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MEETING TO ORDER AT 5:04 P.M. THAT EVENING.
I CALL THIS REGULAR MEETING OF THE LIBERTY HILL ECONOMIC LIBERC DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION BOARD OF DIRECTORS TO ORDER AT 50:44.
FIRST BY ESTABLISHING A QUORUM. >> TIFFANY STILLWELL.
>> DUCKWORTH. >> FOLLOW -- WITH THE INDICATION AND THEN THE PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE.
>> YOUR HEAVENLY FATHER, WE ASK YOU TO ECONOMIC CONDITIONS WE FACE AS WE TRY TO STEER OUR ECONOMY TO PROSPERITY AND AFFORDABLE PROSPERITY.
IN AN ERA WHEN IT SEEMS THINGS ARE INCREASINGLY UNAFFORDABLE.
IT IS OUR JOB AS PUBLIC SERVICE TO SERVE THE COMMUNITY BY ENSURING BOTH A PROSPEROUS COMMUNITY AND AFFORDABLE COMMUNITY. WE THINK THAT IS HOW WE COULD BEST SERVE THEM. WE ALSO ASK YOU TO BLESS THE PUBLIC SERVANTS THAT CONTINUE TO SACRIFICE TREMENDOUSLY FOR THE COMMUNITY WORKING LATE HOURS AND WORKING WEEKENDS.
AND IN SERVICE TO THE RESIDENTS HERE TO MAKE SURE THEIR LIVES ARE ENRICHED. IN YOUR HOLY NAME, WE PRAY.
>> AMEN. I PLEDGE ALLEGIANCE TO THE FLAG OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA AND TO THE REPUBLIC FOR WHICH IT STANDS, ONE NATION UNDER GOD, INDIVISIBLE, WITH LIBERTY AND
JUSTICE FOR ALL. ALL. >> UNDER THE TEXAS FLAG.
ONE STATE, UNDER GOD, ONE, INDIVISIBLE.
>> LIFE-CHANGING. FOR US NON- NATIVE TEXANS.
>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH. DO WE HAVE PUBLIC COMMENTS?
>> MOVING ON TO ITEM THREE IS THE CONSENT AGENDA.
I KNOW THAT I PERSONALLY DID NOT READ THROUGH ALL OF THESE MINUTES WHEN THEY WERE SENT OUT. DID ANYONE ELSE?
>> IT IS A LOT TO GET THROUGH. I HAVE NOT GOTTEN THROUGH ALL OF THEM EITHER. CAN WE TABLE THAT ISSUE UNTIL
APPROVAL NEXT MONTH? >> I WOULD LIKE TO.
>> OKAY. >> IS THAT SOME SORT OF STATUTORY PROBLEM? IS THIS LIKE CATCH UP FOR US?
OKAY. >> THERE ARE JUST A LOT OF THEM.
>> ALL KNOWN FOR? >> IT IS SIX OF THEM.
>> WE NEED TO KEEP IN MIND IT WILL BE SEVEN NEXT MONTH BECAUSE WE WILL HAVE THIS MONTH'S MEETING.
>> WE NEED TO MAKE SURE THEY ARE CORRECT.
'S A REGULAR AGENDA ITEM 4A. DISCUSSION REGARDING THE LIBERTY HILL ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION FINANCIAL REPORT.
>> WE ARE GOING TO PUSH THIS ITEM TO THE NEXT AGENDA ALSO.
THE FINANCE DIRECTOR HAD SOMETHING COME UP AND IS UNABLE TO BE HERE TONIGHT. SO WE WILL BRING THIS REPORT AND THE NEXT REPORT AT THE NEXT MEETING.
SO YOU WILL HAVE HOMEWORK FOR THE NEXT MEETING AND WE HAVE
HOMEWORK. >> HOW IS THE CITY'S BUDGET PROCESS? I ASSUME THAT IS WHAT IS TAKING
UP JOSH. >> IT IS FUNNY BECAUSE SOMEBODY ASKED THAT OVER THE WEEKEND. THEY WERE LIKE, THE BUDGET THAT PASSED, RIGHT. YOU ARE GOOD? I WAS LIKE, YOU HAVE NO IDEA. BECAUSE END OF YOUR CLOSEOUT STARTS BUT THEN YOU HAVE THIS FLOOD OF ALL OF THESE THINGS WE HAVE TO GET READY FOR AND START THE FISCAL YEAR OCTOBER 1ST AND THEN YOU ALSO HAVE ALL OF THE REPORTING THAT WE HAVE TO DO.
FILING OF THE BUDGET. CERTIFICATION.
WE HAVE ANOTHER ITEM THAT COMES BACK TO COUNCIL.
CROSSING THE T SORT OF THING WHERE WE HAVE TO COME BACK AND RATIFY SOME STUFF. SO THERE IS PROBABLY TWO A HALF MONTHS WORTH OF POST BUDGET OPTION WORK THAT HAPPENS AND WE WILL ACTUALLY START THE 2028 BUDGET PROCESS NOVEMBER 1ST.
SO WE JUST KIND OF ARE RIGHT BACK INTO IT.
I WILL SAY THOUGH THAT THE BUDGET PROCESS WITH COUNCIL WAS INCREDIBLY SMOOTH. NOT WITHOUT A LOT OF DISCUSSION.
A LOT OF DISCUSSION. BUT ULTIMATELY, IF YOU GO BACK AND LOOK AND SEE ALL THE THINGS THAT WERE TALKED ABOUT AND ESPECIALLY THE SYNERGY BETWEEN THE TWO BUDGETS THIS YEAR,
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REALLY LOOKING AT THOSE PROJECTS.NOT JUST FROM COUNCILMEMBERS BUT OTHER PEOPLE THAT REALLY SELL THE CITY AND THE EDC REALLY PARTNERING WITH THINGS ON FISCAL YEAR 27. IT WAS HUGE.
AND THE BUSINESS COMMUNITY DEFINITELY SEES THAT.
AND YOU KIND OF GET THE SENSE OF, OKAY, THINGS ARE GOING TO UNLOCK HERE. SO THAT WAS BIG.
>> AS YOU ALL KNOW, THIS HAS BEEN AN ONGOING WORK EFFORT FOR QUITE SOME TIME. WHAT WE ARE TALKING ABOUT TONIGHT IS SOMETHING THAT IS REALLY SIMPLE.
WE ONLY HAVE A COUPLE -- THREE SLIDES ON THIS.
I'M GOING TO TRY TO BREAK IT DOWN AS SIMPLE AS POSSIBLE.
THE ORIGINAL STRATEGIC PLANNING AGREEMENT THAT YOU ALL ENTERED INTO WAS ENTERED INTO IN 2025. THE FALL OF 2025.
AS YOU KNOW, THAT TIMELINE AND ALL THE THINGS THAT HAVE GONE ON RELATED TO THAT, I DON'T THINK WE HAVE TO SPEND TOO MUCH TIME IN THE REARVIEW MIRROR. IT HAS LINGERED ON AND ON.
THE CONSULTANT THAT YOU WILL HAVE ENGAGED WITH HAS BASICALLY SAID, THERE ARE A COUPLE OF EASY WAYS TO CLEAN THIS UP AND SHE HAS PROPOSED THREE DIFFERENT POTENTIALS AND WE WILL GO OVER THOSE POTENTIALS TONIGHT AND I WILL GIVE YOU MY RECOMMENDATION AND YOU ALL CAN KIND OF CHOOSE TO DO WHATEVER YOU WANT.
WE CAN TALK ABOUT PROS AND CONS OF EACH OR HOWEVER YOU WANT TO DO IT. THE CURRENT INVOICE BALANCE THAT IS DUE TO THE CONSULTANT IS JUST A LITTLE OVER $13,000.
IF YOU ALL WERE TO CHOOSE OPTION ONE, WHICH IS JUST STRAIGHT CONTRACT CLOSEOUT, THAT IS THE AMOUNT OF MONEY THAT WOULD BE DUE FOR THE WORK THAT HAS BEEN PERFORMED IN THE STRATEGIC PLANNING WORLD. I'M NOT GOING TO SAY THAT IS LIKE A TON OF MONEY. THERE HAS BEEN, I WOULD SAY PRETTY GOOD VALUE SO FAR WITH COST PER WORK PRODUCT.
THAT IS THE COST TO PAY THAT OUT OUT.
OPTION NUMBER TWO IS CLOSEOUT, PLUS THERE IS SOME ADDITIONAL RESOURCES THAT SHE HAS THAT ARE OF VALUE I THINK TO THE EDC.
AND SO WITH THAT, YOU WILL SEE THE NUMBER JUMPS UP TO 15,000.
IT IS PRETTY TO MINIMUS DIFFERENCE FOR THE RESOURCES TO BE TRANSFERRED TO THE CITY. IT JUST KIND OF GIVES THE EDC AND STAFF SOME ADDITIONAL RESOURCES AND THINGS THAT I THINK ARE GOING TO BE INCREDIBLY IMPORTANT AS WE WALK THROUGH THE NEXT PHASE OF ALL THE DIFFERENT WORK THAT WILL BE GOING ON.
AND THEN OPTION THREE, IT INCLUDES ALL THE ELEMENTS OF OPTION ONE. BUT IT IS ESSENTIALLY A BRAND-NEW AGREEMENT. AND IT IS A NEW STRATEGIC PLAN ENGAGEMENT. I WILL JUST JUMP TO THE NEXT SLIDE. THE RECOMMENDATION I'M GOING TO GIVE YOU TONIGHT IS FOR OPTION TWO.
AND THAT IS NOT TO SAY THAT OPTION TWO PRECLUDES YOU FROM A DIFFERENT VERSION OF OPTION THREE.
I HAVE HAD THAT CONVERSATION WITH CONSULTANTS.
REALISTICALLY, YOU ALL ARE EMBARKING ON A NEW STAFF FOR EDC AND YOU ALL DISCUSSED WILL DISCA WORKSHOP COMING UP ULTIMATELY.
AND I THINK THOSE THINGS ARE REALLY IMPORTANT BEFORE YOU ENTER INTO AN AGREEMENT FOR WHAT I WOULD CONSIDER THE FINISHING OF YOUR STRATEGIC PLAN. BECAUSE A LOT OF THE BASELEVEL WORK HAS BEEN DONE. IT IS REALLY JUST PICKING UP FROM THERE AND TARGETING WITH THE BIG TICKET ITEMS ARE THAT YOU WANT TO ACHIEVE IN THE NEXT THREE YEARS.
AND IF YOU ENTERED INTO AN AGREEMENT RIGHT NOW, I WOULD SAY THERE IS A DEGREE OF AMBIGUITY. THAT YOU WOULD PROBABLY BE DEALING WITH CHANGE ORDERS AND THAT AGREEMENT BECAUSE YOU JUST DON'T HAVE QUITE AS TIGHT OF A SCOPE AS YOU WOULD HAVE.
>> CAN YOU GO BACK TO THE LAST SLIDE?
>> YES. >> FOR THAT REASON, AGAIN, WHEN YOU ARE LOOKING AT A THREE YEAR PERIOD AND YOU HAVE SOME BIG THINGS THAT WE ARE TALKING ABOUT RIGHT NOW, YOU GUYS ARE OBVIOUSLY RIGHT AT THE KIND OF PRECIPICE OF WHAT THOSE THINGS ARE GOING TO LOOK LIKE. RECOGNIZING ESPECIALLY THAT PHASE ONE OF THE DOWNTOWN DISTRICT PROJECT IS SCHEDULED TO BE COMPLETE IN FEBRUARY. SOME KIND OF THINKING TIMELINE HERE. WE ARE GOING TO TALK ABOUT SOMETHING IN EXECUTIVE SESSION THAT I'M NOT GOING TO TALK ABOUT HERE THAT HAS TO DO WITH STAFFING.
