We are going to recess as the City Commission and reconvene as they a special session of the community redevelopment agency.

And as the community redevelopment agency, we need to approve the minutes of the special Sarasota Community Redevelopment Agency meeting of August 18th.

I'll move.

Second.

All right.

Commissioner Batti uh moved approval of the minutes for August 18th.

Commissioner Ulrich seconded.

Commissioners, if you will vote.

Is that your vote, Commissioners?

Motion passes unanimously.

All right.

Now we have our next item is the appointment regarding a Newtown Community Redevelopment Agency Advisory Board members.

And I'm going to call on our CRA Secretary Griggs and Economic Development Manager Appleby to make the presentation.

I'm going to pass it to you.

Good morning, Commissioners and Mayor.

Wayne Appleby Economic Development Manager and staff to the Newtown CRA.

I just wanted to make aware you have one vacancy as a result of Richard Harris's recognition resignation when he left town.

You have two applicants this morning.

They both are qualified.

They both live in the CRA area.

So you certainly can appoint either one at your selection.

I just wanted to point out that we have an additional vacancy that will be coming up in December and in two months.

Alexander Chow's term will be up and is not eligible for reappointment.

So if the board so chose, you you could appoint both today, one with being a delayed appointment till December.

Otherwise, uh if you appoint just one, staff will hold the application of the person not selected and will be back in a couple of months.

All right.

Commissioner Alrick.

So I read the information about both candidates.

I think they're both qualified.

Oh man, I don't know if we've second that would be a discussion of that.

Commissioner Aaron Koch.

Yes, thank you.

I uh read both applications as well.

And you know, pleased to have people to uh apply for this position.

I had the opportunity to to have a discussion with Mr.

Preston.

And um I did not have an opportunity to speak to Ms.

Johnson, although I did give her a call.

I um there was no answer, so I did not have was unable.

And um as you all know, I really much prefer to appoint people I've met and spoken with.

Um so I am okay to go forward, um, please to go forward with Mr.

Preston's application.

And um would love to be able to make a motion to to nominate Ms.

Johnson, but I I I have not met with her, so I'm not comfortable doing that at this juncture.

Um if we could um impress on her if the motion goes that way um to carry her application forward by impress on her to maybe reach out to the commissioners who want to um uh meet with her um expressly.

I would be one of the commissioners that would want uh either a phone call or an in-person meeting.

Okay.

All right.

Vice Mayor.

Uh yeah.

Actually, I agree with Commissioner Ahern Koch.

While I believe both of the candidates are well qualified, uh I would like to go ahead and uh support the nomination on the floor for now and hold the second one, hoping we are going to get additional candidates to choose from.

Um, but know that at least we've got one standing by and encourage her to talk to us.

Yes, please.

Uh Commissioner Batti.

Uh yes, uh thank you, Mayor.

And uh I concur.

I know Mrs.

uh Johnson personally, she lives right around the corner from me, and we went to school together, so I know that she would be highly qualified, but again, I have you know, to the commissioner and the vice mayor's point, I haven't spoken to her um in any capacity and didn't even you know have the conversation with her in regards to her interests in uh you know being on the CRA just seeing our application, but not have a smoke with the book.

Mr.