[0:00] It's 4:45.
[0:03] Please call the roll.
[0:04] Ms. Felter?
[0:04] Here.
[0:05] Mr. Fowler?
[0:05] Here.
[0:06] Ms. Longane?
[0:07] Here. All right, we have a quorum. There is one item on the agenda to consider
[0:12] final action of an ordinance to authorize an economic impact study for Reignite
[0:17] Plan.
[0:20] I put this item on the agenda because
[0:23] I'm in favor of investing in Alexandria, improving Alexandria,
[0:30] but we're looking at borrowing $82 million to make this happen, and we will
[0:36] have some money
[0:38] to spend. I just want to know is it wise to do this amount for Reignite?
[0:44] So I would like to hear from my fellow colleagues to get your input. Ms.
[0:49] Felter, I think this impacts your area, and I would just like to know,
[0:55] is it worth the bang for the buck?
[1:00] So
[1:03] this afternoon I reviewed the documents that were given from the administration-
[1:09] Mm-hmm
[1:09] ... and the mayor did give a report summary to the council to kind of
[1:15] shorten and summarize things. Most of the
[1:20] items that they gave us I've seen already from different briefings and things
[1:26] that have been put out
[1:28] on the website. So I'm looking for a specific page.
[1:35] Now, what I've seen has been a marketing study.
[1:38] So I saw the marketing study, and
[1:42] looking at the current market analysis of the area.
[1:46] So that's what-
[1:48] Which is different from an economic impact study.
[1:50] Right, CSRS study.
[1:52] Yeah.
[1:53] So they kind of looked at
[1:57] those items.
[2:00] Oh, here we go.
[2:04] So I think the 82 million comes from, okay, 45 million city
[2:10] money using existing sales tax and debt service model, so that's in the Reignite
[2:15] FAQ.
[2:16] Okay.
[2:17] And then it says 30 million leveraged, so
[2:21] private, federal state matches because there's... I really like this FAQ.
[2:26] I think it actually helped me. Quite a few questions I had personally, when I
[2:32] looked through this, I was like, "Okay, this actually answered my question." So
[2:36] this kind of lines out some of the ways that we can leverage
[2:42] state and federal money. For example, with the drainage canal, different
[2:48] dollars and grants that can match
[2:52] with that-
[2:53] Now, you're using terminology that a lot of people may not understand when you're
[2:57] saying match and leverage.
[3:00] Yeah. So I think one of the biggest things that I want to make sure we do, and I
[3:05] think that it's smart to do, is getting the most bang for your buck.
[3:09] So when you can have a match, meaning the city puts up an amount of money, and then
[3:13] you have another outside source matching money, then you're able to get
[3:19] more-
[3:19] Which is usually a federal-
[3:21] Right
[3:21] ... state or federal agency.
[3:23] And so I think that's important, and
[3:29] so I think that explains kind of what a match is.
[3:31] But my question is: how is this going to be paid back?
[3:38] Right. What do we get out of it?
[3:40] And ideally, will the area where that's receiving this investment generate
[3:46] sufficient sales tax revenue to help pay for it?
[3:51] Can anyone answer that question for me? Mr. Smith, thank you.
[3:58] Daniel Smith, Director of Planning.
[4:01] Yeah, I just want to make sure that we're clear that the $45 million figure will be
[4:05] the proposed bond amount.
[4:06] Right.
[4:07] You had mentioned $82 million-
[4:08] When I say bond amount, that's money that the city is to borrow.
[4:12] That's correct. So a bond, a municipal bond, again, I know a lot of folks don't-
[4:16] Okay
[4:16] ... know the basics on this. I know that you do.
[4:19] But yeah, the future sales tax and projected revenue, you can borrow it upfront,
[4:24] and that gets paid back over time.
[4:26] Mm-hmm.
[4:26] Typically, it would be a conservative amount that you would borrow.
[4:28] So this amount, I believe, is based on existing revenue.
[4:32] So you wouldn't necessarily need to have a massive increase in revenue to pay this
[4:37] off. It would be, the mayor liked to talk about a car note.
[4:40] We currently had an existing bond that is going off the books.
[4:43] We're finishing up and paying it back.
[4:45] And so we'll continue to have that revenue, just like you continue to work at your
[4:48] job, and then we can now borrow against that future revenue to do a new bond.
[4:52] Okay.
[4:52] And these bonds, the call would say what it's for, and typically they're for
[4:58] infrastructure projects. More generally-
[5:01] Which will be capital money
[5:03] ... well, so yeah, and there's also $7 million in capital outlay.
[5:05] That's what you guys appropriate every year.
[5:08] The bond is what gets borrowed against future revenue.
[5:10] But I guess my question is,
[5:15] there's discussion to spend $82 million along Masonic Drive.
[5:19] After that type of money is spent, will income be generated
[5:26] from that particular area, or will other areas be required
[5:32] to pay for it?
[5:33] Well,
[5:35] the $30 million bond would be paid for under projections from existing revenue.
[5:39] So $30 million of that is what Councilman Felter was talking about, the leveraging
[5:42] part.
[5:43] Mm-hmm.
[5:43] But I do want to push back a little bit.
[5:46] We typically, when we propose an infrastructure project, when council asks for an
[5:49] infrastructure project, we don't look at that particular project having to itself
[5:53] generate enough revenue to pay for itself.
[5:55] Okay.
[5:55] We are getting revenue from sales tax and property taxes, and we're reinvesting
[5:59] that money into the community-
[6:00] Okay
[6:00] ... hopefully to improve the business environment, to improve the quality of life
[6:04] of our residents.
[6:05] And that's good.
[6:06] We don't have to have everything pay for itself, so to speak.
[6:09] The goal, of course, is to increase economic activity, which would, as you know and
[6:14] as you say, increase sales tax, increase property values.
[6:18] But that's not the primary goal. The primary goal is to create a better quality of
[6:22] life and a better sense of place in an area that the city has identified and done
[6:25] quite a bit of work identifying as where the administration wants to steer the next
[6:29] set of investments.
[6:30] Okay. Now my question is:
[6:34] will money be made if this type of money is spent on Masonic Drive?
[6:39] If it's successful, you would hope to see greater sales tax.
[6:44] Okay.
[6:45] Now, also, so we have the infrastructure part that we've already been talking
[6:48] about. That's with the city. The city, because of Article 7 in the constitution,
[6:52] finance rules, we can spend all day in capital outlay on improving our own assets.
[6:57] But the whole other component of Reignite would be partnering with the private
[7:01] sector, particularly Alexandria Mall, and maybe some healthcare assets along that
[7:04] corridor. And those particular partnering projects have to show that they would
[7:09] have a return on the investment or at least a commensurate value to the public in
[7:13] order for the city to justify those cooperative endeavor agreements.
[7:17] Okay.
[7:17] So in those particular cases, let's say we did a deal with the mall, and I
[7:23] included in the packet earlier today the due diligence questionnaire that was
[7:26] developed last summer, where there's some proposed terms in the MOU with the mall
[7:31] management, excuse me, the mall ownership group.
[7:33] In those situations, we would absolutely have to do these types of studies that
[7:37] you're talking about to ensure that there's a reportable benefit to the city, that
[7:42] it's not just a giveaway, that there is pro forma to make sure whatever business
[7:46] activity that they are doing in order to justify an incentive from the city
[7:51] will pencil out and make sense. And then, of course, also there'd be call backs if
[7:54] they don't meet those incentives, excuse me, they don't meet those requirements to
[7:57] get whatever that incentive would be, then the city could call back and sunset it.
