[Items I & II]
[00:00:03]
I WOULD LIKE TO CALL THIS WORKSHOP MEETING TO ORDER.
WILL YOU ALL PLEASE RISE AND JOIN US IN THE PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE? I PLEDGE ALLEGIANCE TO THE FLAG, UNITED STATES OF AMERICA AND TO THE REPUBLIC FOR WHICH IT STANDS, ONE NATION UNDER GOD, INDIVISIBLE, WITH LIBERTY AND JUSTICE FOR ALL.
WELL, THE CLERK, PLEASE CALL THE ROLL.
VICE MAYOR LITT, COUNCILMEMBER WOODS HERE.
[III. ANNOUNCEMENTS / PRESENTATIONS]
THEREFORE, THERE WILL BE NO PUBLIC COMMENT AND NO ACTION TODAY TAKEN BY OUR CITY COUNCIL.BEFORE WE BEGIN, THOUGH, I JUST WANT TO CHECK IN WITH OUR CITY MANAGER, RON FERRIS.
IS THERE ANYTHING YOU'D LIKE TO SAY? THANK YOU, MAYOR AND COUNCIL.
STAFF THOSE ARE ON LIVE STREAM.
THERE'S A WHOLE LOT GOING ON IN THIS CITY.
A LOT MORE THAN PEOPLE REALIZE.
WITH ALL OF THE COUNCIL POLICIES, ALL OF THE DEVELOPMENT ISSUES AND THINGS THAT ARE OCCURRING OVER THE YEARS, STAFF AND MYSELF HAD DISCUSSIONS ABOUT.
WITH THAT, IT WOULD BE IN ALL OF OUR BEST INTERESTS.
SO WE FELT THAT WE NEEDED SOME TYPE OF VERIFICATION, THAT WE'RE HEADED IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION, NOT ONLY FOR TODAY, BUT FOR THE FUTURE AS WELL.
THE RESULTS OF THIS STUDY THAT YOU WILL SEE HERE TODAY WILL BE PRESENTED BY RANDALL RANDY BAUER.
HE'S THE FROM PFM GROUP CONSULTING.
BUT. THE THE THE REPORT CAME OUT SO GOOD.
WE THOUGHT WE WE NEEDED TO SHARE THAT WITH YOU.
SO WE LOOK FORWARD TO YOUR COMMENTS AND YOUR DISCUSSION.
AND WITH THAT BRIEF INTRODUCTION OF WHY WE'RE DOING THIS OR WHY WE DID THIS, I WOULD NOW INTRODUCE TO YOU RANDALL BAUER, DIRECTOR OF THE FIRM GROUP CONSULTING, TO GIVE YOU A SUMMARY OF THE THE STUDY AND THE QUESTIONS LATER, IF YOU WOULD, PLEASE.
AND WE'LL TALK A LITTLE BIT ABOUT THAT NOW BY WAY OF CONTEXT.
PFM DOES THIS KIND OF WORK WITH CITIES ACROSS THE COUNTRY, EVERYWHERE FROM TRIPLE-A RATED CREDITS, AS YOU ALL ARE, TO CITIES IN DISTRESS? IN FACT, WE ARE THE LEAD ENTITY FOR HUD FUNDED PROGRAM CALLED THE NATIONAL RESOURCE NETWORK, AND THAT IS DIRECTED AT CITIES IN DISTRESS.
AND AND WHEN YOU SEE A CITY LIKE THIS ONE, WHICH IS IN VERY GOOD HEALTH AND COMPARE IT TO THOSE CITIES, YOU CAN SEE THE STARK CONTRAST. AND WE'LL TALK A LITTLE BIT ABOUT THAT THROUGHOUT THE REMARKS.
BUT I THINK WHAT RON LAID OUT WAS LET'S HAVE KIND OF A CHECK ON WHAT WE'RE DOING.
AND CERTAINLY THERE ARE SOME AREAS WHERE WE'VE MADE SOME SUGGESTIONS AND WE CAN TALK ABOUT THOSE.
BUT TO SUGGEST THAT THIS IS NOT A WELL-RUN OPERATION, IT SIMPLY WOULD NOT BE THE CASE.
AND WE'LL TALK A LITTLE BIT ABOUT THAT AS WE GO FORWARD.
OF COURSE, WE HOLD PLENTY OF TIME FOR DISCUSSION.
SO FM HAS ABOUT 350 EMPLOYEES.
WE HAVE 3531 OFFICES AROUND THE COUNTRY.
WE HAVE AN OFFICE IN MIAMI AND WE HAVE TWO IN ORLANDO.
WE HAVE STARTED AS A FINANCIAL ADVISORY PRACTICE TO STATE AND LOCAL GOVERNMENTS.
THERE WERE FIVE EMPLOYEES BACK IN 1975 IN PHILADELPHIA, AND WE'VE GROWN TO WHERE WE ARE NOW.
[00:05:07]
AND THAT'S BASED ON EITHER ADVISING ON THE AMOUNT OF BONDS SOLD OR THE NUMBER OF ISSUANCES.SO THAT'S A RECORD OF SUCCESS AT PFM HAS SUSTAINED FOR A LONG TIME.
WE WERE JOINED IN 2019 BY A PERSON, I THINK MANY OF YOU KNOW, DR.
HANK FISHKIN AND HIS OPERATION FISHKIN KIND ASSOCIATES WAS ACQUIRED BY PFM.
EARLIER THIS YEAR, HE WAS INVOLVED IN THIS PROJECT.
THE PROJECT TEAM. I LED THE PROJECT TEAM.
MY BACKGROUND IS I SPENT 18 YEARS IN STATE GOVERNMENT.
HE'S BEEN THE FINANCIAL ADVISOR TO THE CITY ON SEVERAL OF YOUR TRANSACTIONS.
STAN GUEVARA CAME TO FM WITH FISHKIN AND ASSOCIATES.
HE HAS ABOUT 30 YEARS OF EXPERIENCE IN FLORIDA.
HE HAS WORKED ON ENGAGEMENTS RELATED TO EFFORTS IN THE COUNTY AND IN THE CITY AND WAS CERTAINLY MOST INVOLVED IN THE WORK THAT WE DID ON THE ECONOMIC AND COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT AREAS.
AND THEN WE HAD ALSO A SENIOR ANALYST WORKING ON THIS.
BUT MOSTLY THIS WAS DONE IN THE PERIOD FROM JANUARY TO MARCH.
YOU'VE GOT A LOT OF THINGS GOING ON.
SO SOME OF THIS MAY EVEN JUST IN THIS SHORT PERIOD OF TIME, BE SOMEWHAT DATED.
AND THAT'S JUST THE FACT OF THE CIRCUMSTANCES WILL CHANGE.
WE SPLIT THEM INTO CATEGORIES.
AND THEN THE STUFF RELATED TO ECONOMIC AND COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT ISSUES WAS PRIMARILY STAN AND DR.
FISHKIN. AND THIS THESE ARE ALL THE TOPICS THAT ARE INCLUDED.
I KNOW YOU ALL HAVE SEEN OUR 84 PAGE REPORT.
I WAS HAPPY TO LEARN THAT A COUPLE OF YOU WERE ABLE TO READ IT WITHOUT FALLING ASLEEP.
BUT ONE OF THE THINGS THAT WE SOUGHT TO DO IN THIS, BECAUSE YOU ARE A CITY THAT'S DOING WELL, SO WE'RE NOT GOING TO FIND A LOT OF SILVER BULLETS THAT ARE GOING TO SIGNIFICANTLY CHANGE YOUR PRACTICE WAS WE WANTED TO CREATE KIND OF A RECORD OF MUCH OF WHAT YOU'VE BEEN DOING IN THESE AREAS OVER THE YEARS. SO YOU'LL HAVE A PREFACE FOR EACH OF THE TOPIC AREAS THAT LAYS OUT INITIATIVES THAT THE CITY HAS BEEN INVOLVED WITH, STUDIES THAT YOU HAVE COMMISSIONED, OTHER WORK THAT HAS TAKEN PLACE.
AND WE THINK THAT'S IMPORTANT SO THAT THE COMMUNITY AND YOU ALL, OF COURSE, HAVE KIND OF A GUIDE OF WHERE WE WERE AND WHERE WE ARE, AS WELL AS WHERE WE ALL MAY BE GOING TO. IT'S A TYPICAL PROJECT APPROACH.
WE GATHERED A LOT OF DATA AND INFORMATION.
IT'S ALWAYS IMPORTANT TO KNOW WHERE YOU KIND OF FIT WITHIN THE COMMUNITIES THAT, QUITE FRANKLY, YOU'RE COMPETING WITH FOR FOR RESIDENTS, FOR BUSINESSES. AND THEN I WAS HERE FOR TWO DAYS.
STEPHEN WAS A GREAT HOST FOR TWO DAYS.
I THINK I SAW JUST ABOUT EVERYTHING THERE IS TO SEE IN THE CITY IN TWO DAYS.
[00:10:04]
WE DID THEN A LOT OF ANALYSIS, AND WE ALSO DID SPEAK WITH OUTSIDE EXTERNAL SUBJECT MATTER EXPERTS.WE WANTED TO GET THEIR UNVARNISHED OPINION ON THINGS.
AND I THINK GENERALLY THEY'RE PLEASED WITH THINGS.
THERE CERTAINLY HAVE THEIR AREAS WHERE THEY'RE THEIR DEVELOPERS, THEY HAVE THEIR INTERESTS ALSO.
SO BUT THEY WERE A VOICE THAT WE WANTED TO HEAR AS WELL.
WE THEN ALSO WITHIN THE ANALYSIS, WE DID SOME CASE STUDIES, WE TALKED ABOUT BENCHMARKING AND THEN WE PROVIDED A DRAFT REPORT TO THE CITY AT THE END OF MARCH. THE CITY DID THEIR OWN PAINSTAKING REVIEW OF IT.
THERE WERE CLARIFICATIONS THAT WERE PROVIDED BY STAFF WHICH WOULD WHICH IS TO BE EXPECTED.
AND THAT OFFER STILL STANDS TO THE CITY, OF COURSE.
YOU KNOW, THERE ARE SOME GENERAL OBSERVATIONS THAT WE INCLUDED AT THE FRONT OF THE REPORT.
I THINK THEY ARE ALL MOSTLY MOSTLY POSITIVE.
THIS CITY LEADERSHIP HAS BEEN PROACTIVE.
AND I BY LEADERSHIP, I CERTAINLY MEAN RON AND ALL OF HIS STAFF, BUT CERTAINLY THE COUNCIL AS WELL.
THERE ARE A NUMBER OF AREAS WE CAN LOOK AT.
WORKFORCE HOUSING IS A BIG ISSUE EVERYWHERE IN THE COUNTRY NOW.
IT'S IN FACT, IT'S GENERALLY CALLED THE HOUSING CRISIS.
BUT YOU HAVE KIND OF PUT IN PLACE SOME OF THE BUILDING BLOCKS TO MOVE FORWARD ON SOME WORKFORCE HOUSING THINGS, AND IT'S IMPORTANT THAT THAT BE DONE PLAN FULLY. AND I THINK THAT YOU'RE WELL SET FOR THAT.
AND THE FACT THAT YOU HAVE BEEN ABLE TO CREATE THAT SORT OF ENVIRONMENT WITHIN THE COMMUNITY IS REALLY IS HELPFUL THAT PEOPLE SEE THAT AND THEN THEY WANT TO BE A PART OF IT. I SAID TO MY WIFE, BECAUSE WE'RE KIND OF AT THAT AGE WHERE WE KIND OF LIKE TO GET AWAY FROM THE I LIVE IN DES MOINES, IOWA, AND IT GETS KIND OF COLD THERE IN THE WINTER. AND I SAID, WELL, THAT LOOKS LIKE A NICE PLACE TO GO AND MAYBE SPEND SOME TIME IN THE WINTER.
AND WE DIDN'T GET THAT AT ALL.
I THINK RON HAS DEVELOPED AN APPROACH THAT INVOLVES MORE ENTITIES THAN YOU OFTEN FIND, AND THAT HAS INCLUDED CO-LOCATION OF SERVICES WITHIN CITY BUILDINGS, WHICH WE OFTEN RECOMMEND.
