Regular City Commission Meeting

CITY OF SARASOTA. [ SOUNDING GAVEL ] >>Mayor Trice: GOOD MORNING. WELCOME TO SEPTEMBER. AND WELCOME TO THE SEPTEMBER 8 REGULAR CITY COMMISSION MEETING. I'M CALLING THIS MEETING TO ORDER. BUT BEFORE WE DO, LET'S ALL SILENCE OUR PHONES AND WE CAN BEGIN. WE WILL FIRST HAVE THE INVOCATION BY CITY AUDITOR AND CLERK GRIGGS FOLLOWED BY THE VICE MAYOR WILL LEAD US IN THE PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE. >>Shayla Griggs: THOSE WHO CAN STAND, PLEASE STAND. HEAVENLY FATHER, WE AFFIRM OUR FAITH IN THEE. WE SEEK YOUR DIVINE STRENGTH, WISDOM, AND GUIDANCE IN THE DELIBERATIONS THAT AFFECT THE LIVES OF EACH OF THE CITIZENS OF OUR COMMUNITY. IN THY NAME WE PRAY, AMEN. [PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE] >>Mayor Trice: THANK YOU. MS. GRIGGS, ARE THERE ANY CHANGES TO THE ORDER OF THE DAY? >>Shayla Griggs: NO, MAYOR. >>Mayor Trice: THANK YOU VERY MUCH. NEXT ON THE AGENDA IS THE APPROVAL OF THE PROPOSED AGENDA SCHEDULE. MAY I HAVE A MOTION? >>Vice-Mayor Ohlrich: SO MOVED. >>Kyle Battie: SECOND. >>Mayor Trice: MOVED BY THE VICE MAYOR. SECONDED BY COMMISSIONER BATTIE. MAY I HAVE YOUR VOTES, PLEASE? IT PASSES UNANIMOUSLY. THANK YOU. IF FELLOW COMMISSIONERS WILL JOIN ME UP FRONT, WE HAVE A PROCLAMATION RECOGNIZING NOT TODAY BUT NEXT WEEK, SEPTEMBER 17 AS "FIND THE GOOD DAY." NOW, THIS IS RECOGNIZING OR ON THE REQUEST OF JUNIOR LEAGUE OF SARASOTA. IF THERE ARE REPRESENTATIVES, PLEASE JOIN ME UP HERE. THANK YOU. TAKE THE POSITION OF PRIDE. THIS IS A PROCLAMATION OF THE CITY OF SARASOTA: WHEREAS, THE JUNIOR LEAGUE OF SARASOTA IS DEDICATED TO PROMOTING VOLUNTEERISM, EMPOWERING WOMEN, AND ENHANCING COMMUNITIES THROUGH EFFECTIVE LEADERSHIP AND ACTION, INCLUDING MAKING A SIGNIFICANT AND POSITIVE IMPACT TO OUR COMMUNITY WITHIN THE PAST YEAR BY PROVIDING OVER $51,000 IN FINANCIAL SUPPORT TO COMMUNITY PROJECTS, DEDICATING 8,323 VOLUNTEER HOURS, AND COLLABORATING WITH 38 LOCAL ORGANIZATIONS ON 30 COMMUNITY PROJECTS, THEREBY ENHANCING THE QUALITY OF LIFE FOR COMMUNITY MEMBERS FROM INFANCY AND BEYOND. AND WHEREAS, FIND THE GOOD DAY, OBSERVED ON SEPTEMBER 17, ENCOURAGES INDIVIDUALS TO RECOGNIZE AND CELEBRATE THE POSITIVE ASPECTS OF THEIR COMMUNITIES AND TO TAKE ACTION TO UPLIFT OTHERS. AND WHEREAS, ON THIS DAY, WE ACKNOWLEDGE THE IMPORTANCE OF KINDNESS, COMPASSION, AND COMMUNITY SERVICE IN FOSTERING POSITIVE CHANGE AND BUILDING STRONGER, MORE RESILIENT COMMUNITIES. AND WHEREAS, ON THIS 4th ANNUAL FIND THE GOOD DAY, WE CELEBRATE THE REMARKABLE EFFORTS OF BOTH JUNIOR LEAGUE OF SARASOTA VOLUNTEERS AND COMMUNITY PARTNERS WHO WORK TIRELESSLY TO MEET CRITICAL COMMUNITY NEEDS, ENCOURAGING ALL CITIZENS TO PARTICIPATE IN SPECIAL EFFORTS TO UPLIFT AND SUPPORT THOSE AROUND US. NOW, THEREFORE, THE CITY COMMISSION OF THE CITY OF SARASOTA, FLORIDA, AND ON BEHALF OF THE CITIZENS OF OUR COMMUNITY, TAKES GREAT PRIDE IN RECOGNIZING SEPTEMBER 17, 2026, AS "FIND THE GOOD DAY," A DAY OF SPECIAL IMPORTANCE AND WORTHY OF THE RECOGNITION OF THE RESIDENTS OF THE CITY OF SARASOTA. CONGRATULATIONS. AND PLEASE INTRODUCE YOURSELVES AND SAY A FEW WORDS. >> THANK YOU SO MUCH. YOU GOT THE YELLOW MEMO TODAY. [ LAUGHTER ] THANK YOU SO MUCH. MY NAME IS ASHLEY COYLE. I AM THE PRESIDENT OF THE JUNIOR LEAGUE OF SARASOTA. THANK YOU, MAYOR TRICE, VICE MAYOR OHLRICH, AND OUR CITY COMMISSIONERS FOR RECOGNIZING THE JUNIOR LEAGUE OF SARASOTA. BY THIS PROCLAMATION FOR "FIND THE GOOD DAY." FOR NEARLY 70 YEARS, OUR LEAGUE HAS BEEN COMMITTED TO DEVELOPING WOMEN LEADERS AND CREATING MEANINGFUL CHANGE IN SARASOTA. OVER THE LAST YEAR ALONE, AS YOU HEARD MAYOR TRICE SAY, WE CONTRIBUTED OVER 8,000 VOLUNTEER HOURS AND INVESTED $52,000 IN LOCAL INITIATIVES. OUR FURNISHING HOPE AT NANCY'S VILLAGE INITIATIVE PARTNERED WITH COMMUNITY ASSISTED AND SUPPORTED LIVING HAS RAISED OVER $285,000 IN THE LAST YEAR ALONE TO FURNISH FIVE NEW RESIDENCES TO SUPPORT -- TO PROVIDE STABLE AND SAFE HOUSING FOR YOUNG ADULTS AGING OUT OR TRANSITIONING OUT OF THE FOSTER CARE SYSTEM RIGHT HERE IN OUR COMMUNITY. SO FIND THE GOOD DAY IS AN OPPORTUNITY TO CELEBRATE AND AMPLIFY ALL OF THE GOOD HAPPENING IN OUR COMMUNITY. THANK YOU FOR RECOGNIZING THE JUNIOR LEAGUE OF SARASOTA WITH THIS HONOR, AND FOR SPREADING THE GOOD. >> THANK YOU. I'M KATY ROSE. I AM EXECUTIVE VICE PRESIDENT OF JUNIOR LEAGUE OF SARASOTA. THANK YOU AGAIN SO MUCH FOR THIS PROCLAMATION. I THINK WE CAN ALL AGREE THAT THERE IS A LOT OF NEGATIVITY OUT THERE RIGHT NOW, BUT WE CAN ALSO AGREE THAT THERE'S SO MUCH GOOD HAPPENING, AND WE SEE IT EVERY DAY HERE IN OUR COMMUNITY. FIND THE GOOD DAY IS ABOUT CELEBRATING THE KINDNESS, COMPASSION, AND GENEROSITY THAT MAKES SARASOTA SUCH A SPECIAL PLACE. AS AN ORGANIZATION DEDICATED TO STRENGTHENING WOMEN'S LEADERSHIP, JUNIOR LEAGUE OF SARASOTA TAKES GREAT PRIDE IN DEVELOPING OUR MEMBERS' SKILLS THROUGH TRAINING AND VOLUNTEERISM. WE'RE HONORED TO COLLABORATE WITH NONPROFIT PARTNERS ON A WIDE VARIETY OF PROJECTS AND PROGRAMS FOR MEANINGFUL LOCAL IMPACT. THIS YEAR, OUR VOLUNTEERS ARE TAKING ACTION TO SPREAD POSITIVITY THROUGH A BLOOD DRIVE AT OUR HEADQUARTERS, DIRECT SERVICE AT MOTHERS HELPING MOTHERS, AND A DOWNTOWN CLEANUP TO BEAUTIFY OUR ADOPTED ROAD, WHICH IS SOUTH PINEAPPLE. WE'LL ALSO COME TOGETHER TO CELEBRATE WOMEN LEADERS AT OUR FIND THE GOOD DAY MEMBERSHIP MEETING AT MARIE SELBY BOTANICAL GARDENS. THIS SEPTEMBER 17, PLEASE JOIN IN FINDING THE GOOD ALL AROUND US. SAY THANK YOU TO SOMEONE WHO MAKES A DIFFERENCE. DO A SMALL RANDOM ACT OF KINDNESS OR EVEN COMMIT TO A VOLUNTEER SHIFT WITH A NONPROFIT YOU LOVE. EVERY POSITIVE ACTION MAKES AN IMPACT AND WE'RE HONORED BY THE OPPORTUNITY TO FIND AND SHARE THE GOOD WITH OUR CITY THIS YEAR. THANK YOU AGAIN FOR YOUR RECOGNITION AND SUPPORT AND FOR ALL THAT EACH OF YOU DO AS LEADERS OF OUR CITY. >>Mayor Trice: THANK YOU. [ APPLAUSE ] COMMISSIONERS, COME ON UP. Thank you ? >>Mayor Trice: ON SEPTEMBER 17, WE WILL ALL FIND THE GOOD. WE ARE ABOUT TO DO THE CITIZENS' INPUT CONCERNING CITY TOPICS. MS. GRIGGS, WOULD YOU RECITE THE PLEDGE OF PUBLIC CONDUCT, PLEASE? >>Shayla Griggs: THANK YOU, MAYOR. WE MAY DISAGREE BUT WE WILL BE RESPECTFUL TO ONE ANOTHER. WE WILL DIRECT ALL COMMENTS TO ISSUES. >>Mayor Trice: THANK YOU. WE HAVE FOUR PEOPLE WHO HAVE SIGNED UP. EACH WILL HAVE THREE MINUTES. EDWARD McCAFFREY, KATHERINE HERMES, HENRY KAHWATY AND DAN LOBECK. COME ON UP. WHEN IT'S YOUR TURN, GIVE US YOUR NAME AND WHETHER OR NOT YOU'RE A CITY RESIDENT AND IF YOU ARE REPRESENTING SOMEONE ELSE. WE CAN START WITH MR. McCAFFREY. >> GOOD MORNING. ED McCAFFREY, NOT A CITIZEN -- NOT A RESIDENT OF THE CITY. LIVE ON THE CITY LINE. FIRST, INITIATIVE 1400 DESOTO ROAD, WHICH IS A PROPERTY I'VE BEEN IN HERE ABOUT, 20 YEARS AGO, YOU GUYS ANNEXED THAT PROPERTY FOR AFFORDABLE HOUSING. IT'S GONE THROUGH A BUNCH OF DIFFERENT PROJECTS. IT'S A CRAP ZONE. NOTHING BUT COYOTES, HOMELESS PEOPLE. I'VE CALLED SERVICES FOR 12 YEARS. MAYBE THE NEW CITY MANAGER, MAYBE THE ATTORNEY CAN GET SOMETHING GOING THERE. LET'S GO TO THE BOAT RAMP. WE HAVE COMMERCIAL JET SKI OPERATIONS THERE EVERY DAY. UP TO 36 JET SKIS WAS MY HIGHEST COUNT ON ONE OF THE DAYS. I'M OUT THERE ONE DAY A WEEK. I GO AT SUNRISE. WHEN I COME BACK IN AT NOON, IT'S A ZOO WITH COMMERCIAL JET SKIS, HYDROCATS. YOU'RE CLOSING THE RAMP PART OF IT OCTOBER 1st FOR REMODELING WHERE THERE'S GOING TO BE ONE LANE AVAILABLE TO THE PUBLIC. WE GO THERE DAYS YOU CANNOT GET NEAR THAT RAMP BECAUSE OF THAT. THE COMMERCIAL SEAWALL GUYS AND DOCK GUYS, I THINK OFFICER SKINNER HAS GOT THEM FINALLY OUT OF THERE. I