On the agenda

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

   Approval of April 6, 2023 and April 10, 2023 CRA Meeting Minutes

   approved

   The CRA Board approved the minutes from the April 6, 2023 and April 10, 2023 CRA meetings.

   • motion:Approve the minutes of the April 6, 2023 and April 10, 2023 CRA meetings. (passed)

   #April 10, 2023 CRA Meeting Minutes#April 6, 2023 CRA Meeting Minutes

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   [00:00:18] All right, the first item is approval of the minutes for April 6th and April 10th meetings, CRA meetings. [00:00:25] Move for approval. [00:00:26] Second. [00:00:27] All those in favor? [00:00:29] Aye. [00:00:30] Aye. [00:00:30] Those opposed? [00:00:33] It covers five zip.

   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. 4

   ↳You arrived here from a search for “Debbie Manns” — transcript expanded below

   Lease Agreement between the City of New Port Richey CRA and the Richey Community Orchestra RE: 6128 U.S. Highway 19

   approved

   The CRA Board approved a six-month lease (with a renewable six-month term subject to city manager approval) at $0/month rent allowing the Richey Community Orchestra to store its music library at 6128 U.S. Highway 19 (the former SunTrust building). The motion was amended to allow six access visits per six-month period instead of three, with 48 hours advance notice to staff.

   • motion:Motion to approve the lease agreement with the Richey Community Orchestra for storage at 6128 U.S. Highway 19, as amended to allow six access visits per six-month period instead of three. (passed)

   📍6128 U.S. Highway 19🏢Richey Community Orchestra🏢River Ridge High School Performing Arts Center🏢Spartan Manor🏢SunTrust👤Debbie Manns👤Denise Isaacson👤Jordan Bacon Gravelin👤Mary Beth Isaacson👤Mike#Lease Agreement between City of New Port Richey CRA and Richey Community Orchestra#Music library storage

