[I. MEETING CALLED TO ORDER]
          [00:00:08]
          TO THE MARCH 2ND, 2026 EAST POINT CITY COUNCIL MEETING. MADAM CITY CLERK, ROLL CALL, PLEASE. COUNCIL MEMBER. HEMMING. COUNCILMEMBER. FREELY PRESENT. COUNCILMEMBER. ATKINS. PRESENT. 
          COUNCIL MEMBER. ZIEGLER. COUNCIL MEMBER. CUMMINGS. PRESENT. COUNCIL MEMBER. 
          MITCHELL. PRESENT. COUNCIL MEMBER. CALDWELL. HERE. COUNCILMEMBER. ROGERS. PRESENT. 
          MAYOR. CHAPMAN, WE HAVE A QUORUM. THANK YOU. TONIGHT'S INVOCATION WILL BE PRESENTED BY REVEREND. IF I'M PRONOUNCING IT WRONG, PLEASE FORGIVE ME. TANJI CLARKE, FROM SAINT PAUL MISSIONARY BAPTIST CHURCH, FOLLOWED BY THE PLEDGE TO THE FLAG. THANK YOU. GOOD EVENING, MAYOR AND COUNCIL. SHALL WE PRAY? GRACIOUS GOD, OUR FATHER, FROM EVERLASTING TO EVERLASTING, THOU ART GOD. DEAR GOD, WE THANK YOU FOR THIS MOMENT IN YOUR PRESENCE. DEAR GOD, WE CANNOT ACCIDENT OR WORRY. DEAR GOD, WE REALIZE IT'S BY YOUR DIVINE PROVIDENCE AND GRACE THAT YOU BROUGHT US HERE ON THIS EVENING. DEAR GOD, WE ASK THAT YOU WOULD POUR INTO THE HEART OF EAST POINT. DEAR GOD, BLESS THE MAYOR AND COUNCIL AND THEIR FAMILY. DEAR GOD, WE ASK THAT YOU BLESS THE CONSTITUENTS, THE STAKEHOLDERS AND ALL WHO HAVE A VESTED INTEREST IN THIS CITY AND THAT PROSPERITY MONEY FAVOR COME FROM THE NORTH, SOUTH, EAST AND THE WEST TO POUR AND MAKE THIS CITY GREAT LIKE IT ALREADY IS AND EVEN GREATER. THESE THINGS WE ASK IN THE MASTER'S NAME OF JESUS CHRIST. AS BELIEVERS OF GOD WE SAY AMEN. AMEN. PLEASE STAND. 
          [V. ANNOUNCEMENT OF SERGEANT-AT-ARMS - Capt. Robinson]
ALL RIGHT. THANK YOU. AND TONIGHT WE HAVE OUR SERGEANT OF ARMS AS CAPTAIN ROBINSON. THANK YOU. AND SO WE WILL MOVE NOW TO THE ADOPTION OF THE AGENDA. IS THERE A MOTION TO ADOPT THE 
          [VI. ADOPTION OF THE COUNCIL AGENDA]
AGENDA, MADAM MAYOR? I'D LIKE TO MAKE. OR I WOULD LIKE TO AMEND ONE ITEM. ITEM NUMBER 13. 
          I'D LIKE TO REMOVE IT FROM THE AGENDA. OKAY. WE HAVE A MOTION TO REMOVE. ITEM NUMBER 13 FROM THE AGENDA. IS THERE A SECOND? SECOND? ALL THOSE IN FAVOR? AYE. THE AYES HAVE IT. I'M SORRY. 
          ALL THOSE OPPOSED? ANY DISCUSSION? COUNCILWOMAN CARDWELL. YES. OKAY. OKAY. THE MOTION PASSES. OKAY. THAT. NOW, CAN WE HAVE A. I'M SORRY. I'M IN DISCUSSION. OKAY. YOU'RE IN FOR DISCUSSION. YEAH. ALRIGHT. AS IT RELATES TO. ITEM NUMBER 12, I DO KNOW THAT. I KNOW, BUT WE'RE DOING THE AGENDA CORRECT FOR ITEM NUMBER 12. I DO WANT TO SAY THAT I DIDN'T LOOK UP ANYTHING. THE AARP COMMUNITY CHALLENGE MICRO GRANT BY THE FIRE DEPARTMENT. I DO LIKE SEEING THAT ON THE AGENDA, BUT I ALSO WOULD LIKE TO MAKE RECOMMENDATIONS FOR FOR OTHER GRANTS THAT I FOUND. THIS INFORMATION IS TIME SENSITIVE. MADAM. MADAM MAYOR. YES? IF YOU CAN GET A MOTION TO ADOPT THE AGENDA, POTENTIALLY WITH THESE CHANGES THAT COUNCILWOMAN MARTIN ROGERS IS SUGGESTING, I THINK THAT WOULD BE MORE APPROPRIATE. THE ONLY MOTION THAT HAS PASSED IS A MOTION TO REMOVE ITEM NUMBER 13. RIGHT. SO WE'RE GOING TO HAVE A MOTION TO ADOPT THE. SO MOVED. BUT WHAT DO YOU WANT TO MAKE CHANGES. YES. SO THEN DON'T DON'T MOVE TO ADOPT IT. YOU HAVE TO MOVE TO ADOPT IT WITH YOUR SUGGESTED CHANGES. I'D LIKE TO MOVE TO ADOPT THE AGENDA WITH THESE SUGGESTED CHANGES. ALSO. THAT'S BEEN DONE. 
          SO LET'S LIST YOUR CHANGES. SO NUMBER 12 I WOULD LIKE TO ADD ADDITIONAL GRANTS. WILL THEY WILL BE SEPARATE ITEMS. THEY WON'T FALL UNDER NUMBER 12. IT'LL BE 14 1516 AND 17 OKAY. 
          NO I'LL WITHDRAW THE MOTION. AND WE'LL JUST GO WITH WHAT IS PRESENTED FOR NUMBER 12 OKAY. 
          AND I'LL JUST SHARE THE INFORMATION WITH THE CITY MANAGER IN HOPES THAT THEY COULD BE APPLIED FOR. AND ARE THESE GRANTS THAT ARE DISTINGUISHABLE FROM NUMBER 12? 
          [00:05:04]
YES. OKAY. THEY'RE ALL DIFFERENT TYPES OF GRANTS. THEY'RE ALL DIFFERENT TIME SENSITIVE. BUT ONE IS FROM MARCH 23RD, MARCH 27TH, MARCH 31ST. BUT I CAN JUST PUT THESE ITEMS ON THE WORK SESSION AGENDA. THAT STILL GIVES TIME FOR THEM TO BE VOTED ON AT THE WORK SESSION. LET ME RECOMMEND THAT WHEN YOU PUT THEM ON THE WORK SESSION, YOU INDICATE THE EMERGENCY SO THAT THEY CAN BE VOTED ON POTENTIALLY AT THE WORK SESSION. OKAY. THANK YOU. 
          SO SOMEONE NOW NEEDS TO MAKE A MOTION TO JUST ADOPT THE AGENDA AS IS. I MAKE A MOTION TO ADOPT THE AGENDA AS IS. SECOND FOR DISCUSSION, I HAVE A CHANGE TO THE AGENDA. OKAY, OKAY. MADAM MAYOR, I'D LIKE TO ALSO ADD ONTO OUR AGENDA JUST BEFORE ITEM NUMBER FIVE, COMMENTS FROM COUNCIL THAT WE ADD AN AGENDA ITEM FOR APPOINTMENTS TO BOARDS, AUTHORITIES AND COMMISSIONS. 
          OKAY. DO WE HAVE A SECOND? SECOND? ALL THOSE IN FAVOR? AYE. ALL THOSE OPPOSED? OKAY. ANY DISCUSSION. SO THE DISCUSSION WAS COUNCIL FOR ACTION. RIGHT. SO WE DON'T GET AN ADDITIONAL DISCUSSION OKAY. THE SECOND THAT YOU JUST VOTE YOU JUST WANT TO ADD THAT TO THE UNDERLYING CONDITION. RIGHT. SO NOW WE'RE ADOPTING THOSE AGENDA WITH THE ADDITION OF COMMENTS FROM APPOINTMENTS TOWARDS OKAY. ALRIGHT. THANK YOU. SO EXCUSE ME OKAY. SO SOMEONE ELSE HAS SOMETHING. YES MADAM MAYOR HI. HI. HELLO. HELLO. HI. WE WE ALSO NEED TO REQUEST THAT WE REMOVE ITEM NUMBER SIX, WHICH IS THE GMA REVENUE ADVANTAGE PROGRAM TO NEXT WEEK'S WORK SESSION. WE WE HAVE PLACED ON YOUR CHAIRS COPIES OF HIS POWERPOINT. THIS WILL ALLOW YOU TO FAMILIARIZE YOURSELF WITH WHAT HE WILL BE SPEAKING WITH NEXT WEEK. I'M SORRY. ITEM NUMBER SIX. THAT'S UNDER PRESENTATION. WHICH ONE. AND SO WE'RE REMOVING NUMBER SEVEN PRESENTATION. PRESENTATION OKAY. MOVING IT TO THE WORK SESSION OKAY. SO WE'RE GOING TO MOVE THAT TO THE MARCH. WHAT'S NEXT WEEK. THE NEXT WORK SESSION MARCH 9TH. THANK YOU. WORK SESSION. SO WE ARE MOVING ITEM NUMBER SIX TO THE MARCH 9TH WORK SESSION IN FOR TODAY'S AGENDA, WE ARE ADDING IN THE APPOINTMENT OF THE BOARDS, THE COMMITTEE AND BOARDS TO THE AGENDA. IS THAT GOING TO BE ON THIS AGENDA OR FOR THE NEXT OR MOVING FORWARD? OKAY. SO AT THIS TIME WE ARE GOING TO. FINALIZE THE VOTE TO ADOPT THE AGENDA, REMOVING ITEM NUMBER SIX AND TO ADD THE APPOINTING OF THE BOARDS IN COMMISSION TO THE AGENDA. SO ALL THOSE IN FAVOR. MOTION TO ADOPT THE AGENDA. OKAY. SO WE YEAH I KNOW I THINK WE HAVE THREE CHANGES RIGHT. NO OKAY. OKAY. YEAH. MADAM MAYOR I MOVE THAT WE ADOPT OUR AGENDA WITH THE EDITS AS PRESENTED. I BELIEVE THERE ARE THREE CHANGES, OKAY. TWO CHANGES, TWO SECOND TWO CHANGES. 
          OKAY. ALL RIGHT. ALL THOSE IN FAVOR? DO I HAVE A SECOND? SECOND. NO DISCUSSION. OKAY. 
