On the agenda

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

   Approval of June 4, 2019 CRA Meeting Minutes

   approved

   The CRA Board approved the minutes from the June 4, 2019 CRA meeting.

   • motion:Motion to approve the June 4, 2019 CRA meeting minutes. (passed)

   #June 4, 2019 CRA Meeting Minutes

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   [00:00:22] In that case, next item on the agenda is approval of the June 4th [00:00:28] CRA meeting minutes. [00:00:29] Move to approve. [00:00:30] Second. [00:00:31] A motion and a second. [00:00:34] All those in favor, please signify by saying aye. [00:00:36] Aye. [00:00:37] Aye. [00:00:37] Opposed, like sign. [00:00:40] Motion passes.

   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.

3. 3

   ↳You arrived here from a search for “Community Congregational” — transcript expanded below

   Proposal from EZ Event Ride for Transportation Services

   discussed

   The CRA Board discussed a proposal from EZ Event Ride to provide a 90-day pilot transportation service in the city using 15-passenger vehicles, requesting a $13,500 city sponsorship. Board members were unanimously opposed to the sponsorship/advertising payment, viewing it as a private enterprise matter, though they expressed openness to the concept on a smaller scale tied to city events. Direction was given for the company to return to the drawing board, pursue private business advertisers, and possibly work through Main Street.

   • consensus:Board reached consensus to reject the $13,500 sponsorship proposal and direct EZ Event Ride to seek private business advertising/sponsorship and consider starting with a smaller-scale operation tied to city events. (none)
   • direction:Direction to explore with FDOT, possibly through the MPO, what would be required to legally establish a NEV route between the waterfront and downtown crossing US-19. (none)

   🏢Chasco Fiesta🏢Community Congregational🏢EZ Event Ride🏢First Methodist🏢JL Video🏢Main Street🏢Red Apple School🏢Richey Elementary👤Bill👤Mr. Altman👤Mr. Murphy👤Ms. Manns#Chasco Fiesta wrap-up#FDOT#MPO#Movies in the Park#Music in the Park#NEVs (Neighborhood Electric Vehicles)#US-19 crossing