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   [00:00:35] We're going to move right down to the leasing number four, leasing agreement between the City of New Port Richey Community Redevelopment and the Ritchie Community Orchestra. [00:00:46] You can help us with that, Debbie? [00:00:49] Certainly, Mr. Mayor. [00:00:51] Okay. [00:00:52] Some discussion took place at your meeting on April 6th in respect to the needs of the Ritchie Community Orchestra for some temporary storage of their music library. [00:01:08] In that respect, we considered the option of a couple of different community facilities in which we could house their library and determine that the best place to do so would be the property at 6128 US Highway 19, which is the former SunTrust building, where they could use a portion of the building. [00:01:39] In that respect, it was agreed that a six-month period of time would be an appropriate amount of time for the group to find a suitable location for a more long-term storage of the materials on a permanent basis. [00:02:01] Although, the lease term in front of you this evening is for a six-month term with a renewable period of six months. [00:02:09] With that being said, the other important parts of the lease that is before you this evening for consideration is related to the rent amount in which the city is requesting, I'm sorry, the CRA is requesting that the rent is in the amount of zero dollars per month. [00:02:40] We are requesting that 48 hours notice be given to the city staff in advance of any visits to the facility for any purpose and that those visits be limited to three times per year per six months. [00:03:03] In recent discussion with Denise Isaacson, she's indicated to me that it may be that they need to get in a few more times than that, and the two of us have made a little bit of an agreement to do so if that turns out to be the case. [00:03:22] With that being said, those are the salient points of the lease agreement, and I recommend that you authorize the executive director to enter into this lease agreement for the property and for the use of the Ritchie Community Orchestra for the purpose of storing their music library. [00:03:49] Do we have any public comment? Come on down. [00:03:55] Good afternoon, everyone. My name is Mary Beth Isaacson. I represent the Ritchie Community Orchestra. Thank you so much for considering this lease. We are very grateful for your willingness to work with us to provide a temporary home for the storage of our music library. [00:04:12] It is quite substantial. We've been in the process of getting it ready to evacuate from the building that it's currently housed in, pending my parents' retirement and sale of their business, which is where it's currently located. [00:04:24] This music is so valuable to us. There's thousands, hundreds of thousands of dollars that this represents because this music is not cheap. Much of it is out of print and completely unavailable for purchase anywhere, or even rental in some cases. [00:04:42] This is a tremendous asset to the community. This is part of what makes the orchestra the orchestra. The most important thing is, of course, the people, many of whom you see before you in the audience this evening. [00:04:55] The tool we need to do this to bring the music to our community and to make our community vibrant and successful and a joyous place for the people that live in West Pasco County is represented here. [00:05:08] We thank you very much for your consideration of this. We are so grateful for the opportunity to work with you on this matter. Thank you very much. [00:05:18] Does anybody else would like to speak on behalf of this? Anybody else would like to speak at all on this? [00:05:25] I'm Denise Isakson. I'm short, I guess. [00:05:32] You've got a big voice. [00:05:35] I do. I have a big stage voice. Anyway, I also want to give my deepest thanks to all of you for considering this, for working with us. [00:05:48] We've been an organization in Pasco County since 1957, and we have been performing all of that time, little concerts here and there. [00:05:57] I think we've performed at every subdivision, every church from Tarpon Springs up past Hudson, the Veterans Hospital in Tampa. [00:06:06] We've been around. Just nobody has known of that. [00:06:09] When I started as a teenager with this group 50 years ago, there were about 14 in the membership. [00:06:19] Today we're pushing 50 in this, which makes us a pretty nice little community orchestra. [00:06:24] We have students who play with us who are just teenagers, and we have octogenarians playing with us, very active in their lives. [00:06:33] Music is a wonderful thing that brings people together, not only the players and the singers, but the audience is a really critical part of any concert. [00:06:44] At any concert, you'll probably find 400 people or better who attend our events, who we've managed to reach and reel in to our fold. [00:06:55] We would love to work with you as a cultural center in this town. [00:07:01] We perform at River Ridge High School in their Performing Arts Center, as well as Spartan Manor right over on Massachusetts. [00:07:10] We're already a force in the community, and we'd love to team with you to reach more people to bring the joy of music, [00:07:18] which motivates all of us here and hundreds of other people to share our joy of music with the city. [00:07:26] With that, thank you so much again for considering this. [00:07:30] I promise you won't be disappointed. [00:07:33] We'll be really good renters, and we will find a better situation, [00:07:39] but hopefully we'll be able to team with you in other areas that will continue to bring music to the city. [00:07:45] Thank you so much. [00:07:48] Is there anybody else who would like to speak, pro or con? [00:07:53] All right, bring it back to council. [00:07:56] Oh, come on, I'm sorry. [00:08:00] Hi, my name is Jordan Bacon Gravelin. [00:08:02] I just wanted to follow up that everything Denise said is accurate. [00:08:06] I started with this group as a teenager in high school, and I'm now able to come back to this