AND HERE WE DIDN'T HAVE TO RECOMMEND IT BECAUSE IT'S JUST KIND OF A NATURAL WAY THAT YOU DO THINGS.
SO AND THERE'S JUST A LOT GOING ON HERE.
AND WE UNDERSTAND THAT IT'S EVEN ACCELERATED SINCE THIS REPORT HAS WRITTEN.
YOU KNOW, WHAT YOU GOT IS WHAT NOW PEOPLE COME TO EXPECT.
AND WE'LL TALK A LITTLE BIT ABOUT THAT EVEN IN SOME OF THE OTHER POLICY AREAS.
BUT THAT THAT CREATES PRESSURE AND TO CONTINUE TO ADVANCE, REQUIRES DILIGENCE, THAT REQUIRES RESOURCES, REQUIRES PLANNING AND THOUGHTFUL WAYS OF APPROACHING ISSUES.
SO IN ANY OF THOSE SITUATIONS WHERE YOU ARE GOING TO BE TALKING ABOUT SIGNIFICANT INVESTMENTS GOING FORWARD, BUDGET STABILITY, THIS IS THE OLD BUDGET DIRECTOR AND ME TALKING BUDGET STABILITY IS REALLY IMPORTANT BECAUSE THERE ISN'T ANYTHING THAT CAN DERAIL EFFORTS MORE THAN A FINANCIAL CRISIS.
AND YOU HAVE TO HAVE THE RESOURCES.
YOU HAVE TO ENSURE THAT THERE'S GOING TO BE SOME STABILITY WITHIN YOUR RESOURCE BASE.
AND WE TALK ABOUT THAT IN SOME OF THE RECOMMENDATIONS.
THE OTHER THING IS THE INTERCONNECTED NATURE.
[00:15:05]
I MEAN, WHEN YOU TALK ABOUT WORKFORCE HOUSING, MOST PLACES ARE TALKING ABOUT HOW DO YOU GET PEOPLE TO JOBS? AND OFTEN THAT THAT'S A TRANSIT ISSUE.AND WHEN YOU TALK ABOUT DENSITY AND HOW ARE WE GOING TO CREATE CRITICAL MASS FOR SOME OF THESE NEW DEVELOPMENTS THAT THAT ALL PULLS TOGETHER. AND YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT DEVELOPMENT, THE WESTERN DEVELOPMENT.
AND IN GENERAL, I THINK THAT THE CITY IS DOING A GOOD JOB OF RECOGNIZING THOSE THINGS.
SO IN TERMS OF THE FINDINGS AND RECOMMENDATIONS, YOU TALK ABOUT THE TRIPLE-A BOND RATING.
FIRST OF ALL, YOU HAVE THE HIGHEST POSSIBLE CREDIT RATING, AND THAT IS HELPFUL TO YOU.
YOU KNOW, NATIONALLY, IT'S SEEN AS KIND OF AN IMPRIMATUR OF A WELL RUN GOVERNMENT.
AND I THINK THAT GENERALLY IS TRUE.
NOW, THERE ARE EXCEPTIONS ON KIND OF BOTH ENDS.
AND THAT'S THAT IS TO WHAT IT IS.
SO JAY GLOVER AND HIS STAFF TOOK JUST A TYPICAL PLAIN VANILLA 30 YEAR FIXED BOND ISSUANCE AND LOOKED AT THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN A TRIPLE-A RATING CREDIT AND CREDITS THAT ARE NOT TRIPLE-A RATED.
AND WE DIDN'T HAVE TO DO THAT HERE BECAUSE THE CITY ALREADY HAS ONE.
SO THAT'S THAT'S A STRONG KIND OF FINANCIAL MANAGEMENT TOOL.
ONE OF THE ISSUES THAT CATCHES NOT ONLY LOCAL GOVERNMENTS BUT STATE GOVERNMENTS ARE PENSION OBLIGATIONS, AND PENSION OBLIGATIONS ARE SOMETHING THAT YOU OFTEN WILL NOT GET A GOOD HANDLE ON IN A ONE OR TWO YEAR TIME FRAME.
THE CITY USES A TEN YEAR FORECAST MODEL.
WE LOOKED AT IT, WE WE PICKED IT APART.
WE MADE A FEW RECOMMENDATIONS ON SOME POSSIBLE CHANGES TO IT, NONE OF WHICH ARE REALLY MAJOR.
AND THE OTHER THING THAT WE SUGGESTED IS THAT YOU'RE PROBABLY GOING TO WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT YOU HAVE AS MUCH AS MANY PEOPLE AS POSSIBLE THAT CAN USE THE MODEL AND AND FACILITATE ITS USE.
TALKING WITH THE CITY FINANCE DIRECTOR THERE, IN THE PROCESS OF DOING THAT, THEY HAVE PEOPLE THAT THEY'RE ALSO GOING TO MAKE MORE FAMILIAR WITH THE MODEL, AND WE THINK THAT'S GOOD. SO WITHIN THE ONE OF THE AREAS THAT I MENTIONED AT THE FRONT AND WHICH IS CERTAINLY AN IMPORTANT ISSUE THAT YOU ALL UNDERSTAND IS JUST WESTERN GROWTH, AND THAT'S GOING TO IMPACT BOTH ON THE REVENUE FROM ALL THE NEW CONSTRUCTION THAT'S GOING TO SUDDENLY TURN INTO NEW REAL PROPERTY TAX REVENUE.
BUT ALSO ON THE EXPENDITURE SIDE.
YOU CERTAINLY ARE GOING TO HAVE TO PROVIDE SERVICE FOR THAT AREA.
YOU KNOW, THE NATURE OF THE GROWTH IS EVIDENT.
I WAS OUT THERE WATCHING ALL THE HOUSES GOING UP.
I SHOULD JUST PARENTHETICALLY ADD, IT'S AN EXAMPLE OF KIND OF GOOD MANAGEMENT.
THAT'S ONE OF THOSE CHALLENGES IT CREATES.
AND WE TALKED A LITTLE BIT ABOUT, WELL, HOW DO YOU ENSURE THAT IT THEN DOESN'T CREATE OTHER PROBLEMS LIKE CONGESTION AND TRAFFIC PROBLEMS? MY UNDERSTANDING IS THAT THE CITY IS MANAGING THAT GROWTH.
YOU HAVE SHOPPING AND GROCERY STORES AND EVERYTHING ELSE SO THAT THAT TRAFFIC IN SOME AREAS IS CONTAINED AND ALLOWS THE CITY TO OPERATE BETTER THAN IF IT WERE NOT THAT WAY.
I THINK IF YOU LOOK, YOU KNOW, I'VE BEEN INVOLVED BECAUSE OF MY BACKGROUND AS A BUDGET DIRECTOR.
[00:20:02]
I'VE BEEN INVOLVED IN THOSE DECISIONS AS TO PAY, GO OR BOND FOR OVER 20 YEARS.AND THERE ARE A VARIETY OF FACTORS THAT COME INTO THAT CALCULATION.
ONE OBVIOUSLY IS OC WHAT'S IT GOING TO COST YOU TO BORROW THE MONEY VERSUS WHAT WOULD IT COST YOU BECAUSE OF INFLATION, PARTICULARLY IN THE CONSTRUCTION INDUSTRY? IF YOU STRETCH IT OUT OVER TIME AND INFLATION, THE CONSTRUCTION INDUSTRY HAS GENERALLY BEEN RUNNING HIGHER THAN THE COST OF BORROWING MONEY AND PARTICULARLY IN LOW INTEREST RATES ENVIRONMENT. THAT WAS THE CASE.
NOW WE'RE IN A LITTLE BIT DIFFERENT ENVIRONMENT RIGHT NOW.
THAT'S TRUE. BUT WE HAVE KEEP IN MIND TWO THINGS.
THE OTHER THE OTHER FACTOR IS THAT WE ARE IN A HIGHER INTEREST RATE ENVIRONMENT.
WE'RE ALSO IN A HIGHER INFLATION ENVIRONMENT.
SO THE COST, AGAIN, OF CONSTRUCTION IS STILL OUTSTRIPPING THE COST OF BORROWING.
BUT GOING BACKWARD, THERE'S NO DOUBT THAT IT WAS A GOOD DEAL.
AND THE OTHER FACTOR TO TAKE INTO CONSIDERATION IS JUST OPPORTUNITY COST.
AND THEN THERE ARE SOME OTHER TRANSPORTATION ISSUES THAT WE'LL TALK ABOUT A LITTLE BIT MORE.
ONE OF THE OPPORTUNITIES, OF COURSE, ALWAYS IS IDENTIFY WHAT WOULD YOU BE ABLE TO DO WITH THOSE RESOURCES SHOULD THE COUNTY TAXPAYERS CHOOSE TO ENACT THE $0.01 SALES TAX? AND I THINK IDENTIFYING THOSE AT MY RECOMMENDATION, OF COURSE, YOU ALL WILL TAKE THAT UNDER ADVISEMENT WOULD BE TO DETERMINE WHAT WOULD BE POSSIBLE USES OR EVEN PROBABLE USES FOR THOSE RESOURCES.
THIS IS A TOPIC THAT'S NEAR AND DEAR TO MY HEART.
I'LL GIVE YOU A LITTLE BIT OF EXAMPLE.
WE TALK ABOUT IT IN THE REPORT.
I'VE BEEN WORKING WITH A MAJOR COUNTY IN THE D.C.
AREA, LOUDOUN COUNTY, VIRGINIA, FOR A COUPLE OF YEARS.
THEY HAVE WHAT'S KIND OF A NICE PROBLEM TO HAVE.
IT'S GOTTEN TO THE POINT, THOUGH, THAT IS A VOLATILE TAX SOURCE.
IT'S DIFFICULT THAT PROPERTY CAN BE MOVED.
IT WILL BE FOR ANY LOCAL GOVERNMENT.
SO ENSURING THAT YOU CAN MAINTAIN THAT STABILITY WITHIN YOUR BUDGET AND THE FORECAST THAT YOU'RE GOING TO DO FOR REVENUE SO THAT YOU CAN MAINTAIN BUDGET STABILITY IS REALLY IMPORTANT THERE.
SO WE UNDERSTAND THE SITUATION THAT YOU ARE IN.
YOU'VE HAD EXPLOSIVE GROWTH IN NEW CONSTRUCTION, AND THAT'S THAT'S GREAT.
BUT WE WOULD JUST SUGGEST TO BE CONTINUE TO PRACTICE CARE WITHIN THAT AREA.
AND THAT REAL PROPERTY TAX IS ONE AREA THAT PROPERTY TAX PAYERS LOOK AT THAT EVEN THOUGH WE ALL UNDERSTAND THAT IT'S A FUNCTION, YOUR ACTUAL TAX BILL, NOT ONLY OF THE MILLAGE RATE, BUT ALSO VALUATION, BUT THAT IS SOMETHING THAT RESIDENTS AND BUSINESSES LOOK AT.
AND SO IF YOU THEN HAVE TO START RAISING IT, IT CREATES ITS OWN KIND OF CHALLENGES.
[00:25:04]
YOUR USE OF INCENTIVES IS ABOUT ON PAR WITH YOUR NEIGHBORS.WHAT I WOULD SAY IS JUDICIOUS USE OF INCENTIVES, AND THAT MAKES SENSE.
YOU KNOW, WHEN YOU'RE A PLACE THAT BUSINESSES AND INDIVIDUALS WANT TO BE AT, YOU DON'T NECESSARILY HAVE TO SPEND AS MUCH TO ATTRACT, BUT IN SPECIFIC CIRCUMSTANCES FOR SPECIFIC OPPORTUNITIES, THEY CERTAINLY HAVE VALUE.
IN PARTICULARLY HOUSING REHABILITATION, THERE ARE A VARIETY OF COMMUNITIES THAT HAVE EFFECTIVE TAX ABATEMENT PROGRAMS. THE ABATEMENT IS ONLY FOR IMPROVEMENTS TO EXISTING REAL ESTATE AND AND THE STUDIES THAT HAVE BEEN DONE.
