On the agenda

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

   Pledge of Allegiance

   Council recited the Pledge of Allegiance and observed a moment of silence.

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   [00:00:24] Here. [00:00:24] All right, stand for the Pledge of Allegiance and a moment of silence. [00:00:30] I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America, and to the republic for which it stands, one nation, under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all.

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3. 3

   Moment of Silence

   Council observed the Pledge of Allegiance and a moment of silence.

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   [00:00:24] Here. [00:00:24] All right, stand for the Pledge of Allegiance and a moment of silence. [00:00:30] I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America, and to the republic for which it stands, one nation, under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all.

   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. 4.a

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   First Public Hearing - FY24-25 Operating Budget & Capital Improvement Program

   approved

   Staff presented the FY24-25 proposed Operating Budget ($105,174,130 total) and Capital Improvement Program at the first public hearing. Council adopted the tentative millage rate of 8.3 mills (Resolution 2024-19) and the tentative budget and CIP (Resolution 2024-20), both 4-0. Discussion included the rollback rate, CRA TIF transfer, library mobile branch funding, and Francis Avenue Park improvements.

   • motion:Adopt Resolution 2024-19 setting tentative operating millage rate at 8.3000 mills (1.22% above rollback rate of 8.19970). (passed)4–0
   • motion:Adopt Resolution 2024-20 adopting tentative FY2024-2025 budget and Capital Improvement Program. (passed)

   📍4845 Rainbow Race, Newport Ritchie📍7631 U.S. Highway 19📍Bank Street property📍Congress Street📍Existing Fire Station #2 property📍Francis Avenue Park📍Railroad Square🏢Blue Cross Blue Shield🏢Florida Library Association🏢Friends of the Newport Richey Library🏢Newport Richey Community Redevelopment Agency👤Crystal Dunn👤Matt👤Nancy Cody👤Robert👤Shepard#ARPA funds#CRA TIF#FRS retirement contribution rates#FY2024-2029 Capital Improvement Program#FY24-25 Operating Budget#Fire pension#Fleet warehouse construction#Francis Avenue Park Phase 2#Mobile library branch#Police pension#Railroad Square improvements#Resolution 2024-19#Resolution 2024-20#Rolled back rate 8.19970 mills#Strategic Plan (12 strategic objectives)

