On the agenda

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

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   Presentation of Work Plan by New Port Richey Main Street

   discussed

   Patrick Benet and Executive Director Amy Fanati-Marin of New Port Richey Main Street presented the organization's FY2019-2020 accomplishments and FY2021 work plan, covering events, business support, design/promotion initiatives, and fundraising aligned with the Florida Main Street four-point approach. Council received the presentation favorably; no formal action was taken.

   📍Highway 19 / Rivergate area📍Madison to Adams📍Railroad Square📍Sims Park🏢Butcher Block🏢Cultural Affairs Committee🏢Fitzgerald's🏢Florida Department of State🏢Florida Main Street Program🏢Historical Society🏢Kaiser University🏢New Port Richey Main Street🏢New Port Richey Rotary🏢SIP🏢Tourist Development Council🏢West Pasco Art Guild👤Amy Fanati-Marin👤Councilman Davis👤Dan Biles👤Jacob Freed👤Liz👤Mayor Marlow👤Ms. Manns👤Patrick Benet#Arts in the Air banner project#CRA funding#Carnivore Festival#Chalk Art Festival#Christmas Window Decorating Contest#Classic Car Cruise In#Cotee River Boat Parade#Cotee River Seafood Fest#Dessert Stroll#Downtown Locator Map#Eat This Drink That#Economic Vitality Committee (EVC)#FY 2019-2020 accomplishments#FY 2021 Work Plan#Facade Grants#Finally Friday Downtown Street Party#Fitzgerald's Mural#Florida Main Street Conference 2021#Four-Point Approach (Economic Vitality, Design, Promotion, Organization)#Highway 19 Downtown Master Plan#Inaugural Golf Cart Parade#Kid Fest July 4th 2019#Lunch and Learn#Main Street Blast#Mixers on Main#Mornings on Main#Pub Crawl#Rent Subsidy Grants#Rivergate Master Plan#Shop Small Saturday#Vegan Food Festival#Wine Stroll

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   [00:00:17] I believe we only have one item on the agenda. [00:00:19] That's correct, Mr. Mayor. [00:00:20] We have a presentation of the work plan by the Main Street Group, and as I understand it, [00:00:27] Mr. Patrick Benet is going to lead off this evening with a few comments. [00:00:34] And we're prepared for him to do so. [00:00:37] Yes. [00:00:51] Well, we're very excited for the opportunity for the workshop to really... [00:00:57] You've got to get that mic close to you, because we'll get calls. [00:01:00] And then we're still waiting for the presentation. [00:01:02] Okay. [00:01:04] Thank you, Councilman Davis. [00:01:05] So we get texts, hey, they came here. [00:01:08] Hopefully they're not from my wife, but I appreciate that. [00:01:12] So we absolutely really appreciate the opportunity to talk about where we've been and where we want to go, [00:01:19] and how the partnership with the city has really flourished in the last year, [00:01:23] and really with Amy's direction and picking up some more ideas for the year. [00:01:31] And I think the presentation is really pretty exciting to talk about 19-20 accomplishments and really where we're going in 2021. [00:01:43] We're trying to be as forward-looking as possible to come out of COVID, [00:01:47] and really reach out to the businesses and stay in contact with them. [00:01:53] And so we have some really, really cool things. [00:01:57] So Amy's going to take the lead in the presentation, because she told me I talk too much. [00:02:03] So I'm going to edit and let Amy talk and stand back. [00:02:10] Okay, well, it wasn't that. [00:02:12] It was just that we didn't want to be here all night, [00:02:13] because he has a lot of energy and enthusiasm for the Main Street group, or Main Street organization. [00:02:19] So it wasn't a bad thing, Patrick. [00:02:24] So as Patrick said, my name is Amy Fnati-Marin. [00:02:27] Thank you so much, Ms. Manns, as well as the Council members for having us. [00:02:31] We're very excited to be able to show you guys, as I was told this would work. [00:02:39] Am I pointing it in the right place? [00:02:47] Okay, well, we'll just get started then. [00:02:49] We wanted to talk a little bit about what our contributions have been so far for fiscal year 2019 and 2020. [00:02:56] So one of the things that we've been able to contribute for the Main Street organization to New Port Richey [00:03:04] is that we were able to recruit and hire two board of directors, excuse me, two executive directors, [00:03:10] as well as conducted the Cody River Seafood Fest. [00:03:13] We did the Main Street Blast, as well as the Kia Fest for July 4th in 2019. [00:03:19] We conducted six mornings on Main, three mixers, and one Lunch and Learn. [00:03:24] As you can see, prior to COVID, we were very busy helping our downtown businesses learn, prosper, and grow. [00:03:33] Okay, as well as we were able to coordinate the Cody River Boat Parade. [00:03:37] We conducted a very successful wine stroll last November that I'm sure a lot of you remember, as well as the dessert stroll. [00:03:45] We also did the Christmas window decorating contest. [00:03:49] We did a shop small retail event on the Saturday after Thanksgiving, and we did plan and sell out our pub crawl. [00:03:55] But unfortunately, due to COVID, we had to postpone that to 2021. [00:03:59] We also were able to produce a downtown locator map, and we printed 5,000 copies and distributed those throughout downtown, [00:04:05] as well as many other areas. [00:04:07] We