbers are. [01:02:55] I'm not telling you what's going on. [01:02:56] I'm just giving you the numbers right now. [01:02:58] The employees will not park on the Gloria Swanson lot. [01:03:02] They will be behind the Department of Health building. [01:03:07] Okay. [01:03:08] So that means they're for wherever that building is. [01:03:12] Back over here. [01:03:13] Back over here. [01:03:14] Okay. [01:03:15] That alone. [01:03:16] The other thing that I want to say is that I've noticed this year, over the other years, [01:03:21] that the rides are moving around this way. [01:03:25] They can continue to move around this way, and they can actually, with this, because [01:03:30] everything is coordinated, you can actually start moving that way until we get a golf [01:03:34] course. [01:03:37] Dan, would you like to address that? [01:03:40] Absolutely. [01:03:42] A couple of years ago, they came to my house, and they asked me if I had any problems with [01:03:47] them moving the carnival closer to the residents, and I absolutely did. [01:03:51] And I think that, you know, what I'm understanding from this gentleman about this ride share [01:03:58] thing or whatever it's called about coming in, it seems to me that the more stuff that you're [01:04:04] putting in downtown, it's kind of shrinking. [01:04:08] My understanding of that is for your parking and everything else that's going on. [01:04:12] So does that mean that the carnival is going to shrink, or does that mean you're going [01:04:16] to put it around the rest of the lake? [01:04:18] I can tell you that there's not very many of us that live on the lake, and I think that [01:04:23] the steering committee needs to take our homestead into consideration when they're doing [01:04:29] this stuff. [01:04:30] We don't want that carnival in front of our door for nine days. [01:04:34] It's just not fair. [01:04:36] We may not be very many. [01:04:37] We may have a small voice, but we are still residents of the city of New Port Richey. [01:04:41] Now, when they used to have that carnival at Queen of Peace, now if you have that ride [01:04:45] share, you can put a full carnival in that parking lot. [01:04:47] They do it several times a year. [01:04:50] Why can't they do that now and use that ride share to park those people wherever they're [01:04:54] going to be? [01:04:55] They've got a big parking lot right across the street. [01:04:57] I remember one time somebody got killed up in New Port Richey crossing the street for the [01:05:02] carnival, and that was the excuse why it wasn't out there on 19 anymore. [01:05:06] But you're shrinking the downtown by all these events that are going on, and the carnival, [01:05:15] you have to live there to appreciate it. [01:05:17] And I don't mean live two blocks away. [01:05:20] If you live right there, the smell of the diesel fuel from the generators, the noise [01:05:25] from the generators is constant, and it's all week long. [01:05:29] You can't open your windows. [01:05:30] It's a problem. [01:05:31] And I think that we need to take into consideration the people who live right there. [01:05:36] There's not many of us, but I think that you can probably set some other venue for this. [01:05:41] And you're going to have residents that are living literally across the street from the [01:05:46] park, all the way from Dan's house all the way down to Scott McPherson's house next spring. [01:05:51] And yeah, now once all these apartments get filled up, they're going to have the same [01:05:55] problem. [01:05:56] So, I mean, I really think that it would be even to the city's best interest to put this [01:06:03] where they can expand that carnival, have a full carnival, and still get their 50,000 [01:06:07] plus. [01:06:08] And another thing that I wanted to ask, am I correct in understanding that some of these [01:06:14] events that are going on in the park are going to be charged for? [01:06:17] Is that correct? [01:06:19] Some of your different events that are going on in the park, like you said with Ruth Eckert [01:06:23] Hall. [01:06:24] Yeah, there's going to be a charge for that. [01:06:26] Well, I'm sorry. [01:06:28] Oh, you have two. [01:06:29] Now, what about, are they still holding events at the rec center during Chasco? [01:06:37] I remember years ago, they're not doing anything like that anymore, right? [01:06:41] Okay. [01:06:44] If that's the case, then, you know, why can't they just tack on a little bit more? [01:06:50] Instead of the city having to try to find the money to pay for that service, why can't [01:06:55] they tack on a couple of bucks to the entrance to the concert and use that money to maybe [01:07:02] fund that? [01:07:03] That's a great idea to be able to pick these people up if you can find a place for them [01:07:06] to park. [01:07:07] It pretty much solves your problem. [01:07:09] But to come around any further than what they're doing, I mean, they're encroaching past Central [01:07:15] Avenue as it is now, and now they want to come around the other side? [01:07:18] There's all residents over