Mayor Rob Marlowe
Tuesday night has the potential to be a long one.
First off will be a 5:00pm work session to cover a Pension Board Investment Update, followed by a review of the city’s financial model. I expect this material to be about as exciting as watching paint dry, but it is important. If you have problems with insomnia, you can attend this one and then head home for a good night’s sleep. Only those of us who get all excited at financial spreadsheets are going to find these two items riveting.
Scheduled for 5:30pm, but I expect it may start later, will be a CRA meeting. The most significant thing on the agenda is a proposal to complete Main Street Landing. This one could be interesting and also be the agenda item that causes the whole evening to run long. If getting the stage set for the Main Street Landing project to be completed takes all night, so be it.
The regular city council meeting is scheduled to start at 7:00pm. In addition to receiving new K-9 units (scheduled for 8:00pm), the newly reelected council members will be sworn in. We will pick a deputy mayor for the coming year and hold a public hearing on the use of CDBG (block grant) funds.
This latter item is extremely important as it has been proposed that we spend the money on code enforcement, improvements for the Francis Avenue Park, and for what is best described as “paint up / fix up” grants for residents who need some financial help in fixing up their homes. We have several churches and civic groups that are willing to help elderly homeowners with outside home maintenance. These grants would go a long way toward providing the paint and other materials necessary to do the job.
A “sleeper” item on the agenda is a discussion regarding installing a new water main into the Recreation Center. What might not be obvious is that this is a prelude to the Recreation Center expansion project that should start later this year.
Lastly, there will be an item on the agenda regarding the design of the US 19 median landscaping. This one will be important because we want landscaping that will actually survive after planting. We have a number of local businesses that are interested in adopting the landscaping to keep it looking nice.
There are a number of other items up for discussion. You can pick up copies of all three agendas at: http://www.cityofnewportrichey.org/archive.aspx
While you are on that page, make note that the next Environmental Committee Meeting will actually be a movie presentation at the library at 5:30pm on Monday, April 27th. I encourage you to join me there.
There are lots of other things percolating around New Port Richey. Stay tuned till next week.
Rob Marlowe, Mayor