On the agenda

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

   Pledge of Allegiance

   Pledge of Allegiance and moment of silence in honor of servicemen and women.

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   [00:00:20] If I could ask you to all stand, join me in the Pledge of Allegiance and remain standing [00:00:22] for a moment of silence in honor of our servicemen and women at home and abroad. [00:00:27] I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America and to the republic for [00:00:33] which it stands, one nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all.

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3. 3

   Moment of Silence

   Moment of silence in honor of servicemen and women, followed by the Pledge of Allegiance.

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   [00:00:22] for a moment of silence in honor of our servicemen and women at home and abroad. [00:00:27] I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America and to the republic for [00:00:33] which it stands, one nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all. [00:00:43] Thank you. [00:00:44] You may be seated.

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4. 4.a

   ↳You arrived here from a search for “David Connor and Associates” — transcript expanded below

   Urban Land Institute Technical Assistance Panel Presentation

   discussed

   The Urban Land Institute's Technical Assistance Panel presented findings and recommendations from a 36-hour study addressing five questions posed by the City regarding foreclosed/unoccupied residential properties, neighborhood cohesion, mobile home parks, homeownership vs. rental balance, and incentives for residential reinvestment. Panel chair Stuart Rogel introduced the team and framed observations about New Port Richey's strong identity, history, and market opportunities, with Chris Worley beginning a market analysis showing development has shifted to eastern Pasco along the Suncoast Parkway and I-75 while entry-level housing has been priced out of those markets.

   🏢Bryant, Miller, and Olive🏢City of Largo🏢David Connor and Associates🏢Domain Homes🏢Grayland Ventures🏢Landmark Reports🏢Tampa Bay Partnership for Regional Economic Development🏢Urban Land Institute👤Carol Strickland👤Chris Worley👤David Connor👤Debbie Manz👤Gallagher👤Jenna Wiley👤Jim McCarthy👤John Osborne👤Jonah Lyons👤Nikki Nate👤Shabano Cain👤Stuart Rogel#Chasco Festival#Community Redevelopment Area (citywide)#Foreclosed and unoccupied residential properties#Gateway to Tropical Florida (city logo/identity)#Homeownership vs. rental properties#Mobile home parks reinvestment#Suncoast Parkway development corridor#Trinity housing market#ULI Technical Assistance Panel#Wesley Chapel housing market