SO THOSE ARE SOME MAJOR THINGS THAT I THINK YOU JUST WANT TO WRAP YOUR HEAD AROUND OVER THE NEXT TWO MONTHS.
MAKE SURE THAT YOU GUYS HAVE THAT DIALOGUE AND CONVERSATION ABOUT WHERE YOU WANT TO SEE THE FUTURE GO AND WHAT THOSE KEY ELEMENTS ARE BEFORE YOU GO PAPER THE AGREEMENT.
I KNOW THERE IS INTEREST IN THIS CONSULTANTS.
AND BEING SOMEBODY YOU CONSIDER FOR YOUR STRATEGIC PLAN.
SO THERE ARE NO HARD FEELINGS FROM HER.
SO I WILL PAUSE AND ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS.
>> IF WE GO WITH OPTION TWO, WE REALLY DON'T HAVE A STRATEGIC PLAN FOR THE NEXT THREE YEARS? NOT AN OFFICIAL OUTLINED THREE
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YEAR STRATEGIC PLAN, FOR THE EDC.>> YEAH. YOU DON'T HAVE ONE NOW, RIGHT.
>> YES. WE DID UP UNTIL 2025 AND WE WERE TRYING TO ADD ONTO THAT AND WE HAVE BEEN IN A HOLDING PATTERN.
>> CORRECT. >> I THINK IF YOU WERE TO JUST MOVE FORWARD WITH A NEW AGREEMENT TODAY, YOU ARE LIKELY GOING TO HAVE TO AMEND THAT AGREEMENT.
AT LEAST ONE OR TWO TIMES WITH THE THINGS HAPPENING OVER THE
NEXT 2-3 MONTHS. >> I UNDERSTAND THAT.
SO WE WOULD WE, UNDER YOUR SUGGESTION, GO WITH OPTION TWO BUT WITHIN THE NEXT SHORT TIME PERIOD, AS WE GET OUR DIRECTOR AND PLACE AND WHAT NOT, REENGAGE FOR A THREE YEAR STRATEGIC PLAN?
>> OKAY. >> I THINK THAT YOU HAVE GOT A COUPLE OF KEY ELEMENTS. NEWS STAFF, NEW BUDGET, FINALIZED STRATEGIC PLAN FOR THE CITY THAT IS GOING TO COUNCIL IN OCTOBER. YOU HAVE A WORKSHOP FOR THIS GROUP. YOU TAKE THOSE FOUR THINGS.
YOU PUT OUT THAT SCOPE FOR THE NEW STRATEGIC PLAN ALSO RECOGNIZING THAT THE BASE WORK OF A STRATEGIC PLAN HAS ALREADY BEEN COMPLETED. AND SO THE NEXT PERSON THAT COMES AND REALLY IN REALLY HAS E TOOLS TO MOVE QUICKLY.
AND THAT IS IT'S NOT SOMETHING THE CURRENT CONSULTANT HAD AVAILABLE TO THEM. I THINK THAT IN ALL FAIRNESS, YOU KNOW, SOMEBODY THAT ENGAGES WITH THE EDC AFTER THE NEXT TWO MONTHS OR HOWEVER LONG THAT THE INTERIM.
IT IS, WILL HAVE ALL THE INFORMATION THEY NEED TO BE ABLE
TO RUN FAST. >> COULD WE DO THE THREE YEAR PLAN BUT NOT TO THE FUTURE BOARD VISION WORKSHOP UNTIL JANUARY OF 2027? THE REASON I'M ASKING IS BECAUSE IF WE PAY 15,000 RIGHT NOW AND THEN, BEGINNING OF 2027, WE REENGAGE TO GET AN ACTUAL STRATEGIC PLAN IN PLACE FOR THE EDC, I'M GUESSING THAT WILL BE MORE THAN 15, OR $16,000 WHICH IS, RIGHT NOW, WHAT THE GAP IS. SO I FEEL LIKE WITHIN SIX MONTHS, WE MIGHT BE TACKING ON ANOTHER 10, OR $15,000 TO THE
OVERALL EXPENSE OF THIS. >> TIFFANY, I THINK WE OVER THE 15,000 NO MATTER WHAT. IS NOT NECESSARILY GOING TO ADD
THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN TWO AND THREE IS $16,137.
>> I WANT TO MAKE ONE POINT REALLY CLEAR.
I DON'T -- THAT IS AN ESTIMATE. THAT IS AN ESTIMATE BASED ON TODAY. AND TWO MONTHS FROM NOW, I THINK THE WORLD MAY LOOK DIFFERENT AND IT WOULD BE WELL WITHIN YOUR CURRENT CONSULTANT'S POSITION TO COME BACK AND SAY, YEAH.
BUT YOU ADDED SOME THINGS YOU WANT TO DO.
SO I HAVE TO INCREASE MY FEE. SO IT IS JUST CLEANER AS OPPOSED TO -- AND LISTEN, THE BOARD DOES NOT WANT TO GO THROUGH A CONTINUED CHANGE AND CHANGE AND CHANGE.
SO SHE IS JUST SAYING, YOU WILL GET THROUGH THE NEXT 60 DAYS AND REENGAGE AND TELL ME WHAT YOU REALLY WANT AND WE WILL KNOCK THIS THING OUT. THAT IS KIND OF WHERE SHE IS
THAT. >> I WOULD AGREE ON BOTH SIDES.
I THINK THE INTENT IS NOT TO USE HER ON THE NEXT STRATEGIC PLAN.
THEN WE CLOSE OUT. THE INTENT IS TO USE HER, THEN I WOULD AGREE THAT SHE IS PROBABLY GOING TO CHARGE US MORE THAN THE 18,000 OR WHATEVER THE VARIABLE IS TO REENGAGE.
SO WE PAY THE 15,000 -- I THINK OPTION ONE IS OUT.
I WOULD ASSUME WE AGREE IT IS EITHER TWO OR THREE.
I THINK THE ONLY REASON WE WOULD GO WITH ONE OR THE OTHER IS IF WE PLAN TO USE HER IN FUTURE TENSE OR NOT.
IF WE DO, I WOULD POSE IT IN SUCH A WAY TO SAY, KNOWING THE INFORMATION THAT YOU HAVE LED US TO BELIEVE THAT WE KNOW WE WILL DISCUSS, PUTTING THOSE MILESTONES IN PLACE, GIVING HER, AS OUR CUSTOMERS ARE TELLING HER, THIS IS NOT GOING TO HAPPEN UNTIL JANUARY AND PLAN ACCORDINGLY ON THE COSTS ASSOCIATED WITH OPTION THREE. AGAIN, THAT WOULD BE TWO OR THREE. DO WE USE HER OR DO WE NOT? IF WE DO, THEN OPTION THREE MAKES THE MOST SENSE.
>> I DON'T KNOW THAT WE CAN ANSWER THAT RIGHT NOW.
WHAT I WOULD SAY IS THAT SHE IS A STRONG CANDIDATE.
AND SHE HAS BEEN, IN MY OPINION, A VERY POSITIVE PARTNER, OR VENDOR FOR THE EDC FOR THE LAST FIVE YEARS.
IT IS JUST HARD. I UNDERSTAND -- YVONNE SHARED WITH ME THAT SHE WAS READY -- I DON'T THINK IT WAS LIKE, YOU HAVE TO MAKE A DECISION NOW ON THIS BUT SHE WANTS A DIRECTION.
IF WE ARE GOING TO MEET IN JANUARY, THEN THAT IS A
DIRECTION WITH HER. >> I THINK THIS COMES BACK TO TIME WE DON'T EVEN HAVE A DIRECTOR IN PLACE TO SAY WE ARE MEETING IN JANUARY. WE MIGHT BE MEETING IN NOVEMBER.
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HOPEFULLY. >> I WOULD RATHER PAY HER WHAT SHE IS DUE. SHE HAS BEEN WAITING A LONG TIME
TO BE PAID. >> I THINK THERE ARE TWO PROBLEMS WITH TIME HERE. FIRST OF ALL, HOW MUCH OF THE WORK SHE HAS DONE AND GATHERING THE INFORMATION WILL EVEN BE VALID BY THE TIME NEXT YEAR COMES AROUND OR THE POTENTIAL SCOPE CHANGES WITH WHAT WE WILL ASK HER TO DO.
THE SECOND PART IS WE DON'T KNOW WHAT WE DON'T KNOW.
AND MAYBE THE SUMMIT IS IN JANUARY OR MAYBE IT IS IN MARCH.
OUR SCHEDULES ARE ALL OVER THE PLACE.
THERE IS NO FEASIBLE WAY WE COULD EVEN CONSIDER OPTION THREE RIGHT NOW. I THINK WE CLOSE OUT WITH OPTION TWO WITH THE UNDERSTANDING THAT COME TO YOUR POINT, TIFFANY, I THINK SHE'S A STRONG CANDIDATE FOR OPTION THREE IF, WHEN WE ARE READY TO ENGAGE HER, SHE HAS TIME.
IT IS MY UNDERSTANDING THAT THE CONVERSATION WITH THE YVONNE IS THAT, LIKE ANY PROJECT SCHEDULE OR SOMEBODY WORKING ON MORE THAN ONE PROJECT AT A TIME, HE COVER UP -- SO WE CAN GO HALF COCKED.
WE NEED TO ENGAGE WHEN WE ARE READY TO ENGAGE HER.
AND I DON'T SEE HOW WE WILL KNOW THAT ANYTIME SOON.
>> TO BE FAIR, WE WERE NOT HALF COCKED WHEN WE ENGAGE HER.
WE WERE ORGANIZED AND MOVING FORWARD.
I GUESS, BECAUSE WE HAVE HISTORY WITH LORI, I'M JUST LOOKING AT THIS GOING, OKAY, WE PAY 15,000 NOW AND THEN FOUR, FIVE MONTHS, WE HAVE TO PAY 30,000 VERSUS 16,000.
I DON'T FEEL THAT IS RESPONSIBLE TO THE TAXPAYER DOLLARS.
HOWEVER, I FEEL LIKE WE HAVE WORKED WITH LORI AND SHE IS VERY FAIR. SHE IS MORE AFFORDABLE.
>> THIS IS SO MUCH MORE AFFORDABLE THAN WE EVEN PAID FOR
THE DOWNTOWN PLANT. >> I SEE THAT MONEY AS
INDISCERNIBLE ] COMPARED TO -- >> WHAT WAS A TOTAL VALUE OF THE
>> SHE HAD AN ESTIMATE WHEN WE FIRST ENGAGED HER FOR THIS ROUND ABOUT WITH THE TOTAL PROCESS WOULD COST.
THAT WOULD BE A BETTER APPLES TO APPLES COMPARISON.
>> IT WAS AROUND 30ISH. BUT I WOULD LOOK.
>> I THINK YOUR CONCERN IS A VALID CONCERN.
