On the agenda

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

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   Discussion Regarding the 2021 Chasco Fiesta

   discussed

   Council held an informal discussion on the 2021 Chasco Fiesta in light of COVID-19 restrictions. Consensus emerged that the traditional spring event cannot happen safely this year; instead, the city will support smaller branded ancillary events (e.g., car show, golf/fishing tournaments) and provide a letter releasing Chasco from contracts. Council also directed staff to evaluate broader event budgeting/logistics support for next fiscal year.

   • consensus:Council consensus that the full-scale 2021 Chasco Fiesta will not occur in spring 2021 due to COVID-19, with support for smaller Chasco-branded ancillary events instead. (none)
   • direction:City to provide a letter to the Chasco Fiesta organization confirming the city will not permit the major event so they can be released from existing contracts. (none)
   • direction:Staff directed to evaluate citywide event budgeting and shared logistical expenses (fencing, tables, chairs) as part of broader event strategy. (none)

   📍Hacienda📍Swanson parking lot🏢Chasco Fiesta🏢Gasparilla🏢Main Street🏢Queen of Peace🏢Ruth Eckerd Hall🏢Tampa Bay Sporting Clays👤Chuck Gray👤Debbie👤Dr. Fauci👤Greg Armstrong👤Mike👤Pat Martucci👤Patty👤Peter#COVID-19 restrictions#Chasco Street Parade#Chasco boat parade#Chasco car show#Christmas parade#Indian powwow#Memorial Day weekend event option

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   [00:00:25] Among other things about [00:00:28] 2021 Chasco Fiesta [00:00:32] The committee though is anxious [00:00:35] for some decisions to be made in respect to their event this year and [00:00:42] I received written communication [00:00:45] From mr. Chuck gray on January 5th of [00:00:51] 2021 in which he laid out several questions and [00:00:55] And I conveyed those to you in a communication that I sent out yesterday [00:01:03] In short [00:01:05] He is asking whether or not the event should go forward [00:01:14] During the 21 year [00:01:17] In accordance with the footprint that was relied upon in previous years [00:01:23] I think specifically what he means by that is [00:01:27] Can we have a carnival and can we host it in? [00:01:33] the glorious Swanson parking lot and [00:01:37] as [00:01:41] Supplement to that question [00:01:43] He posed the question [00:01:46] If the city is not interested [00:01:49] in [00:01:51] The carnival being hosted in that parking lot. Would the city entertain some type of [00:01:59] revenue [00:02:02] Subsidy [00:02:03] to [00:02:04] Chasco Fiesta [00:02:06] to compensate them for what would be lost revenue to the event and [00:02:13] Then the third question related to the timing of Chasco Fiesta [00:02:20] Apparently at the time of his writing and maybe even still today he was under the impression [00:02:26] That the strawberry festival may have been slated into our calendar. That's not exactly true [00:02:35] But we do have the question as to whether or not it's appropriate to hold [00:02:43] a [00:02:46] Large-scale [00:02:47] event [00:02:49] at this time and respect to [00:02:52] COVID-19 restrictions [00:02:55] as I also indicated to you in my [00:03:00] communication the the state of Florida [00:03:03] has [00:03:04] restricted [00:03:06] Large-scale [00:03:08] events to attendees of [00:03:11] up to [00:03:12] 150 people the CDC on the other hand hasn't come up with a number [00:03:19] they have come up with protocols and [00:03:22] Some of those are very common to us [00:03:25] We've all come to expect that we're to wear masks that were to retain six feet distances from each other [00:03:33] and [00:03:34] things of that nature and [00:03:37] Those were the large questions [00:03:41] That I think [00:03:44] That and I'll allow mr. Gray to speak or [00:03:48] If there are others, but those are the things that the that he wanted to get some [00:03:56] Reaction from the council on and I'm prepared to [00:04:01] Make a recommendation to you on any items that you would like me to respond to as well [00:04:07] And certainly in the course of this discussion of mr. Gray would like to come up to the the podium [00:04:13] We would love to have your input as well [00:04:18] I'll kick it off just you know, so we can start sort of [00:04:23] broad roundtable very informal discussion at this point [00:04:28] everything that I'm seeing coming out of the [00:04:32] Federal government right now regarding kovat [00:04:35] Particularly, dr. Fowchee is indicating it's going to be fall before [00:04:40] This gets better and that's assuming that we get the vaccine out and get everybody [00:04:45] Or at least a significant part of the population [00:04:49] Inoculated against it [00:04:52] My thought would be get past the peak of hurricane season and do Chasco in October [00:04:58] Just so we stand a decent chance of getting it if we tried to do it in in March [00:05:04] I think we'd have the same problems. We had this past year with it. It's just not safe and I would [00:05:12] Really love to see us be able to have the Chasco Street Parade and the boat parade both of which put people elbow-to-elbow [00:05:20] As well as the concerts which some of those are pretty pretty well attended as well [00:05:26] And I don't see it in March, but I think October is very doable [00:05:32] The [00:05:34] Swanson parking lot [00:05:36] I've long held it was sort of dodgy to put the [00:05:40] carnival there anyway and with [00:05:42] The hacienda opening that that's almost a non-starter. I think we need to come up with some alternate ways to [00:05:49] Help make this thing financially happen [00:05:54] From your memo we couldn't [00:05:58] Just give them a grant, but we might be able to do something to help with paying for some of the entertainment or [00:06:04] Eating some of the expenses that historically Chasco has been hit with them [00:06:09] From my perspective. I don't have a problem with with any of that. I think we ought to [00:06:15] Ought to kick it around and see what? [00:06:18] What the rest of you feel and you know come up with something that works because I would hate to lose Chasco a second year [00:06:25] in a row [00:06:27] Anybody want to chime in here [00:06:36] Come on down Chuck [00:06:51] Not as tall as you Peter [00:06:55] Yeah, we [00:06:58] We've been really [00:07:00] hamstrung [00:07:01] This year because typically we would start [00:07:04] last August [00:07:06] To prepare for the event. There's so many moving parts [00:07:10] And to start this late date is very difficult [00:07:16] The mistake I made in my letter to you Debbie was that it's the [00:07:24] It's the it's the strawberry festival over the Gasparilla that's moving to our dates not the strawberry festival [00:07:43] I don't get too close to you. Although I've been vaccinated [00:07:48] Although I've been vaccinated [00:07:53] So [00:07:57] There's a lot as you know, they're [00:08:04] There are a lot of different parts to the to the event, you know street parade boat parade [00:08:09] Indian [00:08:10] Indian [00:08:12] powwow [00:08:14] Music [00:08:16] We the last time we had this we [00:08:21] Co-authored it with Ruth Eckerd for one weekend. We have to get back with them and let them know what our [00:08:29] Intentions are what the city's intentions are [00:08:32] We also have contracts [00:08:35] In place from last year for national talent and if we're gonna have to cancel those we're gonna need a letter from the city [00:08:43] Saying that the city is not going to permit [00:08:46] you know, there's a kind of major shows there at least this year and [00:08:53] so that we can so we won't have to be responsible for those contracts and [00:08:58] Likewise any [00:09:00] major part of [00:09:02] What we're gonna what we typically do such as the powwow. I [00:09:07] guess we'll be out of [00:09:09] Out of the range of possibilities because there's just too many uncontrolled people there [00:09:16] I know Debbie when I talked to you you said we need a really a single point of entry. We need a control [00:09:24] situation in the park and we've actually [00:09:26] been in favor of that for some time and we we think it's [00:09:31] Probably a good idea for even for Park Security [00:09:34] To have some kind of a decorative but effective fence around that park and and a couple of gates [00:09:43] so that [00:09:46] Especially at nighttime when nobody's supposed to be in there that was something Ruth Eckert had proposed wasn't it? [00:09:51] yeah, they really they really would like to see that happen and [00:09:57] Under the current guidelines, that's really what the what the state wants. I don't know about the CDC [00:10:06] So, you know limited limiting it to 250 people [00:10:10] Sort of a non-starter because there's just no way we could ever make any money that way we also [00:10:19] Probably be restricted in conversations with Greg Armstrong who works a lot with the school system his wife's a member of the school board [00:10:28] We probably have a lot of problems with getting the children involved [00:10:33] Number one, we wouldn't have the parades [00:10:35] Number two a lot of our vendors are non-profit vendors and [00:10:40] families are there and involved