promoted all the downtown events. [00:04:09] We're very excited that we were able to reach over 11,000 likes on Facebook. [00:04:13] And we also had planned the annual Florida Main Street conference that was going to take place, but was postponed. [00:04:20] And we will be having that at the end of July in 2021, so we're pretty excited about that. [00:04:25] And we've been also coordinating, fundraising, and producing the new mural, as you guys are all aware, Fitzgerald's. [00:04:33] Okay, well, we also were able to most recently do the ribbon cuttings, which thank you, those of you who were able to participate in those. [00:04:41] It was, oh, missed it, sorry, the ribbon cuttings. [00:04:45] Thank you guys so much for participating in those. [00:04:47] They meant so much to the downtown businesses that were either open just prior to COVID or during COVID. [00:04:53] And we did 11 of those, and we've been able to promote those on social media as well. [00:04:58] The inaugural golf cart parade was a huge success. [00:05:02] We were able to still give people something fun and exciting to do in the midst of trying to social distance and be safe during the upswing in COVID. [00:05:11] We also provided COVID assistance and recovery information to the downtown merchants, [00:05:16] as well as partnering with the New Port Richey Rotary to offer different types of funding and curbside service during COVID. [00:05:26] And we logged over 250 volunteer hours, which, for those of you who aren't aware, [00:05:30] volunteer hours usually are worth about $25 to $30 per hour, as opposed to someone who's just getting paid. [00:05:37] So volunteers are actually more valuable than someone collecting a paycheck. [00:05:42] And our work plan coming up for fiscal year 2021. [00:05:49] Sorry, my own computer is not going as quickly as y'all's. [00:05:53] There we go. Okay. So the physical environment of downtown New Port Richey. [00:05:58] What is the physical realm of our downtown? What do we need to keep our eyes on? [00:06:02] We need to look at the hardscapes, the public scapes, the greenscapes. [00:06:05] I could go on, but obviously you can see what they are yourself. [00:06:09] And these are the things that we are trying to have a broader view of, [00:06:15] which obviously you guys have already approved them, [00:06:18] but we are very excited to be a part of the master plan for Highway 19 downtown and the Rivergate area, [00:06:24] as well as all the other wonderful things that are going to be going on, [00:06:27] and maybe not necessarily 2020-2021 fiscal year, but on into 2022 and 2023. [00:06:36] And again here, Moore, you are already familiar with these projects. [00:06:38] The facade grants. Am I in the right one? No. There we go. [00:06:43] No, I'm not going as fast. I'm going too fast. [00:06:46] So as you can see, there are a lot of different things that we're already working on, [00:06:50] as far as you guys are already working on. [00:06:53] So the combined efforts of the city, the CRA, the partners, property and business owners. [00:06:58] So we're all pretty excited about the construction for Kaiser University, [00:07:02] as well as the parking garage getting completed. [00:07:08] And here we go. So here we are with the physical environment of downtown and our combined efforts. [00:07:13] So one of the things that we find to be important, [00:07:17] here we are, is that we would like our sign displays to be more business friendly. [00:07:21] We would also like to encourage, I did not mean to do that for myself, I apologize. [00:07:28] We would also like to help encourage more visual public art in the area [00:07:32] and ramp up more of our historic preservation efforts. [00:07:35] So we want to work with the Cultural Affairs Committee to do this. [00:07:38] They have their own goals as well as ours, and we're trying to partner up for them. [00:07:45] The plan also for us for physical downtown, do this at the same time, [00:07:50] is conduct more frequent window decorating contests. [00:07:52] So as of right now, we do have the October one going on. [00:07:56] So a few of the businesses have participated as far as either Halloween or Fall, [00:08:00] but we'll be doing the Christmas one also. [00:08:04] We'll be doing a Valentine's one. We're hoping to do a spring one and one in the summer. [00:08:08] And also it's very exciting because the businesses enjoy not only participating, [00:08:13] but the community likes to go around and vote. [00:08:15] We're hoping that the winter one will also accompany a scavenger hunt, [00:08:19] so that we can tell when people are going around and seeing them and interacting at the different businesses. [00:08:24] Also, we will be participating with the seasonal banner designs, [00:08:28] and we would love to be able to start a fundraising effort [00:08:33] to try to get some sculpture or a large sculpture in Sims Park. [00:08:37] Another thing that the CAC is working closely with us [00:08:41] and will most likely want to come to you guys with [00:08:43] is to propose a more flexible mural design regulations [00:08:46] so that we can encompass more types of art into our walls, [00:08:50] not just the nature and the historic, which is very nice, [00:08:54] but we have gotten a few people in the community ask [00:08:57] if