[1) Call to Order – Roll Call]
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JONAS. COUNCILMAN. MURPHY. COUNCILMAN. AULTMAN. PRESENT. COUNCILMAN. BUTLER HERE ONE MINUTE EARLY. CITY MANAGER. MANS HERE. CITY ATTORNEY. DRISCOLL HERE. STAND FOR THE 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. THANK YOU. DO YOU WANT TO HELP US WITH. ANNOUNCE? WE ARE TO PRESENT A PROCLAMATION FOR THE SOCIETY OF
[4.a) Society of St. Vincent de Paul Month]
SAINT VINCENT DE PAUL, AND WE HAVE TWO REPRESENTATIVES THAT I'M GOING TO ASK. JOIN THE MAYOR UP FRONT. WE HAVE PAT MORRIS AND VERA. VERA, YOU'RE GOING TO HAVE TO HELP ME WITH YOUR LAST NAME, VERA. OR JUST COME ON UP FRONT. THAT'S GREAT. VERA. YOUR LAST NAME. OH. THANK YOU. HNAEI. OKAY. THANK YOU SO MUCH. THANK YOU. LOOK THIS WAY. WHICH WAY? THIS WAY I DON'T. DO I HAVE TO? ALL RIGHT. READY? THIS IS A PROCLAMATION OF THE OFFICE OF THE MAYOR OF THE CITY OF NEW PORT RICHEY. WHEREAS THE SOCIETY OF SAINT VINCENT DE PAUL WAS FOUNDED IN PARIS, FRANCE, CIRCA 1822, AND HAS NEARLY 1 MILLION VOLUNTEERS IN MORE THAN 130 COUNTRIES, MAKING IT THE WORLD'S LARGEST INTERNATIONAL NONPROFIT ORGANIZATION. AND WHEREAS OUR LADY QUEEN OF PEACE, CATHOLIC CHURCHES SOCIETY OF SAINT VINCENT DE PAUL CONFERENCE HAS LONG SERVED THE RESIDENTS OF NEW PORT RICHEY AND THE SURROUNDING COMMUNITY THROUGH ITS DEDICATED, VOLUNTEER DRIVEN PROGRAMS. AND WHEREAS THE SOCIETY PROVIDES ESSENTIAL ASSISTANCE TO INDIVIDUALS AND FAMILIES FACING FINANCIAL HARDSHIP, FOOD INSECURITY, HOUSING INSTABILITY AND OTHER CHALLENGES THAT IMPACT QUALITY OF LIFE. AND WHEREAS, THE VOLUNTEERS OF THE SOCIETY OF SAINT VINCENT DE PAUL CONSISTENTLY DEMONSTRATE COMPASSION, COMMITMENT AND RESPECT IN THEIR EFFORTS TO UPLIFT COMMUNITY MEMBERS IN NEED. AND WHEREAS, THESE EFFORTS STRENGTHEN THE SOCIAL WELL-BEING OF THE RESIDENTS OF THE CITY OF NEW PORT RICHEY BY FOSTERING STABILITY, DIGNITY AND HOPE FOR COUNTLESS PERSONS EACH YEAR. AND WHEREAS, THE CITY OF NEW PORT RICHEY RECOGNIZES THE POSITIVE IMPACT OF ORGANIZATIONS THAT WORK TIRELESSLY TO IMPROVE THE LIVES OF OTHERS AND VALUES, THE SOCIETY OF SAINT VINCENT DE PAUL'S LONGSTANDING PARTNERSHIP IN BUILDING A STRONGER, MORE SUPPORTIVE COMMUNITY. NOW, THEREFORE, I, CHOPPER DAVIS, MAYOR OF THE CITY OF NEW PORT RICHEY, HEREBY DECLARE JULY 2026 AS THE SOCIETY OF SAINT VINCENT DE PAUL MONTH AND EXPRESS OUR DEEP APPRECIATION FOR THEIR MEMBERS OUTSTANDING SERVICE, VOLUNTEERISM, AND DEDICATION TO THE PEOPLE OF OUR COMMUNITY. THANK YOU SO MUCH. APPRECIATE ALL OF YOU. I JUST WANT TO LET EVERYBODY KNOW SOME OF THE STUFF THAT WE DO AT SAINT VINCENT DE PAUL. WE HELP EVERYBODY WITH. WE DO DISTRICTS WITH SAINT VINCENT DE PAUL, ACCORDING TO OUR CHURCHES. SO WE HAVE QUITE A BIT OF PEOPLE THAT COME TO US. YOU DON'T HAVE TO BE CATHOLIC. IT COULD BE ANYBODY IN NEED. AND I'D LIKE TO JUST GIVE YOU WHAT WE DID LAST MONTH. WE HAD 605 FAMILIES COME IN. NOW WE ONLY WORK TWO HOURS A DAY, FOUR DAYS A WEEK. SOME OF US ARE IN THERE AT 8:00, BUT WE HAVE DIFFERENT HOURS. WE WORK TWO HOURS A DAY. WE TOOK CARE OF 605 FAMILIES. NUMBER IN HOUSEHOLD WAS 997. HOMELESS WERE 27. OUR PAKISTAN PROGRAM, WHICH WE DO IS DURING THE SUMMER IT'S SMALLER. IT WAS 150 THAT WE DO. FOR A MONTH. IN THE WINTER TIME, WE DO 156 EACH[00:05:01]
WEEK. WE FEED THE CHILDREN AT THE SCHOOLS. WE GAVE OUT. TAKE THIS DOWN 28,350 POUNDS OF FOOD.MONEY THAT WE SPENT WAS $3,591. WE HAD HOME VISITS 33. AND THAT'S WHERE WE HAVE ELDERLY PEOPLE THAT CANNOT GET TO COME TO GET FOOD OR GET HELP. WE GO TO THEIR HOMES AND WE HELP THEM.
CONTACTS ON THE PHONE, WE HAD ABOUT 51, BUT SOMETIMES IT'S HIGHER THAN THAT. WE DO HELP PEOPLE WITH ELECTRIC BILLS AND WATER BILLS. WE DON'T HAVE THAT MUCH MONEY THAT WE CAN DO RENT.
THE ONLY BAD THING ABOUT RENT, WE HAVE SO MANY ELDERLY WOMEN THAT ARE LIVING IN THEIR CARS BECAUSE THEY CANNOT AFFORD THE RENT ANYMORE. I'M NOT BLAMING ANYBODY. IT'S JUST WHAT'S HAPPENING IN OUR WORLD TODAY. WE DO HELP PEOPLE WITH MEDICINE. THEY CAN'T AFFORD TO BUY THEIR MEDICINE. WE WILL GET IT FOR THEM. WE GIVE THEM FURNITURE AND WE GIVE THEM CLOTHING. WE TRY TO HELP THEM IN EVERY WAY THAT WE CAN. WE TURN NOBODY AWAY, AND ANYBODY THAT COMES IN GETS FOOD, WHETHER THEY'RE IN OUR DISTRICT OR NOT. WE GIVE THEM FOOD. AND I'D LIKE TO GIVE A SHOUT OUT TO NEW PORT RICHEY LIFT OFFICERS. THEY ARE A BIG HELP FOR US, SO I WANT TO JUST THANK THEM BECAUSE THEY ARE PRETTY GOOD FOR US. VERY GOOD FOR US TOO. THANK YOU. THANK
[4.b) Richey Suncoast Theatre Centennial]
YOU. THE NEXT PROCLAMATION WE HAVE IS FOR THE RICHEY SUNCOAST THEATER AND RECOGNITION OF THEIR CENTENNIAL ANNIVERSARY, WHICH MANY OF US HAD THE OPPORTUNITY TO CELEBRATE ALONG WITH THEM. RECENTLY, WE HAVE BOARD MEMBERS IN ATTENDANCE. WE HAVE MISTER DON STUCK, AMY FAULKNER, WINONA PATTERSON, KENNY KELLY, HANLEY. WE'RE SUPPOSED TO HAVE CINDY. AND I DON'T SEE HER IN ATTENDANCE. WE HAVE SUSIE SACHS ON STAFF, JESS GLASS AND MIKE ORZEL, AND THEY'VE ALL JOINED THE MAYOR UP FRONT. SO WE'RE READY FOR THE PROCLAMATION. MISTER CITY ATTORNEY, THIS IS A PROCLAMATION OF THE OFFICE OF THE MAYOR OF THE CITY OF NEW PORT RICHEY. WHEREAS THE YEAR 2026 MARKS THE CENTENNIAL ANNIVERSARY OF THE RICHEY SUNCOAST THEATER, A IN A HISTORIC AND BELOVED CULTURAL INSTITUTION THAT HAS ENRICHED THE HEART OF DOWNTOWN NEW PORT RICHEY FOR 100 YEARS. AND WHEREAS, SINCE FIRST OPENING ITS DOORS IN 1926, THE RICHEY SUNCOAST THEATER HAS STOOD AS A CORNERSTONE OF COMMUNITY LIFE, OFFERING GENERATIONS OF RESIDENTS AND VISITORS ACCESS TO LIVE PERFORMANCES, ARTS, EDUCATION, COMMUNITY GATHERINGS AND HISTORIC PRESERVATION. AND WHEREAS, FOR A FULL CENTURY, THE THEATER HAS CONTRIBUTED MEASURABLY TO THE CULTURAL IDENTITY AND ECONOMIC VITALITY OF NEW PORT RICHEY IN PASCO COUNTY, WELCOMING AUDIENCES FROM ACROSS FLORIDA AND BEYOND, AND SERVING AS A SYMBOL OF THE REGION'S ARTISTIC SPIRIT. AND WHEREAS THE RICHEY SUNCOAST THEATER HAS PLAYED A VITAL ROLE IN CULTIVATING A THRIVING ARTS AND CULTURE SCENE, SUPPORTING LOCAL TALENT, INSPIRING CREATIVITY AND ENHANCING THE VISITOR EXPERIENCE THROUGHOUT THE FLORIDA SPORTS COAST. AND WHEREAS, AS ONE OF THE CITY'S MOST CHERISHED HISTORIC LANDMARKS, THE THEATER CONTINUES TO EMBODY THE RICH HISTORY, RESILIENCE, AND COMMUNITY PRIDE OF NEW PORT RICHEY, PRESERVING BOTH ITS STORY AND ITS LEGACY FOR FUTURE GENERATIONS. AND WHEREAS, ON THE OCCASION OF ITS 100TH ANNIVERSARY, THE CITY RECOGNIZES THE RICHEY SUNCOAST THEATER FOR ITS CENTURY OF SERVICE, ARTISTIC ACHIEVEMENT AND DEDICATION TO FOSTERING CONNECTION, CREATIVITY AND COMMUNITY. NOW, THEREFORE, I CHOPPER DAVIS, MAYOR OF THE CITY OF NEWPORT, ON THE MOMENTOUS OCCASION OF ITS CENTENNIAL ANNIVERSARY, EXPRESSING HEARTFELT APPRECIATION FOR ITS LASTING CONTRIBUTION TO THE CULTURAL FABRIC AND HISTORIC IDENTITY TO THE CITY OF NEWPORT RICHEY.STICK AROUND. SHE'S GOING TO TALK. I JUST WANT TO SAY ONE THING. WHEN JIM GUNDERSON FINISHED THE RICHIE RICH, THE THE HACIENDA, I WENT TO HIM AND I SAID, YOU'RE GOING TO BE A CORNERSTONE IN THIS TOWN. AND HE SAYS, I DON'T WANT TO BE. HE SAYS, I WANT THE THEATER TO BE.
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AND I SAY, SINCE THEN, I THINK THAT'S WHAT'S HAPPENED. AND IT'S JUST CHANGED ITS WHOLE APPROACH TO THE COMMUNITY, APPROACH TO THE TOWN, AND THE PEOPLE LOVE IT. AND IT HAS EVENTS FOR ALL WALKS OF LIFE, ALL AGES AND STUFF. AND SO I REALLY WANT TO COMPLIMENT THIS BOARD AND WHAT THEY'VE DONE OVER THE PAST COUPLE OF YEARS. MY NAME IS SUSIE SACHS. I AM THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF RICHEY SUNCOAST THEATER, AND I WILL BE VERY BRIEF. GOOD EVENING EVERYONE. FIRST AND FOREMOST, I WANT TO THANK THE CITY FOR THIS HONOR. YOUR RECOGNITION MEANS MORE THAN WORDS CAN EXPRESS TO THE STAFF, WONDERFUL TEAM OF VOLUNTEERS AND DEDICATED CAST MEMBERS THAT WE'VE HAD THROUGHOUT THE YEARS. THIS AWARD IS YOURS. EVERY LATE NIGHT, EVERY CHALLENGE WE FACE TOGETHER HAS GOTTEN US TO THIS MOMENT. THIS AWARD IS NOT JUST A SYMBOL OF ACHIEVEMENT, IT'S A REMINDER OF THE JOURNEY. IT REPRESENTS THE RISKS TAKEN, THE LESSONS LEARNED, AND THE RESILIENCE BUILT ALONG THE WAY. THE SUCCESS. EXCUSE ME. THIS SUCCESS IS NOT A SOLO ACT. IT IS A CHORUS OF VOICES CHEERING YOU ON, A NETWORK OF HANDS LIFTING YOU UP, AND A SHARED BELIEF THAT WHAT YOU'RE WORKING ON, WHAT YOU'RE WORKING TOWARD, MATTERS. THANK YOU AGAIN FOR THIS HONOR. WE WILL CARRY IT NOT JUST AS RECOGNITION FOR WHAT WE HAVE DONE, BUT MOTIVATION FOR WHAT IS YET TO COME. HI, MY NAME IS JESS GLASS.I'M THE CREATIVE DIRECTOR OF RICHEY SUNCOAST THEATER. ON BEHALF OF THE ENTIRE RICHEY SUNCOAST THEATER FAMILY. THANK YOU TO THE MAYOR, CITY COUNCIL AND DEDICATED STAFF OF THE CITY OF NEWPORT RICHEY FOR THIS WONDERFUL PROCLAMATION CELEBRATING 100 YEARS OF OUR HISTORIC BUILDING. ORIGINALLY, THE THOMAS MEEHAN THEATER IS AN HONOR WE CHERISH DEEPLY. YOUR RECOGNITION AFFIRMS THE LEGACY OF ARTS, COMMUNITY, AND STORYTELLING THAT'S LIVED WITHIN OUR WALLS FOR A CENTURY. WE'RE GRATEFUL FOR YOUR SUPPORT AND EXCITED TO CONTINUE SERVING THE CITY WE LOVE. YOUR NEXT BOARD MEETING IS ON ON JULY 8TH. YES. OKAY. THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
THANK YOU, THANK YOU. WE HAVE A PRESENTATION BY THE ENVIRONMENTAL COMMITTEE HERE
[5.a) 2025 Environmental Committee Annual Report ]
THIS EVENING TO PRESENT THE ITEM. AND I SEE MR. TOM O'NEILL IS HERE AS WELL. HERE. SO, TOM.COME ON DOWN. ON MY WAY. BRING TOM WITH YOU IF YOU WANT. ALWAYS MOVING. ALWAYS WELL DRESSED TONIGHT. ALWAYS MOVING. YOU. YOU ARE YOU'RE YOU'RE WELL DRESSED AS ALWAYS. SO LISTEN, IT'S NICE TO SEE YOU ALL TONIGHT. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. I'M GOING TO INVITE KATHERINE AND TOM TO COME ON UP. AND WE HAVE SOME SLIDES UP HERE. I TRUST THAT EVERYONE GOT A COPY OF THE ANNUAL REPORT AND HAD A CHANCE TO LOOK IT OVER. I THINK WE HAVE BETWEEN 10 AND 12 MINUTES TO GET THIS DONE. SO WE'LL BE RESPECTFUL OF YOUR TIME AS WELL. BUT WE ALSO DO WANT TO COVER SOME IMPORTANT DETAILS REGARDING OUR WORK AND WHAT WE HOPE THE CITY CAN DO IN THE FUTURE AS WE GO FORWARD. SO THIS IS JUST BROAD, GENERAL BACKGROUND, WHAT THE ENVIRONMENTAL COMMITTEE SEEKS TO DO. MOST OF YOU ON THE COUNCIL ARE AWARE OF THE WORK OF THE COMMITTEE THAT'S BEEN GOING ON FOR DECADES NOW, AND I KNOW THAT MR. ALTMAN WAS ON COUNCIL WHEN I WAS ON COUNCIL WHEN WE FIRST ESTABLISHED THE ENVIRONMENTAL COMMITTEE. SO IT GOES IT GOES BACK THAT FAR WHEN WE BOTH HAD DARKER HAIR, AND WE'RE PROBABLY A LITTLE BIT YOUNGER THAN WE ARE NOW, BUT WE'VE BEEN AT IT FOR QUITE SOME TIME. AND THE ENVIRONMENTAL COMMITTEE DOES CONTINUE TO THRIVE. I WILL NOTE THAT RIGHT NOW, IN TERMS OF OUR CULTURE AS A WHOLE, AND NOT TO EDITORIALIZE TOO MUCH, THAT WE CERTAINLY ARE WITNESSING SIGNIFICANT CHANGES IN THE ENVIRONMENT AND THE CLIMATE. FOR SURE. IT'S PRETTY HOT, AND I UNDERSTAND THE TEMPERATURES WILL BE UP INTO THE UPPER 90S AT THE END OF THIS WEEK, WHICH IS UNUSUAL FOR FLORIDA. SO EVERY LITTLE BIT HELPS. AND CERTAINLY THIS CITY HAS BEEN A TRENDSETTER IN TERMS OF MAKING A DIFFERENCE IN TERMS OF THE ENVIRONMENTAL COMMITTEE, IN TERMS AND THE COMMITTEE'S COMMITMENT TO THE ECOLOGY OF THE CITY, BUT ALSO THE COMMITTEE DOESN'T EXIST IN A VACUUM. THE COMMITTEE IS ONLY AS GOOD AS THE COUNCIL IS IN TAKING UP THE RECOMMENDATIONS THAT WE SHARE. SO HOPEFULLY, AS WE LOOK AT SOME OF THE RECOMMENDATIONS, YOU WILL BE SUPPORTIVE OF THAT. WE DO WANT TO TAKE JUST A MOMENT AND GO OVER SOME OF THE ACTIVITIES THAT HAVE GONE ON, AND THIS WOULD BE IN YOUR YOUR PACKET IN TERMS OF OUR ANNUAL REPORT. SO GO TO THE SLIDE THAT WOULD PRESENT ACTIVITIES. THIS IS OUR.
WELL, HERE WE GO. THE NEXT SLIDE IS, AND I DO APOLOGIZE IN ADVANCE THAT OUR OUR SLIDE MONITOR IS NOT HERE. SO WE'RE VERY THANKFUL FOR THE CITY STAFF FOR ASSISTING ON THIS.
