Good morning.

Welcome to the first regular city commission meeting of April of twenty twenty-six.

Um and we will start off with um the invocation by Ms.

Greeks.

Thank you.

Those who can stand, please stand.

Heavenly Father, we affirm our faith in thee, we seek your device from wisdom and guidance in the deliberations that affect the lives of each of the citizens of our community.

In that name we pray, Amen.

And Vice Mayor, will you lead us in the pledge?

Are there any changes to the order of the day?

Ms.

Griggs, any changes to the order of the day?

No, mayor, sorry, thank you.

May I then have a motion to accept the um today's agenda?

Second.

Okay, moved by Commissioner Batti, seconded by Commissioner Ahern Kutch.

Passed unanimously, thank you very much.

So if you will join me out front, our first presentation is uh has to do with the Child Protection Center.

So if there are representatives from that organization, please join me.

Thank you.

Um so this is the proclamation, whereas child abuse and neglect are complex and continuing problems in our society, affecting over three million children annually nationwide, and whereas there is no test of the society more important than the status and treatment of its children.

Whereas the Child Protection Center works to prevent child abuse and to protect and treat children affected by child abuse with the hope of creating a community in which every child is free and safe from child abuse and urges all citizens to be aware of and involved with the local and national programs which provide ongoing protection of our children.

Now, therefore, the City Commission of the City of Sarasota, Florida, and on behalf of the citizens of our community, takes great pride in recognizing April 2026 as Child Abuse Prevention Month, a month of special importance and worthy of the recognition of the residents of the City of Sarasota.

Congratulations and thank you for the work that your organization does.

And would you like to say a few words?

Sure.

On behalf of the staff at the Child Protection Center, the clients we serve, and our board of directors, I want to thank you for proclaiming April as Child Abuse Prevention Month.

We couldn't do what we do without the support of our entire community.

So thank you.

If you want to learn more about what we do at the Child Protection Center, you can always visit our website at WWW.cpc Sarasota.org.

But thank you.

Wonderful.

And we have some photo up.

And first let me thank you.

And let the commissioners come.

Thank you.

Thank you.

Thank you.

Thank you.

And the next one is National Crime Victims Rights Week.

Is there someone representing SPD?

Wonderful.

Whereas there are more than twelve thousand system and community-based victim services programs across the nation that help crime survivors and promote community safety and over thirty-two thousand laws that define and protect victims' rights.

And whereas 2026 is the forty-fifth anniversary of National Crime Victims Rights Week, first proclaimed by President Ronald Reagan in 1981.

And whereas this time-honored tradition unites all who care about crime victimization and survivors to acknowledge and honor survivors, their challenges, and their strengths.

And whereas during the 2026 National Crime Victims Rights Week, we recommit to promoting and strengthening the extensive community that supports and serves victims and survivors of crime.

Now, therefore, the City Commission of the City of Sarasota, Florida, and on behalf of the citizens of our community takes great pride in recognizing the week of April 19th through 25th as National Crime Victims' Rights Week, a week of special importance and worthy of the recognition of the residents of the City of Sarasota.

And thank you very much.

And would you like to say a few words?

Sure.

Thank you.

Good morning.

On behalf of Sarasota County Victim Advisory Council, I'd like to thank the Commission, City of Sarasota for proclaiming this month.

This week, April 19th through 25th, as National Crime Victims Rights Week.

We also have a 5K one run slash walk.

I could put a couple flyers in the back for anybody interested.

It will be held on April 24th, 8 a.m.

at Roth and Bach Park, and we'd love to see anybody who's interested in coming out and supporting crime victims in the movement on that date.

Thank you so much.

Thank you.

Thank you as a majority.

Thank you.

Thank you.

Thank you very much.

Okay.

Moving right along, we have reached the point where we will have citizens' input concerning city topics that are not on the agenda.

But first our city auditor and clerk will read the pledge of public conduct.

Thank you, Mayor.

We will we may disagree, but we will be respectful to one another.

We will direct all comments to issues.

We will not engage in personal attacks.

Thank you.

And we have uh more than five people signed up to uh speak, so I will call up the first five.

Um Martin Hyde, John Simon, Flo Entler, John Bordeaux, and Celine O'Connor.

And as soon as you are seated uh before you start your remarks, you'll have three minutes and give us your name, whether or not you're a city resident, and if you're representing someone other than yourself.

And Mr.

Hyde, you may begin.

Indeed, good morning.

I don't live in the city.

I still look after my mother out there just uh Easter 75.

Uh you got my cleaners to blame.

Uh I wasn't going to be here quite so early, but they came early, so you're just gonna have to suffer with everybody else.

So the school board um on Friday just announced that uh they're gonna cut 250 jobs.

And um, they thought the sun was gonna shine financially forever.

You know, we've had these conversations about what might or might not happen come November as far as uh property taxes are concerned.

But notwithstanding whether that does or doesn't happen, things go up and down.

And people staff particularly don't seem to uh to understand that.

They uh the school board spent temporary money, COVID money, on permanent jobs, and now those 250 jobs have uh have got to go.

To your guys, uh to you guys, last meeting you agreed a 300,000 plus package for a new city manager, because when we call it 280, let's remember 14 percent Florida retirement scheme, six hundred bucks a month car allowance, etc.

etc.

is well over three hundred thousand dollars.

Manatee county tomorrow, which they did comparisons allegedly, supposedly on salaries.

Manatee county tomorrow is going to agree a new contract for its administrator, a county which is eight times the size for ten percent less.

So go figure.

Um we also at the last meeting agreed to pay my favorite city employee, the city clerk, um as she really is, but 25 percent more than Karen Rushing gets.

Twenty-five percent more.

County is eight, or seven times the size of Sarasota County.

Are you paying her, God bless, but twenty-five percent more than I think and the question is what's so unique about the uh the city of Sarasota?

You're still adding staff.

Um the sky ahead is uh is relatively dark, and the question would have to be why, and in large part that's because staff, senior management staff who put this stuff in front of you won't be blamed.

You will.

The last three years, you've said no to just three consent items, consent agenda items where you get to approve or disapprove money.

That's three that you said no to out of over seven hundred.

So that's why I brought you white flags.

It's uh it's gonna speed the process up a lot.

There's one for each of you.

Um all you have to do when they come down to you is just wave this and say, yep.

Whatever, we'll keep doing it.

Until such time as you can't, because what happened at the school board is going to happen here.

Me coming down and saying I told you so won't be an awful lot of comfort to the people that you hire, and then you have to fire.

Thank you.

Uh John Simon.

Yes.

John Simon, I'm a resident at 1350 Maine, and I'm here for myself.

I want to talk about what I'm now calling sound chaos downtown.

Um I've had experiences.

I had dinner about a week or so ago at uh Epicure, and it was punctuated by several very loud motors going by of various types.

It's either revving or they've modified the vehicles.

One was such that there was a backfire, and everybody at the table flinched because we weren't sure it wasn't gunfire.

Saturday, I had brunch at C.

Love V.

In an hour and 15 minutes, four people with very loud motors, totally unrestrained by mufflers, um, passed by and decided they were just going to run down Main Street very slowly.

When I got back home, I noticed that uh Classico had decided to set up loudspeakers on Maid Street, pointing up Main Street and to have a DJ brunch that was pumping out about 75 decibels.

I assume they did that unilaterally and uh didn't didn't describe that to anybody along the way.

Um I'd like to read to you again my favorite section of the Sarasota Municipal Code.

It is hereby declared that the making creation or maintenance of excessive or unreasonable sound within the city affects and is a menace to public health, comfort, convenience, safety, welfare, and the prosperity of the people of the city.

That's Municipal Code Section 20-2.

The Commission doesn't need a sound uh study to take action to take greater action against car reving and other kinds of car noise.

You can impose a uh greater restrictions and enforcement is critical.

You don't need a sound uh uh study to have a uh plainly audible standard in the sound ordinance.

It can just be done.

The idea that we're gonna spend 250, 300,000 for a sound study to me and take maybe a couple of years to do it is ridiculous.

I've been at this a relatively short period of time, but the sound has been going on.

The sound discussions have been going on since 2001, and I thought Bob Fournier had a really good proposal that we could all just agree to and put it on the table and do it.

But it doesn't seem to be happening.

Thank you.

Thank you.

Uh Flo antler.

Hi, good morning, Commissioners.

My name is Flo Antler, 37 years city resident representing myself.

To protect and serve is the motto of many police departments.

But the police cannot protect us and cannot serve us unless we give them the right tools.

When it comes to noise problems, the right tool is a simple and easy to enforce noise threshold that applies at all times and all places in city limits.

Sound travels, and as we heard from Seaban associates, the sound consultant, the way sound travels is not always in a straight path.

When downtown streets are closed for bar-sponsored block parties, the noise impacts multiple city blocks and erodes liveability for our downtown neighbors.

The noise when the concrete crusher in Central Coconut is operating sounds like a ton of brooks meeting meeting, a mass of metal, because it is.

The noise when people bring their cars with souped-up sound systems out to Ted Sperling Park for late-night drinking parties disturbs the peace and the nesting turtles.

The noise from loudspeakers traveling long distances, particularly over water.

This has been a problem for I'm sorry, the noise from loudspeakers travels long distances, particularly over water.

This has been a problem for Hudson Bayou and Alta Vista neighborhoods who live near Selby and Sarasota High School.

The noise for motive eagles without mufflers disturbs the peace for everyone.

We aren't the only city with a noise problem, but we seem to be the only city that keeps turning a deaf ear to the legitimate public concerns about it.

Residents have raised this issue for years.

I spoke to first spoke to the City Commission about noise problems in 2019.

That was seven years ago.

But like the statue out front says, it seems like nobody's listening.

The way to change this is for this commission to be the one that backs the blue and backs the public by giving the police a simple and easy to enforce standard.

Our sound limit is broken.

Oh no, please.

Thank you.

Our sound limit is broken.

It's time to fix it.

If someone else has a solution that is working, learn from it.

The noise limit that is most commonly used by benchmark Florida cities, including Tampa, Miami, and Orlando, is 65 decibels or audible to the human ear a hundred feet from the source.

Just like a citywide speed limit, a citywide sound limit is something everyone can understand and the police can enforce.

In 2025, you were already given one path forward by Mr.

Fournier that would allow enforcement to begin immediately.

The plainly audible standard.

You, the City Commission, can direct staff to begin enforcement of the plainly audible standard.

Let's not drag this out.

Let's not overcomplicate this.

Let's listen to the residents and turn down the volume.

Thank you.

Thank you.

Mr.

Bordeaux.

Good morning.

John Bordeaux, I'm a full-time downtown resident, and I'm here representing myself.

I'm going to repeat some of the things that flow said, so sorry about that.

Notwithstand I one first thing I must have mentioned to you that the DISCA sent a long letter to you regarding sound and the sound ordinance.

I hope you all have had an opportunity to review the discuss letter.

Notwithstanding what happens to Disca's request to adopt Mr.

Fournier's latest sound ordinance draft, you may or may not be aware that the current sound ordinance does not include daytime sound limit.

Only a nighttime sound limit.

The following cities, as shown on that chart, have a 65 decibel daytime sound limit.

Brevard, Del Rey, Jacksonville, Jupiter, Miami, Orlando, and St.

Pete Beach.

The following Florida cities have a 60 decibel daytime sound limit.

Boca and Naples.

Since a daytime sound limit is not included in the current sound ordinance, I recommend you establish a daytime sound limit of 65 decibels for Sarasota.

The recently hired sound expert can spend whatever time is necessary to confirm or revise this 65 decibel daytime sound limit.

Until then, Sarasota will have a daytime sound limit that doesn't currently exist.

Establishing a 65 daytime sound limit at this time does not require the input or approval of the sound expert since it is not in the current sound ordinance.

After all, we've been waiting five years for a revised sound ordinance and will now have to wait another two years, even though we were told a sound expert would be hired in February and a final recommendation by May.

The chart has shown this Florida cities that have daytime sound limits.

Notice that most are 65 decibels or less.

During Mr.

Fournier's presentation, he indicated that the sound limits are he indicated that the recommended sound limits are much higher and the times are much later than other Florida cities as shown.

Not sure why he selected 75 decibels for a daytime sound limit given that comment.

Whatever the sound limit is finally agreed, it must be enforced, unlike the current sound ordinance.

Thank you.

Thank you.

And Ms.

O'Connor.

Thank you.

Good morning, Commissioners.

My name is Celine O'Connor.

I'm a full-time resident of Lido Key.

Lido Key remains incredibly thankful to the city for its continued support of Ted Sperling Park, especially as residents navigate the complicated crossovers this park represents in being owned by Sarasota County, but within the City of Sarasota limits.

There is a unique opportunity before the City of Sarasota to negotiate with the county and acquire Ted's Burling Park.

Without a doubt, this represents the right direction, not only for the Barrier Island, but also St.

German Circle and the whole of the city.

As a resident of Lido Key, I live on one side of the street, which is the city of Sarasota.

On the opposite side of the city is the park under the control of Sarasota County.

At a very basic level, cities click to fix app and the county's 311 Connect can't distinguish the barriers, our boundaries when even trying to report park issues.

The City of Sarasota Police Department invests countless hours in the park, both by land and by sea.

We are so thankful.

The city is reviewing sound and noise ordinance.

By absorbing this park into the city, it eliminates so many manpower hours, continuing to navigate the complications of city versus county boundaries and ordinance headaches.

The city is growing in resident numbers and needs more green spaces.

This park could not be a more perfect fit.

The long-term impact of not taking over this park from the county are more headaches, more complications, and ordinance, oversight, security, stormwater, police versus sheriff, and the list goes on and on and on.

Financial shared by the county for the past years have been theirs by their choice, their opinions, their choices.

In inquiring this park, the City of Sarasota would have complete control over how funds are used with no input from the county.

Involve the community.

There are residents there to support.

We want inclusion.

We need to be part of it, and we are very willing to be part of any discussions.

The county is making decisions for this piece of land carved out within the municipality of the City of Sarasota.

The city needs to be the driving force managing the whole barrier island.

There is an exceptionally strong case for the City of Sarasota to create a parks district.

The Sterling Park.

I cannot stress enough the unique opportunity this resent represents to finally absorb Ted Sparling Nature Park.

It's historical mangroves, the South Vita Beach, T entire Islands.

Thank you very much.

So we have three more individuals who requested to speak.

Scott Eller, Marcus Davis, and Jim Lample.

Mr.

Eller.

Good morning.

How are we doing?

My name is Scott Eller.

I um been a 31-year resident of Sarasota in the city.

Love it here.

I've been here for 31 years, and I've never seen the city with the visionary approach that it has these days with the leadership.

And I'm here today to thank you for that.

A couple of years ago, uh the city struck finally land across the street of First Street because the city thought wouldn't it be great to have affordable housing in downtown for our workforce.

And as you know, um I'm partnered with Blue Sky Communities, and we develop affordable housing around the state.

We champion it, we see the benefit to it, and we love it when it's done right, and we feel that this is a a good endeavor in the right direction to do the same thing.

So I'm here to thank you for this leadership and applaud the city and its efforts in the visionaries that you have become to actually develop affordable housing downtown.

So I'm here to thank you.

Thank you, Mr.

Eller.

And um Mr.

Mr.

Davis.

Great morning.

My name is Marcus Davis, and I work with a developer called Blue Sky Communities.

I'm here today, first of all, to thank you guys.

Um a few weeks ago we had our ribbon cutting at Neutral Plaza, so thank you to the folks who were able to make it.

Um just for the support that city staff and city commissioners and leadership has provided to affordable housing industry in the city.

It's extremely important that the local government has a value on affordable housing.

We've seen the best places that are able to have affordable housing is the local governments that have a vision and both follow through.

So I just want to applaud you guys to that, and thank you so much for your time.

Thank you.

Thank you.

And Mr.

Lample.

Good morning, Jim Lample, City resident.

Live on Main Street.

I guess I've been here about 18 years, and I've come up before this commission and various commissions many times.

When the whole noise ordinance uh started, uh I I think three of you were still here.

You might have been new, but I think I can count three of you.

And we've been kicking this can down the road for three or four years.

You've heard from so many people.

There are things that we can do as some of the other speakers mentioned.

We can do these things now.

Uh the uh audible thing, um plainly audible, we can do that.

We don't need to wait for a study and pay a lot of money.

That's just kicking the can down the road another two years.

And some of us are getting suspicious that maybe these are delay tactics.

Bob Fournier had a great outline in a matrix years ago, and it was reasonable, and we could have come really close to where we are or where we'll end up being anyway.

So the point is that you can do things now.

You can enforce the uh roles that already exist, and you can do what the other speakers mentioned instead of kicking the can down the road.

And we can get the study later.

On a similar issue.

Uh the pledge of uh public conduct.

I think I've had my 15 minutes of fame because I was interrupted by the mayor three months ago, almost to the day.

And that was really uh point of order that nobody stood up and stopped.

And I've had numerous meetings with the city attorney, and yet it's three months today that nothing's been done.

The last sentence, we will not I need the LMO.

Yeah.

We will not engage in personal attacks.

I guess we don't even engage if it sounds like it's going to be a personal attack.

We we were preempt personal attacks.

We can do something without waiting for uh the special counsel.

We can do this.

We can take this out immediately and get rid of this.

This is a subjective issue, um, and it's not helping the First Amendment.

And it's not encouraging uh the public to speak.

Um this is something that we can do immediately as we wait for the city attorney's draft for how to change the public conduct.

Thank you for listening.

Appreciate it.

Thank you all for coming.

Okay.

Moving along.

Um next on the agenda is approval of minutes.

Um first up is the minutes of the special meeting of Sarasota City Commission of February 27th.

Move approval of the minutes of the special meeting of February 27, 2026.

Okay.

Moved by the Vice Mayor, seconded by Commissioner Batti to approve the minutes of the 27th.

Thank you.

Passed unanimously, thank you very much.

Uh next is the uh regular commission meeting of March 2nd.

Mayor, I sent some non-substantive changes to the auditor and clerk's office who received them.

Yes, we did.

And also, with those changes, move approval.

Second.

Uh moved approval by uh uh with non-substantive changes by the vice mayor, seconded by Commissioner Batti.

Um I have your votes, please.

Passed unanimously, thank you.

Uh now the minutes of the special meeting of March 5th.

Move approval of the minutes of March 5th, 2026.

Second.

Moved uh by uh uh Commissioner Ahern Koch, seconded by Commissioner Batie.

Uh your votes, please.

Passed unanimously.

Thank you very much.

Uh and at this time, the City Commission will recess and convene into a special session of the uh Newtown Community Redevelopment Agency.

And the first item on that agenda is to, I believe, to approve the minutes of the special uh meeting of uh March 2nd.

So move.

Second.

Okay.