          THE DISCUSSION. OKAY. ANY DISCUSSION? NO. OKAY. ALL IN FAVOR. AYE. ALL THOSE OPPOSED OKAY. THE AYES HAVE IT. AND SO THANK YOU. ALL RIGHT. OKAY. AND NOW WE CAN WE WE WILL MOVE TO 
          [VII. APPROVAL OF CITY COUNCIL MINUTES]
THE APPROVAL OF THE CITY COUNCIL MINUTES. DO I HAVE A SECOND A MOTION TO APPROVE THE CITY COUNCIL MINUTES. MADAM MAYOR, FOR FEBRUARY. I'M SORRY. LET ME GIVE YOU THE DATE FOR THE REGULAR CITY COUNCIL MEETING ON FEBRUARY THE 16TH, 2026. YES, MADAM MAYOR, I MOVE THAT WE APPROVE THE MEETING MINUTES FROM THE REGULAR CITY COUNCIL MEETING OF FEBRUARY 16TH, 2026. OKAY. THANK YOU. IS THERE A SECOND? SECOND? ALL RIGHT. ANY DISCUSSION? ALL THOSE IN FAVOR? ALL THOSE OPPOSED? ALRIGHT. THANK YOU. HEARING TODAY. AND WE WILL MOVE 
          [IX. PUBLIC COMMENTS]
          [00:10:07]
ON TO THE. I'M SORRY TO THE PUBLIC COMMENTS. DO WE HAVE ANY PUBLIC COMMENTS? WE HAVE FIVE PUBLIC COMMENTS TODAY. OKAY. ALL RIGHT. THANK YOU. SO FOR THE PUBLIC COMMENTS. THE PUBLIC MAY SPEAK DURING THE PUBLIC COMMENT SECTION OF THE AGENDA. THE CITY CLERK SHALL MAKE THE PUBLIC COMMENT FORM AVAILABLE AS CITY AND CITY HALL LOBBY. PRIOR TO THE START OF THE MEETING, ALL SPEAKERS MUST COMPLETE A COMMENT FORM AND PROVIDE A COMPLETED COMMENT FORM TO THE CITY CLERK. BETWEEN 6 P.M. AND 6:25 P.M. PRIOR TO THE START OF THE MEETING. 
          SUBJECTS SUBJECT MAY INCLUDE ANY SUBJECT OF CHOICE. THERE WILL BE A THREE MINUTE TIME LIMIT FOR EACH SPEAKER. SHOULD THE SPEAKER DESIRE TO GIVE HIS OR HER SPEAK TIME TO ANOTHER SPEAKER, HE OR SHE MAY DO SO BY NOTATING WHAT SPEAKER SHALL RECEIVE THE TIME ON HIS OR HER COMMENT FORM, PROVIDED THAT THE SPEAKER IS GIVEN HIS OR HER FORM, THAT HE OR SHE GIVES ALL OR PART OF HER OF HER TIME UP TO THREE MINUTES TO ANOTHER SPEAKER, FOR A TOTAL OF SIX MINUTES OF SPEAKING TIME. SPEAKERS MAY ADDRESS THE COUNCIL ONLY ONCE DURING THIS TIME OF THE AGENDA. SPEAKERS MAY SPEAKERS MUST IDENTIFY THEMSELVES IN THEIR ADDRESS PRIOR TO SPEAKING. QUESTIONS FROM THE SPEAKER MAY BE ADDRESSED DURING THE PUBLIC SPEAKING SECTION OF THE AGENDA. EAST POINT RESIDENTS WILL HAVE PRIORITY OVER SPEAKERS. THERE WILL BE A TOTAL OF NOT MORE THAN 60 MINUTES FOR THE PUBLIC SPEAKING SECTION OF THE AGENDA. 
          SPEAKERS MAY ONLY ADDRESS THE PRESIDING OFFICER. SPEAKERS SHALL OBSERVE ALL RULES AND DECORUM, NO DEBATE, DISRESPECT OR OBSCENITIES SHALL BE TOLERATED. THE PRESIDING OFFICER SHALL RULE ANY SUCH INDIVIDUALS OUT OF ORDER THAT FAILS TO COMPLY WITH THE FOREGOING. OKAY, WE CAN HAVE OUR FIRST SPEAKER COME UP, PLEASE. FIRST, WE'LL HAVE MISS PATSY JO HILLIARD. NO. OKAY. SO. NO MISS PASSENGER. OKAY. ALL RIGHT. ALL RIGHT. UP NEXT, WE HAVE MISS DEBORAH HARGROVE, AND SHE HAD TIME GIVEN TO HER BY MR. NORM URQUHART. SO SHE'LL HAVE SIX MINUTES. OKAY. THERE YOU GO. WONDERFUL. THANK YOU. GOOD EVENING ALL, AND WELCOME TO OUR NEWLY WELCOMED FOR OUR NEWLY ELECTED MAYOR AND COUNCIL MEMBERS. SO VERY GLAD TO THAT YOU'RE HERE AND THAT YOU HAVE MADE A COMMITMENT TO SERVE THE RESIDENTS OF EAST POINT. AND I THINK I SPEAK ON BEHALF OF ALL THE RESIDENTS ON THANKING THOSE COUNCIL MEMBERS WHO VOTED TO CHANGE THE ORDER OF THE AGENDA TO ALLOW RESIDENTS TO PROVIDE PUBLIC COMMENTS BEFORE PRESENTATIONS SO THAT RESIDENTS WILL NOT HAVE TO SPEND LONG HOURS WAITING TO BE HEARD. I, I WAS HERE TILL 10:00 ONE NIGHT WITH A GROUP THAT DWINDLED AFTER 9 P.M. SO TONIGHT I COME BEFORE YOU TO TELL YOU ABOUT THE WONDERFUL STORIES THAT MY NEIGHBORS AND FRIENDS HAVE SHARED WITH ME OVER THE YEARS, ABOUT THE DEDICATED AND WONDERFUL EAST POINT CITY EMPLOYEES WE HAVE IN SANITATION, POWER, WATER AND SEWER. AS A RESIDENT OF EAST POINT FOR OVER 40 YEARS, I PERSONALLY HAVE EXPERIENCED MANY ENCOUNTERS WITH EAST POINT POWER, WATER AND SEWER AS WELL AS SANITATION. ON EACH ENCOUNTER. I WAS ALWAYS MET WITH PROFESSIONALISM, COURTESY AND A WILLINGNESS TO SERVE AND RESOLVE ANY CONCERNS, ESPECIALLY WHEN IT CAME TO TREES. ONE MORNING, A TREE FELL BLOCKING HOGAN ROAD AT 4 A.M. IN THE MORNING EVERYTHING WAS GONE AND UP AND RUNNING. BY NOON IT WILL TAKE RESIDENTS TO SPEAK ON THE BEHALF OF THEIR OUTSTANDING WORK. I WAS THRILLED TO WITNESS THE ACCOLADES RECENTLY RECEIVED BY THE WATER AND SEWER DEPARTMENT, WHICH WAS A TESTAMENT TO THEIR EXEMPLARY SERVICES TO THE CITY. 
          THEY HAD MEASURES THAT THEY COULD ASPIRE TO ACHIEVE. JUST RECENTLY, MY NEIGHBOR WAS 
          [00:15:06]
SHARING A STORY ABOUT POWER OUTAGES DURING THE COLD WEATHER. HER CHILDREN WERE WORRIED ABOUT HER BECAUSE THEY DIDN'T WANT HER TO BE STUCK WITHOUT POWER. SHE INSISTED ON NOT LEAVING HER HOME FOR THE WEEKEND BECAUSE SHE LIVES IN EAST POINT AND EAST POINT. POWER IS ALWAYS ON THE JOB AND WE NEVER HAVE TO WORRY ABOUT POWER BEING OUT FOR MORE THAN 4 TO 6 HOURS. UNLIKE OTHER CITIES. AND FINALLY, I WOULD LIKE TO TELL SHARE ONE MORE AMAZING STORY. ABOUT AN EAST POINT EMPLOYEE, DAVE WINFIELD, WHOM I MET FOR THE FIRST TIME IN 2025. I HAVE ALWAYS ADMIRED HIS BEAUTIFUL YARD ON PLANTATION DRIVE, SO HIS YARD WAS FEATURED IN THE EAST POINT TOUR OF GARDENS REPRESENTING WARD C. WEEKS LATER, HE WALKED DOWN THE AISLE OF MY CHURCH AT SAINT STEPHEN'S MISSIONARY BAPTIST CHURCH. AS A NEW MEMBER, I WELCOME HIM WITH OPEN ARMS. HE IS NOW ON THE MEN'S USHER BOARD. THEN RECENTLY, WHILE RAKING LEAVES ON THE CURB, A LEAF VACUUM TRUCK WAS PASSING BY. I SAID, OH NO, I HAVE MISSED MY OPPORTUNITY TO HAVE THESE LEAVES PICKED UP. HOWEVER, THE TRUCK SLOWED DOWN AS HE WAS PASSING BY MY HOME AND THE DRIVER ASKED IF I COULD HAVE THE LEAVES TO THE CURB BY TOMORROW. I SAID YES SIR. WELL, THE NEXT DAY IT RAINED, BUT FRIDAY CAME AND I WAS OVERJOYED TO SEE THE LEAVES WERE GONE BEFORE 8:30 A.M. I WONDERED WHAT TIME DO THEY GET TO WORK IN THE MORNING? ON SUNDAY AT CHURCH THEY SAID IT WAS HIM IN THE TRUCK. I WAS SHOCKED, I SAID I KNEW THE FACE BUT I COULDN'T PUT WHERE AND I KNEW IT LOOKED FAMILIAR, BUT I COULDN'T REMEMBER WHERE. AND THAT IS A SHORT STORY ABOUT COMMUNITY IN EAST POINT. DAVE WINFIELD IS A FRIEND, DEDICATED CHURCH MEMBER AND DEVOTED SANITATION WORKER HERE IN EAST POINT. THIS IS WHY I ADVOCATED HIGHER WAGES FOR OUR CITY EMPLOYEES, ESPECIALLY WHEN CITY. 
          THE CITY HIRED A CONSULTANT FIRM TO STUDY THE WAGES OF OUR EMPLOYEES. IT WAS NO SURPRISE TO ME THAT THE FINDINGS THAT THEY THAT THEY WERE UNDERPAID, ACCORDING TO AVERAGE WAGES FOR THE SAME DUTIES. IT HAS BEEN MY BELIEF THAT EAST POINT SHOULD BOAST AS PAYING THE HIGHEST WAGES IN SOUTH FULTON, SO THAT WE CAN CONTINUE TO GET DEDICATED, HARDWORKING AND COURTEOUS EMPLOYEES TO SERVE OUR RESIDENTS AND NOT REPEATEDLY HEAR THE RESPONSE. 
          SHORT OF STAFF. I WAS ELATED TO KNOW FROM CITY MANAGER JONES THAT HE ALSO IS PLACING ADEQUATE WAGES FOR CITY EMPLOYEES AS A HIGH PRIORITY IN HIS BUDGET. ALSO LAST YEAR, CITY. CITY CITY COUNCIL MEMBER PROPOSED MAKING AVAILABLE TO CITY EMPLOYEES FORECLOSURES AS AFFORDABLE HOUSING IN THE CITY. I ADVOCATE FOR HIGHER WAGES AND AFFORDABLE HOUSING. ALSO, I THINK THAT IT WAS A BEAUTIFUL AND AWESOME GESTURE THAT COUNCIL MEMBER CUMMINGS MADE IN HAVING A RAFFLE AND TURKEY GIVEAWAY FOR THE CITY EMPLOYEES. IT IS MY HOPE THAT YOU WILL CONTINUE TO SPREAD THE JOY OF HOLIDAY CHEER. LET'S KEEP EASTPOINTE MOVING FORWARD. 
          THANK YOU. THANKS. OKAY, SORRY. UP NEXT, WE HAVE MR. ANTHONY DERUBEIS. GOOD EVENING, MAYOR AND COUNCIL. ANTHONY DERUBEIS, 3171 EAST POINT STREET. RESIDENT FOR ABOUT 15 YEARS, SHORT AND SWEET. TONIGHT, I WANT TO THANK COUNCIL MEMBER ZIEGLER AND ATKINS FOR PUTTING ON A FANTASTIC WARD B INFORMATION SESSION. THANKS TO THE OTHER COUNCIL MEMBERS WHO CAME IN SUPPORT. GOOD TO SEE YOU THERE. YOU PACKED A LOT OF SAUSAGE INTO THAT CASING IN TWO HOURS, BUT ALSO ALL SORTS OF FANTASTIC INFORMATION. ALSO, I'D LIKE TO THANK MISS CARTWRIGHT FROM THE FINANCE DEPARTMENT FOR HELPING TO RESOLVE THE BILLING ISSUE THAT I IDENTIFIED IN JANUARY. SHE DID A GREAT JOB IN GETTING THE BILLS SQUARED AWAY BY FEBRUARY, 
          [00:20:03]
AND I CAN ECHO ALL THE SENTIMENTS THE LADY JUST SAID FOR THE ELECTRIC COMPANY, THEY'VE HELPED ME NUMEROUS TIMES WITH TREES FALLING ON MY LINES. EVERYONE IN EAST POINT IS DOING A GREAT JOB. THANK YOU. LASTLY, WE HAVE WAVERLY T LUCAS THE SECOND. WAVE. LUCAS NO. 
