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Good evening. We're going to call our Thursday, July 16th Fi Budget Workshop number four meeting to order. Would everyone please stand for invocation and the pledge? Heavenly Father, we gather this evening

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for the fourth budget workshop. We thank you for the opportunity to serve our community. We ask for your wisdom and guidance as we review the financial needs of our city and make decisions that will continue to shape our future. As we discuss the requests presented, help us to be thoughtful, transparent,

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and accountable for every dollar spent, and remain committed to serving with honesty, fairness, and excellence. Amen. >> Amen. I pledge alce to the flag of the United States of America and to the republic for which it stands. One nation

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under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all. >> Okay. >> So, we are here for the last meeting. Our schedule tonight, we're going to cover the CRAAS. The city has three CRAAS. the Greater Leburg CRA, the

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Carver Heights, Montlair area CRA, and the Highway 441 CRA. So, we'll start with the Greater Leburg CRA. Just some um information on CRA. The CRA was originally created in 1996 and it was originally effective for 30 years

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and would have expired in 2026. It was extended in 2020 and effective for 30 years and expires now in 2050. This CRA also has the 1999 consent decree, which means that half of the revenue has to go to the CDC.

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And this one also has the 2015 revenue note for 1 million, which was to redo Main Street. And that'll actually be paid off. This is the last payment in this fiscal year 27. So then the 100,000 will go back to be eligible for other things. In 24, um, we put the special

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events division in the CRA. So the special events division is also paid out of the CRA. And here is a map just so you can see. The blue color is the um GLC. So that's the areas um that it does

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collect the revenue from. Here is the cash graph. So it's about 300,000 that is sitting in cash now. Um so that is the current cash estimates. Here is the revenues. Um the taxable value grew about 11%. So the revenue

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grew 13% just the value was 11%. And then you'll remember the Lake County CRA revenue in 26. The water authority St. John said we want our money back. So we had to give them back 32,000. And then Lake County wanted the ambulance funds back. So in 27 we gave back the 54,000.

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So that's why Lake County revenue is a little bit lower. You'll actually see a decrease in I think it's highway 441. But there is some changing going on with that revenue. There is no fund balance appropriation. So this is just the revenues for the CRA.

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Here are the expenses. So the special revenue division is the 491965. The CDC from due to the decree gets the 585030. There's some operating expenses which I believe is the audit and insurance. The debt service is the 1440 which like I

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said that'll go away. So next year you can have that back to do things with that. So then the reserve that's left is 52,968 that will be going back into cash next year. So that is how the Greater Leburg CRA

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shakes out for 27. The only thing I I would add to Brandon's report on that is um we've kind of held out that reserve balance of $300,000 um just to to have for some project overages. So, I wouldn't go start

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spending that money yet until we get the parking lot project done. I I don't think we're going to have a huge overage with the parking lot project, but it's, you know, that if if something does go nuts, that that's there. Um and then Britain if you flip back. So the there's

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you know kind of as we say this kind of a an outlay as we've said um there you know once we take care of these event these I don't want to say events but these major expenses the the there's not a lot of money in the downtown CRA. So

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really you're only left with about the 50 grand >> and that debt payment >> the one more year we'll see 100,000. Yes. >> Yes. Well, >> yes, >> we have >> potentially >> if everything's perfect.

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>> Quit being a negative. >> Well, I wasn't going to talk about I wasn't going to talk about November, but as it sets, >> right? Yeah, I understand that. I get it. >> Okay. So this would be, you know, so and then and that this would kind of be the

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time to discuss where y'all want to go in a workshop setting, you know, yay, this is great, no, this is horrible. Um, this is a a different setup, you know, to to bring in and kind of workshop had this a joint workshop with the the the board members during our budget

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workshop. So kind of the >> whatever questions, comments or whatever. >> Can we all speak? All right. So, I'm I'm kind of in the middle on this because as as being a CRA commissioner, my my goal is to make sure

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that the whole um CRA downtown Leburg CRA gets its attention. Of course, as a downtown business owner, I like to see the downtown area, but I need to be fair with both sides. And you know, when I look at the like Carver Heights and that and and there's some big projects in

