e e e e e e e e e e e e e e e e e e e e e e e e e e e e e e e e e e e e e e e e e call this meeting to order we're here at this Community Development agency meeting on April 8th 20124 5:00 pm we're going to start with Pastor mberry the invocation and then the Pledge of Allegiance led by commissioner Bora good good evening everyone father we thank you again for another day we thank you for how good you've been towards us God you brought us together again one more time and we say thank you we pray God for your leading for your guiding your directions and undertakings of these tasks pray for the dasis Lord that you will bless the working Minds to move this city in a Direction that's needful for the benefit of the people pray God that your will be done your king come and your glory be revealed it is in Jesus's name we pray thank God amen amen 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 roll call please M Grant commissioner Tammy mccal here commissioner Justin Campbell president commissioner will Jones present commissioner Rufus Borum present representative Teresa Jackson present commissioner Terry Turner present mayor Robbie kah present we have a quorum in the chambers Madame mayor thank you on to a minute on to the minutes has everybody had an opportunity to read the minutes from the February 12 20 24 regular meeting and the March 6 2024 special called meeting motion to approve second motion a second all in favor I I any opposition thank you I'm going to open the floor up to public comments on General topics not specific to anything on the agenda please leave your please limit your comments rather to three minutes and give your name and address for the reckon is there anybody here for public comments for items not on the agenda seeing none we'll going to close public comments moving on to regular regular business Direction update building Improvement Grant Mr griffi board members good evening included in your packet you'll see a summary Miss bags put together for us unfortunately under this most recent cycle we only received three building Improvement cost share Grant applications and of the three only two were deemed complete applications um Miss bags and Miss CR are working to get that advisory committee uh set up to review those applications and get a recommendation to you U but in light of that we were hoping for some additional Direction um we typically only advertise this program twice a year um we would like to go ahead and read vertise another cycle and see if we can't get some additional exposure and some applications for your consideration um again three applications received and just in the downtown district alone you budgeted in excess of $120,000 this year so uh we obviously did not reach our intended target there so again the request is authorization to read advertise staff recommendation okay so do you want to make a motion I make a motion that we um H staff recommendation and read advertise second on that a motion and second to open it up again for further advertisement do we have all in table I have a just question with regards to putting it back is there a specific time you're going to leave it out or is there a specific number that you're trying to reach what will we do different based on how we advertised last time to make sure that we do it a little bit different this time so what are some things that we're going to do different in the process I'll share with you some of the ideas that we've thrown around and your input would be appreciated uh we are going to do a direct mailer to all the property owners we are going to look to do some advertising regionally and Statewide to see if we can Garner some interests for individuals that may be looking at properties that are currently on the market and see if we can bring some private investment into the community I think the problem that we're seeing highlighted here is that not a lot of people understand that this opportunity is out there so generally what we're going to try and do is get it in front of as many people as possible uh but again specifically a direct mailer to those Property Owners within the Tiff districts uh as well as trying to get some exposure Statewide as far as time frame are you what's the anticipated time frame yeah with a program like this no no um we don't want to shorten it uh they do have to pull together a lot of information and if we are expanding it to kind of a Statewide audience you're probably looking at a four-month advertisement thank you just want to kind of get a figure up everything any okay any additional questions comments and then like the you say your advertisement you said you're GNA expand that correct and so you mean to tell me like the the T the Central and South is are the biggest two and then you got the north so those individuals or people did not get it throughout I mean not a big response from all of those no sir this is probably the least amount of applications I've ever seen in my tenure uh with the city in CRA so um not to say that these shouldn't be evaluated we're going to do that get them for you uh but I think we just need to do a better job with this next advertisement cycle and we had uh representatives for each one of those areas as well too right I think they have meetings on um periodic basis I couldn't say I don't know if the neighborhood associations are still regularly meeting but we can we definitely reach out and use those as a a uh a channel to get the message out okay all right I just want to make sure we reach out to as many as we can thank you sir any other question comments with just one more apologize with reference to the three that are already on there with notification are we proceeding are we holding off will they be notified that the process has been extended what oh so to be clear we're still going to evaluate the three that were submitted uh and we'll bring a recommendation from that advisory committee back to this board and we're just advertising another cycle gotcha yes sir I do have a question you said you're going to evaluate the three I thought two what are you going to do about the one that was incomplete uh so it'll be up to the advisory committee if they think um it's um a small informality that they can wave it may have been something uh to the effect of a copy of the deed showing ownership in the property it may have been something material like quotes are missing uh if quotes are missing and they can't substantiate their requests obviously I doubt they'll be making a recommendation for award okay any other questions okay okay we have a motion in a second all in favor I any opposition thank you next item discussion Direction 300 nor1 Street Belton property Mr Bell thank you mayor commission um I want to first start off by um thanking all the Commissioners that came out out um for the discussion about the Bon property um we had I think a Rob robust conversation uh thanks to all the community members that were able to participate in uh in that discussion in your packet you'll see that we uh included documentation of or a screenshot essentially of the comments that were provided uh some of the photographs of uh the items that were were uh placed on the walls to provide the background and history thanks to the belon family uh for coming out and participating in that uh where we stand on this now um is uh looking for direction from uh the CRA and uh and how we want to proceed it is our recommendation that uh we proceed with a detailed inspection and structural assessment of the