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   [00:00:41] Next is a proposal from Easy Event Ride. [00:00:45] Ms. Manns. [00:00:47] Yes sir, Mr. Mayor. [00:00:48] As you'll recall from the wrap up meeting that was conducted with Chasco Fiesta, [00:00:54] representatives were in attendance at that time from Easy Event Ride, [00:00:59] and they indicated that they would like to provide a more permanent [00:01:03] transportation service in the city from Ansari parking lots. [00:01:11] In that regard, they put together a proposal which I attached to your [00:01:17] agenda item communication related to this matter, [00:01:22] what specifically they're requesting to do is they would like to provide [00:01:26] service for a 90-day period of time. [00:01:30] They would like the city to sponsor the transportation services in the amount [00:01:36] of $13,500. [00:01:39] They are proposing to provide one 15-passenger vehicle during the first [00:01:47] week of operation, at which time they would operate eight hours per day, [00:01:52] five days per week. [00:01:53] During the second week of operation, they wanted to bump up their vehicles, [00:02:00] and they proposed to add a second 15-passenger vehicle, and additionally, [00:02:07] to operate for additional days of the week, hopefully to a seven-day operation. [00:02:18] They are using this as a pilot opportunity to provide service on a more permanent [00:02:24] basis to the city, and have indicated that they would like to receive sponsorship [00:02:31] dollars from local businesses to support their costs, and that they would be [00:02:39] providing this ride service for tips to the drivers. [00:02:48] And I've contained...as indicated, I have provided a copy of their proposal to you, [00:02:54] and the purpose of the discussion this evening is to consider whether or not [00:03:00] this service should be offered in the city at this time. [00:03:05] Thank you. [00:03:05] Open it up for public comment. [00:03:10] Seeing no one coming forward, bring it back to the CRA board. [00:03:20] May I kick it off? [00:03:22] I see a need for...this is my opinion, as always. [00:03:26] I see a need for something like this. [00:03:29] They had discussed city sponsorship when we were having the Chasco Fiesta wrap-up work [00:03:35] session, so I didn't want to get too far. [00:03:37] They took quite a bit of time discussing this, but in my opinion, having a 15-passenger [00:03:46] for five days, eight hours a day for five days, and right now just going to be sitting idle. [00:03:52] And I also don't think that...I think we needed baby steps on this. [00:03:56] I don't think it's the city's role to provide a $13,500 sponsorship to them to...this is [00:04:04] free enterprise, in my opinion. [00:04:06] We don't pay restaurants to cook food for the clients that they're selling it to. [00:04:10] And that's how I view this. [00:04:13] I don't see why we would want a sponsorship as marketing the city. [00:04:17] We're getting...people are coming downtown based on the changes we've made up here and [00:04:21] the positive things that council, city, and residents and business owners are already doing. [00:04:28] I just personally...I'm not opposed to having maybe a nine-seat...I keep referring to the [00:04:33] experience I had in Mount Dora. [00:04:35] One nine-seater golf cart, guy works off tips, pays his own liability insurance, retired [00:04:39] cop from Orlando, loves it, gives little tours when he's alone with people, and makes several [00:04:44] hundreds of dollars a day just on tips. [00:04:46] I just personally don't think that we need all this five days a week, and I don't feel [00:04:51] that it's a city's role to pay them $13,500 to do so. [00:04:57] It's private market. [00:04:58] If they want to come try it out and test it and charge people, or just run it for a month [00:05:03] and see how much their driver makes on tips, maybe with a nine-seater, on weekend, on the [00:05:07] first maybe weekends of the month, I can see that. [00:05:09] I'm all for that. [00:05:10] And if they want to bring five of them and do it on their own and see how much money [00:05:14] they make, and see if businesses want to sponsor them or have a small fee, it's just [00:05:20] my opinion as one council member that it's too much for every day of the week, and I [00:05:24] don't think it's the city's role to pay them to transport people around downtown, outside [00:05:31] of maybe a city event, like movies in the park or something like that, for patrons that [00:05:36] are going to private businesses. [00:05:40] We've done a good job to get the people down here and recruit good businesses, but I think [00:05:44] at that point we need to step back and say, hey, you're a private market. [00:05:47] You want to try it out, make some money, do it. [00:05:49] But I personally, for one CRA director, am not comfortable paying a company $13,500 to [00:05:55] bring in this big 15-seater, eight hours a day, five days a week. [00:05:58] That's where I