RICHMOND, VIRGINIA IS AN EXAMPLE WHERE A STUDY WAS DONE THAT SHOWED THAT THAT WAS VERY COST BENEFICIAL FOR THEM, GIVEN THAT THERE ARE AREAS OF THE CITY THAT ARE OLDER WHERE THE HOUSING COULD STAND IMPROVEMENT.
THIS MAY BE A TOOL THAT YOU MIGHT CONSIDER GOING FORWARD.
MOVING OUT OF KIND OF THE BUDGET AND TAX AND INTO THE ECONOMIC AND COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT FINDINGS.
YOU KNOW, THE THIS IS AN EXAMPLE.
WE UNDERSTAND THAT THERE ARE SOME ISSUES RELATED TO HOW THAT HAS BEEN FUNDED IN THE PAST.
ONE OF THE THINGS THAT WE BECAME COMFORTABLE WITH AS WE TALKED WITH THE CITY MANAGEMENT IS THAT THEY'RE COMMITTED TO THAT PLAN AND FINDING THE RESOURCES TO BE ABLE TO FUND IT. AND THERE CERTAINLY ARE EXAMPLES ALREADY.
AND WE WOULD SUGGEST, AGAIN, THAT WHEN YOU'RE FIGURING OUT PRIORITIES FOR SPENDING, THAT THIS IS ONE OF THE AREAS THAT YOU DEFINITELY WANT TO CONTINUE TO MAKE KEY FOCUS.
THERE ARE OPPORTUNITIES HERE EVEN TO EXPAND YOUR TODD DISTRICT THAT THAT CAN, AGAIN, CREATE ADDITIONAL SYNERGY AROUND SOME OF THE OTHER PROJECTS THAT EXIST.
IT TIES TOGETHER SO MANY OF THE OPPORTUNITIES TO BRING PEOPLE INTO YOUR COMMUNITY, WHETHER IT'S WORKERS, JUST THOSE THAT ARE COMING INTO THE COMMUNITY FOR DIFFERENT KINDS OF ENGAGEMENTS. AND, YOU KNOW, AGAIN, IT TIES TOGETHER ALL OF THESE KINDS OF COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT ISSUES.
THE FUNDING, OF COURSE, IS ALWAYS GOING TO BE THE KEY ISSUE THERE.
YOU KNOW, WE HAVE IN OUR CONVERSATIONS WITH STAKEHOLDERS, WE GET THE IMPRESSION THAT THE CITY HAS A PRETTY GOOD RELATIONSHIP WITH SOME OF THOSE KINDS OF STAKEHOLDERS THAT WOULD BE ENGAGED IN THIS KIND OF AN EFFORT.
SO IT SEEMS LIKE THE PIECES ARE IN PLACE FOR YOU TO PURSUE THAT AS ONE OF THE POSSIBLE FUNDING ALTERNATIVES FOR THE TRI RAIL OR THE BRIGHT LINE STATION.
AND THERE CERTAINLY ARE SOME HERE.
YOU KNOW, GARDENS MALL IS AN OPPORTUNITY FOR YOU TO TAKE WHAT RIGHT NOW IS ACRES OF SURFACE PARKING AND CHANGE THAT INTO SOMETHING WITH HIGHER DENSITY, WHETHER IT'S MIXED USE OR OTHER KINDS OF RESIDENTIAL CONSTRUCTION THAT CAN HELP TO INCREASE THE DENSITY AND AGAIN BUILD ON WHAT'S GOING ON WITHIN YOUR DOWNTOWN AREA.
AND IN A LOT OF THESE CASES, THESE ACRES OF SURFACE PARKING, THAT'S NOT IT.
[00:30:02]
WELL. WE'VE ALREADY TALKED ABOUT WORKFORCE HOUSING.I DON'T KNOW OF ANY PLACE THAT ISN'T CHALLENGED BY WORKFORCE HOUSING.
SO THIS IS AN OPPORTUNITY FOR MAXIMIZING DENSITY AS WELL.
AND I KNOW YOU'VE DONE SOME OF THAT ALREADY.
AND WE THINK THAT, AGAIN, THIS TRANSIT ORIENTED DISTRICT IN THAT AREA AROUND IT IS KIND OF THE OPPORTUNITY FOR YOU TO PUT A WORKFORCE HOUSING STRATEGY IN PLACE AND USE SOME OF THESE OTHER TOOLS THAT WE'RE TALKING ABOUT TO DEAL WITH SOME OF THE WORKFORCE HOUSING ISSUES THAT THAT EXIST.
AND WE ALREADY TALKED ABOUT GARDENS WHILE I GUESS I KIND OF JUMPED AHEAD ON THAT ONE.
BUT THAT'S REALLY A GREAT OPPORTUNITY.
YOU KNOW, THE RECREATIONAL AMENITIES THAT YOU ALL HAVE ARE OUTSTANDING.
I'D NEVER PLAYED ON A CLAY COURT BEFORE.
I HAD A DAUGHTER PLAYED CLUB SOCCER FROM THE TIME SHE WAS LIKE SIX UNTIL HIGH SCHOOL.
AND SO THOSE ARE GREAT OPPORTUNITIES.
YOU KNOW, YOU'RE ALWAYS LOOKING FOR MULTIPURPOSE FIELDS.
THEY'RE LIKE THE GOLD FOR RECREATIONAL EVENTS FOR KIDS OR EVEN ADULTS.
MULTIPURPOSE COMMUNITY CENTERS ARE ALSO SOMETHING THAT.
OUR DEMAND AND ARE GOING TO BE USEFUL FOR YOUR COMMUNITY.
SO THERE ARE SOME THEMES THAT I'VE ALREADY TALKED ABOUT HERE.
WE ALSO SUMMARIZE THEM IN THE FINDINGS OF RECOMMENDATIONS.
AGAIN, WE TALKED ABOUT MAINTAINING THAT THEN MEANS THAT THERE'S ALWAYS ANOTHER BRIGHT, SHINY OBJECT.
AND SO CONTINUING TO EXPAND THE WHAT YOU HAVE FOR THE CITY AND CONTINUING ALSO TO REVITALIZE THAT WHICH MAYBE IS GETTING A LITTLE BIT OLDER IS IMPORTANT.
WE BELIEVE THAT THERE IS A COMMITMENT TO EXCELLENCE IN THIS CITY GOVERNMENT.
I'M NOT JUST SAYING THIS BECAUSE, YOU KNOW, BECAUSE YOU ALL HIRED US TO DO THIS STUDY.
WE WERE HIRED TO TAKE A LOOK AT THINGS.
IN SOME WAYS, I ALMOST FEEL LIKE MAYBE I DIDN'T DO MY JOB BECAUSE THERE ISN'T AS MUCH HERE AS IN SOME OTHER PLACES THAT WE WOULD RECOMMEND THAT CAN IMPROVE THE CITY'S OVERALL OPERATIONS. THE NEW DEVELOPMENT IS IS REALLY EXCITING, AND I'VE ALREADY BEEN APPRIZED OF SOME OF THE THINGS THAT ARE CONTINUING TO EVOLVE JUST FROM WHEN WE WERE DOING THIS WORK IN JANUARY THROUGH MARCH.
AND THAT'S EXCITING. OF COURSE, WE'VE ALREADY TALKED ABOUT THE CHALLENGES THAT CREATES.
ALSO, YOU KNOW, STAFFING IS AN ISSUE THAT THIS IS A PRETTY LEAN STAFFED ORGANIZATION.
AND, YOU KNOW, SO THAT BECOMES ONE OF THOSE THINGS WHERE IN SOME OF THESE AREAS, IF THERE IS GOING TO BE SO MUCH DEVELOPMENT ACTIVITY AND ALL THAT'S REQUIRED, A PLANNING AND PERMITTING AND ZONING, YOU KNOW, THERE MAY BE THE NEED THAT THERE WILL HAVE TO LOOK AT PROVIDING SOME ADDITIONAL RESOURCES IN THAT PARTICULAR AREA.
THIS WAS NOT A STAFFING STUDY.
AGAIN, THIS WAS DONE AT A FAIRLY HIGH LEVEL, BUT THAT'S OUR EXPERIENCE WITH ORGANIZATIONS THAT SOMETIMES THE BOTTLENECKS IN SOME OF THESE DEVELOPMENTS CAN OCCUR IN THOSE IN THOSE AREAS OF THE CITY.
TALK ABOUT THE INTERCONNECTED NATURE.
I'M IMPRESSED BY HOW MUCH THAT'S.
I WOULD OBVIOUSLY IT'S UNDERSTOOD BY THE PROFESSIONALS THAT YOU HAVE IN CITY GOVERNMENT, BUT ALSO, BY THE WAY, THAT THEY ARE PLANNING AROUND THINGS TO UNDERSTAND AND MAKE THAT INTERCONNECTED NATURE KIND OF CONNECT.
AND THEN, YOU KNOW, THERE'S THIS SENSE OF OPPORTUNISM.
LET'S LET'S STRIKE WHEN THE IRON IS HOT.
YOU'VE DONE THAT IN A FEW AREAS.
YOU'VE GOT SOME THINGS THAT GO ON THAT USED TO GO ON IN OTHER PLACES IN THE REGION.
WELL, CONGRATULATIONS FOR YOU ALL THAT.
[00:35:05]
YOU KNOW. WE BELIEVE YOU'RE GENERALLY ON THE RIGHT TRACK AND THAT'S, OF COURSE, WHERE YOU WANT TO BE.AND IN GENERAL, AS I SAID, THERE ARE SOME AREAS WHERE WE'VE MADE SOME SPECIFIC RECOMMENDATIONS.
AND THAT'S THE, YOU KNOW, THE REGULATORY STUFF THAT I HAVE TO FLASH UP THERE, BECAUSE WE ARE A REGULATED ENTITY IN UNDER A FEW DIFFERENT FEDERAL RULES AND REGULATIONS. BUT NOW THAT YOU'VE ALL SEEN IT, IF THERE IS ANY INFORMATION, THOUGH, IT'S IN YOUR IT'LL BE IN THE PRESENTATION, WHICH I'M SURE YOU'LL BE PROVIDED.
I'M HAPPY TO CHAT WITH YOU OR ANYBODY ELSE ABOUT AT ANY TIME.
AND WITH THAT, I WILL OPEN IT UP TO QUESTIONS.
THANK YOU SO MUCH. LET'S SEE, DO I HAVE.
LET'S SEE. MARK, WOULD YOU LIKE TO BEGIN? SURE. SO BECAUSE YOU SAW MY NOTES THAT YOU THOUGHT YOU GO, WELL, THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR THE PRESENTATION.
I THINK THIS IS AN IMPORTANT THING FOR THE RESIDENTS TO KNOW WHAT'S HAPPENING IN OUR CITY.
I MEAN, WE TAKE IT FOR GRANTED.
THE STAFF TAKES IT FOR GRANTED BECAUSE WE SEE IT EVERY DAY.
BUT OF COURSE, WHEN YOU DON'T SEE IT EVERY DAY, YOU KIND OF WONDER.
AND I THINK THE COUNCIL WOULD PROBABLY ALL AGREE THAT WE ARE OUT IN THE COMMUNITY, WE TALK TO PEOPLE, AS DOES EVERYBODY ELSE, BUT WE ARE THE POINT PEOPLE FOR THE RESIDENTS AND THEY DO ASK QUESTIONS AND THEY DO WANT TO KNOW WHAT'S HAPPENING WITH X, Y AND Z.
AND AND OF COURSE, WE CAN ANSWER THAT QUESTION.
BUT HAVING THIS IN THE PUBLIC DOMAIN PRESENTATION, I THINK THIS IS BEING TAPED, IS IT NOT? SO WE CAN ALWAYS TELL THE STATE RESIDENTS TO COME ONLINE AND WATCH THE WHAT'S THE PRESENTATION? WHICH WOULD MAKE LIFE EASIER FOR ALL OF US.
I THINK I DID HAVE A COUPLE OF QUESTIONS IN COMMENTS.
BUT I ALSO GET QUESTIONS AND I'M SURE WE ALL DO ABOUT PUBLIC SAFETY.
I HAD A CONVERSATION WITH THE CHIEF THIS MORNING, CHIEF OF POLICE THIS MORNING, BECAUSE I KNOW THAT WE DO HAVE, YOU KNOW, A TEDX PROGRAM REQUIRING CERTAIN REQUIREMENTS FOR BUILDING TO MAKE SURE THAT THE POLICE DEPARTMENT HAS ACCESS AND UNDERSTANDS THE NEW CONSTRUCTION TO ENSURE SAFETY.
