 Clerk would you please call the roll? Mr. Duvall here Here Here Public Safety Committee meeting, so thank you all for allowing That to wrap up we're going to start your Benjamin with an invocation I hope Reverend Doughty still have the energy to deliver That was a brilliant time of the year Thank you for allowing us to join today to do the work Columbia We do believe in the city that justice isn't between the virtues We seek every single day to be right by all the people that make this city great We ask you to give wisdom to the patients that you inspire spirit of collegiality And that we are proud of the work that you do today In his name Amen Thank you, mayor We will start with any questions that you all may have regarding our financial report of november 2017 And you should have a corrected unaudited version of your parking summary extra favor And it's mr. Lanzo's birthday. So we do all have very happy birthday on today I've been As she answers financial Two things jam Give us an update on the audit. Are we going to ever see the numbers from last year? Yeah, we'll talk about a little bit later today as well Just a preliminary discussion and then because I wanted to have a little bit of a discussion with you all prior to me going out And then on the first meeting in march Or the second meeting in march first meeting first meeting in march But it'll be here and I think you all okay The second question is a general question It is frustrating to me that here we are in The last meeting in february and we're looking at november financials I know that you look at the things as they come in in real time. So you have a better feel Or if we are home track of a hind track head of track Could you give us your professional opinion? Do we need to be worried about coming out in this fiscal year in the green? Well, I wouldn't make any projections for how we're going to end up in june in february, but it looks They all look good. So far Um Jeff and I were having a conversation about the taxes coming in a little ahead of last year So far so good On the revenue side, are you seeing any increases as a result of all of the activities We've seen in the last three or four years That's part of what we're looking to get it Jeff sent an email over to the treasurer's office in richland county to see what they were thinking because they were up Year to date from last year. So whether it was assessments or whether it was people were paying quicker because of the tax laws We're going to see what you're going to see what the treasurer has to say about that Thank you any other questions from jane All right Thank you our our first City council discussion item will be a presentation and this will be our initial water and sewer rate study Presentation obviously much more to come as we proceed through the budget process Mr. Robert chambers financial and utility management consultant for black and beach management consulting And his colleagues are here to take you through some initial thoughts For the water and sewer rate study Yeah, sorry, you're fine. You're fine. I just wanted to introduce myself. I've not met a lot of you folks I'm jeff wells. I work with black and beach and I'm the client director for the city of columbus My job to make sure that the work robert and others that are working with the city goes the way it needs to go And I just wanted to say thank you this we know this is an important part of your financial planning I'm very honored that you choose us to do this work I wanted to say and robert Thank you. Thank you. Good afternoon again, thank you all very much for Allowing us the opportunity and Mr. Chang was here. Thank you I I promise no bad news today For the last few years we've been you know going through the process of looking at rates and you know you you all are on this table have Been willing to take action to do what you have to do, you know to keep And maintain the service you provide water and sewer service Today what we'd like to do as a part of the overview is just take a look at where we're coming from. How did we get here? and then talk about What our plan looks like going forward And then kind of relate that to how others of similar nature Within the industry other utilities per se are dealing with some of the same problems you are dealing with So as a part of the agenda, we look at your drivers look at the industry Have a slide about integrated financial planning and then talk about the approach we'll undertake It's as is always a case. It's an open forum. So please stop me as you see so drivers as it relates to Financial planning and integrated financial planning We view financial planning not just as looking at your costs and the revenues you require But in the bigger perspective of financial planning, you need to understand how it affects your business how you achieve Business excellence how you become and stay resilient as a utility how it impacts the customers you serve So in the prism of integrated financial planning We'll be touching on a few of these aspects as it relates to your greater system Specific to your drivers as a utility You're experiencing increased demand for the services you provide You have a diverse and informed customer base And you you want to go about sustainably as you are Implementing a capital and operating program and when we say sustainably we mean Making sure you have the right resources and appropriate resources as it relates to people technology Processes and all the infrastructure Not just backbone, but back office infrastructure. You require to provide these services. So that's a driver It's very much the driver because at the end of the day, we don't want to get back to where we were before which is is Working our way backwards unfortunately a set of forwards Yes, sir. It it is and we'll have some slides That talk about as we go on and then why we're here maintaining revenue stability and maintaining the financial metrics We've put forth for ourselves to you know, be a financially sustainable operation And then how this impact the customers we're here to serve You know, how do we engage our customers and provide the best service at the lowest possible cost? So all of these become competing drivers So how do we get here? As a city based on information provided in your caffer You're adding about a half a percent of customers per year and this is for the period f y o 13 through 17 Specific to your connections You're adding about a percent per year of water new water connections But you know, you lost just under two and a half percent per year on the wastewater side That's because as I understand You turn of your system and that has some implications as it relates to revenues and you'll see how it looks historically As it really when you say that Because we did sell those customers. We get those taps back Those taps today are worth five times what they were Before so we need to calculate those values a little bit Okay, okay Okay, we'll what do you mean? So when we sell a system So we sold off the customer base You know if we did it for somewhere else, we would get all of those taps back the capacity back So we can sell those taps again And and the value of those taps went from 200 to like 2200 dollars So the value is way much more than it is now both From a short term cash, but long Yes, so I'm not I it doesn't matter they still value because of of the just the mere cost of it is Eight times what it was before yeah, so so on some money saying is you had a certain amount of capacity that you utilize to serve Customers at this point in time No, these customers are not on the system. You're not using that capacity to serve them So now when a new customer needs to bind to the system That capacity is available And given cost escalation it should be worth more today than it was at that time Employees we looked at your utilities and engineering Uh specific to the water and sewer system And we see that we On average it's growing at about a percent Over percent per year in 14 You know we lost some employees and that was because as I understand there's a shift out of this apartment Uh for some customer care if I'm not mistaken employees But as you can tell at the beginning of 17 you started to rehire Got that grew back in And you're making you know the efforts and taking the steps to hire as you need within the organization You just keep hiring travis and crew and we'll be we'll be just fine Those guys are amazing So looking at your financials the ultimate goal here of your financials is to Produce enough revenues in its simplest form to meet your requirements And to meet your financial metrics one of which is line seven debt service coverage You see that your revenues is growing 121.9 in 13 to about 144 And you see here So ultimately you've taken the steps and taken the action to Make sure you have the revenues you require to operate the system And to meet your financial metrics one of which is that service coverage Okay, no you did take the action The goal here as it relates the rate increases and revenue increases is to Have consistent and steady increases as compared to lumps in how you increase rates In 13 You had adjustments that average about eight percent per bill In 14 you had an increase in volumetric rates that was about eight percent In 15 there's a request for 7.9, but it wasn't granted