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CC03-20-17MinLONGWOOD CITY COMMISSION Longwood City Commission Chambers 175 West Warren Avenue Longwood, Florida MINUTES March 20, 2017 6:00 P.M. Present: Mayor Joe Durso Deputy Mayor Brian D. Sackett Commissioner John C. Maingot Commissioner Ben Paris Commissioner Mark Weller Dan Langley, City Attorney Jon C. Williams, City Manager Michelle Longo, City Clerk Troy Hickson, Director of Public Safety Chris Capizzi, Leasure Services Director David Dowda, Interim Police Chief Chris Kintner, Community Development Director Chris Capizzi, Leisure Services Director Lee Ricci, Human Resources Director Richard Kornbluh, Division Manager Utilities 1. CALL TO ORDER. Mayor Durso called the meeting to order at 6:00 p.m. 2. OPENING INVOCATION. Reverend Carlos Cabos with New Creation Assembly gave the invocation. 3. THE PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE 4. COMMUNITY ANNOUNCEMENTS. None. 5. PROCLAMATIONS / RECOGNITIONS A. Proclaiming the month of April 2017 as "Water Conservation Month". Mayor Durso read the Proclamation and stated it would be mailed to the St. Johns Water Management District. B. Nomination of the Beautification Award. CC 03-20-17/1 Commissioner Paris nominated the McDonald's on U.S. Highway 17-92 for the Beautification Award. Seconded by Commissioner Maingot. Nomination carried by a unanimous voice vote. 6. BOARD APPOINTMENTS A. District #2 Nomination to the Land Planning Agency. Mayor Durso deferred the nomination until the next meeting. 7. PUBLIC INPUT A. Public Participation. Joseph Richardson, 220 N. Highland Avenue, Winter Garden. He said he is a member of the Freedom From Religion Foundation, which is a national organization with over 1,300 members here in Florida. He is also a member and board member of the Central Florida Free Thought Community, which is a chapter of the Freedom From Religion Foundation that_has over 500 members in the Central Florida area. He said regarding the memorial cross, you have received a letter from the Freedom From Religion Foundation (FFRF), and he believes this is a serious Constitutional violation as evidenced by the case law cited in FFRF's letter. He stated he is not sure how it could be any clearer. This is not a memorial to all veterans, it is a memorial to Christian veterans. He said many veterans are not Christian. He said we actually have many veterans who are members of Central Florida Free Thought Community (CFFTC) and FFRF, and they do not identify with the cross. He is sure all veterans, including non-Christian veterans, would appreciate a memorial that was in the shape of a silhouette of a soldier that had those same words that are on there now. He said, Mr. Mayor, you were quoted in the press as not understanding this is an endorsement of religion. If the case law in FFRF's letter has not clarified this sufficiently, he asks that you and the board consider your response to a Star of David there with those same words, or a Muslim Star and Crescent, or any other religious symbol. He stated, would this not also be an endorsement, would they be allowed. He said fortunately, the courts have said no, this is an endorsement of religion regardless of the symbol that is back there. He urged the Commission to be sensitive to their non- Christian citizens, and to legal precedence, and to remove the cross. He said please don't turn these Chambers into a religious battleground. Keep them neutral by removing it. Mayor Durso said while we may have a disagreement on this particular issue, I certainly appreciate the way you chose to conduct yourself and present tonight, and that of some of your members as well. They have been very respectful in their disagreements with us. CC 03-20-17/2 Johnnie D. Richardson, 1050 Alameda Drive, Longwood. He said he is no kin to the gentleman who just spoke. He is terribly offended at the same gentleman who created this controversy for no reason whatsoever but to have an agenda or to gain some sort of notoriety. He said as you are well aware, when I brought the Vietnam Traveling Memorial Wall into the City of Longwood, I personally constructed the controversial monument in the back of this Commission Chambers for only one purpose, and that was to honor the 58,227 men and women who gave the ultimate sacrifice in defense of our great nation. I am a Combat Vietnam Vet and am proud of it, and I take offense at anyone thinking otherwise. Secondly, that monument was built in traditions that we have in the military service to honor our fallen heroes in battle. He said, if you know anything about military history, you know that in every unit that an individual is killed in combat, there is a simple but solemn ceremony that is conducted. He said that ceremony is very, very moving. There is a cross if one is available, a rifle with a bayonet stuck in the ground, with the soldier's helmet placed on top of the cross, with combat boots at the base of the cross to symbolize the passing