and so [00:10:43] that would be a problem that we'd have to [00:10:46] decide how to handle and [00:10:49] So there are a number of issues that that that really [00:10:55] Preclude us from doing what we would normally do [00:10:58] The problem with doing it in the fall is if we did it let's say in October [00:11:03] We'd almost have to always do it in October because [00:11:07] You can't do it in October and do it again in March. It's just it's too close together and [00:11:15] You know to have a [00:11:17] it's a little more difficult to have an effective vote parade in the fall because it's the weather is unpredictable and [00:11:25] more unpredictable and [00:11:27] So [00:11:30] One of the [00:11:32] Because we talked about moving the dates. We're gonna have to move the dates anyway, because we don't want to be the same date [00:11:39] as the as the [00:11:42] Gasparilla [00:11:43] so [00:11:44] one of the options we thought was at least in a tentative way is [00:11:49] maybe [00:11:50] Move it to the Memorial Day period because Memorial Day is on the last day of May [00:11:57] and [00:11:58] That's a time when you know, a lot of people aren't traveling. Anyway, they're looking for something to do and [00:12:06] It gives us an opportunity at least to [00:12:12] You know to have an event, you know, that's meaningful and if we can get beyond the [00:12:21] Situation we have now with kovat then [00:12:24] And it's things are more fluid then be a lot easier to deal with these issues [00:12:35] The carnival isn't is a is a big issue because [00:12:40] We make a lot of our money from the carnival [00:12:44] typically I [00:12:46] Looked into some of the carnivals, for example, the one that Queen of Peace has on 19 [00:12:54] Last year, they only cleared $6,000 from that carnival [00:12:58] We we normally clear [00:13:01] $60,000 [00:13:02] that's a huge difference and [00:13:06] So [00:13:07] in order to [00:13:09] drop [00:13:10] participation of the carnival [00:13:11] Or even if we hold it off-site somewhere where you know [00:13:15] I'm assuming that we'd get the same kind of response that [00:13:18] That the church gets because they're right on highway 19 [00:13:21] They got a big property there right across from the public shopping center. Lots of those visibility [00:13:27] So even if we cleared $10,000 that would still put us 40 to 50 thousand dollars short of what we need [00:13:36] to pay for our rent [00:13:39] In addition to our typical sponsors and we know that it's going to be more difficult to get sponsors [00:13:45] In [00:13:47] At least the next year because of the [00:13:51] All the restrictions they have against donations during this period [00:13:55] so [00:13:56] a lot of challenges and [00:14:00] One of the things that the other one of the other things that one of our members suggested is that we have a few [00:14:07] Smaller events like a golf tournament and a fishing tournament and things that are sort of off-site [00:14:14] under the under our brand [00:14:18] Just to keep our name out there, but you know [00:14:23] I'm personally concerned about [00:14:26] How that's gonna affect future? [00:14:28] Sponsorships, I don't know if that'll satisfy our sponsors the ones that have already given us money for this [00:14:35] for last year really that we've held over to this year and [00:14:39] So, I don't know maybe [00:14:48] Come down here [00:15:00] To Chuck's point, we do have quite a bit of sponsors that we, we did issue some refunds [00:15:14] back to people, but we have a lot of major sponsors that have donated money to us already [00:15:21] that we are holding over for this past year, about $85,000, $90,000, again, our budget [00:15:29] to put on the Chasco Fiesta is normally around $250,000, so the money Chuck's talking about [00:15:35] us making is really not making, it's just going to put on the event. [00:15:39] We really don't make anything off the event, or a non-profit. [00:15:43] Any holdover funds we have are just for operation expenses. [00:15:46] So last year we actually were in the hole, so we already had a challenge to overcome [00:15:51] when we were going into last year, and then we had to cancel the event. [00:15:55] So we're really in a rock and a hard place, so some of my thoughts were, again, it's, [00:16:01] COVID is in its peak season right now during the winter months, it's normally less active [00:16:07] during the summer when it's hot. [00:16:10] Chuck was speaking about Memorial Day, I think that's a good option, I thought July 4th would [00:16:14] also be a good option, it gives us a little bit more time to plan, and I think everybody [00:16:18] really needs a unifying moment for our country right now and our community with the way things [00:16:24] are going in the world. [00:16:25] So that's just a thought that I had. [00:16:29] Also Chuck was speaking on the events, if we do not have the Chasco Fiesta this year [00:16:33] at all, we can also still have some of these off-site events where we can create some excitement [00:16:38] about the Chasco Fiesta and still get the name out there, we can do a sporting clay [00:16:43] event out at Tampa Bay Sporting Clays, still have a little bit of music at the end, but [00:16:48] ultimately the Chasco Fiesta belongs in downtown New Port Richey, it's its home, and we really [00:16:53] don't want to take it anywhere else, but we have obligations to some sponsors, and [00:16:57] by doing some of these ancillary events, instead of having the one big event, we can probably [00:17:01] satisfy them and take care of the donations and their goodwill that they've given us into [00:17:07] allowing us to hold the money over. [00:17:09] We don't want to not satisfy our obligations with our sponsors. [00:17:15] My concern is that for the music events, particularly like the country music concert and the rock [00:17:22] and roll concert that bring in thousands, there's just no way to safely do that. [00:17:27] I personally do not want the liability, we are a board, but we have personal liability [00:17:32] as well. [00:17:33] Our insurance policy goes so high, and I've worked really hard over my life to get to [00:17:38] where I am, and I really don't want to sacrifice that all over an event. [00:17:44] And that's my concern, and of course we've got a responsibility as well. [00:17:50] A fishing tournament, people are on their own boat with their own people that they probably [00:17:56] hang out with all the time, and usually those events only draw maybe a couple hundred people [00:18:02] at the max, and again, it's a quick meet-up, a weigh-in, get your prizes and go. [00:18:08] We don't even have to do the normal things that we do, like a dinner or whatever, we [00:18:13] can just say, hey, we're going to meet up a little bit, we're going to give you a little [00:18:16] gift basket, you guys go fish, you come back and get your prize. [00:18:20] Same thing with a golf tournament, we can socially distance at those types of events, [00:18:25] so I mean, like Chuck said, we can have it under a brand, and I really, that's my thoughts [00:18:30] on the Chasco Fiesta for this year. [00:18:33] I don't, I would love to have it, it's the one event I live for for the year, it's my [00:18:39] thing, so, and as well as just about everybody else in this room, so, but we have a responsibility [00:18:46] to the general public and to ourselves, I don't want to be out there nine days exposing [00:18:50] myself to the public. [00:18:54] What Chuck had suggested, doing something around Memorial Day weekend has some attraction [00:19:00] to it for 2022, I'm just concerned that if you wanted to have, and I love Chasco, I just [00:19:09] really enjoy it, that it's just not going to be possible in the sort of scale that I [00:19:15] think all of us would love to see this year, and I. [00:19:20] I would like to, maybe we can have the car show downtown, because we could spread it [00:19:24] out in the four blocks, and it's not like a big crush of people, people wander around [00:19:29] all day, it would be good for the businesses, so, and they've been, you know, the guy who [00:19:33] runs it, Pat Martucci, he's got obligations to his sponsors as well, and has been calling [00:19:38] me about every other week, when can we have the car show, so if we could get permission [00:19:42] to have that, we could have a Chasco car show go on, maybe Memorial Day weekend or [00:19:47] something, so at least there's something going on that's Chasco related on the holiday weekend, [00:19:52] and it's a smaller scale, and it's not a big parade. [00:19:57] What do you guys think? [00:19:58] Yeah, I'll say, I mean, I'd like to see something, something out there for Chasco, it's just, [00:20:06] you know, you don't know what's going to happen. [00:20:09] I would hope that things would die down, you know, as you get later in the year, I [00:20:13] would think trying to do anything bigger scale before summer probably wouldn't work, but, [00:20:19] you know, after that, or the fall, like the mayor was talking about, but if we did a bunch [00:20:23] of little events, or smaller events, I'm all for that, I mean, I'd like to see something [00:20:28] happen, so I mean, I'm willing to, you know, work with whatever to make it happen. [00:20:33] Just as another mention, if we