I think it was I heard Commissioner Ahern Kotch uh moved and and Commissioner Matty.

No, it can't.

I need it to be clear because he said it first.

So I thought she said it first.

So okay, so moved by Commissioner Batti, seconded by the Vice Mayor to approve the minutes of the March 2nd special CRA meeting.

Thank you.

And your votes.

And that passed unanimously.

Uh so as part of the community redevelopment agency, we will now receive uh the annual report from the new town CRA advisory board, and I will invite the advisory board vice chair Yancey, uh, member Preston, Economic Development Manager Appleby, and Business Relations Coordinator Gallant to make the presentation.

Okay, good morning.

Good morning, good morning.

Come on.

Good morning.

Good morning, Madam Mayor.

I'm Wayne Appleby.

I'm the staff assigned to the New Town CRA advisory board, and we're here for our annual report today.

With me is uh our Vice Chair Carlos Yancey.

Good morning.

And Ms.

Shell Collat, our other staff member.

So I'm going to kick us off, and then uh Mr.

Yancey will take over.

So just as a reminder, the the community redevelopment agency is created under Chapter 163 of the Florida statutes.

A CRA was first established in the city in 1986.

And that was to establish the area that was downtown.

And in 2008, the city decided after doing a study and getting the county commission to agree to submit to create a CRA for the new town area and Unittown District was established in 2008 under a resolution.

Now, under Chapter 163, you are the governing body.

That's why you convened this meeting as the CRA, and we're here as your advisor, or the Mr.

Yancey's here as your advisory board.

Just as a reminder, this is the district itself.

This is the legal boundary of the district.

So it's it's essentially on a north to south.

It's north of 17th Street, but south of Myrtle.

It's east of 41 and west of the county line.

Your last resolution was uh revised since 2008.

There's been a uh two or three different resolutions, but the last one was passed in 2022, and that was where you established a five five-member board.

And their primary uh responsibility is to be the source of community input to the agency uh in regards to local redevelopment planning.

I won't read all the purposes and duties.

And you currently have uh four advisory board members and one vacancy.

Our chair is Dr.

Shelley, and unfortunately she is unable to be here today.

Um Vice Chair Carlos Yancey, uh member Danny Preston and uh member Janine Johnson, and hopefully after this presentation, you'll appoint the fifth member.

I'm gonna turn it now over to Mr.

Yancey to give you an overview of all of their priorities.

Good morning, Commissioners.

Good morning.

Our priorities must be approved by the CRA redevelopment, approved plan, and also the annual budget for our priorities.

Thank you.

Current priorities.

We currently um since I came on the board, we've been doing this sidewalk thing.

Um it's our biggest uh budgeted item.

It's uh we have some um uneven sidewalks that we're gonna um replace and update to make them um more usable, serviceable.

And we also have the the electric power extension.

Those were the the lights going down um 27th Street for for some reason they were installed without lighting systems, so we had to bring the power to those took a bite out of our budget, but um the community is happy, very happy.

And just to clarify on that, there was light to the light poles uh from 301 to uh North Orange, but there was not power to the outlets on the polls from North Orange to MLK Park.

So that's uh what Mr.

Yancey is referring to that they funded and completed this year, hence they were able to have holiday lights uh the entire length of MLK this year.

Yes.

Uh thank you, Ms.

Appleby.

MLK commercial corridor redevelopment.

We currently have um uh Margot Ventures LLC.

Um they're gonna do a banquet hall there.

We have some mixed use development from Bay First Bank and Helen Payne.

Uh we have some um we've been meeting, we have some plans for that.

Um I don't think we've ready to unveil those yet.

We have Meredith Marion Anderson land purchase agreement, site development in process.

New time well, town hall, restaurant, building condition assessment.

That's been complete.

We have we've assessed the building.

We're um having an engineer go in there and find out the exact cost.

Um Baker's gas station is in progress.

We're gonna do some solar testing over there.

Um North Orange and MLK landowners discussion.

That's ongoing.

We're we're um trying to soar up some land for this uh development we have in plan.

Am I right?

Thank you.

Current priorities continue.

The legacy trail.

We're we're in meetings to bring the legacy trail from downtown through Newtown up through Manatee County.

Park improvement, light improvement for Frere Atkins Park, MLK park improvement, approved funding, entrepreneur site startup, business incubator centers.

We're currently in process of locating a spot for office space in Newtown.

Newtown business grant assistance.

We have we have a nine business grant awards completed.

Newtown Home Forum beautifications.

That's where we go out and um paint the homes of um current residents.

We've already painted 28 homes, which I think is is real nice.

We have 14 more in process.

We have some pictures of of some before and after pictures.

Um I believe Mr.

Appleby has some more pictures if anyone is that interested.

I believe he can um show quite a bit more pictures.

Uh not for profit grant program, the business development CAC CEO, and SCORE funding.

We funded um the CEO program, um, which is ran by the uh career source, and we also funded SCORE to do some evening sessions.

We we we the first time around we did them in the mornings and a lot of the business o business owners um said they would uh have came if it was in the afternoon.

So this time we're in the afternoons, see if that can accommodate the business owners a little bit better.

We have the home, the home and stabilizations.

I'm sorry, I went over my time.

No, no, no.

We we also have 2026 and 2027 applications for the non not-for-profit business of business grants are available as we speak.

Good morning, Rochelle Gallant, business relations coordinator for the record.

Um I'd like to share with you about the Newtown um CRA advisory board's efforts for branding and marketing within the newtown community.

About a year ago, about a year and a half ago, the board budgeted money towards a communication uh plan and has procured a marketing consultant that works with the board.

We did come before you when the brand was launched.

Um so you've seen this logo before.

And the board has taken the initiative to be more present in the community so that folks in Newtown understand what the advisory board does and the service the services and programs they offer.

And in so doing, a logo of brand was necessary so to create that recognition.

As part of that effort, we've also the advisory board has also launched a website which lists all the programs that the board offers and um allows for online applications to those programs.

As part of that effort, the board also launched a an event to bring the community together and to celebrate the what makes Newtown so great.

And it was called The Taste of Newtown.

That happened in November.

I was glad to see some of our commissioners there.

Um, and the community really loved it.

We had great feedback on that.

Uh we had about um six performances, more than 20 vendors, and um it was the board was able to be present.

All of our advisory board was present to interact with the community, engage and share about what the advisory board does in Newtown.

And it was it was as I said in November, but the board does plan for this to be an annual event.

There's been some discussion about whether it will happen again in November or if there might be a different date because there are some other activities in the community in that at that time.

So the board's reevaluating the best timing for this event, but they do plan to host it again.

And the other priority I'd like to share with you.

I'd also like to say I did not condone my picture of being in this uh presentation, but there it is.

Um but the other priority I'd like to share with you is the MLK visioning that the board is doing.

And that has been a an ongoing effort.

The board has set aside money to work on a visioning project wherein the community identifies what they would like to see in terms of redevelopment, specifically along MLK corridor.

And that the reason for that is because the board has identified that when you get your corridor re-established and redeveloped, that helps with your your um revenues, obviously.

So that's where they see they will have the the most potential for return on investment.

But they'd like to work with the community to get that input.

What would the community like to see?

As part of that effort, we've been working with the local architectural firm to do a rendering of MLK corridor.

But we're approaching the board's approaching it in sections.

So currently the first section in phase will be 301 to North Orange.

And uh that will show the community uh what redevelopment might look like.

But more than that, it's a dynamic model.

So the community will be able to tell us what they want redevelopment to look like, what they want revitalization to look like.

And that model will be very um interactive and allow us to engage the community in discussion in real time.

What would the density look like?

What would the light plane look like?

What would foot count and traffic count look like?

So that model is nearing completion, and we're hoping to engage property owners soon for that discussion and then the wider community as well.

And the last priority I would like to share is um about a cultural event, event and kind services.

As um Mr.

Yancey mentioned, we do the board does have a cultural event grant program, and as part of that in-kind services are also budgeted within the the board's budget.

Summary.

Newtown CRA revisory board expressed gratitude to the City Commissioners for its continuous support over the past year and beyond.

Thank you.

Thank you very much.

Uh Commissioners, questions.

Commissioner Ahern Kotch will start us off.

Yes, thank you.

Thank you so much for your presentation.

I really appreciate you putting this together.

Um it's good to see it all in one picture.

Um, some of the items that you detailed.

I just had some quick questions about.

Um for the sidewalk connectivity program.

That's phase one.

Do we know the total costs of phase one, phase two, and phase three?

Um we do not.

They're still in design at this point.

Um our anticipation is that uh the CRA money along with uh federal dollars that have been earmarked would put about two thousand we'd have about two thousand two million dollars available for the project.

We do not believe two million will take care of all of the phase one sidewalks.

So we are having to prioritize even the phase one sidewalks.

And when we do the um sidewalks, are we talking also about curves?

Well, they will be ADA compliant and curb cuts as appropriate when the at intersections specifically, not the transportation person, but uh yes, uh there will be some of that.

Okay, and there's some areas where the curbing is cracked or it's non-existent.

I mean, it's sort of a mishmash of problems.

And just wanted to make sure it's not limited to just sidewalks.

I mean, that's an issue.

Right.

But also to the, you know, to make it a really complete um project.

I believe that's the intent because a lot of the costs that are driving at the intersections is having to like relocate storm drains and other things.

So I believe it is broader than just the sidewalk itself.

Okay.

And is there a timeline set for this?

Uh there is a timeline.

I apologize.

I don't know the timeline right now.

We're having we're asking the transportation planners to come to the next CRA meeting to give an update uh as to where the project is.

So apologize, I don't have that timeline at the moment.

Okay, great, thank you.

I'll just attend the meeting and learn for myself.

Um the status of the MLK park improvements.

Um I walked past it after the parade this weekend, and it looks like it seems stalled a little bit, is it?

Um I thought the the Sarasota Bay Estuaries piece of it was going to be completed already in March, uh beginning of April.

I know we're beginning of April, but just curious on an update of do you know where we are with that?

Well, I do know that the Sarasota Bay Estrade program is in process.

I I don't know if it's got installed.

I that's new information to me.

So I think it's not information, it is the question.

Yeah, so I'm not sure.

I mean, the last report we had is that it was in progress.

Uh I do know from the city's perspective, as you may recall, uh, Mr.

Fogle, I think at a meeting recently expressed concern that the bids came in uh way over estimates, estimates.

Um the parks uh and rec staff did come to the last Newtown CRA meeting, and the CRA agreed to fund that gap.

So I believe they are just putting the last pieces of funding together to move that project forward.

But parks would be best to give a timeline on that as well.

Do we just gonna ask for the timeline?

We don't know.

Okay, all right.

Um the um business incubation center site location.

Where are you looking?

We've we've um looked at some of um Mr.

Jason Grimes property.

We looked at some of some other Where he is currently located or other pieces of property that he has.

Well, he's currently located on the end.

Um we started some negotiations with him.

We also have a couple of other business owners on the corridor that we want to negotiate with as well that property actually are are on the corridor that might align better to for what we are trying to do.

Do you know can you tell me where on the corridor that you are looking at?

Or is that something you just don't want to read?

Oh, yes, I can tell you.

It's right across the street from um Bay First Bank.

It used to be um the Democratic um headquarters, I believe.

Wasn't that Democratic heads it was?

I believe it's the Democratic Headquarters and we're in negotiations to try to um lease some of that space there.

Excellent.

Okay.

Commissioner, we also did look at uh Jamie's commercial garden uh uh property, but uh the uh there was one vacancy, but unfortunately it it for us, but good for the community, it did get filled by a business, which is a great thing.

Um so um you know we just can't respond as quickly as as sometimes others can to act, uh, and so we missed that opportunity.

So we we will continue to look at any opportunities we can.

So if anybody has any additional locations, we would be willing to have that conversation.

But we do want to be obviously near or on the MLK quarter.

Great.

Um the 28 homes that were painted and completed, over what timeline is that?

So that's from 2023 till today.

Okay.

So we did have a pause in there as we had to work through a solicitation process for the painting contract.

Uh and that paused us doing some homes for several months.

Uh but now we have uh a painting contractor by contract for three years and can extend for two years.

So now they are starting to move a little faster uh because we have the contract in place.

And what are the qualifications for that?

To be an applicant, uh essentially it they're very minimal as uh as requested by the board is that the home is owned by the property owner.

It's in located within the Newtown CRA district, obviously, and that the homeowner has to have paid their taxes in full.

And they just go online to apply for something.

They can go online to apply, they can call us, yes.

Okay, excellent.

Um then um you're still doing the program with the CEO and the score program.

Um how much funding do you supply for that?

What's your level of funding and working with that, those two programs?

Yeah, so uh career source CEO program is uh approximately right at 20,000, I believe.

And uh score is 4900.

Yeah.

Both really good programs.

Thank you.

Those are my questions.

Thank you.

Uh Vice Mayor.

Thank you.

Thank you all for the hard work.

We really appreciate it.

I have several questions.

On page 15 of your PowerPoint.

Could you put it up on the OMO too, Mr.

Appleby?

Um would you explain number 11, please?

Certainly.

Go ahead, Richard.

Yes.

So the board has established a cultural events grant program to enable and support events in Newtown that celebrates Newtown's culture and to attract people to Newtown.

So dollars circulate until people understand what Newtown has to offer.

As part of that, sometimes there are street closures, there are police officers that are present to assist with traffic control, et cetera.

And just as normal events would it would involve.

And so as part of their Culture Events Grant Program, the board also budgets funding towards those in-kind services to for the for their permitting and the police officers' street closures, etc.

I see.

Not just staff participation, but other things that are required when you have those events.

Correct.

Rollment closures, etc.

This is not pay for our staff as in um what police staff, off-duty police officers or I get it.

Yes.

Thank you.

Um on page 16.

Gotcha.

Um would you explain number 12?

Sure.

The board has budgeted 40,000 towards Salvation Army Street Teams, which comes and and is meant to come and clean and help clean the streets, keep the streets of Newtown clean.

And it's a 40,000 dollar budgeted item as requested by City Commission and prior years, and that has been a re-budgeted item every every year.

Gotcha.

Thank you very much.

It's contributing to a larger contract the city has, uh not with the CRA.

We're just contributing funds to that larger contract.

I see.

Um then lastly, the home painting program you have.

Is that in collaboration with the Sarasota Alliance for Historic Preservation?

Or do they have a separate program?

That is a separate program.

However, sometimes persons, when they come to have the homes painted, I mean, if the home is not in a condition to be painted as determined by the contractor, then we do refer the homeowners to other programs, like the Historic Preservation Society's program.

Thank you.

Those are my questions.

Very good.

Thank you.

Okay.

Commissioner Batti.

Uh yeah.

I wanted to ask Um and thank you for that presentation.

I really appreciate it.

Um about the the bathrooms at MLK Park.

I mean, any is that uh including improvements to them or or what have you?

I believe as part of the the project there are some planned improvements there, but uh uh again I'm not I don't think we're applying to speak to Mr.

Alpha.

Um Madam Mayor, uh since there is so much interest in um the MLK Park restoration, why don't we uh I'll have Jerry put together something that I can provide to everybody.

Um Mr.

Appleby and the CRA board is fantastic and very dialed in, but a lot of the specifics they're not going to be aware of.

So we'll put something together to answer all these questions.

Uh so Mr.

Appleby doesn't have to be on the hot seat for the rest of the day.

Thank you.

Is that acceptable to the Commission?

Sure.

Yeah.

And we'll we'll make that answer to the sidewalks.

Yes, ma'am, sidewalks.

I get with Mr.

Patel, and we'll get you an answer on the sidewalks as well.

Did you have additional questions, Mr.

Commissioner?

Yeah.

Um can you do me a favor and uh give some uh type of synopsis on what we are working on uh in the corridor?

You mentioned about the um the mixed use project that that that uh we are currently working on just to give the commission and the public an idea.

Um this is uh initiative that myself and uh Mrs.

Scott Eller um initiated regarding the redevelopment of uh the MLK corridor.

Um we're gonna start with uh properties that we can control, which is hell and pain um and uh um Bay First Bank.

Um we're doing uh urban mixed use with uh commercial space on the bottom and uh attainable affordable housing up above.

Um so if you can I know you mentioned that that we're not ready to roll that out yet.

It's not quite ready for prime time.

Could you you know give the commission and the public a brief synopsis of that?

Mr.

Yance, thank you.

Yes, Mr.

Patti.

Um we've been meeting for roughly pretty close to a year now.

I'm not exactly sure the um some of the um gentlemen, Mr.

Batti just mentioned um Scott Elliott, myself, Keith the Bowles to Rail.

Um we we've been meeting to try to bring the residents of Newtown a nice remnant for a nice uh mixed use property.

We currently have with Hort Architect, a design that we haven't unveiled yet.

But I believe with that unveiled, that answer a lot of questions to what's going on, how it's gonna look, and you know, I I haven't seen it yet, but you know I'm itching to see it, and I would uh I would be eager to roll that out to uh to the residents of Newtown, the city commissioners, mayor, and everybody else to get your input as well because this is a community project.

Yeah.

Uh thank you, Mr.

Yancey.

Um just so the for the uh information to the Commission that uh project that he's talking about, the unveiling of the renderings that uh we've done with uh Hoy architects.

Um they've completed you know one part of it.

Um and uh we're gonna be looking at another phase in terms of uh a different type of rendering that makes it look a bit more historic and and uh ethnic because the the whole purpose was the uh to give it a French quarter type facade, you know, to give it its own character and and identity um set aside from anything else in the city to make uh uh the area more desirable as a destination for people to come and shop and and uh and uh be entertained and uh and get an idea of the history of of Newtown and what it what it uh what it's all about in the community.

So that's what what uh Mr.

Yancey was just uh touching upon, and we put together a consortium of people with myself, Scott Eller, uh Mr.

Yancey himself, Mr.

Keith DeBose, um, Mr.

Tyrrell Salem, uh Ms.

Wayne Appleby, Mrs.

Gallant, uh Mary Butler, um, and we will be bringing in uh a number of other uh stakeholders in the community that uh wish to be a part of this.

I've already spoken to the um a number of the foundations about it.

Uh they are very eager and very excited um uh about this prospect and said that they are 100 percent behind in in support of it.

So I'll be you know once we get this uh this completed, we'll be rolling that out to the the foundations and uh a number of different organizations here at the commission and uh um and community stakeholders uh throughout the city of Sarasota.

So just to give you uh an idea of that.

Okay.

Thank you.

Um before we go to round two, was there anything you wanted uh uh Commissioner Albert to ask?

Okay.

Okay.

Then I I wanted to know a little bit more about the business incubator plan.

Um is it mainly just going to be office space?

Is it going to be services like mentoring and coaching?

What's the plan on that?

The business incubator plan is intended at this point to be a pilot program.

Um what we recognize as staff is that there are entrepreneurs in Newtown who need support and we'd like to reach them.