so there was no increase In 16 there's a 9.5 in 17. There wasn't an increase In 18 there's a 4.75 This is positive. This is good because as an organization You have taken action and showed the willingness To take action to make sure your revenues are stable and you have the infrastructure and services you need Serve the customers that are connected to the system In the future desk area Okay, so Final side of how did we get here? At the end of our study last year We showed the plan We approved a 4.75 Percent in additional rating as a part of the exercise of what we will do this time around We're about reassessing how we have done thus far And you know looking taking a good deep look at these increases And when we'll come back We'll have a better understanding of if it's really still at 30 percent or if it's lower Etc etc Any questions before we go on? When do you think you'll have that for us? So the plan is to come back in April So let's say six weeks they're about So we'll be able to have it for future in fact Yes, sir If we talk about it Yes, sir So looking at the industry No, we we understand the road we've taken What are others in the industry dealing with? We spoke about infrastructure and that infrastructure is the basis of everything we do and and I agree Every year black and beach produces a water industry report Where we look at about 400 about 400 utilities We provide them with a survey and we try to track and understand the key operating trends and paradigms That they're facing within the industry For the fyo 17 survey there's a strong focus on sustainability There's a strong focus on resilience or resilient you can be as a utility And in my opinion resilient means how well are you able to respond? Or maintain or sustain your service as a result of an unforeseen event Whether it's operating financial Wherever you view being able to stand up and keep going So one of the One of the questions we asked we provided Utilities as a part of the survey with a list of challenges Aging infrastructure managing operating costs how resilient you are and we said this and all of these challenges How do you rate these challenges as being? important very important aging infrastructure became was at the top of the list Of over 95 percent of the utility survey said aging infrastructure was very important or important Next after aging infrastructure was managing operating costs system resilience managing capital costs So it comes back to the infrastructure discussion infrastructure question Now the next slide will go into a little bit more detail as it relates to extremely what that means this question says To what extent did a few of these items capital costs operating costs increase in system risk environment and regulatory How how did aging infrastructure impact these items? Right at the top of the list is capital cost. Why is that? If a main or pipe breaks, that's going to be an impact on your capital plan Those are going to have to go out and fix it which then becomes an impact on your operating costs that that provides a certain amount of risk on the system and for one that was an unbudgeted emergency so Other utilities are dealing with the same issues around infrastructure around age aging assets And it has an impact that you said on your capital plan. It has an impact on how you operate your system So this just provides a perspective to say You know most utilities are experiencing very similar and complex issues I think we're leading the way in number four In number four Okay What's that unbudgeted emergency? A water main bridge So so moving on this question was What is the level of understanding about rates which is the level of understanding Amongst the customers and stakeholders And the questions were asked Do they really understand what you're Why you have the 4.6% said they understand the need for rates and accept That rates need to go up about 47% says We understand that there's a need for rating What we don't want rates to go up So what that says is the majority of the 400 utilities that were surveyed said The customer base understand the need for rating But they're almost split down in the middle with regard to should we have one or should we not have one That's 400 out of how many I'm just trying to understand the perspective of That's about 400 utility right? Oh $195 Something like that something But bigger numbers the combination of both About 83% Which is 350 or somewhere there about that said you need you know, there's a And so The next question became How do you communicate with your base? How do you You know How do you outreach and communicate with the public with your stakeholders? 87% of the 70% said they utilize print campaigns 61% said they did social media 47.4 said they didn't you know local media So basically The three most utilized sources of communication are sources The next question was Is we understand that there's a need for rating We listen to you and know in our homes we're conserving But we're conserving and as we conserve rates and go up Why is that the case? So the question is how do you deal with that as a utility? And it's all around education Continuing to engage with your customer base Being timely with regard to providing the information about the community And of reaching the level Secondly, also trying to utilize The reward good positive behavior Fishing use of the water and you're doing those things So integrated financial Integrated financial planning historically was a a single source objective It was an exercise whereby You make sure you have sufficient revenues To meet your revenue requirements or to meet your car That is no longer the case in today's market in today's industry You have competing variables infrastructure Equities financial markets the customer experience Sustainability and there are questions around these these components for example Infrastructure, how do you support innovative capital financing? How do you make sure you get the most demand out of every dollar you spend within your system? How do you engage your customers so that they're satisfied and happy With the service you're providing when they turn on the tap And when they pick up the phone for customer service How do you make sure there's a nexus between the past to provide that service and how you process it? And more importantly, how do you implement sustainable business practices to achieve operational excellence? As a whole Basically all these variables impact the money you collect the money you spend and how you operate your utility financially And It cannot be taken into a vacuum. They all have to be looked at and understood So the point here is financially the integrated financial paradigm is not just looking at your costs But having a few from hope all the other components within your system are affected by You know the financing and the cost to operate the customer players Yes, sir Okay, so what that means is Each customer class on your system Places a certain demand So residential customers for the class you have more showers in the morning and in the evening Industrial has a stable any patient for example usage And there's a certain demand they place As a result of that demand You have to charge them for that service You have to charge them for this amount of time So the equity is they What it costs you as a utility You should be charging costs you should be charging the user the customer In a similar manner So if you charge it costs you ten dollars for example You should be charging them somewhere close to that cost so that everybody has an equal setting on the system Based on the demand So that becomes the equity Everybody has a responsibility The effectiveness of what we do In the part of service components Of the study So everybody is treated the same That's the intent That's the goal that's the goal and the intent Everybody in a certain class Yes, and it becomes then a balance of everybody may not get to a hundred percent, but the goal is to Initiate the process to get there In a balanced form So going to our project approach So a few items that we are considering as a part of looking at this next study that's coming up Looking at revenues, there's a loss of nai america We're looking at customer growth what customer growth will do You know again coming back to the capital program you have a few A few big products that are about to come online potentially You have the AMI project you have the crane creek storage project, but that one you all are looking at it So we'll see what happens there in You also have potentially a new bulk use customer A large industry Significant service requirement And we'll be looking at some kind of a pricing mechanism Around the service and how you charge That customer for the service they require So that will be a part of this study Okay We'll also look at Impact fees and impact fees just represent a new customer's buying to the system mean What impact fees So every new And then Looking at all of these things and making sure you need all the metrics At the lowest possible cost So This is a three-step process Where and I know some of you've seen this before but it's a three-step process where we Look at your financials To determine how much revenues You're earning and how much costs Then we perform a cost of service study to say This is another dimension Of this