AT THE SAME TIME, THE MORE SPECIFIC YOUR SCOPE, THE LOWER THE NUMBER IS GOING TO BE. AND WE KNOW THAT OVER THE NEXT COUPLE OF MONTHS, THAT SCOPE WILL JUST GET MORE AND MORE AND MORE SPECIFIC. SO AS A CONSULTANT, ESPECIALLY FOR PROFESSIONAL SERVICES, I'M ALWAYS GOING TO -- THE MORE AMBIGUITY, THE MORE COST AND PUTTING IN THERE BECAUSE I DON'T KNOW. I THINK AS WE GET THE SCOPE OF MORE NARROW DOWN AND AS YOU GUYS MAKE DECISIONS ABOUT WHAT YOU WANT TO SEE AND IT BECOMES MORE CLEAR, THAT GIVES HER THE ABILITY TO, YOU KNOW, REALLY HOPE GO THROUGH THAT PROCESS.
>> I THINK WE WANT TO MAKE SURE IT IS CLEAR TO EVERYONE THAT WE HAVE BEEN HAPPY WITH HER. IT IS NOT FAIR TO HER. I WOULD LIKE TO ENGAGE WITH HER AGAIN IN THE FUTURE. WE NEED TO HAVE SOME DIRECTION.
WE DON'T KNOW THAT RIGHT NOW. WE DON'T KNOW A TIMELINE RIGHT NOW. WE WANT TO MOVE AS QUICKLY AS POSSIBLE. WE HAVE BEEN WANTING TO FOR A
WHILE. >> AND HER E-MAILS HAVE BEEN INCREDIBLY KIND. SHE IS VERY SUPPORTIVE OF THE PROCESS THAT YOU ARE GOING THROUGH.
SHE IS VERY EXCITED ABOUT WHAT THE NEXT CHAPTER LOOKS LIKE.
I. I TOLD HER AFTER THE MEETING, TOMORROW OR FRIDAY, I WOULD GIVE HER A CALL AND WE WOULD KIND OF WALK THROUGH WHAT THAT LOOKS LIKE.
>> COULD WE CHOOSE AN OPTION -- YOU PROBABLY DON'T KNOW THE ANSWER TO THIS. COULD WE PROPOSE AN OPTION SO WE CAN ENSURE THAT SHE IS GETTING PAID FOR THE WORK SHE HAS DONE AND ASK HER TO KEEP THE PROPOSAL FOR OPTION THREE OPEN FOR SOME SHORT PERIOD OF TIME LIKE 3-4 MONTHS OR SOMETHING?
>> YES. WE NEED TO PAY HER WHAT SHE IS OWED, FOR SURE. SHOULD HAVE BEEN PAID A WHILE AGO. WE ARE PAYING HER NOW.
I THINK ASKING HER TO HOLD A PRICE ON SOMETHING THAT IS NOT SCOPED IS INCREDIBLY DIFFICULT. I DON'T THINK IT WOULD BE FAIR TO HER BECAUSE I SUSPECTED THAT THERE WILL BE THINGS -- SO WITHIN THE COST BREAKDOWN, I THINK THERE WILL BE ELEMENTS THAT COME IN MUCH CHEAPER BECAUSE THERE IS BETTER DIRECTION. BUT I THINK THERE IS ALSO LIKELY ONE OR TWO THINGS THAT YOU ALL ARE GOING TO DECIDE YOU WANT TO FOCUS ON AND SHE IS GOING TO SAY, THIS PIECE OF IT, I NEED TO EXPAND A LITTLE BIT BECAUSE THIS IS A LITTLE MORE COMPLICATED.
AND I'M JUST THINKING ABOUT SOME OF THE PROJECTS THAT WE HAVE COMING UP ON THE HORIZON. ONE OF WHICH WE WILL TALK ABOUT
LATER ON TONIGHT. >> THAT'S FAIR.
>> I WOULD LIKE TO MAKE A MOTION TO DIRECT STAFF TO PROCEED WITH OPTION TWO ON THE CONTRACT RESOLUTION AGREEMENT WITH THE
ACCELERATION BY DESIGN. >> I WILL SECOND THE MOTION.
>> ITEM 4C. DISCUSSION REGARDING THE LIBERTY
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HILL CHAMBER OF COMMERCE GALA. THEY ARE NOT HERE TONIGHT.>> THIS IS YOUR ITEM. >> THIS IS MY ITEM.
>> I WILL LET YOU RUN THIS ONE. >> THIS, FOR ME, I WANTED TO BRING THIS UP BECAUSE I WAS TALKING WITH KELLY AND MAKING SURE THAT WE RENEWED OUR MEMBERSHIP TO PAY FOR A TABLE AT THE GALA AND TO SPONSOR THE GALA AT THE PLATINUM LEVEL.
WHICH I BELIEVE IS $2500. LAST YEAR, WE DID THIS AND WE ALSO BOUGHT AN ADDITIONAL TABLE FOR $600.
AND WE HAD VACANCY. WHICH IS VERY EMBARRASSING TO ME. SO I DON'T WANT US TO BUY AN ADDITIONAL TABLE IF YOU ARE NOT COMING.
IF YOU DON'T HAVE YOUR BABYSITTER SQUARED AWAY.
YOU HAVE -- IF YOU CAN'T COMMIT AND SAY YOU ARE BRINGING YOUR SPOUSE OR A PLUS ONE OR WHATEVER WHATEVER, I WANT THAT TO BE VERY CLEAR THIS YEAR. BECAUSE I DON'T WANT TO HAVE THE EDC TABLE WITH A FLAG AND WE SPONSOR IT AND NOBODY IS SITTING
THERE. >> DID WE GET A TABLE FOR THE
CITY LAST YEAR THOUGH? >> THAT WAS THE INTENT.
THE ADDITIONAL TABLE. >> I THINK WE SHOULD GET ONE TABLE AND FIGURE OUT WHO WILL SIT AT IT AND THEN I WOULD THINK THAT NEXT MONTH, OCTOBER, IF WE NEEDED TO BUY ONE ADDITIONAL TABLE AND IF THEY HAVEN'T SOLD OUT, WE SHOULDN'T BUY TABLES AND LAUGHS WE HAVE CONFIRMED PEOPLE AT THE
TABLE. >> TO ME KNOW IF THE CITY IS
GETTING A TABLE AT THIS TIME? >> I CAN FIND OUT.
IF THE CITY NEEDS A TABLE, WE WILL BUY IT.
>> THAT'S FAIR. I THINK THAT IS WHAT WE DID LAST
YEAR. >> WE WILL PUT IN A SPECIAL REQUEST THAT THE TABLES BE NEXT TO EACH OTHER.
>> I'M NOT OPPOSED TO GETTING A SECOND TABLE.
I DON'T WANT IT TO NOT BE FULL. >> AND A FLAG
>> WHEN IS THE DROP DEAD DATE? >> I DON'T HAVE THE DAY.
>> IT IS NOVEMBER 2ND. >> THERE WE GO.
>> NOVEMBER 2ND WHICH IS IN THE MIDDLE OF THE WEEK.
IT IS NOT A WEEKEND. >> I KNOW WHEN THE GALA IS.
ABOUT THE TABLE? >> I WOULD SAY BY THE NEXT MEETING. I HAVE A QUESTION.
AND WE MAKE A MOTION TO APPROVE THE SPONSORSHIP AND ONE POTENTIALLY ADDITIONAL TABLE IF NEEDED?
>> IT IS A REOCCURRING ITEM IN THE BUDGET.
SO THE ADDITIONAL TABLE IS IN QUESTION.
>> I'M PRETTY SURE IT IS A DONE DEAL.
>> IF IT IS IN THE BUDGET, WE DON'T HAVE TO VOTE ON IT.
>> ALL I'M SAYING TONIGHT IS THAT IF YOU ARE GOING TO COMMIT COMMIT -- IF YOU ARE GOING TO COMMIT AND HAVE A PLUS ONE, YOU BETTER SHOW UP. THAT'S WHAT I'M SAYING.
>> WE GOT THE MESSAGE. LOUD AND CLEAR.
>> SO WE DON'T NEED TO VOTE ON ANYTHING.
>> FULL COMMITMENT BY THE OCTOBER MEETING.
>> YES. >> SO IT IS ALREADY A BUDGETED ITEM. AND WE WILL FOR SURE GET ONE TABLE. I DON'T KNOW THE ANSWER ON THE DROPDEAD DATE FOR GETTING A SECOND TABLE.
>> WE WILL FIND OUT. >> I'M SURE STEVE WILL WORK WITH
US. >> OR WE WILL BE MEAN TO HIM.
>> NOBODY COULD BE MEAN TO STEVE.
>> I'M NOT HEARING ANYBODY OPPOSED TO GETTING A SECOND TABLE IF WE NEEDED FOR SPACE. SO I'M HAPPY TO COORDINATE.
>> I'M JUST SAYING THAT LAST YEAR WE HAVE PEOPLE THAT HAD PED THEY WERE COMING AND DIDN'T SHOW UP.
THAT'S WHY IT IS ON HERE. MOVING ON.
ITEM 4D. DISCUSSION REGARDING DOWNTOWN
STREETSCAPE UPDATES. >> I HAVE TWO UPDATES FOR YOU ON THIS. IT WILL BE RELATIVELY BRIEF.
WE HAVE BEEN WORKING THIS PROJECT AND PROBABLY THE TWO MAIN THINGS WE NEED TO TALK ABOUT TONIGHT -- I DON'T NEED A DECISION TONIGHT. WE WILL GET HEAD NODS AND I WILL EXPLAIN WHY. THE FIRST THING IS, AS PART OF THE WHOLE MOVING PROJECT, THE PEC PROJECT WHERE THE POLLS ARE GETTING MOVED BEHIND MAIN STREET, ONE THING THAT CONTEMPLATED IN THE PROJECT FOR WHATEVER REASON, I DON'T KNOW, I WASN'T HERE -- WHEN THE POLLS MOOD, THERE MOVE, THERE WILL BE NO STREETLIGHTS.
BECAUSE THE STREETLIGHTS ARE ATTACHED.
AND WE HAVE BEEN WORKING WITH PEC PRETTY AGGRESSIVELY TO GET THAT PROJECT MOVING FORWARD AND ALL THE SUDDEN, WE REALIZED, WE ARE ABOUT TO HAVE A VERY DARK AND DEPRESSING MAIN STREET.
>> WORKING ON THE STREETSCAPE PROJECT AND WE HAD THE STREETLIGHTS PROGRAMMED IN THERE AND THEN WE REALIZED, WE HAVE TO MAKE SURE THESE THINGS MOVE ON THE SAME TIMELINE SO WE DON'T HAVE ISSUES RELATED TO THAT. AND AS WE HAVE MOVED THROUGH THE
[00:25:01]
PROJECT, WE ARE SCOPING OURSELVES INTO A COST.THAT COST LOOKS TO BE SOMEWHERE AROUND $300,000 TO COMPLETE THE ENTIRE BLOCK OR I GUESS IT'S MULTIPLE BLOCKS.
BASICALLY THINKING ABOUT THAT AREA WE SHOWED ON THE MAP BEFORE BEFORE. THAT INCLUDES ALL OF THE, GETTING RID OF ALL THE GRASS STUFF THAT IS THERE.
I DON'T KNOW IF YOU TALKED TO THE DOWNTOWN BUSINESSES BUT ZERO STARS FROM THEM ON THAT WHOLE ENDEAVOR.
>> YOU HAVE THE DECKING THAT WILL GO IN.
ALL THE IRRIGATION WORK THAT WILL BE PUT IN.