DON'T KNOW HOW OR WHATEVER ELSE, BUT WE NEED ORDINANCES THROUGH THE CITY ATTORNEY OR WHATEVER ELSE. YOU PUT A STICKER ON MY TRUCK IN APRIL OF '24 SAYING THERE WOULD BE NO MORE COMMERCIAL OPERATIONS DOWN AT THAT BOAT RAMP. IT'S A PUBLIC BOAT RAMP. IT'S NOT A COMMERCIAL OPERATION DOWN THERE. WE NEED TO GET THIS CLEARED UP BEFORE OCTOBER 1st, GOING TO BE NO DOCK PLACES FOR US TO PUT IN. THE PUBLIC THAT PAYS FOR THAT THROUGH OUR BOAT TAXES. THE HANDICAP PARKING AT THE BOAT RAMP, YOU HAVE TO PAY. SOUNDS LIKE THAT MIGHT BE DISCRIMINATION. DON'T HAVE TO DO IT AT ANY OF THE OTHER SPOTS IN THE CITY. I JUST PARKED OUTSIDE CITY HALL, YOU DON'T HAVE TO PAY OVER HERE, BUT A BLOCK OVER YOU HAVE TO PAY. IF YOU HAVE SPOTS OVER HERE, TOO, START CHARGING PEOPLE FOR THEM OVER HERE, TOO, PLEASE. THE PANHANDLERS COMING FROM HERE. WHERE I LIVE AT ON 301, EVERY INTERSECTION, WE START AT NORTH GATE, GO TO MYRTLE, 27th, 17th, 12th STREET, THEY ARE OUT IN THE MIDDLE OF THE STREET OBSTRUCTING TRAFFIC. THEY ARE GOING TO GET HURT. THIS IS PEOPLE THAT HAVE BEEN THERE FOR 15 YEARS. THE SAME CHARACTERS. THEY NEED HELP. THEY DON'T NEED HAND-OUT STUFF. GET SOME HELP FOR THEM. PLEASE. THE GRASS OUT IN THE BAY FROM THE SAME PEOPLE RENTING THE PONTOON BOATS AND JET SKIS AND EVERYTHING ELSE IS BEING DESTROYED. THEY HAVE NO IDEA WHAT THEY ARE DOING OUT THERE. WE HAVE SMALL PATCHES LEFT OF THIS GRASS OUT IN THIS BAY RIGHT NOW. ONCE THE GRASS IS GONE, THE BAY IS GONE, THE MANATEES ARE GONE, THE FISH ARE GONE. YOU NEED TO DO SOMETHING ABOUT THIS COMMERCIAL OPERATION AT THE BOAT RAMP. OCTOBER 1st -- >>Mayor Trice: THANK YOU VERY MUCH, MR. McCAFFREY. KATHERINE HERMES. >> KATHERINE HERMES, I OWN A BUSINESS AND I DO LIVE LOCALLY. I'M COMING TO TALK ABOUT PARKING, BUT I'M GOING TO START WITH A TENNIS ANALOGY. DOES ANYONE HERE PLAY TENNIS? SO WHEN YOU HIT THE TENNIS BALL REALLY, REALLY HARD, THE FIRST TIME YOU HIT IT HARD, A LOT OF TIMES THE BALL GOES RIGHT PAST THE PERSON ON THE OTHER SIDE. THEY REALLY AREN'T EXPECTING IT. THE SECOND TIME THEY KNOW THE BALL IS COMING AT THEM HARD AND THEY HAVE A TENDENCY TO BE LINED UP AND READY TO RETURN THAT HARD HIT. I BROUGHT TWO LITTLE BITS FROM THE PRESENTATION. I DON'T KNOW IF YOU CAN GET THIS ON YOUR OVERHEAD, BUT FROM THE PRESENTATION ON AUGUST 31st, CITATIONS IN JULY ALONE WERE UP CAUSING A REVENUE INCREASE OF 70% AND ACTIVITY WAS UP 30%. YOU GUYS CAME OUT SWINGING. CITY MANAGER FRILING, I WILL ADDRESS YOU. YOU WERE HERE FOR TWO MONTHS AND YOU SAID WHEN PEOPLE DON'T UNDERSTAND THE RULES, THEY NEED TO PAY A PENALTY. WELL, THE PENALTIES WERE BUMPED UP AND THE AMOUNT OF MONEY THAT'S COMING OUT OF THE ECONOMY AND GOING TO FUND THE PARKING DEPARTMENT RIGHT NOW IS EXTRAORDINARY. THE CITY CAME OUT SWINGING HARD, AND NOW THE PEOPLE UNFORTUNATELY ARE PREPARED AND THEY ARE SWINGING BACK. THIS IS LEADING TO BAD BEHAVIOR ON BEHALF OF THE CITIZENS, WHICH I OBVIOUSLY DO NOT PREFER. BUT I ALSO THINK IT BRINGS TO THE ATTENTION OR NEEDS TO BE BROUGHT TO THE ATTENTION THAT THIS HAS TO BE ADDRESSED. WE CAN'T LEAVE IT KICKED DOWN THE ROAD UNTIL NOVEMBER. THE CITY'S RULES ARE SO DIFFICULT TO UNDERSTAND THAT I ACTUALLY GOT A PARKING TICKET RESOLVED THAT YOU E-MAILED ME ABOUT BECAUSE THE CITY DIDN'T EVEN UNDERSTAND THEIR RULES AND THEY WAIVED THE PARKING TICKET. THE SIGNS ARE WRONG. I KNOW YOU'RE WORKING TO GET THAT FIXED. BUT EVEN THE CITY DOESN'T UNDERSTAND WHAT THEY SHOULD BE TICKETING RIGHT NOW AND THE PEOPLE OF LIVID AND THEY ARE BEING TERRIBLE. YOUR EMPLOYEES ARE IN HARM'S WAY RIGHT NOW BECAUSE THEY ARE SWINGING VERY, VERY HARD AND THE PEOPLE ARE VERY UPSET. AT THE BOAT RAMP THIS WEEKEND, NORMAL OVERFLOW PARKING ALL THE WAY AT THE VAN WEZEL, DOZENS OF PEOPLE WERE TICKETED FOR NOT BEING IN THE LINES WITH THEIR BOATS AND THEIR TRAILERS. YOU KNOW THAT BEING IN THE LINES IS A SAFETY FINE AND IT'S MEANT BECAUSE PEOPLE HAVEN'T PARKED CORRECTLY REALLY ON ON-STREET PARKING, IT WASN'T MEANT TO BE APPLIED IN A BOAT PARKING ENVIRONMENT. I DON'T LIKE WHAT'S HAPPENING. I'M A VERY POSITIVE, GET THINGS DONE, BUT PEOPLE, YOU GUYS CAME OUT SWINGING HARD AND PEOPLE ARE IN THE DEFENSIVE POSITION. THEY ARE PREPARED TO RETURN THE BALL. SO SOME NEWS ABOUT WORKING TOWARDS A SOLUTION SHOULD BE PUT OUT IN BITS SO THAT WE KNOW YOU'RE HEARING SO WE CAN PROMOTE THAT TO THE COMMUNITY THAT YOU ARE DOING THESE STEPS BEFORE THE ELECTION TO RESOLVE THE ANIMOSITY AROUND THE PARKING, PLEASE. >>Mayor Trice: THANK YOU VERY MUCH. MR. KAHWATY. >> THERE IS A HANDOUT, TOO, THAT I HOPE EVERYONE HAS. >>Mayor Trice: YEAH, WE GOT THEM. >>Shayla Griggs: COULD YOU STATE YOUR NAME FOR THE RECORD, PLEASE? THANK YOU. >> HENRY KAHWATY. I'M A RESIDENT OF ST. ARMANDS. I'VE LIVED HERE FOR 12 YEARS NOW. NO, 14 YEARS, SINCE 2012. AS YOU KNOW -- GOOD MORNING, MAYOR, VICE MAYOR, COMMISSIONERS, CITY ADMINISTRATION, I HAVE BEEN IN SEVERAL TIMES THIS YEAR TO TALK TO YOU ABOUT THE SUBJECT OF OUR ZONING ORDINANCE AND THE BARRIERS IT CREATES TO HOME ELEVATION PROJECTS. WHEN I WAS HERE THE LAST MEETING, HAD SOME PICTURES OF THE OUTSIDE OF MY HOUSE WHICH LOOKS LIKE A BIT OF A DISASTER. I WANTED TO SHOW THE INSIDE. ON THE LEFT, TWO PICTURES OF WHAT THE INSIDE OF MY HOUSE LOOKED LIKE BEFORE THE STORMS IN 2024. THE RIGHT SIDE IS TWO PICTURES OF WHAT IT LOOKS LIKE AFTER. THOSE PICTURES LOOK IDENTICAL TODAY AS THEY DID THE END OF NOVEMBER 2024. SINCE THE STORM, WE'VE MADE NO PROGRESS ON RECOVERY AT ALL. WHEN YOU'RE DEALING WITH THINGS THAT FLOOD, THERE ARE TWO ISSUES THAT COME TO MIND. ONE IS RECOVERY. THE SOONER THE BETTER. THE OTHER IS RESILIENCY. HOW DO YOU PREVENT THIS. OUR STRATEGY AS I'VE MENTIONED BEFORE IS TO RAISE OUR HOUSE. THERE IS A PIECE OF THE PUZZLE I HAVEN'T MENTIONED YET AND I WANTED TO MAKE SURE IT WAS ON YOUR RADAR SCREEN. WE KNEW FROM THE BEGINNING THAT WE WOULD NEED VARIANCES. TO DATE, WE HAVE SPENT FIVE HOURS OF HEARING TIME AT THE BOARD OF ADJUSTMENT. WE EVENTUALLY AT THE END OF MARCH RECEIVED ALL OF THE VARIANCES WE ASKED FOR, WHICH IS FANTASTIC. BUT THE VERY NEXT DAY, AFTER WE GOT OUR VARIANCES, THREE OF MY NEIGHBORS SUED THE BOARD OF ADJUSTMENT, SUED THE CITY TO BLOCK THOSE VARIANCES. WE WERE IN COURT. AT THIS POINT, THERE'S BEEN NO DISCUSSION OF THE MERITS OF OUR CASE. WE'VE BEEN ARGUING OVER WHETHER I CAN PARTICIPATE AS A PARTY TO THE LITIGATION AND SUCH. IT'S VERY FRUSTRATING. RIGHT NOW, OUR HOUSE IS STILL AT GRADE. IT IS STILL AT RISK OF FLOODING. WE'VE DONE NOTHING TO ENHANCE THE RESILIENCY OF OUR HOUSE AND THAT AFFECTS THE WHOLE RESILIENCY OF ST. ARMANDS AS A LOCATION, AS A DESTINATION. OUR NEIGHBORS HAVE BEEN ARGUING THAT WE SHOULD LIVE IN THE HOUSE AS IS, AS YOU SEE IN THE PICTURES. THAT'S GOING TO BE DIFFICULT. THEY HAVE ARGUED WE SHOULD -- AT GRADE. CAN'T DO. WE ARE 50% RULE HOUSE. I WANT TO COMMENT BRIEFLY ABOUT THE BOARD OF ADJUSTMENT. SINCE WE GOT OUR VARIANCES, THERE HAVE BEEN TWO OTHER HOUSES THAT HAVE ASKED FOR VARIANCES TO LIFT THEIR PROPERTIES. ONE ADDITIONAL HOUSE ON ST. ARMANDS, ONE ON SIESTA KEY. ALL VARIANCES THAT HAVE BEEN REQUESTED FOR THESE HOUSES THAT FLOODED HAVE BEEN APPROVED. SOME OF THEM ARE LIKE OURS, SETBACKS AND DAYLIGHT PLANE VARIANCES AND THESE OTHER THINGS AS WELL. WHAT THE BOARD OF ADJUSTMENT IS TELLING US IS THAT IF YOU HAVE REASONABLE REQUESTS FOR VARIANCES TO FACILITATE HOME ELEVATION PROJECTS, THEY WILL BE APPROVED. OUT OF TIME. HAVE TO FINISH MY THOUGHT AT YOUR NEXT MEETING. ANYWAY, THANK YOU. >>Mayor Trice: THANK YOU. MR. LOBECK. >> YES, GOOD MORNING. THANK YOU. MADAM MAYOR, VICE MAYOR, AND COMMISSIONERS, DAN LOBECK, A