we could have a little bit more progressive art on the walls. [00:09:02] Another thing about the physical downtown [00:09:04] that we would like to promote through our design committee [00:09:06] is to have more branded A-frame sidewalk signs. [00:09:09] So when you're walking downtown and you're noticing the signs, [00:09:13] sorry about that, that they all look familiar and the same, [00:09:17] and then we would help to have different kinds of printed displays slide into them [00:09:23] so that everybody can look more collectively the same. [00:09:27] Also conducting the Arts in the Air banner project, [00:09:30] we are taking a field trip this Saturday to Hyde Park, [00:09:34] so we're very excited. We'll also be going to Winter Garden. [00:09:37] We want to look at different opportunities that we can find to enhance our own downtown [00:09:41] by looking at other beautiful downtowns throughout our area. [00:09:45] We're going to update and distribute another downtown map, [00:09:48] and we're participating in the charades that are happening with you guys now, with the city. [00:09:56] Okay, the economic environment of downtown is also very important to our efforts, [00:10:00] so business recruitment, business retention, [00:10:02] and repositioning the downtown in the marketplace. [00:10:05] So these things are what makes our economy thrive. [00:10:10] Here we go. [00:10:12] And we have our business recruitment, so marketing and public relations of our master plan, [00:10:17] economic development packet materials, rent subsidy grants, interior build-outs, [00:10:22] all of this information I'm sure you guys are familiar with. It's included on this slide. [00:10:28] Also business retention, we would really like to continue to keep our businesses here thriving and growing, [00:10:36] so we want to provide them with marketing support, [00:10:38] so more of a social media and downtown website support. [00:10:42] We were able to launch that along with Jacob Freed this past weekend, [00:10:47] and the downtown website is gorgeous. [00:10:49] Also downtown advertising campaign, doing the dining and shopping guide, [00:10:54] promotion of the special events and retail events. [00:10:58] And also on the previous slide, we like to tell you, you saw what was given there, [00:11:04] but this is how we are partnering with you guys for that. [00:11:10] So with our Mornings on Main, we were able to conduct one last week, [00:11:15] using social distancing and wearing our masks, and it was at the West Pasco Art Guild. [00:11:18] It was absolutely fabulous. [00:11:20] The 20 people who participated got to find out about the Art Guild, [00:11:23] and the Art Guild got to find out about New Port Richey Main Street Organization. [00:11:28] We also are going to start again conducting our Mixers on Main, our Lunch and Learns, [00:11:32] more ribbon cuttings, obviously promoting Cyber Monday and Small Business Saturday, [00:11:37] so shop small, shop local the Saturday after Thanksgiving, and conducting zip code surveys. [00:11:45] Also, one of the things that we do as a New Port Richey Main Street Organization [00:11:50] is we visit with the merchants. [00:11:53] We try to have a relationship with them, so they can ask us questions, [00:11:58] we can answer their questions. [00:11:59] If we don't know the answers, we can have a way or an avenue to get to [00:12:03] where the answers can be found to provide them. [00:12:05] Also, maintaining an inventory of the downtown businesses, [00:12:08] and also maintaining an inventory of the downtown vacancies, [00:12:11] just in case people start to ask about what other types of businesses are coming to the area, [00:12:16] and where they might be able to be placed. [00:12:18] I know right now there's a drive for us to get more retail here. [00:12:25] There we go. [00:12:28] Okay. [00:12:29] And, with the economic environment, we also maintain online listings that are for lease and for sale. [00:12:37] We're wanting to participate more in your master planning charrettes, maintaining the downtown guides. [00:12:42] These are all things that the EVC, or our Economic Vitality Committee, are involved in. [00:12:47] We also think it would be wonderful to explore the idea of increasing an arts district [00:12:54] from about Madison to Adams, and that's kind of where we could bring in [00:12:58] the Historical Society, the Cultural Affairs Committee, as well as the West Pasco Art Guild. [00:13:04] And here we are with our image. [00:13:07] So, this is our promotions area. [00:13:09] So, we follow four points with our Florida Main Street organization. [00:13:14] And the four points, as I hope you guys are aware, are the economic vitality, [00:13:18] the design, the promotion, and the organization. [00:13:20] So, with promotion, a lot of people don't recognize that, [00:13:24] how do you feel about our downtown when you come here? [00:13:26] What image are we trying to project? [00:13:28] So, that's where our promotions comes in. [00:13:33] So, we're trying to create that image. [00:13:35] We're trying to have special events, retail events, and heritage events. [00:13:39] So, how important are these events to the redevelopment of our downtown? [00:13:43] Well, obviously, you, as well as the rest of us, feel they're very important. [00:13:48] So, we