Good. >> You can leave us if you want. You want me to? Meeting of the Community Redevelopment Agency is scheduled for March 25th at 5:00 PM. It's called to order. If one of our board members would be so kind to volunteer and provide the invitation,
leave us in the pledge. >> Father, we thank you for this day. Lord, we thank you for all your many blessings. Um, Father, we pray that you will be with us and help guide this meeting as we reorganize and do the biddings of the CRA, Lord, and and for
our city. Father, we thank you for your help uh for our health and safety. God, we pray, dear Lord, for the victims of yesterday and their families. Pray that you will comfort them, that you will be with them, give them peace, show them love, Lord, in Jesus name we pray.
>> Amen. I pledge algiance 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.
>> Seeing no consent agenda items, we move to regular agenda. Does any do any board members have any additions or deletions to the regular agenda? >> Seeing none, we will move to the approval of the regular agenda. May I have a motion to approve the regular agenda as written? >> So moved.
>> Second. >> Second. >> All in favor? >> I >> I opposed. Seeing none, agenda is approved. Item 3C1 under Mr. Towns is the selection of commission [clears throat] chair and
vice chair. I can just go ahead and handle that. We need a nomination for chair of the CRA as you are. the city council and have the prerogative to appoint the chair of the CRA per the bylaws would you go ahead and take it from the same group. So does anybody wish to nominate someone
who chair the CRO >> Kobe cannot need to be >> Kobe cannot he is not a member of this board. >> No thank you. >> It must come from it must come from the members of the board itself. So has to be one of the four council members. >> I nominate Mr. Skongers to be the chair. I
>> see Mr. Skongers nominated. Are there any other nominations? Seeing no other nominations, do I have a second for Mr. Skers? >> Second. >> All in favor of Mr. Skyners, signify by saying I. I. >> All signify by saying nay. Seeing none,
Mr. Skyners, you are the chair. You now need to call for the appointment of a vice chair. And you can take that gap off. >> Yes, sir. Um, so we need a a nomination for vice chair at this time. Anybody want? [clears throat]
>> Yeah, I'll do it. >> Second. >> Okay, we got a motion and a second. All in favor say I. >> I. >> Any opposed? >> Congratulations. >> Thank you, sir. >> 3C2, Mr. Chairman.
>> Uh, Mr. City Manager. Oh, no. We're at 3C2. as Mr. Chel. >> Yep. Um need to discuss the direction of CRA staffing. Uh prior to this date, they had a CRA manager, our director,
and I believe that was the only FTE that the CRA had at that time. Is that correct, Mr. B? >> So, what would be the board's wishes on how we would like to staff the CRA? Do we want to I I know I can kind of give you my thoughts on it and we can
just discuss it a little and see if y'all want to go that route or not. Um I had thought about contracting out those functions to the city and then allow the city manager to de delegate those out, but I'm open to other ideas. That way
we're not specifically putting it on one person. It it would naturally go to the CEO of the city council. Is there any uh any issues with that at all? >> My recommendation would be not to contract out the actual full position,
although I do believe it is something we could do uh with the city manager's guidance to outsource the administrative functions of the agency to city staff prata to the amount of time shared. So if for
instance finance spends 10% of their time on CRA and 90% on the city, there could be a cost share provided back to the city of CRA money for administrative cost. We need to look at those formulas to make sure we stay statutoally compliant. That is one way we could do that um to allow those shares. I do
believe one your bylaws say you can doesn't say you shall appoint an executive director. So it's up to you. Um but I think in fairness to Mr. Townson and I've not spoken about it. If the ask is for him to function as both the city manager and the executive
director of CRA because it is both then I think it would be appropriate to discuss what the contractual obligation would be and the expectation of time between the two. There's going to be natural overlap in those jobs. But I do think it is appropriate if the council wishes to have him serve in both
functions that you discuss compensation for that independent of his title as city manager. That way if that is ever done separately, you have the FTE in existence or the compensation can be provided to that position.
>> Any ideas from the rest of the board? Mr. >> Yes. So, as as I was kind of thinking over the potential staffing structure, um, one of the thoughts kind of rolling around in my head was certainly agreeing
with um, allowing Mr. Townson to serve as the executive director for the CRA. And then I know in some of the communications that he had sent us, the idea was for some of the other city staff to to step up and take on some additional responsibilities.
But as I as I contemplated that, I really think that we should still as a CRA, taking my city hat off and putting on my CRA hat, I really think that we should still have some sort of staff position that handles the administrative functions because taking a lot of what I
understood to occur from a CRA director because they were full-time, they handled a lot of that administrative function, whether it was processing grant applications, putting in POS, communicating with people, updating websit sites, etc., etc., right?
>> To me, taking that and putting it and trying to distribute it among the existing staff maybe isn't the best answer. So maybe if as a CRA we funded an administrative assistant position and that then handled the majority of those administrative functions whether it's
preparing minutes or you know any of the things that I named previously along with his suggestion of some of the staff taking on some of those specific responsibilities like I know he had suggested Mr. Strong because there's a lot of overlap there with the abatement
ordinances that we've already that Strong could Mr. strong can take on some of those responsibilities. So I and of course as a CRA we would call share in that but that's kind of my thought is he he takes on the executive director. We have an a dedicated administrative
assistant that we fund directly through the CRA and then that we compensate the city for like Mr. Strong taking on additional responsibilities or like Klay mentioned finance taking on some additional responsibilities or some cost sharing. That's that's kind of what I came up with as I thought through this.