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Carver Heights and and that CRA that address the actual houses and everything, which we just don't do on the east side. East side is kind of like I don't know how you turn the redheaded stepchild. It doesn't. And I get we have to give part of that money to the the CDC and all that. But I would like to

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somehow someway find a way to do a grant program for the east side and some of those properties because they deserve just as much as Carver Heits deserves to have that opportunity to improve their properties. That that's it. And like I say, I'm torn in the middle because I

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understand a lot of this budget is going to the downtown which helps the businesses downtown and in a great way. I think the largest part of this budget is is the um is the entertainment and you know Bikefest and all that which is now wrapped up into this budget. But I'd

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like to figure out somehow some way that we can find some money whether it's out of the 100,000 that's coming but as you just said we don't know because we have no idea what people are going to vote on amendment three and what's going to happen there. But that's that's would be

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my goal when we left this meeting if there was a way to figure out how to do that. I absolutely agree with you um Commissioner Soal and this has been our concern but it is how it is with the voting and what has been decided and the

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amount of dollars there. I think a grant writing or some form of a approach would be a step forward. Um, I don't have any answers, but this is one of our concerns because this is the district as well as the city that we represent and we have

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people that's needing repairs throughout the house. Not not just on that side of town. It's if we were to be able to do it all across the city, we would be able to um really make a difference and try to keep people's homes in place and stable

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and decent enough for them to live in. However, um we just got to be creative with thinking and our process to what we can come up with. >> Is there a way to lower the amount that we're using if something comes up with the parking garage that it's not such, you know, use leaving that whole, you

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know, amount of dollars to lower that so that we can maybe peace meal take a little from here and maybe find another area to squeeze a little bit to do something. Well, you're you're sitting on the reserve at 300 and you've got the unreserved of 52 from from new monies for 58.

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>> I would not recommend to the commission that you start divying up that 300 until that parking lot project is done. >> So, >> after the holidays, >> what about the 58? >> The 58. You mean the 52? >> Yes, the

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>> 52. That's a re we're reserve. That's open to spend however you all deem appropriate. I would I you know so I don't I don't have it's not up to me. My recommendation is to leave the 300 alone and you've got I would say barring you

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make any major changes. Um and I'll just be I'll be honest. I think a the general fund is not going to be able to absorb any of these things. No, you you you would love to move special events into the general fund. Frankly, it ain't happening.

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So, and if you want the special events, this is where they need to be paid from. And it's a qualifying event for the CRA. And that's how we've chose to do the CRA for the last three years. So, I mean, you like all the other budgets, there's there's competing demands and you're

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going to need to make hard choices. So, I would not spend the 300 uh that's in reserve until the parking lot project's done, which probably, you know, roughly after the holidays long, you know, long termish. So, it'll be fiscal year 27 for

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sure, but I wouldn't I wouldn't start allocating that until that project's done. >> Let me ask a question. So, on the CR on your guys budget on the Carver Heights, how much is allocated to the um to the grant program? >> 600,000 in Carver Heights. >> It's a lot. >> It's a lot.

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>> It's a huge amount. Yes. And how many houses is that designed to um to >> It gets about >> 12 or so a year. Uh about 50 grand. >> We've averaged um 24 we had 12 homes at

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48 thou at >> um 300,000 and 25 had 21 at 525,00. >> So it's a huge amount of money. >> We're knocking out a lot of houses here. >> It is um I'm not to I mean I drive to these I'm not familiar. Is it smaller? It's smaller than Carver Heites, right?

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>> Landwise, >> is it housewise? >> Maybe roughly >> probably residential wise, you're going to find more residential and Carver >> anywhere on these >> than you are, you know. Yeah. >> So, it's not like 50,000 is going to make a difference. We need to find a a

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big >> 50,000 is not going to make a difference. >> It's not gonna Yeah. It's not going to even scratch the surface. We were able to get um last year's budget we were able to approve 50,000 from off of 27 >> for the 44127 CR. >> I mean this year, excuse me. Yeah, this

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year. >> But that is just on this the quarter for >> that's two grants basically. >> Yeah. >> Yeah. That's not >> And then how do you decide who who gets those two dot them two grants when you know the need is as big as it probably