I'M THE CHAIR OF THE COMMITTEE. ROSE MOORE IS THE VICE CHAIR. SHE'S AWAY TONIGHT. AMBER BLAZE
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WAS THE SECRETARY DURING THE YEAR THAT THIS REPORT COVERS. SHE'S NO LONGER ON THE COMMITTEE. MR. TOM O'NEILL IS RIGHT HERE WITH US. AND ALL OF YOU KNOW TOM AND HAVE FOR MANY, MANY YEARS. AND WE ARE VERY THANKFUL FOR HIS PRESENCE. BUT HE STEPPED OFF THE COMMITTEE SO THAT HE CAN PURSUE OTHER ECOLOGICAL PROJECTS INDEPENDENT OF THE WORK OF THE COMMITTEE, ALL IN GOOD SPIRITS. MARGARET CARSWELL IS CERTAINLY A MEMBER. SHE'S NOT HERE TONIGHT BECAUSE SHE'S TRAVELING IN EUROPE, OF ALL THINGS. SOMEONE HAS TO DO IT, I GUESS. BUT IT'S HOT OVER THERE TO GEORGE RUSSELL OR AMANDA ZURICH RECENTLY STEPPED OFF THE COMMITTEE. ALSO, GEORGE RUSSELL RECENTLY STEPPED OFF THE COMMITTEE. BUT THANK GOODNESS CATHERINE CAPPELLO IS HERE AND SHE IS STILL ON THE COMMITTEE. AND SHE'S GOING TO SHARE A LITTLE BIT OF THE PRESENTATION AS WELL. OUR STAFF LIAISON FOR THIS YEAR WAS COLIN MUELLER, AND WE KNOW THAT COLIN HAS MOVED ON INTO A NEW POSITION WITH THE CITY. AND I DON'T KNOW IF WE HAVE I'M LOOKING AT THE CITY MANAGER TOO, ON THIS. I DON'T KNOW IF WE HAVE A NEW LIAISON FROM THE CITY FOR FOR THAT POST CITY MANAGER, I DON'T KNOW SINCE COLIN'S MOVED, NOT AT THIS TIME.OKAY. SO HOPEFULLY WE'LL HAVE A NEW LIAISON. CURRENTLY YOU'RE WORKING WITH COLIN AS YOU. OH, OKAY. OKAY. ALL RIGHT. WELL, THAT'S GREAT TOO. SO WE'RE APPRECIATIVE OF THAT AS WELL.
OKAY, SO NEXT SLIDE THEN. THESE ARE JUST THE PROJECTS. THERE'S VERY THERE'S QUITE A FEW OF THEM AND NOT ALL OF THEM ARE ON THE SLIDE. THEY'RE ALL LISTED ON THE PACKAGE THAT YOU HAVE. I DO WANT TO CALL ATTENTION TO A COUPLE OF THEM. WE HAVE A NUMBER OF SEASONAL FOOD FESTIVALS THAT GO ON IN THE CITY THAT REALLY BUILDS COMMUNITY. NOT ONLY DOES IT HELP US CELEBRATE LOCAL AGRICULTURAL ACTIVITIES AND REALLY THE DEVELOPMENT OF AN AGRARIAN PROJECT WITHIN THE CITY OF NEW PORT RICHEY, IT ALSO IS A WONDERFUL SOURCE FOR THE PRODUCTION OF FOOD WITHIN THE CITY. OUR SEASONAL FOOD CELEBRATIONS RECOGNIZE THAT AND CELEBRATE THAT. AND I DO WANT TO GIVE A SHOUT OUT TO SAINT VINCENT DE PAUL, WHICH JUST RECEIVED THE PROCLAMATION. WE ADMIRE THEM AND APPRECIATE THEM VERY MUCH. I DON'T KNOW IF THEY'RE STILL HERE OR NOT. THERE YOU ARE. GREAT JOB AND WE APPRECIATE THE WORK THAT YOU'RE DOING. AND WE DO LOOK TO MAYBE TEAMING UP WITH YOU GUYS A LITTLE BIT IN TERMS OF GETTING SOME FRESH FOOD INTO THE DISTRIBUTION PROCESS THAT ALL OF YOU ARE SO VERY, VERY GOOD AT DOING. AND WE APPRECIATE THE LONGEVITY OF YOUR COMMITMENT AND THE COMMITMENT OF OUR LADY QUEEN OF PEACE OVER 40 YEARS FOR DOING THIS WORK. SO WE COMMEND YOU, AND WE'RE RIGHT WITH YOU ON THAT. SO THE SEASONAL FOOD FESTIVAL IS KIND OF HARMONIZED WITH THESE KINDS OF ACTIVITIES THAT ARE GOING ON IN THE BROADER COMMUNITY. I ALSO WANT TO DO A SHOUT OUT RIGHT NOW. ANDY ASKED ME TO MENTION THIS. SEPTEMBER 12TH IS THE OKRA OCCASION. HOW MANY HAVE BEEN TO THAT OKRA OCCASION? SOME OF YOU ACTUALLY HAVE BEEN TO THAT, I KNOW, YEAH. SO WE WANT TO INVITE YOU TO COME. YOU'RE ALWAYS THERE, CHOMPER, AND I APPRECIATE YOUR BEING THERE TOO. SO ENJOY SOME OKRA THIS YEAR, SEPTEMBER 12TH. MARK THAT ON YOUR CALENDARS. THERE'S ALSO A LOT OF TALK, AS YOU GUYS PROBABLY RECEIVED REGARDING THE MUSCOVY DUCK POPULATION IN THE CITY. THE ENVIRONMENTAL COMMITTEE DID TAKE THE LEADERSHIP ON THAT TOGETHER WITH PUBLIC WORKS AND COLIN'S EXCELLENT LEADERSHIP ON THAT, TO DEVELOP A PLAN TO MINIMIZE THE PRESENCE OF MUSCOVY DUCKS, WHICH DOES SEEM TO BE HAPPENING. SO THERE'S THERE SHOULD BE FEWER DUCKS IN THE CITY. NOW, WE DO WANT TO CALL ATTENTION TO THE WILDFLOWER ORDINANCE, WHICH IS GOING TO COME UP TONIGHT AS ONE OF OUR RECOMMENDATIONS, BUT THAT'S BEEN ONGOING FOR SOME TIME, AND IT REALLY DOES MAKE A DIFFERENCE. IF WE CAN POSSIBLY GET THAT ESTABLISHED AND WRITTEN INTO ORDINANCE. FINALLY, IN TERMS OF THE ACTIVITIES THAT WE GO THAT WE DO, I THINK THAT WE HAVE THE INVASIVE ON OUR SLIDE, THE INVASIVE PLANT REMOVAL GRAPE PRESERVE. ARE YOU SEEING THAT UP THERE, CATHERINE? ARE YOU SEEING THAT UP THERE? MAYBE IT'S THE NEXT SLIDE.
COLLABORATIVE. IS THAT OKAY? YEAH. THAT'S RIGHT. SO THE THAT WAS REALLY A WONDERFUL EXAMPLE OF WHAT THE ENVIRONMENTAL COMMITTEE CAN DO. AND WE DID RECEIVE QUITE A LOT OF PRAISE FROM BOTH KEEP PASCO BEAUTIFUL AND THE FLORIDA DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE AND CONSUMER SERVICES THAT WORKS WITH INVASIVE PLANTS. THEY SAID THAT THEY THEY REMARKED AT HOW SUCCESSFUL OUR CITY WAS AT BRINGING TOGETHER A DIVERSE GROUP OF STAKEHOLDERS TO MAKE THIS INVASIVE PLANT REMOVAL WORK. NOTED. AND I THINK THEY'RE ALL NOTED ON THE SCREEN.
WE BROUGHT TOGETHER FLORIDA DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE AND CONSUMER SERVICES, THE INVASIVE PLANT DEPARTMENT, KEEP PASCO BEAUTIFUL. THE SIERRA CLUB OF PASCO COUNTY, NEW PORT RICHEY FARM, NET PARKS AND REC FROM THE CITY, AND PUBLIC WORKS FROM THE CITY TO ALL TEAM UP ON THE REMOVAL OF INVASIVE PLANTS AT GRAPE PRESERVE. THERE'S MORE TO DO, FOR SURE, BUT THIS IS AN EXAMPLE OF WHAT HAVING AN ACTIVE AND ENGAGED ENVIRONMENTAL COMMITTEE CAN DO IN TERMS OF MAKING A DIFFERENCE, AND MOBILIZING PEOPLE WITHIN THE COMMUNITY TO DO SOMETHING.
AND I KNOW COLIN KNOWS ALL ABOUT THAT, AND WE'VE SEEN IT HAPPEN. SO THAT IS KIND OF A SHOUT OUT AND A PAT ON THE BACK TO THE ENVIRONMENTAL COMMITTEE, BUT ALSO A RECOGNITION OF THE CITY'S COMMITMENT TO IT THAT MAKES THESE SORTS OF THINGS HAPPEN. WHEN WE DO THIS, IT
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MAKES THE CITY LOOK BETTER. IT MAKES US LOOK BETTER, NOT JUST IN AN ESTHETIC SENSE. BY GETTING RID OF INVASIVE PLANTS AND KIND OF TIDYING UP THE CITY. BUT IN TERMS OF LIKE THE CULTURAL AWARENESS AND KIND OF THE ELAN OF ACTUALLY HAVING A CITY THAT'S DOING THESE SORTS OF THINGS, AND YOUR ENVIRONMENTAL COMMITTEE IS DOING THAT FOR YOU. AND WE APPRECIATE IT SO MUCH FROM THE HEART. FROM THE HEART. OKAY. NEXT SLIDE PLEASE. OKAY. THESE ARE VARIOUS CITY RELATED PROJECTS. MANY OF THEM ARE ONGOING. MOST OF THOSE ON THERE WERE INITIALLY SPEARHEADED BY THE ENVIRONMENTAL ENVIRONMENTAL COMMITTEE MANY, MANY YEARS AGO, AND NOW THEY'VE BECOME A REGULAR PART OF CITY CULTURE. NEXT SLIDE. THANK YOU. SO LOOKING AHEAD, WE HAVE A COUPLE OF PROPOSALS THAT WE WANT TO MAKE BEFORE WE DO THOSE. I WANT TO TURN IT OVER TO TOM O'NEILL FOR JUST A MOMENT AND GIVE A LITTLE BIT OF CULTURAL AND HISTORICAL CONTEXT TO WHAT WE'RE DOING, MR. O'NEILL. GOOD EVENING, MAYOR AND COUNCIL. AS YOU KNOW, THE CITY'S POSITION ON TREES AND SO FORTH IS MY FREAKY BUTTON, AS I'VE DONE A LOT OF CONSULTING ARBORIST WORK SINCE I LEFT THE EMPLOYMENT OF THE CITY. WE'VE BEEN A TREE CITY FOR A LONG TIME, AND IT WAS AT THE INITIATIVE OF FORMER COUNCIL MEMBER DEL DUCHAMP, AND IT'S MUCH APPRECIATED WHAT HE DID. AND I WAS A BABY PUBLIC WORKS DIRECTOR AT THE TIME, AND I FOLLOWED HIS INITIATIVE AND DID THE PAPERWORK AND SO FORTH, AND GOT US RECOGNIZED AS A TREE CITY, USA. I'M GOING TO END SAYING THAT I'M GOING TO LOBBY FOR ADDITIONAL FUNDING FOR TREE PLANTINGS AND PERHAPS DELINEATING SOME CERTAIN AREAS AS TREE PLANTING PROJECT AREAS, SO THAT PUBLIC WORKS DEPARTMENT IS NOT OVERTAXED BY THEIR PERSONNEL AND SO FORTH. WE CAN GET GET THE TREES PLANTED. WE'VE HAD A LOT OF ACCELERATED DECLINE IN THE CITY SINCE WE FLOODED. AS YOU KNOW, A BIG PORTION OF THE CITY FLOODED WITH THE TIDAL SURGE FROM HURRICANE HELENE. AND IT WAS HIGHLY SALINE WATER AND IT KILLED A LOT OF TREES. I CAN SEE A LOT OF THEM THAT ARE DEAD IN MY NEIGHBORHOOD ALONE. AND THOSE TREES ARE GOING TO COME DOWN. AND IF WE DON'T REPLACE AT A RATE THAT THEY FAIL, OUR LANDSCAPING WILL BE GONE AT ONE POINT. SO I'M ASKING FOR THAT. AND WITH THAT, I'LL END MY REMARKS AND TURN IT OVER TO CATHERINE. THANK YOU. GOOD EVENING EVERYBODY. I'M HERE TO TALK ABOUT REDUCING POLLUTION AND ADDRESSING THE WATER QUALITY IN THE RIVER WITH A MASTER PLAN FOCUSING ON REDUCTION OF TOXIC RUNOFFS, REDUCTION OF UPSTREAM CONTAMINATION OF STORMWATER POLLUTION, PROHIBITION OF BILGE DISCHARGES, INCLUDING ORDINANCES TO ENFORCE COMPLIANCE WITH THE MARINE PATROL ON THE RIVER, AND THE ELIMINATION OF POLLUTION SOURCES ON LAND THROUGH CODE ENFORCEMENT. PROPOSED ORDINANCES WOULD INCLUDE PROHIBITIONS ON DUMPING YARD DEBRIS INTO THE RIVER, LEAVING BAIT, DEAD FISH AND OTHER FISHING RELATED DEBRIS IN PUBLIC PARKS, AND DISCHARGING OF BILGES FROM BOATS. THE PROPOSAL ALSO CALLS FOR PLANS TO REDUCE STORMWATER DISCHARGE AND RESULTING NITRATE LEVELS CAUSED BY DEVELOPMENT TRAFFIC, INVASIVE ANIMAL SPECIES, FERTILIZERS AND WEED CONTROL CONTROL. AND THEN LASTLY, THE PROPOSAL CALLS FOR STRICT ENFORCEMENT OF SEASONAL FERTILIZER BANS AND EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMS FOR RESIDENTS PROMOTING REDUCED USE OR THE ELIMINATION OF LAWN CHEMICALS, INCLUDING INDUSTRIAL FERTILIZERS, PESTICIDES, HERBICIDES AND FUNGICIDES. AND I THINK WE'RE GOING TO ALSO ASK TO HAVE A WORKSHOP TO DISCUSS THESE THINGS FURTHER, TO IMPLEMENT THEM INTO THE CITY STRUCTURE AND ORDINANCE. THANK YOU. THANK YOU, CATHERINE. THANK YOU DON. THANK YOU. CATHERINE WAS A LITTLE HESITANT TO DO THE PRESENTATION, BUT SHE SAID, I'M GOING TO STEP UP AND I'M GOING TO DO IT. SO THANK YOU FOR DOING THAT, CATHERINE, AND I APPRECIATE IT VERY MUCH. AND I WILL NOT REITERATE ANYTHING THAT SHE SAID OTHER THAN TO MENTION THAT WE'VE TALKED ABOUT THIS BEFORE. IT'S BEEN ONGOING FOR SOME TIME, AND I DO WANT TO ACKNOWLEDGE THE GREAT ARTICLE IN THE BRIDGE MAGAZINE REGARDING THE POLICE PATROLS ON THE ON THE WATERWAYS. SO THAT WAS A TERRIFIC ARTICLE.AND THIS PROPOSAL REALLY HARMONIZES VERY, VERY NICELY WITH IT AND KIND OF MAYBE UPS THE THE OPPORTUNITIES FOR THE MARINE PATROL TO BE ACTIVE IN TERMS OF BEING ATTENTIVE TO POLLUTION, ESPECIALLY POLLUTION COMING FROM ON THE WATERWAYS THEMSELVES FROM BOATS, BUT ALSO
[00:25:06]
ON THE PROPERTIES THAT ARE ADJACENT TO THE RIVER WHERE YOU MAY HAVE TOXIC RUNOFF THAT'S GOING ON. YOU SEE SOMEONE APPLYING FERTILIZER RIGHT NEXT TO THE RIVER, THOSE SORTS OF THINGS. IF YOU'RE ON THE RIVER, YOU CAN SEE IT. IF YOU'RE ON LAND, YOU USUALLY DON'T. SO WE WANT TO UNDERSCORE THAT OUR SECOND PROPOSAL, WE ONLY HAVE TWO THIS YEAR. OUR SECOND PROPOSAL IS ONE THAT'S BEEN WITH YOU BEFORE. I ALWAYS FEEL LIKE IT'S GROUNDHOG'S DAY WHEN I COME UP HERE AND THIS PROPOSAL COMES UP. IT'S THE PROPOSAL FOR THE WILDFLOWER ORDINANCE. I KNOW THAT COUNCIL MEMBER MATT MURPHY LIKES THIS WILDFLOWER ORDINANCE, AS DOES EVERYONE, BUT WE WOULD LOVE TO SEE SOME ACTION ON THIS. WE WOULD JUST LOVE TO SEE US MOVE FORWARD ON IT. IT'S HAPPENING INCREMENTALLY AND ACCIDENTALLY WITHIN THE CITY, AS THERE'S INDIVIDUALS AND GROUPS THAT ARE WORKING TO ESTABLISH WILDFLOWERS ON PEOPLE'S PROPERTY. IT IS HAPPENING. BUT THE CHALLENGE THAT WE FACE IS THAT WHEN WILDFLOWERS ARE ON THE PROPERTY, ESPECIALLY IN THE DORMANT SEASON, WHICH IS WINTER TIME, THEY LOOK LIKE DRIED UP WEEDS. AND AS A RESULT, THEN THEY BECOME THE THEY HAVE THE APPEARANCE OF AN EYESORE, EVEN THOUGH IT'S A PERFECTLY HEALTHY NATURAL PLANT THAT'S JUST GOING THROUGH ITS CYCLE. SO IF WE ARE AWARE OF THE PROPERTIES WHERE WE HAVE SUCH INSTALLATIONS ON THEM, THEN PERHAPS CODE ENFORCEMENT OR EVEN THE NEIGHBORS CAN BE AWARE THAT COME SPRINGTIME, THOSE SAME PLANTS ARE GOING TO BE LUSH AND BEAUTIFUL, GROWING, PRODUCING FLOWERS AND ATTRACTING BEES, BIRDS, BUTTERFLIES, AND ALL THE OTHER CREATURES THAT ARE NECESSARY FOR A HEALTHY ENVIRONMENT. THAT HAPPENS IF WE CAN HAVE A ORDINANCE IN PLACE AND IT'S NOT A STANDALONE PIECE OF PAPER, IT'S AN ORDINANCE THAT THEN CAN BECOME ACTIVE WITHIN THE COMMUNITY TO ENCOURAGE PEOPLE TO USE THIS OPPORTUNITY. THE OPPORTUNITY FOR WILDFLOWER ORDINANCE TO ACTUALLY BEGIN INSTALLING THOSE PLANTS, THAT DOES MAKE A DIFFERENCE FOR OUR COMMUNITY.SO THOSE ARE OUR TWO MAJOR PROPOSALS. WE DO LOOK FORWARD TO CONTINUING SUPPORT. AND I DO WANT TO ECHO WHAT CATHERINE SAID, AND THAT IS WE WOULD LOVE AND WELCOME A WORK SESSION ON THIS WITH THE COUNCIL. SO IF THE COUNCIL CAN SEE IT WITHIN THEIR GRACE TO ALLOW SOME SPACE FOR THAT ON THEIR BUSY SCHEDULE. AND I KNOW YOU GUYS ARE VERY BUSY, AS ARE ALL OF US, WE WILL CERTAINLY MAKE THE TIME TO SIT DOWN WITH YOU AND SEE IF WE CAN HASH SOMETHING OUT, SO WE CAN GET SOME TRACTION ON THESE TWO PROPOSALS, AS WELL AS CONTINUING TO GAIN YOUR SUPPORT FOR MOVING FORWARD WITH OUR OTHER AGENDA ITEMS. SO WITH THAT, WE'RE OPEN TO ANY QUESTIONS THAT YOU MAY HAVE. WE PROBABLY HAVE A WORK SESSION, BUT IT'LL BE AFTER BUDGET. SO OKAY. ALL UNDERSTOOD. AND WE DID WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT JUST AS A NOTE, WE DID WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT WE DID GET THE PROPOSALS OUT THERE AS YOU MOVE INTO THE BUDGET REFLECTION TOO, BECAUSE WHILE THERE'S NOTHING REALLY, I DON'T THINK, OVERLY DEMANDING IN TERMS OF A BUDGET CONSIDERATION, CERTAINLY THIS IS SOMETHING THAT HOPEFULLY THE COUNCIL WILL HAVE IN MIND AS YOU ARE LOOKING AT THE BUDGET AND BEGINNING TO ALLOCATE FUNDS, PERHAPS THE THE. YEAH, I WAS JUST COMMENT ON THE WILDFLOWER ORDINANCE TO SAY THAT I'VE INDICATED MY SUPPORT OF IT AND THE RESPONSE I'VE GOTTEN FROM STAFF. AND FIRST OFF, TO THANK ALSO SASHA FOR FOR HER CONTINUED ADVOCACY IN THE FORM OF REACHING OUT TO MAKE SURE WE'RE STAYING ON TOP OF IT.
