14 grass to grass. Let's call for Richie City Council meeting Tuesday, March 10th, 2026. Like to invite SE Fields for the location. Everybody may stand for the pledge. Father, again, we just thank you for the
wisdom for this meeting. Lord, you've been guiding us through it. We've getting things done for the city. So, as we continue the stuff that's on the agenda for the council and for uh all the planning that you're doing, we just want to give you thanks and give you glory and honor. I thank you for our
police department and our fire department and our our mayor and the council and all the things that they're doing to working together as a team. As we say the pledge of allegiance, we want to thank you in Jesus name. Amen. >> Amen. I pledge allegiance to the flag of the
United States of America and to the republic for which it stands. One nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all. >> Madam clerk, I roll please. >> Mayor John Eric Hoover >> here. >> Vice Mayor Chris Mayer
>> here. >> Councilman Robert Hubard >> here. Councilwoman Lisa Burke >> here. >> Councilwoman Christine Sullivan >> here. >> City Attorney Nancy Meyer >> here. >> City Manager Don King >> here. >> Thank you. First up, I have a set of minutes to approve. So, I need a motion
to approve the February 24th, 226 city council meeting minutes. >> Make a motion to approve uh January 23rd workshop. >> February 24th. >> February. >> Is there a second? >> Second. >> A motion second. Any fur discussion? All in favor signify by saying I. I
>> I oppose. >> Motion carries. Next up is comments from the general public. Uh I have one sign up, Danny Fields. Welcome. >> City council meeting. >> Okay. My name is Danny Fields. You know my address is 8119
Leo Kid. Uh again, I want to go ahead and thank you guys for your service. I know we got an event coming up Hooked on the Bayou Seafood Festival on Saturday, March the 14th at 10 to 900 p.m. That's a great chance for us to continue to
grow and reach out in the community with that uh growth and using our parks to be a place where we could uh launch out to the all the events and the business around and bring the communities in and just continue to do it. I know that we
talked about uh stuff about parking. That's and that's an issue as we grow. We're going to have to focus on parking as well. So, that's going to be a good test run for us to see how many people show up and how we handle all that. So again, I I'll be there at uh the
waterfront park and uh also making my rounds and just watching the city and the police, fire department and all the events that we're having there to to just grow as a city and bring that development and relationship to
businesses and things to happen in the community. So this is a a good thing that we're doing. And then I also got an event coming up with uh somebody carries in the local churches around. So Easter egg hunt when Saturday, April the 4th at
10:00 a.m. to 12. And that's going to be at 8119 Oppos Road uh here at the Waterfront Park. And that's another event we get to put on with the police and the fire department. There's going to be live music, prizes, games, snacks,
and we're going to tell the story about uh Easter, what it's really about, and it's about Jesus. Uh the time there is going to be at 10:00 a.m. to 12. Now, we'll be setting up a lot earlier, but that's where uh these are the things is what I'm saying that we're we're
bringing things to the community as a city or uh businesses or or faith-based church to work together. And that means I know they're two different events. So your guys' events, but at least I'm sharing with the community to go to the
waterfront events with the city. They're going to turn out again for the stuff with the faith-based church working in the community. And these are things where we continue to offer these things for growth. And then I'm looking forward to in the future with the new parks and
the new development with the amphitheaters and stuff that we might have that's really going to continue to build that waterfront, build our communities with families and growth. And this is a thing that we need and that's why I'm so grateful for this city
and this team to focus on these areas. You guys are doing a great job and I just want to say thank you. >> Thank you. Okay, that's all signups I have. Show hands any like speak. >> Okay, see I bring back to comments for city manager. Pass Mr. King for his
comments. >> Okay. Um first one I'd like to start off with, we'll start simple is uh for the upcoming parade for Chesco uh the Chesco parade that's upcoming on the 21st and the 28th. 21st being the vehicle parade
and then you've got 28 28th which is going to be the boat parade. Um for the actual street parade on the 21st what I've got is I've got the police department fire department providing vehicles uh to support it and they've already gone and registered with the uh
with with the council as far as making sure that we've got our our our vehicles in place for council. What we've done because I don't have a tractor trailer and enough tissue paper to put together a float for you guys right now. What we've got is we've got the police
boat and we've got a trailer and what we'll be able to do is have the council on the boat as they're being pulled by one of their primary vehicles. So you guys up be up high in position with cover from the sun and be able to wave to all of the community residents. And if you guys are comfortable with
that, um that'd be my re recommendation to move forward. However, safety is number one. So, we're going to make sure you guys are tied in with a rope around your waist and into the boat so you don't fall out and hurt yourselves. >> And life jackets privacy. >> Life jackets and water wings. >> You're in the boat. That's policy. You got to wear a life jacket.
>> But but but but we just on this. But I just wanted to pass that out if if if the council was comfortable with that that um that that's the that's the platform we'll use for the parade for the council members to attend. >> Ma'am, the 20 the 21st. >> The 21st. on the 28th for the boat
parade. As of right now, I have law enforcement's boats are going to be uh pre-dedicated well preoccupied with the water mission out there that they've got that they'll be supporting. And that's I think your vote, if I'm correct, chief, will be the only one there. Yeah. So, if anybody wants to participate in that, that's the only vote I currently have
available for the for council if you're interested. But I don't know if there's enough bodies for you to put it on there. You have to let me know, chief, what you're comfortable with. one or two, but it's also available for calls. So, just so they're aware,
>> and that's one of the things is they're all available for calls at any time. So, you might get the hey, get out. >> But, you know, the the possibilities that happening are very low, but um um that's where we're currently at with one for the street parade and then one for
the boat parade. So, we'll actually only have one boat in the water. >> This is all happening on the 21st of March. >> The 21st is actual Yeah. 28th is the boat parade. 21st is the actual street parade >> of March. >> Yeah. Of March. >> On the boat parade, I'll be in a boat. The Rotary provides a boat to both the
mayors, Newport Richie for Richie. So, I'll be in that already. So, I won't need a separate one. So, that takes down to four if you guys want to participate. >> Can you tell me what time that is? >> The 21st. You guys will have to be there at noon. >> Yeah, the parade starts at 1, I believe. >> Yeah. Sign up and staging is at noon,
right? >> Yes. to report to um by Schwintman. >> Oh, is that you're talking about the the street parade? >> Street parade >> because the the truck will and the boat will already be there for you guys, but you need to be there by noon before they do their sweeps. Otherwise, the roads
will be closed. You won't be able to get in. >> So, noon on the 21st bindings in place on the boat. So, whatever movement needs to occur for parking and movement to the boats, I would kind of backward plan for that. So, 11:30 Get yourself set up.
>> So, we're going to ride in a boat in a parade on asphalt on the 21st and on the 28th. >> Are we just going to do our own thing or we going to be in the water with the boat? >> Wait, you can take two. Set three. >> I have Yeah, I have the fire boat. We can put, you know, two of you in the the fire boat. >> Is a police boat not going to be afraid?
>> It is. It's going to be patrolling. So, it'll be back and forth. It actually is not going to be like portrayed. >> What What What about our other boat? >> They're both going to be in both. So I have one two people but Councilman
Hubard said he's put your boat in and take you want decorator on it >> the signs on it. Anything but Hoover sign. >> Thanks. >> Well I I'll have to get back on our branding to see if we've got see what we've got available. >> Yeah, that's how we go.
>> But that's something I I can reach back out to you later and maybe it'll have to be like a quick turn for if if we want to stick something on there. Okay. American flag, something else. >> I figure the uh the uh >> the new logo. >> The new logo. >> Yeah.
>> Is what we'd probably go with. So, something that we can put on. So, I'd have to coordinate with you between now and then uh with our with our PC and then whatever you're comfortable with. >> Yep. >> If that's okay. >> Yep. Got my number. >> Okay. >> We did get a banner with the new logo, right? A banner done. >> Yeah.
>> Yes. There you can bucks. >> You put the American flag in one of the rod holders. Mhm. >> Cuz it's a 250th birthday parade. >> Mhm. >> Remember, it's all about marquee. >> Is that in the city calendar? >> I'll cut checks all day long. Whatever
you guys want. >> I think we should get that. Yeah. Two banners. >> We already do. >> But if if that's consensus, um I'll move forward with that and we'll have that prepared. And um should be good to go for both the street parade. No big
change. We're pretty cut and clean on that one. And then for the boat parade, two with police chief, and then we'll go with uh Councilman Hubard's boat, and then we'll figure out, you know, what we're going to do for at least uh city uh branding in order to get the boat
when we get it in the water that we're clearly representing city port. >> Are you going with this? >> I'm going to be scuba diving next few days. Little bubbles, little buoy floating out the port. Just put in it. >> I'll water ski behind it. >> Yeah, you should row the canoe.
>> I think that's a no. He's not here. >> Kind of get that vibe myself. >> Chris just brought him digging. >> I've got to dig. >> I'll just be towed behind everybody else. >> Maybe you could barefoot ski or something like that. But show us show your skills.
Um that being said, uh for the parade, we covered that. Uh just let you know for the Grand Boulevard speed tables uh to give you back information on that. Right now uh we have 14 footers. This is the total price for each. We have 14 footers to put in place. Two of them.
Total cost is $5,000. It doesn't get us ac completely across the the the road um the surface of the road. But we do have a 20 foot version of it that gets us across the entire road as far as the speed table. So, it's not broken up or anything, so people can't drive around
it or drive at an angle to get to avoid it. But that's $7,300 for the total of two. So, with the approval of the council, I would say if you let me spend the $7,300, I can do the 21footers and then we can fully cover that those two aspects of the road uh with the speed
table to make sure that we have consistency. >> They're going to drive around the bumper, >> right? And that's Well, you put a sign there, too. What how much is the signs? We'll have to cut back on the signs because right now I'm just >> Gotcha. Okay. Are they similar that can
be pulled later somewhere else? >> Yes, we can pull. We They're temporary. We can pull them. >> I know they're temporary, but I want to make sure they're temporary and they last. >> Yes, they're temporary. They can be temporary and they wear out >> and and they can be reused. So, >> they can be reused, but >> people use them as permanent ones. They
they they use them as permanent. >> Right. And that's what that's what we've gone with is something that we can reuse and um that we can pull and relocate if necessary to different locations as we see we have problems elsewhere. >> Wow. This is your deal. >> Are they are they the same like width and height as Newport Richies?
>> They are well >> 25 mph speed dumps. >> Well, they are 21 by 6 by 3 in high and then 21 well 14 by six by three inches high. So they're I think they're all within the the same limit of what Newport Richie has.
>> Yeah. So the 21s go from outside white line to outside white line. The 14 footers will be inside the white line. So it just depends on how far you guys go. The speed tables um are supposed to reduce speed 20 to 25 miles per hour. So >> supposed to be what?
>> 20 to 25 miles per hour. >> Okay. >> So what's over there right now is what? They have speed tables that are >> they have speed tables that are 12 foot about 12 foot wide like wide this way
and they go from white line to white line. So >> they're about 14. They're about 14 15 ft. >> So we have you say it's 14 and 21 14T in length or 21 in length. But he said the 14 goes from white line to white line.
Same as same as >> maybe that's fine. >> You got three and a half ft on each side of the white line. >> That's what I'm going to say. I don't know if you do or not. More than that. >> New Richie has two different kinds. >> Less seven to seven feet. Three and a half on each side. >> Three and a half in. So we don't have three and a half feet with white line
ever. Do we? >> So like for example, Bay Boulevard is 8 foot width lanes. So each lane's only 8 ft wide. >> So narrow there. We're talking about we're talking about Grand Boulevard there right now. >> Yeah. No, I know it's so the white line
is the white line to the grass area is what I'm talking about. It's roughly from inside of white line to the grass area is roughly about 14. >> That's what I'm thinking. White line to white line. That's the way they the the permanent ones are Newport Richie. They go white line to white line. >> Mhm. >> What do you think, Bob? >> Well, they have two different types in
Newport Richie. They got the flat top tables and then they got the round humps. If you go past Massachusetts, they'll go south of Massachusetts, they're the flat tops and then you go north of Massachusetts, they're rounded. So these are these have the flat top. >> So these are tables. >> Yeah, >> they're rough.