group as a place to play, [00:08:13] and I don't have to put my instrument down. [00:08:15] It's a place where my daughter can come watch me play as her mother and get that kind of, [00:08:23] sorry, I'm a little emotional, that she just gets that exposure. [00:08:28] She loves music because she has this outlet of exposure. [00:08:32] So if this orchestra isn't here, not only is it an impact to me as a person, to my family, [00:08:37] but also to my daughter as she's growing up. [00:08:40] She's going in to school, and she already knows about instruments. [00:08:46] She knows music. [00:08:47] She listens to soundtrack on repeat, not because I force her, because she asks for soundtracks with no words, [00:08:53] and I'm not sure that there's many three-year-olds who do that, but she does because she was exposed. [00:08:59] So thank you for your consideration and all your help with everything to support the orchestra and the chorus. [00:09:06] Is there anyone else? [00:09:10] I'll bring it back to Council then. [00:09:12] Mr. Chairman, I'll make a motion to approve the lease. [00:09:15] I'll second. [00:09:17] Any comments? [00:09:18] No, I think it was a very good choice. [00:09:22] I know the location that I had identified to you was not sufficient, [00:09:26] and I appreciate the staff and Public Works and the facility management folks for finding a good place. [00:09:34] I didn't realize just how many files they had. [00:09:40] Second? [00:09:41] No, I think it's great. [00:09:42] I think that it's good. [00:09:43] I'm happy we were able to find a place that will work. [00:09:46] Happy to be able to find a place for you. [00:09:50] Mike? [00:09:52] You know, I've known the Isaacson family for 25 years at least, [00:09:58] probably more than that actually back, golly, maybe 30-some years. [00:10:06] I'll never forget the time. [00:10:09] Ike's not here today, right? [00:10:11] We would know if he was here, right? [00:10:15] And I'm still amazed that a person with fingers that large can play an oboe. [00:10:22] I just was, you know, I had a little bit of music experience. [00:10:26] I was very unpalated, but people put up with me for a few years. [00:10:32] So say it to know that they're involved in leading the charge on this. [00:10:41] You know, I just know how strong and good the organization is and with that leadership. [00:10:47] My biggest concern is this building's not going to be here forever, right? [00:10:52] And so we're agreeing to six months and with a six-month automatic renewal [00:10:59] or will we revisit it six months? [00:11:03] At six months it will be revisited, [00:11:06] and the current lease specifies it is with the approval of the city manager [00:11:14] for an additional six months. [00:11:17] So, you know, with that I'm happy to help out. [00:11:20] You know, I think we're buying you some time perhaps, right? [00:11:24] And happy to do that. [00:11:27] You know, I've enjoyed the performances, the few that I've attended, [00:11:32] and I wish you the best in your pursuit to find a suitable permanent home. [00:11:40] I just want to say that coming to us and letting the city know, you know, [00:11:47] not only us up here but the residents, that this library exists, [00:11:52] I think maybe you're going to have a lot more people knocking on your door. [00:11:55] So I'm, with the help of my counselor, I'd like to open it up even to double that, [00:12:00] from that three to six, you know, times. [00:12:03] You can take people to maybe expose them to, you know, [00:12:07] or even use it as kind of a backdoor library, you know. [00:12:13] Yeah, but you have to have access to it. [00:12:15] That's why I'm kind of concerned. [00:12:17] So do I get any help here? [00:12:20] Well, I think the city manager mentioned that she had made an agreement [00:12:23] for more frequent visits, that they could arrange on that. [00:12:28] I know it's in her lease. [00:12:30] I don't know if we need to make an alteration to the lease or not. [00:12:33] What do you think, counselor? [00:12:34] Well, you're talking about allowing the public to enter the building? [00:12:37] No, no, they would go with the people. [00:12:40] So right now, there's limited access. [00:12:43] It's designed as a limited access lease, so you'd be changing it. [00:12:47] You can do so, but we need to know if that's what you want to do [00:12:50] and you need to vote to approve that. [00:12:52] It would be an amendment to this particular motion that's on the floor. [00:12:56] But, yeah, we could basically – [00:12:59] I don't want it open to the public, but I would, you know, [00:13:01] maybe they'd want to – they start having people approaching them and say, [00:13:04] well, yeah, we have that. [00:13:05] Let's go look with their, you know – [00:13:08] So you'd like to open up the access to give them more access to it? [00:13:12] Which would call for an amendment to the lease for a couple of different reasons. [00:13:17] One, we have additional storage in the building, [00:13:21] which needs to be secured appropriately. [00:13:24] And secondly, we would need to have staff open and close the building, [00:13:31] and that would require pulling them off of other jobs and perhaps some staff time. [00:13:37] Well, can we just change it to six instead of three without any major changes? [00:13:43] Amendment to the lease. [00:13:44] Amendment to six instead of three? [00:13:45] You can entertain a motion to increase the number of accesses, yes. [00:13:50] They may come see you more often. [00:13:52] I don't think I'd mess with these people here, but, you know. [00:13:56] But I'd like to see if we could make it six. [00:13:59] If I could get back into that. [00:14:00] I'll make a motion to change it to six from three. [00:14:04] To amend the motion would cause us to agree to that, which I do, [00:14:09] and I mentioned the second would as well. [00:14:11] If you'd like, we can just amend it as the amended motion, the way it was stated. [00:14:16] So I would agree to that if the second would as well. [00:14:20] Okay, all those in favor? [00:14:22] Aye. [00:14:23] Those opposed?