there. [01:07:20] Yeah. [01:07:21] Chuck, the point he's making, I think it's a valid point. [01:07:27] For the rides in some of the previous years, we've gone more around the west side of the [01:07:35] lake. [01:07:36] And to the extent that we don't put it all the way across to Central on the east side, [01:07:41] but start moving it back a little bit, maybe come up on the west side, would solve that [01:07:46] problem. [01:07:47] Yeah. [01:07:48] We didn't go down to Central. [01:07:53] Back the other way, that's fine, too. [01:07:58] Yeah. [01:07:59] I think that would solve the issue of the residents, and it would solve the issue of [01:08:02] whoever's going to be living in those apartments, too. [01:08:05] Yeah. [01:08:06] Do you have a breakdown? [01:08:07] Where does the carnival make most of its money, the rides or the games, or the 50-50? [01:08:13] Well, the rides. [01:08:15] The rides, yeah. [01:08:16] Okay. [01:08:17] Where do they make the most money? [01:08:18] You know, like, you have to buy the package, and you can't. [01:08:22] The carnival guy makes it. [01:08:24] I was just curious, because if it wasn't the rides, then we'd take maybe that one big slide [01:08:28] ride away. [01:08:29] You know what I mean? [01:08:30] You make more money off the games, so you might be able to take one or two of the rides [01:08:33] away, and make it a little better. [01:08:35] That's why I asked. [01:08:36] We've actually had to cut rides out, because our footprint is a little bit smaller. [01:08:43] So, it's a concern, and I think maybe the mayor has an idea. [01:08:50] Maybe we can shift it back around that way. [01:08:53] Would it help to do what Pete had suggested, and maybe put some of the games of chance [01:09:01] over on that section of Nebraska between Bank and Grand? [01:09:06] We can talk to him about that. [01:09:09] Unfortunately, we don't really control it. [01:09:11] You know, we hired it. [01:09:14] Oh, you're next. [01:09:15] Sorry. [01:09:16] Unfortunately, we don't control what the carnival guy does, but we can try to get him to set [01:09:21] it up at another location. [01:09:23] It's something that we need to talk to him about in advance, though. [01:09:26] So, wherever we want to set those up, we just need to talk to him about it ahead of time [01:09:33] to make sure we've got his buy-in. [01:09:35] If you set them up over there, you'd have more room for the rides right there between [01:09:40] the Swanson lot and the lake. [01:09:42] Right. [01:09:43] Yeah. [01:09:44] I do want to thank you publicly, because I will say that the carnival, some of the behavior [01:09:48] I saw from some of the employees when I was first on council five, six, seven years ago, [01:09:52] or five, six years ago, was completely unacceptable, and just cigarette butts thrown everywhere, [01:09:58] cursing, just really foul behavior by some of the employees. [01:10:01] And I brought it to your attention. [01:10:02] Right. [01:10:03] And you addressed the owners of the carnival, or got a new guy. [01:10:06] I don't know what happened, but it's been a lot better, so thank you. [01:10:08] Yeah, we've really worked hard to try to correct those situations. [01:10:12] It's a lot better than it was. [01:10:13] Yeah. [01:10:14] So, thank you very much. [01:10:15] I appreciate that. [01:10:16] How about the area from where the crosswalk is into the park and going south on Bank? [01:10:22] That usually seems pretty... [01:10:23] I mean, you want to leave some wide open space to get from the parking lot across, but that [01:10:27] area working down towards the Hacienda, may not all the way down to the Hacienda, but [01:10:31] down, you know... [01:10:33] You got the parade going through there. [01:10:35] Pardon me? [01:10:36] The parade goes through there. [01:10:39] Yeah, that's the reason we left that open. [01:10:44] You're right. [01:10:45] If you didn't have the parade going through there, you could do that pretty easily. [01:10:51] Yeah, and I don't think a lot of the residents around there want the parade to go by their [01:10:55] place, so... [01:10:56] You know, around the lake. [01:10:58] I have a question on that that I guess refers back to the neighbor as well. [01:11:03] I noticed that there are individual little boxed off areas of 10 by 10 or 20 by 20. [01:11:09] They have the name of the family on them, and they're all on, as I understand it, Orange [01:11:13] Park on our park. [01:11:15] So when the parade goes around, as you see, that whole area on the park has been privatized, [01:11:22] I guess, by private parties and folks. [01:11:24] I guess we've just allowed that to happen. [01:11:26] I don't know... [01:11:29] I don't know the benefit that it has to the neighbors to have... [01:11:35] Or to the event as a whole. [01:11:38] Nobody that I know of is renting or giving the Chasco any money for the use of those. [01:11:43] So we just have a lot of people who've been doing this event forever who have now sort [01:11:48] of taken temporarily ownership over a good bit of city property, too. [01:11:53] So, you