>> Yes, they're speed tables. >> They're rougher than the round ones. >> Speed humps on the golf cart. They are >> speed humps now take you down to about 10 miles per hour. >> I go slower on the tables than I do the humps. I go down them all the time in my
golf cart. I go over the the humps and they go over the humps and I get the tables. It's rougher for some reason. And those flat tops are harder. So the the speed humps are made for like residential side streets and stuff like
that. The the tables are made more for like pedestrian crossings and stuff like that. >> Right. >> So whatever purpose >> how wide did you say these temporary ones are? >> Some are 14, some are 21. Whatever size you guys have. >> I No, I don't mean from side to side. I
mean >> the width 6T. >> I need clarification. >> 14 by 6 ft by 3 in or 21 ft by 6. >> Clarification. >> So you he had mentioned the flat ones are like hitting a log in the street.
You and and he said the the round ones are smoother to go over and you said the round ones were for residential neighborhood. >> So those what Newport has isn't something you're going to buy. Theirs obviously is going to be smoother than what you're going to buy rubberwise >> because they're concrete, >> right?
>> Yeah. >> So, these are going to be a little rougher. Like a like a speed hump is what you see in parking lots. >> So, is this thing like it goes up and then it's flat on top and then it goes half. >> That's three but it's three inches.
>> It's It's three inches. It's three inches thick. So, >> it's kind of like going over two humps instead. >> That's what I was thinking. I mean, don't you want something? Cuz what's down there right now that I'm thinking of, you kind of just go over it and it smooths out to the other side. Even if you hit, you got to slow down because if you hit this thing here in a golf cart,
not thinking cuz I've been not thinking sometimes hitting them in a golf cart and that other one there will throw you a little bit there, but this thing here sounds like going to knock your teeth out. >> I go over 15 miles an hour in my golf cart and those tables are rough. >> Isn't that the whole point? Slow people down. So, >> yeah, we're not We don't want to make it
uncomfortable. >> I don't want to tear up front ends or nothing. I just want people to slow down at all. But yeah, I mean that it's temporary. >> Do we have the round option? >> It's $5,000 for two or $30,000. What was the quote on the actual concrete?
>> It was like 26,000. >> $30,000. So >> So they don't make a round rubber one? >> No, I've never seen >> table rounder. >> No, the table is It comes up. It's like flats out and then goes back down like that. Well, they're probably might be
smoother because they're more like >> three feet wide and it's just probably >> they're taller. I mean, you go to a different part. >> So, Grand Boulevard and all that all the stuff on Grand Boulevard going down along the Cody River there, the Pithaluchi River, where that thing is,
you know, that those are those are concrete. Those things that feel like they're this long and they're kind of slowly >> they're asphalted but stamped. There's Yeah, >> we got small ones online on U live limestone. >> Yeah, they're they're pretty effective
here. I'm sorry. >> I'm just thinking we dropped some in there. Knocks your teeth out. We're going to get a whole lot of flags from the community. >> It ain't going to knock your teeth out unless you're flying over. You're supposed to be flying over it anyway. >> Yeah, you don't drive like Eric. >> Eric, I'm going to zip it and clip it. I'm not going to say it work. >> Before we install those, I'm going to
take my truck over there and spin out and do a drop of J. figure out whether it breaks your axle or not. >> No, I mean, yeah, if you if you go over them 40, 50 mph, you're going to feel it. And >> it sounds to me like if you go over them at 25, you're going to feel it. >> No,
>> but also I can't I can't speak for them, but if we put something that slows it down even farther, that's just going to be more up to them to >> Has he looked at him? The chief >> or the fire? Either one of the chiefs >> input from the chiefs. I don't think we
either one of us have any problems. We're getting there regardless. >> Yeah. One way or the other. >> There you go. >> They got trucks now. They can >> How many of these things are we deploying? >> Just two. >> Two. >> Just two. And both of them are on Grand's on Washington. >> Washington could be later, but just on
Grand. Just basically what Newport Richie has is what we've been wanting to do there. The neighbor is just like, you know, 30 years. Why can't we just do that? That's what we're My only concern is we're getting rid of $7,500 and Bob's over here >> five if you go with 14 foot. It's my neighbors too, believe it.
>> No, no, I'm Yeah, but I'm talking about you're not feeling it because you're feeling it's like it's it's too harsh, you know. >> Oh, well, I go slow anyway. I mean, >> okay. >> I better than the round ones, then then go with them. >> Okay. So, if you're good with I'm I'm
going to make a motion to go with the 14footers and two of them and move on and let's move on to the next five. >> Okay. >> Second it. >> I got least a second. Any further discussion? Any public comment?
>> See, put a vote on favor 65 saying I >> I opposed. >> Motion carries. Speed bumps on the way. >> I did want to follow up with the speed signs. I know there was discussion on placement of the speed signs kind of. >> Yes. >> Okay. >> Um I just wanted to clarify something. I
you know I did speak with the chief and we did we did have a a dialogue on it and I understand the council's intent of of making it a deterrent. Sooner you see it sooner you slow down. But for us for the police chief and for law enforcement we want that standoff because what it
allows us to actually do is get the data we need to actually enforce the speeding over there. So we can actually build we're actually building our database on who's speeding, when they're speeding, and when we should put law enforcement there so that we can control it because if we're just using it as a deterrent,
we're not getting the data that we need in order to catch the speeders when they're speeding through that window of of time. So that allows him information to be able to dedicate law enforcement to sit there at a certain time during the day in order to write tickets for those guys that are severe speeders as
opposed to having it as a deterrent system. whereas we're actually using it as an active speed elimination grab because I agree because if you use it the other way then eventually they know they're there. They don't you know once they go through there a couple times they don't care.
>> I just don't know if I understand I I think action and I'll let Chief >> Yeah. basically at the end of the day that's we use them for a totally different thing than the general public uses them. Some use it to think their speedometer is calibrated and see if it's way. Some of them see how fast
their cars will actually go. That's why we shut those speed signs off. So if it goes like higher than 60, it won't even register. But it's registered in the machine telling us, but it's not going to tell them how fast their car is going to prevent that drag racing effect. And then like the city manager said, we can take all that data out of these um
instruments when at the times we need to and analyze it. And then when we're done analyzing it, we can say, "Hey, listen. We got a major problem here at 3:00 in the morning on Washington Street of this person continuously doing 60 miles an hour every single day and we can go
there at 250 and catch them rather than sitting there for six hours trying to see if it happens if somebody calls up and says, "Oh yeah, I just hear a car going hauling butt past my house every single night." But they can't give us a time because they're sleeping. Um, plus the other times when it's busy, it also
gives us that data to say, hey, we have an issue at, you know, we can break it down to say our 85% of our people between 4:30 and 5:00 are doing 48 miles an hour, but the 85% between 5:00 and 5:30 are only doing 30 miles an hour.
So, we can deploy our troops more strategically in those time frames rather than sitting there for hours on end wasting manpower. Are we asking for these things? Is that >> No, we forgot these. The placement was questioned, I think. >> Yeah. I just wanted to ensure that you guys understood why the placement was
where it was put. So, >> chief is the one that should tell us where they should go and he's the one who's going to monitor. >> Well, he's the one that placed them. So, I just want to make sure that everybody was comfortable. >> I'm trusting his. >> Absolutely. >> Okay. >> Thank you. >> And then the last topic I have
mangroves. So, we're going to have the discussion just to get everybody up to speed. Um, we had our initial informal bids 255,000 uh from vendor 3, 135,000 from vendor 2,
130,000 from vendor one. So, we're looking at roughly 135,000 between 130 and $135,000 >> for three years >> for a three-year contract. Now, what I've asked S to do is reach out, get a bid, and what I want to do is I want the bid built into three-year increments so
that we're looking at the actual purchase of 45, 45, and 45 if we look at it being 135,000. So, that we're so we're minimizing the impact and the risk as we move forward to our budget and our current spend plan because we're actually adding this into a a fiscal
year where we've already planned our budget. So, we're looking at, okay, we got to add another $45,000 on top of that. What do we want to take away that we've already planned for? So, is is that the discussion we have or an option I came up with? And this option will
also allow us to purchase it on one time purchase if we wanted to and just be out of it. But best course of action, you know, I sat down with finance, sat down, talked with sound and some of the others. But the best option we have right now will be to use FEMA
reimbursement from Hurricane Milton, the funds that came back from that, which is 164,000, roughly 165,000 if you round up, and then the disaster relief fund contributions of 165 round up. Well, not
165 uh 66,000 if we round up. So 65,000 and then 66,000 which will get us pretty close to the number that we're looking at and I'm sure there's adjustments to these numbers that we can do, you know, when we actually go into the final uh bidding contract process with this. So,
we could do it up front or we still have this money and we carry this money through the three years. But I just want to make sure that if we're not going to take something off our plate in order to accomplish this because there's a lot of things we have on our plate that we'd like to accomplish. But if we choose not to take anything off that we have the
FEMA reimbursement and the debt disaster relief fund that will help us get there this year, next year, and the following year. But what what it will also allow us to do is this initial fund will allow us to do the initial first year um
maintenance whereas we can budget out for the next two years as we move forward with our budget plan. So that will help us extremely because at least at that point we'll be able to put something into the budget that that that we're planning for as opposed to it being a a decision in the year of
execution. >> Is this for the three-year contract? Is it for inter mangrove in the city or is this specifically just for like the parks? >> That's what we're dealing with, right? We deal with we deal with brasher and we deal with waterfront. >> I didn't know if it specifically name
that that and that. >> And that's what and that's and that's the guidance we went and we move forward on. So S's been reaching out. Matter of fact, we've got a a bid process that's going to go out tomorrow to better refine, you know, what what what our ask is so when we get that back, at least
it's meeting our intent of how we manage our money and spend our money in this year and then in the following year. >> Could you explain the bid process to me? >> Could anybody explain the bid process to me? >> I can, but I'll let my bid my bid guy do it.
>> Go ahead. You're building it. Uh basically, you know, because of our purchase policy and the fact that it's over $25,000, it has to go out to public bid, which basically we we do an ad for about 30 days. It goes out to the public. Um we post an
ad. The ad will the ad will be prepared tomorrow uh for Sunday's paper and then, you know, starting Monday, then that the 30 days will begin. So then we we give we give everyone 30 days to provide us the documents and then we do a public bid opening and then we present those to
to council. >> When you do your bid process, what are the parameters that you put out the process for the mangrove term in particular? >> I've already had discussions with the city manager. Um we're just basically going to be asking since our all our quotes came back as a three-year
contract. And the reason why they they did it for three years is because they want to get them down to the level that I believe was what everyone wanted them to do, but they can't do them in one one season. They have to break it up within three years to get them down to that.
Um, so that's what we're going to ask for. We're going to ask for three-year contracts to do those those two particular >> question and that's understand there's you can cut so much or whatever but wouldn't it be better to put it out there that says we want them down to this level uh and they're at this and
just let them tell us what the >> they'll only I mean they're only going to take off what what is legally allowed each year. >> So but the thing is is that so if if the legal allowance let's say is you know 12 in it's not going to grow back 12 in the following year. it'll only go back four
inches or six inches and but then they're allowed to take off another 12. So then by your third year you're going to get down to the height that is going to be optimal for um from what I believe everyone is looking for. So that's what that's why each of each each of those companies and we had conversations with
all three of them. That's why they suggested they all came back three years probably years. There wasn't someone that said, "Yeah, we could just walk in and knock it out." No, because they're all licensed arborists and they have to approach this all the same way. They're they're all on the same page as far as that. And you know, that's why two of
the two of the quotes were actually very close. Um uh they're only a few thousand off between the two of them. It was the third one that um that just gave us a bulk price for, you know, just for three years, not didn't break it up yeartoear, but in this but when we go out to bid,
we'll specifically break it out that we want pricing for each year for the next three years. So if we can just do year one now within this budget cycle, then we can we can budget appropriately for the next two years. So
I'm I'm familiar with mangroves. I've learned a lot since I've been here in Florida. Okay. Um I'm under the understanding that you have to be a licensed mangrove certified mangrove trimmer. Is that correct? >> Okay. I'm under the impression possibly that right now we don't have three
certified licensed mangrove trimmers. We only have one. And so that's why I'm asking you before we throw this bid out there. It should be they should have to come forward and submit to us. I'm a certified licensed mangrove trimmer. >> Should be a qualification. >> But I don't think it has been in the past. That's what I'm saying I'm mentioning.