AND SO THE IRRIGATION IS TIED DIRECTLY INTO THE PLANTERS SO YOU WILL NEVER SEE IRRIGATION. THEY WILL JUST BE FED AUTOMATICALLY AND YOU WILL HAVE THINGS HANGING.
THE INSTALLATION OF ALL OF THE DARK SKY COMPLIANT COME ALREADY IN THE DOWNTOWN MASTER PLAN, APPROVED TO WHITES.
WHICH ALLOWS US TO PUT OF THE BANNERS AND HANGING BASKETS FOR THE DIFFERENT FESTIVALS. ALL OF THOSE DIFFERENT COMPONENTS ARE WRAPPED INTO THIS PROJECT.
THE NICE THING IS THAT IT IS SOMETHING WE WILL CONTRACT OUT.
SO IT IS GOING TO COME IN AND IT IS GOING TO BE DONE IN A SHORT PERIOD OF TIME AS OPPOSED TO A PROJECT THAT WILL JUST LINGER FOREVER. SO WE ARE PRETTY EXCITED ABOUT THE. THE COST WE WILL BE REQUESTING FROM THE EDC FOR THE PROJECT IS $120,000.
WHAT THAT REPRESENTS IS ABOUT A 40% SPLIT OF THAT PROJECT.
THE CITY WILL PAY 60% OF THE COST, SO THE TOTAL BEING 300.
YOU CAN DO THE MATH. I'M NOT A FINANCE GUY AND JOSH DIDN'T SHOW UP. BUT IT IS 120, FOR THE EDC AND THE DIFFERENCE WILL BE COVERED BY THE CITY.
THIS IS NOT SOMETHING THAT IS IN YOUR BUDGET.
THIS IS NOT SOMETHING IN THE CITY'S BUDGET.
SO WE WILL BE USING FUND BALANCE FROM BOTH AND BRINGING THE SWORD THROUGH A BUDGET AMENDMENT PROCESS.
THERE ARE TWO DIFFERENT WAYS WE CAN DO THIS.
NUMBER ONE, WE CAN GO THROUGH THE EFFORT TO PUT TOGETHER A FULL-BLOWN DESIGN AND PICTURES. AND WE CAN PUT TOGETHER A BUDGET AMENDMENT AND WE CAN BRING THIS THING BACK IN LIKE 60 DAYS.
OR, WE CAN MOVE FORWARD KNOWING THAT THE 120,000 WILL BE IN A BUDGET AMENDMENT THAT YOU WILL ALL SEE LATER.
AND THAT ALLOWS US TO MOVE ON THIS PROJECT AND TRY TO GET IT DONE IN A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME.
I WILL TELL YOU THAT THE DOWNTOWN BUSINESSES WOULD LIKE THIS MOVEMENT. IT IS HOW YOU WANT TO PROCEED.
I PLAN TO TAKE THIS PROJECT TO COUNCIL SOMETIME WITHIN THE NEXT PROBABLY 4-5 WEEKS. AND SO THAT IS OUR GOAL, TO MOVE QUICKLY. BUT IF YOU ARE ALL UNCOMFORTABLE WITH THAT, I WOULD PROBABLY TAKE IT TO COUNCIL AND PAY FOR THE WHOLE THING OUT OF FUND BALANCE AND SEEK TO COME BACK TO THE EDC TO HAVE THE EDC PAY FOR A PORTION OF IT.
MY REQUEST WOULD BE THAT YOU GUYS ARE GOOD WITH US MOVING FORWARD WITH A CEILING OF NOT TO EXCEED 120,000.
IT WILL BE KIND OF FORMALIZED THROUGH A BUDGET AMENDMENT
PROCESS. >> YOU SAID THIS IS 40%?
>> IT REPRESENTS 40% OF THE TOTAL ANTICIPATED COST.
OBVIOUSLY IF THE COST COMES IN LOWER THAN 300, 120, 40%, WOULD
IS THAT THE SAME PRIVATE COMPANY THAT PUT IN THE LANDSCAPING?
>> WE HAVE NOT SELECTED A CONTRACTOR.
AND SO, THIS CONVERSATION IS TOUCHING A BUNCH OF DIFFERENT COMMITTEES. WE HAVE THE DRC WHICH HAS BEEN HEAVILY INVOLVED IN THE DESIGN OF THAT PROJECT.
AND SO WE WILL BE TALKING TO THEM, I THINK IT IS NEXT WEEK.
DON'T QUOTE ME ON THAT. FOR THE FINAL PLANTER BOX STUFF.
AND THEN WE WILL TAKE THIS TO COUNCIL AND THEY WILL APPROVE ALL THE BUDGET PORTIONS OF THIS. AND IF YOU WANT TO BE PART OF IT NOW, LET ME KNOW. WE WILL BRING THE BUDGET AMENDMENT BACK. IT IS A PRETTY NORMAL PROCESS FOR THINGS THAT WE ARE TRYING TO MOVE QUICKLY ON.
AND THEN, IF FOR SOME REASON YOU DON'T WANT TO BE PART OF IT RIGHT NOW, WE CAN ADDRESS IT LATER.
I'M JUST TRYING TO BE HYPER RESPONSIVE TO THE DOWNTOWN BUSINESSES THAT ARE JUST LOOKING FOR A LITTLE BIT OF LOVE AND WE ALSO DON'T WANT TO COMPLETELY ON ILLUMINATE MAIN STREET.
IT WILL LOOK WEIRD DURING THE CHRISTMAS FESTIVAL.
>> WILL THIS INCLUDE WETZEL PARKING BECAUSE THERE ARE NO
LIGHTS ARE EITHER. >> IT DOES NOT INCLUDE THAT?
>> THE PROJECT WILL BE EXPANDED OVER TIME.
SO IF WE SET THE STAGE FOR WHAT IT IS GOING TO LOOK LIKE AND THE REASON YOU ONLY DO A COUPLE OF BLOCKS TO MAKE SURE EVERYBODY LOVES IT, AND YOU SAY, AND FY28, WE PUSH OUT ANOTHER TWO BLOCKS.
SOME OF THE OTHER AREAS DOWN THERE GET A LITTLE MORE COMPLICATED FROM A RIGHT-OF-WAY PERSPECTIVE AND A SIDEWALK PERSPECTIVE. WE ALSO HAVE SOME AREAS WHERE YOU ALMOST HAVE SOME BUILDING ENCUMBRANCES WE WOULD HAVE TO DEAL WITH. THE IDEA IS, YOU WOULD BE ABLE TO INCLUDE FUTURE PHASES. I HOPE AND PRAY THAT WE NEVER HAVE ARPA MONEY AGAIN BECAUSE IF WE DO, SOMETHING WOULD BE TERRIBLY WRONG IN THIS NATION. IF WE GET FUNDING, WHETHER IT IS THROUGH CDBG FUNDING OR WHATEVER IT IS, THE GRANT ALLOWS US THE
[00:30:01]
OPPORTUNITY TO MOVE THAT FORWARD.AND IF YOU HAVE SIGNIFICANT ENOUGH REDEVELOPMENT, I.E. THE DOWNTOWN DISTRICT OR OTHER PROJECTS, WE CAN WORK WITH THE DEVELOPERS TO MAKE SURE THEY BUILD IT ALONG THERE IS AN THIS IS THE PROJECTS THAT SETS THE STAGE FOR A DOWNTOWN THAT REALLY STARTS TO LOOK AND FEEL LIKE WE CARE ABOUT IT.
>> BASED ON THE CONVERSATIONS YOU HAD, YOU ROUGHLY KNOW HOW MANY LIGHTS THIS WILL CONSIST OF WITHIN THE 300,000 CHECK? YEAH. I DON'T REMEMBER THE NUMBER.
>> I HAVE ANOTHER QUESTION. HOW MANY BLOCKS WILL BE LIT BY THIS? IS IT ALL OF MAIN STREET? IS THAT ALL OF THE MAIN STREET TO 69.
>> THIS DOES NOT GET YOU DOWN 1869 AND IT STOPS BEFORE PARKER.
SO THINK OF VETERANS MEMORIAL ALL THE WAY OVER TO -- WHAT IS ON THE OTHER SIDE OF THE VAPE SHOP CHECK?
THE ARCHITECT -- GREENSTREET. >> IT IS NOT JUST LIGHTING.
LANDSCAPING AND IRRIGATION. >> QUITE A FEW PLANTER BOXES THAT ARE PERMANENT INSTALLATION AND THOSE ARE TIED INTO THE IRRIGATION SYSTEM. SO WE DON'T HAVE TO WORRY ABOUT SO MAY NOT WATERING THEM AND IT LOOKS LIKE GARBAGE.
SOME COMMUNITIES HAVE TRIED TO PARTNER WITH THE DOWNTOWN DISTRICT OR DOWNTOWN ASSOCIATIONS TO HAVE THEM WATER THE PLANTS. I'M GOING TO TELL YOU THAT THE HIT RATIO AND THAT IS NOT GOOD. FIRST IMPRESSIONS REALLY MATTER.
WE JUST SPEND THE MONEY TO TIE THE IRRIGATION RIGHT IN.
AND IT IS ALSO FROM A WATER CONSERVATION PERSPECTIVE.
VERY EFFICIENT. THE OTHER THING THIS DOES IS IT TAKES ALL THOSE TRIP HAZARDS, VEGETATIVE AREAS AND THE SIDEWALK AND IT PUTS THAT NICE PATIO STYLE DECKING OVER THOSE.
SO WHEN YOU HAVE THE CHRISTMAS FESTIVAL OR PARADE OR OTHER FESTIVALS, YOU ACTUALLY HAVE AREAS WHERE PEOPLE CAN STAND THAT IS A LOT SAFER FOR THE CHILDREN THAT ARE STANDING NEXT TO THOSE PARADES. LASTLY, AS SOME OF THESE DOWNTOWN BUSINESSES START TO CONVERT, WHICH THINGS ARE HAPPENING. THAT'S ALL I'M GOING TO SAY.
IT GIVES YOU THE OPPORTUNITY TO PUT OUT A COUPLE OF TABLES AND CHAIRS AND LET PEOPLE GO GET A CUP OF COFFEE AND KIND OF START TO ACTIVATE THAT AREA A LITTLE BIT WHEN IT IS NOT 110 DEGREES, WHICH WE ARE SO CLOSE, GUYS. RIGHT THERE.
>> SO THIS ITEM ON THE AGENDA, DOES IT SAY -- ARE WE JUST
DISCUSSING THIS, THIS EVENING? >> DISCUSSION.
AND IF YOU SAY YES, THOMAS, WE ARE GOOD.
GET IT DONE. I WOULD BRING BACK THE BUDGET AMENDMENT TO YOU. THAT IS OPTION ONE.
OPTION TWO -- AND THERE IS NO TIMELINE ASSOCIATED WITH THAT BUDGET. WE HAVE ENOUGH FUND BALANCE AND WE COULD DO THAT IN JANUARY. YOU JUST DON'T WANT TO BE SURPRISED IN JANUARY WHEN THERE IS A BUDGET AMENDMENT FOR $118,000. OPTION TWO IS, WE ARE NOT COMFORTABLE TODAY. BRING THIS BACK TO US LATER.
JUST KNOW THAT WE WILL LIKELY TO THE PROJECT.
AND I THINK THAT THIS IS A GREAT OPPORTUNITY TO PARTNER.
>> DID YOU ANNOUNCE WHEN YOU WOULD LIKE THE WORK TO BE DONE?