could, next year, normally we have a lot of charges, obviously, [00:20:39] like Chuck said, we're going to have major challenges trying to get big dollar sponsors [00:20:44] again, and we're basically going to have to have little events to make money to have the [00:20:48] bigger event when we get around to 2022, or later in the fall, but logistically, to do [00:20:54] something in the fall, and then to turn right around and collect another $250,000 in a few [00:20:59] months and do a plan, it's not doable, so either the Chasco has to stay in the spring, [00:21:05] or it has to move to the fall all the time. [00:21:08] We just can't do it. [00:21:09] Thank you. [00:21:10] So, I think that's a good point, you know, Chasco has a longstanding tradition, and that [00:21:21] time of year is, you know, when the time was no-name storm, it kind of interrupted it one time, right? [00:21:27] Right, mm-hmm. [00:21:28] And that's really been dampened on it more than once, right? [00:21:32] So, you know, I would like to see somehow some continuation of Chasco, the brand, and [00:21:41] Chuck said it really good, to carry on the brand, and I like the idea of several mini-events, [00:21:47] and perhaps we could even get Main Street or some of our downtown merchants to, they [00:21:52] might have a, you know, one of the restaurants want to have a special Chasco menu that night, [00:21:58] and put banners up and brand it, and that particular night to invite their guests as [00:22:03] a special Chasco menu or something, and put the banners up with the sponsors' names, and [00:22:09] it's one night it might be at this venue, another night it'd be at the different venue, [00:22:15] and maybe no more people than, maybe a little bit more people might come to those venues, [00:22:19] but you can still only get so many in each venue, right? [00:22:23] And that might filter out to the other businesses, but not huge crowds. [00:22:29] And if you start piecing all these things together over a period of, you know, of days [00:22:34] or two weekends or something like that, you're going to give your sponsors a lot of, you [00:22:41] know, banner ads, and you might press, or Facebook, and all these different ads to try [00:22:46] to appease them to, and I think they understand, the public understands what we're dealing [00:22:52] with and struggling with, and, you know, I guess I'm more in favor of trying to do that [00:22:59] in some semblance of the springtime, so you keep concurrent that time of year, and then [00:23:07] give you a lot of year, a lot of time to plan for a big spring event in 22. [00:23:13] People understand that. [00:23:15] I think your sponsors will, and if you, you know, these sponsors say, hey, you know, people [00:23:19] are going to be, we're all caged in, right? [00:23:22] We're like pinned in, and when it opens, we're going to be ready to open big time, and I [00:23:26] think, you know, we have a chance to plan that way, and I understand about the carnival, [00:23:34] figure out, hey, how can that work, and we tie in to get it so we can generate revenue [00:23:39] there, or some other revenue-generating source, and you have a little bit more time to plan, [00:23:44] but I'd love to see a lot of Chasco-branded stuff, and you can move the banners from venue [00:23:50] to venue, not like you have to buy all these other banners so you can keep your cost. [00:23:54] So that's my two cents. [00:23:58] Yeah, I think, well, first of all, this meeting, as it was called for the singular purpose [00:24:06] of giving some response for their planning and their deadlines, if I can just, I think [00:24:14] from what I've heard from everybody, I think we need to provide whatever letter is requested [00:24:21] so that we can get the organization off the hook for whatever contracts it has at the [00:24:26] time it has. [00:24:27] Now, when they go to the point of talking to Ruth Eckert Hall or finding out what is [00:24:32] happening, and it is so, I think, Patty, you said we're right in the heat of this thing [00:24:38] now, and it keeps being record-breaking, so it just seemed like such a difficult time [00:24:44] to imagine when it's going to be over, and, you know, maybe everybody gets inoculated, [00:24:50] things will start to loosen up. [00:24:52] I think Mike's comment that once it does loosen up, I want our city to be conservative, [00:24:58] to be sensitive, but we've already got restaurants and bars and the people pushing the limits [00:25:05] a little bit, and I think that it's harder and harder to keep everyone corralled as time [00:25:11] comes. [00:25:12] So the idea of having a few things that are properly planned that can at least give somebody [00:25:16] an outlet to go out is a good idea. [00:25:20] But my hope for a work session was to talk with you guys about the whole event strategy, [00:25:26] and I brought that up at the meeting last week. [00:25:29] And so, you know, to me, I think the discussion with the CHASCA ought to just be, you know, [00:25:37] come back and tell us what you want to do now. [00:25:40] We know it's not going to happen then. [00:25:44] I'm in agreement that the spring is the time to have it. [00:25:47] That's when it's expected, and that's when we should plan for the big one. [00:25:50] And these little events, each one of them is an event all unto itself that takes planning [00:25:54] and effort and keep us busy that are on it. [00:25:58] The bigger thing to me, though, is we have the events are in the city council budget. [00:26:05] And so every department submits to the city manager their budget and says this is what [00:26:11] we want to do, and it goes through finance, and ultimately, after having been reviewed [00:26:18] by the city manager, it ends up in our hands to prove we've got a figure in that budget [00:26:25] and we don't have events. [00:26:27] So the real question to me is, is it possible while we have this downtime that the city [00:26:33] can look at what not just the CHASCA needs, but what, you know, the Main Street group [00:26:39] does when it has its event, or whatever becomes of the parade for the Christmas parade that [00:26:45] everybody looks for when we get back on it. [00:26:48] And there's some common expenses that are difficult to handle that are logistical expenses [00:26:55] like chairs, tables, and I think the fencing thing is important. [00:27:02] I was in the meeting when the Ruth Eckert Hall told us after our first year's event [00:27:09] that the lack of control led them not to want to be part of it because they had their brand, too. [00:27:18] If somebody's coming to a Ruth Eckert Hall-sponsored event, they wanted it to be controlled. [00:27:24] And we've had a reputation over the years because we are blue-collar construction workers [00:27:29] and folks that like to have drinks and go out, and we've got folks that maybe have a little different- [00:27:38] I'm always a designated driver. [00:27:41] But the point is that the revenue that's generated across everywhere, including our Native Americans, [00:27:49] I think I told you, I went to the Brooksville, it's near Interstate 75, there's a big park there, [00:27:55] they have a huge powwow, not nearly the attendance we have, [00:28:00] and there's a fee to enter in out in the woods to go in to see it, and it's $3 or $5. [00:28:08] So I think we've reached a point where we have to step up, make sure that the quality of what we have is there. [00:28:17] That's where the fencing comes in. [00:28:20] I mean, there was some debate, then there was some resistance to fencing. [00:28:26] But I can't imagine between security concerns, COVID concerns, health concerns, [00:28:32] and just any event controlling what comes in and comes out, [00:28:37] and not to mention what has been a constant problem for us as much as three or four events this week [00:28:45] that I reported to the city manager of the homeless coming in to take over all of our public property. [00:28:52] Let's not drift off the subject here. [00:28:55] We're done. [00:28:56] Homeless is not the subject. [00:28:58] It is. [00:28:59] Okay. [00:29:00] I mean, it's the subject of offense and the objection to offense. [00:29:04] And if you're objecting to offense, then we can't hold the events, Ruth Eckert won't come back, [00:29:10] and why should we keep renting things? [00:29:12] So the subject is if there are things that we can agree that can help to enhance the events in the park [00:29:18] and improve the look and the security of it, that's what I wanted to talk about. [00:29:25] So, and by the way, this wasn't a workshop that was requested by us, [00:29:30] and so at some point I want to talk about how we get workshops, [00:29:34] because to me it comes from us at a meeting saying let's hold a workshop, [00:29:39] because you've just told me I'm not here to talk about something [00:29:44] when I finally get the five of you here together, [00:29:47] and there aren't many opportunities to bring this stuff up, John. [00:29:50] I just, we're talking about Chasco, not homeless. [00:29:52] That's, I wanted to say more on the topic. [00:29:54] I mean, you know, I've got to leave, I've got to leave in about 45 minutes. [00:29:58] I'd like to get more done. [00:30:00] and then the homeless. [00:30:00] Well, I'd like to know, is there anything