know, on the parade day, that's all crowded across the street from all these residents, [01:11:58] and I don't know that they're your families or the residents that are actually taking [01:12:03] advantage of that. [01:12:04] They've also done it down on Grand. [01:12:06] Yeah. [01:12:07] Yeah. [01:12:08] So maybe that's an issue that we should all talk about, because one of the things... [01:12:12] Well, if we're going to move the carnival clockwise, we're going to have to take up [01:12:18] some of that space. [01:12:20] We'll just have to reserve it ahead of time so they don't come in there and utilize it. [01:12:24] But I know what you're saying. [01:12:26] They've sort of co-opted all that space, even though they really don't have any right to [01:12:32] do that. [01:12:33] That's your point, right? [01:12:34] I mean, they don't really have the right to go rope off part of our park three days prior. [01:12:38] Where Sims Lane comes in, yeah, right in there. [01:12:40] Right where... [01:12:41] No, not... [01:12:42] No, further. [01:12:43] Where Sims Lane comes in. [01:12:44] No, that's central. [01:12:45] Right there. [01:12:46] Yeah, we're talking about going this way. [01:12:48] Yes, correct. [01:12:49] Yeah, well, what Peter's talking about is they set up the tent here. [01:12:52] Yes. [01:12:53] And they're not saying to use it, I'm just saying, when the residents are complaining [01:12:57] about what's going on and I'm seeing that privatization of what's already a crowded [01:13:02] park, to say, you can't be here, you can't be here, you can't be here. [01:13:06] Literally, if you're in the parade and you get out, you're pretty well locked onto the [01:13:11] parade route because you can't even get into that free space. [01:13:15] So does that gentleman's point, like, if we were to move it over to here, closer to the [01:13:21] residents, where it's not so... [01:13:23] No, that's not... [01:13:25] I mean, it's six of one, half dozen of the other. [01:13:29] We were talking about some of the rides that are currently... [01:13:33] Encroaching this way. [01:13:35] Yeah. [01:13:36] Moving it all back this way. [01:13:37] You got it. [01:13:38] Yeah. [01:13:39] But what I'm saying is the games of chance are quieter and they don't have all the noise [01:13:43] and the generator and the electricity and the lights that the rides use. [01:13:48] So if we kept the rides here and moved the games of chance over that way, now the games [01:13:52] of chance are through here. [01:13:54] Well, the problem is... [01:13:55] The problem is that the operator puts the games of chance where they are for a reason [01:14:02] because they have to walk by them to get to the rides. [01:14:06] And so it's a marketing thing. [01:14:09] It's like what Publix does. [01:14:11] So I guess, unless anyone else has anything more to say, I guess this is just still an [01:14:18] ongoing... [01:14:20] Yeah. [01:14:22] I agree with you. [01:14:23] It's an ongoing conversation. [01:14:25] You all just try to come up with a game plan and bring it back to us sooner than later. [01:14:29] Yeah. [01:14:30] Right? [01:14:31] Yeah. [01:14:32] A couple different options of something we can do. [01:14:33] You know? [01:14:34] Okay. [01:14:35] And we want to make sure you guys are successful. [01:14:37] At the same time, we need to recognize the footprint is changing on us. [01:14:40] Yes. [01:14:41] We appreciate that. [01:14:42] We want to... [01:14:43] The big thing for us is it has to be walkable. [01:14:46] It has to be... [01:14:47] We can't put it out on 19. [01:14:50] Because what happens on 19, I know about the Queen of Peace thing because I'm a member there. [01:14:56] They make $6,000 from that call. [01:15:00] marvel. Yeah, that's ridiculous. We could never survive on that. It's got to be within [01:15:06] walking distance of everything else because once somebody gets in their car and drives [01:15:10] somewhere else to get to an event, they're not going to get in their car again and drive [01:15:15] back. So, that was the whole reason for putting everything in one location. [01:15:22] I don't know who it was that suggested maybe looking at where the Native Americans are, [01:15:28] to my way of thinking, that doesn't work because you've got all the residences up there, too. [01:15:33] So you're just upsetting somebody else instead of the ones that are having issues now. [01:15:40] I think some people that aren't represented here are the businesses downtown. And me having [01:15:46] been a business downtown during Chasco Fiesta, I made a month's wages in a day because of [01:15:53] Chasco. So I'm going to speak for them saying that even though it's in our park, even though [01:16:00] it's this side of the park or that side of the park, the people go downtown. And with [01:16:04] the amount of growth now with the businesses downtown, when I got on council, Mario and [01:16:12] I did a walkabout about a month ago. And between City Hall and 19 on Main Street and between [01:16:20] the Circle and Delaware on Grand, there