OF COURSE, A GROWING CITY, PUTTING MORE PEOPLE IN AN AREA IS GOING TO CAUSE SOME FRICTION, INCREASES THE RANDOMNESS OF SOME STRANGE EVENTS THAT REALLY HAS NOTHING TO DO WITH ANY PARTICULAR REGION.
BUT SOMETIMES YOU GET CAUGHT IN THE CROSSFIRE.
THERE WAS NOTHING IN YOUR REPORT ABOUT THAT.
I DON'T THINK IT WAS MEANT TO BE IN THAT REPORT.
BUT CAN YOU COMMENT A LITTLE BIT ON HOW YOU SEE CITIES GROWING LIKE OURS ARE GROWING, AND IF YOU HAVE ANY INFORMATION ABOUT HOW OUR CITY IS DEVELOPING IN A WAY TO PROTECT THE CURRENT AND FUTURE RESIDENTS FROM A SAFETY PERSPECTIVE.
NOW, IT DID COME UP IN A COUPLE OF PLACES.
SO I MENTIONED THAT IN A LOT OF ORGANIZATIONS THERE'S SOME SILOING THAT OCCURS, PARTICULARLY AROUND DEVELOPMENT, THAT IT'S OFTEN JUST THE PLANNING DEPARTMENT AND OTHER DEVELOPMENT TYPES OF ENTITIES.
THE CITY INVOLVES THE PUBLIC SAFETY ENTITIES AS WELL WHEN THEY'RE HAVING THOSE DISCUSSIONS.
AND WE THINK THAT'S THAT'S VERY USEFUL BECAUSE IT DOES PROVIDE THE OPPORTUNITY FOR THE POLICE OR THE FIRE DEPARTMENT TO WEIGH IN ON, WELL, WHAT ARE WE GOING TO DO TO ENSURE AS MUCH PUBLIC SAFETY AS WE CAN WITHIN THE DEVELOPMENT THAT'S OCCURRING IN THESE DIFFERENT PLACES? SO THAT'S JUST ONE OF THE THINGS THAT CAME UP IN THE DISCUSSIONS THAT SUGGESTED TO ME THAT THEY'RE AWARE OF THAT AND TAKE IT INTO CONSIDERATION.
BUT IT WAS NOT SOMETHING WE LOOKED SPECIFICALLY AT.
OKAY. NO, I THINK THAT'S PROBABLY PART OF OUR JOB, TOO, IS AS WE GO FORWARD TO MAKE SURE THAT OUR RESIDENTS KNOW THAT EVERY PROJECT THAT COMES FORWARD, THIS IS A BIG, STRONG PORTION OF WHAT WE TALK ABOUT.
AND I'M LOOKING AT CHIEF IN CASE HE HAS ANY COMMENTS ONCE I MAKE ANY COMMENTS ON THAT.
SURE. AS YOU KNOW, COUNCILMAN MARCIANO, WE HAVE A VERY CLOSE RELATIONSHIP WITH PLANNING AND ZONING, LOOKING AT ALL THE BUILDING RULES, AS DOES OUR FIRE DEPARTMENT. SO A BIG A BIG CRIME PREVENTION THROUGH ENVIRONMENTAL DESIGN OR DESIGNING OUT CRIME BEFORE IT OCCURS.
SO IT'S A BIG IT'S A BIG PROGRAM WITH THE POLICE DEPARTMENT.
YOU KNOW, AS WE SAY, DESIGNING OUT CRIME.
THE RELATIONSHIP WITH PLANNING AND ZONING COULD NOT BE BETTER.
AND THE SAME WITH THE FIRE DEPARTMENT AND THE THINGS THAT THEY LOOK AT AND ALL THE BUILDING PLANS.
BUT AND AS YOU KNOW, WHEN WITH CHIEF STEP, HE CREATED A GRAPH YEARS AGO WHICH WE HAVE CARRIED ON AND WE UPDATE EVERY YEAR THAT SHOWS THE TREMENDOUS, TREMENDOUS GROWTH IN POPULATION OF THE CITY AND THE DESCENDING CRIME RATE, WHICH WE CONTINUE TO BE AT
[00:40:09]
RECORD LOW CRIME RATES IN THE CITY.SO AND WE'LL CONTINUE TO DO THAT.
AND I'M NOT TRYING TO EXCLUDE CHIEF PRYOR BACK THERE.
HE'S LOOKING AT ME FUNNY. I DON'T KNOW IF YOU WANTED TO MAKE A COMMENT.
WE HAVE A VERY ROBUST FIRE INSPECTION PROGRAM.
EVERY BUSINESS IN THIS CITY GETS INSPECTED ANNUALLY.
WE LOOK AT STAFFING BEING THAT WE ARE A DULY ACCREDITED AGENCY.
WE LOOK AT THOSE BENCHMARKS FOR OUR RESPONSE TIMES.
NOT ONLY DO WE MEET THEM, BUT WE ARE LOOKING TO IMPROVE THAT BENCHMARK EVERY YEAR.
SO THAT'S LOOKED AT ALMOST DAILY FOR US AS FAR AS THOSE RESPONSE TIMES, MAKING SURE THAT WE'RE MEETING THOSE RESPONSE TIMES, ALL THOSE REQUIREMENTS BY THE COMMISSION. THANK YOU.
AND I DO HAVE A COUPLE OTHER QUESTIONS.
DO YOU WANT TO GO ON TO SOMEONE ELSE? I'M HAPPY TO. JUST LET ME KNOW WHEN YOU GO FOR IT.
LET'S JUST LET'S GET IT ALL OUT.
OKAY. THE WORKFORCE, HOUSING, WE HAVE CONSTANT CONVERSATIONS ABOUT THIS.
WE OBVIOUSLY HAVE THE CDBG GRANTS.
IT'S HELPED US WITH SOME OF THE OLDER COMMUNITIES AND REHABILITATING OLDER HOMES.
YOU MENTIONED WORKFORCE HOUSING FUNDING GOING TOWARDS THOSE THINGS.
WHAT AND I DON'T KNOW IF YOU HAVE THE ANSWER TO THIS EITHER, BUT I'M GOING TO USE THIS SENSE.
WHAT WHAT TYPE OF PERCENTAGE OF WORKFORCE HOUSING DOLLARS ARE SPENT ON REHAB VERSUS ALLOWING DENSITY AND WORKFORCE HOUSING UNITS WITHIN NEW CONSTRUCTION? THAT'S A THAT'S A GOOD QUESTION THAT I DON'T KNOW OFF THE TOP OF MY HEAD, BUT I WOULD BE HAPPY TO RESEARCH THAT IN SOME OF THE PLACES THAT WE LOOK AT, THAT IS GOING TO DEPEND ON THE COMMUNITY. SO, FOR EXAMPLE, WE DID A RESIDENTIAL TAX ABATEMENT EVALUATION FOR THE CITY OF CLEVELAND, AND THAT'S AN OLD I MEAN, A REALLY OLD CITY AND HOUSING STOCK IS REALLY DETERIORATED.
I HAVE ONE LAST QUESTION AND I'LL SHUT UP.
I PROMISE. THE ONCE IN SALES TAX WE TALK ABOUT FOR FOR FOR HOPEFUL POTENTIAL.
PUTTING THAT TO THE TAXPAYERS OF THE COUNTY FOR FOR TRANSPORTATION IN 2024.
TODAY. THANKS, MARIA, FOR BEING HERE.
WHEN IT COMES TO HOUSING AND WHAT COMES TO WATER AND WHAT COMES TO FIRE.
THERE'S SO MANY DIFFERENT ENTITIES THAT ARE THAT ARE COMPETING FOR TAX DOLLARS FOR THE RESIDENTS.
HOW MANY TIMES DO YOU SEE MULTIPLE INITIATIVES COME UP IN A COUNTY LIKE THIS, AND HOW DOES THAT IMPACT WHAT SOME PRIORITIES MIGHT SEEM HIGHER OR LOWER? AND BECAUSE MOBILITY, HOUSING, I MEAN, THESE ARE ALL BIG, BIG ISSUES.
AND OUR CURRENT TAX STRUCTURE DOESN'T QUITE COVER ALL OF THOSE THINGS.
SO HOW DOES THAT IMPACT WHEN YOU HAVE MULTIPLE QUESTIONS ON A BALLOT? YEAH, YOU THAT HAPPENS A LOT AND WE SEE THAT IN A LOT OF PLACES.
SO WE DO QUITE A BIT OF WORK AROUND THE D.C.
AREA. AND NORTHERN VIRGINIA IS JUST IS CONSTANT GRIDLOCK.
AND THEY HAVE BEEN ABLE TO GET APPROVAL FROM VOTERS FOR THINGS IN THAT AREA THAT MAYBE THEY WOULDN'T HAVE IN SOME OTHER AREAS, WHICH ISN'T TO SAY THERE AREN'T OTHER INITIATIVES. YOU SEE LOTS OF INITIATIVES AROUND SALES OR PROPERTY TAX FOR PUBLIC SAFETY, FOR EMS SERVICES IS OFTEN SOMETHING THAT GETS APPROVED BY VOTERS.
BUT BY AND LARGE, TRANSPORTATION HAS A PRETTY HIGH SUCCESS RATE.
[00:45:04]
THANK YOU. MARK, IF YOU WANT ME TO COME BACK TO YOU, JUST LET ME KNOW.I DON'T REALLY HAVE ANY QUESTIONS RIGHT NOW.
I MIGHT CIRCLE BACK AS WE TALK AND ABSORB WHAT YOU GUYS HAVE TO SAY.
BUT, YOU KNOW, I WORK FOR THIS CITY FOR MOST OF MY ADULT LIFE UNDER CHIEF STEPP, WHO'S NOW THE ASSISTANT CITY MANAGER, WHO I STILL CALL CHIEF AND. AND I'VE BEEN A COUNCIL MEMBER FOR ALL OF US, HAS BEEN A COUNCIL MEMBER FOR YEARS NOW.
SO YOU KIND OF WONDER HOW WE GOT HERE.
WHY? WHAT'S SO GOOD ABOUT THE CITY AND WHY ARE WE ATTRACTING ALL THIS STUFF? AND, YOU KNOW, I JUST KIND OF COME BACK TO OUR CORE VALUES.
YOU KNOW, DURING THE EPIDEMIC, WE TOOK CARE OF OUR FAMILIES.
WE TOOK CARE OF OUR SMALL BUSINESSES.
THE CHAMBER FOLKS WHO ARE SITTING RIGHT HERE, WE HAVE VERY TIGHT RELATIONSHIPS WITH OUR CHAMBER COMMISSIONER MARIA MORENO IS HERE AND THESE PEOPLE ARE THERE.
THEY'RE JUST NOT PEOPLE WITH OTHER TITLES.
IT OPERATED SO SMOOTHLY, YOU JUST ABSORB ALL THIS.
IT SEEMS LIKE IT'S SO MUCH GOOD INFORMATION.
WHERE IS THE PROBLEM? WHAT'S THE UNDERLYING, YOU KNOW? BUT SO FOR ME PERSONALLY, IT WAS AND I TALKED TO RON ABOUT THIS A FEW MONTHS AGO WHEN I KNEW THERE WAS A STUDY GOING ON TO HAVE SOMEBODY FROM THE OUTSIDE COME IN AND LOOK AT THE GLOBAL PICTURE OF WHAT WE'RE DOING BECAUSE WE LEAN ON STAFF.
YOU KNOW, IT'S REALLY IT IS REALLY GOING THE RIGHT DIRECTION.
FLORIDA POWER AND LIGHT WAS HERE A FEW MINUTES AGO AND HE LEFT.
SO I DON'T HAVE ANY QUESTIONS NOW.
I JUST, YOU KNOW, I DON'T REALLY WONDER WHY THE CITY IS THE WAY IT IS BECAUSE, YOU KNOW, WE LIVE IN.
YOU KNOW, LIKE OUR OUR STAFF'S, OUR FAMILY.
I'M NOT CARL, THE COUNCIL MEMBER.