have already done things like participate with the marketing and the public relations plan, [00:13:54] working on doing more extensive advertising, [00:13:57] our wonderful new brand rollout that the city of New Port Richey did, [00:14:00] and also included us, which we're very happy about, [00:14:02] the light pole banners, which you've seen going up, [00:14:04] the dining and shopping guides, table tents, event posters, [00:14:07] but also participation with the Tourist Development Council [00:14:11] so that we can get more visibility down here through the county, [00:14:15] not just New Port Richey Main Street or the city of New Port Richey, [00:14:18] which we feel very fortunate and honored to be a part of. [00:14:21] But Pasco County is pretty big, and it would be great if they participated more. [00:14:24] We're one of the largest cities they have operating in the county, [00:14:27] and it'd be great if they were more involved with us. [00:14:31] These are events that you guys already are aware of, [00:14:34] because they're your events as we get to them. [00:14:36] Sorry about that. [00:14:38] But not only are these successful, great things that we do love being able to partner with you guys [00:14:43] and are encouraged by all of the success that they've had, [00:14:47] and some of them are continuing to go on. [00:14:49] Some of them we've had to put on hold because of COVID, but we're pretty excited about this. [00:14:53] And these are our events that we try to... [00:15:00] campaign and push forward, but also have you guys, [00:15:02] not only us as the champions, but you to help us as well, [00:15:05] and the downtown. [00:15:06] And so we're very excited to get those started again. [00:15:09] We are hoping to have a dessert stroll on February 11th. [00:15:14] Obviously we weren't able to do [00:15:16] the Christmas boat parade this year, [00:15:18] but we will come back strong with the wine stroll. [00:15:21] We're hoping to have the postponed pub crawl [00:15:24] on in March of 2021, and bringing the Seafood Fest back too. [00:15:31] But these are things that we would really love [00:15:33] to start looking forward to. [00:15:35] So here are some ideas that Downtown Main Street has [00:15:39] that we would like to bring to, excuse me, [00:15:42] the New Port Richey Main Street Organization [00:15:43] would like to bring downtown for the future, [00:15:45] for retail, for monthly events and annual events. [00:15:48] So a vegan food festival. [00:15:50] For those of us who eat meat, [00:15:51] it may not sound super exciting, [00:15:52] but there are a lot of people out there [00:15:54] who are vegans or vegetarians [00:15:55] that would want to participate in this, [00:15:57] and there isn't a lot of these festivals out there. [00:16:00] A classic cruise, a classic car cruise in is always fun [00:16:03] and can be done even just once a month. [00:16:05] The Charcot Art Festival would be fun to bring in [00:16:09] and to partner with some of those other organizations [00:16:12] that we were talking about [00:16:13] that we want to be able to increase our public art. [00:16:16] Eat This, Drink That is a smaller program [00:16:19] that we're actually starting in November at SIP, [00:16:21] where we're going to be, it's kind of like a chef's table [00:16:24] where we sell tickets so that people [00:16:25] who haven't experienced those restaurants before downtown [00:16:28] can start experiencing them, [00:16:30] not necessarily with 10 to 20 of their closest friends, [00:16:32] but buy a ticket and meet 18 new friends when they come. [00:16:36] We'll be doing that every other month [00:16:37] at different organizations, [00:16:39] brick and mortar restaurants and bars downtown. [00:16:41] But the biggest one that we're very excited about [00:16:43] is the Finally Friday Downtown Street Party. [00:16:45] So I'm hoping that most of you are familiar [00:16:47] with the first Friday for Tarpon Springs. [00:16:51] It brings a lot of people in, they have food trucks, [00:16:53] they have entertainment, different areas of town, [00:16:56] they have jump houses for the kids. [00:16:58] And we recognize this is a big thing, [00:17:01] but with Railroad Square [00:17:02] and maybe with even bringing Main Street into it, [00:17:06] we could actually pull this off [00:17:08] where on the final Friday of every month, [00:17:11] we could bring not just all of these wonderful things [00:17:13] to our downtown, [00:17:14] but new people to come in and explore our community. [00:17:17] We know that this is going to be a pretty expensive venture, [00:17:19] so we're just kind of putting a bug in your ear right now [00:17:21] because we may need a little help to make that happen. [00:17:24] And we would love for it to be an ongoing event, [00:17:26] so we would want to do it monthly. [00:17:29] Let's get to the next slide. [00:17:31] And here we are with organization. [00:17:33] So organization is what brings all the elements [00:17:36] of our four-point approach together [00:17:37] and allows our communities to communicate effectively. [00:17:41] So we report to the Florida Department of State [00:17:43] and the Main Street Program. [00:17:45] We also maintain all of our financial records. [00:17:48] We do trainings not only for me as the executive