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is? It's really >> I agree with Al's recommendation and also we have you know the unknowns of the referendum you know which is going to have a material impact on the CRAAS so it's just a >> you really do there there is you know I really tried to avoid talking about the

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referendums um >> I was just trying to help every >> and we'll deal with it but the referendum the referendum is a is a bigger looming question for the CRAAS um because it where it will hurt the city, it it will it will impact how we manage

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this CRA. So, I >> I understand that it's definitely um we're going to have to try to figure out where this money is coming going to come from or get a grant or something because I mean I'm looking back you know on the cover of this and it's talking about

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this um you know 1996 the plan and when I went back and I read the plan the same issues that needed to be addressed saying that you know houses were 20 you know years past things need to be done the same issues are sitting here you know right now and I'm trying to figure

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out where did we address them? How have we, you know, done that on east side and it it just it has to be done somehow. It has to be it's all, you know, these are things that are old issues that we've known exist for a long time. So, just

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wanting to support our residents on that side. I mean, it's worth the work of just figuring out how can we do it because, you know, the CRA budget is not supposed to argument, you know, the general fund. And I'm not saying that that's what we're doing, but when I look at the special events and I look at the

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amount of money that is being used, I'm like, we have to figure out something if we keep approving. >> Remember, remember half the money is going straight to the CDC. And I don't want to speak for the CDC. I think it's fair to say that they are spending it kind of a mix of commercial,

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residential. I think they are doing please somebody help me out but I think they're emphasizing home ownership more than >> and I think >> home improvement grants but my point is I want I think you understand yeah you know half of this money I mean there's a pretty good chunk going well what what is it Al

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>> 500 5 >> and they have the discretion to spend that the way they want and so I don't want to step on their toes in my comments here >> and I think that you know the CDC is doing the work based upon the needs of the community and their organization's principles but we still have to be accountable for the things that we have listed in our city's plan with the funds

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that we still have available. And so I I that is something that's important. So I get what you're saying talking about half the funds and this amount of money. However, there are still dollars that are under our control that we have choices and we have decisions we can make about and I believe that we still

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need to steward and follow the needs of what we can do under our power rather than just referring back that half the money has been gone to another organization doing work in the community. >> Well, Commissioner Ponder, I can say

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that um improvements have been done on the east side of town. Unfortunately, that was part of the um the res the results of the um lawsuit and the changes and all the wooden houses removed, but it's been 23 years now since again. So, it has been work done.

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I mean, work has been done. You can't say nothing has >> I think the CDC is doing what she's saying. We just we just don't, you know, we don't have the details what they're doing, but yeah, funding and they're doing a variety of projects. I I I think you're going to help me out on this one. >> Thank you, Dr. Erica Jasper. >> Hi. Good evening, Dr. the Erica Jasper

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board member for the Are we opening up floor comments from everyone before I watch >> I'm hoping I would welcome her comments on the subject on the CDC >> for everyone? >> I'm okay with it. >> Okay. Okay. Great. Thank you. Appreciate that. Thank you for the floor. Thank you for the opportunity to speak. Just want

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to shed some light. Um I am a board member for the Leburg CDC and we have used um the funds that as you can see um as you drive down Pine Street. um we have been fiscally responsible with the funds and I will say this, yes, we get

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the $500,000, but half of that money also goes to the special events as well. And I know that there's works and plans for the parking garage as well. So, I know there's concerns about the east side of Leburg and the west side of Leburg and the mayor has been to our um one of our meetings and we have

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explained to her and she's asked some questions and we tried to answer them. But we have been fiscally responsible in the funds that we've been given and also too let me clarify as well from the federal consent decree from back in the 1990 I think it was 97 we've been

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granted this money so it's legally bound in a sense to the CDC just to give you some historical knowledge on that. So, I know there's a desire to do that and we want to make sure that everyone is being lives are being impacted and changed and I appreciate that. But I will say that

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these funds get u 400 almost $500,000 for the special events which is part of the CRC CR funds and also too half of that money do go to the Leburg CDC just to give you some historical knowledge. So, um I don't know if we want to pull back on the special events for that for

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that budget or what. I don't know. And also maybe perhaps the parking garage. I'm not sure but their their funds are being used and so to answer your question is questioning what you guys are doing with >> that that's never been brought up. >> Okay. >> We were just trying to figure out what we could do as a CRA for the east side.