And by rolling it out as a pilot program, it would help us to establish what those needs are more clearly so that we can put together a more detailed um program to support them.

So the initial pilot would be partnering with our current um community organizations that are already involved in the CRA's um programs, the CEO program, career source score, and uh having them inviting them to have office hours at this incubation space in the community, that entrepreneurs can come in and meet with them in their own community, um which will hopefully remove a barrier, and that they would be able to then have those services that those programs offer um readily available to them.

We would also envision that the incubation space would host entrepreneurs for office hours, that they can reserve office hours there, they can come in, so we have phone calls, take meetings.

We also envision that it would offer ongoing training outside of one-on-one mentoring for the entrepreneurs.

And as that pilot is launched and established, we'd be able to collect information that would then help us to learn more about how can we build out a more robust program and tailor it even more for the community.

Thank you.

I like to I'd like to add to that.

Um MBC, which is Newtown Business Um Council, just was awarded uh three $300,000 from the Branch of Foundation.

They're gonna they're gonna give us three a hundred thousand dollars for the next three years.

We're gonna have a um a position available, a navigator position available.

We'll currently um have openings for that position right now.

Um that person is gonna be instrumental in what uh Rocher was just talking about.

Um I believe um she that person is gonna need an office space, it's gonna have an office space, and that person will be you know working as an arm of the Newtown Business Council, and that person will be able to hopefully get us to the next level, and also I envision um being able to uh make this navigator position ongoing with grants and things, different things of that nature.

So it won't just be a three years and and and and and gone, it'll be an ongoing position for someone that wants to, you know, it's a lot of different organizations doing things, but this one person would hopefully share things up and be a point of contact for all the agencies within the um the community.

Thank you.

Um Commissioner Ahern Koch, second round.

Just a a comment about the um case of Newtown event.

It was really, really, really well done and very well received.

Thank you.

So my vote is yes, do it again, and yes, uh I liked November because it's the weather so nice.

So we like November as well, um, Commissioner.

However, I believe the Big Mama Collie Greens is were was uh close by less than a month.

Yeah.

In between each other, and I might have took a little bit of our swag away.

So we're trying to find a time that won't interfere with what's already committed, and and we could get our you know, sneak our time in.

I like the weather in November too.

But the weather is still been good up until today.

Yeah, I I don't I um I because of its proximity to the color greens, I was not expecting a huge turnout.

And there was a huge turnout.

I mean, for you know, the limited amount of time you had to promote it and put it together and all of that, uh, and it being the first one.

So I was pretty impressed by that.

Thank you.

Okay, Commissioner Battee.

Uh thank you very much, Mayor.

Um Mr.

Yes, you you were talking about uh can you put your slide up again?

Which one?

Um you have the number of uh projects, you know, I guess one through eleven that uh see, let me see, just Ms.

Development.

Current priorities.

Yeah.

Okay.

But you had you had a list of like one through eleven, did you?

Yeah.

First one was the sidewalks.

Okay.

Oh, there we are.

Um can you give give them uh also um uh brief synopsis on what's going on with the legacy trail as well and whatnot.

We talked we've there been in a number of meetings as well just uh for the commission's commission and the public's information about the legacy trail and bringing it up through new up through Newtown and possibly you know both both railroads sites, correct?

Yes, we had a couple meetings at the Gulf Coast Community Foundation, John Thaxton was spareheading those meetings.

Um Charles Hines is the first time.

Charles Hines, yes, yes, thank you.

Thank you.

I couldn't remember Charles' name.

Um the big thing we're focusing on now is which track.

You know, we have two tracks coming down Newtown.

We have one over by um Lennar Reed, not the Lena Reed House, the actual Lennory Road, and we have another one over closer to the where the Lemon Reed House is, but it's um so John Thaxton said, let's try let's just let's just focus on both tracks.

So as you know, the legacy trail usually comes off the railroad tracks and you know and winds on down.

So we're focusing on both tracks.

Um one track might get us a little bit more participation, the closer track to um, I guess that would be the which track would that be, Wayne.

The one closer to Dana Preston's church.

That's over there uh like uh Leon Avenue.

Leon Avenue.

Yeah, yes.

Yes, we got Leon.

And I guess the other one for lack of other um names would be the um Lena Reed is close to Linda Reed over there.

And you know, once we get the funding and get everything, um Charles Hines has been wonderful.

He's been um with this things from um Northport all the way down to Newtown where it is now.

So hopefully we'll get the funding.

We'll um get the tr get the trail through Newtown up into Manatee County, and hopefully Manatee County will pick it up and keep going with it.

And I would just add that uh uh former county commissioner Charles Hines, he's with the um land for public trust.

Um he uh is in fact um negotiating with the railroad uh as part of this project and is slated at this point to come to the May 13th Newtown CRA advisory board meeting and give an update as to uh the status of the legacy trail.

So that would be a great meeting if you have an interest in Legacy Trail.

Um that will be a primary presentation that day on May 13th.

It's at five o'clock at R.

L.

Taylor.

Uh beautiful.

Thank you very much, Mr.

Appleby.

And um in also for the Commission, you know, the with this entrepreneurial start start-up, you know, program.

One of the things that uh that I noticed, you know, um when I came into office initially was um, you know, what was going on in Newtown when we rolled out the stimulus packages of a $5,000 grants and so on.

Um and a number of businesses in Newtown couldn't necessarily participate.

Um so what I thought about when speaking with the CRA at that time in this composition was um you know what we can do about that, and that was when we bring entrepreneurs or those that uh want to start businesses and so on, that we get them with mentors so that these businesses can operate and function the way that a business should, and not having to always rob Peter to pay Paul or making sure that your paperwork is in in order.

So that should there be in heaven forbid that there not be um anything close to what we were dealing with then that you will be able to apply for for that stimulus or whatever it may be or whatever at that particular time and your paperwork and everything be in order because you had you know the the the proper guidance um to uh be able to to do that and be in a position to do so.

So that that was one of the main goals of this entrepreneurial um uh endeavor was to put put anyone with a mentor so that they can you know uh be able to operate their business um correctly and so that the it can sustain itself and therefore Newtown get back to it being self-sufficient as it once was or whatever.

So thank you.

Are there any other questions from the commissioners?

Uh then may I have a motion to accept the advisory board's report?

Some of the second.

Uh moved by Commissioner A.

Coach, seconded by Commissioner Batti to accept the advice and Newtown CRA advisory board report.

And it passed unanimously.

Thank you very much.

Thank you for the brief.

May I add something, uh, Mayor, if I may.

I just like to uh um because Mr.

Appleby, if I'm not mistaken, will be you know departing from the city at some point.

Um he's been a huge asset and completely instrumental in the success of the CRA and what it is we we've been doing and think up in Newtown, man, we can't, you know, thank you enough for your leadership for your knowledge and uh the the work that you put in, man, to get us to this point along with uh Ms.

Galant, you know, you've been instrumental as well you know, keeping me in check or whatever when need be.

But uh but yeah, man, can't can't thank you enough, man, and uh your efforts are to be applauded.

Thank you.

My pleasure entirely.

Love working with the Newtown community.

Thank you.

Much respect to you.

Yeah, I I would like to add to that that Mr.

Appleby has put the board, advisory board on strong footing, and while we will miss him, I think it will continue to move forward thanks to the work that he has put in place already.

Yes.

It wasn't all me.

Thank you.

Yeah, yeah, yeah.

Don't say that.

Yeah, yeah, yeah.

I like the thing.

I like to second that as well.

Yeah, it's been wonderful.

Yes.

Thank you.

Okay.

We now need to fill an opening on the advisory board.

Um there's one opening, and uh we had what, four applicants.

So I will entertain a um motion, a nomination.

Um before I make the nomination.

Oh, I I wasn't gonna make the nomination.

I just had a question because I'm a little confused.

One of the applicants also is an applicant for the human relations board, or was that a mistake?

No.

That's right.

Yeah.

But I was gonna say, Mayor, uh, we have I think four highly qualified applicants for this position.

Um I did note that Mr.

Williams is the only applicant for the Human Relations Board, and he's extremely qualified for that board.

So my preference would be to have him on that board rather than this one.

Of the remaining three candidates, all highly qualified.

I nominate Charles Walker.

I second that motion.

Um Commissioners, any other thoughts?

Well, I I agree, they they all uh appear to be really qualified.

So you know, I was torn, so I'm I'm happy to support Mr.

Walker.

Okay, so I believe we have a consensus supporting uh the selection of Charles Walker as the next member of the advisory board.

Yes, great.

Uh and with that, our tasks as the new town CRA have ended for today, so I will adjourn that and reconvene as the city commission.

I'm looking at the clock.

Do we want to take a break now or go a little bit further along in an hour?

Okay, let it be lunch time.

Okay, it's like ten fourteen.

How about a ten eleven minute break to ten twenty-five?

Does that okay?

So we are reset.

Welcome back.

The regular city commission meeting of April sixth is back in session.

And we have reached consent agenda number one.

Uh Ms.

Griggs, are there any items to be pulled?

Um, outside of the item where you have a public comment there, there was one item asked to be pulled by Mayor Trice I'm correct.

This is six point three.

Yes.

And that is the only one I'm aware of.

Okay.

So and actually that six point three is the one with the public comment.

So um, I would love to have a motion to approve the balance of consent agenda one minus six point three.

Move approval of a consent agenda item number one minus six point three.

Uh moved by Commissioner A.

Haring K, seconded by Commissioner Bat T.

May we have your votes, please.

Passed unanimously.

Thank you very much.

Um should I should we talk about it, or should we get the public comment first?

Com public comment first.

Um likes Martin Hyde.

Just briefly you kept up your batting average there, ninety-nine point seven percent.

Lest anybody be under illusions, a couple of the other things that you passed there were actual tax increases buried as administrative factors, but they weren't.

There'll be assessments on tax bills.

The old saying goes, before you know, you're talking real money.

And uh the average age of a car in this country, would anybody want to hazard a guess, a rhetorical question.

It's 12.8 years.

That's the average age of a car in this country.

The average age of cars in this country has increased every year for the last 15 years.

And the reason for that is the car prices have gone up and to a limited extent, cars are a little bit more better made than they used to be.

Um but between the cost and that, the average age of car in this country is 12.8 years, and it has gone up every year for the last 15 years.

This city, by way of another factor, is under 20 square miles, a third of which is underwater.

And uh the average speed is considerably under 30 miles an hour.

So not exactly a NASCAR track.

So the question reasonably, and and and it is just a question of broad order.

As a policy.

How often one swaps vehicles isn't something that you typically bring up.

It's something that kind of seems to be set in stone.

But not unreasonably if the rest of the country is keeping vehicles for longer.

Um perhaps we might want to be able to do it.

The second thing that I wanted to mention is more one of accounting and avoiding the uh the fate of the school board and letting 250 people go, although your numbers would be less, you can have to let people go otherwise.

To consider financing your vehicles on some kind of evolving credit line, as opposed to using capital.

Now I understand all these distinctions that don't really make a difference about where the money comes from or whatever else.

Um but you're municipal bonds would cost around about 4 percent.

So 2 million bucks would be about 80 grand a year just by way of example here, and then you'd still have 1.92 million dollars sat there that you could use on other capital projects or whatever else.

So the point being that the school board spent over 100 million on Welland Park School in cash, out of cash flow, and guess what?

They ain't got enough money to staff it.

And and therein lies a certain irony.

So really beyond the point of how often do you change your vehicles, um, you might want to get with staff and finance and ask them whether there's some way that we can get some kind of revolving credit line that won't involve you spending all of your money, which you may or may not be able to replenish next year.

Thank you, Mr.

Hyde.

Um so my concern about this line item, and I'm going to, I guess, turn to the interim city manager to direct me as to who can answer the question.

Um, but my concern was it seems to be a blank check saying two million dollars, and as we have additional needs and we find the money to pay for it, you know, let us continue to spend money.

So that's my concern.

So uh on behalf of Ms.

Jorgensen, since uh the PD does report uh in the chain to me, um, I'd like to introduce our our fleet team and uh Captain Tom Quinlan, and obviously we have the chief uh on in the batter's box if I need the heavy hitters.

But these are the experts that will walk through uh the entire program, the memorandum, and some of the questions that Mr.

Hyde had.

So uh I think there's answers to each each of those.

And these folks are experts, so uh mayor fire away.

Great, great.

Well, again, I am concerned that it is as worded, a blank check, and you know, if two million dollars is the appropriate figure, uh I would be okay with that figure plus a little wiggle room, but not the and whatever we need beyond that.

I agree.

Lisa Cooley, budget coordinator for City of Sarasota Police Department.

Officer Valero.

Um uh with the fleet.

Captain Tom Quinn on Support Services Division.

Captain So just so you guys know, you've got to lean forward into the mic so that it picks up your voice, please.

Yes, sir.

Thank you, sir.

So actually, if if you would like to address also what Mr.

Hyde said about how often replaced and the question it triggered in my mind is do we sell the used equipment when we replace with new?

Yes, ma'am.

So to address your question, we are asking, so it was kind of open identity, you are correct.

It is difficult to come back to commission when we need vehicles every time it exceeds $500,000.

So we would like to say if it not to exceed two million dollars, if it is to exceed, we would come back to commission to ask for commission approval if it is going to exceed two million dollars.

So we do have um the CIP funds, the capital improvement program.

We also do have other funds not coming from the general funds, our equipment replacement program, um, OPI funds, other funds that we can use.

Um this would be just for the purchase from Allen J.

So yes, ma'am.

And our replacement, how often So um as he said, I guess uh and this average vehicles, um generally we keep our pursuit-rated vehicles around eight years.

Um a non-pursuit-rated sworn officer would keep their uh vehicle 12 years and then civilian would be 13 years.

Now, granted, we are in this year replacing vehicles that are 29 years old.

Um we've g take these vehicles as as long as we can as a lifespan and replace them.

Um, each year we allocate the money that we've already had budgeted for this.

Um then we set the the vehicles that we need in priority.

Um there's an extenuating circumstances outside of that, um which we have the vehicle equipment replacement fund to do these vehicles um that are long-term, like these 29-year-old vehicles.

We've milked them along this far, but you know, unfortunately we can't get the parks and stuff to keep them going anymore.

So we're gonna replace those, and that's where those funds come in.

Um that's where we stand with those numbers.

Yes, ma'am.

Um and I would also like to add, like regarding flexibility, because at this point right now, the two million will be approved budget-wise, um, but anything over 500,000, we have to come for the approval again.

Um but when we order we're a smaller agency, obviously um we commit, we verbal commit to these vehicles, but by us coming here two weeks, a month out, two weeks or a month out, then those vehicles could be gone by that point.

So the time issue on our ordering these vehicles becomes an issue too.

Uh I guess you can't the question is can't you anticipate the need to replace a vehicle in enough time to get our approval if you've used up the two million?

I mean, you know.

Yes, ma'am, we c we can do that.

So that normally it would be the 500,000.

And prior, I think um it it had gone through.

So this is the first time that this is coming up, so we're kind of it's a learning process also for us.

So yes, going forward, anything over two million dollars, we would come back to commission for approval.

Yes, ma'am.

So it would be would it be workable then that if we amend the recommendation so that it is um not to exceed two million dollars.

Not to exceed two million dollars and delete the end authorization for additional replacements as needed when funding sources are available.

So just current not to exceed two million dollars, period.

Wouldn't that meet your needs?

Um if we could also add not to exceed two million dollars, if it does exceed, if it will exceed that, we would come back to commission for unforeseen circumstances.

Well, you would be doing that anyway if we say not to exceed two million dollars.

So we don't have to just So Mayor, why don't we just say yeah, but put that in there?

If you wouldn't mind, um I'd like to uh translate just a little bit from um the PD side of the house to actually directly answer a couple of your questions that they did answer, but they kind of went around about it.

We do um we used to actually lease a number of our vehicles when we were there.

Um there were financing charges that were uh interesting to deal with.

Um we also have the issue that you asked directly, and I think that's a great question about selling the vehicles, taking them to auction.

So, gentlemen, we still do um take our vehicles to auction when they end of end of life, correct?

Correct.

If they are viable and roadworthy.

Who's who's buying the 29-year-old vehicle?

You would be short, Mayor, you would be shocked.

There is actually an after a significant aftermarket for uh used police vehicles.

They have different suspensions, different engines, and they're actually fairly sought after, especially the police-rated Tahoe's or the pursuit-rated Tahoe's.

Um secondarily, we have increased.

Um I can tell you that you guys, the the this command staff has increased the timetable in which we are replacing vehicles.

When I was uh uh active at the police department in uniform, we were looking at roughly four to five years on patrol vehicles on pursuit-rated vehicles, and I believe seven to ten years on administrative vehicles, which are the plain clothes officers.

Um and they've really stretched that out, actually working with Kelly, Shanna, and and Ben to create those replacement cycles.

So there is a lot of thought that goes into it.

However, you do run into situations if you have a major pursuit or if there's a critical incident and vehicles are wrecked or they run over a curb.

Don't get me wrong, that is something that we train excessively in to to avoid, but sometimes these things happen.

And or we have a natural weather event where you have a number of vehicles that are damaged.

I think that to Miss Cooley's point, when they talk about unforeseen circumstances, say we have another uh you know four to five foot surge and we're actively addressing getting people out of the house and a number of vehicles.

And I can also tell you that one of the complicating factors and is scheduling these vehicles ahead of time.

So my understanding is Chevy and Ford only make police vehicles one time a year.

They basically shut down their production line and stand up the production line at one point.

So to have that flexibility to be able to get on those timetables it will all has always been a challenge, but I think that's one of the reasons why the the um the support services department is looking for a little bit more flexibility with the funding.

So uh hopefully I answered all of uh your questions there.

Okay.

Well thank you.

Did anybody have yeah, I have to do that?

Oh, sorry, uh Vice Mayor.

Thank you, Mayor.

Um some of my questions are unnecessary because of that line that we deleted.

But um on our agenda request form, it says that the $2 million is in the CIP.

Are there three separate funds in the CIP that will be utilized?

The equipment replacement fund, the OPI settlement fund, and the general fund.

So we can use money from the opioid fund.

Um that is a separate fund.

And then we also have um the equipment replacement fund.

And so my concern is use of funds from the general fund.

We would not use funds from the general fund.

Okay, and that's not included in the motion, so we're safe that you're not going to utilize money from the general fund.

So Vice Mayor, this pertains specifically to the CIP funding source.

Generally speaking, the PD will use down the um the other two funds, the equipment replacement fund.

Obviously, that's what they really plan for and in advance.

Secondarily, the opioid settlement funds are very strongly restricted in what they can be used for.

So obviously they would tap those two before they went to the penny, the CIP penny uh funds, that's where the actual CIP funding comes from.