of our fallen hero. He said, I am in full support of you, Mr. Mayor, for your support in this endeavor, and you have my sincere backing and the backing of thousands of veterans throughout Central Florida. He stated again, he is totally offended by the gentleman who made these comments. Brian Holmes, 2371 Westwood Drive, Longwood. He thanked the Mayor and Commissioners for the opportunity to address them and all attendees present. He said there may be many of us here tonight that will speak about the issue of the separation of Church and State. He said my comments are instead, related to those 2,709,918 Americans who answered the call of Duty to serve their Country during a tumultuous period in American History and the 58,209 Americans who paid the ultimate sacrifice as a result. In addition to. those killed in action, 1,618 still remain unaccounted for, still Missing in Action. That is a total of 59,827 Americans who never made it home to the USA alive. He said, I remember as a young kid, maybe around seven years old, my Uncle Gary Holmes who served as a Warrant Officer in the 1' Air Calvary as a OH-6 Light Observation Helicopter Pilot, coming to visit our family, wearing a body cast from his waist to his neck, after he was released by the hospital after being shot down while on a mission in Vietnam. His fellow crewmate wasn't so lucky. He said after they crashed and started taking heavy enemy fire, he was killed. He said his uncle, gravely wounded by armor piecing rounds, remained pinned down until a pair of 1' Air Cav Cobras came in, guns blazing. One remained aloft and provided covering fire, while the second landed near Gary. He said since a Cobra only has CC 03-20-17/3 two seats and no cargo space, to throw him into, they threw him over one of the skids and told him to hang on for his life. They barely had lifted off when the Cobra, with Gary hanging on the skid, was. then shot down with more armor piercing rounds. He said the second Cobra swooped in, threw him over their skid and managed to lift-off and safely returned to their base. He said, in my mind, it was only by the grace of God that he managed to survive that day. He was one of the lucky ones who returned home. He said he was not one of the 59,827 who did not, who gave their lives in a corner of the world than most of us will never see. He stated, in closing, I would like to extend my greatest of gratitude to all American Veterans who have served in defense of our Country and our liberties, whether during times of peace, or times of War; no matter what the color of their skin, or their religious beliefs. God bless them and God bless these United States of America. Jon Ham, 107 Meadowlark Drive, Altamonte Springs. He said he is here in support of the cross. He had a dream for many years to go to see the Vietnam Wall because he has family members on it. When Johnnie Richardson brought that wall to Longwood, I couldn't wait to see it. In 2010 he received a call that a dear friend of his that was like a brother, was in Iraq and got killed. He said that cross means more than anything to me to represent all the fallen soldiers that have died for my freedom. Some of you have seen me here volunteering because I love Longwood, and someday I hope to live a little bit closer. I am supporting this cross 100 percent, so please keep it here. It means a lot to a lot of people, including me. 8. MAYOR AND COMMISSIONERS' REPORT District N. Commissioner Maingot said on March 8t' he attended the County Prayer Breakfast at the Marriot in Lake Mary, and also on the 8th he attended the Wekiva Management Committee Meeting held in the Wekiva State Park. On March 14t', he visited the City's portable offices on Wayman Street with Director of Public Safety Troy Hickson and Eugene Gray to determine their appropriate landscape needs. He said when the walkways and parking area has been set in concrete, I plan to return to be able to determine what exactly we need and what the layout should be with consultation with those parties involved. On March 16t', he had a request from Commissioner Paris that I make a contact on Lommler Street just off 14t' Street with a Mr. Richard Johnson to discuss his concerns about a rather large Oak tree and a number of other concerns by the development of the Oakmont Preserve. He met with Chris Kintner, Community Development Director and discussed Mr. Johnson's concerns. He said we both went to the site, checked out the large Oak, which the developer could have removed, but chose to save. He said the outer retaining wall for the large retention area was modified in the area of the CC 03-20-17/4 Oak tree with the building. of an inner graduated wall to try to save the tree. He said that wall was only three and one half feet from the root flare of the tree, which resulted in many large roots being removed. The stem wall to be built prior to the further layer of blocks occasioned that. The back portion of the trunk and the root flare was preserved, and