was 170 businesses of which 80 were occupied, [01:16:28] whether it's an office, whether it's a full-blown business, whether it's whatever, from one [01:16:34] end of the spectrum to the other end of the spectrum. And now there's 140. So we're seeing [01:16:40] the growth. We're talking about it as parking. We're talking about it as parking on the weekend [01:16:45] nights. We're talking about it when it's an event and the rec center puts on. The growth [01:16:49] has come here and we've seen it down. Now we're dealing with it. But I'm going to speak [01:16:54] for the businesses. They want Chasco Fiesta. We want Chasco Fiesta. [01:16:59] I think if we can deal with getting the employees and potentially the clientele in and out of [01:17:07] those businesses during that period, and it's not just the nine days, it's basically the [01:17:11] entire three weeks, because the carnival is setting up a week ahead and it takes them [01:17:16] several days afterwards to go down. If we've dealt with that logistical issue, then we [01:17:24] don't have a problem. [01:17:27] We want to encourage you to take people to the restaurants and to the bars and to the [01:17:32] businesses, not just to the venue. So the whole idea is to alleviate the entire traffic [01:17:40] problem. It's not just for our event. [01:17:44] We transport a lot of people from border realtors over on River Road and the overflow boat lot [01:17:59] and boat trailer. If we find out how many employees, I guess I could talk to the house [01:18:05] and find out how many employees. We currently do that for SMG, the facilities maintenance. [01:18:12] People for TIAA Bank, they park their employees way off. The NFL doesn't allow employees to [01:18:19] park close. They want the fans to have the closed parking. And also for other events. [01:18:24] Usually the employees come in incrementally. And we probably run a couple of shuttles to [01:18:31] one of those lots. I wanted to ask you, next to that American Legion, I think over there, [01:18:41] there's a great giant lot there. It almost looks ideal because it's not real hilly. It [01:18:48] doesn't have big pits in it for parking. I thought you might get four or five hundred [01:18:53] cars in there. [01:18:53] You might. I'm not sure who belongs to that medical transport place that they want to [01:18:57] expand to. [01:18:58] Is that their property? [01:18:59] In the old county building? [01:19:00] No. [01:19:01] The only thing I saw was a great giant oak tree in the middle of it. [01:19:04] The grass lot, I think it's behind the medical transport. [01:19:09] If I remember correctly. [01:19:11] No, you're right. There's a huge lot just north of the American Legion Hall. [01:19:16] Right. [01:19:17] It would be interesting to find out who belongs to it. [01:19:23] It's the old power company. [01:19:27] That would be worth taking a look at, too, then. [01:19:32] Anything else on this one? [01:19:37] Yes, ma'am. [01:19:39] Could you, no, we need you up front. [01:19:42] I'll give her the mic. [01:19:46] Dan, take the mic with you. [01:19:56] Some of these issues have already been said, but first of all, how much does this carnival [01:20:00] bring to the city of New Port Richey that you need it in? [01:20:04] Excuse me? [01:20:05] Fifty thousand. [01:20:06] Really? You actually get the city of New Port Richey. [01:20:11] Oh. [01:20:12] Oh, okay. [01:20:13] Chasco. [01:20:14] The city doesn't get a penny from the carnival. [01:20:16] Okay. [01:20:17] And from my understanding, the carnival was supposed to be stopped after this year. [01:20:24] How come that didn't happen? [01:20:26] That's why we're having this, because Mr. Dede mentioned that a couple months ago, [01:20:29] and I never remember us saying that we're not going to have the carnival anymore. [01:20:33] At this time, this meeting is about one. [01:20:35] All right. [01:20:36] And my other thing is, right across from the Hacienda, where Altman's dad's law office used to be, [01:20:42] why can't you have the carnival there? [01:20:44] Just downsize it. [01:20:45] You want something for the children. [01:20:46] Why can't you have it there? [01:20:48] There's not enough room. [01:20:49] Trees probably would prevent the rides, I would imagine. [01:20:51] We're about to get a plan that the owner built. [01:20:54] Yeah, that's going to be developed sometime probably in the next year or so, [01:20:58] so that's not an option. [01:21:01] It's going to be what now? [01:21:02] Developed. [01:21:03] Oh, okay. [01:21:05] All right. [01:21:06] Well, you people need to understand. [01:21:08] The diesel smell is not healthy. [01:21:10] The noise is not acceptable. [01:21:13] And the element of people that come to this carnival and leave at night is unbelievable. [01:21:19] You don't live there. [01:21:20] You have no idea. [01:21:23] I shouldn't have to live in my home and be afraid for two weeks. [01:21:29] It's not fair to us. [01:21:31] We pay taxes, just like all of you. [01:21:33] We keep our homes nice. [01:21:35] We abide by your rules. [01:21:37] And