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   [00:00:47] The first and apparently only item on our agenda is the Urban Land Institute Technical [00:00:52] Assistant Panel presentation. [00:00:53] Ms. Manz? [00:00:54] Yes, sir, Mr. Mayor. [00:00:56] As you are aware, the city was selected to participate in a study with the Urban Land [00:01:02] Institute. [00:01:04] The purpose of the study in large part was to assess some of the current conditions in [00:01:10] our housing stock and to make recommendations for some reinvestment efforts. [00:01:20] There are five specific questions that we have proposed to the panel from the Urban [00:01:28] Land Institute, and I think as part of their presentation to us this evening, they will [00:01:34] have recommendations and responses on the questions that were presented to them. [00:01:40] They are going to start, as I understand it, with Stuart Rogel with some introductory [00:01:50] comments and we're prepared for that at this time. [00:01:54] Thank you, Madam City Manager and members of Council and members of the community and [00:01:59] stakeholders. [00:02:00] Many of you, we've talked to you in the last couple of days and we thank you for your time [00:02:05] and participation in this. [00:02:06] My name is Stuart Rogel. [00:02:08] I'm the chair of this ULI panel. [00:02:11] I have the good fortune of being chair of the panel. [00:02:14] We've been in your community for some almost 36 hours now, and it's been nonstop learning [00:02:19] about New Port Richey and learning about all the terrific things that are going on and [00:02:26] learning how we can give you some thoughts and ideas and recommendations on how you can [00:02:32] continue to move forward with those initiatives and continue to address your exciting revitalization [00:02:40] that's occurring in your community. [00:02:42] So we're excited about that. [00:02:43] We don't have all the answers in 36 hours. [00:02:47] We have no sleep and no answers, but we do have ideas and recommendations to share with [00:02:53] you and to start and to continue the dialogue of how you can move forward in your community. [00:03:01] My organization is, my company is called Grayland Ventures. [00:03:04] We're an economic development, business development consulting firm. [00:03:08] I've had over 30 years of experience in the economic development and urban revitalization [00:03:13] world. [00:03:14] I ran an organization called the Tampa Bay Partnership for Regional Economic Development [00:03:18] for over 20 years here in this marketplace that included Pasco County and New Port Richey. [00:03:23] I've worked closely with many people in Pasco County and the city in the past. [00:03:29] I also had the good fortune for 10 years to work in the city of Miami Beach where I [00:03:34] was in charge of economic development in the early, early, early days of Miami Beach. [00:03:40] And I will tell you that Miami Beach is a very different community than New Port Richey, [00:03:45] but has many of the same issues and challenges and opportunities that we saw way, way back [00:03:51] when that are opportunities for you here today. [00:03:54] And it's not just Miami Beach that has those challenges and opportunities like you have. [00:03:59] It's many, many communities throughout our state and throughout our country. [00:04:03] So you have a real, real great, and you have been doing some great things to really advance [00:04:10] your community and you should be proud of that because I think you're ahead of many [00:04:14] of these communities in many ways and we'll talk about that. [00:04:17] I had the good fortune of working with a panel of, well, let me step back for a second. [00:04:23] Let me talk a little bit about the Urban Land Institute because of those of you who don't [00:04:26] know the Urban Land Institute, we are a group, a national, international group of over 40,000 [00:04:34] members in the real estate, land use, planning, environmental, architecture, development industry [00:04:41] in general. [00:04:42] So we represent the public and private sector when it comes to land use and development [00:04:47] throughout the country, throughout the world. [00:04:50] Our mission is to provide leadership in the responsible use of land and in creating and [00:04:54] sustaining thriving communities worldwide. [00:04:57] So working here is a good example of how we do that here at the Urban Land Institute. [00:05:04] The advisory services program that we provide, and this is one of about 15 advisory service [00:05:09] programs that we've provided here just in the Tampa Bay market in the last 10 years, [00:05:16] two of which happen to be in Pasco County and former county administrator Gallagher [00:05:21] was here, one of our stakeholders who we talked to yesterday, and he recognized that [00:05:26] the first Pasco, excuse me, first ULI panel for Pasco County was one of the catalysts [00:05:35] for changing the land use and development code regulations in Pasco County and actually [00:05:41] allowed him as a city manager to look at how he could organize the county for future development [00:05:47] opportunities and he really was able to highlight what we were able to do. [00:05:51] We've come back and done a second panel in Pasco County and we're in conversations, I [00:05:56] understand, for a third panel. [00:05:57] So we're excited to be here. [00:05:59] It's one of 15 that we've done. [00:06:01] What we do as advisory service members is we deliver fresh insights. [00:06:06] We're the new pair of eyes here. [00:06:08] We haven't been here more than 36 hours, so we're not embedded in this community other [00:06:14] than the last two days. [00:06:16] We can give you different perspectives and we bring it from a real estate development [00:06:20] and a land use perspective. [00:06:22] So we're looking at this from how does a developer, how does a land use specialist look at these [00:06:27] things. [00:06:28] So we're trying to give you the real estate developer's perspective. [00:06:32] We're going to be open. [00:06:33] We're going to be candid. [00:06:34] We might be candid too, but she's not here today. [00:06:37] We're going to be unbiased and we're going to share some things that we hope will open [00:06:42] your eyes and get you to think about, hmm, how do we do that? [00:06:46] We've all volunteered our time here and our expertise. [00:06:49] No one is getting paid for this and I'll thank my fellow panel members greatly for the time [00:06:55] that they've put in and the thoughts that they've put in. [00:06:58] So we volunteer because we care about helping communities. [00:07:02] And we hope what this will do, as I said, we don't have the answers. [00:07:06] We're going to give you enough ideas to kickstart and to begin the conversations and come up [00:07:11] with your own thoughts and ideas of how can you turn these recommendations, these suggestions, [00:07:17] these ideas into meaningful results. [00:07:19] So we're setting the stage for you. [00:07:21] We're building the conversation. [00:07:24] So my team, our team here today, myself as the chair, David Connor, and we're going to [00:07:30] hear from all the team members, by the way. [00:07:33] So you'll get a chance to hear from them personally on different aspects because we personally, [00:07:38] we selected these team members to really address the questions, which we'll get to [00:07:42] in a minute, that you asked us to address. [00:07:45] But we have David Connor from David Connor and Associates, landscape architect, designer [00:07:50] and planner, Jim McCarthy from Domain Homes, a residential developer, particularly infill [00:07:57] development in urban areas. [00:07:59] We have Nikki Nate, who I think many of you know, Bryant, Miller, and Olive. [00:08:03] She is not of counsel to us. [00:08:05] She is an advisor on this panel, but we're excited to have her. [00:08:10] I think she's a hometown girl, and she'll brag about that when she gets up. [00:08:15] John Osborne. [00:08:16] Where's John? [00:08:17] From Manatee County. [00:08:18] Watch John because he's going to steal all your millennials. [00:08:21] He'll tell you all about it in a minute. [00:08:23] Carol Strickland with the City of Largo. [00:08:26] And Carol does community development and development activities within the City of Largo. [00:08:32] And if you haven't been to Largo, it's a poster child. [00:08:35] It's a role model for how a city can revitalize itself. [00:08:39] Chris Orley with Landmark Reports. [00:08:42] He's got more data at the tip of his tongue, and he'll tell you about it than I've ever [00:08:46] seen before, and I'm excited, and he's set the stage for what the market's all about. [00:08:50] We've had a great team at ULI, too. [00:08:53] Shabano Cain, who is our executive director, and Jenna Wiley at Urban Land Institute. [00:08:58] Jonah Lyons, who's cleaning up our mess back at the incubator, who'll be here very soon. [00:09:03] So we've got a great team, and this is the team that we're continuing on to complete [00:09:07] the assignment with a report that will present to you a formal written report and other information. [00:09:12] So that's our team. [00:09:14] The questions you asked us to consider are five, and I'm going to read them. [00:09:20] What role can the city play in motivating the occupancy of both foreclosed and unoccupied [00:09:26] residential properties in the next 12, 24, 36 months? [00:09:32] What can we do short term, medium term, long term to address those foreclosed and unoccupied [00:09:38] properties? [00:09:39] With the limited resources that we understand you have, what programs and initiatives can [00:09:44] be implemented to motivate cohesive and proactive neighborhoods? [00:09:49] We were asked to focus on the neighborhoods here in New Port Richey, and look at this [00:09:55] from a citywide perspective. [00:09:57] We had a great tour yesterday before we started the meetings with all our stakeholders. [00:10:09] We had a great tour yesterday and saw a number of your neighborhoods, and again this morning [00:10:15] some of us went out, 430 runs, 530 runs, 630 runs, and 730 drive-throughs. [00:10:20] So we saw a lot of the neighborhood, a lot of the communities, and so many incredible [00:10:24] things going on. [00:10:26] So what can we do to help motivate and create those cohesive and proactive neighborhoods? [00:10:32] We also looked in particular at the mobile parks that are within your city, and we know [00:10:36] that they vary in size and condition, but how can we do, how can you, how can the city [00:10:43] provide programs that can be developed to encourage a more dedicated stewardship and [00:10:47] focus on raising the value of the structures in these parks? [00:10:51] And I'll tell you, that was one of the biggest challenges that we dealt with, as I know you [00:10:54] are, and we spent a lot of time talking about this, but we have some, I think, down-to-earth [00:10:59] practical thoughts and suggestions on those parks. [00:11:03] Should the city consider reinvestment programs geared towards improving the percentage of [00:11:08] homeownership versus rental properties? [00:11:11] We understand, and we'll talk about the homeownership versus rental issue, and we'll come back to [00:11:17] how we've addressed that, and that's another critical issue where we spent a lot of time, [00:11:22] heard a lot of feedback from many of you on this issue, and we ourselves spent a lot of [00:11:27] time as a panel discussing this issue. [00:11:30] And then finally, what can the city offer as an incentive or incentives for positive [00:11:36] reinvestment in our residential housing stock in order to improve the appearance of properties [00:11:41] and the sense of community throughout the city? [00:11:44] So he gave us five big questions to work on. [00:11:48] Any one of those could have taken us two days and longer to really get to the bottom of [00:11:52] them, but we took it on, and I think we have some suggestions for you. [00:11:56] Now, the way we're going to address these questions today and how we're going to organize [00:12:00] the rest of our presentation is, after I finish my introductory remarks, we're going to talk [00:12:06] a little bit about market opportunities. [00:12:08] And I know you've heard this before, but I think it's vitally critical to understand [00:12:13] where New Port Richey fits in the scheme of the bigger market here in Pasco County and [00:12:19] in Tampa Bay, for that matter, because you are part of a larger market. [00:12:24] You are a city here in Pasco County, but you're part of a very large, growing, dynamic market. [00:12:30] You know that, but it's always important to set that stage. [00:12:34] We're going to hear from Jim and from the developer's perspective of how do you make [00:12:38] this work? [00:12:39] How do you get Jim and Domain Homes and others like him to come up here and do what's happening [00:12:45] in other communities in the Tampa Bay region? [00:12:48] So we're going to share with you some things about what it's going to take to make it work. [00:12:52] We're going to talk specifically about that mobile home issue, because we think we need [00:12:56] to confront it head on and address this. [00:13:00] We're going to talk a little bit about focus, and we'll get into that in more detail, but [00:13:05] I will just set the stage a little bit by saying that you have a community redevelopment [00:13:10] area that is citywide. [00:13:12] That's good news and bad news and good news. [00:13:15] The good news is you have a city redevelopment area that's citywide. [00:13:19] You have the resources that you can draw from from a citywide perspective. [00:13:23] You also then have to look at your entire city, as you asked us to do, and figure out [00:13:29] how do you address the needs of the city through the redevelopment efforts and through your [00:13:33] city efforts. [00:13:36] That is a challenge for a redevelopment agency with limited resources. [00:13:40] So we come back and said the good news is there's some opportunities to focus so that [00:13:45] you can take those limited resources that you have, take those redevelopment resources [00:13:50] and other resources, and really make something happen. [00:13:54] We're going to talk about that. [00:13:56] And then we're going to talk about your identity, the community's identity and community engagement. [00:14:03] How do we build on that? [00:14:04] You have an identity. [00:14:05] We're not suggesting you don't. [00:14:07] You have a great identity, in fact. [00:14:09] But how do you build on that and how do you engage the community to be able to address [00:14:13] the challenges and needs? [00:14:14] It can't just be the city. [00:14:16] It can't just be the agency. [00:14:18] It can't be the private sector. [00:14:20] It's got to be everybody together, and the community is critically important. [00:14:24] And then we'll talk about some specific next steps so that you can say, well, where do [00:14:27] we go from here after this presentation, next week, the week after, and what do we [00:14:33] do to move forward? [00:14:36] The way we've structured this today, next slide, is we each one of us want to share [00:14:42] with you some of the observations that we have. [00:14:45] What are our observations coming in? [00:14:48] What are our initial impressions? [00:14:50] What did we hear or what did we observe or what did we see from the data that we were [00:14:56] provided, the information we were provided? [00:14:58] And then what actions can we take? [00:15:00] We know you've heard a lot of plans, you've heard a lot of reports, a lot of ideas, but [00:15:05] really we wanted to focus on here's some practical down-to-earth actions that you can begin to [00:15:11] take or begin to consider taking so that you can begin to address some of the issues in [00:15:16] those questions. [00:15:18] I'll begin a little bit with my observations. [00:15:23] First of all, I want to congratulate you and the city for so many big things that you've [00:15:30] created, already created here in New Port Richey. [00:15:34] I came from Miami Beach, and when I came to Miami Beach, there was nothing happening in [00:15:39] Miami Beach. [00:15:40] We had four years of tax-based decline. [00:15:42] Everything you think of in Miami Beach wasn't there, except that as we heard throughout [00:15:49] the last couple days, there were good bones. [00:15:51] In Miami Beach, it happened to be a historic district, the Art Deco District, which is [00:15:55] now famous. [00:15:56] Here it's your history that goes from the 20s and the 30s and builds right up to today. [00:16:03] To be honest with you, there was a time where markets passed you by, consumer preferences [00:16:09] passed you by. [00:16:10] Frankly, the way we promote Florida as a new place, as a place that's different from all [00:16:17] these northerners who come down and want to find a new place. [00:16:20] A lot of that passed New Port Richey by, but now you're the new place. [00:16:25] You're the cool place. [00:16:26] You're the place where people want to be, because all those new places are still attracting [00:16:30] people, but they're all the same, and you're different. [00:16:34] Somebody said, you have great bones here. [00:16:37] I think it's way beyond great bones you have. [00:16:40] Great bones mean they're hidden. [00:16:41] You can't see my bones. [00:16:43] See my stomach, but you can't see my bones. [00:16:46] You don't have anything to hide. [00:16:48] You've got something to share with the community right now. [00:16:51] You've got something to share with the market right now. [00:16:54] I would suggest, because of the history, because of what you are about, what New Port Richey [00:17:00] is about, you have something to share with the