And obviously, we can absolutely add in information if they were to touch the the general fund, that would have to come back to the Commission anyways.

But if you're more comfortable adding a little bit more language into the request, we can do that.

Um I am more comfortable with that included.

Okay.

Use of the general funds sort of scares me.

Understood.

And I agree.

There would be items if we did use the general funds, that would be a budgeted item.

And that would be a budgeted line item prior.

So when we're doing budget for the next year, that would be if we were going to use general funds.

Okay.

Is that it?

Commissioner Ahern Catch.

Yeah, mine is along the exact same lines because when I read this, I saw the CIP and the equipment replacement fund and the and the opioid settlement fund.

And then it says as needed general fund, and then I thought, well, that's that's the other funds are sufficient.

And then it says um and available balances within the approved general fund budget to cover the cost of unanticipated replacement.

So my concern as well is about using general fund for this.

And so if we can make sure that that language is I agree.

We'll clean it up.

And the other thing is obviously, as I I want to stress, the other funds will be used prior to any CIP funding, and then if there was a uh a need for general fund budgeting, we would obviously bring that have to bring that back.

And we'll tighten that line.

At any level.

Lisa?

Anything uh exceeding the two million dollars.

We have come back to the commission.

Is that what you are saying?

And it what would come back to the commission if general funds were being used for anything?

Oh, correct, yes.

Any level, yes.

Okay.

Okay, except as we sort of had a dialogue here.

The motion could be amended for to approve purchase orders for vehicle replacements, including planned purchases through the CIP not to exceed $2 million, period.

So it doesn't even address use of other funds.

It's just addressing and approving CIP.

So is that would that meet everybody's needs?

Um I'd want confirmation that that includes no use of general fund money without coming to the City Commission.

Are you guys all right with that?

Um can I ask a question?

Yeah.

Well, do you want to ask that?

Yeah, so uh, say if I'm just gonna give an example of what we've used traffic uh budgets for a motorcycle and the regular budget that comes out of um that fund, I believe, but that's already approved in the budget process.

So would you need to have approval before we purchase that motorcycle to come?

So Officer Valero, I think what they're talking about is if you you wouldn't come back and ask for additional general fund monies if it's already budgeted in your budget and identified.

It would be if you came back and asked for let's say another $3.5 million for I don't know, a command post.

Okay, right.

So you're not going to be doing that.

If it's budgeted in the budget that is approved by the commission, that's fine.

Okay, but not anything other than that in the general fund.

Okay.

Very good.

Vice Mayor, is that clarifying?

Sounds good to me.

Thank you.

And that would only be for extenuating circumstances.

So thank you.

And I guess I will entertain a motion.

I would move to approve the purchase order for vehicle replacement, including planned purchases through the CIP not to exceed two million dollars period.

Second.

Second.

Okay.

Moved by Commissioner Ahern Koch.

Seconded by Commissioner Batti.

Um we have uh vote.

Do we have any?

Do we have any discussion?

Oh, Commissioner Albert.

I have a question though.

You know, what about the use though of the opioid?

Yes.

Okay, you didn't take that out.

Okay.

Okay.

So it passed unanimously.

Thank you very much.

Thank you.

And thank you for your clarifications and accepting our modification.

Thanks, Ms.

Captain.

Thank you.

Okay.

And we are up to consent number agenda number two.

Are there any any items pulled from that?

Um yes, the mayor.

I am aware of item 7.5 to be pulled by the state commissioner Ahern Koch.

Um I don't have anything else other than that.

Okay.

And um we get to the right page.

And can I have a what?

Oh, sorry.

Yeah, Ms.

Griggs will read.

I couldn't find my page.

So I couldn't get Ms.

Griggs read the titles, please.

Thank you, Mayor.

Resolution number 26R 3384.

A resolution of the City Commission of the City of Sarasota, Florida, amending the budget for the fiscal year beginning October 1, 2025, by providing for supplemental appropriations, any amounts identified in exhibit A, provide for several ability if any of the parts here of are declared invalid.

Provide for reading by title only and provide an effective date.

Resolution number 26 R 3385.

A resolution of the City Commission of the City of Sarasota, Florida, amending the budget for the fiscal year beginning October 1, 2025, by providing for supplemental appropriations in the amounts identified in exhibit A.

Providing for serverity if any of the parts here are declared invalid.

Providing for reading by title only and providing an effective date.

Resolution number 26R 3386.

A resolution of the City Commission of the City of Sarasota, Florida, amending the budget for the fiscal year beginning October 1, 2025 by providing for supplemental appropriations in the amounts identified in exhibit A, provide for separability in any of the parts here are declared invalid.

Providing for reading by title only and providing an effective date.

Resolution number 26R 3387.

A resolution of the City Commission of the City of Sarasota, Florida, amending the budget for the fiscal year beginning October 1, 2025 by providing for supplemental appropriations in the amount identified in exhibit A.

Providing for several ability if any of the parts here are declared invalid.

Providing for reading by title only and provide an effective date.

Resolution number 26 R3388, a resolution of the City Commission of the City of Sarasota, Florida, meaning resolution number 26R-3374 to correct a scrivener's error and provide for an effective date.

Thank you very much.

May I have a motion concerning the balance of consent agenda to motion to approve the balance.

Second.

Okay.

Moved by Commissioner Batti.

Seconded by Commissioner Ahern Koch to approve the balance of consent to.

Yes.

Alpert?

Yes.

Betty.

Yes.

Trice.

Yes.

Please hit your buttons.

And it passed unanimously.

Thank you very much.

So Commissioner Ahern Koch pulled item uh 7.5.

And would you it's quite silly, actually.

An additional Scrivener's error.

And it's on page eight of eight, and it starts with the third paragraph, all of those, all of those, and it's to move the comma from Sarasota, County to Sarasota County, Comma, Florida.

While they were doing Scrivener's errors, I thought I would announce another scriptur's error.

I was actually advised to do that and not just submit it, which is what I did.

I was actually advised to submit it on the record.

By these folks at the table here.

Would you like to make a motion to include the additional scripters correction?

As long as the Commission has no problem with it.

Second.

So moved.

Second.

Move by Commissioner Aaron Kodge, checking in by Commissioner Batte to uh correct the additional Scrivener's errors in the in the correction of the scrivener's errors.

And your votes, please.

Also roll call.

Albert?

Yes.

Betty?

Yes.

Yes.

Yes.

Aaron Cotch?

Yes.

And it passed unanimously.

Thank you very much.

And next up is board appointments.

And we need to or the Human Relations Board is missing one member.

And we do have an applicant.

We do have one applicant and we referred to him earlier when the CRA board appointment was made.

I move to approve Mr.

J.

Langston Williams to this board.

Second.

And I believe Commissioner Albert also agreed.

I seconded.

Okay.

So it was nominated by the Vice Mayor and both the Commissioner Alpert and Commissioner Batti voiced a second.

So we'll just give it to Albert.

Okay.

And I agree and I agree.

Okay.

So let's vote because it was a motion, so the need to do that.

Okay.

So it was unanimously passed to appoint Jay Langston Williams to the Human Relations Board.

Welcome to the board, Mr.

Williams.

Welcome, Mr.

Williams.

Okay.

And next up is under unfinished business, the First Street Workforce House Attainable Housing Initiative.

We are going to receive an update from economic development and real estate manager Appleby.

And do we have here comes Laura?

I don't have any questions.

So first, yes, Mr.

Appleby.

Good morning, Madam Mayor.

Commissioners Wayne Appleby, economic development real estate manager.

My goal here today is really to not ask anything of you, but to give you an update on the project is where we are today and receive any input that you would like to give.

So it's been almost two years, but two years ago, uh former city manager, Marlon Brown presented a presentation to the Commission that envisioned an attainable workforce housing close to downtown for approximately 400 working individuals just off Main Street.

But that's one of the objectives that has held steady by the staff that the Commission provided this opportunity after hearing from Mr.

Brown, an opportunity to try to find attainable workforce housing downtown.

And that's been our our goal and has continued to be our goal.

And in that presentation, the Commission at the time approved ten recommendations.

And I just want to give you an update on those recommendations.

So the first one was to authorize the city manager proceed, do some further design work and come back to the city commission.

So as mentioned, the project has evolved.

So let me talk about that for a moment.

So the due diligence that we've done to date, and there's a lot more due diligence that will have to come, so the project will probably likely continue to evolve, but is that this is going to be successful if the private market allows it to be successful, that the private market really needs to drive this project, ensuring that the city commission gets its objectives and its goals from the project.

And so what has changed in this particular motion is we don't envision the city staff is going to come back with any more designs.

We will outsource initially a real estate consultant has been selected recently to help the City Commission identify its objectives for the property.

What do you want to ensure and how do you want the deal structured?

Hopefully, once your input as a commission is identified, it's still a viable financial project that the private market will take up, be interested in, and run with.

And so we believe probably the next action that you're going to be asked to give is actually to approve the real estate consulting firm's contract.

Again, it was it was just awarded last week, I believe the protest period closed on Friday.

Um don't know the results of that, so but I anticipate that we would be bringing back a contract with with all of you to consider um uh a real estate firm that would help you with your objectives, get what you needed out of the project, and then they would be responsible for drafting the solicitation of an ultimate future selection of a single developer who will design, build, and operate it as well as meeting your terms of uh whatever your objectives are that are identified through that process.

So the next time you would see any kind of design work would be likely after your eventual developer would be selected.

Uh the second and third motions were to purchase the property across the street.

We successfully did that on September 16th, 2024.

You purchase 1590, 1544 uh First Street.

Uh when that happened, the city is assumed for commercial leases.

Uh we are managing those leases, we're collecting the revenue monthly from those leases, and uh paying any expenses from those commercial leases from that revenue, and the balance is available for the affordable housing trust fund.

Um last November you approved a budget amendment, uh and it was uh intent was to do a couple of things.

One was fund the consultant, the real estate consultant I just described.

The second was to um ask uh provide funding for a broker agreement for Ian Black to negotiate uh with the First Street Credit Union about its parcel.

As you recall when Mr.

Brown presented uh the first street credit union's properties was set you know right in the center of the project.

Uh and for a number of reasons, uh there's always been a desire to see if we could resolve that issue so that it wouldn't be two separate towers.

Uh and so we've, with your direction, employed Ian Brown, uh Ian Black, excuse me, uh real estate, and uh an executive, excuse me, exclusive negotiation period was signed in February.

And I'll talk more about that later in my presentation.

And really the next thing that you would do here, assuming the the negotiations with the credit union were successful, uh then we would bring back an option agreement on the credit union for you all to consider as your next step uh in this process.

Four was around the foundation donation agreement.

Uh we may recall the foundations graceful gracefully responded to the city as as they often do in the community to try to be of assistance to provide some funding for the purchase of the property.

Um there were numerous uh conversations, formal meetings across three different city managers around what this might look like.

And at the end of those conversations, I believe the partnership still exists.

The foundation still want to, their goal has not changed in regards to affordable attainable housing.

Um the city, of course, as the owner of the parcels wanted to ensure that the project could move forward with as few of encumbrances as possible.

And so it didn't appear at this at the time that this was envisioned that either the city or the foundations were ready to sign an agreement about that that would lock the property up for decades.

And so I think really, in fairness uh to the foundations, they want to be sure that their dollars invested are giving them a return of investment of affordable attainable housing.

And we haven't even really defined that.

We haven't defined that yet today.

And when we have a better idea as to what the project really is going to entail, then they can look at that and decide if that's meets their mission and they want to contribute at that time.

So at this point, I don't expect any further conversations or agreements at any time in the near future.

Again, this was motions to hire a develop, you know, do a request for a development team to design and construct the attainable workforce housing project and management and operations.

Again, the current thinking as the project has gone along, and this is uh could be a decision that could have other options for you to consider in the future once your real estate consultant is on board.

But the current thinking is is that you would you would do the city would do a solicitation once we know all of your objectives, and we would place that out into the market, and we would look at who responded to that and what projects would they be would they envision doing on that property.

Um so from that process, you would then select a developer who would design, build, and operate that for at least probably the next 30 years.

Again, putting the project in the private sector who do this work every day.

City, city staff don't aren't developers, you know, don't have the capacity to do that.

So we're trying to frame it up in a way such that the city gets what it wants out of the project and the goal that Mr.

Brown always had, uh, but in a way that it's it's viable.

So these motions are slightly revised.

Uh again, we'll be back with you with a contract for the consulting firm and eventually a second contract or solicitation for the eventual developer who would design construct and operate.

Now, while the real estate consultant is working with you on its objectives, you know there could be changes to that process that you would all engage with them individually and as a commission.

Uh and so that is the current thinking of the project at this time.

Again, this uh this one is really just kind of on hold.

Um we have the affordable housing project uh and this was envisioning having an advocate, somebody working to advance the project, promote the project, see if we could get other governments to participate with us, uh fund things of that nature.

So again, um we don't envision that particular structure at this time.

Your advocate uh first and foremost will be the real estate consulting firm that we hire, and then it would likely transfer to the developer.

Motions seven and eight.

Um again to to share the project uh with other interested parties.

Uh again, we anticipate that would be done by the developer.

Uh so if there are affordable housing components in that, um the city may be a partner in that, but it would be ultimately the developer's responsibility to work with all the affordable housing groups, the tax credit programs, uh maybe negotiating with um foundations or with uh other local governments if there are priority agreements about around housing, but again, um again, we're trying to package this up as a a public private partnership or a P3 project, um, and ultimately it would transfer to that.

Um direct the um city manager to work with the affordable housing committee on the requirements.

That's gonna come naturally through your meeting with the real estate consultant individually and as a body as to what do you want you know the AMI of those units to be and what does that translate?

It's a kind of a numerical question.

If you if you choose what level you want and you look at the federal guidelines, you you you can pretty quickly understand what the rent levels are gonna be.

Doesn't mean you couldn't engage with affordable housing committee at some point, but that's not as a formal step as probably was envisioned in 2024.

And lastly, uh this was really about how you are financing the uh the purchase of 1590 and 1544 First Street.

Um so this was uh completed.

Uh you've obviously bought the property just under $3 million did come from the general fund to close that gap uh to the sale price of uh $7.3 million, uh, but that property is now owned free and clear, you all own that property.

But that property is now owned for and clear, you all own that property.

Likely when if, I'm going to say when, we come back with successful negotiations with the credit union, that would be your next step is to consider an option agreement that would involve the credit union conveying the property to the city so that there could be one tower instead of two separate towers with a carve out private owner in the middle.

So just briefly, I want to just give an update on the letter of intent.

First and foremost, the letter intent, this is really important, is a non-binding agreement.

It's nothing more than an agreement that the two parties are going to only talk with each other for the next six months about whether we can come up with a with a deal.

There's no money exchanged at this point.

It's just we're in exclusive negotiations.

And it was signed on February 26th.

The way the agreement is worded now, we need to come back to you within 180 days with an option agreement, or the parties can agree to extend that by writing if they need additional time.

But our goal is to try to get that back to you by the August 17th meet meeting at the latest.

But again, just to reiterate, the importance of that project is to allow one tower to be completed on the property versus two separate towers.

And there's a belief that that will reduce construction cost, uh, it could will increase the number of workforce housing units that could be available on that property, uh, and it will likely improve the financial feasibility of the project to be successful.

So we're trying to get the property so that we have the highest and best use for our project that we want uh our objectives met on that on that parcel.

So in talking about signing a letter of intent for this six-month non-binding negotiation period, we did obviously try to work through a number of issues of what an option agreement might look like.

So this would be uh this is me sharing with the commission what that option agreement discussed and be interested in any feedback you may have.

So the option of period upon signing is for one year period, but there are four years four extensions a year at a time.

So essentially the option of period would allow extending that option up to five years.

Following a 90-day due diligence period, so after we you all approve that the option agreement is signed, there would be 90 days for us to complete due diligence.

Assuming after due diligence the city still wants to proceed, then a $50,000 non non-refundable deposit or non-refundable payment will be made for exercising that option in each subsequent year that you want to extend over the five years.

So there's an incentive to move it a little faster.

There's a $15,000 fee that would be paid, non-refundable, to keep the option agreement alive and available, and uh agreements obviously that the credit union would not could not sell that property or transfer or do anything else with the property during that period.

The next one that's really important is assignment, right?

The option agreement allows us as the city to transfer that option agreement at any time in that five years to the eventual developer selected.

So if the project moves along as I've described earlier, and you all two years from now select a developer who's going to design, build it and operate it, at that moment the city would transfer or assign that option agreement to the developer who would become responsible for the fee, the annual fee if they want to extend that option agreement and all of the terms that are in that option agreement.

Okay.

And again, we're not obligated to do it for five years.

We can exercise that option at any time as is the envision.

Because within the option agreement will be the purchase and sale agreement language as an exhibit.

So once uh once the city or the developer exercises the option agreement, so this is beyond after you've you've approved it, it's signed by both parties, we do the due diligence, we pay the 50,000 for for year one.

We pay the 50,000 for for year one.

At any point in which the developer exercises the option agreement.

There is two years to construct the to construct the new building for the credit union.

A refundable, this is important, a refundable purchase deposit of $150 is to be held in escrow.

And once the terms of the purchase of sale agreement, the option agreement are completed, then that $150,000 would be returned.

Now we envision at this point that that $150,000 would be paid by the developer, and therefore it would be returned to the developer.

The city would not be paying those funds because you would have likely already assigned that option agreement to the developer that you selected.

In lieu of paying anything, it's not envisioned that there would be any cash between either the city or the selected developer to the credit union.

In lieu, we would agree to provide a 65 by 100 foot lot located on First Street.

The location is at the city's entire discretion, and we have a lot more due diligence that we would need to do before we could lock in on where that specifically would be.

But we would convey them a lot of 65 by 100 and have a new branch constructed for them to operate out of and provide some uh parking space near the facility or within close distance of the facility.

And so those are the initial terms that the uh your agent, the broker agreement, Ian Black has negotiated uh with support of this the city manager over the time, the last six months.

Um these are the terms that have been discussed that would be in the option agreement that would return to you in the future.

Now there likely could be other things as well.

We would be interested in hearing any input that you would want to share.

Um at this point I'll I'll turn it over to you.

I think I've said everything on this particular screen.

Uh we're here to I'm here to answer any questions you might have, but I think the the next thing that's on your horizon is one, a contract with the real estate consultant, and then the option agreement with the credit union.

Thank you, Mr.

Appleby, and we'll call you back in a few minutes, but we have three um requests to speak cards.

Uh Mark Ven Groff, Martin Hyde, and John Harshman.

Hey.

Mr.

Van Groff.

Hi, good morning.

So get you start?

Yes, please.

So my name is Mark Ven Gruff.

Good morning.

Um Sarasota resident, um, been here for about eight years.

Family's been here forever.

Um I'm the managing partner for one-stop housing.