I think you should respect us. [01:21:39] You don't. [01:21:42] So that's what we need to say. [01:21:45] We're a few. [01:21:46] We're just a handful. [01:21:47] But you know what? [01:21:48] It's getting really uncomfortable. [01:21:53] So I think you need to get together and think of something else. [01:21:59] And that's all I have to say. [01:22:00] Thank you. [01:22:01] Thank you, Mr. D. [01:22:10] What anniversary is this in Chasco? [01:22:13] 97? [01:22:14] 96? [01:22:19] This would be 98. [01:22:25] Now, now. [01:22:27] Yes, sir. [01:22:29] I moved here several years ago. [01:22:31] And one of the things that attracted me was the Chasco Festival. [01:22:35] I'm an 11-year-old. [01:22:36] We go every year. [01:22:38] And we appreciate it. [01:22:41] The amount of traffic, of course, is an issue. [01:22:44] But it's two weeks. [01:22:47] And for two weeks, it's not a big concern for me. [01:22:51] I live four blocks from the park. [01:22:56] And I deal with traffic all day, every day on my street on Indiana. [01:23:00] And it's something that is being addressed over time. [01:23:03] I mean, it's not going to happen overnight. [01:23:06] But I appreciate the Chasco. [01:23:08] So whoever is involved with it, thank you. [01:23:11] And to the council and the other employees of the City of New Port Richey, [01:23:16] thank you for listening to us residents [01:23:19] and trying to make it a little bit better for people that live right here. [01:23:23] Thank you. [01:23:24] Any other topics? [01:23:26] I was going to say one quick more thing about parking. [01:23:28] I was talking about the American Legion on kind of the northwest side. [01:23:32] They have the liquor store there. [01:23:34] They have the big parking lot in there, Jason 19. [01:23:37] And I very seldom see more than, like, ten cars in that parking lot. [01:23:40] And they could probably fit 100. [01:23:42] Razor Golf is there. [01:23:43] Yeah, so that might be a good spot too. [01:23:45] Yeah, that's right. [01:23:48] Yeah, your rights moved out of there. [01:23:51] Anything else from you guys, Jeff? [01:23:54] Can I just touch on one thing that the last person said? [01:23:58] And I think it's so true. [01:24:00] I've even talked about this with Peter, [01:24:02] is that people do think this is the City of New Port Richey put-on event. [01:24:08] And they have no idea that the steering committee, [01:24:13] that we're here and we're doing this and we're volunteering. [01:24:17] And I think that's just a big misunderstanding, unfortunately. [01:24:22] I mean, I think it's a good thing that it's seen as a New Port Richey event [01:24:27] because that's what we want it to be seen as. [01:24:31] I hate to see you all take the blame for it when things go wrong. [01:24:36] And I'm happy to have you take the credit for it when things go right [01:24:39] because we're not here to benefit from it. [01:24:42] Our steering committee benefits in no way at all, [01:24:46] except for the satisfaction that we get of bringing what we think is [01:24:51] and can be a premier event to the City of New Port Richey. [01:24:56] And I think with the addition of things like Ruth Eckert [01:25:00] and other things that we're thinking about doing, [01:25:03] it can only get better and stronger. [01:25:07] Chuck, is there anything that the steering committee needs from us? [01:25:14] The biggest problem that we always have is money, [01:25:19] to pay for everything that we do because we don't get money from any other source [01:25:25] but the carnival and whatever sponsors we're able to raise. [01:25:30] We are filing this year now for a 501c3, [01:25:35] so we hope that's going to help us with getting money from some foundations and so forth [01:25:41] because there are a lot of things that we're connected with that we help fund, [01:25:47] like the Lighthouse for the Blind and the Chautauma Speech and Hearing Clinic [01:25:52] and all the cultural events that we bring with the Native Americans. [01:25:57] We had a great turnout this year from school kids and we're going to expand that. [01:26:02] They visited the Native Americans and we fed all the kids. [01:26:06] They heard stories and they watched alligator wrestling [01:26:10] and they did all kinds of things that were great. [01:26:14] It's a great event for these kids to come out and see and learn about [01:26:19] because we have natives from all over the United States. [01:26:23] So we want to try to expand that. [01:26:26] There's so much we can do there in terms of foundation money. [01:26:29] But the big thing for us is to support us in terms of your services, your civil services, [01:26:38] your police support, your fire support, things like that [01:26:41] because we're having to pay for so many things now that's really stretching our budgets. [01:26:47] I know you've been very generous in the past and I know it's not always easy for you. [01:26:54] We hope that by having more control in the park, [01:26:59] we won't require as much assistance as we have had in the past. [01:27:04] But