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   [00:00:50] All right, we have the first public hearing of our fiscal year 24-25 Operating Budget and Capital Improvement Program. [00:01:00] In accordance with the City Charter, I'm pleased to present to you the Fiscal Year 24-25 City of New Port Richey Annual Operating Budget and the Fiscal Year 2024-2029 Capital Improvement Program with the help of Crystal Dunn and the Department Heads. [00:01:26] We are prepared this evening to present to you a balanced budget. [00:01:32] Our budget, as you know, is a very strategic tool and serves as a testament to your goals and objectives regarding the direction and the priorities of the city. [00:01:44] The budget also sets forth an outline of the city, both as an organization and provides a listing of projected revenues and estimated expenditures. [00:01:57] The budget represents a continuation, I believe, of catalytic investments made by you, as well as reflecting a reality that we must be proactive in these times in responding to changing fiscal realities with your leadership and direction. [00:02:18] The city staff will navigate the need to be fiscally prudent while providing the required services and resources to support the priorities of this community. [00:02:28] With that being said, the fiscal year 2024-25 operating millage rate that we are recommending to you is 8.3 mills, which is a reduction from our current millage rate, [00:02:47] but it is still greater than the rolled back rate of 8.19970 mills by 1.22%, so it will represent an increase in property taxes of 1.22%. [00:03:04] In June, the strategic plan was updated by you and it set forth 12 strategic objectives and the city staff has worked since that time to develop action plans to guide our work in implementing the goals and objectives which support the plan. [00:03:28] The budget solidifies the strategic plan as an area of focus so that the vision outlined in the strategic plan can be achieved. [00:03:39] The staff will be working throughout the year on the operational focus, the tactical decision-making, and the purpose-driven measurement and evaluation to ensure that appropriate progress is made on the implementation of the plan. [00:03:57] I think that it's appropriate to say that development of the fiscal year 2024 budget was difficult. [00:04:06] It was one of the more difficult budgets I've had to work on in my career, largely driven by the challenges of continued COVID-19 pandemic impact, state legislative mandates, reductions in several forms of state revenue and inflation provided economic challenges. [00:04:31] However, there's growth in our downtown area and in our property values and those positive changes, although they don't outweigh the challenges, were helpful in continuing the further advancement of the city. [00:04:46] I believe we're indeed fortunate to be able to continue the tradition of investing in our infrastructure, providing a high level of service delivery, and building a sense of place for generations to come. [00:04:59] With that being said, I would like to turn things over to Crystal Dunn to provide an overview of our budget to you, which is the culmination of all of the budget meetings that we have conducted so far this year. [00:05:19] Crystal. [00:05:28] Good evening, Council. [00:05:41] Is this on? [00:05:43] Before you is the first proposed budget for the fiscal year 24-25 fiscal year. [00:05:49] The total budget, $105,174,130, is a combined combination of all funds. [00:06:01] It's approximately 6% increase from the 23-24 budget. [00:06:07] The general fund makes up a good portion of the budget, consisting of $34,702,450. [00:06:15] Water and sewer, all funds that fall under the water and sewer category, is $29,516,330. [00:06:24] And the Community Redevelopment Agency budget for fiscal year 24-25 is made up of $19,531,430. [00:06:35] The other funds, stormwater, street lighting, the general debt service, capital improvements, solid waste collection services, central garage and street improvement funds, make up the remaining pieces of the budget. [00:06:48] So here, a pie chart represents the allocations based on the same information that was just presented to you. [00:07:02] So you can see here that 35% of the budget pertains to the general fund, 37% pertains to the water and sewer fund, and 12% is the capital improvement fund. [00:07:13] Broken out by the general fund departments, the total general fund is made up of $34,702,450. [00:07:32] We have each department broken out here by a percentage of the general fund. [00:07:37] The larger departments consist of the police and fire departments and the public works department. [00:07:43] The other departments, city council, city manager, human resources, and city clerk, technology solutions, finance library, and economic