world. [00:17:02] Your logo is the gateway to tropical Florida. [00:17:05] It's right up there. [00:17:06] I think it's a great logo. [00:17:07] It's a great message. [00:17:08] You are the great way to tropical Florida. [00:17:11] You've connected with something bigger than yourself, so how do we capitalize on that? [00:17:16] I'm really excited by what we saw. [00:17:18] I think there's lots to work with. [00:17:20] I think the challenge is, really, how do you take that, and how do you build upon it? [00:17:25] We're going to talk a lot about building upon successes. [00:17:29] I have a watchword that in 20 years, 30 years of economic development, economic development, [00:17:35] turning a community around, whether it's neighborhoods or commercial districts or whatever it might [00:17:39] be, is all about patient persistence. [00:17:43] You've got to be persistent. [00:17:45] You've got to do it every day. [00:17:47] You've got to generate success and results and show them every day, but you've got to [00:17:51] be patient, because you're not going to turn around 50 years of downturn in two days, three [00:17:58] days, a year, two years. [00:17:59] I know many of you have been working very hard at it, and you've just got to keep at [00:18:03] it, because it's an ongoing process, but now is your time, and now is the opportunity. [00:18:08] That's my observation. [00:18:09] We have a lot to build upon, and that's how we started with this, and now we want to share [00:18:15] some fresh perspectives for you and talk a little bit about how we address some of [00:18:20] those questions. [00:18:21] To kick it off, I'd like to ask Chris Worley with Landmark Reports to come and talk to [00:18:25] us about market opportunities here in New Port Richey. [00:18:28] Thank you, sir. [00:18:29] Can everybody hear me okay? [00:18:42] My name is Chris Worley. [00:18:43] I'm from Tampa. [00:18:44] I grew up off of Linebaugh Avenue in the Switcher Park area. [00:18:48] My dad rode a horse to school. [00:18:50] He broke his back as a little kid, got run over by a wagon. [00:18:53] You don't think 50 years ago there was horse and buggies and wagons around Florida, but [00:18:56] there were. [00:18:57] I guess it's actually been 70 years now. [00:19:01] I was told to let you guys know, and you folks know out here, that actually my parents live [00:19:05] in New Port Richey now, so I know a little bit about the area. [00:19:08] My niece has sung at the Chasco Festival. [00:19:11] I've been to your parade in Frozen with my kids out there, so I know the area pretty [00:19:16] well. [00:19:17] I love New Port Richey. [00:19:18] I love the canal, and I wish that my parents would sell me their little house on the canal [00:19:22] down there by the bridge off of a grand, but that is what it is. [00:19:28] I am a commercial appraiser by trade. [00:19:32] I have a real estate background. [00:19:34] Before that, I worked for a small civil engineering company, so I understand development, and [00:19:38] I understand trends, and I understand the Tampa Bay market pretty well. [00:19:42] I started my own company called Landmark Reports about three years ago, and what I do is I [00:19:47] specialize in development of homes, new homes in particular. [00:19:50] I track all the new home sales, all the lot transactions, all the development patterns [00:19:56] from Hernando County down to Manatee and Sarasota County, and we're expanding my company into [00:20:01] the Orlando market. [00:20:03] On average, I track about 12,000 new home closings a year down to the model, the lot [00:20:09] sizes, pretty much every aspect you can think of. [00:20:12] I understand development costs, how the markets grow, and I bring that up because I want you [00:20:18] to understand that I think I have a pretty good grasp of what's going on in Pasco County, [00:20:24] and the map you're looking at behind me over there is my proprietary map, and what you're [00:20:28] looking at is all the development areas of Pasco County. [00:20:33] As you can see, most of the development, and as you know, most of the development is [00:20:36] along the Suncoast Parkway, and along 75 out in the Trinity area, excuse me, in the Tampa [00:20:42] area. [00:20:43] I bring this up because it looks like, if you see the 19 corridor over here, a lot of [00:20:49] the development has moved to the new growth areas over on the central and eastern Pasco, [00:20:56] and I think sometimes at first thought, it might be a negative to think of that way, [00:21:01] is that the market has left us, but in reality it hasn't. [00:21:04] If you can go to the next slide, I'd appreciate it. [00:21:07] Now we all understand why the development's occurring out there. [00:21:10] A lot of it has to do with transportation corridors. [00:21:12] The Suncoast Parkway is a direct shot into the employment centers of Tampa, the International [00:21:17] Airport. [00:21:18] 75 is the same way, it takes you right into downtown Tampa, where a lot of the employment [00:21:23] centers are, and a lot of the employment is in South Pinellas County. [00:21:28] Can you hit the next one, please? [00:21:33] But what's happened is, and I think this has always been an eye-opener for me, what's happened [00:21:36] is, and the reason I bring those other areas up is because I've been long preaching to [00:21:40] my clients that Pasco has a little bit of a problem, and the problem is that home pricing [00:21:46] has gotten so hot so quickly that the entry-level product is almost non-existent, and by that, [00:21:54] if you look at the first paragraph there, on average in those new markets, I know for [00:21:58] a fact an average in the Trinity market, their average price point for new homes is around [00:22:02] $365,000, $370,000. [00:22:05] Westy Chapel, that price is around $340,000. [00:22:08] And what's happened is that Pasco County has effectively driven a lot of the entry-level [00:22:12] product to Hernando County, over to Zephyr Hills, and into South Hillsborough County. [00:22:19] And so, in my opinion, there's a huge gap for entry-level product, first-time buyer [00:22:25] product in Pasco County. [00:22:28] I did a little research on the MLS today, and it looked like the last 12 months, the [00:22:32] MLS showed that the average price point in New Port Richey was $203,000, which is $125,000 [00:22:40] or $175,000 to $250,000 less than the typical new home price of greater Pasco County. [00:22:48] I like to look at this as not so much as a negative, as most likely an opportunity. [00:22:54] We have an opportunity to start luring people, for reinvestment purposes, to the only area [00:23:00] along 54 where you can get entry-level product. [00:23:06] There's really nothing available anywhere else in the State Road 54 corridor. [00:23:13] Can we go to the next slide, please? [00:23:15] Oops, we passed one. [00:23:16] Here we go. [00:23:18] Okay, so outside of ... Are we missing one, by the way? [00:23:22] I guess this is it. [00:23:24] Outside of the closings of new homes and the resales, I did a little research. [00:23:29] Yesterday, we were provided some data by the city, and the data might be a little bit dated. [00:23:34] I think it's from a 2010 census, but it showed that there was 8,700 dwelling units in New Port Richey. [00:23:40] Out of those 7,000, it showed that almost 7,000 ... Excuse me, out of those 8,700, [00:23:45] almost 7,000 were occupied. [00:23:47] Out of those occupied units, 4,084 were owner-occupied. [00:23:54] It conversely showed that the average rent rate for the rental units were $703 per month. [00:24:00] Now, me, being an appraiser and numbers guy, did a little math. [00:24:06] When you subtract the 4,084 occupied dwelling units from the 7,000 occupied units total, [00:24:13] that gives you about 2,900 rental units. [00:24:17] That's 41% of your product is rental product. [00:24:21] That's a pretty high number. [00:24:23] When I did a little research on the MLS, the MLS showed there was only 57 units for rent [00:24:29] right now, and they were showing the average asking price was $1,400 a month. [00:24:33] Now, that's double what the 2010 census is showing. [00:24:37] Now, I don't know for sure. [00:24:39] We were told about the misunderstanding sometimes what New Port Richey actually is, whether [00:24:44] it's New Port Richey or if it's Pasco County. [00:24:46] That, I don't know. [00:24:47] I think that's something to talk about with your local real estate board. [00:24:52] But, even if it's $1,000 per month as the asking rent price, that's considerably higher [00:24:58] than what we were told that was $700. [00:25:01] Furthermore, it showed that right now, the MLS of the last 12 months, it was 588 units [00:25:07] rented for $1,425 a month. [00:25:09] Again, considerably higher than what we were told that the rent rate was back in 2010. [00:25:14] Now, these are numbers that they might just seem kind of off the cusp, but the reason [00:25:18] I'm bringing these up is they actually show, in my opinion, a much more vibrant market [00:25:23] than maybe the board understands or maybe the local person understands. [00:25:27] But, I think if we start talking to some of your local real estate professionals, that [00:25:31] they might be able to periodically come in and share some of this data that's updated [00:25:35] almost daily from the MLS. [00:25:37] They're a great tool to have at your disposal, and I would start utilizing them. [00:25:42] Can we go to the next one? [00:25:44] Of course, here we go. [00:25:46] I'd already done the little math for us over here. [00:25:48] There's 2,846 rental units. [00:25:51] One of the things that struck me, and I'm not sure if it strikes you the same way, when [00:25:56] I look at only 57 units right now presently listed on MLS in your market, and if I say [00:26:03] to myself, there's 2,800 potential rental units, there's most likely a huge gap in [00:26:10] what's being rented by professionals and what's being rented just out in the markets. [00:26:17] What does this mean? [00:26:19] This means that there aren't background checks. [00:26:21] This means that the potential for the renter might not be the quality renter you want to [00:26:26] have in the market. [00:26:27] They might not take care of the property the way that you would like the property taken [00:26:31] care of. [00:26:33] What I envision where we can go with this is if we can start to encourage the real estate [00:26:37] professionals to be the eyes and ears, so to speak, of the community and to help start [00:26:42] seeing what's happening. [00:26:43] If we can start to lure more of those higher rent type personnel to our area, those people [00:26:50] are going to fall in love with the area, but then they're probably going to become [00:26:53] buyers. [00:26:54] If they can afford 1,200 a month rent, they can easily afford an $800 a month mortgage. [00:27:02] What do we do to ... Now that we have potential buyers because they like the area, what do [00:27:06] we do to get them to buy these homes and improve them? [00:27:12] Some of the things that I talked about or I think about is easing up or making or streamlining [00:27:18] the ability to renovate your home. [00:27:21] I grew up in Tampa in the country, and I'll say this in as sweet a light as I can say, [00:27:29] my dad got in trouble for putting a fence up without having a permit, but it is what [00:27:34] it is. [00:27:35] He grew up in the country. [00:27:36] He's used to doing what he wants to do. [00:27:37] My point for bringing it up is he didn't know, albeit he thought he could do what he wanted [00:27:41] to do. [00:27:42] I think if we continue to do that outreach to the community, we continue to make things [00:27:47] streamlined to get permits for things and make them easier to get accomplished, it will [00:27:51] definitely improve the ability for people to come in, buy a house, renovate it, and [00:27:55] then have a little more pride because now they're homeowners and not renters. [00:27:59] The other thing I thought about was my parents' houses on the far south end of New Port Richey. [00:28:05] Frankly, when I'd come to visit them, I never came this far north. [00:28:08] I came to visit them, stayed down there by their house on the river, I say the little [00:28:13] canal, the river, and I'd go back to Tampa. [00:28:17] I didn't think about it until joining this panel, there's not a single sign when you're [00:28:21] coming down Grand that says, welcome to New Port Richey. [00:28:25] Come see our downtown. [00:28:28] It's almost like you're in a, I feel like I'm in just on Waters Avenue in Tampa or [00:28:34] Lineball Avenue. [00:28:37] My only suggestion is as a person that knows the area very well, if I had known for years [00:28:42] that you had the downtown that you had, I most likely would have come the extra quarter [00:28:46] mile to see it. [00:28:48] It's something to think about. [00:28:51] The other thing that I would suggest to you as a panel and to the real estate professionals [00:28:54] is one of the things that I noticed that's significantly different than other infill locations [00:29:00] throughout the market is the product that you have. [00:29:04] I bought a little house in South Tampa, I call it South Tampa, we're north of Kennedy. [00:29:08] All the South Tampa people make fun of us, but there's no duplexes where I live. [00:29:13] There's higher density products like townhomes, but there are no duplexes in urban infill [00:29:19] locations. [00:29:21] I would highly encourage the panel to look at promoting slightly higher density townhome [00:29:28] product, which is more in line with an urban feel. [00:29:32] You can have your design criteria, which make it look like it's part of the 1940s and 50s [00:29:37] and 60s, whatever it may be, but I just think it would really benefit the market to look [00:29:41] at some other infill areas and see what they've got and what adds to the community or what [00:29:45] adds to the feel of the market versus seeing duplexes scattered in amongst single family [00:29:51] detached dwelling units. [00:29:53] I'm trying to think if there's anything else. [00:29:57] I think that's about it. [00:30:00] McCarthy stand up here, he's the land guru of all Tampa Bay. [00:30:06] So here he is. [00:30:16] Good afternoon, everyone. [00:30:20] We have five minutes, so I'm more of a narrative person. [00:30:24] I don't have any statistics, [00:30:25] so I'm just gonna speak from the heart, if you don't mind. [00:30:30] What's the number one thing [00:30:32] that we all want in a place where we live? [00:30:37] Picture yourself back in the 1920s [00:30:39] during the roaring movie star days. [00:30:42] Or how about the 1960s when thousands of retirees [00:30:45] were coming from the Midwest to discover New Port Richey? [00:30:50] Or what about Frank Starkey and his team [00:30:53] at places and places, places and places, [00:30:57] and what he envisions for his apartment complex? [00:31:04] We all want a quality of life and a place to thrive. [00:31:10] The message of New Port Richey to live, work, [00:31:14] start a business, retire, raise a family, you're on target. [00:31:19] And I believe that you have a city manager and staff [00:31:22] and residents and stakeholders that believe in it. [00:31:26] And at the end of this presentation, [00:31:28] if I don't get a T-shirt that I'm a New Port Richey, [00:31:30] I'm gonna be upset, because I believe in it, too. [00:31:35] Chris Worley is a data geek, and he's also my friend. [00:31:38] He's a great appraiser. [00:31:39] He does this market research. [00:31:42] I spent 23 years in the production building. [00:31:45] I was regional president for Lenar. [00:31:48] I was VP of land for Lenar. [00:31:50] I was regional president for KB Home. [00:31:52] Prior to that, I was with MI Home, [00:31:54] and my first job 20 years, 24 years ago, [00:31:58] was I worked for Centex. [00:32:00] I guess I've acquired and put on the ground [00:32:02] about 34,000 units of residential construction [00:32:06] in eight counties. [00:32:09] About seven years ago, I had a change of heart. [00:32:12] God just said, you know, Jim, [00:32:14] you gotta go in a different direction. [00:32:16] I could not buy any more orange groves or dairy farms. [00:32:19] Just wasn't in me anymore. [00:32:21] My kids hated it. [00:32:23] They just saw that Daddy was building big boxes. [00:32:26] But Daddy made a good living at it. [00:32:28] So what I did was, I just prayed about it, [00:32:30] and a friend of mine had a company called Domain Homes, [00:32:34] South Tampa, down by MacDill Air Force Base. [00:32:37] And what we discovered was, [00:32:39] if you create an urban unique experience [00:32:41] in infill locations, we wanted to bring [00:32:45] affordable housing into the urban core. [00:32:48] So that's what we've done. [00:32:49] In seven years, Domain Homes has become [00:32:52] the largest single family urban developer [00:32:54] in the city of Tampa and the city of St. Pete. [00:32:57] We build about 147 homes a year. [00:33:00] These are spot lots, onesies, twosies, I like to say. [00:33:03] We're usually the first guys into a neighborhood. [00:33:05] We are not afraid to go in the neighborhoods. [00:33:09] What I do is a deep dive into, you know, I'm a gut guy, [00:33:12] but I look at the demographics, [00:33:14] I look at ratios like Chris mentioned, [00:33:17] rental versus fee simple ownership. [00:33:20] They can coincide very well. [00:33:23] It's not one's better than the other, [00:33:25] but they have to coincide. [00:33:27] You look at the schools, and just what's so unique about it. [00:33:31] And Chris mentioned that the State Road 54, [00:33:33] and I will tell you, State Road 54 corridor [00:33:36] is the hottest residential corridor in the state of Florida. [00:33:39] Not just Tampa, but anywhere in