approach Another component to this study is the impact fees What is an impact fee? Our definition is an impact fee is a contribution Or let's say a system buying from a new customer solely for the construction and development Of water and wastewater So it's that new customer buy into the system based on that new customer And you get a free toaster, right? Rational nexus This is the fundamental principle that says there should be a relationship between the nature of the service required And the cost to provide that service So this comes back to that The nature of cost to provide the service And the revenues collected from the service should align There are three approaches To doing impact fees you have the buying approach whereby you have A current investment in the system that's been placed and been fixed by existing customers And new customers have to buy into that investment The second approach is the incremental investment whereby you have a new development A new set of costs new capacity And that customer which will gain from that new capacity that new costs Will have to buy into that new capacity and new costs And then you have the combined approach that says you have existing capacity and you have new capacity Let's put them together and upon putting together We price it and the customer buys into the system So that's the the three general approaches typically the combined system approach is useful Because you have mature systems that keep adding capacity and the cost is served at you So the impact fees are steps We'll go through assessing your existing system looking at The investment in the existing system Determining the capacity associated with that investment and then looking at new projects That may come onto the system to support the existing system Then we look at what we call the capacity standard and all that says is What is the typical usage requirement for the customers you serve? Okay So you have the total cost of the system the total capacity Cost divided by capacity gives you a unit You have the typical requirement of the customer You put them together and you get the maximum allowable fee So that's in short the process we utilize to determine the impact Currently You have plant expansion fees You do not have one for water service and we'll be establishing one for water service as a part of this study For sewer service the purpose is to offset your treatment and collection system costs And it's currently about 140 for example for example You charge for your charge your current impact fees based on the tap that you highlighted and for example a residential customer Would be considered having one tap a single family mobile one tap a multi-family unit one tap A hotel for example will have one tap for the general administration and then for every room A tap is assessed For day schools one tap and then for every 20 individuals within the school there's a tap So that's the current basis that you utilize to charge for You know It's expensive to build in the city You have questions Robert Our next item is the council approval of requests Which will actually occur this evening your actual vote and motion on approving the request But I know you all need to have a discussion for funding from the hospitality tax fund Surplus monies and to amend the fiscal year 2017 2018 hospitality tax budget And so we are carrying over this discussion from The last council meeting where um, yes, ma'am. I think Ruby has a copy for you all for Everything and she is coming with those So we updated the memo from last time to reflect any Action you took last council meeting and then did he's also put together the additional requests that have come in And so we wanted to make sure y'all have the opportunity to see all of that kind of in one place And I was I was supposed to send you guys something and I didn't okay, but I want to put that on the table for discussion Certainly and so we didn't take any Liberty we didn't change anything to just figure you all needed to look at what's before you and make um adjustments or Suggestions and I know mr. Debal also had a proposal he shared with you all that this would be the time to Before we do that, so we had the this For us Where's the other This is with you region. So this is when we're here last week. Yeah, so we So what is this? When is the committee meeting? When is the meeting? Things are in march. They have to come in and mark. That's for next year. Yeah Their applications are available now for next funding year. All right What about this this year? I They're not meeting. They've already met So this is This is additional Okay, how much So Based off what we presented to you all last week it was 643,000 There was 780,000 available So I had tried to leave a balance there for a multitude of reasons But I also knew that there was some additional requests that different folks had mentioned to me So there's a hundred and thirty seven thousand dollars If if you were to approve everything that was originally on the table that we gave you Last meeting that would leave a balance. Do we have 37,000? Do we have available a deed? Maybe you can provide what The groups are all getting now that are asking for additional clean and safety You know, I'm struggling with the request one of the requests and now we're getting another request You know Well, I mean, yeah, I mean, I'm looking well first of all I'm looking at the city center partnership the reason that we did A bid was to allow them to fund these types of programs And you know, I feel like every time I turn around they're asking us for an additional amount of money To to cover the program that they they put in they've got 700,000 dollars in the bank, you know, they're If you look at their 1099 May wonder 990 excuse me 1099 but I get but 990 I mean if you look at I'm just I'm struggling everybody keeps coming here, but yet they all have funding We currently have three groups that do the clean and safe Then two of those are neighborhood groups um five points and the Vista And what the committee decided to do For 1718 was combine their request for clean and safe along with their request for their regular funding that they received So how much did they each get out of those three groups? And in this this budget that's currently that they're being funded currently now I don't have those right in front of me I don't see the For city center partnership. It was 260,000 for the congery vista guild it was 260,000 and that was for both their Clean and safe and their regular funding Five points was 229,000 for clean and safe and their regular association. That's what they got That's not their request. That's what they received That's that's not clean and safe. That's overall that's overall for five points and the vista clean and city center partnership Specifically for that for their I think that we've made a commitment to uh, vista guild for clean and safe But I I think we need to think seriously about not funding any of their other request and take that left over money which has now been reduced by 120,000 so it'd be about 520,000 And put it put that into the committee process for next year last year. We had 230,000 to carry forward as surplus and the committee used that um I would I I think that's a that may be reasonable, but if we In a position where we've got dollars that we can shift and set aside for another period I'd rather we they could look at some of those other Organizations that are traditionally out there again that don't get nothing. That's number one number two, um I'd like to see the budget for five points And the vista What about the city center city center and city center? That's fine All three of them if you don't ask let's do it. Let's lay them all on Well, just a question since we're on clean the safe and I just want to be clear on on dd the new memo you gave us Yes, um This for five points additional for clean the safe. You said they got 20 So basically they won An additional 225 for this current fiscal year or is that what they're asking for for next year? That was um, what they were short for in this year and I just included that because it was in the memo That was a the main thing they were requesting funding for was the wooden line, right? I know they called about that so but for so They were initially Ask them for new money That's on top of For now now until July That's my understanding It's question first than Daniel. No, I'm I'm Daniel. I just was curious when we Maybe I misunderstood but when we committed for clean and safe for the vista it was for the next fiscal year They were asking for the I know they were did did I misunderstand? I thought that was that they wanted to ensure that we added that on the next fiscal year They are what they were what they're My understanding that's what it says here is that they wanted to Over a course of three years, they were asking you all to increase As long as the committee allocation stayed whole they were asking you all to increase the Allocation by a certain amount I forget what that amount is right now. It's in this paperwork. They wanted to get 375 right They want you a lot about that amount. It's a line item. So that they Can dedicate that amount to the clean and safe and so We were just presenting this as an option to you that if you went ahead and put the surplus funds for the