that's the biggest thing that we need. [01:27:07] We just need your support. [01:27:10] You've always been a gold medal sponsor, but continue to support us in those ways. [01:27:19] How come you didn't come to TDC last year? [01:27:22] We didn't come to TDC last year because they cut our funding down to $5,000 from $15,000 [01:27:32] and the amount of red tape that we would have to go through to get that $5,000 was way out of proportion. [01:27:39] Well, that wasn't their office. [01:27:41] That wasn't at the board, though. [01:27:43] That was at the office level, wasn't it? [01:27:45] That was the guy, Adam, whatever his name is, who supposedly controls the decisions. [01:27:50] And he said because we didn't have any team sports associated with the event, [01:27:56] we couldn't identify as many heads in beds as some of the other events had. [01:28:01] So they're getting all the money over on the east side because they're having, you know, baseball. [01:28:08] I encourage you to come back and take it past him to the board itself because I did my own research on that. [01:28:15] And, you know, in 2016 you got $18,000 and you qualified for $23,000, so that doesn't match, you know. [01:28:26] You got paid $15,000 in 2017, qualified for $22,000, and you got paid $15,000 and qualified for $18,000. [01:28:35] So you're over-qualifying for the money. [01:28:37] So, you know, whether he says yes or no, it's the board that actually makes the decision. [01:28:41] So I encourage you to come back. [01:28:44] Who would come up with those numbers? [01:28:49] The other thing is that we do have a meeting. [01:28:51] I complained to the county administrator and to the point where we have a meeting coming up. [01:29:00] Hopefully you'll be there, and I think Debbie's going to be there with the county to meet with the county administrator [01:29:06] and with the TDC, Adam, the guy from TDC, and hopefully you can be there. [01:29:12] Yeah. [01:29:13] To talk about what happened this year because it was really a travesty and completely unfair what they did to us. [01:29:20] They sort of changed the rules at the last minute according to the rules according to Adam. [01:29:26] And it was, I mean, they even, to the extent that they took all the barricades or a significant part of the barricades [01:29:35] and sent them over to, well, they knew that we required a certain number of barricades every year, you know. [01:29:40] Well, Adam's got out of that picture. [01:29:43] I don't know, but he's off that barricade. [01:29:47] So there's probably a lot of things he should be off of, but, you know, I'm not controlling that. [01:29:52] But I made that clear, my feelings to the county administrator, Dan. [01:30:00] And that's why he wanted to call the meeting. [01:30:02] And so I'm hopeful that... [01:30:07] And Mike Moore should be there, too, because he's... [01:30:09] Mike Moore? [01:30:10] Mike Wells? [01:30:11] Mike Moore? [01:30:12] No, no. [01:30:13] Mike Moore, because he's... [01:30:14] He's on the committee, right? [01:30:15] Yeah, he's on the TDC, and so he's got his fingers in it. [01:30:18] Right. [01:30:19] So we appreciate you being there, if you can. [01:30:21] And I know Debbie tried to jump in there and help as much as she could, too. [01:30:25] It was pretty frustrating, right, Debbie? [01:30:26] Sorry. [01:30:27] A little bit of pressure. [01:30:28] Cammy Austin. [01:30:29] First and foremost, I'd like to thank each and every one of you for your contribution [01:30:37] to Chasco. [01:30:40] This continues to be an educational process for us to the consumer. [01:30:49] Not everybody knows that 25 or 26 not-for-profits benefit from Chasco Fiesta. [01:30:56] We all have been doing this for a lot of years. [01:30:58] Chuck got me involved 25 years ago. [01:31:00] We don't get paid for this, and the end result is for the not-for-profits, yes, it's gotten [01:31:07] more expensive, and I can't thank you all enough, and I can speak on behalf of the steering [01:31:14] committee. [01:31:15] This is a labor of love, and for most of the not-for-profits, if they didn't have Chasco, [01:31:21] if we didn't have it, we wouldn't be able to... [01:31:24] They wouldn't be able to sustain themselves. [01:31:26] So it's two-fold. [01:31:29] Yes, there are things that need to be addressed, but I just want everybody to understand the [01:31:36] bottom line. [01:31:37] We do this for the not-for-profits and for the city, and I can't thank the city enough. [01:31:42] You guys have stepped up to the plate on everything, and I can speak for everybody to say thank [01:31:49] you very much for everything. [01:31:51] Much appreciated. [01:31:52] Thank you. [01:31:53] Any other comments? [01:31:54] Could you get us a list of that 20 to 25 not-for-profits, because I don't think the [01:31:59] public is aware of that, and we'll get that distributed. [01:32:03] That's what I said. [01:32:04] I mean, I can speak for someone probably about... [01:32:08] Chuck brought up two names, I mean, not 20. [01:32:11] Yeah, I know, but it's beyond me how