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So maybe you know embellish or work you know aside or along with what you guys are doing. >> We would love to work collaboratively >> and nobody I don't think anybody here is questioning what what you guys >> not my intent at all. We can go to East Side and see this the projects that you've done and they've been great. So

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that was never you were never putting that in place. >> Okay. And we've explained this to the mayors too that we would love to work um cohesively with the city of Leburg to improve those housings on that side of town as well. So we've mentioned that we've told her that in the private setting as well. So thank you. >> I just have a question of Al based on

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one of your comments. I may have misunderstood you, but she said that the CDC pays half of the special events budget. I thought >> I got I got I got CRA. >> No, I I got I got I misunderstood you. I got you. Thank you.

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>> Hey, will you will you clear that? >> Andy. So, I know at the um the conference that we went to, one of the things that they were emphasizing in the 101 class that I went to is that the funds um when they're used for special events, it needs to be supporting the mission of,

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you know, the the plan, you know, and so I know that um the special events that we're doing, we're getting foot traffic downtown and things like that, and it's also supposed to promote, you know, the CRA. So I, you know, are we really I'm I'm not trying to be any way other than,

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you know, I obtain this knowledge and I think it's important for us to make sure we're using it the way that the law now says we're supposed to use it. Are we really promoting, you know, our CRA? Are we really using it um with these special events in accordance to the plan, not just because it's in the area, but

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according to the plan of what it says we're supposed to be accomplishing? the the theory of a CRA is you're trying to build, you know, improve your property values, you know, to create more tax revenue. So, it's a compounding effect. So, I mean, I I feel strongly that the events, you know, downtown

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bring people downtown, which indirectly, you know, benefits our downtown. We've got more businesses downtown, thus they're improving buildings. So, the CRA is working downtown. Uh we need to do some work around downtown on the houses and so forth. But, you know, it is working uh based on the improvement in values in downtown. And those are

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commercial properties, too, which are not going to be subject to this homestead exemption. >> And so, um, in in the course that we're in, um, I didn't write down the the specific lawsuit that it was, but that was something that was brought up in one of the Florida, um, CRAAS where people

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they were having events, it was in the right area, they were using the funds, and it was making, you know, foot traffic. But with the way that the laws are written now, it can't just be that we're bringing people into the area, it needs to be promoting and following, you know, the plan and

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promoting the CRA. Is there somebody giving out information about who what our CRA is or talking about it? Is there it needs to be an event for the CRA? >> In 2019, they changed all the CRA rules. They were very animate about that

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because that one of the reasons they were going to shut the CRA program down is because of the abuse of the CRA program. I'm not saying we're abusing the program by any means at all. But that was the reason they changed the rules in 2019 to readress how funds were being used. That's all. And that's what

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I think that's the point that she's trying to make. You know, we went to that meeting and we listened. You know, there was a lot being said and we took the notes and we took the time to listen and and because I thought that's what we were there. I mean, that's what we were sent there to do and that's what we did.

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>> And um just this is why um I've been talking about the plan being updated because the plan is quite old and with the updated plan, you know, the attorneys are going to do their job and make sure that we're in full and compliance with how these funds are supposed to be used. And I'm not saying that we're not, but I'm saying that they

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would I'm I know that they would do their I believe that they would do their job to make sure we're in compliance. So, we're not using funds in ways that's, you know, um of an old mindset. um that was illegal in the time past, you know, that was legal in the days

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gone by. But so anyway, um yeah, that to me is important. I think that we really need to look to make sure that go through and comb through and make sure we're following the current laws and u make sure that it's truly, you know, CRA events and that um we're being as

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equitable as possible. plan downtown. >> I uh don't know. >> Does anyone know? Okay. What was the last plan update for the downtown C? I don't Okay, >> that was that one. >> The one that I see online is like 96 or