We uh focus on building and managing housing that's affordable for working families.

Um we did submit an unsolicited bid on January 26th for the First Street project.

Um we were looking at uh with the parcels that were there, we're looking at 150 units, 16,000 square feet of commercial, and almost 400 parking spaces.

Uh we did this all in at about 55 million uh with all the soft costs and such.

The the hard costs, including parking, was 42 million.

So this is about 38 percent below the target that was uh approved for the commission going in at the 80 to 100 million uh price point.

So we we figured we came up with a really good model to reduce that cost by about 38 percent.

And in addition to that, that actually allows us to model out the units to be uh the rents to be uh uh 80 percent of AMI and half of those to be 60 percent AMI, and it's flexible depending on where the need is.

So as the the need is uh for the for the workforce or attainable, obviously we've got a lot of room there to play around with.

Um we're not asking for uh, you know, the the funding, the capital stack, everything's been pretty much complete.

We're not look relying on any LITEC or federal funds for this development.

So, you know, obviously with funds kind of starting to uh resolve this dissolving, we're still able to move forward on something like this without having that kind of risk.

So there really is no risk in moving that forward.

We're a proven developer uh manager of workforce for many years here.

Um I'm just uh time it people need housing.

Um government uh obviously things kind of move slow, but for understandably, but I think there's a pathway here to resolve that very quickly and come up with a solution.

That I believe is here on the table with or without the credit union is very easy to add that in if that happens to come to fruition.

I just asked for an opportunity to present and discuss the solution that we've presented in the unsolicited bid to get your feedback and at least give you some ideas.

Thank you very much.

Uh Mr.

Hyde.

Okay.

Oh, we still no?

Is that better like that with me not being able to hear me?

Is it working?

It sounds like it's working.

It doesn't.

Maybe it's just the voices in my head again.

Anyway, um let's be frank.

You know, this project, you know, to quote the uh the city stop there hasn't evolved.

Uh it's collapsed.

Um because it was a fantasy created by somebody with absolutely zero expertise.

Um this option agreement, uh let's put it into terms that people understand.

You, in return for their land, buy and build them a purpose-built brand new building on the same street, which would cost at least three and a half million dollars between the cost of the land and things.

So that's 7.3 million you've already gone.

500 grand you've lost in interest.

That's 10.8 million plus 500 grand.

That's 11.3 million.

I sent you an email about this.

Foundations were allegedly 100 percent supportive of this project.

I remember that quote should be etched in stone.

Um because as soon as the city spent the $7 million, they walked away.

Doctors and attorneys need a license to practice for obvious reasons.

Because you need a degree of expertise and training.

Similar levels of expertise apply to property development.

No reason why the city staff should, but they don't have that expertise.

The cost per square foot, I sent you this in an email, is around about 400 bucks a foot.

Um that is because regardless of what you put inside or whatever else, the reinforced concrete and so on and so forth costs the same either way.

So if you went to 60 percent market and 40 percent attainable, notwithstanding the nice idea there from uh Vengrove, um, you get about six million a year in uh in rental income.

Interest of that would be $3.2 million on an $80 million bond.

Insurance taxes and repayment of capital is another two and a half million.

So if you add it all together, it's $7.7 million, less six point uh six million income.

That's one point seven million a year loss for every single affordable unit, which on this would be around about sixty odd units.

So 25 grand plus would be your subsidy in perpetuity for the few units that you found.

And when we're talking about 80 percent AMI, I know you all know AMIO here is over a hundred grand a year, average median income.

So we're talking about people who are making 80 grand a year.

So we're not talking about servers in restaurants.

Um we're not even talking about first-year service self-respondeers.

We're talking about people who are making a minimum of uh of eighty thousand dollars a year just to get into a portion of the building.

So, you know, the option to buy is from the same realtor that gave money to some of you for the last uh who who got the transaction for the last product.

It's a bit like giving a gun to someone who's bleeding ill.

Doesn't make any sense.

Thank you.

And Mr.

Harshman.

Thank you, Madam Mayor Commissioners.

Uh for the record, I'm John Harshman, I'm a city resident, and I'm speaking here on behalf of myself and but also as a 45-year commercial real estate broker in downtown Sarasota, where I had the privilege of receiving a very profound education in development over my years, working with property owners, selling to developers and working with developers, finding their sites and working through the process.

So I really learned how incredibly difficult and how detail-oriented development truly is.

I used to tell people that I knew more broke developers than I did successful developers.

Well, that has changed since the Florida market has gone so sky high that we have developers from Atlanta, Miami, New York, LA.

These are seasoned people in our town now that know what they're doing, that have have extensive staffs, and before they come into our marketplace, uh they know what their costs are going to be, um the maximum that they can spend on the land, the development cost, how long it's going to take to build the project, and how well the market is perceived to to accept their product.

But we see all these buildings going up.

So we kind of have this cavalier attitude that development is easy.

Behind the scenes, it's incredibly difficult.

The idea to purchase the first stream property was based in a in a good effort to try to address uh attainable housing issues.

However, the site was selected on an emotional decision, and developers don't do that.

Developers select sites based on empirical data.

They want to make sure that the mention the dimensions of the site are proper for their development.

And with attainable housing, you have extra constraints that you can you know the maximum amount of income that you can get from the site based on the AMI, but the cost of the sites here, and then when you go over five stories, the cost of construction starts escalating significantly.

You don't just add another story on top and have that be the same same cost as before.

So while it was an emotional decision, it it should not have been.

There are other sites downtown that would that might have worked better for this project.

But the red flags that I see today are the deciding deciding to purchase the property without a performer.

I understand that uh that kind of an outline of cost was made just before the acquisition was finally made.

And there was a $30 million delta.

And that's what one would expect had they really looked at the downtown development cost.

Um unable to start the project already, you've almost owned it for two years, and we haven't done really anything with it.

That tells you there's issues with the site.

Um now you're looking to hire or being recommended to hire a real estate professional two years down the road.

That's a non-starter for me.

Also adding the credit union property to it, while it may reduce the overall cost a little bit to susmidgeon, that's not going to be enough to to uh to actually defray the costs that are important.

And then you've got the big one, the ad valorum tax down the road.

We don't know what that's going to be.

Potentially 26 million dollars, probably less than that.

Thank you very much.

Thank you very much.

But this is a detailed.

Thank you, Mr.

Harshman.

Okay.

So Mr.

Appleby, if you will return, I know we have questions for you.

Yeah, just before you start, I just meant to mention that uh Randy Boyd, the chairman at the credit union, is in the audience.

So if there's uh questions that he can address, I'm sure he would come down.

Great.

Thank you.

And Ms.

uh Commissioner Batti is the first one with questions today.

Uh thank you very much, Mayor.

And uh thank you, Mr.

Appleby.

Um I guess my question, you know, is mainly for the you know, our city attorney, particularly when it comes to like land use municipalities are concerned and and and land swaps, you know.

Um if if we you know um engaged in that practice before, you know, where you know, and how and how you know this this works, particularly, you know, when you do want a land swap for um a you know for-profit entity as as opposed to one that's not, you know, when we um public land or whatever that will be once we purchase it or whatever in how that works.

Yeah, so that's that's a great question.

Uh obviously there's several intersects of of law here.

It really depends on how this transaction ultimately plays out.

Um, as Wayne, I think mentioned, we don't have the details of its of its final form yet.

But critical to that analysis going forward will, you know, not only be the that's Florida Statute 255.065, it's commonly called the P3 statute.

Um that has certain requirements and structures, this kind of deal.

And then there are also other provisions of law.

Article 7 of our Constitution, other things that require the public purpose, public uh consideration test.

So whatever we do, and and I know staff is mindful of this, we'll have to meet all of those considerations, and this is really early before its final form.

So you say public use like public benefit.

Correct.

Okay.

Yeah.

Yeah, because this is one that I mean, because there's no there's been no assessment.

Uh sorry, Commissioner.

Um assessment or appraisal, you know, of the property or what have you.

Can you can still not hear that?

Speaking in the mic, it's just low.

I don't know how much more he can see in the mic, but he's got to speak.

Well, he's turning the turning away from the mic, so that's why it's not going out to the mic.

Okay.

So since there's been no appraisal or assessment of the property or whatever, you know, just how that's Yeah, you I mean you're right.

No appraisal or assessment of the property or whatever, you know, just how that's Yeah, you I mean you're right, you you have to and I think staff's mindful of that.

There's going to have to be appraisals of all the angles of in any deal to really look at um the dollar amounts, the values involved in being exchanged to determine if that clearly affordable housing is a public purpose.

Um that's pretty well established in the law.

It's that adequate consideration element to make sure that's Commissioner Bettie, just really quick part of that is we have the letter of intent allows 180 days before we would potentially enter into an option agreement.

So we have the 180 days to do the due diligence that you are talking about, which staff has already started.

And then the LOI will also state there is 90 days within the option agreement as well to do an additional due diligence.

So we have built in some time to do the type of of um answer the type of questions that you are asking.

Okay.

Uh th thank you.

Um can we give some type of uh clarification when we speak of AMI and what that actually looks like, be it you know 120, 100, 80, 60 or whatever.

You know, um the gentleman, Mr.

Hyde just spoke of that's you know, a person making eighty thousand dollars a year or whatever, then you hear um okay, no, that's for a party, I mean that's for a family of four.

No.

Can someone give, you know, the Commission and the public a clarification as to what this actually is and what it looks like and what it means.

Well, I think we could certainly share the AMR chart.

I mean, I'm not a housing person either.

Um, but um so I can't answer all of those levels right here on on the spot.

Um, you know, but there there are obviously uh levels um that are done by the um you know area statistical region.

Um I'm not using the correct term, that basically sets the 100 percent uh AMI rate uh for a jurisdiction and then it's adjusted by the number of family members that are in the household.

So yeah, we could share that chart with with the Commission.

Okay.

I think this is this is really the heart of the discussion that the real estate consultant will talk with you about individually, because there's a lot of speculation about numbers and it does the real estate consultant firm uh has experience doing developments like this, and their job will be to run the performer.

So when one commissioner says I want X, they'll run back and run the numbers.

Okay.

If if you want that, uh you do need to plan on a subsidy every year.

Okay.

Uh but if you lower it, your requirements.

So uh I think that's a lot of the work that that uh is uh is ahead of you in your uh upcoming conversations as part of the due diligence.

And the reason I asked that question is because you know, forced to even enter into this type of like conversation before we even get to an agreement or um acceptance of it.

You know, people need to understand like what the AMI actually is and what it means, what it looks like, you know.

And and I know like we have Mr.

Chablin up in in the audience there, and he always gives us an idea of what that looks like.

Is it possible to ask him that?

Um Mr.

Chablin, can you he's got to look online to guess what?

Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah.

Sorry, sorry about that.

I can try to bring it up if you want.

Yeah.

Because you know, you like you know, we're gonna continue to have these types of uh conversations and you know people with their opinions and you know uh opposition to it, especially where we are at critical mass when it comes to uh attainable and affordable housing, you know, and people being able to live work in in and play here in in Sarasota, in particular downtown.

If if we could have the overhead overhead.

I do have a I'm sorry, they can the laptop.

Oh, thank you.

So when we say AMI, you know, to the gentleman's point, he said 80, you know, the person would have to make 80,000 a year.

Is this a person of family of four?

What is it?

If you if you look at the chart, um yeah, this um this really kind of led spells it out.

Um looking, let's uh let's just say at 80 percent um for one individual, uh their maximum income is sixty thousand three hundred.

Uh for a family of four, it's eighty-six thousand one hundred.

And then as you can see, it it goes up when the percentage goes higher.

Um so this really kind of spells it out.

You know, as you as you know, with uh with attainable housing, you know, we're looking at one bedroom units, two bedroom units, potentially three bedroom units.

A lot of it really depends on the size of the household.

If it's just an individual, it would be that first column.

If it's a family or three or four, then you're looking at the third or fourth column.

Okay.

Yeah, does that you know just trying to give some idea and clarification, especially to his point, you know, what that is, you know, because everyone always says, oh, wait, that you know, that's crazy.

A person has to make $90,000 or $80,000, you know, to to live in a place like this.

And we know that that's that's kind of like um reasonable.

So thank you for that, you know, uh clarification.

I yield, Mayor.

Thank you.

And Ms.

Griggs, are we using the timer?

Sure.

Oh, wait a minute.

I have 10 more minutes.

Wait a minute.

Uh Vice Mayor, you're up next.

Thank you.

Um Mr.

Appleby, when you were talking to us about the already approved motions and motion number four related to our work with the foundations.

I think I heard you say that foundations want to ensure their dollars are well used, and that you don't anticipate any agreements with foundations in the near future.

Yeah.

What did you mean by near future?

What I mean by near is I don't think uh that conversation probably uh really has any legs until you all have met and you all as a commission have agreed what your objectives are.

And so when you set your objectives, X number of the percentage of the units need to be at this AMI or that AMI.

That's going to tell them that, oh, this is a project that we're it meets our goal, our missions, our donors' intent.

We want to contribute to that.

If you select something different, then you know, uh and it doesn't meet their needs, then they may be less likely to to want to invest in the project.

So I think until until the Commission set its objectives for that, and I recommend you wait until you have your real estate consultant here who can run those models, who knows, as Mr.

Harshman mentioned, very skilled people that have done these projects over the years, know our market, do the analysis of what the market will uh react to to help guide you with those objectives.

I think that exercise will tell you whether or not you have a project that the foundations could be excited about.

Okay, thank you.

And um, as Mr.

Vengroff mentioned earlier, he submitted an unsolicited proposal to us uh I don't know, January, February.

Why wasn't that part of the discussion today?

Yeah, uh well, when that proposal came about, uh it was not public knowledge that we were convening with the credit union to try to change uh the property that is available, and so it still envisioned two separate towers, which is not where this project is.

Um the the other thing is that um while I expect Mr.

Vengroff, Mr.

Eller, you heard from today, all of our local folks.

Um, you know, you you may wish to put this out to a solicitation and see what all your options are and not lock in with just one before even looking at what else could come your way.

So Mr.

Vengroff's proposal could come back to us at a certain point in time as a response to an RFP or whatever we'd call it at that time.

Yes, and I would hope it would.

Okay.

And that's been communicated to Mr.

Van Grove.

Thank you.

And Mr.

Eller.

Mr.

L.

also put in an unsolicited proposal earlier.

You finish.

I'm finished.

Okay.

Commissioner Aher and Koch.

Thank you.

Um my first question goes to a little bit um of what Commissioner Vittie was talking about and us not being so loosey-goosey with our terms.

And we talk about this as being workforce and attainable housing, and then it's also referred to in the document as attainable workforce housing, and then it's referred to as attainable housing and affordable housing and and all of that.

And those terms have specific meanings in the City of Sarasota.

And I just want us to all be clear on exactly what we're talking about.

Is it 120 AMI?

Is it 100 AMI?

Is it 40 AMI?

I mean, you know, and this speaks to the bigger picture of what are our goals and objectives.

It's mentioned in this backup material about 12 times, depending upon the city's goals and objectives.

I don't think we have really defined that.

I mean, I feel like I have a way more questions to which there are no answers at this point in time.

And that's nobody's fault except for ours.

So that's just a little bit of frustration I am experiencing here with this.

And just as we go forward, can we talk about what we have in mind for this?

Is it 120 AMI, which is typically considered workforce housing according to the city, or affordable housing, which is also 120 AMI and below, according to the city?

I mean, let's I would love to know exactly what we're what we're talking about here.

Commissioner, if I could just respond to that.

I think one of the first things I said is there's a whole lot more due diligence to be done.

I think everybody who spoke acknowledges that, okay.

And we have to remember we also have had since this vote, we have had three different city managers, right?

And so we restart the conversation every time we get a new city manager, okay.

So there's a number of reasons why it's dragged on.

What we're trying to do for you, because I I feel the same frustration, acknowledge your frustration.

That's why the real estate consultant firm is being brought on is so that it can work with you, both individually and as a group to identify when we say objectives, that's what we mean.

How many or what percentage of the units are going to be, you know, under 80 percent?

How many are going to be 80 to 100?

How many are going to be 100 to 120?

Are you an allow higher than 120?

You know, uh if if the financing is necessary.

What is that mixture look like?

I don't think any of us know that today.

So I don't know how folks do numbers without knowing what that mixture is.

I'm asking you to, as frustrated as you are, wait for the real estate consultant to come on board, work through that with you, express all your own individual desires, and then as a board, select what those specific AMIs are.

And I and I understand that.

I just think that um, you know, we as a commission had in mind one thing, and through the fault of nobody, not you, not good intentions brought this about.

And it's sort of taken a path that I think we're all a little bit unclear on.

And instead of it being a real estate consultant to work with us to get to those objectives, it it should lie in us to have set those objectives and then work with the real estate agent to say, is this achievable?

Is it realistic?

And if it's not, then we've got to let the idea go.

If it is, then let's continue down this path.

So it's about this commission leading the objectives as opposed to the opposite.

Agreed.

I would just caution you, because other local governments around here have followed the path you just described, and the commission objectives didn't produce any public sector responses because the the commission's objectives were too any time you put an encumbrance on, you're locking the door of a private sector developer from coming aboard.

So we want, again, our goal is we want this to be successful.

We do think it should take the time it is necessary.

This is a big deal.

And you should take the time that you need to do it right and get it done right.

And so we want to bring you the experts to help you make those decisions.

Right.

And so to to that uh comment, and and I, you know, I get it that there's just a lot of frustration going on here.

So I'm not blaming anyone or pointing it at anyone.

But I want to get past that.

And to that point, you had mentioned on page, I think it's four, about the project, the rental revenue, less the expenses is being placed into the uh affordable housing trust fund.

What are those numbers?

Do we have those numbers about what it costs us to purchase, what it costs the the insurance, all of the expenses that go into that and we've spent on real estate, on fees, on consultants, on everything that goes that it's cost us, plus what we are getting back.

Do we know and can we get that number and that ongoing number?

Yeah, I I could tell you uh in general, the the revenue that's created, less the actual expenses to do the the the um to actually manage the properties and pay for the things we're all doing.

And insurance and everything.

Everything uh you know, you're essentially grossing about 180,000 a year uh into the affordable health trust fund while those properties are being rented.

Okay.

Um that doesn't go into the the purchase of the property.

You know, you you have already done that.

We're not at this point not paying that back.

And all the funds were from the general fund.

No.

About three million dollars of the 7.3 was from the general fund.

The balance was from the Affordable Housing Trust Fund.

Trust fund.

That's why I think the intent was is the revenue from those purchases would go back to the Affordable Housing Trust Fund.

Okay.

And then for the first street property.

Um, you know, I was actually happy when they held their ground and wouldn't, weren't going to sell, because it's best practices to not create megablocks and superblocks.