YEAH. THE RESPONSE I'VE RECEIVED IS THAT THE, THE ORDINANCE IN ITS CURRENT FORM, AS PRESENTED BY THE ENVIRONMENTAL COMMITTEE, DIFFERS FROM WHERE THE CITY WOULD LIKE TO GO IN TERMS OF CODIFYING IT WITH A LARGER ORDINANCE ON LANDSCAPING. AND I THINK PART OF THE REASON FOR THAT, WITHOUT SPEAKING ON THE CITY STAFF'S BEHALF, BUT SPEAKING FOR MYSELF IS I COULD SEE THINGS LIKE SOMEONE COMING BEFORE COUNCIL OR BEFORE STAFF TO SAY, HEY, WHY IS THAT PERSON ALLOWED TO HAVE THEIR LAWN OVERGROWN? BUT I'M NOT NOT REALIZING THAT THERE'S A NOW A NATIVE PLANTING ORDINANCE THAT'S BEEN WORKED INTO THE CODE, IN ADDITION TO OTHER SPECIFIC REQUIREMENTS THAT OUR STAFF MAY HAVE. THAT BEING SAID, I DON'T I DON'T THINK YOU'VE TALKED AT LENGTH ABOUT IT. I KNOW WE'VE GIVEN OUR COMMENTS ON IT. I DON'T KNOW IF NECESSARILY A WORKSHOP IS NECESSARY. WHAT'S MORE NECESSARY IS FOR CITY STAFF TO PRESENT THAT LANDSCAPE ORDINANCE TO US. AND SO WE CAN WE CAN HAVE THAT DISCUSSION AND VOTE ON WHAT WHAT THEY'RE SAYING TO PRESENT THE PROBLEM IS THAT THERE'S THIS LARGER CONVERSATION ABOUT SB 180. YEAH. THAT HINDERED THE ABILITY TO DO ORDINANCES, WHICH HAS FRUSTRATED ME COMPLETELY. ME TOO. I THINK THE LARGER CONVERSATION IS ABOUT THE LIMITS OF SB 180, WHERE THAT LAWN IS DRAWN, WHERE THAT LINE IS DRAWN, BECAUSE IT SEEMS TO BE A COUPLE THINGS COMING OUT OF OUR COMMITTEES. A COUPLE OF THINGS COMING FROM THE COUNCIL SIDE INITIATIVE FROM THE COUNCIL SIDE, THOSE CONTINUE TO BE TAKING CONTINUE TO BE TAKING THE BACK SEAT TO LARGER CITY INITIATIVES BY OUR CITY STAFF.
AND SO WHEN WE'VE HAD A CHANCE TO HAVE THAT CONVERSATION UP HERE, GET A BETTER IDEA OF WHAT'S ALL BEEN IMPACTED BY THAT STATE LEGISLATION. I CONTINUE TO BE, AS IT WAS WRITTEN BY THE ENVIRONMENTAL COMMITTEE. I SUPPORT THAT, AND I'D LIKE TO SEE WHERE CITY
[00:30:02]
STAFF STANDS. ON THE OTHER TOPIC. PROPOSAL NUMBER ONE, I DO SUPPORT A WORKSHOP FOR THAT TO UNDERSTAND THE ISSUE MORE. BUT ON THE SECOND PROPOSAL, I THINK IT'S READY TO GO FOR A FIRST READING. IF WE CAN GET SOME SORT OF DOCUMENT TO READ. AND THAT'S ALL DEPENDING STATE STATUTE AND WHATEVER OUR CITY ATTORNEY AND CITY STAFF ARE SAYING. THANK YOU VERY MUCH.WELL, EXCELLENT. AND I'LL JUST MAKE ONE QUICK NOTE ABOUT THAT. WHAT COUNCIL MEMBER BUTLER IS MENTIONING, OBVIOUSLY, IS THE ENCROACHMENT OF HOME RULE ON THIS CITY AND EVERY OTHER CITY IN THE STATE OF FLORIDA. SO WE'RE ALL FACING THAT, AND WE KNOW THAT TOO. AND WE'RE WRESTLING WITH THAT TOO, JUST IN TERMS OF WHAT WE'RE TRYING TO DO. SO I EMPATHIZE WITH THE CHALLENGES THAT THE COUNCIL HAS AND BEING ABLE TO MOVE FORWARD ON MUCH OF ANYTHING AT ALL. BUT TO THE DEGREE THAT WE POSSIBLY CAN GET TRACTION ON THESE, THIS WOULD BE THE TIME TO DO IT.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH, MY FRIENDS. ENVIRONMENTAL COMMITTEE, I'LL JUST CONTEXTUALIZE THE ENVIRONMENTAL COMMITTEE DID RECOMMEND THIS WELL BEFORE SB 180, SO. OH YEAH. SURE. THAT BEING SAID, MY FRUSTRATION IS TWOFOLD AND I APPRECIATE THE ENVIRONMENTAL COMMITTEE'S CONSISTENCY AND THEIR PERSISTENCE AND THEIR PATIENCE WITH OUR COUNCIL. YEAH, WELL THANK YOU, COUNCIL, AND THANK YOU CITY MANAGER, CITY ATTORNEY, CITY CLERK, AND ALL THE STAFF MEMBERS. THANKS FOR THE SUPPORT AND THE HELP THAT YOU GIVE US. GOOD NIGHT. GOOD NIGHT. THE
[6) Audit Presentation by Mauldin & Jenkins]
AUDIT PRESENTATION ITEM NUMBER SIX IS I'M PUTTING ON TABLED AND WE'LL GET BACK TO IT. IS THAT CORRECT? IT'S CORRECT THAT WE ARE ASKING YOU TO TABLE IT TO THE JULY 21ST MEETING, SO THAT THE FINANCE DIRECTOR HAS AN OPPORTUNITY TO SUBMIT THE FINAL ITEMS ON THE CAPITAL BUDGET TO THE AUDITOR, AND THEY CAN COMPLETE THEIR WORK SO THAT WE CAN PRESENT TO YOU THE COMPLETE AUDIT. NEED TO CLARIFY SOMETHING, PLEASE. MR. MAYOR, YOU SAID THE CAPITAL BUDGET AND THAT'S NOT PART OF THE AUDIT PRESENTATION CAPITAL PROJECT, THE CAPITAL PROJECTS. YEAH,[7) Presentation on Budget Process]
JUST TO CORRECT THAT. THANK YOU. PRESENTATION BUDGET PROCESS. DO YOU WANT TO TAKE THAT OR. I'M SORRY, THAT PART OF THE PRESENTATION ON THE BUDGET PROCESS WILL BE PRESENTED BY MISS DUNN. THANK YOU, CITY MANAGER. GOOD EVENING COUNCIL. TONIGHT'S PRESENTATION KICKS OFF THE FISCAL YEAR 2627 BUDGET PROCESS. WHILE THE DEPARTMENT'S ACTUALLY KICKED THIS OFF SEVERAL WEEKS BACK, WE PRESENT THE THIS OVERVIEW. WE HAVE AN UPCOMING WORK SESSION THIS WEEK.SO THOSE HERE AND THOSE LISTENING. THIS IS HELPFUL INFORMATION IN CASE THEY DO WANT TO ATTEND OUR PUBLIC WORK SESSIONS AND PUBLIC HEARINGS COMING UP. SO SEVERAL FACTORS AND PROCESSES GO INTO PLAY WHEN PREPARING THE BUDGET. THE PURPOSE OF THE BUDGET. WE REVIEW THE 2020 627 BUDGET PROCESS AND THE TIMING OF THE PROCESS. WE'LL REVIEW THE BUDGET PRIORITIES AND ASSUMPTIONS, AND DURING THE WORK SESSIONS, WE'LL DISCUSS THE ECONOMIC AND FINANCIAL OUTLOOK OF THE CITY AT THE BUDGET WORK SESSIONS. THE PRINCIPLES THAT GO BEHIND THE ACTUAL BUDGET BOOK. IT'S NOT JUST NUMBERS. THERE'S A PHILOSOPHY THAT ACTUALLY GUIDES HOW THE BUDGET IS DEVELOPED, AND MANY FACTORS GO INTO PLAY WHEN WE CONSIDER THE THE PREPARATION OF THOSE THOSE FIGURES, WE'RE WE'RE LOOKING AT MAINTAINING THE LONG TERM FINANCIAL STABILITY OF THE CITY. WE'RE PRESERVING HIGH QUALITY PUBLIC SERVICES AND MAINTAINING THOSE SERVICES, FUNDING CITY COUNCIL'S PRIORITIES, AND INVESTING IN THE INFRASTRUCTURE AND THE CAPITAL IMPROVEMENTS AND THOSE EXISTING IMPROVEMENTS THAT WE CURRENTLY HAVE. WE HAVE WE DO HAVE A RESERVE REQUIREMENT LEVEL THAT WE ARE REQUIRED TO MAINTAIN, AND WE HAVE OTHER RESERVES THAT WE DO MAINTAIN FOR OTHER SERVICES THAT ARE PROVIDED WITHIN THE CITY. SEVERAL GOALS WE CONSIDER WHEN WE'RE PREPARING THE BUDGET.
WE START WITH A BALANCED BUDGET. I MEAN, THAT'S THE GOAL. AND WE ALWAYS PRESENT A BALANCED BUDGET. OUR PRIORITIES BEGIN WITH PUBLIC SAFETY AND ALSO PRESERVING OUR INFRASTRUCTURE.
WE SUPPORT OUR ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT INITIATIVES. THAT'S A KEY INTO. THE MAINTAINING OUR TAX BASE AND OUR FUTURE TAX BASE. WE'RE LOOKING AT OPERATIONAL EFFICIENCIES THROUGH TECHNOLOGY AND ENHANCEMENTS. THAT STREAMLINES A LOT OF OUR PROCESSES THAT WE
[00:35:01]
CURRENTLY HAVE IN PLACE, AND ALSO MAINTAINING COMPETITIVE EMPLOYEE COMPENSATIONS FOR EMPLOYEE RETENTION. BUDGET DEVELOPMENT TYPE TIMELINE. WE START, LIKE I SAID, WE BEGIN THE BUDGET PROCESS. SEVERAL WEEKS BACK IN MAY, FINANCE DEPARTMENT DELIVERED THE BUDGET WORKBOOKS WITH THE INSTRUCTIONS AND THE REDUCTION REQUIREMENTS TO THE DEPARTMENTS, AND THE DEPARTMENT SENT THOSE BUDGET WORKBOOKS BACK. WE GATHERED ALL THE INFORMATION IN PREPARATION FOR THE DEPARTMENT PRESENTATIONS TO THE CITY MANAGER, AND THOSE PRESENTATIONS BEGAN AND CONCLUDED IN JUNE AND JULY AND AUGUST. WE WAIT PATIENTLY FOR THE STATE REVENUES TO BE PRESENTED. DURING THAT TIME, THE CITY MANAGER AND I AND THE FINANCE TEAM REVIEW THE REVENUE PROJECTIONS FOR OUR OTHER REVENUES, WHICH WE'LL COVER IN JUST A FEW MINUTES. WE ALSO BEGIN THE BUDGET WORK SESSIONS, AND LIKE I SAID, WE DO HAVE ONE COMING UP THIS WEEK ON THURSDAY. THAT'S OUR FIRST KICKOFF WORK SESSION FOR THE CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT PLAN IN AUGUST. CITY COUNCIL APPROVES THE PROPOSED MILLAGE, AND THE PROPOSED MILLAGE IS THE. THE MAXIMUM MILLAGE FOR THE PROPOSED BUDGET, AND THAT SETS THE STANDARD. THAT ALSO ALLOWS THE PROPERTY APPRAISER TO PREPARE THE TRIM NOTICES, AND THEY'RE USUALLY SENT OUT BEFORE AUGUST 24TH EACH FISCAL YEAR. SO THOSE ESTIMATED NUMBERS ARE BASED ON THE PROPOSED MILLAGE RATE. AND THAT'S A THAT'S A MAXIMUM MILLAGE RATE. SO THE CITY DOES HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO DECREASE THE MILLAGE RATE IF IT ALLOWS IF IT ALLOWS FOR IT.IN SEPTEMBER, WE HAVE OUR FIRST PUBLIC HEARING AND ALSO OUR SECOND PUBLIC HEARING ON THE BUDGET. THE BUDGET, THE FINAL MILLAGE RATES APPROVED, AND THE FINAL BUDGET IS APPROVED ALONG WITH THE CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT PLAN. AND THEN OCTOBER 1ST STARTS OUR FISCAL YEAR 2017 BUDGET YEAR. THE BUDGET DEVELOPMENT PROCESS. THERE'S A LOT OF RESPONSIBILITIES BY EACH DEPARTMENT. WHEN PREPARING THE BUDGET. WE DO. THE DEPARTMENTS ARE CONSTANTLY REVIEWING THEIR BUDGETS THROUGHOUT THE YEAR. THEY'RE LOOKING AT THEIR REVENUES THAT THEY'RE EXPECTING TO RECEIVE AND AS WELL, ALSO THEIR EXPENDITURES. SO THEY'RE LOOKING AT THEIR CURRENT OPERATIONS. THEY'RE IDENTIFYING SERVICE LEVEL CHANGES. THEY SUBMIT THEIR OPERATIONAL REQUEST, AND THEY'RE PRIORITIZING THEIR CAPITAL NEEDS, REVIEWING THEIR STAFFING REQUIREMENTS, AND IDENTIFYING ANY EFFICIENCIES OR COST SAVINGS THAT THEY CAN INCLUDE IN THE PROPOSED BUDGET PLAN. THE FINANCE DEPARTMENT WORKS CLOSELY WITH THE DEPARTMENTS.
IT'S NOT JUST THE THE FINANCE DEPARTMENT THAT PREPARES THIS BUDGET. WE DO WORK WITH THE DEPARTMENTS AND THE CITY MANAGER ALL SUMMER LONG. WHEN PREPARING THE REVENUE FORECAST AND THE EXPENDITURE ANALYSIS, THE CAPITAL PLANNING, WHICH IS A BIG PART OF THE BUDGET PROCESS, DEBT PLANNING, IF IF IT'S NECESSARY, AND WE WILL PRESENT A BALANCED BUDGET TO YOU IN SEPTEMBER. MAJOR REVENUE SOURCES OF THE GENERAL FUND INCLUDE PROPERTY TAXES AND STATE REVENUE SHARING, THE HALF CENT SALES TAX, FRANCHISE FEES, LICENSES AND PERMITS, CHARGES FOR SERVICES, POSSIBLE GRANTS AND GRANTS THAT WE HAVE CONFIRMED PRIOR TO THE CLOSE OF THE CURRENT FISCAL YEAR AND INVESTMENT EARNINGS. OTHER REVENUE SOURCES MAY COME ABOUT THROUGHOUT THE YEAR IF THEY HAVE NOT BEEN IDENTIFIED IN THE APPROVED BUDGET. THEY'RE PRESENTED TO YOU THROUGH A BUDGET AMENDMENT. WHEN WE PREPARE THE BUDGET, THERE'S SEVERAL FACTORS THAT WE HAVE TO CONSIDER AND. THEY'RE GOING TO IMPACT THE BUDGET NO MATTER WHAT. AND WE HAVE INFLATION, LABOR COSTS AND BENEFITS, PROPERTY AND INSURANCE LIABILITIES, UTILITY COSTS, FUEL COSTS FOR VEHICLES AND EQUIPMENT, ESCALATED COSTS FOR FLEET AND REPAIRS, TECHNOLOGY ENHANCEMENTS AND CAPITAL MAINTENANCE ITEMS THAT COULD BE UNEXPECTED. THROUGHOUT THE YEAR. WE DO EVALUATE OUR EQUIPMENT ON AN ANNUAL BASIS, BUT SOMETIMES THINGS HAPPEN AND THE REPAIR IS NECESSARY TO CONTINUE OPERATIONS. AND WE PREPARE THE
[00:40:02]
CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT PROGRAM. WE CONSIDER ALL MAJOR PROJECTS AND THE AND WE PRIORITIZE THOSE NEEDS. THIS YEAR FOR FISCAL YEAR 2627, WE'RE LOOKING AT THE ROADWAY IMPROVEMENTS AND UTILITY INFRASTRUCTURE IMPROVEMENTS. WE HAVE PARKS AND RECREATION FACILITY IMPROVEMENTS, PUBLIC FACILITY IMPROVEMENTS, CAPITAL EQUIPMENT REPAIRS AND REPLACEMENTS, TECHNOLOGY ENHANCEMENTS AND STORMWATER IMPROVEMENT PROJECTS. THESE PROJECTS FOCUS ON THE DAY TO DAY OPERATIONS OF THE CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT PROGRAM, AND THEY ADDRESS ANY LONG TERM INVESTMENTS THAT ARE NEEDED TO MAINTAIN AND IMPROVE CITY'S INFRASTRUCTURE. THERE ARE POTENTIAL CHALLENGES THAT WE COULD FACE DURING THE DURING THE BUDGET CYCLE AND THROUGHOUT THE YEAR. SEVERAL FACTORS COULD IMPACT THE CITY'S FINANCIAL POSITION. WE TRY TO PREPARE THE BUDGET THE BEST THAT WE CAN, BUT AGAIN, THINGS DO COME UP THROUGHOUT THE YEAR THAT ARE UNEXPECTED AND INFLATIONARY PRESSURES. WE DO TRY TO INCORPORATE THAT AS BEST AS WE CAN WHEN PREPARING THE BUDGET. IF THERE ARE SLOW ECONOMIC GROWTH. RISING INSURANCE COSTS, AGING INFRASTRUCTURE AND AGAIN, THAT RELATES TO CAPITAL PROJECTS OR CAPITAL EQUIPMENT THAT REPAIRS THAT ARE THAT COME ABOUT, THAT ARE UNFORESEEN. RECRUITMENT AND RETENTION OF EXISTING EMPLOYEES IS IMPORTANT. UNFUNDED MANDATES WE ARE REQUIRED TO MEET STATUTORY CHANGES, AND SOMETIMES THOSE MANDATES REQUIRE ADDITIONAL STAFF TIME AND PROJECTS THAT WERE UNFORESEEN AND POSSIBLY UNBUDGETED FOR AND GRANT FUNDING UNCERTAINTIES. WE TRY TO INCORPORATE THE THE GRANTS THAT WE ARE FULLY AWARE OF INTO THE BUDGET, BUT SOMETIMES GRANT FUNDING CHANGES OR THE PROJECT CHANGES OR EXPENDITURES CHANGE. AND ANYTIME THOSE ITEMS COME ABOUT, WE DO PRESENT TO YOU A BUDGET AMENDMENT OR BUDGET TRANSFER REQUEST SO THAT YOU'RE FULLY AWARE OF THOSE CHANGES. THE. WHEN WE'RE PREPARING THE BUDGET, THERE'S SEVERAL OPPORTUNITIES THAT WE HAVE TO. AVOID SOME OF THE CHALLENGES THAT WE FACE. WE DO LOOK FOR OPERATIONAL EFFICIENCIES THAT DOES GO ALONG WITH THE TECHNOLOGY IMPROVEMENTS, GRANT FUNDING OPPORTUNITIES THROUGHOUT THE YEAR. WE'RE CONTINUOUSLY TRYING TO IDENTIFY AREAS WHERE WE CAN BRING IN REVENUE OR MATCHING REVENUE SOURCES. CONTINUED REDEVELOPMENT WITH NEW INVESTMENT IN THE CITY, CONTINUING STRATEGIC PARTNERSHIPS WITH POSSIBLY DEVELOPERS OR OUR PEERS, OUR GOVERNMENT PEERS. WE DO RELY ON A NUMBER OF ASSUMPTIONS WHEN PREPARING THE BUDGET. THE BUDGET IS BASED ON CONSERVATIVE REVENUE ESTIMATES. AGAIN, IF CHANGES OCCUR, WE DO PRESENT THOSE TO YOU. THE BUDGET'S BUILT TO MAINTAIN THE CURRENT LEVEL OF SERVICE, AND WE DO PRIORITIZE THOSE PROJECTS AND THE NEEDS OF THE OF THE CITY. THERE'S ONGOING MONITORING OF ECONOMIC CONDITIONS AND STATUTORY CHANGES. AND AGAIN, THOSE ARE IF ANYTHING IS IDENTIFIED, WE PRESENT THOSE TO YOU THROUGH THE BUDGET AMENDMENT, TRANSFERS OR AMENDMENTS. AS WE MOVE THROUGH THE BUDGET ADOPTION PROCESS. I BROKEN IT OUT HERE INTO BASICALLY EIGHT STEPS. BUT AGAIN, WE STARTED THIS BACK IN EARLY MAY. THE FINANCE DEPARTMENT DID THAT. OTHER DEPARTMENTS, ALL DEPARTMENTS, ARE CONSTANTLY, CONSISTENTLY REVIEWING THEIR BUDGETS THROUGHOUT THE YEAR. AND I IDENTIFIED FUTURE NEEDS AND INCORPORATING THOSE NEEDS IN THEIR BUDGET PLANNING PROCESS. SO THEIR BUDGET PLANNING BEGINS EARLY ON IN THE YEAR. AND THEN IN MAY, THAT'S WHEN WE, THE FINANCE DEPARTMENT, SENDS OUT THOSE BUDGET WORKBOOKS AND BEGINS PREPARING FOR THE DEPARTMENTS PRESENTATIONS TO THE CITY MANAGER AND OUR BUDGET WORKSHOPS WITH CITY COUNCIL. AND WE MOVE INTO THE PROPOSED MILLAGE, THE TRIM NOTICES AND TO OUR PUBLIC HEARINGS, AND THEN FINALLY, THE ADOPTED BUDGET. AND WE DO AGAIN HAVE[00:45:05]
THIS THURSDAY AT 6 P.M. AS OUR FIRST BUDGET WORK SESSION ON THE CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT PLAN.WE DO HAVE ANOTHER ONE COMING UP LATER ON IN THE SUMMER, BUT THIS FIRST DRAFT WILL PRESENT THE CAPITAL PROJECTS THAT HAVE BEEN IDENTIFIED AND ARE OPEN FOR DISCUSSION WITH CITY COUNCIL AND THE PUBLIC FOR INPUT. THAT'S ALL I HAVE. IF WE HAVE ANY QUESTIONS, I'M PREPARED TO ANSWER THEM OR WE CAN SAVE THEM FOR THURSDAY. ANY QUESTIONS UP HERE? YOU HAVE ANYTHING ELSE YOU WANT TO ENTER? DEBBIE. ALL RIGHT. WE'LL MOVE ON TO THE NEXT ONE. THANK YOU
[8) Approval of Minutes]
VERY MUCH. APPROVAL OF THE MINUTES FOR JUNE 16TH, 2026 APPROVAL. I'LL SECOND, ALL THOSE IN FAVOR SIGNIFY BY I, I. ALL THOSE IN ATTENDANCE MUST BE RESPECTFUL OF OTHERS OPINIONS[9) Vox Pop for Items Not Listed on the Agenda or Listed on Consent Agenda]
AND REFRAIN FROM MAKING PERSONAL ATTACKS. ANY PERSON WHO BECOMES DISORDERLY, WHO FAILS TO CONFINE REMARKS TO THE IDENTIFIED SUBJECT OR BUSINESS AT HAND, SHALL BE CAUTIONED BY THE PRESIDING OFFICER AND GIVEN THE OPPORTUNITY TO CONCLUDE REMARKS ON THE SUBJECT IN A DECOROUS MANNER AND WITHIN THE DESIGNATED TIME LIMIT. ANY PERSON FAILING TO COMPLY AS CAUTION MAY BE BARRED FROM MAKING ADDITIONAL COMMENTS DURING THE MEETING BY THE PRESIDING OFFICER, UNLESS PERMISSION TO CONTINUE OR AGAIN ADDRESS THE COUNCIL IS GRANTED BY THE MAJORITY OF THE COUNCIL MEMBERS PRESENT. ANY ANYBODY ON THE LIST? I DO HAVE A COUPLE PEOPLE SIGNED UP TO SPEAK. THE FIRST ONE I HAVE SIGNED UP TO SPEAK IS ELIZABETH CONSTANTINE.NAME AND ADDRESS. AND THEN WHAT WOULD YOU LIKE TO SAY? I NEED WHAT YOUR NAME AND ADDRESS AND THEN WHAT YOU'D LIKE TO SAY. OKAY, WONDERFUL. SO I AM ELIZABETH CONSTANTINE. I CURRENTLY LIVE AT 1617 EAGLE CREEK DRIVE IN CLEARWATER, FLORIDA. I JUST CAME OUT TONIGHT. I JUST WANTED TO INTRODUCE MYSELF TO ALL OF YOU. I'M ACTUALLY CURRENTLY RUNNING FOR CIRCUIT COURT JUDGE FOR PASCO AND PINELLAS COUNTY. I'VE HAD THE WONDERFUL OPPORTUNITY TO MEET MANY OF YOU AT DIFFERENT RESTAURANTS AND EVENTS THROUGHOUT THE COMMUNITY OVER THE PAST COUPLE OF MONTHS. JUST WANTED TO TELL YOU ALL A LITTLE BIT ABOUT MYSELF. I GREW UP BOTH OF MY PARENTS HAD SIGNIFICANT DRUG PROBLEMS. I ENTERED THE FOSTER CARE SYSTEM AT 14 AFTER MY FATHER WAS KILLED WHILE IN FOSTER CARE AND BECOMING A VICTIM MYSELF, AND DECIDED TO SPEND MY CAREER IN PUBLIC SERVICE GIVING BACK. I'VE BEEN A PROSECUTOR IN PINELLAS COUNTY FOR ALMOST 13 YEARS. ON THE DAY OF THE ELECTION, IT'LL BE 13 YEARS DOING A WIDE VARIETY OF DIFFERENT CASES. I CURRENTLY SERVE AS OUR GANG PROSECUTOR, DOING MOSTLY MAJOR VIOLENT CRIME. I'VE DONE 78 JURY TRIALS. I ALSO WORK PART TIME FOR THE PINELLAS COUNTY SHERIFF'S OFFICE AS ASSOCIATE GENERAL COUNSEL AS WELL. SO I PRACTICE BOTH CRIMINAL AND CIVIL LAW, AND IT'S MY DEEP HOPE AND DREAM TO BE ABLE TO USE MY PERSPECTIVE AND EXPERIENCE AS A VICTIM, AS A CHILD HAS GONE THROUGH THE FOSTER CARE SYSTEM AND A 13 YEAR PROSECUTOR TO SERVE THE PEOPLE OF PASCO AND PINELLAS COUNTY, AND I AM GOING TO STAY AFTER IN CASE ANYBODY WANTS TO ASK ME ANY QUESTIONS OR MEET ME IN PERSON. THANK YOU.
NEXT PERSON I HAVE SIGNED UP TO SPEAK IS CHRIS LINMAN. CHRIS, 6140 INDIANA AVENUE, NEW PORT RICHEY, FLORIDA. GOOD EVENING MAYOR, CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS, I'M HERE TO REQUEST THAT THE CITY OF NEW PORT RICHEY AND NEW PORT RICHEY MAIN STREET ADDRESS A CONCERN THAT I'VE RAISED MULTIPLE TIMES, WHICH IS THE LACK OF NONALCOHOLIC BEER, NONALCOHOLIC WINE AND MOCKTAIL OPTIONS AT MUSIC EVENTS THAT WE'VE SEEN RECENTLY POP UP. UNFORTUNATELY, THE RESPONSES I'VE RECEIVED HAVE BEEN LESS THAN PROFESSIONAL, LESS ACCOMMODATING, NOT VERY INCLUSIVE. I'M A SOBER MAN. I WALK EVERYWHERE, SO I DON'T DRIVE. BUT I HAVE MANY FRIENDS, RELATIVES THAT ARE SOBER AS WELL. AND AT ONE POINT ONE OF THE MEMBERS FROM MAIN STREET RESPONDED WITH DRINK WATER. SO I'M NOT SURE OF YOUR ENGAGEMENT WITH THESE DECISIONS, BUT I WOULD APPRECIATE IF WE COULD ADDRESS THE LACK OF NONALCOHOLIC OPTIONS LIKE A BEER AND A WINE. MOCKTAILS AND OF THE SORT. SO THANK YOU GUYS. ALSO HERE TO JUST GIVE MY REQUEST THAT WE ALLOW ADUS IN THE CITY BECAUSE I'LL BE GONE. I'LL BE TRAVELING, SO I WON'T BE HERE FOR THE MEETING. I THOUGHT IT WAS TONIGHT, BUT ADUS I'M SUPPORTIVE OF, SO THANK YOU ALL. NEXT PERSON SIGNED UP TO SPEAK IS JUDITH ALLEN. I HAVE SOME COPIES HERE.
[00:50:12]
THERE ARE EIGHT OF THEM, SO THEY GO ALL THE WAY OVER. FOR THE REST OF YOU, WHAT THEY'RE BEING HANDED IS A STOP WORKER. NAME AND ADDRESS, PLEASE. FOR THE RECORD, I'M ON THE TIMER.NAME AND ADDRESS, PLEASE. JUDITH ALLEN, 5940 GRAND BOULEVARD, NEW PORT RICHEY. I HAVE BEEN TEN YEARS TRYING TO GET GRANTS AND PERMITS TO FIX MY HOUSE FROM HURRICANE DAMAGE.
WHAT I NOW HAVE IS A ORDER FROM THE MAGISTRATE CALLED A. WHAT DO THEY CALL YOU? THE. IT'S A JUST FOR CODE VIOLATIONS, WHICH IS A QUASI JUDICIAL MAGISTRATE. I GOT THIS WORK ORDER BEFORE I GOT THE NOTICE THAT I'M GOING TO. MAGISTRATE FOR THE FACT THAT I HAVE A TARP ON MY ROOF AND HURRICANE DAMAGE. ALL OF IT IS HURRICANE DAMAGE. THERE IS GRANTS GOING THROUGH THAT ARE STILL GOING THROUGH. IN FACT, I JUST GOT NOTICE TODAY THAT I'M GETTING A. CONTRACTOR OUT LATER THIS WEEK, BUT THE MAGISTRATE IS CALLING ME BY OUR CITY MANAGER'S ORDERS. THE PROBLEM IS I RECEIVED THAT MAGISTRATE ORDER THAT I FOR THESE CODE VIOLATIONS THAT ARE HURRICANE DAMAGE. AFTER I GOT THIS, THE STOP WORK ORDER FROM THE COUNTY. SO WHICH DO I DO? I'M DAMNED IF I FIX THE ROOF. I WAS ORDERED TO FIX THE ROOF, PAINT THE HOUSE, FIX THE WINDOWS, BLAH BLAH, BLAH, ALL THIS STUFF. BUT I WAS ALSO CODE VIOLATED FOR CONSTRUCTION EQUIPMENT IN MY YARD AND A LADDER. HOW WAS I SUPPOSED TO DO THOSE REPAIRS IN THREE WEEKS? AT THE SAME TIME, I'VE GOT THESE GRANTS GOING ON, SO I'M ASKING YOU ALL, DO YOU HAVE CONTROL OVER THE CITY MANAGER'S OFFICE AND WHAT SHE DOES? THIS QUASI JUDICIAL MAGISTRATE, IS JUST FOR CODE VIOLATIONS. IT IS. HE IS HIRED AND HE IS PAID FOR BY THE CITY. NOW, DO YOU ALL HAVE CONTROL OR NOT? YOU SEE THE STOP WORK ORDER. SO WHICH DO I OBEY? I'M DAMNED IF I DO, AND I'M DAMNED IF I DON'T. AND EVERY ONE OF YOU KNOW HOW LONG I HAVE TRIED TO GET GRANTS AND PERMITS TO FIX THAT HOUSE. EVERY ONE OF YOU KNOW, THERE IS BIG SIGNS ON THE FRONT OF MY HOUSE. ANYBODY IN THE BACK WHO WANTS TO DRIVE DOWN GRAND BOULEVARD, YOU CAN SEE THE SIGNS. THEY'VE BEEN UP THERE SINCE MARCH. SO WHAT ARE YOU GOING TO DO ABOUT IT? THERE I HAVE A STOP WORK ORDER. WHAT ARE YOU GOING TO DO ABOUT IT? WHAT ARE YOU GOING TO DO ABOUT CONTROLLING WHAT'S GOING ON IN THE IN THE CITY MANAGER'S OFFICE? NONE OF YOU CAN CAN CLAIM. YOU DON'T KNOW. I'M BEING TARGETED. THE QUESTION IS WHY? BECAUSE I STARTED ASKING QUESTIONS ABOUT WHERE THE GRANT MONEY WAS GOING AND WHY GRANTS FROM THE CRA WERE APPROVED FOR 25,000, BUT PEOPLE ONLY GOT 12 OR 15. WHERE DID THE REST OF THE MONEY GO? WHEN YOU HAVE CORRUPTION, YOU DON'T ASK WHERE THE MONEY WENT. THE FINAL PERSON I HAVE SIGNED UP TO SPEAK IS DAISY THOMAS. YEAH.
SHE IS. SHE. DAISY THOMAS, 5703 TENNESSEE AVENUE. GOOD EVENING, MAYOR, COUNCIL, CITY MANAGER AND CITY STAFF. FIRST, I WANT TO APOLOGIZE THAT I WASN'T ABLE TO ATTEND THE EARLIER WORK SESSION TODAY. IF ANY OF WHAT I'M ABOUT TO ASK YOU WAS ADDRESSED THERE. I APPRECIATE YOUR PATIENCE. I ALSO WANT TO THANK ASSISTANT CITY MANAGER ROB WILLIAMSON FOR TAKING THE TIME TO SPEAK WITH ME AFTER THE JUNE 2ND MEETING, AND FOR FOLLOWING UP THE VERY NEXT MORNING. I'D ALSO LIKE TO THANK CITY CLERK JUDY MYERS FOR ENSURING THE 2526 STRATEGIC PLAN WAS POSTED TO THE CITY WEBSITE SHORTLY AFTERWARD. I GENUINELY APPRECIATE THE RESPONSIVENESS. PUBLIC ACCESS TO GOVERNING DOCUMENTS DEFINITELY MATTERS, ESPECIALLY TO ME. MY PROFESSIONAL WORK FOCUSES ON AI GOVERNANCE AND EMERGING TECHNOLOGY POLICY, WHICH IS WHY I'VE BEEN FOLLOWING THIS SECTION OF THE STRATEGIC PLAN SO CLOSELY. THE PLAN CALLS FOR ESTABLISHING AN AI POLICY AND GOVERNANCE FRAMEWORK. WILL THAT FRAMEWORK COME BEFORE COUNCIL FOR PUBLIC REVIEW AND APPROVAL, OR WILL IT BE ADOPTED ADMINISTRATIVELY? GIVEN THAT IT WILL AFFECT HOW CITY DATA AND AI TECHNOLOGIES ARE USED ACROSS DEPARTMENTS, I BELIEVE THE PUBLIC WOULD BENEFIT FROM A DISCUSSION OCCURRING IN AN OPEN PUBLIC MEETING. SECOND, THE PLAN REFERENCES EVALUATING AI POWERED PRODUCTIVITY TOOLS AND MEASURING TIME SAVINGS. WILL THE GOVERNANCE FRAMEWORK ALSO ESTABLISH STANDARDS FOR ACCURACY, HUMAN OVERSIGHT, AND PROTECTION OF RESIDENT INFORMATION ALONGSIDE
[00:55:02]
EFFICIENCY? AND WILL IT INCLUDE PROTECTIONS FOR CITY EMPLOYEES, INCLUDING LIMITS ON THE USE OF AI GENERATED PRODUCTIVITY METRICS OR OTHER AI ASSISTED ANALYZES IN PERFORMANCE EVALUATIONS OR PERSONNEL ACTIONS. THIRD, THE PLAN REFERENCES ENHANCED POLICE OPERATIONAL CAPABILITIES THROUGH THIS TECHNOLOGY. WILL THE AI GOVERNANCE FRAMEWORK APPLY CONSISTENTLY ACROSS ALL AI ENABLED TECHNOLOGIES USED BY THE CITY, INCLUDING EXISTING AND FUTURE PUBLIC SAFETY TECHNOLOGIES? OR WILL DIFFERENT DEPARTMENTS OPERATE UNDER DIFFERENT STANDARDS? FINALLY, THE PLAN CALLS FOR ASSESSING DEPARTMENTS BEFORE IMPLEMENTING AI PRODUCTIVITY TOOLS. WILL THE RESULTS OF THAT ASSESSMENT BE MADE PUBLIC SO RESIDENTS UNDERSTAND WHERE AI IS BEING PROPOSED AND FOR WHAT PURPOSE? I APPRECIATE THAT THE CITY IS THINKING ABOUT GOVERNANCE BEFORE EXPANDING THIS AI USE. THAT'S A VERY THOUGHTFUL APPROACH. MOST OF THE STATES AND CITIES ARE NOT DOING THIS. MY HOPE IS SIMPLY THAT THESE POLICIES ARE DEVELOPED IN THE OPEN, WITH OPPORTUNITIES FOR BOTH CITY RESIDENTS AND CITY STAFF TO HELP INFLUENCE THEM. THANK YOU. IS THAT ALL YOU HAD? THAT'S ALL. I HAD SIGNED UP TO SPEAK. ANYBODY ELSE LIKE TO SPEAK? SEEING NO ONE ELSE COME FORWARD, WE'LL BRING IT BACK AND MOVE ON TO CONSENT AGENDA. THANK YOU, MR. MAYOR. ANYBODY WOULD LIKE TO RESPOND TO ANY OF[10) City Council Response to Vox Pop Speakers]