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something like that. It's right here. It says I'm sorry. >> I'm sorry. The one that's listed online, I pulled it up. I have it here. Um it says it's from May 28th of um 1996. So, I think my personal perspective on this, I'm going to take the city commissioner's re or city manager's

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recommendation. I mean, $52,000 in a CRA is not a lot of money. >> So, I would like to keep that as reserves and then we need to finish our current project and then we can re-evaluate after that if we decide to move forward with other options. >> My concern is once we we vote and we say this is how the money is allocated, I'm

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>> we can change it at any time during the entire year. want this back to the commission for the commission. I was just >> Yeah, thank you. >> Okay, free to move on. So, Carver Heights Montlair Area CRA. Um, this was

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originally created in 2001. It was originally effective for 15 years and would have expired in 2016. We expanded it by aiding adding 83 properties and now it's um effective until 2045. There is an electric note when we built the resource center for 1.2 million. It

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was internal loan. The last payment will be in fiscal year 33 and the remaining balance is 585392. Um we have the home grants going on right now 600,000. We do have 11 applications which total 260,000. Those

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are tentatively coming to the board August 10th is what I'm being told. So there will be a remaining $340,000 that we could roll into fiscal year 27. So you'll see this budget does not any include any more homegrown grant program because we would roll that money

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forward. So here is the map. The green color is the um Carver CRA. Here is the Carver cache. You'll remember we transferred 250,000 to the Susan Street project in fiscal year 25,

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but the cash has come back and we are projecting the cash to be back at around 600,000. Here are the taxes. The taxable value grew by 7% which the revenue then grew around 5%. Again, this one um in fiscal year 26 lost the water authority funds

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of 31,000 and the ambulance funds of 54,000 that we end up having to give those back. So, this is the um revenues about the same $26,000 increase. And here is the Carver Heights um expenses. I did find one thing in

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operating expenses. We inadvertently rebudgeted the plan update. So, it was 150,000 that I moved back into reserve. So, this differs from the book, but it made the reserve go up to 781 because we shouldn't be rebudgeting. We have the money. So, I moved that down to the 781.

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So, gave more money there. So, I have questions like for the advertising, you know, we're looking at proposing uh $45,000 for advertising. What What is that? >> She's on the GLC. >> That I think that's special events that you're looking at. Is it at the top? But

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that's on the GLC. >> So, it's special events and then approach creations detail. So, that >> that's the downtown CRA. >> Okay. >> Heights. Okay. I'm sorry. We moved on. I'm still over here chilling. I didn't let it go.

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>> Okay. >> Well, I wanted to bring it up at some point. Budget. This is probably the time. Um, and I'd like to direct that to Al. Uh, the lots that are owned by CRA. We got lots, we've got the city owns lots, CRA owns lots. And to my understanding, in

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the last two and a half years, we've sold or given away two lots >> and it's been one of my hot buttons. >> We will have a report coming back to you here very shortly on what the status of. >> Okay. And I'm going to repeat myself. You know, we're missing an opportunity on the CRA. We're just sitting on these lots. It cost us money and you know,

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it's been too much time has gone by. So, enough said. Thank you. >> Go ahead. Any other questions? Any other questions or concerns? Do you have anything? I can can I can just I'd like to just add to it. I'm concerned as well with the CRA lots, but we do have a

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process in place, but no one has been looking or I don't know what the marketing piece is for reaching out to nonprofit organizations to come on board. But we are ready to move forward with giving out um PA based on the bidding process. The process in place,

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we just have not had anyone to come and ask to my knowledge. And if I'm missing something, I'm not sure. >> I want to choose my words carefully, so I don't I'm probably gonna offend you, but we were moving them until we re rewrote the policy about three years ago, and they stopped moving. So, I'm

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not I don't want to get into big debate on that tonight, but all I'm saying is we need to get these lots moving. And >> I agree. That's what I just said. >> I hear, >> but we were only moving them with one particular moving versus opening. >> I'll take that over them sitting idle. I mean, uh, and you know, if we want to

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market them more, yeah, we just need to get them moving some. >> I think marketing I think marketing more would be a great idea, but I just don't know where that would come from. And maybe that's a conversation we can have later on where it will come through. >> I did not want to get bogged down on this, but it it it's critical to the CRA to get these off our books and get homes

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on them, whatever it takes, you know. Um, and all I'm saying is we were moving lots, we're not moving lots now. So, we need to readress our policy and fix it accordingly. And >> and just a reminder too, we still have to get clear clear titles in order to move and that's another issue.