development, development and recreation aquatic centers are just under the lower thresholds. [00:07:56] It's a little hard to see here. [00:08:06] The millage rate we're proposing is 8.3 mils. The 24 millage rate was 8.4 mils. [00:08:13] Sorry, I wish I could blow it up. [00:08:16] As you can see, from 2012 to now, we have successfully decreased the millage rate. [00:08:23] I believe only one year we did remain steady at 8.75, but every year since 2012, we brought it down from 9.5 mils down to 8.3 mils. [00:08:39] So key highlights from the budget that's being presented to you. [00:08:43] The demographics, the property taxable values for this fiscal year is $1,056,693,312. [00:08:54] This is up 11.54% from the previous fiscal year. [00:08:59] The population growth rate was .3%. It was not a significant increase this past year, which is a reflection in our state revenues. [00:09:10] The state revenues overall decreased 1.2% from the previous fiscal year. [00:09:16] Operating costs, we did see a significant increase in fuel costs, so the budget reflects that, as well as the insurance costs, the general liability property and flood insurance. [00:09:31] The increase that we see there is about 10%. [00:09:34] There's also a significant increase in chemical costs. The chemicals are used throughout the city's operations, the utility department, and also at the rec center. [00:09:49] As for personnel, the departments between the city manager and the human resource department, they did shop the market aggressively, and they ultimately, we converted to a new platform with Blue Cross Blue Shield. [00:10:03] This saved the city quite a bit from new increases. The rates pretty much held steady from what we presented last year. [00:10:17] The employees do not feel the rate increase. The small increase is absorbed by the city, but it's not a substantial increase. [00:10:26] Retirement contribution rates increased for FRS. For regular employees, it's just a .44% increase. For the police pension, it's a 4.42% increase, and for the fire pension, it's a 12.123% increase from the city. [00:10:43] The new positions being proposed for this fiscal year, we have a financial procurement analyst that's budgeted for half the year, an information assistant part-time position, and a human resource business partner. [00:11:01] We did freeze positions that are not currently filled, so if we have vacancies in some departments, we did freeze those positions for the next fiscal year. [00:11:13] What's being presented to you here is another breakdown of the general fund. [00:11:24] The breakout for the revenues, the total expected revenues we see here for taxes, $11,550,580. Licenses and permits, about $2.5 million. Intergovernmental revenue, $5,813,480. [00:11:42] We have charges for services that bring in $1,356,800. Fines and forfeitures coming into the general fund consist of about $2,787,600. [00:11:55] Miscellaneous income is $1,673,500, and the transfers in and contributions into the general fund is made up of $8,947,350. [00:12:09] Of that amount, the transfers in from other funds cover the administrative services that are provided by the general fund, so the transfers in that covers those services is $4,040,180. [00:12:24] The projected expenditures for all departments is $29,904,420, and the reserves that you see here are the allocation for sick leave buyout and the public art fund of $55,000, [00:12:49] and then transfers out to the other funds consist of a total of $4,743,030, and the transfers out consist of the CRA TIF. The majority of that is the CRA TIF, which is $4,668,030. [00:13:07] Again, the general fund total budget is $34,702,450. [00:13:18] The capital improvement program that's presented to you in the separate book, the general fund total capital is $650,000, and stormwater projects $1,690,000, and capital improvement projects. [00:13:34] The capital improvement fund is broken out into three categories, the parks and recreation of $1,710,000. [00:13:42] We have public safety and public facilities. Those projects total $1,420,000. [00:13:48] Transportation, $1,695,000. [00:13:52] The water and sewer capital improvement program totals $6,985,000. [00:14:02] The majority of those costs are related to the construction for the fleet warehouse. [00:14:10] The redevelopment fund, capital improvement program, $11,370,000 is allocated to those capital projects. [00:14:19] The street improvement program, capital improvement program is $3,835,000. [00:14:26] Again, those projects are laid out in detail in the capital improvement program. [00:14:38] The city did face, as mentioned before, several challenges in meeting and balancing the budget. [00:14:43] To point out, in order to meet these budget requirements, it is contingent on the sale of two properties, the Bank Street property and the existing