building uh to give you the type of information that would be helpful in assessing the viability of the property moving forward um we are also suggesting uh that um there be additional opportunities for public input U this was one meeting this is one opportunity for uh people to come out and provide their feedback um perhaps if we were able to do this again uh we would get additional feedback and uh the question Still Remains whether or not we want to move to different locations in order to to get that feedback um it makes sense where we were because it was close to the Bon property but that doesn't necessarily mean that we got all of the received all of the feedback um that may have been a available um and one of the questions that was posed was was the timing if we did it at different times would get feedback from different people that may not have been available at the time that we did it um so that's where we stand now and we're looking for direction I got a concern well for one I'm confused about the the belt and property because I do know the city did purchase that property with the intent for um I guess the demolition of the property because we paid um a fair amount for the property as they did have uh code violations and the agreement was made that we will pay will seek to try to acquire the property to improve the property for future improvements in the area so we have paid the beltings for that particular property correct that's my understanding so I think what we're doing now we're really going against what the city initi plan was and I don't know how we got back here um I do know the um code enforcement has done a phenomenal job and they put in um countless hours into getting us to this point and so that's one issue and concern I have certainly the other piece is that we just gave a certificate of Destruction for St Mark's property and um so if we start going down a path of reversing back out of what we put in place then we're going to put oursel in a really really bad place and um so we we we did that and we talked about trying to save that structure as well so how much ever money that cost to move the structure to a new location to try to save it as opposed to destructed that's another problem and then we got the EM Street property 512 that was burnt structure that we purchased that so what are we're trying to do in terms of if we do that we need to do it for the rest of the people too and we also have Central Academy which is also in another um so we're going to have people coming in asking for monies if we giving it to one we can't pick winners and losers that's all I'm saying understood um I I will say that part of this you can um one of the reasons I requested that we look at it due to its historical significance um Central Academy is owned by the Housing Authority that becomes another issue we now own this property I also thought it was important to be transparent with the community and let them know what was going on that we couldn't just buy and demo the history of the beltin not the architecture of this building per se but the history that went in that happened in that building with the beltin is significant to this community and I just thought it was only fear that we share and talk with the community about what they their Vision was for that also we didn't know the property that's the the former rectory on the St Marks property as well um if this property were evaluated is possible to save not the wonky porchas but the main structure um there is the ability to get it on the national and local historic register and grants would be available um so I I guess the question is is it salvageable is it is it architecturally important or historically important and is it structurally sound and and so I think we need the community's thoughts on it if it is that how to move forward anybody else having vacant properties doesn't mean they will come they wanted to take down the 100 block buildings too when the city owned them and we didn't do that and look where they are now and they're producing a significant amount of tax revenue I understand that piece but well again I was part of both both um uh venues so that structure had been there for forever we had funds at this time we had funds we had funds and the the owners did not decide to move out at the time that we wanted to try to do the Improvement that's my issue and concern so it what led from there to now is a big gap of just we're trying to now save it at the 11th hour that's my issue and concern and I was with this right across here which it was I helped save this building part of the um decision process of helping to save this yes it's in a much better place now because we gave the guy opportunity to move to instead of destroying the building and and this is where where at now it's a masterpiece for the city of Pac so I'm I'm I'm I'm good with that I'm good with making good decisions as opposed to flipping flopping around and I think that's what we're doing here we got a lot of things that's in play commissioner Jones um tend to agree with commissioner borm on this because uh prior to us purchasing that building that and correct me if I'm wrong uh assistant city manager Griffith uh we purchased that and you said it would be it's important that we have that property to go with the raise Grant and if that's not the case please clarify that now yes sir in the concept of trying to assemble the property around the Transportation Hub the Belton property and the two properties that you purchased around the same time just to the north um are very integral um so that you have continuity of ownership so that was the plan I I I have to agree with commissioner B while are we going a little backwards um at this point secondly I when we had that meeting and I applaud your efforts to had a community input with the exception of City staff how many people from the community you you estimate that was there except for City staff in that family M three people you got that's a very good question yeah what did you say assistant city manager less than 10 about 10 so I think communication is key here we are again wanting to get information out to the community but what we have a public information officer we've given suggestions on how to get information out where are we in the process and I also want to just um out of professional courtesy thank you for asking assistant city manager these questions but I would like for these questions to come from our city manager who I've asked to be able to provide these type of answers for because you should be in the no now so moving forward if there are any questions related to anything please be able to answer them fully sure but what's what's the issue with the communication and I think I got this information it may have been advertised I'm sorry but I'm just going to say we need to get things out you you need to be the one to make sure that it happens alongside the assistant city manager but the getting information out at the last hour is is our problem I think and I think we need to focus on the communication piece getting things out to the community so we can get better input we're not going to get anywhere if we don't get it out you're seeking for input that was your that was your goal am I right mayor Madam mayor yes it was to seek Community input am I right yes but we're not getting the information inform out to get what we need to reach the goal first and then we can move forward and I think the um decision to move forward with this presentation