else to say [00:30:03] about Chasco then? [00:30:03] Because you've got 45 minutes. [00:30:05] I haven't even spoken. [00:30:06] Well, OK. [00:30:06] Yes, you did. [00:30:07] Chopper, you've got the floor. [00:30:09] I haven't spoken. [00:30:09] Well, go. [00:30:10] Take your 45 minutes. [00:30:13] I haven't spoke at all. [00:30:15] First of all, I don't want a permanent fence in Chasco, [00:30:18] in the park. [00:30:20] I entertain the idea of a temporary fence [00:30:22] for the week of Chasco. [00:30:23] That's true. [00:30:23] But the rest of the time of year, [00:30:25] that's what I like about Chasco, I like about our park, [00:30:28] it's open and sold out to the public [00:30:30] from multiple directions, from neighborhoods [00:30:32] and that are accessible. [00:30:33] So sure, if we want to, for 10 days, [00:30:36] have a temporary fence and an entry point, [00:30:39] I'm all for that, if that's what it is. [00:30:42] But I think we're trying to make decisions about health [00:30:45] that we're not even qualified to make at this point. [00:30:51] I don't think we're even aware of what [00:30:53] may be going on by fall. [00:30:55] So to say the 4th of July or in the fall, [00:30:58] I really don't think we have any decision at this point [00:31:01] to make as far as when a large event can happen. [00:31:05] I think rebranding, if that's what [00:31:08] you want to call a term that I just picked up, [00:31:10] rebranding Chasco to a year-long situation [00:31:13] where there's about small events during the year instead [00:31:15] of just one event, that's great because I haven't [00:31:18] seen a change in Chasco except getting rid of the play [00:31:22] since I came to town. [00:31:25] There's a different, you get different music [00:31:26] from different venues and stuff, but from the public point [00:31:29] of view, I don't really see a lot of change in Chasco [00:31:31] in the 30 plus years that I've been here. [00:31:34] So I think that's a great idea to grow Chasco [00:31:37] and its brand to a year-round, smaller events, [00:31:40] time of year, appropriate events, like the fishermen. [00:31:44] I'm not a fisherman, but there's probably better times [00:31:46] to go fishing than other times. [00:31:49] So I'm looking forward to ideas that you have [00:31:52] to help grow Chasco and its brand. [00:31:56] So I'm happy with it. [00:31:59] Yeah, as far as the fencing concerned, [00:32:02] there might be a middle to that too. [00:32:05] If we owned the, for lack of a better term, [00:32:11] temporary fencing, fencing that could be put up [00:32:13] or put down, we wouldn't be renting it on an annual basis. [00:32:18] And some of it might be permanent and some of it [00:32:20] might be stuff that just goes up right [00:32:23] at the entrances for the duration. [00:32:28] Can we go around and find what kind of feelings [00:32:30] others have about the fence? [00:32:32] You guys, what do you think of the fence? [00:32:34] Fencing, I personally don't want to see it there [00:32:37] all year round. [00:32:38] I'd rather come up with some kind of mobile [00:32:40] or temporary nice fencing that we can put up. [00:32:43] I mean, we might even be able to put up certain, [00:32:48] I don't know, certain poles or something [00:32:49] that stays there all year long [00:32:50] that we attach the fencing to around [00:32:53] to make it easier or whatever. [00:32:54] But I don't want a permanent fencing in the park. [00:32:57] I just don't like it. [00:32:59] Doesn't look good, doesn't look very inviting. [00:33:02] You know, I can remember when high schools [00:33:04] and stuff used to be open. [00:33:05] Gulf High used to be open. [00:33:06] Now you drive by and it looks like a jail [00:33:09] because all the fencing and stuff. [00:33:09] It's just a bad look. [00:33:13] Mike? [00:33:14] So, you know, this is what makes good neighbors. [00:33:19] Right? [00:33:20] I don't know. [00:33:21] Yeah. [00:33:23] You know, there's the wrought iron fence there [00:33:25] that we have around the Hacienda, [00:33:27] which is, I guess it's a six-foot fence [00:33:30] and it's pretty attractive. [00:33:33] That's coming down a little, I think. [00:33:35] Yeah, but I'm just citing that type of fence, right? [00:33:39] You know, and if, you know, I'm a lot like Matt. [00:33:43] I like the openness and chopped the same thing. [00:33:45] But, you know, I could see that there could be [00:33:47] certain sections of fences up there all the time [00:33:50] that you could help guide people into the main entrance, [00:33:53] for example, into the grass. [00:33:55] But you wouldn't need a fence along the seawall. [00:33:59] You'd let the seawall, let the river be the fence. [00:34:01] And in others, if you indeed had to do that, [00:34:06] it'd be like that. [00:34:07] That would be expensive, you know, [00:34:08] to put a nice fence like that up that's temporary [00:34:11] or leave some pieces up during the year [00:34:15] and then close it in others. [00:34:16] That would be just, I'd have to see it [00:34:18] before I would really bite into it. [00:34:21] I'm a lot like Chopper, having the openness of that. [00:34:25] But I understand what our issue is in control. [00:34:30] So it's a tough call. [00:34:33] I'd have to see some more specific ideas [00:34:36] before I could buy into the fence thing. [00:34:39] I lean to be open. [00:34:43] It could be workable because if it's, [00:34:47] you know, I guess the Hossian is gonna be [00:34:49] open property into the park. [00:34:51] There's not gonna be any fences. [00:34:53] So, you know, that, what up there comes down [00:34:57] and then it gets pretty tough going around. [00:35:00] Where do you stop it and where do you stop it? [00:35:02] And it's tough. [00:35:04] So I don't know, guys. [00:35:05] I can't be an issue-washer. [00:35:09] I might get staff to look at some ideas [00:35:11] of something that could go up and down as needed. [00:35:15] So if you come up to the mic, please. [00:35:27] We had in plans for this past Chasco to, [00:35:32] we already have a deposit down for some temporary fencing. [00:35:35] It's very attractive. [00:35:36] They have it at Home Depot a lot [00:35:38] when they put up their little temporary structures [00:35:40] out in the parking lot. [00:35:41] And there are like six foot panels [00:35:43] and they just link together and they move. [00:35:46] So that it looks, it's not chain link. [00:35:48] It's not ugly or anything like that. [00:35:50] It's not chicken wire looking. [00:35:53] So that's what we have in plan for this past Chasco. [00:35:57] And it comes in black, they have it in silver. [00:35:59] So like to the mayor's point, you know, [00:36:03] maybe you could purchase that [00:36:04] and we could just have it like the barricades [00:36:07] and we just put them up for the event. [00:36:08] Yeah, that was exactly my point. [00:36:10] If we owned it, [00:36:11] because renting that stuff's going to get expensive, [00:36:13] particularly if Main Street or any of the other groups [00:36:17] come up with an idea of wanting to do the same thing. [00:36:20] And I guarantee you, if Chasco does it, [00:36:24] then the other folks are going to want to as well. [00:36:26] So we probably ought to own it, even if it's not permanent. [00:36:30] The other point is everywhere we're going now [00:36:32] before you enter, they're taking your temperature. [00:36:34] And so with COVID-19 going on, [00:36:37] we're going to have to have a fence [00:36:38] so that we can scan people before they enter the park, [00:36:42] if we do have a big event. [00:36:43] Oh, and I understand Chopper's point, [00:36:45] because it may well be that this gets behind us [00:36:47] and we don't have to scan people anymore. [00:36:49] So if that was your point, [00:36:51] not to make plans for a permanent situation [00:36:55] that may not be permanent, you know, I agree with that. [00:36:58] I think that the real issue though is back to Chasco, [00:37:04] if they're saying the carnival is critical, [00:37:06] and if there's a thing we haven't answered yet, [00:37:08] which is, and then the request comes, [00:37:11] how do we supplant those dollars? [00:37:14] We can supplant them by minimizing the cost, [00:37:16] which helps everybody who has an event, you know. [00:37:20] And once again, we have Railroad Square open [00:37:25] and yet go on any weekend. [00:37:28] And I haven't seen much out there at all going on [00:37:31] because there's no entertainment. [00:37:33] So we're not attracting them. [00:37:35] But our business community is suffering. [00:37:37] And so it's not just the events that aren't able to do it, [00:37:41] but how do we make our events blend [00:37:44] into the support of the business community? [00:37:49] And does that mean that we start [00:37:50] to distribute some of that stuff? [00:37:52] I think the car show is a good example. [00:37:54] It was always around the lake. [00:37:56] And this past year, I think you were starting [00:37:58] to bring it around in front [00:38:00] of some of the businesses in town. [00:38:02] That's why I would rather see our folks [00:38:07] that are assembled here. [00:38:08] Charles has had a lot of experience [00:38:10] with Main Streets Around programs. [00:38:12] We have a new recreation director [00:38:14] who