Florida. [00:33:43] You will not see as many permits [00:33:45] as you will see on State Road 54. [00:33:48] But, what they don't have, [00:33:51] is they don't have a unique, urban, authentic downtown. [00:33:55] What you've got here is unbelievable. [00:33:59] It's beautiful. [00:34:01] Honestly, it's so unique. [00:34:04] So, my observations. [00:34:09] Briefly, your core neighborhoods are beautiful. [00:34:13] What you've done with that organic agricultural zoning [00:34:17] is so awesome. [00:34:21] You've driven it, you just sense it, you just feel it. [00:34:24] So, keep doing that. [00:34:25] Staff, support it. [00:34:27] Go out and recruit neighborhood leaders [00:34:31] that are feeling it, [00:34:33] and then take them to the neighborhoods [00:34:35] that need the support. [00:34:38] You will not get new construction [00:34:40] in some of those underlying older neighborhoods. [00:34:43] Quite frankly, because there's no lots available. [00:34:46] It's built out. [00:34:48] And you've got thousands of homes that are older. [00:34:51] They don't have a lot of economic life left. [00:34:54] But, what I see is, if you bring in, [00:34:57] if you distinguish neighborhood [00:34:59] and create neighborhood leaders [00:35:01] and neighborhood associations [00:35:03] that communicate with each other, [00:35:04] there's a sense of pride that'll happen. [00:35:06] I can demonstrate to you this in St. Petersburg. [00:35:10] I can demonstrate you in the city of Tampa. [00:35:13] Over and over again. [00:35:14] You've got to create a sense of community. [00:35:16] And once you do that, [00:35:17] you will see people taking care of the properties [00:35:21] with the enforcement and encouragement of code enforcement. [00:35:25] You will see home improvements. [00:35:28] It will happen. [00:35:28] There's equity in those properties. [00:35:31] Please nod if you believe me. [00:35:33] There's equity in those neighborhoods, [00:35:35] because I looked at the resale. [00:35:37] With some improvements, those people will make money. [00:35:40] They've got money in their pocket, [00:35:41] they don't even realize it. [00:35:43] Because they will see what you all are doing [00:35:46] as community leaders, and they will dwell on that. [00:35:50] What happens in the downtown business district [00:35:53] is gonna benefit tenfold those people [00:35:56] in those more blue-collar areas. [00:36:05] You know, I just believe what you're doing, quite frankly. [00:36:10] I love the parks, I love the library, [00:36:14] I love the sense of community. [00:36:15] I believe that you are on to something unique. [00:36:19] I think it's twofold. [00:36:20] It's an accordion effect. [00:36:21] Keep going with your downtown core. [00:36:24] It's gonna have an accordion effect [00:36:25] on the outside neighborhood. [00:36:29] I wish you had building lots. [00:36:31] I wish you should do an exercise and see [00:36:35] how many buildable single-family lots do you have [00:36:38] in these neighborhoods. [00:36:39] Catalog them, see if they're for sale. [00:36:42] And then call up builders to see if they wanna bring in. [00:36:46] My price points of domain is $250,000 to $650,000. [00:36:51] That's our core business. [00:36:53] We have a new division called Urban 360 by Domain Homes. [00:36:57] Urban 360 just signed a development agreement [00:37:00] with the city of Tampa to go into their CRA in East Tampa. [00:37:04] They have 100 lots that they wanna build around. [00:37:07] So we're going in, we're gonna build a community center, [00:37:10] building a design center, a model center, [00:37:12] two merchandise models that will be open [00:37:15] seven days a week, staffed. [00:37:17] We've got two community partners, [00:37:18] which is Habitat for Humanity and the East Tampa CDC. [00:37:22] We're going to expose low-income people [00:37:25] to new housing that they've never experienced before. [00:37:28] We're gonna deliver homes in $150,000 to $180,000 range. [00:37:33] Watch me, invite me back. [00:37:35] Let me know this is a big venture for us. [00:37:37] And I assure you that if you believe in home ownership, [00:37:40] which we do, you can take some of those rental, [00:37:45] what Chris was saying, [00:37:45] and those people are paying that kind of rent [00:37:47] for those tiny little houses, [00:37:49] they can be home buyers too. [00:37:52] So keep up the good work. [00:37:53] And where do I get my T-shirt? [00:37:59] Oh, I'm so sorry. [00:38:02] My pleasure to introduce Nikki, Nate, and John Osborne. [00:38:08] Thank you. [00:38:10] Good afternoon. [00:38:11] I'm John Osborne. [00:38:12] I'm the planning official for Manatee County Government. [00:38:15] I've been with Manatee County about 10 years, [00:38:17] mostly involved as the planning director, [00:38:19] building level responsibilities and zoning [00:38:21] and things like that. [00:38:23] And before that, I was actually in the private sector [00:38:25] for quite a while. [00:38:25] I worked in land development, did a lot of work [00:38:28] for actually for local government consulting as well. [00:38:30] And also in my own business for many years, [00:38:32] doing land development consulting [00:38:33] and dealing with geographic information systems [00:38:35] and things like that. [00:38:36] A lot of data type needs. [00:38:38] Let's go and go to the next slide. [00:38:40] The question actually I'll ask was, [00:38:41] there are five mobile home parks located in the city [00:38:43] with a total of site locations. [00:38:47] These mobile home parks vary in size, [00:38:48] but all have consistent level or poor condition and value. [00:38:53] And what programs can be developed [00:38:54] to encourage a more dedicated stewardship [00:38:56] and focus on raising the value of the structures [00:38:59] and in the parks? [00:39:00] Well, we got a tour of your area [00:39:03] and there were some very interesting mobile homes. [00:39:05] You can see the picture there. [00:39:06] It was a stuccoed over old trailer. [00:39:09] I don't think that trailer's going anywhere. [00:39:10] I think the wheels have long gone. [00:39:12] But you know, if I was blindfolded and you took it off [00:39:15] and you told me I was in Manatee County [00:39:17] or any other Southwestern Florida city [00:39:19] or county I've worked in, I would believe you. [00:39:21] Because we have very similar problems, very similar issues. [00:39:25] You're not alone in this battle [00:39:28] in dealing with those kinds of issues. [00:39:31] Those aging mobile homes pose a lot of, [00:39:33] not just issues for sort of the aesthetic environment [00:39:36] of your community and the economic development [00:39:37] of your community, but they also certainly pose an issue [00:39:40] for the safety of the residents that dwell within them, [00:39:42] that live there. [00:39:44] And one of the things that I'd like to encourage you in, [00:39:46] and we didn't really see anything, [00:39:48] talking to code enforcement and seeing what y'all are doing. [00:39:50] And also they showed us some successes [00:39:52] where actually you had some things like that [00:39:54] and there's now a vacant pad. [00:39:56] It's good, good success. [00:39:58] Keep fighting the fight and keep plugging away. [00:40:00] It's a very difficult issue to address. [00:40:02] Some of the things that we've done in my experience [00:40:04] is in Manatee County especially, [00:40:06] we had a lot of these mobile home parks [00:40:07] that were built years ago. [00:40:09] And they're now in, of course, the coastal high hazard area. [00:40:12] And we have some very specific regulations, [00:40:14] not just that they may not redevelop one day, [00:40:18] that they cannot redevelop one day. [00:40:19] We have a post-disaster redevelopment plan [00:40:22] that's very specific about this. [00:40:23] And we're about ready to go out again and update that plan, [00:40:26] do another neighborhood outreach to all these communities, [00:40:29] but in the cities as well this time. [00:40:31] We're an incorporated county, [00:40:32] but we work with the cities as well. [00:40:33] And basically educating the folks [00:40:35] that own these properties that, you know, [00:40:37] if the big one comes, [00:40:38] you're not going to be able to rebuild here. [00:40:40] We also have what's called, [00:40:42] there's a coastal hazard area, [00:40:43] which y'all are very well aware of, [00:40:44] it's in your comp plan. [00:40:46] But we also have an area that goes a little bit further out [00:40:48] to the Cat 3 or Cat C, [00:40:49] whatever it is up here at the evac area. [00:40:52] It's called the coastal planning area. [00:40:53] We also have some restrictions on mobile homes [00:40:55] in those areas as well. [00:40:57] So we even get even further away [00:40:59] from the coast on this thing. [00:41:02] Next slide, please. [00:41:04] So some of the recommendations we have, [00:41:05] again, is keep fighting the fight. [00:41:07] You're doing it. [00:41:08] It's just a slog. [00:41:09] It is slow, it is tedious. [00:41:11] But if you can keep up the efforts [00:41:13] and keep the partnership going [00:41:14] with your building officials, [00:41:15] with your fire marshal, [00:41:16] law enforcement, your code enforcement folks, [00:41:18] and really look out for the safety of your citizens, [00:41:21] because that is really, really what you are doing. [00:41:23] You drive by some of these structures [00:41:25] and looking at them, [00:41:26] and you can't help but wonder [00:41:28] how these people are surviving in this building. [00:41:31] And some of these buildings, as you all know, [00:41:32] when you drive by them, [00:41:34] you don't see a lot of, maybe, straps anymore. [00:41:36] They're not tied down. [00:41:37] And as we all know, as Florida residents, [00:41:39] even our summertime thunderstorms [00:41:41] can really bring a wallop [00:41:44] when it comes to some of those winds. [00:41:45] So we need to really be careful [00:41:47] about the safety of our residents. [00:41:49] But the critical thing, too, [00:41:51] is if you ever get the opportunity [00:41:53] where you go through the process [00:41:55] and you end up owning these things [00:41:56] because the folks don't cooperate [00:41:57] or however it works out. [00:41:59] And one of the things we also have you think about [00:42:01] is depending upon where they are, [00:42:02] depending upon if it's a single lot ownership mobile home, [00:42:05] or it's part of a mobile home sort of village [00:42:08] or a mobile home park [00:42:10] where you have a bunch of individual trailers, [00:42:12] but it's one property or one parcel, [00:42:15] especially the, you know, hold on to that, [00:42:17] especially one of the individual lot ones, [00:42:18] because you never know over time, [00:42:20] you may have a redevelopment opportunity. [00:42:22] You may have the amalgamation of multiple parcels [00:42:25] over time. [00:42:26] And one of the things that we also encourage you to do [00:42:28] is to have sort of like an out. [00:42:31] So sometimes you'll have some property owners [00:42:33] at these sites that may not realize [00:42:36] that there's actually a future beyond [00:42:38] being a mobile home park owner, [00:42:40] that they've never talked to your city planner before. [00:42:43] They don't know that there's actually even a market, [00:42:45] like Chris was talking about, [00:42:46] for some of these properties. [00:42:48] So sometimes there's also an outreach component [00:42:50] that you can do with some of these owners, [00:42:52] and they may say, wow, I didn't know [00:42:53] that my site actually has the capability [00:42:56] of having an apartment building on it, [00:42:58] or whatever the case may be. [00:42:59] And sometimes that is also a win. [00:43:02] We had some opportunity in Manatee County, [00:43:04] where we went through a similar sort of process [00:43:06] with a mobile home park on US 41, [00:43:09] and is now an assisted living facility. [00:43:11] It was one of those facilities we had a lot of problems with, [00:43:13] a lot of law enforcement calls, [00:43:14] but we worked with that owner over time, [00:43:16] and we had a lot of pressure on the code enforcement, [00:43:18] law enforcement, the constant going through there. [00:43:20] And over time, the owner was like, you know, [00:43:23] I understand what I have, it's old, [00:43:24] I can't, it's the point where I gotta do something. [00:43:27] And he sold it, and it was redeveloped [00:43:29] as a beautiful assisted living facility. [00:43:33] So another thing is, looking at your zoning, [00:43:35] and looking at your land use categories, [00:43:37] where these things occur, and make sure there's an out. [00:43:40] Make sure there's sort of a redevelopment opportunity [00:43:42] on the books. [00:43:43] You don't wanna encourage the same thing to happen again, [00:43:45] obviously, with another mobile home park, perhaps. [00:43:47] But if you have an opportunity to do something else easier, [00:43:49] that's maybe a buy-write type of land use situation [00:43:52] that may provide the opportunity [00:43:54] for some change in the future. [00:43:56] Next slide. [00:43:58] Nikki, is this you? [00:43:59] Yeah. [00:44:00] Hello. [00:44:02] It's another Amber Alert. [00:44:04] So, most of you all already know me, [00:44:06] although not everyone in the room. [00:44:07] So my name is Nikki Nate, [00:44:08] I am an attorney with Bryant Miller Olive, [00:44:10] and I was asked to be on the panel [00:44:12] because I am board certified in city, county, [00:44:14] and local government law. [00:44:15] I know, so my blatant disclaimer, [00:44:18] because I am special counsel to the city on certain projects, [00:44:22] I just wanna make it clear that's not the role [00:44:23] that I came to participate in ULI here today, [00:44:27] or over the last two days. [00:44:30] But as Stuart shared with you all, I grew up here, [00:44:33] and I've enjoyed serving the city as special counsel, [00:44:37] but I really enjoyed this project as well, [00:44:40] and getting to help the panel understand [00:44:42] some of the legal challenges that the city faces [00:44:45] in being in city, and what role the city can play [00:44:49] in some of these programs and incentives, [00:44:52] and the constraints that are placed on it. [00:44:55] So with mobile homes in particularly, [00:44:57] there obviously are statutes and things. [00:45:00] that prohibit the city's ability to go in tomorrow [00:45:04] and just start doing things on its own accord. [00:45:08] But with that, there's a lot of opportunities [00:45:11] that John discussed with you. [00:45:13] So being able to, while not taking anything away [00:45:17] that is there today, but providing for additional [00:45:21] opportunities for redevelopment in the future [00:45:23] certainly is a tool that the city could use moving forward. [00:45:27] And I like the description of using, [00:45:30] talking about future land use categories [00:45:32] as opposed to present zoning. [00:45:35] For those people in the room who don't know, [00:45:38] one's looking at really a long-term plan of the city. [00:45:41] What's the goal? [00:45:41] What's the vision? [00:45:42] And a lot of these mobile home parks I got to see [00:45:44] on the trolley are in very close proximity to the water [00:45:48] and may be implicated by coastal high hazard, [00:45:51] but also may have a different vision [00:45:52] for the future of the city. [00:45:54] And the beautiful thing about your comp plan, [00:45:56] your constitution for growth, [00:45:57] as we call it in the land use world, [00:45:59] is that you get to look at that vision, [00:46:03] not just as what it is today, but as what you want it to be. [00:46:06] And I think allowing for those types of land use designations [00:46:12] that allow for more flexibility and redevelopment [00:46:15] may, as John said, allow people to see [00:46:17] that what they have is valuable. [00:46:20] And not only will that spark pride, [00:46:23] but also future redevelopment opportunities. [00:46:30] John did mention this, but being explicit upfront [00:46:33] that no rebuilding of a mobile home or temporary structure [00:46:39] in a coastal high hazard is another great approach as well. [00:46:44] And one of the things that we noticed in driving around [00:46:46] is obviously there's a different, [00:46:48] there's not commonality of ownership [00:46:51] when it comes to mobile homes. [00:46:52] So the different developments can be owned [00:46:56] in various different ways. [00:46:57] And one of the things we noticed as a panel [00:47:00] was it would have been really great to kind of understand [00:47:02] the different ownership structures of the current parks. [00:47:06] So are some all rented and owned by a common single owner [00:47:12] where the lots are rented out? [00:47:13] Is it a ground lease structure? [00:47:16] Are the lots individually owned? [00:47:18] And we didn't have a lot of that over the last two days, [00:47:21] but I thought, well, what a great tool [00:47:23] that would be for the city if you were able to, [00:47:25] in looking at a parcel or in looking at a problem area, [00:47:29] be able to quickly identify and categorize it into, [00:47:34] well, this is a park that we know is all owner occupied [00:47:37] or this particular property has this characteristics [00:47:41] and knowing, essentially knowing exactly what's there, [00:47:46] how it's owned, where the city's interests lie [00:47:49] within that property owner interest. [00:47:52] So if you have code enforcement liens [00:47:54] running on that property, where are you in priority? [00:47:57] Is the property otherwise leaned? [00:47:58] Are there other tax certificates sold on it? [00:48:01] I mean, really having those demographics [00:48:03] is going