first year only And get them to that level through the surplus fund and when the committee Met then they would hopefully The same them at the level if that's what they're requested. I mean, I agree with you and I asked all of these groups to explain You know, what are you getting for? Allocating the additional money like a budget for clean and safe. Like what will it will what will it actually accomplish? And I think they have that But we weren't trying to get without them being here to present themselves be established or speak for them That's the gist of what they've explained And I think there should be a letter from the vista gill if it's not here. We sent it to you all Yeah, I mean, I'm I just I'm reading what's here and it clearly says it's starting 18 19 So I don't know why we'd be taking out a surplus. I mean, I understand your theory I'm not experiencing that level but One of the things that we said in the beginning of the budget last year when we did this is that we need To be putting some money away is that account and right now we're getting ready to spend it all I mean anytime somebody hears there's a penny in that account. There's a request in here Exactly I've got a question. Do we have Do we get a A budget I know we see mostly a letter or a memo that comes requesting something but do we get a budget Showing where the dollars are going The committee sees all of that. They do. We do. I'd like to see it those three Those three the budgets for those three Is there any way we can see What you got on hand What's the balance That would be a Last week we approved 120 as far as the surplus or in We received their And they're 990 and all of that information when they complete the applications We also receive an update throughout the year. So we do have that on hand As you know, we went electronic the previous year with zoom grants and That has their applications along with all their financials. They're 990 that are required to submit All of that is online and accessible to you all For your viewing, um, it will show what they were funded. It will show their budget It all of the questions we ask on the application the number of tourists The attendance that they had all of that is available and it will also produce spreadsheets For you to compare information whenever you have questions Well, maybe identifying four or five data points would always be helpful to have I mean, obviously I don't want to judge an organization Because they've been good stewards and Does them negatively because they have a balance sheet. That's a that's a good thing Um, but it might be helpful to have four or five data points. Maybe Uh, let what you know what what the annual budget is with the balance sheet with with Cash on hand they might have Um, uh, maybe if there is an impact or what have you mean It probably wouldn't hurt to have those numbers Kind of going forward, but not I I think but I think Well, unless they go online and pull out this spreadsheet and try to dial into different information Um, let's just make sure whatever those happen will be. Let's make sure we have those available in the future Yes, any any of that that you need I could pull it as well and provide it. Yeah, and then if you were, um Remotely somewhere that you needed something You could also go in there, but I can pull anything that you need as well Yeah, I think I think we probably just they give you some direction three four five points that might be helpful Yes, sir make decisions and and usually we won't make a whole lot of decisions. I mean 95 percent of everything is decided by the committee usually anyway There's Not about the Thing is safe, but to Daniel's point. I would agree that we need to keep some money To carry over or just some when we have sometimes we have things that come up that we didn't we weren't aware of that We need the funds so I whole Harley agree with that concept My butt to that is You know, there are sometimes there are groups that even when the committee comes and we approve the committee's recommendation We know what the committee approves for them is not something they're going to be able to Do their event on case in point, you know when we approved last week on the Karen We knew the amount she got there was no way that She was going to be able to do that event. That's why last year she actually didn't do that Um, but she you know wanted to bring it back and when what I hear was a huge huge So, um, you know, I say that to say that there are sometimes that I know Howard has a proposal that we've talked about for over a year But we haven't put it in place and maybe this is the year to do it for the 18 19 year But there are some groups that traditionally we know that the committee Based on what they have and what they want to see Give us some grants and a certain amount of money, but we as council know it's a good event We know that's not enough and we might need to look at that with that said what I want to put on the table and Did you gave me this and I don't know what did black pages get through the committee process? While she's looking at that I had did he pull for me the last 10 years of funding and traditionally With the exception of two years where they got 25,000 and one year they got 30,000 The the lowest amount that we traditionally have funded black pages 50 to put on that event We've given them as much as 80 in the year's past And so I would like to give them back to that 50 in order to do that event They were given 25,000 that is with what council added That's with what council and committee together. It was 25 So there would be an additional 25 Can I put sidebar to your conversation? You know one of the things that we talked about years ago and we said is that you know this money is not supposed to be For groups forever and ever when do we start weeding people? I mean, I think that's what the committee has been doing is trying to weed down so that they can Bring in other people and you know this isn't directed at any individual But you know you just it seems like the same groups and you know, I think annie caron is a great example I mean not that I shouldn't say a great example, but she didn't she didn't do event But she still survived, you know and granted the event went really well and I'm excited for her because I think Yeah, I mean You know, I guess it's just at some point How do we help the money to continue to grow, you know It's a struggle because you go back and forth and and we've talked about it And there hadn't been a rhyme or a reason You know, but I was looking at it because at one point there was a proposal from the hospitality districts If you all remember they said we ought to get 50 percent of what we collect You know, um, that means harborsons going to get about a million something this year But you know I'm trying there I hear sam because there's a lot of people calling me going. You know, we we don't ever get anything We never get anything and they're not asking for arm and legs. That's what we tried to do last year I mean, we you know, I've heard great things about What it's called, but a couple of the new groups that we funded last year I've heard some really good things and they just wanted an opportunity I think it's a hard it's hard because what happens and you know, not to You know pinpoint anybody because as the mayor said, you know, you don't want to make them a victim of their own success Right, but we've talked about that if you take that whole philosophy, then you get to the point And I think the committee did try and do that one year Then you do have five points Vista and and then they said a partnership and people are like, okay You know or the museum, you know and people are like, well That, you know, they get a huge amount. When do you start pulling them down? Well, if you dwindle them down, then are they able to Continue doing the vets and doing things that actually bring people in But to say but to say that I do think that we need to take a deeper dive Because when somebody gets to a certain point where they're able because their other revenues and Are are really good, you know, at what point do you say, well, wait a minute, you know, we're funding you $300,000 a year, but You got a director making 180 thousand dollars a year and you got 700 thousand dollars in the bank You start to go, whoa, wait, wait a minute here as we you know, how do how do how do we Balance that out. I think that's gonna be a discussion. We're gonna have to have Mr. Davis. Mr. McDowell I'll make a brief point. I'm really trying to make is that I do go back to I think the best philosophy we've ever had on that and that is that at some point We are we have expectations of the organizations and that is They are They reach an almost reach a point of independence or dependence On on this part of money or they can recycle at some point You know, you get off and you come back on at some point, but you still have those organizations in line They have a good product But for some reason they can't make it through that committee process You know, um, and it's uh, so They you never see The real growth in that that you want to see What what tends to happen is the larger organizations Grow and grow and grow the smaller organizations. They can't get on the food on the food in the food chain And and that I think that's a legitimate