stand. [00:06:00] But I'm not opposed to the idea at all whatsoever. [00:06:02] I just think baby steps. [00:06:03] I'll go after this. [00:06:07] I'm just going to add, you know, I'm 100 percent behind you. [00:06:10] I just want to add that there are some restaurants and bars that even actually close a couple [00:06:14] days of the week because they don't feel they're making the business. [00:06:17] So to have a ride available downtown, the businesses that are down there don't think [00:06:22] it's that busy. [00:06:23] So I welcome them to come. [00:06:25] I definitely think they're needed during the events, but on a regular basis, I'm not ready [00:06:30] for that yet. [00:06:31] Mr. Murphy? [00:06:32] Yeah, that's just way too much. [00:06:36] I mean, they're going to be, you know, most of the time during the week is going to be [00:06:39] sitting around doing nothing. [00:06:40] And to pay them, you know, $4,300 a month just doesn't make sense because that's just [00:06:50] not, you know, if they wanted to tweak it, do weekends, you know, negotiate a price. [00:06:55] I mean, it's nice to have the city provide, you know, some money to help with public transportation [00:07:02] to, you know, help the downtown. [00:07:05] But that just, that model there just doesn't work for us in our city. [00:07:09] It just doesn't make sense. [00:07:11] So they need to go back and kind of rethink that. [00:07:14] Mr. Altman? [00:07:15] Yeah, I have a, last to talk, but probably have the most involvement with them because [00:07:22] I had them parking and doing the riding during the Chasco. [00:07:27] So I would just kind of throw a couple of things out to you. [00:07:30] One, that the concept, as I understood it, and I don't know why it's being promoted [00:07:39] by them as a sponsorship because that's the wrong word, but I remember just a few months [00:07:45] ago when we were talking about it's time to market and to do marketing and advertising. [00:07:52] And I know that the city's recreation department, I understand, was looking to them to potentially [00:07:58] do some things during movies or large events. [00:08:03] And we've talked about crowds and how to move them. [00:08:05] I think that perhaps this is back to the drawing board, but what I understood from having discussions [00:08:13] with Bill was that they make all their money from advertising. [00:08:19] And so when you're talking about sponsorships, you're talking about paying for a service. [00:08:23] When you're talking about advertising, you're talking about providing some value by putting [00:08:28] things in front of folks. [00:08:29] So I will just describe to you what they explained to me was their vision, and maybe it doesn't [00:08:34] match with the proposal well, and maybe you can give some feedback back to the CRA director [00:08:42] about it. [00:08:43] But the concept of having a free ride for residents to be able to use an app and have [00:08:53] somebody pick them up and take them, just some examples that they suggested that they [00:08:58] would like to try to promote. [00:09:01] And I think what they need really, they want to come in town and try to develop the business, [00:09:08] so to speak, and they were looking for something to sustain them through their recruitment [00:09:13] process. [00:09:14] But as example, a company that wants to take their employees out to lunch or something [00:09:20] to pick them up and bring them back and forth, or a student who's in the middle school or [00:09:26] high school whose parents both work who want to stay after school and do an after school [00:09:30] event, or be part of a club or whatever, to make arrangements with them to pick them up [00:09:36] and bring them back. [00:09:38] And then to identify the time frames when there was a demand, nighttime to me seems [00:09:44] the best example, when the social's busy on a Saturday and Sunday would be you could put [00:09:49] all your hours into the time when there was business. [00:09:52] So I'm not sure how all that goes, but I would say that what they're looking for is an initial [00:09:59] advertiser so they can go and try to find local businesses they can hand out to folks [00:10:04] that are riding at coupons or get them to put the little advertisements on the ride. [00:10:13] So as I understand it, as they explained it to me, they hire retirees who are willing [00:10:21] to drive for tips and they sustain their operation by the advertising. [00:10:27] As example, at the University of Florida, I think it was Got Milk or something had a [00:10:30] cow on the front. [00:10:32] So to the degree there's advertising potential, and I did speak to them and felt that the [00:10:41] direction that the CRA would most be prepared to go would be to promote its events, its [00:10:46] music in the park. [00:10:47] So having a driving sign going through town all the time saying, movie Saturdays, movie [00:10:54] is this, or here's the event for the music in the park, the real promotion and the real [00:11:00] value