RESIDENT, HOMEOWNER, BUSINESS OWNER IN THE CITY OF SARASOTA. SINCE WE'RE CELEBRATING "FIND THE GOOD DAY," I FIND IT VERY GOOD THAT YOU HAVE A CHANCE TO RECONSIDER BEFORE ADOPTING SOME TERRIBLE CHANGES IN YOUR TRANSPORTATION POLICIES. IN THIS BRIEF TIME, LET ME SPEAK TO ONE CONSIDERATION. WON'T BE ABLE TO DO THAT FULLY. NEIGHBORHOODS. ALL OF YOU IN CAMPAIGNING SAY THAT YOU ARE PRONEIGHBORHOOD YET THERE HAS BEEN NO CONSIDERATION BY ANY COMMISSIONER THAT I'M AWARE OF LOCALLY WITH RESPECT TO VERY ADVERSE EFFECT ON NEIGHBORHOODS WITH THE PROPOSED AMENDMENTS TO THE TRANSPORTATION CHAPTER. A CITY PROGRAM, POLICY 6.13, TRANSPORTATION CHAPTER, WOULD ELIMINATE A CITY PROGRAM TO EDUCATE DRIVERS ABOUT THE IMPORTANCE OF COMPLYING WITH SPEED LIMITS IN RESIDENTIAL NEIGHBORHOODS TO REPLACE THAT WITH EDUCATION ABOUT THE IMPORTANCE OF SPEED LIMITS WHILE DRIVING IN THE CITY. THE NEIGHBORHOOD FOCUS IS ELIMINATED. REDUCED PARKING REQUIREMENTS IN NEW DEVELOPMENTS MEANS THAT THE OWNERS, THE TENANTS WILL HAVE TO PARK ON THE STREETS, AND WE'RE ALREADY SEEING PROBLEMS WITH THAT IN THE ROSEMARY DISTRICT AND ELSEWHERE. POLICY 7.1 IS AMENDED TO REPLACE 8 GOOD REASONS FOR SIDEWALK CONSTRUCTION, INCLUDING REPAIR, REPLACEMENT, FOR DETERIORATED SIDEWALKS, NEW SIDEWALKS WHERE IT'S HAZARDOUS FOR PEDESTRIANS WITH ONLY TWO, FILLING GAPS AND ACCESSIBILITY. THAT HURTS NEIGHBORHOODS BY DOWN-GRADING THE CONSIDERATIONS FOR SIDEWALK CONSTRUCTION. THERE ARE POLICIES IN 6.4 AND 6.6 THAT ARE REALLY -- [INAUDIBLE] -- IT REFLECTS AN EMPHASIS ON TRAFFIC CALMING. YOU'RE HAVING TRAFFIC CALMING WORKSHOPS RIGHT NOW AND TRAFFIC CALMING IS IMPORTANT FOR SAFETY AND SPEED, BUT IT EFFECTIVELY ELIMINATES THE SIMULTANEOUS CONSIDERATION OF DISCOURAGING CUT-THRU TRAFFIC IN NEIGHBORHOODS AND EXPRESSLY SAYS THE AMENDMENTS ARE TO REFLECT THE CITY'S CURRENT APPROACH TO NEIGHBORHOOD TRAFFIC MANAGEMENT WHICH PRIORITIZES SPEED MANAGEMENT AND SAFETY OVER VOLUME REDUCTION AND CUT-THRU DIVERSION. NOW WHY? BECAUSE THE UNDERLYING PREMISE IN YOUR TRANSPORTATION CHAPTER AMENDMENTS ARE TO EMBRACE TRAFFIC CONGESTION THROUGHOUT THE CITY, WHICH OF NECESSITY WHEN THE STREETS GET GRIDLOCKED -- AND WAIT UNTIL YOU SEE SOMETHING FROM THE NEIGHBORHOOD WORKSHOP LAST WEEK, A CONCESSION BY THE CONSULTANT ON THIS -- TO -- WHICH IS GOING TO FORCE TRAFFIC THROUGH NEIGHBORHOODS. IF YOU HAVE GRIDLOCKED CITY STREETS. SO I DON'T HAVE TIME TO DO THE OTHER THINGS. YOU HAVE THIS. YOU'VE HAD IT FOR QUITE SOME TIME. APPRECIATE YOUR CONSIDERATION. >>Mayor Trice: THANK YOU VERY MUCH, MR. LOBECK. THAT ENDS PUBLIC COMMENT. WE ARE NOW AT APPROVAL OF THE MINUTES OF AUGUST 3 REGULAR CITY COMMISSION MEETING. MAY I HAVE A MOTION? >>Vice-Mayor Ohlrich: MOVE APPROVAL. >>Kyle Battie: SECOND. >>Jen Ahearn-Koch: I WANT TO SAY FOR THE RECORD THAT I SUBMITTED NON-SUBSTANTIVE CHANGES. >>Mayor Trice: OKAY. THANK YOU. MOTION FROM THE VICE MAYOR. SECONDED BY COMMISSIONER BATTIE WITH NON-SUBSTANTIVE CHANGES BY COMMISSIONER AHEARN-KOCH. MAY WE HAVE YOUR VOTES, PLEASE? THANK YOU. IT PASSES UNANIMOUSLY. NEXT IS UNDER BOARD ACTIONS, ITEM 5.1. WILLIAM RUSSELL OF THE HOUSING AUTHORITY, PRESIDENT AND CEO, TO COME AND MAKE A PRESENTATION. >>William Russell: GOOD MORNING, MAYOR. GOOD MORNING, COMMISSION. CAN YOU ALL SEE THE PRESENTATION? >>Shayla Griggs: YOU'RE GOOD. >>William Russell: OKAY. ALL RIGHT. SO, INITIALLY, THIS WAS GOING TO BE KIND OF AN ANNUAL REPORT TO THE COMMISSION ABOUT THE HOUSING AUTHORITY. BUT AS YOU GUYS KNOW, WE'RE VERY DEEPLY INVOLVED IN A NEW DEVELOPMENT AT McCOWN, AND WE'VE HAD SEVERAL DISCUSSIONS WITH YOU ALL ABOUT THE PUBLIC PARKING COMPONENT. WE'RE IN A CRITICAL TIME STRETCH OF THAT. THERE ARE A FEW SLIDES THAT I JUST WANT TO GO THROUGH TO REPORT INFORMATION THAT I THINK YOU SHOULD KNOW ABOUT. THEN I'LL SWITCH OVER TO THE McCOWN DEVELOPMENT. AGAIN, I WANT TO UPDATE YOU ON OUR AFFORDABLE HOUSING SUPPLY AND WHAT THE HOUSING AUTHORITY HAS DONE TO GROW OUR AFFORDABLE HOUSING SUPPLY. AND HOW WE HAVE BEEN ACCOUNTABLE STEWARDS OF PUBLIC TRUST AND INVESTMENT. AND THEN AGAIN THE TIME SENSITIVE REQUEST ON McCOWN. JUST BACKGROUND INFORMATION, THE CITY OF SARASOTA DID CHARTER THE HOUSING AUTHORITY BACK IN 1938. UNDER STATE LAW, WE ARE A DEPENDENT SPECIAL DISTRICT. AND IN THE STATE OF FLORIDA, IF YOU ARE A MUNICIPAL HOUSING AUTHORITY, WHICH WE ARE, THE MAYOR NOMINATES OUR BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS. IF YOU ARE A COUNTY HOUSING AUTHORITY, THE GOVERNOR APPOINTS YOUR BOARD. WE HAVE 43 FULL-TIME STAFF WORKING FOR US NOW. THAT'S CONTINUING TO GROW LARGELY BECAUSE OUR SECTION 8 HOUSING CHOICE VOUCHER PROGRAM CONTINUES TO GROW. BUT OUR BUDGET IS WELL IN EXCESS OF $40 MILLION NOW. AND FOR 16 STRAIGHT YEARS, OUR HOUSING CHOICE VOUCHER PROGRAM, WHICH IS BY FAR OUR BIGGEST PROGRAM NOW HAS BEEN A HIGH PER FORMER. WE HAVE A HUNDRED PERCENT SCORE THIS YEAR FROM HUD. PROUD OF THAT. RIGHT NOW, OUR PORTFOLIO CONSISTS OF 100 UNITS OF AFFORDABLE HOUSING KNOWN AS BERTHA MITCHELL. 175 UNITS OF PROJECT-BASED SECTION 8 UNITS, THAT'S AT THE McCOWN COMPLEX. OUR NONPROFIT OWNS AND OPERATES 65 RENTAL UNITS. AND OUR SECTION 8 VOUCHER PROGRAM IS NOW 2300 TENANT-BASED SECTION 8 VOUCHERS. AND THROUGH THE DEVELOPMENTS WE'VE DONE WITH OUR CODEVELOPERS, THERE ARE 522 PRIVATELY MANAGED LOW-INCOME HOUSING TAX CREDIT APARTMENTS. SO WE'VE DIVERSIFIED OUR PORTFOLIO. YOU CAN SEE THAT WE WERE AT OUR HIGH WATER MARK, WE HAD 560 PUBLIC HOUSING UNITS. WE HAVE CONVERTED ALL OF THOSE NOW, SO WE HAVE ZERO PUBLIC HOUSING UNITS, BUT OVER THE LAST 15 YEARS OR SO, WE'VE PROJECT BASED 417 TENANT-BASED VOUCHERS THROUGH CONTRACTS WITH THE VARIOUS PROPERTIES THAT WE'VE REDEVELOPED. SO NOW WE HAVE 417. THOSE ARE BASICALLY LONG-TERM SUBSIDIZED UNITS AS PART OF OUR MIXED INCOME COMMUNITIES. AS YOU CAN SEE AT McCOWN, WE NOW HAVE 175 PROJECT BASED RENTAL ASSISTANCE UNITS OR WE HAVE A CONTRACT DIRECTLY WITH HUD TO SUBSIDIZE THOSE UNITS. I MENTIONED THE TAX CREDIT UNITS. SO YOU CAN SEE OUR VOUCHER PROGRAM, WHEN I ARRIVED, IT WAS 726 VOUCHERS. WE'RE NOW OVER 2300 VOUCHERS. SO WE'VE MORE THAN TRIPLED THE SIZE OF OUR SECTION 8 VOUCHER PROGRAM. THE SIGNIFICANCE OF THAT IS FAMILIES WHO HAVE A VOUCHER HAVE A LOT OF CHOICE AS TO WHERE THEY LIVE. THEY CAN PICK THE NEIGHBORHOODS. THEY CAN PICK THE ACTUAL APARTMENT OR HOME. THEY CAN ACTUALLY TAKE THAT VOUCHER AND MOVE ANYWHERE IN THE COUNTRY THAT THEY CARE TO MOVE TO. A LOT OF PEOPLE DON'T REALIZE THAT. SO IT OFFERS A LOT OF MOBILITY WITHIN OUR JURISDICTION, BUT ALSO PORTABILITY AROUND THE COUNTRY. ALL OF OUR REDEVELOPMENT ACTIVITIES HAS GENERATED WELL IN EXCESS OF $275 MILLION HERE IN NORTH SARASOTA. AND WE'VE COMPLETED NOW 11 MULTIFAMILY DEVELOPMENTS WITH OUR PARTNERS. AND RIGHT NOW, AS I SIT HERE, WE HAVE 308 NEW UNITS UNDER CONSTRUCTION ALL AT THE SAME TIME. THIS IS A NEAT CHART. I DON'T WANT TO SPEND TOO MUCH TIME ON THIS, BUT ON THE LEFT-HAND SIDE YOU SEE ALL THE INITIAL, I WOULD SAY ORIGINAL HUD-SPONSORED DEVELOPMENTS HERE IN SARASOTA IN PARTNERSHIP WITH THE SARASOTA HOUSING AUTHORITY AND HOW MANY UNITS THEY CONSISTED OF, WHEN THEY WERE BUILT. AND THEN ON THE RIGHT SIDE IT KIND OF SHOWS HOW EACH SITE OR CAMPUS HAS BEEN REDEVELOPED AND HOW MANY UNITS WE'VE BEEN ABLE TO DEVELOP ON THOSE SITES. NOW WE MOVE ON TO McCOWN TOWER. ON THAT SITE RIGHT NOW, WE HAVE TWO BUILDINGS. ONE WAS BUILT IN 1971, THE ORIGINAL McCOWN TOWER. IT WAS A HUNDRED-UNIT PUBLIC HOUSING PROPERTY. WE LATER CONVERTED IT TO ELDERLY ONLY, AND THEN THROUGH THE HUD SECTION 8 RENTAL ASSISTANCE DEMONSTRATION PROGRAM WE CONVERTED IT TO PROJECT-BASED RENTAL