um did acknowledge the fact that there wasn't a lot of time in order for us to get uh greater participation and that was unfortunate I think the Assumption was that we would have multiple uh opportunities to receive feedback as I said in the beginning that there's a Poss possibility that we could have done at different times different uh um uh locations so the to your point the participation was not what we expected what we wanted and um we need to do a better job and getting the information out uh so that we have better response and make better decisions better informed decisions absolutely Jones um that wasn't my point my point was that uh there was very little public input and not not so much of how how the information got out maybe there just not enough interest and that building have been up there for some time like neglected and uh I I just think that and I'm trying to be sensitive to the ex-owners and their history I can understand that but at this point you know the the grand scheme of things the plan had already originated from internally what we're going to do and to deviate at this time I just think that would be we are going backwards in we we're not going to what I forecasted view secondly that meeting as I came into it um I was kind of put on a spot to give a public opinion and I I did not think that that meeting was for that at that time and uh in front of the family it wasn't a good feel um but if we're going to make a decision I think we should go ahead and make a decision and stick with it and move forward um because we keep bringing things back once we make a decision seem and I don't know how we get there but it seems to go back into reverse and go like hey let's rethink it again after we have made a sound decision and this board have voted on it this board or even the commission I just want to say that and and Madam mayor uh with all due respect I think that is happening um in secondary meetings it appeared um I don't think there's any secondary meeting going on I think I just expressed a concern that the public had not been part of the discussion and that those original decisions and that there is historical significance and that there is the possibility of adaptive re reuse that could be a part of the whole multimodal composition of that area I don't think there were any secondary meetings though so excuse me go ahead Madam mayor during the meeting that we had was there when we did have the meeting wasn't there opportunity for Community input at that time just the question so the community did have opportunity to give them pleas right much of this is educational for me having come into this um in the middle of the process I mean it's important for the CRA to express the the pleasure of the CRA and what direction you want to move on move in and uh from what I'm understanding that decision had pretty much been baked in the direction that you want to move in and I'm happy uh from the standpoint of the manager's office to be able to execute on whatever is the pleasure of the the CRA and so it was my understanding coming into this that there wasn't a clear understanding of what that direction was but I'm hearing that there is U there has been a decision and what direction you want to move in there is a a wonderful video that's out there that talks about the potential of uh what can happen in that area we also have some potential renderings of what it could po potentially look like um if it is pleasure of the CRA to move in that direction but uh that's the direction that we're seeking now now that I'm here and then we can move forward you tell me what direction you want to go and we will make it happen yeah commissioner CH has something to say was before you go ahead commissioner CH thank you mayor um I'm I agree with commissioner Bor and commissioner Jones on this I think the only reason that the property or it was pitched to buy the property was because it was going to be a part of an overall plan to expand the or develop a Transportation Hub and and I I have to agree with the other Commissioners on this I think that that the public got their their chance to weigh in on whether the city should buy it or not to start with and when once he did it was the sole purpose for expending those funds at that time was was directly to uh to benefit the plan for a new Transportation Hub so I'm I'm going to have to uh support commissioner Borman Jones on this one I believe this decision's already been made and bringing it back is is a step backwards in my opinion thank you thank you do anybody else have any comments commissioner B well no my only my only concern was that we've already made those decisions already it's in the books it's already the votes are in the books and so that's why I was a little bit taken back when it was brought back forth to have a conversation with um for Community input at Price Martin That's My Issue sorry M Campbell um I say this and I just want us to take in consideration um especially when we' put it out there to have Community involvement Community engagement um sometimes it shows in the number of people that show and a lot of times we deem that it the word wasn't spread it because we didn't have a room full of people when sometime people are just not interested in the matter at hand um and we've talked about it and again I would have to stand with um commissioner Turner commissioner Jones and commissioner Bourn with regards to this this is something that we've talked about we've talked about it extensively and this is also one of the things that I say that we talk about things when they're hot but when they tend to die down we tend to forget them and we make it a Hot Topic when we've already had the answer and solution prior to making it come back to us so again I would like to see this move forth I think we've had ample enough public engagement Even in our downtime if someone was interested or wanted to see that building be reflected um as something different or to be to make it rehabit it would have come before us as of now um I say let's move forward let's make a decision tonight so that we won't have to continue to drag our citizens into meetings that they haven't attended previously anyway commissioner Jackson representative Jackson excuse me do you have anything you want to offer well I would have to agree with the other Commissioners it was already discussed and you know to move into a a different direction at this point um I don't see the the real benefit um of it from the community and especially if they've already had everyone's had opportunity um to have an input okay with that said uh sounds like the direction is to move forward the original thought which was to demo the building and put and put a historical marker there that's what we had talked about putting like a historical marker in that location so was there a um motion that was made to that effect well you you asking previously or would you like one made tonight it would be great if you could make a motion that we move forth with the Demolition of the building placing a marker on historical marker to be determined how that is in the future but let's move forth with the recommendation from commission well move forth with the recommendation to begin the process of demolition second we have a motion and second all in favor opposed nay then one additional detail um is we need to uh pursue a budget amendment uh in the amount of approximately $25,000 in order to effectuate the demolition of the property based on the existing budget