Chris Kintner noted my recommendations. He said we met with Mr. Johnson and a Mr. Cross, who lives three doors down from him, and we discussed other areas of their concern. Mr. Kintner can report, not knowing how the roots were cut away, I could not guesstimate the long term survival. He stated, I would give it approximately fifty percent. The tree, in his immediate concern, is the balance of this large tree with a huge canopy, and he thinks some follow up action will be taken in consultation with Mr. Kintner and our City Engineer to be able to determine some other areas of their concern. District #2. Mayor Durso said tomorrow is Legislative Action Day for the Florida League of Cities, so he will be in Tallahassee, and he will give a report when he comes back. He received our updated membership assessment to MetroPlan Orlando. We fought very hard so smaller cities could have a voice on the MetroPlan Board through the Municipal Advisory Committee that he has sat on. He stated, our assessment is a whopping 7.75 cents per resident, or about $1,100. He said he will submit this to the City Manager and this is for our annual dues. Finally, he knows there are a lot of people interested in the cross issue. He said he will refrain from making any specific comments on it. Most people know his position on it from a lot of the media that has been done, but as we move forward and as our attorney plans on responding in consultation with the Commission, he thinks it is best that we just generally refrain from public comments. He said he will answer comments from the press, but we will not start taking too many positions from the dais. District #3. No report. District #4. Commissioner Weller said he would like to thank Mayor Durso for standing up for Vietnam Veterans. He said the disrespect shown to the Vietnam Veterans when they came home continues to this day over a simple memorial, paying tribute to the fallen and those that have served. In his opinion, there is nothing controversial about the memorial cross honoring those that have served in that war. He said all faiths, even Atheists are honored under that memorial cross. Regardless how this plays out, thank you Mayor for taking a stand. He said he would like the City Manager to give us an update regarding the electronic sign. He understands the Farmers Market has complained they need signage to direct people to the Farmers Market. Mr. Williams said we had 60% of the plans delivered over the weekend via email, so we will review those plans and make any comments at that point and finalize them to 100%. He said we will then submit them to CC 03-20-17/5 Florida Department of Transportation (FDOT) for their approval. He had a conversation today with Commissioner Weller and said in the absence of having that sign installed, we can look into using our mobile sign to help direct traffic to the Farmers Market. Mayor Durso asked how quickly we will do that, because those mobile signs are not the best. Mr. Williams said getting the plans done is not that difficult. The hurdle we have run into is that sometimes it is a little slow in getting final approval from FDOT. He said we have had our existing landscape project in their hands for quite some time and have been lobbing some comments back and forth, so we hope that process will be much quicker, but cannot give a defmite time frame. Commissioner Weller said we are still going to need that mobile sign on the weekends because we will only have one sign coming in. Mr. Williams said he will have to coordinate the use of the sign with Tom Smith and his staff. He said we are using it quite frequently with the road construction going on. District #5. Deputy Mayor Sackett said the City got it right once again. He said the Car Show had very many classic cars, and it was exciting to see so many people walking outside with the beautiful weather. He said he took some time to come inside to see Linda Jacobs Art Show that was in the Chambers, and a phenomenal team of artists were here from the age of 8 to 78. He said it is good when she combines that with the Car Show for something else to come into town to see. He said he is beginning to wonder about Code Enforcement on the weekend. He said we have a Diner that has a sign outside that is a little questionable. He said he understands Code Enforcement is working on that today. He said we have a tire dealership with a huge inflatable wrestler outside, and we have numerous flags flying. He said he sees inconsistencies in the City. At the old Pic `N Save lot, there are three trucks parked there almost every weekend. It is his understanding no one is to be in that parking lot for overnight parking of tractor trailers. He said if we could put that on our radar that would be better. He said regarding Candyland Park, he said he is very impressed after the last update report they received. He doesn't know how Mr. Capizzi and his staff do it. They have installed the four new billboards and they are