[8:01] I want to point to the hotel development downtown as an example of a successful
[8:06] effort that this administration did years ago.
[8:08] So it's not like they're reinventing the wheel.
[8:12] But this is a typical way that you would partner with the public sector to do a
[8:16] public-private partnership in order to spend money on things we can spend money on,
[8:20] but also to leverage and push and spur the private sector to do more as well.
[8:25] Who would do the actual study?
[8:35] There's not going to be an actual study, so to speak.
[8:37] So let's say we're going through the analysis with the CA of the city, also the
[8:40] financial team for whatever private group, such as the Alexandria Mall.
[8:45] It would need to be accountants and auditors, I presume, but I think your concern
[8:51] is making sure that it's someone independent and someone unbiased that would
[8:54] perform that analysis.
[8:55] Yes.
[8:55] Yeah.
[8:56] That much is a lot.
[8:57] Sure. And I mean, the city, it's all over these documents about- You know, making
[9:02] sure that the assumptions are correct, and that market analysis justifies whatever
[9:06] kind of incentives the city would be putting in, that there'd be financial
[9:09] evaluation on the front end to make certain that the investment makes sense.
[9:14] Um, but I don't think the idea is that there would be this one giant economic
[9:18] impact study for the entire infrastructure program.
[9:21] You know, of course, we want to make sure that the infrastructure that we do spend
[9:24] money on has benefit cost analyses that make sense.
[9:27] We have our own way of prioritizing when we do roads, and when we do ditch closures
[9:31] and sidewalks. You know, there's never enough money for everything, so we have to
[9:34] pick and choose. And that's based on need, and then also based a lot of times on
[9:37] the emergency situations that will come up.
[9:40] Okay.
[9:40] Um, but if as far as the ordinance is contemplating some large, huge scale
[9:46] economic impact study that makes a bunch of assumptions about what may or may not
[9:50] happen later on with Reignite with the private sector partnering, that isn't
[9:52] something that typically would come early on like this.
[9:56] Uh, we-
[9:56] We wouldn't be able to necessarily predict what the private sector-
[9:59] Mr. Powers
[10:00] ... entities will come in.
[10:01] Go ahead.
[10:02] I was just going to say, I think
[10:05] we know what we can do on our end, and hopefully that spurs the private sector to
[10:09] buy into this project and invest in the area, but I think it's hard to predict the
[10:15] economic impact on that side-
[10:17] No, the-
[10:17] ... at this point.
[10:18] Right. So, like later on you could come back and see-
[10:20] Yeah
[10:20] ... and try to measure those things.
[10:22] Okay. Go ahead, Mr. Mayor.
[10:22] Mr. Powers.
[10:23] Anyway, I just think that the mayor's presented so much of this stuff already.
[10:28] We've looked at, uh, one of the things we have to do to really
[10:34] get an impact statement would be to define the projects we're going to do, and
[10:38] we're not even close to doing that.
[10:41] And I know that we're working on several different things, but in each of the
[10:45] things I've read, each contract, and each thing he's done over the time-
[10:49] Mm-hmm
[10:49] ... that he's been mayor, he's backed up all of this stuff every time with economic
[10:56] studies and so forth and so that it'll be...
[10:59] Uh, a lot of times the city borrows money to do things that are just in general for
[11:03] the people.
[11:04] Correct.
[11:04] Some of this will be that way. Some of it might be a business venture type thing-
[11:08] Mm-hmm
[11:09] ... that's going to produce revenue that'll, you know, get to both the business
[11:13] community and the city, but each one will stand on its own.
[11:17] And, uh, I don't think there's a way that we can do an economic impact on
[11:23] this Reignite project. You might be able to do it on different portions of it, but
[11:28] I don't see how you could possibly do it, who would be qualified to do it on the
[11:33] full-scale thing, because we don't even know what's all going to involve yet.
[11:36] I think that's really the key, the last thing you said about not knowing exactly,
[11:40] because we're going through the public input and scoping process still, the sort of
[11:43] due diligence phase. Um-
[11:45] But we can still-
[11:46] Sure
[11:46] ... pass an ordinance that mandates that an economic impact study be done on what
[11:50] we're proposing.
[11:52] Along the way?
[11:53] Yeah. Along the way.
[11:54] Well, everything has to come to us.
[11:56] Yeah.
[11:57] I mean, it has to come to us, I believe.
[11:59] Well, and then the bond certainly would have to come as well.
[12:02] Um, you know, some of these projects are funded in, some of the capital, and the
[12:07] playground project would be a good example.
[12:08] Those are the things the city's already doing.
[12:10] It is true, I mean, you can get someone to do an economic analysis of a road or of
[12:14] a park or a playground. I don't think that's really, um, the kind of thing that
[12:19] we're talking about or are being asked of.
[12:21] Um-
[12:22] I know
[12:22] ... I'm not going to weigh in about the ordinance itself.
[12:24] I think that's maybe better for legal.
[12:26] You, Ms. Powers.
[12:28] So right now, all of this is proposed with the bond and everything.
[12:33] It's not like we're just saying if we approve anything for Reignite, it's a
[12:38] blank check, whatever. Everything would still have to, every project would still
[12:41] come before us for approval.
[12:44] Mm-hmm.
[12:45] Um, my question-
[12:46] Any-
[12:46] Correct.
[12:47] Well, yeah, any partnering agreements, so any new CEAs have to be approved by the
[12:50] council.
[12:50] Right.
[12:50] The bond itself, of course, any budgetary expenditures.
[12:53] And I just want to note, um, you know, I think the proof is in the success of
[12:57] Spark. You know, we have a double A rating.
[13:00] You know, we have a really good borrowing capacity for the city, um, and the
[13:04] finances are healthy.
[13:06] I have a question.
[13:06] We got it back .
[13:08] Exactly. Yeah, we did get it back, right?
[13:10] So when-
[13:10] Paid the car
[13:10] ... if we would, um, require an economic study beyond what is
[13:16] already done, like with the market analysis and everything like that, what kind of
[13:21] cost is that? Like for that type of study-
[13:24] I don't know
[13:24] ... as you're thinking?
[13:25] I don't know. That's why I put this in a committee to discuss it.
[13:29] Does it, do we have any idea how much that would cost?
[13:32] Uh, no, sir, I do not. I mean-
[13:34] Because that would be-
[13:35] Was-
[13:35] ... my concern of, we can have a study of a study of a study.
[13:39] Is that the wisest use of money as well?
[13:41] Like, I think-
[13:43] The other concern would be delaying things, and we want this to have a big impact
[13:46] and move forward relatively quickly. Um, that's the whole idea.
[13:50] You know, the same idea with Spark is, and Fast Track as well, is getting a lot of
[13:53] projects moving at the same time to generate that, and I hate this word, but the
[13:57] synergy that you want to see, uh, you know, in that area.
[14:00] And I think the city's done quite a bit of work just to justify the case for that
[14:04] area between the recreational assets, healthcare assets, and now the center of the
[14:07] mall, which does need some-
[14:08] I, I'm sorry.
[14:09] No, no, no.
[14:10] I was going to say, I do want to speak on that, um, because at Masonic,
[14:16] that is kind of a connecting point of a lot of districts in the city.
[14:20] A lot of that area is actually District 2.
[14:23] That's right.
[14:23] Um, and we have the zoo, we have those sidewalks and benches.
[14:29] Uh, GATA did a lot of, um, impact in that area as well, um, throughout the years.