          ALRIGHT, THOSE ARE ALL THE PUBLIC COMMENTS WE HAVE THIS EVENING. ALL RIGHT, MOVING ON TO COUNCIL COMMENTS. COMMENTS FROM COUNCIL. I THOUGHT THAT WORKED. OKAY. SORRY. SO. WE CAN MOVE FORWARD WITH THE. OH HOLD ON LUCAS. THANK YOU. GREETINGS EVERYONE. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. 
          I WANT TO FIRST START BY THANKING YOU FOR YEARS OF SUPPORT OF ETHNIC DANCE COMPANY. 
          I COME AS CO-FOUNDER, CO-ARTISTIC DIRECTOR AND RESIDENT CHOREOGRAPHER FROM EAST POINT'S BALLET ETHNIC DANCE COMPANY THAT HAS PERFORMED ALL OVER THE WORLD. 
          WE'VE PERFORMED NETHERLANDS, THE HOLLAND DANCE FESTIVAL, WE'VE PERFORMED IN AFRICA, TANZANIA, SENEGAL. WE'VE PERFORMED ALL OVER. AND THIS IS JUST TO POINT OUT THAT OUR OUR REACH, WE REACH OUT. AND PART OF OUR OUTREACH IS HAVING A HOME BASE. AND THIS IS WHAT WE CONSIDER EAST POINT A HOME BASE. I'M SPEAKING ON BEHALF OF EAST POINT AUDITORIUM, WHICH HAS BEEN SOMETHING THAT HAS BEEN REALLY DEAR TO OUR HEART BECAUSE WE'VE DONE SOME INCREDIBLE WORKS THERE, AND WE LOOK FORWARD TO BEING ABLE TO DO MORE WITH THE WORLD CUP COMING HERE. WE WE BELIEVE THAT WE CAN BE A VITAL PART OF MAKING EAST POINT VIBRANT IN THE ARTS AND THE PERFORMANCE INDUSTRY, AND THAT WAS THAT IS SOMETHING THAT I'M SPEAKING ON BEHALF OF. I'M JUST HOPING THAT YOU GUYS WILL REALLY LOOK AT STEPPING THAT UP AND MAKING THAT HAPPEN. THE HONORABLE MAYOR, PATSY JOE HILLIARD, ACTUALLY DID A LOT OF WORK WITH US AT THE EAST POINT AUDITORIUM. I HAVE SOME OF THE ARCHIVAL FOOTAGE OF THE GREAT BABATUNDE OLATUNJI THERE SEVERAL TIMES WITH US WITH MONICA KAUFMAN. AND SO IT'S LIKE THERE'S JUST SO MUCH THERE AS FAR AS THE HISTORY, BUT ALSO THE POSSIBILITIES FOR THE FUTURE. 
          SO I'VE NOTICED ALL THE GREAT THINGS GOING ON HERE. I'M LOOKING FORWARD TO THE FUTURE AND IF I CAN BE OF SERVICE, I EXTEND MY HAND. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. THE ETHNIC WAY. OKAY. 
          THANK YOU SO MUCH. DO WE HAVE ANY MORE SPEAKERS FOR TONIGHT OR. OKAY. WELL THANK YOU ALL FOR YOUR COMMENTS, YOUR WORDS OF ENCOURAGEMENT. THANK YOU FOR THAT INFORMATION. AND NOW WE 
          [Additional Item]
WILL MOVE ON TO THE BOARD, APPOINT THE BOARD APPOINTMENTS AND AUTHORITIES. SO, COUNCILWOMAN. MAYOR. THANK GARY. OKAY, KAREN. GO AHEAD. YES I WOULD LIKE OH I WOULD LIKE TO APPOINT KAM BOVAN TO THE CIVIL SERVICE BOARD. KAM BRINGS SEVERAL YEARS OF DEDICATED SERVICE EXPERIENCE, INCLUDING HIS CURRENT ROLE LEADING HUMAN RESOURCES AT HIS AND HIS ORGANIZATION. IN THAT CAPACITY, HE HAS DEMONSTRATED NOT ONLY A STRONG COMMAND OF POLICY AND PROCEDURE, BUT A DEEP UNDERSTANDING OF PEOPLE. HIS WORK IN HR HAS REQUIRED SOUND JUDGMENT, DISCRETION, AND A COMMITMENT TO FAIRNESS, QUALITIES THAT ARE ESSENTIAL FOR EFFECTIVE SERVICE ON THE CIVIL SERVICE BOARD. DO WE HAVE A MOTION? OKAY. MOVED AND SECONDED. ANY DISCUSSION? ALL THOSE IN FAVOR? AYE. ALL THOSE OPPOSED. ALRIGHT. THE AYES HAVE IT. AND COUNCILWOMAN ATKINS. YES. THANK YOU, MADAM MAYOR. THIS EVENING I'D LIKE TO I MOVE TO APPOINT MICHAEL EDWARDS, WHO'S A CPA, TO THE BLIGHTED PROPERTIES TASK FORCE. MR. EDWARDS IS AN ACCOUNTANT BY TRADE AND WOULD BRING A GREAT DEAL OF BUSINESS AND DISCIPLINE TO THE BLIGHTED PROPERTIES TASK FORCE. HE OWNS SEVERAL PROPERTIES WITHIN THE METRO ATLANTA AREA, AND ALSO IS LOOKING TO MAKE AN IMPACT IN HIS COMMUNITY OF EAST WASHINGTON. MR. EDWARDS HAS MOVED TO THE CITY NOT QUITE TEN YEARS AGO, BUT IS LOOKING TO HELP MAKE EASTPOINTE A BETTER PLACE. AND SO I WOULD THINK THAT HE WOULD BE A GREAT 
          [00:25:05]
ADDITION TO THE BLIGHTED PROPERTIES TASK FORCE. AND SO WITH THAT, I WILL NOMINATE HIM FOR THAT POSITION. SECOND. DO YOU HAVE A SECOND? OH, SECOND, ANY DISCUSSION. IS THAT A CO APPOINTMENT BETWEEN THE TWO COUNCIL MEMBERS? IT IS. THANK YOU COUNCILMEMBER HEMMING. IT IS ACTUALLY A JOINT APPOINTMENT. THESE APPOINTMENTS ON THE BLIGHTED PROPERTIES TASK FORCE ARE JOINT APPOINTMENTS WITH THE WARD MATES. AND SO THIS IS A MOTION AND AN APPOINTMENT FOR BOTH MYSELF AS THE WARD B AT LARGE COUNCIL MEMBER AND MY WARD EIGHT COUNCILMEMBER. 
          ZIEGLER. OKAY, WE HAVE A SECOND. AND ALL THOSE IN FAVOR? AYE. ALL THOSE OPPOSED? THE AYES HAVE IT. OKAY. AND? YES, MADAM MAYOR, I HAVE JUST ONE MORE FOR THE EVENING. IT'S A REAPPOINTMENT TO THE CIVIL SERVICE BOARD OF APPEALS THIS EVENING. I AM REAPPOINTING LISA HENDERSON TO THE. I MOVE TO APPOINT LISA HENDERSON, REAPPOINT LISA HENDERSON TO THE CIVIL SERVICE BOARD OF APPEALS. LISA IS A SEASONED LABOR ATTORNEY AND MOST RECENTLY RETIRED FROM THE NATIONAL LABOR RELATIONS BOARD, WHERE SHE WAS THE REGIONAL DIRECTOR OVERSEEING THE CENTRAL OFFICE IN ATLANTA AND OFFICES IN BIRMINGHAM, ALABAMA, NASHVILLE, TENNESSEE, AND WINSTON-SALEM, NORTH CAROLINA. LISA GRADUATED FROM THE UNIVERSITY OF NORTH CAROLINA AT CHAPEL HILL WITH A DEGREE IN ENGLISH, RECEIVED HER JURIS DOCTORATE FROM HARVARD UNIVERSITY'S LAW SCHOOL, AND HAS A MASTER'S IN AMERICAN HISTORY FROM COLUMBIA UNIVERSITY. LISA LIVES IN WARD A. THAT IS MY MOTION TO APPOINT TO REAPPOINT LISA HENDERSON TO THE CIVIL SERVICE BOARD OF APPEALS SECOND. OKAY, WE HAVE A SECOND. ALL THOSE IN FAVOR? OH, DISCUSSION. ANY DISCUSSION? OKAY. HEARING NONE. THANK YOU. ALL THOSE IN FAVOR? AYE. ALL THOSE OPPOSED? OKAY. THE AYES HAVE IT. AND YOU? NOW WE WILL MOVE ON TO COMMENTS FROM THE 
          [X. COMMENTS FROM COUNCIL]
COUNCIL. COUNCILMAN ATKINS AND THEN COUNCILWOMAN CALDWELL. OKAY. THANK YOU. LAST MONTH I MADE MENTION OF ALICIA VANDELAY. AT THAT POINT, I WAS MENTIONING HER ACUMEN ON THE COURT IN BASKETBALL. SHE HAD JUST MADE HER 1,000TH POINT. BUT TONIGHT I COME TO YOU TO MENTION THAT NOT ONLY IS SHE AN ATHLETE, AS I HAVE STATED BEFORE, BUT SHE IS ALSO A SCHOLAR STUDENT AND SHE IS THE CLASS OF 2026 SALUTATORIAN. AND SO I WANTED TO MAKE SURE THAT I LAUDED HER THIS EVENING FOR THOSE ACCOMPLISHMENTS, BOTH ON THE COURT AND OFF THE COURT. I'D ALSO LIKE TO RECOGNIZE MISS KAYLIE ARNOLD, WHO IS THE CLASS OF 2026 VALEDICTORIAN FOR TRI-CITIES HIGH SCHOOL. JUST WANTED TO MAKE MENTION THAT THESE STUDENTS EXCEL IN BOTH EXTRACURRICULAR ACTIVITIES AS WELL AS THEIR ACADEMICS. AND SO I JUST THOUGHT THAT I WOULD TAKE THE OPPORTUNITY TO LAUD BOTH OF THEM FOR THEIR ACCOMPLISHMENTS. SPEAKING OF TRI-CITIES HIGH SCHOOL, I MENTIONED AT OUR FEBRUARY 16TH MEETING OF THEIR PERFORMANCE OF THE COLOR PURPLE. I AM VERY HAPPY TO REPORT THAT IT WAS NEARLY A SOLD OUT SHOW EVERY SINGLE NIGHT. AND SO I WANT TO CONGRATULATE ALL THE STUDENTS AND THE TEACHERS AND THE PARENTS FOR ALL THAT THEY HAVE POURED INTO THEIR CHILDREN TO MAKE SURE THAT THEY HAVE OPPORTUNITIES TO ENGAGE IN EXTRACURRICULAR ACTIVITIES AT SCHOOL, AND TO COMMEND THE KIDS FOR A JOB WELL DONE ON THAT PERFORMANCE. I'D ALSO LIKE TO MENTION THAT I'D LIKE TO THANK ALL OF THE CITY EMPLOYEES WHO CAME OUT AND PARTICIPATED IN THE COMMUNITY MEETING THAT WE HELD LAST MONDAY AT THE ARTS EXCHANGE, AND I WOULD ALSO MAKE A MOTION THAT THE COUNCIL ALLOWS WARD B TO USE THE AUDITORIUM, THE COUNCIL CHAMBERS, ON THIS SATURDAY FOR WARD B LEADERSHIP COUNCIL MEETING. SECOND. ALL THOSE IN FAVOR? DISCUSSION. I'M SORRY. 