I >> like that idea. Any other ideas from the board? >> Yeah, we we've had that conversation um Kobe and I and about Chris, you know, stepping in to do that finance director. Um
did we build the CRA for those that portion? >> The city has never indirect cost, >> right? And you know, and I don't see why we wouldn't do that, right? >> Um really, you know, uh so I'm I'm in
favor of that. I I don't you know, as far as Kobe goes, you know, he's he's he's a city manager, he's a finance director and and and possibly the CRA director. That's a lot. And that absolutely has to be additional compensation. we figure out down the
road, you know, that uh you know, we need to have somebody else do the director position CRA. What would our approach be at that point in time? Uh because I I I I don't know he he hasn't give I haven't asked opinion whether you
you want to do this till 2033 when this thing sunsets or would would like some relief down the road with another executive director. So at that point, what do we do salarywise? And that's just some concerns I have about that. But other than that, I know he's capable. I know he doesn't need or
probably want to take on a whole lot more. Um, and you know, I it's more of a priority for me to keep in place the city manager than it is CRA director. So, I don't want him be overloaded. Um, and so that'll be that'll be up to him what what he feels
like he can take up. you're definitely going to have to have staff help to, you know, implement these grants, see them through, follow them, all all that kind of stuff. Um because he just doesn't need a whole lot more to take on. Um there's only so much anybody can take,
you know, and we all recognize that in him. We we appreciate you. >> Council, >> who implemented the grants for the CRA, the old CRA? Was it our our grants person? >> The executive director hdes
>> is the city grant person capable of this? >> Yes sir. >> I don't think it's to me and this is I don't think question capability to me they're two very different functions. This grant program is something the CRA
provides to residential business owners. Our grant coordinator Denise, he handles the receiving and compliance of external grants that city city receives. Now, one thing I tell you if we do move forward is we will start to look at grant opportunity the CRA can go out and get
that will be something she'll be engaged in. And I think that's where we go with the prora share that talked about. >> It's the difference between grantor and grantee. What we're referring to as the grant management is being the grant agency as opposed to being the grant recipient. The city's grant manager
handles only recipient grants because we don't give out grants in the city. We receive them. The CRA right now receives no grants. They give them. So that's what they're talking about. >> Can you do that? [clears throat] >> Yeah, absolutely. I I think Council
Berbomb's suggestion is a really good one. I had not thought through that. I was looking at the most cost savings to the city, to the CRA as a whole, and ultimately the city. Um, but I think that's probably a very good idea. Um, and I don't see where we'd have any issue processing the grant programs
at all. >> So, we don't need any are we ask? So, you're handling all the grants now. >> No, sorry. Not for the city. Denise is still here, >> right? I mean for the CRA. >> They're referring to the CRA. I think ultimately if you were to make me the deputy director, you didn't hire anyone
else or or allow me to hire have staff or an additional personnel kind mentioned and yeah, I would be responsible for that. >> That that's what we're deciding on now. >> That's what we're asking. >> Yes. you're asking to get
staff member >> to replace that responsibility on on the someone and go ahead and and dedicate that position to those purposes. >> So I believe the direction of what's being asked would be three. It'll be one
to appoint to appoint Mr. Townson as the executive director of the CRA in addition to a city manager duties and negotiate additional compensation. Therefore, two to authorize Mr. Townsen
as the CRA's executive director to fill one FTE in the form of an administrative assistant CRA administrative duties whether that be through a cost share with a city employee or a standalone employee. Let's let him see how that works. Talked about Mr. Strong. that's
what he prefers to do versus hiring somebody outside in in total. Um and third to determine the appropriate prorata cost share of administrative cost allocations between city staff and functions with CRA oversight.
>> Well, my my suggestion was just to hire a full FTE and then if Kobe has additional responsibilities like he mentioned like he has brought up to us with Mr. Tron that would be covered under a cost sharing agreement. >> That's why I'm laying all three out. So
you're saying not to have him as the executive director as well? >> No. No. Yes. I I'm saying that, but what I'm saying is we definitively do hire an administrative assistant. >> That's the second one. That is the FT. So just making clear that it will be a standalone one FTE, not a cost share. The city call the third.
>> Yes. Yes. >> That would be I mean you can do all that in the form of one motion if you like under this or we can do it in three parts. We we can't do we need to bring um bring back an agreement or negotiate or agreed upon calls for the Mr. Towns
in his portion as they >> that all has to come back. That's why I said negotiate. You're basically tasking and negotiating with >> All right. >> So the additional staff is for grant. Is that what you're saying? It's for the day-to-day
administration of the CRA that is outside of what >> like the minutes and the grants. >> Yes. >> Communicating with the public and the grants kind of >> updating the website things that he simply cannot assume being the chief executive of the city.
>> We're basically splitting Mr. Hamilton's roles who was here before. So it's like dissecting all Toby and then daytoday general administrative duties will go to this staff. >> So do do y'all have somebody in mind?
>> That would be up to him. That's why I made that motion up Mr. Townson to find and hire that person to do the hiring process. >> Do you have somebody in mind? >> No, I don't. We would go through the proper hiring process. >> Is it a good time to just throw out
a suggestion? would recommend it. >> Okay. >> Yeah. I mean, it it needs to go through the formal hiring process, whatever we do. >> Yeah. >> Okay. >> And y'all think that's what's best. >> I I think that represents a significant
cost savings for the CRA. You know, obviously, we're not going to pay him the full salary that we paid the previous director, and we're going to use some of that savings to hire the administrative assistant. So, it's not going to be 100% savings, but I do
believe that that is that's the best way forward because city staff's already maxed out. >> If it sounds like I'm nitpicking, the re the reason I'm nitpicking is because the more money we can save is money that
we can put toward infrastructure projects. >> Absolutely. And [clears throat] in the beginning you said you could handle all that and then you made the suggestion we need an extra person. So now you're concurring with that.
>> Oh absolutely. I don't think I've never I could do it all. But I will tell you to me by going off this I can tell you we will I guarantee we will save somewhere between8 to between 100 and $80,000 by what charge sits in here. I will bring you back something that does
that. Okay. also tell you that having that additional person to do that um you're probably going to see you're not going to see it directly from the but from the speed and movement of projects and that grand application you're going to see an ROI on that. So in my opinion that's going to save CR money or move
projects much faster than what they've been happening just because there there's value to having more people helping out and pushing them. >> Okay. So if everybody's in agreement,
>> the motion will be to >> let's do it one at a time. >> All right. So the first motion will be to appoint Mr. Towns as the executive director of the CRA and the direct CRA attorney to negotiate compensation there. >> So move second. We have a motion and a
second. Is there any other comments on that piece? Do I need to have a public comment on this part? >> Okay. Do we uh we have a motion and a second to make Mr. Towns and the CRA executive director at this time. Do we have any public comment on this one?
Seeing none, we'll go to vote. All those in favor say signify by saying I. >> I. >> Any opposed? Motion carries 40. >> Second motion will be to task Mr. Towns as CR executive director with the ability to hire one FTE to handle administrative duties of the CR.
>> So moved. >> Second. We have a motion and a second. Any further discussion by the board? [clears throat] Any public comment? All those in favor signify by saying I. >> I. >> 4 Z. Motion passes.
>> Last motion will be to direct and we'll do it as a motion. He moved his direction to direct staff and CRA to determine an appropriate cost share for the per allocation of cost based on the responsibility of duties by city staff dedicated to the CRA. >> So move. Second.
We have a motion and a second. Any further coms by the board? >> Clarify that, please. >> What it basically means is this. If we hire somebody that's not capable of taking the notes, it's not within their expertise or skill set and Sumi has to
come here to do. She's paid by the city of the CRA is not part of her duties. Well, if she picks up one meeting a month, what is that overall time obligation sum compared to that? We pay that money to the city to either provide her additional cost share as part of her
job to provide potential additional compensation to those employees or otherwise. No different than the TDC pays back under state statute to the county a certain percentage up to 5% technically is what that can be of tourist revenue for the county's overall
administration because a lot of what happens runs through the county. Got it. Yes, sir. >> Do we have any public comment on this one? Seeing none, we'll go to a vote. All those in favor say I. >> I. I. >> I.
>> Any opposed? Motion passes 40. C3. Mr. >> So now we moved on to agenda item 3 C3. Uh the bylaws provision. >> Mr. Chairman, uh commissioner, just wanted to look at the bylaws. I
understand there's anything that any of you may have pointed out in there that needs to be changed. Um I have two things of discussion um that we can get after everyone else has theirs and then just if Mr. Atinson has any language and formalities that may need to be cleaned up with recent changes. So I can I can
wait till >> and I am going to wait till y'all put it all in because if I spend any time going over my changes and you wish to make more changes, it's just going to completely defeat the purpose. So I'll make my changes to whatever y'all suggest. >> Sure. Okay. Uh my first one is that it's
not necessarily in the bylaws. Bylaws just state that the board has to set a time and date for meetings. So my question to you is when would you like to This isn't to technically change the bylaws, but when would you like to have your meetings? Currently they are at I think they're supposed to be at 5:30. We
made this 5:00 on the fourth Wednesday of the month. So do you want to continue that? Do you want to move to another date and time? We just need direction so we can update calendars and prepare for that. I've got an idea, but I'd like to hear from everybody first.