>> The request for proposal should say that they need >> and and I know if there's not there's a requirement for an arborist to >> there's a difference between an arborist and a certified mangro, >> right? Yeah, it's a different certification. >> There's a list that FD provides that a
certified mangrove arborist will will put themselves on that list and the only way to get on that list through FD is to have that certification. So each of these companies are on that list. Um and then what regardless of who just gave us quotes, they have to re they have to
reapply for the for the bid project and go ahead and provide that. So that's why we haven't mentioned names, we've mentioned numbers, we haven't mentioned any vendor names because we want to keep them pretty much, you know, outside, you know, outside the public until they've had the time to go ahead and resubmit in
a public bid. So then once these companies have now submitted as a public bid, now their names are, you know, are known. We did this research as far as just getting trying to getting an idea of how much this was going to cost and to see if we can go ahead and do this without the bid process. But because it's going to cost so much money, we
have we have no choice. We have to go out. I mean, I think it's a wise thing to do. I think it's the best way to go. >> Now, the one the one question that I have, and this is because I've done this enough, is do we want to include follow on option years
beyond three years? Because I would say we want three years because then we know that's what it's going to get us down to, but we want to know, we want to do some sustainment. Do we want to make a three-year a three-year contract with two potential option years? if we want to execute that
just to ensure that we get it to where we want to be and then we do any final. >> You're referring to like maybe a three-year extension or something like that. >> Here's the three-year deal, but here's an option for a three-year extension. >> Yes. One year at a time because we can build that in the
contract. I mean, that's in my past, that's always been smart because we go through the three-year contract and at the end of that three-year contract, we're like, we didn't quite get where we wanted to. Okay, we already own the cost because they can't inflate it on us because we've agreed to a contract where
we're at a certain cost. So that we don't say 3 years we're done and they come back say how you want more. So I >> think that's wise I think I think that's wise for you to build in a you know reasonable increase. >> Yeah. >> Does that does that go in the bid process that that's only the contract selected? >> You you can you can put in there that
that that the contract may have this option so they know that but you can always add it later. >> So I don't know if you load them up with that up front. You just get them to bid on the three years and they say, "Hey, with the with the ability >> potential of auctioneers." >> Exactly. I love it. Yeah, it's a great idea. >> Okay. Then we got to finalize our
homework on that. >> And let me ask this from from Darl's perspective. If if um if we get them down to where they're maintainable, is that something that the city could take on internally going forward or no? Is it >> can't do it? They're not certified. >> Well, no. Over the course of three years, we'd work on getting a
certification if we were going to maintain them at some point. I mean, obviously we're bringing help as the idea is to get them to where they need to be. Is it is that something that's long term where we just need to have somebody that does that or is that something we can bring in house once they're manageable? That's just a question I have.
>> We get somebody certified on staff. >> That was that that would require some research because, you know, obtaining obtaining your arburous license, especially in in that particular field, it's not it's not just mangroves. your your your license is at a different degree >> than others and it's not something you
can just pick up in a couple of months taking a couple classes. It's it's basically it's a college course. >> So if we if if someone was willing to do that internally and did that on you know did that on our own and you know we can basic basically adjust the salary and bring them on as a you know as a consultant or as you know and that would
basically be their position. Sure we can do it in house. Um or we could basically look out you know look to hire somebody that already has that credential. um and you know make them a member of staff and then just keep them on and maybe that would reduce the cost of what it would cost us to cut. We just had so many
>> options. We got three areas to figure it out, right? >> Yeah. So there are options for that. >> Darl, you I wanted to give you the four sir. >> Um one of the things you also have to have is you gota be on a job or have
done worked under somebody cutting mangroves as well. Yeah, you have to you have to have so many hours with cutting mangroves or being part on a mangro even >> part when you apply for it. You that has to be part of your application. I've
seen experience is everything with this experience, proper trimming because you can whack them and ruin them and just almost destroy them, you know. Um and you it's just like haircuts. I mean, you know, you're very specific about where you get your haircut. I know you are. I am, too. But if you like stretch out and
go to somebody who's not that good and your hair gets butchered, it's it's kind of the same thing except it's your it's your waterfront park bushes, you know, they just killed, you know, some of them. So I don't know that it's something we can do in house. I really don't. >> I we can look at options. We have three years and we can see the equipment cost,
right? That's what I'm saying. By the time we put somebody through, get the equipment and it's just Yeah, it's it may be just more feasible to just contract it out like we have been. And and what I what I foresee is based on the contract, based on the amount of work that we're going to do, and the
fact that we're going to be I would say very proactive in the process of getting it down >> that our our cost for follow on sustainment of it will go down. >> Sure. Yeah. >> Because once we get it down, it's just going to become a significant
maintenance requirement as opposed to a complete reduction. >> Th those are assets to us. Those mangroves are assets to us. They keep the shoreline where it belongs. They're also visually attractive versus, you know, 12 feet tall blocking off our water weight. So those they're assets to us for sure.
>> So, but just so the council knows, we have a plan. Um, we'll come back to you once we get everything and then based on the information we provide, we'll just be asking for your approval. And once we get that, we'll go ahead and move forward. I'll make sure at that point when it comes to the finances and how we
break it down, we're very clear and specific based on what we get as far as the bid process. >> Do you need a consensus to move forward to bid or we good? >> No, we can we can move forward. But I do have a question is that since this is going out to bid um and this is going to be a three-year project, do we also want
to include there's um I believe three or four other locations in the city that require mangrove trimming. Should we also include those locations? >> Where are they? um Ben's Court, um Bay Park, which is the corner of Volpost Road and and and um and Quist Drive, uh
Coons Road itself, >> which basically the the run of of Coons Road. >> Um those three and then Waterfront and Fresh, right? >> Those five those total five locations >> that's what I was asking >> are mostly public access areas where we
would we would be the ones responsible for the mangroves. Everything else is either private or belongs to, you know, Swift Mud or Pasco County or something like that. But those those five locations of what the city has maintained over the years. >> So what's I'm sorry, what's your experience with the expense for those
additional three properties versus because Waterfront Parks like that thing's massive. You know, Bradford, that's still that's big, but not necessarily like waterfront. What are the other three parks? >> Well, the thing is is a way we can also itemize in the bid packet. can have them itemize these other locations and then
decide what we're going to go ahead and do. >> The thing is I think we should itemize locations in the bid packet. Have them itemize in the bids. I think in that way we can decide what we can afford this year and then spread that out accordingly. But once again um you know this is something that we're going to
have to consider in the ongoing budgets. Um it's a maintenance type of issue. uh you know not only just do it for three years because what what has happened is that you know we we do it now and then it gets pushed off for six seven years and then we have the same problem as we have again and then we have to spend out
you know spend a great deal of money. Daryl's correct is that once you get up to a certain height you know even the next year your your cost will be minimal but it has to be a has to be a constant every year maintenance type of procedure. With the additional areas that we're looking at, are these
required for reduction or are they required for maintenance and sustainment so that they're not over going into certain areas? We're not so much worried about the height as we are the encroachment the on Coons Road. It's more or less onto the you know that's an
encroachment issue. We have the higher those mangros get then they start leaning over into the roadway. So they should be controlled quite a bit because that road is not wide at all. um the Bay Boulevard and Quist area, which is kind of like, you know, just like I said, it's a it's an open open area. They
they've called it Bay Park before, but that area is kind of like um basically aesthetic, you know, cosmetic type of situation, right? >> Um and then Ben's Court is also an encroachment issue because Ben's Court is very tight. It's a very small roundabout. Um
even for the fire department or anyone else or even for one of the pickups on their optimal optimal conditions, it's very hard to get around that roundabout. Um it's basically it's not a two-lane road, it's a one-way road. Um so controlling them as well moving forward
is, you know, is helpful. >> Yeah, this is something we decided to move forward on. You can tell the cost is going to exponentially increase. Um what I will say is first year there may be some appetite that we might be able to do a certain
amount. It's just those follow on years, you know, how we adjust that appetite for what we want to do. Year two, year three, year four, year five, year six, depending on how much sustainment and maintenance needs to go. And then I figure I would say after probably the five-year window, it all becomes
maintenance. Can can can we put it into because this is how important this is. You know, he's right. You know, one council, us, we're here. We're like, hey, let's trim this stuff up, make it look good. Let's get the people in here. Let's build. But down the road, four or five councils, they're like, "Are you kidding me?" I mean, I came from
counties where they wouldn't even cut the grass. The richest county in the country wouldn't even cut the grass on the medians that the kids walked in. So, you had three foot of grass all over these roads with million-dollar houses. I'm like, where is the mindset of this? Can we put this into our charter to say
it we have to maintain the mangroves because this is one of our one of our assets you know and and by and by a different council here who doesn't understand the value of the asset and losing that again or having it overgrow where you've got you know 12 foot trees ridiculous. So I
I think the answer is probably yes, you could u but the the other the outside of that is is we're the elected officials up there and so maybe as the elected officials change that's what the the electorate wants in a sense. They don't want mangros trimmed because they they
put different people in. That's another obviously way that you that that gets introduced. That make sense? >> And another option is we can put it in a budget line so it becomes >> it's always a budget item. I think >> becomes a budget item that we that's that we plan for every year.
>> Whatever council's in place, they have the ability to access from the budget or leave it. So I think it's difficult to codify something like that. Nancy, if you want charter review charter, it would have to go to voters. So that would be the first thing and you have to see what happens. It's also you know if you're mandating something that's a
budgetary item which there are things that you do that for that has to always be known that if for some reason there's a bad year the Hampton taxes we have that still out there all of a sudden you can't pay for it but it's managed to do it might have a problem. So you'd have to write in language >> removes flexibility for so the budget
item is the best way to go right okay I'm cool with that. You could you could pass a policy, a resolution, which is obviously not a a binding thing, but it puts it out there. This is what we want. >> Put a plaque on the wall. >> Yeah. And we're gonna, you know, they intend to keep it in the budget. They intend to do this. This is why we're
going to do it. Just something out there. >> They cut property taxes. You might be looking at, okay, do I turn the mangroves or I have police department. >> No, I get it. I get flexibility to be able to >> It's there so people see it. >> Yeah. It's a reminder. >> Yes. >> I think a dedicated line item in the
budget, mangrove trimming. I am you know that way any council will see it the director the public works utility director will know that it's there you know there'll always be something even if the council 10 years from now wants to review it and ask why that's there
the director at that time will have an SOP in place to be able to explain that you know I don't think it will require a charter change but what I think is that if you have a specific line item sticking out there that'll be something that will remind everyone every year as they look at the budget on why that's there I I like the sound of mangrove
maintenance versus mangrove trimming. You know what I'm saying? Like, oh, we don't really need to trim it, you know? No, mangrove maintenance. You're maintaining your protection from the ocean to your ground. You know, I'm done. You're getting the weeds, brother. I Dude, I'm not having fun.
It's okay. Somebody's got to get in the weeds and you'll turn the bank, right? Maybe a couple weeds, right? So, we get good on that. So, we're going to take it a bit and see what happens. Okay, we're on the same page. We're good. >> Thank you, S. >> And
>> thank you, Cheryl. >> That is all that I have uh for topics and I'll turn it back over to that. >> Okay. Uh next up is comments from boards committees. Do we have any boards committees? CC Linda. Welcome. >> Hello.
We um CAC did a cleanup Saturday. Wasn't much of a cleanup because the church had done it the week before. They did a fabulous job. But we walked around, ate donuts, and drank coffee, and it worked out really good. >> Picked up cigarette butts. >> What? Picked up cigarette butts and a dirty sock and a brush. Anyway, we had
pickers. We're good. Um, and the other thing is we talked about the old park wall painting that. I I know I asked you if we had it, but I didn't ask you to make copies. >> I apologize. I don't have the copies on with me now, but we have two proposals where I was waiting. We've been waiting
on the third the third yes that we've reached out to. I still have not received that. That was for the uh bathroom wall. >> Yes. >> Um I know of course with the city manager bringing up tonight about the acquiring of the property because the wall itself is basically on that side of
the property line. Um but I do have two quotes for the for the restroom wall. Um as soon as soon as we can get a third, I'd like to go ahead and put that together so the city manager can >> Can we just present the two? I mean, if he's not going to send it, he's not going to send it. Yeah, I um
>> my opinion if that's okay with you all. >> Um I can I can I'll get with the clerk and see if we can present them on the next uh next agenda or which agenda we can put them on. >> And I would like to move forward with the council's commission to get the mural on the on the bathroom because I think that'll clean up the place and
give it a better presence um as as we look forward to going to the wall. But I also throw that out there. If Olsen Park Beach becomes more of an Olner Park, well, Olsen Park becomes more of an Olner Park beach. >> I think that's going to change kind of the dynamics of the wall, whether the wall stays, whether it's fragmented,
right? >> Just for But but that's >> right. Yeah. Yeah. The wall we kind of put not knowing wants to address. >> And if you're not going to acquire the whole piece of property, maybe we could get the two foot so we could get the wall if that's we we did talk about that. Um
>> we definitely need to clear up the line for sure. >> Yeah. So, if that's if that's possible, I I understand if you don't want to do the whole lot. I think it's a great idea. But if y'all don't, that's great. Um that's that's your choice. But at least you know the CAC, I don't know if you recall, we liked the Victorian one. We
were unanimous in that, right, Christine? >> And the green background. So, but we'll get those copies to you so that you can look at that and decide. >> Cool. >> Okay. Thank you. >> Thanks. >> Any other boards committees? Um, there's a historic preservation committee meeting on Thursday, March
12th. So, if anybody would like to attend that, it'll be our second meeting. >> Oh, we don't >> that we're doing it monthly. >> They You guys discussed having it in April because I believe somebody couldn't attend. There's a there's a board of adjustment meeting on Thursday.