to let you all be able to quickly know [00:48:07] kind of where you would fall. [00:48:08] And Tim could walk you through all that. [00:48:10] So that's not what I'm here to do today, [00:48:11] but it would give him that snapshot of saying, [00:48:14] okay, this is a property worth either trying to acquire [00:48:18] or not, or other tools that you could use for it. [00:48:22] So in line with that, I'm going to ask Carol [00:48:25] to come join me for our next topic, which is about focus. [00:48:30] And we're going to talk a little bit about [00:48:31] some of the details that we think would be helpful [00:48:33] for the city to drill down on and can help [00:48:37] in working through some of these questions. [00:48:39] So Carol. [00:48:42] Good afternoon, I'm Carol Strickland. [00:48:44] I'm the Community Development Director [00:48:46] for the city of Largo. [00:48:47] And my responsibilities include building, code enforcement, [00:48:53] housing, planning, and economic development. [00:48:55] And it's been very interesting spending the last two days [00:49:00] here in New Port Richey, because I see a lot of parallels [00:49:03] with some of the challenges that you have [00:49:05] and the journey that we've been on in Largo [00:49:08] for the past 10 years that I've been there. [00:49:12] Some of my observations in hearing the presentation [00:49:17] from city staff and talking to city council [00:49:21] and talking to some of the stakeholders, [00:49:24] there are many programs and tools in place. [00:49:27] In fact, it's extremely impressive given the size [00:49:31] of the city and the staff resources, [00:49:34] the number of initiatives that are already underway. [00:49:37] I think with that, though, is there's a challenge [00:49:42] to administer all of those programs [00:49:44] and to have the feedback on how effective they are [00:49:47] and really how they're making change [00:49:51] against the problems that you're trying to solve. [00:49:55] What we observed was maybe that there's not [00:50:00] adequate information readily available [00:50:03] to set goals and measure progress. [00:50:06] One of the challenges that we were asked [00:50:09] was to look at homeownership versus rentals. [00:50:13] And is there really good and current information [00:50:17] about the makeup of homeownership in the community [00:50:21] and how those ownership patterns occur? [00:50:26] And then also, as Stu Rogel mentioned, [00:50:29] is the citywide CRA and the challenges [00:50:34] that that presents that you've got [00:50:37] maybe a lack of geographic focus. [00:50:41] Where do we turn our attention? [00:50:42] And that's one of the questions I ask [00:50:45] many of the stakeholders is, [00:50:47] do you try to do something in all neighborhoods [00:50:50] or do you focus in a single area [00:50:53] and let the impact of those programs [00:50:55] go outward, say, from downtown? [00:50:59] Next slide. [00:51:01] So in terms of focus, we're recommending [00:51:06] really drilling down and defining the problem. [00:51:09] A vacant and foreclosed property inventory, [00:51:13] looking at the composition of the ownership [00:51:18] of vacant dwellings, for example. [00:51:20] What we found in our experience is [00:51:24] vacant properties usually have a very long [00:51:28] and complex history in terms of their ownership. [00:51:32] They may be stuck in probate, [00:51:33] they may be stuck in lispendence. [00:51:35] Each one is really different [00:51:37] and it really takes a very fine-grained approach [00:51:40] to understand where those properties sit [00:51:43] and the ownership patterns that are resulting [00:51:47] in the neglect and the vacancy. [00:51:50] Also, looking at code enforcement statistics. [00:51:54] As I mentioned, you have a number [00:51:55] of really powerful tools in place [00:51:59] to abate nuisances, to pursue code enforcement violations. [00:52:04] But looking at how are those tools working [00:52:08] and how do they work together [00:52:09] against various specific types [00:52:13] of code enforcement infractions. [00:52:15] Are you tracking, for example, time for compliance [00:52:18] and what are the most effective tools [00:52:20] for gaining compliance? [00:52:23] As Nikki mentioned, getting details [00:52:26] on the way that those liens operate [00:52:29] against the other obligations of the properties [00:52:35] such as tax certificates, second mortgages, [00:52:38] foreclosure activities. [00:52:42] So developing a more robust understanding [00:52:45] of really what's going on with your vacant properties, [00:52:48] the composition of your home ownership and rental [00:52:51] is really key to then being able to set some goals [00:52:56] and performance measures for your programs. [00:52:59] One of the challenges you set for us was, [00:53:03] should we look at home ownership versus rental? [00:53:07] And as you begin to understand [00:53:11] those home ownership patterns, [00:53:14] the rental patterns as was mentioned by Chris, [00:53:18] do you want to go ahead and set a goal [00:53:21] of percentage of home ownership? [00:53:24] And then you can measure the effectiveness [00:53:28] of the programs that you put in place [00:53:30] within specific neighborhoods to reach those goals. [00:53:35] So we're suggesting that if you are able [00:53:37] to set specific goals [00:53:40] and measure how effective those goals are, [00:53:43] it's going to let you focus on key programs [00:53:47] and potentially discontinue others. [00:53:49] We recognize that for a city of your size, [00:53:52] you've got a very ambitious set of tools. [00:53:56] What are those tools that are most effective? [00:53:58] And what are the ones that maybe [00:54:00] are consuming staff resources [00:54:03] that could be discontinued to focus [00:54:05] on the more robust programs that you have? [00:54:08] And then really, you've heard from the other panelists, [00:54:14] focusing on some of the key initiatives that you have, [00:54:18] the CIP projects to connect neighborhoods, [00:54:21] wayfinding, the CRA projects that are underway, [00:54:23] some of the really great initiatives [00:54:26] that you have in place. [00:54:27] Next slide. [00:54:30] So I'm going to turn it back over to Nikki. [00:54:32] So real quickly along those lines, [00:54:35] we looked at two of your other questions within this topic. [00:54:39] Which one was on what incentives could be used [00:54:43] or should be used for reinvestment, [00:54:45] particularly as we saw the issue [00:54:48] after traveling around with problem properties. [00:54:52] And one of the things that we looked at [00:54:56] in looking at the topic of focus [00:54:58] and on you all really being able to have [00:55:00] the information that you have coming in, [00:55:03] being processed through the initiative [00:55:06] and then measuring the statistics coming out. [00:55:09] Was potentially to consider some of what, [00:55:13] some of the programs that we've seen other communities do, [00:55:15] which is to have a more streamlined [00:55:18] administrative lien program for new owners coming in [00:55:22] to looking to rehabilitate a property. [00:55:24] So in a lot of jurisdictions, [00:55:27] and I know in your own jurisdiction, [00:55:29] that there is a process by which people [00:55:33] who are either not responsible [00:55:34] for the current condition of the property [00:55:36] or others can apply for certain types of relief. [00:55:38] But often that is an application process [00:55:41] with a fee, a public hearing, [00:55:43] a decision maker who may make the decision [00:55:48] one way or another, whether that's the city council [00:55:50] or a special magistrate. [00:55:52] And that injects a lot of uncertainty into the process. [00:55:56] So we looked at having a focus where administratively [00:56:00] certain things could be handled, [00:56:02] particularly if there are large amounts of liens on property [00:56:05] that someone is looking to redevelop [00:56:09] to a new owner. [00:56:10] The second question that you had asked [00:56:12] was about reinvestment programs, [00:56:14] specifically to home ownership [00:56:17] or to encourage home ownership. [00:56:19] And one of the programs we heard a lot about [00:56:21] over the last two days [00:56:22] was the facade matching grant program. [00:56:25] But we also heard about a lot of challenges [00:56:27] with that program. [00:56:28] And so I think in the concept of focus [00:56:33] and in our recommendation in that regard, [00:56:37] I think looking at the actual number, [00:56:41] the actual data of how often this program may be used, [00:56:44] who is using it, [00:56:45] why are people who may otherwise be interested in it [00:56:48] not using it? [00:56:49] You already have a lot of really great, [00:56:51] keep talking about good bones, [00:56:53] but that's more than just the city. [00:56:54] I mean, you all have done so much [00:56:57] to develop really great incentive programs now. [00:57:00] It's just, they may also be underutilized. [00:57:03] And what's the reason for that? [00:57:05] So if, for example, the reinvestment programs [00:57:09] are only geared at home ownership versus rental, [00:57:11] are we losing or is the city losing an opportunity as well? [00:57:16] If depending on the requirements of that, [00:57:18] it may exclude certain people [00:57:20] from using a program that's already in place [00:57:24] that could otherwise be effective. [00:57:26] So, and that goes back to our third recommendation, [00:57:30] which is by potentially looking at a pilot area [00:57:35] or a test area. [00:57:36] That could help you to quickly, [00:57:40] I know it sounds like a lot [00:57:41] or it sounds like we're maybe making more work for you, Debbie [00:57:43] that's not what we're trying to do. [00:57:45] But if you take it in a smaller area, [00:57:48] you may be able to more quickly see what are the challenges? [00:57:52] What is something that may be causing a chilling effect [00:57:55] that we're not aware of? [00:57:56] Because by looking at it on a mass scale [00:57:58] across all of the city's neighborhoods, [00:58:00] you lose a little bit of the ability [00:58:03] to gather that backend measurement. [00:58:05] And so maybe by starting smaller, [00:58:08] taking one of these programs [00:58:09] such as the Facade Matching Grant Program [00:58:11] and really targeting a specific area, [00:58:13] a specific neighborhood [00:58:14] and finding out why people don't want to do it [00:58:17] or finding great success [00:58:20] will either result in quick victories [00:58:22] or hopefully quick adjustments [00:58:23] so that it can become a more viable tool for you all. [00:58:28] So another area that we heard feedback on [00:58:33] was how to facilitate development and redevelopment. [00:58:39] Looking at your land development regulations [00:58:42] to create clear standards for redevelopment [00:58:45] and certainty in the development process. [00:58:48] One thing people say about zoning [00:58:51] is it's frequently designed [00:58:53] to produce the community you already have. [00:58:56] So the lot sizes and the setbacks [00:58:59] are based upon what's already there. [00:59:01] And if you want to change and transform your community, [00:59:05] the standards that you currently have [00:59:07] sometimes are not appropriate [00:59:09] to encourage new types of development [00:59:12] to respond to new markets, new dwelling unit types, [00:59:15] accessory dwelling units in townhomes. [00:59:19] So creating a clear path for different development types [00:59:24] and certainty that if I bring in a site plan [00:59:29] that responds to those standards [00:59:31] that I can gain approval of my proposal. [00:59:35] We also heard a lot about density. [00:59:37] I know that the city has put in place [00:59:39] an additional density overlay in downtown, [00:59:42] but looking at how your land development regulations [00:59:46] can encourage diverse and dense uses in downtown, [00:59:52] consider rezoning that's specifically designed [00:59:55] to encourage mixed-use projects. [00:59:57] And then outside of downtown, are there... [01:00:00] are opportunities for what's called innovation districts [01:00:04] or opportunities for entrepreneurism? [01:00:07] Are there areas that are susceptible to change [01:00:13] where entrepreneurs could have live work [01:00:15] or small startup shops or arts districts [01:00:18] or light manufacturing? [01:00:21] And would your zoning regulations allow that to occur? [01:00:25] And then finally, looking at process. [01:00:30] Been working on process in my community for over 10 years [01:00:34] and it's kind of like vacuuming, it's never done, [01:00:36] but you are always looking for ways [01:00:40] for people to be able to come in, [01:00:43] get their business started, get their project approved, [01:00:46] get whatever development permit that they're seeking [01:00:50] through the process quickly. [01:00:53] One suggestion we would have is looking at [01:00:56] are there certain thresholds of projects [01:00:59] that don't require public hearings [01:01:01] that can go through an administrative site plan approval? [01:01:06] If they come in, there's clear standards, [01:01:09] they meet those standards for parking and setbacks [01:01:11] and density and all of those things, [01:01:14] they go through your development review committee, [01:01:16] is it at that point the community knows [01:01:20] that they've met those standards [01:01:22] and it can be administratively approved? [01:01:25] Looking at ways to get projects [01:01:27] through the review process more quickly, [01:01:30] electronic submittals are something [01:01:32] that the development community is looking for, [01:01:35] saving money on the cost of printed site plans [01:01:40] and the time and money that goes into that. [01:01:43] And then we also heard quite a bit of feedback [01:01:46] about what people were referring to [01:01:50] as the 50% threshold for improvements. [01:01:53] And part of those comments were that there was a feeling [01:01:56] that for your residential communities [01:02:00] that the assessed values were low [01:02:04] based upon perhaps what their real value [01:02:06] in the marketplace was or other similar communities [01:02:11] or residential housing types around Pasco County. [01:02:15] But the effect of that low valuation [01:02:18] means that the 50% threshold for reinvestment [01:02:22] in those properties is also lower. [01:02:24] Whether it's a FEMA restriction [01:02:28] that you can only put so much money into the property [01:02:30] before you have to bring it up to code. [01:02:32] But we heard a lot of different comments [01:02:35] about people felt that they weren't able [01:02:37] to adequately reinvest in their properties [01:02:41] because of kind of those thresholds and low appraised values. [01:02:45] Next slide. [01:02:47] Building capacity. [01:02:49] You have an excellent staff. [01:02:54] How can you continue to help them build capacity [01:02:57] to model best practices, [01:03:00] to network with other professionals in Pasco County [01:03:03] and the Tampa Bay Market, [01:03:05] to interface with the real estate community [01:03:08] as you heard from Chris and Jim. [01:03:11] ULI, of course, and the panel that we have today [01:03:15] is certainly one way to do that. [01:03:17] But we didn't encourage your staff and yourselves [01:03:21] to really continue to get out there [01:03:25] and look at what the development community is doing, [01:03:28] what other cities and counties are doing [01:03:33] to address really the common problems that we all have. [01:03:38] And then I have kind of a category of others. [01:03:40] As we had these conversations, [01:03:42] there were some other issues that came up [01:03:44] that speak to neighborhood quality. [01:03:46] And interestingly enough, solid waste was one of them. [01:03:51] In New Port Richey, you do have, [01:03:53] I believe, five private haulers. [01:03:56] So there's a lot of duplication of services, [01:03:59] a lot of different haulers running through the community. [01:04:03] Is there a consistent quality of service? [01:04:07] And then the issue of bulk pickup. [01:04:10] I know that the city does quarterly bulk pickup, [01:04:14] but is that enough? [01:04:16] And is that really enough to address those problems [01:04:20] of trash and debris, dumping, evictions, [01:04:24] when those piles of debris sit in front of houses? [01:04:29] It's interesting, but for example, in Largo, [01:04:32] we found one of the main reasons [01:04:34] that people want to annex into Largo [01:04:36] was the quality of our solid waste pickup. [01:04:38] We offer bulk pickup free. [01:04:41] So you can call and get your white goods [01:04:43] or your mattresses out of the neighborhood right away. [01:04:47] And people actually will annex into the city [01:04:49] to take advantage of those services. [01:04:52] We also had some conversations about annexation. [01:04:54] I know that you're going to hear [01:04:56] an annexation study shortly. [01:04:58] But there really is a great potential [01:05:00] in looking at that from several different angles. [01:05:03] One is the ad valorem tax base. [01:05:06] Are there premium taxable properties on US-19 [01:05:11] or other properties that you could bring into the city [01:05:14] to help balance your tax base? [01:05:16] The issue of community identity. [01:05:19] We heard feedback that maybe people aren't aware [01:05:22] of when they're in New Port Richey. [01:05:23] They're in the New Port Richey zip code. [01:05:27] They call City Hall. [01:05:28] They don't know whether they're in or out. [01:05:30] Better defining your borders, cleaning up your boundaries, [01:05:33] being able to plant your flag and