[14:36] And you've got all of the assets along there.
[14:41] Our zoo is world-class. I mean, I take my kids, anytime we go to a city, I go to
[14:46] the zoo to check it out. And I'm always leaving, I'm thinking, "The Alexandria Zoo
[14:49] is so much better than this." Um, but I think maximizing on that potential
[14:55] is smart to do. Um, and we have the children's
[15:01] museum, the Treehouse Downtown, which I personally feel like there have been a lot
[15:05] of improvements recently with the new director.
[15:08] I think,
[15:10] um, putting more money toward that to make it at the same level as the zoo,
[15:16] as far as a destination for school field trips, families to go there.
[15:21] I think
[15:23] that in this whole plan really kind of makes that area an appealing
[15:29] area because as a parent, you think, "Okay, if I'm going out to do something with
[15:34] my kids," you know, you want, they look for things.
[15:38] Understand.
[15:38] Depending on their age-
[15:39] Understand
[15:39] ... and, um, look for things like that.
[15:41] Understand.
[15:42] So I do, I am a fan of that part of it for sure.
[15:46] I think investing in that part, you don't want to see it go further down.
[15:49] I mean, I agree with you. I, I-
[15:50] Yeah
[15:50] ... don't doubt that we need investment. We also have brown water too.
[15:55] Right.
[15:55] But there's certain-
[15:57] You know?
[15:57] You know-
[15:58] It's like apples and oranges, but still, you know, we, that's a concern that we
[16:01] need to address. So-
[16:03] Well, utility fund is, enterprise fund is separate.
[16:07] Um-
[16:07] Understand. I mean, I know it's separate, but they go to the tax, to the citizen.
[16:10] They're like, "You're spending money here," but we have these other concerns and,
[16:15] you know, that, that's just my concern there.
[16:17] Okay. And-
[16:18] And-
[16:19] No, please go ahead.
[16:20] It should be noted that the administration is in support of this particular
[16:23] ordinance. We would have come and asked the council, uh, for this particular item
[16:28] later on in the process, as we note in the report that we provided, um, as a part
[16:32] of the confirmatory analysis that we would be doing.
[16:35] Okay.
[16:35] So, uh, we would be willing to go forward with the council as we go into this
[16:39] process to discuss how that outcome looks in regards to doing this analysis.
[16:44] All right. All right.
[16:45] I just think it's specific. It needs to be developed.
[16:48] Yes, that's right.
[16:48] Some kind of development.
[16:50] Yes, the city-
[16:51] Somebody could write it better too.
[16:52] Well, the city has a lot of ideas. We have some projects that are moving forward,
[16:55] like MPO-funded improvements on Masonic Drive.
[16:58] And then we have projects like Greenhurst Park, which is in some ways a blank
[17:02] canvas. And so we've gone through the effort of doing the mark-market analysis, um,
[17:06] engaging with the community of course is a big part of it, to see what people
[17:09] themselves think is needed in that area.
[17:12] Um, so yeah, we are at the proc- yeah, what's been said before.
[17:15] It's, we want to get the cart behind the horse. Yeah.
[17:18] I mean, it's like we're trying to get buy-in from them.
[17:20] Yep, that's right.
[17:21] So maybe it's a different way to look at it, but it is something the city funded.
[17:25] Yeah. And K.L., we had a great report about optimism among, you know, business
[17:28] owners along that corridor. So that's exactly what we're trying to-
[17:31] That's two different people
[17:31] ... generate.
[17:34] Talking to me about Greenhurst, and they had some ideas-
[17:36] Okay
[17:36] ... they wanted to present on Saturday.
[17:36] Yeah, and the infrastructure on the mall. Yeah.
[17:38] Councillor Mark.
[17:39] Yes, sir. I requested this to be on the agenda.
[17:43] I received this, uh, report from the mayor's office at 2:45, although we did apply,
[17:48] ask for this two weeks ago. Uh, question to you, Mr.
[17:51] Smith, uh, to maybe have answers from the administration.
[17:55] Before Alexandria concentrates this level of public investment in the Masonic Drive
[17:59] corridor, why shouldn't the city first conduct a comprehensive economic and
[18:04] infrastructure study of the entire city to determine which neighborhoods and
[18:10] corridors have the greatest needs, and where public dollars could Produce
[18:16] the greatest benefit. A follow-up on that is, can the administration provide
[18:22] data or analysis showing why Masonic Drive was selected ahead of
[18:29] the areas of Alexandria that residents-
[18:31] I can't replace how much of my data gets backed up
[18:33] Oh, goodness gracious. My bad.
[18:35] Excuse me.
[18:37] That residents, that many residents say that they experience disinvestment,
[18:43] deteriorating infrastructure, and limited economic development for 20
[18:49] years or more. I know the area is being done over in District 4, which is
[18:55] in this Felker's area, but I talk with people down through the area.
[18:59] Just want to make a comment, sir. Stanford, Bush, Dartmouth-
[19:04] Mm-hmm
[19:04] ... Princeton, Harvard, Yale,
[19:08] Rensselaer, and North City Park Boulevard adjacent to this and all are disrepair.
[19:13] So we're going to pretty up Masonic Drive and while those neighbors are driving
[19:17] across potholes.
[19:19] Right.
[19:20] Potholes that you want to beautify one part of the city. So following what Ms.
[19:25] Lombard has asked, I want to know how we chose Masonic Drive to invest in all this
[19:31] funding. And then if also that you did say we're getting ready to pay off a bond,
[19:35] would that be the utility bond for that DG Hunter power plant before we go into
[19:40] other investments and putting the citizens in another bond issue to break the city?
[19:45] No, sir. Utility bonds are paid for with utility rates.
[19:49] This would be a bond that's paid for the city in property taxes, are totally
[19:53] separate accounts in your budget.
[19:54] So no sales taxes, property taxes.
[19:56] I believe there's sales tax involved, too.
[19:58] That's a better question for finance, but it's absolutely not utility money.
[20:01] Okay.
[20:01] And to answer your question, why Masonic Drive?
[20:04] This is a report from May of 2026 from the spring.
[20:06] It literally says, "Why this corridor?" It was something we provided to you guys.
[20:10] I think the case is well justified about doing it on Masonic Drive from the retail,
[20:14] healthcare, and recreational assets.
[20:16] It touches on multiple districts, but that doesn't mean the city can't do multiple
[20:19] things at once. We are trying to improve roads.
[20:23] I live over a block off of Bush Avenue, and that's where I recreate is in the Ivy
[20:27] League neighborhood. So of course, I'm aware of the situation in that neighborhood
[20:31] as well, and then also other parts of the city that we are steering investment to.
[20:35] Frankly, District 3 gets quite a bit of the share of the city's
[20:41] investment to catch up and to make up for a long period of time, and things that
[20:46] were developed not at the same standard originally when they weren't even in the
[20:49] city.
[20:50] Neglect.
[20:50] So I think it's a fa-- Well, not necessarily neglect. It is a false choice.
[20:55] There is a comprehensive plan in place relative to the city's capital budget that
[20:59] the council-
[20:59] Right. Thank you
[20:59] ... does approve. And so there are a number of projects that are already outlined
[21:04] in the capital budget, that are on task to be completed or in progress to be
[21:10] completed. So there is a comprehensive look at where the needs are citywide, and
[21:14] this council has approved that budget.
[21:17] Okay. Well, with that being said, Mr.