could tell us what happens up in Maine, I guess. [00:38:17] And there you are. [00:38:18] And, you know, we have a great qualified staff. [00:38:25] I would love to have a new plan. [00:38:28] Just like you said, Tesco hasn't changed. [00:38:31] The way we do things hasn't changed either. [00:38:33] And so maybe we can be part of blending in our events, [00:38:40] sponsoring the events, which I've asked before, [00:38:44] the four events, the Christmas parade, [00:38:47] or whatever events you come up with. [00:38:48] But right now, Tesco, 4th of July, Christmas parade, [00:38:53] whether it's the, whether we'd like the traffic [00:38:58] that comes in from the bike fest, [00:39:02] or whether we would rather have another fall fest, [00:39:03] or whether we, or whatever our marketing [00:39:08] and our economic goal is for the city. [00:39:11] I mean, businesses sponsor so they can get more business [00:39:14] and more advertising and promotion out of it. [00:39:17] And the city should be making sure that it meets our needs. [00:39:24] I think you brought up a great point [00:39:26] of using Railroad Square and the carnival, [00:39:28] because that brings people right downtown, [00:39:30] and you'll actually lose some of the complaint [00:39:33] that you get from the residents that live around the circle [00:39:38] and a couple blocks from the circle [00:39:39] because of the carnival. [00:39:41] It just can't do it with the power lines being as close, [00:39:44] so unless we bury the lines, [00:39:46] aspect of it or that part of entertainment. [00:39:48] But there, I'm sure we're gonna modify that too [00:39:53] at some point here, but I mean, I'm sure there's areas [00:39:56] and there's parking lot down there too [00:39:58] that we could forego the one. [00:40:04] If I could speak just on that issue, [00:40:09] Debbie and I, and somebody was with us, I forget who. [00:40:12] Al. [00:40:13] Al. [00:40:13] Yeah, we looked at the Railroad Square [00:40:16] and I think it could work, [00:40:18] but you gotta move the power line. [00:40:20] And we can't just sort of say, [00:40:22] well, someday we're gonna move that power line [00:40:24] because we have to make plans. [00:40:26] We have to know what year [00:40:29] we can plan on putting something there. [00:40:31] And also, I hate to say this, Chopper, [00:40:37] but I take exception to you with the fact [00:40:39] that the Fiesta hasn't changed since 94 [00:40:42] when I got involved and took over the event. [00:40:48] Before that, we had a beef barbecue, [00:40:50] a boxing match on Highway 19, [00:40:53] a carnival out on Highway 19, and a boat parade. [00:40:56] That's basically what we had. [00:40:59] Everything else has been added since then. [00:41:02] So there's been a lot of changes. [00:41:04] Maybe you haven't noticed, [00:41:06] but there have been a lot of changes. [00:41:08] There have been a lot of people working [00:41:09] to make those changes in hundreds and hundreds of hours. [00:41:13] Apologize. [00:41:14] I just look at it from a public point of view, [00:41:16] not from your side. [00:41:17] And as far as the fence is concerned, [00:41:21] I understand everyone's concerned, [00:41:23] but if you really take a step back and think about it, [00:41:28] any major park, whether it's in Tampa or Washington, D.C., [00:41:33] or St. Petersburg, any major park, they're all fenced. [00:41:38] And they usually have a wrought iron, [00:41:41] very attractive fence with columns that connect them. [00:41:45] And I don't think that's a negative. [00:41:49] I think to be able to control access to the park, [00:41:52] I mean, when we say control, [00:41:54] that means like when it's at dark, you lock the gate, [00:41:59] because you don't want people waltzing around [00:42:02] in there anyway, and sleeping in there, [00:42:05] and trying to use the bathroom, and breaking in, [00:42:08] and whatever. [00:42:11] But the rest of the time, it's open. [00:42:13] But when we try to have somebody like Ruth Eckert [00:42:17] to bring a level of, [00:42:21] a new level to the event that people identify with [00:42:25] throughout Tampa Bay, [00:42:28] they're the ones that say, [00:42:30] we need a fence, and we need a control point. [00:42:33] Yeah, if we're looking at Memorial Day 22 [00:42:38] for the next classic Chasco, for lack of a better term, [00:42:44] something that's not small, [00:42:46] and spread out over multiple weeks, [00:42:50] this is the time for us to be talking about it. [00:42:53] Because very shortly, if she hasn't already done it, [00:42:58] she's gonna be pulling the finance director in, [00:43:02] and the department heads, [00:43:04] and start doing some of the preliminary discussions [00:43:07] about budgeting. [00:43:08] So if we contemplate that in fiscal 21-22, [00:43:15] we may be picking up more of the expenses, [00:43:21] now's the time to have staff looking at it, [00:43:24] to try to figure out where the money comes from. [00:43:32] The planning for Railroad Square is currently underway. [00:43:37] It's likely that the implementation [00:43:41] would be late this construction season. [00:43:45] Yes. [00:43:48] Yeah, that would be perfect. [00:43:49] As long as we know, so we can plan for it, [00:43:52] what we don't want to do is plan for something, [00:43:54] and then it's not there, [00:43:56] and then we're in the same spot again. [00:43:59] Exactly, Pete. [00:44:00] Go ahead. [00:44:01] Just let me interject something. [00:44:02] Just going up there. [00:44:03] It could be a bad opportunity. [00:44:05] So when we went- [00:44:06] This is our NATO, by the way, [00:44:07] he's our connection with the carnival. [00:44:11] So when we went with the carnival people, [00:44:13] and did some measuring, [00:44:14] to give you an idea of the scope of this thing, [00:44:18] it is Nebraska, all the way from the two road, [00:44:23] where the things go down, it's all of Missouri, [00:44:28] it's the parking lot by the GTE building, both sides, [00:44:33] and that was not near enough. [00:44:35] And when you add the overheads, [00:44:38] they have to come in 25 feet from that overhead. [00:44:41] So it would not just be Nebraska, [00:44:43] it would be some of Missouri, too, that would be an issue. [00:44:47] Pete. [00:44:48] So this goes back, and the good news is, [00:44:52] we're all in agreement to be able to have a fence [00:44:54] for a temporary event, [00:44:55] and maybe I'm believing an agreement [00:44:58] that when we have a fence that- [00:45:00] a charge for a major entertainment, just like Strawberry Festival, do you agree with allowing [00:45:06] a charge for music? [00:45:09] So we did that last year, but just to solidify where we're at. [00:45:16] So the first good news is we've generated the potential for revenue that we didn't used [00:45:21] to have. [00:45:22] If it was every day somebody wants to come see Native Americans, they pay five bucks, [00:45:26] they pay five bucks. [00:45:27] So to replace, to say, hey, we need all this money if we can't have the carnival, we just [00:45:34] need to re-figure, re-budget, and re-allocate the way we do it. [00:45:40] And another example is that the Chasco proclaims, and we follow through with entities having [00:45:48] their big fundraisers under the umbrella of Chasco, the Lighthouse for the Blind. [00:45:54] We really don't do much to it, but they make a good bit of money to have King and Queen [00:45:58] Chasco. [00:45:59] And then the Chamber was doing the golf tournament and, in theory, selling tickets for us, which [00:46:06] really never worked out too well. [00:46:10] And then there are the vendors that come in, and we limit how much revenue we make from [00:46:14] the food. [00:46:15] So effectively, we're saying, hey, you can have the food money, and just give us a thousand [00:46:23] dollars here and a thousand there. [00:46:26] Let me just interrupt you for one second. [00:46:28] This overhead that's going around, those red lines on there are the places that we would [00:46:33] put fencing. [00:46:36] So there's really not as much as you might think. [00:46:39] So again, the fact that we're off and we're coming back, there's a chance to have the [00:46:48] new and improved. [00:46:50] And so that's why I'm asking, I don't want to be up here saying this is what we should [00:46:54] do, but we have a lot of good minds, including folks from the Main Street group, that I think [00:46:59] we would welcome to have those same volunteers working with us and us working with them. [00:47:05] I mean, it's really just a small group, as we've learned. [00:47:08] There's only probably 15 of us that are daily when the event happens, and there's a lot [00:47:17] more people that come out and help and volunteer their time. [00:47:21] But for the folks that are the stakeholders in having these events and seeing our city, [00:47:27] we've got to blend the downtown Main Street group with these events. [00:47:31] And Mayor, I would say if we can propagate that idea that we're improving our quality, [00:47:40] and it's going to cost a few bucks. [00:47:42] People are paying $10 to park, but they expect to get into the event for free when all that [00:47:47] person does is put a rope around it and charge for the parking. [00:47:51] So, you know, even the little shuttles