There's no historical >> Okay. So, it'll be the second Thursday of April. >> Okay. more. >> Yeah. >> Are you on that, Christina? >> Yes. But I don't recall that we we weren't doing it this month,
>> but we had a lot going on that day. >> I think they wanted to talk about the other possible members. But since we're full um since that that committee is full, we don't have we don't have to wait for that time to add another member, but um additional members. But that's why we scheduled it for April because I think that was going to be a
conversation about adding the two other people that were from the historical society was going to come over. Um but since that committee is full, there's no reason to do that. >> And then it will be monthly after that. >> Yes. >> Okay. All right. Okay. All right. Thank you.
>> Um the event committee met again. Uh we've meeting weekly obviously coming up to the seafood festival. Um and so we we we kind of finalized that. uh just give you guys a few updates on the seafood festival. Obviously want to make sure the public comes out to that event.
We're going to have almost 80 vendors there in the park. Um the um and of course we've got several sponsors that are going to uh be out front as you come in. Um the other stuff there. The vendors are going to be located as as you go in the park up that little hill
on the top of that hill. That's where they're all going to be isolated. Um, and then we're gonna have the 30 foot by 60 foot tent kind of in front of the pavilion for people to be under uh to watch the the music. Um, we're we're going to work with uh uh S on the change
out between the uh second band and third band. Um I think we're going to have because the second band is three-piece and they're going to utilize the very front of that pavilion. Um, we're going to try to drop the tarp down kind of in back of them halfway on that that that
finger uh what you call that thing that awning is kind of like cut in half. That way the other band could be setting up while the the second band's playing. Um, so we have that. Um, uh, the golf cart crossings. Uh, you got the times, chief. You requested 4 to
4:30 for the for the people to come across Grand um, to get to the, uh, the the waterfront side to do the last part of the poker run there and end up at the park. And then from 6:00 to 6:30 will be a crossing for those that don't want to stay um, for the music. And then we'll
have another one after the fact from 9:00 to 9:30 after the the event's over. Is the city putting the notice of that out on its website? >> Golf cart process times. Yeah. No, it's probably a great idea though if we could >> and then we can share them on all the other groups. >> Yeah. >> If we can add that golf cart schedule.
It might it might be on his I don't know. But >> cuz he's one of the times >> on his who? >> Uh Rod Fel on his ad. I don't know if he's got it out there now, but >> I don't know. But do you have you do you have the official list the times? >> Yes. 4 to 4:30 6:30 9:30. >> Can you send them over to see to see him
and then I'll go ahead and bust them tomorrow? I got it. >> Okay, you got it. Okay. >> Yeah, I've already I'll pass you already. >> I just I want to make sure I've got the proper time to post. >> Yeah, but that could probably just be a general announcement. Not necessarily worthy of that. We're going to have golf
cart crossing. So, if people want to go that Newport Richie that day or whatever, they can. The only concern is what if they want to cross other times other than our mandated times because I know the chief and I have talked about that you know being able to address those.
>> We will have people that >> I think it's going to be so >> well that's going to be the big concern is we don't want anybody getting run over and if there's a little bit of drinking and driving with golf carts the risk >> there shouldn't be any drinking driving just to be clear. >> Well I hope not drinking. We just don't
want we just want to mitigate any risk that will occur that's outside of those windows for crossing. >> I can tell you there's been crossing going on down there for 10 years. >> There's been crossing going on down there for 10 years and people have a couple and they cross and it's just what
it is. I mean either you can crack down on them and have blowing points or you can trust that people are going to be responsible. You even if you tell them you can go across during these times here they're still going to go. They go all the time down there. I just want to make sure that they're safe in >> they are they're stopping if the light life changes. They're crossing the
street. We've had no >> in in all the time that we've had this. We had an accident there with the golf cart. That's what I cross on 19. >> I can't tell you we had an accident with a golf cart, but I can tell you we've had several DUIs there with golf carts. >> So you pull them over and they get a DWI.
>> I listen I don't think you should be driving anything bicycles. They get DUI. >> Yeah. So we're riding a lawnmower. So the the official position of the city obviously is that uh it is illegal to cross there and that's not something
that we have the ability to allow. Uh it's a it's a DOT state statute that prevents it. Um so if you cross there you you're crossing at your own risk. Um and it could be enforced. Um but we are working with our police and the event that we are going to allow crossings
from 4:00 to 4:30 from 6:00 to 6:30 from 9:00 to 9:30. It'll be staffed there with police and we'll those those are the three windows that you can legally cross 19. Outside of that there is no >> there's no guarantee of anything. It's it's illegal to cross outside those >> working on that. >> We're working on that but as of right
now until we get that intersection approved the DOT state statute is very clear there is no crossing there. >> We are but these those runs those runs come from place to place just a it's a half hour window and you're just not going to have everybody in that half
hour window. I mean, we can we can extend the window if you think >> they're just not Well, but then it's tying up the police, too. So, I mean, it's a it's a thing, but you that isn't gonna h I'm just telling you right now, that's not going to happen. I think a lot of people agree that's not going to happen. >> You get that everybody goes through in that half hour if you just give a little
grace. >> That's what we're doing. >> Again, again, there >> all we can say is how it is. >> I I remind you all, you're in a public meeting and you're speaking to the public and official city position is it's illegal to cross there as of right now. I was totally on board with that.
I'm with I'm good with that. >> Again, I'll make that perfectly clear there. There's, you know, you don't cross unless it's during those times that we're allowing that we have staff there. So, if we want to modify the the time frame, definitely can do that. And chief, I don't know. And maybe maybe the
the earlier window, the 4 to 4:30, maybe that would be better to have an hour to give a little more time. Now, once they because once they get over here and there could be some some straggling and a half hour window is a little tight um for that, but once they're over here, then it's you leave the event because
you got to get across between 6:00 and 6:30 if you don't want to stay because everybody's going to stop there because I think they they wrap it up at 5 or something. And so that was the window that they did. And then at the end of the the concert um 9 9:30 everybody should be clearing out as well. But
maybe we we do a little bit longer on the onset. Maybe we we can adjust it to whatever you guys think you need. Um just keep in mind as the typical poker run, people are trying to get to the next location. So they're usually pretty quick during the day and at night time.
Bless you. going back to the um the conversation of probably drinking and driving. When people see our lights there, stopping, they're probably not going to cross when we're there and that will prevent people from crossing when they should be crossing because they're
afraid they're going to get a DUI and they'll hang out in other places till we're gone and then that will create a danger on them. But that's nothing we can control. >> We can only enforce after the fact. >> But we can definitely adjust sometimes. I I have officer dedicated for there all
day and then if they need be we can >> take guys off patrol too. They'll be around. >> Um I I would think why don't we why don't we go ahead and I mean he's he set the times that was come that come from Rod. That's what he and
he's obviously telling his folks this is the time you got to to cross. Um, I can reach out to him and see if he wants to augment that. Maybe 3:30 to 4:30 to give an hour to get over there. Um, but again, I don't I don't know if you're if you're if you can accommodate an
additional half hour, I think that might help on the front end. But maybe he's good with with just the half hour because that's it was his time frame. So, what is does that would that help you think from your perspective? >> No, I mean more time would help. Sure.
You think it's >> I mean I understand the rules are the rules. >> Yeah, we're really we're trying to make something happen. >> It's complicated. So, >> will the lights be controlled during this 30 minutes or will lights have the same schedule? >> What we're going to be doing is just letting traffic flow as normal, but we'll be there with our lights on to
warn motorists that there's unusual traffic coming through. >> Um, but we're not going to be going out there and stopping traffic with our patrol cars against the lights. The lights will be controlled as normal. And then like I say, we'll just be out there with lights on to try to slow people
down on 19th. It's a control. >> We're going to be north and south of the intersection or you're not going to be right at the intersection. >> We'll be north and south in the median. >> It's all we can do. I mean, if people cross outside those times, it's there risk. >> I mean, the other option is to not do
it. And that's >> right. Exactly. So, and we want to try to we want to try to be as accommodating as possible and that's you know that was the times he gave. So, >> I can't have the place there all day. >> If you need extra half an hour, tell the chief and he said he can handle it. >> Okay.
>> I think it probably helped. >> All right. So, you'll ask, right? And we'll tell chief. >> Yeah. I was telling that um you think 3:30 to 4:30 would >> Yeah. Like I say, I don't know how many golf carts are going and where they're going from and who's going. You know, at the end of the night, I definitely think
you might need more time because people are going to sit around talking more and it's going to be darker then where the rest of the light the crossing should be light out still. >> You think you should do a longer time afterwards, too? >> Last one. >> That's the one that I would have the biggest concern with because the later
it gets at night, the more intoxicated drivers we might have driving on 19, too. That's my concern is somebody running that red light is what I'm concerned with. >> So 3:30 to 4:30 and then uh 9 to 10. >> That's me as long as city manager approves it.
>> Yeah. >> Good. All right. I'll make that suggestion to him. >> I think that's better. >> Sure. >> Good. >> And I guess that they they'll have to rush right out of there after the thing. They might hang out and talk for a minute. So okay, I'll I'll I'll put that to him and let him know that we're going to extend those front into the last time frames. But we also want to hold that so
that we're forcing them to cross at those times. We just don't want it to be so lax that they feel like they can cross at any time. >> H hard times so that they know, hey, I've got to meet a window >> any other time. You're you're risking the ticket or whatever that >> you're risking your life. >> If the city would go ahead and make some
kind of notice like that on their post, >> that'd be helpful. >> Yeah. I'll confirm with Rod on that and I'll let you guys know by tomorrow they put out there. Um, that's that part. Uh, they're going to open up Brasher Park at 6:00 a.m. for
the the fishing tournament to launch kayaks and stuff from out there. Um, obviously the layout will be along the the gravel road there. There's going to be Oh, this is a question I have for you, Chief. Um, the gra be where the food trucks line up. You guys had like a
little operation center there during the centennial, a little trailer or something. You guys going to do that again or? >> Usually we do, but our our biggest concern is going to be parking because we got to make sure we leave enough room for a fire truck and a rescue unit to get through there. >> Okay. >> Um and the same thing with the outside of the park trying to figure out where
people are going to be parking so they're not illegally parking and blocking emergency vehicles coming in and out. So we may not bring our command center out there just so we don't take up that extra space. >> Why don't you Why don't we just consolidate? >> That's fine. operate out of mind.
>> And the fire department, you guys will still be in the back of the park like you normally are. >> Okay. >> And I'll we'll we'll consolidate your command center, you know, together. So, we'll do it all out of that one. So, we don't have that boat trailers there. It'll take it'll save us some room on the park and Okay. So, you don't you won't need that >> first
>> area where you guys have four. >> Okay. >> Last year, the Centennial, the people used the the overflow parking went to the 19 now Burke property where >> Yes. Yes. So, I'm going to cover his parking now, actually. So, um if you
guys aren't going to use that, >> um we could possibly use that for handicap parking right there. I have to have to talk to I guess Kim, you can kind of run with parking. >> You're not going to >> You're not going to have anything in that in that area?