[21:19] Caffrey, what objective criteria was used to select the Masonic Corridor for this
[21:24] level of investment? Because as you said, Mr.
[21:28] Smith, there are six District 3s, which is Ms. Perry's area.
[21:33] District 4 is, I just stated off the streets that I travel all over the city.
[21:37] And people ask me, why do we even suggested to spend this type of money on the
[21:43] Masonic Corridor when you have so many other things that are needed within the
[21:47] city? As he mentioned, Brown Road. That to me comes to this.
[21:52] Let me say this, and then you can see I answered your question as you said last
[21:56] night.
[21:57] That the citizens are concerned, so-
[22:05] Oh, is he scared to come and talk?
[22:07] Well, it's never too scary.
[22:09] But anyway,
[22:11] that is the point of, again, I received this report at 2:45.
[22:16] I done sat in front of my computer all day long when this was emailed to me.
[22:20] And it was sent to you all two weeks ago, the agenda went out.
[22:24] So last week, the agenda went out, we should have had this much more in time to go
[22:28] across and digest it. And Mr. Caffrey, I do understand and appreciate you're just
[22:33] the mayor's spokesperson, but as someone who's told me stuff, asking you questions
[22:37] because you're not a department head person per se.
[22:40] But anyway, citizens are concerned about the Masonic Drive corridor, the whole
[22:45] area, for doing this, why it was selected, why are we investing so much money.
[22:50] And then two, saying this, people are telling me this came from the GATA board that
[22:56] was revamped in the city's program.
[23:00] So you-
[23:00] But in saying that, Mr. Caffrey, please.
[23:03] Oh.
[23:03] I'm going to
[23:06] ask that whatever ruling be made, if it goes out of this committee to, I
[23:12] think it's item four, to seriously consider what's going on. As Mr.
[23:16] Smith said, maybe we should bring this ordinance back down the road.
[23:20] I'm just saying as one person talking to many people across the city of Alexandria,
[23:25] not just one district, but the entire city, there's different people not happy with
[23:31] this idea. So how it goes from this point on, I'm going to vote, we'll see how it
[23:35] goes. Thank you all.
[23:36] So-
[23:37] I got a question.
[23:38] So may I speak to that?
[23:40] So Councilman Green-
[23:41] Yes
[23:41] ... you're correct in regards to this having to do with GATA.
[23:47] As you know, I served two terms on GATA as your appointee when you were district
[23:50] councilman for District 3.
[23:52] Indeed.
[23:52] This is a part of the continuation of the SPARK plan that the city of Alexandria
[23:57] successfully undertook some number of years ago.
[24:00] There was concentration and focus on the other areas of the city, and so this
[24:05] CRA was one that kind of got neglected in that process, and so it's just to pick
[24:10] up. That's why it's called Reignite, because it is going to reignite a part of what
[24:15] was part of the SPARK plan and do this particular corridor that we are in right now
[24:19] along Masonic Drive. Part of, again, the explanation as to why this corridor was
[24:24] selected, if you look at the FAQs that have been placed on the transparency tab of
[24:28] the city's website, that information is there.
[24:31] It is the coming together of multiple council districts.
[24:34] That's right.
[24:35] It is at the heart of the city. The city has significant infrastructure in place
[24:39] along that corridor, from the zoo to recreational assets, to public safety assets,
[24:45] as well as it meets the medical needs of the city concentrated in that particular
[24:50] area. And it was the shopping hub for the city at one time.
[24:53] And so, as a part of the work that we have done in our due diligence internally and
[24:58] also with our external partners, ideally, this location impacts the vast majority
[25:04] of the citizenry of the city of Alexandria.
[25:07] It will have a ripple effect for those neighborhoods that are adjacent to this
[25:11] location and will also provide the, again, impetus for us to be able to go in and
[25:16] do some of the revitalization work or further revitalization work that we have been
[25:20] doing as an administration.
[25:21] I have a question. Good explanation.
[25:24] Yeah.
[25:24] Were other areas considered besides Masonic Drive?
[25:28] I think in regards to when we looked at this, yes, there were other hubs in other
[25:32] areas across the city that we looked at, and some of those have work that's already
[25:36] being done in them. But ideally with the components that this particular corridor
[25:40] provides, it was primarily the number one choice in regards to it.
[25:45] Number one choice.
[25:46] But it's not limited to just-
[25:47] Yes, it is not limited
[25:48] ... Masonic Drive.
[25:49] If you look at the recreational piece, that's part of Reignite.
[25:52] Right.
[25:52] We are doing work in parks all around the city, so that's one aspect of it, as well
[25:57] as some additional other work that will be done.
[25:59] All right. Are there any plans for downtown?
[26:02] Of course. Absolutely. Yeah.
[26:04] I'm just saying.
[26:05] So there are lots of plans for downtown.
[26:07] I'm just saying that given the fact that we got three projects going on downtown
[26:10] with the Allied Health building-
[26:13] Mm-hmm. Still to see in the pipeline
[26:15] ... and Global Impact, what they're doing.
[26:17] Right.
[26:17] So the city came to the table with $3 million for the LSUA Allied Health campus in
[26:23] downtown Alexandria, and the mayor awarded-
[26:25] And the state put in 40.
[26:27] Yes. But in order for us to get to the $40 million and get a number one ranking-
[26:31] Right
[26:31] ... the $3 million that the city put on the table in the very beginning of this
[26:34] process helped move that along. And of course, the work of Dr.
[26:37] Burrell at the time and his team at LSUA.
[26:40] Yeah, we just finished the comprehensive riverfront project. It looks great.
[26:45] On the books coming up in the next few years from the MPO, we're gonna see Jackson
[26:48] Street be overlaid. We're gonna see Sixth and Poesy finally get reconstructed.
[26:52] And we also got $2 million from the state, as you guys know, to start doing, we
[26:56] won't do everything, but to start redoing the downtown sidewalks.
[26:59] Okay.
[26:59] And that's just the infrastructure part.
[27:01] But absolutely, behind the scenes, the city is helping in as much as it's
[27:04] appropriate for its role in the public sector to coordinate, to midwife these
[27:09] deals. I think that some of what you just mentioned that happened, likely would've
[27:14] happened with some efforts behind the scenes.
[27:15] And as mentioned before, City Tower is coming online.
[27:18] There's work being done at the commercial building across the park, so there's a
[27:22] lot of other impetus from private investment in downtown as well, due to the work
[27:26] that the city's been putting in.
[27:28] Yeah. Not to mention the fence, of course.
[27:29] All right
[27:30] So hopefully
[27:33] if we do some work on Sonic Drive, it'll inspire more private investment to want
[27:37] to-
[27:38] Possibly
[27:39] ... do this area right here as well.
[27:42] Okay. Any additional questions?
[27:45] All right, this meeting is adjourned.
[27:47] Thank you. We're happy to continue to answer questions as they come up-
[27:50] All right
[27:50] ... and we move forward with the process. Thank you.
[27:51] All right. Now, Madam Clerk, before I bang the gavel, do we need to refer this
[27:55] matter?
[27:57] If you want to refer it, yes, but it's still going to go on the agenda.
[28:00] It can go without referral.
[28:02] Okay. All right.
[28:11] Thank you, guys.
[28:22] He's amazing.
[28:33] I'll read it tonight.
[28:35] You sure?
[28:37] No, I'll get it done tonight. Lizzie, turn your microphone on. Is it on?
[28:43] Oh.
[28:50] Here. I just turned it on.
[28:55] Sorry.
[28:59] I think he's-
[29:04] No.