there's a well-known attorney in town, which will [01:32:19] remain nameless, that has been here for 30 years. [01:32:22] We had no clue that we put this event on to benefit the not-for-profits. [01:32:28] So it's, like I said, it's an educational thing, and that's why we have the tagline, [01:32:35] it's a legacy of giving, because we give back to the community. [01:32:38] So just remember that. [01:32:41] You don't have to list them off, do you? [01:32:45] Well, just to give you an idea, though. [01:32:48] So just a few of them, Bridge of Hope Tabernacle, Gulf High Band Boosters, the Gulfside Corvette [01:32:53] Club, who has their charities that they help, Gulf Shore Sertoma, the Holiday Rotary, the [01:33:00] Lighthouse for the Visually Impaired and Blind, Suncoast Pentecostal Church, Special Olympics, [01:33:04] Sanctuary, Upper Room Apostolic Church, Young Professionals Group, Pepin Academies, West [01:33:10] Pasco Chambers. [01:33:11] And the Sertoma Club is sitting about three rows back to make sure we don't cut them off, [01:33:15] so we're good. [01:33:17] Just by the way, I just wanted to take that opportunity to thank everyone. [01:33:22] And we'll take more, to the people listening at home, we'll take more non-profits that [01:33:26] want to get involved. [01:33:27] Exactly. [01:33:28] That's right. [01:33:29] We encourage everybody to get involved. [01:33:30] Bring your ideas. [01:33:31] Pete, any final comments on your? [01:33:35] No, I think it's been said that this is, to me, it's a city event. [01:33:40] To people who see it, it's a city event. [01:33:44] I have said it before, I think the 4th of July event is something that the city stepped [01:33:48] up to the plate to do the fireworks when the Gulfview Mall stopped doing them. [01:33:53] And that's seen as a city event, and the Christmas parade. [01:33:57] And so, city council's well aware of that. [01:34:00] We've all ridden in the floats, we've seen the crowd. [01:34:03] Just as a takeaway, yes, it's for the non-profits or for the churches or the civic groups, [01:34:09] it may not be 501c3s, but for me, it's about pride of our community and the excitement [01:34:19] of having folks that really consider this their downtown. [01:34:23] And I've said it before, I know Chopper could have graduated from Gulf High School if it [01:34:27] had been for him back in the days, but probably all five of us would have been from there. [01:34:32] But bottom line is, we're local people who have this, this is our heritage as New Port Richey, and we try to get back closer to it. [01:34:48] I know even the little play, as campy as it was, was written by some local longstanding [01:34:56] residents, and it'd be nice to see some of those elements come back. [01:35:00] We've talked to the dragon boat racing folks to talk about trying to enhance the boat parade. [01:35:07] So, you know, it's all about us making the event that we know and love better, and to [01:35:12] me, riding or going down on the float, it's about all of the incredible number of children. [01:35:18] I cannot believe the number of children at that street parade that are the new kids that [01:35:23] are going to be exposed to, and really that will sort of brand themselves to the city [01:35:29] as this is their city. [01:35:31] And I think there's a whole other level of this. [01:35:35] Patty represents a gold medal sponsor. [01:35:38] They are one of the largest sponsors of our event, and, you know, talking to her, she's [01:35:44] talked about how it's in her blood. [01:35:46] So, you know, you hear that from a lot of people. [01:35:50] That's why Gulf High School has the best reunions and the best alumni groups. [01:35:55] Oh, yeah, sure, guys. [01:35:57] In Pasco County. [01:35:59] No, I'm just kidding. [01:36:01] But because, you know, it's in our blood, and I think that, to me, it's been a pleasure [01:36:08] to be able to see this from both sides. [01:36:11] But the most important side is when you see something good happening, you look around [01:36:14] and see people enjoying it. [01:36:16] It's also entertainment for those who can't afford it otherwise. [01:36:20] And I think they look forward to it all year. [01:36:23] And there are still a whole week full of incredibly good entertainment during the week [01:36:27] that is totally free. [01:36:29] So we talk about the paid stuff. [01:36:31] We do the paid stuff so we can afford to do the free stuff. [01:36:35] And we had some great acts during the week that wouldn't have been available if it wasn't [01:36:39] for Patty and companies like hers that sponsor the city, [01:36:45] and the devotion of all my colleagues that are on the steering committee. [01:36:49] So that's my final thoughts. [01:36:51] Thank you. Matt? [01:36:52] I would say I don't think it would be New Port Richey without Chasco Fiesta. [01:36:56] As far as I can remember, you know, being a kid, it just was part of New Port Richey, [01:37:00] part of growing up. [01:37:01] And so I want to squash that right away. [01:37:03] It's not going anywhere as far as