>> No, because we are going to have a tent with our officers there roaming and they're going to leave their cars on the outside because we're going to be using those cars for the crossing of the golf cart. So, they need to begin in and out. Okay. >> Yes. We possibly do some handicap parking there
something else. >> A vendor handicap some. >> Yeah. Okay. Um parking in general. So the the vendor parking what we've what we've changed is is right when you go you know where the dog park and stuff is >> off there. So there's a lot of open
spots over there. So, what we uh public works I think pulled or is going to pull a couple of the the parking pylons there right next to that tree and we're going to have all the vendors park over there which takes their their vehicles gets those out of the way and they'll be and they're they're not able to leave during
the entire festival. So, once they're there set up which set up starts at 8. So, after after 10:00 there's no vendor movement at all um until 9:00 when it shuts down. So all their parking will be there. And so then we'll have obviously the parking that we have in there off to
the left where we had parking get quite a few cars in there. We may have some additional parking where the vendors are in that in that area. But um so that's all going to be parking. And now it sounds like we got maybe some handicap parking there where the police were. So that helps. Um the Cancun Beach lot over
there, they're allowing parking as well. A little bit of walk to get there, but we're going to send people there. Um there we we talked about um parking on the road along the the old trailer park property there on um
>> Pasco Way. >> Yeah, Pasco Way or whatever it is along the street there would be a possibly good place to to put people to park. Um the problem with the Burke lot is that um when they when they demoed that it's not it's kind of >> Yeah. >> I mean if you're in a truck or something
you probably park in there but it's really I mean the only way you could really park along there is along the edge and even on ostost um potentially um but and there is obviously parking down coke's property. Um we talked to him see if he let people park in there and get a little further from the vent
but if we had a lot of people that's that's options. >> Um castles has their own flow lot as well. um that we can ask to to open up and have people park in there. So, I think we've got options relatively close. Um, >> we'll figure it out.
>> Yeah. So, um >> no parking on the rightway still >> chief. They have parked on the long post road for like fireworks and stuff there. What's your thoughts on on that? So, where the old mobile home park used to
be, it's very narrow in there and my my biggest concern is making sure we get fire rescue in there if somebody needs medical. Um, so I really don't have an issue with it for say us. Um, but we really need to make sure we have enough space for him to get his trucks in there in case we need another truck,
especially if something like a fire breaks out the way the drought's going right now and we need to get people out of there while we're trying to get people in there to rescue. Um the sidewalk I have a problem with in front of the waterfront park and people are parking there. During the centennial we wouldn't allow anybody to park there
because now you got people walking and riding the bikes that have to ride in the street or walk in the street. >> So that becomes a safety hazard. So I would I would like to have that area clear of cars. Now if you go down further old post that's a little bit different story but you know when we're working our emergency plans we need
enough room to make sure we need to get what we need to get in there. And you know, god forbid, worst case scenario, we're calling in uh SWAT vehicles and things like that, then we need to have cars clear. Otherwise, we're going to be damaging a lot of people's vehicles to make sure the day is safe.
>> So, we make sure that Nope. I mean, I've seen it like during the fireworks where they parked along the sidewalk there. I don't think we had it for the centennial, but we make sure that we don't have anybody parking there. And you guys be I guess patrolling around there, too. If somebody does that, >> we'll have officers inside the park and they can try to keep an eye on it. It's
just every once in a while somebody gets through and then trying to find that car. Three more people park while they're inside and it becomes somebody parks and everybody starts doing. So >> once all of that is finalized, can the city put a map out can be shared so that people will know where they can park and
along with these times maybe put all that together. So it's going to be a big event >> hopefully if they know. >> Yeah. Um, I mean, we've got somebody that's going to be at the entrance to the park to help facilitate parking. And I think >> is is Kim plan on having somebody in the
remote area like I know she had walkie-talkies last time before, but I don't know if they're I'm not sure what her plan is for parking. >> Three members from public works available. >> Okay. So we could possibly have somebody at like the Cancun beach lot and
whatever where they could radio back and forth and send cars and people are going to be >> if we can publicly share a map of like >> these are parking location >> and these are times that we can cross you know just something that >> we can
>> everybody to have that >> they're not there waiting for answers for where to go. I would think more often than not and I just my my opinion I mean if if somebody puts a map out there I may or may not consume that information. We could definitely do that. I'm not >> I'd be thinking where on this
>> I would just show up and be look for parking. That's kind of what I do. Probably most people probably do that as well and we're going to have people to direct them and and she's got signs and stuff for parking that's going to be out. Um so it's going to be somewhat of a challenge without that that lot there. Um, and depending on how many people
show up and how long they stay, I mean, if people come and it's it's all day, then parking fills up. But if they're coming and going, you're going to have spots free up as well. But yeah, if we may put a whole map together and shows potential parking spots. Cancun Beach is one. Um, I'll and I I'll reach out to uh
to Catches and see if they can open up that overflow lot over there. And do you Bob, do you know if can you reach out to Kus and see if he'd be willing to use his lot for parking if needed or >> Well, they going to have trucks and trailers over there
>> during the day. Yeah, the place for the fishing tournaments. He'll have them probably full for people >> be other people launching boats too besides them and it's going to be probably full. I mean, he he don't care. I'm sure there but there going to be room after trucks and >> we do have So there's a couple of
options too and I'm trying to get a hold of Ryan as well. So you have the lot next to the pirate bar which can get cars there. You also have that front lot off of old post right next to the park that we can get several cars in. So I was going to reach out about that but I got >> what we could try to do is designate an
area for trucks and trailers and designate an area for cars with more organiz >> uh well whiskey Joe's I can ask that too. They can park there probably as well. >> It's rented by whiskey. >> Whiskey Joe has that whole lot now. >> Yeah, they don't really need that anymore. They hold on to it, but yeah.
So, I can come and see if we can lease it back. >> Well, they let you >> for free for a day. >> Yeah, they won't be a problem. >> Right. >> So, and then I'll I'll get you those those spots south. if you want highlight them on the map or something and put out.
>> Well, I'm not I'm concerned about putting out a map locking in these spots unless we've got confirmation from any of these businesses before we get confirmation assume that we can just tell them to go, you know, everyone can park at their lots because that's going to take away business from them if
they're if they're expecting customers customers coming in. So, I definitely would want approval before generating any map that's going to come from the city. Well, King's already already approved that. Laurel's on a committee and then like I said, uh, Catcher doesn't use that lot over there. Um, so I can ask if they can have that open
that we could potentially park overflow in there. >> So, so maybe the businesses that say it's okay put up a sign on their lots or whatever that say >> seafood parking, you know, >> permitted, >> festival parking permitted. >> That's all they really need to do. Yeah,
I I'll get I'll I'll reach out on those lots to talk about. See if I can get confirmation and then I'll get that back to you because we we didn't know that anyway have options. Um I think that's pretty much all. Any questions on Cedar Festival? Okay, just
read a time this Saturday 10:00 a.m. to 900 p.m. So be there, be square. Um, okay. Next up is the consent agenda. Number two, I need a motion for the to approve
the consent agenda for March 10th, 202. >> Yep. >> Um, hi-tech coding center police cruiser PO number 244 9327. >> What's the question? expensive. >> It's one of our police cruisers that was
a newer cruiser. It's a 2023 that was involved in a crash. Um, and we thought the insurance company was actually going to total it because of all the pricing of the equipment, lights, outfitting, all that stuff. They decided not to because the actual damage was somewhere
in the area of 20,000. Um, but then we have to repaint it, resticker it, and fix a few lights that were on the sides of it, and that brought it up to that price. >> So, what are we doing? I'm trying to understand. I'm sorry. What are we doing?
>> Just proving the payout. >> So, we're we're instead of an insurance company paying it, we're paying it. >> No, that's what the I think the insurance company that's the authorization for them to pay that. >> Oh, so we're not paying it. It's on our consent agenda like we are paying. I'm
trying to figure >> the insurance the insurance company cuts us the funds and we have to issue the check the high-tech collision. >> So we've received $24,49327 from the insurance company and now they authorization to pay it to to fix it. That's what this is. >> I'm going to assume that. I'm not the
finance director. Um so um but normally that's how it would work is that we would go ahead and receive those funds from the insurance company after the claim has been made and then obviously we have to cut it to the um you know to high-tech collision. That's my assumption. But
>> so is it fixed already? >> Easy. You know be the one fixed already? >> Yes. That that was the car that was out front ear. >> It was down for two months and it just came back online yesterday. I'm just usually in any other world the insurance company goes right over writes the check
and pays them and we pick up the car leave. It didn't work that way. No. From what I understand, what S said it's correct. They they pay us and then we pay them and we've already paid to get it fixed now or we've already got the insurance. We just got to approve it to pay instead of people to get it fixed. Got
>> to be transparent. >> I'm just trying to understand. Yeah. >> Okay. Is there a motion to approve? Motion to approve the consent agenda as presented. >> Second. >> Okay. Motion second. Any fur discussion? Public comment. See none. Put the vote.
All in favor signify by saying I. >> I. >> Opposed. Motion carries. Next up we have public hearing item number three second reading of ordinance number 26-744 amending chapter 127 zoning article 4 uh supplementary district regulations section 127-92H home occupations. I'll
pass it. Miss me for reading. >> Thank you. Ordinance number 26-744, an ordinance of the city of Port Richie, Florida, amending chapter 127 zoning, article 4, supplementary district regulations, section 127-92H, home occupations of the code of ordinances of the city of Port Richie to bring the
section into compliance with Florida statute section 555.955, providing for severability, providing for codification, and providing for an effective date. >> Thank you. And with that, I'll open the public hearing. Any comments? Okay, I will close the public hearing. Bring it back council for motion and
discussion. >> Like the motion to approve the second reading of the ordinance number 26-744 uh amending chapter 127 article 4 of section 127-92
for home occupations. >> Second motion second. Any further discussion? >> All in favor signify by saying I. >> I opposed. Motion carries. Next up is council business. Item number four, purchase request, census meter reading base station replacement. I'll pass that
to Mr. King for introduction. Or is that go to? >> Yeah. So our tower back there, Adam's been working with Corn to get this done. Adam, our utility supervisor. Um, so our
current station is 15 plus years old. And that's what I don't know if you guys see the big tower in the back by city hall. We have a control box back there with an antenna that reads our meters throughout the whole city. Um it's just need it's needed for an upgrade. Um with
this upgrading we get more accurate readings, fewer reads we have to actually physically go out and get. Um leak detection is better. It picks more stuff up. Software is better. Um we can add more like if we expand the city or
go outside, we want to add more meters. This upgrade will take those in account. So that's what all this is for. >> Was this budgeted or is this? >> Yeah. >> I was looking at the box.
>> When I was turned up the volume on my microphone, >> that other box looks like it's about six feet tall. And the thing you showed me a picture of looks like it's about as small as this computer screen tray. Is that the case? Yeah. >> So that's technology gone like this. So that other box has become scrap metal
and you're going to put up a new consolidated >> box. Y >> it's a lot of money for a little box. >> I know technology >> too. Everything everything goes up. >> Well and then the fact like you know like like you said the original system was put in 2010. So technology has
changed quite a bit since since that time. So, you know, everything becomes smaller and, >> you know, more expensive. >> And with our new eye pearls that we're putting in, um, cuz these brass meters are 15 years old from when we had it. So, um, they've hit their life
expectancy, you know, they're not in some they just get old at times. >> Here, here's a question I had. So, is this thing going to integrate into a new water treatment thing we're building or going to build or hope for any we build or whatever?
>> For our wells, it can integrate in it for our meters. It's only for meters. Um, it won't take because the water plants skated system. Same as what our lift stations are on. So, the new when the new plant gets built with the skater system, our lift station will be with the skated system. These are just for
meters. It won't be >> So, this will stay where it's at. It's not going to move. The new system is going to be over there. It's going to stay right here. >> Correct. >> Okay. >> Correct. >> We have a little mini tower that we pay for space at home but suites. We're going to be getting rid of
that once we upgrade this. So, >> all this is higher power, so it didn't need the repeater station or whatever. >> Yeah, we have Yeah, we have one at the little in a little closet at Homewood Suites up north. So, >> do we have maybe I'm just referring back to something I heard or something. Do we
have meters that actually don't pick up in the city? We have to go manually rate them every month. >> Correct. >> Is this going to change that? >> Should tech not everything's going to be perfect, but it should put our numbers way lower. >> Expensive to get a guy in the truck and
go out and check. I don't know how many meters are we checking them up. >> So, some of them are from when people cut the grass, they cut the cords. So, when the guys go out there, they'll see the cords that are cut. They'll put them back together. Some are just not picked up with the age. >> Where do they get their battery power from? from the
>> the thing that sends out the signal from the meter. >> So there's like little things they're called MXUS. That's what they're they attach to the side of the meter and that tower picks that up a little, right? >> 10 years or 5 years or whatever. >> Uh the batteries are 20 and if they go
out within the 20 years, we send them back for warranty. Same with the meters. The meters supposed to last 10 years. Um obviously some on the ground 15. If the meter, like anything with technology, if it just shows up blank like a month after we put it in, they box it up, send it back for warranty, and they send us a
brand new meter. We don't have to pay. >> So, it's regular thing we do. >> Yep. >> Always. >> We don't want to lose money. And we're buying an extended warranty for 70 seven grand on this thing. >> For 77,000?