commissioner we we've already we have monies from the sale of the property that we we should be able to use to do that portion of it that's what we purchased it for for the Dem the demo of the building okay so based on what we have in the budget currently from the sale mhm is 65,000 I believe we'll use that portion to demo the building okay and and get the marker if I may ask what was the purpose of asking for the extra $25,000 go ahead on this so uh board members you are correct you you do have proceeds the issue now is that it's sitting in your reserves line we just need you to take a formal action to Move It from reserves to a project line so that we can actually spend the funds it's it's just an administerial kind of request um the funds are there commissioner we just need to move them to a line so we can spend them that's all so and just a specific line item just move to from from reserves to General to which line ad of building acquisition and demolition it's not showing up because it's nothing okay and it's 25,000 to demo that in addition so that previous quote was $20,000 and it's well over a year ago we are going to do our best to get it even lower than that but we don't want to have to come back before you again just to do what you're asking us to do so okay well they were going to be doing that St Mark building I think they said for 1600 we called that contractor uh evidently I think they got um friend and family quote okay a faith Bill okay all right big difference that's can we can we can we check it can we check with that group to see well even I mean I don't know if they're gonna charge us that much more than they GNA do the 1600 so hopefully we can just maybe check with those guys and see how much their quote would be as well uh we have so they're one of our pre-approved vendors yeah it's SCS Contracting over 25 do we have a motion I'd like to make a motion to uh move the funds from reserves to the demolition line for um the uh building that we discussed today um as that's my motion the amount 20 and not to exceed 25,000 second we have a motion a second all in favor any opposition I got a question oh question yeah because Finance ask where is bunny so I got a question if you don't know where it is no I District I wanted I'm sorry sir I forgive I was asking what district since I'm not familiar geographically with all the names that they're speaking about so when they said that property I wanted to know what district is that located in property acquisition funds are just in reserves right now but it's in the North District all right Central Central Downtown distri okay yes the fund said there okay so being that we're moving forth what is the anticipated timeline my thought was but go ahead what would be the process of moving this forward so it doesn't delayed any further so um in terms of the demolition timeline yeah so we're looking at two to three months in order to get that taken care of based on the contractors that we're working with their workload and this decision you already know it's gonna take two to three months that's the time frame that I think we're working with so we'll try to expedite it um but again I'm getting familiar with how work gets done in this community so um hopefully we can move it faster than that okay set um on to item 4C discussion Direction 3 to4 River Street repairs Tillman house yes th this is an item uh again thank you um commiss uh committee um this is an IT item that came before the committee before thec um for discussion of the necessary uh in order to effectuate the repairs um the CRA asked that we postpone this decision until the next meeting and so we're bringing it back before you at this meeting now recall uh in the interum uh this came before the commission uh for the purposes of discussing whether or not the commission wanted to expend the funds and it was the the decision at that time by the commission to uh move it back to the uh CRA for the CRA to consider expending the necessary funds in order to do the repairs anybody have any questions Mr commission No No Other M public comments in a minute representative Jackson do you have any questions Mr B uh just to clarify I think it um I read somewhere that it's $100,000 in repairs that is needed for the tman house how much 125 125,000 yes okay and so we're trying to do a complete repair or to address the code violations that were identified in order to bring it up to compliance commission sorry commissioner cha do you have any questions of Mr Bell not at this time mayor okay commissioner Jones last time I asked a question were we going to repair this house in preparation for sale in preparation for sale shortly after and the answer was not at this time I want to make certain that that's not what we're doing the people's money so that still the course I want just on the record yes that's my understanding that we are um the decision before you is whether or not to spend the funds to bring it up to compliance there is no intent or desire to make a sale of the property at this time same answer yes sir thank okay I'm going to open the floor up to public comment Miss Duke please give give a name and address for the record in three minutes Madame mayor just point of clarity um she did ask to present on this item are we giving her five or three minutes okay um you can do it in three minutes I think I can do it in three minutes public comment consideration what additional information that that we have not heard that would be presented tonight because we've heard even when it was up citizens thought that we were going to TR to sell it um we've heard several extensive conversations of what the league has put into it is there any additional information that we have not heard that will be presented tonight that we may need to take consideration for the given time frame a little bit um we are doing some things where in the code violation there was bare wood on the house that wasn't painted we're taking care of painting that and we had already replaced the sign that was in the code violation so we've already done that we matter of fact we did that months ago before all this came up um we we don't have come September our lease ends and when we met before when we got our two-year lease half of the year was already up but we back paid the rent and and the talk then was we'd have a third-year lease part of the problem with us and um not having a lease um or longer lease it's hard to make a commitment to go to the community and say you know different companies help us replace these windows upstairs or do this or do that for us we did that before before the first time that we were put on The Cutting block that we would be the next I next property sold after the hammock call so you know we didn't go out there looking for exterior help because we were getting ready to be homeless and we couldn't get it we couldn't get any kind of lease so um it's kind of hard to continually live not knowing from one year to the next whether you're going to have a place for the Art League just my comment is I think the Art League is important for the Community we we function somewhat as a Welcome Center people come in we give them information about where to eat where where they can go when they ask us about things and I think we're a very positive influence on that corner and I really want to see the Tillman house save whether it's for us to stay there or somebody else to use that property for the city it's it's a very important piece of historical property and it sits