and the other things that went over so big added [00:47:58] so much to the impression people had of our city, I'd rather not be the one doing it. [00:48:04] I wish, and Debbie, I don't know how you feel about it, if I can ask you, but do you think [00:48:10] that as it's been mentioned, our budget's coming up, that this is a good time for you [00:48:14] to kind of help us, to advise us, to give us some options how we could use our event [00:48:21] budget as a city council to maybe improve the quality of things? [00:48:29] I think this is a really good time to have that discussion, and we'll certainly need [00:48:38] to have more of them before much more time goes on so that I can plan forward for the [00:48:45] budget. [00:48:46] Certainly, we can't subsidize events to the tune of, you know, giving away public funds [00:48:55] because there has to be a tangible benefit, but certainly there are things we can do both [00:49:01] in terms of our in-kind contribution as well as being sponsors of, as you're indicating, [00:49:10] the four top events or something like that. [00:49:13] What kind of funds are we contributing to Chasco at this point with public works, fire [00:49:20] department, police department? [00:49:22] The last time Chasco operated was 2019, and their costs were $45,000, and the city's in-kind [00:49:37] contribution for the event was $35,000, approximately. [00:49:40] That's all three apartments for 10 days? [00:49:45] That's right. [00:49:46] So if we pick that up to the footing, all of the cost in-kind, that would be $10,000 [00:49:55] of that money, but they're looking as a whole. [00:49:59] What are you saying? [00:50:03] If the cost to the city was $45,000 and we ate $35,000 of it and they paid $10,000, if [00:50:12] we did the entire $45,000 in-kind, that covers $10,000 of that nut that they've got to deal [00:50:22] with right there. [00:50:23] What was the other number? [00:50:24] That was the sponsorship you said? [00:50:25] The sponsorship was $35,000 for in-kind. [00:50:26] How was that? [00:50:27] $35,000 was in-kind, which covered a portion of our police service, our recreational services, [00:50:40] and the check had to go to the city for the amount over $35,000. [00:50:55] Let me just say... [00:50:56] I'm just curious, because there is an expense to the public already, is what I'm just asking. [00:51:01] Well, there's an expense to us having bars and restaurants and everything else to the [00:51:04] public, and it's several million dollars we pay the police department every year. [00:51:08] So just to put it in perspective, if it was all overtime, if it was... [00:51:17] These are all additional officers that are over and above the five we have working around [00:51:21] the clock in the city, or the four, or the six firemen, or whatever, every day, constantly, [00:51:29] or however they calculated it out. [00:51:34] I would say to the four events, or three events, or whatever, we're spending a lot [00:51:40] more than that, I'm sure, closing the bars at night, some of the nights I've been out, [00:51:44] back before Dixie settled me down a little bit. [00:51:50] Bottom line, those costs are already in our budget, and so they never make a transfer [00:51:59] out of our city council funds to reduce the cost of overtime. [00:52:06] And the fire department's budget, all those budgets are existing, and they're funded. [00:52:11] So we use that dollar amount to say we're giving, and we are doing it. [00:52:18] It happens, and it costs money, and so yes, it's an expense to the city. [00:52:23] But is it an economic benefit to the city? [00:52:27] That's why I'm asking to say, let's not look at what it's costing us to do these events, [00:52:34] but say, do we want these events, and our partnership is we're going to pay for those [00:52:40] costs, and maybe it's not all overtime costs once it falls back to the city, or maybe they're [00:52:47] still overtime. [00:52:48] But we've had all these protests and other things that we have no control over, and we're [00:52:54] having to fund it because we've got a police department, and that's what we do. [00:52:58] The sheriff's department comes out and runs a street parade with us, and I don't think [00:53:01] we get a charge. [00:53:02] Our police officers go to Darpin and other places, I understand, I think, when they have [00:53:07] a need. [00:53:08] As recently as last week. [00:53:09] Yeah, when they have a need, and so... [00:53:11] There's a, what do you call it, a cyclical thing on large events. [00:53:15] Right. [00:53:16] So I think that that's just a part of government, part of what we do, and we started billing [00:53:21] it when the city was sucking wind real bad, and I think that my point is, I don't know [00:53:27] that we still need to bill it for the big things. [00:53:29] We should still bill it for the things that people cause us expenses, but the city should [00:53:34] be a partner in those events, in my view. [00:53:37] If you want it, it's the city that gets the headline on it, the city's going to get the... [00:53:43] And also, it's going to get the blame if it goes wrong, because people say, that city... [00:53:47] So I think... [00:53:50] We've really made an effort to make it as the New Port Richey City event, it's called [00:53:56] Chasco Fiesta, but everybody sees it as a city event, and the reason that we do it, [00:54:02] the reason that we donate our time, and in many cases, our own money, to put it on, is [00:54:09] because we want it to benefit the city. [00:54:12] If it's not a benefit to the city, if you don't see it as a benefit to the city, then [00:54:16] let's not do it, because I can do a lot of other things. [00:54:20] But, you know, it's been a tradition for many, many years. [00:54:25] I think we've improved it, we've made it better, we're on the cusp of even doing other things [00:54:31] to make it better, but we can't do it without your help. [00:54:36] And if you feel like I do, that it is a benefit to the city, it brings interest and revenue [00:54:45] and ideas to the city that we wouldn't ordinarily have, then, you know, let's get together and [00:54:51] let's work on it together and make it happen. [00:54:56] We're willing to be flexible and make it happen. [00:54:59] The only reason we've ever been stuck on the carnival is because we didn't have any other [00:55:03] alternative for that money. [00:55:05] I think we can try to work around that so that doesn't become an issue. [00:55:12] The only other thing I can think of, you know, and the whole Memorial Day, I'm fascinated [00:55:18] by the idea of putting it in there, is we probably need to get Main Street to move their [00:55:27] seafood festival, which is typically within a week or two of that period. [00:55:34] That was just for this year. [00:55:40] I was thinking if you wanted to get it out of there. [00:55:46] The other aspect of it, Mr. Mayor, is the Indians, this is their last powwow before [00:55:51] they go back. [00:55:52] So their season ends. [00:55:55] We'd be back in March or early April. [00:55:59] Then it doesn't become a big issue. [00:56:01] I just want to talk, in a sense, for the businesses that aren't here, that are downtown. [00:56:06] You all know that I own the business downtown. [00:56:09] If you take advantage of Chesil, which I definitely did, it was my 13th month of the year in one day. [00:56:16] So if you've got nine days and you've got a business downtown, if you're not taking [00:56:20] advantage of it, you're losing out because it's one day I did a month's business. [00:56:25] So I'm totally in support of it. [00:56:29] I didn't see all the changes from my side. [00:56:34] I've seen the music grow through the weeks, not just the two weekends. [00:56:42] The barbecue has definitely got smaller. [00:56:47] Businesses downtown, if they grow hair on their head, if they get an attitude, they [00:56:54] can come ahead and hang out. [00:56:57] That's why I want to see the parade when we can safely do it, because that is exactly what that does. [00:57:03] Yeah. [00:57:04] Well, Greg Armstrong suggested that we do it at some point during the year where we [00:57:10] can all have a big mask burning. [00:57:12] So I thought that would get everybody down there. [00:57:15] I tell you what. [00:57:17] All right, Greg. [00:57:19] So I want to find the good-looking women again. [00:57:24] So where are we at with the three questions, I guess? [00:57:27] I think if I'm hearing the Chasco folks, and correct me if I'm wrong, you want to just [00:57:33] do something low-key this year over a period of time to keep the name recognition out and [00:57:40] shoot for March of 2022 for the next, for lack of a better term, classic Chasco Fiesta [00:57:48] that would have all of the moving pieces. [00:57:52] And in between now and then, we need to figure out to what extent we might want to come up [00:58:00] with some permanent or semi-permanent fencing that could be put up and down in the places [00:58:07] where it's not, and figure out how we can better help, I don't want to say subsidize, [00:58:18] but provide some sponsorship by the city to help out with things. [00:58:26] And maybe we pick up some of the music. [00:58:32] It may be the New Port Richey, City of New Port Richey bluegrass concert, just to pull one [00:58:43] out