in the process of installing the new walkway, the hard surface on the roadway, and the parking lot is coming along. He asked if there is anything else happening there. Mr. Capizzi gave an update on projects at Candyland Park. He said in the past month, we have had new batting cages, the parking lot renovation and put in curbing where a lot of deteriorated railroad ties are going. We are renovating the bathrooms completely starting this week and will be CC 03-20-17/6 finished in about three weeks. He said we have another portable office being delivered today. Deputy Mayor Sackett asked for an update on Church Avenue. He is more concerned about school bus traffic and where the drop-offs are. Mr. Williams said Church Avenue from Florida Avenue all the way out to Rangeline Road is open. He said the bricking of the portion between Warren Avenue and Florida Avenue has started. There will be a lot more activity with bricks and the installation; and is due to be completed towards the end of the month or maybe the first week in April. He said then that road segment will be back open, and the construction will continue to progress down Church Avenue toward Rangeline Road. He said at Rangeline Road back towards us here, they have already started to do some widening, sidewalk installation, etc. There are supposed to be some head walls installed near the crossing around the store. He said you will see more pipe starting to show up for the underground and stormwater and more progress down the road. He said when we kicked off the project, we invited the school transportation folks to the meeting and assured them they would always have the -access they need to get to the bus stops. At this point, he is not aware we need to move bus stops and stated we do meet weekly. Deputy Mayor Sackett asked about FDOT and landscaping on State Road 434. Mr. Williams said it should hopefully be very, very soon. He said we have a little site triangle issue we are working through with Clear Channel Communication. He said they are supposed to maintain 1,000 feet on either side of the sign, and we have a resolution we are working toward that will satisfy FDOT and Clear Channel Communication. 9. ANY ADDITIONS OR DELETIONS TO THE AGENDA. None. 10. CONSENT AGENDA A. Approve Minutes of the March 6, 2017 Regular Meeting. B. Approve the Monthly Expenditures for February and March. 2017. C. Approve the Monthly Financial Report for February 2017. D. Approve a request to enter into negotiations with GAI Consultants, Inc. to provide Real Estate Consulting Services. E. Approve a change order in the amount of $184,490.28 to purchase order #170202 for Cathcart Construction Company for the Milling and Resurfacing of Wildmere Avenue between CC 03-20-17/7 U.S. Highway 17-92 and County Road 427 as well as various roadways related to the South Longwood Septic Abatement Project. Deputy Mayor Sackett moved to approve Items l0A through 10E as presented. Seconded by Commissioner Weller and carried by a unanimous roll call vote. 11. PUBLIC HEARINGS A. Read by title only and adopt Ordinance No. 17-2112, amending Chapter 3, Section 3.04 (B.3) the Drug -Free Workplace and Alcohol Policy of the City of Longwood Policies and Procedures. Mr. Langley read Ordinance No. 17-2112 by title only. Ms. Ricci presented the Item. Mayor Durso opened the public hearing. No one spoke in favor or opposition to the Ordinance No. 17-2112. Deputy Mayor Sackett moved to close the public hearing. Seconded by Commissioner Maingot and carried by a unanimous voice vote. Commissioner Maingot moved to adopt Ordinance No. 17- 2112 as presented Item 11A. Seconded by Deputy Mayor Sackett and carried by a unanimous roll call vote. B. Read by title only and adopt Ordinance No.17-2115, authorizing the issuance of debt in the principal amount of $4,089,103 to finance the South Longwood Septic Tank Abatement Project — Phase 1. Mr. Langley read Ordinance No. 17-2115 by title only. Mr. Kornbluh presented the Item and answered questions. Mayor Durso opened the public hearing. No one spoke in favor or opposition to the Ordinance No. 17-2115. Deputy Mayor Sackett moved to close the public hearing. Seconded by Commissioner Paris and carried by a unanimous voice vote. Commissioner Paris moved to adopt Ordinance No. 17- 2115 as presented Item 1113. Seconded by Commissioner Maingot and carried by a unanimous roll call vote. CC 03-20-17/8 12. REGULAR BUSINESS A. Read by title only and adopt Resolution No. 17-1424 regarding the transfer of property from the Florida Department of Transportation (FDOT) to the City of Longwood. Mr. Langley read Resolution No. 17-1424 by title only. Mr. Kintner presented the Item. Commissioner Maingot moved to adopt Resolution No. 17- 1424 as presented Item 12A. Seconded by Deputy Mayor Sackett and carried by a unanimous roll call vote. B. Request City Commission direction on managing the 2017 Longwood Arts & Crafts Festival. Mr. Capizzi presented the Item and stated for the past couple