   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. 3

   Discussion Regarding Miscellaneous Properties in the City

   discussed

   The CRA Board held a broad discussion about miscellaneous properties in the city, prompted by Director Altman's request and the continued availability of the Finnish American Club (owned by Lighthouse Baptist Church) after a prior contract with Youth and Family Services Alternatives fell through. Council members discussed strategic real estate priorities, the upcoming CRA plan update by Stantec, potential acquisitions (West Pasco Press Building, Schwettman Center, Bazzuli buildings, bank building at Bank & Main), and the need to be strategic about property purchases tied to blight removal and tax base enhancement. No formal action was taken.

   • direction:CRA Board directed staff to bring back the draft updated CRA plan from Stantec for review and to continue strategic discussions about property priorities. (none)

   📍Missouri Avenue📍Orange Lake📍corner of Bank and Main📍corner of Gulf Drive and Grand Boulevard🏢Bifo Brady's🏢Chamber of Commerce🏢FRA (Florida Redevelopment Association)🏢Finnish American Club🏢Hacienda🏢Lighthouse Baptist Church🏢Schwettman School🏢Stantec🏢West Pasco Press🏢Youth and Family Services Alternatives👤Director Altman👤Edmund Bacon👤Fred Kent👤Peters👤Scott Shipley#2019 CRA legislation#CRA plan update#Chasco Fiesta#Penny for Pasco#SunTrust Building#Tasty Tuesdays#rental incentive program#tourism tax analysis