THE VOX POP? YEAH. I'LL START OFF ON THE. I'LL JUST STICK IT TO ONE. THERE'S A LOT THERE, SO I'LL. I'LL KEEP SOME OF IT FOR COMMUNICATIONS. BUT JUST ON THE THE TOPIC THAT HITS CLOSEST TO HOME AS SOMEONE WHO IS ALSO GOING THROUGH IT WITH THE HURRICANES. THE LAST UPDATE I RECEIVED FROM THE CITY MANAGER WAS RELATED TO SOME CONTRACTOR ISSUES ON YOUR PROPERTY. AS YOU KNOW, I'VE BEEN FOLLOWING THAT CLOSELY BECAUSE YOU HAVE REACHED OUT AND ADVOCATED FOR YOUR PROPERTY. AND IT IS IT IS BOTH IN THE INTEREST OF THIS COUNCIL AND IN THE THE INTEREST OF OUR COMMUNITY TO SEE THAT YOUR YOU KNOW, YOU'RE PROVIDED THE HELP THAT YOU DESERVE. AND THAT BEING SAID, I WILL BE SEEKING A FOLLOW UP ON THE CITY MANAGER IN TERMS OF WHAT TOOK PLACE WITH THE CDBG PROCESS AND WHERE YOU'RE AT WITH THAT AS IT RELATES TO THE ACTUAL STOP OR STOP WORK NOTICE AND HOW THAT MIGHT BE AFFECTING THE PROPERTY, SPEAKING NOT JUST TO YOUR ISSUE, BUT MORE LARGELY TO THE CITY AS A WHOLE. IT IS MY HOPE THAT ANY DAMAGE RELATED TO THE HURRICANES THAT TOOK PLACE, HURRICANE MILTON AND HELENE, THAT OUR CODE ENFORCEMENT IS WORKING WITH RESIDENTS AND NOT CODE VIOLATING THEM AND BRINGING THEM BEFORE A QUASI JUDICIAL PROCESS, ESPECIALLY IF IT'S RELATED TO THE HURRICANE. THEY KNOW FIRSTHAND OUR CHIEF OF POLICE, WHO I HAVE PRAISED FOR HIS WORK ON GRANT WRITING OR, EXCUSE ME, HIS TEAM'S WORK ON GRANT WRITING. AND OUR CITY MANAGER KNOW VERY WELL THAT A LOT OF THESE APPLICATIONS, A LOT OF THESE SEEKING FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE, THEY TAKE TIME. AND SO HAVING THE ADDED PRESSURE OF CODE VIOLATIONS IS NOT HELPFUL WHATSOEVER. AND INSTEAD, I IMPLORE THE CITY MANAGER TO, YOU KNOW, LEVERAGE THE USE OF NICE FUNDING THROUGH THE CODE VIOLATIONS TO BE OF HELP. THIS IS A CHRONIC NEED. THIS ISN'T JUST A PAINT. THIS IS A NEED TO BE ABLE TO, YOU KNOW, BE ABLE TO STAY IN THE HOME AND WEATHER. THE NICE FUNDING CAN BE USED FOR THAT PURPOSE. MR. MAYOR, IF YOU'D ALLOW ME TO RESPOND. SURE. IT'S CLEAR ON THE STOP WORK NOTICE THAT IT WAS ISSUED BY PASCO COUNTY, NOT THE CITY OF NEW PORT RICHEY, AND IT WAS IN RESPONSE TO THE FACT THAT THE APPLICANT HAS NAMED JUDITH ALLEN, APPLIED UNDER THE PASCO BETTER HOUSING FUTURE INDIVIDUAL HOUSING PROGRAM, AND THAT'S WHY SHE RECEIVED A STOP WORK ORDER. THIS HAS NOTHING TO DO WITH THE CITY OF NEW PORT RICHEY OR HER APPLICATION FOR HOUSING ASSISTANCE UNDER OUR HOUSING REHABILITATION PROGRAM. AND IF I IF I CAN ASK. THE CITY MANAGER DID REPLY. SO THERE ARE NO CODE VIOLATIONS RELATED TO THE WORK UNDER THE CDBG GRANT, THE HURRICANE OR. I MEAN, I DON'T KNOW IF YOU COULD SPEAK TO THE CDBG. DR. INDIVIDUAL HOUSING PROGRAM AT THE COUNTY LEVEL, BUT THERE IS NO CODE VIOLATIONS RELATED TO THE APPLICANT. THE WORK, BECAUSE THIS APPLICANT HAS CAUTIONED US AT PUBLIC COMMENT THAT SHE FELT THAT BY APPLYING FOR THE PROGRAM, THAT THAT WOULD OPEN THE DOOR TO SOME SORT OF CODE VIOLATIONS. THERE'S NO CODE VIOLATIONS RELATED TO THE WORK. WELL, THERE ARE SEVERAL CODE VIOLATIONS ON HER PROPERTY. YES, THEY HAVE GONE BEFORE. THE QUASI JUDICIAL HAVE GONE GONE TO A HEARING. I'M SORRY THAT HAVE BEEN TAKEN TO A HEARING. I DON'T BELIEVE ANY OF THEM HAVE BEEN TAKEN TO A HEARING, AS FAR AS I KNOW. BUT I DO KNOW THAT. EXCUSE ME. I'M RESPONDING TO A QUESTION, BUT I DO KNOW THAT[01:00:03]
THERE WAS A RECENT COMPLAINT ISSUED TO THE CODE DIVISION, AND THEY DID WRITE ONE VIOLATION ON ONE OF THE CODE DEFICIENCIES ON HER PROPERTY, A NOTICE OF VIOLATION. SO I WOULD JUST ENCOURAGE THE APPLICANT, YOU KNOW, OBVIOUSLY WE CAN'T GET INVOLVED IN THE QUASI JUDICIAL PROCESS. THEY EXIST TO BE AS FAIR AS POSSIBLE. AND SO THAT BEING SAID, WITH THIS STOP WORK ORDER AND WHATEVER, WHATEVER ELSE YOU MAY HAVE, I'M I DEFINITELY ENCOURAGE YOU TO BE AT THAT HEARING AND, AND THAT WE'VE, YOU KNOW, I'D LIKE TO HAVE A COPY OF THE CODE VIOLATION BECAUSE IF IT'S HURRICANE RELATED THAT TO ME PERSONALLY, I CAN'T SPEAK FOR THE REST OF THE COUNCIL THAT GOES AGAINST WHAT NEEDS TO BE DONE IN TERMS OF APPLYING FOR THESE GRANTS. IT TAKES TIME. THEY NEED TIME TO BE ABLE TO DO IT, ESPECIALLY IF OUR CDBG PROGRAM IS BEING HELD UP AND SHE'S HAVING TO LOOK FOR ALTERNATIVES. WE SHOULD NOT BE MAKING THAT PROCESS HARDER FOR RESIDENTS. I'M NOT CERTAIN THAT WE ARE, AND I'D BE GLAD TO HAVE A DISCUSSION WITH YOU ABOUT THAT, MR. MAYOR. I'M GOING TO START BACKWARDS THEN. SO BEFORE WE GET ON TO THAT, AND FIRST OF ALL, JUST SAY, YOU KNOW, I'M GRATEFUL THAT WE HAVE A CHANCE TO REPLY. WE TRY TO SET SOME BOUNDARIES UP. WASN'T FOR THE PURPOSE OF US GETTING INTO DETAILS. THIS ISSUE HAS BEEN IN FRONT OF US FOR A LONG TIME. BUT LET ME START WITH DAISY THOMAS AND SAY THANK YOU FOR YOUR COMMENTS ABOUT AI, AND ALSO TO SAY THAT POLK COUNTIES IT PERSON. I'VE HAD A DISCUSSION WITH OUR IT FOLKS AS WELL, HAVE REALLY PROMOTED THE USE OF AI IN ENCLOSED AND CONTROLLED THINGS. SO YOUR INTEREST IS VERY WELL SERVED, AND I LOOK FORWARD TO BRIEFING YOU ON WHAT WE TALKED ABOUT AT THE WORK SESSION. AND ALSO, I'LL BE HAPPY TO GET IN TOUCH WITH YOU TO SHARE SOME INFORMATION I INTEND TO SHARE WITH THE COUNTY, THE CITY COMMISSION. WITH RESPECT TO THE MOCKTAILS, I'M 100% IN AGREEMENT. I'D BE ALL IN FAVOR OF ANY DOCUMENTATION. THAT SAID, ANYONE WHO SELLS ALCOHOL SHOULD HAVE AN ALTERNATIVE. PEOPLE LIKE TO BE ABLE TO PARTICIPATE IN AN NA BEER THAT THEY FEEL MORE COMFORTABLE AROUND. PEOPLE WHO ARE DRINKING BEER, WHETHER IT'S BEER OR A MOCKTAIL OR WHATEVER IT IS. I THINK IT'S A GREAT IDEA, AND I THINK THAT IT SHOULD BE A REQUIREMENT. AND I WOULD ALSO PASS BACK TO THE MAIN STREET GROUP THAT, YOU KNOW, THEY NEED TO REPRESENT THE CITY ON. ANYBODY ELSE THAT REPRESENTS US AT AN EVENT, NEEDS TO REPRESENT THE CITY IN A PROFESSIONAL WAY AND GIVE RESPECT TO FOLKS WHO ARE STRUGGLING PARTICULARLY, OR WHO JUST DON'T JUST DON'T CARE TO HAVE ALCOHOL. SO IT WAS UNFORTUNATE TO HEAR THAT I'M IN FULL SUPPORT IF YOU WANT TO DO IT ON YOUR OWN. I DON'T KNOW THAT IT'S NECESSARY FOR US, BUT THERE'S NO REASON SOMEONE SERVING BEER CAN'T TAKE THE TIME TO POUR SOMEBODY A NONALCOHOLIC OR HAVE THAT AS AN OPTION. I THINK IT'S A GOOD IDEA. AND NOW, FINALLY, TO THE VOXPOP ISSUE THAT WAS TO THE OTHER ISSUE RELATED TO JUDITH ALLEN. I THINK THAT HAVING DISCUSSIONS THAT OCCUR OFF THE CUFF THAT RESULT IN DEFENSIVE CONVERSATIONS TO COMMENTARY LEADS US TO EITHER THIS THING NEEDS TO GET SOLVED, OR ELSE IT NEEDS TO COME BEFORE US AS AN AGENDA ITEM SO THAT IT'S IT'S ON THE ON THE RECORD AND WE CAN DISCUSS IT. SO THESE, THESE, THESE ACCUSATIONS OF MISTREATMENT HAVE BEEN COMING TO US FOR TWO YEARS. AND WE JUST CAN'T CONTINUE TO HAVE PRIVATE DISCUSSIONS TO LEARN THE REAL FACTS. I THINK LET'S GET IT SOLVED, TAKE CARE OF WHATEVER WE CAN DO. DESPITE HOWEVER WE'RE BEING AFFECTED OR APPROACHED OR WHATEVER IS BEING ACCUSED OR TOLD US, AND WE'VE GOT TO BE THE BETTER PERSON. IF THAT'S AN ISSUE, WHATEVER IT IS, THIS THING IS JUST NOT PLEASANT TO CONTINUE TO HAVE US DEAL WITH AND NOT BE ABLE TO HAVE ACTION OR MAKE A MOTION OR DO ANYTHING. SO PLEASE KEEP US POSTED. AND ON THAT REGARD, THE ENTIRETY OF THE RESIDENTIAL GRANT PROGRAM, HOW MUCH MONEY IS AVAILABLE? I'VE HEARD THAT THE MONEY HAS BEEN CUT BACK FROM THE CDBG PROGRAM. IT'S GOVERNMENT FUNDED. SO SOME KIND OF REPORT ON OUR HOUSING INITIATIVE THAT COULD BRING SOME SOME CONTEXT TO US AS POLICY MAKERS WOULD BE HELPFUL, BECAUSE I DON'T KNOW WHAT I DON'T KNOW WHAT'S GOING ON, AND I DON'T WANT TO HEAR IT PRIVATELY. THANK YOU. PURDUE ON HER HOME RIGHT IN MY CITY MANAGER'S REPORT THIS WEEK. THANK YOU. SO YOU KNOW THIS SITUATION WITH JUDITH. YOU KNOW, I'M I'M IN AGREEANCE WITH, YOU KNOW, WITH, YOU KNOW, PETER.[01:05:01]
AND IT'S GOING ON ENTIRELY TOO LONG. I MEAN, I DRIVE BY IT EVERY DAY, SO I SEE IT. AND, YOU KNOW, I SENSE HER FRUSTRATION, BUT I AGREE. WE NEED TO FIGURE OUT AND COME TO A SOLUTION AND JUST MOVE ON WHETHER IT'S GOOD OR BAD. SO WE JUST GOT TO MAKE A DECISION ONE WAY OR THE OTHER, YOU KNOW, DEFINITELY IN AGREEANCE WITH THE, YOU KNOW, NONALCOHOLIC BEVERAGE OPTION FOR CITY EVENTS. MY WIFE IS A NONDRINKER. NOT THAT SHE DRINKS BEER, BUT I THINK AN OPTION FOR PEOPLE WOULD BE NICE. YOU KNOW, OBVIOUSLY BEING THAT I'M PART OF THE CHASCO FIESTA COMMITTEE, I UNDERSTAND WE CAN'T HAVE MULTIPLE OPTIONS, BUT IT WOULD KIND OF BE LIKE ONE OPTION AND THAT WOULD HOPEFULLY SATISFY THEM. BUT I'M I'M MORE A LITTLE CONCERNED WITH HIS RESPONSE OF HOW HE WAS TREATED BY MAIN STREET. SO THAT'S REALLY MORE OF MY CONCERN. SO I DEFINITELY WANT TO BRING THAT TO THEM AND ASK THEM AND SEE WHAT REALLY TRANSPIRED IN REFERENCE TO THAT. AND THEN JUST LASTLY, I JUST WANT TO THANK ELIZABETH CONSTANTINE FOR COMING IN AND INTRODUCING HERSELF, YOU KNOW, TO EVERYBODY. AND, YOU KNOW, HOPEFULLY EVERYBODY WILL WANT TO MEET HER AFTERWARDS AND LISTEN TO WHAT SHE HAS TO SAY.SO THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE, MATT. YEAH. I'D ALSO LIKE TO THANK MISS CONSTANTINE FOR SHOWING UP AND LET US KNOW WHO SHE IS. CAMPAIGNING IS ALWAYS FUN, BUT I GOTTA SAY, I LOVE THE NAME. I DON'T KNOW IF YOU'VE SEEN THE MOVIE CONSTANTINE. I LOVE IT, BUT NOT THAT YOU'D RULE THE BENCH THAT WAY, BUT YOU KNOW, IT'S A GOOD MOVIE. ANYWAYS. THANK YOU. AND THEN, MR. LYMAN, THE WHOLE NONALCOHOLIC BEVERAGE THING TO ME. WHY WOULD YOU NOT WANT TO SELL THEM? JUST EXTRA REVENUE. IF PEOPLE ARE GOING TO BUY THEM, WHY NOT? YOU KNOW, IT'S JUST MORE MONEY FOR THE FOR THE CAUSE. SO I DON'T REALLY UNDERSTAND THAT ONE. I THINK I THINK I THINK WE'VE ADDRESSED JUDITH. JUDITH ALLEN AND HER ISSUES. AND THEN DAISY, I APPRECIATE YOUR COMMENTS AGAIN ABOUT THE AI ALSO, BECAUSE I KNOW I TALKED TO YOU BRIEFLY ABOUT IT AND IT FREAKS ME OUT A LITTLE BIT, BUT BUT, YOU KNOW, WE NEED TO WATCH THAT. I DON'T THINK I HAVE ANYTHING TO ADD. IT WASN'T ALREADY SAID MULTIPLE TIMES UP HERE. SO MOVING ON TO
[11) Consent Agenda]
THE CONSENT AGENDA I'LL MOVE TO APPROVE. SECOND. ALL THOSE IN FAVOR SIGNIFY BY SAYING AYE.[12.a) Second Reading, Ordinance No. 2026-2347: Duke Energy Franchise Agreement Renewal ]
AYE. ALL RIGHT. READING THE ORDINANCES, WE'LL START WITH THE SECOND READING OF ORDINANCE NUMBER 2026 2347 DUKE ENERGY FRANCHISE AGREEMENT RENEWAL. THIS ORDINANCE NUMBER 2026 2347.AN ORDINANCE GRANTING TO DUKE ENERGY FLORIDA, LLC. DBA DUKE ENERGY, AN ELECTRIC UTILITY RIGHTS OF WAY UTILIZATION FRANCHISE PRESCRIBING THE TERMS AND CONDITIONS RELATED TO THE OCCUPANCY OF MUNICIPAL STREETS AND RIGHTS OF WAY IN THE CITY OF NEW PORT RICHEY, FLORIDA FOR THE PURPOSE OF PROVIDING ELECTRIC SERVICE, PROVIDING FOR SEVERABILITY PROVISIONS AND PROVIDING FOR AN EFFECTIVE DATE. YES, MR. MUELLER HAS PREPARED A POWERPOINT PRESENTATION FOR YOU THIS EVENING. THANK YOU, MISS MANCE. THE REQUEST BEFORE CITY COUNCIL THIS EVENING IS TO REVIEW AND APPROVE THE SECOND READING OF THE DUKE FRANCHISE AGREEMENT. THIS IS THE ORDINANCE NUMBER 2026 2347. AS COUNCIL MAY BE AWARE, THE CITY OF NEW PORT RICHEY ENTERED INTO THE INTUITIVE FRANCHISE AGREEMENT WITH DUKE, FORMERLY FLORIDA POWER CORPORATION, IN 1996. THIS AGREEMENT, SET TO EXPIRE JULY 16TH OF THIS YEAR AND THIS WOULD RENEW THIS AGREEMENT, RENEWS THE PARTNERSHIP THAT WE'VE HAD FOR OVER 30 YEARS WITH DUKE AND REPLACES THE 1996 AGREEMENT. SOME OF THE KEY CHANGES IS THE 15 YEAR INITIAL TERM, WITH TWO AUTOMATIC FIVE YEAR RENEWALS. THAT REPLACES THE 30 YEAR TERM THAT WE WERE ORIGINALLY UNDER.