[29:04] Let's see if
[29:20] that one works.
[29:21] How you been?
[29:24] I'm good.
[29:25] No, this one here. You good?
[29:28] Five to 21
[29:29] days.
[29:38] I'm good. Yeah.
[29:44] What have you been doing?
[29:45] Pretty good. How are you?
[29:47] Making it work.
[29:51] Looking all right.
[29:55] Yeah.
[29:58] Didn't do much of the week. Went to church and
[30:03] I went to... What do you call it?
[30:05] I, um-
[30:06] Well, I'll deal with that, so I guess-
[30:08] Thank you. Thank you.
[30:10] Here you go, Claire. Start
[30:12] that
[30:21] over. That
[30:23] was it.
[30:24] Uh-oh. Okay.
[30:24] All right.
[30:25] Shoot, you're right. You're on.
[30:27] I know you'll do it.
[30:28] If I send something to your email-
[30:30] Okay. Bye
[30:32] ... can you print it?
[30:33] Never mind. Huh?
[30:35] I was asking him, if I send something to your email, can you print it for Jules
[30:39] tonight?
[30:40] I have to print it on the printer.
[30:42] It's the... Okay.
[30:52] Good God.
[30:58] Stay a minute.
[30:59] Yeah, I know.
[31:00] Hey, Ash.
[31:07] All right.
[31:12] We're ready.
[31:13] Oh, we're good.
[31:22] The City of Alexandria City Council meeting is called to order at 5:00 PM,
[31:27] 5:15 exact. The Alexandria City Council meeting and council meetings are broadcast
[31:32] live and may be viewed live by the public on Optimum Cable Channel 4, and
[31:37] rebroadcast may be viewed on Optimum Cable Channel 4 and the City of Alexandria
[31:42] website. We have the invocation by
[31:46] Mr. Caffrey and the pledge by
[31:50] Councilman Johnson.
[31:57] Let us pray.
[32:00] Gracious God, our Father, we thank you for this opportunity to assemble in this
[32:04] great place. We ask that you be God in the midst of our time here together.
[32:08] Bless each one of these leaders and each citizen who has come to this place tonight
[32:13] to be heard. We ask that clear hearts and clear minds prevail, and bless this great
[32:19] city of Alexandria. In Christ Jesus' name, we pray. Amen.
[32:22] Amen.
[32:24] Face the flag.
[32:25] I pledge allegiance to the Flag of the United States of America, and to the
[32:30] Republic for which it stands, one Nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and
[32:36] justice for all.
[32:40] We have roll call. Mr. Johnson?
[32:43] Here.
[32:43] Ms. Felder?
[32:44] Here.
[32:44] Ms. Green?
[32:45] Present.
[32:46] Mr. Fowler?
[32:47] I'm here.
[32:47] Mr. Belard?
[32:48] Here.
[32:48] Mr. Largo?
[32:49] Here.
[32:49] Ms. Harris?
[32:50] Here.
[32:50] Director, you have the floor.
[32:52] We have the approval of minutes taken from a regular meeting held on September
[32:56] 22nd. I need a motion and a second.
[32:59] Moved.
[33:00] Public comments. What section of this written minutes you would like to make a
[33:03] comment on? If it's not in the written minutes, there will not be any comment or
[33:07] discussion. If you have any questions pertaining to any item on the agenda, please
[33:13] contact the administration before or after the meeting.
[33:17] All in favor?
[33:18] Aye.
[33:19] Any opposed? Motion carried. We have the same calendar.
[33:25] Number one, introduction of an ordinance authorizing the mayor to accept the low
[33:28] bid submitted for brass fitting. Number two, introduction of an ordinance
[33:33] authorizing the mayor to accept the low bid submitted for a 47-foot Shae height
[33:38] hydraulic digger decker truck, derrick truck.
[33:44] Number three, introduction of an ordinance authorizing the mayor to accept the low
[33:47] bid submitted for a 40-inch hydraulic drive submersible pump.
[33:53] Number four, introduction of an ordinance authorizing the mayor to accept the
[33:56] lowest proposal received for fresh impression cleaning crew for janitorial services
[34:01] for the Alexandria Zoological Park.
[34:04] I need a motion and a second.
[34:05] Moved.
[34:06] Motion by Councilman Fowler, second by Councilman Belard. Any items to committee?
[34:14] Any resolutions?
[34:15] G, resolution. Number five, resolution to co-sponsor Believe the Musical production
[34:21] in January 2027.
[34:23] Motion, please?
[34:24] Moved.
[34:25] Second?
[34:26] Second.
[34:27] Second.
[34:27] Second. Motion by Councilman Fowler, second by Councilwoman Felder.
[34:30] Public comments, discussion? All in favor?
[34:33] Aye.
[34:33] Any opposed? Motion carried.
[34:35] Number six, resolution authorizing advertisement for bids for this project and
[34:39] signage for public streets and other public properties 2026 through
[34:44] 2028.
[34:45] Motion, please?
[34:46] Moved.
[34:47] Second. Motion by Councilman Fowler, second by Councilman Belard.
[34:51] Public comments, discussion?
[34:53] Yes.
[34:53] Discussion, Councilman Green?
[34:55] I know we're going to spend $259,531.45.
[35:01] When will they determine the streets will be done?
[35:04] I'm saying citywide, but are there any particular areas, administration, that
[35:09] they're going to use?
[35:11] So this matter is just in reference to the advertisement for the bids.
[35:15] I know you have advertisement for the bids, but what areas will the advertised bids
[35:18] for, sir?
[35:19] So that information will be determined once we get the bid back.
[35:28] Okay. Thank you.
[35:30] Any opposed? Motion carried.
[35:33] H, ordinances for final adoption subject to public hearing.
[35:35] Number seven, to consider final adoption of an ordinance authorizing the mayor to
[35:39] accept the low bid submitted for turnout gear.
[35:42] A motion and a second?
[35:43] Moved.
[35:44] Second.
[35:45] Motion by Councilman Belard, second by Councilman Fowler.
[35:48] Public comments, discussion? All in favor?
[35:51] Aye.
[35:51] Any opposed? Motion carried.
[35:53] Number eight, to consider final adoption of an ordinance authorizing the mayor to
[35:56] accept the low bid for high mast lighting for the electric distribution department.
[36:00] A motion and a second.
[36:02] Moved.
[36:03] Motion by Councilman Johnson, second by Councilman Belard.
[36:06] Public comments, discussion? All in favor?
[36:09] Aye.
[36:10] Any opposed? Motion carried.
[36:11] Number nine, to consider final adoption of an ordinance authorizing the mayor to
[36:14] accept the low bid submitted for annual requirement contract, water, wastewater,
[36:20] natural gas, and general site-related systems.
[36:25] Moved.
[36:25] Motion, please?
[36:26] Second.
[36:27] Motion by Councilman Fowler, second by Councilman Belard.
[36:29] Public comments, discussion? All in favor?
[36:32] Aye.
[36:32] Any opposed? Motion carried.
[36:34] Number 10, to consider final adoption of an ordinance to authorize an
[36:40] economic impact study for Reignite Planning.
[36:44] Motion. Move. Moved by Councilman Malloy. Second?
[36:48] Second by Councilman Johnson.
[36:50] Move by-
[36:52] I'm better with that.
[36:54] Because I say your name so much. You're doing it. I'm just- Okay.
[36:58] Motion by Councilman Malloy, second by Councilman Johnson.
[37:02] By Sec-
[37:03] Lava Dame.