where everybody sees it when they come to the different events on the riverfront like the bass every time we have a Bass Pro thing we're on the news you see it from the Rome you know so I think it's something you should be proud of and keep that's all thank you thank you for that information Miss Powers I don't think I have anything extra thank you Miss kitchens mayor as your next speaker is coming up I just want to remind um the C that the staff recommendation on this is authorization of a budget transfer 23,9 to basically do the build assessment for the house which the scope of work is attachment a this is not for all the Reps identified by enforement I just want to provide $23,000 23,9 23,000 also estimated uh repairs are 125,000 so we're looking at 125 plus may we give them the thank you alra kitchens 1027 South 12th Street Palaca Florida and what I want to address is exactly what's on the uh agenda which is this project uh first of all the CRA the CRA has historically used their funds to bring bring houses in the South historic district up to code when they had a codes violation so why not go ahead and use the 125,000 which is probably less now because the art League's already done some repairs go ahead and use the South Tiff fund of $11,932 $3,900 that have pacero and Associates who are good guys going and nitpick the whole during building when you got five codes violations that need to be addressed and you can do that for under $125,000 why spend the additional almost 24,000 it makes no sense whatsoever thank you thank you is there anybody else here for public comments seeing none with public comments okay Mr Bell yes ma'am so we have a staff recommendation for uh budget transfer $23,900 to accomplish a detailed uh building CO condition assessment BCA for the Tillman house um or we can move forward with uh making the repairs which are estimated to require $121,900 uh coming out of the reserve funding so just to comment on both sides I understand the rational behind suggesting not to have the assessment having rehabed several historic structures when you stop making repairs all sorts of things come up not to say we have to repair everything at once but if you have this assessment you have this plan going forward that you know what might need to be done now that I'm just saying that I'm ping the other side I see the formal may have shaking his head no how many um you know it's still I understand the extra cost but sometimes it's better do things right that's all I'm saying but I'm sure I was going just readly go on commissioner Campbell any further comments commissioner Jones I don't agree spending 2 3,910 th000 okay for an assessment when we know that there's repairs be already need to be uh done and they've already been named by if we say are by our Code Enforcement Officers commissioner Bor any comments no other comments other than like to just spend the money to get it repaired commiss mcal any further questions or comments I'm in agreement with commissioner Jones not that additional 23 Miss Jackson I have to be in agreement with the other Commissioners not the the 23,000 but of course to repair the property commissioner Cher I have nothing further to add okay thank you okay so how would we like so basically you're looking for a motion to say to not move forward with this assessment correct that wasn't that wasn't own agenda she said we V on right now she would be Miss I mean well yes and that is what if you look in your packet that is what's in there at this time is repairs for [Music] players that that wasn't it there's not a motion on flance let me look back at this do we have a motion 4C what there was a breakdown of all of the repairs and pretty photos we were the discussion really was for the assessment which is the last page of that of this area the total that you show there is paint Windows sighting right 125 that was for the assessment yes that's great um initially we just when we when we left our last meeting I know it was 120 something and that's we that's what I was going on right 125 so I think right now though we're trying to what I understood is that the majority of the CRA board felt that extra assessment cost was not necessary so I was looking for a motion in regards to that to just say no thank you a motion to say we're not in favor of that 23,000 change being used for an assessment and if it's the pleasure of the CRA to move forward with making the repairs not to exceed 125,000 then we would need emotion to that effect if if we can get the design into 125 then yes but so that's the point motion to accept step recommend step recommendation um for the 125,000 motion to have a second second on a 125 all in favor I any opposition thank you next for D discussion Direction downtown banners and Christmas decorations Mr McMillan Mr D I'm gonna defer to Mr McMillan on the decorations conversation board members good evening are you um looking for some discussion Direction regarding um two items specifically uh Banner brackets and banners for downtown along the new and existing light poles and discussion for Christmas Direction U decorations for this year uh so right now we've got estimates to get Banner brackets to install 24 by 48 inch banners along the light poles down St John's Avenue that's something that we've had in the past and it's um something that you know it could be valuable to the community um but regarding the design of the banners and and the I guess display of them you know what what would this board like to see displayed um staff is kind of recommending that you know maybe one in three of those banners be a city logo type Banner um another one and three potentially be an American flag and then another one and three of those be a changeable Banner for holidays so that we could address you know specific holidays such as you know Christmas more specifically downtown but we're kind of looking for a breakdown and then maybe some discussion as to how we should determine the actual design of the banner are we gonna have enough room for the banners uh with the stop signs hanging on the on the Poes are as it is yes sir so are we gonna move those stop signs off the pole yes sir the uh the brackets for the stop sign specifically have been on back order we have a shipment of them in we've got custom cast bases as well to cover those um they should be beginning to be installed within the next couple weeks commissioner Campell um as far as the way as far as the layout um I would leave that to be open and possibly something that we vote on as it comes in um I would make the as I roll down um from our conference this past weekend um through prent City it was good to see that they had the banners out um promoting uh the catfish festival and I remember back in the days we did have banners lining up downtown and we were actually um contacted by local schools that wanted to possibly have banners um hung up downtown during home week or different other activities that may be going on within the school district or their respective schools U so I don't want to be so boggled down to where we as a commission gives directives and it draws out the process of um what could be what could come um I think the recommendation that you made I would be friendly to the recommendation that you made and I trust staff enough to know that they won't allow any anything to be hung up downtown that is not integral so M Jones do you have any questions comment well if you're going to do specific holidays I just want you to be sensitive and I think