City Council Meeting

GOOD AFTERNOON. PLEASE JOIN US. >> I FOUND A SHORT LITTLE PASSAGE BY ONE OF MY FAVORITE POETS FROM 1856. WHATEVER BOOKS ARE BURNED, SOONER OR LATER ALSO ARE BURNED. >> IT SEEMS TO BE APPROPRIATE. I PLEDGE ALLEGIANCE TO THE FLAG OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA, AND TO THE REPUBLIC FOR WHICH IT STANDS, ONE NATION UNDER GOD, INDIVISIBLE, WITH LIBERTY AND JUSTICE FOR ALL. [ROLL CALL] >> SO BEFORE WE HAVE PUBLIC COMMENT, I BELIEVE WE HAVE A PRESENTATION TO DO. >> YES. SPUR OF THE MOMENT SO, PLEASE, COME ON UP AND TELL US ALL ABOUT IT. PAUL, WOULD YOU LIKE TO INTRODUCE EVERYTHING? >> UM, WE HAVE -- AS MOST PEOPLE KNOW, WE HAD GULFPORT PRIDE A COUPLE OF WEEKS AGO, AND THE WHOLE PREMISE WAS TO RAISE MONEY FOR THE LGBTQ RESOURCE CENTER. SUSAN GORE HERE IS THE CHAIR. I WANTED TO INTRODUCE THE PEOPLE THAT MADE IT HAPPEN, WHICH IS SUZY FROM SIK PROMOTIONS AND ESTA FROM LOCAL SHOPS ONEONE. THEY DID A GREAT JOB. WE HAD AN AMAZING TURNOUT. EVERYBODY HAD A REALLY GREAT TIME. NEXT YEAR WILL BE EVEN MORE FUN. SO, I WANTED TO THANK THEM, AND WE CAN GIVE THE CHECK TO -- >> CAN I JUST SAY A COUPLE OF WORDS? >> YEAH. >> UM, I JUST WANT EVERYONE TO KNOW WHAT A WONDERFUL, WONDERFUL COMMUNITY THAT WE LIVE IN. THIS WAS NOT JUST US, IT WAS THE ENTIRE COMMUNITY THAT HELPED MAKE THIS HAPPEN IN VERY SHORT ORDER. SOMEBODY GET A PICTURE. >> IS SOMEBODY TAKING PICTURES? >> IS THE GABBER HERE? >> WHAT'S THAT TOTAL? >> CONGRATULATIONS. THAT WAS A FUN EVENT, TOO. >> YEP. $5,03.62. IF I MAY ADD, THE PICTURE IS GOING TO BE TERRIBLE ME BECAUSE WHEN I GET REALLY EXCITED, MY EYES GET SO SQUINCHED UP AND THEY WERE SO SQUINCHED BECAUSE THIS CITY IS EXTRAORDINARY. I WANT TO THANK EACH OF THE COUNCIL MEMBERS, MAYOR SAM, JIM O'REILLY WHO HELPS SUPPORT THE LGBTQ RESOURCE CENTER. THANK YOU FROM THE BOTTOM OF OUR HEART. >> THANK YOU. [APPLAUSE] >> ALL RIGHT. THIS BRINGS US TO OPEN PUBLIC COMMENT. THIS IS FOR ANY ITEM NOT ON THE AGENDA TONIGHT. WE'LL HAVE A PUBLIC COMMENT SPECIFIC TO THE DISCUSSION ITEM, THE PROPOSED FISCAL YEAR 2021-2022 OPERATING BUDGET. THERE WILL BE A SEPARATE COMMENT FOR THAT. YOU HAVE THREE MINUTES. PLEASE USE THE MICROPHONE. IT IS A HOT MIC, SO YOU DON'T HAVE TO JUMP RIGHT ON IT. >> HOW ARE YA? >> GOOD. HOW ARE YOU? I LIVE ON 29TH AVENUE SOUTH IN THE MARINE DISTRICT. I SAW YOU ALL WHEN WE TALKED ABOUT THAT. LOOKING AT THE MARINA DISTRICT PLAN. I JUST WANTED TO FOLLOW UP. I'M HOPING THAT MAYBE AS A PART OF THE CITY MANAGER'S UPDATE YOU COULD ASK FOR WHAT THE PROGRESS HAS BEEN ON THAT TO UPDATE US. WE HAVEN'T HEARD WHAT IS GOING ON WITH THE LEASE AND THE YACHT CLUB AND THE DIFFERENT ORGANIZATIONS. THAT'S MY REQUEST. >> THANK YOU. ANYONE ELSE FOR OPEN COMMENT? MS. WRIGHT? >> GOOD EVENING, EVERYONE. >> GOOD EVENING. >> I'M HERE TO TALK ABOUT NOISE. I HAVE A FEW THINGS I WANT TO SAY SO I WILL BE VERY QUICK AND SPECIFIC. APRIL THANOS CALLED ME AFTER THE LAST MEETING TO DISCUSS A COUPLE OF THINGS. I HAVE HERE A LIST OF ALL THE RESTAURANTS ALONG SHORE BOULEVARD THAT HAVE AGREED TO THE ONE-MONTH TRIAL. IT'S SIGNED AND DATED, WHICH I WOULD LIKE TO SUBMIT. CHRISTINE BROWN, HERE IS A PICTURE OF SOME NON-PERMANENT ACOUSTIC FENCES THAT WE HAVE PUT UP, EVEN BEFORE THE LAST MEETING. OBVIOUSLY, WE CAN'T PUT ANYTHING IN THAT OPENING. WE ALSO HAVE AWNINGS THAT COVER THE ENTIRE COURTYARD AREA, WHICH DOES MAKE A DIFFERENCE TO THE SOUND. HERE IS AN EMAIL. WE'VE MADE PLENTY OF PHONE CALLS AND REACHED OUT TO CONTRACTORS AND FENCE COMPANIES. IT'S VERY DIFFICULT AT THE MOMENT. BUT HERE IS AN EMAIL OF ONE WE SENT THIS WEEK ASKING FOR A SPECIFIC QUOTE ON A FENCE. THERE ARE OTHER THINGS IN HERE, BUT I'M SUBMITTING THAT BECAUSE IT DOES TALK ABOUT A FENCE. I WOULD ALSO LIKE TO BRING TO YOUR ATTENTION SOMETHING THAT HAPPENED ON SATURDAY, WHICH IS WE HAD THE POLICE CALLED AGAIN AROUND 7:30. AT THAT TIME, THEY TOOK A READING AND IT WAS AT ALMOST 60 DECIBELS. THIS IS NO ONE PLAYING ON THE STAGE, THIS IS JUST AM BUYIENT SOUND COMING FROM THE STAGE AND MUSIC FROM OUR SPEAKERS. HE DID SAY TO ME WE ARE VERY CLOSE TO VIOLATING THE ORDINANCE SO TO PLEASE BE CAREFUL. AGAIN, THIS IS WITHOUT ANYBODY ON THE STAGE, AND I HAVE THAT REPORT HERE THAT I WANT TO SUBMIT. I WANT TO SAY FOR ME PERSONALLY, I DON'T WANT THIS NOISE ORDINANCE TO BE A THING. I KNOW IT IS. I DON'T WANT TO BE AGAINST AND AT ODDS WITH MY NEIGHBORS, ANYONE IN THE COMMUNITY OR WITH YOU GUYS. I WANT US TO FIND SOMETHING THAT WORKS FOR ALL OF US, FOR THE BUSINESSES, THE NEIGHBORS, AND THE COMMUNITY. I DON'T KNOW HOW WE DO THAT EXACTLY. IS 75 DECIBELS THE RIGHT LEVEL? IS 55 AT 10:00 GOING TO HELP THOSE THAT ARE ON SHORE BOULEVARD? I DON'T HAVE THE ANSWER. SO, WHILE I'M HAPPY DO THIS ONE-MONTH TRIAL, I REALLY WANT TO USE THIS MONTH AS AN OPPORTUNITY FOR ALL OF US TO SEE HOW WE DO THINGS IN GULFPORT, WHY WE DO THINGS IN GULFPORT, WHAT THE BUSINESSES ARE ACTUALLY DOING AND WHAT THE REAL COMPLAINT IS FROM THE NEIGHBORS BECAUSE THEN WE CAN FIND A SOLUTION THAT WORKS FOR ALL OF US. I CARE DEEPLY ABOUT THINGS THAT HAPPEN IN GULFPORT AND I CARE DEEPLY ABOUT THE PEOPLE HERE, EVEN MY NEIGHBOR WHO I KNOW IS AT ODDS WITH ME RIGHT NOW. THANK YOU. CAN I SUBMIT THESE? >> YEAH, ABSOLUTELY. THANKS, KELLY. ANYONE ELSE FOR OPEN PUBLIC COMMENT? MS. LOVE. >> KAREN LOVE, 23RD AVENUE SOUTH. FIRST, I WANTED TO THANK PAUL FOR CALLING THE MEETING AT THE BEACH AND LISTENING TO THE RESIDENTS ABOUT THE MONEY FOR AMERICAN RESCUES. I KNOW THERE WERE A LOT OF IDEAS THAT WERE PRESENTED THAT REALLY WOULDN'T WORK OR COULDN'T BE APPLIED FOR THE FUNDS, BUT I ALSO KNOW THAT THE RESIDENTS REALLY ENJOYED AND APPRECIATED THE OPPORTUNITY TO SPEAK THEIR MINDS. SO THAT WAS NICE. UM, THE SECOND THING I'M ABOUT TO SAY WILL BE REALLY UNPOPULAR, BUT I'LL HAVE TO GET OUT OF TOWN FOR A WHILE. UM, A COUPLE OF YEARS AGO, I ASKED THAT THE NO PARKING SIGNS AT THE REC CENTER BE REMOVED AND THEY WERE QUICKLY BECAUSE DAN AGREED. ONE OF THE THINGS THAT CAME UP IN THIS MEETING, AND I THINK, BOY, THIS WAS RIGHT ON. AND I WOULD LIKE TO REQUEST THAT THE -- EXCUSE ME. THE RESIDENT-ONLY PARKING SIGNS BE REMOVED THAT ARE ON THE WEST SIDE OF BEACH BELOW 28TH. THERE ARE NO SIMILAR SIGNS TO THE EAST SIDE OF BEACH. ON THE EAST SIDE OF BEACH THEY TAKE ALL THE OVERFLOW PARKING AND THE WEST SIDE SAYS RESIDENTS ONLY. NOW, I REMEMBER CHIEF VINCENT STANDING UP HERE SAYING THAT IS NOT ENFORCED. WHEN PEOPLE ARE LOOKING FOR PARKING PLACES, THEY DON'T KNOW THAT THAT'S NOT ENFORCED. I THINK WE COULD FREE UP A BUNCH MORE SPOTS IF WE ALLOWED OUR VISITORS TO PARK ON OUR STREETS ON BOTH SIDES OF BEACH, NOT JUST ONE. IT SEEMS IF IT'S FAIR FOR ONE SIDE, IT'S FAIR FOR THE OTHER. SO I'D LIKE TO SEE THAT DONE SOON. CHIEF VINCENT ON FACEBOOK PUT OUT THE NUMBER OF 7 -- A NUMBER WHEN PEOPLE SEE DOGS ON THE BEACH. AS MUCH AS I DON'T LIKE TO SEE DOGS ON THE BEACH, THAT'S NOT MY HOT BUTTON, THE NUMBER OF UNLEASHED IS A. WE'VE HAD DOGS KILLED. WE'VE HAD CATS KILLED. AND I REALLY DON'T THINK THERE'S A LOT OF ENFORCEMENT. SO, I WOULD LIKE TO MAKE THAT A REAL HOTSPOT. MY QUESTION IS, IS THAT THE SAME NUMBER 582-6177 WHO WE CAN CALL WHEN THE PEOPLE ROUTINELY WALK THEIR DOGS NOT ON LEASH, OR SOMETIMES TO BE REALLY ARROGANT, WITH A LEASH BUT THEY'RE NOT HOLDING THE LEASH. IN ADDITION TO THAT, I THINK AT THIS TIME OF YEAR, WE HAVE A REAL PROBLEM STARTING, TOO, WITH PEOPLE HAVE FIRES AND BARBECUES ON OUR BEACH, WHICH I KNOW ARE NOT ALLOWED AND THEY ARE HAPPENING. IS THAT ALSO THE NUMBER WE COULD USE AT THAT TIME? MAYBE THE LIGHTS OUT ON OUR BEAUTIFUL PIER