Mr. Harrison, do you have right now with the way the meeting scheduled, do you want to change that from >> I'm I'm okay with it. Um, you know, in end of like Thursday, Friday, that would be bad for me. I I would have to miss a
few a few meetings, I'm sure. But any other time, I'm I'm pretty flexible. >> Same here. >> I've got kind of different And I don't know how you guys will feel about it, but I was trying to minimize the n each one of us have a number of meetings to
go throughout throughout the month. So, right now, our second meeting at the city council level, we we hold for uh special meetings and workshops before the regular meeting. Um, one thought I have would might be coming in at three o'clock on the first meeting of each
month instead of having it on a separate date. limit that meeting to two hours and time for discussions and then we could do the business CRA enroll right out of that into a city council meeting if y'all wanted to. Um, but I'm also open other ideas too.
>> Do you think it'll take two hours? >> I don't >> I don't think so. >> I don't think so, but it it would just give enough time in there in case the agenda did get packed and our executive director can kind of tailor that agenda to keep us within there as well. probably >> you want to save me at four instead of
uh give us an hour. >> The only thing I will caution you about in doing that and there's no reason you can't but you cannot get into a habit of well it's five o'clock we have to stop because we have a city council meeting. Secondly, you cannot unlike when we have
a workshop or a special meeting that goes before we have the ability city council when we do that to notice that our city council meeting starts at 5 or soon thereafter if we have an earlier meeting. You can't do that when you're two separate organizations. Your city council meetings are going to start at
5:00. So when this meeting gets to 459, we got to be active because at five the city council, you have to change half. time it's just you the mayor has to be able to get up here. Um so the only caution I would have is if it we can do that but if it becomes an issue where
we're unable to finish CRA business or for instance the worst case the public keeps saying hey you never get to public comment you know you talk for an hour and then we don't ever get to talk you don't get to say we get to talk at the end of the city council meeting you got to let them talk at that
meeting too. So, as it is right now, the only disadvantage you have if you choose to do that is that you're going to have to be diligent. You're going to have to get your business done in that hour, still have time for a full meeting, but you can't keep you can't cut it short routinely if you start doing that. I I
think we're going to be very close to running a foul of some of the state statutes about a true open board meeting. So, let's just be mindful of that. And I have no problem if we try it, but if it starts to be a problem, please understand, Mr. Council not come back and say we need to move these meetings. We have to step back.
>> Is there a problem with if we see we're getting at a hard stopping point continuing some of the agenda items into the next meeting, the next CRA meeting? >> The problem is if you do that every meeting, at some point you're not completing the CRA's role because you're
meeting with the city council. And I can assure you that under Inspector General Alder standards, you're going to be deemed for that because they're going to say, "Look, nobody made you set this the same night as your city council. You had that choice. You chose to and you couldn't get it done. So, you start
getting there at 3 or noon or whenever or schedule it for another night." >> Mr. Cos, >> what about giving us a 30 minute buffer 3:30? I mean, >> instead of an hour, we've got 90
minutes. >> Mr. Um, Clay, from like a either public meeting law perspective or just parliamentary procedure if we if we were to be bumping up against the five
o'clock start time end time, could we technically temporarily adjourn the meeting until after the city council meeting and pick it back up or does that run a foul with any any kind of laws? You can do that, but you are getting into a meeting closure issue, a
constructive closure by just taking lengthy adjournments. One of the things about being open to the public is you notice the meeting for a certain time and you're open. And yes, you may take multiple adjournments, but the attorney general's been very clear, you shouldn't adjourn a meeting for six hours and come back after everybody's had dinner, gone
to sleep, and do it. And by the way, boards instead of Florida try that. All right, we're gonna we'll be back at 10:30 tonight [snorts] >> and show up. Nobody's in the audience. They get done with their beating. And I'm sure they thought it was very clever and that's not what you're applying. But
that's what we'd have to keep to be clear. I what I would say is I am perfectly willing with the caution I've given you to start this whether it's 334 and let's see how it goes and just understand if we need to move it back.
You always have that option to redo it at one of those meetings. Hey, look, we tried it. We're just not able to get through these meetings in time. Let's move it to a new date. And I say that as someone I'll be here whenever you tell me to, but with all due respect that the last thing I need is another night meeting. So, I've got plenty of them,
but I'll be here when you tell me. So, I like the idea of putting it together. So, my advice goes counter to my own personal interest here. But at the same time, um I do want to be cautious of that because I've seen those problems happen. I think one thing I see is our our I apologize too. I think one thing
I've seen in the past is our timeline on debate. So if we prepare ahead of time and and did not we got to have discussion. We got to have debate. It's healthy. It it needs to be out there. But I think kind of tailoring some of that back. I am a little scared about
the one hour or an hour and a half on the first one because while this one seems more of an organizational meeting getting the CRA structure back together and and then how we're going to do things, the next one's going to be picking up um the pieces where uh things that have business that has not been
taken care of over the past few weeks. So, that one may be a little more lengthy and then we could trim it back from there and have additional time. But um that first one I don't know that we could get it done in an hour. But Mr. Harrison, >> well
there's usually not a a lot of attendance for the CRA meetings, but I I do want to make sure that we think, you know, because they've been at 5:30 would be be under any fire for starting at 3:00 or 3:30 and PE people can't attend
that. That's just one concern. I'm okay with it if if that's what we we decide for sure. Uh but have an additional night of meeting, we're all busy. We're all serving on multiple committees and multiple meetings. Um it it it's a lot and and we we decided to take this on,
but I think we we do need to find a way to make it as easy on ourselves as as possible. >> Um >> but >> not not easy, but you know what I mean. >> I do. You're not saying just easy on us, but accomplish the mission of the board and do everything we're supposed to for our CRA functions.
>> But people still be able to attend if we advertise well. Another concern though is is actually um you know making sure we have our agenda items in early so we have adequate prep time because it's it's a bear just to prepare for a city council meeting u between you know when
you know they the agenda comes out late Wednesday so really Thursday Friday weekend or whatever so preparing for a CRA meeting on top of that it it could be a lot depending on what we're addressing but to about that for mayor council. I know
your schedule. I know everybody's schedule, but um are you comfortable with the recommendation earlier on that can you >> Yeah, mo most of my my stuff for my day job is centered around 8:00 am to about 1:00 p.m. So, >> so if if you're com I would recommend 3
o'clock. The reason that way if it does take an hour and a half at least y'all got time to to get out up here for a minute, come back. I think we've done that before. We've had very long workshops and we're going to council meetings. It really drains everybody. Um, I would say that uh we'll do our best to keep items very clean and clear
cut. Here's where we're at, what we're asking for. We can also do preparation is because it's only once a month rather than five bi-weekly, we can um I'm trying to think. Anyways, I guess what I'm saying is we can try we'll get that CR out probably two weeks in advance. So in between our two council meetings
>> back to the first but you know we can get it out well in advance. You have plenty of time and then when we do our regular briefings we can do that or I can brief however >> I think we can make it where it's well advanc. >> So you had suggested the first meeting of the month. What about instead of the first meeting of the month we do the
last meeting of the month? >> And I'm imanable to either one. I just know in the past we were wanting that second meeting because of the workshops mainly around the airport and any [clears throat] other major projects. So I was kind of thinking that I'm I'm good with going to the second one. I was just thinking that one was already occupied
space pretty much. But >> however y'all want to do it, I'm good. >> I was just throwing it out there >> because we could if we have projects or workshops we need, we just put them in the first meeting instead of second. >> We can just flip them. >> I'm flexible on either one.