say, [01:05:36] yes, this is New Port Richey. [01:05:37] These are our boundaries. [01:05:38] You know when you're here. [01:05:40] And then this is kind of a tough one, [01:05:44] but addressing land use issues and enclaves. [01:05:47] We had the privilege of going through [01:05:51] one of the unincorporated enclaves [01:05:53] that has some particularly poor mobile home conditions. [01:05:58] I know you're working with the county on that, [01:06:00] but in order to consolidate your boundaries [01:06:03] and have those controls and use the more robust tools [01:06:07] that the city's developed, [01:06:10] take those problem properties on and bring them in [01:06:13] and control your destiny in that way. [01:06:16] And then finally, school quality. [01:06:19] We talked about who's moving to New Port Richey, [01:06:22] who's attracted. [01:06:24] We heard about millennials and people [01:06:26] that want the walkable community [01:06:28] and the lifestyle that you have here. [01:06:30] We heard about empty nesters and retirees [01:06:33] that fell in love with New Port Richey, want to live here. [01:06:36] There's kind of that missing middle, though, [01:06:38] is the families and the effect of school quality [01:06:42] on families' relocation decisions [01:06:45] and frankly, on real estate values. [01:06:47] It's a problem that's bigger than the city, [01:06:49] but it's certainly an issue [01:06:51] that you'll want to develop partnerships with [01:06:54] and tackle to attract a more [01:06:57] kind of balanced moving population. [01:07:00] Nikki? [01:07:02] So bringing it back just kind of to a high level, [01:07:04] because I know that's a lot of information [01:07:07] that Carol just gave you. [01:07:09] By focusing on the programs [01:07:11] that the city does have in place, [01:07:13] looking at the level of information we have going in, [01:07:16] where we're doing it, [01:07:17] and then the amount that coming that, [01:07:19] and then measuring what comes out [01:07:21] will really help you all to be able to gauge [01:07:23] your effectiveness in the areas that we've gone over. [01:07:26] But also recognizing that, you know, [01:07:28] from a municipal law perspective, [01:07:30] you all are just, you all are the city. [01:07:33] You're a local government, [01:07:35] and there's a limit to what you can do. [01:07:36] So you're not in this alone. [01:07:38] And a big component that I've enjoyed in working with ULI [01:07:42] is really learning about the next topic [01:07:44] that you're going to hear about, [01:07:45] which is how you all can encourage [01:07:48] the community involvement and engagement, so. [01:07:57] Hello, I'm David Connor. [01:07:59] I'm a landscape architect. [01:08:01] I have a firm in Tampa, David Connor and Associates, [01:08:03] and we work with communities, [01:08:06] and oftentimes they're in a similar condition. [01:08:09] Most communities that we are involved with [01:08:12] are in some state of renovation or redevelopment. [01:08:18] And so today, this is very similar [01:08:21] to what we are involved with. [01:08:22] A lot of what you've heard so far [01:08:24] has to do with a lot of policies and procedures and issues. [01:08:29] And what I'm going to talk to you about [01:08:31] really is my impressions to a large part, [01:08:35] and kind of bring it back, if you will, [01:08:36] to some of the more positive things that I see [01:08:39] are really what you can build upon. [01:08:41] Because I think too often we focus a lot on, [01:08:44] and it's easy to do, in most communities I go to, [01:08:47] they see the problems first, [01:08:49] and they deal with the problems. [01:08:51] And a lot of what you've heard so far [01:08:52] is dealing with the very specific issues and problems [01:08:55] that you'll have to deal with. [01:08:56] Concurrent with that effort, though, [01:08:59] is defining your identity in a way that really meets, [01:09:03] and is specifically tailored towards this specific community. [01:09:08] And so I want to talk just a bit about that. [01:09:12] First thing, I would say that it's interesting, [01:09:14] I've lived in Tampa for 35 years, [01:09:17] and I think I've been to New Port Richey once, sadly, [01:09:20] because I found it to be a really delightful [01:09:23] and beautiful community. [01:09:24] I was surprised at how engaging it was, [01:09:26] and how much is going on here. [01:09:28] There's a lot going on in a lot of places in Florida, [01:09:30] and each one of them has its own unique community. [01:09:34] They each have their own unique characteristics [01:09:36] and history and so forth. [01:09:38] But you have a very unique history. [01:09:41] And I think that that history can be built [01:09:45] and communicated much greater. [01:09:47] Had I known about your community, [01:09:50] I would have been more likely to have joined, [01:09:52] participated or come up here, [01:09:54] engaged in certain activities or events and so forth [01:09:58] that you have. [01:09:58] So I think that somewhere along the way, [01:10:00] your message is not being heard. [01:10:02] And I think that's one of the things that you're hearing [01:10:05] in all of us that have been in different places. [01:10:08] Being vocal about your location, your city, [01:10:11] the very positive things that you have here [01:10:14] is very important to orient yourself [01:10:17] towards that positive communication. [01:10:20] When I come into the city, [01:10:21] I've seen several things that I think really create [01:10:24] an opportunity for you to build upon. [01:10:25] The first one is this downtown. [01:10:27] You've heard everybody speaking about the downtown. [01:10:30] But I think the thing that you see about this downtown [01:10:32] is that it has character, it has history, [01:10:35] and it has scale. [01:10:37] You know, those are three things that you can't, [01:10:40] you don't always get combined. [01:10:41] I mean, there's a lot of communities that have, [01:10:45] you know, two of those elements, [01:10:48] but they don't have all three of them. [01:10:49] You really have a lot of scale. [01:10:52] Your scale is really quite nice. [01:10:53] It's not too big. [01:10:55] It's not overwhelming. [01:10:56] It's very quaint. [01:10:57] It's really got enough opportunity of good architecture [01:11:01] that's in the downtown area. [01:11:02] It's a small enough downtown [01:11:04] that it can be very meaningful, [01:11:06] so that it can be a destination place, [01:11:07] and I think it creates a great opportunity. [01:11:09] It's not an overwhelming effort [01:11:11] in order to take on ways to improve your downtown [01:11:14] in such a manner that would really create an identity [01:11:18] for your community, [01:11:19] much like other communities that we all know of [01:11:21] in the area have done. [01:11:22] It's also, you have, you know, [01:11:25] urban living and entertainment that's coming. [01:11:29] You know, I think it's, [01:11:30] you know, sometimes we forget [01:11:31] about how much work has been done. [01:11:33] We've talked a lot about the work [01:11:34] that's been done up to date, what's coming, [01:11:36] and I think that the fact that you have so much housing [01:11:39] that is right around the corner, [01:11:41] that you have new retail [01:11:42] that is very close to being implemented, [01:11:45] the results of that are something that's difficult sometimes [01:11:48] for everybody to understand how close it is, [01:11:51] and, you know, as designers and planners and so forth, [01:11:54] we spend a lot of time looking way out in the future. [01:11:56] We envision communities as they could be, [01:11:58] not so much as they are. [01:12:01] What happens oftentimes is that communities [01:12:03] envision themselves more like they were [01:12:06] and less like they will be. [01:12:08] So I think that it's really important [01:12:10] to take what is moving in this direction [01:12:14] and promote it carefully. [01:12:16] You have the Hacienda Hotel, [01:12:18] and then you have a walkable identity. [01:12:19] I think walkability today is incredibly important. [01:12:23] A couple of people have spoken about that. [01:12:26] We have great, you know, [01:12:28] our young people have really, you know, [01:12:31] my kids are now in their 20s, [01:12:33] and they look at walkability [01:12:35] as probably one of the most important things. [01:12:38] And the interesting thing about walkability [01:12:40] is what's happening [01:12:41] as they start talking about walkability [01:12:43] as a younger community starts engaging [01:12:45] in more walkable communities [01:12:47] is that we are coming alongside with them. [01:12:49] So we're seeing a movement that is people that are, [01:12:53] on my age, a little bit further along and older, [01:12:56] are very much engaging in more walkable communities [01:12:58] and attracted to more walkable communities. [01:13:00] So that's a very positive thing. [01:13:03] You have parks and accessible natural resources. [01:13:07] And I think even though the river is, [01:13:08] you know, there's some question we heard, [01:13:10] people question how much accessibility [01:13:12] to the river you have. [01:13:13] It is a very accessible, you can see it. [01:13:15] You can get to it in certain places. [01:13:17] You may not be able to get into it [01:13:18] as easily as you would like to, [01:13:19] but those are overcomable objects. [01:13:22] What you have though is a great park. [01:13:24] And that park, you know, over and over people came in [01:13:27] and they talked to us about how great [01:13:29] and successful Sims Park is. [01:13:32] So I think that, you know, [01:13:33] that's an incredible opportunity for you to build upon that [01:13:37] and to promote that as part of the identity [01:13:40] for your community. [01:13:42] The river as a connecting element has great opportunities. [01:13:46] It's, you know, to be able to get into a boat or kayak [01:13:51] or, you know, a motor vehicle, a water motor vehicle, [01:13:55] and get out to the Gulf as quickly as you can here. [01:13:57] And really pretty calm waters and safe [01:13:59] is really quite extraordinary. [01:14:01] And I think creates a great opportunity for you to consider. [01:14:05] Beyond that boat access, [01:14:07] you're closely located to parks that are on the waterfront. [01:14:10] And I think that you miss, [01:14:11] if you don't promote that enough [01:14:13] as part of your identity, [01:14:15] that's something that creates a great opportunity. [01:14:17] And then I was surprised to find how many lakes, coves, [01:14:22] natural spaces are integrated [01:14:24] throughout the community itself. [01:14:26] It's not easy to just drive through this community [01:14:29] and go from one place to the next [01:14:30] because you're interrupted by lakes [01:14:32] or different elements that sort of make you [01:14:35] become a part of it. [01:14:36] That movement through this community [01:14:38] creates sort of a captive communities [01:14:40] that even in the downtown area, [01:14:42] there's places where you can go into [01:14:44] and feel like you're in a smaller community. [01:14:46] You don't feel like people are quickly vacating [01:14:50] that community or moving into a different location [01:14:53] or moving through. [01:14:53] Your circulation is easily understood. [01:14:57] You have diverse character in your community. [01:15:00] You know, you have local legends, the silent film stars, [01:15:05] the Finnish American Club, the Garden District, [01:15:07] which is incredible. [01:15:09] You know, it's a great, well-kept secret. [01:15:13] You know, make that a visible, you know, [01:15:15] make that well-known. [01:15:17] Because, you know, what I found really fascinating [01:15:19] is in the garden community, that not only is John, [01:15:24] you know, putting gardens on his neighbors, [01:15:27] but if you go a block away, [01:15:28] you're seeing some of the same things happening [01:15:30] on other neighbors' property, [01:15:31] and you're seeing more urban agriculture. [01:15:34] So it's growing. [01:15:35] It's got this organic growing thing that's happening there [01:15:37] that creates community identity and community camaraderie. [01:15:40] It brings people together. [01:15:41] So encourage that sort of element. [01:15:44] And I think that that's something that you could create, [01:15:47] you could promote as part of the unique characteristics [01:15:49] of New Port Richey. [01:15:52] Affordability. [01:15:54] It was talked a little bit, you know, [01:15:56] affordability is going to become a bigger and bigger issue. [01:16:02] And it's sitting right here. [01:16:04] And we look at affordability and cost [01:16:05] and current infrastructure, current market, [01:16:11] what are the words that you guys use, [01:16:13] you know, the database, whatever, [01:16:15] the collection, the inventory of homes that you have. [01:16:19] And, you know, sometimes look at that as a negative. [01:16:22] It's an incredible positive [01:16:23] because it creates an opportunity for you [01:16:26] that if you embrace your affordability, [01:16:28] it's an attractor in and of itself. [01:16:31] Not only that, because of the movement towards [01:16:34] or the development of US 19, Suncoast Parkway, [01:16:37] some of these other things, [01:16:38] you have really easy connection to Tampa International [01:16:41] Airport, downtown Tampa, Clearwater, and so forth. [01:16:45] So your connectivity makes you a lot less remote [01:16:48] than I think there's a perception that you are. [01:16:50] So I would build upon that or look at that. [01:16:53] So strategies. [01:16:54] I would say that in our work, [01:16:57] one of the most important things that we try [01:17:01] to always encourage and embrace, [01:17:02] and one of the biggest mistakes that is made when we don't [01:17:06] is to embrace a grassroots effort, [01:17:08] to listen more to the local community, [01:17:11] to engage the people that are there, [01:17:13] that are already invested, [01:17:15] and to listen to what they want their community to be. [01:17:18] It's much easier to build with the existing community [01:17:22] than it is to try and attract new people [01:17:24] and integrate them. [01:17:25] So if you will embrace your key stakeholders [01:17:29] in your existing communities and help them [01:17:31] to feel more a part of what you're doing, [01:17:33] you'll see great rewards in that. [01:17:37] Next thing. [01:17:39] Promote your accomplishments. [01:17:40] I already talked about Sims Park, the aquatic center, [01:17:43] but the other thing is that I would incorporate [01:17:46] in private investment ways to embrace private investment [01:17:50] that reinforces your identity. [01:17:53] So that as you look at ways to encourage [01:17:56] other infill development or so forth, [01:17:58] make sure that that infill development is encouraged, [01:18:00] especially when it supports the idea that the identity [01:18:04] that you will create as part of this, [01:18:05] whether it's walkability or natural parks or whatever, [01:18:08] or gardens, how do you incorporate that in development? [01:18:12] Because that will help reinforce your identity. [01:18:17] Then I think long-term, [01:18:19] and I don't think that you really have a great need. [01:18:22] I think oftentimes communities come to us [01:18:24] because they feel like they have to fix their problems [01:18:26] through capital improvements. [01:18:27] Capital improvements are really important, [01:18:29] but they're very expensive. [01:18:31] And oftentimes we find that the capital improvements [01:18:34] are sort of the, if you build it, they will come strategy. [01:18:37] And so that works sometimes, but it's a very slow slog [01:18:42] and it can be very tough for a community to do that. [01:18:45] So encouraging private development [01:18:48] doesn't necessarily require always [01:18:49] that you do a lot of expensive capital improvements. [01:18:52] That being said, you've already heard some people [01:18:54] talk about identity from a standpoint of entry and gateways [01:18:59] or whatever you might call them, however they are. [01:19:02] There is a lack of understanding [01:19:04] of when you're in New Port Richey. [01:19:07] I didn't know until I turned [01:19:09] and actually entered into the downtown [01:19:11] that I was approaching the downtown. [01:19:13] I knew from signs of my, you know, [01:19:15] especially it's even more of an issue I think now [01:19:17] because we all rely upon our apps that direct us to places. [01:19:20] So we don't follow the street signs [01:19:22] and all that sort of stuff. [01:19:23] I just follow the direction. [01:19:24] I turn left and right and I end up in a community [01:19:26] and I don't know that I've been there or I've arrived. [01:19:29] So I think along US 19, [01:19:30] there's an incredible missed opportunity. [01:19:32] You could drive down US 19 and never know [01:19:34] you're really a part of an interesting place. [01:19:36] So that's one thing. [01:19:38] But entering the city from the East [01:19:43] is something that I think could create a great opportunity [01:19:46] to sort of call awareness [01:19:47] to having arrived in a very special place [01:19:50] and start to brand whatever your identity is right there. [01:19:53] So you enter into this place [01:19:55] and you begin to communicate that to people [01:19:58] in very casual way. [01:19:59] So it really helps you to reinforce the message. [01:20:03] I think you have to continue to improve walkability [01:20:06] even though you have an identity of walkability. [01:20:08] There's a lot of missing gaps in walkability. [01:20:11] There's a lot of, you know, [01:20:12] the parks are not always connected, the roads. [01:20:14] You don't have to go