>> No, 7,000. It says >> Oh, yeah. So >> reason is is because when Milton came, knocked the antenna off. Well, the warranty was out, so we had to pay somebody to come back up and >> warranty is not going to cover any
damage from a storm, right? >> Cover it all. >> Really? >> That's not how it works in the car business. >> Is that stuff not insured? >> Extended warranty. >> With our regular policy by extended warranty. >> Yeah. Is that our our regular proxy we
have that covers like the pier and hope that would cover that? >> Once this new one is installed, we'll be updating to PRN to let them know that this piece of equipment is in the system and it will be covered. >> So in case of catastrophic failure now
that's lightning strikes, that's act of god type of situation. So what he's talking about is like the antenna the antenna part itself but sometimes some of the components will be covered and some of the components won't be covered but it all depends on the situation but yes it will be it will be issued to our
insurance company. So I'm just I guess what I'm looking for is I'm just getting down the weeds with a little bit because I've been in the weeds all day anyway. So what does $7,000 buy us? I'm thinking $7,000. So if we don't buy it and that motherboard fries now we're paying for
it. >> So they're going to cover electric strikes. They're going to cover all that stuff. >> They're going to cover anything that goes on in with the components. So if the mother the motherboard does go off, if any of the other electronic components just for some reason cease to work or there's um it's it's not doing,
you know, proper updates or anything like that that needs to be done, they will come out and take care of >> somebody out in the fix their parts. So it's basically a maintenance agreement is what it is. Okay. >> And Corn Mane is a sold source provider for census. So they're the only ones that you can go through. I can't go out
to mom's pop shop and buy this. So >> we're just we're paying them up front for any downfall we might have. And they're saying, "Hey, this is the amount of money we'll put up with all your stuff for the next how many years? >> 10 years. Two five year terms." >> Yeah. >> Five years. >> Yeah.
When they show up for repairs, are they are they local or somewhat local? Are they >> They're right in Tampa. >> So, they have contracts with Citrus, uh, Panelas, but they're all over. >> Sorry.
I'll make a motion. >> Please do. >> Make a motion we approve um uh the purchase of the census base station equip court in Maine for 54,97.94 because we need it. We don't have a
choice. Is there a second? >> Second. A >> motion and a second. Any further discussion? Any public comment? Seeing none to put the vote all in favor signify by saying I opposed. Motion carries. Next up I have
number five memorandum of understanding partner agency through Axon. Pass that vote chief reduction or that you you chief. >> So basically this memorandum of understanding is between us and the state attorney's office based on our Axon system. Since we've moved to the
body cams, for them to get copies of our body cam video is very cumbersome. By the time we record it onto digital media, bring it over there like using the pigeon system or the Pony Express and then them open unloading it and doing all that other stuff. There's a way in our Axon system, but we can't do
it without this memorandum being signed that we can actually give them cloud-based addresses with all the evidence they need, including the case and a report. So everything will be paperless and wireless and we can give them that address. They can go in there and see the whole entire case and decide
whether they want to prosecute the case and follow up on it. So it will save us a lot of money and time based on not machine all day reproducing things and stuff like that. We both have the agreement here to where if anybody is um
caught misusing the system or anything like that then it gets reported right to FDLE and they make a decision so we don't get in trouble if something gets released from the state attorney's office or vice versa. >> So is that access is that they have all always have access to it or is it on a case by case?
>> No, it's on a case by case basis. So what our officers do the reports, they put all all the evidence, the digital evidence, the incar videos, all that. It it's like wirelessly in the computer and then our records clerk would create a link for just that and then the state attorney's office can go in there and they're only getting that information.
So they only only get what they they should be. >> Yes. >> Yeah. They're not watching our cameras 24 hours for our >> Okay. Open up motion and discussion. Motion to approve memorandum of understanding between the state
attorney's office, sixth judicial circuit, and the corporate chief police department. >> And you need something to sign on that one too or you can do the chief's going to sign it. You can't. I've already >> Okay. And chief sign
>> with the chief sign. >> Okay. Is there a second? >> Second. >> Okay. Motion second. Any further discussion? >> Public comment. Seeing none, put the vote. All in favor signify by saying I. >> I. I. opposed. Motion carries. Next up, we have old business. Is there any old
business to discuss? That sounds like maybe the old business might be percolating. >> Oh, we've covered some of it already. And so, um, dredging, anything heard anything? >> Oh, you know, that's I'm glad you brought that up. Do we have an update on the the stand >> the Yeah, stand with the seaggrass study
and and all that. They've been sticking them out everywhere. >> Um I believe three of the tasks are now done. Um city manager and I just received an update. What I we can do is that we'll we'll review that and then issue that out to council. They they
sent us about uh an update every two two weeks. We have a meeting with them this Thursday. Um a team's meeting to follow up on some of the items. So we'll get a we'll get a specific update for council. Is there going to be is there going to
be enough time for us if we get that report done to put this forward to something we go to Tallahassee with next year? Um this what they're doing is to prepare us for the permit. So the thing is is that
once they get to that point it's going to take all depending on Army Corps but to their estimation it's going to be about total two years to get the permit to start construction basically start taking mud out and silt. So, um I mean shovel
ready, yes. But the thing is is that we we'd still have to wait on a permit before we could take that to, you know, as a state appropriated project because the thing is without the permit, we can get state funds, but we wouldn't be ready for it. So, we would all have to depend on when the state would want us
to spend that money. So, could we submit to it? Sure. The thing is is that we'd still be have to wait on the permit before we can actually start. >> All I want to make sure of is we don't make the same mistake that we've made in the past 20 years. Okay, we talk about it. We put we put money to it. We drop
400 grand and then all of a sudden we're like, "Well, what happened?" We're all like dear in the headlights. Well, we don't know. We missed this thing here. I don't want to do that. I want >> I want to make sure we got our crap together. Put it there. Excuse my language. >> What I recommend, you know what what I recommend to council is that they come to budget cycle. Um they discussed with
the city manager about making this specific line item um and start building a war chest on on the construction part of the dredging project because that's that's where a lot of your money is going to cost. Even if you get state appropriated money, you're going to have
to have a lot of upfront money to to put towards that. It's it's not going to be. Now, if we find a grant that's 100% that would be great, but I'm sure there's going to be a cost on the city side of it. So, I strongly recommend and same thing as mangroves. This is going to be an ongoing maintenance thing that should
just be embedded into the budget. Uh this is a coastal town. Um same thing as the mangroves. You're going to take a lot out at first, but as you continue going around those all those channels, you know, every so many years, you'll only be taking out a little and a little bit at a time. So, which will reduce
that cost. But this is a thing that if you're gonna if you're going to go forward with it, I strongly recommend it be part of a strategic plan that and you continue this for the next 15 20 years. >> And and Eric, I'm going to ask you because you are going to all these
different city meetings and you're on the chair of this and you're doing that, you're meeting all these people. You've got relationships with every single person in the state. What are other places doing about this kind of problem right here? And and what are they telling you they should be doing?
Well, so um you know the the concept of dredging is is kind of a non-starter. A lot of places that they want more of a um water quality like approach and and different things like that. Um so I think I think our our best
chance at uh at some federal assistance, state assistance is approaching it from that aspect of it where we're going to clean up the waterways, improve >> resiliency kind of like >> resiliency. There's there's lots of lots of uh um appetite for that. There's grants and stuff that obviously that
that are available. Um the county obviously has their their program which um we can we can look at attaching on to if we wanted to. We do it ourselves. Um their their program is um they they get the dredging done. Um and then over 10
years they divide that uh uh they use they use what public money is available and then whatever's left over they divided up by the the waterfront property owners based on the size of their waterfront property. So a person with a larger front would have a larger share and somebody with a smaller front
and then obviously with it's only waterfront property owners that would be part of that and it's something that goes on taxes for a 10-year time frame. Thankfully, Pasco does. Um, and they're they're in the early stages of that. I think they've got three areas that they're they're doing. I'm not sure. I haven't heard update in a while, but
that's um they're moving forward on those three areas. Uh, but that's something that we could look at uh having them facilitate and coming out and looking at that. Once we get our uh permits and what we're looking to do and have them make a pitch of what would it be, we can look at doing it ourselves
and then we go after funding ourselves. Um, I think probably our our best approach would be to um work with Ottabbon in different uh areas around the city that have those properties um to look at improving the water quality and go after those those grants from
there to to at least get the lion share of it done. Um and then if I said depending on what we can muster up there, if we have a a smaller portion that um we can handle the city, we can look at that or if we could do some kind of special taxation on those those those
properties on the waterfront that would um pay over time, we could do something for that issue. I think until we really get an idea of what the cost is, I think there's money available out there. Will we get it 100% paid for? Maybe hopefully. Um, but we think we need to we need to put options on the table that
are path to success. Um, you can't always rely on on uh on 100% funding. >> That's why I think now is the time for us to be thinking about this and and private industry andor government where you don't have sunshine and all that stuff. We'd create a committee, you know, and that committee would meet, you
know, once a month and we would have strategy of what we're going to do out there. I think it's this is that important for our city to do this. I don't know how we do this. Yeah. And so what we need we we don't need to do is like, oh, it's a forgotten item on the bottom line item. We just dropped a half million dollars on, you know, figuring
out how deep the things are and then not do anything about. I think right now it's time for us to really put some, you know, feet on the skin to run. >> Well, coastal resiliency is is absolutely right. Gus Bill Rack has got the whole Ankll River basin dredged by coastal resiliency. And you was going to talk to him that would
>> Yeah, he's going to be here on the 31st. Uh yes, he's going to be here on Tuesday the 31st. Um and he's going to take a tour of the city have for about an hour and a half I think is is um I think it's from 10.
>> Are you going to be with him on that tour? >> Yes. >> So is could that be something that we like he leaves with some information in his hand or >> Yeah. What what we've kind of planned out is he's going to be over at the he's see a couple businesses I think are going to start over that raet ball place there right on the the north side of town
>> March when >> March 31st. >> Okay. >> And you all can obviously come as well. >> I'm supposed to be there I think. Yeah. >> Um and so we're going to take it by Brasher Park, Waterfront Park. Uh talk about obviously the the water issues and stuff like that because obviously we're want to engage with his office from
federal perspective to try to get some assistance. Um so I'm going to show him those those areas. Um, and then we're going to go somewhere in the waterfront, maybe Whiskey Joe's or something. They get a >> Is it Is this a meeting? >> It's It's a >> I wouldn't suggest you guys all go in
together. >> That's what I would talk about. >> No, not at all. >> No. >> Okay. Well, don't go at all. >> To be a downer. >> It'll be just one, right? >> I'll definitely be with him. Yeah. So, >> can you take him over to Miller Bay you on the back of my house there and pull a scoop of that crap out of there and show them how bad it is?
>> He gonna be a very limited time frame. So we we kind of mapped that out already, >> but I mean I want him to leave with a like capsule of how crappy our stuff is that's dumping down through the rivers and dumping into the bayou and it's really just silting the whole thing up. It's dangerous to jump in there. You jump in there, you sink this far in mud and your feet get stuck and you drown.