of years staff has been asked by the City Commission to address the possibility of taking over the Longwood Arts & Crafts Festival. He said after meeting with the Longwood Historic Society, there are two options we have to present. The first option would be to partner with the Longwood Historic Society to bring some additional entertainment separate from the arts & crafts vendors. The Longwood Historic Society would run -the vendor portion of the event in a similar manner of what they have done in the past. The City would not be involved in any way with the registration, set-up and break -down of the Longwood Arts & Crafts vendors. He said what the City would be responsible for is bringing in additional entertainment, whether it is a carnival, beer festival, food trucks, anything to bolster the attendance of the event. The second option, which is staff s preference, would be to take over the Arts & Crafts Festival completely. In doing so, the City would provide the Longwood Historic Society with a check commensurate with their net profit of $6,500 from 2016, or a percentage of 50% of net profit provided that is more than $13,000. He expanded on this because certain things came into light. He said at our meeting last month, is where the figure of $6,500 came from, it is the net profit for the 2016 Arts & Crafts Festival for the Longwood Historic Society and was given by the Treasurer. Since then, the President of the Longwood Historic Society has sent the Commission a letter as of this past Friday stating that the figure was erroneous. He said it is closer to $10,000. They have averaged $10,000 within the past five years. He wanted to set the record straight because the agenda item was created before the actual letter came in. He thinks offering 50% of the net profit for this event would be a good thing for both the Longwood Historic Society as well as the City. He said the Longwood Historic Society maintains these buildings in the CC 03-20-17/9 historic district, we want them to look good and we know that comes at a cost. It is not our intention to pull the rug out from under the Society. He said we would handle every aspect of the event, and if they wanted to come in and volunteer with us, we would be amenable to that. The City would want to handle everything from advertising, to registration of vendors, set-up on the day of the actual event, and the break -down. He said one important thing was brought up in the letter from the Longwood Historic Society; they would like to enter into a multi -year agreement. He said after talking with the City Manager, we are not averse to doing that. We would not mind entering into a multi- year agreement stating the City would be Willing to provide the Longwood Historic Society with 50% of the net profit, subject to getting with the City Attorney and working out some things with the Longwood Historic Society. He stated, giving both options, it is staff s desire to get the Commission's opinion on what they would like to see done for this event. Commissioner Weller asked what the reason is for the City taking over the Longwood Historic Society's event. Mr. Capizzi said in recent years, it has become apparent that the event has not garnered the amount of people or vendors as it has in the past. It is nowhere near where it used to be when he started over eleven years ago. He said Church Street and West Warren Avenue were completely loaded with vendors, and now it is a fraction of that. It reflects on the City whenever we have an event that is not well attended, and that is why the Commission wanted us to get involved with it in the first place in order to bolster the attendance. He said we do have somebody right now with a data base of 5,200 vendors, and he does the Mt. Dora Blueberry Festival, as well as their Spring Fest, Craft Fair and Seafood Festival. The Blueberry Festival is along the lines of what we would want. He said they bring in 150 exhibitors, and they garner 35,000 visitors for that event. If we could do something like that, he said he thinks it would benefit everybody, with booth fees going to the City and the Longwood Historic Society, and at the same time, we could reignite something that has been lacking. Commissioner Weller said he listened to the audio from the Parks & Recreation Advisory Board Meeting, and it seems they were in full agreement that the City should be taking over this event. Mr. Capizzi replied that it seems that way. Commissioner Weller asked about the funds we receive if the City takes this over, what are we going to be using that money for. CC 03-20-17/10 Mr. Williams said obviously we are going to pay for the costs associated with administering, and excess funds will be deposited and used for the Historic District and the grant so that we provide. Commissioner Weller asked if the Longwood Historic Society would still have access to funds that we would be generating from this event. He asked, is there potential to have considerable more