IT DOES MAINTAIN THE 6% FRANCHISE FEE AND GRANTS DUKE ENERGY EXCLUSIVE ELECTRIC UTILITY FRANCHISE RIGHT AND UPDATES THE RIGHT OF WAY AUTHORITY. THIS ALSO ESTABLISHES ENHANCED INFRASTRUCTURE STANDARDS, RESTORATION REQUIREMENTS, AND PROJECT COORDINATION BETWEEN US AND DUKE, AND INCREASES AUDIT FREQUENCY FROM EVERY FIVE YEARS TO EVERY THREE YEARS. IT ALSO ADDS A FORMAL DISPUTE RESOLUTION PROCESS AND MODERNIZES THE LEGAL PROVISIONS. SO SOME OF THE BENEFITS TO THE CITY IS THAT, YOU KNOW, UNDERNEATH THIS FRANCHISE AGREEMENT, WE PRESERVE THAT FRANCHISE FEE, THE MUNICIPAL UTILITY TAX AND THE PROPERTY TAX REVENUES WE COLLECT FROM THEM AS WELL. IT SUPPORTS CONTINUED INVESTMENT INTO THE ELECTRIC SYSTEM, RELIABILITY, RESILIENCY, AND MODERNIZE MODERNIZATION. AND THIS PROMOTES CONTINUED COLLABORATION BETWEEN BOTH US AND THE FRANCHISEE POLICY HIGHLIGHTS. AGAIN, IT MODERNIZES THE FRANCHISE AGREEMENT TO REFLECT CURRENT UTILITY PRACTICES AND REGULATIONS THAT STANDARDIZE THROUGHOUT, PROMOTES DUKE ENERGY GREATER OPERATIONAL CERTAINTY FOR LONG TERM PLANNING, SO THEY CAN REALLY SCOPE OUT THEIR WORK ACROSS THE NEXT 10 TO 15 YEARS. AND IT
[01:10:06]
STRENGTHENS CITY OVERSIGHT THROUGH THE MORE FREQUENT AUDITS, OUR CLEAR RIGHT OF WAY RESTORATION STANDARDS THAT WE CAN SET FORTH, AND FORMAL DISPUTE RESOLUTIONS. SO TO KIND OF HIGHLIGHT SOME OF THE THINGS THAT, YOU KNOW, AFTER DISCUSSION FROM THE LAST READING, WE WANTED TO HIGHLIGHT SOME OF THE THINGS THAT DUKE HAS REALLY PROVIDED TO THE CITY AND SOME OF THE BENEFITS THAT WE'VE DIRECTLY RECEIVED FROM THEM. SO THE DIRECT FINANCIAL IMPACTS THAT WE'VE RECEIVED FROM DUKE IS APPROXIMATELY 1.5 MILLION ANNUALLY IN FRANCHISE FEES, AT 2.1 MILLION ANNUALLY, AND MUNICIPAL TAXES, AND APPROXIMATELY $145,000 IN ANNUAL CITY PROPERTY TAXES. SO ONE OF THE OTHER THINGS THAT I THINK IS CRITICAL TO UNDERSTAND WITH OUR RELATIONSHIP WITH DUKE IS THAT OVER THE PAST THREE YEARS, MORE THAN $220 MILLION HAS BEEN INVESTED INTO THE DISTRIBUTION SYSTEM THROUGHOUT THEIR SYSTEM, AND OVER 277 MILLION IN THE TRANSMISSION UPGRADES. THAT ALSO INCLUDES THE UNDERGROUNDING OF INFRASTRUCTURE AS A PART OF THEIR STORM HARDENING PROJECTS, WHICH WE'VE SEEN THROUGHOUT THE CITY HERE, THE CITY WAS ALSO THE FIRST TO RECEIVE THE POLE REPLACEMENT PROGRAM FOR THEIR POLE HARDENING PROJECT, AND WE WERE PART OF THAT PILOT PROGRAM. SO THIS PREVENTED, YOU KNOW, WITH AN ESTIMATION OF 52,000 CUSTOMER OUTAGES AND A TOTAL OF 16 MILLION OUTAGE MINUTES IN 2024. AS WE KNOW, THAT WAS A REALLY CRITICAL TIME PERIOD FOR THE CITY AS A WHOLE. FUTURE INVESTMENTS INCLUDE MORE THAN 11 MILLION IN DISTRIBUTION INFRASTRUCTURE AND 53 MILLION IN TRANSMISSION IMPROVEMENTS. SOME OF THE ADDITIONAL BENEFITS THAT THE CITY HAS AND ITS RESIDENTS HAVE DIRECTLY RECEIVED CONTRIBUTED NEARLY $80,000 OVER THE PAST TWO YEARS TO VARIOUS ORGANIZATIONS ORGANIZATIONS THROUGHOUT THE CITY. AS YOU CAN SEE BELOW. AND ONE OF THE OTHER THINGS I WANTED TO HIGHLIGHT IS THAT DUKE ENERGY FLORIDA PROGRAMS HAVE SAVED CUSTOMERS IN NEW PORT RICHEY OVER 2.1 MILLION IN 2025 THROUGH REBATES, BILL CREDITS AND VARIOUS COST SAVING MEASURES. THAT'S AT LEAST 30% OF CUSTOMERS WITHIN THE NEW PORT RICHEY AREA, AND THOSE WOULD BE PARTICIPATING IN SMART SAVER, ENERGY WISE PROGRAMS, CLEAN ENERGY CONNECTION, CLEAN ENERGY IMPACT PROGRAMS, THINGS OF THAT NATURE. ONE OF THE OTHER THINGS WOULD BE, SINCE JANUARY 2026, DUKE ENERGY HAS ALSO REDUCED BILLS BY 25%, WHICH TYPICALLY LEADS TO $50 RESIDENTIAL PER, YOU KNOW, 1000 KILOWATT CUSTOMERS. SO DUKE ENERGY ALSO SHARED APPROXIMATELY $65 MILLION IN TAX CREDITS IN 2025, REDUCING RESIDENTIAL RATES BY ABOUT TWO 250 PER 1000KW USED ON THEIR MONTHLY BILL. AND THAT'S FOR THEIR FLORIDA RESIDENTS. AND LASTLY, ONE OF THE THINGS I REALLY WANTED TO GO OVER IS WHAT WE IN THE CITY RECEIVED FROM DUKE AS A RESPONSE DURING THE 2024 HURRICANE SEASON TO HIGHLIGHT THAT RELATIONSHIP THAT WE'VE REALLY ESTABLISHED WITH THEM OVER THE 30 YEARS. SO DURING THE 2024 SEASON, AS YOU CAN SEE, WE HAD TROPICAL STORM DEBBY WITH THE TOTAL REPORTED OUTAGES OF 350,000. AND 94% OF THOSE OUTAGES WERE RESTORED WITHIN 24 HOURS. YOU SEE, HELENE, YOU HAD A CATEGORY FOUR THERE WITH 800,000 OUTAGES BECAUSE THAT WAS MORE OF A FLOOD EVENT. AND THOSE WERE RESTORED WITHIN 72 HOURS, AND THAT'S 95%. AND LASTLY, HURRICANE MILTON, WHICH HAD ABOUT A MILLION OUTAGES REPORTED. AND THEY RESTORED THOSE WITHIN 96 HOURS. AND YOU CAN SEE THE TOTAL NUMBER OF RESOURCES MOBILIZED IN ORDER TO REALLY ASSESS THAT. AND THEN AS THESE STORMS, THE KIND OF PARTICULAR DAMAGE RANGE WITHIN THEM, YOU'LL SEE THAT WITH MILTON, YOU HAD, YOU KNOW, 1600 TOTAL POLES DAMAGED IN THAT EVENT. AND SO I THINK THAT RELATIONSHIP THAT WE'VE ESTABLISHED IS CRITICAL IN UNDERSTANDING THAT IT'S NOT JUST A FRANCHISE AGREEMENT, IT'S A RELATIONSHIP WE'VE ESTABLISHED WITH THE FRANCHISEE. SO TO JUST KIND OF REVIEW THE PROPOSED FRANCHISE AGREEMENT CONTINUES THE CITY'S LONG STANDING PARTNERSHIP WITH DUKE ENERGY, WHILE UPDATING THE AGREEMENT TO REFLECT CURRENT UTILITY PRACTICES AND REGULATORY REQUIREMENTS. IT DOES PRESERVE IMPORTANT REVENUE TO THE CITY, SUPPORTS CONTINUED INVESTMENT IN RELIABLE AND RESILIENT ELECTRIC INFRASTRUCTURE, AND STRENGTHENS OVERSIGHT THROUGH ENHANCED AUDIT, RESTORATION OR AUDITS, RESTORATION AND DISPUTE RESOLUTION PROVISIONS AND STAFF.AFTER REVIEW OF THE AGREEMENT, AGREEMENT CONCLUDED THAT THE AGREEMENT PROVIDES A BALANCED FRAMEWORK THAT BENEFITS BOTH CITY AND ITS RESIDENTS AND RECOMMENDS APPROVAL AT THIS TIME. AND I'M HERE FOR ANY QUESTIONS. AND, MR. MAYOR, WE DO HAVE REPRESENTATIVES HERE, AND I SEE HIM BACK THERE. I WAS GOING TO INVITE HIM UP IF THEY WANT TO SPEAK. OKAY, WELL, YOU JUST GO RIGHT AHEAD. THEY'RE LIKE THREE ROWS FROM THE BACK DOOR. SO I THINK THEY'RE TRYING
[01:15:01]
TO GET OUT. ALL RIGHT. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. MAYOR, COUNCIL MEMBERS, CITY MANAGER. AND TO THE STAFF I'M KATIE CHRISTIAN. I'M DIRECTOR OF GOVERNMENT COMMUNITY RELATIONS FOR DUKE ENERGY. I'M HERE WITH MY COLLEAGUES, DANNY COLLINS AND SHANNON WILSON, WHO ARE ALSO IN OUR COMMUNITY RELATIONS GROUP. AND I THINK I REALLY HAVE NOTHING TO ADD TO WHAT MR. MUELLER PRESENTED. I THINK IT REALLY CAPTURES OUR RELATIONSHIP VERY WELL AND ALL THE THINGS THAT WE'VE ENJOYED PARTICIPATING IN WITH THE CITY OVER THE OVER THE LAST FEW YEARS. DO YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS OF HER OR COLIN, CAN I GET YOUR LAST NAME AGAIN? CHRISTIAN. THANK YOU. YOU HAVE ANY PUBLIC COMMENT? SEEING NO ONE COME FORWARD, WE'LL BRING IT BACK FOR DISCUSSION ABOUT. THANK YOU. I'LL MAKE A MOTION TO APPROVE THE FRANCHISE AGREEMENT ON SECOND READING, ORDINANCE NUMBER 2026 2347. SECOND. KNOW WE HEARD IT. THE FIRST READING. I KNOW THAT WE ALSO HAVE RELATIONSHIP WITH THEM RELATED TO THEIR SOLAR FIELDS. AND WE DID ACCEPT AN OFFER TO BECOME A PARTNER IN THAT. I'LL ALWAYS BE CURIOUS TO SEE HOW MUCH WE REALLY SAVE OR HOW WELL THAT WORKED AT SOME POINT. AND THANK YOU FOR HELPING TO BE ONE OF THE FIRST PLACES, REPLACED OUR POLES WITH LOWER USAGE AND SUPPORTING OUR OUR REDUCED ELECTRIC USAGE, AND LOOK FORWARD TO OUR RELATIONSHIP TO LAST LONGER THAN I DO PROBABLY AT THIS POINT. SO THANK YOU. THE SECONDS WANT TO ARM WRESTLE. I WILL SAY I DO THINK YOU GOT MORE THAN 15 YEARS UNDER YOUR BELT, AND I THINK THE EXTRA FIVE A COUPLE OF TIMES. OKAY, GOOD. I WAS HOPING YOU WERE BEING GENEROUS. THE, YOU KNOW, SUCH AN AGREEMENT THAT HAS, YOU KNOW, IN TERMS OF THE PRIOR AGREEMENT, 30 YEARS. AND NOW THIS ONE, I DID THINK IT DID DO JUSTICE TO PRESENT SOME SLIDES AND TO REALLY TALK ABOUT THE LONG PARTNERSHIP THAT THIS CITY HAS HAD LONGER THAN I'VE BEEN ALIVE. AND, AND HOPEFULLY I'LL STILL BE ALIVE WHEN THE NEXT ONE COMES ABOUT. THAT BEING SAID, THE THE CONCERNS THAT WERE RAISED BY A RESIDENT AND A COUPLE OF THE RESIDENTS FRIENDS DO STILL SPEAK TO THE LARGER ISSUE OF AFFORDABILITY. AND I THINK WITH A GOOD PARTNER THAT WE CAN ADDRESS THAT ISSUE. IT IS WORTH MENTIONING THAT, YOU KNOW, OVER THE LAST SINCE COVID RATES HAVE GONE UP IN THE STATE OF FLORIDA BY 49%, REPRESENTING A $700 INCREASE ON THE AVERAGE HOUSEHOLD. WHILE WE SAW HERE THAT THE REDUCTION IN RATES REPRESENT A $50 DECREASE. AND SO WHEN WE LOOK AT THE PANORAMIC VIEW, THE TOTAL VIEW OF WHERE RATES STAND, WE APPRECIATE THE DECREASE. AND I THINK IT'S MORE OF A STATE AND NATIONAL ISSUE TO TALK ABOUT HOW WE CAN CONTINUE TO GET THOSE RATES DOWN. BUT AS A CITY, WE HAVE A GOOD PARTNER TO TO WORK ON THOSE THINGS WITH THEIR THEIR CONTRIBUTIONS TO OUR COMMUNITY THERE. DUKE'S WILLINGNESS TO WORK ON US WITH TOUGH RESILIENCY PROJECTS, THOSE ALL POINT TO WAYS THAT WE AS A CITY CAN KIND OF MAKE A DENT, MAKE A BIT OF A DIFFERENCE. BUT THE LARGER CONVERSATION THAT A COUPLE OF OUR COMMUNITY MEMBERS BROUGHT IN TERMS OF ISSUES WITH AFFORDABILITY, I DO THINK THOSE ARE WORTH ADDRESSING AT THE STATE AND NATIONAL LEVEL. SO THANK YOU TO THE PUBLIC WORKS DIRECTOR AND OUR CITY MANAGER FOR LISTENING TO OUR DESIRE TO GET A MORE COMPREHENSIVE PRESENTATION. I THINK YOU DID A GOOD JOB, AND I THINK YOU HIGHLIGHTED THE PART, THE THE PARTNERSHIP WELL. I'M GOOD AT THIS TIME. THANKS. I'M GOOD. THANK YOU. AFTER HAVING SOME MONEY PROBLEMS, GET HOLD OF SAINT VINCENT DE PAUL. ALL THOSE IN FAVOR SIGNIFY BY I I I[13.a) Board Appointment: Mike Peters, Land Development Review Board]
I. THAT'S FIVE NOTHING BOARD APPOINTMENT FOR MIKE PETERS. THANK YOU. YES. THERE'S A CURRENT VACANCY ON THE LAND DEVELOPMENT REVIEW BOARD AS A RESULT OF MR. SAFRANEK RESIGNATION FROM THE BOARD AND MR. PETERS HAS SERVED AS A FIRST ALTERNATE MEMBER ON THE BOARD SINCE JANUARY 7TH OF 2025. AND HE HAS SERVED THE BOARD WELL. OUR RECOMMENDATION IS THAT HE BE MOVED FROM HIS POSITION AS FIRST ALTERNATIVE TO THE VACANT POSITION ON THE BOARD. AND IF YOU DETERMINE THAT, IT'S APPROPRIATE TO DO SO, HIS TERM OF OFFICE WOULD SPAN THROUGH JANUARY 7TH OF 2028, AND WE WOULD BE LOOKING FOR A ANOTHER PERSON TO SERVE AS THE[01:20:10]
SECOND ALTERNATE MEMBER OF THE BOARD. ALL RIGHT. WE HAVE ANY PUBLIC COMMENT. ANYONE COME FORWARD? AND I SEE MIKE'S NOT HERE, SO HE DOESN'T HAVE A CHANCE TO VOTE. BRING IT BACK FOR DISCUSSION AND VOTE. I'LL MOVE TO APPROVE. SECOND, I KNOW WE ALL KNOW MIKE. I KNOW HE'LL DO A GREAT JOB. AND YOU KNOW, I'M FRIENDS WITH MR. SAFRANEK. AND HE DID EXPRESS HIS CONDOLENCES THAT HE HAD TO LEAVE THE THE BOARD. HE REALLY ENJOYED IT. BUT, YOU KNOW, CHILDREN COME FIRST, THE SECOND. YEAH. LIKE I SAID, WE ALL WE ALL KNOW MIKE AND HE'S HE'S TOP NOTCH AND I THINK HE'LL DO A FABULOUS JOB. YEAH. I THINK MR. PETERS AND I HAVE HAD HAD A LOT OF CONVERSATIONS. AND WHILE WE DON'T ALWAYS SEE EYE TO EYE, I THINK THAT'S WHAT HE INVITES.IS HAVING THOSE DIFFER DIFFERENT OPINIONS AND HAVING HIM ON A BOARD THAT RECOMMENDS TO THE COUNCIL. I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT TO HAVE PEOPLE WE DISAGREE WITH ON THERE, SO I CAN READ THEIR MINUTES AND HEAR, HEAR FROM THEIR POINT OF VIEW. AND IT'S ACTUALLY IT'S A I LOOK FOR HIS HIS CONTRIBUTIONS TO THE LDRB IN THE MINUTES FOR THE REASON THAT HE DOES OFFER AN EXTENSIVE VIEW. SO. I BELIEVE THAT WHEN YOU'RE THE FIRST ALTERNATIVE AND THERE'S AN OPENING THAT. THAT'S THE APPROPRIATE AND LOGICAL MOVE, AND I'M SURE HE'LL DO A FINE JOB. AND I JUST HAD SOMEBODY GO TO THE LAST L. D B LAND DEVELOPMENT RRB MEETING, AND HE'S LOOKING FORWARD TO GETTING ON THE BOARD AS AN ALTERNATE. SO ONCE HE ATTENDS ONE MORE MEETING, THEN I THINK WE'LL HEAR HIS NAME UP HERE. SO ALL THOSE IN FAVOR SIGNIFY BY I I
[13.b) ITB26-022 2026 Water System Improvements Bid Award]
THAT'S FIVE NOTHING I TB 26-222026 WATER SYSTEM IMPROVEMENT BID AWARD. THE BID AWARD IS BEING RECOMMENDED FOR AWARD TO EASY CONTRACTING, LLC IN THE AMOUNT OF $1,508,755.22.AND MR. MUELLER WILL PRESENT FULLY THE AGENDA ITEM TO YOU THIS EVENING. THANK YOU AGAIN, MISS MANNES. SO THE REQUEST BEFORE YOU THIS EVENING IS FOR CITY COUNCIL TO REVIEW AND APPROVE AN AWARD. THE ITB 26022 WATER SYSTEM IMPROVEMENT PROJECT TO EASY CONTRACTING, LLC IN AN AMOUNT NOT TO EXCEED $1,508,755.22. THE PROJECT WAS IDENTIFIED IN THE 2023 UTILITY MASTER PLAN UPDATE AND WILL REPLACE APPROXIMATELY 78 OR 7800 LINEAR FEET OF SIX AND EIGHT INCH WATER MAINS VALVES, FITTINGS, SERVICE CONNECTIONS AND UP TO TEN FIRE HYDRANT ASSEMBLIES THROUGHOUT THE CITY. THE IMPROVEMENTS WILL REPLACE DETERIORATED INFRASTRUCTURE THAT HAS EXCEEDED ITS SERVICE LIFE, WHILE INCREASING FIRE FLOW CAPACITY AND IMPROVING FIRE PROTECTION FOR SURROUNDING RESIDENTIAL AND COMMERCIAL PROPERTIES. CONSTRUCTION, AS YOU CAN SEE HERE, INCLUDES WATER MAIN REPLACEMENTS ON MADISON STREET, FLORIDA AVENUE, NEBRASKA AVENUE, MISSOURI AVENUE AND DELAWARE AVENUE, AND THIS AGAIN WILL BE REPLACING THE AGING AC LINES, GALVANIZED METAL MAIN METAL MAINS WITH THE NEW SIX AND EIGHT INCH WATER MAINS. YOU CAN SEE SOME OF THESE MAPS HERE. ON JUNE 4TH, 2026, BID PROPOSALS WERE RECEIVED FOR THE ITB 260229 BIDS WERE RECEIVED, RANGING FROM 1,000,508 $8,755.22 TO $4,035,789.58. AND WHILE THE MAJORITY OF BIDS WERE RECEIVED WERE WITHIN A SIMILAR RANGE, THE HIGH BID RECEIVED WAS THE $4 MILLION BID, WITH THE LOW BID AT THE ONE $1,508,755.22.
THIS LOWEST BID WAS SUBMITTED BY EASY CONTRACTING LLC AND WAS CONSISTENT WITH THE PROJECT ESTIMATE THAT BOTH STROUD ENGINEERING AND CITY STAFF BELIEVE THAT THIS BID WAS ACCURATE FOR THE WORK TO BE PERFORMED. THE CITY HAS WORKED WITH EASY CONTRACTING LLC ON SEVERAL PROJECTS BEFORE TO INCLUDE OUR STREET IMPROVEMENT PROJECT. THE AND IS CURRENTLY WORKING ON OUR OXIDATION DITCH NUMBER THREE REHABILITATION PROJECT WITH GREAT SUCCESS.