you should bring it back for approval to the of this Commission on different seasonal banners uh culturally so you you understand where I'm coming from absolutely sir all right so just be conscious of that and bring it back to us so that we'll have inclusion for everyone that would be my my uh my biggest concern just make sure we're including every group as far as a banner in their specific holidays because you don't want to be some people don't celebrate Christmas so we want to make sure that we have Quanza we have other things alike so so exactly all right commissioner B well I mean I think it's a good idea but ALS so if if you're want to do that is there any way you can put something out on the re Street side to where it can also kind of display and show what we have going because not everybody travel downtown as well so if we can kind of maybe extend the advertisement um on the re Street side as well to kind of either direct people or let them know what we have going on I think that'll be another option I think I think do has something to do that for the flag PO for the flag I think we discussed that before that D with thought Jonathan said um at one point that they had something that was was viable to be able to put up um am I so happy to share uh a positive update do is working on a resurfacing project for the re Street Corridor downtown Mr McMillan myself Marsha Gano and a few other staff members have been in contact with that project team uh one of the things that was discussed in addition to some landscape medians of which we HED to present to you tonight but it wasn't quite ready yet from do uh was the addition of decorative light poles of which we could put banners on in the future uh so we've started that conversation with Dot and Florida Power and Light and hopefully we'll be back before you at a later date with more positive news thank you Mr Griffith I me I meant to call you Mr Griffith not Jonathan so thank you miss m anything okay Miss Jackson commissioner turn up okay so just for clarification um regarding the banners specifically is to go with staff's recommendation for one in three banners to be a removable um type banner and then to go back at the next C meeting potentially with potential candidates and designs for those banners um and potentially a list of holidays um to be signed a banner I like the idea of the City press that you were talking about I think that that's what I heard too is to come back with like the specifically the holiday but the others seem fine is that what everybody agrees okay okay um if I may the the next discussion specific specifically as Christmas decorations along the Avenue um as many of you are aware the light poles have been removed from Fourth Street to 11th Street with those removals the infrastructure that we'd historically used to have Christmas lights and the trees downtown was destroyed they were set in big concrete piles underneath the banner or the the light bulbs so we couldn't restore that in the future Street Scapes program that that is intended to be replaced but for this year this coming Christmas it it's not anticipated that we'll have power for Christmas lights past Fourth Street um so what staff is looking for is some direction as to what you might want to see down the Avenue um and one of our recommendations is is you know historically we've had Garland with a bow on the light poles we've got new light poles our garlands and Bows have deteriorated to where probably 40% of them had fallen apart last Christmas um is to actually replenish our stock of those utilizing the funding that wasn't outlined or won't be expended this year for Christmas decorations um lights specifically from 4th to 11th but also maintaining you know lighting from forth to Memorial Madam mayor go ahead commissioner Turner um Dale was the U the 25,000 that was requested is that for everything you just said in including the brackets no sir the brackets would be an independent cost of about six50 800 um that includes one round of brackets any additional sets of brackets are about $40 a piece depending on the design um that $225,000 specifically is for uh what we've budgeted in the past for Christmas lights um and again we wouldn't be utilizing that full amount this year because we don't have the infrastructure in place so to utilize a portion of that um or more for additional decorations down the Avenue okay I I noticed in in the budget that they did have 25,000 in there for this line item or for this type of line item uh it I guess my next question would be to finance is the uh the 5800 that was requested is it a u is it also in in the budget or is that would that be a line item to come reserves that would have to be um we would have to look at the consideration of the budget transfer uh it is not currently delineated in the budget separately however there is a uh align item called site amenities hope I said it correctly and uh there's 40,000 sitting there so it's going to be my recommendation that we consider transferring the funds from that line item so this would not be an addition to the 25,000 that you're going to need for a further Christmas decorations this would be B basically the Christmas decoration line item is that correct yes sir okay sounds pretty good to me thank you mayor you're welcome Campell War M no additionals okay so with that said is our direction to Mr McAn and Company to move forward with the Christmas declarations as we described motion to approve second have motion second all in favor I any opposition thank you um now to reports CRA financials for 5 months that ended on February 29th 2024 Madam mayor yes Mr commissioner cell while while she's walking up there is there a did did the motion include that we transfer the other money out of the 40,000 where they can get their brackets to um that was the intent that they would transfer from the line item site amenities they required 5847 to cover the brackets that was my that was my question was that included in the motion where they can get their brackets and their Christmas decorations it was not I mean but that was ameni um actually commission the uh the site amenity line allows for the expense for these brackets as it is an amenity for that that area so we can just take it can be utilized from there correct so that was the intent of so we will not necessarily need a budget transfer we can just pay for it from that line item okay thank you I guess my question was did the motion include both of those items that's what is it did not I don't think so it does not require i m West don't they fall both both fall under the category side entities no I'm not I I think I'm being Miss understood mayor I my question was what did uh commissioner boram's motion include that they can buy their brackets and their Christmas declarations from the funds that have been determined can be used for that that was that was the intent of the motion based on what was presented thank you that was only make a question thank you okay okay thank you Miss cot okay good evening Commissioners mayor those in attendance um looking at the five months end of February 29th 2024 year to date we have received 819,000 in our property tax revenues our Tif incremental revenues we also have other revenues such as the uh sale of the hammock Hall and also contributions so that was an additional 134,000 so so year to date we have uh received or earned $953,000 total budget or 97% of the revenues that we are generating yearly um for the the district downtown dist District