          DISCUSSION. ALL THOSE IN FAVOR? AYE. ALL THOSE OPPOSED? OKAY. MOTION PASSES. COUNCILWOMAN CALDWELL. THANK YOU, MADAM MAYOR. I HAVE THREE THINGS. SO ONE, I WANT TO THANK THE WARD COMMUNITY FOR COMING OUT TO OUR COMMUNITY MEETING. I WANT TO THANK ALL OF THE RESIDENTS, STAFF AND COUNCIL FOR ATTENDING. I WANTED TO BRING BACK SOME FEEDBACK FROM THAT MEETING. 
          SOME CONSTITUENTS RAISED CONCERN ABOUT TALK OF POSSIBLE DEFICIT AND COUNCIL SPENDING TAXPAYER DOLLARS TO MEET OUTSIDE OF EASTPOINTE. I DEFINITELY UNDERSTAND THE CONCERN AND JUST WANTED TO MAKE A RECOMMENDATION ON RECORD THAT I SUGGEST THAT MOVING FORWARD, WE LOOK TO REDUCE COSTS WHEREVER POSSIBLE AND USE SPACES WITHIN EASTPOINTE WHENEVER WE CAN. I WOULD ALSO LIKE TO TAKE A MOMENT TO ACKNOWLEDGE THE RECENT BLACK 
          [00:30:03]
WOMEN IN LEADERSHIP MAYORAL PANEL. HUGE SHOUT OUT TO ATLANTA UTILITY WORKS FOR HOSTING COUNCIL MEMBER ATKINS FOR MODERATING OUR CURRENT MAYOR CHAPMAN FOR ATTENDING. 
          AND A SPECIAL SHOUT OUT TO OUR FIRST BLACK FEMALE MAYOR OF EASTPOINTE, MISS PATSY JO HILLIARD, FOR SHARING HER WISDOM. LASTLY, I AM EXCITED TO SHARE THAT WE ARE LAUNCHING THE 90 DAY HEALTHY POINT INITIATIVE. I'VE BEEN WORKING BEHIND THE SCENES TO HELP BRING IT BACK, AND I'M LOOKING FORWARD TO THE POSITIVE IMPACT THAT IT WILL HAVE. THE GOAL OF THIS INITIATIVE IS TO PROMOTE HEALTHIER HABITS AND STRENGTHEN WELLNESS ACROSS THE EASTPOINTE COMMUNITY. SO MORE INFORMATION TO COME. THANK YOU. AND COUNCILWOMAN MARTIN ROGERS. 
          THANK YOU. COUNCILWOMAN HEMINGS, WAS THAT TO YOU? OKAY. GOOD EVENING. EASTPOINTE, I WANT TO SHARE AND ACKNOWLEDGE THAT IT'S BUDGET SEASON IN EASTPOINTE, AND THAT MEANS THAT YOU BEING INVOLVED. I THINK COUNCIL MEMBER CALDWELL, FOR MENTIONING SOME CONCERNS ABOUT THE BUDGET IN PREPARATION FOR THE VOTE. THAT HAPPENS EVERY YEAR IN JUNE. I'M LAUNCHING A TOWN HALL SERIES. THE SERIES WILL BE HELD ON WEDNESDAY, MARCH 11TH, APRIL 16TH AND MAY 13TH. THREE MEETINGS THAT ALLOW US TO GO INTO DETAIL AROUND THE BUDGET AND PREPARE YOU TO PARTICIPATE IN THE COMMUNITY CHARRETTES AND THE CONVERSATIONS THAT'S GOING TO BE HOSTED BY THE CITY MANAGER AT THIS TIME. I'D LIKE A MOTION TO TO ASK MY COLLEAGUES TO ALLOW ME TO USE COUNCIL CHAMBERS FOR THESE THREE MEETINGS MARCH 11TH, APRIL 16TH AND MAY 13TH FROM 6:30 P.M. TO 7:45 P.M. SECOND SESSION. ALL THOSE IN FAVOR? AYE. ALL THOSE OPPOSED? I'M SORRY. DO YOU HAVE A QUESTION? OKAY, ALRIGHT. THE MOTION PASSES. OKAY. AND THEN MY SECOND ITEM FOR THIS EVENING IS I TYPICALLY SHARE A CONSTITUENT SERVICES UPDATE REPORT JUST TO. 
          SO YOU ALL KNOW, THE THINGS THAT NEIGHBORS ARE ASKING ME. AND I HAVE A ONE FOR THIS MONTH AND THAT'S FROM WARD A, AND I'D LIKE TO HAVE THE CITY MANAGER OR THE DEPUTY CITY MANAGER. 
          NOTE THIS THERE ARE SEVERAL WRITTEN MATERIALS THAT ARE GOING OUT IN THE CITY THAT STILL HAVE OUR OUTDATED PHONE NUMBERS ON IT. SO FOR EXAMPLE, THE PHONE, THE UTILITY BILL HAS THE OLD PHONE NUMBER AND SO RESIDENTS ARE NOT ABLE TO CONTACT US. ALSO, THERE'S SOME MATERIAL ON A FEW OTHER DEPARTMENT WEBSITES THAT NEED TO BE UPDATED. SO THOSE ARE MY COMMENTS FOR THIS EVENING, AND I THANK MY COLLEAGUES FOR YOUR SUPPORT. THANK YOU, COUNCILWOMAN MARTIN ROGERS. THANK YOU. AND I'D LIKE TO START BY SAYING HAPPY WOMEN'S HISTORY MONTH. I WANT TO THANK THE RESIDENTS OF WARD D THAT CAME OUT TO THE COMMUNITY GATHERING ON SATURDAY. AND THANK YOU, PARKS AND REC DEPARTMENT, SANITATION AND THE POLICE. AND THANK YOU, COUNCIL MEMBER CUMMINGS AND COUNCIL MEMBER ATKINS FOR STOPPING BY. 
          JOIN US FOR THE GOLDEN YEARS SENIOR FAIR, TO BE HELD ON MARCH 21ST AT THE JEFFERSON PARK RECREATION CENTER AT 11 A.M. AND I OFFER THE SAME SENTIMENTS THAT MOVING FORWARD AS A CITY AND CITY LEADERSHIP, I'M REQUESTING THAT WHEN WE HAVE MEETINGS CONCERNING CITY BUSINESSES OR CITY BUSINESS, I'M SORRY THAT WE KEEP IT LOCAL. THERE ARE OVER 20 HOTELS IN THE CITY OF EASTPOINTE THAT I'M SURE CAN PROVIDE MEETING SPACES WHEN NECESSARY. I'VE RECEIVED NUMEROUS CALLS FROM RESIDENTS REGARDING THE PROPOSED INCREASE TO PROPERTY TAXES AND UTILITIES. 
          TO DATE, NOTHING HAS BEEN PRESENTED TO THE EASTPOINTE CITY COUNCIL THAT DEMONSTRATES A CONCRETE PLAN ENSURING THIS COUNCIL CANNOT PASS ON THESE COSTS ONTO RESIDENTS. 
          ADDITIONALLY, WE RECEIVE ONE PRESENTATION THAT CAUSED SIGNIFICANT CONFUSION. THIS WAS ALSO BROUGHT UP ON SATURDAY AND CONTRADICTION IN INFORMATION THAT WAS PRESENTED A FEW WEEKS AGO. WE WERE PRESENTED WITH A $10 MILLION DEFICIT IN THE WATER AND SEWER DEPARTMENT. YET THROUGH AN OPEN RECORDS REQUEST, THE BANK STATEMENTS DO NOT SUGGEST THAT THERE IS FINANCIAL STRAIN. SO WHAT I'M ASKING IS THAT ON AVERAGE, THE MOST RECEIVES $544,000 A MONTH. WHAT I'M ASKING IS THAT AS WE GO THROUGH THIS BUDGET PROCESS, COUNCIL MEMBERS AND RESIDENTS NEED CLARITY, TRANSPARENCY AND ACCOUNTABILITY. I WANT TO URGE CITY LEADERSHIP TO PROVIDE A DETAILED PLAN AND SUPPORTING DOCUMENTATION SO THAT THE PUBLIC CAN UNDERSTAND THE TRUE FINANCIAL SITUATION OF EASTPOINTE. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. ANY OTHER COMMENTS FROM COUNCIL? OKAY. AND THANK YOU, COUNCIL, FOR YOUR UPDATES AND YOUR COMMENTS. AND DEFINITELY ACKNOWLEDGING WOMEN'S HISTORY MONTH. BUT I JUST WANT TO SAY, IN HONOR OF THOSE, THE WOMEN IN 
          [00:35:02]
EASTPOINTE AND AROUND THE WORLD THAT HAVE SERVED IN LEADERSHIP AND THEIR EXAMPLES AND THE IMPACT THAT THEY HAD ON OUR PUBLIC LIFE, WE WANT TO SAY THANK YOU AND SALUTE THE WOMEN IN EASTPOINTE AND AROUND THE WORLD. AND AS ALSO, WE'D LIKE TO RECOGNIZE THE LATE DOCTOR REVEREND JESSE JACKSON AND ACKNOWLEDGE HIS LEADERSHIP IN OUR COMMUNITY. HIS LEADERSHIP HAS TOUCHED THE LIVES OF COUNTLESS PEOPLE ACROSS THE NATION AND ACROSS OUR COMMUNITY AS WELL, AND WE CONTINUE TO. HE CONTINUED TO INSPIRE THOSE TO WORK FOR FREEDOM AND DIGNITY FOR ALL. SO THANK YOU. AND ACKNOWLEDGING REVEREND JESSE JACKSON. AND SO NOW WE WILL MOVE ON TO PRESENTATIONS AND ANNOUNCEMENTS. FIRST PRESENTATION WILL BE PRESENTED 
          [XI.1. Presenting the Unrivaled World Flag Football Champions 8U East Point ScatPack. We Also Acknowledge All East Point ScatPack Teams 7U, 9U, 11U who Competed on the World Stage Representing Our City with Pride and Excellence.]
BY THE. WORLD FLAG FOOTBALL CHAMPIONS FROM THE PARK FROM THE PARKS AND RECREATION. WE ALSO LIKE TO ACKNOWLEDGE ALL EASTPOINTE SCAT PACK TEAMS 7U7, U NINE, U 11 U WHO COMPETED IN THE WORLD STAGE PRESENTATION FOR OUR CITY WITH PRIDE AND EXCELLENCE. SO THANK YOU ALL SO VERY MUCH. AND COME ON. 