fire station number two properties. [00:15:00] revenue from those two sales should be $1,400,000. [00:15:08] We did include an accelerated loan payment from the CRA to the general fund in addition [00:15:13] to the annual payment from the CRA, so the additional loan payment of $1.5 million and [00:15:20] the $619,000 annual payment is included in the revenue. [00:15:28] Also we transferred the ARPA funds that were previously allocated to Fund Railroad Square [00:15:32] of $2,173,430 in order to balance the general fund. [00:15:44] So along with that, you'll see in the redevelopment fund, proceeds from bond issues to fund two [00:15:51] major projects in the redevelopment fund totaling $8,740,000. [00:15:56] Those projects are railroad square improvements and the property acquisition of the property [00:16:02] located at 7631 U.S. Highway 19. [00:16:06] If you approve the acquisition of that property. [00:16:10] Correct. [00:16:11] So that concludes the overview of the budget. [00:16:15] I'm prepared to answer any other questions if you want to go into detail or have any [00:16:18] further inquiries about what's being presented before you. [00:16:22] Okay, do you want to ask for public comment first? [00:16:27] You can have discussion or you can open it up for public comment at this time. [00:16:33] So let's do public comment. [00:16:34] Does anybody have any public comments? [00:16:38] I did have Nancy Cody signed up to speak. [00:16:54] Good evening. [00:16:55] My name is Nancy Cody, 4845 Rainbow Race, New Port Richey. [00:17:00] I'm part of your library advisory board and also president of the Friends of the New Port Richey Library. [00:17:06] I'm confident that you will continue to support the library budget and the particular request [00:17:13] this year for the mobile library branch. [00:17:17] We have raised almost $50,000. [00:17:19] I remember the check that we presented to you recently. [00:17:23] It truly is one of the finest library programs in the state of Florida. [00:17:28] We've been asked to present on October 7th to all of the Florida Library Association [00:17:33] about our library and what some of the projects that the Friends have done as well as the [00:17:38] library advisory board. [00:17:39] So I thank you so very much for your support and your confidence. [00:17:43] It truly is one of the best programs in the state. [00:17:46] I've lived in five different locations over the last 25 years in the state of Florida [00:17:51] and I have to tell you it's truly a remarkable program. [00:17:54] Thank you. [00:17:55] Thank you. [00:17:57] All right, we'll bring it back for discussion and approval. [00:18:04] If you'd like, I can read the first resolution, which is the millage. [00:18:08] You have to adopt the millage before you adopt the budget, but you can discuss either during [00:18:13] each motion and each resolution. [00:18:17] So I'll read the first resolution, which is the millage. [00:18:19] This is resolution number 2024-19, a resolution of the city of New Port Richey, Pasco County, [00:18:26] adopting the tentative levying of ad valorem taxes for all non-exempt real and personal [00:18:30] property in New Port Richey, Pasco County, Florida for fiscal year 2024-2025, providing [00:18:37] for an effective date. [00:18:38] And I'll note for the record that the taxing authority is the city of New Port Richey. [00:18:43] The rollback rate is 8.19970 mills. [00:18:49] The proposed operating millage rate is 8.3000 mills, which represents an increase of 1.22% [00:18:59] over the rollback rate, which is to be characterized by law as an increase in property taxes. [00:19:06] One of the first things that has to be discussed in this meeting when there is an increase [00:19:09] in property taxes is the reason for the increase. [00:19:13] And based on the slides that you saw that Crystal Dunn put up, you saw several examples [00:19:18] of increased expenditures, and that, I'm sure, is the basis for the increase. [00:19:23] I noted that the state funds was reduced by exactly 1.2%, and this is an increase of 1.22%. [00:19:30] With that, you can entertain a motion. [00:19:35] Okay. [00:19:36] I'll go ahead and move the approval of the millage rate and the resolution 2024-19, adopting [00:19:43] the tentative level, you know, we have the law of taxes. [00:19:48] I'll second. [00:19:51] More discussion? [00:19:52] Yeah, I think we've been asking for that. [00:19:55] The trend line is steady, and it's slow but steady, and we've been considering all of [00:20:02] the challenges of this budget. [00:20:05] I think it's appropriate that we don't try to lower it any more than that, and because [00:20:10] they've got a balanced budget and it's time to get it to the newspaper, they might as [00:20:15] well go with the number they've given us. [00:20:20] And appreciate