director, [00:17:51] but for our board as well. [00:17:52] We do them nationally and state. [00:17:55] And we recently were able to last Thursday [00:17:59] adopt some new revisions to our bylaws [00:18:02] so that we could increase our board of directors [00:18:04] by a couple of more people. [00:18:08] And we also want to bring everyone together [00:18:10] because our stakeholders are very vital to our success. [00:18:13] So we're currently recruiting liaisons [00:18:16] from each of these areas. [00:18:18] We actually have almost covered all of them, [00:18:22] and we're pretty excited about that [00:18:24] because those liaisons are the ones [00:18:26] that we can all work together. [00:18:27] So if the theater is hosting or doing something [00:18:30] that we want to be able to promote, [00:18:31] it's nice to know because we have one of the theater [00:18:36] members on our board as well as us [00:18:38] going back and being on theirs. [00:18:39] And we're trying to do that [00:18:40] with each of these different areas. [00:18:43] We're still working on the county. [00:18:44] I have reached out to Mr. Dan Biles. [00:18:46] We're hoping to get someone [00:18:47] from their planning department to join us. [00:18:51] Okay, and with all of that said, [00:18:53] we do have to have fundraising efforts. [00:18:55] So New Port Richey Main Street, you guys, [00:18:57] the CRA does help fund us, [00:19:00] and we're very excited about that. [00:19:01] But also in order to continue to grow, [00:19:04] we have to have some fundraising efforts. [00:19:05] And these for us include the wine strolls, [00:19:08] the dessert stroll, the pub crawl. [00:19:11] We're extremely excited about hosting [00:19:13] the Florida Main Street Conference next year. [00:19:14] We're hoping that will bring about 250 to 300 people [00:19:18] to our downtown New Port Richey. [00:19:19] It will also increase Heads and Beds, [00:19:21] which is a wonderful thing. [00:19:23] And facilitating the downtown tours [00:19:25] is gonna be awesome as well. [00:19:27] The historic tours, we're gonna be doing that [00:19:28] with the theater, so we're really hoping [00:19:30] that that will bring people around [00:19:32] and allow them to know a lot about our community [00:19:34] and how beautiful it is. [00:19:36] And finally, so in here, this brings us [00:19:40] to the very end of our presentation, [00:19:42] which is how we market our organization, [00:19:46] how we would like to have investors [00:19:49] and increase our investors, [00:19:50] and how we utilize our volunteers. [00:19:54] Do any of you guys have any questions for us [00:19:56] or anything we can answer? [00:19:58] I know I gave you a lot of information all at once. [00:20:02] Just a comment, Amy, you've really, [00:20:04] you've hit the ground running. [00:20:05] I think you and your board are doing a phenomenal job. [00:20:07] I see you on social media. [00:20:09] I see all the events you guys are putting on. [00:20:11] I know it's been tough with COVID, [00:20:13] but I'm really excited to see how you guys [00:20:16] can continue to grow and operate over the next 12 months. [00:20:18] I know a lot of businesses are excited. [00:20:21] Liz was doing a very good job as well [00:20:22] before she took another job, [00:20:24] but thank you for all you guys are doing. [00:20:25] Well, thank you. [00:20:26] We really appreciate that. [00:20:27] We're gonna miss you. [00:20:29] I would hope that you'll schedule the carnivore thing [00:20:34] towards the end of the spring [00:20:37] in hopes that we can have a vaccine for COVID [00:20:41] so everybody can participate, [00:20:43] because that one's the most exciting thing [00:20:44] I saw on your list of things you're planning. [00:20:46] Well, I have to say, Mayor Marlow, [00:20:48] that when our committee started talking [00:20:50] about the vegan festival, [00:20:52] immediately quite a few hands went up and went, [00:20:54] that's not fair. [00:20:55] We have to have a carnivore festival [00:20:56] if you're gonna have a vegan festival. [00:20:57] We have to balance this out. [00:20:58] I agree completely. [00:20:59] We're looking forward to that too. [00:21:00] We're hoping to partner maybe with the butcher block. [00:21:04] We think that would be a great way to pull them together [00:21:08] to do something like that. [00:21:09] You have a brand new barbecue. [00:21:10] Oh my God. [00:21:11] They're actually on one of our Eat This, Drink That lists, [00:21:14] most likely for March. [00:21:15] I love Doug and Bernie Warren, [00:21:17] and they agreed and they're gonna show us how to, [00:21:20] not necessarily to cook our own barbecue [00:21:22] because we wanna buy it from them, [00:21:23] but how to make the barbecue. [00:21:26] Anything else? [00:21:28] I just wanna thank you. [00:21:29] I mean, you've got a lot going on, [00:21:30] which is great and what we'd love to see. [00:21:33] I know things are tight this year [00:21:34] with budget and everything because of everything going on, [00:21:38] but is there anything else we can do to help you? [00:21:40] You know, we're making it work. [00:21:42] We have a fabulous board of directors. [00:21:44] They work very hard and tirelessly [00:21:47] most of the days and nights, [00:21:49] so I can't be any more thankful of that. [00:21:52] And