THEY CALL ME COUNCIL MEMBER WOODS.
I'M LIKE, NO, IT'S KARL, YOU KNOW.
AND WE GOT GREEN GUYS, CHRIS IN THE BACK.
HE'S BEEN HERE FOR LIKE 2 SECONDS, AND I HOPE THAT HE WILL BE AROUND FOR A LONG TIME.
SO THANKS. WELL, I WOULD MAKE ONE COMMENT AND THANK YOU, COUNCILMAN, FOR YOUR COMMENTS.
YOU KNOW, WE OFTEN THINK ABOUT BECAUSE WE'RE DOING THIS WORK ACROSS THE COUNTRY IN CITIES OF ALL DIFFERENT, YOU KNOW, ON THE SPECTRUM IS WHAT IS KIND OF THE SECRET SAUCE FOR CITIES THAT ARE AT THAT TOP LEVEL.
THERE'S NOT KIND OF LITTLE TURF FIGHTS AND THAT THAT REALLY HELPS.
AND IT WAS SOMETHING THAT YOU TOUCHED ON EARLIER WHERE ALL OF OUR DIVISIONS WORK TOGETHER.
THERE'S OPEN DOORS FOR FROM PUBLIC WORKS TO THE POLICE, THE FIRE.
AND RON EXPECTS THESE THESE THESE DIVISIONS TO WORK COLLECTIVELY TO TO REACH A COMMON GOAL.
AND AND MAYBE SOME CITIES DON'T DO THAT.
AND THEN YOU GET DIVISION AND THEN YOU GET MISCOMMUNICATION AND STUFF.
SO WE CONSTANTLY ARE BRAGGING ON OUR ON STAFF AND YOU KNOW, AND WHERE'S KUMEROW SEE EVEN HERE.
OH, THERE HE IS. MR. WHAT? I DON'T EVEN KNOW HOW MANY BOARDS HE'S GOTTEN OVER THE YEARS, BUT IT'S JUST, IT'S JUST, IT IS, IT'S, IT'S, IT'S OPEN DOOR POLICY COMMUNICATION AND HAVING A COMMON GOAL TO
[00:50:03]
SERVE THE COMMUNITY.AND THEN YOU GET PALM BEACH GARDENS.
SO YEAH, I DID A, WE WERE DOING AN ORGANIZATIONAL ASSESSMENT FOR A LARGE AND TRIPLE A-RATED CITY IN THE MIDWEST THAT, YOU KNOW, DOES WELL. AND THEY WERE ONE OF THESE CITIES, I THINK, THAT JUST HAS SO MANY ADVANTAGES THAT WOULD BE HARD FOR THEM NOT TO DO PRETTY WELL.
BUT THERE WERE SILOS EVERYWHERE.
AND AND IT WAS REALLY DIFFICULT FOR SOME OF THE INITIATIVES TO MOVE FORWARD BECAUSE OF THAT.
AND, YOU KNOW, WE MADE SOME RECOMMENDATIONS, BREAK THEM DOWN.
I DON'T KNOW IF THAT'S GOING TO WORK OR NOT, BUT WE DIDN'T I DIDN'T SEE ANY OF THAT HERE.
AND THAT IS SOMETHING TO BE VERY PLEASED WITH.
WELL, GOOD TO KNOW. AND I APPRECIATE YOUR EFFORT.
THANK YOU, MR. BROWN. THANK YOU.
CARL ROCHELLE, I THINK YOU HAD SOMETHING YOU WANT TO FOLLOW UP ON MARK'S QUESTIONING.
YEAH. I HAVE SOME DISCUSSION THAT WE CAN GET INTO LATER ON ON COMMUNITY ISSUES.
INTERVIEWING THE COMMUNITY AND TALKING TO THE COMMUNITY ABOUT THE GROWTH AND WHAT'S BEEN HAPPENING WAS NOT A PART OF THIS AT ALL, WAS IT? NO. AGAIN, BECAUSE IT WAS A VERY SHORT TIME FRAME AND BECAUSE WE HAD SO MANY TOPICS TO COVER, WE COULDN'T DO, LIKE SOUNDING BOARD MEETINGS OR ANYTHING LIKE THAT. WE WERE JUST LOOKING AT OPERATIONS AND LOOKING AT THE SPECIFICS OF DIFFERENT KINDS OF DEVELOPMENT.
BUT THAT CERTAINLY, I AGREE, IS SOMETHING THAT I'M SURE YOU ALL DO IN ARE AWARE OF.
I WASN'T EVEN ON MY RADAR UNTIL MARK KIND OF MENTIONED IT WITH ALL OF THE DIFFERENT REQUESTS, THE BOND REQUESTS THAT ARE COMING FORWARD THAT HE BROUGHT UP.
DO YOU DEAL WITH OTHER CITIES THAT ARE IN STATES WHERE YOU CAN'T ADVOCATE OR EDUCATE THE PEOPLE ABOUT WHAT THOSE REFERENDUMS ARE? AND HOW DO YOU GET AROUND THAT WHEN YOU'RE DEALING WITH IMPORTANT ISSUES THAT WE HAVE TO DEAL WITH? I GUESS I DON'T SAY YOU MEAN BECAUSE THERE ARE LEGAL REQUIREMENTS THAT DON'T ALLOW THE STATE DOES NOT ALLOW US TO EDUCATE OR ADVOCATE FOR ANY REFERENDUMS THAT WE OR THE COUNTY PLACE ON THE BALLOT AS OF LAST YEAR.
SO THAT MAKES OUR JOB INHERENTLY MUCH MORE DIFFICULT TO GET THE WORD OUT.
I WOULD SEE WHY THAT WOULD BE DIFFICULT.
I'M NOT SEEING THAT IN IN THE PLACES THAT WE WORK NOW.
BUT I WOULD AT LEAST THINK THAT IF THE COUNCILS IDENTIFIED PROJECTS THAT THEY WOULD.
IF NOTHING ELSE, JUST IN A PLANNING CAPACITY THAT MIGHT BE FUNDED FROM A FROM RESOURCES THAT SEEMS LIKE THAT WOULD AT LEAST BE ACCEPTABLE.
BUT AGAIN, DON'T TAKE MY LEGAL WORD FOR IT.
YEAH. THAT SOUNDS LIKE AN INTERESTING IDEA.
OKAY. DO YOU WANT TO GO TO MARCY AND COME BACK TO ME? SINCE I JUST HAPPY TO FOLLOW UP? MY PLEASURE, MARCY.
THANK YOU. FIRST, I WANT TO THANK STAFF FOR TAKING THE INITIATIVE TO DOING THIS REPORT.
I AND YOU OBVIOUSLY FOR WRITING THE REPORT.
SO I APPRECIATE THAT VERY MUCH.
I DO HAVE SOME QUESTIONS AND THEN I WANTED TO SHARE MY TAKEAWAYS FROM THE REPORT AND THANK YOU.
BUT THE PHRASE GROWTH ISSUE AND WESTERN GROWTH ISSUES CAME UP NUMEROUS TIMES IN THE REPORT.
AND I GUESS MY QUESTION WAS, DOES THIS JUST IMPLY THE BASIC CHALLENGES OF GROWTH OR ARE YOU REFERRING MORE TO TRAFFIC? OR WAS THERE SOMETHING SPECIFIC THAT YOU MEANT BY GROWTH ISSUES IN WESTERN GROWTH ISSUES IN GENERAL? I THINK YOU'RE RIGHT THAT IF WE'RE JUST SAYING GROWTH ISSUES, IT IS JUST THE CHALLENGES THAT ARE ALWAYS GOING TO OCCUR BECAUSE OF GROWTH.
AND SO AND THEY'RE ALL KIND OF INTERCONNECTED.
SO WE SOMETIMES POINT TO SPECIFIC INSTANCES, BUT IF WE'RE NOT TALKING SPECIFICALLY, WE'RE JUST TALKING ABOUT GROWTH AND THE KEY WAYS AROUND THAT IS MANAGING GROWTH. SO THEN THE CITY IS VERY AWARE OF THAT.
AND I THINK A LOT OF WHAT THEY'RE ALREADY TALKING ABOUT OF HOW AVANIR IS DEVELOPING AND WHAT THEY'RE APPROVING FOR THE DEVELOPMENT TAKES THAT INTO CONSIDERATION.
I THINK THEY CAN TALK MORE ABOUT THINGS LIKE COUNTER-CYCLICAL TRAFFIC MOVEMENT.
[00:55:02]
I MEAN, I SEE IF YOU WANT TO ADD ANYTHING TO THAT, PLEASE DO.AVENUE IS AN EXCELLENT EXAMPLE OF HOW THE CITY IS FORWARD THINKING IN TRYING TO DO GROWTH THE RIGHT WAY AND THE PROPOSAL TO INCLUDE A MIXED USE DEVELOPMENT WITH EMPLOYMENT, A VIBRANT TOWN CENTER, RECREATIONAL AMENITIES, SCHOOLS, MEDICAL OFFICE WAS SUCH AN IMPORTANT PART OF THAT GROWTH, WHICH WAS ULTIMATELY APPROVED AT WEST IN ORDER TO ADDRESS TRAFFIC, INTERNAL CAPTURE AND A HEALTHY COMMUNITY.
SO THAT'S A REALLY IMPORTANT EXAMPLE OF HOW THIS CITY APPROACHES GROWTH, ESPECIALLY GROWTH THAT IS AS SIGNIFICANT AS A LARGE MIXED USE PROJECT.
THANK YOU. ALTON AS WELL, I GUESS COULD BE ADDED TO THAT.
YEAH, COMMUNITY OUTREACH AND EDUCATION WAS ALSO MENTIONED NUMEROUS TIMES IN YOUR REPORT.
ONE QUOTE WAS THE CITY SHOULD ENSURE ITS PROCESS INCLUDES SUCH OUTREACH.
ARE YOU SUGGESTING A CHARRETTE TO DISCUSS STRATEGIC GROWTH PLANS POTENTIALLY, OR WORKSHOPS TO EDUCATE OUR RESIDENTS ON SUBJECTS LIKE TOD AND STRATEGIC PLANNING, ANNEXATION OR EXPANDING THE TOD FUTURE SURTAX INITIATIVES? IS THAT WHAT YOU'RE IMPLYING? YEAH. I MEAN, THE USE OF THE WORD INSURED DOESN'T IMPLY THAT YOU'RE NOT DOING IT.
IT'S JUST THAT THESE ARE AREAS YOU'RE GOING TO JUST BE MINDFUL OF IT.
MY UNDERSTANDING IS YOU ALREADY DO DO A FAIR AMOUNT.
I MEAN, THIS IS A WORKSHOP, RIGHT? ABSOLUTELY. SO.
SO WE'RE NOT SUGGESTING YOU'RE NOT DOING THAT.
IT'S KIND OF LIKE DUE DILIGENCE.
YOU KNOW, JUST MAKE SURE THAT AS YOU ARE GOING THROUGH THESE MAJOR EFFORTS AND YOU TICKED OFF SEVERAL OF THAT ARE MAJOR AND IMPORTANT INITIATIVES THAT YOU DO HAVE THAT PUBLIC ENGAGEMENT.
WE DO HAVE OUR MONTHLY COUNCIL MEETINGS.
WE TOUCH ON A LOT OF THESE ISSUES OR WE TALKED ABOUT WORKFORCE HOUSING SO MANY TIMES THIS YEAR BECAUSE IT'S SOMETHING THAT IS DEFINITELY A CHALLENGE FOR ALL AGE GROUPS, NOT JUST ONE OR THE OTHER.
AND I FEEL LIKE THAT IS A GOOD THING TO TOUCH ON.
IS THAT CORRECT? YES, MA'AM, THAT IS CORRECT.
BUT I JUST WANT TO POINT OUT POINT OUT THAT WE'RE TALKING ABOUT TWO DIFFERENT PROCESSES HERE.
ONE IS THE SEPARATE BUDGETING PROCESS, WHICH IS ADDRESSED WITH THE OPEN GOVT PLATFORM.
THE OTHER THAT I THINK MR. BAUER REFERENCES IN HIS REPORT IS OUR FORECAST BUDGET MODEL, A TEN YEAR MODEL.