it. [00:20:22] Yeah, I'll recall not too long ago when we left the door open to potentially keeping [00:20:26] the millage rate steady, and still staff was able to get it to go down, you know, what [00:20:33] would continue the steady trend of going down. [00:20:36] I would like, you know, it's challenging times now, but just out of curiosity, maybe [00:20:43] that chart that you had of the millage rate going down, I'd love to see the historic, [00:20:48] how close we've gotten to the rollback rate over the years. [00:20:51] Maybe not necessarily in this setting, but maybe that's something I'll request to see [00:20:55] how far we've, you know, if we're closing that gap too, and we're getting closer to [00:21:01] a genuine decrease. [00:21:04] Thanks. [00:21:05] I can speak to that. [00:21:06] In previous years, we were below the rollback rate, but because the property values have [00:21:10] increased, it throws the percentages, so now we're above the rollback rate, even though [00:21:15] we did reduce the millage. [00:21:16] Okay. [00:21:17] Thanks. [00:21:18] Thank you, Crystal. [00:21:19] I'd like to add to that too, which is that the rollback rate is so low, only 1% is not [00:21:23] much. [00:21:24] In many places, the rollback rate is much higher, considering inflation is so much higher [00:21:29] and everything else, but one of the things that the city did a few years ago was give [00:21:33] back a little bit of the real estate of the CRA, and so part of what may be the transfer [00:21:41] that goes to the CRA allows that rollback rate to be so close because the city's general [00:21:48] fund doesn't receive the benefit of it. [00:21:52] So the calculation of the taxes and the rollback rate takes into consideration the amount of [00:21:58] money that's being transferred to the CRA, which will cause us to be, as she said, below [00:22:04] the rollback rate every year, even though people's sense of those extra values don't [00:22:11] translate to the general fund, so they don't add to the rollback rate. [00:22:15] So that's what you're probably going to find because we've been at the same tax base since [00:22:20] the year 2000, which is why $3 million or $4 million is going out of those taxes over [00:22:29] into the CRA. [00:22:31] 4.6. [00:22:33] Yeah. [00:22:34] $4.6 million. [00:22:35] $4.6 million as well. [00:22:38] As Mr. Shepard said when he was here, it's a great buy one get one free, and who wouldn't [00:22:44] do it? [00:22:45] Well, we've got the challenge of figuring out how to continue to keep doing it, but [00:22:50] it's certainly bringing a lot of money in for those redevelopment projects that are [00:22:54] so needed and popular. [00:22:57] And one day, when it's done, all that tax money comes back to the city's general fund [00:23:05] as well. [00:23:06] Well, half of it comes back, the county gets the other half, but at that day, some of you [00:23:12] that are a little younger may be the ones that will be able to say, man, we're lowering [00:23:16] the rate by 2 mils or something because you will have, you know, all those years worth [00:23:23] of taxes that will be coming back into the general fund. [00:23:26] And so it's a matter of how long can we hold on and keep doing things that are so productive. [00:23:32] Anyway, that's... [00:23:34] Anything else? [00:23:36] No. [00:23:37] Related to this. [00:23:38] I just want to thank everybody for the hard work on this budget because I know it was [00:23:41] a tough one. [00:23:42] You know, you don't like to see an increase anywhere, you know, like in the case of the [00:23:45] property tax, but we were at least able to offset that with lowering the millage. [00:23:49] So good job, everybody. [00:23:51] Yeah, thanks for making that happen. [00:23:53] I know we definitely didn't want to have to raise millage rates, and I'm comfortable with [00:23:59] what you guys were able to do. [00:24:00] I know it took a lot of work to get there, and we appreciate all the hard work. [00:24:04] So all in favor? [00:24:06] Aye. [00:24:07] Aye. [00:24:08] Aye. [00:24:09] 4-0. [00:24:11] All right. [00:24:12] The next one you have is resolution number 2024-20, a resolution of the city of New Port Richey and Pasco County for adopting the tentative budget for fiscal year 2024-2025 [00:24:21] and the capital improvement program for fiscal year 2024-2025 and providing for an effective date. [00:24:30] Comments on that? [00:24:33] Seeing none. [00:24:34] Okay, we'll bring it back for approval and discussion. [00:24:38] I'll move to approve. [00:24:39] Second. [00:24:40] Okay. [00:24:41] Discussion? [00:24:42] I had a quick question. [00:24:43] When I was looking at the capital improvement, I saw that after our workshops for Francis [00:24:49] Part 2, the second phase, we had some conversation about that, maybe pausing the