>> Good with that. All right. So, we would need a motion on which direction we want to take. >> So, let me take a stab at this. Uh, let's do um I'll make a motion that we schedule our regularly scheduled CRA meetings for the second meeting.
>> I'm sorry. >> For fourth Monday of each month at 3 p.m. So, moved. >> Do we have a second? >> Second. >> So, we have a motion and a second. Any further discussion by the floor before we go out by the public? All right. Do we have any public
comments? We're basically setting the president for our meetings every month. How the CRA is going to form and the date and the time that we will be holding these meetings. Mr. Mayor, >> a little bit jealous for our city council.
>> Uh I just don't want you guys to come in frustrated, worn out when you show up to city council meeting. So just keep that in mind. >> [clears throat] >> And plus, we're fudging into a lot of city time when we go at 3:00, which I
would prefer 3:00 with me, but we are, you know, dipping into city activities from 3 to 5 what goes on here every day. So, those two things just to be mindful of. >> Do we have any further public comment,
>> Mr. uh we will continue to live stream so that will always be there as well and we'll get there 10 out early and the only thing just to kind of give everybody a heads up right now we are tenatively scheduling that workshop the second meeting in April for the fire assessment so as long as everyone's comfortable we will find different date
for that as long as everybody's okay with that >> I'm good with a question real quick as far as the staffing on that Monday at 3:00 would would it be a >> you think of anything to get us in a
pinch? >> No, I think we'll be fine. I I understand like what the mayor's saying. I think usually around somewhere around 3 3:30 I already start slowing down prepare for our regular parks meetings. I think we'll be fine. Um we'll make sure the clerk is prepared for that as well. And then if there's any other
staff, we'll just have them come on an as needed basis for any particular item or project need to be on. Okay. Thank you. All right. All those in favor signify by saying I. I. >> I. I. >> Any opposed? Motion passes 40.
>> Okay. Good. >> Chairman, my other one um looking through it, the only other one I recognized and me uh under article six section 7 subsection C. Um I believe that we could we should we could strike
that. I think that uh it's covered under dean which automatically uh you know replaces the city council with CRA and city manager executive director in terms of the purchasing policy. Um also does that sound correct? We were strike C and
D. I I think we could simply change Cedar Reed that you would have the same authority that when the city manager serves as zero he should have the same purchasing authority as provided by I think that's the easier way of doing it but we can change that with the service.
>> So that would be my recommendation to bring back that change the reason for that and I guess move forward to better understand the commission's thoughts on this. I would like to see I know in the past um CRA has always brought up numerous invoices. I know they switched
to a different gym style that we have consent now and stuff. I personally don't think we need to get into that. I think we already if y'all approve contract task just like we do with city staff and myself if it's in their allowable ma we check make sure work's been conducted and we approve it and we we move forward with it and not bring
that back ever since. So, I'd like to have very similar authority as we already do in capacity with the city. As long as everyone's comfortable that we're not, then that's fine. Mr. Co, >> as far as expenditures go, would it be proven? Do y'all think it would be a good idea before we take over the
finances from the previous CRA board to have an audit? >> Do you have any wallet CRA? CRA has an independent audit every year anyway. Well, what are you inquiring about specifically >> to make sure we don't inherit any?
>> You've already inherited it the moment you appointed yourself as the board to tell you. [laughter] >> So if they've made a mistake and >> we inherit that mistake, >> you've inherited that identify it. >> Next agenda I'll have on here a up
to-ate monthly uh budget report or annual budget report. I know that that already comes. Daniel provides that. So I can have it on for go through and see. But in terms of an audit, CRA has a separate audit conducted by the same auditor that audit the city. It's part of the contract.
>> Uh council, do we need a motion on this or just simple staff direction? >> That's direction because we'll be taking a motion when we approve it later. >> All right. All right. We'll move on to the next one. Oh, yes, Mr. So I have a couple of things. So let's go back to um
let's go back to article three. Um Clay, I don't know maybe some of this is going to be addressed with what you were suggesting, but like commissioners appointed by the city council. Obviously, we're now city counc that will be changed to conform to state statute as will the terms and the
language about that. Basically, all article 3 completely changed. >> Okay, so that answers that. Um article four, do we need to appoint a secretary and a treasurer? >> It's up to you if you wish to. Um,
frankly at this point in time I think let's let Mr. Townson figure out can those duties be administratively performed through the city or through the administrative option. You know you need for certain compliance reporting measures the state you may have just fill out those names on the document but
typically you just go around the table. You got five of them. You just put them in order. The chair is going to be the president. The vice chair is going to be the vice president. Then we'll just spell out above the three names in the appropriate order. go around the table. >> That was the only other questions I have.
>> Do we need do we need go ahead and appoint those? >> No, they're not not required. If you look the secretary of the city clerk of the city of Phoenix Springs by bylaws, you don't have one and the treasurer is the finance director of the city of Springs which we also have. So
technically you don't have >> Mr. Harrison. >> Yes. Question on uh article six number six. uh cash balance uh any cash balance in a trust fund shall be invested in accordance with the requirement of Florida statutes. What exactly is that
uh requirement and do we have any idea what percent what rate we're earning on would be earning on any of that >> there's a better option >> I found out from Daniel I see I don't so I my first thing would be I don't know if the CR board ever directed to invest
cash in the account outside of what's already been collected on general >> it's it's interest bearing cash that's it just needs to be FDIC insured interest bearing Daniel, >> there's no investment there. We're not in the stock market. We're not in mutual funds, anything like that. >> But the councils are are interest
similar to the cities. >> Yeah. Similar to Yeah, I was going to say some similar to what some of our city accounts are invested. >> Okay. >> Anybody want to cover his >> Well, I'll just bring them back when I bring all my changes. They're just clean
up confirming confirming you are the CRA board. So a question off council Harrison commissioner Harrison's item uh if that is something you all wish for us to look at I can get with Danielle about because obviously there is a
large portion of money in the CRA trust fund that isn't actually going to be used at the moment because you're in design project it's really you know city we went in we opened the prime account we did that because there's higher rate bearing has the ability to pull money in and out much quicker than a regular account there's no penalties so so if
there's no issue with the CRA investing is similar. We can bring something back to look at that balance and see what it may be worth, right? If we can earn another interest 1.25% [cough] worth it to us on, you know, million half2 million. >> Sure. >> Mr. Cos,
>> for the purposes of this meeting, um are we going to have the authority to um some of the projects that are on hold to be able to put them back to work? You talking about the ones tonight or the meeting tonight or the next meeting?