ASSISTANCE. THAT IS ALSO WHAT THE ANNEX IS AS WELL. THAT WAS FINISHED IN 1979. SO RIGHT NOW ON THAT CAMPUS, WE HAVE 175 UNITS. A FEW YEARS AGO, WE DID A $13 MILLION RENOVATION OF McCOWN TOWER. SO THE UNITS WERE COMPLETELY REDONE. ALL THE ELECTRICAL SYSTEMS WERE COMPLETELY REDONE. WE PAINTED IT, THANK GOODNESS. AND JUST MODERNIZED THE LOOK OF IT. LIKE I SAID, THE RESIDENTS REALLY NOTICED A HUGE DIFFERENCE IN TERMS OF THE QUALITY OF THE UNITS. WE'RE CURRENTLY FINALIZING A SCOPE OF WORK TO REHAB THE ANNEX PROPERTY AS WELL. IN FACT, INITIALLY WE WERE GOING TO TRY TO PAY CASH FOR THAT OUT OF THE PROPERTY RESERVES, WHICH IS FAIRLY LIMITED. SO WE REALLY DECIDED THE PROPERTY REALLY NEEDS A PROPER UPLIFT AND MODERNIZATION. SO WE ARE GOING TO TAKE OUT A HUD-INSURED LOAN TO FINANCE KIND OF ALL AT ONCE RENOVATION OF THAT PROPERTY. SO FOR THE NEW DEVELOPMENT AT McCOWN, THE CAPITAL STACK IN ESSENCE IS NOW FUNDED FOR THE HOUSING PORTION. AS YOU KNOW, THE LAST TIME I CAME TO YOU, WE WERE 4 MILLION SHORT. APPRECIATE THE CITY COMMISSION WRITING A LETTER OF SUPPORT TO THE COUNTY COMMISSION. FORTUNATELY, THEY DID AWARD US $3 MILLION FOR McCOWN, AND THE HOUSING AUTHORITY PLEDGED THE REMAINING MILLION TO CLOSE THE GAP. SO THAT'S GREAT NEWS. THE ONLY THING THAT'S PENDING KIND OF A FINAL FORMAL COMMITMENT IS FOR THE $8 MILLION THAT WE'VE BEEN DISCUSSING WITH YOU FOR 160 PUBLIC PARKING SPACES. SO WE STILL NEED A FIRM COMMITMENT FROM THE CITY TO AUTHORIZE THAT. THIS IS JUST KIND OF A DESIGN IMAGE OF WHAT WE'RE LOOKING TO DEVELOP AT McCOWN. THERE WILL BE RETAIL ALONG BOULEVARD OF THE ARTS. THERE WILL BE SOME AMENITY SPACES AS WELL ALONG COCOANUT THERE. AND THEN THE PARKING STRUCTURE WILL BE IN THE MIDDLE. SO HERE IS KIND OF A SITE PLAN TO SHOW YOU HOW IT'S LAID OUT RIGHT NOW. YOU SEE THERE IS A DRIVE AISLE. LIKE A 20-FOOT DRIVE AISLE BETWEEN OUR CURRENT PROPERTY AND THE SIDEWALK, CURB AREA, AND THE NEW STRUCTURE. IT'S ALSO GOING TO BE ONE WAY. SO FIRE TRUCKS, DELIVERY TRUCKS, PEOPLE PICKING UP RESIDENTS TO TAKE THEM PLACES. THERE'S PLENTY OF ROOM FOR A CAR TO PULL UP, PICK SOMEONE UP AND THEN ANOTHER CAR TO PASS THROUGH TO THE LEFT. AND THEN WE HAD INITIALLY THE WAY THE PARKING GARAGE WAS LAID OUT, IT HAD TWO-WAY DRIVE AISLES AND KIND OF PERPENDICULAR SPACES. BUT WE WERE WORKING WITH A GARAGE CONSULTANT AND HE POINTED OUT THAT IF WE MADE THE DRIVE AISLES ONE WAY, THEY COULD BE WIDER AND MUCH EASIER TO NAVIGATE AND ALSO IF THE SPACES ARE MORE AT A DIAGONAL IT MAKES IT A MUCH EASIER FLOW. THAT IS A SERIOUS CONSIDERATION FOR OUR RESIDENTS WHO ARE ELDERLY. SO I THINK THIS REALLY IMPROVED THE LAYOUT OF THE GARAGE. AND THEN YOU'LL SEE ON THE UPPER FLOORS, THEN YOU SEE THE RESIDENTIAL UNITS AS WELL AS THE PARKING. BASED ON COMMENTS WE HAD FROM OUR RESIDENTS, THEY DIDN'T LOVE THE IDEA OF HAVING TO EXIT McCOWN TOWER ENTRANCE AND THEN GO, BASICALLY WALK THROUGH THE ENTIRE GARAGE TO GET TO THE ELEVATORS. SO WE DID ADD AN ELEVATOR ON THE SOUTH END THAT OUR RESIDENTS CAN EASILY ACCESS NOW TO GET UP TO THEIR PARKING. THIS IS JUST ANOTHER IMAGE OF THE STRUCTURE. AS I MENTIONED, I KNOW THE COMMISSION HAS HAD TWO MEETINGS WHERE I'VE PRESENTED TO YOU AND TALKED TO YOU ABOUT THIS. BOTH TIMES THERE WERE VOTES 4-1 IN SUPPORT OF THE PUBLIC PARKING COMPONENT. AGAIN, 160 SPACES. AND THEN, OF COURSE, YOU GUYS VOTED UNANIMOUSLY TO SUPPORT OUR PROJECT WITH THE COUNTY COMMISSION. SO THANK YOU AGAIN FOR THAT. AS I SAID, THE COUNTY COMMISSION DID PROVIDE 3 MILLION IN GAP FUNDING. NOW EVERYTHING IS DONE. I THINK I MENTIONED TO YOU GUYS THAT IN JUNE WE HAD TO PAY SOME MONEY TO FLORIDA HOUSING FINANCE TO GET AN EXTENSION OF TIME TO GET IN TO UNDERWRITING. WE DID THAT, BUT NOW WE'RE KIND OF UP AGAINST THE CLOCK AGAIN TO FINALIZE THE DEAL AND GET IT INTO UNDERWRITING. WE'VE ALSO BEEN TALKING TO TWO PRIMARY TAX CREDIT EQUITY INVESTORS, AND THEY ARE EAGER TO HAVE THIS ALL PUT TOGETHER SO THEY CAN START TO UNDERWRITE AS WELL. AFTER THOSE MEETINGS -- AND I KNOW THE INTERIM CITY MANAGER HAD I THINK AT ONE POINT HE ASKED THE COMMISSION TO DEDICATE SOME MONEY FOR DESIGN, WHICH I DON'T THINK HE ENDED UP DOING. BUT AFTER THE MEETINGS, WE DID GO BACK TO OUR DESIGN TEAM AND WE CLEARLY HAD THEM DESIGN A PARKING STRUCTURE THAT ACCOMMODATES THE 160 SPACES. SO THAT'S BEEN COMPLETED. ON AUGUST 12, WE SUBMITTED OUR PLANS TO THE DRC. SO WE ARE GOING THROUGH THE ENTITLEMENT PROCESS AS WELL. SO NOW LITERALLY THE FINAL PIECE WOULD BE TO HAVE A FORMAL VOTE TO APPROVE THE FINANCING FOR THE 160 SPACES. I'VE HAD A NUMBER OF DISCUSSIONS WITH CITY MANAGER FRILING ABOUT THIS, BUT I KNOW THAT STAFF IS WORKING ON A STUDY AND THEY ARE GOING TO BE BRINGING THIS FORWARD TO YOU. BUT I JUST WANT TO EMPHASIZE WE'RE REALLY UP AGAINST IT NOW IN TERMS OF TIME. AND THIS IS THE ONE KIND OF FORMAL PIECE OF THE FINANCING PLAN THAT WE STILL HAVE YET TO FINALIZE. WE REALLY NEED TO DO THAT AS SOON AS POSSIBLE. WE'D ALSO LIKE TO ASK THE CITY, YOU MAY NOT BE ABLE TO DO THIS UNTIL YOU HAVE YOUR VOTE, BUT WE DEFINITELY NEED TO HAVE SOME FLORIDA HOUSING FINANCE COMMIT FORM SIGNED FOR US SO WE CAN ALSO GO INTO UNDERWRITING. JUST TO COMMIT TO WORKING WITH US AND OUR TEAM AS WE GO THROUGH DIFFERENT UNDERWRITING REQUESTS THROUGH THE STATE AND THE EQUITY INVESTORS. THAT CONCLUDES MY PRESENTATION. I ALSO WANT TO MENTION OUR BOARD CHAIR, CAROLYN MASON, IS HERE WITH ME TODAY AND OUR DEVELOPMENT COMMITTEE CHAIR JACK MEREDITH IS ALSO WITH US TODAY. >>Mayor Trice: THANK YOU, MR. RUSSELL. NOW, I BELIEVE WE'RE GOING TO GET PUBLIC COMMENT BEFORE COMMISSIONER QUESTIONS. YEAH, THE SHEET IS REVERSED. THANK YOU. IF YOU WILL STEP BACK FOR A FEW MINUTES AND WE'LL GET PUBLIC COMMENT AND HAVE YOU BACK. THANK YOU. WE HAVE THREE INDIVIDUALS WHO HAVE REQUESTED TO SPEAK. KARL WILLIAMS, SONDRA YOUNG, AND DAVID LOUGH. COME ON DOWN. MR. WILLIAMS, IF YOU WILL BEGIN AND GIVE US YOUR NAME AND WHETHER YOU ARE A CITY RESIDENT AND IF YOU ARE REPRESENTING SOMEONE OTHER THAN YOURSELF. >> GOOD MORNING, EVERYONE. MY NAME IS KARL WILLIAMS. I AM ONE OF THE ADMINISTRATORS AT THE SARASOTA SCHOOL OF ARTS AND SCIENCES. WE'RE ONE OF YOUR PILLAR SCHOOLS. ACTUALLY "THE" PILLAR SCHOOL IF I SHOULD SAY SO. WE'VE BEEN IN THE ROSEMARY DISTRICT SINCE 1997. NEXT YEAR WE HIT 30 YEARS. BEFORE I GO ANY FURTHER, I DO WANT TO THANK THE CITY OF SARASOTA, BILL RUSSELL AND HUD, HOUSING AUTHORITY, FOR EVERYTHING YOU HAVE DONE FOR OUR COMMUNITY. IT LOOKS AMAZING. THERE IS THE STOREFRONT COMMUNITY. THERE'S AFFORDABLE HOUSING. AND THE MAIN REASON THAT I AM HERE IS ON BEHALF OF OUR SCHOOL TO VERBALLY EXPRESS OUR SUPPORT FOR THE PARKING GARAGE. WE FEEL THAT IT WOULD BE SOMETHING THAT IS BENEFICIAL NOT ONLY FOR JUST THE AREA BUT ALSO THE RESIDENTS. I ACTUALLY TOOK A NOTE OF ONE THING THAT MR. RUSSELL NOTED ABOUT HOW HE MADE AN ADJUSTMENT TO THE PARKING GARAGE TO BETTER ASSIST THE CURRENT RESIDENTS. THAT'S AN EXAMPLE OF WHAT I MEAN WHEN I'M SO THANKFUL FOR WHAT YOU DO FOR THE COMMUNITY. IN ADDITION TO BEING A SCHOOL REPRESENTATIVE, I'M ACTUALLY BORN AND RAISED RIGHT OFF OF 20th STREET AND CENTRAL. I'M A SARASOTA GUY. I'VE BEEN HERE FOR THE DURATION. I WON'T TELL YOU HOW OLD I AM. SOMEWHERE BETWEEN 30 AND 60 AND CLOSER TO 60 THAN IT IS 30. WE'LL LEAVE IT AT THAT. WE TALKED TO OUR ADMINISTRATION AND BOARD. WE FELT IT WAS IMPORTANT FOR THE CITY TO HEAR FROM THE SCHOOL AS SOMEONE WHO WAS ADAMANTLY IN SUPPORT OF WHAT'S GOING ON. WE HAVE A STRONG BELIEF THAT YOU WOULD NOT CONSIDER ANYTHING THAT HAS ANY OTHER CONSEQUENCES OTHER THAN TO POSITIVELY BENEFIT OUR COMMUNITY. WE ARE HERE TO SAY WE STRONGLY SUPPORT