[37:03] Lava Dame.
[37:04] Lava Dame.
[37:05] Second by Councilman Johnson.
[37:07] Do you have him, Ms. Emily?
[37:08] Yes.
[37:09] Thank you.
[37:09] No worries.
[37:10] We have comments by
[37:13] Mr. Davis.
[37:24] Randolph Davis, Sr.,
[37:26] citizen of Alexandria. I've got some questions regarding the Reignite, and
[37:32] people are asking me around the city that really doesn't understand how the
[37:37] taxpayers' dollars are being funded.
[37:40] As it was mentioned by Councilman Green, when you walk those areas
[37:47] along Halbert
[37:50] and those crests and areas along that area, and Van Street, when the corridors and
[37:56] the roads are bad, the houses are blighted.
[37:59] There's even some houses over there that are-
[38:02] Oh, yeah
[38:02] ... the electricity's being generated by
[38:06] generators. Some people have serious concerns about the brown water,
[38:13] and some people are carrying buckets of water because their water lines are broken,
[38:19] and it's a disaster on that side. And my concern is that
[38:25] how much was the council involved in deciding that
[38:31] the Reignite program, the continuation of Spark, should be put on
[38:36] Masonic, because I heard the mentioning of the potential of revenue from the
[38:41] hospital and the mall. And I understand the mall needs a lot of help, because I
[38:46] know the manager pretty well, but that's a process in itself.
[38:53] But the real question is, as Malcolm said, is why didn't we do the
[38:58] research before we started the project?
[39:02] I think we're doing the research.
[39:04] We're doing the research.
[39:05] No, before. The project is already started, Malcolm.
[39:08] Mm-hmm.
[39:09] We've already started working on parks.
[39:11] We've already put pickleball courts in, right? It's already started.
[39:16] No, people have not voted, people have not
[39:21] saw an amendment, people have not said anything about, "I want Reignite."
[39:27] People I'm talking to on every district said, "We did not see anything on
[39:33] an agenda or talk about our approving it, because that's not what I wanted." See,
[39:39] the thing I'm concerned about is that right now, with the crime rate and the things
[39:44] that are needed throughout our city, we needed to put the money in the places where
[39:49] we knew it would have an impact to affect our population decline and
[39:55] crime in our city.
[39:56] So Mr.
[39:57] Davis-
[39:58] Go ahead
[39:58] ... this is for the impact of the study.
[40:03] Right. And my question is related to that-
[40:06] Yes, sir
[40:06] ... is that
[40:08] I understand it's for the impact of the study, but I'm asking that before it even
[40:14] got to this point, President-
[40:17] Yes, sir
[40:18] ... how much information did the council have?
[40:21] How much voting power did y'all have before we moved forward on this process?
[40:27] Thank you, Mr. Davis.
[40:32] And we have Ms. Shamara?
[40:35] Shamira.
[40:35] Shamira. Did anyone ask their question?
[40:38] I don't see
[40:43] anyone.
[40:43] Oh, good afternoon. I'm Shamira, trying not to cough.
[40:48] So this is what Reignite means to me. This is what it stands for to me.
[40:53] Restoring every inadequate gentrified neighborhood impacting the economy.
[41:00] That's what Reignite stands for, it means to me.
[41:03] We need an ROI,
[41:05] return on investments. The projected 80 to 100 million is projected to be
[41:11] more than 80 to 100 million
[41:14] because projects like these have been put as priority one or P1 projects, versus
[41:21] our brown water issues, utility bills, and our roads and flooding issues.
[41:27] Let's not even talk about our homeless population.
[41:30] How can we build this type of project around a homeless population?
[41:33] That wouldn't be a good look for our economy.
[41:37] Reignite, along with Johnny Downs, along with Links on the Bayou, along with the
[41:42] Alexandria Zoo, excusing the ATRANS due to the low pay and high poverty rate, which
[41:48] is 27% here.
[41:51] You've already approved millions of money.
[41:55] Let's not approve any more because no major project should have been approved with
[42:00] the mayor,
[42:02] this being his last year, it shouldn't have been approved, period. Thank you.
[42:06] Thank you. Thank you.
[42:14] Mr. Roland, we have next. I don't know who we
[42:20] have. You can go.
[42:21] Jack Powell, Power to the People. Well, my first question would be, if Reignite has
[42:26] an $82 million investment, what measure per share is going into historical Black
[42:30] neighborhoods that require critical debt, drainage, street, and infrastructure
[42:33] fixes? And why is the primary visible investment that
[42:39] is currently a playground? My question is that if it's an $82 million project,
[42:45] say, investment, why the only investment that we see, and it's just not me asking,
[42:49] the whole community wants to know, why the only thing that we see given in our
[42:53] community is a slide? Is a slide that we feel like was used for granddaddy
[42:59] tokenism because our children was brought to it, and our children was-
[43:02] Mister
[43:03] ... was photo opticed out of it, so I'm wondering why-
[43:06] Mr. Lucious. Mister.
[43:08] Okay, okay.
[43:09] You stay on the study of the Reignite.
[43:12] Okay.
[43:17] And you make all your comments, as long as you make it about the study of the
[43:20] Reignite.
[43:20] But wouldn't it be with Reignite? Doesn't Reignite have everything to do with the
[43:24] why the playground got-
[43:26] But you were talking about the photo ops and different things like that.
[43:28] Well, if it's an optice, if it's not really the money being used for what the $82
[43:32] million for, okay, I got you.
[43:37] How will the study determine whether Reignite benefits Alexandria as a whole,
[43:40] including historical Black and low-income neighborhoods outside the Masonic
[43:46] Corridor? Given the local media, KALB, also reported mixed experience among
[43:50] corridor businesses, including some that are reporting declines, will the study
[43:54] explicitly capture the real-world experience of existing local shops, or will it
[43:58] only focus on projected future developments?
[44:01] What specific measurable results will cause the city to conclude that Reignite is
[44:05] not working? And will the full study be released publicly
[44:11] before additional taxpayer money is committed?
[44:16] Yeah.
[44:18] Yes.
[44:18] It's the purpose of it.
[44:20] So it's the purpose of the study is-
[44:21] The study, yes
[44:21] ... study. Okay.
[44:24] Thank you.
[44:25] That's all I got.
[44:26] Thank you.
[44:28] Discussion. Discussion? All in favor?
[44:30] Hold on, hold on. The reason why-
[44:32] I'm sorry
[44:32] ... the reason why I did this is to address those concerns there, is so that people
[44:36] will know
[44:39] what's happening with their money before it's spent and give them an idea to see
[44:43] what the return will be. So once the study's done, we'll see what's what, and
[44:49] we'll-
[44:50] Make the public know
[44:51] ... let the public know, then we'll address it, but we do have some pressing needs,
[44:55] and I get why folk are concerned because we do have pressing needs in the city of
[44:59] Alexandria.
[45:01] Opportunity, Shamira. I'm sorry.
[45:05] So that's why we're doing this, so I'm finished with that.
[45:08] Any more comments?
[45:10] Yeah. After talking in committee, I think it was good to kind of lay a few things
[45:14] out and discuss, and I think making sure that we do study things along the way,
[45:20] which is a requirement in their plan as well, I think that's a good thing.
[45:24] Yeah, because building a pickleball court, those are relatively inexpensive-
[45:30] Right
[45:30] ... as opposed to spending another over 80 plus million along the way, so.
[45:35] And people enjoy the courts.
[45:38] Do you want to-
[45:38] Yeah, but we still-
[45:38] ... respond now?