   ▶ Jump to 14:24 in the video

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   [00:14:24] Carries five zip. [00:14:26] Thank you. [00:14:27] Okay, now we'll go back to the discussion of, you know, [00:14:32] miscellaneous properties in the city. [00:14:37] I'm sorry, I flew earlier. [00:14:39] Number one. [00:14:40] I'm not hearing very well. [00:14:42] Back to number three. [00:14:43] Number three. [00:14:44] Okay, thank you. [00:14:46] This item is being presented as a request that was submitted by Director Altman [00:14:53] and the CRA Board of Directors to conduct a discussion in general [00:14:58] about miscellaneous properties. [00:15:00] As you'll recall, there have been several discussions, as I outlined to you in my email [00:15:05] communications over the course of the last year, about the Finnish American Club, which [00:15:13] is currently owned by Lighthouse Baptist Church. [00:15:17] For a period of time, it was under the interest of youth and family services alternatives [00:15:29] and they were under contract for the purchase price of $360,000 for the property. [00:15:37] That interest, though, waned as a result of a zoning issue in respect to their proposed [00:15:44] use of the property. [00:15:47] As I'm understanding it, Lighthouse Baptist Church, though, is still interested in selling [00:15:52] the property and that's one reason I believe that this discussion is being hosted this [00:16:02] evening and I'll leave it to you to have your discussion and I'll take good notes. [00:16:08] Yeah, Mr. Chairman, maybe because we're fortunate that we have a little bit of time and thank [00:16:17] you for setting this at five, not that we need to take it longer than it needs to go, [00:16:21] but the overall topic has to do with real estate and because this is a CRA and because [00:16:28] I just came back from the FRA board meeting where there was considerable discussion about [00:16:36] the conference coming up in October and about the topics of interest. [00:16:41] In the industry of CRAs, one of the most, I think, active topics in the state has been [00:16:50] the interpretation of some 2019 legislation that changed the terminology of CRAs so that [00:17:00] the available use of funds of a CRA, which used to say to include the items listed, is [00:17:12] now an exclusive listing of items. [00:17:14] And so there's a lot of discussions that I think we'll be having in the months ahead [00:17:20] as we review the plan and some discussion that I've had with our city's economic and [00:17:30] our new economic director as well as the city manager has focused around a topic that's [00:17:38] been very hot brought to us, which is what kind of incentives are we going to be offering [00:17:44] in the future. [00:17:45] The rental incentive, for example, is a bit outside of the opinion of many as being really [00:17:54] directly gone to that. [00:17:57] So at a future CRA meeting, I think as the CRA contemplates its plan and revising its [00:18:04] plan, of the major topics are in the removal of blight, the enhancement or redevelopment [00:18:13] of properties. [00:18:15] So it's really become more of a real estate change, the tax values and the assessment [00:18:20] values of property and town. [00:18:22] So the idea for taking a church that's not on the tax roll and putting it on the tax [00:18:30] roll is the major emphasis for the CRA. [00:18:37] So I'm not sure if this is the agency, but as we talk about the capital improvement plans, [00:18:43] I'm thinking the Finnish American Club may be more appropriate to go back to the city [00:18:50] and talk about the penny for PASCO or about some of the strategic plan that we just saw [00:19:00] for the library as example. [00:19:02] It has, you know, seeing how libraries are morphing. [00:19:06] Interestingly enough, the presenter worked in a library that was a partnership between [00:19:12] PASCO County and the school board system. [00:19:15] And so those partnerships are all interesting. [00:19:18] So to the topic of the folks that are here today, I'd certainly love to participate [00:19:24] in that discussion to see if there's any place in town that makes sense in any way [00:19:28] that we can support them. [00:19:30] And maybe importantly, we already have a nice bandshell. [00:19:34] It would be nice while they're here to see if we could get them to do a concert for us [00:19:38] on one of the, you know, one of our weekends or something so that we could expose the community [00:19:43] to them in Sims Park. [00:19:46] But to the topic of property, I've talked for a while about the West Pasco Press Building, [00:19:52] which is on Missouri Avenue. [00:19:53] And we're just looking at enhancing that whole railroad square area. [00:19:58] And there is a large parking area on the backside of that building, which I think from [00:20:04] a master planning or downtown expansion, there are a number of real estate parcels in town [00:20:09] that we still have talked about from the boat ramp and the Chamber of Commerce property [00:20:17] and the missing parcel in between that and our vacant lot. [00:20:22] So there's got to be a real estate acquisition priority discussion. [00:20:28] So I've got some buildings I think are potential. [00:20:35] And they all don't have to be in the downtown. [00:20:38] One of those Bazzuli buildings that's chronically empty there on the corner of Gulf Drive and [00:20:44] Grand Boulevard by Schwetman, we've talked about Schwetman and the school board and the [00:20:49] potential for us to get an agreement with them to do something with that building. [00:20:54] So I think as we redo our economic plan for the CRA, and also at the same time, we just [00:21:03] had the election last November, and now we've got that extended period of time for Penny [00:21:07] for Pasco. [00:21:08] So I think we're on such a good move right now in renovating our city, that identifying [00:21:16] the properties, the availability. [00:21:21] Our CRA manager has done a great job of finding ways to make these transactions work by either [00:21:32] getting them purchasing over some time or making other agreements. [00:21:38] And in the cases where we can flip them into economic property value increases, which meets [00:21:46] the goal of this group, it's kind of like there's two sides of it. [00:21:52] The other side is what city facilities could be enhanced and what funds are available for [00:21:59] that. [00:22:01] To me, the Schwetman Center is the perfect opportunity for us to try to develop and access [00:22:06] some of the tourism money. [00:22:09] And I would like to know if the CRA could make a request from the