IT AND THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME. >>Mayor Trice: THANK YOU. SONDRA YOUNG. >> GOOD MORNING. MY NAME IS SONDRA YOUNG. I AM HERE REPRESENTING THE ROSEMARY DISTRICT. I AM HERE TO, FIRST OF ALL, SAY THAT I'M ALSO VERY SUPPORTIVE OF THE McCOWN GARAGE. I HAVE A COUPLE OF THINGS FOR YOU TO CONSIDER. ONE THAT IS ON MY MIND IS ABOUT PROTECTING OUR MATURE CANOPY TREES. THE SECOND ONE IS PLANNED WATER INFRASTRUCTURE BEFORE APPROVING ADDITIONAL DENSITY. THIRD, FOR US TO CONTINUE THINKING BEYOND THE ORIGINAL DEVELOPMENT. WHAT I WOULD ASK OF THE COMMISSION IS TO REQUIRE A CLEAR TREE IMPACT ASSESSMENT. SECONDARILY, TO ASK STAFF TO PROVIDE AN INFRASTRUCTURE CAPACITY REVIEW. AND THE BOTTOM LINE IS THAT I HEARD THE SENSE OF URGENCY ABOUT APPROVING THE ECONOMICS SUPPORTED WITH THIS PROJECT EARLIER TODAY. AND I THINK THAT YOU ALL SHOULD APPROVE THAT. WITH THE COORDINATION OF THE DEVELOPMENT SERVICES DEPARTMENT AS WELL AS THE TRANSPORTATION GROUP. THANK YOU. >>Mayor Trice: THANK YOU VERY MUCH, MS. YOUNG. DAVID LOUGH. >> I'M DAVID LOUGH, A ROSEMARY DISTRICT RESIDENT AND SELF-ADMITTED DREAMER. FIRST, I WANT TO BE CLEAR. I STRONGLY SUPPORT THE HOUSING AUTHORITY'S PLANS INCLUDING THE PUBLIC PARKING COMPONENT. I'VE WORKED WITH WILLIAM AND HIS TEAM FOR YEARS NOW. I'VE WRITTEN ABOUT THIS TOPIC TO MANY OF YOU, BUT I WANT TO MAKE THAT FIRST. THIS IS A UNIQUELY IMPORTANT AREA. IT'S OVER 200 FEET IN BETWEEN SOME WOULD SAY A HOTEL WITH LESS THAN IDEAL FACING ACROSS THE STREET FROM CITY SIDE WHICH IS RATHER AUSTERE. SO THERE IS A CANVAS HERE, IF YOU WILL, TO DO MULTIPLE GOOD THINGS. ONE, THE ELDERLY HOUSING IS REALLY ESSENTIAL, AND IT'S SO GREAT TO SEE AS THE ROSEMARY GROWS ABOUT 30% OF THE TOTAL HOUSING IN THE ROSEMARY IS ATTAINABLE, AFFORDABLE, WHATEVER ONE WANTS TO CALL IT. THIS AREA OF BOULEVARD OF THE ARTS HAS SOME MEANINGFUL CANOPY TREE COVERAGE. UNFORTUNATELY, THE SITE PLAN CALLS FOR THE REMOVAL OF EVERY TREE ON THAT PROPERTY. WELL, WHAT MIGHT WE DO ABOUT IT? ONE THING I BELIEVE IS FAIRLY SIMPLE. OPPORTUNITY. ONE WOULD BE TO ASK THE HOUSING AUTHORITY VO VOLUNTARILY TO CONSIDER AN ADDITIONAL SETBACK. BOULEVARD OF THE ARTS TO THE LOT LINE WHICH IS A PROPERTY RIGHT MATTER, PROBABLY IS ALLOWED. WHAT THAT DOES IS IT COMPRESSES THE AMOUNT OF AVAILABLE SPACE BETWEEN WHAT WILL BE THE BACK OF THE CURB AND THE BUILDING FACE. IT'S MY VIEW THAT SOME VOLUNTARY SETBACK COULD BE FOUR, FIVE FEET, SOMETHING LIKE THAT. COULD REALLY PROVIDE SOME POSSIBLE -- AND THIS MAY BE OVER THE TOP DREAMING -- BUT THINK OF AN OUTCOME THAT WOULD HAVE AN AMENITY STRIP WHERE MEANINGFUL CANOPY TREES COULD BE REPLANTED, 10-FOOT SIDEWALK AND POSSIBLY ADDITIONAL SPACE FOR A PLANTER OR OUTDOOR DINING. IT'S MY VIEW, AND, AGAIN, I'M NOT A DEVELOPER, BUT I BELIEVE THAT THE PROPERTY FROM THE HOUSING AUTHORITY FOR RETAIL RENTAL STANDPOINT COULD BE MORE VALUABLE WITH THE ADDITIONAL SETBACK THAN WITHOUT IT. I DO UNDERSTAND THAT IF ONE STARTED TO CARVE INTO IT, YOU MIGHT LOSE SOME PARKING SPOTS. BUT PLEASE LET US ALL AS THIS IS LOOKED AT IN TOTALITY LOOK AT THE TRADE-OFF IF YOU LOSE TEN PARKING SPOTS OF THE 160 OR WHATEVER, WHAT IS THE ULTIMATE WIN-WIN FOR EVERYBODY? >>Mayor Trice: THANK YOU, MR. LOUGH. WITH THAT, I'LL INVITE MR. RUSSELL TO RETURN BECAUSE I ALREADY SEE TWO OF THE COMMISSIONERS HAVE QUESTIONS. AS SOON AS YOU GET COMFORTABLE, WE'LL START WITH THE VICE MAYOR. >>Vice-Mayor Ohlrich: THANK YOU. FIRST OF ALL, MR. RUSSELL, TO YOU AND YOUR BOARD, THANK YOU FOR WHAT YOU DO. GREATLY APPRECIATED. I HAD TWO BUT NOW I HAVE THREE QUESTIONS. SLIDE 6 OF YOUR PRESENTATION INDICATES THERE IS AN INCREASE OF MORE THAN 1500 VOUCHERS BETWEEN 2005 AND 2025. WOULD YOU ADDRESS THAT? HOW IT HAPPENED, WHY IT HAPPENED, ET CETERA? >>William Russell: SURE. SOME OF THIS HAS COME ABOUT -- SO, AS WE -- I MEAN, LET'S JUST TAKE JANIE POE, FOR EXAMPLE. THAT WAS THE FIRST REDEVELOPMENT WE ENGAGED IN. SO IN THREE PHASES, WE ENDED UP DEMOLISHING 128 PUBLIC HOUSING UNITS THAT USED TO BE KNOWN AS JANIE POE. HUD'S POLICY IS BASICALLY TO ISSUE TENANT PROTECTION VOUCHERS FOR EVERY RESIDENT WHO IS RESIDING IN A PUBLIC HOUSING UNIT. SO IN THAT CASE WE WOULD HAVE GOTTEN 128 VOUCHERS THROUGH THAT DEMOLITION. THAT HAS HAPPENED ALONG THE WAY AT EVERY STEP. WE ALSO IN 2010, WE ABSORBED THE COUNTY'S VOUCHER PROGRAM WHICH HAD ABOUT 500 -- MAYBE 530 VOUCHERS. I KNOW THAT HUD REACHED OUT TO US. THERE WAS A PROPERTY IN THE CITY THAT HAD HAD HUD-INSURED FINANCING. SO AS THAT MATURED, I GUESS THE PROPERTY BECAME ELIGIBLE FOR PROJECT-BASED VOUCHERS. HUD REACHED OUT TO US AS THE VOUCHER ADMINISTRATOR AND SAID, WOULD YOU BE WILLING TO ADMINISTER 147 VOUCHERS AT THIS PROPERTY? OF COURSE, WE AGREED TO DO THAT. AND THEN ON TOP OF THAT, I WOULD SAY ANYTIME CONGRESS FUNDS NEW INCREMENTAL VOUCHERS, WE JUMP AT IT VERY AGGRESSIVELY. FOR THE MOST PART, IN 21 YEARS THAT I'VE BEEN HERE, WE'VE ONLY GOTTEN ONE ALLOCATION OF JUST REGULAR VOUCHERS. I THINK IT WAS LIKE 77 ONE YEAR. BUT MOSTLY WHAT CONGRESS IS DOING IS APPROPRIATING SPECIAL PURPOSE VOUCHERS, LIKE VOUCHERS FOR HOMELESS VETERANS. WE APPLIED FOR FOSTERING YOUTH INDEPENDENCE VOUCHERS. YOUTH AGING OUT OF FOSTER CARE. WE HAVE FAMILY UNIFICATION VOUCHERS. WHICH SOMETIMES A FAMILY HAS THEIR CHILDREN SEPARATED FROM THEM BECAUSE THEY ARE UNABLE TO PROVIDE HOUSING FOR THE FAMILY. SO ONCE WE'RE ABLE TO ISSUE THEM A VOUCHER -- AND WE DO ALL THESE THROUGH PARTNERSHIPS WITH THE COMMUNITY -- BUT ONCE WE ISSUE THEM A FAMILY UNIFICATION VOUCHER, THEY CAN BE REUNITED WITH THEIR CHILDREN. WE'VE GOTTEN A FAIR NUMBER OF MAINSTREAM VOUCHERS, WHICH IS NON-ELDERLY DISABLED INDIVIDUALS. ANYWAY, THERE'S A LOT OF DIFFERENT SPECIAL PURPOSE VOUCHERS. >>Vice-Mayor Ohlrich: DO YOU HAVE TO APPLY FOR MOST OF THESE? >>William Russell: YES. >>Vice-Mayor Ohlrich: GOOD JOB. >>William Russell: THANK YOU. >>Vice-Mayor Ohlrich: MY SECOND QUESTION IS REGARDING SLIDE 11 THAT INDICATED, AND YOU'VE SAID, A FINAL VOTE OF APPROVAL BY THE CITY COMMISSION IS REQUIRED FOR THE 8 MILLION FOR FINANCING OF THE GARAGE AND COMMITMENT FORMS, I HEARD YOU ADD. SO MY QUESTION IS NOT TO YOU BUT TO THE CITY MANAGER. WHEN COULD WE EXPECT THAT ON OUR AGENDA? >>Karie Friling: WE ARE EXPECTING TO RECEIVE THE MARKET STUDY FOR THE PARKING RATES I BELIEVE THIS WEEK WE ARE HOPING. I'LL LOOK AT STAFF IN THE AUDIENCE. I HAVEN'T SEEN THAT REPORT YET. IF YOU REMEMBER, WE DID A STUDY ON WHAT WE WOULD HAVE TO CHARGE FOR PARKING FOR NOT JUST THIS PROJECT BUT ALSO FOR THE BAY PARK AS WELL. SO ONCE WE GET THAT, WE'RE GOING TO SIT DOWN AND REVIEW IT INTERNALLY. THEN WE ANTICIPATE FROM THERE WE HAVE TO THEN MEET WITH OUR FINANCIAL ADVISORS WITH THE CITY AS WELL. THEY ARE ALSO WAITING FOR THAT INFORMATION, SO THEY CAN START PUTTING TOGETHER WHAT THE FINANCING STRATEGY AND PLAN WOULD BE FOR THE CITY AND THEN BRINGING IT BACK TO YOU. IT WOULD BE THIS FALL. >>Vice-Mayor Ohlrich: COULD YOU NARROW IT DOWN A LITTLE BIT, THIS FALL? >>Karie Friling: LIKE OCTOBER. >>Vice-Mayor Ohlrich: OCTOBER. OKAY. THAT'S, I THINK, A GOOD ANSWER. MY FINAL QUESTION IS REGARDING MR. LOUGH'S DREAM OF HAVING A BIGGER SETBACK AND PRESERVING OR PUTTING BACK IN PLACE THE CANOPY TREES. THAT WOULD BE ON YOUR MIND, I'M SURE, RIGHT? >>William Russell: YES. YES. I MEAN, WE'RE DEFINITELY LOOKING AT DOING AS MUCH AS WE CAN IN TERMS OF TREE PLANTING. WE DO NEED TO REMOVE ALL OF THE TREES TO JUST CONSTRUCT THE PROPERTY. THERE'S NO WAY AROUND THAT. WE HAVE PLANNED FOR A CERTAIN NUMBER OF TREE REPLACEMENTS. SOME OF THIS IS GOING TO DEPEND ON THE CITY'S PLANS. I KNOW