COULD BE CONVERTED TO THE BEAUTIFUL ONES ON OUR WATERFRONT? WELL TIMED. NICE JOB. ANYONE ELSE FOR OPEN PUBLIC COMMENT? YES. I'M HERE TO TALK ABOUT THE NORTH POINT. THAT'S MY DAILY WALK FOR A NUMBER OF YEARS NOW WHEN I'M IN TOWN. UM, IT'S FUN TO HAVE A BIGGER SORT OF SOUNDSCAPE RATHER THAN A SINGLE GUITAR PLAYER THERE. MOST OF THEM ARE GENERALLY UNOBTRUSIVE. IT'S NICE. IT'S GULFPORT-ESQUE IN THE TENOR. I'M A PROFESSIONAL MUSICIAN. WALLS WON'T MAKE A DIFFERENCE. IT'S A BIGGER PROBLEM. MOST COMMUNITIES ALLOW NINE TO TEN FOR THAT KIND OF MUSIC. I DON'T KNOW THE STANDARD. IT'S NOT REALLY MY WORLD. THERE MUST BE SOME WAY THAT THAT COULD BE ALLOWED. IT BRINGS A LOT OF VARIETY. IT'S FUN TO SEE THE ENERGY THERE. IT'S CERTAINLY NOT AN OBNOXIOUS THING. I KNOW THE POLITICAL WORLD, BUT I KNOW IT'S NOT THAT. I THINK MANDATING MORE MONEY SPENT ON IT WOULD -- WOULD NOT -- IT WOULD CAUSE THEM A LOT OF PAIN AND SUFFERING. AND, UM, IT'S -- I -- I JUST THINK IT'S VERY VITAL. I THINK THERE IS A FIX FOR THIS. IF IT HAD TO END AT 9:00, SO BE IT. AT SOME POINT, A GREATER SOCIETY. OTHER COMMUNITIES DO IT. I LIVE IN HIPPIE COMMUNITIES IN CALIFORNIA WHEN I'M NOT HERE, AND THEY MAKE IT WORK. IT'S A FUN BUSINESS TO HAVE. IT'S BEEN A NICE ENERGY. YOU CAN HAVE THE SAME BANDS AT THE TIKI THERE ON SHORE BOULEVARD, WELL, BAND ABSORBS SAND. SO, THE ONLY -- MAYBE IF THEY HIRED A SOUND PERSON TO ACTUALLY DO THAT, BUT I DON'T THINK THAT WOULD MAKE A BETTER QUALITY SOUND, BUT I DON'T THINK THAT'S GOING TO FIX THE PROBLEM. IT'S TOO BAD THAT THIS HAS COME TO THIS PART FOR THAT FUN BUSINESS. THANK YOU SO MUCH. >> THANK YOU. >> THANKS. >> ANYONE ELSE FOR OPEN PUBLIC COMMENT? OKAY. SEEING NO ONE, BRING US TO THE CITY MANAGER'S REPORT. >> YES, MAYOR. JUST A COUPLE OF ITEMS THIS EVENING AND I WOULD LIKE TO CLOSE WITH CHIEF VINCENT TO COME UP AND EXTEND AN INVITATION TO YOU. THE YACHT CLUB LEASE DISCUSSIONS. WE'VE BEEN MEETING WITH THE YACHT CLUB GROUP. SUBSEQUENTLY TO THIS, YOU HAVE A LETTER ON RECORD THAT BASICALLY ASKS THEM TO BE OUT OF THE PROPERTY BY JUNE 30TH. WE'D ASK THAT YOU TAKE FORMAL ACTION THIS EVENING BY CONSENSUS AT MINIMUM TO ALLOW THAT TO SUNSET AND LEAVING US, THE CITY ATTORNEY AND I, TO CONTINUE TO WORK WITH THEM. >> OKAY. DO WE HAVE A CONSENSUS FOR THAT? >> EVERYBODY? >> OKAY. THANK YOU. WE'LL ADVISE THEM OF SUCH. THE SECOND ITEM IN REGARDS TO THE PLANNING FOR THE PROPERTY, ONCE WE RESOLVE THE ISSUE OF THEIR LEASE PER THE BUILDING, WHERE WE'RE AT IS WE'VE HELD OFF. WE'RE NOT TAKING ANY ACTION IN REGARDS TO THE MARINA MASTER PLAN THAT WAS PRESENTED TO YOU. WHAT WE ARE DOING IS, AS I'VE EXPLAINED TO YOU PERIODICALLY, IS WE ARE MOVING FORWARD WITH THE THREE SMALLER PROJECTS, THE LIVING SHORELINE, TRYING TO PUT TOGETHER A FUNDING PACKAGE FOR THAT, THE BREAKWATER PARK WAS VETOED, AS YOU KNOW, BY DISTRICT ATTORNEY DESANTIS. WE'RE LOOKING AT OTHER FUNDING OPTIONS FOR THAT TO PROCEED WITH. AND NUMBER ONE, AS PART OF THE NEW YACHT CLUB LEASE, WE NEED TO CREATE SECURITY FOR THE DRY STORAGE AREA, SO WE WILL BE INSTALLING DECORATIVE FENCING AND RELAYING IT OUT, THE TRAFFIC FLOW WITH THAT WITH ELECTRONIC GATES AND SUCH. AND WE DO HAVE A PRICE FOR THAT. WE'LL BE BRINGING THAT BACK AT THE JULY 20TH MEETING. THERE'S BEEN NO FURTHER ACTION IN REGARDS TO BUILDING A BUILDING OR RECONFIGURING IT. WE STAYED WITH THE THREE THINGS WE IDENTIFIED EARLY ON, THAT COUNCIL PROVIDED DIRECTION TO PROCEED WITH. WE WILL BE BRINGING BACK FUNDING OPTIONS TO MAKE SOME OF THESE THINGS HAPPEN, INCLUDING GRANT APPLICATIONS. >> ALL RIGHT. THANK YOU, CITY MANAGER. CHIEF VINCENT, WOULD YOU LIKE TO... >> GOOD EVENING, EVERYONE. >> GOOD EVENING, CHIEF. >> AS YOU ALL KNOW, THE GULFPORT POLICE DEPARTMENT IS ACCREDITED BY THE COMMISSION FOR FLORIDA LAW ENFORCEMENT ACCREDITATION. WE HAVE BEEN SINCE 2000. AND AN AGENCY THAT HAS ACHIEVED ACCREDITATION OR REACCREDITATION FIVE-CONSECUTIVE TIMES WITHOUT CONDITIONS, AND THAT'S PRETTY HARD TO DO, GETS RECOGNIZED AS AN EXCELSIOR AGENCY. WE DID THAT SIX YEARS AGO. IN 2018, WE WERE AWARDED WITH A SECOND EXCELSIOR ACCREDITATION. THAT PUT US IN A GROUP OF 29 OUT OF 253 LAW ENFORCEMENT AGENCIES TO HAVE MULTIPLE EXCELSIOR ACCREDITATIONS. THEY'RE GOING TO VOTE ON THE ASSESSMENT TEAM REPORT. WE HAD ANOTHER ASSESSMENT BACK IN APRIL, AND THAT ASSESSMENT TEAM REPORT IS RECOMMENDING THAT WE GET ANOTHER EXCELSIOR. IF THE COMMISSION VOTES AN APPROVAL OF THAT, WE ARE GOING TO JOIN A GROUP OF EVEN SMALLER MUNICIPAL LAW ENFORCEMENT AGENCIES. SO, YOU ARE CERTAINLY WELCOME TO ATTEND. IT'S OPEN TO THE PUBLIC. I CAN TELL YOU THAT THE COMMISSION OFTEN WEIGHS FAVORFULLY WHEN THEY SEE ELECTED OFFICIALS PRESENT. IT'S THURSDAY, JUNE 24TH. IT'S AN HOUR AND A HALF DRIVE. SAME ONE WE WERE AT BEFORE. IF ANYBODY NEEDS LODGING ARRANGEMENTS OR SOMETHING LIKE THAT, I'M SURE WE CAN WORK IT OUT. >> CONGRATULATIONS. >> CONGRATULATIONS. >> WELL, DON'T JINX IT. [LAUGHTER] >> I CAN'T IMAGINE THEY WOULD VOTE NO. >> DATE AGAIN? >> JUNE 24TH, 9:00 IN THE MORNING. >> ORLANDO? >> HALF HOUR WEST OF ORLANDO. >> OKAY. I PUT IT'S OUTSTANDING, BY THE WAY. I STILL GOT GOOD PICTURES OF WHEN -- I THINK IT WAS ALL OF USUS -- OR ALL BUT ONE MADE IT LAST TIME WHEN YOU GOT THE 2018. IF I AM AT ALL AVAILABLE, I'D LOVE TO DRIVE OUT THERE AND SEE YOU GET THAT AGAIN. THAT'S OUTSTANDING. >> THANK YOU. >> THANKS, CHIEF. >> THANK YOU, CHIEF. ANYTHING ELSE, CITY MANAGER? >> THAT'S ALL I HAVE. >> DID WE HEAR ANYTHING ABOUT THE GOVERNOR PASSING THAT HOME-BASED BUSINESS BILL? >> NO, MA'AM. >> WE'RE WATCHING CLOSELY THE ONE RELATED TO DESIGN GUIDELINES AND THE HOME-BASED BUSINESS. >> CITY ATTORNEY REPORT? >> NOTHING IN ADDITION TO WHAT THE CITY MANAGER BROUGHT UP. >> CITY CLERK? >> A REMINDER THAT WE WILL NOT BE HAVING A COUNCIL MEETING JULY 6TH. THE NEXT MEETING OF COUNCIL WILL BE JULY 20TH. >> ALL RIGHT. THANK YOU. CONSENT AGENDA. CONSIDER APPROVAL OF THE MINUTES OF MAY 18TH. A RESOLUTION AUTHORIZED CITY MANAGER TO ENTER INTO A CONTRACT WITH MONTANA METAL WORKS FABRICATION AND WELDING SERVICES, LLC FOR GULFPORT CASINO DOCK WELDING AND REPAIRS. >> I'LL MAKE A MOTION TO ACCEPT. >> SECOND. A FIRST AND A SECOND. ALL IN FAVOR SAY AYE. >> AYE. >> PASSES UNANIMOUSLY. AGENDA ITEM 6. >> ORDER NUMBER -- AMENDING CHAPTER 15 PENSIONS, ARTICLE VI RETIREMENT CITY FOR CITY EMPLOYEES OF THE CITY OF GULFPORT PERTAINING TO THE CITY OF GULFPORT GENERAL EMPLOYEES PENSION PLAN, BENEFIT AMOUNT AND ELIGIBILITY, AMENDING SECTION 15-97, PRE-RETIREMENT DEATH BENEFIT, AMENDING SECTION 15-99, AMENDING SECTION 15-104, MINIMUM DISTRIBUTION OF BENEFITS. >> MAYOR, THIS IS A MINISTERIAL DUTY OF THE CITY COUNCIL. YOU ARE THE PLAN SPONSOR. THIS BASICALLY UPDATES THE PENSION PLAN TO COMPLY WITH THE INTERNAL REVENUE CODE IN THE IDEA THEY HAVE RAISED THE MANDATORY DISTRIBUTION AGE FROM 70 1/2 TO AGE 72. THERE'S NO FINANCIAL IMPACT. THERE'S A LETTER OF NO IMPACT ACCOMPANYING YOUR PACKAGE. >> THE HEALTHIER WE GET, THE LONGER THEY WAIT TO GIVE US MONEY. >> THERE YOU GO. >> YOU CAN TAKE IT EARLIER, RIGHT? >> YOU HAVE TO TAKE IT A 72. >> THANK YOU. ENTERTAIN A MOTION ON THIS ONE. >> I'LL MAKE A MOTION ON 2021-03. COUNCIL COMMENTS, COUNCIL QUESTIONS BEFORE WE GO TO PUBLIC COMMENT? ALL RIGHT. PUBLIC COMMENT ON THIS ITEM? OKAY. WE'LL CALL THE VOTE. [ROLL CALL VOTE] >> CARRIES TO PASSAGE. NO RESOLUTIONS TONIGHT BRINGING US TO AGENDA ITEM 8. CITY MANAGER? >> YES, SIR. MAYOR, THIS IS OUR FOURTH DISCUSSION OF THE PROPOSED BUDGET. FOR FISCAL YEAR 2022. I WANTED TO SET SOME PARAMETERS ABOUT WHAT WE'RE GOING TO TALK ABOUT TONIGHT. YOU