moving forward right now, [00:21:54] I think helping us figure out the Finally Friday event, [00:21:57] if we can bring that to fruition by January 29th, [00:22:00] we think that would be very exciting. [00:22:02] So I really think that's where when we have to start [00:22:05] bringing in the permits, asking for permission, [00:22:07] what we can all do to work together to have that, [00:22:09] I think that's really what I think our main ask [00:22:12] would be of the city council. [00:22:14] Very good, thank you very much. [00:22:16] Yeah, I'll jump in too. [00:22:18] Yeah, I wanted to comment on your promotion slide [00:22:23] where you were talking about getting [00:22:26] members of your board involved. [00:22:28] If that's if I'm in the right place, [00:22:29] that might've been administration. [00:22:30] It's okay, I can fix it. [00:22:32] But in any case, during that talk, [00:22:34] you discussed working harder [00:22:37] with the Tourism Development Council [00:22:39] and those connections that you've shown [00:22:43] in your organization, your outreach to the chamber, [00:22:47] the county, and I think that it's critical [00:22:53] for us to get them to take some ownership of this. [00:22:56] It seems like if it's in the city, it's our thing. [00:22:59] If it's in the county, it's theirs. [00:23:01] But really, if it's in the city, it's our thing [00:23:03] and the county's thing. [00:23:04] And we've been preaching that up here for a long time. [00:23:08] We've had difficulties. [00:23:09] Some of my colleagues are on different local boards [00:23:12] with county commissioners. [00:23:14] So I applaud you for trying to join those citizen boards [00:23:18] and get that sort of marinated into our recipe [00:23:23] for trying to get them figured out. [00:23:26] That is critical. [00:23:28] Also, it's very impressive that your board members [00:23:31] are not only active and working in that respect, [00:23:36] but also branching out and making those links. [00:23:39] So I think that's important. [00:23:42] The other thing that I noticed [00:23:44] and I just want to thank you for [00:23:46] is that recognizing the cooperative element [00:23:50] of all of this in your slides, [00:23:53] that in the past, it was gonna be the economic plan [00:23:57] for the Main Street group [00:24:00] versus the economic plan for the city. [00:24:02] So I think participating in all of our workshops, [00:24:07] many of you came to the rec center on the focus downtown. [00:24:12] I know there's another one on the 29th of October, I think, [00:24:14] which is our bigger sort of reveal [00:24:18] or partway through recommendation and public meeting. [00:24:23] So continuing to use your 11,000 contacts [00:24:26] to encourage and support the city's efforts. [00:24:30] I would like to reflect for a minute [00:24:32] on something I saw on Facebook over the weekend. [00:24:34] There are other groups as well [00:24:36] that are not as formal that are in town. [00:24:39] And I know you're in touch with [00:24:40] whether it's the golf cart group, [00:24:43] the Cody River group, or maybe the largest of all, [00:24:50] which I saw Chopper in the river. [00:24:52] And he did have a paddle, by the way, [00:24:54] but going upstream with that group of the kayakers as well. [00:25:01] All those groups have created some collegial [00:25:03] sort of sense of being in the city. [00:25:05] And so making sure that those attitudes are good [00:25:10] is important. [00:25:12] Every decision we make up here [00:25:13] doesn't necessarily the one we wanna make. [00:25:17] Sometimes they're decisions we have to make legally [00:25:19] because of our zoning or our land uses. [00:25:21] And we wanna make every part of our city's redevelopment [00:25:29] meld into the overall goal. [00:25:32] There was some, really some negative comment on Facebook. [00:25:37] I think I saw the mayor was involved, [00:25:39] and you didn't, I don't mean to say [00:25:41] you were involved in the negative part, [00:25:42] but you were the target, really, [00:25:45] of some anger at the city council [00:25:49] for what they saw as things happening [00:25:52] out on the corner of 19 and Main. [00:25:54] And we've got this whole area coming in. [00:25:56] We've got a good theme. [00:25:58] And it's very helpful to tamp down some of that anger [00:26:03] because we're in such an angry time right now [00:26:05] that I think, as I understand it, [00:26:09] by the end of the day, that may have occurred. [00:26:14] And participation is so critical. [00:26:15] So when folks don't like something, [00:26:18] then you tell them, come along [00:26:19] or fill out the online surveys that are going on right now. [00:26:23] And we probably ought to give some kind of a pitch [00:26:26] to the fact that we have some online surveys [00:26:29] and that this whole planning effort is a community effort. [00:26:33] It's not just made up by five wise guys [00:26:35] who are the target of maybe some development [00:26:42] that somebody doesn't like [00:26:43] or some part of the overall picture. [00:26:48] So to me, you're recognizing [00:26:53] that you're hand-in-hand with the city, [00:26:55] that we're arm-in-arm together [00:26:57] will help to inoculate us from some of that divide [00:27:01] and conquer that's gone on in the