through neighborhoods [01:20:17] and build sidewalks in every neighborhood. [01:20:18] I mean, there's a perception that you do. [01:20:19] Neighborhoods oftentimes, if there's slow traffic, [01:20:22] you get plenty of circulation [01:20:24] working through those neighborhoods [01:20:25] without having to do walks right away. [01:20:27] But concentrate on the major movements of people [01:20:30] and make those major movements of people really easy. [01:20:33] Make your sidewalks in those areas safe [01:20:35] and well lit and wide [01:20:38] so that plenty of people can walk down them. [01:20:40] It's a big issue is making sure that your widths are good. [01:20:44] And then encourage more mobility. [01:20:47] One of the things that I didn't see, [01:20:49] I saw golf carts out on the roads [01:20:50] and I know you have the standard to have golf courts. [01:20:53] I think that's really great. [01:20:56] But I think that you could do more. [01:20:57] Make sure that your parking includes places [01:20:59] for people to go and park their golf carts. [01:21:01] Make sure that you provide for allocations for that. [01:21:04] Recharging stations can be a part of the downtown area. [01:21:07] So you can become, you can create an identity around that. [01:21:10] Electric cars are coming [01:21:12] Many of the college campuses that we're working on [01:21:14] are putting in electric stations in parking areas [01:21:16] and covered parking and so forth. [01:21:18] It's smaller, more affordable. [01:21:20] Those sorts of things can be part [01:21:22] of what you would do in the future. [01:21:25] Bicycles. [01:21:26] Bicycles is something that I've seen very little of [01:21:30] in this community. [01:21:30] And yet we talk about bicycles. [01:21:32] Suncoast Parkway has an incredible trail [01:21:39] that they've developed. [01:21:40] That's quite a ways away. [01:21:40] But bicycles and more connections for bicycles [01:21:44] I think is going to be, [01:21:44] especially as you're attracting millennials [01:21:46] and you're attracting people [01:21:47] that want to move in around the community, [01:21:48] it will expand your downtown significantly [01:21:51] by allowing people the opportunity [01:21:52] to easily commute in and around the community. [01:21:58] Okay, so I think as much as all of these are positives, [01:22:04] absent of an aggressive code enforcement [01:22:08] and absent of aggressive police program [01:22:12] that helps to really attack the trouble issues [01:22:17] that you have in the city, [01:22:18] that in and of itself, [01:22:20] the ability to be aggressive communicates [01:22:22] to the neighborhood how serious you're taking [01:22:26] your current problems. [01:22:26] So I would be very aggressive [01:22:27] and I'd be very proactive in that visibility of that. [01:22:33] And finally, you asked us to take a look at strategies [01:22:37] for community engagement [01:22:40] and promoting community neighborhoods [01:22:42] and better community engagement. [01:22:44] And there's a lot of really great strategies [01:22:46] for how you can do that. [01:22:47] I mentioned that it's really important [01:22:49] to get the community to feel like they're a part [01:22:51] of whatever you're doing, whether it is. [01:22:53] There's a couple of big sort of ideas [01:22:55] that we're throwing out here. [01:22:57] One, to create better community enhancement programs, [01:23:01] to encourage neighborhood associations [01:23:03] to develop in and of themselves, [01:23:05] and to look at opportunities to create small grants [01:23:08] that communities could therefore encourage [01:23:11] their own identity programs and develop [01:23:14] their unique community and identity in and of themselves. [01:23:18] But beyond that, John has been doing [01:23:20] some really incredible work down in Manatee [01:23:22] and I'd like for him to sort of tell you [01:23:24] a little bit about that. [01:23:27] Oh, again, John Osborne, Manatee County. [01:23:29] In my career at Manatee County, like I mentioned, [01:23:31] I've been there about 10 years [01:23:32] and I was a consultant before that, [01:23:35] but there was a time years before, as a very young man, [01:23:37] I had worked for Manatee County previously, [01:23:39] so I'm on my second tour of duty [01:23:41] at Manatee County right now. [01:23:43] But years ago, we tried something, an experiment, [01:23:46] and I was an army of one, and the county administrator, [01:23:48] then a guy named Ernie Pagent, [01:23:50] created what was called a Quality Communities Team. [01:23:53] And one of the things that we recognized right off the bat [01:23:56] and going around your community [01:23:58] is some of the pictures here on the screen, [01:24:00] some of the great stock you have in housing, [01:24:02] but one of the things we did also, too, in Manatee County, [01:24:05] we help people also recognize what they have. [01:24:08] Let's go to the next slide. [01:24:12] One of the things in driving around and getting the tour, [01:24:14] and also, I got around early this morning, [01:24:16] so I'm, too, walking around. [01:24:17] Didn't have much sleep last night, [01:24:19] but it was great to be a part of your community [01:24:21] late last night, also this morning, [01:24:22] seeing the sun come up here. [01:24:24] But one of the things we also kind of got a sense of [01:24:26] on the tour and also kind of walking around [01:24:28] and being around your community the past couple days [01:24:30] is, again, we've mentioned it before, [01:24:31] but sort of the lack of identity [01:24:33] of some of the neighborhoods. [01:24:34] And some of the neighborhoods have, again, [01:24:35] so you heard the Great Bones many times. [01:24:38] But also, there's one of the things we also heard [01:24:40] from the folks we've talked to, [01:24:41] not just the folks that we've interviewed [01:24:42] from a stakeholder perspective, [01:24:43] even just talking to folks [01:24:44] when you're getting something from the store [01:24:46] or I got a coffee this morning when I was out and about. [01:24:50] And there's also seemed a little bit of lack of community [01:24:52] in some ways when it comes [01:24:54] to some of the neighborhoods specifically. [01:24:56] A lot of folks also feel that they maybe don't have a voice, [01:24:59] perhaps, as a neighborhood. [01:25:01] And a lot of them really don't recognize, [01:25:03] especially when you drive around, [01:25:04] always recognize the true potential of their properties. [01:25:08] In Manatee County, we have a lot of mid-century modern, [01:25:12] which is sort of the George Jetson-looking house. [01:25:13] It's a, you know, you have them here, [01:25:15] the concrete block, two-bedroom, one-bath, [01:25:17] carport, flat roof. [01:25:19] We have 30,000 of them in unincorporated Manatee County. [01:25:23] It's a challenge, but it's also a good challenge. [01:25:27] One of the other things we also noticed, too, [01:25:28] a little bit of sometimes a lack of relationship [01:25:30] or who to call, who to talk to in the city. [01:25:32] And even their neighbors and people down the street. [01:25:34] Let's go to the next slide. [01:25:36] So one of the recommendations we have, [01:25:38] this is something, again, that was sort of, [01:25:39] we had some success in Manatee County about this, [01:25:41] is, again, back in the day, [01:25:43] when I was a young urban planner for Manatee County, [01:25:45] the county administrator said, you know, Osborne, [01:25:48] you are gonna be the ombudsman for the neighborhoods. [01:25:51] So what they had me do was really go out to, [01:25:54] well, there were existing neighborhood associations, [01:25:56] and some of them were official associations [01:25:58] with these restrictions implemented [01:26:00] and had a legit sort of organization. [01:26:02] And some of them were literally just about 24 people [01:26:05] under the shade tree meeting once a month [01:26:07] talking what's going on, [01:26:09] talking about crime or perception of crime [01:26:11] and those kinds of things. [01:26:13] So I was sort of acting the ombudsman [01:26:15] for all the neighborhoods. [01:26:16] I was kind of the go-to person. [01:26:18] And I would go around and work a lot of nights. [01:26:21] And I also worked a lot of weekends [01:26:22] because I was also a lot of community events. [01:26:24] But one thing this really did [01:26:26] was help establish a rapport with the neighborhoods, [01:26:28] help establish a sense of trust. [01:26:31] We really also got to help organize some neighborhoods [01:26:34] that really weren't organized. [01:26:35] They really didn't have, [01:26:37] they weren't that group that got together [01:26:38] under the shade tree, [01:26:39] but we helped gather some people together [01:26:41] and got that going. [01:26:42] And this was even for the days of social media, folks. [01:26:45] This was a real challenge, let me tell you. [01:26:46] I wasn't quite walking Lawton Childs, [01:26:49] but I wore out some shoes, let me tell you. [01:26:51] But some of the tasks for this position, [01:26:53] this is some of the things that I did, [01:26:55] was also when I worked with the communities, [01:26:56] I really kind of created a list, [01:26:58] a laundry list of what their concerns were. [01:27:00] What was important to them about their neighborhood? [01:27:03] And one of the things that we did as a county, [01:27:06] we took that list. [01:27:07] And what I did was about once a month, [01:27:09] I got together with the leaders of my county, [01:27:11] my folks in for public works, my utility folks, [01:27:14] the folks that did right away maintenance, [01:27:16] code enforcement. [01:27:17] And occasionally we'd have a sheriff's representative there [01:27:20] to coordinate with as well. [01:27:22] I'd go over my priority list for our neighborhoods. [01:27:25] And the thing was, when I showed up at the meeting, [01:27:28] even though I was a low-level nobody, [01:27:30] when I showed up at the meetings, [01:27:32] the county administrator said to these folks, [01:27:35] when you see him at this meeting, [01:27:36] nowhere else but this meeting, [01:27:37] but at this meeting, you pretend his face is my face. [01:27:40] So it was kind of cool as a young 20-something, right? [01:27:43] To have that kind of power, not that it was power, [01:27:45] but basically we worked through our list. [01:27:47] And some of the things that was important [01:27:48] to the neighborhoods were short-term fixes. [01:27:51] One of the biggest successes, [01:27:52] I think I had residents cheering [01:27:55] when I actually replaced a stop sign [01:27:56] in one neighborhood that was a mid-century [01:27:58] modern neighborhood from 1955. [01:28:00] The stop sign was the color of this gray right here. [01:28:02] You know, normally they're red, right? [01:28:04] But it was written up with the next issue [01:28:06] of their banner newspaper. [01:28:08] Oh my gosh, the stop sign was replaced? [01:28:09] The county is serious about helping us out. [01:28:11] So that, believe it or not, was a big success. [01:28:14] And we are still implementing what's called [01:28:16] the Bayshore Gardens Neighborhood Plan. [01:28:19] We actually have some sidewalk projects [01:28:20] that are finally going in. [01:28:22] It shouldn't take quite this long, [01:28:24] but we've done some other things since. [01:28:25] One of the things we also did was rebuild [01:28:26] the underground infrastructure first of Bayshore. [01:28:28] So that's why we did the sidewalks [01:28:30] after we rebuilt the old underground stuff. [01:28:32] So it took some time. [01:28:33] Some things got done quicker, [01:28:34] but the great thing about it was, [01:28:36] is the relationship, the trust, [01:28:38] and me coming back a month or two later [01:28:39] with the list, and guess what, folks? [01:28:41] I got some things that are happening. [01:28:42] I got some things that we can fix now. [01:28:44] Some things that I got to put in the CIP, [01:28:46] so we'll have to go through that process, [01:28:47] but I encourage them to show up [01:28:49] at the public hearing for the CIP [01:28:50] so they can cheer the commissioners [01:28:52] when they put their project in the CIP [01:28:54] and that kind of thing, [01:28:55] but it really built a positive relationship with folks, [01:28:58] and it helped also keep folks aware [01:28:59] of all the different efforts [01:29:00] that were going on by our local government, [01:29:02] and we also had folks from our code enforcement there [01:29:04] to educate what the expectations of the county was, [01:29:07] what the minimum standards were for code enforcement. [01:29:09] If they get in trouble, what the process is like, [01:29:11] what to expect, and we also had law enforcement [01:29:14] there as well. [01:29:15] Sometimes we had some neighborhoods with some crime. [01:29:16] Believe it or not, we had crime too, [01:29:18] and we had them do some crime prevention seminars, [01:29:20] but also build that same rapport with our citizens. [01:29:22] They were there, they would show up and talk to it, [01:29:24] talk to the folks, and we also had, [01:29:26] sometimes we had, putting on the sheriff at a time, [01:29:29] we had more community policing efforts sometimes [01:29:31] in other years than other parts of time, [01:29:33] but let's go to the next slide. [01:29:37] So again, the recommendations continue [01:29:39] about working with the neighborhoods, [01:29:40] but one of the things also that one struggle that we had [01:29:43] was we looked at, we had, of course, it's the county, [01:29:46] but we have our neighborhood maps, right, [01:29:48] where the subdivisions were originally platted, [01:29:50] and we had the names on the map, [01:29:51] but you know, according to the citizens [01:29:53] that had been there 40 years, we were wrong. [01:29:55] That's not where that subdivision was, [01:29:56] and we fixed it, though. [01:29:58] It wasn't the same as the plaque. [01:30:00] But they knew their boundaries, and I didn't, but they did. [01:30:03] So we worked with them on what their boundaries should be. [01:30:05] And again, we worked on those lists of priorities. [01:30:07] And there's a picture actually right there [01:30:09] of one of the neighborhood groups. [01:30:11] And actually right there, they're talking about [01:30:13] architectural standards for that mid-century modern. [01:30:16] One of our communities, it has about 7,000 [01:30:21] mid-century modern, those homes. [01:30:23] Believe it or not, it's called [01:30:23] the Sarasota School of Architecture style. [01:30:25] So that's where that architectural style comes from. [01:30:28] You have a lot of it here. [01:30:29] And they were working on some potential [01:30:31] architectural standards for a neighborhood [01:30:33] that let their deed restrictions expire about 20 years ago. [01:30:37] And that's the Bayshore Gardens community. [01:30:39] And we have a millennial, she's on the far left there. [01:30:41] That's Simone Peterson. [01:30:43] And she was our next generation community planner [01:30:46] that sort of took a lot of this stuff over from me [01:30:49] back after I left some years ago. [01:30:52] Let's go to the next slide. [01:30:54] So on the top right corner, this has really taken off. [01:30:57] What we've done is we've hired, [01:30:59] we have a department now [01:31:00] called the Neighborhood Services Department. [01:31:02] I'll give you a little frame of reference. [01:31:03] We are a county of 375,000 people. [01:31:06] 300,000 about is unincorporated county. [01:31:08] So we're sort of like the elephant in the room [01:31:10] when it comes to population. [01:31:11] And we have about four people [01:31:13] that do this neighborhood outreach effort. [01:31:15] So you kind of get an idea of proportion. [01:31:17] We have 1,700 staff, about four people do this type of work. [01:31:20] And we have this quality communities team approach. [01:31:22] Those four folks work with all of our department leads. [01:31:24] And they sort of have the same, not say authority, [01:31:26] but they coordinate their lists, [01:31:27] but they work with their neighborhoods. [01:31:29] But we've really made a point of hiring [01:31:30] the millennial folks to do this work. [01:31:32] And let me tell you why. [01:31:33] Because that young lady on the previous slide I showed you, [01:31:37] we hired her to do this job. [01:31:38] She grew up in Manatee County. [01:31:40] She went to college in Manatee County [01:31:42] through our community college, [01:31:43] went to the local USF campus, [01:31:44] and really was like a homegrown great kid, right? [01:31:47] She's not a kid, I shouldn't say that, [01:31:49] but very smart young woman, very intelligent, [01:31:51] knew the community really well. [01:31:53] But one of the things that we kind of freed her up [01:31:55] to do this job and to go out in the community [01:31:57] and do these things. [01:31:58] But you know that millennial generation, [01:31:59] they are so good with this stuff. [01:32:01] You know, social media, all those things [01:32:03] that we take sometimes as an older generation, [01:32:05] take for granted. [01:32:06] But she quickly grew a group of people to help her out [01:32:10] into some of these crowds you see on the screen. [01:32:12] And it's also grown into what's called M3 in Manatee County. [01:32:16] And M3 stands for the Manatee Millennial Movement. [01:32:19] And what Simone and her two cohorts there have done [01:32:22] is really created a lot of organization, [01:32:24] not only with our neighborhoods, [01:32:25] but they also create sort of a labor force, [01:32:28] a free, you know, sort of do-gooder volunteers [01:32:32] that go out. [01:32:32] And when they're out in these neighborhoods, [01:32:33] and