THAT THE CITY IS LOOKING AT DOING LIKE A STREETSCAPE PLAN FOR BOULEVARD OF THE ARTS. MY UNDERSTANDING IS POTENTIALLY THAT COULD DO AWAY WITH THE TURN LANE AT THE INTERSECTION OF COCOANUT AND BOULEVARD OF THE ARTS. RIGHT NOW, OUR NEW PLAN SHOWS THE BLACK OLIVES BEING PLANTED MORE TOWARDS THE FLORIDA SIDE OF THE PROPERTY ALONG BOULEVARD OF THE ARTS, BUT THEN BECAUSE OF THE TURN AISLE, WE HAVE LESS SPACE AS WE GET CLOSER TO COCOANUT. SO THAT MIGHT BE SOMETHING, OR WE COULD COORDINATE WITH THE CITY. AND IF WE COULD FIND MORE ROOM LIKE WE HAVE ON THE EASTERN SIDE OF BOULEVARD OF THE ARTS THERE, THEN WE COULD PLANT THOSE TREES ALL ALONG BOULEVARD OF THE ARTS, WHICH WOULD BE NICE. >>Vice-Mayor Ohlrich: THANK YOU. THOSE ARE MY QUESTIONS, MAYOR. >>Mayor Trice: THANK YOU. COMMISSIONER AHEARN-KOCH. >>Jen Ahearn-Koch: YES. THANK YOU. THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR THIS. I HAVE A PROCEDURAL QUESTION AS WELL FOR THE CITY MANAGER. ON OUR AGENDA HERE, IT SAYS REVIEW AND ACCEPT REPORT. DOES THAT INCLUDE TAKING A CONCRETE VOTE ON WHETHER WE'RE GOING FORWARD WITH THE 8 MILLION AS REQUESTED? >>Karie Friling: NO, IT DOES NOT. THAT WOULD COME SEPARATELY. >>Jen Ahearn-Koch: JUST Q & A AND A FOLLOW-UP MEETING WE WOULD HAVE THAT VOTE ABOUT THE 8 MILLION? >>Karie Friling: YES, THAT'S CORRECT. WHEN YOU HAVE ALL THE INFORMATION. >>Jen Ahearn-Koch: THAT WOULD INCLUDE THE FINANCING REPORT OF THE GARAGE, WHICH WOULD BE A PAID GARAGE AND ALL OF THAT, THAT WHOLE SITUATION. >>Karie Friling: YES, THAT WOULD INCLUDE THAT. >>Jen Ahearn-Koch: MR. RUSSELL, MY QUESTION HAS TO DO WITH TIMING. HOW DOES THAT TIMING FIT IN WITH YOUR TIMING THAT YOU ARE REQUESTING OF US? >>William Russell: IT'S GOING TO BE DIFFICULT. THE REALITY IS IT MAY CAUSE US TO APPLY FOR A SECOND EXTENSION WITH FLORIDA HOUSING, WHICH COULD BE SOMEWHAT PROBLEMATIC. THE FIRST EXTENSION IS REALLY YOU PAY FOR IT AND THE STAFF APPROVES IT. THOSE ARE NOT THAT UNCOMMON, BUT A SECOND EXTENSION WOULD HAVE TO GO TO THE FLORIDA HOUSING FINANCE BOARD AND THEN IT'S MORE OF A SITUATION OF WHY CAN'T YOU GUYS GET THIS DEAL INTO UNDERWRITING? WHAT'S TAKING YOU SO LONG? ANYWAY, BUT IF WE NEED TO DO THAT, WE WILL. I THINK WE CAN GET IT THROUGH THE FLORIDA HOUSING BOARD. >>Jen Ahearn-Koch: LET ME ASK THIS QUESTION BECAUSE TIMING SEEMS TO BE A BIG PIECE OF THE CONUNDRUM HERE. HOW DOES THE PUBLIC PAID PARKING GARAGE HELP FULFILL THE NEEDS OF THE HOUSING AUTHORITY AND SERVING YOUR RESIDENTS? HOW DOES THE CITY'S COMPONENT OF YOUR BIGGER PICTURE, WHICH IS THE HOUSING FOR SENIORS AND PROVIDING THOSE FOLKS AS WELL WITH PARKING AND THE CITY IS ADDING 160 TO THAT PROJECT, IS THAT A CRUCIAL PIECE FOR YOU TO COMPLETE THE HOUSING PIECE OF THIS OR NOT? AND IF SO, HOW DOES THAT HELP YOU WITH YOUR MISSION? >>William Russell: IF YOU ASKED ME THIS A YEAR AGO, I PROBABLY WOULD HAVE HAD A DIFFERENT ANSWER. BUT NOW WE'RE SO PREGNANT WITH THIS NOW, IT'S TOTALLY INCORPORATED INTO ALL THE DESIGNS AND FINANCING STRUCTURE AND EVERYTHING THAT IF WE WERE TO NOW TRY TO PULL THAT OUT, I THINK IT WOULD BE INCREDIBLY PROBLEMATIC. LIKE -- I DON'T KNOW. WE MAY EVEN HAVE TO KIND OF GIVE UP ON THAT AND RETURN THE FUNDING TO THE STATE AT THAT POINT. IT'S JUST SO BAKED INTO ALL THE DESIGN AND FINANCING AT THIS POINT THAT I CAN'T REALLY CONCEIVE OF SEPARATING IT OUT NOW. >>Jen Ahearn-Koch: I THINK I DID ASK THE QUESTION A YEAR AGO AND IT WAS A DIFFERENT ANSWER THEN. THIS IS SORT OF AN EXTRA AND DOESN'T REALLY BENEFIT THE HOUSING AUTHORITY. AND SO IN MOVING FORWARD, THE PLANS MOVING FORWARD HAVE BEEN MADE WITH THE UNDERSTANDING THAT THE CITY WOULD MOVE FORWARD AND PARTICIPATE EVEN THOUGH WE'VE NEVER TAKEN ANY KIND OF A FORMAL VOTE ON THAT. >>William Russell: RIGHT. YOU'VE TAKEN TWO VOTES. >>Jen Ahearn-Koch: RIGHT. BUT THEY WERE TO TALK ABOUT IT AND PLAN. >>William Russell: ENOUGH TO CAUSE US TO BELIEVE THIS IS SOMETHING THE CITY WANTS TO PARTNER WITH US ON. >>Jen Ahearn-Koch: DON'T GET ME WRONG, THE PROJECT ITSELF HAS MERITS BEYOND BELIEF. WE'VE SEEN THAT THERE IS A NEED AND WE KNOW THERE IS A NEED AND WE KNOW THAT THE HOUSING AUTHORITY DOES AN EXCELLENT JOB UP TO THIS POINT IN WHAT THEY HAVE BEEN DOING AND ALL THE UNITS THAT YOU'VE PRODUCED. SO I THINK THAT THAT'S WORTHY OF POINTING THAT OUT. MY CONCERN IS THE TIMING OF ALL OF THIS. WE'VE BEEN TALKING ABOUT PROJECTS AND FINANCING OF CERTAIN PROJECTS BEING ON HOLD UNTIL AFTER NOVEMBER 3rd. SO MY REQUEST WOULD BE TO THINK ABOUT THE TIMING OF YOUR REQUEST TO US AS A COMMISSION. IF THESE TWO THINGS ARE INDEED NOW INSEPARABLE, I THINK THE QUESTION OF TIMING IS VERY IMPORTANT. >>William Russell: I HAVE STRESSED TO THE CITY MANAGER THAT PUTTING THIS OFF UNTIL AFTER THE ELECTION IS NOT REALLY AN OPTION FOR US. >>Jen Ahearn-Koch: OKAY. THANK YOU FOR SAYING THAT. THAT'S KIND OF WHAT I THINK I WAS HINTING AT. [ LAUGHTER ] OKAY. I WOULD BE INTERESTED IN THE CITY MANAGER'S THOUGHTS ON THAT. MY SECOND QUESTION DOES HAVE TO DO WITH THE TREES IN THAT SITUATION BECAUSE I WOULD HIGHLY RECOMMEND CONSIDERING SAVING TREES, REPLANTING TREES, RELOCATING TREES, A VOLUNTARY SETBACK, IF THAT IS ALLOWED, A VOLUNTARY SETBACK. I'M NOT SO SURE IT IS ALLOWED YET. TO BE ABLE TO ACCOMMODATE A BEAUTIFUL TREE-LINED STREET. A LOT OF THOSE TREES ARE WORTHY OF SAVING. AND I CAN IMAGINE THE HEARTACHE THAT WILL HAPPEN IN OUR COMMUNITY WHEN ALL OF THOSE TREES ARE REMOVED. THOSE ARE MY QUESTIONS FOR THE MOMENT. >>Mayor Trice: THANK YOU. COMMISSIONER ALPERT. >>Liz Alpert: JUST ONE QUICK QUESTION. WHAT IS THE DEADLINE THAT YOU NEED THIS DECISION THAT WOULD NOT REQUIRE YOU TO ASK FOR AN EXTENSION? >>William Russell: I CAN'T ANSWER THAT QUESTION, BUT I KNOW TALKING TO OUR CODEVELOPERS WHO ARE THE ONES KIND OF CORRALLING THE EQUITY INVESTORS AND DEALING WITH THE STATE UNDERWRITERS, I MEAN, THEY WANTED ME TO GET THE FORM SIGNED TODAY. SO THAT WE CAN GET IT INTO UNDERWRITING AND MEET, I THINK IT IS THE DECEMBER 18 DEADLINE. EVEN IF WE HAD IT TODAY, IT'S STILL GOING TO BE A HUGE EFFORT TO GET INTO UNDERWRITING BY THE 18th OF DECEMBER. IT'S KIND OF ONE OF THOSE AS SOON AS POSSIBLE TYPE THINGS. IF WE'RE LOOKING AT OCTOBER, I DON'T KNOW HOW MANY MEETINGS THERE ARE IN OCTOBER, BUT -- >>Liz Alpert: TWO. IS IT POSSIBLE TO GET IT BY THE FIRST MEETING IN OCTOBER? >>Karie Friling: WE CAN CERTAINLY TRY. I NEED TO DISCUSS IT WITH OUR FINANCE DIRECTOR BECAUSE WE HAVE TO HAVE OUR FINANCIAL ADVISOR AND WE HAVE TO DO OUR OWN UNDERWRITING ON THAT IN TERMS OF THE STRUCTURE, HOW IT WOULD BE STRUCTURED AND THINGS LIKE THAT. WE'VE ALREADY ENGAGED THEM. I'VE HAD A COUPLE OF MEETINGS WITH THEM ALREADY. WE'RE JUST WAITING FOR THE FINAL REPORT ON THE RATE TO MAKE SURE THAT THE REVENUE COULD SUPPORT THE COST OF THE CONSTRUCTION. IF YOU REMEMBER DURING THE BUDGET DISCUSSIONS WE HAD EARLIER, I HAD ORIGINALLY HAD IT IN THE BUDGET AND THEN AT THE REQUEST OF THE COMMISSION, YOU GUYS TOOK IT OUT SPENDING THIS ADDITIONAL INFORMATION THAT WE'RE WAITING FOR. >>Liz Alpert: THANK YOU. THAT'S ALL I HAVE. THANK YOU. >>Mayor Trice: COMMISSIONER BATTIE. >>Kyle Battie: THANK YOU, MAYOR. MINE IS NOT SO MUCH OF A QUESTION AS IT IS TO SAY THANK YOU ALL FOR THE WORK THAT YOU DO AND PROVIDING AFFORDABLE HOUSING TO OUR COMMUNITY. ASIDE FROM THE BONUS DENSITY THAT WE GAVE TO DEVELOPERS AND SO ON, YOU ALL WERE LIKE ONE OF THE ONLY ENTITIES TO BASICALLY GIVE US AFFORDABLE HOUSING IN THE CITY, AND WE APPRECIATE THAT. I THINK IT BEHOOVES THE COMMISSION TO GO AHEAD AND GET THIS THING DONE. STOP KICKING THIS CAN DOWN THE ROAD. WE SEE THIS HAPPEN SO MANY TIMES WITH JUST