          ALRIGHT. GOOD EVENING MAYOR AND COUNCIL. TONIGHT I WANTED TO DO MY BEST IMPERSONATION AND LOOK LIKE A COACH AND AND TALK ABOUT OUR AMAZING JOB OUR YOUNG LADIES AND COACHES DID. BUT I DO WANT TO KIND OF FRAME WHAT THESE YOUNG LADIES WERE UP AGAINST DOWN IN ORLANDO A COUPLE WEEKS AGO. THE ARRIVAL FLAG FOOTBALL WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP, NOT NATIONAL. THESE LADIES COMPETED LITERALLY AGAINST THE WORLD. OVER 200 PLUS INTERNATIONAL TEAMS, OVER A THOUSAND TEAMS AND OVER 10,000 ATHLETES WERE IN ORLANDO TO COMPETE FOR THIS COVETED CHAMPIONSHIP. SO TONIGHT I'M GOING TO INTRODUCE OUR YOUNG LADIES AND COACHES FROM THE SEVEN, NINE AND 11 YOUTH DIVISION AND WE'LL INTRODUCE THE WORLD CHAMPIONS LAST IF THAT'S OKAY. ALRIGHT, BEFORE WE GET INTO THE PRESENTATION, I WANT TO ACKNOWLEDGE THE PARENTS WHO ARE IN THE BUILDING. IF YOU CAN'T STAND UP. SO YOU CAN IMAGINE ALL THESE YOUNG LADIES WERE IN ORLANDO FOR ABOUT FOUR DAYS. SO I KNOW THEY'RE STILL RECOVERING FINANCIALLY, BUT BUT THAT REALLY SHOWS THE COMMITMENT THAT THEY'VE SHOWN OVER THE YEARS SUPPORTING OUR PROGRAM. AND WE'RE VERY APPRECIATIVE OF THEIR SUPPORT. SO I START OFF WITH, I SAY TO YOU, OUR BABY STEP BACK BUNCH. THIS IS THEIR FIRST TIME OUT ON THE BIG STAGE. 
          TYPICALLY YOU START WITH LOCAL TOURNAMENTS. WE SKIPPED THE PROCESS. WE TOOK THEM TO THE WORLD CHAMPIONSHIPS AND THEY COMPETED VERY WELL. THE CLUB AT NOON WAS JOSEPH SMITH, COACH ROBERT SMITH, FERRIS BOND PLAYERS CASSANDRA, JAYLEN, COREY AND LAYLA AND LILY. 
          PLEASE GIVE HIM A HAND OF APPLAUSE. OH, THIS IS ACTUALLY A FEW MORE NOW. OLIVIA, RACHEL, RAKIA, RAY AND LENA ALSO COMPETED IN THAT AGE DIVISION. ALL RIGHT. OKAY. MY MIND YOU START TO FINISH NUMBER EIGHT IN THE WORLD. THOSE COACHES ARE FERRIS BOND RAFAEL JENKINS PLAYERS CHLOE. THERE'S QUITE A FEW. DEMI BAILEY, KAYLEE, ARIANA, CALEB ZAIA AND MELIA SINKFIELD. AND OUR ROSTER FINISHED IN THE SEMIFINALS. THEY FINISHED NUMBER FOUR IN THE WORLD. I WANT TO INTRODUCE THEIR COACHES. COACH ANTONIO WILLIAMS, COACH TERESA GORDON, PLAYERS ANGEL ANAYA, AUTUMN, CARMEN, CHLOE, DEJA, EASTON, GABRIELLE, HARMONY, LANDON AND 
          [00:40:05]
WAYNE. ALL RIGHT, LET'S TALK ABOUT THE BIG. SO MY EIGHT YOU AMAZING JOB. OUR FRAME A LITTLE BIT OF IT. BEFORE WE SHOW YOU THIS SHORT VIDEO. QUADRUPLE OVERTIME WINNING AT THE BUZZER. 
          AND I'LL LEAVE IT AT THAT. ALRIGHT. EVERYONE. 
          THE VIDEO IS VERY BRIEF. IT'S ABOUT TWO MINUTES. I THINK I HAVE A MINUTE 45 LEFT. GOTTA GO BACK OUT AND GO BACK IN. 
          FOR A SECOND. THERE WE GO. MADAM MAYOR, I KNOW THAT THERE IS A TIME CONSTRAINT HERE FOR THIS PRESENTATION, AND I KNOW THEY'RE PROBABLY GOING TO RUN PAST THAT, BUT I'D LIKE TO MAKE A MOTION BECAUSE WE HAVE SO MANY THAT ARE HERE, PARENTS AND PARENTS AND THE PLAYERS, IF WE CAN GIVE AN ADDITIONAL FIVE MINUTES OR SO SO THAT HE CAN COMPLETE THE PRESENTATION. SECOND. THANK YOU. ANY DISCUSSION? ALL THOSE IN FAVOR? AYE. ALL THOSE OPPOSED. AYES HAVE IT. GOT FIVE EXTRA MINUTES. THANK YOU, THANK YOU. ALL RIGHT. 
          SO WHAT I'LL DO IN THE INTERIM I'M GOING TO HAVE COACH JOSEPH SMITH COME UP AND INTRODUCE THE GIRLS. AND THEN WE'LL PLAY THE VIDEO SHORTLY AFTER. THANK YOU. EXCUSE ME, COACH SMITH, WHEN YOU ANNOUNCE THE YOUNG LADIES, CAN WE GET AWAY FROM EACH OF THEM SO WE KNOW WHO THEY ARE? YES. THANK YOU. Y'ALL CAN COME STAND AS I CALL YOUR NAME. ALRIGHT, SO THIS IS OUR EIGHT AND UNDER WORLD CHAMPIONS. STARTED WITH JALEN DAVENPORT. ZAKARIA STEPHENS. SHANAYA HAUSEN. HOLLY THOMPSON. QUARTERBACK ARIANA RUIZ. AND THE EIGHT YEAR MVP MALALA SINKFIELD. JUST A BIG SHOUT OUT TO THE REST OF THE COACHING STAFF. ALL THESE COACHES PLAYED A PART IN TEACHING ALL OF THESE GIRLS. SO ALL THE COACHES YOU SEE BEHIND ME, COACH SMITH, COACH TRUE, COACH TONY AND COACH RALPH AS WELL. BIG SHOUT OUT TO THEM. AND I CAN PROMISE YOU ALL. WE HAD THIS WORKED OUT PRIOR ABOUT 30 MINUTES PRIOR TO THE MEETING. SO JUST REAL BRIEF. 
          HOPEFULLY WE CAN GET THE VIDEO TOGETHER BECAUSE I DO WANT YOU TO SEE WHAT THESE YOUNG LADIES DID ON ESPN. I'M A FEW SUNDAYS AGO, ACTUALLY. COACH JOSEPH SMITH WAS MY ATHLETIC COORDINATOR. HE CAME PROBABLY ABOUT 5 OR 6 YEARS AGO. NOW HE'S A VOLUNTEER SOCCER COACH. 
          END UP HIRING HIM ABOUT THREE YEARS AGO. HE WANTED MAYBE 3 OR 4 YEARS AGO. NOW HE WANTED TO LOCK IN ON THE YOUNG LADIES WITH A FOCUS ON FLAG FOOTBALL. AND WE STARTED BASICALLY FROM SCRATCH. SO WHAT HE HAS DONE IS DEFINITELY COMMENDABLE. WE APPRECIATE HIM. HE'S DOING 
          [00:45:05]
BIGGER AND BETTER THINGS NOW, BUT HE VOLUNTEERS A TON OF TIME HERE IN EAST POINT AND THIS IS THE FRUIT OF HIS LABOR. SO IT LOOKS LIKE WE SHOULD HAVE THE VIDEO UP. AND YOU GUYS GET TO GET A SNAPSHOT OF WHAT THESE YOUNG LADIES DID. AND FAKE IT. DOWN FOR THE FLASH INTACT, AND RAISE UP TO THE END ZONE TO GET SIX POINTS OUT OF THIS FLAG. ON THE FIRST PLAY. JESSICA. WHY YOU THINK THEY'RE DOING THIS? I MEAN, I LIKE IT HERE. JUST OVER. SOME GIRLS AND GUYS UNIVERSITIES IN FLORIDA. NOTHING LIKE THIS. BACK TO BACK TO BACK. BUT WHAT A GREAT. WAY. 
          AND NOW THROW HIM OVER TO. FIRST TIME ALIVE. GOING TO WIN IT. OH. BELIEVABLE. SPRINGFIELD. 
          WOW. WHAT? NOW APPROACHING THE BOARD OVER THERE. LET'S. AS YOU ALL CAN SEE, SHE THE WOMAN ANSWERED. HE RAN FROM ORLANDO BACK TO THIS POINT. SO HE'S ATHLETE AS WELL. BUT WE DO APPRECIATE ALL THE SUPPORT MAYOR AND COUNCIL HAS PROVIDED TO US OVER THE LAST SEVERAL YEARS. I'VE BEEN HERE ABOUT 16 YEARS THIS YEAR, BUT YOUR SUPPORT HAS INCREASED EVERY TIME. AND ONE THING I'LL TELL YOU ABOUT PARKS AND REC, WE'RE GOING TO BE GOOD STEWARDS, AND THESE YOUNG LADIES MAKE ME LOOK GOOD, SO I DO APPRECIATE THEM. ALRIGHT. THANK YOU. THAT'S OUR PRESENTATION. OKAY. THANK YOU SO MUCH. AND WE'LL HAVE SOME COMMENTS FROM COUNCIL. 
          COUNCILMAN MITCHELL, MEMBER MITCHELL I'M IN. I JUST WANT TO SAY CONGRATULATIONS WORLD CHAMPIONS. Y'ALL KEEP BRINGING IT HOME. EAST POINT PARKS AND RECS KEEPS KILLING IT. SO JUST KEEP UP THE GOOD WORK GUYS. THANK YOU. OKAY. COUNCIL MEMBER CUMMINGS THANK YOU MADAM. THANK YOU, MADAM MAYOR. AND CONGRATULATIONS TO ALL OF THE TEAMS, THE WORLD CHAMPIONS, THE QUADRUPLE OVERTIME AND EVEN WORTH THE TECHNICAL DIFFICULTIES. IT WAS GREAT JUST TO SEE YOU ALL, JUST TO SEE WHAT IT WAS THAT YOU GUYS DID THERE. HUGE, HUGE SHOUT OUT TO THE PARENTS. BECAUSE WITHOUT YOU, THIS IS NOT POSSIBLE FOR GOING TO ALL THE PRACTICES, TAKING THE KIDS DOWN TO ORLANDO. AND REMEMBER YOUNG LADIES, YOU KNOW, CONTINUE TO DO GREAT THINGS. BUT REMEMBER ALWAYS THAT WE ARE STUDENT ATHLETES. WE'RE GOING TO DO WHAT WE NEED TO DO, BOTH ON THE FIELD AND OFF. AGAIN, CONGRATULATIONS. COUNCILMEMBER MARTIN RODGERS. I JUST WANTED TO SAY THANK YOU, EASTPOINT PARKS AND REC, FOR ALWAYS PUTTING US ON THE MAP. 
          THANK YOU SO MUCH, CHAMPIONS, AND I AM SO PROUD OF YOU. AND NEVER, EVER FORGET I HAVE ONE REQUEST. WELL, TWO THE FIRST ONE, KEEP YOUR GRADES UP. AND DON'T FORGET ABOUT EASTPOINT. 
          AND THANK YOU PARENTS FOR YOUR CONTINUED SUPPORT BECAUSE WE COULD NOT DO THIS WORK WITHOUT YOU. WOULD YOU HAVE ME? THANK YOU. CONGRATULATIONS Y'ALL. Y'ALL ARE AWESOME. THANK YOU FOR MAKING US PROUD. WE ARE PROUD OF YOU ALL. AND YEAH, YOU GUYS ARE DOING GREAT. KEEP IT UP. COUNCILWOMAN ATKINS. THANK YOU, MADAM MAYOR. I'M GOING TO ECHO THE SENTIMENTS OF MY 
          [00:50:06]
COLLEAGUES, PARTICULARLY AROUND THE PORTION OF THE PARENT, THE PARENTAL SUPPORT. THANK YOU SO VERY MUCH FOR POINTING TO THESE YOUNG PEOPLE. AND THANK YOU, DIRECTOR PINKETT, FOR YOUR LEADERSHIP OF PARKS AND RECREATION AND THE ENTIRE COMMUNITY THAT IS STANDING BEHIND ALL OF THE YOUTH PARTICIPATING IN EASTPOINT RECREATION WORLD CHAMPIONS. ALL I HAVE TO SAY IS Y'ALL ARE KILLING IT ON THAT FIELD. THAT'S IT. GREAT JOB. KEEP DOING IT. COUNCILWOMAN HEMMING, I JUST WANT TO SAY CONGRATULATIONS, YOUNG LADIES. 