PROVIDED A FUND ANALYSIS AND UPDATED CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT BUDGET AND ALSO YOUR ARPA LIST. IF YOU'LL LOOK AT THOSE. FIRST OF ALL, I WANT TO ADDRESS THE IDEA THAT OUR PROPERTY VALUES WITHIN THE CITY GREW BY 7.31%. THAT WAS IN THE WATERFRONT REDEVELOPMENT AREA THEY GREW BY 8.21%. THAT'S A VERY POSITIVE ENVIRONMENT. IT'S MID RANGE FOR PINELLAS COUNTY. YOU'RE BASICALLY IN COMPETITION WITH THE BEACH COMMUNITIES THAT SAW SOME SIZABLE INCREASES, ALSO, BUT IT'S ABOUT MID RANGE FOR THE COUNTY. UM, IN REGARDS TO THE WATERFRONT REDEVELOPMENT TIFF FUND, THIS WILL BE THE -- YOU HAVE APPROXIMATELY TWO YEARS LEFT ON THAT OF A 30-YEAR AGREEMENT, AND SUBSEQUENTLY WHEN THIS SUNSETS, IT WILL BE APPROXIMATELY $240,000 THAT WILL REVERT BACK TO PINELLAS COUNTY, TIF FUNDS OVER THE LAST 28 YEARS. THAT'S HOW TAX INCREMENT FINANCING WORKS. THE INCREASED PROPERTY VALUE THAT THE COUNTY REALIZES IS RETURNED TO THE CITY DURING THE SPAN OF THE AGREEMENT. THAT'S JUST BASED ON THE INCREASED PROPERTY VALUE OVER TIME. UM, OF COURSE, WE'LL CONTINUE TO HAVE FUNDING SET ASIDE FROM OUR MONIES. WE HAVEN'T TAKEN ON ANY SIZABLE PROJECTS RECENTLY, SO WE DO HAVE FUNDS IN THE WATER REDEVELOPMENT DISTRICT. >> WHEN DO THEY SUNSET AGAIN? >> TWO YEARS. >> WE CAN'T REAPPLY? >> THEORETICALLY, YOU COULD. BUT YOU'D HAVE TO DECLARE THAT THE BLIGHT ISSUES EXIST AND THERE'S ISSUES RELATED TO SLUM AND BLIGHT, AND I THINK, AS YOU'VE SEEN THE INCREASE IN PROPERTY VALUES, IT WOULD BE A HARD CASE TO MAKE WITH PINELLAS COUNTY. >> WHAT COULD WE USE THAT MONEY FOR? >> PRESENTLY USING IT FOR SHORE BOULEVARD. YOU CAN USE IT -- A SMALL PERCENTAGE OF YOUR MONIES, NOT THE COUNTY'S MONIES, FOR PROMOTIONAL ASPECTS, BUY THE FIREWORKS OUT OF THAT AND, BASICALLY, WE'VE DONE THE RENOVATION TO THE PIER, WE'VE DONE PHASE 1 AND 2 OF THE WATERFRONT PROJECTS. >> THE TREES? >> TREE LIGHTING, THINGS LIKE THAT. IT'S VERY SPECIFIC WHAT YOU CAN USE IT FOR. THERE ARE A LOT OF RESTRICTIONS ON IT. YOU CAN'T USE IT FOR OPERATING OR ELECTRIC OR THINGS LIKE THAT. THERE ARE RESTRICTIONS. >> SO, IF I'M LOOKING AT THIS CORRECTLY, IT LOOKS LIKE WE'VE ONLY GOT 30,000 ACTUALLY ALLOCATED OR PROPOSED TO USE? >> THAT'S CORRECT AT THIS MOMENT, YES, MA'AM. >> SO, WE'VE GOT QUITE A BIT MONEY WE COULD STILL USE? >> IF YOU COULD IDENTIFY A PROJECT THAT COUNCIL WOULD LIKE TO -- AND WE'VE LOOKED AT THESE AS MAJOR PROJECTS AS TRANSCEND, AS WE'VE SPOKEN, THAT YOU'D WANT TO SEE CHANGED ON THE WATERFRONT. >> SO, WE HAD TALKED ABOUT HAVING A SPLASHPAD FOR KIDS AND HAVING IT SOMEWHERE NEAR THE BEACH AREA. WOULD THAT BE SOMETHING THAT COULD BE CORD? >> YES, MA'AM. >> EVEN THOUGH IT MIGHT NOT BE ENOUGH TO PAY FOR THE WHOLE THING? >> YES, MA'AM, YOU COULD USE YOUR FUNDS FOR THAT PROJECT. IT'S AN IMPROVEMENT TO THE AREA. BUT THAT'S -- I'M CAUTIONED IN THE IDEA THAT ONCE WE KNOW WHAT PROJECT WE PUT ENOUGH MONIES ASIDE FOR IT, IN THE PAST, IT TALKED ABOUT POSSIBLY RELOCATING CITY HALL, BUT THAT WAS PROHIBITIVE. WE MET AND DISCUSSED, THE CITY ATTORNEY AND I, NUMEROUS TIMES WITH THE PROPERTY OWNER, THAT WE'D POSSIBLY PURCHASE WITH THE FUNDING COMING TO AN END, WE'VE SCALED BACK. THAT $30,000 IS STRICTLY, AT THIS POINT, CAPITAL. WE ALSO BUDGET THINGS LIKE FIREWORKS AND THOSE ARE IN THE OPERATING BUDGET WHEN YOU SEE THE WRD OPERATING BUDGET, YOU'LL SEE THAT. PROMOTIONAL ASPECTS ARE MORE ON THE OPERATING SIDE OF IT. THIS IS STRICTLY THE CAPITAL TONIGHT. >> FOR INSTANCE, I KNOW IT ISN'T FOR SALE BUT THE BANK OF AMERICA BUILDING, SOMEBODY JUST BROUGHT THIS UP, BUYING THAT PROPERTY AND USING IT FOR, NOT BUILDING A PARKING STRUCTURE BUT JUST AS A GROUND-LEVEL PARKING LOT. WOULD THAT BE SOMETHING YOU COULD DO? >> I DON'T BELIEVE THAT PROPERTY IS IN THE WATERFRONT REDEVELOPMENT AREA. >> TOO FAR OVER. >> YES, MA'AM. SO, THE FACTORS WE'RE LOOKING AT THAT INCREASE THE PROPERTY VALUE, NEW CONSTRUCTION AND ALSO RELATED TO THE VALUE OF PERMITS THAT HAVE BEEN PULLED WITHIN THE CITY. WE'VE TALKED ABOUT POSSIBLY, YOU KNOW -- WE USE THE CLICHE OR TERM FLIPPING OF HOUSES, UM, WE DON'T KNOW IF THE LONG-TERM SUCCESS RATE TO THAT WILL BE BECAUSE WE DON'T KNOW WHAT THE INVENTORY OF HOUSES THAT ARE PRESENTLY BEING BROUGHT AND IMPROVED TO CHANGE OVER. WE'D ANTICIPATE THAT WOULD START TO LEVEL OUT AS THE ECONOMY CHANGES THE MARKET. WE'VE SEEN SUBSTANTIAL INCREASES FROM PRICES TO WHAT THEY WERE BOUGHT FOR, THE IMPROVEMENTS AND SUBSEQUENTLY RESALE. UM, SO THAT'S SOMETHING THAT WE DON'T KNOW HOW LONG THAT'S GOING TO CONTINUE. I MEAN, OF COURSE, EVERYTHING IS TIED TO THE ECONOMIC INDICATORS THAT I'M GOING TO TALK ABOUT IN A LITTLE BIT. THAT'S WHERE WE'RE AT WITH THAT. WE ALSO -- THE VOLATILITY OF THE MARKET IS RIGHT BACK TO THAT. I MEAN, WE'VE SEEN EXTREME SALE PRICES FOR PROPERTIES AND HOW LONG THAT CAN BE FORECASTED FOR, WE'VE SEEN THIS BEFORE. THE YEAR BEFORE MY PREDECESSOR ENJOYED A 20% INCREASE IN PROPERTY VALUES IN THE COMMUNITY. AND 18 MONTHS LATER, WE WERE GETTING NEGATIVE NUMBERS. SO, I'M VERY CAUTIOUS OF THAT. WHEN I GIVE YOU PROJECTS OR PLANS, THAT WE'RE VERY CONSERVATIVE. THE OTHER IS THAT -- LET ME LOOK AT SOME OF MY NOTES. FROM A POSITIVE ASPECT, WE DO HAVE PROPERTIES THAT ARE LAGGING. I MEAN, THE INCREASED PROPERTY VALUES, THIS IS BASED ON FISCAL YEAR 2020. WE DO KNOW THERE'S BEEN PROPERTY SALES, SUBSTANTIAL AMOUNTS, EARLY IN 2021 AND THOSE WILL BE ON NEXT YEAR'S ANALYSIS OF INCREASE IN PROPERTY VALUES OR DECREASE, WHICHEVER IT MAY BE. THAT COULD BE INCLUDED NEXT YEAR. SOME OF THE THINGS THAT HAPPENED SINCE JANUARY, THAT WILL BE ON NEXT YEAR'S. THIS IS FOR FISCAL YEAR 2020. UNDERSTAND, THAT AD VALOREM GENERATES 20% OF YOUR OPERATING BUDGET. WE'RE VERY LIMITED IN THE NUMBER OF REVENUE SOURCES WE HAVE AND THIS IS ONE OF NUMEROUS, BUT IT'S -- THIS IS THE -- I WANT TO SAY A LOT OF FOLKS -- YOU KNOW, WE HERE THE CLICHE ABOUT THE CITY SHOULD. WELL, A LOT OF IT COMES OUT OF THIS. YOU KNOW, THIS IS YOUR OPERATING BUDGET, AND THIS IS WHERE THE REVENUE COMES FOR IT. BUT THE INCREASE DOES ALLOW US TO CONTINUE PROVIDING A FULL-SERVICE CITY. IT ALSO ALLOWS US TO HAVE A HIGH LEVEL OF PERSONAL SERVICES HERE IN THE COMMUNITY. I KNOW YOU'RE ALL PROUD OF THAT. A LOT OF YOU HAVE WORKED REAL HARD TO MAINTAIN THAT, AND I'M VERY HAPPY WITH WHERE WE'RE AT. AND, AS WE -- AS WE MOVE FORWARD IN THIS DISCUSSION, THE FUND ANALYSIS THAT YOU'VE BEEN PROVIDED PROVIDES FOR THAT AS OF TODAY. IT DOES REQUIRE SOME ADJUSTMENTS THAT WE DID SCALE BACK IN CERTAIN AREAS DUE -- WE TRIED TO REDUCE PRESSURE ON THE GENERAL FUND BUDGET BY NOT INCLUDING -- POSTPONING OR FOREGOING THE PURCHASE OF VEHICLES THAT ARE SIZABLE IMPACT. YOU HAVE TO USE YOUR GENERAL FUND DOLLARS, SO WE'VE REDUCED THE PRESSURE BY POSTPONING A LOT OF VEHICLE PURCHASES. I BELIEVE WE ONLY HAVE TWO IN THIS YEAR'S BUDGET, OTHER THAN POLICE AND PUBLIC SAFETY WHICH CAN BE FUNDED BY THE PENNY FOR PINELLAS. PUBLIC SAFETY VEHICLES AND EQUIPMENT CAN BE FUNDED THROUGH THE PENNY FOR PINELLAS. WE'LL GET TO THAT WHEN WE TALK ABOUT THE CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT BUDGET. THE OTHER ISSUE FACING US, AND I'VE GIVEN YOU A COUPLE OF HANDOUTS THIS EVENING, IS THE INFLATION ISSUE THAT THE CITY, AS A CONSUMER, HAS TO DEAL WITH. YOU'LL SEE IN THE HANDOUT TO YOU, THAT INFLATION IN THE ST. PETERSBURG-TAMPA-CLEARWATER AREA INFLATION HAS GONE UP. THAT IMPACTS YOUR BUDGET. THE FUND ANALYSIS IS A BALANCED BUDGET. IT WILL BRING FORTH TO YOU -- INCLUDES SALARY ADJUSTMENTS AT THIS POINT, NOT USING ARPA FUNDS AS RECOMMENDED BY THE COUNCIL MEMBER RAY AND MAYOR HENDERSON