HE MADE A SIMPLE SUGGESTION THAT THAT'S NOT INCLUDED IN OUR TEN YEAR HISTORICAL PROJECTION MODEL.
BUT WE DO HAVE A VERY THOROUGH PROCESS WHERE WE GO THROUGH TO ANALYZE OUR ACTUAL RESULTS, TO DETERMINE HELP US DETERMINE WHAT THE ASSUMPTIONS ARE USED IN OUR TEN YEAR MODEL.
AND SO BUT TO YOUR POINT, THE OPEN GOVT PLATFORM, THE SEPARATE BUDGETING MODULE, WILL ASSIST US GREATLY IN ANALYZING HISTORICAL ACTUAL FINANCIAL RESULTS, WHICH WILL HELP US TO DETERMINE AND PROJECT INTO TO ACTUALLY PREPARE THE TEN YEAR PROJECTION MODEL.
I DON'T THINK IT REALLY MATERIALLY IMPACTS MUCH OF WHAT GOES ON IN THE CITY.
I DON'T KNOW THE ACTUAL LINGO, BUT IT IS EASIER TO UTILIZE AND SEE AND LOOK AT THE ACTUALS VERSUS.
BUT I GET YOU. THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR THAT EXPLANATION.
YOU DID TOUCH ON IT IN YOUR PRESENTATION, WHICH WAS ONE OF MY QUESTIONS, AND THAT WAS WHY.
WHY DO YOU STILL RECOMMEND BONDING INFRASTRUCTURE, ESPECIALLY IN THIS HIGH INTEREST RATE ENVIRONMENT? YOU DID TOUCH ON THAT A LITTLE BIT.
[01:00:01]
SO IF YOU CAN ELABORATE A LITTLE BIT AS TO WHY YOU FEEL THAT WAY, JUST SO I CAN UNDERSTAND, SO I CAN TALK ABOUT THIS FOR THE REST OF THE DAY, I DON'T THINK YOU'VE PETERS DIGEST VIRGIN AGAIN.IT'S ALWAYS GOING TO BE A COST BENEFIT ANALYSIS.
INTEREST RATES ARE HIGHER, BUT CONSTRUCTION INFLATION HAS ALSO INCREASED SIGNIFICANTLY.
AND THOSE ARE THE POINTS OF COMPARISON IN GENERAL FOR BONDING FOR INFRASTRUCTURE.
AGAIN, THOUGH, YOU ALSO HAVE TO WEIGH AT WHAT POINT IN TIME WILL WE BE ABLE TO USE THAT NEW INFRASTRUCTURE AND ARE WE GOING TO VALUE THAT AND ADD THAT TO THE EQUATION? AND THEN YOU HAVE TO TAKE INTO CONSIDERATION THAT THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT IS SUBSIDIZING PART OF THE COST OF BORROWING BECAUSE YOU GET TO BORROW ON A TAX EXEMPT BASIS. SO IN GENERAL, GOVERNMENTS ARE STILL BONDING AND IT'S.
BUT THIS ONE AND THIS ISN'T MY WORLD.
THEY'RE STILL OF THE OPINION THAT FOR THESE KINDS OF PUBLIC INFRASTRUCTURE PROJECTS IS PROBABLY A GOOD DEAL TAKING WHEN YOU BUILD INTO WHAT YOU THINK THE CONSTRUCTION INDUSTRY INFLATION IS GOING TO BE GOING FORWARD.
THANK YOU. AND LAST QUESTION AND THEN I'LL SHARE SOME OF MY TAKEAWAYS.
CAN YOU GIVE ME YOUR THOUGHTS ON MILLAGE VERSUS OTHER REVENUE SOURCES, WHICH YOU DID TOUCH ON IN THE REPORT, SUCH AS USER FEES OR OTHER? I KNOW WE KEEP OUR.
WE PRIDE OURSELVES IN KEEPING OUR NO GARBAGE TAX.
YEAH. AND WE HAD A FAIRLY LENGTHY DISCUSSION WITH THE FINANCE FOLKS ABOUT COMPARISONS BECAUSE YOU'RE RIGHT, YOU CAN'T JUST COMPARE THE MILLAGE RATE FOR DIFFERENT ENTITIES BECAUSE DIFFERENT PLACES DO THINGS DIFFERENTLY.
SOME INCLUDE PUBLIC SAFETY AND THEY HAVE OR THEY HAVE SEPARATE SURCHARGES FOR THAT.
YOU DON'T WANT TO SIMPLY RELY ON ONE.
YOU DON'T WANT JUST WANT ONE BIG ONE BIG EGG IN THE BASKET, BECAUSE IF IT CRACKS, YOU'RE IN TROUBLE.
SO MAINTAINING A DIVERSITY OF REVENUE SOURCES IS GOOD.
SO THAT'S WHY WE BELIEVE THAT IT'S IMPORTANT THAT YOU KEEP THAT AT A LEVEL THAT IS RELATIVELY STABLE AND IT DOESN'T FLUCTUATE TOO MUCH BECAUSE THE PUBLIC WILL PUSH BACK IF THERE IS FLUCTUATION THAT THEY SEE, THAT THEY DON'T THEY'RE NOT GOING TO UNDERSTAND.
YOU CREATED THE TAXPAYER BILL OF RIGHTS IN COLORADO.
BUT WE JUST ALWAYS THINK OF THE REAL PROPERTY TAXES, THE GOLD STANDARD FOR LOCAL GOVERNMENTS.
IT'S ALSO THE ONE THAT THE STATE USUALLY DOESN'T FIDDLE WITH AS MUCH AS OTHER SOURCES.
IF YOU DO, IT'S A TAX AND THE STATE IS GOING TO HAVE ISSUES WITH THAT.
SO YOU SEE THOSE KINDS OF PLACES WHERE THE STATE WILL PUSH BACK IN A VARIETY OF OTHER LOCAL TAXES, BUT THEY REALLY DON'T AS MUCH ON REAL PROPERTY TAX BECAUSE THEY DON'T TAX REAL PROPERTY.
SO IT'S NOT SEEN AS SOMETHING THAT WILL BE IN COMPETITION WITH THEM AS IT RELATES TO TAXATION.
COULD YOU EXPLAIN A LITTLE MORE ABOUT THE TAX ABATEMENT IDEA AND WHETHER YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT RESIDENTIAL AND COMMERCIAL OR JUST RESIDENTIAL REVITALIZATION AND HOW IT WORKS? EXACTLY WHAT HAPPENS? SURE. I WAS TALKING JUST ABOUT RESIDENTIAL AND THIS THERE ARE DIFFERENT PROGRAMS. THEY DON'T ALL LOOK EXACTLY ALIKE, BUT ONE.
SO, FOR EXAMPLE, THAT JUST FOCUSES ON REHABILITATION.
A PROPERTY OWNER WOULD MAKE IMPROVEMENTS TO THEIR PROPERTY AND SUBMIT THE IT CAN BE A PLAN, IT CAN BE AN APPLICATION TO THE TAXING ENTITY.
[01:05:01]
A TEN YEARS IS KIND OF PRETTY COMMON FOR THAT PERIOD OF TIME.THE IMPROVEMENTS ON THE PROPERTY ARE ABATED FOR TAX PURPOSES.
THEN OF COURSE, ONCE THAT PERIOD RUNS OUT, IT GOES BACK ON TO THE REGULAR TAX ROLLS.
WOULD THE CITY NEED TO SET UP ITS OWN DEPARTMENT ON THAT, OR WOULD THAT GO THROUGH DOROTHY, JAX AND THE THE TAX COLLECTORS OF MOST PLACES IT'S DONE THROUGH WHEN THE COUNTY IS THE PROPERTY TAX ASSESSOR AS IT IS IN MOST STATES, THE COUNTY STILL OPERATES THAT THAT FUNCTION. BUT THERE THEY ARE AWARE OF THE FACT THAT IN THAT COMMUNITY THAT SHARE OF THE PROPERTY WILL BE ABATED FOR WHATEVER LENGTH OF TIME.
SO IT'S NOT YOU DON'T SET UP A CITY ENTITY TO DO THAT.
WE WOULD HAVE TO SET IT UP BY ORDINANCE HERE AND THEN THE COUNTY WOULD JUST ADMINISTER.
THAT'S THE WAY IT'S RUN, JUST ABOUT EVERYWHERE THAT I'M AWARE OF.
OKAY. IN YOUR DISCUSSION ON EXPANDING THE TODD.
IS THERE ANY LIST? HAVE, HAVE HAVE YOU PUT IT DOWN ANYWHERE? WHAT? TAKING IT OUT ONE MILE OR THREE MILE WOULD INCLUDE.
DO WE KNOW WHAT OTHER KEY PROPERTIES WOULD COME INTO PLAY AT THE ONE AND THREE MILE MARKER? I THINK.
I DON'T REMEMBER EXACTLY IF IT'S IN THERE, BUT.
I WOULD BE HAPPY TO ADDRESS THAT QUESTION.
SO THE TODD WAS IS A GEOGRAPHICAL AREA THAT IS WITHIN A HALF MILE RADIUS OF THE FUTURE DESIGNATED LIGHT RAIL STATION, WHICH IS GENERALLY LOCATED AT PGA AND A1, WHERE THE FEC RAIL TRACKS ARE IN POTENTIALLY EXPANDING THE. TODD THEN THAT WOULD BE ALL OF THE AREAS POTENTIALLY OUTSIDE THAT OUTSIDE THAT AREA.
TECHNICALLY, THE MALL IS JUST ON THE CUSP OF THAT HALF MILE RADIUS.
SO IN ORDER TO EVALUATE EXPANSION, THE PLANNING DEPARTMENT, IN CONJUNCTION WITH ALL OF THE OTHER DEVELOPMENT REVIEW COMMITTEE MEMBERS AND STAFF, WE ALWAYS WOULD LOOK AT COMPATIBILITY BECAUSE THE TOD IS INTENDED TO PROVIDE SIGNIFICANT INCENTIVES TOWARD INCREASING DENSITY, A VIBRANT, A MIXTURE OF USES.
IN FACT, THERE WAS GRAPHICS THAT WERE INCLUDED IN THE DOCUMENT ITSELF THAT TREASURE COAST REGIONAL PLANNING COUNCIL PROVIDED AS PART OF THE REPORT THAT INCLUDED GRAPHICS OF THE MALL. SO THERE HAS BEEN ALREADY SOME FORETHOUGHT OF THAT, BUT THE EXPANSION OF THE DENSITY WOULD HAVE TO BE EVALUATED WITH THE UTMOST CONSIDERATION TO OUR EXISTING COMMUNITIES.
AND I THINK ONE MILE WAS KIND OF WHAT WE WERE CONSIDERING AS THE KIND OF THE SWEET SPOT.
ANYTHING OTHER THAN THE MALL, NATALIE, THAT THAT IS IS MAJOR DEVELOPMENT REDEVELOPMENT IN THAT ONE MILE EXPANSE? WE HAVE NOT LOOKED AT THAT AT THIS POINT IN TIME, BUT THAT WOULD BE AN EXERCISE THAT WE WOULD HAVE TO GO THROUGH IN ORDER TO EVALUATE THE EXPANSION.
WHAT ABOUT THE BALANCE OF THE INCREASED DENSITIES WITHIN THE TOD AND MOVING FORWARD WITH INCREASING MOBILITY AT THE SAME TIME? DID YOU LOOK AT THE DIFFICULTIES WITH THAT OR IS THAT SOMETHING THAT YOU'RE RECOMMENDING WE DO INTERNALLY BECAUSE IT'S LIKE THE CART BEFORE THE EGG, YOU'RE GOING TO PUT ALL THIS DENSITY IN AND THEN EVERYBODY'S COMPLAINING ABOUT THE TRAFFIC AND THEN YOU GOT TO GO BACK AND DO THE MOBILITY.
IT'S KIND OF GOT TO WORK TOGETHER.
WELL, I MEAN, I THINK THE NICE THING IS YOU ALREADY DO HAVE A MOBILITY PLAN THAT YOU'RE WORKING ON.
FURTHER ALONG IN SOME WAYS IN SOME OF THE DENSITY PROJECTS THAT MIGHT OCCUR.