>> WE SHOULD BE IN LINE WITH THE MOVEMENT ALREADY WITH WORK
ALREADY SCHEDULED. >> THE WORK IS NOT SCHEDULED.
THE PERMANENT APPLICATION IS IN FROM EDC.
>> ARE THERE ANY EXPECTATIONS WITHIN THE NEXT 90 DAYS, WITH THEM, KNOWING HOW THEY OPERATE, MOVING THOSE IT.
>> I DON'T WANT TO COMMIT. >> OF COURSE.
FROM YOUR EXPERIENCE? >> MY GOAL IS AFTER THIS MEETING AND THE NEXT DRC MEETING, TO GO TO THE NEXT MEETING AND SAY, GUYS, WE ARE MOVING FORWARD WITH THE PROJECT.
>> SO BEFORE THE CHRISTMAS PARADE?
>> I'M NOT COMMITTING. >> THAT IS WHERE I'M GOING WITH US. I'M NOT THE BIGGEST FAN OF THIS IDEA IN GENERAL. BUT AT THE END OF THE DAY, IT NEEDS TO GET DONE QUICKLY. THIS WILL BE A CRITICAL SEASON FOR MOST OF THOSE BUSINESSES. AND SO IF THE MOVING FASTER HELPS US GET DONE FASTER SO THAT IT PROMOTES THE BUSINESSES, WE DON'T WANT IS A HOLIDAY THE HOLN WITH A BUNCH OF CONSTRUCTION.
>> AND THE CONSTRUCTION SEQUENCING WILL BE AN IMPORTANT PIECE. ONE OF THE REASONS I JUST CANNOT COMMIT TO A TIMELINE YET IS WHEN YOU TALK ABOUT MOVING DISTRIBUTION POWER, YOU ARE TALKING ABOUT POLE REATTACHMENT AND REATTACHMENT AGREEMENTS. WE HAVE TO GET REATTACHMENT AGREEMENTS FROM PARKER'S WHICH TRIPS ITS POWER DOWN INTO THE INDIGO AND WE HAVE ANOTHER DROP THAT GOES OVER TO A SLOT T AND THAT FEEDS THERE WITH THE EXCEPTION OF ONE ANOTHER DRAW.
THOSE ATTACHMENTS ARE NOW, INSTEAD OF CONNECTING TO MAIN STREET, WE HAVE TO GET CONDUITS AROUND ALL THE WAY TO THE BACKSIDE OF THE BUILDINGS. YOU HAVE TO GET RIGHT OF ENTRY AGREEMENTS. THERE ARE JUST SOME THINGS THAT WERE NOT CONTEMPLATED WHEN THAT PROJECT WAS PUT OUT BEFORE.
[00:35:02]
WE ARE TRYING TO PICK UP THE PIECES AND GO, WHERE IS THE RIGHT OF ENTRY AGREEMENT THAT SHOULD HAVE BEEN SIGNED BEFORE THE MONEY WAS GIVEN TO PC TO RELOCATE THESE? WE HAVE TO FIX THAT. SO WE ARE TURNING OVER ROCKS ANDFINDING THINGS. >> I'M FOR IT.
>> I DON'T HAVE ANY ISSUES. >> I THINK WE NEED TO MAKE A MOTION TO BRING BACK AN AMENDMENT NEXT MONTH.
>> I CAN'T BRING YOU BACK IN AMENDMENT NEXT MONTH.
THE AMENDMENT WILL PROBABLY BE BE -- IF YOU ALL WANT TO MOVE FORWARD, THE CLEANEST WAY TO DO THIS WOULD BE TO MAKE A MOTION TO AUTHORIZE STAFF TO SPEND, IN AN AMOUNT NOT TO EXCEED $120,000, ON THE DOWNTOWN STREETSCAPE PROJECT PENDING COUNCIL APPROVAL. AND WE WOULD BRING YOU BACK A BUDGET AMENDMENT PROBABLY IN THE JANUARY, FEBRUARY TIMELINE.
>> I'M SORRY. YOU DO HAVE SOLID PRICING OR NO,
YOU DON'T? >> WE DO NOT HAVE A BID IN HAND.
>> HERE'S THE THING. WE VOTE ON THIS.
WE GIVE IT 120,000, IT IS 200,000.
>> WE SAID WE COULD INCLUDE LANGUAGE TO SAY -- NOT TO
EXCEED. >> HE IS NOT ACTING -- ASKING
FOR A DECISION. >> HE WAS GAUGING OUR INTEREST IN THE SOMETHING HE WOULD BRING BACK THE BUDGET AMENDMENT.
WE DON'T HAVE TO VOTE ON THIS TONIGHT.
>> I THINK WE SHOULD VOTE ON THIS AT OR ABOUT THE TIME COUNCIL VOTES WHICH COULD BE FIVE WEEKS.
WE CAN VOTE ON THIS NEXT TIME. >> JOSH, YOU HAD SOMETHING?
>> THERE ARE CERTAIN PROCEDURAL THINGS?
>> THAT WAS GOING TO BE MY NEXT QUESTION.
>> MY PREFERENCE FOR YOU ALL WOULD BE TO GIVE THEM DIRECTION AND LET THEM KNOW YOU ARE ALL IN SUPPORT.
AND I CAN GET WITH STAFF AND WE CAN MAKE SURE WE HAVE DONE THE
PROJECT NOTICES AND THINGS. >> OKAY.
I THINK WE ARE IN SUPPORT. >> WE CAN DO THAT.
THERE IS PLENTY OF TIME TO GET IT DONE.
>> AND YOU SAID WITHIN THE LANGUAGE, WE CAN DO 120 AS LONG
AS IT DOES NOT EXCEED 40%. >> WE COULD DO THAT.
>> TO YOUR POINT, IF IT IS 400,000, IT COULD BE 40%.
>> IT IS THE LESSER. >> YOU MAKE IT REALLY CLEAN.
AND I COULD SAY, UNLESS I HEAR ANYBODY SAY NO RIGHT NOW, WE WILL MOVE FORWARD WITH THIS PROJECT WITH THE EXPECTATION THAT NO MORE THAN 40% OF THE FUNDING WILL COME FROM EDC.
>> I WOULD SAY THE LESSER OF 120 120, OR 40%.
>> WE HAVE A FRIENDLY AMENDMENT FROM THE DIRECTOR.
>> WE ARE IN AGREEMENT. >> DO YOU NEED A MOTION ON THAT?
>> I DON'T NEED A MOTION. >> COOL.
WE WILL HAVE AN UPDATE FOR YOU ON PROGRESS REGARDLESS OF WHERE WE ARE AT AT THE NEXT MEETING AND WE WILL PROBABLY JUST MAKE THIS ONE A ROUTINE THING BECAUSE I THINK IT WILL BE A GOOD ONE.
>> THANK YOU. >> ITEM 4E'S DISCUSSION REGARDING THE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION GRANT
PROGRAM. >> THIS ITEM WILL START OFF WITH A QUESTION. WHO IS ON THIS BOARD IN 2022?
>> I GUESS I CAUGHT THE TAIL END OF IT.
>> AWESOME. DO YOU REMEMBER MAKING A MOTION FOR A GRANT PROGRAM RELATED TO FUNDING OF DARK SKY COMPLIANT
IDIOMS -- EDM'S. >> I DON'T REMEMBER IT BEING
SPECIFIC TO DARK SKY. >> I REMEMBER A LOT OF DISCUSSION AROUND IT. BUT I FEEL LIKE WE KICKED THE CAN UNTIL IT WAS -- DARK SKY WAS A THING.
I FEEL LIKE WE INTENTIONALLY KICKED THE CAN PICK WHATEVER MEMBER ABOUT THE GRANT PROGRAM IS THAT WE HAD ASSIGNED GRANT.
WE GET BURNED FOR FUNDING A BUSINESS DOWNTOWN THAT WENT OUT OF BUSINESS AND WE HAD WASTED TAXPAYER DOLLARS ON A BUSINESS BUSINESS -- WE HAVE NO WAY TO GAUGE HOW WELL THEY WERE DOING FINANCIALLY. SO WE DECIDED TO GET AWAY FROM
THE SIGN GRANT BUSINESS. >> WE HAD A FAÇADE GRANT AS WELL
WELL. >> IT WAS A FAÇADE ALSO.
WE PAINTED A BUILDING THAT WAS HORRIFIC AND THEN IT GOT REPAINTED AGAIN SOON AFTER AND THIS IS WHEN WE GET RID OF THE
GRANT PROGRAM. >> WE WERE ASKED -- I WOULD HAVE TO GO BACK TO THE MINUTES. I KNOW WE WERE ASKED ABOUT POTENTIALLY, ONE DAY, PARTICIPATING IN THE DARK SKY BUSINESSES WITH COMPLIANCE TO THE SIGNAGE.
WE NEVER PUT IT IN THE BUDGET. IT WAS NEVER ON THE ACTUAL
AGENDA. >> I THINK THE OTHER ISSUE TOO
[00:40:02]
TO THAT POINT, THOMAS IS THAT IN CONVERSATION WITH BEN AND MARY AND SEVERAL PEOPLE, I GUESS WE DIDN'T FEEL LIKE THE RETURN ON INVESTMENT WAS THERE. SO IN FAVOR OF A MORE DELIBERATE APPROACH AND INCENTIVIZING DIRECTLY BUSINESSES GENERATINGECONOMIC ACTIVITY. >> WHAT WE ALSO DECIDED WAS IF IT WAS GOING TO THE BUILDING AND NOT THE BUSINESS.
IT WAS GOING TO THE BUILDING, THAT IS STAYING HERE IN OUR TOWN, WE WERE FOR IT. LIKE A WATER HEATER OR VENT HOOD OR WHATEVER IS NEEDED. BUT NOT A BUSINESS THAT CAN GO IN AND OUT OF BUSINESS. NOT SPECIFIC TO THE BUSINESS.
>> OKAY. I HAVE GONE THROUGH THE MINUTES.
I HAVE LOOKED AT THE EXACT MOTIONS THAT WERE MADE AND IN AF THE EXACT LANGUAGE. AND I SAY EXACT.
BUT EVEN PART OF THE MOTION WAS A LITTLE BIT AMBIGUOUS.
IT WAS LIKE, TO INCLUDE THINGS LIKE.
IT DID NOT GET SUPER SPECIFIC. IT DID MENTION RETROFITTING.
ALL THAT IS TO SAY THAT I THINK THERE IS A HISTORY THERE.
AND THEN THERE IS WHERE WE ARE AT TODAY.
WHERE WE ARE AT TODAY IS COUNCIL HAS PROVIDED DIRECTION, I SHOULD SAY, TO EXTEND THE WINDOW FOR DARK SKY STUFF.
I'M NOT GOING TO GET INTO ALL THE DETAILS.
ESSENTIALLY A LITTLE OVER TWO YEARS.
TO GIVE BUSINESSES AN EXTENDED PERIOD OF TIME TO COME INTO COMPLIANCE. AS PART OF THAT, COUNCIL WOULD LIKE TO SEE A GRANT PROGRAM THAT WILL ASSIST THESE BUSINESSES IN TRANSITIONING SIGNS TO BE COMPLIANT.