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>> We're sitting on plenty of lots right now. I mean, I think we have a total of a while, but I bet you between >> I think we have a total of 13 now that >> Okay. And I was going to say between the city, I'm looking at the city and the CRA. I bet you it's over 20. Probably >> it is, but only 13 are available to be that are ready to move that have been

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cleared with clear titles. >> That's 13 I'd like to have off our books in this year 27 if it was up to me. I I'm right with you there. >> Just for clarification. So, we have 11 applicants coming to us on 810 and then 339,000 will be moved forward for future applicants.

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>> Yep. >> I mean, that's the plan. That would be what I would recommend. I'll just roll it over. >> Okay. >> So, then you don't have to rebudget it again. So, >> and we've been doing the Carver Heights um home improvement grants now. Is this

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three years? Yeah. So, and you know, we've got 11 applicants >> totaling $260,000. So, of the funded money out there,

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we have less than 50% success in finding people who are willing to come use the grant. So, I mean, I I don't know what my my point is, you

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know, but it just seems like there's a need out there and we've got the funds and >> the need and the funds isn't meeting up real well, you know, and >> and there's been a debate, you know, you

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know, over time on, you know, and I I'd probably say split the baby, but you know, do you do the home improvement home improvement grants? you do the down payment assistance. My mind kind of drifts toward down payment assistance now to help move these lots. If we had a program like down payment assistance that help people get financing lined up. Now the nonprofits might be a little bit

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more motivated to step up move lots. But that's just I'm just what I'm trying to say is there is been a mixed opinions on that over time. Right. I think at one time I think we were doing more down payment. Now we're doing almost all grants. Um and they're both great programs. They're both great. >> And I'm I mean nobody can tell me

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they're they're bad for the community. they are help but it's the participation of the community in the programs that is you know I wish there could be more >> so that's why I chime in on maybe a down payment assistance program to help move >> question so that that brings us back to

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what I was thinking why do you think that there aren't people taking advantage of that program >> I think it's have to all do with marketing it um going out you know into the community and making them aware ware

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of that's what's available in our community. Our people think if you going to give something free, they think that you're going to take it away from them if not. So, I think it has a lot to do with the marketing aspect of just

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getting out there and it can't just be by social media. You're going to have to do some doortodoor. So, I'm thinking maybe um I'll have a talk with Miss Wilson or I'll let Al have a talk with Miss Wilson about how is she marketing

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this and and how we getting these people into the resource center to you know kind of clone in on this is what available for you. My question would be because yeah, if we move funds, we do find funds to move to the east side. We want to make sure that people are

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actually going to use them. Otherwise, we've kind of accomplished nothing. >> I think this would be something that could be just a staple in that um, you know, in our CRA corner where we're having, you know, the information about things that we're doing and what's coming up. Just have that might need to be something that's in every mailer that

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this is available. just keeping it in front of people at least that way in the interim while we're figuring out how to market it in an additional way. >> I'd like to share um Oh, excuse me. Go ahead. And sorry for my tardiness, but um >> uh this goes back to what I mentioned

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before and I mean you're saying marketing the whole idea the whole thing is really communication and that's why I brought up that we need to do a project at least for Carver Heist and I think it could be a model for the other communities is put up these message boards at the gateways and this type of

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information can be displayed on the message board instead. I mean, the door to door, I mean, I've done a little bit of that and that's rough, especially, you know, depending on what what your requirements are on time when you get home, you know? I mean, it's we're we're in a in a world where we're just a lot

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more busy. So, I think we got to step up door to door. I don't think it's the right way. I may worked for some things, but I think we need to do the message board. And I know that's something I think Mr. Miner was speaking about. That's what we can talk about in the workshop. And um I believe that will be

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the way just put these message boards at the gateways that information can be displayed there whatever you need to say and that can be done throughout the city in every place and I think that's how you get the word out cuz not everybody

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looks at social media. I mean, I have a lovehate relationship with Facebook. That's just what it is, >> you know. >> And I'm not on every platform, and nor do I want to be. >> Yes. >> But, um, I think that would would be a place to start and build from there.