I MEAN, WE'RE IT'S IT'S DENSE ENOUGH, BUT WE DON'T THINK THAT'S THERE YET.
OKAY. AND I GUESS THE LAST ONE HAD TO DO WITH YOU MENTIONED IN THE REPORT, ONE OF THE PROBLEMS THAT CITIES FACE IS THAT OUTSIDE CORPORATIONS ARE COMING IN AND PURCHASING HOUSING AS PART OF THE WORKFORCE HOUSING.
[01:10:03]
I MEAN, THERE'S A REAL CHALLENGE ACROSS THE COUNTRY IN THAT INVESTORS ARE PURCHASING A VERY SIGNIFICANT PORTION OF HOUSING FOR RENT PURPOSES, AND IT'S DRIVING UP RENTS, TOO.AND I'M SURE YOU'RE GOING TO HAVE TO AS WELL.
NO RECOMMENDATIONS AS YET ON WHAT OTHER CITIES ARE DOING TO PREVENT.
I DON'T HAVE ANY RECOMMENDATIONS RIGHT NOW.
I THINK THIS IS ONE OF THOSE KIND OF OPEN QUESTIONS THAT YOU ALL NEED TO BE AWARE OF AND AND SMARTER MINDS THAN MINE ARE GOING TO HAVE TO FIGURE IT OUT. THANK YOU.
MARCIA, WE'LL COME BACK TO YOU FOR YOUR COMMENTS.
NOW, AS I SAID, I HAVE A LOT OF TAKEAWAYS FROM THIS.
I WAS VERY I REALLY, REALLY ENJOYED THIS REPORT.
IT BROUGHT A LOT OF THOUGHT TO IT.
AND NOW I'VE BEEN THINKING ABOUT IT EVER SINCE I'VE READ IT.
ONE OF THEM, WHICH IS I'M PROUD TO SAY, AND I KNOW WE ALL ARE, IS THAT THE WE, THE CITY OF PALM BEACH GARDENS HAS THE LOWEST POPULATION PER SQUARE MILE, WHICH YOU WOULDN'T THINK CONSIDERING OUR DIVERSITY AND LAND USE AND ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT AND 60,000 PEOPLE.
SO I APPRECIATED THAT POINT BEING MADE IN THE REPORT.
ALSO, AGAIN, WE'RE TALKING ABOUT WORKFORCE HOUSING BECAUSE IT'S ON EVERYONE'S MIND.
THAT'S SOMETHING THAT WE HEAR NO MATTER WHERE WE ARE.
WE WERE JUST AT THE LEAGUE OF CITIES CONFERENCE.
THAT WAS A BIG TOPIC AMONGST ALL OF THE MUNICIPALITIES AND PEOPLE THROUGHOUT THE ENTIRE STATE AND OF COURSE, MENTIONED MANY TIMES IN THIS REPORT. BUT I THINK IT'S VERY CLEAR THAT WORKFORCE HOUSING IS A KEY COMPONENT TO ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT, AND IT'S ALSO A VITAL COMPONENT TO THE SUCCESS OF OFFICE ENVIRONMENT, WHICH WE HAVE A VERY HEALTHY OFFICE ENVIRONMENT IN THIS CITY.
AS A LAND PLANNER FOR MANY YEARS AND NOW MANAGING COMMERCIAL OFFICE SPACE FOR THE LAST 18.
IN WEST PALM AND BOCA, I CAN ATTEST THAT ALL OF THE PROSPECTS OF RECENT ALL ASKED FOR AFFORDABILITY FOR THEIR EMPLOYEES AND THEY WANT TO KNOW WHEN THEY COME HERE FROM ALL OVER CONNECTICUT AND NEW YORK AND ALL ALL OF THE MIDWEST AREAS, THEY THEY WANT TO KNOW WHERE THEIR ADMINISTRATIVE ASSISTANT AND EMPLOYEES CAN LIVE.
AND I FEEL LIKE AFTER READING THIS REPORT, TAX ABATEMENT FOR HOUSING, IN ADDITION TO OUR ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT, TAX ABATEMENT ISSUES OR INITIATIVES, URBAN ENTERPRISE ZONES OR TRANSIT ORIENTED ZONES, DENSITY BONUS PROGRAMS. ZONING BY RIGHTS IS SOMETHING THAT I WORK IN LAKE COUNTY AND ORANGE COUNTY A LOT.
HORIZON WEST I'VE SEEN LAKE COUNTIES, WHAT THEY DID WRONG AND I'VE SEEN WHAT THEY'VE DONE RIGHT.
THEY'RE TRYING TO CORRECT IT NOW.
AND AND THEY DID THINGS LIKE MINIMUM THRESHOLDS FOR DENSITY.
AND I THINK YOU TOUCHED ON THAT IN YOUR REPORT NOT CASHING OUT OF OF WORKFORCE HOUSING IF A DEVELOPMENT OVER A CERTAIN SIZE IF IT'S A LARGER DEVELOPMENT.
ALL OF THESE THINGS EXPANDING OUR TOD THAT RACHELLE JUST TALKED ABOUT.
I THINK THESE ARE ALL THINGS THAT WE SHOULD LOOK AT BECAUSE I THINK THEY DO ADDRESS AND HELP WORKFORCE HOUSING ON MORE OF A IMMEDIATE BASIS VERSUS SOMETHING THAT COULD HAPPEN WITH FINANCING OVER TIME.
I TALKED ABOUT WEST PALM BEACH A LITTLE BIT, AND THEY ADOPTED IN THEIR LAND USE REGULATIONS, MICRO UNITS, WHICH IS SOMETHING THAT THE YOUNGER GENERATION FOR SOME REASON LOVES TINY, TINY LITTLE PLACES, BUT THEY LOVE IT AND THEY LOVE TOADS.
AND THAT'S ANOTHER THING THAT WORK ENVIRONMENT IS TOUCHING ON.
THEY LOVE TO SEE WHERE THE TRI RAIL STATION IS.
BUT IT'S ALSO, I GUESS, CHALLENGING AND IT'S SOMETHING STRESSFUL.
IT'S SOMETHING THAT OUR RESIDENTS AND OUR COMMUNITIES, THEY ASK US ABOUT A LOT.
WHEN YOU SAY GROWTH, THEY THINK DENSITY AND THEN THEY GET VERY NERVOUS AND THEN THEY THINK TRAFFIC.
SO I APPRECIATE YOUR THOUGHTFUL CRITICISM.
VERY, VERY THOUGHTFUL, BECAUSE YOU DID TALK ABOUT CONSENSUS BUILDING WITH OUR COMMUNITIES AND OUR BUSINESS, WHICH WHICH WE DO THAT A LOT.
BUT I THINK AT A COUNCIL MEETING, IT'S HARD BECAUSE NO ONE REALLY COMES.
[01:15:04]
WE DON'T KNOW WHO'S WATCHING, HAVING CHARADES.TREASURE COAST. WE BROUGHT THEM IN HERE WITH KIM DELANEY.
SHE DOES A GREAT JOB WITH THAT.
THEY DO A LOT OF DIFFERENT EDUCATION EVENTS AND THAT'S SOMETHING THAT IS VERY, VERY HELPFUL.
WE'VE MAINTAINED AFTER THINKING ABOUT THAT, WE'VE MAINTAINED RELATIVELY ABOUT THE SAME NUMBER OF EMPLOYEES IN P AND Z IN OUR BUILDING DEPARTMENT OVER THE LAST DECADE WITH A HUGE SURGE IN GROWTH AND AND THE ANNEXATION, I MIGHT ADD.
SO WE KNOW MARKETS ARE FLUID AND WITH THAT TIME LAPSES, MARKET CHANGES.
BUT I REALLY WANT TO GIVE A KUDOS TO NATALIE AND HER TEAM AND SCOTT AND THEIR TEAM IN OUR CITY, BECAUSE AFTER LOOKING THAT AND READING THIS, THE REPORT EMPHASIZED ON HOW MUCH REVIEW AND PERMITTING HAS OCCURRED IN THE LAST DECADE.
AND WHEN YOU TAKE A LOOK BACK, IT'S IMPRESSIVE.
AND I JUST WANT TO SAY THANK YOU BECAUSE YOU'VE DONE THAT WITH A LACK OF RESOURCES FOR SURE.
ALL OF YOU GUYS, AND I APPRECIATE THAT.
AND THIS REPORT REALLY POINTED THAT OUT AND I HAD TO PAUSE AND THINK ABOUT THAT.
SO I WANT TO SAY THANK YOU WITH THAT.
WHEN YOU TOUCHED A LITTLE BIT ON RAIL, IT'S A COSTLY COMPONENT TO A TRANSIT ORIENT ZONE, DEFINITELY.
AND I KNOW THAT THIS SAYS WE DEFINITELY NEED TO STUDY FURTHER OR TAKE A CLOSER LOOK AT IT, BUT WE CAN CONSIDER TIFFS AND GIFTS AND ALL OF THOSE TAX INCREMENT FINANCE DISTRICTS, ALL OF THOSE OPPORTUNITIES FOR RAIL BUT ALSO FOR ELECTRIC. MOLLY THE TROLLEY MAYBE, BUT WE TALKED ABOUT THAT YEARS AGO AND I THINK NOW IT'S COMING TO FRUITION.
BUT ALL OF THESE THINGS SHOULD BE LOOKED AT, CAREFULLY LOOKED AT BECAUSE IF YOU OVER IF YOU OVERDO IT WITH THOSE, IT COULD REALLY PUT THE CITY IN A IN A BIND IF THEY'RE TOO HEAVILY WEIGHTED WITH INFRASTRUCTURE COSTS.
SO BUT IT IS EXCITING AND I REALLY WOULD LOVE TO SEE THAT HAPPEN IN THE NEAR FUTURE BECAUSE THAT REALLY WOULD REALLY, REALLY BE A KEY TO OUR TOD AND I AGREE ONCE AGAIN THAT IT'S IMPORTANT TO TO EDUCATE OUR RESIDENTS BECAUSE I KNOW THAT THEY'RE CONCERNED ABOUT HOW OUR CITY IS GROWING, AS ARE WE.
AND I KNOW IT'S VERY TOUCHY AND CHANGE IS VERY HARD FOR PEOPLE, FOR ALL PEOPLE.
SO WITH SOMEHOW DOING THIS THOUGHTFULLY AND IN A CONSENSUS BUILDING WAY, I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT.
AND I THINK THAT WE ALL HAVE THAT GOAL AND I APPRECIATE US WORKING TOGETHER AND I REALLY APPRECIATE HAVING THE OPPORTUNITY TO HAVE THIS WORKSHOP THAT WAS VERY IT WAS A GREAT A GREAT START TO THE NEXT CHAPTER IN OUR CITY'S LIVES.
AND CAN I MAKE JUST A COUPLE OF COMMENTS? BECAUSE YOU MADE A LOT OF VERY GOOD OBSERVATIONS.
SO THAT IS AN AREA THAT THEY'RE AWARE OF AND TAKING IT INTO CONSIDERATION.
THE OTHER IS JUST THE CONCEPT OF DENSE.
IN GENERAL. ONE OF THE THINGS THAT I THINK THE CITY ALSO DID A GOOD JOB WITH IN THE WESTERN DEVELOPMENT IS THAT THEY SET ASIDE A LOT OF LAND THERE THAT WILL NOT BE DEVELOPED AND A CITY THAT HAS A PRETTY GOOD REPUTATION FOR SETTING ASIDE LAND FOR PARKS AND RECREATION IS MINNEAPOLIS, FOR EXAMPLE.
AND I ACTUALLY GREW UP IN THAT AREA.
AND AND IT'S SOMETHING THAT THE RESIDENTS REALLY APPRECIATE AS WELL.
AND I THINK THAT'S A GOOD APPROACH.
THANK YOU. AND I DO NATALIE HAD A GOOD POINT, WHICH IS TRIP CAPTURE.
AND I THINK THAT IS SOMETHING THAT IT'S HARD TO DIGEST THAT TERM, BUT IT IS A REALITY.
AND THEY ARE WITHIN KEEPING IT WITHIN ALTON AND KEEPING IT WITHIN AVENIR AND THOSE ARE TWO GREAT NOW COME TO LIFE OPPORTUNITIES WHERE THEY'RE RIGHT HERE AND WE COULD SEE IT HAPPENING.