boardwalk or [00:24:58] perhaps it was volleyball or both. [00:25:00] I can't remember exactly what the conclusion was, but it went from $1.2 million and actually [00:25:05] went up $50,000, so from the workshops. [00:25:10] So I was curious if we were just keeping it there, understanding that ultimately the cost [00:25:14] would be lower since we're not doing the full scope of the projects, or what happened there? [00:25:19] I'm going to have to refer to the notebook. [00:25:22] I thought that we pushed the expenditure into the next fiscal year, but we were going to [00:25:28] do the basketball courts on the current year. [00:25:33] Robert, do you know what page that's on? [00:25:35] Yeah, it's on page 20. [00:25:38] Well. [00:25:39] I had it already marked as well as you might have expected. [00:25:45] We have an error there because we moved this money out. [00:25:53] Year, so I'm thinking. [00:25:57] We did on the summary page. [00:26:00] The summary page is $850,000 and then you move $300,000 out to the next year. [00:26:07] But the description, and you've got the floor, so I'll let you go. [00:26:13] Where are you seeing the full schedule breakdown? [00:26:15] Page 20, the schedule is in the chart. [00:26:20] Schedule is in the chart. [00:26:23] Yes. [00:26:24] That would answer my question. [00:26:26] If it got shifted over, I would just assume that then we would cross that bridge next year. [00:26:31] That's what the plan was. [00:26:33] Is that what's reflected? [00:26:35] I'm just trying to find out. [00:26:36] We have $920,000 budgeted for this year, and that includes $70,000 for engineering [00:26:43] and $850,000 for construction, and we pushed out $350,000 to next year. [00:26:48] $850,000 for construction, and we pushed out $350,000 to next year. [00:26:52] And the $350,000 was in the event that you decide to go forward with the boardwalk. [00:26:56] Thank you. [00:26:57] I appreciate that. [00:26:58] So $850,000 is what we're estimating $350,000 is? [00:27:01] $350,000 is if the boardwalk. [00:27:07] And I saw the $95,000 still reflected in here for the automobile for the library. [00:27:13] It's $95,000. [00:27:14] Awesome. [00:27:15] Those are the only two things I had. [00:27:18] Who was this thing? [00:27:19] Matt. [00:27:20] Yeah, no, I'm good. [00:27:21] I don't have anything. [00:27:22] Okay, well, I'm going to stay on the Francis Avenue just for the sake of looking back on page 15 again [00:27:27] where it does summarize a couple of things. [00:27:30] I see $140,000 in the engineering for the [00:27:41] There's also the Congress Street, and that's for Congress Street. [00:27:45] So two years into a third year for engineering [00:27:51] to then invest in the entrance to be done in the 26, 27, and 27, 28 year. [00:27:59] And so I guess that extension of time out from engineering [00:28:06] certainly could give us plenty of time to really envision what we want to have done with that. [00:28:12] And I think I don't want to take exception to engineers who are critical to the world continuing to spin around. [00:28:19] But there is a design element that seems to be the one that I'm interested in seeing. [00:28:26] And when I read back on page 20, the description again for Francis Avenue Park, [00:28:32] it is all about improvements to bring sidewalks to the boardwalk. [00:28:37] So I'm just saying, if it's going to be a basketball court and it's going to be some improvements, that's fine. [00:28:44] Because the mayor who loves his volleyball is not here today, [00:28:49] it's probably unfair to have me continue to express concerns only because I live close by [00:28:56] and the number of cats around there is so high, I can only imagine the sand in the volleyball court. [00:29:04] And I'm not kidding, I'm just saying, when I was a kid in my own house, we had an inside the house sand playground, [00:29:11] you know, play whatever, sand pit, what do they call it, sandbox. [00:29:17] And even that is hard to keep clean when it's not outside. [00:29:22] So I don't know what maintenance obligations we're taking, but I will remind the city management [00:29:28] that our charter requires that when we do an event, do something at Capital Game, [00:29:36] that we include a maintenance estimate as to what it's going to cost to maintain it. [00:29:41] And to me, having a budget that's contingent on the sale of real estate [00:29:49] would cause me to really put the brakes on this project. [00:29:54] If we can wait three more years for the Francis Avenue- [00:30:00] Street connection which which provides all the residents an immediate access to [00:30:04] the 80 acre park without having to go through all the way the end of [00:30:09] Louisiana and Baker Road and down the end to get in. That's such an incredible [00:30:14] asset which now has another 10 acres attached to