It's in our downtown master plan, it's Jeff Spec, it's every urban designer lately.

That that is a big no-no.

So I was happy that that was the temptation of that was not there.

Now this concerns me that that's going to be the temptation because it's more affordable, it's cost saving, it's you know that that is going for us to to us to go against best best practices, using that as the reasoning to create affordable housing and us breaking our own master plan guidelines.

So, you know, I'm not so sure I'm I'm on board with that that whole idea.

Um but then the the cost, so um giving them a whole new facility that is 65 by 100 parcel.

Um is it I am assuming in my mind it's going to be in that same block, or is it anywhere on first street?

Yes.

So uh yeah, we do envision that it will be on this segment of First Street.

That's correct.

On that south side of First Street.

Now, is that are we locked into that?

Because No, we're not locked into that.

We're at this point aren't planning to purchase any more property downtown to place the credit union on on First Street.

So it would be property that the city owns on First Street.

That would be where options could be explored.

Um that is a little bit uncomfortable as well.

Um because that's a big another big unknown.

Like where, what's the cost of that?

We have to do the due diligence.

Absolutely.

Um then providing them the 20 parking spaces.

Um exclusively for their clients, are they open to the public?

I mean, these are all questions and things that are uh add costs to this whole idea.

What has been discussed is eight to ten parking spaces adjacent to their building, which would the intent would be for their customers, their employees, their board of directors when they are visiting the credit union.

The balance of the 20 would be anywhere the city had parking.

We would envision when the project is complete, there will be public parking on the lot across the street.

That's where those additional parking.

It would be exclusively for them?

No.

No.

It would they would just be available to them as everybody else.

But their exclusive parking spots would be the eight to ten right up next to their building.

Okay.

Um that's that's a whole nother um situation.

Okay.

And um those are my questions for the moment.

Thank you.

Before I call on Commissioner Alpert, I'm looking at the clock.

I am going to suggest that we are not going to get to the next agenda item until after lunch.

So if you're just here for that, I'm going to suggest plan to return by 1 p.m.

Uh, but we will continue with this until lunch.

Um not necessarily.

If you guys push through, you can probably just work through and get done.

I I don't think that other one is going to be short either.

Okay.

All right, got you.

All right.

Um Commissioner Alpert.

I just I'm looking at my notes here as to what I wanted to uh ask about.

Um number one, I think you reiterated that we would have a real estate consultant that would look at what is feasible and what can be done and then help guide us in terms of our goals and objectives, correct?

That's correct.

I mean, uh the real estate consultant will help you to drive to what AMI levels you want, and how does that compare to what the market will will take with other ways for that site to make revenue?

Remember, we're talking public parking, we're talking first floor commercial.

There's a question about whether it's, you know, are there market rate units as well as low-income units in the project?

So all of that is to be due diligence done, financial modeling done by real estate consultants who have done that work in Florida and across the country.

Okay.

Yeah, that's I mean, that makes sense that that's the way it should happen because we are not expert on this sort of thing.

Um we know we have a vision for what we would like to see, but in order to reach that vision, we need to get the information from an expert.

So I think that's a really good step uh to take.

Um is there um did you say that Mr.

Eller was also had submitted something?

He did prior prior to one-stop housing, Mr.

Van Groff, uh I think it was in September or October he had submitted.

Oh, they both submitted a both submitted an unsolicited proposal.

Okay.

But again, it's very difficult to deal with those unsolicited proposals when we don't know what the Commission's objectives are.

So how do we know that their proposal is meeting the commissioned objectives?

Staff, the city managers that have been here working on the project all wanted to get to a place where the city commission set its objectives.

Then we can respond to proposals.

So versus the other way around.

So getting presentations from either of them would probably not be.

I would encourage them to wait for the solicitation and respond to the solicitation.

But those are all my questions.

I have other comments that I want to make, but I'll wait to the discussion of the question.

I mean it doesn't mean that during the time that the real estate consultant is here, that you can't have conversations with other people you know in the business and you know flush things out.

Okay.

Thank you.

We also want to make sure that they don't do anything that would prevent them from being a solicitor.

Thank you, Mr.

B commissioner.

To that point, I just want to say we'll work with Mr.

Polzak um from a procurement perspective.

We just want to make sure when this goes out to bid that we're not, again, keeping people from being able to participate in the bid if they want.

If sometimes if vendors um have insight into information when we go to bid, it could actually keep them from bidding.

So we'll just work very closely with the city attorney to make sure that doesn't happen.

And to that point, since it's germane, is the real estate consultant solicitation we just went through and have just selected a vendor and the contract will come forward.

The contract will prohibit that particular vendor and any of their subs from being a proposer on the eventual solicitation.

They can't be in the middle of making the deal in government and then you know apply to to be the developer.

So we've had some local people who we've engaged, thought that they might want to help gauge the city or guide the city in this process, but a lot of them chose not to participate because they want to be involved in the larger project at the end.

Okay.

Um also I I'd like you to um discuss, you know, the the comment that just because there's been a two-year delay, there must be something wrong with the project.

I think as you talked about, it's really more a matter of going through several interim city managers and not having that, not because there's something wrong with this project.

Yeah, I mean um I believe from my interactions, there's a lot of interest in this project.

Uh I have had numerous calls, numerous conversations with developer and the private community is very interested in this lot that is one block off of Main Street.

Um so I think it's a matter of packaging the deal to keep it attractive.

Um I would account that the slowdown has been the multiple change in not having a full-time city manager to lead the project or direct staff how to lead the project.

So all of those steps put us on pause when we change a city manager.

There's you know, it's just the reality there.

Right.

And um purchasing the credit union would not necessarily cause there to be a mega block.

Right.

I mean, it gives us more flexibility with what we want to do with the property, correct?

That's correct.

I mean, you can you can outline design criteria and we have very talented architects in this community and and away who can do all kinds of feats with design.

So um again, having control of the property is important.

What you decide to do with it is another decision.

Gives us a lot more flexibility.

Okay.

Thank you.

Those are my questions.

Yeah, and as you're, I'm sure you're hearing that each of us has a different idea of what our understanding of what this is.

It's why we want the real estate consultant to help us.

So and actually I would think that even before we meet with the real estate consultant that having a workshop where we can discuss and get our ideas on the table and maybe come to some sort of agreement before well.

What he's saying is if we come to some sort of agreement about what we want before we have gotten the facts, then we're going to, you know, styming the information.

Well, yeah, and and as when we get to comments, one of my concerns is we don't have the earlier facts like, you know, I have been asking for two, three years to understand what our actual needs are, what is the uh distribution of income within the city, what is the availability of housing, how is that priced throughout the city?

And that would be helpful, I think, to us in understanding what we need.

So that was what I would hope having a workshop, we would have that information given to us, and maybe the real estate consultant will give us that information.

But um and and I'm also of two minds about the uh credit union property, and I'm a little bit my first question is in terms of the uh LOI terms with we have the option to assign the option, and I'm interpreting that as is the idea to transfer ownership of the land to the developer.

Why would we assign the option to the developer?

Yeah.

So under the current um concept is the land once once we comply with whatever the agreement is with the credit union, i.e.

at today it's this building and the lot, once we comply with that, their land would convey to the city, and the city would own the entire block.

Um I I don't want to speculate, um, but you know, one very probable scenario I think you will probably hear from your real estate uh um expert is that you uh do a 99-year lease with the developer.

So you'll you'll always retain the ownership of the land uh and um uh and then you would select a developer to design, build, and operate it for period of 30 years or some time frame that yet to be negotiated.

So no, I don't I mean there is a a path where you could then convey that as as a gift to the the project, you know, to make it viable, but you may not have to do that, and it may not be your first option or desire.

Yeah, but I was just wondering why we would want to assign the options.

Well, because we want because at that point you have selected the developer, you've outlined and you have an agreement with that developer that you're gonna get your objectives met, and now you're turning over responsibility to them to actually deliver it for you.

But we're not talking about transferring ownership necessarily.

Um I'm gonna defer my next question until the next round.

So uh Commissioner A.

Her and Kotch, you're on round two.

Yeah, I only have one more one question.

It's for the attorney.

Um I know that it was done with um some other projects, lots on lemon and some others, but what it uh so we should just know going ahead um what our options are for designing this project when we're thinking about objectives to city employees, downtown employees, um in those kinds of categories.

I don't mean AMIs, I mean that that kind of a because that term has been thrown around.

It could be for city employees and county employees, I don't know.

So uh just if we could get some information on how we can legally if we can carve out.

I think to the point that's been made here, the public purpose aspect is really important how this how this plays out in those details.

Umordable housing, what are the income restrictions, what are the affordability requirements and for how long?

Um that all goes to the public benefit and the public purpose of this.

And I think as Wayne has said, that a lot of that is just gonna have to be worked out with the expert that you hire to determine the best balance of what the city is already has and is willing to put on the table and then what is going to come back in terms of public benefit.

And I think as Wayne said, that will be a big decision for the Commission.

I do I do believe there's a legal mechanism that uh that would be you know part of due diligence if you wanted to uh prioritize city employees.

In fact, we did not mention it in the solicitation for the real estate consultants, but some of the proposals, some of the questions came back.

Are you trying to prioritize um you know city employees?

And and we said that had not been determined at this point.

We're certainly open to that discussion.

Uh I know that there are other projects, school boards have done it with old schools around the country where they're their staff need housing and they have less students and so they've converted schools and they have some type of an agreement that uh some lawyer has written to to make sure it doesn't violate the Fair Housing Act.

Exactly.

Uh so there are mechanisms.

Do I know what they are?

No, it takes more resources, it probably takes a a legal expert in that field to get us to where we need to be.

But I I think that's uh again part of your objectives, uh and I think uh the consultant will have experience in that.

Right, right.

Uh and not just income level, but categories.

Right.

And and the last thing we would want is to do something like this and say it's for a certain AMI, and you have somebody that lives, you know, that works out in Arcadia and is living here in Sarasota, creating the the actual inverse of what we're looking for, right?

So, you know, we just keep an eye on what we're we are hopefully going to be focused on.

Right.

And legally doing it, obviously.

Yeah, and we we've talked about that being closely involved and making sure, again, that then the details is really important how that public purpose self-help.

Yep.

We also did include in the solicitation the requirement to have some legal assistance in this type of housing expertise that you're asking about.

So that was part of the proposed response.

So that they could work with the city attorney but have some expertise in that area.

And we'll definitely oversee that.

Part of my team, we have um access to P3 experts and attorneys that have overseen this kind of project before.

So thank you, Mayor.

Um I think is, you know, um this is a very uh interesting conversation, particularly like when you start talking about development.

We don't ever like question or um have any argument about anything when it comes to developers developing buildings that are gonna have multimillionaires living in them.

We don't say, ah man, who's gonna be living there, blah, blah, blah, you know, and so on.

The moment we start talking about, you know, uh people that can't necessarily l afford to live in the city, then you know, these conversations get very, very, you know, um uh almost heated um, you know, what the AMI is gonna be and I guess in this, like who the end user is and and what that's gonna look like.

Um but you said that you you had um a number of uh interests, you know, in in in doing this or what have you, um which is surprising to me, but but you know, I I can appreciate that.

Um have there been any other like solicited or unsolicited proposals for for for this or no, we've had the two unsolicited proposals that I've mentioned from two you know local um low-income housing, you know, nonprofits.

Um we have not had any other.

Mr.

Van Groff and Mr.

Aller.

Uh we've not had any other formal unsolicited proposals.

Um again, I think uh most of the private sector who who have spoken with me uh have expressed um uh you know what a prime piece of property it is, that uh something will be successful there, we'd like to be in it.

Um, but they're all hinging on what are the objectives are gonna be, what are the encumbrance that the city is gonna be put in it?

Because that will really tell them whether or not they'll put in a bid or not.

So, you know, it's balancing all of your desires with with affordability, because at least staff has gone into this that you know, other than the land, you all don't want to contribute annually to this project, right?

You want to create something that is self-sustaining on its own.

And so to do that, you're gonna have to balance all your wishes, right?

I wish to get everything I want.

Well, that somebody's gonna tell you uh that that's gonna cause a subsidy for you every year, right?

So if you lower your wishes, you know, maybe it's not everything I want, but I can live with it, and now I don't have to have any more contribution other than the land into the deal.

That's the sweet spot if you can get there.

An expert will tell you if we get there.

It's all speculation, I think, to us currently.

Yeah.

Because I think, you know, at the end of the day, um what this essentially comes down to is location and how valuable you know that that parcel of land is, just as you said, getting people that are asking you questions in terms of, oh man, you know, this is a great priest of property, and you know, what are you going to do with it and so on and so yeah, but thank you, Mr.

Trevor Burrus.

Well, and I think Mr.

Harshman is right, and and the mayor mentioned it, you know, the real estate consultant and the all the proposers on the eventual development, they'll do that market analysis.

They're going to figure out, just as Mr.

Harshman said, is this project viable?

Am I delivering a product that the market will, you know, want, you know?

Uh and we have to be careful about what encumbrances we put on there because you may be all of a sudden creating a uh a product that isn't marketable.

So I encourage you to, yes, advocate for everything you want, but I encourage you to have an open mind to what the private market will bear.

Trevor Burrus, Jr.

Yeah, yeah.

And there you hit have it.

You know, you know, the market will determine everything.

And you know that there is the market.

But uh uh to that point, what about other municipalities?

You know, you know of any uh other municipalities engaging in this type of Yeah, I mean uh What about St.

Peter's?

Yeah, St.

Pete has a similar project, a little bit ahead of ours, um, doing a high rise.

Have they been doing that or is this something new for them?

Well, uh yeah, they have played different roles uh in different projects to try to uh attract affordability.

Uh there are a number of schools around the country um that are doing that because as student enrollments go down, housing affordability is tough for the employees of school districts, so they're converting old schools into affordable housing.

Um there's an all of our all of our proposers had a number of examples of projects that they were involved in that did exactly what we're we're doing, meaning there was government involvement to to make the project viable.

Because to buy this project, right, Mr.

Harshman said, right?

What's the price of the land, right?

So a developer in the market, if they had to buy that and put that cost into it, that's huge.

You're you have leverage by owning that parcel, hence why we are suggesting that you at least consider the LOI depending on you know, depending on what the future holds.

Uh excellent.

Thank you, Ms.

Allen.

Okay.

I I have a couple of questions dealing with timeline.

I mean, we don't know the future, but the first one is do we have any idea in terms of the downtown master plan update, ad hoc committee, you know, wondering if they're gonna be coming up with recommendations at about the same time that this project is defining what it wants to do.

I mean, you know, we don't want the downtown master plan ad hoc committee to be recommending the exact opposite of what we are talking about.

Trevor Burrus, Jr.

Sure.

Um again, part of our solicitation require community engagement in the project with the real estate developers.

So they're not only working with you, doing financial scenarios, they'll also be gay engaging the the community that have an interest or a stakeholder in this project.

We have identified that the the ad hoc master plan would be part of a input into that process.

Um how the timing will align.

I I don't know that I can answer that specifically, but we're certainly not blind that there that this is not going on.

So we want our real estate consultant to to be engaged heavily with the community as as they're building these objectives with you, you know.

Okay.

And then my excuse me, the other question was the timetable regarding the credit union property, because it would appear to me that once we enter into some sort of a contract with them, then we are required to build them a new building within two years, but we can't really start construction on the first street property until they are able to move out and into this new building.

So it seems like whatever we're doing, what are we deferring the beginning of construction for at least four years or so let's remember uh and apologize if I wasn't clear.

Or let's remember uh and apologize if I wasn't clear.

Your next agreement in regards to the credit union would be the option agreement.

Okay.

The option agreement can be as long as five years.

It can be exercised any time within that five years.

Okay.

So worst case scenario, if you want to do this project faster, if that's your goal, um, it could be five years, and on the last day before the fifth year hits, you then exercise the option.

That then gives you two years to build them a building.

So that you don't actually have that time clock of a two-year running to construct the building until you exercise the option.

I'm not worried about that as much as we can't start doing anything on the first street property until the credit if we choose to include the credit union property until they moved out and they can't move out until we build a new thing for them.

So it's like we're adding extra time to the project.

Agreed.

The developer would have to prioritize replacing the credit union.

That's correct.

Well, then the other thing is at some point as we're going through this, uh for various reasons, we may decide that we want to stick with two towers, and the credit union could stay exactly where it is without causing us any problems.

You know, maybe we would say, okay, yeah, we'll buy the land and lease it back to you, or you know, stay where you are.

Well, under that scenario, then you know I would encourage you to get to the option agreement and then not exercise the option so that you have as much control as possible.

You have the option.

And the land is available if you as a board want to do that, Commission.

And if you don't, then you don't exercise the option.

Okay.

So um.

Yeah.

So I will have some comments during comments, but is anybody nobody has any more questions?

No.

Okay.

Well, thank you very much, Mr.

Appleby.

And I see that the um agenda request was also to get inform uh guidance from us.

So I think we probably each have a few more comments.

Okay.

Ms.

Commissioner Ahern Codge is nodding her head.

Well, so my question is this are are there are there two motions, one to re one to or not receive the the um project, and then the other one, second one would be to offer guidance under comments of two separate items.

Is that the way this is going to work?

I think you should do two separate items.

One to receive the presentation, um, and then whatever you want to direct or guide the city manager to do next.

Okay.

Then I would move to receive the presentation.

Second.

Okay.

So motion by Commissioner Ahern Koch, seconded by Commissioner Albert to receive the presentation.

And no comments, no, and we can vote on that.

And it passed unanimously.

Thank you.

So what's the next I see you?

Um I move to have the uh city manager uh negotiate and bring forth uh an option agreement for are we here with the credit union?

Do we need other stuff to is it a motion or just comments?

I think it should be.

No, that's a motion.

I think it should be a motion.

I would maybe amend that to add um direction to schedule a workshop with the real estate consultant to start talking through the objectives as well.

Once we've hired the real estate consultant.

Right.

They're in negotiations right now.

Um so the real estate consultant will be hired as soon as we can negotiate a contract with them.

So they've been they've been chosen yet.

Okay.

Do we?

The solicitation is done and they're in negotiation.

Don't we have to approve that contract?

You will, so it will come in front of you for approval.

I would think that that once we approve that, that's when we would do a motion to schedule a workshop.

Okay.

Do it at that when that item is on the agenda.

We can do that.

Yeah.

So let's restate that motion because it's got a little money.

Is there any sounds like we need two motions because one was with dealing with the credit union property, and then the other one was the workshop with the reality.

Well, but we haven't we haven't, you know, we haven't approved the contract yet with the real estate, so it seems like that's when that motion would make more sense.

Okay, so you're just gonna do a credit.

Yeah to move forward with bringing us an option agreement for the credit union building.

Okay.

So we move.

Yes.