[45:39] Please, but one thing is before we do anything, it has to go in front of the
[45:43] people.
[45:44] Thank you.
[45:45] Well-
[45:45] If we do it, it has to go in front of the people.
[45:47] Well, this is why Malcolm-
[45:49] Yeah
[45:49] ... I'm sorry, Councilman Lava Dame-
[45:51] That's fine. I'm sorry
[45:52] ... suggests this study. Am I correct?
[45:54] Yeah. It's great. So this can't go before the people, and the people can know where
[45:57] the money's going.
[45:58] Right
[45:59] And I think it will in our process, as the projects are planned,
[46:05] things will come before us, and we'll be able to review them because it can't
[46:10] proceed unless this body approves it.
[46:12] Approves it.
[46:14] That's correct.
[46:16] All right.
[46:17] You good?
[46:18] Yeah.
[46:18] Okay. Any opposed? Motion carried.
[46:22] All right.
[46:23] Number 11, to consider finding an option of an ordinance authorizing the mayor to
[46:28] renew the existing contract with Yankee Holding, doing business as Yankee Clipper
[46:33] for landscape maintenance services for Jackson at MacArthur.
[46:37] Motion, please.
[46:38] Moved.
[46:38] Motion by Councilwoman Feltes.
[46:41] Second.
[46:41] Second by Councilman Vallort. Public comments? Discussion?
[46:45] Yes.
[46:45] I'm sorry, Mr. Green.
[46:48] Madam President,
[46:51] and the administration, and this is simple.
[46:55] Who do we have that goes behind these people to make sure they're doing what
[46:58] they're supposed to do with these contracts?
[47:01] And I'm going to get to where I'm going with this in just a second.
[47:04] Can anyone tell me the name of what department goes behind each one of these down
[47:08] the line that we're going to do?
[47:10] Okay.
[47:12] July the 28th, I'm just going to tell you why I'm going where I'm going.
[47:16] There was a renewed contract
[47:19] by us on the recommendation of the mayor.
[47:26] Complaints from KLV
[47:29] about a bedbug situation on the bus.
[47:33] And this is following on us to see who follows through on the contracts that we
[47:39] approve that they are being conducted properly.
[47:42] That's why I stopped on number 11, so we'll know the rest of the ones that are
[47:46] being approved, and they are being
[47:48] approved because of the mayor's
[47:54] administration. Because that was an urgent situation.
[47:57] The lady got on the bus at 9:00, said it was filthy.
[48:00] We voted to give these people this contract.
[48:03] Who follows up on the contracts that they are doing what they're supposed to do?
[48:08] And that's all I just wanted to say.
[48:10] I got a question.
[48:14] Okay, so I understand your question about who followed up on every contract, not
[48:19] that specifically.
[48:20] Yeah. That's why I stopped on number 11 to see on all the one, two, three, four,
[48:25] five, six that we have, just who follows up to make sure it's being done properly.
[48:30] Now, I don't want to get in the weeds on this, but
[48:34] that's kind of tricky when you say bedbugs because you cannot...
[48:41] We're not going to bring you up on this.
[48:43] I won't help you on that because that's your job.
[48:45] Just the professionals.
[48:46] Yeah. I'll let you get to that.
[48:48] Oh. No, I'm going to reference him.
[48:50] Yeah.
[48:51] I'm sorry, not to him, but to you, sir. But it was on KLV, it was the seventh.
[48:55] The city released a notification about it, that the bus was removed.
[48:59] And that's all I'm asking, ladies and gentlemen.
[49:02] If we approve this, who follows up to make sure each one of these contracts are
[49:06] properly vetted? Thank you.
[49:08] Madam President, if I may. So first to address the fact
[49:14] that the discussion about Atrans or any incident that happened on the bus is not
[49:18] germane-
[49:19] Correct
[49:19] ... to the agenda item. But as it relates to contracts and contract monitoring,
[49:25] contracts are monitored within the divisions or the departments whereby which those
[49:30] contracts are let. So it could be anyone from the division director to a
[49:35] superintendent of a various department, or to some designee within the finance
[49:39] division in order to do that. So for a specific contract, we would need to know
[49:43] what contract that is to determine who monitors that contract.
[49:46] To speak to Councilman Green's concern relative to the bus, again, with a
[49:52] situation such as that, there are a number of
[49:57] matters that you have to take into account with regard to that.
[50:00] Particularly, it is public transportation.
[50:03] Multiple individuals through the course of the day get on and off of that bus.
[50:07] And so once we were notified, unfortunately through KLV, we did pull that bus from
[50:13] service. We had it serviced and fumigated. We also had the entire fleet done so.
[50:18] We do maintain daily cleaning of all the buses, so that process would have
[50:24] not caught that had it been done during the course of the bus'
[50:29] running its route.
[50:32] Okay.
[50:33] I have a procedural question.
[50:38] If we want, even as the council, to address something that is not germane to the
[50:43] meeting, we're supposed to make a motion to add-
[50:47] Correct
[50:47] ... to the agenda by unanimous consent.
[50:49] Correct.
[50:50] So you bringing up the Atrans, while I am glad to hear this explanation,
[50:55] wasn't germane to our agenda. So if we expect the public to follow our
[51:01] procedures, we should also follow our procedures.
[51:04] Well, Ms. Felter.
[51:06] Feltes.
[51:07] What is-
[51:07] Feltes.
[51:08] Feltes. Excuse my pronunciation.
[51:09] That's
[51:11] okay.
[51:12] I brought it up because we're going to vote on the 11th.
[51:15] I have more votes, I have more items.
[51:17] And all I wanted to know was, and I did announce the Atrans situation, but all I
[51:23] wanted to know was who is responsible-
[51:27] Yeah
[51:27] ... for maintaining, following through on the contracts.
[51:29] When we vote for this stuff, people look at us saying we voted on it, but we are
[51:33] voting on the recommendation of the administration.
[51:35] Well, technically, we're voting on the lowest bidder.
[51:38] The administration recommends it, but because we legally have to go with the lowest
[51:42] bidder.
[51:42] We did. We do. But my question again, how everyone looked at it-
[51:46] The lowest responsive bidder.
[51:47] Lowest responsive bidder. So I understand that that was your question.
[51:49] I was just pointing out procedurally, you could have asked about the contract
[51:54] without bringing in something that wasn't germane to the topic.
[51:57] Well-
[51:57] Yes
[51:57] ... it's a contract that's done by the city, that was done by the city, approved by
[52:02] the city. KLV responded. That the citizens that the administration responded to,
[52:08] we're not going to get into all the affairs about this.
[52:09] Am I-
[52:10] I'm going to move right along.
[52:11] Thank you.
[52:11] I just asked the question, Ms. Lizzie, about why, when, and who does that.
[52:16] Thank you all.
[52:17] Thank you.
[52:17] Questions?
[52:19] Okay.
[52:20] Questions may come.
[52:22] One comment please.
[52:24] The questions may come. The questions may come.
[52:28] All in favor?
[52:29] Aye.
[52:29] Any opposed? Motion carried.
[52:32] Number 12, to consider finding an option of an ordinance authorizing the mayor to
[52:35] renew the existing contract with Yankee Holding, doing business as Yankee Clipper
[52:41] for landscape maintenance services for I-49 Greenbelt.
[52:47] Motion, please.
[52:48] Moved.
[52:48] Second?
[52:49] Second.
[52:50] Motion by Councilman Vallort, second by Councilwoman Feltes.