city too long, [00:27:03] whether it's business-to-business or it's environment. [00:27:10] I remember the problems we had getting the Gray Preserve, [00:27:13] that the preserve was going to bleed [00:27:15] and take resources away from the investment [00:27:18] folks wanted in the downtown. [00:27:19] Or the residents who live in our city [00:27:21] feeling that everything's always downtown, [00:27:23] downtown, downtown, who just need to understand [00:27:26] that we've also got initiatives for housing. [00:27:30] And so hopefully the Main Street Group, [00:27:33] as the way you're reaching out [00:27:34] into some of the neighborhoods, [00:27:36] can help to keep that message going. [00:27:38] But thank you for what was a really good presentation [00:27:41] and good luck. [00:27:44] Thank you. [00:27:45] Councilman Davis? [00:27:46] Yeah, I've been around since before 1990, [00:27:51] but 1990 I think is when Main Street came about [00:27:53] and it's been quite a rollercoaster. [00:27:57] I really like the view that you have [00:28:01] for the future right now. [00:28:02] I think that's a really progressive look [00:28:04] and I think that you're going to get [00:28:06] the support of the businesses. [00:28:07] I think you're finding support from the community. [00:28:09] So I'm really looking forward to it [00:28:11] and the excitement in your board [00:28:16] and in your membership. [00:28:17] So I'm looking forward to that. [00:28:18] But I want to say a couple things [00:28:20] just for notes for you. [00:28:22] It gets pretty boring to look at the same A-frame [00:28:24] all the time, that you might have multiple, [00:28:27] three or four different looks, [00:28:29] so that every business isn't the same one [00:28:32] or next door neighbors. [00:28:34] It's just time. [00:28:34] Right, so I'd look at that. [00:28:39] The mural, without using the word, [00:28:46] that artist is working around town. [00:28:48] So then some people came to me [00:28:50] and asked me, where's my money? [00:28:52] And so I think you need to rattle her cage [00:28:55] to get her back on that job [00:28:57] because you can't use that word anymore [00:29:01] if she's working other places. [00:29:04] And then the Tourist Development Board, [00:29:06] let me just tell you a little bit about that. [00:29:08] They love their money. [00:29:10] They don't like to spend it anywhere [00:29:11] except in the county or out of the county, [00:29:14] for the county, out of the county. [00:29:16] I've got them to bend a little bit [00:29:18] for Chasco and the fair. [00:29:20] So I think we need to approach them for a little bit. [00:29:23] But they also, we're looking at a $3 million budget, [00:29:27] but then with COVID, the rooms in the hotels [00:29:31] aren't getting the beds in the heads, [00:29:32] so the money's not going to be there. [00:29:33] But to see if we can find some, a little bit of money, [00:29:37] maybe to advertise locally, meaning in the Tampa Bay area, [00:29:41] where they tend to want the money [00:29:43] to go outside the Tampa Bay area. [00:29:44] So I'm on that board, and we got a little money for Chasco [00:29:49] and a little money for the fair, [00:29:50] so we can try to get a little bit for Main Street. [00:29:53] I actually really love the idea of being able [00:29:56] to market or promote New Port Richey. [00:30:00] of New Port Richey. I know that sounds a little bit outside of what we're talking about, but I hear [00:30:03] exactly what you're saying. So that would be okay, because we want to bring those other folks in. [00:30:08] It's just that they want outside the Tampa Bay area. So yeah, exactly. You know, they think [00:30:14] everybody's going to come from Chicago here. But you know, with COVID just ending, we just need to [00:30:19] get the people out again. You know, so they need to think smaller initially. [00:30:22] Mornings on Main. One of the advantages there, Colby from the tourist group had come to that [00:30:32] Mornings on Main. And so really one of our approaches, and this pays into what Councilman [00:30:38] Altman said, is really if we reach out and we can gather liaisons from more groups, [00:30:43] we have a much more broad-based approach so that the culture that we're looking for stays [00:30:50] fresh, stays energetic. We don't need to run the kayak group, we just need to promote it. We don't [00:30:55] need to run the golf cart group, we just need to help promote it. And so that everybody has a piece. [00:31:00] The Mornings on Main reaches out to businesses, the Lunch and Learn, again, businesses and the [00:31:06] community, and the Mixers, again, hits a different demographic. So our goal is sort of that tiered [00:31:11] approach to make sure that we're reaching out as much as possible, and then staying integrated by [00:31:17] having liaisons and having many more people. That was the change in the bylaws was to increase that [00:31:22] and to highlight that we want to reach out. And I think you're working real well, you know, with [00:31:26] Jacob, and I think that Jacob can rattle the library and the rec center to get those people [00:31:33] recognizing that Main Street's doing an event that they might like, meaning the athletic type [00:31:38] things with the, you know, with the rec center and, you know, the library