>> At at the meeting tonight, are we going to have the authority to take some projects that are currently on hold and tell them to get back to work? For example, um I believe it's is it uh is it three notch or anchor that's working on the alleyway?
>> Anchor. >> Okay. Could we give the green light to anchor to proceed? >> Mr. It's up the nine. >> We can't take it up. not on the items tonight, but we can't think of our next meeting. >> That was going to be the goal anyways. The next meeting was going to be to bring projects forward, have sold
present to go over it, and if we ought to decide, do you want to continue? Do you want to kill it? Do you want to change the scope, right? Talk about those things. Um, so I would recommend you you keep it on hold because again, if you're going to uh that would be my recommendation, we hate to spend another, you know, 30 40 $56,000 on the
sign to get to 50 or 60% and you all decide you want to change something. So personally I would hold it but if you feel differently then can't do it at night but >> Mr. Harrison. >> So do we want to wait a whole month to to do that
>> call special meeting? >> Yeah because I know people are anxious and they they've been you know asking um it you know I don't know what our schedule looking like next you know couple couple weeks with things coming up. got another budget workshop when
>> uh our city council's like budget workshop is in June. >> Okay. >> Um just something to you know think about it. I mean if we we don't want to wait a month and we would like to get some of this moving and get them back on on task. >> We can do that. We can either do the
whole list of them or we can do a few of the much larger ones that will probably take some time for you all to go over and discuss and then save smaller ones for this actual regular meeting. >> Yeah. So, we've got one one week between our next No, no, we got two weeks. So,
how soon would you all want to come back for the um special meeting? So, if we can't keep this >> as soon as possible. >> I'm I'm not We have a channel between the 30th and the 3rd. So, what about the week of the sixth? >> I'm good with the week of six. Do we
want to do it on a Monday or a Wednesday or what? What day works best for everybody? I know I've got stuff and >> what are we talking about? >> Yeah, Monday's planning >> decided to cancel. So, I'll be
so >> What day is that? Monday the >> So, what are you suggesting for the special meeting? What day? >> Monday. Monday, April the 6 or Commissioner, you got any good? >> I'm good.
>> Would that be okay for you, Kobe, to get things together >> for that? >> Yeah, we're see we're on 25th. We we'll reach out uh tomorrow or Friday. I got I got time in the morning. We can reach out get a we'll get a round table with all of them all consultants anyways and
I'm sure we can do that. If for some reason someone says they can't be then we'll look at that second meeting and pick up any but I think we all there's a couple big ones everyone's most interested in really. So we'll be sure that those are on there for sure. >> Council, are you good for April 6? >> I'll be here. >> I was going to be here for the planning
board anyway. So >> um what time do we want to convene that day? Do we want to do the 3:00 or do we want to do 5:00? >> I'm I'm good either way it goes, but it's probably going to take a little while. >> I'm wide open. >> Y'all want to start at three then? Understanding that this one may take a
while. >> Yeah, >> Mr. C. >> So, are we going to be able at this special meeting that we're scheduling right now to be able to discuss like percentage of the increased advalorum tax and things like that and the boundaries of the areas we're collecting from?
>> So, you can't talk the valor tax percentages. That's what you take up at the council level. That's not a CRA issue. Boundary discussion is something that has to be recommended here. And if you put it on the agenda, you can, but it's just got to be on the agenda. Whatever you want to talk about just has to be an agenda item. >> Okay. I think in the past we discussed
about shrinking down to the areas that we're going to focus and concentrate on. >> Okay. But keep in mind that when I'm sorry, >> just keep in mind though you do that, you're also shrinking your your collection as well.
>> Right. There's a there's some areas in the city that's currently in the collection zone that are brand new developments. There's no blight. There's no uh infrastructure problems. It's brand new. And I'm suggesting that we
focus uh that we shrink it down and focus on say and I'm just we're going to decide what size it is as a as a council but say like just for sake of conversation down to the
historic district including sections in east and west of uniak that have blight problems. But you're going to you're going to significantly limit your your funding capability at that point. >> I understand. >> And that's where that's where I think
for me it's an easier conversation to have just simply dialing back the percentage of, you know, 95% to 90% to 80%. To me, that's an easier, simpler conversation to have than changing the boundaries.
because my my belief is that we change those boundaries and we don't know what kind of unintended funding consequences we're going to have. We change the boundaries. What I'm concerned about is we change the boundaries and let's let's say we we do exactly what you're talking about, focus on a narrow corridor of the
historic district and then east and west of of that. All of a sudden, we now don't have the funding to do the specific projects that we want to get done because we've now shrunk the map. Is that something we should kind of look
at our overall objective in the CRA plan as well and what what types of projects we're wanting to engage in rather than to tackle that first. Let's look at what do we want to focus on now because I know a lot of your ideas are align with
a lot of the same as what we are as well but having the funding to take care of those projects. Um, we may want to look at that first >> because because my point is we we at this point have a pretty well defined funding source. We know what it is and
again if we need to if we need to twist that dial a little bit to adjust for stuff to go back into the general fund. That to me is a straightforward conversation. Kobe can get those numbers. We understand what they've been historically and we kind of you know do doing the bond council stuff. They
understand what they will be into the future. So just simply adjusting that dial is more straightforward than take this area out, add this area back in. >> Mr. Harrison, >> yeah, I agree. We can adjust the percentage easier than we can do the
map. Although we found out, you know, that it takes the CRA board to recommend that to the council or we are the board. Uh so but but we have now better control over what we spend the money on and how much we spend, what
projects we take on. And you know, personally, I'd like I'd like to reassure the public. I I I know I know where we all are, you know, as far as wanting to get these projects moving and and get them done. Um and and and that's
just where where we are. things move slowly enough for the city council, you know, through all the steps and hoops that that we have to go through uh in government CRA. I think since we are in tune with ourselves and we know our goals are, I think we're going to work
this very efficiently. Um I'm confident that we will. >> Mr. Clay, um how hard is it to adjust the boundaries? um like if we decide to adjust them to uh geographical area A
and then we decide okay um the next year we might want to adjust it either smaller or bigger. Do we have the leeway to do that? >> You do. I would tell you that's the harder of the two methods between that and just adjusting taxable percentage
because you're going to have to have a survey. You're going to have to be able to describe the areas of the city. we have to put meets and bounds and mapping. So, there are certain things we would have to consider and do that. If we have some things that are currently on the um
and and refresh me on this, for example, um public safety, if it's on a certain list, the CRA, >> you're talking capital improvement projects on the CIP list, it cannot be
funded by the city by the CR. Do we have some things uh that we need to take off so the CRA can? >> We can't talk about that here. >> City council. >> Let's ring this back in just a little bit on this one for now because I think a lot of that's getting to the CRA plan
and then crossing over to our other authorities at a different meeting. So, okay, back to item 3 C3, the bylaw discussions. Are there any other suggestions at this time before we move on that one? No. Okay, we'll move on to 3C4
discussion direction of the office lease. Mr. Council, we talked about the special meeting on six. Is everybody >> Yes. >> feel comfortable? >> And did we set the time at >> 3:00? 3:00. >> Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Uh, the CRA
currently uh has a commercial lease agreement downtown um at this 17 Oh, 694 Balling Avenue, Sweet 4, Phoenix
Springs, Florida 32435. U My recommendation to you is given Mr. Atinson's advice on the term of the lease. I didn't see anything other than mutual consent to uh terminate. I'm going to recommend we terminate that. I think based off conversation tonight and
looking at additional personnel, we can accommodate that in city hall. If the the board feels differently, then we can look at that. But I I would recommend >> we can ask to terminate. That's a mutual consent meeting. So why don't we ask to terminate? I would have just vote for what I would do is have Mr. Towns now
he's your executive director reach out ask if they consent consents then we'll bring back you approve the termination. >> We have the office equipment and things need to be moved out of there. >> There is there's um there's some there's there's computer in there and some hardware. I know there's furniture. I'm
aware if that's the CRA or not. I've not spoken to Letha yet the property owner. um because I remember when a previous organization was the same office, the same furniture was there. So I don't know if that was a share between two organizations or not. So I do know there is some some IT equipment in there though. So that has to come in.