money into that fund that other properties in the historic district could benefit from also. Mr. Capizzi replied yes, I believe so. Commissioner Weller said this is not just for one particular entity, it is for the entire historic district, so if anybody wants to get a grant or get some money from this event we are putting on, they will have access to it. Mr. Williams said they will have to apply for the approved process that is in place that was adopted in 2002 and has been used. Commissioner Weller asked about the Longwood Historic Society's list and if we have to pay $6,500 for a list in order to be successful. Mr. Capizzi said no, we don't need the list. He went over option one and said we would be separate entities in that the City would be bringing entertainment to the Arts & Crafts Festival. Commissioner Weller stated if everybody believes the City is putting on this event, if we can do a larger event and get a larger pool of money to help maintain these historic buildings, it is a win for us and the district. Commissioner Maingot asked about the declining numbers of participants in the Arts & Crafts Festival. He said he has some information dating back to 1985 when they netted $28,133, they grossed $46,434 and expenses were $18,301. He said there has been a gradual decline to $6,500 now. The economic situation has probably had some effect in depressing participation. He said other cities around seem to be moving forward and reaping benefits in numbers of people participating. He endorses having the City run the Festival and also we look out for the interests of the Longwood Historic Society and being able to assist them in their ongoing endeavors and not leave them without any kind of support from us. Deputy Mayor Sackett asked if Mr. Capizzi has seen the books to see the amount of $6,500. He said now it is 350 booths and more CC 03-20-17/11 corporate sponsors coming there more than arts and crafts. He said we would be committing a Commission down the road to a 50% and he doesn't know if he wants to do that. Mr. Capizzi said he has not seen the books. Mayor Durso said regarding the agreement and percentage paid to the Longwood Historic Society that is a discussion for the Commission because we can enter into whatever agreement we want. Mr. Butch Bundy, 505 Seminole Avenue, Longwood. He said he is here representing the Longwood Historic Society as the President of the organization. He said he has been a member of the Longwood Historic Society longer than he has been associated with the City, and he wants to thank the Commission to finally partner with the Longwood Historic Society. It is something we have been trying to do for twenty years. He was really pleased when Mr. Capizzi reached out to his wife, Donna, who has chaired the Festival, to meet and discuss ways to partner with the City on this. He said he was working out of town, but our Treasurer was there, and did present information that was in error. He said there was a line item he added in twice that was an in -kind contribution of advertising or marketing, which he entered in as cost. That was a $5,000 line item. He said he was somewhat surprised that it morphed into the City buying the Festival out because there had been no mention of that prior in any conversations he has heard from anyone. He stated, on February 28t', Donna got an email from Mr. Capizzi outlining the preference of it. He said we met as a Board, came up with a counter offer, which he submitted in the letter you gentlemen received. He said we are here tonight to answer any questions you might have. As far as the City taking over the festival, he said he does not like those terms and unless you refuse to issue a permit that has been going on for forty-one years it is not a takeover. He said it is our preference to not partner under those terms. He thinks two entities such as the City of Longwood and the Longwood Historic Society have two different goals that we are looking at, and as stated, it would be difficult to administer. It is the preference of the Board, and he said he did an email ballot to our membership, and they authorized us to discuss a potential buyout. He said, but a one-time buyout is not going to get it. We have been relying on the Festival, but it has gone down. He said when it was 350 booths, it was a flea market, plain and simple. The membership at that time decided to make it more of an arts and crafts festival. He said it is not more than 50% corporate vendors. There were seven corporate vendors at the last Festival. The profits we have been getting has averaged over $10,000 a year for the last five years. He stated, this was checked CC 03-20-17/12 by their accountant. The identity of the Longwood Historic Society is tied in very closely with this Festival. It would be to our benefit if we came to some kind of agreement because the City obviously has greater resources than the Historic Society, always have and always will. He understands the concern entering