to the CRA I think would be in advertising, not in sponsoring or underwriting a service. [00:11:09] The service is run by a private company who would not be contracted by the city. [00:11:14] And so I think that there seems to be a failure in the proposal. [00:11:20] I think going back to them with some of the concerns that have been mentioned is an option. [00:11:26] I think starting small and growing is probably what, well, what I know they're looking for [00:11:33] is a chance to operate, go in, talk to the businesses, and try to sell advertising space [00:11:39] on the banner. [00:11:40] That may explain the lengthy, you know, 14-passenger ride. [00:11:46] Yes? [00:11:47] I think actually that they should be going through Main Street and Liz, you know, before [00:11:52] they ever came here to the CRA. [00:11:57] I was just going to suggest the same thing, actually. [00:11:59] I can also report to you that the Chasco Fiesta has considered and has a need to try [00:12:05] to sign up sponsors and had considered putting the date of the Chasco and some kind of identification [00:12:12] of those that do sponsor and actually paying for some advertising as well. [00:12:17] So to the degree that the city could be an advertiser and participate, as it has its [00:12:22] summer series, you know, I think that a contractual agreement to sponsor is being rejected, I [00:12:29] understand. [00:12:30] But to the degree that there's any merit in advertising, I think I'd like to have you [00:12:35] all comment as to how you feel about that. [00:12:37] My comment on advertising is they should be going to private businesses and asking them [00:12:42] for advertising dollars. [00:12:44] I don't see why the city, I mean, our movies in the park are packed, our concerts in the [00:12:47] park are packed. [00:12:49] I don't see the need for the city to invest in advertising on transportation going around [00:12:53] in the city, visually, to people that are already in the city. [00:12:57] I think if we're going to advertise, we need to advertise outside the city. [00:13:00] And if they're looking for advertising dollars to help them get their foot off the ground, [00:13:04] they should be looking to private entities for that and not to the city of New Port Richey. [00:13:08] I just don't, to me, as a business owner, it doesn't make sense. [00:13:11] It would be like me advertising to people sitting in my office. [00:13:13] Like I just, I'm not being sarcastic. [00:13:17] That's the way I see it. [00:13:19] Why would we want to advertise as a city to people that are already here? [00:13:23] I would, you know, I think it would behoove them to go talk to the social, go talk to [00:13:29] some restaurants, some businesses in and around downtown, and look for private advertising [00:13:35] dollars. [00:13:36] I just don't see the purpose of the city of New Port Richey paying for advertising dollars [00:13:40] on a transport golf cart or a little railroad train, whatever it looks like, in the city. [00:13:47] I just, to me, it doesn't gel. [00:13:50] My concern is the time frame. [00:13:54] The seven days, even five days a week is probably overkill at this point. [00:13:59] There's a good argument on the weekends, and certainly when we've got an event that we're [00:14:07] doing in the park, this Saturday night's movie night, just as an example, I could see us [00:14:15] providing something to, you know, make it possible for people to actually get down [00:14:22] there easily, but I think I'm with the rest of you guys. [00:14:30] The bulk of this ought to be paid for by getting some of the businesses to... [00:14:36] Might even entertain the county transportation, you know, funding, you know, traveling in [00:14:44] downtown, you know. [00:14:46] Yeah, I definitely think there's a, you know, place for it, for sure. [00:14:51] Yeah. [00:14:52] I say, the concept... [00:14:53] I'm not opposed to the concept at all. [00:14:54] I like the concept. [00:14:55] It's... [00:14:56] If you'll pardon the pun a little bit. [00:14:57] I like the concept. [00:14:58] It's... [00:15:00] The rubber meets the road that we've got some issues. [00:15:06] But yeah, if we're going to help out on the city events, [00:15:16] much like Chasco or potentially Main Street, Mike, [00:15:19] when they've got a big event going on in the park, [00:15:24] that's all well and good. [00:15:26] Plus, this is a logistic area. [00:15:27] Where would we be picking these people up from [00:15:30] and taking them to? [00:15:33] That's not ours. [00:15:33] That's their job. [00:15:34] Well, it might be ours if we need to break the ice [00:15:43] to get them in contact with some of the organizations [00:15:48] that have large parking lots. [00:15:50] Community Congregational, First Methodist, Red Apple School, [00:15:54] Ritchie Elementary, CA, whoever. [00:16:03] Schools. [00:16:04] We might have a role in helping them get those contacts. [00:16:10] But at this point, if you're talking about movie night, [00:16:13] Saturday