TO INCREASE IT TO ADDRESS -- THIS DOES NOT ADDRESS THE $15 ISSUE. THIS IS STRICTLY A SALARY ADJUSTMENT TO MAINTAIN OUR LEVEL OF EMPLOYEE PAY IN THIS CLIMATE. >> WILL WE HAVE THE FIRE AND POLICE DEPARTMENT NEGOTIATIONS DONE BY THEN? >> BY JULY 15TH? I BELIEVE WE POSSIBLY COULD HAVE THE FIRE COMPLETED, BUT DO I NOT BELIEVE WE'LL HAVE THE POLICE DEPARTMENT. >> THEN WE WON'T KNOW FINAL FIGURES FOR THEM? >> WELL, I'LL GIVE YOU A PROPOSED BUDGET THAT I'M REQUIRED TO DO, BUT IT WILL HAVE SOME NUMBERS IN THERE THAT WE'RE WORKING WITH THEM WITH. I MEAN, WE HAVE TO BE REALISTIC. WE ARE COMPETING IN A REGION-WIDE MARKET FOR POLICE AND FIREFIGHTERS. WE'LL GIVE YOU OUR BEST -- WHAT WE THINK WE CAN AFFORD TO OFFER THEM, BUT IT COULD BE PRESUMPTUOUS TO SAY I WOULD HAVE A HARD NUMBER. I'LL TELL YOU DURING THE DISCUSSION WE'LL HAVE AT THAT TIME, THAT IF WE ARE EVEN CLOSE, AND THE CITY ATTORNEY CAN SPEAK TO THIS, THERE'S BEEN SITUATIONS WITH YOU MIGHT NOT APPROVE THE CONTRACT UNTIL NEXT YEAR. I MEAN, IT'S NOT UNHEARD OF. IT'S A -- IT'S A VERY -- AS I SPOKE OF BEFORE, VERY AGGRESSIVE ASKS ARE BEING PRESENTED TO US, AND SO WE HAVE TO INDIVIDUALLY LOOK AT THOSE AND SEE WHAT THE COST THE IS TO THE CITY OR THE IMPACT TO THE CITY. >>> ALONG THOSE LINES, THE IDEA THAT -- WE'LL MOVE ALONG. PEOPLE COSTS ARE 68-70% OF YOUR BUDGET AND THAT'S IN YOUR GENERAL FUND. THE COST ASSOCIATED -- AND THAT'S SOMETHING WE'RE SEEING -- I MEAN, THERE'S POSITIONS, NOT JUST GERMANE TO THE CITY OF GULFPORT BUT AREA WIDE, FOR WHATEVER REASON, THEY'RE STARTING TO MOVE. I MEAN, THERE'S POSITIONS THAT I WOULD NEVER THINK I'D SEE SOME OF THE NUMBERS RELATED TO THEM, SO THAT'S AN IMPACT THAT WE WILL HAVE TO ADDRESS. >> WHATEVER ADJUSTMENTS WE MAKE, I KNOW I'VE MENTIONED AT A PRIOR MEETING, CHARTER EMPLOYEES ARE INCLUDED IN THAT AND HOWEVER WE END UP DOING THE NEW RATE STRUCTURE AND ADJUSTING. TONIGHT WE'RE CREATING A RECURRING COST. IF WE USE THE FUNDS AS A BONUS RATHER THAN A RAISE. WE'RE NOT GETTING A RECURRING COST EVERY YEAR. ASK THIS AN APPROPRIATE TIME TO BRING THAT UP? >> MAYOR, I APPRECIATE THAT. WHAT I WOULD SUGGEST, THOUGH, EVEN -- THAT YOU STAY AWAY -- BECAUSE THE BONUS DOESN'T HELP US ATTRACT ANYONE, THAT WE WOULD BE ALLOWED TO INCLUDE IT IN THE COST. IT'S SOMETHING WE HAVE TO ADDRESS AS IT GOES FORWARD. IT'S IMPORTANT TO DO TWO THINGS WITH THAT. MAINTAIN YOUR MARKET VALUE, SO YOU HAVE TO RAISE THE WHOLE PAY STRUCTURE, AND ALSO BEGINNING THE ABILITY TO ADDRESS THE $15 COMPRESSION ISSUES THAT ARE RELATED. >> WEREN'T WE TALKING ABOUT DOING AN AREA FOR BOTH POLICE AND FIRE? >> WELL, WE'VE NOT RECEIVED THE EARMARK FOR THAT. CONGRESSMAN CHRIST PUT OUT HIS LIST TODAY. THE REQUEST WAS NOT INCLUDED. >> OKAY. ANYTHING ELSE? >> ANY OTHER QUESTIONS? COMMENTS FOR THE CITY MANAGER? >> THAT'S ALL I HAD. THANK YOU. >> ANYONE ELSE? ONE THING I'LL THROW ON REAL QUICK. I'VE BEEN THINKING ABOUT WAYS TO USE THIS MONEY. WE TALKED ABOUT A MOBILE STAGE A WHILE BACK. IS THAT SOMETHING THAT THOSE FUNDS COULD QUALIFY FOR? SO, WHEN WE GET BACK INTO THE REALM OF DOING FESTIVALS AND THINGS LIKE THAT, WE COULD HAVE OUR OWN INSTEAD OF TRYING TO WRANGLE FROM SOMEWHERE ELSE. JUST A THOUGHT. I DON'T KNOW IF IT QUALIFIES. IT'S NOT REALLY A VEHICLE, MORE A PIECE OF EQUIPMENT. >> AND WE COULD LOOK AT THAT IF WE HAVE THE FUNDS AVAILABLE IN THE WRD. LET US GET A PRICE ESTIMATE FOR IT AND SEE WHERE WE CAN APPLY IT. I MEAN, THERE MAY BE SOME SITUATION WHERE WE COULD POSSIBLY PAY FOR THAT OUT OF OTHER FUNDS AND UTILIZE ARPA FUNDS IN THAT OTHER AREA, WHICH IS CLEARLY A PERMITTED USE OF THOSE FUNDS. >> FESTIVALS. THERE'S THE ITEM ON THERE ABOUT THE POTENTIALLY -- I MEAN, IT'S UNFUNDED AT THIS POINT, BUT A BANDSHELL AT THE REC CENTER, CERTAINLY AT CHARLIE MARKET SCARE, WHEN LITTLE LEAGUE OPENS. YOU COULD TAKE A MOBILE STAGE AND ELEVATE YOUR ENTERTAINMENT OFF THE GROUND A LITTLE BIT. JUST ONE WE COULD LOOK INTO. IF IT DOESN'T PAY FOR IT, SO BE IT, WE TAKE IT BACK OFF. >> I'LL TAKE INPUT FROM ANYONE ELSE. OF COURSE, YOUR ARPA LIST IS NOT DEAD SET TONIGHT. AT THE NEXT MEETING, WE CAN HAVE A BRIEF DISCUSSION ABOUT IT AT THE MEETING ON THE 20TH. I'M GETTING AHEAD OF MYSELF, BUT THE OTHER ISSUES FACING THE CITY AT THIS TIME, AND WE HAD SOME CONVERSATIONS, COUNCIL HAD, IN REGARDS TO RATE INCREASES FROM THE CITY OF ST. PETERSBURG. WELL, WE'VE NOT FORMALLY BEEN NOTIFIED, AND I GAVE YOU AN ARTICLE THAT THEY ARE RAISING THEIR RATES TO THEIR RESIDENTS. THEY ARE SUGGESTING TO US, AND WE'LL HAVE THE FINAL NUMBERS FOR YOU IN JULY WHEN YOU RECEIVE YOUR PRESENTATION, BUT AT THIS POINT, WE'RE LOOKING AT A 4% INCREASE IN WATER -- WHOLESALE WATER COSTS AND A 13% INCREASE IN SANITARY SEWER COSTS. >> WOW. >> SO, JUST THAT INCREASE ALONE ANTICIPATES THE NEED FOR AN ADDITIONAL $367,000. NOW, THAT'S SOMETHING, AFTER YOU RECEIVE YOUR PRESENTATION, WHAT YOU MAY NEED TO DO IN REGARDS TO RATE STRUCTURE OR SUCH, BUT I WOULD SUGGEST THAT YOU WAIT TO RECEIVE YOUR PRESENTATION ON WHAT THE LONG-TERM EFFECTS OF THIS ARE. AT THIS POINT, WE HAD THE INITIAL ESTIMATES THAT WE THOUGHT WE COULD MANAGE BASED ON 8% RATE INCREASES ANNUALLY. SUBSEQUENTLY, THIS DID NOT -- YOU SEE THE DIFFERENCES. I GAVE YOU THE ARTICLE THAT PRETTY MUCH THEY'VE DECIDED TO BECOME VERY, TO USE THE WORD AGAIN, AGGRESSIVE FINANCIALLY IN THIS CLIMATE. WE'RE A CUSTOMER, SO THAT'S KIND OF WHERE WE'RE AT. >> I WAS TALKING TO THE PUBLIC WORKS GUY IN ST. PETE AND BECAUSE THEY BUY THEIR WATER FROM TAMPA BAY, YOU KNOW, IT ISN'T NECESSARILY THEIR RATE INCREASE. I MEAN, THEY'RE PASSING THROUGH WHAT THEY'RE HAVING TO PAY, AND, UM, BECAUSE ALL OF THE AREA'S INFRASTRUCTURE IS SO OLD, AND BECAUSE WE'RE GROWING AND, THEREFORE, HAVE TO NOT ONLY REPLACE IT BUT INCREASE IT, HE SAID RATES ARE GOING TO BE GOING UP, LIKE, FOREVER. IT WON'T BE A SHORT-TERM THING. PEOPLE HAVE TO RECOGNIZE THAT WATER IS AN EXPENSIVE RESOURCE NOW. >> HOPE THIS ISN'T A SIGN THAT WE'RE SUBSIDIZING ALL THIS VAST VERTICAL GROWTH IN ST. PETE THAT SHOULD BE TAKEN CARE OF WITH IMPACT FEES. THAT IS HIGHER THAN ANTICIPATING. >> THE MAYOR WAS GIVING A PRESENTATION. HE WAS ASKED ABOUT THE INCREASE IN ST. PETE AND ENOUGH INFRASTRUCTURE TO SUPPORT IT. HE SAID, YES, THERE WAS PLENTY. I WAS THINKING TO MYSELF, WHAT ABOUT ALL THE SURROUNDING COMMUNITIES THAT USE YOUR RESOURCES? CLAUDE SAID THERE'S PLENTY OF EXCESS CAPACITY FOR EVEN THE GROWTH -- YOU KNOW, WHAT LITTLE GROWTH WE MIGHT HAVE OR, YOU KNOW, SURROUNDING COMMUNITIES. SO, THEY DO HAVE ENOUGH. WHETHER THEY'RE CHARGING ENOUGH TO THEIR DEVELOPERS IS ANOTHER STORY. >> RIGHT. >> MAYBE WE SHOULD INVEST IN THE PLANT. I'M KIDDING, OF COURSE. >> SO, I JUST WANTED TO TOUCH ON THAT ISSUE BECAUSE THAT IS SOMETHING THAT THIS COUNCIL WILL NEED TO ADDRESS. AND STAFF WILL BE GIVING YOU SOME MORE FORMAL NUMBERS AS WE RECEIVE THEM AND STANTEC, YOUR RATE CONSULTANT, WHO ALSO WORKS WITH THE OTHER CITIES IN THE AREA. THAT WILL BE ON THE JULY 20TH AGENDA. THE LAST TWO THINGS I HAVE, MAYOR, IS IN REGARDS TO YOUR CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT PROGRAM, UM, AS I SPOKE OF EARLIER, TO REDUCE PRESSURE ON THE GENERAL FUND, WE DID LOOK AT POSTPONING AND FOREGOING VEHICLE PURCHASES. IT'S A VERY CONSERVATIVE CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT PROJECT BUDGET DUE TO THE FACT THAT IT'S AN UNKNOWN FACTOR THAT IDEALLY WE'LL SEE THE IMPACTS OF THE PANDEMIC. UNDERSTAND I HAVE TO ESTIMATE CONSERVATIVELY. I DON'T WANT TO MAKE PROMISES WE CAN'T FUND. WHAT WE'VE DONE IS FOCUSED, ONCE AGAIN, ON PAVING AND INFRASTRUCTURE AND PUBLIC SAFETY. I