with, you know, other things, [00:31:44] theater type things. Yeah, there's a wonderful event that the rec center runs, and it's a [00:31:49] quilting event, and we've reached out to the president of the quilt, and we're hoping to [00:31:56] integrate that and bring that in. And so we're really excited about, really, that broad-based [00:32:01] approach, and just to help be a steward instead of to own the events. And really, that's what [00:32:07] our goal is. Those ladies aren't interested in the NFL. So it's what is, it's you guys [00:32:14] marketing in the right direction is really what I'm saying. Yeah, yeah, excellent. Thank you so much [00:32:19] for this opportunity to have this workshop. It was really valuable to us, and I hope you guys found [00:32:23] the information just as valuable. And you don't, I think you're supposed to come see us once a year. [00:32:28] If you want to come more often, Debbie gradually put you on the list. More than three minutes. [00:32:34] I was going to say, we do enjoy doing the Vox Pop, too. So you're still going to have to see us, [00:32:37] and you're still going to have to hear from us, whether or not it's a workshop. [00:32:41] Well, thank you. Thank you. Thank you very much. Anything for the good of the group before we [00:32:47] adjourn the workshop? Just a couple of quick things. It doesn't really tie into Main Street, [00:32:52] but it was brought up today. First, I've heard we're definitely not having the Christmas boat [00:32:57] parade. It was this evening. I didn't realize that. Some folks from Chasco reached out to me, [00:33:01] wanting to know how they're going to, how the city's planning on moving forward. I know there's [00:33:05] a lot up in the air right now with COVID, but we need to be in communication with these organizers [00:33:11] that are trying to, they need to know whether or not to go, or green light or red light, or, you [00:33:16] know, we're going to try and just figure it out. But as long as I've been up here in the last few [00:33:20] months, it hasn't really come up publicly, and people have been reaching out to me. [00:33:24] Debbie had a meeting with Chuck Gray last week talking about it. My read on this right now is [00:33:34] we don't see a vaccine until early next year, and so the odds of pulling off something in March is [00:33:41] probably going to be pretty slim. I had suggested to Debbie, she suggests to Chuck, maybe they might [00:33:50] ought to look at like October for this coming year. I hate to lose Chasco completely. March is [00:33:57] dicey. October ought to be safe. Yeah, I just, I haven't spoken with Debbie. We have lunch on [00:34:03] Friday, so she hasn't really filled me in on what the conversation looks like. That would be the, [00:34:08] you know, my thought on that, and there's not a whole lot in October that couldn't get [00:34:14] rearranged for something as important as Chasco. Another event, we had 130 golf carts at Christmas [00:34:23] time last year, and I think that might be with a little bit of organizing, we might be able to do [00:34:27] social distancing and still have the golf cart thing instead of the Christmas parade. But, you [00:34:33] know, it just takes a little coordination between the golf cart people, Main Street, and us. And Mr. [00:34:38] Mayor? Yeah, I mean, I've also learned, heard about this tonight. I know Councilman Starkey was [00:34:44] involved in it in the past. I think it was the Christmas parade that we went on a year or so ago. [00:34:50] And, you know, from that standpoint, the boats are safe for the folks that are on them, but it's the [00:34:57] worry of the crowds, I guess, that come into park and sit next to each other so closely. [00:35:02] But who knows what kind of self-discipline we will have imposed upon ourself or otherwise [00:35:08] come that time frame. On the immediate, I had a request from a city resident to say, [00:35:14] have we outlawed trick-or-treating? So maybe, I know that we don't have the big gathering in the [00:35:21] downtown that we've had in the past, but, you know, I don't think that there's any municipal [00:35:29] or county ruling on kids, parents, and I've seen some innovative ways that people have put, [00:35:37] you know, things on strings and run the candy out to the corner or leave it in a dish or whatever. [00:35:44] I don't know, you know, what our response is or whether we have one, but I know some of the [00:35:50] restaurants and businesses that are allowed to be open have invited that they can do some of that [00:35:55] stuff. Are we taking a position? I said we didn't have one, but just while we're talking about [00:36:00] events, you know, that's a big event around the corner. In my opinion, that's a personal thing. [00:36:06] Right. That would be my thought. That was kind of my answer, yeah, but I wanted to double check [00:36:10] with you all. I wasn't aware that we had a formal policy. I don't believe we want to bring thousands [00:36:15] of people downtown like we did the last couple of years, but regular trick-or-treating, [00:36:20] I really can't stop that. No, and I wouldn't even want to try. [00:36:27] Anything else, guys? In that case, we'll adjourn until the regular meeting at 7.

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3. 3Communications
4. 4Adjournment