LIKE DEATH BY A THOUSAND PAPER CUTS. WE NEED THIS PARKING PARTICULARLY WITH WHAT'S GOING ON AT THE BAY, THE NEED AND THE STRESS FOR PARKING IN THE ROSEMARY DISTRICT. AND WE NEED TO GO AHEAD AND MAKE THIS HAPPEN. AS YOU SAID, EVEN WITH AN APPROVAL, YOU KNOW, TODAY OR WHATEVER STILL PUT STRESS ON THEM IN TERMS OF MEETING AND FACILITATING THEIR NEEDS AND WHATEVER. AS I SAID, WE NEED TO GO AHEAD AND DO THIS. THANK YOU. THANK YOU, MAYOR. >>Mayor Trice: THANK YOU. I HAVE QUESTIONS IN THREE DIFFERENT AREAS. FIRST OF ALL, THANK YOU FOR THE BEAUTIFUL UNITS THAT YOU GUYS HAVE BEEN DEVELOPING AND REPLACING THE QUITE DILAPIDATED, SHAMEFUL UNITS THAT YOU INHERITED BACK FROM THE '40s. THEY ARE REALLY GREAT TODAY, AND I APPRECIATE IT. I WAS FASCINATED BY THE CONVERSION OF JUST ABOUT EVERYTHING TO VOUCHERS AND THE NUMBER OF VOUCHERS THAT YOU'VE BEEN ABLE TO ACQUIRE. SO CURIOUS QUESTION, ARE THERE ENOUGH UNITS IN THE CITY FOR THE PEOPLE WHO HAVE VOUCHERS? ARE THEY HAVING TROUBLE EVEN FINDING PLACES THEY CAN MOVE INTO? >>William Russell: THAT IS A VERY GOOD QUESTION. HISTORICALLY, WE'VE ALWAYS BEEN ABLE TO ISSUE A FAMILY A VOUCHER AND HAVE THEM FIND A UNIT. THERE HAVE BEEN TIMES SUCH AS POST-COVID WHEN THE MARKET JUST WENT INSANE. THERE WERE UNITS WHERE YOU WOULD HAVE TWO PEOPLE STANDING THERE WITH CASH, WANTING TO RENT THE UNIT, AND THEN WE MIGHT HAVE A FAMILY WITH A VOUCHER AND THE LANDLORD IS LIKE, I'M SORRY, I CAN'T DELAY THREE DAYS FOR AN INSPECTION, BY THE WAY, WE'RE ONE OF THE FASTEST INSPECTION HOUSING AUTHORITIES. SO WE REALLY DO THAT AS FAST AS POSSIBLE. JUST THE PROCESS OF EVEN, YOU KNOW, NOT HAVING A TENANT IN THAT UNIT FOR FIVE DAYS, LET'S JUST SAY. WHEN THEY HAD SOMEONE STANDING THERE WITH CASH. THAT WAS A DIFFICULT TIME. OUR SUCCESS RATE DEFINITELY DROPPED. AND THE NUMBER OF LANDLORDS WHO ARE WILLING TO PARTICIPATE WITH US DROPPED DURING THAT PERIOD. HAVING SAID THAT, WE WERE STILL ABLE TO HOUSE OUR FAMILIES. TODAY, WE HAVE LANDLORDS CALLING US EVERY DAY SAYING PLEASE LIST MY UNIT OR MY UNITS. SO I THINK I HEARD LAST YEAR, 5,000 UNITS CAME ONLINE IN SARASOTA COUNTY. SO THE INVENTORY HAS FINALLY PICKED UP. AND SO THE MARKET IS KIND OF SETTLING INTO A NEW SUPPLY AND DEMAND RELATIONSHIP WITH THAT. BUT, YEAH, OUR FAMILIES ARE FINDING IT RELATIVELY EASY TO FIND UNITS NOW COMPARED TO NOW. FOUR, FIVE YEARS AGO. >>Mayor Trice: REGARDING THE GARAGE FINANCING, I HAVE A QUESTION FOR MS. FRILING. I'M GOING TO GUESS -- AND YOU CAN CONFIRM -- THAT YOU WOULD NOT RECOMMEND US SIGNING THE FLORIDA HOUSING FINANCE BOARD GRANT FORM UNTIL THERE'S AN AFFIRMATIVE VOTE FROM THIS COMMISSION THAT WE WOULD BE ISSUING THE BOND TO PAY FOR THE $8 MILLION. SO THOSE WOULD IDEALLY COME AT THE SAME TIME? >>Karie Friling: YEAH, BECAUSE IT'S IN THE PRO FORMA THAT THE HOUSING AUTHORITY NEEDS TO BE ABLE TO GO TO UNDERWRITING. SINCE YOU HAVEN'T TAKEN THAT OFFICIAL VOTE YET, YOU WOULDN'T REALLY BE ABLE TO SIGN OFF LEGALLY ON THOSE PAPERS. >>Mayor Trice: SO THAT FORM POTENTIALLY WOULD BE SIGNED AS SOON AS WE AS A BOARD VOTE IN THE AFFIRMATIVE TO ISSUE THE BOND. >>Karie Friling: YEAH. I'LL BE BRINGING IT BACK TO YOU IN OCTOBER ONCE WE DO THE UNDERWRITING ON OUR SIDE AND MAKE SURE THAT THE REVENUE THAT IS PROJECTED TO BE RECEIVED WILL COVER THE COST OF THE $8 MILLION. YOU GUYS WILL TAKE THAT VOTE, AND THEN WE'LL BE ABLE TO SIGN THE PAPER WORK RIGHT AFTER THAT DEPENDING ON WHAT THE OUTCOME OF THE VOTE IS. >>Mayor Trice: THANK YOU. MY THIRD ONE, I ALSO WAS A LITTLE BIT DISTURBED WITH THE SITE PLAN WITH THE TREES DISAPPEARING. ALTHOUGH I LOVED THE IMAGE THAT MR. LOUGH PRESENTED TO US, MY CONCERN WAS I EXPECTED BETWEEN TOWER ONE AND TOWER THREE THAT AT LEAST SOME GREENSPACE WOULD BE PRESERVED. I SEE PRETTY MUCH A DRIVEWAY BETWEEN TOWER ONE AND TOWER THREE? >>William Russell: NO. I THINK THERE WILL STILL BE GREENSPACE IN FRONT OF McCOWN. >>Mayor Trice: BETWEEN THE INITIAL TOWER AND THE NEW TOWER? >>William Russell: YES, YES. >>Mayor Trice: LET'S NOT DENY THE RESIDENTS IN THE OLD TOWER OF THEIR GREENSPACE. BUT THEN IN TERMS OF THE TREES THAT YOU OBVIOUSLY HAVE TO REMOVE, AND I LIVE ACROSS THE STREET AND I HAVE APPRECIATED WITHIN THE LAST TWO YEARS ALL OF THE PLANTING THAT YOU HAVE DONE ALONG BOULEVARD OF THE ARTS. SO MY QUESTION IS, CAN YOU REACH OUT TO OUR PARKS AND RECREATION DEPARTMENT TO FIND OUT IF THEY HAVE ANY USE FOR ANY OF THE TREES THAT YOU'RE GOING TO BE REMOVING? SOME WAY THAT THEY CAN BE PRESERVED AND THE REST OF THE CITY CAN TAKE ADVANTAGE OF SEMI MATURE TREES, AT LEAST BOULEVARD OF THE ARTS AND YOU'VE GOT SOME MATURE THAT YOU WOULD BE REMOVING. >>William Russell: WE WOULD BE HAPPY. >>Mayor Trice: I'LL PUT IN A PLUG FOR OVERTOWN SQUARE PARK WHICH IS DYING TO HAVE SOME MATURE TREES. THAT WAS MY QUESTION. ANY OTHER QUESTIONS, COMMISSIONERS? OKAY. I WILL ASK FOR A MOTION, WHICH I BELIEVE WAS TO ACCEPT THE REPORT. >>Jen Ahearn-Koch: SO MOVED. >> SECOND. >>Shayla Griggs: I HEARD A WHOLE LOT OF DOUBLE. >>Mayor Trice: I HEARD COMMISSIONER AHEARN-KOCH FIRST WITH HER MOTION, AND THEN THE VICE MAYOR I THOUGHT QUICKLY CHANGED TO A SECOND. >>Shayla Griggs: WE'LL GO WITH THAT. GO AHEAD AND HIT YOUR BUTTONS. THANK YOU. >>Mayor Trice: AND IT IS UNANIMOUS THAT WE ACCEPT YOUR REPORT. WITH THANKS, I WILL ADD, WITH THANKS. >>William Russell: THANK YOU VERY MUCH. ACKNOWLEDGE THAT OUR VICE-CHAIR PHILIP DIMARIA IS ALSO IN THE AUDIENCE. I WANT TO ACKNOWLEDGE HIM AS WELL. >>Mayor Trice: THANK YOU. WE ARE NOW AT CONSENT AGENDA 1. MS. GRIGGS, WERE THERE ANY ITEMS PULLED? >>Shayla Griggs: CONSENT 1, NO. KYLE FIXED THE CAMERA. NO, NOT ON CONSENT 1. >>Mayor Trice: OKAY. I CAN ASK FOR A MOTION TO APPROVE CONSENT 1. >>Vice-Mayor Ohlrich: MOVE APPROVAL OF CONSENT AGENDA NUMBER 1. >>Kyle Battie: SECOND. >>Mayor Trice: VICE MAYOR MOVED APPROVAL. COMMISSIONER BATTIE SECONDED. YOUR VOTES, PLEASE. IT PASSED UNANIMOUSLY. WE ARE NOW AT CONSENT AGENDA 2. ARE THERE ITEMS PULLED? >>Shayla Griggs: I THINK WE HAVE MORE ITEMS PULLED THAN BALANCE. WE'LL START WITH ITEM NUMBER 7.1 WAS PULLED BY COMMISSIONER AHEARN-KOCH. 7.2, COMMISSIONER AHEARN-KOCH. 7.4, COMMISSIONER AHEARN-KOCH. 7.6, COMMISSIONER AHEARN-KOCH. 7.7, COMMISSIONER AHEARN-KOCH. 7.8, COMMISSIONER AHEARN-KOCH. 7.9, COMMISSIONER AHEARN-KOCH. 7.10, COMMISSIONER AHEARN-KOCH. I WILL GO BACK. WE JUST TALKED ABOUT 7.1. I DON'T THINK SHE WANTS TO PULL THAT ANYMORE. >>Jen Ahearn-Koch: 7.2 MY QUESTION WAS ANSWERED OVER THE WEEKEND. >>Mayor Trice: IF I GOT IT CORRECT, THE ITEMS THAT ARE PULLED, ALL OF WHICH WERE PULLED BY COMMISSIONER AHEARN-KOCH, WERE 4, 6, 7, 8, 9, AND 10. >>Shayla Griggs: CORRECT. >>Mayor Trice: OKAY. DO YOU WANT TO READ THEM FIRST? >>Shayla Griggs: LET ME READ ALL TEN FIRST AND I'LL MAKE THAT STATEMENT. REGARDING ITEM 7.1, WE JUST WANTED TO ANNOUNCE THAT THE REASON WHY THIS ITEM WAS BROUGHT BACK THE WAY IT WAS BECAUSE YOU ALL INITIALLY ALREADY APPROVED THE G ZONE, BUT THE RESOLUTION DIDN'T GET READ INTO THE RECORD SO WE NEED TO REDO THAT SO IT CAN BE OFFICIALLY DONE. I WANTED TO MAKE THAT ANNOUNCEMENT. I'LL READ ALL TEN. BEAR WITH ME. RESOLUTION NUMBER 26R-3389, A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COMMISSION OF THE CITY OF SARASOTA, FLORIDA, APPROVING G ZONE WAIVER APPLICATION NUMBER 25-GZW-01 TO ALLOW THE OFF-SITE PARKING AREA TO REMAIN SURFACED WITH CRUSHED SHELL INSTEAD OF WITH ASPHALT, BITUMINOUS OR CONCRETE MATERIAL, CLAY, BRICK OR CONCRETE PAVING UNITS, OR PERMEABLE PAVEMENT SURFACES, ALL UPON REAL PROPERTY LOCATED AT 1717 KEN THOMPSON PARKWAY IN THE GOVERNMENTAL G ZONE DISTRICT, PROVIDING FOR