I'm concerned. [01:37:06] I don't think anybody else would like to see it go away either. [01:37:09] So no worries there at all. [01:37:12] Build the first library for the city. [01:37:15] Yes. [01:37:18] Jeff? [01:37:19] Thanks for all that you do. [01:37:21] All the folks on the steering committee and volunteers, [01:37:23] look forward to seeing if we can work out with your company as well. [01:37:27] And just if you're watching at home and you want something to do, [01:37:30] tonight I think is Locals Night downtown. [01:37:32] There's some great live music. [01:37:33] Head downtown, grab a drink or something to eat, and check out the music. [01:37:37] And Chasco is my favorite event. [01:37:41] It's the one that I will go volunteer for every year probably [01:37:45] until the day I can't physically make it down there. [01:37:49] Get you a golf cart to get you down. [01:37:52] You may need a hearse before I quit going. [01:37:56] But it's a wonderful event. [01:37:58] My two concerns going forward into the next year [01:38:02] and part of the reason that I wanted us to have this discussion was, [01:38:05] first of all, to make sure we're mindful of folks like the Deedees [01:38:09] that have been very patient with the noise, [01:38:14] particularly the carnival right out front of their doors [01:38:17] and recognizing that there are going to be more people like the Deedees here [01:38:21] this time next year, and so we need to adjust that footprint. [01:38:25] And then the second is obviously the very big issue of making sure [01:38:31] that we've got adequate parking not only for the people that are coming in, [01:38:34] but for the people at the Hacienda, if they're going to be staying there, [01:38:38] and for the businesses because those businesses are here [01:38:41] and taxpaying folks 52 weeks a year, [01:38:45] and we need to make sure that we don't put them out of business for three weeks [01:38:49] simply because they're not a bar or a restaurant. [01:38:52] I think we've got a solution that we can work on to deal with that. [01:38:57] I don't know that anybody, myself included, particularly cares where we park [01:39:02] so long as we've got an easy way of getting to our offices, [01:39:06] and I think we're on to something here that will give us a way to make this work for everybody, [01:39:15] and I'm very excited about it, and I appreciate the fact that so many folks from Chasco came [01:39:20] and participated tonight, and I appreciate the Deedees coming down and talking to us as well. [01:39:26] Ms. Manns, anything else? [01:39:35] Dan? [01:39:38] Yeah, go up to the mic, please. [01:39:41] I would just like to say that, you know, many times that I've been in front of the council, [01:39:46] it's not always been about a problem or complaining. [01:39:49] There's been many times that I have commended the council. [01:39:52] I think that you guys have been the most progressive and aggressive council in years [01:39:57] that I've seen here in New Port Richey, and so I have no bones about telling you you did a great job in the park. [01:40:05] You know, the compliments are there, but I think that it's important that people like myself [01:40:11] that live in an area where we see everything come here and tell you what's going on [01:40:17] because you can't be down there all the time. [01:40:20] You may walk around. [01:40:21] You may know what's going on with your events and stuff like that, but you don't know, [01:40:25] and so I don't want you to think that we're here just to complain. [01:40:29] You know, we're here to bring stuff to your attention that maybe we can, as residents, give you some input, [01:40:38] just like the thing with us with the four-way stop sign that we put in. [01:40:42] Three people from the church, congregational church, had accidents right on that corner [01:40:46] when we brought that up. [01:40:47] Next thing I know, there's the four-way stop sign. [01:40:50] So we appreciate what you do and some of the things that we can get fixed, [01:40:56] but the only way you're going to know those problems is if somebody like me comes up and tells you about them. [01:41:02] So I don't want you to think that it's just some guy coming in here complaining [01:41:07] and you're just going to listen and patronize me, and that's not the case. [01:41:11] So I appreciate it. [01:41:12] Thank you. [01:41:13] Tagging on to what Mr. Dede just said, former Councilman member and Deputy Mayor Bill Phillips is in the audience, [01:41:20] and I just want to recognize him. [01:41:21] He had a lot to do with a lot of the positive things that we're seeing happen downtown. [01:41:25] He worked very, very hard on yours, and I enjoyed my time on Council with him, so it's good to see him. [01:41:30] Absolutely. [01:41:32] And I'll close by saying I still don't know how Dan Dede managed to get through to Public Works [01:41:37] and get a four-way stop in a matter of two weeks when I've been working for six months

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3. 3Adjournment▶ 1:41:38