into a long term agreement because you're going to bind future Commissions. The Longwood Historic Society will continue on. We have been doing it for forty-one years. He said twenty years is not a long time if you look at the time spent that the Festival has been there. He stated it is not a long time and that is our primary fundraiser for the year. As far as grants, anybody can apply for the grants. The grants were established, but are only good for the exterior renovations. They are not good for interior projects. We have been trying to raise money to put in a floor in the Civic Center, and central A/C in the Inside/Outside House, but that is not easy because there are no enclosed walls, so those are the types of things we have faced. He said we are more than willing to enter into negotiations with the City with an open mind. Commissioner Paris thanked Mr. Bundy and can appreciate the ten most feared words being "We are from the government and we are here to help." He said he appreciates the issue of trying to partner and make this a joint venture that does not seem very possible. He said he is very familiar with the Longwood Historic Society's Art Festival. They have a very strict criteria who can come in, and this is when artisans are disappearing, less artists coming out, and a lot of people are doing their stuff on Pinterest, etc. He asked NIr. Bundy if he would be willing to accept instead of having a finite number, how about a minimum amount and then a percentage of the profits that we make. Then if the City decides they can't do it, we turn it back over to the Longwood Historic Society. Mr. Bundy said he will answer that in two parts. One, we are willing to negotiate in good faith with the City on any types of terms. Obviously, we have a bottom line. He said as far as taking it back over, if the City cannot run it successfully, what would there be to take over. He stated our concern is, if it is not successful for the City, it is dead. He said there would be nothing to take over. He does not think there would be any interest on that basis, but on negotiation, absolutely. Commissioner Weller said he fully supports what you guys are doing. He believes with the City taking over the event we can make it a success and get the money you need for these buildings. He said he was not aware that you were not allowed to use any of the fund for interior repairs. He said that needs to be changed. He said the ultimate goal of the City is to get you and this historic district of the City more money to keep these buildings up. CC 03-20-17/13 Mayor Durso said to Mr. Bundy, from your letter you indicate you are willing to sell. Mr. Bundy said in view of the two options, yes, that is definitely our preference because it would be an unwieldy apparatus to try to run a joint festival. Joint ventures generally don't work too well. Mayor Durso said there is one challenge we have, and that is we are two independent organizations. We can't really take it over because it is not ours to take over, but we can buy it. He said in that direction we can take it over. It is becoming clear that is the direction everyone is settled on. He recommends since that is generally the consensus, and he cannot stress how much he agrees with Commissioner Weller on this point. The end goal is for us is to make sure you have the resources to take care of the buildings in the. historic district, and to make sure you have the resources to do what the Longwood Historic Society was meant to do, which is to make this district a more appealing place. He said he recommends to his fellow Commissioners that based on our offer and your counter offer, we allow whoever you want to represent you and our City Staff and City Attorney come with a proposal that you all can work out. He said staff has indicated they are okay with a multi- year payment type set-up. He doesn't know if twenty years is going to happen, but they have indicated they are okay with that, and you all have indicated you are willing to sell in writing. He said he would just as soon have that conversation and bring back an agreement that everyone can be happy with. The City will assume control, you will benefit from that and be able to generate the resources necessary. He said whatever percentage we agree on, whatever payment we agree on, whatever that might be, then everybody will win. We will get a quality product because we have staff that are dedicated to running the show. It will literally be their responsibility. He is putting that on the record right now, so if we are having this conversation three years from now, Mr. Capizzi, it is going to be a totally different conversation. He said we will get a quality product because we will have a staff dedicated to running it. We won't have a lot of the infrastructure issues with Police, Fire, and Public Works because this will be a City event, and we won't have any insurance issues. He said all that stuff will go away, and you will get some