>> So motion to >> Well, no motion tonight. Let's just direct them to ask for consent to terminate. If we get it, we'll motion. >> Okay. >> We'll just do staff direction, Mr. C. >> All right. We'll move on to 3C5. Chairman, uh the last final for me is
the grant programs. As you know, there are effectively six grant programs that the CRA administers. Um, at this moment, I would recommend that we continue those grant programs. We pick them up where they left off. I know they're uh there are a number of applications been
submitted that people have reached out about. I do know there are a couple um like waiting to submit based on tonight. And so I would recommend we move forward and if the commission has some will like to bring them back for revisions and I believe we may bring back revisions
anyways as we go through it. But I would recommend we go ahead and continue to move forward and take care of those outstanding grants and offer that to people who will apply. And I I would think kind of the same until we decide that if we want to change direction on anything that we need to continue to honor our previous commitments and move
forward. Um does anybody have any comments on that one? I'd like to be able to uh for us to cherrypick that and focus on uh narrow it down so that we can focus on getting the most important ones finished uh and back on track as
soon as possible and be able to address them one at a time. >> Make sure you're talking about projects. You're talking these grants? >> Projects. >> Okay. We're talking about >> We're talking specifically grants >> right now. We're talking about the
grants that CRA administers that programs been put on pause. >> Okay. >> Your roofing grant, your tree removal grant, the residential improvement grant, commercial improvement grant. >> Okay. So, you're you're saying not grants like we get a grant for the
airport. You're saying grants that the city provides. >> C. Okay. >> Is all city taxpayer money. But but as far as this, it has to come from the CR.
I know how you feel, but it's in the CRA trust fund. Yes, it is money paid by taxpayers, but it is in the CRA trust fund. We have to treat it separately when we discuss it. >> Okay. I'd like to be able to adjust to address those
on each grant, >> but at the current moment, those grants have already been approved. Are you talking about the projects that have already the grants that have already been approved >> programs are [clears throat] are active grant programs see already created there are budgeted dollars for the grant programs what I'm saying is there I
believe there are applications that have been submitted prior to the change in the board that have been on hold those people are looking for an answer on their application and I believe there are other applications out there pending that are ready to submit >> so I'm asking that we just say
recontinue those and if we want to bring back the next meeting or at future meetings say let's have an in-depth in these grants. Let's look at the requirements. Let's look at qualifications and we can if that's something you all would like to adjust and that can be done then reject all pending applications for that.
>> No, I'm just asking to to re to reconvene let the executive director look at the grant applications and continue as as allowable through the grant. >> Mr. Har, >> yeah, I'd be concerned with the ones that had their applications in and maybe have already had work done. They're just
waiting for the grant to be completed and and reimbursed their 5,000 or whatever it is. I don't know how many of those will run across if the work has already been completed on the properties. Um, and then some have been submitted that they've got contractors ready to go and that's a problem for
folks because contract hard get. So we kind of have to kind of prioritize them and you know speed the ones we can people that the CRA owes money to if the project is complete and there might be some of those in limbo versus the ones that already have a contractor found
it's already scheduled and if they got contractor scheduled supposed to be starting three [clears throat] weeks or whatever that tells us you know we can hustle they might lose that contractor. Yeah, it's my understanding that there's at least two submitted applications sitting on the desk in in that office
right now. >> Okay. And we're going to discuss this at our next meeting. >> If that's an item that you wish to add on there, we can add a moment to talk about grant program. We can go over the particular grant program. >> Mr. here.
>> So, it's my my understanding having attended several of the the regular CRA meetings, the CRA director would basically process the application, vet the application, make sure it meant met all the minimum requirements. Then at that point, it was
pretty much a rubber stamp by the CRA board to to approve it um at that point. So, I think I think what Kobe's asking is, are we just going to continue that process? And my my personal opinion is yes, let take all these grant applications and anything that's
currently pending and let's just keep moving all that forward. And then if if you want to come back and actually tweak any of the application or any programs, you know, like change the income requirement or or whatever, that that's a that's a future discussion for a future meeting. Okay.
>> Does that sound good? >> I would like to get some projects finished. uh as soon as possible and I believe they should be prioritized and that's why I want to address them individually and if y'all want to go
with uh with what you're suggesting. >> I think Mr. Post and Mr. Towns is going to bring back that list to us the next time with the engineers so we can discuss those >> issues. So we're not talking about doing this tonight. >> No, we're the alleyways, the trees, that stuff's different than what he's talking
about here. These are the grants for their >> community grants. >> Yes. >> Okay. >> Thank you. >> Okay. So, do we just need simple staff direction on >> direction at this point? >> Okay. Everybody good with that? >> Yes, sir. Okay. >> If you're not changing anything, just
let it keep rolling. There's no need to take action. >> Yes, sir. >> All right. Um I don't see anything on there for requests to be on the agenda. We're we're about to move into citizen comments. Uh, one thing I will say, but I know a lot of you are here tonight
probably were looking for these grant project or the grants program and answers to where we going with that, but we can't do that tonight because we didn't have them laid off, but we didn't have them specifically listed on the agenda in advance. But we are going to take that up at the April 6 meeting at
3:00 starting at 3:00 here at city hall. So that's when we can officially discuss those individual grants and the projects that the CRA have taken on. >> Right. >> Would it be okay since they're here to hear their comments? >> Yes, sir. And that that's why we're at
public comment now. So I was just >> I don't believe it'd be appropriate to talk about individual grants since we just said we're talking about in that I don't they talk about general projects. Yes. But specific grants or grant applications whether it's yours or someone else's we need to wait for our next meeting to take. So, we're not
looking for approvals or denials or nothing like that. Just general comments from the public at this point. Do we have any public comment? >> Mr. Rock, >> Mackenzie Brown, WF Historic Trust and Deiniac Landmarks. Um I or my
organizations have worked productively with the CRA in the past and I just want to commend you all for taking on this this new task and I think as the CRA turns over a new lead maybe going over past successes of the organization would be a great idea. Um we've worked with
them for roofing issues and for the site improvement grants and that's been really successful and people were really happy. >> Awesome. Thank you again Mr. Robert. >> [snorts] >> Robert Raymond for the record. I just wanted to first say
outside of this to all the police firefighters and everyone handled with such unbelievable efficiency the tragedy we have. That being said, Mr. Cosen, um I'd like to specifically address your idea of shrinking the map. What I think
you're trying to accomplish is just shrinking the amount of money that goes to the CRA. And with the map, if you exclude the areas that are growing, it's going to limit the ability to have the money to fix the alleyway and the other
items. So, I just look at it. I would like you to look at it from a how much is coming in versus how who we're taking it from. because right now we're taking it from everybody and everybody wants the same projects.