          I THINK I HEARD DIRECTOR PINKETT SAY THAT YOU ALL SKIPPED THE PROCESS. LIKE YOU DIDN'T DO THE BABY STUFF. YOU WENT STRAIGHT TO THE BIG LEAGUES. SO CONTINUE DOING EXCELLENT. AND I JUST WANT TO KNOW, CAN I BORROW THE RING? CAN I BORROW I CAN OKAY, I CAN'T BORROW THE RING. OKAY. CAN I HOLD IT IN THE PICTURE. OH OKAY. OKAY. WELL, ANYWAY, I JUST WANTED TO SAY CONGRATULATIONS. AND I WANT TO THANK YOU ALSO, DIRECTOR PINKETT, BECAUSE THE WORK THAT YOU DO, I SEE IT WHEN I'M AT THE JEFFERSON PARK RECREATION CENTER. THAT FACILITY IS PACKED OUT. YOU ARE BURSTING AT THE SEAMS. AND IT WOULD BE SUCH A PLEASURE AND AN HONOR FOR OUR CITY TO CONTINUE TO CONTRIBUTE AND TO INVEST IN THE FUTURE. SO THANK YOU FOR WHAT YOU DO. AND I CAN'T WAIT TILL WE HAVE MULTIPLE, MULTIPLE FACILITIES WHERE YOU CAN EXPAND AND GROW YOUR PROGRAMS. COUNCILWOMAN CARDWELL, THANK YOU. I'LL KEEP IT SHORT AND SWEET. I JUST WANT TO SAY CONGRATULATIONS TO ALL OF THE YOUNG LADIES HERE. 
          DEFINITELY. CONGRATULATIONS TO THE WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP. I CAN SEE HOW HARD Y'ALL WERE PLAYING. 
          I GOT EVEN A LITTLE BIT EXCITED WHEN I SAW THAT FIRST INTERCEPTION. SO JUST KEEP GOING AND CONGRATULATIONS AGAIN. COUNCILMAN FREELY, I JUST WANT TO ADD MY CONGRATULATIONS TO ALL OF YOU FOR FOR THIS INCREDIBLE ACHIEVEMENT. AND ALSO TO THANK THE PARENTS WHO, YOU KNOW, REALLY HAVE TO SUPPORT ALL OF YOU IN THIS. SO THANKS AND CONGRATULATIONS. ALL RIGHT. AND WE JUST WANT TO ECHO THE SENTIMENTS OF EVERYONE HERE AND SAY TO THE YOUNG LADIES THAT DID YOUR THING OUT THERE ON THE FIELD, I KNOW IT'S REALLY HARD BEING A STUDENT ATHLETE, BUT YOU ARE WORKING YOUR BUTTS OFF AND IT'S VERY IT'S SHOWING. AND SO WE JUST WANT TO SAY CONGRATULATIONS. AND THANK YOU TO DIRECTOR PINKETT FOR EVERYTHING THAT YOU'VE BEEN DOING IN OUR CITY. AND WE CONTINUE. WE'LL CONTINUE TO SUPPORT YOU. THANK YOU. 
          WE'LL COME DOWN AND TAKE A PICTURE WITH YOU GUYS. 
          [00:55:09]
LET THEM CLEAR OUT. OKAY. NOW, NOW WE'LL LET THEM CLEAR OUT. YEAH. 
          [XI.2. Proclamation for the 132Nd Anniversary of New Grant Chapel AME Church]
OKAY. THANK YOU. AND NOW WE WILL MOVE ON TO OUR PROCLAMATIONS. AND I WILL CALL ON THE RESPECTIVE COUNCIL PERSONS TO GIVE A BRIEF OVERVIEW OF THE PROCLAMATION. 
          AND THEN WE WILL COME DOWN AND TAKE PICTURES. THANK YOU, MADAM MAYOR. OUR FIRST THIS EVENING IS NEW GRANT CHAPEL. AME. AND I JUST LIKE TO SAY THAT WE'VE GOT MANY WONDERFUL RELIGIOUS INSTITUTIONS THROUGHOUT OUR CITY. AND I KNOW THAT TONIGHT WE'LL BE RECOGNIZING TWO OF THOSE. AND I'M VERY PLEASED TO HONOR NEW GRANT CHAPEL FOR THE WORK THAT THEY'VE DONE IN THE CITY OF EASTPOINTE AND THE EAST WASHINGTON COMMUNITY. AND SO I'M GOING TO READ THE PROCLAMATION FIRST. AND THEN I KNOW THAT THERE ARE SOME MEMBERS FROM NEW GRANT CHAPEL HERE AND ASK THEM TO COME FORWARD FOR A FEW REMARKS. WHEREAS IN THE EARLY 1880S, JUST ONE SECOND, WHEREAS IN THE EARLY 1880S, FAITHFUL AFRICAN AMERICANS, INCLUDING SARAH STRICKLAND, BORN IN 1855 TO FORMERLY ENSLAVED PARENTS IN ADAMSVILLE, AND HER BROTHER PERRY GATHERED FOR WORSHIP UNDER A HUMBLE ARBOR BRUSH ARBOR NEAR THE INTERSECTION OF CONNELLY DRIVE AND MARTIN STREET, THEREBY LAYING THE FOUNDATION FOR WHAT WOULD BECOME A LASTING PILLAR IN OUR COMMUNITY. AND WHEREAS IN 19. IN 1894, AFTER MEETING WITH BISHOP ABRAHAM GRANT OF THE AFRICAN METHODIST EPISCOPAL CHURCH, THOSE DEVOTED BELIEVERS FORMALLY ORGANIZED GRANT CHAPEL AME CHURCH IN HIS HONOR, CONSTRUCTING BOTH A HOUSE OF WORSHIP AND A SCHOOL FOR FORMAL EDUCATION ON BAYARD STREET, ESTABLISHING A SACRED AND EDUCATIONAL BEACON THAT WOULD HELP SHAPE THE MORAL, SPIRITUAL, AND INTELLECTUAL LIFE OF THE CITY. AND WHEREAS THROUGH THE 20TH CENTURY, UNDER THE FAITHFUL LEADERSHIP OF PASTORS, INCLUDING REVEREND E.P. YORK, REVEREND THOMAS R MORGAN, AND MANY DEDICATED SHEPHERDS, GRANT CHAPEL GREW IN STRENGTH AND SERVICE, ERECT A NEW SANCTUARIES FOSTERING UNITY UNDER THE FIFTH SUNDAY SCHOOL UNION AND WITH NEIGHBORING CONGREGATIONS, AND EMERGING AS A HAVEN FOR SPIRITUAL GROWTH, FELLOWSHIP AND COMMUNITY ADVANCEMENT. AND WHEREAS, UNDER THE TRANSFORMATIVE 27 YEAR LEADERSHIP OF REVEREND HOSEY EDWARD TERRELL, BEGINNING IN 1961, THE CONGREGATION MARCHED TRIUMPHANTLY INTO ITS NEW SANCTUARY AT 1319 HOLCOMB AVENUE ON AUGUST 22ND, 1971, AND WAS RENAMED NEW GRANT CHAPEL AFRICAN METHODIST EPISCOPAL CHURCH, LATER ADDING A FELLOWSHIP CENTER AND CONTINUING ITS LEGACY AS A BEACON OF CIVIL RIGHTS ADVOCACY, EVANGELISM, AND CHRISTIAN DISCIPLESHIP. AND WHEREAS, THROUGH SUCCESSIVE PASTORAL LEADERSHIP FROM REVEREND BEN FORTSON TO REVEREND DOCTOR ROOSEVELT MORRIS, REVEREND BRIAN A HART, REVEREND SPENCER L BOOKER, REVEREND VANDY, CARL SIMMONS, REVEREND JACOB C HOLLOMAN, REVEREND A ANGELO DIXON, THE SECOND PASTOR CARSON CJ HOLLOMAN, AND NOW PASTOR CARLOS YOUNG, SENIOR. NEW GRANT CHAPEL AME CHURCH HAS REMAINED STEADFAST IN ITS MISSION, STRENGTHENING MINISTRIES AND EMBRACING TECHNOLOGICAL ADVANCEMENT, BECOMING DEBT FREE, EXPANDING OUTREACH EFFORTS, AND PROCLAIMING ITSELF AS A CHURCH FOR ALL OF GOD'S PEOPLE, FAITHFULLY SERVING YOUTH, SENIORS, FAMILIES, AND THE BROADER EASTPOINTE COMMUNITY FOR 132 YEARS NOW. THEREFORE, OUR MAYOR, KEISHA CHAPMAN, AND THE MEMBERS OF THIS EASTPOINTE CITY COUNCIL DO HEREBY EXTEND HEARTFELT CONGRATULATIONS AND PROFOUND APPRECIATION TO NEW GRANT CHAPEL, AFRICAN METHODIST EPISCOPAL CHURCH UPON THE CELEBRATION OF ITS 132ND CHURCH ANNIVERSARY. AND SO I'D LIKE TO ASK BROTHER TERRELL AND MISS GRACE TERRELL AND OTHERS. I SEE BRITNEY THERE. SO, BROTHER TERRELL, IF YOU WOULD PLEASE COME FORWARD AND SAY A FEW WORDS. WE GREATLY APPRECIATE IT. YOU CAN PUSH THE RED BUTTON. 
          YOU WANT TO SAY A FEW WORDS? YEAH. TO THE MAYOR AND THE CITY COUNCIL. WE ARE SO DELIGHTED TO 
          [01:00:04]
BE RECOGNIZED AS A STEADFAST RELIGIOUS ORGANIZATION IN THE CITY OF EASTPORT. I MYSELF HAVE BEEN AT THE CHURCH FOR 64 YEARS. WOW! MY WIFE HAS BEEN THERE. SHE WAS BORN INTO THE CHURCH AND WE HAVE NEVER TRIED TO LEAVE THE CITY OF EASTPORT, BECAUSE WE'VE ALWAYS FELT THAT WE WERE NEEDED IN THAT COMMUNITY. TODAY, WE STILL SERVE. WE SERVE FOOD TO THE NEEDY ON THURSDAYS, AND WE SERVE SPIRITUAL FOOD ON SUNDAY MORNING. TO THOSE WHO ARE DESPERATELY LOOKING TO ENHANCE THEIR SPIRITUALITY. SO ONCE AGAIN, I WANT TO THANK THE CITY OF EASTPORT ONCE AGAIN, THE MAYOR AND THE COUNCIL FOR GIVING US THIS PROCLAMATION, BECAUSE 132 YEARS DID NOT HAPPEN OVERNIGHT. IT TOOK HARD WORK AND WE ARE STILL WORKING TODAY. AND I THANK YOU ONCE AGAIN. THANK YOU, THANK YOU, THANK YOU. THANK YOU, THANK YOU. 
          HOLD ON. EVERYONE GET A PHOTO. OKAY. OKAY. OKAY. GOOD TO SEE YOU. I'M SORRY. EXCUSE ME. YOU COME HERE. YOU COME HERE. YOU COME HERE. RIGHT HERE. THREE. ONE THREE. TWO. THREE. ALRIGHT. 