state for some analysis [00:22:16] of the tourism tax that's been collected in our zip codes. [00:22:20] I know they won't give us enough definition that you can identify how much a business [00:22:25] is making, or you can't have a small enough sort of fence around the data, but I think [00:22:34] we're in a good position to demonstrate to the county that we are the tourism and the [00:22:42] entertainment and the shopping location for people who want to get and enjoy the river, [00:22:49] the town. [00:22:51] It's really incredible what's happened and what a great time for our chairman to be the [00:22:57] mayor while all this is going on because there's just nothing but enthusiasm for our city when [00:23:02] it comes to the way it's going that way. [00:23:05] So for us to find out what our capabilities are with the resources we have ahead and make [00:23:11] some good discussions about how to make that happen. [00:23:15] To me, the other building that we already own is the bank building on the corner of [00:23:23] Bank and Main, and so I think how do we get a good analysis of not only things we'd like [00:23:33] to do on a wish list, but also what is within our capability and how much of this can we [00:23:40] turn into the private partnerships that will generate it. [00:23:47] Going back to music, I think Music Cities and music is really that thing that just watching [00:23:54] American or The Voice last night and seeing just the incredible talent that just keeps [00:23:59] getting better and better. [00:24:02] I don't know how much better it can get, but I think we have a great opportunity to become [00:24:11] recognized for what these folks have done in gathering the music and letting the orchestra [00:24:17] be part of that musical theme that goes so well with where we're headed as a city. [00:24:26] So I didn't have any particular purposes today to say let's buy the Finnish American Club, [00:24:33] but I think that I know that the church is in a pickle on that building because if someone [00:24:40] buys it to do residential density, then we're going to find multifamily or some kind of [00:24:47] townhome product or something that would be proposed for that. [00:24:53] I think there's only so many houses, five lots that are on it, but there's not much [00:25:06] Other historical properties and the Finnish folks were part of our culture early on in [00:25:10] the city. [00:25:11] They were the original settlers. [00:25:15] And so when this group looked at that building, they were excited because it has a great stage [00:25:20] that was built there, and it has an area that could be a kitchen, and it could be potentially [00:25:26] of some use. [00:25:27] The same problem with the zoning that the church had, I think legal counsel could advise [00:25:33] would be a problem if it was anything but a municipal function. [00:25:40] So I think that the recreation and cultural aspect of our library and the cultural aspects [00:25:49] of the recreation, holding concerts and doing things are good. [00:25:53] The other thing, you couldn't get into the building today to park, thanks to the crowd [00:25:58] that came here, I guess. [00:26:00] But if there was twice as many people, they'd be parking like it was Chasco Fiesta. [00:26:06] Come on a Tuesday and try to do some business in the city during Tasty Tuesday. [00:26:13] And so when I was here last Tuesday and saw that, I thought, man, that property over there [00:26:17] would be good for the expansion of the market, the Tasty Tuesdays and that sort of thing. [00:26:23] So I think I've said enough, but I think there's a lot of exciting things we could talk about, [00:26:29] and I just appreciate the chance to start that conversation. [00:26:33] Did you all hear what he said? [00:26:38] There ain't no such thing as free rent. [00:26:42] Sounds like you owe us a concert. [00:26:43] That's what I heard. [00:26:44] That's what I heard, right? [00:26:45] Actually, I think it would be great to have you guys out there and play before one of [00:26:53] our movie nights. [00:26:54] Yeah, yeah. [00:26:55] Because you would have the crowd there, and then you'd be introducing, like she introduced [00:27:01] her daughter to music, you'd be introducing the town to music. [00:27:04] I've tried multiple times to be able to appear during Chasco Fiesta, to do exactly that. [00:27:11] Now, Chasco Fiesta is a whole different package. [00:27:13] Yes, I understand that. [00:27:14] But at any time, any of the events that you have, we would love to be part of that. [00:27:19] We'll work on that. [00:27:20] We have a library that has all different kinds of theater. [00:27:23] I mean, we put the movie night on the table. [00:27:26] Well, I just, you know, we had a lot said there, but that's what I heard. [00:27:35] You know, basically, the Councilman was saying, hey, there's a lot of things we have in the [00:27:41] city to consider, and I think it boils down to, you know, some more strategic master planning. [00:27:52] You know, some of these things about property accumulation, and we've done some of this [00:27:57] quite successfully, that we've been in turnaround in some projects, and some has taken a long [00:28:03] time to do as well. [00:28:06] And, you know, my perspective on the CRA is to enhance the property values for our residents. [00:28:17] You know, the enhanced property values will designate, will in turn turn into a little [00:28:22] bit more tax revenue, and it's more tax revenue that it helps share the burden of the services [00:28:29] that we have to pay their tax dollars to bring the tax rate down. [00:28:33] So, for all that, that's kind of the whole purpose, as well as eliminate blight in many [00:28:41] unsightly, less than attractive areas, right? [00:28:49] And sometimes historical buildings and old buildings are neat and cool, and sometimes [00:28:57] they're just old buildings, right? [00:29:00] And we all have attachments to them for different reasons, but, you know, to try to utilize [00:29:06] them going forward is, we have to be, it's very careful, it can be difficult. [00:29:11] A difficult but worthwhile project we see downtown already was the Hacienda, right? [00:29:18] Very, very difficult, very, very time consuming, but we see what the end result is. [00:29:23] Sometimes a lot of work, a lot of money equals a great product. [00:29:27] And so, when we go into, you know, looking at older buildings to try to rehab them and [00:29:33] repurpose them and so forth, I think we've got to be real careful about that as opposed [00:29:38] to maybe just knocking them down and start over, if the purpose is really there. [00:29:44] It's