Okay, motion by Commissioner Alpert, seconded by Commissioner Batti to move forward with an option agreement for the real uh credit union property.

No, to bring that to us, yes.

To bring okay.

And commission will start with the maker to motion.

Oh, I wanted to do a friendly amendment.

Okay.

Okay.

Uh can we add the words non-binding?

An option agreement is non-binding.

Just want to make it explicit.

It's it's in the option agreement that it's non-binding.

Right.

The city.

Oh, sorry, go ahead, Mr.

It's anticipated it will be the city's option.

So it won't bind the city, but the city will have the option to execute it pursued to the terms of the agreement.

Well, yeah, and it's this low LOI is a non-binding document.

Yeah.

It will bind the other party, but not the city.

But not the city.

Okay.

Okay.

Okay, so did you and we haven't approved the option agreement.

So you haven't you haven't seen that yet.

This is just for them to bring us an option agreement.

Okay.

So you are the maker of the motion.

Do you want to speak to it?

Um, I just I I think it makes really good sense for us to enter into an option agreement uh for purchase of the credit union building.

I think it gives us much more flexibility with the property.

It doesn't make sense to have this kind of outlier building between two towers.

I think, you know, I think it it hampers our ability to do what we need to do there and want to do there.

And um, you know, um it it it can't hurt us to own that property in any event.

And Ms.

Commissioner Batti, did you want to speak to it?

Uh no.

No, ma'am.

Uh and Vice Mayor.

Thank you.

Um I just want confirmation from somebody that now's the time to do this.

Option agreement.

Now is the time.

Yes, the the letter of intent.

So what I would say is it's your decision if it's the time, but what I will add to that is is the letter of intent does have a hundred and eighty-day um period in which to enter into the option agreement, which began February 24th, 5th.

Um so we only have until August.

If you don't enter into an option agreement by then the letter of intent is canceled unless both parties agree to extend it.

Now's the time.

Thank you.

Did you want to say anything?

I don't.

Okay.

I'm I'm I don't know.

Well, I I guess my question is so it seems to me that after 90 days we will be on the hook for $50,000.

Is that what this is saying?

After the option agreement is entered into, you have a 90-day period in which to do due diligence after the due diligence period, then there's a $50,000 non-refundable deposit that would be due.

But that's 90 days after the option agreement is entered into.

Okay, because my concern is once we sit down with the real estate consultant, we may decide we don't want that land, but we've already put down fifty thousand dollars.

So what we would do is bring um to your point, Mayor, we would bring the option agreement to you with um the terms of the option agreement.

You can agree to enter into the option agreement at that time, then you have another 90 days after that.

So we do have some time in order to get the real estate agent or the real estate consultant hired, meet with you, start the objectives before that 50,000 is due.

Okay.

Um I'm not thrilled, but yeah.

Okay.

Um so I guess we'll call the question.

Okay.

So it passed 4-1.

Thank you.

Thank you.

Uh and it is afternoon.

It is Apple time 1212.

Shall we get back at 115?

Is that give us enough time?

Okay, we are recessed for lunch till 115.

Okay.

Midnaest.

Welcome back to the April Sixth Regular City Commission meeting.

And we have reached uh unfinished business, uh nine point two regarding uh presentation regarding the Sarasota Housing Authority request for an additional four million dollars in funding for a four-story affordable housing, the Cown Tower development, and Mr.

William Russell, who's president and CEO of the Housing Authority, uh is going to make a presentation.

I wasn't sure.

Thank you, Mayor.

Commissioners, uh William Russell with Sarason Housing Authority.

This is Jake Zodaman, who is with our co-developer for us.

Since then, you know, we applied for um some C D BG disaster recovery funds from HUD that the county was awarded for the last year's storms.

Umfortunately, we didn't get funded in that initial round.

Um funds left.

And so we are certainly making an effort to try to secure some of that.

We do have a $4 million gap right now.

It was seven when we initially applied to the county.

We've done some you know value engineering to reduce some of the costs.

Nothing that would impact the nuts and bolts of the development.

We can still accommodate the public parking.

But our gap is four.

And we're kind of under the gun to fill the gap because we're supposed to go back to the state uh Florida Housing Finance by early June.

Um basically with things all buttoned up.

And uh the last thing I want to do, and I I would hope the last thing Sarasota wants to do is to tell the state we can't use your nine million dollar competitive award to build affordable housing.

Um because there are a lot of other communities who are lining up to get that money.

So I want to I'm just doing everything I can and trying to cover our bases to try to fill that four million.

So I'm not asking you all to vote to commit four million.

I just wanted to make you aware that we do have this gap, and until it's you know, until we fill it and we have the four million, I'm gonna, you know, I'm covering my basis.

So coming to the city, you guys have always been a great partner, so I just wanted to let you all know we're we're short.

So you know, and and like I said, I'm hoping that we can get some disaster recovery funds, resilient SRQ funds from the county on the second go around.

And honestly, the reason we scared number one is because we own the land, we have the funding lined up.

Um I mean it's literally like four million dollars to make a fifty million dollar project go.

So normally that's great leverage for a local government putting in the last money to make such a project get you know go.

So um I'm still hopeful.

One way or another, we can get the funds to fill the gap.

So thank you.

We we do have uh two people signed up to speak.

Uh Martin Hyde and Melissa Furman, and uh you can stay where you are, and they can well neither of them is here.

Okay.

Well, yeah, so uh stay where you are, and the vice mayor has some questions.

Right.

Um, I know that's not a good feeling.

Uh of course I've never been short four million, but uh you never had the first ready.

Yeah, I know it can't feel good.

Um have you gone to foundations?

I'm just you know, ideas that came to my mind.

Um you don't have to answer have you gone to foundations, but you did say uh you didn't get money from the county in round one.

That suggests there's a round two.

When will that happen?

And what do you think?

I mean, I'm hearing that they may consider um you know what to do with the remaining funds that that they have now available uh by the end of April.

By the end of April.

And I think I haven't seen it on an agenda, but that's uh that's what I'm hearing.

Are you going over there and like begging and doing all the right stuff?

Uh we've we've definitely been reaching out to the county commission about it.

Okay.

And making them aware that we really we really need to fill this gap, and this would be a great source, you know, HUD funds, you know, it's meant to serve low moderate income people, so um, and so I have a couple of questions for Mr.

Harvey, our parking manager.

Would it be okay?

Yeah.

Yes.

Thank you.

Absolutely.

Good afternoon.

Brox and Harvey, Junior Manager of Parking City of Sarasota.

Thank you, Mr.

Harvey.

So an additional $4 million from the city would make this about $75,000 per parking space.

That's correct.

Is $75,000 per space a usual amount or I actually have not seen it at high.

Actually the numbers that I've seen are between $35 and maybe $55 on the high end.

And so that's sort of what complicates us funding something like this from a parking perspective.

Well, we just can't from a parkings per perspective, right?

Okay.

And Vice Mayor, can I if I may, um we actually did also reach out to our bond council on this to see if the additional four million could be added to a revenue bond.

And they had said at $75,000 a spot, it would be really hard for them to be able to put that into a bond.

Additionally, we asked them if we would be able to use just parking revenues outside of a bond to be able to fund if we borrowed the $4 million to be able to use that as revenue to pay back.

And they had said because the $4 million wouldn't go towards a parking garage, because that's $75,000 a spot, it would be going more towards the overall development of the entire project.

And so parking revenues would be difficult to justify using revenues from parking for the overall project.

Right.

And we know from a recent meeting that we're not doing so well in the area of parking revenues.

That is another concern that even if you borrow, even if it was allowed and you borrowed if the revenue isn't there, then you would end up obviously supplementing that from non-envalorum revenues somewhere else.

Thank you.

And so regarding the parking garage, it's it would be part of the one building, right?

Not a separate entity.

So who would own the parking garage?

We had discussions.

We've had discussions with the city and their bond council and other legal council.

And I think there was agreement that we could have a legal structure where the city has legal control of the public parking spaces within the garage that will be constructed.

And then the big question with garages is always who's going to maintain it.

Those details have not been finalized.

Right.

So I don't have any more questions.

You know, I know you're in a hard place right now, and um foundations in the county would be good ideas, I think.

Commissioner Alpert.

I uh I heard somewhere that there was a possibility that you could get that June deadline extended if it looked like there was a good faith effort to help find the funds for this.

Yes.

It's not inexpensive.

But like you said, if we have good confidence that we're going to be able to, you know, uh get the financing in place to close on it, we would absolutely pay to do an extension with the state.

But we we would look worse if we paid that and then extended it and then only to tell the state sorry, we can't make it.

What's your deadline on asking for an extension?

Because you're saying that potentially the county could be making a decision on the other, like I think the $3.2 million that they were going to use for U.S.

recycling and how to allocate that.

So would you have enough time if if they make the decision by the end of April to then get an extension?

Yeah, we'd have to do we'd have to file for it, I think, in early June.

Oh, you have to file for it in early June.

So it does give you some time between now and then to see if there's uh a possibility of doing anything.

Um is there any and and I'm sure the answer is probably no.

Um that you know, obviously we can uh uh collect on parking revenue for a bond for the portion that would be uh for the parking spaces, but this additional four million.

Um are we able to you know collect on some of the rents or some other source of revenue to if you know if there were a separate bond for that?

Yeah.

We already have um a little north of 11 million dollars in perm in perm debt on the property already.

So it's it's an affordable development.

Oh, I know.

That's why I'm like that's why I thought the answer is probably no, but I thought I would.

And then beyond that, the investors and the lenders won't won't do it.

It won't fly.

Is there anything we could do to encourage the county?

Um I mean another letter would be great.

Yeah, that would be great.

And you know, I mean you could talk about the city's interest in participating in the development, you know, for the public parking as well.

Yeah.

So that's all I have.

Okay.

Commissioner Batti.

Oh, okay.

Uh thank you, Mayor.

And I think the Mayor uh asked my question, and that was you know, anything that we can do or what can we do to assist you and um getting the county to any up or you know, put in.

Um what what seventy five million, because that's what I thought about, I mean 75,000, excuse me.

Um I thought about 30,000, uh 35,000 uh a parking spot or something like that.

What is where does the 75 come from?

I'm lost with that.

We had initially talked about 8 million for the 160.

That's what the you guys voted on, I don't know, December maybe.

And so then we were just thinking, okay, well, we're four million short.

Could they do a bond for twelve million?

But if you total that up, I guess it would come out to mount the few space.

Which wouldn't all be going for the parking spaces, obviously, but yeah.

Um there's no way to sort of make that delta up, you know, even with more parking spots.

Oh, whatever.

Yeah.

No.

Um, it's only the building is only going to be four stories.

So part of that was resident input too.

You know, they don't want to tall building out in front of their current building.

Yeah.

Um, that was like I said, that was my question.

And the uh commission asked asked it.

And going up five would have cost more too.

So in the other direction.

You know, and I would think that, you know, as you said, you know, you uh you came in number one, but yet the county chose to go a different direction, you know, um, especially with trying to take care of the hazard uh which is the U.S.

recycling.

You know, I would I would think, you know, um things being fair and pretty much doing the right thing it was in the best interest of everyone that they come back around and say, okay, you know, we didn't give it to you the first time.

It didn't work out, you know, with this other developer and um you can get that money or whatever.

So uh yeah, but anything that we can do, please uh don't hesitate to to let us know.

Okay.

Commissioner Aaron Koch.

Yes.

The eight million dollars that was originally um um passed by this commission, does that cover all of the costs of the parking garage and the maintenance and the elevators and whatever else we're gonna agree to, or is that just the construction of the garage?

I mean, we've had um when we had calls with Dave Bullock and some of the attorneys and Sir Harvey, we uh we talked about some of that stuff where obviously some of the common areas like the elevator and stuff like that, there would need to be some agreement and at least some participation or sharing of those costs, but we haven't worked out any of those details yet.

So it's not like eight million dollars and then we're out, like we've done our part and we're out.

It's there's going to be ongoing maintenance and insurance and and all of that.

And and we know that the elevators are not cheap.

Um, so that's something to consider.

And um maybe this is a question from Ms.

Jorgensen.

Is there a cost to borrowing the eight million dollars?

There is a cost to borrowing it, yes.

Do we know what that cost is?

Um I don't have that.

I know Ms.

Strickland is here.

I'm not sure if we have that from the bond council, but I can ask her to find the project.

Or just an approximate number would be good idea.

Estimated closing cost are $65,000.

Uh that would be your bond council, financial advisor, and any printing costs that we have.

And then, of course, you've got however long that you decide to issue the debt, then you pay the interest for that.

And what's that about about like a a typical what would that look like for $8 million, just a typical cost?

Do you have that number?

Thank you.

Um Mr.

So for if we did the $12 million, the Ms.

Strickland.

The City Auditor and Clerk asked you just to, for the record, put your name to the Kelly.

Kelly Strickland, Director of Financial Administration.

So uh for $8 million, your interest is going to be about $4 million.

Okay.

So that $8 million really is about $12 million.

Yes.

And the $12 million million is probably like $16 million.

It would be $19 million.

19 million.

Okay.

So the $19 million is then we're going at about $1.20,000 a spot.

Would that be right?

Well, I that's I I don't think that's the same thing.

We're typically how you think of it like that.

You you look at the hard costs and the hard costs are um the $8 million.

Right.

And that's what you go into figuring the $120.

The rest are our cost of doing business, I would say.

So we don't put those into each parking.

Because every parking garage is going to have those same costs and they're not figured into the purchase.

Sure.

Sure.

I just want to have a picture of what our overall jump into this land is what it's what the overall cost is going to be.

Because those are real dollars that we'll have to pay, right?

Yes, so those are dollars that we have to consider.

Um I know it's maybe not a straight link between each spot and that amount, but I mean, I don't know how else to express what that feels like for our budget.

Um but so the so we can just go with the cost of eight million is 12 million and 12 million is 19 million is what we're looking at.

Over a 20-year period.

Over 20-year period.

Right.

That's important to say too, yeah.

Correct me if I'm wrong.

The the bond councils have run all the numbers as well, and they felt comfortable with the eight million dollars, including all of the costs of borrowing the money that you can bond that against this project for the $8 million.

Okay.

I just wanted to understand exactly financially what we were looking at.

Um and that there's also the maintenance involved and and everything else.

It's not like a contribution of $8 million.

Is it doable for the housing authority?

And I think I know the answer to this question.

If the city doesn't participate in the parking, would you have enough to just do your project without the garage and the elevators that we would be helping with and all that stuff?

Um the short answer I would say is no.

Okay.

We would we went to the county originally before we started this with a gap in each phase we're continuing to value engineer and reduce uh parking spots and figure out ways to make it more cost effective.

Do you know what that gap is without the city's participation?

It would probably still be right around four million.

Right around four million.

Okay.

So it's not complicating it at all with us being involved.

Okay.

That's a consideration as well.

If anything, we'll get a better economy of scale, you know, in terms of the construction.

But the maintenance too.

Yeah.

Okay.

Um there any other resources for you to lean on to the Vice Mayor's point aside from the city?

Yeah, I've made some overtures and I'm continuing to do that.

Okay.

Thank you.

Thanks.

I I just wanted a little bit of a clarification on the Commissioner Ahern Kotch's question.

Because what I was going to ask, assuming we were still providing the eight million the what if question is what if after going to all the potential resources that four million never, what would happen?

Would you have to terminate the project?

What would happen if you couldn't find the four million?

Yeah, we'd have to terminate the project and give the money back to the state.

Okay.

And uh would I guess it would also be the same thing if the city said took back that $8 million that would not happen either.

Uh it would make it more difficult.

But you could do it without the $8 million for the parking?

Um, we could do it.

It would just make it maybe even more difficult.

So at this point.

So and I know that you are reaching out to all the possible sources of money.

Um and you said yeah, a letter from the city might also help with the county.

There was a meeting uh recently of the Rosemary District business owners and I suspect property owners, and they were vehement that they needed more parking.

So I've got sort of like two thoughts.

One would be a letter writing campaign from the business owners and the property owners to the county might help.

Um but I'm even wondering if reaching out to the property owners to ante up some funds if they're so desperately in need of parking, you know.

Well, I doubt it would be the whole four million dollars, but it might make a little bit of a dent in the shortfall.

Um then the other thing is do you have plans yet for the retail spaces?

Have you identified potential less you know leasing people and you know maybe some of them could be identified or you know they would if they're eager to move into the neighborhood, then maybe they would help make the project possible.

Uh no, it's early on that.

I mean, I have some tenants I would like to get in there, but um I mean we have a broker lined up, but it's uh kind of too early at this point.

To know, you know.

So um yeah, those are were my questions.

Um we really do want and need the additional parking, but I don't think that we can see our our way clear for the other four million dollars.

But we're 100 percent behind you.

Whatever we can do to help you find somebody else to pony it up.

Understood.

Uh other questions?

Okay.

No, but Mayor, um I'm prepared to make a motion uh directing the mayor to send a letter to the Sarasota County Board of County Commissioners encouraging their financial support of the Sarasota Housing Authority project at McGowan Towers.

Second motion by the Vice Mayor, seconded by Commissioner Batti to have the mayor send a letter to and I'm gonna amend it for the uh interim city manager to have it drafted for the mayor's signature.

Um and yeah, wordsmithing uh would be a good thing.

Um I'll accept that amendment.

Thank you.

You too, Commissioner.

Yes, I do.

Okay, thank you.

Any discussion?

Yes.

Oh second it, because I missed the second item.

Commissioner Bette said, thank you.

Thank you.

Discussion?

Yeah, I I want to say that um I'm very much in support of the housing authorities project um to build more units, um, McCowan Tower 3, uh, and to build their own parking.

As you all know, the vote was 4 to 1, so I'm not um on board with the city participating in the the parking garage, uh, mainly for the reason that it's well, at the very least right now it's $50,000 a spot, which is at the very upper end of what we should be paying for a parking spot.

Even though the Rosemary District is in desperate need of parking, I'm not so sure this is the best use of public dollars for um public parking, that there aren't other opportunities that we should and could be pursuing.

Um and this $50,000 a spot is plus plus maintenance, plus this continual agreement with the housing authority uh to maintain to to ensure to to do all of those items plus the cost of borrowing the money.

Um, um with that said, I um will support the motion to sign a letter because this commission did vote to go forward with this four to one, so I will support that effort, even though I don't support that one piece of it as a body, we support the housing authority.

Thank you.

And Commissioner Batti.

Uh yes, thank you, Mayor.

Yeah, yeah, I I um of course uh second in the motion, you know, support you know, the letter to the county commission, but also in support of uh you know what the housing authority is is trying to accomplish over there.

I know that is these parking spots, you know, have I mean is is doubled in terms of like, you know, the contribution that would be made by the city if or not, you know, if we don't.

Um but to be honest with you, I don't see what choice we have, particularly over in in Rosemary.