night, I could see them making [00:16:16] the run to some of these outlying parking places. [00:16:19] I just don't know if during the week [00:16:21] we've got that much of a parking problem [00:16:23] downtown to make it worth their trouble. [00:16:25] What about, Director Alderman, what about these vehicles? [00:16:29] Are they legal to cross US-19, do we know? [00:16:31] Like go and take people from Portage Waterfront to downtown? [00:16:34] Yeah, I think they have a variety that [00:16:37] are on-road or off-road. [00:16:38] But I think that they're not allowed. [00:16:41] I see him raising his hand with a no. [00:16:43] They can't cross US-19 now. [00:16:45] If they've got a license plate? [00:16:47] No, golf carts can't be on any road that has a speed limit, [00:16:53] I believe. [00:16:55] They can only be up to 45 miles an hour. [00:16:58] If they've got a license plate? [00:17:00] That allows them on roads, but then you can't even [00:17:04] cross the state highway. [00:17:08] Well, like US-19, unless there's a special dispensation [00:17:11] from DOT, the city and all would have to make application. [00:17:16] It's quite a process. [00:17:17] It's an extended process. [00:17:19] We were looking at that back during the initial golf cart [00:17:23] when we started up that program, because obviously we [00:17:27] have New Port Richey on the other side of US-19. [00:17:30] And they cannot legally cross, regardless [00:17:33] if they have a tag or not. [00:17:35] That underpass, but until we get the underpass, [00:17:38] I wonder if the underpass would even [00:17:39] sustain, based on the size, if they [00:17:42] could get on an underpass. [00:17:43] These things are huge. [00:17:45] Well, I mean, the idea of the golf carts [00:17:47] is they're much more nimble. [00:17:49] So when you go to a ball game or to a college campus, [00:17:54] their business has always been universities, [00:17:58] professional sports, and transporting [00:18:00] folks who are walking. [00:18:02] What they found in the city during JASCO [00:18:04] was that people were just having to walk a while, [00:18:07] and having them make a circle or circuit [00:18:10] allowed them to interact with them. [00:18:14] But I certainly respect the idea, [00:18:16] and it's been my suggestion to them [00:18:18] ever since I talked to them that this should not be a city paid [00:18:22] for service, that it should be a service that they work. [00:18:27] I think their hope was that the city would give them [00:18:30] a jump start, let them try to get in town and be driving [00:18:33] and spending most of their time doing the marketing [00:18:37] and having some startup funds, for lack of a better word. [00:18:43] But obviously, it would be time for them [00:18:46] to get back to the drawing board. [00:18:48] It seems like there's a pretty much an agreement [00:18:52] not to market or advertise, which [00:18:55] is something we could talk about another time. [00:19:00] But how are we going to do our marketing and advertising? [00:19:05] And I think we discussed a couple of weeks [00:19:09] ago that it was time for us to ratchet up our outreach. [00:19:13] I think having the service is a cool thing. [00:19:16] Having it be exclusive is not good business. [00:19:20] And so consequently, the advertising [00:19:23] is the only way the city could support them [00:19:26] versus hiring them and going out for bid [00:19:29] or trying to get into the business themselves. [00:19:32] Speaking of marketing, where are we on that video [00:19:34] that they shot downtown, JL video was working on? [00:19:36] When is that going to be ready? [00:19:39] I'm not certain of a date that it'll be ready. [00:19:42] I'll check in with them and report back to you. [00:19:45] Anyhow, so once again, my stance is that cool concept, [00:19:50] still not opposed to the concept at all, but start off small. [00:19:53] And I just think they need to go to private dollars to fund it. [00:19:56] And I would like us to explore with FDOT, [00:20:02] maybe through the NPO, what would be involved? [00:20:07] Because I'm distinguishing between the golf [00:20:12] carts and the NEVs, which these are NEVs, [00:20:17] if they, in fact, qualify as NEVs, [00:20:21] and I think some of them do, that what [00:20:25] would be involved in setting up, legally, [00:20:29] a route that would let you do a loop between the waterfront [00:20:34] and downtown? [00:20:35] Well, you're familiar with the NEVs, the rules there? [00:20:37] We don't have NPO next month. [00:20:39] I could call a job on them. [00:20:41] I think that that's something that the state would [00:20:43] have to deal with and go through legislation [00:20:45] to change anything like that. [00:20:47] Well, and then safety is always a concern [00:20:49] to have us be in the front of the first action. [00:20:54] But the folks at DOT could tell us. [00:20:56] Yeah, it's a state issue.

   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.

4. 4Communications▶ 20:59
5. 5Adjournment▶ 34:02