one thing using an older building that's not really used for storage for a period of [00:29:49] time, that works great, but for long lasting use, I think we have to be careful and strategic [00:29:59] in the steps. [00:30:00] take to do that. [00:30:01] But I think there's lots of opportunities. [00:30:04] I think we have to be smart about it where the city steps [00:30:07] in to help that occur versus where the momentum is already [00:30:13] there and private enterprising is taking hold and doing those [00:30:16] type things. [00:30:18] And the success and expansion that we've seen just drives [00:30:26] that much more. [00:30:28] And sometimes it's a situation where the city needs to get in [00:30:32] to help accumulate some properties, to make it [00:30:35] worthwhile for a developer to redo. [00:30:37] And sometimes it's a situation where some piece may be so [00:30:43] critical that we need to take control of that to direct [00:30:49] where that happens. [00:30:51] One thing I've learned a long time ago working with some [00:30:54] communities with the county and so forth is just how [00:30:57] strong people's property rights are. [00:31:00] And they own the property. [00:31:03] There's a lot of rights associated with that. [00:31:05] We can do zoning and some other things, but there's a [00:31:08] lot of rights there. [00:31:09] And so there will be times that we need to take control [00:31:14] of some property so that it's developed in a way that with [00:31:17] the grand scheme that it's going to enhance the entire [00:31:19] city and the whole population as opposed to one property [00:31:24] owner enhancing his or her pocketbook. [00:31:28] So I'm probably not telling you guys or saying anything [00:31:34] that you don't already know or hear, but just maybe again for [00:31:38] us to revisit that and really, as we come up with some more [00:31:44] planning here, to be strategic and identify those areas that [00:31:49] we really have a purpose for and are really a need for or [00:31:52] really take advantage of the opportunity that presents [00:31:55] itself, and we have to weigh that carefully. [00:31:57] Not only what we do now and look at it right now, but look [00:32:01] at it through that telescope. [00:32:02] What is it going to be like in, you know, speed of [00:32:06] government is like molasses, right, sometimes. [00:32:09] But we have to look and see what it's going to be in the [00:32:14] future because we all live up and down US-19 here in [00:32:19] West Pasco County. [00:32:21] We see what a lack of planning and foresight can create. [00:32:28] And once it's there, it's so hard to change. [00:32:31] We're trying to redevelop US-19 and make it look nice. [00:32:35] We've done medians. [00:32:36] We've got some businesses that's rehabbed and redone [00:32:38] stuff, but that is so much more difficult than when you [00:32:41] have a blank piece of paper and you can start anew. [00:32:44] So we have to be careful as we go. [00:32:46] And I'd just like to remind my fellow committee members here [00:32:52] that we have to be very strategic and [00:32:55] thoughtful what we do. [00:32:57] Great. [00:32:58] Absolutely. [00:32:59] That's a lot of what I was going to say Mr. [00:33:02] Peters has already said. [00:33:04] We do have to be very careful, very strategic on what we do, [00:33:08] but I do think there's some other properties that we need [00:33:10] to look at as well. [00:33:12] And I think that we can probably help find them a [00:33:15] place with everything that we've got here already and [00:33:18] those that we're looking at. [00:33:19] But we do have to look farther out. [00:33:22] You can't look over the next year or two. [00:33:23] We've got to look down the road to make sure we don't put [00:33:26] something in place that doesn't belong in [00:33:28] 10 years from now. [00:33:29] We don't want to spin our wheels doing that. [00:33:31] So I think we just have to be really careful and look at [00:33:33] that, but I think we have to address what we want to do [00:33:35] with the properties that we have now. [00:33:37] And then looking at what we're going to purchase, looking at [00:33:40] that Finnish American Club. [00:33:42] In my opinion, it's overpriced, so we have to look [00:33:45] at that, too. [00:33:47] It's a real estate agent helping us out. [00:33:48] That's a real estate agent coming in. [00:33:49] That's right. [00:33:50] So we have to look at that, too, because that's what I'm [00:33:52] going to look at, obviously. [00:33:54] Look at that, too, to make sure it's worthwhile to us [00:33:56] and make sure that we're going to make money for the citizens [00:33:58] of our city. [00:34:01] Yeah, and I guess, correctly, if I'm wrong, Councilman [00:34:04] Altman, are we trying to look at something from a big [00:34:08] pictures perspective where, you know, we have properties [00:34:10] that we own and we can actually put on a map so that [00:34:12] we can look at them and kind of go through them [00:34:14] and talk about them? [00:34:15] Yes, that's right. [00:34:16] Yeah, the best example is the Chamber of Commerce. [00:34:18] You know, we've had that, rented it practically rent-free [00:34:22] for many years. [00:34:23] We increased it some years ago to a very modest rent, but the [00:34:26] Chamber is an important element of our town. [00:34:29] It brings the business people together. [00:34:32] So where are they going to go, you know? [00:34:35] And is it really our responsibility to find that? [00:34:39] Years ago, they had a fundraising drive. [00:34:41] I'm sure you would remember that they were talking about [00:34:44] raising money to build a building somewhere. [00:34:47] I'm sure they're happy to be in the town. [00:34:50] I don't know what the intention is for us to use at the bank [00:34:56] building on the corner of Bank and Main. [00:34:59] The first thing that consultants would tell us would probably be [00:35:02] to blow the walls out so we could have some glass and see [00:35:05] inside of it because it was sort of a vaulted bank. [00:35:09] But is there someone else that would do that? [00:35:12] Do we turn that over, sell it, and make money to develop [00:35:16] something else? [00:35:17] So we really need to look at the capabilities, and I'm hopeful [00:35:23] maybe that we can have an update on what's going on with [00:35:27] Stantec and their update of the CRA plan, which I'm imagining [00:35:31] we'll see it sometime soon. [00:35:33] We're due to see a draft in the next two weeks, [00:35:37] so we can share that with you. [00:35:39] Right, because the number one thing for this group is that we [00:35:41] can't do anything