MEAN, UNTIL COUNCIL TELLS ME SOMETHING DIFFERENT, THEN THAT'S BEEN THE FOCUS. >> YEP. >> SO, I SEE SOME POLICE VEHICLES AND I SEE ONE FOR CODE ENFORCEMENT. >> YES, MA'AM. >> NO PICKUP TRUCKS? >> WE HAVEN'T MADE THAT DETERMINATION YET. >> I WOULD LOVE TO SEE US POSTPONE BUYING ANY PICKUP TRUCKS BECAUSE IN ANOTHER YEAR, THERE MIGHT BE A LOT MORE POSSIBILITIES FOR ELECTRIC ONES. >> THIS IS STRICTLY A VEHICLE. WHEN I BRING IT FORTH, MY ISSUE RELATED TO THIS IS I DO. THAT'S IF WE HAVE A FLOOD. I DON'T THINK I'M AT THE POINT. IF I THOUGHT THIS VEHICLE WOULD BE POSTPONED, I WOULD HAVE POSTPONED IT AS I DID ABOUT PROBABLY ABOUT EIGHT OF THEM. COUNCIL CAN MAKE THAT DETERMINATION WHEN I BRING IT FORWARD 225 SHORT FROM LAST YEAR. DUE TO COVID. >> EVEN MORE NOW. I'M GOING TO GET TO THAT, WHAT WE'RE LOOKING AT REVENUE-WISE. WE ANTICIPATE APPROXIMATELY $1 MILLION WORTH OF REVENUE THAT WAS NOT GENERATED. YOU HAVE TO UNDERSTAND THAT THE CASINO DIDN'T GENERATE A DIME. WE HAVE CHARGES THAT WE WAIVED IN REGARDS TO USE OF CREDIT CARD FEES. THOSE ALL ADD UP. YOU'LL SEE THEM ON THE NEXT LIST, IF YOU LOOK AT YOUR ARPA LIST. THOSE ARE REVENUE SOURCES AND PROJECTS THAT WE THOUGHT COULD BE MOVED. THERE WAS A BIG DISCUSSION IN REGARDS TO THE PICKLEBALL/TENNIS COURT ISSUE. THAT'S INCLUDED. WE'RE LOOKING AT SETTING ASIDE DOLLARS THERE THAT WE'LL PROBABLY END UP MOVING TO SOMEWHERE ELSE. WE'VE MOVED ALL OF OUR UTILITY CAPITAL. THAT'S A PERMITTED USE IN THE ARPA MONEY. SO WE'VE MOVED OUR CAPITAL OUT OF THE UTILITY FUND INTO THE ARPA TO FUND IT THROUGH THAT. A MAIN CATEGORY WAS WATER, INFRASTRUCTURE, BROADBAND. AS WE GET TO THAT, WE'LL HAVE A CONVERSATION IN REGARD TO THAT. I MEAN, UNLESS THERE'S SOMETHING -- A CHANGE IN COUNCIL DIRECTIVES ABOUT PAVING ROADS AND PUTTING MONIES ASIDE FOR SIDEWALKS, THIS IS A VERY BARE BONES BUDGET BECAUSE WE DIDN'T KNOW WHAT THE IMPACT WAS. EVEN THOUGH WE'RE GETTING REVENUE REPLACEMENTS, THEY'RE NOT REVENUE REPLACEMENTS. THERE'S CONDITIONS ON THIS. WE HAVE TO BE VERY CAUTIOUS THAT WE DON'T OVEREXTEND OURSELVES. ONE OF THE PROJECTS IS THE GRANT MATCH FOR THE GENERATORS. WELL, WE'VE RECEIVED -- THERE'S A BACKLOG. THERE'S A SUPPLY-CHAIN ISSUE. WE'VE RECEIVED ONE GENERATOR AT THE 49TH STREET NEIGHBORHOOD CENTER WHICH HAS BEEN WIRED AND INSTALLED. MONIES SET ASIDE FOR THAT. SUBSEQUENTLY, WE STILL HAVE THE POLICE STATION AND CITY HALL COMPLEX TO RECEIVE GENERATORS -- EMERGENCY GENERATORS AND TO BE WIRED IN AND SUCH. BUT AS WE HAVE TO BUDGET FOR THEM IF THEY HAPPEN AFTER OCTOBER 1ST. WE DID PROVIDE YOU AN UPDATE IN REGARDS TO THE ARPA 2020, AMERICAN RESCUE PLAN. YOU SEE THE SPREADSHEET CHERYL PREPARED. >> ITEM 8A? >> IT'S 8A. >> OKAY. >> IT'S AN ATTACHMENT TO IT. AMERICAN RESCUE PLAN ACT 2021 DISCUSSION SHEET. IT HAS THE SUGGESTIONS THAT EACH OF YOU HAD BROUGHT FORTH. THIS ISN'T AN ALL-ENCOMPASSING LIST. OF COURSE, THROUGH THE SUMMER, YOU MAY WANT TO ADD THINGS THAT WE CAN INVESTIGATE, LOOK AT THE COSTS, THE FEASIBILITY. WILL IT BE A RECURRING COST? YOU KNOW, BASICALLY, IF IT MEETS THE CRITERIA FOR WHAT THEY'VE LAID OUT, OR CAN WE SUBSTITUTE OTHER FUNDS FOR IT. THAT'S KIND OF WHERE WE'RE AT. YOU SEE, THIS IS JUST A VERY BROAD SYNOPSIS OF WHAT COUNCIL HAD ASKED FOR. ADDITIONALLY, IF YOU'LL LOOK AT THE TOP OF THE PAGE IN REGARDS TO THE FUNDS THAT WE'VE LOOKED AT AS STAFF THAT CAN BE UTILIZED WITHIN THE CRITERIA OR CAN BE MOVED SOMEWHERE ELSE TO APPLY. AND YOU'LL SEE IN THERE THE IMPLEMENTATION OF, AS WE SPEAK OF, THE UTILITIES -- CAPITAL UTILITIES, THE CONSULTANTS. WE CAN UTILIZE THE MONIES FOR REIMBURSEMENT FOR THE COMMUNITY AND GATEWAY GRANTS. THOSE ARE MONIES WE CAN RECOUP. THERE'S 11 ITEMS. THE TRANSACTION FEE THAT COUNCIL MEMBER RAY SPOKE OF. WE WAIVED TRANSACTION FEES DURING THE PANDEMIC FOR APPROXIMATELY SIX MONTHS WE DID A LOT OF THESE THINGS THAT INITIALLY WERE BEFORE -- WHEN PEOPLE WERE STUCK AT HOME OR, YOU KNOW, THEY WERE LOSING THEIR JOBS BEFORE THERE WAS BENEFITS BEING PROVIDED THEM. BUT, IF YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS, THE ONE GUIDANCE I WOULD ASK TONIGHT, AND THIS IS IMPORTANT TO MOVING FORWARD WITH OUR NEXT -- WITH OUR BUDGET PROCESS -- IS IF COUNCIL HAS ANY OBJECTIONS TO ANY OF THE ITEMS ABOVE,HE OPERATIONS BOX IS, BASICALLY, WE WOULD BE ABLE TO UTILIZE THAT AS WE PREPARE THIS BUDGET AND FUTURE BUDGETS. >> YOU'RE ASKING ABOUT ITEMS 1-11 UNDER OPERATIONS? >> YES, SIR. >> THAT'S JUST REPLACING WHAT WE LOST? >> PRETTY MUCH. AND IT ALLOWED USES OF IT. >> I DON'T HAVE ANY OBJECTIONS. >> YEAH. I DON'T EITHER. >> UNDER TOURISM AND PARKSPARKS, NUMBER 4, PARKS ENVIRONMENTAL COASTAL RESILIENT. CAN WE DO THE BREAKWATER PARK? >> WHEN WE GET THE NUMBERS, I'LL TAKE FURTHER INPUT. I WANT TO ADDRESS 1-11. I WOULD LIKE COUNCIL, THEN, IF YOU HAVE OTHER ITEMS TONIGHT YOU'D LIKE US TO LOOK AT, OR, AS I SPOKE OF, ON YOUR JULY 20TH MEETING, YOU COULD COME BACK WITH SOME THINGS AND JUST GIVE THEM TO US. WE'LL LOOK AT THEM AND SEE IF THEY'RE FEASIBLE. IF THERE'S THINGS YOU WANT TO LOOK AT TONIGHT THAT YOU MAY HAVE BEEN SUGGESTED BY ANOTHER COUNCIL MEMBER AND YOU'D LIKE TO ENDORSE, THAT GIVES US, YOU KNOW, GUIDANCE ON WHERE YOU'D LIKE TO GO AS A COUNCIL. BUT THERE'S NOTHING -- OTHER THAN 1-11, IT'S A WORK IN PROGRESS. BUT WE LOOK AT THE RECOUP AND THE ABILITY TO IMPLEMENT THE SALARY ASPECTS OF IT. WE LOOK AT THAT AT ABOUT 3%. AND THOSE ITEMS THAT WE'RE RECOUPING. IS COUNCIL COMFORTABLE WITH RESTORING OUR DOLLARS -- RECOUPING OUR DOLLARS FOR THE GRANT PROGRAM? THAT WOULD GO BACK TO UTILITIES. THAT IS SOMETHING THE CITY DID WHEN WE GAVE CREDIT ON WATER BILLS AND THINGS LIKE THAT. THAT'S THE AMOUNT WE SPENT. THAT, IN MY READING OF THIS WHOLE SITUATION, THAT'S EXACTLY WHAT -- WHY THE NUMBER IS HERE; TO -- FOR WHAT YOU DID, YOU KNOW, WE'VE ALSO MADE APPLICATIONS WITH FEMA OR THE CARES ACT, BUT THOSE ARE THINGS WHERE WE WERE PUTTING MONEY OUT. THESE ARE THINGS THAT COUNCIL VERY NICE AND APPROPRIATELY TOOK TO ASSIST PEOPLE. I MEAN, I GO BACK TO THE -- COUNCIL RAY AND I TALKED AT LENGTH AND CHERYL, YOU KNOW, CREDIT-CARD FEE. THAT'S SOMETHING AS WE MOVE FORWARD, OKAY, THERE'S A LOST REVENUE THERE. BUT IS IT SOMETHING WE WANT TO TALK ABOUT AS YOU GO TO NEXT YEAR'S BUDGET AND ELIMINATE IT? I MEAN, YOU KNOW, ONE OF THE THINGS WE TALKED ABOUT IF SOMEONE GOES ONLINE AND PAYS, THERE SHOULDN'T BE A CREDIT CARD FEE. WE WANT PEOPLE TO GO ONLINE. IF SOMEONE CALLS UP, THERE'S A CHARGE. THOSE ARE THINGS WE WILL TALK ABOUT BEFORE WE BRING TO COUNCIL. LOOKING AT SERVICE CHARGES THAT COUNCIL TOOK THE OPPORTUNITY DURING THIS PAST YEAR AND TALK ABOUT THE WAY WE DO BUSINESS. >> THIS ALL LOOKS GOOD. I MEAN, I MIGHT WANT TO SUGGEST THAT I COULD, YOU KNOW, SUPPORT SOME OF THESE OTHER THINGS THAT DON'T HAVE MY NAME ON THEM. >> SURE. >> IF WE HAVE NEXT TIME TO BRING YOU ANY OTHER IDEAS THAT WE HEAR OF, AND I DON'T KNOW, PAUL, IF YOU HAD THINGS FROM YOUR MEETING AND STUFF, YOU KNOW, SO WE CAN ADD TO THIS LIST. AND THEN PRESUMABLY YOU'LL GO THROUGH AND ELIMINATE THE ONES -- LIKE, I KNOW THE SPLASHPAD PROBABLY WOULD NOT BE COVERED BY ARPA MONEY. YOU KNOW, IT WOULD BE COVERED, IF WE TAKE MONEY FROM SOMETHING ELSE AND HAVE IT AVAILABLE. SO WE COULD TAKE THAT OUT OF THERE, BECAUSE THAT WON'T REALLY BE COVERED BY THIS MONEY. SO YOU'LL DETERMINE WHICH THINGS THIS MONEY CAN ACTUALLY PAY FOR. >> WE'LL APPLY THE CRITERIA. >> AND GIVE US AN ESTIMATE OF COST. WHEN WE HAVE OUR SORT OF FINAL WISH LIST, DEPENDING WHAT IT COMES UP TO, I WOULD LOVE IT SO WE CAN HAVE A WORKSHOP SO THAT THE COMMUNITY UNDERSTANDS -- I MEAN, $5 