it but the county that I'm [00:30:20] just a little boggled that spending a million dollars a million and a half [00:30:24] dollars and the other part of it is so much effort right now is an increase in [00:30:30] the economic value of our town to the residents. I'm not sure of the return. I [00:30:35] did some little short stint at Longleaf which has volleyball courts and I never [00:30:44] saw anybody on them. Didn't we have that discussion last time about trying to [00:30:48] figure out really if we were going to be doing a survey or something to see if [00:30:52] they were really going to be used because I don't see them being used. But sometimes it's [00:30:55] hard to get more than just your own personal words out so I think you know [00:30:59] not to take advantage of the fact that I think that one of us who really is [00:31:05] actively wanting to see a youth activity that we could do so much more [00:31:12] with whatever happens with the Shwetman school to create an environment for [00:31:17] after-school activities than we could have managed outdoor volleyball. So I [00:31:25] just hate to see us say do it and then have you all go back and come back in [00:31:30] six months and tell us how we're going to spend a million dollars. So I think [00:31:33] it's going to need some discussion. You could leave it in the budget but I think [00:31:40] it's we need to prioritize these capital projects so that we know we have money [00:31:45] to do the things we really have to do in my mind and who knows if somebody's [00:31:50] going to buy the building and when. We don't know that and I'm recognizing the [00:31:56] value Councilman and what you're saying. I do want to say that it's not part of [00:32:02] the budget to establish a sand volleyball court at Francis Park. We are [00:32:07] hopeful to obtain grant money to assist us with the proposed improvements at the [00:32:15] Grand Reserve and we will rely on you to help us prioritize the implementation of [00:32:22] the capital improvement program and we're not suggesting that we're going to [00:32:29] sell necessarily a building or that it will be at that price but minimally it [00:32:34] will if we decide that we need to do that in lieu of receiving some other [00:32:40] resources for the capital improvement program. It still is a point as to [00:32:48] whether it's the desire of the council to do it and so when it's... That's why I put it [00:32:52] out there for you to tell me. When it's written and it's written in a way as [00:32:56] well as the boardwalk and I just have to say I don't know how many of you all [00:33:00] have been out to Francis Park again with it but that is such a deep drop that I [00:33:04] can only imagine that the boardwalk is elevated or I don't know what it would [00:33:09] look like so before we commit to a million dollars something even just some [00:33:15] sketching and drawing and understanding of what it is but if you're saying [00:33:21] designing sidewalks to go to the boardwalk and putting it out to the next [00:33:26] year that tells me I just have to voice my opinion that I don't want to see us [00:33:31] spend money on design until we've seen and understand and prioritized you know [00:33:36] our capital plans. But we have to do it today. So for that reason I'll go [00:33:44] ahead and vote for the budget because I know it's a living document and we have [00:33:49] the opportunity to amend it at any time when new information comes. [00:33:56] Anybody else? Just back on that and to be clear you're referring to [00:34:00] Francis in that conversation okay because it was a little bit of Jamesy [00:34:04] Gray there too and I wasn't sure can I just to fully understand I see what [00:34:09] you're saying about Francis and you're saying in place of that we could we [00:34:15] could reprioritize Jamesy Gray or Schwetman or you know with these future [00:34:20] projects I'm just trying to understand the end result of deprioritizing the [00:34:24] boardwalk or potentially volleyball courts. Well I just have my own personal [00:34:30] concerns about having built the super playground out of wood and then had to [00:34:37] seen all of that effort when we tore it down to build a new playground and [00:34:40] knowing that we have ducks pooping on the boardwalks we have around the lake [00:34:47] and we have the it's a it's a maintenance issue if you talk to Public [00:34:52] Works it's a maintenance issue so you captured my thoughts right before I [00:34:58] tried to throw another curve at it but the reality is I just we all are [00:35:04] thinking about the best value kind of like what's the highest and best used of [00:35:09] our dollars and if we think about that a basketball court there, improvement, I'm all for. [00:35:17] The improvements there, I'm all for. The bathrooms that were brand new