if it isn't in the plan. [00:35:44] So now is the time when we have to put it in the plan if we want [00:35:47] to consider it, and that's why it has been seven years, [00:35:52] and I can remember our current chairman, [00:35:55] who was a councilman at the time when Scott Shipley came in [00:36:01] and he did a study, which we could circulate again, [00:36:05] about the chance to have an Olympic training facility here [00:36:09] for the fast water. [00:36:12] And at the time, he would have loved to do it at Orange Lake [00:36:17] because he already had a water body there. [00:36:20] He did a drawing of where the Bifo Brady's was, [00:36:23] trying to keep it in the downtown. [00:36:25] But when the Schwetman School came up, [00:36:27] and you looked at the combination of our drainage needs [00:36:31] for the area from the school back, [00:36:35] and the huge football field there, [00:36:37] and the ability to do something that would draw people into our city, [00:36:41] you draw them in, then you play some music for them, [00:36:44] and then you send them out to go shopping. [00:36:46] I think we've heard that shopping is the number one tourist attraction. [00:36:51] You all recall that comment that we had. [00:36:54] So we have all these elements. [00:36:57] I think, as an example, the Finnish American Club might be, as you say, [00:37:01] a building that's got a very limited life to it, [00:37:07] and so some things we can stage. [00:37:09] But Fred Kent, who was an early planner from New York City, [00:37:15] had the approach that you had to do everything you could to develop the activity, [00:37:21] and that's when I got my wife back in 1999 [00:37:24] to have the first hot dog stand in New Port Richey [00:37:27] because it's like vendors on the street, [00:37:29] something to get people to come out on the street. [00:37:32] As soon as she opened that next day, [00:37:34] someone else went inside the park and brought their hot dog stand. [00:37:37] So I think it was successful because she got a little tired of doing it, [00:37:42] and I was tired of bringing the trailer out every morning to sell hot dogs. [00:37:46] But do you make the activity happen, and then the buildings come? [00:37:50] And then Kevin Bacon's father, Edmund Bacon, who spoke at something years ago, [00:37:56] and these are all things that I experienced on the city's dime [00:37:59] sending me to these conferences, [00:38:01] but Edmund Bacon, a famous architect from Philadelphia, [00:38:05] who his approach was the skyscape, I don't know what you call it, [00:38:14] but the look of the city, the aesthetics, the beauty of the old buildings, [00:38:19] the Capitol buildings, all of those iconic structures [00:38:24] that would draw somebody to a city and want them to be there. [00:38:27] So there were two different, totally different lines of attraction. [00:38:33] The appearance of a city is huge, [00:38:36] and the welcomingness and the vibe of the city is huge. [00:38:43] And we all know once we start seeing that bakery open [00:38:47] and people walking up and down the streets and the bars and the activity at night, [00:38:51] I constantly have people say, [00:38:53] I came into town and I couldn't believe what I saw [00:38:59] because now there are people out on the street [00:39:01] and now we have that pump primed. [00:39:04] And I think us being involved as planners, as you say, [00:39:10] participating in that long-term thing is exciting to me, [00:39:14] and I think getting the private sector involved is what we'll do at SunTrust Building. [00:39:20] I'm anxious to see when we get our properties assembled just what we'll find, [00:39:24] but I have a feeling there'll be some dramatic proposals [00:39:29] that will cause us to get excited about it, [00:39:33] and it'll be beneficial to us in the long run. [00:39:36] So the other piece of property that I think I wanted to bring up and failed to [00:39:44] is the property on the corner of Highway 19 at the bridge [00:39:48] where the county has, as I understand it, bought land for a new boat ramp out there. [00:39:53] And their willingness to have us as a CRA bring economic redevelopment to that area, [00:40:01] it brings a lot of opportunities that are out there. [00:40:06] And I think all of those areas have been touched on by the current plan, [00:40:10] so now we're going to see that plan. [00:40:13] I think there's a few buildings and opportunities that weren't there. [00:40:17] I think Schweppman is one, [00:40:19] and I think some kind of a tourism cultural center attraction could be the end game. [00:40:25] But that can't happen, as you say, in a year. [00:40:27] That could be five years out by the time you acquire something, engineer, inspect it. [00:40:33] It would be just like the Hacienda if you were going to try to renovate it and make it work. [00:40:39] Yeah, that would be the whole point of kind of looking at it now so we can look in the future. [00:40:42] Right. [00:40:43] So I guess we can't do that today, obviously, on everything, [00:40:46] but if we could set a time or whatever to look at that, put it on a map, look at it. [00:40:50] I mean, properties that we don't own obviously might be more problematic, [00:40:53] but looking at it because we don't tip anybody off or interested or anything. [00:40:57] But, yeah, I'd be all for that. [00:41:03] Between my left hand talks a lot more than my right hand, [00:41:06] but my left hand here had some great ideas, [00:41:09] and I think if we all have our own couple pieces of property [00:41:14] and if we got Ms. Manns with a couple pieces of property, [00:41:17] we'd like to look at not only ones we own, but like you brought up, the Missouri property, [00:41:21] the ones we might look at and get our economic development person [00:41:26] and the two of them kind of give us a background on those properties [00:41:29] and what it might cost us, what we might look at, what we might be able to do, [00:41:32] and then have a workshop instead of just pick one out. [00:41:35] You pick one out. [00:41:36] We give our own two or three to Ms. Manns and let her shuffle them, [00:41:42] and between the two of them kind of get an idea of like what priority we might put each one of the properties [00:41:48] and what kind of ideals we might have down the road, not to nail it down, [00:41:53] but just to get a good look and we all look together at the 10 properties or whatever, 15. [00:42:01] Anything else? [00:42:04] Then we'll get back to it, I guess. [00:42:06] All right. [00:42:07] All right.

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5. 5Communications▶ 42:08
6. 6Adjournment▶ 42:25