MILLION IS ALMOST HALF OUR NORMAL BUDGET. AND, SO, I THINK IT WOULD BE GREAT IF THEY COULD PUBLICIZE THAT AND GET EVEN MORE INPUT, ESPECIALLY IF WE HAVE TO DECIDE BETWEEN THINGS, THEN WE COULD -- THAT WOULD REALLY HELP TO DO THAT AND MAYBE DO THAT IN AUGUST OR SEPTEMBER BECAUSE I DON'T THINK WE'RE GOING TO HAVE THAT MONEY TILL AFTER AUGUST. YOU KNOW, AND THEN HAVE THAT BE A WAY TO HELP DECIDE HOW TO SPEND IT. BECAUSE IT COULD BE A LENGTHY DISCUSSION AND MAYBE TOO MUCH TO HAVE AT A MEETING. >> THAT'S COUNCIL'S PREROGATIVE. >> WE'LL BRING OUR LIST AND SHOW UP. >> WE'LL SEE WHERE WE GET TO ON THE 20TH. ANY OTHER COMMENTS? >> SO, DO I HAVE A CONSENSUS THAT ITEMS 1-11 CAN BE UTILIZED? >> YES. >> YES. >> THANK YOU. >> ALL RIGHT. AND THEN WE CAN BRING FORWARD STUFF WE WANT TO TALK ABOUT. A LOT OF THEM ALIGN WITH THIS LIST BELOW THE 11. >> ALL RIGHT. >> IF THERE'S ANY, YOU KNOW, ITEMS TONIGHT, LIKE YOU HAD SPOKE OF, MAYOR, THE MOBILE STAGE, OKAY, IS THERE -- I MEAN, IF THERE'S SOMETHING YOU WANT TO JUST PUT OUT THERE TONIGHT, THAT GIVES US TIME TO WORK ON IT. BUT, OF COURSE, WE CAN JUST HAVE A STAND-ALONE DISCUSSION, GO THROUGH YOUR LIST AGAIN ON THE 20TH. THAT'S FINE WITH US. WHATEVER IS BEST FOR YOU. >> I DO HAVE A FEW I WOULD THROW OUT. >> GO AHEAD. >> I WOULD REALLY LIKE TO SEE US SPEND A LITTLE MORE MONEY ON FIXING THE SIDEWALKS, THE HANDICAP ACCESSIBILITY. I KNOW WE HAVE SOME OF THAT ALREADY DEFINED IN HERE BUT IT WOULD BE REALLY NICE IF WE COULD INCREASE -- I BELIEVE WE ALREADY HAVE BEACH SAND. ANOTHER THING WOULD BE ADDITIONAL BIKE RAKES. WE USED UP OUR TREE FUND. I'D LIKE TO SEE SOME MONEY ALLOCATED FOR MORE TREES IN THE PARKS, BIG TREES. FROM OUR EARLY DISCUSSION. I'M, LIKE, BIG ONES. MOST OF THESE ARE ALONG THE OTHER LINES, AND I'LL BE BRINGING A LIST OF OTHER ONES ON THE 20TH. THOSE ARE ONES I HAD LOCAL. >> IN REGARDS TO BIKE RACKS, DO YOU HAVE SPECIFIC PLACES YOU'D LIKE TO SEE THEM? >> I'LL WORK ON THAT. >> KAREN SCHWARTZ WENT AROUND WITH I THINK TIM -- >> YEP. WE DO. WE ADDED NUMEROUS BIKE RACKS DOWN IN THE WATERFRONT REDEVELOPMENT AREA. I THINK COUNCIL MEMBER BROWN COUNTED HOW MANY. THERE'S, LIKE, A DOZEN OR 14 OF THEM. >> THERE'S A NUMBER OF BIKE RACKS. I SAW ONE JUST GOT PUT AT THE TENNIS COURTS. THEY'RE ON ALMOST EVERY CORNER. >> WE STRUGGLED TO IDENTIFY MORE THAN SEVEN OR EIGHT PLACES WE COULD FIND THEM. THERE'S SEVEN OR EIGHT PLACES THAT COULD USE THEM. >> THAT'S FINE, OKAY. >> IT SEEMS LIKE THE TOWN FLIPPED. IT SEEMED EVERYTHING WAS HAPPENING DOWNTOWN AND NOW MORE AND MORE IS HAPPENING ON THE NORTH SIDE. I GUESS THE NORTH SIDE IS WHERE I WAS NOTICING THERE WAS A GENERAL LACK OF BIKE RACKS UP THERE AND A LOT MORE BIKES UP THERE FROM TIME TO TIME. >> THOSE ARE TYPES OF THINGS THAT IF WE COULD FUND NOW, OR EVEN MOVE FORWARD WITH, THOSE ARE THE TYPES -- I MEAN, IF WE NEEDED SEVEN BIKE RACKS, WE'LL TRY TO FUND, THIS FISCAL YEAR. JUST GIVE ME A LIST OF LOCATIONS. >> WHEN YOU DO BIKE RACKS, LIKE, THEY PUT BIKE RACKS IN WOOD IS BY PARK. THEY'RE RIDING THROUGH OR SITTING RIGHT NEXT TO IT. YOU DON'T NEED A BIKE RACK. LIKE, THE TENNIS COURTS WHERE YOU WILL BE PLAYING, SO YOU'RE LEAVING YOUR BIKE, OR SHOPS WHERE YOU'RE GOING IN, THAT KIND OF THING, YOU KNOW, A BASEBALL FIELD BECAUSE YOU'RE GOING TO BE BUSY PLAYING BASEBALL OR WHATEVER, NOT PLACES WHERE YOU DON'T REALLY NEED THEM. >> NOT TO GET OFF TOPIC OF THE WRD, WITH THE NUMBER OF BICYCLE RACKS IN THE WRD, ONE, THE ADJACENT PROPERTY THAT MAY NOT WANT IT OR IMPACTS THEIR OUTSIDE DINING. OR, THAT THE SIDEWALK'S ONLY FOUR FEET WIDE AND PUTTING A BIKE RACK OUT THERE DOESN'T FIT. >> OR A BIKE THAT LIVES THERE FOR 9 OR 10 DAYS? >> WE HAD THAT AT THE CASINO, REMEMBER, MAYOR? >> YEP. >> OR A SIGN. THEY USED THAT. WE'LL PUT A BICYCLE RACK WHERE ANYONE REQUESTS AS LONG AS IT'S FEASIBLE AND IT DOESN'T IMPACT THE PEDESTRIAN TRAFFIC OR INTERFERES WITH SOMEONE'S BUSINESS BECAUSE SO MANY OF THEM HAVE OUTSIDE DINING THAT... >> ALL RIGHT. FOR NOW, THAT'S ALL I'VE GOT TOWARD IT. I'M IN FAVOR OF 1-11 FOR SURE AND SEVERAL OTHER POTENTIALS BEHIND IT. ARE WE OKAY WITH WHAT WE'VE GIVEN THE CITY MANAGER TONIGHT? OKAY. >> IF I MAY ASK, MAYOR, WOULD COUNCIL -- WE'VE BANTERED ABOUT THIS SPLASHPAD. WE DO HAVE SOME FUNDS SET ASIDE FOR A MAJOR PROJECT WITHIN THE WRD. >> YEP. >> IS THAT SOMETHING THAT COUNCIL WOULD LIKE US PURSUE, GETTING SOME OTHER BETTER NUMBERS AND REAL -- THIS IS JUST ENGINEERING GUESSTIMATES WE'RE USING. >> THIS WOULD BE A LOCATION ON SHORE BOULEVARD? >> YES. >>. >> THAT'S FINE. I'M INTERESTED TO KNOW HOW MUCH IT WOULD TRULY COST AND THE MAINTENANCE. >> OUR BIG CONCERN IS THE WATER TABLE. THAT'S THE SINGLE ISSUE. THIS IS GOING TO GO IN THE GROUND AND THERE'S GOING TO BE UNDERNEATH IT A BIG, YOU KNOW, BUNKER, SO TO SPEAK, TO HOLD THE WATER AND RECYCLE IT AND CLEAN IT. SO, OUR CONCERN MAY BE RELATED TO THE WATER TABLE THERE. >> BEFORE WE PUT ANYTHING IN, I WOULD WANT TO KNOW HOW MUCH DID IT COST TO MAINTAIN AND ALL THOSE FACTORS. ALSO, IF WE'RE GOING TO SPEND WHAT LITTLE MONEY WE'D HAVE, I'D LIKE TO DEFINE IT FOR A BIGGER AUDIENCE THAN A SPECIFIC AUDIENCE, IF THAT MAKES SENSE. IF WE'RE GOING TO FIND THINGS TO DO, I WANT IT FOR A LARGER SITUATION. I KNOW EVERYBODY WANTS A SPLASHPAD, WE WANT THIS PICTURED AND WE WANT THAT FIXED. I WANT TO SEE IT GO TO OUR SIDEWALKS AND STREETS. THE STUFF THAT IS NOT SEXY LET'S TAKE CARE OF THAT. WHEN THINGS GET BETTER IN THE ECONOMY, THEN WE CAN PICK UP THE OTHER STUFF WE WANT. >> WE'LL BRING YOU THE LIST. THAT'S A COUNCIL DETERMINATION. WE'LL GIVE YOU THE LIST. >> I WAS THINKING WHEN YOU WERE TALKING ABOUT WATER TABLE, WOULD IT BE BETTER, AND THIS IS NOT SAYING WHETHER WE SHOULD DO IT OR NOT, BUT WOULD IT BE BETTER IN CLYMER PARK. I KNOW IT'S AWAY FROM THE REC CENTER BUT THE WATER TABLE MIGHT BE BETTER THERE? >> THERE'S RESTRICTIONS THERE. THERE'S A RESOLUTION ABOUT IMPROVEMENTS TO KEEP IT PASSIVE. YES. >> WHEN YOU'RE DONE. >> IT WAS JUST AN IDEA. IT MIGHT BE HIGHER. >> SURE. >> ANYWAY. I ALWAYS THOUGHT IF WE WERE GOING TO DO THE SPLASHPAD, AND I THINK I'VE SHOWN YOU PICTURES THAT I'VE SEEN THEM BEHIND THE BACK EDGE NEAR THE REC CENTER. THERE'S THAT MOUND IN THE SEAWALL. I THOUGHT THAT WOULD BE THE BEST PLACE FOR IT BECAUSE THE CHILDREN COULD PLAY, ANYBODY CAN PLAY IN IT. IT DOESN'T HAVE TO BE JUST FOR CHILDREN. IT MOVES THE PARKING DOWN THE BEACH IF YOU DO IT BY THE CASINO, IT ADDS TO THE PARKING PROBLEM FOR THE RESTAURANTS. THAT'S SOMETHING TO THINK ABOUT. >> THAT'S THE CONCERN I HAVE ABOUT THE BEACH, THE WATER TABLE BEING SO CLOSE. WE'LL LOOK AT IT AND GET SOME IDEAS AND WE'LL BRING OUT SOME PEOPLE TO LOOK. >> IS THE LIABILITY FOR A WATER PARK OR A SPLASHPAD ANY MORE DIFFERENT THAN IT WOULD BE FOR A SKATEBOARD PARK? >> NO. AS WE HAD SPOKEN OF EARLIER, THE BIGGEST LIABILITY ISSUE THAT YOU CAN TAKE ON WOULD BE A SWIMMING POOL. >> SWIMMING POOL. >> THAT'S IT. >> THANK YOU. >> THANK YOU. AND WE HAVE OUR DIRECTION, AND WE'LL KEEP WORKING. AND IF THERE'S SOMETHING, YOU KNOW, THAT ONE OF MY STAFF OR I CAN TALK TO YOU ABOUT IF YOU HAVE AN IDEA, LET'S TALK ABOUT IT AND GET MORE INPUT AND DRAFT A LIST AND WORK HARDER ON THAT, THEN MAYBE ON THE 4TH WE CAN BRING BACK A LIST TO MAKE DETERMINATIONS. ON THE 20TH, YOU WILL HEAR YOUR RATE STRUCTURE AND, ALSO, YOU ARE GOING TO HEAR -- YOU'RE GOING TO SET THE TIME AND DATE FOR THE PUBLIC HEARINGS. AND, AS I SPOKE OF EARLIER, YOU'LL BE SETTING THE MILLAGE RATE FOR THE 10TH CONSECUTIVE YEAR, YOU'LL SET THE MILLAGE RATE AT THAT MEETING. >> I THOUGHT OF SOMETHING THAT KAREN BROUGHT