of the air, that we do that. [00:58:47] And just figure out how we can do it with a scaled back carnival in the area that it [00:58:54] would work, or without a carnival at all for that matter, but to make it so it's financially [00:59:01] viable, because I think that's the thing that everybody, I believe, is in agreement. [00:59:07] If we can put that carnival on Railroad Square, I think it would help the businesses downtown. [00:59:12] It might well. [00:59:15] So I think that would be a reason to have it over there. [00:59:18] The current carnival owners that we're working with, they're saying, well, we don't want [00:59:24] to come if we can't be right next to the event. [00:59:27] Well, there's other carnivals. [00:59:28] We're not worried about that. [00:59:29] Yeah. [00:59:30] And the other thing that I think, and we've touched on it, is certainly getting the shuttles [00:59:41] to work, because parking, even with the carnival just physically sitting in the street there, [00:59:50] parking is going to be still tight, but we've got a fairly nice sized garage that will be [00:59:56] open that we will be able to use. [01:00:00] particularly on the big nights. [01:00:01] People probably aren't gonna wanna walk [01:00:03] from there to the park, but shuttles would be easy. [01:00:07] And we've certainly, the churches, [01:00:11] I think I can speak for both of the churches [01:00:14] on the north side of the lake. [01:00:16] They're thrilled to death when they can block off parking [01:00:19] and charge 10 bucks a car to park in there. [01:00:23] And if Chasco comes up with a five buck a head [01:00:28] or whatever it is to get into the Fiesta every night, [01:00:33] well, you know, you start adding these things together [01:00:37] between cutting some of the expenses [01:00:40] that Chasco is facing, cutting, providing some support, [01:00:47] perhaps, on the music and making it possible [01:00:52] for Chasco to actually charge [01:00:55] for the people that come in there. [01:00:56] I think this is a nut we can crack. [01:00:59] Good, well, I feel that way. [01:01:00] This is, we'd like to know if Tina or Amy [01:01:02] have anything they'd like to add. [01:01:08] Tina or Amy? [01:01:11] You're wanting us to close the park off [01:01:13] so you can charge admission for your events, too? [01:01:19] I'm confused a little bit, so the- [01:01:21] Wait till you, wait till you. [01:01:23] To the mic, please. [01:01:25] Yeah. [01:01:26] I'm confused because if you're saying [01:01:28] let's just move it to Memorial Day, [01:01:30] then that isn't a series of smaller events. [01:01:33] So that's, I'm a little confused about it. [01:01:35] They're not saying, they're not saying that. [01:01:37] Even just for this year, [01:01:39] so what would the Memorial Day thing be then? [01:01:44] Okay, so if you keep it to the smaller events, [01:01:46] then you won't move it to Memorial Day. [01:01:51] And I'm not worried about Seafood Fest [01:01:52] because obviously we're not having it, [01:01:54] but we'd already discussed with the city [01:01:56] and as Main Street to move the Seafood Fest anyway [01:02:00] to a different time of the year. [01:02:05] As far as charging per head to just enter the festival, [01:02:08] I personally don't see how that's gonna work [01:02:11] because if you've got a family of four, [01:02:13] they're not gonna pay $20 to come in, [01:02:15] to walk around and pay money to vendors, [01:02:19] as well as then we're gonna charge on top of that [01:02:21] for them to go into the concert. [01:02:23] So quite personally, I don't see that working. [01:02:27] It doesn't mean it won't. [01:02:28] It's just from my perspective, [01:02:29] listening to what you're saying, I don't see that. [01:02:31] And nowadays, part of the draw, [01:02:35] and yes, I know that we are a blue collar community, [01:02:37] but it is sort of what's considered free fun for them [01:02:40] to be able to come out and walk around and enjoy it. [01:02:43] I could see us trying to move [01:02:45] to a different class of people. [01:02:49] Personally, the people watching at Chaska is pretty amazing. [01:02:54] And if that changed a little bit, [01:02:55] so we were more like an uppity place [01:02:58] like Dunedin or Safety Harbor, I understand that, [01:03:02] but I'm not necessarily saying [01:03:03] the rest of our community would be all for that. [01:03:06] And that's just a personal thing. [01:03:07] It's not coming from Main Street whatsoever. [01:03:09] It's just coming from growing up here [01:03:11] and people wanting to participate in an event, [01:03:13] but not necessarily having to buy tickets to the carnival [01:03:16] or having to pay to see the concert. [01:03:20] And I'm presuming that the Bike Fest would be unaffected [01:03:24] because you guys wouldn't be in there, so. [01:03:28] This board discussed all of that too. [01:03:30] And the outcome I think that we had [01:03:34] with Ruth Eckert Hall was, [01:03:35] if somebody paid to come in, they were in, [01:03:38] they could listen to the concert. [01:03:39] But if they wanted to get into the inner circle, [01:03:42] they would pay for that addition. [01:03:43] So what we have is people listening to the concert [01:03:46] for free all the time, [01:03:48] but we were not gonna ever try to double charge anybody. [01:03:51] If they were in, they were in. [01:03:53] There was talk that he wanted us to evacuate them out, [01:03:56] and then we talked about a general admission. [01:03:58] So I think those are valid points, [01:04:00] but the bottom line is, [01:04:01] without that big 60,000 carnival revenue, [01:04:04] and if everybody else in the world does it, [01:04:07] then some of the folks in our own city [01:04:09] are just gonna have to learn. [01:04:10] They're paying, what, 12, 15 bucks [01:04:12] to ride on one of those little scooters [01:04:14] for a couple hours? [01:04:15] I see lots of families riding on those things, so. [01:04:19] The other thing is, is that I look at a little place [01:04:22] like Plant City, sort of a farming community. [01:04:26] I take my family over there, [01:04:27] and we have to pay $15 a person to get in the gate, [01:04:31] and then everything's extra after that. [01:04:33] So to say that we can't charge here in our community, [01:04:37] I don't know, I think that's, [01:04:40] I would agree with you. [01:04:41] I think that's selling us a little short. [01:04:42] Yeah. [01:04:44] Any other thoughts, anybody? [01:04:47] So, so this year you may just have some [01:04:51] charity type events, finish some tournaments? [01:04:53] Yeah, spread out through the rest of the year, [01:04:55] and, [01:05:00] yeah, and that's the main thing, [01:05:02] is we wanna know what we can do for next year. [01:05:05] We wanna make sure that we have that space [01:05:07] on Railroad Square, that we can work with that, [01:05:10] that we get some feedback from the city [01:05:13] on what kind of support we can get from you as a partner, [01:05:16] and that you want us here, basically. [01:05:20] And so, you know, if we can, [01:05:23] if we can start planning now for 2022, [01:05:28] then knowing that we have all these pieces, [01:05:31] puzzle pieces in place, then, you know, [01:05:34] I think, you know, we've made some progress tonight. [01:05:40] But in, for this year, [01:05:42] with the CDC guideline regulations, 250 people, [01:05:46] even if we charged, we couldn't, [01:05:48] I mean, we couldn't afford to have any band, [01:05:51] and have a sound system and everything. [01:05:53] I mean, you can't, if you haven't done it, [01:05:55] and if you haven't put it together, [01:05:56] you just can't imagine what it costs, [01:05:58] and what's involved, and how labor intensive that is [01:06:02] to set up all those chairs, and put them in an exact spot, [01:06:06] so you can label the row, and label the seat, [01:06:08] and, you know, it's a big deal. [01:06:11] And thank you, Al, by the way. [01:06:15] And so, you know, we don't wanna do it, [01:06:20] you know, sort of half, you know, what we wanna, [01:06:23] we do what we wanna do it right. [01:06:25] We want it to be a good reflection on the city. [01:06:28] And in the meantime, what we'll try to do [01:06:31] is some events just to keep Chasco Fiesta [01:06:35] in the minds of people here in New Port Richey. [01:06:38] Like. [01:06:39] I like that idea. [01:06:40] I like to hear the name Chasco throughout the year. [01:06:43] Every couple months, the Chasco thing. [01:06:44] See, like Patty said, you know, [01:06:47] maybe a fishing tournament, a golf tournament, [01:06:49] maybe a bowling tournament. [01:06:52] You know, things like that, that are manageable, [01:06:56] but doesn't require the city [01:06:59] to step outside the normal guidelines, [01:07:02] because I know Debbie's concerned about that. [01:07:04] By the way, thank you, Debbie, for everything you've done [01:07:08] to make, to help us, and make it possible. [01:07:11] And get some of the old guys, [01:07:12] those old guys that pick a ball tournament. [01:07:14] You're right. [01:07:15] You know, there's a lot of people [01:07:16] play up there in the mornings. [01:07:19] Yeah? [01:07:21] Yeah. [01:07:22] Sounds good. [01:07:24] Yeah. [01:07:24] Well, I wanna see Chasco next year. [01:07:26] I don't