STAFF IS CONFIDENT THEY ARE QUALIFIED AND CAPABLE OF PERFORMING ALL WORK DESCRIBED IN THE BID DOCUMENTS. FUNDING FOR THIS PROJECT IS INCLUDED IN THE CITY'S CURRENT CAPITAL
[01:25:01]
IMPROVEMENT PROGRAM, AND STAFF RECOMMENDS APPROVAL OF THE CONTRACT IN THE AMOUNT NOT TO EXCEED $1,508,755.22. AND I AM HERE TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS YOU HAVE AT THIS TIME. PUBLIC COMMENT. SEEING NO ONE COME FORWARD, BRING IT BACK FOR DISCUSSION AND VOTE. I'LL MOVE THE APPROVAL OF THE REQUESTED BID WINNER. SECOND. OH, I THINK GOOD TO KNOW THAT WE'RE DOING WHAT WE HAVE TO DO TO CONTINUE TO HAVE OUR CASH COW, AND ALSO AN IMPORTANT SERVICE TO OUR RESIDENTS, MAINTAINED INTEGRITY AND GREAT UTILITY. WE HAVE A GOOD BID. GLAD THAT THE CONTRACTOR WHO'S WORKED ON US ENDED UP GETTING THE BID, OR WILL BE GETTING THE BID WHEN WE APPROVE IT. AND THANKS TO THE PUBLIC WORKS DIRECTOR FOR THE PRESENTATION. THANK YOU, BRIAN.THANKS, COLIN, FOR THE PRESENTATION, AND I'M JUST HAPPY THAT WE'RE KEEPING OUR INFRASTRUCTURE STRONG. MATT. I'M GOOD, THANK YOU. I JUST NOTICED THAT IT'S A LOT OF COMMERCIAL AREA DOWNTOWN AND HOPE TO DISRUPTION ISN'T TOO MUCH ON THE COMMERCIAL BUSINESSES OR IT'S DONE AS QUICKLY AND AS EFFICIENTLY AS POSSIBLE. ALL THOSE IN FAVOR SIGNIFY BY I, I, I, I FIVE NOTHING MOVING ON ITV 26017 RECREATION AQUATIC CENTER FLAT
[13.c) ITB26-017 Recreation and Aquatic Center Flat Roof Replacement Bid Award]
ROOF REPLACEMENT BID AWARD THIS AWARD IS FOR A PROJECT UP TO FIRST CLASS ROOFING INCORPORATED, AND IT'S FOR AN AMOUNT NOT TO EXCEED $331,450. AND IT'S FOR A FLAT ROOF REPLACEMENT PROJECT, AND MR. MUELLER WILL FURTHER PRESENT THE AGENDA ITEM. THANK YOU AGAIN. THE REQUEST BEFORE YOU THIS EVENING IS TO REVIEW AN AWARD ITB 26-017 FOR THE RECREATION AND AQUATIC CENTER FLAT ROOF REPLACEMENT PROJECT TO FIRST CLASS ROOFING INCORPORATED IN AN AMOUNT NOT TO EXCEED $331,450. THE EXISTING FLAT ROOF INSTALL WAS INSTALLED IN 2007 AND HAS EXCEEDED ITS USEFUL LIFE, AND THE MOST RECENT ANNUAL INSPECTION RECOMMENDED REPLACEMENT. WE CONDUCT THOSE EVERY SINGLE YEAR, AND THAT ROOF WAS IDENTIFIED LAST YEAR, AND WE HAD PUT THAT IN THE CIP PROJECT FOR THIS THIS FISCAL YEAR. SO THIS PROJECT IS TO INSTALL A NEW TPO ROOFING SYSTEM TO IMPROVE DURABILITY AND LONG TERM PERFORMANCE. ON MARCH 13TH, 2026, SEVEN BIDS WERE RECEIVED RANGING FROM $331,450 TO $740,500. SUBSEQUENT TO REVIEW, STAFF DETERMINED THAT FIRST CLASS ROOFING, WHO SUBMITTED THE LOWEST RESPONSIVE BID, IS QUALIFIED AND CAPABLE OF COMPLETING ALL WORK, AS DESCRIBED IN THE BID. DOCUMENTS AND FUNDING IS AVAILABLE IN THE CITY'S CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT PROGRAM. APPROVAL OF THE DO NOT EXCEED BID AMOUNT OF $331,450 AND AWARD THE ITB 26-017 TO FIRST CLASS ROOFING, INC. IS RECOMMENDED, AND I'M AVAILABLE FOR ANY QUESTIONS THAT YOU MAY HAVE ANY PUBLIC COMMENT. SEEING NO ONE COME FORWARD, BRING IT BACK FOR DISCUSSION AND VOTE SECOND TO MAKER. NO SECOND GOOD. ALL THOSE IN FAVOR? AYE. THAT'S[13.d) ITB26-009 WWTP Administration Building Roof Repairs Project Close Out]
FIVE NOTHING ITB 26009WWTP ADMINISTRATION BUILDING ROOF REPAIRS. PROJECT CLOSEOUT.REQUEST BEFORE YOU RELATED TO THE WASTEWATER TREATMENT PLANT. ADMINISTRATIVE BUILDING ROOF REPAIRS IS ACTUALLY TWOFOLD. IT INCLUDES A DEDUCTIVE CHANGE ORDER IN THE AMOUNT OF $2,104.37, AND A FINAL PAY REQUEST FOR AN AMOUNT NOT TO EXCEED $47,195.63. AND IT IS SUBMITTED BY THE CONTRACTOR LOUIS WALKER ROOFING INCORPORATED FOR THE PROJECT CLOSEOUT. AND ARE YOU READY FOR THIS ONE? MR. CAN YOU TAKE IT? YES. THANK YOU, MR. MAYOR. ALL YOURS AS DISCUSSED. AND WE'RE GOING TO CONTINUE ON WITH THE SUBJECT OF ROOFING. STAFF IS REQUESTING FOR CITY COUNCIL TO REVIEW AND CONSIDER APPROVAL OF THE DEDUCTIVE CHANGE ORDER IN THE AMOUNT OF $2,104.37 IN THE FINAL PAY REQUEST, IN AN AMOUNT NOT TO EXCEED $47,195.63. AND THAT WAS AGAIN SUBMITTED BY LOUIS WALKER ROOFING INCORPORATED. AND THIS IS FOR THE PROJECT CLOSEOUT FOR THE ITB 26-009 ADMINISTRATIVE BUILDING ROOF REPAIRS AT OUR
[01:30:05]
WASTEWATER TREATMENT FACILITY. AS COUNCIL MAY RECALL, THE ROOF, WHICH IS MORE THAN 30 YEARS OLD, HAD REQUIRED NUMEROUS REPAIRS OVER THE PAST DECADE AND WAS IDENTIFIED AS NEEDING FULL REPLACEMENT. FUNDING FOR THE PROJECT WAS PREVIOUSLY APPROVED THROUGH THE CITY'S CAPITAL EQUIPMENT PROGRAM FOR WATER POLLUTION CONTROL PROJECTS. CITY COUNCIL AWARDED THE CONTRACT ON FEBRUARY 3RD, 2026 FOR $449,300, AND CONSTRUCTION BEGAN IN APRIL AND WAS COMPLETED ON MAY 28TH, 2026, WITH SUBSTANTIAL COMPLETION COMPLETION ISSUED ON JUNE 12TH, 2026. FOLLOWING FINAL INSPECTIONS, STAFF RECOMMENDS APPROVAL OF THE PROJECT, CLOSEOUT, DEDUCTIVE CHANGE ORDER AND FINAL PAY APPLICATION. AT THIS TIME AND AGAIN, FUNDING IS AVAILABLE IN THE WATER POLLUTION CONTROL ACCOUNT, WITH PASCO COUNTY CONTRIBUTING A PORTION OF THE PROJECT COSTS IN ACCORDANCE WITH OUR INTERLOCAL AGREEMENT, AND I AM HERE FOR ANY QUESTIONS YOU HAVE AT THIS TIME. ANY PUBLIC COMMENT? SEEING NO ONE COME FORWARD, BRING IT BACK FOR DISCUSSION AND VOTE. MOVE TO APPROVE. SECOND. NO. KEEP THE ROOFS COMING. SECOND, I'M GOOD. I'M IN. OKAY, GOOD. ALL THOSE IN FAVOR SIGNIFY BY I I THAT'S[14) Communications]
FIVE NOTHING COMMUNICATIONS. PATEL. YES. ON THE TOPIC OF THE FRAMEWORK ON I MENTIONED BY DAISY TONIGHT I I'LL JUST AGREE AND SAY THAT IN REVIEWING THE STRATEGIC PLAN THE FIRST TIME, I WOULD LIKE TO SEE THAT FRAMEWORK AHEAD OF TIME AND WHETHER IT'S IT'S NECESSARY FOR CITY STAFF TO TAKE IT UP OR DOWN VOTE OR PERHAPS A WORKSHOP AT THE VERY LEAST, DEPENDING ON IF WE ARE JUST INSTITUTING IT THROUGH THE ID DEPARTMENT, IT DEPARTMENT, OR IF IT'S SOMETHING MORE FINANCE OR CITYWIDE, BUT CAN CONCUR WITH YOUR STATEMENTS. THANK YOU FOR KEEPING A WATCHFUL EYE OVER THAT AND OFFERING YOUR NATIONAL EXPERTISE AT A AT A LOCAL LEVEL, WE, YOU KNOW, HAVING A, A UNIQUE PERSPECTIVE LIKE THAT IN OUR CITY IS DEFINITELY AN ASSET.AND HOPEFULLY WE CAN LEAN ON YOU A LITTLE BIT DURING THOSE CONVERSATIONS. SO THANK YOU TO, TO MISS CONSTANTINE'S, THE THANK YOU FOR COMING OUT AND OFFERING YOUR CANDIDACY, BUT FOR ALSO TALKING ABOUT YOUR EXPERIENCE AND THE, THE PERSONAL EXPERIENCE YOU BRING IS ESPECIALLY TOUCHING AND OFFERING THAT FOR ANYONE WHO MAY BE LISTENING OR AS YOU'RE KNOCKING DOORS AND TALKING WITH VOTERS, I THINK I THINK THAT WILL BE AN EXCEPTIONAL THING TO HEAR FROM. SO AND THANK YOU FOR STAYING TILL THE END OF THE MEETING. IT IS WORTH MENTIONING THAT MISS STEVENSON IS IN THE OFFICE, AND THAT I'M CONTINUING TO LOOK FOR UPDATES ON THE GOLF HIGH SCHOOL HISTORIC BUILDING I. IT'S MY UNDERSTANDING THAT THERE HAS BEEN SOME SORT OF FLOODING IN THE BUILDING, AND THE CITY MANAGER HAS BEEN KEEPING US EXCEPTIONALLY UP TO DATE ON THAT. THAT BEING SAID, I LOOK FORWARD TO FUTURE UPDATES AND TO SEE WHERE WE'RE AT IN THAT PROCESS. AND I THINK THE CITY MANAGER FOR FOR MAKING SURE SHE WAS STAYING ON TOP OF THAT AND GETTING US THAT INFORMATION. AS SHE KNOWS, THAT'S A PRIORITY OF OUR COUNCIL. I LOOK FORWARD TO BUDGET ON THURSDAY. I'VE INTENTIONALLY KEPT ALL COMMENTS FOR THAT UNTIL THE THE BUDGET MEETING. SO THANK YOU FOR GIVING US A PREVIEW TONIGHT AND THE PUBLIC TONIGHT. AND ON THE ON THE LAND DEVELOPMENT REVIEW BOARD. I JUST WANT TO SAY TWO MORE THINGS. ONE, MR. PETERS, WHO CAME UP TONIGHT AS A AN APPOINTMENT FROM DRB, FIRST, ALTERNATE TO A FULL TIME COMMITTEE MEMBER. HE IS ONE OF THE FORMER COUNCIL MEMBERS UP HERE THAT PUSHED FOR AND CHAMPIONED WITH JUDY MYERS, OUR CITIZENS ACADEMY. AND I KNOW THAT'S GOING TO BE KICKING BACK UP HERE SOON, SO I'M LOOKING FORWARD TO THAT SOMETIME IN SEPTEMBER. IF WE GET ENOUGH APPLICANTS. SO I JUST WANTED TO BRING THAT UP SINCE I WAS REMINDED OF IT DUE TO MR. PETERS PRESENCE ON THE AGENDA ITEM. BUT ALSO WHEN IT COMES TO LRB, WE HAD A CONVERSATION A FEW WEEKS, A FEW MONTHS BACK NOW ABOUT MAKING SURE THAT THE MEMBERS THAT ARE SEEKING APPOINTMENT TO THAT COMMITTEE OR OTHER COMMITTEES ARE PRESENTED TO US FOR CONSIDERATION AND NOT VETTED AHEAD OF TIME BY THE CITY MANAGER MANAGER'S OFFICE, AND HAVE HER MAKE THE DETERMINATION OF THEIR QUALIFICATION. AND THE REASON FOR THAT IS BECAUSE THE CHARTER IS VERY CLEAR THAT THE DRB SHALL RECOMMEND MAKE RECOMMENDATIONS TO THE CITY COUNCIL, AND THAT, QUOTE, THE CITY COUNCIL SHALL SELECT ITS MEMBERS. THE WORD CITY MANAGER DO NOT POP UP IN THAT CODE WHATSOEVER. SO I JUST AS A REMINDER, I'M THAT IF WE'RE MAKING SURE THOSE APPLICANTS ARE COMING BEFORE US AHEAD OF TIME, EVEN EVEN IF THE CITY MANAGER WANTS TO RECOMMEND THAT THEY ARE NOT QUALIFIED. AND IF
[01:35:01]
THAT TAKES FORM IN A CITY MEMO. SO IT'S, IT'S PRIVATE AND WE HAVE THE CHANCE TO DELIBERATE PRIVATELY ON THAT. I'M FINE, BUT I JUST WANT TO MAKE SURE I KNOW WHO'S APPLYING TO THE COMMITTEES. WITH THAT, I THERE WAS A COMMENT ABOUT THE MAKING A DECISION ON AN APPLICANT FOR THE CDBG COMMITTEE OR EXCUSE ME, THE CDBG GRANT FUNDS. THAT PERSON WAS ON THE TOP OF THAT LIST. WE ALREADY APPROVED IT. WE ALREADY APPROVED THAT LIST. SO WHEN WHEN THE COMMENTS COME UP THAT WE NEED TO MAKE A DECISION, WE MADE THAT DECISION. WE SET A POLICY DIRECTIVE. AND SO NOW I THINK IT'S TIME THAT WE HOLD OUR CITY ADMINISTRATION ACCOUNTABLE TO MAKE SURE THAT THAT POLICY DIRECTION IS MET. I DON'T THINK THERE'S ANY MORE CONVERSATIONS ABOUT WHETHER THAT PERSON IS OR ISN'T QUALIFIED FOR CDBG FUNDING. WE ALREADY MADE THAT RECOMMENDATION AND VOTE. SHE WAS ONE OF THE APPLICANTS ON THAT LIST. SHE HAPPENED TO BE THE FIRST ONE LISTED, SO THAT IS THE ONLY REASON WHY I BROUGHT IT UP WITH A LITTLE BIT MORE DETAIL TO THE CITY MANAGER DURING VOXPOP IS BECAUSE, YOU KNOW, THIS IS A POLICY DIRECTION WE HAVE ALREADY DECIDED TO TAKE. SO IT NEEDS IN MY MIND, IT NEEDS TO GET DONE.AND IF IT'S SOMETHING BEING HELD UP ON THE APPLICANT SIDE, HOW CAN CITY COUNCIL HELP? AND THIS CODE VIOLATION, WHAT THE IMPLICATIONS OF THIS CODE VIOLATION ARE ON THAT PROCESS.
AND THEN TO END ON A LIGHTER NOTE, MR. MURPHY, YOU DID SAY THAT AI FREAKS YOU OUT, AND I WAS HOPING TO USE THAT. IF HAD I KNOWN THAT, I WOULD HAVE POINTED MORE TO AI'S USE IN FLOCK CAMERA TECHNOLOGY AND WOULD HAVE MADE THAT MORE OF A SALIENT POINT FOR YOU DURING THAT CONVERSATION. BUT I'LL TRY. I'LL TRY AGAIN NEXT TIME. WHEN IS OUR NEXT CRA MEETING? DO WE HAVE A DATE SET THAT YOUR NEXT REGULAR MEETING THOUGH? THERE'S A COUPLE OF WEEKS. YES, BECAUSE A NUMBER OF THINGS THAT ARE ON MY MIND AS USUAL WOULD BE THE CRA. I WOULD LIKE TO LET YOU KNOW THAT I HAVE BEEN. YOU KNOW THAT THERE WAS AN APPROVAL OF A. I THINK THE FOURTH TIME THAT I'VE PRESENTED A SESSION AT THE FRA CONFERENCE AND THIS COMING OCTOBER AT THE CONFERENCE, IT'LL BE A SESSION WITH SOME FOLKS AND MR. IRONSIDE. IRONSMITH BOB SMITH FROM DUNEDIN, AND I WILL PRESENT RETURN THE RETURN ON INVESTMENT APPROACH TO CRAS. AND I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT DISCUSSION TO HAVE. I'VE HAD IT ALREADY, I THINK, WITH THE CITY MANAGER, BUT SOME OF THE RETURN ON INVESTMENT IS SPECIFIC TO A PROPERTY, AND THAT'S TRANSACTIONAL AND. BUT FOR ME, WE'VE REACHED THAT POINT WHERE WE MOVE FROM TRANSACTIONAL TO TRANSFORMATIONAL. AND I JUST WANT TO KNOW THAT THIS COUNCIL REFLECT ON THE IDEA THAT WE'RE OVER A FOUR AND A HALF, $5 MILLION GOING INTO THAT FUND EVERY YEAR FOR A LONG PERIOD OUT. SO IT'S GOING TO BE CRITICAL FROM EDUCATING THE PUBLIC, EDUCATING OUR OWN INTERNAL STAFF TO UNDERSTANDING OUR MISSION. AND THE GOOD NEWS IS, I RECEIVED SOME JUST GREAT PLEDGES OF SUPPORT FROM THE COUNTY PLANNER, THE CHIEF COUNTY PLANNER. WE'VE HAD SUPPORT FROM THE COUNTY ADMINISTRATOR. WHEN THE CITY MANAGER AND I WENT TO TO MEET WITH HIM, AND ALSO FROM THE INDIVIDUAL WHO IS IN CHARGE OF CHUCK LANE, WHO'S IN CHARGE OF THAT 580 MILLION, MOST OF THAT 580 MILLION IS GOING OUT FOR INDIVIDUAL TRANSACTIONAL IMPROVEMENT OF RESIDENTS WHO'VE LOST THEIR HOMES OR BUSINESSES WHO HAD HAD DAMAGE. OF THAT, THERE'S 25 MILLION. THAT IS FOR LONG TERM ECONOMIC RESILIENCE PLANS, AND THERE'S 10 MILLION FOR PLANNING THE RECOVERY OF THE OF THE ECONOMY. SO THOSE DOLLARS ARE NOT SPECIFICALLY TRANSACTIONAL TO HELP THE INDIVIDUAL WHO IS DAMAGED, BUT ARE FORWARD THINKING AND MITIGATION RELATED. AND SO THOSE ARE THE DOLLARS THAT I'VE BEEN TALKING WITH THE STAFF ABOUT. AND I HOPE TO BE ABLE TO SEE SOMETHING AT THAT CRA MEETING WHERE WE CAN HAVE SOMETHING ON THE AGENDA, BECAUSE IN A FEW WEEKS, THAT WINDOW IS OPENING FOR THAT PLANNING REQUEST. AND I WAS JUST THINKING OF IT, YOU KNOW, ON THE TRANSPORTATION SIDE, I'VE ALREADY RECEIVED ENCOURAGEMENT FROM THE COUNTY FOR US TO IDENTIFY A NEW PARKING GARAGE CLOSER TO THE DOWNTOWN TO ASSIST NOT JUST BECAUSE THE OTHER ONE ISN'T WORKING, BECAUSE WE HAVE LAND TO DEVELOP AROUND THAT ONE, BUT BECAUSE PUTTING THE CARS IN THE GARAGE LEAVES MORE SPACE ON THE GROUND FOR A MORE WALKABLE AND A BEAUTIFUL DOWNTOWN. SO TO YOUR POINT, MR. MAYOR, ABOUT THE EXPERIENCE OF LIVING IN A SMALL TOWN. AS MUCH AS FOLKS
[01:40:02]
DON'T WANT TO SEE ANYTHING GO UP, SOMETIMES GOING UP, PRESERVING MORE SPACE FOR BEAUTIFICATION ON THE GROUND MAKES A LOT OF SENSE AND SUPPORTS THE BUSINESSES. WHICH LEADS, I THINK, TO THE NEED FOR US TO HAVE A GOOD PLAN THAT HAS PICTURES THAT PEOPLE CAN GET BEHIND AND EXCITED ABOUT AGAIN, RATHER THAN HOLDING UP BANNERS AGAINST, YOU KNOW, WORRYING ABOUT FALSE IDEAS THAT WE'RE GOING TO REMOVE THE BOAT RAMP OR THAT WILL PUT SOMETHING UP THAT WOULD STOP THEM FROM THEIR NORMAL ROUTINES. ON THE CULTURAL HISTORICAL SIDE, WE HAVE THE GULF HIGH PROPERTY FOLKS STILL SITTING OUT HERE LOOKING, AND THE DISCOVERY CENTER, THE BRAINSTORMS PROJECTS, WHICH ARE BOTH IDENTIFIED TO HELP SUPPORT IN A MORE TRANSFORMATIONAL WAY THE CITY, JUST LIKE WE DID THE PARK, THE REC CENTER, THE STREETSCAPING, AND THE OTHER THINGS. SO THERE ARE TWO ELEMENTS TO REDEVELOPMENT. SOME ARE DIRECT AND SOME ARE INDIRECT. AND THERE'S A LOT OF MONEY THAT'S GOT TO BE DISCUSSED BY US AS THE CRA BOARD. AND AS WE GO INTO THE BUDGET, I'M VERY EXCITED FOR THURSDAY'S BUDGET ON THE CIP PLAN, BUT ALSO FOR THE CRA TO LOOK AT ITS OWN BUDGET AND ITS OPPORTUNITIES, NOT TO MENTION THE OVER THE BRIDGE WALKWAY OR WHAT I LEARNED LAST WEEK FROM MR. MURPHY, WHICH WAS THE POTENTIAL FOR A BUS STOP THAT MIGHT GO TO MAIN STREET INSTEAD.AND THE RELOCATION OF THAT IF IT HAPPENED. BUT IDENTIFYING SOME KIND OF TRANSIT ORIENTED, GETTING PEOPLE OFF OF THEIR CARS AND AND INTO OUR WALKING DOES MAKE A LOT OF SENSE RIGHT DOWNTOWN WHERE WE HAVE PARKING GARAGES. SO I'M ENCOURAGED TO LEARN MORE ABOUT THAT. AND ON THE VISITOR AND TOURISM BASIS, WE ALREADY KNOW WE'RE THE TOURIST SPOT. NOW WE HAVE TO IDENTIFY THAT WITH OUR CULTURE AND HAVING A FOUR HOUR EXPERIENCE IN TOWN. SO A LOT OF FOLKS ARE COMING TOGETHER. I THOUGHT I WAS THERE BACK IN THE 80S AND 90S, BUT THE TIME WASN'T RIGHT. WE DIDN'T HAVE MONEY COMING IN. NOW, ALL THESE YEARS LATER, WE HAVE MOMENTUM, WE HAVE SUPPORT, AND THERE'S FOLKS NATIONALLY, REGIONALLY, AND OTHERS THAT ARE INTERESTED.