[52:53] To public comments, discussion?
[52:55] Can I have a comment?
[52:56] Okay.
[52:57] On these items, I think it's 5 of them, 5 or 6 of them, whatever it is, all of
[53:01] these are renewals of existing contracts by the year.
[53:06] So these folks have already done a year's worth of work.
[53:09] They're being renewed at a set price, which saves the city money, and I would think
[53:15] that over a year's time, if they weren't doing a proper job, we'd know about it.
[53:19] Mm-hmm.
[53:20] So I would think the superintendent and the folks in the bus department, or
[53:25] wherever, not bus department, wherever heads up that department, they would be the
[53:30] ones that monitor.
[53:31] I would hope so.
[53:32] I know that we've had problems with some of these people before, on some parks, and
[53:37] people complained, and we had to change-
[53:41] Change the services
[53:42] ... change this thing because they weren't keeping up their duty.
[53:45] Mm-hmm.
[53:46] Okay.
[53:46] All in favor?
[53:47] Aye.
[53:47] Any opposed? Motion carried.
[53:49] Number 13, to consider finding an option of an ordinance authorizing the mayor to
[53:53] renew the existing contract with Ted Fin, LLC for landscape maintenance services
[53:58] for Martin Park.
[53:59] Motion, please.
[54:00] Moved.
[54:01] Motion by Councilman Vallort, second by Councilman Fowler. Public comments?
[54:05] Discussion? All in favor?
[54:07] Aye.
[54:08] Any opposed? Motion carried.
[54:10] Number 14, to consider finding an option of an ordinance authorizing the mayor to
[54:13] renew the existing contract with Taylor Escape for landscape maintenance services
[54:18] for the community centers.
[54:20] Motion, please.
[54:20] Moved.
[54:21] Motion by Councilman Vallort, second by Councilman Fowler. Public comments?
[54:26] Discussion? All in favor?
[54:28] Aye.
[54:28] Any opposed? Motion carried.
[54:30] Number 15, to consider finding an option of an ordinance authorizing the mayor to
[54:33] accept a low bid submitted for chlorine handling truck with knuckle boom crane.
[54:38] The administration is requesting that this item be delayed by two weeks.
[54:42] So moved.
[54:43] Second to delay.
[54:45] Motion by Councilman Fowler, second by...
[54:48] Motion by Councilman Vallort, second by Councilman Fowler.
[54:53] All right. Public hearing, community development item number 16, a resolution-
[54:57] She can't speak on it because we haven't discussed it
[54:59] ... a resolution to hold a public hearing and taking action on the cost of
[55:03] demolition of 21 structures and other costs
[55:09] A motion to close out.
[55:12] A motion to open up.
[55:12] A motion to open up the-
[55:15] Second
[55:15] ... motion by Councilman Belloit, second by Councilman Johnson.
[55:21] Do we have anyone here that will be speaking on any of these structures that we
[55:26] have tonight?
[55:31] We did discuss this, Ms. Aaron.
[55:35] Look-
[55:35] We delayed it
[55:36] ... at the properties. I couldn't find
[55:39] them.
[55:39] Do we have anyone?
[55:41] Yes.
[55:42] Do we have anyone that's here that's going to-
[55:44] Someone called me and asked me whether the property
[55:49] was going to be on there, and I-
[55:49] Was the property on there?
[55:51] Said nothing, because I couldn't-
[55:54] It wasn't
[55:54] ... find the publication,
[55:57] so I had my team look for it, we couldn't find it.
[56:00] So wherever I was-
[56:01] We need to speak, so- Okay ... speaking out Okay, Mr. Lorenzo. Ms.
[56:06] Davis ... sign up to speak, even if it's not just for them.
[56:09] We would like, if it's okay with you, Mr.
[56:12] Jordana, to do all of them since we have no one here to speak on them,
[56:18] and since we have anyone to speak on them, just do-
[56:22] All of them
[56:23] ... all of them at once.
[56:24] And vote on them.
[56:27] If any other members don't object.
[56:29] Because what we're doing is basically just, these structures have already been torn
[56:33] down. We're just levying-
[56:35] Look at the cost
[56:36] ... the cost onto them.
[56:37] Assessing the cost of the property.
[56:39] Yes.
[56:40] Yeah.
[56:43] Basically-
[56:45] Committee. Yes, sir. Yes, sir.
[56:48] You?
[56:55] He's going to call them out.
[56:56] Okay.
[56:57] Right. Mr. Jordana, who was served, and who wasn't served?
[57:00] You need to sound it out.
[57:01] Yeah, he was going to call all the properties.
[57:03] Okay. Go right ahead.
[57:05] 205 14th Street, for the authority to file a lien in the amount of
[57:10] $16,854.41.
[57:16] 2213 Third Street, $10,802.22.
[57:24] 2626 Ninth Street,
[57:27] $9,500.23.
[57:32] 613 Broadway Avenue, $8,173.71.
[57:38] 1013 Chaney Street,
[57:41] $9,102.19. 2939
[57:46] Cypress Street, $9,602.71.
[57:52] 1028 Dallas Avenue, $5,662.71.
[57:58] 5006 Eddie Williams Avenue, $33,441.23.
[58:05] 1316 Holly Street, $8,064.71.
[58:11] 2030 Houston Street,
[58:13] $6,300.24.
[58:20] 2715 Jeannette Street, $11,204.24.
[58:27] 1527 11th Street, $10,074.04.
[58:33] 2809 Main Street, $19,085.34.
[58:40] 1947 Mason Street, $5,900.24.
[58:46] 3219 Monroe Street, $13,582.68.
[58:53] 2318 Orange Street, $26,882.11.
[58:59] 1817 Overton Street, $5,108.24.
[59:05] 1801 Princeton, $11,184.42.
[59:12] 1009 South Street, $9,779.74.
[59:19] 504 University Street, $9,256.24.
[59:26] And 412 Woodard Street, $5,275.24.
[59:31] Need a motion.
[59:32] A motion.
[59:33] Second.
[59:34] Moved by Councilman Fowler.
[59:35] Mr. Jordana?
[59:36] Yeah. All these parties have been properly notified, served and notified,
[59:42] with the exceptions of one that wasn't required for me to do any work on.
[59:48] I think it was one, two, three.
[59:51] Right?
[59:52] Yeah.
[59:52] It'd be number one-
[59:54] Number one, number four,
[59:59] number 15, number 16,
[1:00:04] and number 21.
[1:00:05] That's correct.
[1:00:06] 18.
[1:00:06] And what's those for?
[1:00:08] And number 18. Those did not require an absentee attorney.
[1:00:13] Okay. Are those required absentee attorney?
[1:00:16] Council, you want to turn down the bills?
[1:00:19] With motion by Councilman
[1:00:23] Fowler, and second by Councilman Belloit, a motion to
[1:00:29] go back into closing.
[1:00:32] Don't we vote on it?
[1:00:33] He had to take a vote. Oh, I'm sorry.
[1:00:35] We've got to vote.
[1:00:36] Any discussion?
[1:00:38] Public comments? All in favor?
[1:00:40] Aye.
[1:00:41] Any opposed? Motion carried.
[1:00:45] Move to close.
[1:00:48] Motion to close, and second. Motion by Councilman Fowler, second by Councilman
[1:00:53] Belloit. Motion to close.
[1:00:55] Move.
[1:00:55] Public comments? Discussion? All in favor?
[1:00:59] Aye.
[1:00:59] Any opposed? Motion carried.