Um and though this are the decisions that we have to make in terms of how we do spend, you know, these uh public dollars.

And uh, you know, people want parking and you know, they want to use the bay.

They want to, you know, uh pretty much you know, engage uh uh an up and coming neighborhood uh like the rosemary.

I mean that this is where we are.

We have to actually like create parking, you know.

So um, and it's not just gonna, you know, just snap your finger and we have parking.

Like it has to be created.

And and there's a cost to doing that.

So, you know, I'm I'm in support of it, you know, either way, in terms of how we can, you know, make this happen.

I mean, unfortunately, we don't have have the money to to uh to to help in that regard, but you know, if there's any way that we can, you know, rob Peter to pay Paul, then so be it.

But thank you, Mayor.

Commissioner Alfred.

Um I'm gonna support the motion as well because I think um number one, it's really important that we do create um additional parking in the Rosemary District and for the bay.

Um this is just uh uh a great opportunity to make that happen.

And I know we already voted for the eight million, but I think one thing that uh the commissioners need to keep in mind is any parking garage that we would build anywhere uh will require um bonding and paying off the bond with the revenue from the parking, and there's gonna be ongoing maintenance.

Doesn't matter where you put it.

So this is a great location for the parking, which will benefit the Rosemary District and the Bay.

So anything that we can do to facilitate that, I think we should do.

And I I think having parking there, and and if this doesn't go forward, we're losing a great opportunity for uh additional parking for all the needs that we have.

Okay.

Well, thank you all, and we'll call the question.

Okay.

Mayor one.

Oh, try mine again.

Okay.

And it is UNA passed unanimously.

Thank you all very much.

And sorry we didn't have the funding for you, but at least we're supporting you however we can.

Thank you.

Without paying money.

Thank you.

Um the agenda is uh legislative public hearing um 10-1.

And do you want to administer the oath?

Yes, Mayor.

Um anyone who plans to speak at this public hearing today besides Wayne.

Stand up.

Nobody will say any way.

Okay.

Do you swore or affirm it the evidence of factual representations which you are about to give or present to this commission during any public hearing held the sixth day of April 2026?

Okay.

Um I will open the public hearing on proposed ordinance number two six-five five nine four and call upon the city auditor and clerk to read the title.

Thank you, Mayor.

Ordinance number 26-5594.

Ordinance of the City of Sarasota, Florida establishing term limits for the Downtown Improvement District Board of Directors as more fully specified herein, and amending and restating ordinance number 0-08-4832, which originally established the downtown improvement district as amended by ordinances 12-5005, 15-5123, 24-5463, and 25-5572.

We're pulling ordinances in conflict, providing for reading by title only, and providing for an effective date.

Thank you very much.

So I will call upon Deputy City Attorney Shamsy and Business District Manager.

Oh, well, we have the manager of economic development, Appleby, to make a presentation.

Thank you.

Thank you.

Wayne Appleby Economic Development and Real Estate Manager.

I'm sitting in for Ms.

Ryan today.

It should be relatively brief on January 6th of this year.

The DID took a vote requesting that term limits be included in in their ordinance.

Upon review, we found that it was really the only one that didn't have term limits.

All others have term limits to some degree.

And we uh aligned uh the term limits to be consistent with the other boards.

We took the language back to the DID.

Um they actually observed that were provided this language uh that you have in your packet and took it to them on March 26th, and they consented to the language.

Okay.

So um nobody has signed up to speak, so Commissioner questions.

And I don't see any commissioner questions.

So um I guess I will close the public hearing.

Thank you both.

And call for a motion.

I have a motion, Mayor.

Move to approve ordinance 26-5594 on first reading.

So move second.

Okay.

Motion by the Vice Mayor, seconded by Commissioner Batti to approve uh proposed ordinance 26-5594 on first reading.

And is there any discussion?

It makes so much sense.

Yes.

Okay.

So shall we call the question?

Yes.

And it passed unanimously.

Yes.

Alper, that's he.

Yes.

All right, yes.

Yes.

And passed unanimously.

Thank you very much.

Um are there any citizen comments on city topics, no request to speak.

Uh so at this point I will uh call for remarks of commissioners' announcements and items for the next agenda.

And I will start with Commissioner Batti.

Uh Mayor, but uh I will just say uh um thank you all for uh those that participated in the Easter parade that were able to make it.

Unfortunately, uh I couldn't walk um seven car problems.

Uh took my car in that morning to to uh get the breaks done and didn't get out of until afternoon.

Whatever the dag one rotors were messed up.

You know, so and unless I was going to be walking all the way from where I was, you know, that would have been a long parade walk then I would have had.

But um but thank you all for participating.

Um we did mention you all when I went up on stage, you know, when I finally got there and uh uh acknowledged each and every one of you for your participation and and leadership in uh helping to uh make that happen.

You know, so everyone enjoyed it.

Um it's getting bigger and better each year.

Um we're looking forward uh to it next year.

Everyone is looking forward to it next year.

And again, just appreciate you all uh coming out and participating and hope everyone had uh a great and wonderful Easter and uh resurrection day.

Thank you.

Vice Mayor?

Yes, thank you.

Um I'm a little bit confused about the sound ordinance now.

Um I thought at our last meeting we asked the expert who was here if he could include some quick fixes that he would make or recommend uh before he went into uh a study and analysis.

Is that yeah, that's correct.

Thank you for that question.

And um that is what I've asked pursuant to our meeting.

I've asked the experts to produce a timeline and to uh expedite it as much as possible.

I don't know where the two-year number that's floating around came from because that's not the case.

So what what's uh quick timeline that you're thinking?

Yeah, so I think the experts have talked about even trying to come back before your June break and give you an update, and then trying to produce the first deliverable uh we'll see what that is, you know, this summer.

Oh.

All right.

So that's not two years, that's a couple of a couple of months.

Correct.

All right, one month.

Yeah.

And and there are, you know, um again, I applaud the commission.

It set its strategic plan to advance data-driven governance in the city.

This is exactly what that is.

Data-driven governance.

Doing an acoustic study, taking scientific measurements and trying to inform the policy decision that you all are gonna have to to make.

Yet, I mean, I you know me, I'm I'm all for data-driven governance, yet these quick fixes uh might be just what the members of the public have been talking about.

Or close to.

Correct.

I I do think there's room for um expediting parts of this process and quickly producing a deliverable that um is maybe one of the ones the community is asking for.

Okay.

So I'm okay with that.

Jumping on to the vice mayor's comment, several people indicated concern about motor vehicle noise, and I'm under the impression that SPD could enforce that.

So no, thank you for that question as well.

There are in and with that, a lot of the comments centered around exhaust noise that is in Florida statute already regulated.

Um Revving of engines intentionally is not.

That went before the legislature this year.

Uh Ms.

Jorgensen and I have monitored that and that didn't pass, unfortunately.

But that's a separate subject.

So what was mentioned was exhaust noise, that is currently uh regulated under under Florida State statute.

So what do we need to do to encourage SPD to enforce that?

Uh you know, I think the the challenge there is it it's a it's a moving target, if you will.

And even with a you know, 30-second response time, which would be probably record breaking, the target has moved on from the complaint location.

So if I could just uh interject the um actually there is no response time.

If you call it has to be witnessed by the actual officer because it's a uniform traffic citation, so that goes back to the conversation that we had about you know you have to have some nobody, you know, nobody wants a cops around until you want the cops around it, and then whenever you need them, they're not there.

So when we talked about targeted operations, we can do that, but remember every single group that comes down here reference every enforcement issue wants enforcement on their own schedule when they want it.

So reasonable expectations of outcomes here, you know, you're not gonna satiate one car driving down could upset every single person that was sitting here on one day creating six complaints to the city commission.

So, you know, whatever we do decide on, I just want to make sure that you know you have 20 police officers that are spread out over the entire city at any given point in time, and the likelihood of that one one officer assigned to a zone being present at a time that a noise uh a vehicular noise uh complaint comes in is very low.

So that's why we talk about targeted intelligence-led uh operations, and that's what I would say would employ here.

But that isn't something that you do 365 days a year because the community has other concerns they want those flexible flexible officers assigned to.

Well, again, I think it might be somewhat data-driven because if complaints come in from the downtown area from from Main Street during outdoor dining hours, that might be a place and time to target.

Understand.

And and part of the scope of the experts will be to take measurements of exactly that kind of thing.

Sure.

Okay, Mayor, I have one more thing.

Um regarding rules of procedure.

Um sitting here at the table participating in the meetings, I have not observed any ongoing uh violations of the code of conduct, the rules of procedure.

So to me, um I don't even know if it's necessary to revise the rules of procedure.

What you were charged with that, Mr.

Pollock Culsack.

I'm going to poll and no worries.

No worries.

No worries.

That might have been one.

That might have been one right there.

Yeah, right there.

I I waive it.

Um yeah, we did we did discuss this before.

I'm going to be bringing back the commission and updating, working with uh the clerk, Ms.

Griggs, to see, you know, what we can update just to add clarity to those rules to serve you better.

Um I will be doing that.

I did speak with Mr.

Lample as Ezy mentioned.

I've worked with him a bit um offline here and getting his input.

And I've tasked one of my statewide experts who's done a lot of this with exactly this project.

In fact, they're reaching out to some of the jurisdictions are already have, actually, that were the site of several landmark cases in Florida on this.

So what we hope to bring back is informed by all that research and should be relatively simple.

And I expect that for May 4th, City Commission.

Okay.

Thank you.

Those are my and again I'm going to piggyback on your comment because I was surprised at several League of Cities, whether it was National or Florida, to discover that on some commissions, it's the commissioners who make personal attacks against each other.

Absolutely.

So the fact that we don't have the public making personal attacks doesn't mean we should eliminate that as a requirement to avoid.

That was the origin of it.

Yeah.

So I I thought it is a good opportunity to look at this rule and how it can be updated and in the best practices available.

Okay.

Thank you.

Commissioner Albert.

I have nothing.

Commissioner A.

Hearn Cotton.

Yes.

So to go on the moving target exhaust noise, I assume that means mufflers as well.

Correct.

Exhaust system.

So I think that there are some definite hotspots of which we're aware.

So there's probably about twenty solid.

Anywhere that you have a stopping and starting, including every speed bump we install.

I think the best way to look at this is I I know we both know the hot spots we're talking about.

I think we can develop an actionable list with the chief's office and come up with an operational plan.

But I also think one of the things that we would love to have is a little bit more data reference to so we can target that.

And you know, uh as you develop this conversation, you know, obviously the sound issues are not uh or the sound cameras are not used for enforcement or identification, but you know, we do there are technologies out there that identify gunshots.

So maybe that's something that we have a conversation with the chief about, maybe some of the alternative funding sources like grants and such that are out there, that maybe that's something that we could look at deploying those in some of those hotspots so we know we don't have to wait for a an uh a uh sound expert to come in and do something like that.

So I think we can get together and maybe I'll talk to each one of you and get which one of the constituent groups in your area have um talked about it.

But I have a feeling I have already got a kind of a handle on where they're at.

Yeah, yeah.

And I think we can all agree that it's Main Street is probably one of the main ones as well, especially because um your your proximity to the road is you know very close and the buildings are right there, so it does reverberate.

It makes it feel a whole lot tighter in.

Um but there are hot spots throughout the city by Main Street any Thursday, Friday, Saturday night.

Well, and and with the downtown with the tall buildings, that was really the reason for let's drive, you know, let's make the noise because it will reverberate.

Yeah.

Well, we could make Main Street or pedestrian mall.

And we've got that.

And then we could easily pick up those vehicles that are so we'll work on that, Commissioner.

Thank you.

Thank you.

Um so in attending the MPO meeting, uh, Commissioner Alpart and I were both there, and um the uh breeze overall breeze's um ridership is up, Breeze, Breeze Plus, and the on-demand.

It's up over 2025, uh, and um mostly the year before.

And they did a customer opinion poll.

Um, and they had uh what's is a positive uh opinion of the breeze.

Um in 2021, it was 25 percent had a positive opinion, and then a negative was 57 percent.

Now it's the negative is um 27 percent, or it went from 27 percent to 7 percent.

So it's really flipping the positive opinion of the breeze.

Some of that may have to do with the fact that some of the bus lines, including 99 are free.

Um that helps making it positive.

So that's really important.

The 76 Flyer is being decommissioned permanently.

Um they updated us on SB 382, which is I know we get a lot of input about motorized bikes and pedestrians and speeds and all of that, and this bill uh seeks to regulate the speed that they can go within a certain distance of a pedestrian.

So that's an update on that piece of it.

Um I did want to ask the city attorney to update us on um U.S.

recycling, but also to let you all know that um uh County Commissioner Mark Smith let me know at C CNA on Saturday that um it came, he brought it up at the county commission to direct their county attorney to reach out to our city attorney to talk about pursuing a public nuisance action uh with the U.S.

recycling.

So that's a positive.

And if there's anything else, Mr.

Polzek has to update us on the situation.

Yeah, thank you for that.

That's that's uh significant uh development.

I've already heard from uh Josh, the county attorney.

I believe we have a meeting set for tomorrow.

We'll be discussing that.

To me, then that's the next step in the critical path forward to determine the county's uh stance on this.

Uh I've worked with uh the DCM on compiling all the records that he has over over the uh years really of five years, different uh contact and other regulatory efforts.

So we're compiling all that to uh build a record, which I'll be reviewing with the county attorney.

Thank you.

And do you have any uh information you want to share?

I believe the Wednesday before um I made the presentation to the commission that U.S.

Recycling um dissolved their entity.

Yeah, my understanding is at least one of the corporate entities involved was uh went through a corporate dissolution.

Um I know there's I believe been some complaints made or contacts made with FDEP by the community regarding that because then it leaves open the question of who is the permit holder, what entity is the actual permit holder.

Yes, so it's the permit holder dissolved.

Correct.

And we're unclear about under what permit they're functioning right now.

One of the things we'll be investigating.

Yeah, because I I thought they were using somebody else's permit because they couldn't use their own.

That I think that was for the crusher, but the actual business itself also was dissolved.

And they were in the middle of negotiating um uh uh suit with Suncoast waterkeepers, and that's sort of come to a standstill, hasn't it?

I believe because in part of due to that issue and uh service of process, I believe.

Yep.

So it's complicated.

Um then I did attend the spring parade.

It was amazing.

Um I've been to a number of them in the past, and um this one was above and beyond more floats, more people, more people on the side of the street, more cheering, more excitement, more activity, more positive.

It was just beautiful.

It's a beautiful, beautiful event.

Um thank you to our uh interim city manager and deputy city manager for allowing our staff again to participate at CCNA.

I think we had seven or eight people there.

Um it really is a nice feeling to go for the citizens and their representatives to go and see city staff and have a question and right then and there they can approach them, talk to them and answer them.

That is that's service.

Well, it it also goes back both ways in that staff hears directly concerns of the public.

Right, right.

It's it's a win-win, so thank you for that.

Um the Ted Sperling um discussion.

Is that something that we could put on the agenda?

Or um I don't know who I'm looking at over here.

I it's it involves it involves all the departments here, all the all the charter officials.

It does.

And there's money involved.

Yes.

So I think um I'll talk to to Mr.

Polzak and also Mr.

Robinson, who were who was working on this when Mr.

Bullock was still here to see kind of where we're at.

I know um the Parks and Rec department has done a research and has sent memos out, so um we'll discuss if that's something we should put on an upcoming agenda for sure.

Okay.

Didn't you have one more?

Yeah, Madam Mr.

Uh, I was gonna ask about 3D modeling for the city and where we were with that, because we keep we talk about that every budget year, and I haven't seen anything yet.

I can double check with Mr.

Cover on that and get you an update.

Thank you.

And I had a couple of things that were made mostly comments on agenda items, but they were not directly pertaining to what we were voting on.

And with the affordable housing issue, we talk about area median income, and that's defined through HUD and HUD money eligibility for HUD money comes with that.

But there are other cities in the country that use their cities' median income to determine eligibility to live in certain housing.

The funding is still going to be subject to HUD rules and AMI, but the city of Sarasota's last time I looked, our median income was less than the area median income.

So maybe if we considered um setting percent of city median income for eligibility for units, it might make more sense to members of the public.

Um you know, and but we'd still have to rely on HUD's rules for funding, but more addressing to city needs specifically.

So that's just something to think about as we go through that.

Um and then the other thing, again, when we're thinking about First Street Housing, to consider the benefits of mixed income housing.

I look at Lofts on Lemon, where you have the I don't remember what the the numbers is it's below 60 percent, plus Baranzik has the hometown heroes, and they are living together on the same floor, mixing, exchanging ideas, mentoring each other.

So there are benefits for mixed income, and I hope that we will also consider after we look at the numbers, um, making a for housing affordable for entry-level college graduates, because they will the people be the people who will drive the city's economic development into the future.

And if they can't find something locally that they can afford to live in, maybe that's our responsibility.

You know, then maybe we're not gonna be giving them as much of a rent break as others, but you know, think about whether or not we should be helping, you know, young college graduates.

So um, and then anyway, so that was what I had on that.

On parking, I did want to mention Rosemary District.

Um, as I see it, the source of the problem is that we did not require developers of uh multi-unit housing to provide enough spaces that are accessible to the guests and the service workers that in and that are housed in those buildings.

So in turning to the city to provide and pay for park uh new parking, it's actually saying taxpayers of the city of Sarasota subsidize these profit-making uh property owners.

And we should stop doing that moving forward.

So I would like your support and asking the interim city manager to ask staff to look into how we might change that.

I don't think we can because of SB 180, can we?

Well, when but it's if if it's if it ever is undone.

But uh we don't know with SB 180, if we're not changing the number, if it's still the same number of parking spaces that's already in the rules, it's just that a certain percentage of them have to be accessible to visitors.

Is that affected by SB 180?

So I think that can be part of the research done if if you guys want to look into that, then we would also have to assess if we could make the change while SB 180 is still in um in play.

SB 180 technically has an end date as well.

So not if things can change once that end date hits if they don't extend it.

And if we don't have a hurricane.

Right, right.

Otherwise it is 2027, it's not that far off.

Yeah, yeah.

Yeah, that's just a year.

Right.

Takes that long to get how long to get a meeting with the county, it takes that long.

Oh, wait, it's been more than a year.

We don't have a meeting with the county.

Um and now the other thing that I have been bringing up for close to nine months is uh July 4th of 2026 is America's 250th birthday, and now it is less than three months away, and to my knowledge, we have not planned anything special.

Um Jennifer and I are going to the council of governments later this week, and I will be asking the others, what have you got planned for?

Mayor, do you believe they did talked about at their last meeting doing something?

If I'm Mr.

Appleby is here, he could probably fill you in on that.

Yeah, but is there interest in doing something?

Yes.

So what I what I will say is typically the city doesn't put on events.