          THANK YOU. GOD BLESS. THANK YOU SO MUCH. THANK YOU FOR YOUR SERVICE. GOOD SEEING YOU. 
          EATING ON SUNDAY. OH, YES. SO I'M SO GLAD TO SEE YOU. GRACE. THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR YOUR HARD WORK. ALL RIGHT. COUNCILWOMAN JEFF HEMMINGS, FOR YOUR PROCLAMATION. ARE YOU READY FOR 
          [XI.3. Proclamation for the 65Th Anniversary of St. Paul Missionary Baptist Church]
THAT? OKAY. OKAY. GOOD EVENING, EAST POINT. I AM SO HONORED TO BE READING THIS INTO THE RECORD TO HONOR THESE SAINT PAUL MISSIONARY BAPTIST CHURCH. IT'S A LITTLE BIT LENGTHY, SO BEAR WITH ME. OKAY. SO IT SAYS RESOLVED BY THE MAYOR AND THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF EAST POINT, GEORGIA, THAT SAINT PAUL MISSIONARY BAPTIST CHURCH WAS ORGANIZED IN FEBRUARY 1961 BY A FAITHFUL BODY OF BAPTIZED BELIEVERS COMMITTED TO PROCLAIMING THE GOSPEL OF JESUS CHRIST AND SERVING THE SURROUNDING COMMUNITY. AND FOR 65 YEARS, SAINT PAUL MISSIONARY BAPTIST CHURCH HAS REMAINED STEADFAST IN ITS MISSION. MISSION TO PREACH THE UNADULTERATED GOSPEL, FULFILL THE GREAT COMMISSION, AND SERVE AS A BEACON OF HOPE, FAITH, AND SPIRITUAL TRANSFORMATION WITHIN THE CITY OF EAST POINT AND THROUGHOUT THE METROPOLITAN ATLANTA AREA. AND IN MARCH 1966, AT THE AGE OF 19, THE REVEREND DOCTOR CLAYTON TAYLOR SENIOR WAS CALLED TO SERVE AS PASTOR AND HAS FAITHFULLY LED THE CONGREGATION FOR NEARLY SIX DECADES. WITH VISIONARY LEADERSHIP, UNWAVERING COMMITMENT, AND SPIRIT FILLED PREACHING AND TEACHING, I'VE BEEN SO. THAT'S TRUE. WHEREAS UNDER DOCTOR REVEREND TAYLOR'S LEADERSHIP, THE CHURCH HAS EXPANDED ITS MINISTRIES, STRENGTHENED COMMUNITY OUTREACH INITIATIVES, NURTURED GENERATIONS OF BELIEVERS, AND DEMONSTRATED SUSTAINED SPIRITUAL AND CONGREGATIONAL GROWTH. AND UNDER AND REVEREND DOCTOR TAYLOR HAS RECEIVED NATIONAL RECOGNITION FOR HIS LIFELONG DEDICATION TO CHRISTIAN SERVICE, INCLUDING PRESIDENTIAL AWARD, EXCUSE ME, THE PRESIDENTIAL LIFETIME ACHIEVEMENT AWARD, REFLECTING THE FAR REACHING IMPACT OF HIS MINISTRY AND LEADERSHIP, AND SAINT PAUL CONTINUES TO FLOURISH THROUGH GENERATIONAL LEADERSHIP, WITH REVEREND CHRISTOPHER TAYLOR SENIOR, SERVING FAITHFULLY AS CO-PASTOR, REINFORCING THE CHURCH'S COMMITMENT TO YOUTH DEVELOPMENT, CHRISTIAN EDUCATION, AND CIVIC ENGAGEMENT. AND WHEREAS, FIRST LADY CHRISTINE TAYLOR, A CHARTER MEMBER OF SAINT PAUL MISSIONARY BAPTIST CHURCH, HAS EXEMPLIFIED SERVANT LEADERSHIP THROUGH DECADES OF FAITHFUL MINISTRY, CHRISTIAN EDUCATION, OUTREACH AND COMPASSIONATE 
          [01:05:01]
SERVICE TO MEMBERS OF THIS AND THE BROADER COMMUNITY. AND FOR 65 YEARS, SAINT PAUL MISSIONARY BAPTIST CHURCH HAS FED THE HUNGRY, COMFORTED THE BROKENHEARTED, SUPPORTED FAMILY MEMBERS, STRENGTHENED NEIGHBORHOODS, AND PROVIDED A LOVING AND NURTURING SPIRITUAL HOME TO COUNTLESS RESIDENTS OF EAST POINT AND BEYOND. AND ON THIS DAY, I WOULD ASK, I WOULD MOVE TO ASK MY COLLEAGUES TO APPROVE THIS PROCLAMATION AND AUTHORIZE THE CITY CLERK TO AFFIX THE SEAL OF THE CITY, TO ACKNOWLEDGE 65 YEARS OF SERVICE OF SAINT PAUL MISSIONARY BAPTIST CHURCH, SECOND. SECOND FAVOR I ALL THOSE OPPOSED AYES HAVE IT. AND IF IT'S APPROPRIATE, MADAM MAYOR, I'D LOVE IF REVEREND TAYLOR WOULD COME AND JUST GIVE A FEW BRIEF WORDS TO RECOGNIZE THE 65 YEARS OF SERVICE TO SAINT OF SAINT PAUL MISSIONARY BAPTIST CHURCH. 
          GOD BLESS YOU. GOOD EVENING, MADAM MAYOR, AND OUR DISTINGUISHED COUNCIL. HOW DELIGHTED WE ARE TO BE HERE TONIGHT AND TO NOT ONLY ACCEPT THIS PROCLAMATION, BUT TO ALSO JUST SAY THANK YOU FOR YOUR SERVICE AND FOR THE PARTNERSHIP THAT WE'VE ENJOYED OVER THE YEARS. WE'VE BEEN AROUND 65 YEARS, BUT SERVING IN THE COMMUNITY OF EAST POINT 30 YEARS. AND SO IT'S BEEN A JOY, A PLEASURE AND HONOR TO GIVE GOD GLORY THROUGH SERVING HIS PEOPLE. AND SO I SAY THANK YOU TO EACH OF YOU THIS EVENING FOR THIS HIGH HONOR. AND I, ALONG WITH REVEREND CLARK, ARE HERE. SHE'S A MEMBER MINISTER AT OUR CHURCH AS WELL. AND SO WE ARE JUST HERE TO SIMPLY SAY, THANK YOU VERY, VERY KINDLY FOR ALL THAT YOU GUYS DO. AND WE ENJOY THE PARTNERSHIP, EVEN MOST RECENTLY, COUNCIL MEMBER ATKINS AND COUNCIL MEMBER CUMMINGS WERE THERE TO SHARE WITH US ON THIS PAST SUNDAY FOR OUR ANNIVERSARY. AND WE THANK YOU AGAIN FOR YOUR PRESENCE. AND DOCTOR HEMMINGS, YOU KNOW, WE SPOKE PRIOR TO THAT, AND WE THANK YOU FOR YOUR SUPPORT AND FOR THIS OPPORTUNITY TO SERVE THE CITY OF EAST POINT. SO GOD BLESS ALL OF YOU AND GOD BLESS OUR GREAT CITY. AND TO GOD WE GIVE ALL THE GLORY. THANK YOU. 
          OH, TAKE A PICTURE NOW. NO NO NO NO. YOU SURE? NO. OKAY. ABSOLUTELY BEAUTIFUL. THANK YOU, THANK YOU. THANK YOU. GOOD TO SEE YOU. THANK YOU. THANK YOU FOR YOU, SIR. THANK YOU. YES. 
          THANK. THANK YOU FOR. SHALL BLESS YOU. MY BROTHER. CAN'T SAY I'M SORRY. BLESS YOU MAN. 
          ARE YOU GOOD? GOOD. GOOD TO SEE YOU. TO SEE YOU TOO. YES. I WANT TO LET YOU GUYS. GO. OKAY. 
          YOU DIDN'T. THANK YOU. OKAY. THREE, TWO. THREE. THREE. THANK YOU, THANK YOU, THANK YOU ALL. 
          THANK YOU ALL FOR THANK YOU, THANK YOU, THANK YOU. CONGRATULATIONS. THANK YOU SIR. 
          YOU THE OFFICIAL CDC ON IT. SO WE HAVE TO ONE MORE. THANK YOU. OKAY. OKAY. YOU CAN CALL. THANK YOU. SO YOU. 
          [XI.4. Georgia Arborist Association]
MOVING ON TO OUR NEXT PRESENTATION. COUNCILMAN ATKINS. THANK YOU SO MUCH. 
          MADAM MAYOR, I'VE ASKED THIS EVENING IF MISTER MONEY WORTHY WOULD PRESENT. MISTER MONEY WORTHY IS AN EMPLOYEE WITH THE GEORGIA ARBORIST ASSOCIATION. AND THIS OPPORTUNITY CAME TO ME FROM ONE OF THE CONSTITUENTS. AND I WANTED TO MAKE SURE THAT WE WERE ABLE TO PROMOTE THIS OPPORTUNITY FOR CITIZENS AROUND THE ENTIRE CITY TO TAKE ADVANTAGE OF THE RESOURCES THAT HAVE BEEN MADE AVAILABLE TO THE THROUGH THE GEORGIA ARBORIST ASSOCIATION. THE CITY OF EAST POINT IS A CITY OF MATURE TREES. MANY OF THEM ARE HANGING OVER OUR POWER LINES, AND WE DO EXPERIENCE QUITE A FEW OUTAGES DUE TO THAT. BUT ALSO THAT IS WHAT IS EQUALLY IMPORTANT IS THAT TREES ARE VERY COSTLY WHEN IT'S TIME FOR THEM TO COME DOWN. AND SO IF THERE IS A HOUSEHOLD WITH DYING DISEASE OR DEAD TREES THAT MAY BE CAUSING A HAZARD TO PROPERTY OR TO PERSON, I DEFINITELY WOULD LIKE FOR THE CITIZENS OF EAST POINT TO TAKE ADVANTAGE OF THIS OPPORTUNITY. 
          [01:10:01]
SO I'VE ASKED MR. MONEY IF HE WOULD COME AND DO A SHORT PRESENTATION. AND AS A FOLLOW UP, I'VE HAD CONVERSATIONS WITH HIM ABOUT PROVIDING A SESSION FOR SENIORS, PARTICULARLY TO BE ABLE TO COME IN AND SIGN UP FOR THE SERVICE. AND SO WE WILL ORGANIZE THAT AND HAVE THE APPROPRIATE ANNOUNCEMENT AT THAT TIME. SO, MISTER MONEY WORTHY, I THINK YOUR SLIDE IS ALREADY LOADED. I WAS JUST ABOUT TO ASK YOU, DID YOU NEED ME TO PULL IT UP? YES, PLEASE. 
          YEAH. OKAY. IS IT ALSO POSSIBLE FOR ME TO GO TO OUR WEBSITE? YEAH. OKAY. OKAY, GREAT. OKAY. 