SO I LOOK FORWARD TO THOSE KIND OF BRAIN STORM SESSIONS THAT WE CAN HAVE, AND I HOPE WE CAN FIT ALL OF THAT IN, IN ONE WAY OR ANOTHER IN THE NEAR FUTURE WHILE THE, YOU KNOW, STRIKE WHILE THE IRON'S HOT, IT'S KIND OF, YOU KNOW, STARTS WITH A GOOD PLAN AND AN UNDERSTANDING OF WHAT WE WANT. THAT ALL BEING SAID, I HAVE TO MENTION JUST BRIEFLY THE SPRING BREAK CAMP IN OUR MINUTES TODAY SHOWED THAT THERE WERE 50 ATTENDEES EXPECTING ABOUT 150 TO THE SUMMER CAMP. BUT WHAT WAS INTERESTING WAS YOU GAVE THE DESCRIPTION THAT 36% WERE CITY RESIDENTS AND 64% WERE COUNTY RESIDENTS. AND SO WE DO HAVE THE STATISTICS AND WE HAVE THE ABILITY TO APPROACH AND CONTINUE THAT DISCUSSION ON THAT RECREATION SERVICE AREA.
AND WE HAVE A WHOLE YEAR FOR THEM TO MARINATE ON HOW THEY'RE GOING TO DO THEIR MSTU AND HOW WE MIGHT BE INVOLVED AND HOW IT IS BUDGETED. SO I THINK THERE'S REALLY A LOT OF POTENTIAL OPPORTUNITY THERE, WHICH FINALLY COULD MATCH UP WITH THE MONEY THAT'S AVAILABLE. NOW, THE ONE THING I LEARNED ON THE 25 MILLION IS THAT THEIR FOCUS IS ON JOBS, JOB TRAINING, AND NEW JOBS, AND APPLICANTS HAVE TO PRODUCE NEW JOBS. SO IF THE CRA MAKES A REQUEST, FOR EXAMPLE, TO THE HIGH SCHOOL PROPERTY TO INSTITUTE MORE RECREATIONAL USE OF THE RIVER TO INCLUDE FACILITIES AND BOATS, AND SOME OF THE THINGS WE'VE ENVISIONED, AS LONG AS WE CAN PRODUCE JOBS FROM THAT, THERE'S A $50,000 ADD ON FOR EVERY JOB THAT YOU GET. SO AS WE LOOK AT OUR PLANS, IF WE MAKE THEM AND FORWARD THEM, WE CAN HAVE THAT MONEY PAYING FOR A CERTAIN AMOUNT OF TIME FOR US TO GET OUR FOOT ON THE GROUND, AND THEN POTENTIALLY THE CRA TO CONTINUE TO HOLD THAT UNTIL THE GENERAL FUND GETS THE MONEY BACK. SO I THINK THERE'S A REAL GOOD MOVE FOR THE CITY, AND I LOOK FORWARD TO SHARING THAT WITH YOU ALL AT THE CRA MEETING.
IF IF WE CAN PUT SOMETHING TOGETHER I HATE I KNOW GOING FAST IS DIFFICULT, BUT RIGHT NOW, WHEN THOSE THINGS ARE OPENING UP, THE CITY, OF COURSE, HAS THEIR OWN ADDITIONAL PLANS THAT ARE SEWER AND ENVIRONMENTALLY CONSCIOUS THAT FIT WITH OUR OTHER DESCRIPTION FROM THE ENVIRONMENTAL CLUB OF DOING SOMETHING TO SAVE AND IMPROVE THE RIVER. AND THE SCHOOLS AS WELL, ARE INTERESTED WITH BP OIL MONEY TO HELP US ON SOME OF THAT WATERFRONT STUFF.
SO I THINK THERE'S SOME REAL EXCITING STUFF YOU GUYS MIGHT BE SEEING, AND I HOPE YOU'LL
[01:45:04]
YOU'LL TAKE IT TO HEART THAT IT'S A GOOD. NOW'S THE TIME. THAT'S IT. I JUST WANT TO, YOU KNOW, JUST MENTION THE THE SUNCOAST THEATER CENTENNIAL CELEBRATION. AND I WAS JUST PROUD THAT, YOU KNOW, THE MAJORITY OF US WERE THERE AS A REPRESENTATIVE OF THE CITY, BECAUSE I THINK THAT JUST GOES A LONG WAY. YOU KNOW, JUST US BEING THERE, SHOWING OUR SUPPORT. SO THANK YOU GUYS FOR BEING THERE. HEY, DEBBIE. I THINK THE FOUR OF US WERE DRESSED FOR THE OCCASION. WE WERE DRESSED. PATEL. HAVE BEEN UNSHACKLED FROM MY SEAT AT MY DESK AT SCHOOLS. NOW THAT WE'RE IN A. SO I'LL BE CATCHING ALL THE EVENTS. THANK YOU. AND THEN SCHOOL AT NIGHT? I DON'T THINK SO. AND THEN I JUST WANT TO MENTION SAINT SAINT VINCENT DE PAUL, WHAT THEY'RE DOING OUT THERE SUPPORTING THESE FAMILIES WITH FOOD AND WITH FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE. YOU KNOW, I KNEW THEY HELPED. I JUST DIDN'T REALIZE IT WAS THAT EXTENSIVE.SO I JUST WANT TO PUT A SHOUT OUT TO THEM AND JUST, YOU KNOW, MAKE EVERYBODY AWARE OF THAT BECAUSE THAT'S, THAT'S REALLY A BIG DEAL. BUT YOU KNOW, I DO, YOU KNOW, UTTER PETER'S SENTIMENTS ON, YOU KNOW, ON THIS ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT IN OUR CITY. YOU KNOW, DO I REALLY WANT A PARKING GARAGE IN OUR CITY? NOT EXACTLY, BUT WE DEFINITELY NEED IT, YOU KNOW, BECAUSE IT JUST SPEAKS TO IF WE PUT IT THERE, PEOPLE WILL COME HERE BECAUSE WE'VE GOT TO MAKE IT MORE CONVENIENT FOR PEOPLE. AND IT KIND OF GOES ALONG WITH OUR WORK SESSION WITH WHAT I SAID, WE NEED TO HAVE MAYBE A LITTLE BIT BETTER DART SYSTEM THAT WILL PROVIDE A LITTLE BIGGER AVENUE FOR PEOPLE TO TRAVEL BETWEEN PARKING GARAGES, BETWEEN, YOU KNOW, THE OLD GULF HIGH SCHOOL, BETWEEN SIMS PARK, BETWEEN RAILROAD SQUARE, YOU KNOW, WITH ALL THESE THINGS THAT WE'RE PUTTING OUT THERE FOR PEOPLE, WE GOT TO HAVE A PLACE FOR THEM TO BE, YOU KNOW, BUT WE WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT IT LOOKS GOOD, YOU KNOW, SO, YOU KNOW, THERE'S SOME DISCUSSION OUT THERE. YOU KNOW, I WON'T GET INTO THAT, BUT I JUST WANT TO JUST PUT IT OUT THERE THAT I'M I'M INTERESTED. AND I THINK IF THERE'S MONEY OUT THERE TO BE HAD, WE NEED TO JUMP ON IT, YOU KNOW, BECAUSE THAT'S IMPORTANT. AND THEN, YOU KNOW, THEN JUST IN CLOSING, I JUST WANT TO, YOU KNOW, THANK THE STAFF FOR PUTTING BUDGET STUFF TOGETHER. I KNOW IT'S NOT EASY, BUT LOOK FORWARD TO GOING OVER THAT OVER THE NEXT FEW MONTHS. AND THANK YOU GUYS.
SURE I AM. I WANT TO HEAR WHAT THEY HAVE TO SAY. ALL RIGHT. ON THE WHOLE PARKING GARAGE THING.
I MEAN, IT'S ALWAYS BEEN IN THE, I GUESS THE BACK OF THE MIND MAYBE, BUT IT ALWAYS NEEDED ONE LIKE DOWNTOWN AND THAT WHOLE AREA RIGHT THERE WHERE THE HEALTH DEPARTMENT BUILDING WAS OR THE, THE BANK STREET ACROSS FROM THERE AND THAT EMPTY LOT AND THEN THAT PARKING LOTS IN THE REAR THERE. YOU KNOW, OBVIOUSLY THAT MAKES SENSE AND ELEVATING THAT, YOU KNOW, AS A POTENTIAL SPOT, WHO KNOWS? WE'LL SEE. BUT THAT WHOLE AREA NEEDS TO GET REDONE. AND I THINK SOME STUFF'S IN THE WORKS. BUT ONCE THAT HAPPENS, IT MAKES MORE SENSE. AND ALSO CARL'S BOUGHT THAT BUILDING NEXT DOOR, SO WHO KNOWS WHAT HE'LL TRY TO DO IN THAT BUILDING TOO. YEAH.
SO I DON'T KNOW. NOPE. THAT'S IT. I WANT TO BRING UP SOMETHING. I WANT SOME HELP HERE. I GET AT LEAST ONCE, MAYBE TWICE A WEEK. SOMEBODY SOME CITIZEN HAD COMPLAINING ABOUT JD PARKER WEST PRO WASTE PRO. DO YOU GET THE SAME THINGS. YES. YEAH. IT'S JUST I'M JUST FED UP WITH IT. THEY YOU KNOW THEY'VE GOT THE CONTRACT. WHY DON'T YOU PICK THE STUFF UP.
YOU KNOW, I MEAN NOT YOU KNOW WHY. AND THEN WHEN YOU CALL THERE I'VE CALLED THREE TIMES.
ONE TIME I WAS ON THE QUEUE AS NUMBER NINE. AND I GOT FED UP AND I DROVE OVER THERE WITH MY PHONE STILL ON THERE QUEUE. AND I WAS ON NUMBER SEVEN WHEN I GOT THERE. AND I WENT IN AND THEY TOOK THEM A FEW MINUTES THERE TO EVEN HELP ME. THEN I DON'T WANT TO HEAR THAT THEY'VE GOT MORE PEOPLE WITH THEIR QUEUE NOW, BUT IT'S BEEN IT'S THE CITIZENS HAVE BEEN DOING THIS FOR A WHILE. AND, AND THEN AND THEN WHEN WHEN YOU GET THERE THE OTHER TIME, I THINK I STARTED AT FOUR AND WAS WAS ANSWERED AND THEN I, I SAID THAT THEY DIDN'T COME BY AND PICK UP MY ON THURSDAY, PICK UP MY RECYCLING. AND THE FIRST WORDS OUT OF HER MOUTH WAS, WELL, YOU DIDN'T PUT IT OUT IN TIME. I FINALLY GOT FED UP AND I SAID, I'M THE MAYOR. AND I PUT IT OUT WEDNESDAY NIGHT. WELL, THEN THEY ALL OF A SUDDEN CHANGED THEIR WHOLE ATTITUDE.
SO IF THAT'S THEIR FINE, FINE COMMENT ALL THE TIME IS WILL YOU PUT IT OUT LATER? YOU DIDN'T PUT IT OUT IN TIME. WELL, I'M OVER IT BECAUSE THE PEOPLE ENOUGH PEOPLE ARE COMPLAINING ABOUT IT ACROSS THE TOWN. I DON'T KNOW WHAT YOU NEED TO DO AS A STAFF, BUT YOU NEED TO FIX THIS PROBLEM. IT'S NOT GOING AWAY. YOU DON'T HAVE AN EXCUSE FOR IT BECAUSE THEY'RE NOT DOING THEIR JOB. PERIOD. I DON'T WANT TO HEAR ANYTHING FROM YOU. IT'S A FACT. THEY'RE NOT DOING THEIR JOB. SO WHAT? YOU KNOW, IF I WAS A PARKER, I WOULD BE EMBARRASSED BECAUSE
[01:50:03]
THEY HAD SUCH GREAT SERVICE WHEN IT WAS PARKER'S AND THEY SOLD WHEN THEY SOLD, THEN IT JUST. AND THEY CHANGED THE ROUTE. WELL, WHY DID YOU CHANGE THE ROUTE? WASN'T ANY COMPLAINTS. AND PEOPLE THAT ARE GETTING THEIR TRASH PICKED UP, WELL, NOW THEY GOT A NEW ROUTE, SO NEW PEOPLE ARE LOST OUT THERE. I DON'T KNOW WAY AROUND TOWN. SO ANYHOW, THERE'S JUST SO MUCH THAT JUST I JUST FED UP WITH IT. I JUST WANT IT SOMEHOW TO BE TAKEN CARE OF. ANY OTHER INPUT THERE, MR. MAYOR? CAN WE ASK THEM TO ATTEND A MEETING AND SPEAK TO US DIRECTLY? THAT WOULD WORK. WELL, THEY WOULD. YEAH, WELL, THEY'LL PUT US ON QUEUE. I CAN ADDRESS THE COMMENTS IF YOU'D ALLOW ME. I'D RATHER YOU JUST SEND IT TO US ON FRIDAY IN A IN A NEWSLETTER, BECAUSE I CAN DO THAT AS WELL. I MEAN, I JUST I DON'T WANT TO GET INTO A WHOLE DEBATE. I JUST WANT TO THIS IS I, I HEAR IT ALL THE TIME. AND IT'S I'M JUST FED UP WITH IT. AND, AND HERE YOU GOT FOUR OTHERS SAYING WE CARED ALL THE TIME. SO, I MEAN, I DON'T KNOW WHAT YOU WANT TO SAY, BUT SAVE IT FOR FRIDAY. I DON'T WANT TO DEAL WITH THAT RIGHT NOW. I JUST KNOW THAT IT'S A PROBLEM. I JUST WANT A FAIR REPRESENTATION. AND I'LL MAKE SURE TO WRITE TO YOU ON FRIDAY. WELL, THEY THE CITIZENS HAVE SPOKE ALSO. DO YOU HAVE AN AWARD FOR US? YEAH. YOU AN AWARD FOR THIS TOWN. WERE YOU WERE YOU AT THE WERE YOU AT THE SUNCOAST LEAGUE OF CITIES MEETING IN JUNE? I WAS NOT AT THE SUNCOAST LEAGUE OF CITIES MEETING IN JUNE, AND I. I DON'T KNOW OF ANY AWARDS. YEAH, WELL, THAT'S WHY I'M ASKING. WELL, MR. MAYOR, THERE WAS AN AWARD.IT WAS THE HOMETOWN HERO AWARDS AND ALMOST ALL THE TOWNS GOT IT. AND I SUSPECT WE WOULD HAVE GOT ONE IF WE WERE THERE. SO THAT WAS JUNE 12TH. SO I JUST CHECKED. MAYBE YOU FORGOT TO GIVE IT TO US. WELL, I DID, I DID SAY AT THE A COUPLE MEETINGS PRIOR THAT WE WERE ENTERING THE HEAT OF SCHOOL. OUR BSI SEASON. YOU SAID WE HELP, WE SAID WE'D HELP YOU, BUT YOU FORGOT TO ASK FOR HELP AND THAT I WOULD NOT BE ABLE TO ATTEND THE TWO MEETINGS LEADING INTO OUR FINAL WEEKS OF SCHOOL. IT IS GOOD TO REPORT, THOUGH, THAT WE DID GO FROM A QUADRUPLE QUADRUPLE D SCHOOL TO A A SCHOOL, AND WE ARE THE ONLY SCHOOL. NOT ONLY MIDDLE SCHOOL, ONLY SCHOOL IN ALL THE COUNTY TO DO SUCH A LARGE JUMP. SO. A LONG A LOT OF LONG NIGHTS BY A LOT OF STAFF, A NEW ADMINISTRATION THAT CAME IN AND HAD LESS THAN TEN MONTHS TO MAKE IT HAPPEN. OUR OWN SUPERINTENDENT OF SCHOOLS CAME OUT HERE AND EXTENDED AN OLIVE BRANCH OF PARTNERSHIP, AND THEY, THE ENTIRE STAFF, 105 TEACHERS AND, AND, AND SCHOOL RELATED PERSONNEL WERE ABLE TO MAKE IT HAPPEN FOR ALL 753 OF OUR STUDENTS. AND I LOOK FORWARD TO TAKING AN ACTIVE ROLE IN THE SUNCOAST LEAGUE OF CITIES GOING FORWARD. NOW THAT I DO NOT HAVE THAT ON MY PLATE. WELL, AND I WILL PICK UP THE AWARD. CONGRATULATIONS TO WHOMEVER WOULD RECEIVE IT. I'LL MISS MISS MYERS. I DON'T WANT TO STEAL YOUR SPOTLIGHT, SO I'LL I'LL MAKE SURE THE AWARD IS PROPERLY PRESENTED TO YOU WHEN I RECEIVE IT. I JUST SAW A PICTURE OF IT, AND I EXPECTED WE WOULD HAVE BEEN ONE OF THE CITIES THAT ARE ALL SITTING THERE WITH PLAQUES, SO MAYBE. ANYHOW. AND. DEBBIE. YEAH. I WANT TO THANK ALL OF THE CITY STAFF THAT PARTICIPATED IN OUR 4TH OF JULY CELEBRATION. I THINK WE HAD A FIRST RATE EVENT IN THE CITY. I THINK MANY PEOPLE THAT ATTENDED OUR EVENT AND SOME OTHERS THOUGHT OURS WAS SUPERIOR. AND I REALLY HAVE TO THANK ALL OF OUR OUR STAFF. BUT IN PARTICULAR, I HAVE TO EXTEND A SPECIAL THANKS TO THOSE THAT ORCHESTRATED THE EVENT. AND THAT'S ANDY BIGART AND COURTNEY MERRILL KING, WHO WORKED TIRELESSLY TO PLAN AND EXECUTE THE EVENT. AND THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR ALL THAT YOU DID TO MAKE SURE IT WENT OFF FLAWLESSLY. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. THAT'S IT FROM ME. MR. MAYOR. I MOVE TO
* This transcript was compiled from uncorrected Closed Captioning.