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Thank you. >> I would like to share some, um, numbers that I have pulled together for us, analysis of where we are with the home grant program because I have concerns as well. I'm very grateful and I think it's been a successful process in our third

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year ready to roll out. Um in 2024 we had 12 homes completed and with a weatherization of 48,000 from Lake County um Lake Community Action Agency that and total invested was 348,000. In 2025, we had 21 homes completed with

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the um weatherization of 84,000 giving us another investment of 609 and total of 33 homes completed. Um yes, that's good. But of course, I would like to see more. However, um

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that's a it's a 75% increase from 2024 to 2025 with um the new roll out for this year had right now as of July 15th, Brandy, I have uh 13 applicants that have actually applied and hopefully that

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will continue to go as the year I mean, you know, as people get through. I don't have an answer. I can definitely say I don't have an answer to say what's the best way to market it or how to get it out. But I can say that um I utilize our

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churches, our stakeholders. I request copies from housing. I hand them myself. I go out and I share when I see someone or someone's questioning me about it. I get the complaints of I can't find it on the website. And I'm sure that's probably challenging for older people,

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but it is a means of how we got to do better. And I think this is good. I I know if you ride through the area, you can see the improvement. And I'm not going to say there hasn't been any some been been some hiccups. I know of two

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major complaints that was satisfied. But overall, out of all of them, I've had great comments and people have actually sent in their thank yous to the city and came in and shared. But I do um hear your concerns and I know that this is a

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plus that I still say it's it's a good return on our investment. But 33 homes at what was it? One point I had 957. You said 1 point what's the total >> 1.2 >> and then yeah I think

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>> 33 homes at 1.2 within 2024 and 2025. That's that's that's good. That's good. So, I'm I'm just o hopefully open to having um suggestions from all of us and to continue trying to push it and if we

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can pull into a home down payment program to associate, I'm open to that as well because if we can get people out of the apartment mode to becoming a homeowner and then use utilize this as well, some of the dollars from the CRA money that could be considered as well.

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>> How much are those grants? 25,000 and then we supplement it up to about 35 with some other grant monies. >> I don't know this. It's been a while since I bought a house, but what would be a downtown? What would be a down payment assistance for a >> a house? >> I don't know.

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>> If you're going past PMI 20%, you're probably looking at cheaper houses, $250, $275,000. So 10 to 20% of that. Got >> we just need to get more creative. you know, we're sitting in lots. It just, you know, I've been like a broken record

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and unfortunately we're not moving them. Um, but uh and there might be a way to use them as part of a down payment, you know, in addition to cash. I mean, you willing to give them away. I believe I think we put a price on them, but I believe we we would give them away. I would give I would give them to a homeowner as some as a form of down

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payment. I mean, I would I'm open to any and all ideas to help people get in homes and get these lots off our books. And just also to add to um Commissioner Peterson, the some of the lots aren't um far as size and lot size um billable and

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that's what's remaining of some of them what's remaining now that have been cleared and that's possibly could be some of the issues but it's just I agree with you. I mean I agree with you >> that I would give them to the I the joint property owners bid on them and highest bid

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$500 but we got to get them off our books. I mean, I've been saying that for >> for a while. I can tell you there was one um property down that I know that was at one point of time it was a home there that burned and I was thinking that that owner that lived next to it

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would be interested in which he said he was but nothing has ever happened to it and that was the one down to so I don't know but I I I welcome all ideas as well and I think with being creative as you

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said would be a plus but Um, I don't know how fast I mean I don't know what else to suggest. I'm really a hands tied, but I'm open to any suggestions that come through. >> Okay, ready to move on. Highway 441 CRA. So, just the information on this one.

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This one was created in 2006 and that was it was supposed to expire in 2036. It was expanded 106 acres. It was rebased. We are the second in the state of Florida to do this and extended again. And so this one expires on 2045.