AND WE HAVE A WINDOW OF TIME. ESSENTIALLY -- I THINK IT IS JANUARY OF 2030 WHEN THE BUSINESSES WOULD NEED TO COME INTO COMPLIANCE. AND SO WE NEED TO HAVE A CONVERSATION PER COUNCIL'S DIRECTION HERE ABOUT WHAT THAT COULD LOOK LIKE. THEIR DESIRE IS FOR THAT TO COME OUT OF EDC FUNDING AND I TOLD THEM I WOULD HAVE THAT CONVERSATION WITH YOU ALL. I'M VERY FAMILIAR WITH GRANT PROGRAMS AND WAYS IN WHICH WE COULD PUT TOGETHER A PROGRAM LIKE THAT THAT PROTECT YOU FROM THE THINGS YOU WILL HAVE DESCRIBED. LIKE WE GIVE SOMEBODY MONEY AND THEY LEAVE IMMEDIATELY. AGAIN, WE WANT TO START THE CONVERSATION. PART OF THE REASON THIS IS ON THE AGENDA IS THAT I DON'T WANT TO GO THROUGH THE WORK OF PUTTING THIS PROGRAM TOGETHER IF YOU ALL ARE GOING TO TELL ME THAT YOU DON'T WANT TO DO THAT. I SERVE WITH THE PLEASURE OF CITY COUNCIL. SO IT IS MY JOB TO COME HERE AND RELAY THIS INFORMATION TO YOU. AND I WILL PROVIDE A LITTLE TEXTURE -- A LITTLE CONTEXT. THE BUSINESS COMPLIANCE PORTION OF DARK SKY IT IS A IS A CONVERI HAVE HAD A LOT OF.
I HEAR FROM A LOT OF THE BUSINESSES AFFECTED.
THERE ARE A COUPLE OF KEY THINGS.
I THINK THE NUMBER OF BUSINESSES THAT WOULD BE AFFECTED FROM A SIGNAGE PERSPECTIVE IS NOT SIGNIFICANT.
AND I'M TALKING ABOUT THE NUMBER OF BUSINESSES WITH AN ELECTRONIC DISPLAY MESSAGE BOARD. I'M NOT TALKING ABOUT EVERYBODY THAT HAS A LIGHTBULB THAT IS IN COMPLYING WITH DARK SKY.
THOSE ARE TWO VERY DIFFERENT CONVERSATIONS.
WHEN WE TALK ABOUT HOW MANY BUSINESSES WOULD POTENTIALLY BE ELIGIBLE FOR A PROGRAM OF ANY KIND THAT THE CITY WAS GOING TO RUN, FOR THIS, I DON'T THINK THE NUMBER IS CRAZY HIGH.
>> I THINK THIS IS WHERE THE CONVERSATION HAS STALLED BEFORE.
WE ASKED CHRISTIAN FOR THE NUMBER OF BUSINESSES AFFECTED AND THE AVERAGE COST FOR THE SCIENCE TO BRING THEM INTO COMPLIANCE AND WE HAVE NEVER GOTTEN EITHER OF THOSE NUMBERS.
THIS MIGHT HAVE BEEN A PRIVATE CONVERSATION BETWEEN HE AND I.
I. I DON'T REMEMBER IT EVER BEING ON OUR ACTUAL AGENDA WHERE WE DISCUSSED THAT HERE.
BUT WE HAVE NEVER GOTTEN THE NUMBER OF BUSINESSES ARE THE AVERAGE COST TO BRING US INTO COMPLIANCE.
I KNOW THAT THE ULTIMATE SENTIMENT IN THE PAST HAS BEEN THAT WE ARE NOT HERE TO CLEAN UP WITH THE CITY DECIDES AFTER-THE-FACT. WE FEEL THE BUSINESSES SHOULD HAVE BEEN GRANDFATHERED IN WITH THE NEW RULE CAME ABOUT.
I SAY WE AND I'M TALKING ABOUT MYSELF.
>> I WOULD SAY I'M NOT A FAN OF THE FACT THAT THIS IS NOT A POLITICAL IN. I'M THE KIND OF GUY THAT HATES WHITES. I WALKED AROUND IN THE DARKNESS IN THE ARMY FOR MANY YEARS AND I LIKE IT.
THE WAY IT WAS EXECUTED IN THE COMMUNITY HAS BEEN PROBLEMATIC AND I'M SURE YOU HAVE BEEN ON THE RECEIVING END OF THE CLEARLY. MY SECOND CONCERN IS THE UN- FORECASTED NATURE OF THIS. YOU KIND OF ANSWERED PART OF
[00:45:01]
THAT QUESTION. BEFORE I WOULD CONSIDER SUPPORTING THIS, I WOULD SAY THAT WE NEED SOME CERTAINTY AROUND HOW MANY BUSINESSES THIS IMPACTS OR HOW MANY SIGNS IT IMPACTS. IT IS NOT AN EXACT NUMBER.BUT 15 PLUS OR MINUS THREE OR SOMETHING LIKE THAT.
I WOULD SAY THE SECOND PART IS KIND OF BASED ON MAYBE SOME MARKET INFORMATION TERTIARY TO THE.
THAT WE SET THE GRANT PROGRAM AT A FINITE NUMBER OF DOLLARS AND MAYBE USE IT AS A TOOL TO ACCELERATE BUSINESSES BY SAYING, LOOK. WE WILL SET ASIDE THIS MONEY.
WITH IT IS CAPPED IS KEPT AT THF DOLLARS PER BUSINESS AND IT WILL SUNSET AT THIS STATE. IF YOU WANT EDC'S HELP GETTING DARK SKY COMPLIANT. AND WE WILL PITCH IN.
SO WE ARE PUTTING A BOX AROUND IT SO WE DON'T HAVE THIS ON
FORECASTED NATURE. >> I THINK A COUPLE OF THINGS I WILL RATTLE OFF REALLY QUICK. THE FIRST THING IS, WE CAN COME UP WITH A NUMBER IN THE NUMBER IS GOING TO BE WRONG.
MY HOPE IS THAT IT IS CLOSE. I DON'T KNOW WHAT THAT NUMBER IS TODAY. YOU CAN KIND OF DRIVE AROUND REAL QUICKLY AND BE LIKE, I DON'T THINK WE ARE TALKING IN EXCESS OF 20. WE ARE TALKING ABOUT MESSAGE BOARDS AND THOSE BIG ILLUMINATED SIGNS.
SO WE CAN COME UP WITH A NUMBER. THE NUMBER WILL BE WRONG.
AND ULTIMATELY, I DON'T KNOW THAT THE NUMBER MATTERS.
AND HERE IS WHY. I THINK A GRANT PROGRAM IS DESIGNED TO HELP PEOPLE. IT IS NOT DESIGNED TO SOLVE EVERYBODY'S PROBLEM. IN ORDER TO PUT TOGETHER AN EFFECTIVE GRANT PROGRAM, WHAT I HAVE DONE IN THE PAST HAS SAID, WHAT IS THE TIME WINDOW I'M WORKING WITH? AND WORKING WITH TWO A HALF YEARS.
I'M GOING TO RUN THREE CYCLES PER YEAR.
SO THAT WOULD BE EIGHT OR NINE DEPENDING WHEN YOU STOP IT.
EIGHT OR NINE CYCLES WHERE WE TAKE X AMOUNT OF APPLICANTS.
IN ORDER FOR SOMEBODY TO BE ELIGIBLE FOR THE PROGRAM, THEY HAVE TO DEMONSTRATE THESE FOUR THINGS AND YOU GUYS PICK THE CRITERIA OR WE CAN MAKE A RECOMMENDATION FOR CRITERIA BASED ON THE THINGS YOU WANT TO SEEK.
THE NUMBER ONE THING THAT I'M GOING TO RECOMMEND IS THAT IN ORDER FOR SOMEBODY TO BE ELIGIBLE FOR GRANTS, A GRANT, WU WOULD CAP AT A CERTAIN NUMBER PER -- WE WOULD RECOMMEND YOU DO IT PER PARCEL. BECAUSE SOMEBODY MAY HAVE TWO BUSINESSES, RIGHT. YOU WOULD SAY, PER PARCEL, WE WILL CAP IT AT THIS AMOUNT AND IT IS A 50% MATCH.
SO TO BE ELIGIBLE FOR THIS, YOU HAVE TO SUBMIT A BID TO THE CITY DURING THE APPLICATION WINDOW SO WE ARE NOT JUST TAKING THESE THINGS AND ALL THE TIME. WE NEED TO CREATE SOME ACCOUNTABILITY FOR THEM TO BE LIKE, YOU HAVE MARCH, JULY AND NOVEMBER. YOU SUBMIT A BID TO THE CITY.
THIS IS THE TOTAL COST. THAT IS AN ACTIVE BID.
NOT SOMETHING FROM TWO YEARS AGO.
AND YOUR COMMITMENT TO PAY FOR THE WORK AND THAT WE WOULD REIMBURSE THROUGH THE GRANT PROGRAM 50% OF THE COST.
AND THAT REALLY RELIEVES THESE WEIRD SITUATIONS THAT MUNICIPALITIES CAN GET INTO WHERE WE GIVE SOMEBODY WHATEVER IT IS, $4500 AND THE SIGN DOESN'T CHANGE.
AND A YEAR LATER, WE ARE LIKE, WHAT IS THE SIGN GOING TO CHANGE? WE ARE WORKING ON IT.
WE WANT PEOPLE TO PERFORM THE WORK AND SUBMIT THE BID AND WE CAN APPROVE IT BUT WE ARE NOT GOING TO REIMBURSE UNTIL THE WORK IS DONE. THAT IS INCREDIBLY IMPORTANT.
YOU HAVE SPECIFIED DATES, WINDOWS AND APPLICATION PROCESS.
AND AT THE END OF THE DAY, YOU ONLY HAVE SO MUCH MONEY.
SO IF YOU SAY WE ARE GOING TO TAKE FIVE APPLICATIONS IN THESE PERIODS AND CAP IT AT THIS AMOUNT, IT GIVES YOU THE ABILITY TO BUDGET YEAR OVER YEAR. DOING QUICK MOUTH, IF MATH, IF E APPLICATIONS AT 5000, YOU CAN QUICKLY SEE HOW YOU COULD BUILD THAT BUDGET AND IT WOULD BE PRETTY ACCURATE.
AT THE SAME TIME, WE CAN'T SOLVE EVERYBODY'S PROBLEM.
AND SO THERE IS POTENTIAL THEORETICALLY, A POOL THAT YOU WOULD HAVE EVERY YEAR AND IF SOMEBODY CAN'T FILL OUT AN APPLICATION, OVER TWO A HALF YEAR PERIOD, TO GET SOME ASSISTANCE, THAT IS THE WAY THE WORLD WORKS.
>> WHEN DID THE DARK SKIES SIGNAGE START BEING REQUIRED BY PEOPLE PUTTING IN SIGNS? WAS AT A YEAR AGO OR SIX MONTHS AGO? THAT IF SOMEBODY WAS PUTTING UP A SIGN, IT WAS DARK SKY -- WHEN DID THE COMPLIANCE START?
>> I CAN'T REMEMBER THE EXACT DATE.
BUT I'M GOING TO TELL YOU THERE ARE TWO DIFFERENT DATES.
THERE IS NEW CONSTRUCTION VERSUS SOMEBODY WHO IS -- OBVIOUSLY BEEN THERE FOR A WHILE AND THOSE ARE TWO DIFFERENT DATES.
THERE ARE ALSO DIFFERENT TRIGGERS.
SO DOES YOUR REDEVELOPMENT QUALIFY -- IT'S LIKE ANYTHING ELSE. ADA COMPLIANCE.