CONDITIONS OF APPROVAL, PROVIDING FOR READING BY TITLE ONLY AND PROVIDING FOR AN EFFECTIVE DATE. RESOLUTION 26R-3407, A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COMMISSION OF THE CITY OF SARASOTA, FLORIDA, INDICATING SUPPORT FOR THE LIDO SHORELINE PROTECTION AND EROSION CONTROL PROJECT, IN SUPPORT OF AN INLET MANAGEMENT PLAN WITH THE FLORIDA DEPARTMENT OF ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AND ABILITY TO PROVIDE THE NECESSARY LOCAL FUND MATCH, SETTING FORTH FINDINGS AND PROVIDING FOR READING OF THIS RESOLUTION BY TITLE ONLY AND PROVIDING FOR AN EFFECTIVE DATE. RESOLUTION 26R-3413, A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COMMISSION OF THE CITY OF SARASOTA, FLORIDA, RELATING TO THE ACQUISITION, CONSTRUCTION, AND FUNDING OF CAPITAL IMPROVEMENTS ASSOCIATED WITH A NEW PUBLIC PARKING GARAGE ON ST. ARMANDS KEY, BEING THE ANNUAL ASSESSMENT RESOLUTION APPROVING THE ASSESSMENT ROLL FOR THE FISCAL YEAR COMMENCING OCTOBER 1, 2026, AND CONFIRMING THE APPLICABLE PORTION OF THE COST OF THE IMPROVEMENTS TO BE PAID BY ASSESSMENTS, IMPOSING ASSESSMENTS UPON ALL TAX PARCELS DESCRIBED IN THE ASSESSMENT ROLL, DIRECTING CERTIFICATION OF THE ASSESSMENT ROLL TO THE SARASOTA COUNTY TAX COLLECTOR, PROVIDING FOR SEVERABILITY, PROVIDING FOR READING BY TITLE ONLY, AND PROVIDING AN EFFECTIVE DATE. RESOLUTION NUMBER 26R-3415, A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COMMISSION OF THE CITY OF SARASOTA, FLORIDA, AMENDING THE BUDGET FOR THE FISCAL YEAR BEGINNING OCTOBER 1, 2025, BY PROVIDING FOR SUPPLEMENTAL APPROPRIATIONS IN THE AMOUNTS IDENTIFIED IN EXHIBIT A, PROVIDING FOR SEVERABILITY IF ANY OF THE PARTS HEREOF ARE DECLARED INVALID, PROVIDING FOR READING BY TITLE ONLY AND PROVIDING AN EFFECTIVE DATE. RESOLUTION NUMBER 26R-3423, A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COMMISSION OF THE CITY OF SARASOTA, FLORIDA, DECLARING THE OFFICIAL RESULTS OF THE FIRST ELECTION HELD ON AUGUST 18, 2026, DIRECTING THE CITY AUDITOR AND CLERK TO NOTIFY THE THREE CANDIDATES WHO RECEIVED THE HIGHEST NUMBER OF VOTES THAT THEIR NAMES WILL APPEAR ON THE BALLOT FOR THE GENERAL ELECTION TO BE HELD ON NOVEMBER 3, 2026, PROVIDING FOR READING BY TITLE ONLY AND PROVIDING AN EFFECTIVE DATE. ORDINANCE 26-5601, ORDINANCE OF THE CITY OF SARASOTA, FLORIDA, AMENDING ARTICLE 1 OF CHAPTER 24 OF THE SARASOTA CITY CODE REGARDING PERSONNEL MATTERS, MAKING RELATED FINDINGS, PROVIDING FOR READING BY TITLE ONLY AND PROVIDING FOR AN EFFECTIVE DATE. ORDINANCE NUMBER 26-5603, AN ORDINANCE OF THE CITY OF SARASOTA, FLORIDA, TO VACATE THAT CERTAIN 2,904 PLUS MINUS SQUARE FOOT SECTION OF THE APPROXIMATELY 30-FOOT WIDE IMPROVED RIGHT-OF-WAY KNOWN AS ASPINWALL STREET, RUNNING EAST-WEST FROM THE WESTERN EDGE OF MANGO AVENUE TO THE EAST BOUNDARY OF THE SEMINOLE GULF RAILWAY FOR A DISTANCE OF APPROXIMATELY 100 FEET, SUCH SECTION OF IMPROVED RIGHT-OF-WAY HAVING BEEN PLATTED AS ASPINWALL STREET ON THE PLAT OF ASPINWALL AND CHAPLINE'S SUBDIVISION, FIRST ADDITION TO SARASOTA. ALL AS MORE PARTICULARLY DESCRIBED HEREIN, PROVIDING FOR SEVERABILITY OF THE PARTS HEREOF, PROVIDING FOR READING BY TITLE ONLY AND PROVIDING FOR AN EFFECTIVE DATE. ORDINANCE 26-5604, AN ORDINANCE OF THE CITY OF SARASOTA, FLORIDA, TO REZONE THAT CERTAIN PARCEL OF REAL PROPERTY TOTALING APPROXIMATELY PLUS/MINUS .61 ACRES LOCATED ON THE WEST SIDE OF MANGO AVENUE AND ABUTTING ASPINWALL STREET TO THE SOUTH AND ABUTTING THE SEMINOLE GULF RAILWAY TO THE WEST WITH A STREET ADDRESS OF 401 MANGO AVENUE FROM THE INDUSTRIAL LIGHT WAREHOUSING ZONE DISTRICT TO THE DOWNTOWN EDGE ZONE DISTRICT, ALL AS MORE PARTICULARLY SET FORTH HEREIN, PROVIDING FOR READING ONLY, PROVIDING FOR AN EFFECTIVE DATE. ORDINANCE 26-5605, AN ORDINANCE OF THE CITY OF SARASOTA, FLORIDA, AMENDING THE FUTURE LAND USE CHAPTER OF THE COMPREHENSIVE PLAN OF THE CITY OF SARASOTA, AKA, THE SARASOTA CITY PLAN, TO CHANGE THE FUTURE LAND USE MAP CLASSIFICATION OF A PARCEL OF REAL PROPERTY CONTAINING APPROXIMATELY 1.00 +/- ACRES LOCATED SOUTH OF RINGLING BOULEVARD, WEST OF PINE PLACE, NORTH OF MORRILL STREET, AND EAST OF RAWLS AVENUE, SUCH PARCEL BEING A PORTION OF THE OVERALL SITE GENERALLY KNOWN AS THE FORMER SARASOTA COUNTY ADMINISTRATION BUILDING, AND HAVING A STREET ADDRESS OF 1660 RINGLING BOULEVARD, FROM THE URBAN EDGE FUTURE LAND USE MAP CLASSIFICATION TO THE DOWNTOWN CORE FUTURE LAND USE MAP CLASSIFICATION IN ACCORDANCE WITH COMPREHENSIVE PLAN AMENDMENT APPLICATION NUMBER 26-PA-01, REPEALING ORDINANCES IN CONFLICT, PROVIDING FOR THE SEVERABILITY OF THE PARTS HEREOF, PROVIDING FOR READING BY TITLE ONLY AND PROVIDING FOR AN EFFECTIVE DATE. ORDINANCE 26-5606, AN ORDINANCE OF THE CITY OF SARASOTA, FLORIDA, TO REZONE THAT CERTAIN PARCEL OF REAL PROPERTY TOTALING 1.00 +/- ACRES LOCATED SOUTH OF RINGLING BOULEVARD, WEST OF PINE PLACE, NORTH OF MORRILL STREET, AND EAST OF RAWLS AVENUE, SUCH PARCEL BEING A PORTION OF THE OVERALL SITE GENERALLY KNOWN AS THE FORMER SARASOTA COUNTY ADMINISTRATION BUILDING AND HAVING A STREET ADDRESS OF 1660 RINGLING BOULEVARD, FROM THE DOWNTOWN EDGE DTE ZONE DISTRICT TO DOWNTOWN CORE DTC ZONE DISTRICT, ALL AS MORE PARTICULARLY SET FORTH HEREIN, PROVIDING FOR READING BY TITLE ONLY AND PROVIDING FOR AN EFFECTIVE DATE. >>Mayor Trice: THANK YOU. LONG LIST. QUESTION FROM COMMISSIONER AHEARN-KOCH. >>Jen Ahearn-Koch: I WANT TO CLARIFY ITEM 7.6 WAS ALSO A QUESTION THAT WAS ANSWERED OVER THE WEEKEND AS WELL. >>Vice-Mayor Ohlrich: I WOULD LIKE TO PULL THAT. >>Mayor Trice: OKAY. I'LL PUT YOU DOWN. I AM ASKING FOR A MOTION TO ADOPT THE BALANCE OF CONSENT AGENDA 2 THAT EXCLUDES ITEMS 4, 6, 7, 8, 9, AND 10. >>Vice-Mayor Ohlrich: SO MOVED. >>Jen Ahearn-Koch: SECOND. >>Mayor Trice: MOVED BY THE VICE MAYOR. SECONDED BY COMMISSIONER AHEARN-KOCH TO ADOPT THE BALANCE. >>Shayla Griggs: PLEASE HIT YOUR BUTTONS AND ALSO ROLL CALL. >>Jen Ahearn-Koch: YES. >>Liz Alpert: YES. >>Kyle Battie: YES. >>Vice-Mayor Ohlrich: YES. >>Mayor Trice: YES. THE MOTION PASSES UNANIMOUSLY. THANK YOU. >>Shayla Griggs: COMMISSIONER ALPERT, COULD YOU HIT YOUR BUTTON? >>Liz Alpert: I THOUGHT I DID. THANK YOU. >>Mayor Trice: COMMISSIONER AHEARN-KOCH PULLED ITEM 7.4. >>Jen Ahearn-Koch: I PULLED THIS ONE FOR A PRESENTATION. I BELIEVE I LET THE CITY MANAGER KNOW THAT I WAS REQUESTING JUST A SHORT PRESENTATION. IT'S $3.5 MILLION HAVING TO DO WITH THE BAYFRONT PARK, WHITAKER PARK AND SAPRITO PIER. WE GET A LOT OF QUESTIONS ABOUT IT. I WOULD LIKE TO HEAR A PRESENTATION FOR THE PUBLIC. >> GOOD MORNING, MAYOR, VICE MAYOR, COMMISSIONERS. ALVIMARIE CORALES, CAPITAL PROJECTS MANAGER FOR THE RECORD. THE PROJECTS ARE PART OF THE FLORIDA DEPARTMENT OF ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION GRANT. THE CITY WAS AWARDED $3.5 MILLION FOR THE CONSTRUCTION OF THESE PROJECTS. WE HAVE VARIOUS LOCATIONS -- SORRY, I PULLED THESE REALLY QUICKLY -- THIS ONE IS WHITAKER PARK. THAT WOULD BE THE LOCATION. CURRENTLY THE PROJECT IS ON PAUSE DUE TO FEMA. SO THERE WAS GOVERNMENT SHUTDOWN A COUPLE OF MONTHS AGO, A PARTIAL SHUTDOWN, AND WE'RE STILL ON PAUSE FOR THE PROJECT. BUT WITH THIS FUNDING THROUGH THE FLORIDA DEPARTMENT OF ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION, LET'S SAY FDEP, WITH THIS FUNDING, WE WOULD REMOVE THE FEMA APPLICATION IF WE WERE TO PURSUE THE ADDITIONAL SCOPE OF WORK. SO RIGHT NOW THE PROJECT IS 95% COMPLETED. BUT BECAUSE OF THAT PAUSE, WE CANNOT TOUCH THE PROJECT. SO IF WE WERE TO TAKE THESE FUNDS FROM FDEP, WHICH WE HAVE AN AGREEMENT IN PLACE, WE WOULD REMOVE THAT APPLICATION, PARTIAL APPLICATION FROM THE FEMA