>> So that >> I'd like May I address that? >> Yes. >> You want me to finish first? >> Yes, sir. >> Yes, sir. If you got more the last thing I have is I think this is an opportunity that you should reach out to the county and they pay for 50% of our CRA as it
is. There's some mending offenses, but 50% No. >> No, sir. It's 95 95%. >> No, no. How much does the county contribute in CRA's total budget? >> Oh, no. They don't they pay 50% of the >> What does the county
>> this year's the city's contribution to? >> So, two things. The CRA is 95% of the taxable value of the base year is what rolls in. So, the increase over the very first year is 95% of the increase gets rolled in. That amount is the exact same
in the city and county. The total amount of per rat contribution all counts exactly. >> Didn't you just say that the counties matches the contribution that we did? >> We can't No, the county gives the same percentage.
>> If we're at 95% they're at 95%. We're at 75% they're >> okay. So they're matching. they're different mill rates and that's why it's generating a different >> but in general we're getting the money from the county as we're contributing so involving them makes sense to me so
anyway um that that's my comment and if you want to address the map I'm glad to listen if you don't need to >> commissioner coach >> so um the rhy and reason besid behind shrinking the amount of money that our
taxpayers put into the CRA is that there's certain things that uh the CRA can't do. For example, um I've asked for infrastructure money, um the asbestous pipes that's feeding our
drinking water to our homes and businesses, the 100 plus year old uh clay pipes, uh sidewalks, street lights, things like that. Um, I've asked the C uh C CRA to consider those things and I was told they can't do that. So, when
I'm trying to when I'm trying to save money uh or cut the budget to the CRA, we are increasing the amount of money that we can spend for infrastructure citywide.
>> Right. So that's why that's why I'm an advocate for shrinking the the CRA budget so that we can take care of infrastructure problems throughout the entire city. We'll have more money to do that because we all know that infrastructurees
always gets the can kick down the road and I'm trying to put more money into infrastructure. Uh so that's that's my rhyme and reason. >> Can I respond? >> Yes. I I 100% agree with you. I just think when you when you get into the
specifics, you can manage and you can predict what the annual growth rate will be on the whole city. If we start mapping out, we're going to take from here, we're going to take from here, not from here, I think it's going to be a disaster. If you want to, and I'm just
going to throw a number out. If you want to increase 500 grand to the city budget, that's an easy calculation because you can mathematically calculate the average rate of increase based on the entire we're all giving money to the
same events anyway. So separating out one group is going to have unknown extreme >> uh fluctuation. So it's just in simple forms just make it about the money. We
want 500 grand more coming to the city versus the CRA. We produce [clears throat] this percent which is easily calculated and it will stay steady throughout years. That's just my >> Thank you sir. >> And excuse my voice. I have a little
voice struggle. [clears throat] >> Mr. I think there's there's a distinct clarification made about I'm not disagreeing with >> but the idea the CRA can do anything you described isn't completely accurate. The
CRA can't go and target a thousand linear foot pipe in the ground for city because it's a part of our daily operating but the CRA is doing a project particularly the alleyway right >> yes >> if it's part of that area project they can replace those things they can put infrastructure in place because they
redeveloping they're enhancing the existing area or environment. So you can't go out and pick it out. But if we were to go and pick a street and this commission wanted lights and they wanted sidewalks, we can go, this commission can go and say, "Hey, we're going to repay the road as part of that. We're
going to redo the utilities under we're going to put sidewalks like that can be done." So, but there's a distinct difference. Can't just go and say, "Hey, we want to repay 13th Street because we don't like bumps." That's not point. You got to make enhancements, redevelopment to that area. >> Real briefly, Mr. Beam, and then I want
to get back to the public in case there's anybody else. I'll let I'll let public. >> Is there anybody else that would like to make a statement? Yes, ma'am. [snorts] >> I'm really looking forward to the projects that are going to be able to be completed, especially in the downtown area. you know, I'm very partial to that
area and we are very thankful for the support that the CR has given Main Street in the past and we're looking forward to working together again um moving forward to get some of these projects done for our downtown business, not only our owners, but our community members. So, anything that Main Street
can do to help facilitate and get these projects taken care of, we're here to help as always. >> Awesome. Thank you. >> Thank you for all y'all do. >> Anyone else? All right. Um, I think I can pick back up on you on
commission comments if you're a we'll close the floor for public comment at this time and we'll move on to any of the executive director's comments. >> Just two or one for me starting at 3:00. It is up to it's up to y'all. One I know we had the
concern was about public involvement being here and there. Some of the board of county commissioners you don't want to do this. they have public comment at the beginning and the end. That's something you could do. If someone was here at 3 o'clock, we couldn't stay till 4:30 or 5. That's just something to consider. >> You can make it such that public comment
only occurs on actual items which there's a motion. That's all statute requires. >> Don't think there's flexibility if y'all feel that we run into that issue. Um the the last question I have is uh on the motion on additional staff you council
commissioner specifically admin assistant is that was that purposeful or good their ability to look at different titles for example secretary and treasure right we recog like what that role was a secretary treasur role because looking at it they don't what they call in there they
wouldn't perform the same functions as a city finance director who would ultimately be over the audit they would just assist in So is there is there are we tied to that title or >> No. >> Okay. >> To me it was just an an admin FTE. >> Yes. >> Flexible as as flexible can be. That was
my thought. >> Was everybody agree with that? I just want to make sure. >> Okay. >> Council, I apologize. I didn't see you on there, but I I do want to give you some time. Do you have any guidance or any comments for us as we move forward? >> I'll do it meeting by meeting. Yeah, I
serve we all enough. I think y'all know the rules. Don't break the sunshine law. >> Yes. >> Public records law is try to keep that in check or we're okay. >> Councilman be >> I forgot what our what our conversation I know it was about it was about the funding but >> uh I think you set up when I was talking
about to replace [clears throat] infrastructure as part of the revel. >> Oh, thank you. So Kobe, you and I have had numerous conversations and I've actually then turned around and had conversations with previous uh CRA commissioners as well as the chair at
the time about this exact concept that that Kobe's talking about. And I and I think that kind of segus into one of the things that I would like to suggest is possibly and Clay don't shoot me for saying this. Let's revisit our plan >> because what Kobe just brought up, I've
suggested to numerous CRA commissioners in the past, which is take a take a a block in East or West End that's blighted and let's redo it. Let's repave the street. Let's put sidewalks in. Let's put lights out. That's blight remediation. That is the core function
of the CRA. Then that addresses infrastructure that kills all the birds with one stone. So that that's where I would like to go with it is let's revisit the CRO plan. Let's let's put in some of that sort of stuff. Let's take
out some of the stuff that you know is controversial or people don't agree with and let's focus on what the CRA was originally intended for, which was white remediation. >> Okay, Mr. Harrison. >> Um I completely agree. We do need to
revisit it just like we do the the the grant programs themselves. And um you know I understand the income based ones are are are beginning to be pretty successful and really help people out. For example, the roofing you know you you can't fix a house up. You can't reduce the bite if it's leaking.