DOES A REDEVELOPMENT YOU ARE DOING TRIGGER THIS REQUIREMENT?
[00:50:03]
AND SO THOSE ARE THINGS TOO. PEOPLE DRIVE BY A PROJECT ALL THE TIME AND THEY ARE LIKE, WHY DON'T THEY HAVE TO? BECAUSE THE REDEVELOPMENT IS ALL IN THE FRONT AND IT REPRESENTS LIKE 15% OF THE TOTAL VALUATION OF THE PROJECT.I'M HAPPY TO CIRCLE BACK WITH YOU AND GET YOU THAT DATE BUT I CAN'T PULL THE EXACT DATE OFF THE TOP OF MY HEAD.
>> I WOULD LIKE TO -- HOPEFULLY WHEN WE DO HAVE STAFF, WE CAN ASK THEM WHAT YOU ARE SAYING. TO GET SOME ESTIMATE ON THE SIGNS. I HEAR WHAT YOU ARE SAYING BUT I FEEL LIKE IT IS A LITTLE RECIPE FOR THE EDC TO GET CRITICIZED BY BUSINESSES IF IT'S LIKE, OKAY. 20 PEOPLE NEED THEIR SIGN FIXED TO BE DARK TO SKY COMPLIANT AND WE ONLY HAVE ENOUGH MONEY FOR 10. THE OTHER 10 ARE JUST OUT OF LUCK. SO IF WE COULD ESTIMATE WHERE WE CAN HELP MOST OF THE BUSINESSES, MAYBE IT IS A LITTLE LESS PER BUSINESS OR SOMETHING. THAT WOULD BE PREFERENCE.
>> I THINK DECISIONS DON'T LIVE IN FINALITY.
AND IF ALL THE SUDDEN, WE THINK THERE ARE ONLY THIS MONEY AND WE JUST GET A FLOOD OF THEM, I WOULD GO BACK TO CITY COUNCIL AND SAY, WE NEED TO AMEND THE FUNDING HERE.
YOU ALL HAVE MADE A DECISION FOR REQUIREMENT AND WE ALL HAVE MADE A DECISION TO PROVIDE ASSISTANCE.
AND IF IT LOOKS LIKE THE ASSISTANCE LEVEL THAT IS OUT THERE FOR THE COMMUNITY IS ACTUALLY 20% OF THE NEED, THEN MY RECOMMENDATION TO THEM WOULD BE, WE PROBABLY NEED TO LOOK AT ANOTHER SOURCE OF FUNDING TO TRY TO ASSIST THAT.
>> I DO WANT TO SAY THAT THIS IS A STRUGGLE FOR ME PERSONALLY.
I DON'T FEEL LIKE RETROFITTING SCIENCE IS ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT.
AND I ALSO FEEL LIKE WE HAVE, FOR YEARS, KIND OF COMMUNICATED HOW WE FEEL ABOUT THIS. AND IT IS NOT THE GREATEST PARTNERSHIP. THAT IT IS JUST BEING DEMANDED AGAIN AND AGAIN EVEN THOUGH WE HAVE SHARED OUR SENTIMENTS.
>> CAN YOU TELL ME GENERALLY, WHAT DOES IT TAKE TO MAKE AN ELECTRONIC MESSAGE BOARD COMPLIANT? ARE WE TALKING ABOUT TEARING IT DOWN AND REPLACING IT? ARE WE TALKING ABOUT CHANGING SOME LIGHT BULBS?
I HAVE NO IDEA. >> YOU ARE PROBABLY TALKING ABOUT -- ASSUMING -- YOU KNOW THE REST OF THE ORDINANCE.
SAYING ANYTHING ABOUT PYLONS OR MONUMENT SIGNS OR WERE THERE OTHER CODES THAT -- MAKING THESE DARK SKY COMPLIANCE CAP.
AND REQUIRE OTHER CODE COMPLIANCE.
>> BUT IT PROBABLY LOOKS LIKE ALTERING IT WITH THE SAME PRINTED LOGO ON SOME KIND OF ACRYLIC BACKING, WHETHER IT IS FRONT LIT OR BACKLIT WITH AN LED, LOW VOLTAGE DRIVER AND THESE DAYS, ALMOST ALWAYS ADJUSTABLE.
YOU CAN PROGRAM IT AND ADJUSTED TO WHATEVER SETTINGS.
BOOM -- LUMENS OR FOOTCANDLES OR WHATEVER IT IS FOR COMPLIANCE TT LIKE THAT. I WOULD SAY MOSTLY SIGNS ARE IN THE RANGE OF 5-$10,000 TO REPLACE I WOULD GUESS.
I USED TO REPLACE A LOT OF COMMERCIAL SIGNS FOR PART OF THE COMMERCIAL DEVELOPMENT I USED TO DO.
I HAVE A LOT OF EXPERIENCE. IF YOU HAVE SEEN THE DOMAIN TOWER. THE GIANT IN DEED SIGNS, I PUT THOSE UP THERE. SO THERE ARE A LOT OF OPTIONS OUT THERE. I HAVE PEOPLE TO TALK TO YOU.
TO UNOFFICIALLY CANVASS WHAT WE THINK THE COST WOULD BE.
IT WILL COME DOWN TO SOME BASICALLY KIND OF REPLICA OF WHAT IS THERE. ASSUMING THEY ARE NOT OTHER MAJOR CODE COMPLIANCE ISSUES THAT ARE TRIGGERED BY THE REPLACEMENT OF THE WORK AND THEN IT WILL COME DOWN TO SOME SORT OF LED -BASED
DARK SKY ARE. >> WE DON'T ALLOW POLE SIGNS, CORRECT? IF A POLE SIGN HAD TO BE --
>> I WILL GO BACK TO MY SOAPBOX. THIS IS WHERE MINUTES ABOUT HIS STRUGGLE. THEY DON'T UNDERSTAND OFTEN HOW THE CODES TRIP OVER EACH OTHER. MY FAVORITE ONE IS HOW BUILDING CODE AND FIRE CODE TRIP OVER EACH OTHER ALL THE TIME OR ACCESSIBILITY CODE AND FIRE CODE TRIP OVER EACH OTHER ALL THE TIME. THERE ARE REQUIREMENTS FOR DOORS TO CLOSE AT A CERTAIN RATE BUT YOU HAVE TO MAKE THEM ACCESSIBLE. THAT'S -- I DON'T KNOW HOW FAR YOU HAVE GOTTEN DOWN THE ROAD ON THAT BUT I DON'T EVEN KNOW IF THE STAFF WORK IS WORTH TRYING TO FIGURE IT OUT BUT IT IS GOING TO BE A PROBLEM. I GUARANTEE YOU SOME OF THESE SIGNS WILL TRIGGER OTHER CODE REQUIREMENTS OF THE CITY AND THE QUESTION WILL BE, WHAT IS THE DONE FASTER AND IN AN EQUITABLE WAY FOR BUSINESS? WHAT WE DON'T WANT US TO FIND OUT THAT A 5000 $REPLACEMENT TRIGGERS $35,000 IN UNDERGROUND ELECTRICAL WORK.
A NEW PYLON OR A MASONRY SIGN. OR SOMETHING ELSE.
>> I WOULD DISAGREE. I'M GLAD YOU CAN ANSWER THOSE
[00:55:01]
QUESTIONS. [LAUGHTER].>> SIGN STUFF IS NOT ON MY RESUME.
>> TO A LOT OF SIGNS HAVE TO BE FULLY REPLACED?
>> I WILL GIVE YOU AN EXAMPLE OF A COUPLE OF BUSINESSES THAT HAVE RECENTLY CONVERTED, IF THAT IS THE WORD.
>> THERE WAS THE ONE RIGHT DOWN OVER BY THE SILENCER SHOT.
AND IT WASN'T INEXPENSIVE. BUT WHEN YOU TALK ABOUT -- THEY DIDN'T HAVE TO DO SOME OF THESE OTHER THINGS.
IT WAS MORE OF A MODERN BUILDING.
AND SO THEREFORE, IT WAS EASIER. IN SOME CASES, IT IS JUST SWITCHING OUT THE SIGN TO NOT BE A WHITE BACKING.
WITH SOME OF THOSE TRADITIONAL LIGHTBULBS.
I'M SURE THAT THERE WILL BE A HANDFUL OF CASES WHERE, FOR WHATEVER REASON, I WAS ALSO NEVER AN ELECTRICIAN.
SO FOR WHATEVER REASON, LIKE THE POLE SIGN, THEY HAVE TO PULL SOMETHING NEW THROUGH THERE. NEW CONDUIT.
YOU CAN PUT THE POLE BACK AND SO I HAVE TO BUILD THIS WHOLE THING THING. I'M SURE WE ARE GOING TO RUN
INTO THOSE. >> IT IS GOING TO COME DOWN TO THE FACT THAT, BELIEVE IT OR NOT, THE SIGNS ARE NOT COMPLICATED OR OF MUCH VALUE IN TERMS OF MATERIAL.
BY THE TIME YOU GOT THE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM OUT OF IT AND REPLACE IT, YOU JUST REPLACE THE WHOLE SIGN.
I MEAN, THE ACRYLIC AND THE METAL AROUND IT ISN'T EVEN WORTH SAVING IN MOST CASES. HE DOES HAVE A NEW SIGN FABRICATED. AND AGAIN, WE ALMOST WILL ALL GO TO LOW VOLTAGE OF NO OTHER REASON THAN EFFICIENCY.
BECAUSE ALL THE POWER -- EXCEPT FOR SOME VERY NEW BUILDINGS, ALL
THE POWER WILL BE AT 110, 120. >> I THINK GOING BACK TO THE DATE OF WHEN THIS WAS MADE TO BE COMPLIANT OR WHEN COMPLIANCE
STARTED -- >> FOR NEW CONSTRUCTION?
>> RIGHT. >> WE HAVE BEEN TALKING ABOUT DARK SKIES FOR YEARS. I THINK THE THING THAT BOTHERS ME THE MOST IS THAT WE CONTINUE TO LET PEOPLE START BUSINESSES AND APPROVE THEIR SIGNS AND EVERYTHING AND NOW WE ARE
TELLING THEM -- >> WHEN WAS THE NEW INDISCERNIBLE ] SIGNAGE REQUIRED TO BE DARK SKY?
>> AND WHY HAVEN'T THEY CONSIDERED GRANDFATHERING AND SOME OF THE OLDER PLACES OR SMALL BUSINESSES THAT THIS REALLY AFFECTS THEM ECONOMICALLY ECONOMICALLY.
>> I'M GOING TO START WITH THAT QUESTION AND WORK BACKWARDS.
WHY HAVEN'T THEY ALLOWED THEM TO BE GRANDFATHERED? MY UNDERSTANDING IS THAT IN ORDER FOR THE DARK SKY PROGRAM TO BE FULLY DEVELOPED AND TO HAVE -- MAINTAIN THE CERTIFICATION AND DO ALL OF THAT, EVERYTHING RELATED TO THAT, YOU CAN'T GRANDFATHERED IN.
WHAT YOU CAN DO IS YOU CAN ALLOW A RAMP UP.
FOR BUSINESSES IN THE COMMUNITY WHO AREN'T COMPLIANT, TO BECOME COMPLIANT. BUT YOU CAN'T JUST SAY, YOU ARE GRANDFATHERED FOREVER. SO THAT IS ONE.