resources, and we will be able to work on the overall Festival. A lot of people think it is the City of Longwood Festival even though it is not the City. It is the Longwood Historic Society Festival, so judging from comments he is hearing, this is the fairest way for us to be able to assume it, and you to get the resources you need. He asked if that sounded fair. CC 03-20-17/14 Mr. Bundy said that is what we are here for. Deputy Mayor Sackett said he thinks we should change our grant proposal to include floor and interiors of buildings. Mayor Durso said that comment and the comments of Commissioner Weller giving more flexibility to the dollars we are going to provide is probably key, because handcuffing people with the limited dollars we are giving is probably not a good idea. He said that is a great call by Deputy Mayor Sackett. Commissioner Weller asked if the Longwood Historic Society would be prevented from doing a fundraising event. Mr. Bundy stated no. We would have no problem in doing a "no compete clause" for a similar event in nature of a conflict. He said we could just as easily move the event to some other location. He stated, what is right for Longwood is also right for the Longwood Historic Society. Commissioner Weller asked why we would want to enter into a long term agreement for a situation where the Longwood Historic Society is going to be benefitting from what we are doing. Mr. Bundy said we will submit an application to put a Festival on the weekend before Thanksgiving if we don't come to some sort of an agreement. It is our intention as of this moment with no agreement, we are going to put the Festival on in November. He said you can refuse to give us a permit for that. Mayor Durso said if the goal is to acquire the Festival, then we should let staff work out the details and take the win. If that is the goal, and the Longwood Historic Society requires resources, and our goal is to acquire control of the Festival, then we should let staff do what we pay them to do and work out the details and bring us back an agreement. He said us trying to hash this out right now is definitely not going to be a good idea, and we will all leave not agreeing to anything. If the goal is to get control of the Festival and make sure the buildings are maintained in the historic district, then we let the negotiation happen and people come back. Mr. Bundy stated he would be the representative for the Longwood Historic Society. Mayor Durso said for the purposes of the negotiation we are clear that everyone is going to have to lay out all their cards on the table, which will include books, advertising, all of it, to have a fair negotiation and everyone is treated equally and fair. CC 03-20-17/15 Mr. Bundy said he has no problem with that at all. He said some of you are members of the.Longwood Historic Society, so you have access to those books anyway, so we have nothing to hide. He said he has one caveat, much like the City, any agreement he comes to has to be approved by the Board, but it also has to be approved by the membership. He would appreciate more than twenty days' notice this time. Mayor Durso said Mr. Williams will move as fast as he can so there is no question about November, and we are done. Commissioner Maingot said he wanted to clarify a point, and that is with the City of Longwood taking over, it will be a City of Longwood Arts & Crafts Festival. There will be no reference of the Longwood Historic Society. Mr. Bundy said he would have no problem with that, if the City takes it over, it is yours. Mayor Durso said he thinks we should make it very clear to the public there will be a payment made to the Longwood Historic Society, and that they will get a certain percentage of the profits. He said they should also know other people in the area are eligible to pull that money. He said it is a public record and public funds, so we should announce where the money is going so no one ever questions what our intentions are. Commissioner Sackett moved that the Commission authorize our City Manager to meet with the Longwood Historic Society's President in the effort to come to an agreement on the purchase of the annual Longwood Historic Arts and Craft Festival. Seconded by Commissioner Weller and carried by a unanimous roll call vote. 13. CITY MANAGER'S REPORT Mr. Williams said House Bill 13 and Senate Bill 1770 limiting Community Redevelopment Agencies (CRA) is moving through. He said if there is consensus among the Commission in opposition of these bills and the impact it has on our home rule authority in establishing CRAs, staff is prepared to draft a letter. Mayor Durso asked if there are any objections to that letter being written. There were no objections. CC 03-20-17/16 1 1 14. CITY ATTORNEY'S REPORT. No report. 15. CITY CLERK'S REPORT. No report. 16. ADJOURN. Mayor Durso adj ourned the meeting at 7:21 p.m. ATTES ache a Lon o, CMC, CifVClerk CC 03-20-17/17 1 This Page Left Blank Intentionally. 1 1 CC 03-20-17/18