okay um we have spent 27,000 I'm on expenses now on page two 27,000 and that only represents 2% of our budget the budget for the downtown district is 1, 460,000 so that's where we are here today also for the district which is South historic we've only spent year to date $3,719 and again that's 1% of our entire budget for that District the budget is 317,000 and then finally for um the north historic district we've only spent $2,500 at $86 and this is uh for five months year today that represent 2% so at the end of the day at the end of February 29 2024 which represents five months we have spent $3 33,541 and so our net results at the end of five months is 920,000 okay um if there are any questions I will answer them if I can do anybody have any questions well we do have projects um at least I know in the central business coming up that we will be expending the um fund from those funds correct yes as far I know yes sir and I'm not sure how many projects we have in the North in from the the we have any CIP in the north any anything going on in the north no um and and I'm not sure about I do know we have some activity that we'll be doing in the central so that'll use up quite a bit s I'm like kind of encouraging need to that we start spending to be allocated okay all right um I'm also I wanted to take advantage of standing before you today uh I do teach at different conferences uh cities and so forth related to CRA and so today I'm uh giving a presentation it'll take about five minutes hopefully you'll put it up I don't know if she sent it maybe we didn't you ready Miss Jackson has a question in yes ma'am come backing that spending well I think that'll come more from operational uh perhaps uh Mr Bell or Mr Griffith could address that better terms of spending money I mean you know as Finance I want to encourage them to spend more rapidly however I know that it's project sensitive So based upon the status of the various projects that are in CRA I believe either these two gentlemen can answer that we have not currently identified a spending timeline um and so if that's something that we have committed to bring back to the CRA we can do that okay so I guess we're not going to have it okay all right so well what we're going to talk about real fast is um what the rules are for a CRA and to encourage and one of our reasons um why we're bringing this up because I did look at the year to date at the end of the prior fiscal year that ended September 30th 2023 and I was concerned that we had so much money left over based upon the revenues that were generated during that prior year and what we had actually spent and what I was able to determine at this point not saying that you have not done whatever's necessary I'm just pointing things out so that you can be alert um last fiscal year we had unspent funds of 48489 and so that makes me as your Finance person to say hey hey hey pay attention you have to spend this money or at least uh allocate it to capital projects and you also have a time limit as to win you must spend money you know so if you do not spend money during the course of the year or by the end of the year then you have to literally appropriate uh the funds to your projects I'm sure we all know that so uh I'm starting with I'm going to go rather quickly uh you know c new and scary Financial guidance uh that happened like about a year ago and so my whole thing is how a local government can manage CRA receive a clean audit opinion and not be terminated because that threat is there uh they want to terminate Everyone by 2039 so I'm saying look you can be a live vibrant and still keep it going so move to the next one please or you want me okay good so what is C it's a dependent special district right where future increases in property values are set aside to support Economic Development projects within that District so here we have three districts and that's the goal you know uh we use it to redevelop slums and blighted areas and uh it can be controlled by a governing body that's composed of a local Governor or the Commissioners next please can you move thank you so it's under chapter 163 and local governments are able to designate areas and you know the money for Finance in C is locally generated uh it's not overseen by the state so what controls it is actually your local government comprehensive plan move please you know we got questions like how are they authorized who oversee them so the first thing is the creation of it it's like a sparklite you know you have to have certain conditions and uh examples of those conditions would be like inadequate structures we just talked about that you know shortage of affordable housing uh inadequate infrastructure insufficient roadways and parking so that's how you create and what's the steps there's only five steps you can move the five steps you can move it please um there they are public meeting that begins the whole process then you develop something called the finding of necessity and then you have to adopt it and then you got to develop a plan to address whatever the uh Necessities are and then you also create a trust fund and all of this the city has already done you can move forward please uh the state the state is our guidance um the statutes is what we live by and that's what we're doing everything we're doing is based upon statute 163 uh you can move to the next one uh and it's called tax increment funding that's why you say Tiff tax incremental funding and what is the funding of necessity uh you know it's just going through the community uh there has to be a vote in order to establish it next place but we need a workable program the program is to remove light and that's what we've been talking about prevent the spread of blight Rehabilitation or conservation of Slum and blighted areas that's our main focus you know we look at residents that are low income Ed income the elderly things of that nature next uh keyw development of affordable housing implementation of community policing you know that's a concept that we might want to look at more how do we police our community and we can use CRA funding for that uh maintaining historical and cultural values of a depressed environment while we improve the status of our residents so that's pretty much what this is uses for Parks playgrounds um you can move it please next so tax what is money money is our tax increment financing so like for instance uh this year and year to dat we receive 819,000 that's our Tiff money okay move please and that's based upon dollar value of our real property so the keys to success is our Redevelopment plan you could go next so who runs it well I would think the squeaky will but I might be wrong the greatest contributor the loudest mouth the mean man the most Innovative who runs the CRA Who's The Boss Next and the answer is our board the board directs it move please and so uh the board is very similar to the board of directors everyone that come in bring their own you know feelings and passions and some people come in saying we want to eliminate drugs other wants to increase income level educational level and some people just want it to be a better life a better uh culture for the residents next uh it is a real entity uh even though it can be the same entity that's running the city next so the main activities is infrastructure such as Street Scapes roadway improvements building Renovations and then also giving out grants to different businesses and residents and then retraining the population all of this is a part of