City Council Work Session   6/21/2021

Thank you.

Okay, thank you.

I'll call this work session to order.

Thomas, please.

video.

We can hear you now.

No.

All right, so we have two reports today, the city's monthly financial report and a recovery roadmap update from the Economic Development Office.

So we'll start with the city monthly financial update.

So with that, I'll take any questions.

I'm just trying to get a sense for a timeline and when that decision-making might be able to happen.

I mean, obviously, we'll have figures prior to that, but we'll come in front of Council with something sooner than that, but we're just not 100% sure at this point.

Thank you.

So if there's something that we can do to know sooner than later that we're okay, that would be helpful.

That way we could start having some cash flow that would be available to the agencies as you just discussed.

No, thank you.

Thank you all.

All right.

Mr. Engel, you're good to hear.

Jason?

and with this Dora concept we would be able to do that on the mall as well where non-profits could set up tables there'll be busking stages for entertainers and performers as well as work with the business community to be more vibrant have the retailers have some retail space out front of their stores as well as more performers and musicians around the mall throughout the fall so that's kind of where we're at and if there's any questions I'm happy to answer but if not I'll let Chris take it over

So with that, I think we'll pause and let you ask questions about any of them or the document that we shared in advance, and we'll be happy to try and answer those questions.

A couple.

Chris, just your staff capacity because there's a lot of initiatives that you've kind of laid out here and is funding considering both staffing as well or is it literally programmatic?

So implementing it is not contingent upon filling those, but assuming we fill those in two or three months, we should be in good shape to implement the entire plan, if that answers the question.

Is that kind of where we're at?

So yes, if you all want to discuss that and give us an indication of whether you think it's worth supporting or not, we would appreciate that.

Was that last year or the year before?

Okay.

Yes, this came up last year, I believe in January, and it was approved at the time for TomTom to hold a three-day event on the mall, pretty similar to the current DORA allowances.

you know their treatment based on that so I that's one of the things I think we need to resolve as a city and I don't know if that's been worked out to this point or would that be something that you all would be working on if you yes I mean that that is something that we'd be working on we've talked with social services and about supportive services for folks that would need some assistance with that

And then the next question is, how do you handle it when it's not in the appropriate cups is the next thing that needs to be worked out.

And so that would be one thing that I hope we resolve where just because they don't have that cup that they are unfairly treated in some way because they are not going to understand that you can only drink from certain establishments.

I agree.

What's the story?

Jason, do you have insight on that for this year?

And so I'm not sure of the status of is the city accepting those those applications and whatnot.

The book festival, obviously, has passed already, so.

So we're starting to take the applications for those events that would be occurring after the 1st of September.

Is there any noise about whether that's going to be happening again?

I have not heard.

So the goal is that by sometime in September, there are active events taking place that have been through the approval process.

That then would be a 60-day time period, and we're into the wintertime then, so that we would be prepared that events could begin in September.

And that means that folks have to be applying by the end of June, first week of July, something like that.

That just seems like an important step.

So we're definitely helping in that regard, but we're not in a position to write grants for people for other grants, but that explains it.

giving the money to CACBB for their loss.

But we believe even at the 250 level, it is something that can be impactful.

Depending on revenue projections, could that change the needs of CACBB or this would be the need no matter what the revenue projections look like?

It won't be any less.

Is this just the downtown business association or were you all also thinking like barracks and or other locations in this section?

BBAC has been around a long time, but there could be others, but we were thinking more broadly.

Okay.

And is this back to the idea of like the shopping cart or something that came up a few months ago?

Is that the gift card?

Is that the type of support or would it be different?

those businesses in that area kind of grow and prosper.

Would that come back to us, or is that something that you would potentially cover out of this million-dollar request?

And, you know, we can decide to further explore that in conjunction with you all if you all see fit moving forward.

And so if that can be part of that campaign so that it's just an ongoing effort, no matter how well we're doing or not, then that I think will help people become more familiar with businesses and know that that is a place that they can go in times when they may be the only people supporting the business.

One of their neighbors may work at a restaurant and by patronizing that restaurant, you're helping your neighbor and trying to help connect those dots is the theory behind the buy local as opposed to advertising a particular business, although some businesses do get highlighted through whatever mechanism you use, in this case, videos or social media, things like that, but your point's well taken.

throughout the downtown mall as well as some other questions but I am open to it but still have questions and I couldn't say that I'm like 100% behind it at this point.

But yeah, thank you.

We need to figure out a way to solve that problem.

And I think as a community, we have to continue to look for a solution to that.

Okay, any other questions?

Is there any objection to bringing back an ordinance for consideration?

I'd like to see the details, but yes, I'd like to go forward with it.

I would need more information before I could say either way.

Likewise, like I said, that's where I'm at as well.

Sena, can you take your mic off?

You want to do it and write it in the chat, Sena?

Susan, Even when you propose an ordinance, it sounds like there still is kind of a pilot period by which we'd be kind of testing the waters.

Go ahead, Jason.

work through those processes and come up with solutions and how to address those things is what we're looking for.

But it does seem like there's at least some support for putting together an ordinance for your consideration.

We can hear you now.

be worked in multiple different venues.

But it would be set up such that public right-of-way could be used for the designated refreshment area pending approval and meeting the criteria that are established.

Localities can have up to three designated outdoor refreshment areas within their bounds according to ABC Any more questions?

Thank you.

And Mr. Willow will open it up for public comment.

You've got three minutes.

with the city and the housing authority on section three training and opportunities.

Thank you.

And there are no other hands, Mayor Walker.

Robertson, is it, are we okay to go into closed session before 530?

Yes, I think you, I can do, you can do that as long as you're reading the motion in an open session, yes.

Councilor Hill, would you?

Is there a second?

I'll second.

Thomas.

Councilor Hill?

Yes.

Councilor Payne?

Yes.

Councilor Smoak?

Yes.

Mayor, would you need me for anything on this one?

No, we won't.

And then when we come back, we're coming back to a different meeting, correct, Brian?

That's correct.

Thanks.

Thank you.