argument Uh, because some of them are also coming from parts of this city that um, you know if we want to continue to sell the City as a whole and we've got to help Attract people to other parts of the city also. Why can't there be a fresh out plain? Sort of lends itself to It seems to me that when we give hospitality tax dollars there ought to be something Didi, what's the other? Yes, sir What's the accountability What's the accountability factor that's Included would you give hospitality tax dollars? Yes, sir. What's their accountability to us? um You give you give someone a pot of money And you would hope that they've got reserve. They got funds in the bank that will sort of we have argument their budget hospitality tax dollars from what I understand sort of Feeds itself to whatever is given and at the end of the year or at the end of this thing it's you've got zero in the bank What's the accountability? I'm I'm gonna let Is that okay I've seen the ins and outs For about 13 years with the grants and I think the midi does a good job of Evaluating the same points that you that you all do bring up, but Thank you for giving me the opportunity I didn't really anticipate that I would be up here But there are some things that that the committee has always as long as I've been involved with it in very concerned with And that's spreading the dollar around the community And not giving it in a way that we quantified in any way Some of and most of the small organizations Get money based not on the numbers of people they bring in In view of the committee, but how it enriches the community And how we can spread that money around the community to recognize the diversity of the community itself So we consider it an enrichment a community enrichment project And the hospitality tax dollars as I understand it and as I think many members of the Committee understand it will put in place to guarantee to the arts community A steady funding source And it has been doing that Since its inception One of the other things the h tax committee has been doing has been looking at organizations which are funded Which are doing a splendid and remarkable job And then looking at activities that those organizations might find For example, the auntie caring organization Never came to the before the committee for money to fund the organization itself But did come for the event legends several times And the reason that it got less money each time for legends is because we did look At the revenues that that activity itself was able to generate And it kept growing and growing and growing, but it was limited By the facility it could only sell so many tickets So the committee looked how can we supplement what they need not give them everything they do need But help them and I think that's the way we look at most of the organizations Particularly those that are the smaller organizations because to get their foot in the door they need a lot of help Particularly now that the the everything is electronic not everybody has access To a computer we may think it's easy to get to the library or wherever But some of the small organizations really need a lot of help and I know that I as a committee member And other committee members have been able to go and talk to people And help them to develop their applications as they present them And I've suggested to them on and on and over and over that they not just ask for the specific Activity they might do like the cornbread festival But they ask us to help them for the main north main business association As a district as a hospitality district and direct your grant application in that way So there are just so many different things that we as a committee look at Before we present it to you and as he said everything is a spreadsheet There for you to see Are there any other questions you might have? Yes, sir. Well, John, I have a proposal I'm trying to get the council to talk about this afternoon and it's based on the proposals that you sent to the mayor several years ago And I think it would take care of some of the concerns of the council Well, I I remember basics of what I did send to the Benjamin. I remember basics of it too And that was right at the beginning also the line items were the last night the buildings that you owned Or that you had contracts with or you had a statutory obligation to like the museum Adventure historic columbia columbia music festival association. Those would be your specific line items Then the next ones down from them would be Activities or organizations that specifically were seen as economic engines for the community like famously hot Like black pages and so on and then those would be Funded directly by council and come out of the competitive process And then I even suggested and put in that suggestion years ago that we consider harbison As a hospitality district and look at hospitality districts specifically different so I think that's the direction that in talking to mr. Duval. He was talking about going But even looking at the hospitality districts when they come before committee They come Not just for clean and safe But for their general operations and that's why this year the committee decided to put both requests together Because there was absolutely no way That it could be funded at the level they needed Eight or nine hundred thousand dollars for each of those three districts So our determination was let's put it back in the hands of their effective boards of directors and let them See how that money can be spread around and best used Well, John Does that change a little bit As we uh A couple of really several actually really good points raised here And obviously having a keeping a nest egg or whatever may come ought to be A part of it the proposal the list of of items on that the city manager Of cobbled together for us based on the request previous requests and and some that we actually gave her as well And some at least one urgent person need on there. We're gonna have to go and take them up I would say I'm prepared to take up several of them. If not all of them Tonight the newer list we can we can choose to look at some of those as well I know I sent you on the south of salamander for example P We've got a On the same page The um Let's let's recognize the fact this is a human process. Okay. Yeah. This is this is a This is a human process with with shifting priorities and shifting Value associated with different types of events one Citizen committee may may think that festivals Or runs or are valuable and in other than that next year. They might not think that's the case Some are looking for real, you know Economic impact that affects not just general value, but also how it drives h tax, you know into the I will say I think the the connection between events Most of the events I would say you dare say And driving more h tax dollars or a tax dollars is is is more tenuous than we might suggest I think I think we're we're talking about ways in which we use these resources Try and improve quality of life. That's what we're talking about How are we creating experiences? How are we adding to the experience of everyday columbians and those who come to visit with us? So I think medical that's let's let's make That that clear. I think there is a real discussion that you had about organizations that we ought to support For the long term and whether or not that that amount stays the same over a period of time or Changes and as organizations become mature and healthier and have stronger balance sheets and let's think about that The same discussion we're talking about ed are around Ward and sewer, you know, there's always an under An undercurrent around equity And inclusion and and wanting to make sure everyone has to see the table want talking about innovation and making sure that again That this human process that we defer significantly to A group of dutiful and committed citizens and I'm thankful for the work that that that again it's a human process At times we are we are in patica and we agree 100% and everything else and other times we don't and a small portion of those funds Will invariably come back to this council and and and we had we can decide we're going to shift the back In the back of the committee we can start to make our own decisions Which I I've always been of an opinion that that that it's our prerogative and not just our prerogative about responsibility That if there's some decisions that we think are in the long term the best interests of the city This council ought to get ahead and exercise it's it's authority to do so Uh I I feel strongly that that new organizations Upstart organizations organizations that may not be In the in the central business district of one of our core Entertainment districts ought to be given strong consideration as well. I think we I think we got to talk about inclusion We got to talk about equity got to talk about quality of life I think we got to talk about innovation and in those organizations that are really Getting up and up and running and thinking about ways to do things very creatively. We should pay some attention to it But that's a decision. I really want us To make and I'm fine with leaving a significant amount of money In the in the pot. I think it gives us The latitude to to make some decisions As we go forward, but I I'm I'm eager to move