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There's a 2016 revenue note for 11 million and that would the last payment will be in 36 and the remaining amount on that is 7,754. >> This is the area that is the CRA. It's the pinkish color. That is the actual

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properties. And here is the highway 441 CRA cash graph. You'll remember we transferred $6 million to the Susan Street project, but it is starting to come back. Um, and I'll have another we'll show another slide where it's coming back pretty quick. Here is the revenues. This

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taxable value only grew by 4%. Um, so the revenues went up that equated to 3% increase in the Advilarm taxes. Um this is the one where the um Lake County actually went down because the water authority took away 97,000 and and in 27 it's 174 for the ambulance funds. So

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this one actually had a revenue decrease as because of that. And how are going to use the funds? The operating is just like the audit, the insurance, the debt service is around 900,000. We don't have any grants and aids. We did a lot of that last year. Um

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and then there is um a reserve of $2.5 million that we were have going back into cash. >> Would the commission be open to funding the FSL grant again? I think that was a huge success for the the corridor. >> I looked at what I'm showing we have 200,000 unallocated. I that's what I had

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unless Dan's working on more. >> Well, then if we have that we can always we can always readjust it later on if we need it. >> So I'm not sure if Dan has more but I did look it looked that I had about 200,000 that was still out there. So >> So that's like four grants right there. get in more. >> We can always do a budget adjustment and say we're going to use cash or whatever. >> I didn't know that. Thank you.

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>> Can I ask a question? I'm sorry. So, I've noticed in two of the CRAAS, we've moved money to the Susan Street project. How do you move money out of a CRA to a project? >> Susan Street split between both CRAAS. >> Okay. All right. >> That's a good question.

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>> And then, like I said, here's a slide showing um here's our debt payment. Here's what we get in. Um, and you can see 2036 we could have, if everything went right, 36 million in the CRA. Um, and then it would go out to 2045 with no debt. So, this is just we always check ourselves on this more in the front end

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when the revenues weren't as good and we were just trying to cover the debt. But now the CRA has grown. So, >> so my question is with the CRA still expanding as far as revenue coming in it should we be paying down on some of our

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debt to avoid >> interest for the future. >> I that may be something you you want us to look at. Um we'll get you some information on that. >> I would just inquiry into it. Brandy, I probably ask you this question every

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year, but what is the rate on that note? I knew you were going to ask. >> It's low. >> Yeah, it's low. >> I know most of ours are all very attractive or low. Okay. Okay. >> 2.59. 2.59. >> Okay. >> Sorry I asked. >> That's okay. You do. I actually minute

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you ask. I was like, >> going back to the um signage, the grants and stuff, how how do you what what means is that marketed? I mean, is it through the website or just by word of >> mouth? This the same means with the the home grant. So, it's a staff outreach.

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It's on the website. It was letters that we wrote out to businesses. >> Do you think if if one business sees another one? Is that kind of like piggyback to say I'm doing my thing? People know. Yeah. >> The reason I'm asking cuz I was at Palm

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Plaza and I'm trying to do the same thing because of the new Susan Street and the new shopping area at um um Marshalls and Burlington all that before. So I was like encourage them encouraging that the the whole stripper

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27 would be looking new until you get to um a certain point and um Publix was one was saying, "Oh, we didn't realize that." So that was a plus. Publix doesn't have a non-conforming sign. >> So when we targeted the outreach, we targeted the non-conforming.

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>> Okay. >> Remember one of the grants, remember, was Katum Plaza. That tall ugly sign's about to be replaced in less than 30 days with a nice monument sign. >> A non-conforming sign. >> That they are a nonconforming.

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>> We're not enforcing it. We're asking >> what did I Okay. >> And that's that's all I have. >> Any other comments or questions from anyone? >> I would just, you know, so that really concludes our 2027 workshops. Um, I'd

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like to thank Brandy and all the department head team. They just again, we alluded to this a little bit back in the the general fund budget, but everybody I think did a really super great job preparing their budget request, and I hopefully it made Gerald's jobs a little easier. A

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>> lot easier than last year. >> Another great job, Randy. Thank you so much. >> Everyone, I have a motion to adjourn. There's no other comments. >> Motion to adjurnn.