What I what I would suggest Nancy made this work is if if you guys wanted to to write an individual letter to him from from you for perspective I could give those a jar of your m >> I will send him a jar of muck but but more than that I want to make sure as a group a city we're like really getting
ready to like own this drive it home because people elected us into office like as we start talk everybody goes to run to office like we're going to dredge and they they elect us and nobody does anything you know so what I want to do is be the I want to be the council that actually did something with dredge, you know. So, to do that, we're going to have to we're going to have to get
serious about it right now. Well, >> it's been neglected for decades, so it' be easy to solve, but he should also tour by water and show see where the shallow and where >> the problems are. >> Yeah, it have to be a separate thing. >> That should be would be maybe in six
months or something. >> Hopefully, as we get him here, this is the first time that he's he's done Richie back. >> Get him here, show him what we got, make him aware of it. Um and then um and then he's more apt to come back and look a little deeper into things. But this >> to show them my waterway and show them
depth finder reading. >> And I will tell you as a council that's where we kind of fail because we don't have a committee that is on it. And the problem is is when we do try to get funding for it, we don't have any of our homework done. >> Exactly.
>> So that's what is that's what that's what prevents me from helping you is I don't have the data. I don't have pre-torrm data to be able to go back and say, "Hey, before the storm, this is what our canals were or this is what our dredging was now because it got damaged. I need x amount of funds to go ahead and
rededge it out so it's back to the original state." Those are some of the issues that I'd run into. And as far as having an element that is supporting that and is keeping up to date and pushing that forward would be helpful. I mean, from the city manager perspective, being able to help push this forward because I tell you, one of the things we
are doing is we are focused in on that because we know it needs to occur, but we're also focused in on what grants can we I won't say circumnavigate, but being able to get around all those limited conditions that we're limited by because we didn't do any measurements. We don't have any pretorm
>> measurements right now. doing them now, but being able to find dollars that will allow us to go out there and make adjustments because one of the grants that I asked for, it's like, okay, hey, I have emergency services requirements. And I need dredging done because I can't facilitate any emergency services
throughout this area because I don't have the capability to deploy my vessels. So, I need dredging. So, we're looking into how do we accommodate that to at least start splintering it out into the the areas that we need covered. So without creating a committee, how do
we create a committee? >> We have a committee actually that's on pause. >> Yeah, we do. >> So we do we have a coastal restoration committee that was established and moving forward and and trying to make waves and move things forward. There was some discontent on
what they could and couldn't do with Sunshine. um they felt because they couldn't go together as a group to these elected officials and and give our story and and what we need for a city that they weren't able to make the waves that they wanted to. So there was discussion
while Matt was here was making a an advisory to the city manager so they could do things at the directive of a city manager instead of a sunshine committee. They they just felt like they couldn't their hands were tied. >> They could meet it in the living room at
on their own time and get stuff done under his >> remember the guy who taught us about sunshine though. He said when you think you got a way around sunshine, you're probably breaking sunshine. >> It wouldn't be a group. The conversation was one person could possibly be a consultant to the city manager. One person. >> And remember the gentleman that ran that
>> right >> thing? Wouldn't he be a great person for you to have as somebody who was a a you know liaison to the city manager? >> You talking about Carl? >> Yeah. Yeah. Yeah, >> because right now we're dropping we just dropped almost half million port authority too.
>> So you know what's that? >> We have a port authority also we >> think now is the time to really get this thing rolling. I mean not not like oh we're done here's thing. Let's No, let's get this thing moving so when it starts to hit the grant we're already running with it. You know >> the permit is important going to tie us up.
>> Yeah. But that's that's all part of the process. That's all part of the process. We don't have to just get the permit done. we understand at what stage permit's going to get done, when we're going to go with this, you know, all those things need to take place now. Um, but we are in the process of finding what we needed up,
>> you know, from from that um that committee perspective. I know we left off kind of put it on pause. We didn't dissolve it. Um, and before Matt left, I know he looked at options to doing like he was basically doing the work and he could pass people to help as an ad hoc
committee, which would that didn't work either. >> The conversation that I that I I was part of was a there would be a person probably someone from that committee that would become a like a consultant to Matt and that was it. Not a group, a person. And that person Matt would
direct and they would report back to him and then Matt would come I assume she guys or report whatever right conversations were obviously >> to be Carl or who's the other guy the uh >> well Carl was a chair. So the from a sunshine law perspective can a
can a city manager have an ad hoc? >> It wouldn't be a group. It would be a >> person an adviser. Now, obviously you hire companies that have multiple people working for the company that you're consultant. This particular scenario was going to be one person. >> You only have one.
>> It's not you're not hiring consultant. You're just taking a guy from if you take if you take your committee and say you're no longer a committee. Go do the same work you're doing. Yeah. You can't smoke, right? >> So, it's better, safer, cleaner. Bring that one person in, task them. Now, if that person's tasked with this and you
need more help, then obviously, you know, you need another deputy clerk. There's a plug for you. You hire a deputy clerk to help you. So, if you need more people, you can get more people, but I think you start the safe way is to start, which is what Matt and I talked about. Um, obviously, we can do something different was get that one
person, get it started. Let's see what >> Carl knows more about the stuff than any that's you need. Have you met Carl yet? >> I have not. >> I'm telling you right now, this guy knows more about all this stuff. He's got all the answers and all that stuff. So, I would certainly think that'd be a place to start to uh get this done. Carl, and how do you spell his last name?
>> Roth. R O T Roth. He's a city resc intelligent knows what to do. Let's let's get him. >> Yeah. And he's the chair of the port authority board. >> Okay. Port >> they normally meet once a year when they should become up meeting some thing. >> You know, I just I just thought about
that board the other day. We making signs. Um I haven't heard from him, but I can coordinate with the city manager and reach out. >> Yeah, that might be something that they can bring up on the agenda to see >> how they want as a board want to be a part of Can we put this on the
follow-up list in here? Like every single meeting? Hey, where are we at on this? Cuz I want to That's so important. >> Old business. >> Business dredging. >> Okay. >> Yeah. I think we're at stage more than just dredging. It's It's like what are we doing to put legs in this to get it to run right now. >> Find out follow up. Find out where he
at. >> Yeah. >> Okay. >> Thank you, sir. >> Yep. Um on the median landscape project, it said that uh the design be ready March 1st. Is that ready?
>> Um I just No, that's going to work. We have to push that. They Well, actually, they sent us design plans, but we have to have a meeting to finalize them before we could present them to >> Okay, so that's still work. >> So working. >> It just didn't get updated, I guess, in here. >> Okay. Any other business?
>> I I did notice that Newport Richie was fixing all their medians, making everything pretty when he come across the bridge. We're like sand and desert. >> Yeah, we're getting ready. >> I know. I'm I'm just I'm just saying >> moves fast fast fast. >> But now we look we're very close to
getting a design. So >> now other than old business, is there an opportunity for alibis? >> I'm sorry. I didn't hear what you said. >> Is there an opportunity for alibis once we complete old business? >> Alib. >> Alib. >> Would somebody kill somebody? What would we need alibi for?
>> Alibi is a opportunity to bring up a point that wasn't discussed yet. Oh yeah, certainly. I think you're the city manager. Bring it up. >> I just don't want to violate any of the the rules here. >> No, you're good. >> Um, one issue we do have um on April 14th is a city man city uh council
meeting, but that's actually vote day. >> Oh, so we got move. >> So, do we want to move it? Do we want to cancel it? What do we want to do for that that city council? >> Could I comment, mayor, please? >> Um, >> I guess. >> Thanks. I appreciate that. Go ahead. So,
we're talking about April 14th. >> 14th. >> Is that Could we do this? >> Possibly. Could we just make that April 21st and do it on the 21st? >> Um, I would prefer it. >> What's that?
>> I would prefer it. >> What? What do we got? >> No, because then you'll have a meeting on the 21st and then the meeting on the 28th. What's wrong with that? >> Well, well, here's the question. Here's the question. If we have it on the 21st, do we reset? >> Well, you're going to have you have a
square in would be the the 20th reset. >> No, my whole calendar for for your charter changes. >> Oh, just 28. >> How about the 16th then? >> Oh, it goes. Okay, that's right. >> Historically, when when election season
comes around, you guys have moved it to either the Wednesday or the Thursday of that week. Right. >> The only reason um the city manager is bringing it up because we wanted to entertain the option and give you the options to move it, cancel it, do whatever you wanted. I would suggest keeping it that week due to agenda
processes. Yeah. Um it becomes very very tight for me to get this stuff out in a timely manner. So I would suggest keeping it that week. Now if you all can't attend I as long as we have quum we can move forward with the >> I don't know if I can do it that week. >> I make a motion we cancel that meeting
all together and don't have it. conversation. >> What's the reason we can't do it on the 16th? You're not going to be available. >> Um, >> I'm not here. I'm gone. Lisa's gone. We're not here. >> I'm here. You guys here? >> We're here. I'm here.
>> I mean, we could have business without you. We need three. >> We'll miss you. That's for sure. So if you want to move forward with the meeting, we just need to select a date for that week. Either Wednesday, Thursday. Wednesday is tax day. So
>> yeah, I would say Thursday the 16th. >> Yeah, that's usually what we do is th Yeah. I mean, >> you think you can join remote? >> I cannot. I'm in I'm in a convention. There's going to be thousands of people there. there. Normally the agendas around this time of year are
historically light her um due to the election. So >> Lisa can't zoom either. >> Okay. >> I mean if she says it's light, why can't we cancel it? >> Well, light is still business to conduct. I mean everything's important
is on agenda. I mean we cancel too. It's going to happen for the staff. They got stuff they need to take care of. >> What about Monday? No, we can't because S so SOE is setting up for the election the day before. So all of this will be >> ready to go for a day Wednesday to put everything.
>> Well, if you did it the following Monday, the 20th, but >> in the old code, we would have the swearing in on the 20th, >> right? But that that's that's the one little tiny thing. This is not a whole agenda, >> not a council business agenda. Well,
what I'm saying is that you want to if you want to keep the meeting again you guys need a meeting. >> No, we don't need a meeting. >> Is that up to you? Please. >> You just asked us guys. I answered. >> You don't count though. I can't wait to get to >> you as the question. I'm the only
person. >> I would just cancel move to the next one. >> Well, if that's if it just makes it easier. I I think I think we we can cover and address everything we need in the next meeting without any issues. And I don't think there's anything tying us to a a meeting that has to happen before that. >> All right. With that being said, then I'll hear your motion to
>> My motion is we dispense the meeting and move it all to the next agenda meeting and handle it before that if we have to as well. >> Okay. >> With Don said >> second. Motion a second. Any further discussion? >> Any public comment? >> See, I put a vote on favor signify by saying I
>> I opposed that was Mayor >> just to be aware just so you guys are procedurally ready for April 28th that there will be a swearing in ceremony first and then we will go into our part by regular
council. >> Right. Got it. >> That'd be organization swearing in organizational meeting first. Will you will you have those as uh >> two separate meetings? >> It's just a quick >> quick meeting then >> and then go. Yes. >> And then just one last item for thought
as we move towards our next budget as we're moving we're planning this out. We're getting everything developed for council review. I would like to present it not only as the budget but our as our operational spend plan. So when you guys approve it and we move forward, I don't
have to come back and ask permission to do something that you've already tasked me with. So basically, I'll keep you updated. I'll keep you informed, but I want to execute and move forward. I I I what I don't want is I don't want pauses in our momentum
as we as we move forward >> on items that we've approved on items that we've approved already. >> Yes. It it all has to be approved. But what I want is I don't want to come back and have to ask again for something you've already approved. And and what I'm finding is in many instances we're coming back and asking for something that you've already approved.
>> Could you explain that to me? Are we talking about a $50,000 box hanging out on the top of it? Well, if you budget it, if we budget it, >> it was budgeted >> and it's approved during the the the budget in the spin plan budget process, then I shouldn't have to bring him in here and ask for that $55,000 that we've
already approved in our budget plan. >> It's true. We >> because what I'm doing is I'm eliminating a lot of >> extra administrative stuff that you don't need to do. >> I agree. And it gives me the freedom to to to keep pushing the train along for you. >> So, that was a budgeted line item. just
said right there. Replace the thing. Boom. >> Yes. >> So, we've done paid him overtime. I don't know if we had to pay you in over time, but you sat here all night instead of being with your family, right? >> Um, yeah. I'm I'm good with that. Are you good with that? >> I think we all do that.
>> I think we all do that. >> Here we go. >> If I could, >> if I could. So I I guess in in principle, yes. But I think we probably I think there's a there's a good because we put the budget together,
right? >> We need to understand, right? >> Yeah. So when it comes to time to disperse the funds, that's our last chance to I mean because a budget is just a plan, right? And when if you if you just got staff executing that plan, more times than not, that's probably
going to be okay. But I would rather have the oversight as the council to to be able to step in and say, "No, we don't want that." And probably legally, we probably need to do that. >> Well, I only because maybe other things came up in between money was somewhere else.