UP. SHE WAS TALKING ABOUT HAVING THE LIGHTS ON THE PIER MATCH THE LIGHTS ON THE STREET. THAT'S SOMETHING WE COULD DO WITH THAT WRD MONEY, RIGHT? >> UM, YOU POSSIBLY COULD. THE ISSUE IS GOING TO BE WE LEASE THE ONES ON THE STREET. WE OWN THE ONES ON THE PIER. SO WE'D HAVE TO SEE IF DUKE ENERGY COULD MATCH THOSE WITH WHAT COST IT WOULD BE. THAT'S GOING TO BE A PRETTY SIZABLE COST ASSOCIATED WITH IT BECAUSE YOU HAVE TO BUY A DIFFERENT STRUCTURE. WE LEASE THROUGH THEM. JUST LIKE WE DID AT WOOD IS BY PARK. >> I THOUGHT IT WAS, LIKE, $100, $200 APIECE? >> NO, THEY'RE MORE THAN THAT. BUT THE COST IS ASSOCIATED BUT THE NUMBER AND THE ELECTRIC TO PUT IT IN THERE -- WE CAN GET A PRICE FROM DUKE ENERGY. >> COULD WE BUY THEM SO WE DON'T HAVE TO PAY AN ONGOING COST? >> YOU COULD. I DON'T THINK YOU'RE GOING TO BE ABLE TO BUY THEM. LET ME ASK ABOUT THE SANIBEL, HOW MUCH IT COST TO BUY, BUT I THINK IT WILL BE A SUBSTANTIAL COST. WE'LL GET A PRICE ON SANIBEL'S EITHER WAY. >> ALL RIGHT. THANK YOU. THAT BRINGS US TO COUNCIL COMMENTS AND INFORMATIONAL REPORTS, BEGINNING WITH COUNCIL MEMBER FRIDOVICH. >> PUBLIC COMMENT? >> I'M SORRY, PUBLIC COMMENT, YES. >> 59TH STREET. MY DAD HAD A SMALL BUSINESS. I WAS ENTERING THE MANAGEMENT WORLD. OH, DAD, DO YOU EVER TELL PEOPLE THEY DO A GOOD JOB? NO. I PAY THEM TO DO A GOOD JOB. WELL, MY PHILOSOPHY IS VERY DIFFERENT. TO YOUR POINT ABOUT RECOGNIZING THE EMPLOYEES FOR THEIR WORK DURING COVID, I THINK IS VERY IMPORTANT. I HAPPEN NOT TO AGREE WITH GIVING BONUSES. UM, I'VE NEVER BEEN A FAN OF BONUSES. MAINLY BECAUSE NINE TIMES OUT OF THE TEN YOU EAT UP HALF THE BONUS WITH TAXES, SO YOU'RE GIVING THEM A CHECK THAT SAYS, THANK YOU FOR DOING A GOOD JOB, NOW GO BACK TO WORK. I'D LIKE YOU TO CONSIDER GIVING THEM DAYS OFF TO SHOW OUR COMMITMENT TO A WORK-LIFE BALANCE. NUMBER TWO, MORE IMPORTANTLY, PROBABLY SIX MONTHS AGO, I WAS FLIPPING THROUGH THE INTERNET LOOKING FOR SOMETHING UNDER GULFPORT AND I CAME TO THIS PAGE THAT WAS GOVERNMENT SALARIES. AND I WILL TELL YOU, I SHOCKED IF NOT DISGUSTED TO SEE SOME OF THE DISPARITIES IN THE SALARIES OF SOME OF THE EMPLOYEES OF GULFPORT. I KNOW LONGEVITY HAS A PLACE IN THERE. I WOULD LIKE TO SUGGEST TO YOU THAT WITH THE FUNDS THAT YOU'RE RECEIVING THAT YOU STRONGLY CONSIDER DOING A SALARY SURVEY. IT'S NOT CHEAP. BUT YOU HAVE THE MONEY NOW. AND FROM WHAT I UNDERSTAND, IT'S NEVER BEEN DONE IN 20 YEARS OR 25 YEARS. AND, REALLY, LET'S GET THESE PEOPLE WHERE THEY SHOULD BE. I AGREE WITH YOUR $15 PER HOUR. WHATEVER. MAYBE THERE ARE SOME THAT SHOULD BE MORE. YOU KNOW, SOMEBODY TOLD US, YOU KNOW, OUR SANITATION WORKERS COULD GO TO CLEARWATER AND MAKE $3 AN HOUR MORE. AS OPPOSED TO DOING A CALL-AROUND SURVEY OF PEOPLE MAKE, LET'S RATCHET IT UP A NOTCH AND LET'S REALLY CONSIDER DOING A PROFESSIONAL SURVEY AND GETTING ALL THAT IN PLACE. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. >> THANK YOU. ANYONE ELSE WANT TO COMMENT ON THIS ITEM? MS. LOVE. >> SO, I DON'T HAVE THE ADVANTAGE TO SEE THE 11 THINGS ON THE LIST. SO I DON'T KNOW IF THERE'S ANYTHING IN THERE AT ALL ABOUT THE CONCERNS THAT OUR CITY HAS ABOUT FLOODING, LIKE ALL OF OUR COASTAL CITIES. BECAUSE I SEE THAT AS THE REAL LONG-TERM, BIG PROBLEM THAT WE HAVE AND $5 MILLION IS A LOT OF MONEY. COULD SOME MONEY BE USED FOR THAT? AND THE WORD I COULDN'T SAY AT THE LAST MEETING WAS BAFFLEBOXES. I KNOW THERE COULD BE SOME VALUE TO THEM. I THOUGHT -- YOU ARE PROBABLY AWARE OF THIS. I THOUGHT IT IS INTERESTING THAT ST. PETE BEACH IS TURNING THE FOCUS OF SOME OF THEIR STUDIES FROM TROPICAL STORM FLOODING TO THE FLOODING CAUSED BY THE BAY DURING THE HIGH TIDES AND THE FULL MOON. SO, I WAS READING THE ARTICLE, MAYBE YOU ALL READ IT, TOO, ABOUT HOW THEY'RE REDOING IT, LOOKING AT THE WHOLE WAY THEY LOOK AT FLOODING IN THE SMALL CITY OF ST. PEACH BABY -- ST. PETE BEACH AND A BIGGER PROBLEM WITH MOONS AND TIDES THAN TROPICAL STORM. I THINK THAT'S US, TOO. >> I CAN JUST ADDRESS THAT? >> LET'S LET EVERYBODY COMMENT AND YOU CAN AT THE END. ANYONE ELSE HAVE A PUBLIC COMMENT? YES, SIR. >> RYAN, 29TH AVENUE SOUTH, GULFPORT. A QUICK REQUEST. CAN WE MAKE A COMMITMENT TO START TO PUT THESE AGENDA ITEMS UP -- THE ATTACHMENTS. OFTENTIMES WHEN YOU HAVE TO CONTACT THE CLERK'S OFFICE, BUT THAT'S JUST THE REALITY OF WHAT GOVERNMENTS DO NOW. I THINK THAT WOULD BE REALLY, REALLY HELPFUL TO MAKE THAT COMMITMENT FOR THE REST OF THE RESIDENTS. THANK YOU. >> THANK YOU. ANYONE ELSE FOR PUBLIC COMMENT ON THIS ITEM? SEEING NO ONE. >> JUST SO YOU KNOW, KAREN, IT WASN'T ONE OF THE 11 THINGS, BECAUSE THOSE ARE THINGS THE CITY HAS PAID OUT MONEY FOR ALREADY AND NEEDED REIMBURSEMENT FOR, MORE OR LESS. BUT IT IS ONE OF THE THINGS FOR A VULNERABILITY/RESILIENCY STUDY AND THAT WOULD COVER THAT KIND OF ISSUE. >> ALL RIGHT. THAT BRINGS US TO COUNCIL COMMENTS. BEGINNING WITH COUNCIL FRIDOVICH. >> YOU HAVE TO BOOK THERE, DON'T YOU? >> GO AHEAD. YOU CAN SHOW IT OFF. >> FOR THOSE OF YOU WHO DON'T KNOW, UM, PETER WAS KIND ENOUGH TO PUT TOGETHER A BOOK OF GULFPORT POETS AND WE READ SOME POETRY AND THE BOOK WAS PASSED OUT ON SUNDAY. I WANT TO THANK THEM FOR PUTTING THIS THING TOGETHER. I BELIEVE THERE'S 12 POETS IN HERE AS WELL, THE MAYOR BEING ONE OF THEM. >> AND YOU BEING ONE OF THEM. >> IT'S ABOUT 18 BUCKS ON AMAZON. WE GET TO PUBLISHED. THAT'S THE PART WE GET. >> WE GOT ONE BOOK EACH. [INDISCERNIBLE] >> THEY CAN BE FOUND ON AMAZON. >> MAYBE WE CAN GET DAVE MATHER TO PUT A COUPLE IN THE LIBRARY. IS THAT ALL, MICHAEL? >> THAT'S IT. >> VICE MAYOR? >> FIRST OF ALL, THERE'S A PLAY AT THE HICKMAN "BIRDS OF A FEATHER" IT WAS WONDERFUL. I RECOMMEND PEOPLE GO SEE THAT. I WENT TO FLORIDA LEAGUE OF CITIES MEETING ON FRIDAY IN ORLANDO, AND MY COMMITTEE IS ON NATURAL RESOURCES, AND THE TWO THINGS -- SO THEY HAVE FIVE DIFFERENT COMMITTEES AND DIFFERENT PEOPLE ARE ON DIFFERENT ONES. MY COMMITTEE -- EACH COMMITTEE PUTS FORWARD ONE THING THAT THE FLORIDA LEAGUE OF CITIES LOBBIES FOR IN TALLAHASSEE AND ONE MAIN THING AND THEN A KIND OF BACKUP THING. THEY'RE LOOKING THIS YEAR AT THE TREE ORDINANCE AND THEY DON'T THINK THEY CAN GET THE PREEMPTION LIFTED BUT THEY WANT TO MODIFY IT SO IT'S NOT QUITE AS BAD. AND THEN THE OTHER THING IS FOR PFOS. IT'S A CHEMICAL THAT'S IN MANY, MANY, MANY THINGS FROM TEFLON TO ANY KIND OF COATING FOR SLIPPERINESS, AND THEY USE IT FOR FIRE FOAM. AND SO MANY PLACES ARE BEING -- CITIES ARE TOLD THEY HAVE TO -- KIND OF LIKE BROWNFIELD AREAS WHERE YOU HAVE TO CLEAN UP AN AREA. BUT THERE'S REALLY NO WAY TO CLEAN IT UP. YOU KNOW, YOU CAN'T DIG IT UP AND DISPOSE OF IT. IT'S GOING TO BE A POTENTIAL PROBLEM IN THE LONG RUN. RIGHT NOW THEY DON'T KNOW THE SPECIFIC HARM THAT IT DOES AND IT COMES IN SO MANY DIFFERENT PRODUCTS BUT THE FDA HASN'T GOTTEN RID OF IT. ANYWAY, IT'S A TOPIC THAT WILL BE COMING UP IN THE FUTURE, AND I'M NOT SURE WHICH THING THEY'RE GOING TO MAKE THEIR MAIN AGENDA ITEM. THEN, I TALKED TO KELLY. I TOLD HER THAT IF SHE COULD GET, YOU KNOW, ALL THE BUSINESSES ON BOARD FOR THIS TRIAL FOR THE NOISE THING SO THAT THE MUSIC COULD BE UP TO 75 DECIBELS TILL 10:00 AT NIGHT AND DROP DOWN TO 55, RIGHT? UM -- >> AT 10:00. >> AT 10:00. AND SO SHE HAD GOTTEN EVERYBODY TO AGREE TO THAT FOR A TRIAL PERIOD. SO, YOU KNOW, THE MAYOR BROUGHT IT UP LAST TIME, AND I VOTED AGAINST IT BECAUSE I DIDN'T KNOW -- I DIDN'T WANT TO DISADVANTAGE ALL THE OTHER BUSINESSES TO JUST SOLVE THE PROBLEM FOR ONE BUSINESS. BUT IF ALL THE BUSINESSES ARE WILLING TO TRYING THAT, THEN I'M WILLING TO VOTE FOR IT IF WE WANT TO TAKE ANOTHER LOOK AT THAT. >> ALL