TWO, I WILL FIND OUT THE DATE. I CAN TELL YOU THAT IN NOVEMBER OF 2025, AT LEAST SINCE NOVEMBER OF 2025, THE CITY HAS NOT BEEN PERMITTING ANY NEW SCIENCE THAT AREN'T COMPLIANT.
I THINK IT MIGHT HAVE BEEN A YEAR PRIOR TO THAT THAT IT WAS THERE AND THAT THE CITY WAS DOING IT.
I CAN'T TELL YOU I HAVE LOOKED AT THOSE RECORDS.
>> THANK YOU. >> WE HAVE NOT HAD NEW CONSTRUCTION THAT I'M AWARE OF THAT HAS BEEN BUILT IN THE PREVIOUS YEAR THAT HASN'T FOLLOWED THOSE STANDARDS.
>> THAT IS WHAT I WAS GOING TO SAY.
THERE HAS NOT BEEN THAT MUCH OTHER THAN SOME FAST FOOD PLACES. NOT MUCH NEW CONSTRUCTION.
>> THE COSCO IS DARK SKY COMPLIANT.
WHICH I COULDN'T EVEN TELL. I ALSO DON'T -- THE ONLY TIME I DRIVE AT NIGHT, YOU ALL, IS A LIBERTYVILLE FOOTBALL GAME OR COMING HOME FROM COUNCIL SO I'M PRETTY LAME AT THIS POINT.
SPEAKING OF WHICH, I WORE PURPLE BECAUSE THE FRESHMAN BOYS ARE
PLAYING TONIGHT. >> I NOTICED.
WE HAVE TO GET YOU A LEGACY SHIRT AS WELL.
>> SO WE DON'T HAVE ANY ACTION ON THIS.
JUST DISCUSSING THIS, THIS EVENING.
YOU ARE GOING TO GET US SOME NUMBERS FOR THE SIGNS AND BUDGET
BUDGET. >> HOW FAST AS THE CITY LOOKING
TO MOVE ON THIS? >> THEY JUST EXTENDED IT.
>> WE HAVE A LITTLE OVER TWO AND A HALF YEARS, TWO AND A QUARTER YEARS OR SOMETHING LIKE THAT UNTIL THE NEW COMPLIANCE WINDOW.
I DID NOT WANT TO GO START WORKING WITH STAFF ON A PROGRAM AND THEN SHOW UP TO YOU ALL AND YOU GO, WHAT IS THIS? SO I'M REALLY JUST LOOKING FOR ANY SPECIFIC FEEDBACK THINGS THAT YOU GUYS HAVE. AND I KNEW THIS CONVERSATION HAD HAPPENED IN THE PAST. SO I DIDN'T WANT TO HEAD DOWN A TRAIL AND YOU GUYS WERE LIKE, WE TALKED ABOUT THIS PIECE OF IT
[01:00:02]
AND WE HATE THAT. >> I THINK ULTIMATELY, THIS IS
NOT OUR FAVORITE. >> PERSONALLY, I'M GOING TO SUPPORT IT BUT ONLY SO WE CAN BURY THIS SKELETON IN THE SAME AS GREAT AS MASS GRAVE AS WERE THE OTHER
SKELETONS HAVE BEEN BURIED. >> WE HAVE DONE A LOT OF THAT.
BUT OKAY. >> PUT ONE MORE IN THE BONE
PILE. >> THAT IS WHAT I WAS GOING TO SAY. TO MY POINT EARLIER, THE NEXT STEP IS I THINK, THIS SORT OF ANSWER WE MIGHT BE INTERESTED IN, RIGHT. THE QUESTION WILL BE, WHAT ARE THE STAFF RECOMMENDATIONS FOR CONTROLS ON A? WHETHER IT IS A 5050 SPLIT CAP THAT $5000 FOR PERSONAL WITH 90 DAYS FROM THE DATE THE GRANT HAS ISSUED OR YOU HAVE 30 DAYS FROM THE TIME THE SIGN IS COMPLETE TO SUBMIT -- WHETHER IT IS FRONT END ARE BACK END. I LIKE YOUR ACCOUNTABILITY PIECE AS FAR AS NOT REIMBURSING UNTIL IT IS DONE.
I SUSPECT THERE WILL BE BUSINESSES COME TO US AND SAY, WHY -- I DON'T HAVE $10,000 LAYING AROUND TO REPLACE MY SIGN AT THE MOMENT. SO I THINK WE HAVE TO BE FLEXIBLE ON WHETHER WE REIMBURSE ON THE FRONT OR BACK END.
I WOULD LIKE TO SEE A DRAFT OF CONTROLS ON THIS, WHETHER IT IS 5050 OR NOT TO EXCEED OR CERTAIN NUMBER OF BUSINESSES.
ONLY THIS MANY PER YEAR. HOWEVER THAT WORKS OUT.
>> I THINK YOU NEED TO HAVE ELIGIBLE EXPENSES IN THERE AS WELL. SO IF YOU GET INTO A SITUATION WHERE THERE ARE OTHER CODE ISSUES.
THIS MAY NOT BE ELIGIBLE FOR REIMBURSEMENT.
>> I THINK THE LANGUAGE WILL SAY, ONLY ASPECTS OF SIGNAGE REQUIRED FOR COMPLIANCE WITH DARK SKIES.
IF THERE IS ANY OTHER FORM OF CO- COMPLIANCE REQUIRED, WE ARE
NOT OPPOSED TO THAT. >> AND WHAT WE WOULD DO -- THERE ARE TWO THINGS. OUR NEXT STEP WOULD BE TO BRING BACK A GENERAL FRAMEWORK AND SAY, THIS IS THE MAIN COMPONENT OF THIS. THIS IS HOW THE PROGRAM WOULD WORK. THIS IS OUR RECOMMENDATION FOR CAPPING IT. THIS IS OUR RECOMMENDATION FOR REIMBURSEMENT. ALL THOSE THINGS SO YOU GUYS HAVE SOMETHING TO ACTUALLY CONSIDER.
TONIGHT I'M JUST TELLING YOU, I NEED TO GET TO WORK ON THIS.
I DON'T WANT YOU GUYS TO THINK THAT THERE IS SOME -- THIS IS YOUR DEAL AND I NEED TO TALK TO YOU GUYS ABOUT THIS.
>> THE OTHER PIECE TOO AND REALLY QUICK BECAUSE I WANT YOU GUYS TO THINK ABOUT THIS BEFORE THE FRAMEWORK COMES BACK IS, TO YOUR POINT, THERE MAY BE SOMEBODY WHO CAN'T AFFORD IT.
AND I THINK AT THAT POINT, THAT IS A SEPARATE OFFRAMP CONVERSATION WHERE YOU TALK ABOUT ENTERING INTO AN AGREEMENT POTENTIALLY BETWEEN THE PROPERTY OWNER AND THE PERSON DOING THE WORK SO THAT THE PERSON DOING THE WORK KNOWS THAT THE CITY IS GOING TO COVER THAT 50%. THEM COMING UP WITH THE PRIVATE
SIDE FOR THE 50% -- >> THAT GIVES ME PAUSE THE THEY
ARE NOT -- >> A SUSTAINABLE BUSINESS.
>> EXACTLY. >> BUT IF WE ARE GOING TO OPEN THIS UP, US UP, WE CAN'T DISCRIMINATE
AGAINST A POTENTIAL BUSINESS. >> WE CAN SAY, WE ARE ONLY DOING
THIS ON A REIMBURSEMENT BASIS. >> YES.
BUT IT ALSO DEFEATS THE SPIRIT OF THE PROGRAM BECAUSE WE ARE GOING TO LEAVE A BUSINESS THAT DOESN'T HAVE THE MONEY TO UPGRADE THEIR SIGN AND NONCOMPLIANCE WITH CITY CODE?
>> IF THEY ARE HALFWAY OUT OF THE BUSINESS, TO ANY'S POINT, WE PAY FOR SIGNS AND THEY ARE OUT OF BUSINESS A FEW MONTHS LATER,
THAT IS NOT -- >> MAYBE IT IS A MOOT ISSUE UNTIL WE ARE CLOSER TO THE SUNSET WINDOW TO BECOME DARK
SKIES COMPLIANT. >> THEY HAVE TWO AND A HALF YEARS. SO --
>> REAUTHORIZED ANNUALLY TOO. I WOULD NOT AUTHORIZE THIS FOR A
FULL TWO AND A HAPPIER. >> IT HAS TO BE AUTHORIZED ANNUALLY BECAUSE YOU WILL HAVE TO REPROVE -- HAVE TO APPROVE
>> I HAVE ONE LAST QUESTION I THOUGHT OF.
IF WE CAN'T GRANDFATHER IN THE DARK SKIES COMPLIANT, CAN WE GRANDFATHER IN THE OTHER CODES? LIKE POLE SIGNS ARE NOT ALLOWED BUT IF THEY HAVE A POLE SIGN, WE CAN GRANDFATHER THEM IN.
>> THE EDC CANNOT USE THEIR COUNCIL AUTHORITY WITH THINGS
LIKE UDC AND DEVELOPMENT CODE. >> WE CAN HAVE CONVERSATIONS,
>> WE ARE ALL WORKING TOGETHER HERE.
>> I THINK THAT IS WHAT YOU MET. >> I'M SAYING THE GRANT PROGRAM CAN'T SAY THESE RULES DON'T APPLY.
>> I WOULD SAY THE CITY WOULD MAKE THE VARIANCE.
>> AND SO, WHAT IS THE CITY -- WHAT ARE THE ADJUSTMENTS? I KNOW THE COUNCIL HAS NOT LEFT THE STAFF WITH A GREAT DEAL OF VARIANCES WHICH LEADS US INTO -- IT MAKES MINOR PROBLEMS BIG PROBLEMS BECAUSE YOU HAVE TO GO TO COUNCIL FOR VARIANCE.
>> SO THE QUESTION WOULD BE, IF THERE ARE CODE REQUIREMENTS THAT
[01:05:04]
ARE TRIGGERED BECAUSE OF THIS UPGRADE, THAT THE CITY CAN WAIVE, WOULD THE CITY WAIVE THAT FOR THE PURPOSE OF THIS>> BEAUTIFUL. I JUST SAID THAT BECAUSE --
DOING. >> I THINK THAT WOULD BE A GREAT THING. I REALLY DO.
WE WILL LOOK INTO IT. >> OKAY.
>> AND I'M NOT EVEN SAYING, TO YOUR POINT, THOMAS, I'M NOT EVEN SAYING THAT IF WE HAVE THESE DISCUSSIONS, IT GETS OFFRAMP INDISCERNIBLE ] I WOULD BE OPEN TO THAT.
BUT HAS A BOARD, IF WE FELT THERE WAS BENEFIT TO IT.
I WOULD LIKE TO UNDERSTAND THE CITY'S POSITION ON VARIANCES AND MEETING SOME OF THESE BUSINESSES HALFWAY.
>> WE CAN DEFINITELY LOOK INTO IT.
>> THIS IS EXACTLY WHAT I WANTED TO HAVE THIS CONVERSATION.
SO WHEN WE BRING SOMETHING BACK, IT IS OF VALUE TO YOU.
>> COOL. I THINK WE HAVE ALL THE
DIRECTION WE NEED ON THAT. >> GREAT.
MOVING ON TO ITEM FIVE. >> WE ARE RECONVENING BACK TO REGULAR SESSION AT 7:06 P.M.
* This transcript was compiled from uncorrected Closed Captioning.