are really [00:35:21] nice that are there, additional picnic areas, places for people. I don't want to [00:35:27] eliminate the improvements but when the topic when it's described as being [00:35:31] sidewalks to a boardwalk and a boardwalk I'm not so sure I'm in favor of the [00:35:36] boardwalk I'm not so sure that the volleyball court is going to be you know [00:35:41] I forget how much money we spent on the tennis courts it's been so damn hot that [00:35:46] I've only seen one or two people out there but it's good that we have them [00:35:50] but I can imagine a number of people that walk that would go out to [00:35:56] our incredibly beautiful nature park if we only let our city residents get there. [00:36:02] When I was fighting for that thing back in the day the answer was it's outside [00:36:06] the city limits which it was we had to annex it in but going through Louisiana [00:36:11] to Baker to out to Plath is it's not a pedestrian friendly route and we have [00:36:20] the potential one so I'm just saying to me it's it could be prioritized so. [00:36:27] To your point, I've reached out to some parents in the administration at Gulf High and [00:36:33] Ritchie regarding the boardwalk since our workshop discussions and I was very [00:36:38] much of the opinion I think I raised it during the workshops which was that you [00:36:41] know that could end up I think actually one of the other council members or [00:36:46] council the deputy mayor raised it as well is the you know privacy concern [00:36:51] where it tucks in the back what students may be doing back there and when I spoke [00:36:58] to parents in the administration it didn't seem like that was a concern it [00:37:04] seemed excitement over the idea of expanding amenities there so it was [00:37:08] contrary to what I thought would be the overwhelming opinion that being said I'm [00:37:14] still hesitant until I see what the boardwalk looks like to do that however [00:37:17] with what's happening with the pavilions the redo of the bathrooms I would be [00:37:22] hesitant to pump the brakes on redoing the the basketball courts because they [00:37:27] are they are in disrepair they need re-netted they need redone and so if [00:37:34] maybe during the second meeting when the mayor's here if we can have that more [00:37:38] elaborate conversation about the boardwalk like we did and and really [00:37:42] nail down a priority on that I just would want to emphasize that priority [00:37:47] number one with this project for me is seeing those basketball courts redone [00:37:50] because that's what's used the kids use that other than the playground the kids [00:37:54] use the basketball courts during the birthday parties at the pavilions they [00:37:58] use the basketball courts and they don't look like I mean we just redid our [00:38:02] tennis courts and I would argue I would make the argument we don't keep a count [00:38:06] out at Francis like we do the tennis courts I would make the argument if you [00:38:09] did account at the basketball courts they get way more use than those tennis [00:38:13] courts and we're not trying to do a comparison there but I I want to see [00:38:17] those basketball courts done as soon as possible the boardwalk is important too [00:38:21] and I'd love to see where that ranks in this project and I think it's more [00:38:25] important to upgrade and update those things that are already existing there [00:38:30] and make sure that those are improved before adding additional improvements [00:38:34] like the boardwalk until we have the funds to do that and until we can [00:38:38] actually see what that's going to look like and and I do still think that sand [00:38:43] volleyball is not the best option for that. Does the this is a project I didn't [00:38:48] get to mention this during the workshops does it include the roads or just [00:38:51] repaving down to the kayak those just to the kayak it doesn't include repaving [00:38:57] the road that not the road not the road okay final maybe there may be a hybrid [00:39:05] of all those things and change so I will say though that if you're a junior [00:39:12] high school student and you would like to use a boardwalk that if you could go [00:39:16] out Congress Street you'd be to the boardwalks just as quick as you would be [00:39:20] to Francis Avenue Park that route is such a it's such a cutoff route to that [00:39:26] part that I think it's one that is worthy of having you know it's almost [00:39:32] into the into the key of the basketball court. All right um all in favor? Aye. [00:39:44] All right four nothing. Up and running but only preliminary still one more vote. [00:39:55] All right we're gonna move on to communications anybody have anything for

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5. 5Communications▶ 39:59
6. 6Adjournment