know about everybody else, [01:07:27] but I definitely want it. [01:07:28] So, I mean, I'm committed to it. [01:07:30] So, we need to, I guess we have some things we gotta do. [01:07:33] Well, I, yeah, and I agree. [01:07:35] It's my favorite event of the whole year. [01:07:37] I just, and now I have to. [01:07:40] We volunteer every year, too. [01:07:40] Yeah, and to have to wait another year [01:07:44] for it to come around, I'll be ready. [01:07:47] I guess the first 35 years I was alive, [01:07:50] you guys, since you were old enough to remember, went to it. [01:07:54] Yeah. [01:07:55] Mike, any other thoughts? [01:07:58] Yeah, I'll make this as well. [01:08:00] I like the idea of hearing about Chasco. [01:08:07] We asked our downtown merchants to help us promote that [01:08:12] and turn, you know, brands on each other, so to speak. [01:08:15] Right, right. [01:08:16] And I don't know, do you think something like that [01:08:18] will help or satisfy or assist you [01:08:21] with your sponsorships for this year? [01:08:26] That's what we're hoping. [01:08:27] Around next year, I think part of the branding is, [01:08:31] you know, Chasco Life this year will be back and bright [01:08:35] in 22 or something, you know, find something like that [01:08:37] so that you're reminding people, hey, we're still here [01:08:41] and we're doing this, but this is really where we're at. [01:08:45] Yeah, and Patty is in charge of our sponsorship, [01:08:49] so she can probably speak to that as well as anyone. [01:08:53] You know, I've done sponsorships for years and years [01:08:56] until I dragged Patty in, kicking and screaming, [01:08:59] and she's been a great help. [01:09:01] Thanks, Chuck. [01:09:04] I wanted to ask, would it be okay to plan, like, [01:09:07] the car show for Memorial Day weekend? [01:09:09] Would that affect anything else going on in the city, or? [01:09:13] Do we have anything else on the calendar for that? [01:09:17] I mean, obviously, we'll formulate some plan [01:09:20] and get back with you with more details, but just to. [01:09:22] That actually would give you a three-day weekend, too. [01:09:26] Half beer and wine festival. [01:09:27] Mm-hmm, right. [01:09:29] It's only, like, a four or five-hour thing. [01:09:33] But I'm saying you could make it a couple [01:09:35] of things if you wanted. [01:09:38] You could have a fishing tournament that weekend. [01:09:40] Yeah, we could do, like, golf, fishing, [01:09:42] and then the car show. [01:09:45] Mm-hmm. [01:09:47] We're certain we can make it work. [01:09:49] Okay, that's awesome. All right, [01:09:50] I'll follow up with you, Tim. [01:09:52] I'll go for a car show anytime, so. [01:09:53] Oh, yeah, yeah, I like that, Tim. [01:09:55] Where will we stand with the, [01:09:57] since we're talking about events, [01:09:59] and we're thinking now to March and now back, [01:10:02] the events in the fall that we've had [01:10:05] and the Christmas parade? [01:10:10] There, what is it, the children's art show [01:10:12] that you say we have? [01:10:14] I don't know that we've had a lot of entertainment [01:10:16] during Christmas and the park itself, but. [01:10:19] I'm. [01:10:21] I still think we're, right now, health is a factor. [01:10:25] Yeah. So we get some kind [01:10:26] of release. [01:10:28] We can say, yes, let's go ahead with a Christmas parade, [01:10:31] but we don't have that release yet. [01:10:33] I think we will, by June or July, [01:10:38] we should have a pretty good idea. [01:10:41] I say Fauci was making noises about things returning [01:10:45] to some semblance of normal in the early fall. [01:10:50] If that comes to pass, and by, you know, [01:10:53] at least by August, we ought to really know at that point, [01:10:57] then there should be time to gear up [01:11:00] and have the Christmas parade [01:11:02] and all the other stuff we've been missing set up, [01:11:06] and we can, I think we'll know a lot better this summer. [01:11:12] Yeah, I agree. [01:11:13] And one thing, and I know, Debbie, [01:11:15] I know you aren't forgetting, [01:11:17] is I will need a letter from the city. [01:11:19] Oh, please. [01:11:20] Signed so that we can get out of those contracts that. [01:11:25] We're still in a state of emergency, aren't we? [01:11:27] Yep, we can. [01:11:28] Oh, I mean, we don't need to vote on it ourselves [01:11:30] between the mayor and the city manager. [01:11:31] They've got that. [01:11:32] We'll make that happen. [01:11:33] Okay. [01:11:35] Yeah, just to get you out from under that, [01:11:38] because there's just no way that, [01:11:40] from the health department, would go ballistic [01:11:44] if we even suggested holding it on schedule. [01:11:47] I'm glad to see you here, by the way. [01:11:49] Thanks. [01:11:50] Yes. [01:11:51] And we are, [01:11:55] I don't know what we see and what we're in, [01:11:56] and I was talking to a colleague today in Denver, [01:12:00] and her comment to me was, [01:12:03] well, you guys got a far wide open. [01:12:05] I go, that's the case. [01:12:09] She goes, well, she goes, [01:12:11] we can't even find a restaurant still to eat. [01:12:12] We said, they're mandated no more than 25%, [01:12:16] and most restaurants are not even opening, [01:12:18] can't afford to turn their lights on [01:12:20] for 25% of the patients, so it's closed down. [01:12:22] So we, you know, this is our environment we live in, [01:12:25] and we are probably in, [01:12:28] with respect to other parts of the country. [01:12:31] I understand where she's coming from, [01:12:33] I go, well, we got quite a, [01:12:34] I mean, you see it in football games, right? [01:12:37] Yeah, that's right. [01:12:38] The paper's in a stand in Tampa, [01:12:39] but you go, where is everybody, right? [01:12:42] Yeah, yeah, that's right. [01:12:44] We have to keep adding more. [01:12:45] We'll muddle through this somehow, I'm convinced, [01:12:50] and that's, it hurts to watch the restaurants [01:12:55] and the bars, I mean, they're, [01:12:58] they've been hurting for almost a year now, [01:13:00] and it's a miracle any of them have survived. [01:13:04] And the retail, so, you know, [01:13:06] it might be worthwhile for us to get an update [01:13:08] on funding for even, like, the rental rebate stuff. [01:13:14] I was thinking, for folks who were getting [01:13:17] the rent reimbursement for a period of time, [01:13:21] they've had it during the whole period of time [01:13:23] of the, the ones that have had it [01:13:25] for a large part of this are still struggling, [01:13:28] and so I'd like for us to also keep in mind, [01:13:32] and I know, I look at Chopper, [01:13:34] because I know you brought up the state of the businesses, [01:13:38] but we may need to evaluate whether or not [01:13:42] new struggling businesses are opening up, [01:13:45] but need a little extension, [01:13:46] even if it's for a month or two or something, [01:13:48] to continue to keep them open. [01:13:50] I don't know how they're faring, [01:13:53] but we had this great thing going, [01:13:54] and then March hit, and it hit us, [01:13:57] and it hit every business in town. [01:14:00] I'd heard rumors of folks closing down. [01:14:02] So far, so good, you know, [01:14:05] but I believe there's still some that are hurting, [01:14:09] and they're about to run out of there. [01:14:12] Yeah. [01:14:13] Just like we've extended unemployment, [01:14:16] and they're extending other things. [01:14:19] This is off to the side, but hopefully we can. [01:14:21] It's a good segue, actually, into communications, [01:14:24] which is the next thing on the agenda. [01:14:27] Yeah, I had a couple of things I wanted to bring up. [01:14:30] I got complaints in the last 24 hours or so, [01:14:43] seeing on Facebook, and I promised I would bring this up. [01:14:48] I've already talked to Ms. Manns about it. [01:14:51] We've got an issue on Louisiana [01:14:54] and some of the other state streets [01:14:58] with people that are coming off. [01:15:00] of particularly grand, but also to a lesser degree off Madison. [01:15:05] And as soon as they get on those little side streets, they floor it. [01:15:09] And the people are claiming that folks are pushing upwards of 50 miles an hour. [01:15:17] Robert Rivera and his people checked at one of them [01:15:20] and actually confirmed they had some really fast speeders. [01:15:24] But I would like us to spend some time looking at those situations. [01:15:30] If we need to pick up traffic enforcement, so be it. [01:15:35] One of them was saying, I think only half in jest, [01:15:37] that we could put a significant boost to the city budget just by having the police [01:15:44] out there writing speeding tickets. [01:15:46] So it's something we need to address. [01:15:50] And if we need to have some more four-way stops or something else to slow them down, [01:15:54] I'm sure Robert and his crew can give us some real numbers of what is really happening. [01:16:00] Because perception is sometimes not the same as reality. [01:16:05] The other issue, and I've heard two instances, [01:16:11] and I'm not sure what we can do other than condemn it. [01:16:16] But a couple of, I'm now told, minor girls were downtown Saturday and some

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3. 3Communications▶ 1:16:17
4. 4Adjournment▶ 1:21:25