RIGHT. >> SO, MAYBE WE CAN -- >> YEAH, NO. I'M -- I'M GLAD THAT YOU WENT BACK AND HAD THOSE CONVERSATIONS. WHEN YOU ASKED ME ABOUT, HAD I DISCUSSED WITH THE BUSINESSES. I'VE WORKED AT FIVE OF THE RESTAURANTS DOWNTOWN, I'VE PLAYED AT FIVE OF RESTAURANTS DOWNTOWN. >> WHETHER THEY WANT TO CUT BACK THEIR HOURS WAS THE ISSUE. >> YEAH. >> YOU KNOW, BECAUSE THEY CAN PLAY TILL 11:00, OFTEN WITHOUT COMMENTS, EVEN IF THEY'RE LOUD AND WHETHER THEY'RE WILLING TO STOP THEIR MUSIC AN HOUR EARLIER. >> I SAID I WAS WILLING TO DO THE ONE-MONTH TRIAL ON THAT AND SEE HOW IT GOES. BUT, I MEAN, YOU KNOW, THAT MEANS IT'S NOT GOING TO BE ONE MONTH OF NO ONE'S GETTING A TICKET. IT'S JUST CUTTING IT DOWN FOR A MONTH -- RAISING IT TO 75 TILL 10:00 AND THEN 55 AND THEN LOOK AT THE DATA. I'M OKAY TRYING TO TRIAL. I WON'T SAY I WOULDN'T. I WISH WE COULD HAVE HANDLED IT THAT NIGHT. >> MAYOR, THE ONLY ISSUE IS ON THE REDUCTION BELOW THE CURRENT RATE, MEANING GOING DOWN TO THE 55 IS PROBABLY NOT ENFORCEABLE. >> 55 IS THE CURRENT. >> WE'RE MAKING IT AN HOUR EARLIER. >> RIGHT. BUT CHANGING THE HOURS WILL PROBABLY NOT BE ENFORCEABLE. >> OH. IT WORKS THE OTHER WAY. YOU'RE MAKING IT MORE LENIENT, THAT'S FINE. IT'S NOT AN ISSUE. IF YOU'RE MAKING IT MORE RESTRICTIVE AT ANY POINT WITHOUT DOING AN ORDINANCE CHANGE, WE WOULDN'T BE ABLE TO ENFORCE IT; THE CHIEF WOULDN'T BE ABLE TO HAVE A CITATION IN THAT SITUATION. >> UNDER NORMAL CIRCUMSTANCES, THIS WOULD BE A CITATION. >> YES. WE COULD MONITOR THE COMPLAINTS AND SEE WHAT IT WAS. >> SO, IT'S JUST FOR THAT HOUR? >> ABSOLUTELY. I JUST DON'T WANT YOU TO THINK THERE WILL BE A CITATION. >> BUT THEY COULD STILL CITE OVER 75 BEFORE 10:00. >> OKAY. >> WELL, I'M THE ONE THAT BROUGHT IT UP, SO I'M WILLING TO TRY IT FOR THAT ONE MONTH TO SEE HOW IT GOES. IF IT ALL GOES TO HELL IN A HAND BASKET, THEN WE WILL KNOW IT WASN'T A GREAT IDEA. I UNDERSTAND THE REASONS FOR NOT WANTING TO DO IT. I RESPECT IT. I'M STILL WILLING TO TRY THE TRIAL. HERE WE ARE, ME AND YOU TALKING ABOUT THE SAME THING. >> NO, MICHAEL VOTED FOR IT. I DON'T KNOW HOW YOU FEEL ABOUT IT, MICHAEL. >> YOU'RE SAYING WE'LL GO 75 TILL 10:00 AND GO BACK TO 55 TILL 11:00? >> AS OPPOSED TO 65 TILL 11 PREVIOUSLY AND THEN AT 11 DROPPED DOWN TO 55. NOW AT 75 BUT ONLY DO THAT TILL 10:00 AND DROPS DOWN TO 55 AT 10:00. THE QUIETNESS HAPPENS AN HOUR EARLIER BUT IT'S A LITTLE BIT LOUDER BEFORE. >> IS THIS SEVEN DAYS A WEEK, BY THE WAY? >> IT IS, CORRECT? YEAH. I'M WILLING TO TRY IT. >> ALL RIGHT. I'M WILLING TO GIVE IT A TRY AS WELL. >> I'M NOT. >> UNDERSTOOD. >> I DID GO FROM BUSINESS TO BUSINESS. MOST OF THE PEOPLE, I CAN LIST ALL THE NAMES, BECAUSE I KNOW ALL THE BUSINESS OWNERS, MOST OF THE CONCERN WAS THE NUMBER OF TICKETS, THAT THE LENIENCY WOULD BE GONE. THEY'RE JUST GOING TO TICKET YOU. THAT WAS THEIR BIGGEST CONCERN WITH THAT. I STILL DON'T SEE THAT THERE'S ANY VIABLE REASON FOR HAVING TO RAISE IT EVEN HIGHER. I DON'T BECAUSE I GO TO -- I'VE BEEN TO EVERY ONE OF THE RESTAURANTS AND BARS, LISTENED TO MUSIC FOR YEARS AND YEARS AND YEARS, 20 YEARS THAT I'VE BEEN COMING HERE AND LIVING HERE, AND I OFTENTIMES GET UP AND WALK OUT BECAUSE IT'S TOO LOUD. I CAN'T HAVE A CONVERSATION WITH WESLEY OR ANY OF MY FRIENDS IN THAT PLACE. I JUST DON'T THINK IT BUYS US ANYTHING. IF I GO TO A CONCERT, I DON'T EXPECT TO HAVE A CONVERSATION. BUT I'M GOING TO GO HAVE A CONVERSATION, I WANT TO HAVE A CONVERSATION. >> PEOPLE GO FOR DIFFERENT EXPERIENCES. SOME OF THEM WANT TO DANCE OR HEAR LOUD MUSIC. I KNOW IT'S A CHALLENGE THAT YOU AND OTHER BUSINESS OWNERS DEAL WITH. SOMETIMES YOU GET A MUSICIAN THAT THINKS THEY SOUND BEST AT 100 DECIBELS WHEN, ACTUALLY, THEY SOUND FIND AT 70 DECIBELS. WHOEVER MENTIONED SOUND GUYS BEFORE, THAT IS SOMEBODY THAT CAN MANAGE THAT FOR YOU. IN THIS ECONOMY, THAT'S ANOTHER PERSON TO PAY, SO, TYPICALLY, YOU WON'T HAVE A SOUND GUY WITH MOST OF THE BANDS. IT'S ONE OF THE REASONS WE CAN'T PLAY YOUR PLACE ANY MORE AFTER THE VERY FIRST TIME WE PLAYED THERE. WE WERE CLEARLY TOO LOUD WITH A SIX PIECE AND A DRUM KIT. IT WAS A ONE AND DONE. WE'VE HAD TO DO THAT AT OTHER PLACES. EVERY KIND OF MUSIC DOESN'T WORK AT EVERY PLACE. IT REQUIRES HAVING YOUR MUSICAL GUESTS THAT YOU'RE HIRING, HAVING THEM UNDERSTAND THAT THEY HAVE THE POTENTIAL TO CAUSE YOU PROBLEMS AND, YOU KNOW, IF YOU DO THAT -- IF YOU GET THEM A TICKET AFTER YOU WARNED THEM. THE NATURE OF OUR COMMUNITY AND HOW CLOSE RESIDENTIAL IS TO COMMERCIAL. FOR A 30-DAY PERIOD, DURING A TIME OF YEAR WHEN MOST PEOPLE ARE GOING TO HAVE WINDOWS UP AND THE AC ON, CONSIDERING WE'RE IN THE HEAT, IT SEEMS LIKE THE MOUSSE UNOBTRUSIVE TIME TO GIVE IT A 30-DAY THOUGHT. I AM UP FOR THE TRIAL. I WILL SAY, IF WE COME BACK IN HERE AND GET LIT UP AND IT WAS A HUGE DISASTER, LESSON LEARNED. >> PAUL, EXCUSE ME -- >> FIRST I WANT TO SAY SOMETHING. I DID SOUND FOR ALL KINDS OF BANDS, EVEN JEFFERSON AIRPLANE BACK IN THE DAY. THE PROBLEM IS YOU CAN'T PUT A SOUND SYSTEM THERE BECAUSE EVERY BASSIST WILL WANT THEIR OWN AMP AND I CAN'T CONTROL THE SOUND. OF COURSE, A SOUND COMPANY DOESN'T BUY US ANYTHING. THEY'RE STILL GOING TO GO RIGHT OVER THE TOP OF IT. LAST MEETING WE WERE TOLD, WELL, WE SEE 75 ALL THE TIME. I HAVE HEARD FROM SO MANY PEOPLE. I DON'T KNOW HOW MANY PEOPLE CONTACTED YOU OR PULLED YOU ASIDE WALKING AROUND TOWN, BUT I GOT A VERY, VERY SIGNIFICANT NUMBER OF PEOPLE WHO LIVE IN WARD 2 WHO DO WANT TO SEE IT HAPPEN. SO, I'M SAYING NO ONLY FOR THEM. IT DOESN'T MATTER TO ME. I CAN GET UP AND WALK OUT. I LIVE UP BY STETSON, SO I CAN'T HEAR IT. >> A LOT OF THE PLACES ARE ALREADY AT 75. FOR THEM, IT WON'T REALLY BE A DIFFERENCE. HOPEFULLY THEY WON'T NOW RAISE IT. >> WE HAVE A COMMUNITY WHERE WE HAVE MUSIC -- WHERE WE HAVE MUSIC REALLY TIGHTLY COUPLED WITH RESIDENTIAL. YOU KNOW, YOU GO TO NEW YORK CITY OR PROVINCETOWN, MOST FACE THE WATER. YOU DON'T HAVE THEM ON TOP OF AIRBNBS OR PEOPLE'S RESIDENCES. WE'RE IN A UNIQUE SITUATION. NOT A LOT OF PLACES HAVE A HOUSE RIGHT NEXT DOOR TO THE STAGE. THAT'S A CONSIDERATION THAT WE DON'T NORMALLY HAVE IN MOST OTHER COMMUNITIES. >> I AGREE TOTALLY WITH EVERYTHING THAT PAUL SAID. AND IF YOUR BAND IS SO LOUD, THEN THAT'S WHY WE NEED THE SHELL BEHIND THE REC CENTER FOR BANDS LIKE YOURS. >> OH, GOSH, MY BAND WOULD BE IN TROUBLE ON THE OTHER SIDE OF THE WATER. MY BAND'S NOT PLAYING RIGHT NOW. WE HAVE A GUITAR PLAYER MOVING TO ROMANIA, SO THIS AIN'T ABOUT ME. ALL RIGHT. WELL, I'M HAPPY WE'RE AT LEAST GOING TO GIVE IT 30 DAYS. >> 30 DAYS FROM TODAY? >> I WANT TO SAY THE EFFECTIVE DATE IS TOMORROW. >> AND THIS IS ENFORCEABLE. >> EXCEPT FOR THAT HOUR, ABSOLUTELY. IF THEY'RE AT 75 AFTER 11:00, A CITATION? >> YEP. >> SO, DO THEY GET TICKETED AT ABOVE 75 IF THEY GIVE THEIR NAME OR IF THEY DON'T, OR EITHER WAY? >> WE'RE GOING TO GO THERE AND ADDRESS EACH SITUATION. BUT, I MEAN, OF COURSE, ANY COMPLAINT, AS THE CHIEF SPOKE OF, WE'D LIKE SOMEONE TO VOUCH THAT IT HAPPENED. >> YOU KNOW, I DON'T UNDERSTAND THAT. IF THE OFFICER GOES THERE WITH HIS METER AND SAYS, IT'S OVER 75, HE'S THE PERSON WHO CAN VOUCH FOR IT. >> RIGHT. YOU SHOULDN'T NEED ANYBODY ELSE. >> IF WE'RE GOING TO START TICKETING BUSINESSES LIKE THIS, YOU WOULD LIKE SOMEONE TO BE ACCOUNTABLE FOR IT? WELL, SEE, I DON'T THINK YOU NEED TO HAVE IT. I THINK IF THE OFFICER CAN GO THERE AND SEE THAT IT IS HAPPENING, THEN YOU DON'T NEED A PERSON'S NAME. BECAUSE THE OFFICER IS THE PROOF THAT IT'S HAPPENING. >> I DON'T WANT ALL OF OUR POLICE HANGING AROUND AND LISTENING TO THE BANDS THE ENTIRE MONTH? >> NO, IF THEY GET A COMPLAINT. OKAY, GO TO