CRA next please uh it's important that our property tax revenue is collected and then it comes directly to us and here in Paca we receive our money very promptly next please so the Florida legislation legislature is our judge and mediator if if Paca CRA had a problem that would address that concern uh between cities and counties the Florida legislature would be our mediator next legislative guidance what's right what's wrong next mainly that Redevelopment plan that's the key that's the Bible if you had to say what what do we live by we live by our Redevelopment plan next please uh uh the code of ethics with our public official uh it's a critical like if we own if public officials own property within the district that has to be known transparency next uh the life as mentioned before there's an intent right now to uh eliminate all the cras by year 2039 so basically speaking uh the board itself can vote to continue the life but they won't let it go beyond that unless they're a bond bonds or debt that is associated with the CRA then you can extend it but only to the life to pay that debt off next okay an inactive CRA they're going to put you out of business inactive mean you don't have anything you're just you're not doing anything so the state will move to terminate you and you have 30 days to appeal and so if they see you aren't spending money and so forth you know next you want me to move faster I'm trying Financial reports and audits okay so planning and hard work is how you get a clean audit next please uh we have to do five annual reports I'll audit the annual fees a comprehensive annual plan uh they have to be posted online in our budget next uh we understand that the budget needs to be on the website two days prior to the budget hearing 30 days after adoption next and again most important is any money left over we're supposed to give it back unless we have a plan uh the audit requirements we adhere to the audit General next so some examples of when I was doing this I was working helping Daytona Beach and you can turn the next page but Daytona uh their whole their main CRA Focus was affordable home ownership ship that was their primary problem next uh Quincy had a lot of historical cultural kind of properties and they were um regenerating their downtown environment next Miami uh they were creating opportunities for Community empowerment uh basically their CRA became so effective that uh it became worth billions of dollars within about 10 years and it started out by cleaning the environment the environment was filthy next and finally and that's uh some of the uh projects that were done over town uh they grab the population the older people the people from that had never worked people that came from jail and prisons and so forth and that's how they refound their community and now they're extremely profitable so that's it I believe that's it one more okay so that's it so my intent was to just help uh make you think about some of the things that you need to do and the most important thing now is making sure that we have a plan for any funds that were not spent as of the end of September 30th 2023 I hope that this has been helpful to you thank you thank you Miss thank you that was a a wealth of knowledge um and it's well taken um next Small Business Development Center Mr Paul Rick Paul Small Business Development Center 1100 Reed Street good evening everybody I hope you're doing well uh in front of you Commissioners you have the impact that just came out today in fact and it's the new revised format looks really good uh gives the information across uh pretty quickly you know the University of North Florida spdc is in 18 count region running from Nassau County down to St John's through putam over to I think it's Levy then all the way back up to uh Lake City Live o and then back over to Nassau so to bring you up to date on these numbers uh there's basically four um things that were judged on asbdc Business Consultants clients by Consultants number one um putam County's is now ranked number two out of all 18 counties um Capital by consultant putham county is now third 1.3 million so far this year new business starts by consultant putham county is a little bit higher than the average and as far as hours by consultant just a little bit higher than average in there uh so um one of the things that's interesting about this is clients by consultant the spdc has been impacted by layoffs and people moving on uh so I'm now taking quite a few of clients from Klay County Duval County and other places uh so uh I'm doing uh remote work with them instead of them coming into town um but I'm still servicing everybody here in putam County next up you should see a new CRA flyer in front of you does everybody have a copy of that the date of that is May 21st from 5: to 6: pm uh thanks to Andrea at the aelia City Brewing Company we will hold it there again uh the last event was very successful we had over uh 88 people register and just judging by the size of the crowd I'm thinking as at least 75 or 80 people were at that um I think this is a very important part of the community building for the business area uh I held a similar event at the city of Crescent City a week or two ago uh while it's you know Crescent City is obviously much smaller we had 30 people show up for the event uh we stayed for a couple hours and out of that there were three new business starts at the previous CRA meeting at AI City Brewing Company with 75 80 people as far as I know there was one new business start um so I think the a lot of the Buzz for uh the CRA event at the AI City Brewing Company where people were on the sidelines uh so I would highly encourage you uh to come and for the CRA event it's your party basically uh May 21st from 5: to 6 I know for a fact we had several people there that were looking to invest in the city uh but they're still on the sidelines so perhaps uh you know coming there and shmoozing a little bit with the potential uh people that are looking to move to uh the city and start jobs uh would help bring those uh businesses on in the town into uh fruition are there any questions for the spdc any questions for Mr PA no okay thank you and does the date the 21st that's what the staff decided on at five to six is that fine doable thank you very much thank you do we have anything else before the pr um I do um just for a point prior to we used to have where the different districts used to come and Report um is that still not a thing or what's the issue I may I you may go ahead okay um I always email them asking them if they have a written report that they would like to include in the packet and I have not received anything I don't know how active at least for the North and South how active those organizations are anymore I Miss Annie left but she told me recently they were probably going to dissolve their 501c3 they really didn't me anything so that may be a piece of it just one BR thank you thank you is there anything else North North here that that's what she me she's not here so I'd rather have her speak to that but she didn't mention that to me that they're not meeting's got neighor the neighborhood association not the oh no when one when one CH we we we do that anyway no no no we were talking about the neighborhood association reported came here and gave a report the the board the board handles that p no no no I was not talking about that we were talking that was not the question but anyway is there anything else do we have a motion to adjourn okay thank you all