>> That's right. >> You know the roof. So you have to have that that that lid on it and uh so those kind of things we reook at this thing. I think we can we can tweak it to to work to the advantage of the city which is supposed to do. >> Mr. Co. One of uh one of the things that
I need some clarification on is and I'm just going to bring up for example the fluent line. The fluent line um it seems like it's taking us years to do it because we're getting a grant uh from
the state. Uh thanks to our state representative. We're we've got some uh Mr. Dunn who's been helping us as a congressman. We've been getting a little in along and then Kobe gets matching
grants. So, um, how far along are we? Would you say we're like halfway through completing the plan? Go >> ahead. Unfortunately, that's outside the scope of CRA. >> So, okay. Well, let's Why do we have to
Why do we have to filter our money through the CRA to do that? Yeah, you're not filtering your money through the CRA. You're serving the CRA board tonight. So, regrettably, you can't talk about city council project. >> And ultimately, right now, >> because that project is so far along,
you can't put that to the CRA at this moment in time. >> Okay. The point I'm making is there's a lot of things the city can do on its own that doesn't require filtering the money through the CRA. We can do it at the city level,
a lot of things. And an example that one of our um citizens gave a while ago. Say [clears throat] you need a half a million dollars, 500,000 to go toward infrastructure that the CRA can address.
Unfortunately, that's not even a drop in the bucket to what we need as far as our infrastructure goes. at Commissioner I think the biggest thing that would help you out here and I don't know if it would be council or Kobe offline outside
of this venue so we don't cross those lines would be to give you clarification on CRA plan and how you can use that your strategy on how this board functions and and everything else >> and I'll make a comment and I made this
with full respect to this council in both capacities as well as its vote The primary advantage that the vast majority of CRAAS statewide have is that you as a city council cannot
pledge adalorm revenue for debt service absent a referendum agreement. So as a general practice abore money is never pledged to debt service. So, let's say you bring in $1 million
and have lower revenue. You can spend that million dollars and that million dollars gone. You can put some of it in reserves. You can do what you want with it. But if you have a $5 million infrastructure project needs to happen this year, that million
dollars is only going to fund 1 million of that five billion. The use of CRAAS is by converting the abalorum dollars and it is a true conversion into trust fund dollars under the tax increment financing which is
what we've done under the tip that this CRA trust fund is no longer subject to that yet by state law is allowed to be pledged for debt service. So now you take that $1 million a year that comes in and you go and you borrow $5 million to
that project right now and you pay that $5 million off whatever the terms of that debt service is but the simple would be paying a million dollars a year for five years to pay it off. Now there's going to be interest obviously but the difference is you have a project that has to happen right now and you
can't afford to do it at the city because you simply don't have the revenue. debt service becomes one of the ways that small local governments often have to fund large-scale infrastructure projects. We're watching them with the effluent line with SRF grants, super
treatment plants, the USDA. So that's how you see your large scale projects funded because it's not a situation where we have the ability to save the money long enough because by the time you save up 20 years, it's either too late to do the project or the cost is blown up through the roof and you can't
afford it. So, I'm not telling you you have to take debt service out, but the question is why use the CRA to do these projects. It's always been understood statewide the advantage of this is debt service and the ability
to establish debt service to take it out and fund it at a more cost effective dollar leverage. That's the existence of it and that's why I would say that part of your discussion with CRA plan to chair Skier's point is understanding
what that can be done out of your cash flow versus what of that is more right as a large scale development project. A lot of these grants and things you have that are already outstanding or because CRA didn't have enough money to do a large scale project or to even pledge for debt service. So they're stuck just
doing what they could. Well, now there's enough money there to look at you doing either one. But if you got a $5 million project, the city doesn't have five million in just un unencumbered revenue. CRA doesn't either. But one of the two organizations can pledge that money for
revenue for debt service. >> My concern >> Yes, sir. >> My concern with that philosophy is that we know what's going to be on the ballot on November. And >> as of that right now, it's not by the
Senate did not take action on those. >> So, are you saying that the um the homeowners um homestead is going to be is not on the table anymore? I'm telling you that if unless the legislature is brought
back into session and the Senate chooses to take up a bill that it failed to take up during regular session to put that on the ballot or a citizens initiative somehow gets on the ballot right now is not >> okay. So
I'd like to discuss this with you oneon one away from >> and that's fine. I'll just And I tell you I tell you why I want you to what you want I want you to help me understand. It has been ingrained in me since the day I first got a checking account when
I was 18 years old and a credit card that you cannot borrow your way out of debt. And I have some concern about is the is the new CRA going to try and float a $5 million bond and put it all
on the alleyway and we're already $13 million in debt and that >> the CRA is zero dollars in debt. >> Okay? >> And but I want to be clear, Mr. Kush, because I've said this and we have bond council say the same thing. >> Okay? I just want you to know this city is not, cannot, and never will be
responsible for the debt the CRA pledges. Even with the city council serving in both capacities, nothing changed. And you don't have to take my opinion for it. You add another attorney who's preeminent bond council in this state
made it very clear that's there is no concern. The state cannot impair contractual or debt obligations. So if they do take it away, they have to create a funding mechanism to allow all of those debts that already exist to be done. >> It's not a situation where there's a rug smash.
>> And before we do that, I thought in a previous meeting we agreed that before we sign a bond for $5 million or whatever that we will exhaust all means possible. And I believe that you tasked
Liberty Partners with seeing if they could come up with something. And uh am I >> well whether you did or not, you just my comment was not that you should be doing it. It's just why would you run something through a CRA versus city budget because if you have a project
that has more financial requirements upfront than you can afford to pay, the city's not legally allowed to borrow the money to do it. In most cases, the CRA is. It's the difference between being able to do the project and not being able to do it for most cities. That's the function >> of a CRA.
>> Mr. This this item will be on your next agenda because Jeremy with PFM has asked me a couple times about it because ultimately the CRA did not deny the bond. City council denied the bond. So, it got kicked back. So, PFM and the the
bank that the CRA went out and got is going to need direction from the board moving forward. So, that will be on your next regular meeting agenda because they need some direction on that from you all. Second part of that is the CRA has not in the past I don't know if they apply for them or not but they have not
received external grants. So we talked about city receive external grants of the grantee CRA can do the same. So that's something we will actively start doing. Um number one reason for that two reasons. One it helps offset cost. Two this trust fund has enough money to put
aside substantial matches that make us very competitive. Okay. So that's something that I believe we should look into and start setting aside to be very competitive for grants. I'm not talking about 50 $12,000 grants. I'm talking about half a million million large grants for these projects. We're looking
if you will just get with them offline, Mr. Cos, because that way we don't cross over boundaries on board. >> All right. Um I don't have anything. If nobody else has it, we'll go ahead and um do I have to or call for motion on the We're
>> getting it together a little better next person.