>> But that's where I keep you informed, >> right? And I make sure that that during during budget updates, letting you know where we're at, where we're at in our our spent plan, and during if there's any conflicts because we are because because you make a change and then all
of a sudden you you have a now a new requirement in the year of execution that's going to change everything because now I got to figure out, okay, where those dollars come from because we've already made a plan with the budget we have and so we're not we kind of pause ourselves in that forward momentum of the execution. So, at that
point, we have to stop and talk about it. >> I'm sorry. Go ahead. >> Let me ask you this. >> I mean, we get through these meetings pretty quick. Bob's got a 9:00 deadline. We've already been We've been mailing meetings right and left. You know, >> we haven't had a problem. So, why is it
a problem now? That's my question. It hasn't been a problem. It's not like we're running out of time. We're not be able to do it. We're double doing everything. These things go pop just like that. We just understand them. And when citizens ask me something about a $50,000 box with an antenna on it that reads meters, I want to be able to tell them what it is. And if we didn't go
over this, I wouldn't even know what it is. And I'd be sitting up here not doing my job. >> Well, then we're not doing the spend. >> Then we're not doing a good job in our spend plan and our budget proposal to you. >> Right. What if when they present their budget proposal and the spend plan, they bring in all of the necessary employees
to go over what all these budget line items are in one sitting for what we deal with. >> Yeah. It's it's insane amount of I mean our entire budget is a lot of stuff. >> I mean that would have mean boats and police cars and cameras and all this stuff in one thing at one time. I don't
even know if we have the brain power to process all that stuff. >> Well, we do. >> You probably speak for yourself there may >> go on very good since you haven't been here. >> Let me ask you this question. >> We don't have to agree to this. >> Yeah. >> We don't have to agree to this. I didn't
think about this. >> You're just as passionate as I'm talking about it. >> Y >> let Nancy come back with a >> I need to look at the code. I'm tweet twitching a little bit. It's making me nervous. I want to make sure you're >> like I said is just for thought for thought. >> Something else we can also talk about. >> I want to empower you. I really do. But
I want to make sure we still I want to know what's going on. So when citizens ask me what's going on, I'm not like, well, you know, I don't know. Call the city man. Yeah. Well, it's my job to make sure that you are informed, that you're not uninformed, that that you have that information that that data is being passed and to the point where if we're executing it, I'm providing you
all that data that this we're executing this portion of our spend plan. >> And let me ask you this. You don't think the public I mean, I asked how many people were online tonight. There was none. Okay. >> But that doesn't mean they won't be here on certain spend items. >> They'll watch it. They'll watch it later. >> So, and that gives them opportunity to speak on that particular item. So, let's
let's use a boat first. look at YouTube videos and there's a couple hundred people watch these meetings. >> What were you going to say Nancy? >> I was going to say something else you can utilize and your prior city may have done this. You guys don't do it a little different here is your consent agenda. Your consent agenda could be much larger
where bigger items like a purchase could be on there. You get the documentation but you can go I want to pull that item and I want to have a discussion versus just oh we consent everyone's okay. >> So we could reduce these things to a consent agenda some things. >> Yes. Well, I can I'd be okay with being able to look at it. It's like I asked
today, what's $25,000 for a Ford Explorer? 23 Ford Explorer? You know, I'm going to give you a hard time. >> But if you don't have that information, then that's it's on us and we haven't provided you the information that required to make those decisions. So, that's on us.
>> So, that way you're still seeing all the numbers. You're saying what's going out like yes, like you approved the antenna that we'll use that, but now it comes back maybe as like a consent agenda agenda item depending on the value of it. um you see the number, you know what it is, you you remember doing that, you're all good with it, but you've been provided that information, the public
has seen the information, you don't even really have to talk about it. That moves it along. >> There's >> it's like a compromise because >> depends on item and how much >> here's my only concern. Historically, I'm looking at everything. >> Okay. >> And there we've been doing certain things for years. I think we can
expedite certain things and and do it in year of execution as opposed to years. I would say I'm looking at stuff that's probably two years old that that we're still spinning the wheels on which I think we should have had traction in completed. >> Now I'm not gonna I'm not going to name any subject. >> You could have got them done.
>> Yes. >> Instead of bringing it here and hassing the whole thing out and this mean have to wait till 28 >> skipping the meeting. Correct. >> Yeah. >> Can we have descriptions in the cons consent agenda rather than just um it being a table? Can we have descriptions
underneath? >> Correct me if I'm wrong, but what you're advocating for if it's removed to consent agenda, you have the same you have the same problem. You got to wait on the meeting to get that through the consent agenda. >> You would. And the idea being with that kind of a consent agenda is you would get the documentation. It wouldn't just
be the one piece of paper you'd get with the number. You'd get everything. >> But that didn't solve his no. >> Well, when I walk out of this meeting, it's signed. >> Yeah. >> You have that if it's an agenda item, too. same difference. I mean, so it doesn't it doesn't speed things along. I'm
>> thinking we haven't we haven't held anything up. There's really nothing that we held up. Like today, we empowered you to go do the, you know, to do the uh estimates on the property, right? >> And and and we're getting really good at that. You guys are getting really good at that with me and that relationship because I think you trust me enough to move forward to do that. >> Yeah. And and keep in mind, you know,
you know, we have had some history problems with people sitting in your chair there and staying there and sometimes they're here and they're gone. If we dump all the power onto you right now without knowing exactly where we're at, it might not be the best move. >> And I don't want all the power. I just want the ability to execute your plan
timely, efficiently, and ensuring that we're moving. >> We want more and so that you are seeing the results. >> And I love the fact you told us, hey, it's getting better and we're doing things quicker, which is what we want to do. We don't want to be a stick in the mud to you and we don't want to slow you down because the city demands better. >> Yes.
So, and and I would say that um obly we got two meetings every two weeks we're meeting and and as we're rolling the stuff out, especially budget, we're planning a year in advance of what we're going to spend the money on. Um we we should be able to get those on the agenda in a timely manner to where we're
we're acting on them not last minute, but if there ever is a case where we need to move faster on something, we can always call special meeting to to take care of that. >> Like the flood, let's just use the flood to stamp. got this whole we're here's the year in advance we're looking at and all of a sudden bam things change like you know hell in a hand basket we're
like pulling stuff out of the middle of the streets and yards and throwing in these big trucks. So that changes things that that causes us to like refocus our efforts and our money and >> but that but that that's expected that those things you know those those big problems
>> going to happen and we will adjust accordingly. What I don't want to do is I don't want the small problems impeding our our our success and our achievements. If you could give it as an example would this item number four the census meter reading this would been something that would have just been moved forward on we wouldn't wouldn't
been to wouldn't have been an agenda item is that >> yeah I mean this is something that >> the fact that we got it done got it completed was already approved everybody went brief during the spent plan said yes okay we need it we understand it we're good to go he would have already had I mean when would you have executed
this if if we would have been on spent plan how long ago could you have executed her >> yeah we've PO for a little bit, but most of >> I can't hear you. >> I'm sorry. We've tried the PO for a little bit, but um you know, when we created the PO and did it, we could have
just if it was done already. Then this is an example. Um the box would have already been done already by the time we get to Ashley, made the packet, submitted it, waited, could have been done. But
>> I think talking about as more like vehicles and stuff like that. Well, this was identified in the budget planning back in >> So, you think he's going to do it? >> It could have been on an agenda well before now. >> Well, it takes time to get the quotes to get all the stuff in. >> Yeah. Do that anyway, right? >> Yeah. But prices change, things change.
>> But but it's the big items that I think are are the bigger piece and I think those things are going to be the items that you're very familiar with because we want because those are the big items that going to be brought to you and you're going to be like, well, do we really need it or do we not need it? At that point, you're going like, yeah, we need it. So, let's plan X amount,
execute it. Vehicles are the biggest one. We know we're going to need six. When we get in the year of execution, we phase in the six. We do according the scripture says there's wisdom and a multitude of counsel. >> Yes, >> that's where we are right now. We're a multitude of council. You're you're our
hired get it done guy. You know, we're accountable to those citizens for everything that goes across the thing there. I learned a lot tonight about water meters, right? batteries about life expecties, warranties, all that stuff. This is a time for us to understand what we're spending the money
on the city instead of us just sitting up here like voting on stuff we don't understand. So, it's pretty important that we go through these exercises, I think, so that we get education so that we understand in the future, maybe you're not here, maybe I am here, maybe you're not. We don't know. It gives us a little bit of of of what we'll call, you
know, internal education. Okay? >> And I think it's important. I'm not I don't if I ever if we ever do something that's like hamstringing and you can't get your job done. Please come tell us what it is. But right now I think we're moving pretty quick. It's 8 o'clock. We're done. We're getting ready to call in a German to the meeting. We didn't
didn't hold us up. We all got an education on the uh on the intended, you know, water meter thing. And one of my big goals is exclusive outside of this CRA CRA strategy executing that moving it so so
that we don't pause and reset ourselves next year because I'm my big fear is if if we we pause again we'll lose the momentum. We're going to lose the projects. >> Yeah. Now the the the the people out here in this community want those parks
topnotch ready to go. You know, we like I said before you were here, smoking hot parks, right? You know, that's what they want. That's all we got at the end of the day. That's all we got. We got 19 and smoking hot parks and fishing and boating. >> And I want to I want to make sure that you as a as a council get those
>> at the quality that that >> and we are betting everything on you. >> Great. Good. No problem. Speaking of which, anything on the uh any any progress on the splash pad >> or >> um still waiting for the final from the
Tampa planning authority as soon as they give us a final and you'll also see that on the next CRA once that's complete. I've got an entire >> external network of people that are prepared to come in >> and execute. Awesome. They're just on standby.
>> The splash pad was part of that for that that what is it called Eric? I'm sorry. What's the name of that thing? >> Tampa Bay. >> Tampa Bay Regional Planning Council. That was part of their whole plan. >> Yeah, I know. But they they put it where you can't put it. >> Well, we still get a chance to look at it. >> I know. >> Right. Right. >> They put it where you can't put it.
>> Yeah. A whole bunch of trees right there. We can't really take a bunch of trees out that hard. >> Shade's not bad when you got a bunch of kids. >> Yeah. You got leaves in it. It's not good either. >> But the bottom line is I think we're on track. We're moving quick. We're going to get a lot of things accomplished. And I think it's an opportunity that I think
this is a great opportunity that you guys are capturing. And I think uh by the end of this year, end of next year, this place will look a lot different. >> I'm going to say it because it needs to be said. I've been here. I've been living in the city now part time for 10 years. I think this is the best council we've ever had. I think we think there's
thinkers. There's We're not yesmen. You know, notice tonight we're not yesmen, okay? We're thinkers. We think independently. And I think this is the best council we've ever had. And I love the traction we're getting right now. Thankfully you're here too. So thank you and Nancy and all her chief and all those people. All these wonderful
people. >> All y'all. >> All you guys. All right. S don't don't I'm bypassing you. S feels left out over here. What about me? >> No. I was talking about when you mentioned about people's families. >> I think I'm the only one with families.
>> S you've been here longer than the building. >> Yeah, pretty much. >> Are we done with old business? >> Yes, we are. Okay. So, I'm gonna move through I I don't anticipate there going to be a whole lot of other comments since we got here, but we'll pass it around. I'll start with Council H. >> I want to go home.
>> Okay. Council, >> I second that. >> Okay. Vice Mayor, mayor, >> I'm Listen, I'm I'm excited for where we are right now. I really mean that. So, uh I concur with Mr. Hubard over there. Time to go home. >> If only we get you here more often here. >> That's right. He's didn't he?
>> Uh, Counciloman Burke, >> defin just looking forward to the festival this weekend and >> yeah, that's going to be >> and hope that all goes great and Yeah. >> Yeah. No, I'll close out my comments. Obviously, it's that very excited about the the upcoming seafood festival. Um, it's uh there's been a lot of uh interest in there. I think the the thing
he he shared out has got 500 interested or whatever. So, hopefully we have a really good turnout. I know we got a lot of stuff on on on play. Then from a financial perspective on that um we we took in more than we're spending um which goes in the event committee budget. So we we got good seat money
going forward for some of the other events. So that's exciting. Um so please come out and and join us this weekend and on Saturday. Um so that I'll look for a motion. >> Motion to adjurnn. Second motion second. All in favor say by saying I. I. I.