forward on some of these issues If in fact the uh, we got to get some clarity someone's got to get some clarity for the night On what the vistic guilds request and the need is It is It's on it's on the letter that you already have them missing just gave you the That letter with the letter inside of it some last time You look at our footnote. It really explains it ever got our They want three years That gives us that gives us some more some more latitude as you look at these numbers as well But but some of these I mean what there's one urgent need. I think we're gonna have to address Um, I know that several of us have made different commitments That things we would advocate for I've made some Articulate on this list and I'm prepared to report on them tonight But not all Spend some time working through it thinking about how we do things long term. Let's take up Other chairman john's proposal or a version thereof I'm not sure if it's tonight. I think we need to talk about a little more, but let's take it up sometime in the very near future So it can guide things Going forward It's not a great departure from the procedures that we have going right now It just cleans up the administration of it. It greatly simplifies the administration And it does create Three different four different groups The first group would be the big big people 100,000 and above or some some figure like that that get continuous funding have gotten continuous funding It will allow them why why why is that why a hundred threshold? Uh, I put that in there because that's what annie smith suggested I'm not we had to 100,000 and might and dd is going to get some information to find out where And there's in the dd She's going to say something but she moves into her role in helping us guide this particularly Giving us ideas and policy as well. Which remember we're also going through the amplify process I mean, we're we're we're developing a cultural plan for the city in the region I mean, we we let's spend some more time on on this to make sure we do it and do it right in terms of timing I mean is it is it I guess is it die cast for 18 19 if we've been through the process already You guys have done me. Yes We've met for yeah, we will meet for 18 19 funds I thought that was early I thought you guys were pretty efficient for sam. I was asking for this current year They've already met when he was saying Okay, okay, you say for The other way halfway in 18 19 We can potentially guide this year's process Come out of that pot. I would like I'd love to hear Yeah, I'd love to hear more from I'd love to hear more from bd. I'd love I'd love to remember if we're supporting as we are financially about the development of the cultural plan I mean that just obviously gets into into that Discussion I've never Daniel goes to it but sam really goes through arbus and I've never I've been not supported Of sending more resources out there, but but but I'd much more be a much more interested and supportive of of the traditional boundaries So let's let's spend some more time talking about it. You don't say something Howard I just put together a few notes. Um, but um, I would like to put it together further and have something that we could all look at Based on 17 18 funds and how it will look into what? helpsman devol has proposed Source of funds that we just have So many organizations didn't take down to just have a bump that we didn't expect at the end of last year Why do we have 643 thousand? Just a row a row a row bus a row bus Lipses in the current year so that we reflect in the number One of the things that occurs in h-tax and it's the struggle that we have when we make The projections as we get larger our months but the collections are larger in the spring. So it's occurring in the end of the year Take a look at The numbers that jam provided y'all for or november i've actually already looked at december and january Right now we're just barely on budget and it's the same thing as we were last year But as we roll up in april may june Assuming things continue the way they have the last few years. We'll end up having collections that'll be higher And then that always creates a surplus y'all may recall two years ago Y'all actually approved us before we gave you the surplus because we just assumed we would have that surplus in in august It's I anticipate it'll be the same thing, you know at the end of this year We'll have a surplus assuming that the spring goes similar to the last several And we've also had a growth Well, I won't say it's aggressive growth, but we have put growth in the last several years of three to five percent In the uh in in the budgets. So we anticipated that we We're going to have growth from the eclipse. So that was put in the current budget that we're in right now That'll be good Hopefully but we always recommend you all Yeah Mr. Duvall, just give me five minutes to run through this thing one time if y'all pay attention I think you will like what what it said and I think it will simplify the whole Howard you're assuming Let me ask this before you get started a great salesperson I can tell by the 200 people I talked to this morning Okay, what this does is build on what john has has given the mayor and and to me and From other things and it also is a result of a conversation I had with Margie Reese who is doing the cultural study amplified for amplify We had at lunch and she made a good suggestion for this thing But this sets up four groups in the h tax the first group is are the big people that have been traditionally getting funding It's the groups that we have their 990 on file. They ordered the financials on file and the hundred thousand dollar figure was just something that andy suggested is Being able to tell whether you were in the big group or not, but I'm not wed to that figure We can do 75 we can do 50 or we can do no we can just a Appoint them I would I would say higher than lower Okay, well a dd isn't going to do some research and give us a look of what what they are But uh, we would they would also have to be a 501 c3 The the big thing here is that we would sign a a contract with the group rather than them sending in the gas receipts the The uh salary receipts and all that other stuff We would sign a contract with a cultural group and be a cultural contract that they would provide us with x specified Services for the year in return for our contribution of x number of dollars This is the way margie says that other cities handle this so that they don't get bogged down in receipts and this sort of stuff That it's just like us for contracting to build a water tank We come up with a four million dollar water tank. We sign a contract with the ball construction And when the water tank is built, we They're not called judge mullin And uh, well, what kind of services would be talking about? Well, see this is what I worry about howard I'll give you an example. There was a period of time where people were Taking out ads with each other to share hospitality money in their program Which is not allowed and that's the kind if you don't have any ads So so your organization would buy an ad for me and I'd buy an ad from you and we would keep the money And that is something That's my With this funding arrangement you're describing now They would be subject to audit. They would all be subject to audit all groups all groups will be subject to audit In this state, the issue that I have how and I know you got to get through this To think about perhaps Either lowering that hundred thousand I'm not wed to the hundred thousand dollar. That was just a suggestion. All right, and we will look at the thing The second group or the smaller groups the ones that have fiscal agents that that needs some help They would also have to have 501c3 status. They would have financial audits They are the ones that the committee would have to probably do a little hold Handholding on the third group is what I call the sam davis group This is the a pot of money that would be set aside Or innovative smaller groups that are coming into the market for the first time that want a A foothold and get their foot foot in the door And so we would set aside money that would be used for that And the fourth group is capital projects. It would be we I think we've got around five hundred thousand dollars Floating around in capital projects right now And I think that we ought to take that five hundred thousand dollars and make it a capital projects fund The committee could help us prioritize which groups get it So if trust estate was next up to get x number of dollars that the council approves Then we would know that as Nickelodeon and cma roll off of their use of a hundred thousand dollars a year It could be given to other Isn't there a discussion around capital projects about what whether we could support capital projects and buildings that we do We can As long as they're tourism related as long as they're bringing in tourism projects and we can support it So those are the four pots that I have the big change would be the contract So that we wouldn't have to get bogged down and all the bookkeeping that we've been bogged down in for other other things And I forgot one thing in the in the top group The top group would have multi-year funding You would you would say it's you you would have two years and jeff I can't