[01:20:01]
I LIVE RIGHT ON DONALD ROSS ROAD.SO IT'S A IT'S A IT'S A REAL THING THAT WE NOW HAVE IN OUR CITY.
NOW. WE ARE NOT OPEN TO PUBLIC COMMENT, BUT WE DO HAVE OUR COUNTY COMMISSIONER HERE TODAY.
AS THE PAST. YOU CAN'T HEAR ME? CAN YOU HEAR ME NOW? OKAY, TRY RAIL.
I THINK THAT THE CONVERSATION SHOULD BE MORE GEARED TOWARD BRIGHT LINE AND TRY RAIL EVEN AS THE IMMEDIATE PAST CHAIR OF SPHERE TO THE TRIAL. I THINK THE FEASIBILITY OF TRIAL AND BRIGHT LINE BEING ON THE SAME TRACK IS SOMETHING THAT IS GOING TO BE REALLY, REALLY FAR INTO THE FUTURE.
ONCE THEY FINISH THAT, THEY WILL SEE WHAT THE DEMANDS ARE ALONG THE TRACK.
BRIGHT LINE REALIZED THAT GARDENS WOULD BE ANOTHER GOOD INTERMEDIATE AREA.
BUT THEY ARE A HIGH SPEED, HIGH SPEED RAIL AND THAT'S THEIR IDEA.
WE'LL JUST WE JUST DON'T HAVE THE MONEY.
AND EVEN WITH A TRANSPORTATION SURTAX POSSIBILITY OF THE FUTURE.
DON'T KNOW HOW THAT'S GOING TO HAPPEN A LOT BECAUSE IN ORDER FOR TRIAL TO ACTUALLY BE.
I DON'T THINK YOU'LL SEE THAT HAPPENING.
SO FROM THE COUNTY PERSPECTIVE, YOU ALL ARE DOING A GREAT JOB HERE.
I APPRECIATE ALWAYS BEING INVOLVED AND THANK YOU FOR PUTTING ME ON YOUR EMAIL LIST.
SO I GET THE INFORMATION AND THIS WAS A GREAT PRESENTATION TODAY.
WE ALWAYS HAVE BEEN. WE ALWAYS WILL BE.
AND THANK YOU TO STAFF FOR ALL YOU DO.
SO THANK YOU FOR RECOGNIZING ME.
THANK YOU FOR COMING UP AND TAKING THE TIME TO COME TODAY.
SO AS MARIA SAID, THERE IS A FAMILIAL FEELING UP HERE.
THANK YOU GUYS SO MUCH FOR MAKING MY JOB EASIER.
I DO HAVE A BRIEF AMOUNT OF COMMENTS IF YOU'D INDULGE ME, PLEASE.
NOW, I FIND THAT THIS STUDY SHOWED A REALLY CLEAR VISION SPECIFICALLY FOR OUR RESIDENTS OR THOSE OF US WHO AREN'T UP HERE, WHO AREN'T ON STAFF AND WHO DON'T LIVE, EAT, DRINK AND BREATHE THE STUFF EVERY DAY.
THE REVIEW OF OUR STABILITY, OUR BUDGET, OUR FINANCIAL STABILITY, OUR BOND RATING, OUR LACK OF DEBT, OUR STABLE TAX RATING, SOLID INFRASTRUCTURE THAT WE'RE ATTRACTING POPULATION GROWTH, THAT WE ARE ATTRACTING EVEN MORE EVENTS, THAT OUR ABILITY TO BRING COMMERCE INTO THE CITY HAS BEEN SO SUCCESSFUL.
AND THE BEST PART FOR ME ABOUT THE STUDY WAS SHOWING THE TEAM MANAGEMENT AND OUR LEADERSHIP HERE IN THE CITY ON CITY COUNCIL. WE'RE JUST HERE FOR A FEW YEARS.
YOU GUYS ARE HERE FOR DECADES.
AS YOU WERE TALKING ABOUT BEFORE.
IT SHOWS THE STAFF'S COMMITMENT TO EXCELLENCE.
IT WASN'T REALLY JUST A CHECKUP.
IT'S KIND OF LIKE A STRATEGIC PLAN THAT WE DIDN'T EVEN KNOW WE WERE ASKING FOR.
SO IT'S KIND OF EXTRAORDINARY TO SEE THAT.
[01:25:02]
THAT WE MIGHT CONSIDER ADOPTING FOR OUR COUNCIL.IS THAT POSSIBLE? OF COURSE, IF THAT'S WHAT THE COUNCIL WANTS, WE CAN BRING IT BACK IN A FUTURE AGENDA FOR YOU ALL TO FORMALLY ADOPT AS YOUR STRATEGIC PLAN OR VISION. IF YOU WOULD LIKE THAT, WE CAN PROBABLY SCHEDULE THAT FOR AFTER BUDGET AFTER BUDGET AFTER BUDGET BUDGET.
BUT IT'S OUR JOB. WE'VE GOT THAT.
BUT THIS IS JUST SUCH A GOOD DOCUMENT FOR THOSE WHO MAY COME AFTER US.
WE DON'T NEED TO REINVENT THE WHEEL.
WE JUST NEED TO KEEP DOING WHAT WE'RE DOING.
ADAM YEAH, I THINK THAT'S A GREAT IDEA, AND I ABSOLUTELY AGREE WITH YOU.
DO YOU WANT TO TAKE ANY OTHER CONSENSUS? ARE YOU GUYS OKAY WITH THAT? ROCHELLE? NO, I.
AND I DON'T KNOW WHETHER THIS IS WHERE WE'RE SUPPOSED TO KNOW.
WE'LL HAVE TO BRING IT BACK. WE'LL BRING IT BACK.
BUT TO GO FURTHER WITH THIS, RON.
SO THE ONLY CONSTANT IS CHANGE, AND CHANGE CAN BE GOOD OR BAD.
BUT CONVEYING THAT TO THE RESIDENTS IS NOT ALWAYS THERE.
WE'LL HAVE A WORKSHOP, WE HAVE COUNCIL MEETINGS, BUT THEY'RE NOT THERE.
AND UNTIL SOMETHING HAPPENS IN THEIR BACKYARD AND THE DEVELOPMENT COMES, THEY DON'T PAY ATTENTION.
AND WE WERE REMINDED OF THAT AT LAST COUNCIL MEETING VERY VOCALLY.
SO HOW DO WE DO A BETTER JOB OF MAKING SURE THAT THE COMMUNITY UNDERSTANDS WHAT THIS REALLY MEANS, THAT, YOU KNOW, GROWTH IS GOING TO HAPPEN AND IT'S HOW WE MANAGE THAT GROWTH THAT REALLY COUNTS THAT BECAUSE WE'RE THE GREAT CITY THAT WE ARE, PEOPLE WANT TO COME AND THEY WANT TO LIVE HERE.
WE DON'T OWN ALL OF THE PROPERTY THAT GETS DEVELOPED.
THERE'S INHERENT PROPERTY RIGHTS.
SO WHERE DO WE TAKE THIS FROM NOW TO THE COMMUNITY? WELL, I'M SORRY.
I LEFT MY MAGIC WAND, MY OTHER SUIT.
I DON'T KNOW HOW IN THE WORLD WE COULD POSSIBLY ADDRESS ALL OF THE CITIZENS AND WHAT THEIR THOUGHTS ARE AS FAR AS GROWTH AND TRAFFIC ARE CONCERNED.
BUT WE'LL TALK IT OVER AT A STAFF LEVEL AND THE BEST WE CAN DO, THE BEST COMMUNICATION DEVICE WE FOUND SO FAR THAT THE RESIDENTS LIKE IS GETTING SOMETHING IN THE MAIL.
OBVIOUSLY, THIS 81 FOUR PAGE REPORT CAN'T BE DONE LIKE THAT.
BUT PERHAPS WE COULD DEVISE SOME TYPE OF A CONDENSED REPORT, SPECIAL EDITION FOR SIGNATURE CITY THAT DOES GO INTO EVERY HOUSE HOLD.
ALSO, WHEN WE GO TO THE I CAN'T MAKE THEM READ IT THOUGH.
WE GO TO THE COMMUNITIES JUST AS WE BRING REPORTS.
WE SHOULD PROBABLY HAVE SOMETHING LIKE THIS AVAILABLE.
IF THERE IS A BULLET POINT SLIDE, SHOW THAT THAT CAN BE PUT.
HAVE WE CONSIDERED ANY OUTSIDE PR HELP ON THIS SPECIFIC INITIATIVE AT ALL? IS THAT SOMETHING THAT'S THE ONLY THING THAT WE HAVE CONSIDERED AT THIS POINT IS PUTTING IT OUT ON THE WEBSITE AND ALERTING THOSE PEOPLE HOW YOU DO THAT IN SOCIAL MEDIA, THAT IT'S OUT THERE AND AVAILABLE TO READ AND THOSE INTERESTED PARTIES WILL LOOK AT IT.
IT'S GOING TO BE TOUGH TO GET SOMEONE TO READ THE 84 PAGES OF THE AVERAGE CITIZEN.
LET US PUT OUR HEADS TOGETHER AND MAYBE COME OUT WITH SOME KIND OF A CONDENSED, REVISED EDITION TO HIT THE HIGHLIGHTS SO THAT CITIZENS CAN SEE THAT AT AND THEY COULD UNDERSTAND WE COULD PUT IT SO THEY COULD UNDERSTAND IT.
THE HIGHLIGHTS ANYWAY OF THIS LET US WORK ON THAT.
I WANT TO AD LIB ON THAT, TOO.
SOMETIMES THE COMMUNITIES, THEY THEY ALSO ARE, LIKE YOU SAID, SILO IS A GOOD WORD.
THEY HAVE THEIR OWN HOSE AND THEY WORK.
AND THEN THEY DON'T REALIZE UNTIL IT'S SOMETHING THAT'S COMING UP IN THEIR BACKYARD.
AND IN ADDITION TO THAT, AVANIR DID A VERY GOOD SEVERAL COMMUNITY OUTREACH OPPORTUNITIES WHEN THEY WERE GOING THROUGH THEIR MANY YEARS OF OF PLANNING, THEIR DEVELOPMENT.
[01:30:05]
AND THOSE WERE SUCCESSFUL BECAUSE THEY DID.AND THEY LOOK, THEY LOOK AT THEM NOW.
THEY STARTED WITH LIKE WHAT I CALLED £10 OF SUGAR AND A £5 SACK OF DENSITY.
BUT THEN THEY CAME OUT WITH A VERY, VERY THOUGHTFUL PROGRAM AFTER THEY BUILD CONSENSUS, BUILT CONSENSUS WITH NOT JUST THE CITY, BUT WITH THE COMMUNITY, AND THAT BEING STAKEHOLDERS, INCLUDING OUR RESIDENTIAL COMMUNITIES, THAT DEFINITELY VOICE THEIR CONCERNS FOR SURE.
BUT THEY DID A GREAT JOB ALSO WITH THEIR COMMUNITY OUTREACH PROCESS.
THOSE WERE CHARRETTE FOR THE TOD AND WE WORKED CLOSELY WITH TREASURE COAST.
I JUST WANTED TO ECHO QUICKLY MARCY'S THANKS TO STAFF AND CITY MANAGER AND MANAGEMENT FOR THE PROACTIVE PLANNING THAT WAS TALKED ABOUT IN HERE.
I KNOW IT TOOK MANY YEARS LEADING UP TO IT, BUT SO MUCH OF THIS HAPPENED IN THE LAST SIX YEARS AS I'VE BEEN ON COUNCIL THAT IT'S ACTUALLY COME TO FRUITION MOST OF WHAT'S IN THE DOCUMENT.
BUT I JUST WANT TO SAY THANK YOU AND LET YOU KNOW THAT WE RECOGNIZE THAT THIS.
AND WE APPRECIATE THE PLANNING.
ALL RIGHT. THANK YOU, MR. BAUER. WE APPRECIATE YOU COMING HERE TODAY.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH. IF THERE ARE NO OTHER QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS, THIS MEETING IS
ADJOURNED.
* This transcript was compiled from uncorrected Closed Captioning.