they see somebody whose house is sort of downtrodden [01:32:36] and it looks a little rough, [01:32:37] and they come to find out that there's a 90-year-old [01:32:40] somebody in there just can't get along, [01:32:41] take care of their house anymore. [01:32:42] And, you know, their code enforcement [01:32:45] is starting to knock on the door. [01:32:46] Well, they'll go in there, [01:32:47] show up with a bunch of volunteers, [01:32:48] and they take care of business. [01:32:49] Let me tell you, they've also worked with some local churches [01:32:52] and brought some other forces to bear. [01:32:55] And it's all through this. [01:32:56] Next thing you know, there's a Facebook page up about it. [01:32:58] And we got all these people that show up [01:33:00] in all these pictures coming to help out this effort [01:33:02] that these four millennials have just done. [01:33:06] And it is a huge thing. [01:33:07] On that bottom right corner, [01:33:08] they've also organized our first Cyclovia, [01:33:12] which is where they shut down a street [01:33:14] or a segment of roads in Manatee County [01:33:16] and have a big bicycle party. [01:33:19] They did that too. [01:33:20] And they told us what they were doing. [01:33:23] Let's go to the next slide. [01:33:25] So this success story has really taken off. [01:33:28] And those millennials, [01:33:29] they also recruit from our local college campuses. [01:33:32] And they are truly a force. [01:33:35] And they work through our Chamber of Commerce real well. [01:33:37] And a lot of our chamber businesses [01:33:39] also contribute employees, [01:33:42] their young employees to this effort [01:33:44] to participate in this. [01:33:45] So we've actually got this magnified workforce. [01:33:48] And we have four people working for us [01:33:50] that do this job full-time. [01:33:52] But really, I got an army behind it. [01:33:54] And it has made such a huge difference [01:33:56] in the neighborhood and outreach in Manatee County. [01:33:58] Next slide. [01:34:00] You can't tell I'm passionate about this stuff at all, [01:34:02] right? [01:34:02] So anyway, let's do it. [01:34:03] We're just going to close this out here [01:34:05] and have some follow-up comments. [01:34:08] All right. [01:34:09] Excuse me, I'm sorry to interrupt. [01:34:13] Can you anticipate approximately how much time more? [01:34:16] And my sincere apologies, [01:34:18] I do not want to give you short shrift. [01:34:20] I am so delighted and excited with this information. [01:34:23] Can you give us five more minutes? [01:34:24] Yes, I have to be at PHSC at six o'clock. [01:34:28] I committed to a seminar prior to knowing [01:34:30] that it was going to be longer than an hour. [01:34:31] We'll wrap up in five more minutes. [01:34:32] Thank you so much. [01:34:33] And again, my sincere apology, [01:34:35] because I'm enthused about what you're sharing. [01:34:36] We apologize. [01:34:37] We started this as a 45-minute presentation, [01:34:39] but you can see the passion got us to an hour and a half. [01:34:42] So I think you ought to have a hand for listening to us. [01:34:45] And thank you to the panel. [01:34:47] So let me quickly just get on the highlights [01:34:51] of what I heard and what I think we're delivering to you. [01:34:54] There's a market for market rate housing in New Port Richey, [01:34:58] both quality rental and home ownership. [01:35:01] There's an opportunity there. [01:35:02] We heard that. [01:35:04] There's a willing, [01:35:04] and in addition, there's a willing real estate community [01:35:07] that can help you to shape that market [01:35:10] and to communicate that market and package it up [01:35:12] and provide the information you need [01:35:15] to attract the development community [01:35:17] and the investment you want to attract. [01:35:20] You need to build up from the grassroots [01:35:23] in the neighborhoods. [01:35:24] We heard that. [01:35:25] There's not going to be one overriding development [01:35:27] that's going to change New Port Richey, [01:35:29] and you don't want that to happen. [01:35:31] We heard that. [01:35:31] So there's a lot of talk about building [01:35:34] from the neighborhoods, building from the grassroots, [01:35:36] taking advantage of what you've got. [01:35:38] On the mobile home side, keep on keeping on, [01:35:42] doing what you're doing. [01:35:43] Keep it up, do as much as you can, [01:35:45] and then do more of it. [01:35:47] What's the short term? [01:35:48] Do it every day. [01:35:50] What's the long term? [01:35:52] Work with code enforcement, work with police, [01:35:55] do those land use changes, [01:35:56] do those zoning changes for the future, [01:35:59] and identify specific opportunities that you find [01:36:02] when you can address something, [01:36:04] when you can acquire property [01:36:05] or do something that's unique in those mobile home parks, [01:36:07] but keep on keeping on. [01:36:10] Focus your resources and your programs [01:36:12] for maximum effectiveness and success. [01:36:15] Streamline, and you're doing it. [01:36:18] So continue to streamline your development [01:36:20] and code compliance process. [01:36:22] Why? [01:36:23] You've got to remove uncertainty. [01:36:26] And what did somebody say? [01:36:27] It's like vacuuming the house. [01:36:28] You got to continue to do it every day [01:36:30] so that you can spur that private sector investment, [01:36:34] because certainty is what attracts real [01:36:38] and sustainable investments. [01:36:40] And you have to provide the certainty as a community. [01:36:43] Keep on doing it. [01:36:44] Build on your culture of customer service [01:36:47] and do it by embracing those grassroots efforts, [01:36:49] those neighborhood efforts, [01:36:51] things that John talked about, [01:36:53] the things that we talked about. [01:36:55] Embrace those. [01:36:57] There's resources there that want to help you. [01:36:59] Resources are not just about money, [01:37:01] they're about the resources you have in the community [01:37:02] that you can embrace. [01:37:06] You're not alone. [01:37:08] Every community in the country is doing this. [01:37:10] So you have competition. [01:37:12] So at the end of the day, tell your story, [01:37:15] tell your story, tell your story. [01:37:18] So with that, I'm going to talk a little bit [01:37:20] about next steps. [01:37:23] This has got to be one step at a time. [01:37:25] And that's why if you need to leave [01:37:27] and go to a six o'clock meeting, it's okay, [01:37:30] because we'll do it one step at a time [01:37:32] and there'll be more to come and thank you for your time. [01:37:34] And thank you so much. [01:37:35] And again, I'm so sorry because this is what I live for, [01:37:38] this kind of communication. [01:37:40] It ain't over yet. [01:37:43] So keep the momentum going. [01:37:45] And I think a lot of us have read Jim Collins' [01:37:47] Good to Great. [01:37:49] How do you get from good to great? [01:37:51] He's got a lot of ideas, [01:37:52] but if you remember that flywheel principle, [01:37:54] how you have to turn the flywheel, [01:37:56] and when you start at it, you've got to put your shoulder [01:37:58] into it and you've got to push hard. [01:38:00] Once you start turning that flywheel, what you've done, [01:38:02] you're going to get momentum. [01:38:03] And that flywheel is just going to take off. [01:38:06] So you've got to keep at it. [01:38:07] You've got to get that flywheel spinning. [01:38:10] So real next steps are from a ULI perspective, [01:38:14] the presentation is yours. [01:38:16] You can have it right now and chew on it. [01:38:19] We will provide you a full report [01:38:21] in the next six to eight weeks. [01:38:22] There'll be a heck of a lot more detail in that report. [01:38:26] A lot more information that's stuck up [01:38:27] on the whiteboard today that we're going to get down to you. [01:38:31] And we'll be available. [01:38:32] None of us are going anywhere. [01:38:34] We're going to be here. [01:38:35] So if you need us, reach out to us and say, [01:38:37] hey, what'd you mean by that? [01:38:38] Tell me a little bit more about how we can do that. [01:38:42] But I suggest that you convene an action team. [01:38:46] I think most of the team is right here [01:38:48] and maybe there's more and there probably is more, [01:38:50] but city stakeholders, the realtors, [01:38:52] the development community, the residents, [01:38:54] the local businesses, not just another committee to meet, [01:38:57] but to take actions. [01:38:59] Take this one step at a time. [01:39:01] Review the study findings that we're providing to you. [01:39:04] There's a ton of ideas that we've shared with you, we hope. [01:39:08] Pick some top priorities and take action one step at a time [01:39:12] until you see results. [01:39:14] But time is of the essence. [01:39:17] So develop an action plan that includes timelines, [01:39:20] resources, not necessarily funding. [01:39:23] A lot of what we talked about doesn't cost that much. [01:39:27] There are a few things that could, [01:39:29] but you can plan for that. [01:39:32] Whatever you do, develop metrics that work for you [01:39:35] that allow you to evaluate the effectiveness. [01:39:38] And keep on doing things that are working [01:39:40] and stop doing things that aren't working [01:39:42] if you've got those metrics in place. [01:39:44] And provide responsibility and accountability [01:39:47] so that this does not become another study, [01:39:49] another report that sits on the shelf, [01:39:51] that there's opportunities for action. [01:39:54] And report and share your successes and your progress [01:39:59] with community stakeholders, and more important, [01:40:02] the greater Tampa Bay market. [01:40:04] Don't wait to do that until everything else is fixed. [01:40:07] Go out there and do it now. [01:40:09] Is there a reporter here? [01:40:11] All right, there's a reporter here. [01:40:12] It's a lot of good news, right? [01:40:14] All right, good, see? [01:40:16] We're starting the process. [01:40:17] You've got to be able to tell your story. [01:40:19] Tell it to your residents, tell it to your stakeholders, [01:40:23] tell it to yourselves, but more important, [01:40:25] tell it to an outside market because there's a market here [01:40:28] that is waiting to hear the New Port Richey story. [01:40:30] And with that, I have to take one more second [01:40:33] and then we'll take questions. [01:40:34] I got to recognize somebody in the room, [01:40:37] and that's Jerry Campos, who came up from Manatee County, [01:40:41] was former Economic Development Director of Clearwater [01:40:43] and now is in Manatee, working with John, [01:40:46] and she's the chair of the ULI Panel Advisory Committee. [01:40:50] And I think she was there to make sure [01:40:51] that we were on task. [01:40:53] She's a little disappointed about the hour and a half, [01:40:55] but did we do all right, Jerry? [01:40:56] All right, good, well, thank you for coming. [01:40:58] She just came to listen. [01:40:59] She's a ULI member who cared about what was going on, [01:41:02] so she joined us today and we appreciate it. [01:41:04] So with that, thank you for your time. [01:41:06] We'll take whatever questions you want. [01:41:08] We'll all be available until our stomachs get hungry [01:41:12] and growly and we'll head down the road afterwards, [01:41:14] but we're available at your pleasure to answer any questions [01:41:17] or provide whatever other information we can. [01:41:19] I would like to thank you for what you've come up with. [01:41:23] It's a lot of positive ideas [01:41:25] and keeping things on how do we continue to move forward. [01:41:29] Would point out for the one comment that was made [01:41:32] that we ought to look at EV charging. [01:41:35] We've had the ribbon cutting on our first dual station [01:41:37] EV charging station Saturday. [01:41:40] There's another one due to be installed [01:41:43] prior to Chasco Fiesta, [01:41:44] which is coming up the middle of next month. [01:41:47] And there's a third one that's been budgeted for it, [01:41:49] which will be at some point after that. [01:41:53] We have been actively looking at coming up with ways [01:41:57] of setting up parking for golf carts, [01:42:01] including how do we get power to them? [01:42:03] And there is actually a very easy way to do that downtown [01:42:06] because we've got power plugs, [01:42:08] I think in every one of the tree grates are pretty close. [01:42:14] We are trying to get bicycles up to date. [01:42:17] We've added not sure how many miles of bike paths [01:42:20] in the last couple of years, but several. [01:42:23] And we had a cycle of via also last fall. [01:42:27] And the idea was to shut down a large section [01:42:31] of Grand Boulevard and actually see how much traffic [01:42:33] we disrupted in the process. [01:42:36] That will be a key link to linking the downtown [01:42:40] all the way out to the Southgate shopping center [01:42:42] via bicycle. [01:42:43] And I think we've got some directions we can head on it. [01:42:46] And staff I know is kicking around, [01:42:49] what's the best way to go about that? [01:42:51] So I'm excited. [01:42:54] Love the idea about the mobile homes [01:42:55] in the high hazard areas. [01:42:56] That's brilliant. [01:42:59] We just need to ban the things [01:43:01] and that would take care of a lot of issues. [01:43:04] And like I say, I don't have a whole lot of questions, [01:43:06] but thank you very, very much. [01:43:08] Deputy Mayor. [01:43:09] No, also thank you also very, very much for your time. [01:43:12] I'm not gonna get into specific questions. [01:43:14] I'm gonna go home and read my notes and digest all of this. [01:43:17] But this is a very, it's very enlightening to me [01:43:20] having people come from the outside [01:43:22] and live within our community for, [01:43:24] I wish it was longer than 36 hours. [01:43:26] But what y'all put together in 36 hours [01:43:28] is just absolutely amazing. [01:43:30] And it's very, very useful information. [01:43:32] We are gonna use it. [01:43:33] We are gonna report back our successes [01:43:36] from what we've learned. [01:43:37] Very excited that New Portage was chosen [01:43:39] to be part of this ULS study. [01:43:41] And just phenomenal information. [01:43:44] It was, I needed a meeting like this [01:43:46] after some of the meetings we've had in here [01:43:47] in the last few weeks. [01:43:48] So thank you very, very much. [01:43:51] Should also point out that the new signage, [01:43:53] so you can tell when you're in New Port Richey, [01:43:55] is actually on order and is due here. [01:44:00] It actually will be received in accordance with a schedule. [01:44:05] And the schedule calls for different delivery dates, [01:44:09] but it should start arriving within the next month. [01:44:12] I believe the first sign is right outside the rec center, [01:44:14] right? [01:44:15] So that's confirmation you're on the right track. [01:44:17] Okay, well that, just to point it out. [01:44:19] I believe Councilman Phillips is on a phone connection [01:44:22] with us. [01:44:23] Councilman? [01:44:25] Thank you, Mr. Mayor. [01:44:27] As Deputy Mayor Starkey said, [01:44:30] there's a lot of information. [01:44:31] It's nice to get some positive reinforcement [01:44:36] about a number of things. [01:44:37] And obviously bringing this degree of technical oversight [01:44:43] to come in and bring us some new ideas [01:44:46] and try to keep us, I guess you can say, [01:44:49] in a couple of different lanes of traffic. [01:44:52] It seems some of it's things that we've identified, [01:44:56] we just haven't been able to execute some planning and. [01:45:00] ombudsman position and some of the other things. Once again, it's nice to get a few kudos [01:45:08] for some things that are there. The three of us obviously grew up in the city and have [01:45:15] parents that worked in the business community and obviously gave us some insights. I'm just [01:45:22] happy that they survived their time through the gauntlet with former County Administrator [01:45:29] John Gallagher. Some of us had to have him as a teacher so we could graduate to go on [01:45:34] to college. We thank you for taking the time, but obviously his expertise and what he brought [01:45:41] to the city and then to the county obviously is a net benefit and obviously saw the great [01:45:47] benefits of ULI twice. We get the macro in New Port Richey. [01:45:54] I'm anxious to see your information, your written report and then be able to work on [01:46:01] the peripheral in the future to see some of this get executed and not just sit on the [01:46:06] shelf like a lot of other things have in the past. Thank you. [01:46:10] Thank you. I would like to thank multiple individuals who are currently running for [01:46:16] City Council for actually coming this afternoon. I appreciate the fact that you guys came and [01:46:22] sat and listened and hopefully provided you with some good things to chew on. For those [01:46:30] of you in the audience and who are watching on TV, I would be remiss if I didn't mention [01:46:35] that People Places is going to have a program at 5.30 on Monday on helping New Port Richey [01:46:42] achieve green city status. That will be at 5.30 at People Places right in downtown New [01:46:48] New Port Richey. I would encourage everybody to go to it. I think it's going to be a really [01:46:52] exciting program. [01:46:53] Mr. Mayor, also thank you to our community stakeholders that took time out of their days [01:46:57] yesterday to meet with the panel. [01:46:59] Absolutely. [01:47:00] I want to echo that. Thank you all of you who took time. It was incredibly valuable

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

5. 5Communications▶ 1:47:04
6. 6Adjournment▶ 1:47:39