remember exactly what the wording you sent Subject to appropriation by council what I envision this to be is is the way Cities that do multi-year budgets do you approve two years of budget But you true up the second one every year. So you actually got two years Rolling each each time a lot of these groups like nickelodeon and others Need to be assured that they're gonna get funded for the next year so that they can plan 12 18 months ahead of time and this would allow them to to do that plan. So nobody never really Insult from the truck Well, that'd be up to the committee the committee would review it each year if they think it needs to be coming down And then they can set that as they true up each year Conceptually have to tell you that I'm completely concerned about The contract I don't believe that is the way to go and it's just it is a license for people To manipulate the system I'm saying any of these groups are going to do it, but it opens up a door that you cannot close And it's specifically we can throw away Howard. I think you probably ought to Hear about some of the things that we've seen and done In there so that you understand fully, but I don't think that For accountability standpoint having a contract like that. That's That's a no for me. What you you have a contract with Hundreds of people for the city of columbia and you don't worry about them, but you're gonna worry about Wait a minute, but what does the hospitality rules mean you have to turn in reimbursables? It's not a blank check. It does not say that. Yes, it does. It does not. It does It does all the local Doesn't matter. It's our law. That's what we pass it and sold to the public. You can't go back. We can change that We can hear busy biggest example and we went through this as a council Mr. Deval would probably be one columbia. I mean that but that was determined that that was a Like an arm of or they're providing a service That whole discussion that was had about one columbia took, you know legal review etc for us to get to the point to do that contract with them on a basis and we go through that with them every year, you know, we provide directions that they are going each year and the deliverables That we would expect but that's to me a a bigger or broader concept of amplifying Probably a Spent off now with amplify columbia plan. Um, is there a big part, you know, working with one columbia, so To say that a group would i'm not i'm just getting my general thoughts I haven't looked at this, but I think that we have to be real careful about What are we saying the deliverables are to the city of columbia like what service are they providing? The city with one columbia there's certain Services, but for us having them we as city staff, you know, wouldn't be doing ourselves Well, you look through the list that we have that we're funding now You can think of off the top of your head the deliverables that most of these agencies would have Especially the ones that would be in the top tier I can name one off the top tier that presented us their financial thing and if you read it they made 250 Thousand dollars when they told us they couldn't survive without it, but their net income was 250 thousand dollars And there was no direct real accountability of it other than the only part of it was the 50 thousand that we gave that They said that they were going to go broke if they didn't get the 50 thousand dollars But yet they netted 250 where'd it go when you tell them something like that you open the door Now conceptually what you're putting together Make sense. We'll put some Don't give away the accountability piece. Well, what would you suggest that we do the same thing if you want to commit to a two-year You can do a two-year commitment. That's that's not an issue We can still do the structure. They still need to supply everything to staff the backup so that we can verify I think it's ridiculous for us to make these why people why give receipts for gas and They're not supposed to be using it for gas They can use it for gas if Obviously, we need to spend a little more qt on this. I'm gonna wrap this one up pretty pretty soon. But but I think just fundamental understanding philosophy Obviously, there's there is Really interest in pursuing much more efficiency In the process a much more inclusive approach equitable distribution to Our organizations that are anchored and I didn't say even crown jewels Of our of our cultural infrastructure also making sure some other organizations get an opportunity to also Rise up to that that that status But making sure that that we have a system that's accountable because obviously There's only a limited amount of dollars that's growing. Thank god. Yeah, but a limited amount So I'm not sure if we spend if we plan if we've appropriated the time to have a philosophical discussion or h tax which always gets really Spirited I got my senses as there's a there's a sense amount of money we gotta do something I thought I when you said you needed some time Although we're going to walk through this list or spend some time talking to this list So we can at least have some consensus As the how we move forward Tonight or this is no work session is definitely time whether or not work session on February 20th is the time Oh, absolutely, absolutely, but we but we still I'd like to hear from We have not yet Yeah, this is an expansion so uh spend maybe a decade ago leadership um, one of the class projects was Have an interactive Wayfinding walking tour of historic sites historic and public art sites throughout downtown They it's it's it's got the old This there was a proposal that the students from Heathwood hall made to us in which they They would expand The walking tour 10 additional sites replaced of salamanders are missing you guys have probably seen some of them one front of the museum of art one Yeah, they are collectors. I got to make sure they're fixed really tight is one at Right across the street from it at never bust blue skies public art as well This was expanded by 10 different sites I'm sure I think you at the meeting they went through the entire process with us This would add This would purchase also some Collectibles for people actually to buy and not steal off the off the wall Would have an app For what folks be able to use they've been working with the cvb and other stakeholders there this additional funding Compliments about four thousand now they've already raised they raised they raised four thousand raised four thousand This would complement that effort. It's a good look. All right. Um, you want to go do this? I am I'm fine with the uh with the Time to address this because I think we need to sit it on the calendar. I'd lie when you guys sit to meet John the john there's Usually it's in may we got so we got time. We got we got time I'd rather the applications will be due at the end of march. So we will have Everything So for us to have that that discussion Six one way half doesn't know that you guys want to go ahead But then I meet until man Then I meet until man Everybody's here. We got some time to lay out the lay out the ground We can make it april that we won't be talking about anything else Just joking Yes, let's set this for in april not that you hadn't been doing this for a long time, but you really have your feet up under you by then We'll have a pretty good look maybe Look at at the requests as well I think that'll give DD some time to put some things together I put together a little bit, but I'd like a little more time to go through what we have And then of course the new ones that we receive The uh Realists you provided today for you. Yes. Um, so think of the my offices is this fiscal year Um Five points your question is for 1819. All right The food and wine festival would be for the current year clean safe clean safe Is for next year. Yeah, so I assume are they submitting through the process as well Yes, they will submit their normal um annual application for the 1819 funding for clean and safe and for Their normal application be transparent and tell you guys where I am on this the conversation started at least I think there's a need Parks and Rec that staff is Are we are we those two right those two so we take we take that off and that off so we also change that number At least as anticipated by By 23 If we take um 1819 Off uh for uh clean and safe just to kill Um, but I am I am prepared to Um, including that motion night that we're committing to the 1819 allocation Successive years I want that off the table Okay, uh the um Num I support to secure the cameras in the hospital districts. Thanks. We have to have we have to have them I support the ambassador program. That is a 1718 request not an 1819 Obviously showing up on the on the capital city classic that that is um I'm important and we got to get ready for the basketball tournament um for the firefighters And the sports council, um, obviously, um, you know, it's miss, south carolina agent as well as the Um, the largest it's not the largest tourist event in the city at the year That was a resource sports council. Yeah Okay, and I support the girl scouts. I think I think the I think the amount of Of the children and their families Uh, that will come here as a result of that commitment Is is huge of it and this is uh Is that a one time request? It's a one time. It's a one time request Um, I haven't had a chance to digest these others except for the food and wine festival Yeah, and and of course and of course, I was the element that was articulated earlier I'm fine with the rest of those if someone wants to speak about the others I want to add black pages for 25 Black exponent if you and you're a jansm I said taking taking taking account Wouldn't have this might take you All right But I I'm familiar with I'm familiar with the language buddies foundation. I can support them. It's a modest request I don't buy on any much about the application And obviously support the payment offer, but I haven't seen that request either. I guess I ran the gauntlet in the committee And didn't No, no, they'll they'll come back. That's just that's just to fill the gap. Can I give the country? um Absolutely Well, number one, I think we need to save this money and put it in the pot Or the committee to have for the 1819 application So I don't support Hardly any of the let me give you a couple of reasons number one I think the 75,000 dollars for the security cameras can wait until the committee meets and let the committee decide Decide that rather than taking it out of the pot already Uh The cleaning of the vista gill. We've already decided to put that off to 1819 The city center partnership and bastard program. I agree with daniel. I don't think they should get an additional 40,000 dollars They they have a bid that is growing by leaps and bounds as we develop the main street of Columbia and they they need to live on that Uh We make these arguments that these arguments are consistent across organizations to Let's make sure that's consistency. Okay the basketball tournament and the 75,000 dollars for regional sports camp, I think that that needs to come out of the atax for the experience We should not be funding 150,000 out of eight stacks in addition to giving them 80 percent of all the atax that's collected But I think that that should not be coming out of the eight stacks Uh, the state firefighters conference $6,000. I don't oppose the firefighters conference But we have lots of conferences in columbia including the municipal association that was last week And we would never have gotten any support out of the city columbia about it from any of the other people Why should we give it to the firefighters? This is a this is a national conference. This is a national a national conference But also our by our chief and Our team are who have an integral part in hosting the event This is what has pretty much rorted away from the coast. I want to say it's been there for years and years It'll be the first time so they have a From the opportunity to train on our rivers. They're gonna be doing that So we felt like that was a little bit of a distinction because we're I support that one. I think And then the other one is the girls scouts we talked about this two years ago and Danny crow came in and said the girls scouts were not an organization that could receive the atax And I think we ought to stick with them. I don't think that Reducing the the contribution to hundred and thirty thousand And I asked that last week Howard, but I thought that what I was told is that this is a different quest or something that this is eligible Is that right gene? Why would it be Ellen? Well, it's a it's a capital need just like you were saying This is the same request that they made over the years. I think previous administrator Committed to the site improvements around the facility They've never heard the thing before they were asking for like capital for this isn't the capital Campaign Because I I agreed with that Howard because I thought it was it Yeah, the backup that we asked specific questions and those those emails are in the yes But gene you were saying that it is eligible because it's the site improvement Thank you. Good man. Good man I also think something the letter said that I guess some of the proof is also because of I think the ddrc Your question It's going to help with it's going to help with pedestrian activity and connectivity down in that in that lower part of the business Yeah, that's that's one of the issues that we need to talk about at some point Sidewalks and other issues down there. Hey, um, so and I would say that the things are the items articulated earlier And those that we appropriately previously and the couple ones are mentioned on the list from the day Still leaves $315,000 in the tail. Okay, so we'll make sure it's clear. We're not exhausting Which ones did you articulate on this long? um language buzz How much is this This new list is we're not doing it now We're doing it tonight. We're doing tonight You did what's what were they again language buzz foundation? I'm sorry. I'm sorry, and I'm sorry and I make that 295 and I'm sorry The language buzz foundation Pamela opera The five points food and wine festival Salah Salamander and in black And In the in the previous in the previous list Of the previous list, I'll I'll say it one more time and maybe if you guys can help me step it up or something of the security cameras The city center partnership That matter classic basketball tournament firefighters sports council girl scout And then again off the new list like expo 25,000 language buzz opera Food and wine festival Salah Salamander Again, that leaves just about just about under 300,000 dollars. I'm gonna put that in the lock box I'll go lock box if you want. I'm just joking. Just put it on. You can send it all to Columbia Hey, man, he's getting a he's getting his own fund. You heard it Some people get bridges and roads. He's getting a fund. He leaves a significant six-figure fund If you guys want one now, let's just make sure Philosophically, you know, and we've done it different ways different times and that if we're going to use 2017-18 funds the fund 2018-19 commitments that they eventually unless unless we can send you see significant growth there We're gonna we're gonna we're gonna we're gonna hit a wall so well all the way. I mean, uh, is that fair mr. Mr. That bright red over there. I'm amazed the um, so But it still leaves 300,000 dollars in there. That's gonna be the motion tonight And we kind of go from that point forward Madam city manager, can we get that in in one page? Yes, sir. We're working on it for you. Yes, sir And at some point can I guess we can set a date certain to talk about the proposal so that the committee knows what we're doing We move it forward because that will also We'll I think there's no eclipse this year Exactly That was an august 21st event that was once in a lifetime when we had to get the money You have a shopping list, man They did it in the we're gonna be going exactly. Yeah, we need to go ahead There's some people waiting for us If I could before you all make your motion just a moment of personal privilege So they try to catch staff while they're in the room Ms. Kris Seegers whose phone is going off, I think right on cue. That's her stormtrooper Professional has been with us for five years Chris Thank you Much time will spend I must say with you all the Thank you, Chris I know I understand Yeah, it seems like it's been more than five years but it's been five years right from the um The stimulus was starting. That's right. Isn't it Chris five years? Well, we got good you paid you brought in you you paid you you you earned your salary, didn't you? Yeah Mr. Mayor during the motion period for your Executive session Yeah, um, so the motion is going exactly guys want to at least recognize two of our mayors fellows in the back Oh Right young superstars superstars superstars we had a couple more here earlier All right, mr. Mayor, I would also say that columbia has led the way breaking news The president has directed the justice department to ban Bones stop You never miss rope y'all of this council My son I went with him this week to get it by I Going to her car, that's awesome y'all. All right. We got a motion to make a motion you got two additional items for the manager Yes, I got them here. All right. Go for it. Okay, mr. Mayor. I make a motion to go into executive station to discuss Um Under 70 a to perspective purchase of sale of real property potential purchase of north of property in north columbia potential property in rosewood community Uh, I also would like to go into executive session for receipt of legal advice relating to attending or threatened potential claim uh 70 a to The lavish stricken at all versus city of columbia taking extended off because Mike's a receipt of legal advice related to matters covered by attorney client privilege pursuant to 70 a to extended hours permits for commercial establishment railroad referendum security measures Discussion of matters related to proposed location or expansion of services to encourage location or expansion of industries or other businesses pursuant to 70 a to sewer expansion fees discussion of negotiations Proposed contractual arrangement pursuant to 70 a to capital city stadium Bull Street development law rich and sewer agreement carolina water part prepares discussion of employment of an employee pursuant to 70 a to Mr. Bollinger you did add the additional potential purposes. Yes. Thank you read those first Thank you We're gonna stay here. Uh, certainly. Yes, sir. I think you at least got a good hour Second third