          GOOD EVENING, MAYOR AND CITY COUNCIL. I'M HERE ON BEHALF OF THE GEORGIA ARBORIST ASSOCIATION. BUT ALSO AS A PROUD RESIDENT OF WARD C, SO I JUST WANTED TO TALK ABOUT THIS NEW PROGRAM THAT STARTED IN JANUARY ON IT'S A GRANT AWARDED PROGRAM FROM THE US FOREST SERVICE AND THE GEORGIA FORESTRY COUNCIL. IT'S A PROGRAM THAT'S OFFERED TO HOMESTEAD EXEMPTED PROPERTY OWNERS WITHIN THE CITY WHO, LIKE THE HONORABLE COUNCIL MEMBER, ATKINS SAID, MUST HAVE A DEAD, DISEASED OR HAZARDOUS TREE ON THEIR PROPERTY. IN ADDITION TO THAT, THE HOMEOWNER MUST GET AN ESTIMATE FROM AN ARBORIST. A TRACK QUALIFIED CERTIFIED ARBORIST TO DO A HAZARD ASSESSMENT ON THE TREE. AND THERE'S AN APPLICATION. SO THERE IS A QR CODE TO OUR WEBSITE, IN ADDITION TO A QR CODE THAT GOES DIRECTLY TO THE GRANT MATCH WAIVER LOCATION FOR PROPERTY OWNERS TO SEE IF THEY ARE LOCATED WITHIN THE GRANT MATCH AREA. IN ADDITION TO THE APPLICATION, THE PROPERTY OWNER MUST APPLY FOR THE TREE REMOVAL PERMIT, WHICH I UNDERSTAND IN THE CITY OF EAST POINT IS $75, SO THEY MUST HAVE THAT COMPLETED WITH THEIR APPLICATION, AND THAT APPLICATION WILL GO DIRECTLY TO ME, AND I WILL REVIEW THOSE AND SEND IT TO OUR REVIEW COMMITTEE, WHICH IS A COMMITTEE COMPOSED OF TREE SERVICE PROFESSIONALS, EDUCATORS WHO WILL REVIEW THE THE APPLICATIONS ON A MONTHLY BASIS. I JUST KIND OF WANTED TO QUICKLY GO TO OUR WEBSITE TO TAKE A LOOK AT THE GRANT MATCH WAIVER, BUT A MAJORITY OF THE CITY OF EAST POINT IS LOCATED WITHIN THE GRANT METRO WAIVER LOCATION. I DID WANT TO ADDRESS THAT. THERE IS A PORTION OF THE CITY THAT'S NOT LOCATED WITHIN THIS GRANT MATCH WAIVER AREA, AND WE ARE LOOKING TO IN THIS MOMENT, SINCE THIS IS OUR FIRST YEAR OF BEING INCORPORATED WITH THIS PROGRAM AND STARTING THIS PROGRAM OFF, THAT WE WILL BE ADVOCATING TO INCREASE THE COVERAGE FOR THIS GRANT. METRO AREA. YEAH, IT'S GEORGIA ARBORIST. WELL, THEY ARE PULLING THAT UP. I WILL JUST STATE, AS MR. MONEY HAS MENTIONED, THE MAJORITY OF THE CITY OF EAST POINT IS IN THE AREA. THERE ARE SOME SMALL SWATCHES OF THE CITY THAT ARE NOT. I DID HAVE A CONVERSATION WITH THEIR OFFICE ABOUT THAT. 
          TO TRY TO HAVE A BETTER UNDERSTANDING APPARENTLY IS BASED ON CENSUS TRACK, AND I THINK THAT IN GENERAL, THOSE ARE TWO NEIGHBORHOODS IN WARD B THAT ARE NOT. THAT'S JEFFERSON PARK AND EGAN PARK, AND ON THE VERY FAR REACHES OF WARD D, THEY ARE NOT INCLUDED IN THIS MATCH PROGRAM, BUT HE STATED THAT THEY WILL BE REAPPLYING FOR ADDITIONAL DOLLARS, AND THEY WILL TRY TO GET THOSE PORTIONS THAT ARE NOT CURRENTLY INCLUDED INCLUDED IN THIS PROCESS. HE ALSO MENTIONED ARBORIST THAT WERE CERTIFIED. THE WEBSITE WILL PROVIDE A LIST OF ARBORISTS THAT THEY HAVE VETTED. I IMAGINE IF THAT IS THE CORRECT WAY TO REFER TO THAT. MR. MONEY, WHETHER YOU GUYS HAVE A LIST OF ARBORISTS ON THE WEBSITE THAT CITIZENS CAN CALL, BECAUSE YOU GUYS HAVE DONE SOME VETTING OF THOSE ARBORISTS, AND THEY KNOW THE PROCESS AND HOW TO FILL THE APPLICATIONS OUT. CORRECT? ABSOLUTELY. SO THE ARBORIST CAN APPLY ON BEHALF OF THE HOMEOWNERS, OR THE HOMEOWNERS CAN APPLY FOR THEMSELVES. AND SO THIS IS THE MAP OF THE THE MATCH WAIVER. AND THE HOMEOWNER PROPERTY OWNER CAN TYPE IN THEIR ADDRESS ON THE RIGHT SIDE TO SEE IF THEY'RE LOCATED. AND JUST TO CLARIFY, THIS ISN'T JUST FOR SENIOR CITIZENS, IT'S FOR ANY PROPERTY OWNER WHO'S HOMESTEAD EXEMPTED. AND SO THEY WOULD NEED TO CONFIRM THAT THEY ARE HOMESTEAD EXEMPTED IN THE APPLICATION PROCESS. SO 
          [01:15:09]
ESSENTIALLY ANY HOMEOWNER COULD TAKE A LOOK AT THIS MAP, TYPE IN THEIR ADDRESS AGAIN. AND THEN WHEN THEY CLICK ON THE MAP, IT WOULD LET THEM KNOW IF THEY ARE LOCATED WITHIN THE MATCH AREA. THE BLUE AREAS ARE. YES, YOU ARE LOCATED WITHIN THE MATCH AREA AND THE WHITE AREAS ARE. YOU'RE NOT LOCATED WITHIN THE MATCH AREA. SO AS OF RIGHT NOW, THIS MAP HAS BEEN USED FOR CENSUS DATA, HAS BEEN CENSUS AND THE FORMER CJIS TOOL WAS USED TO MAKE THIS MAP. AND SO WE ARE CURRENTLY TRYING TO ADVOCATE TO EXPAND THE LOCATIONS, BECAUSE I HAVE RECEIVED CALLS FROM MANY PROPERTY OWNERS WHO ARE EITHER JUST OUTSIDE OF THIS MATCH WAIVER AREA OR RIGHT ON THE LINE THAT DON'T QUALIFY. SO I JUST WANTED TO UPDATE THAT. YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS? THANK YOU. I GUESS LASTLY, I WILL BE PASSING OUT FLIERS, FLIERS FOR THE PROGRAM THAT HAS LINKS TO THE WEBSITE IN ADDITION TO LINKS DIRECTLY TO THE MATCH, THE THE MAP AND DIRECT PHONE NUMBER CONTACT FOR THE PROGRAM IF YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS. 
          THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR YOUR PRESENTATION, COUNCILWOMAN ATKINS. YES, THANK YOU, MR. WORTHY. GREATLY APPRECIATE IT. AND WE'LL FOLLOW UP ABOUT THE PROGRAM TO HAVE THOSE TO COME IN TO SIGN UP FOR THE SERVICE. THANK YOU. OKAY. COUNCILWOMAN HEMMING, MR. WORTHY, I HAVE QUESTIONS FOR YOU. YEAH. SO FIRST, THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR BRINGING THIS OPPORTUNITY TO OUR CITY. I THINK IT'S OUTSTANDING. I HAD A COUPLE OF QUESTIONS. ONE, WHAT IS THE LENGTH OF THE PROGRAM LIKE? IS THERE A DEADLINE BY WHICH PEOPLE NEED TO APPLY? I'LL ASK THAT FIRST. YEAH. SO THE PROGRAM WOULD BE ONGOING FOR THE NEXT THREE YEARS. AND WE REVIEW APPLICATIONS ON A MONTHLY BASIS. OKAY. AND THEN ALSO BECAUSE I CAN I CAN BRING YOU SOME SOME PEOPLE WHO NEED THIS SERVICE. SO I WANT TO HAVE AN IDEA OF THE, THE CEILING. SO IS THERE A CERTAIN NUMBER OF PEOPLE WITHIN THE CITY THAT THIS GRANT OPPORTUNITY WOULD COVER? I WANT TO FIGURE OUT KIND OF THE MAGNITUDE. HOW FAR REACHING IS THIS PROGRAM? YEAH, ABSOLUTELY. THANK YOU FOR THAT QUESTION. THIS PROGRAM IS STATEWIDE. SO EVERY RESIDENT THAT IS HOMESTEAD EXEMPTED PROPERTY OWNER IN THE STATE CAN APPLY FOR THIS PROGRAM. AS FAR AS FAR REACHING, WE DON'T NECESSARILY HAVE A CAP ON THE AMOUNT OF REMOVALS, BUT WE DO HAVE A CAP ON THE AMOUNT OF MONEY WITHIN THE THREE YEARS TO ADMINISTER THE PROGRAM. SO IT WOULD DEPEND ON THE AMOUNT OF APPLICATIONS WE RECEIVE EACH MONTH. OKAY. AND JUST SO I MAKE SURE THAT I UNDERSTAND, ASSUMING THAT A PERSON IS QUALIFIED, THE THE ONLY FEE THAT THEY WOULD INCUR IS THE $75 FEE TO GET THE PERMIT FROM THE CITY OF EASTPOINTE. BUT THIS PROGRAM WOULD COVER THE REMOVAL COST. ABSOLUTELY. OKAY. AND WILL IT ALSO COVER THE REPLANTING COSTS THAT ARE MENTIONED HERE? YES. OKAY. OUTSTANDING. THANK YOU SO MUCH. 
          THANK YOU. THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBER MARTIN ROGERS I JUST WANT TO SAY IT'S SO GOOD TO SEE YOU. IT'S GREAT TO SEE YOU. I WANT TO THANK YOU FOR COMING BEFORE US AND PRESENTING THIS INFORMATION. WHAT IS THE APPLICATION LOOK LIKE? IS IT ONLINE OR IS IT A PAPER APPLICATION? IT'S AN ONLINE APPLICATION RIGHT NOW. BUT UPON REQUEST WE CAN MAIL APPLICATIONS AND OR THE ARBORIST CAN COMPLETE THE APPLICATION ON BEHALF OF THE PROPERTY OWNER. OKAY. BECAUSE WE HAVE A WIDE RANGE OF INDIVIDUALS THAT LIVE IN EASTPOINTE. AND I KNOW SPECIFIC TO WARD D, THE COMPUTER MAY IT MAY NOT WORK FOR THEM. SO COUNCIL MEMBER ATKINS IS YOU ARE WORKING THROUGH THIS. IF WE COULD KEEP IN MIND WHEN YOU HAVE THIS THAT WE HAVE SOME COMPUTERS MAYBE SET UP HERE WHERE THEY CAN APPLY ONLINE. WE HAVE PAPER APPLICATIONS READILY AVAILABLE THAT DAY. SO JUST WANT TO KEEP THOSE THINGS IN MIND. AND THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR YOUR PRESENTATION. NEXT WE HAVE COUNCILWOMAN CALDWELL. DO YOU WANT YOUR OUT OKAY. COUNCILWOMAN CUMMINGS THANK YOU, MADAM MAYOR, AND THANK YOU FOR YOUR PRESENTATION. WHAT'S THE THE TURNAROUND PROCESS ON THIS LIKE THE TURNAROUND TIME. SO DO THE APPLICATION. IT'S SUBMITTED. WHAT'S THAT WHAT'S THAT PROCESS LOOK LIKE? SO PRESS THE BUTTON APOLOGIZE. THE APPLICATIONS TAKE APPROXIMATELY 4 TO 6 WEEKS TO REVIEW. AND WE REVIEW THEM AT THE THERE'S A CUT OFF DATE AT THE END OF EACH MONTH. SO WE JUST STOPPED ACCEPTING APPLICATIONS FOR FEBRUARY. THEY WILL BE REVIEWED AT THE MIDDLE OF THE MONTH AND SO ON. AND YOU 
          [01:20:01]
I WANTED TO MAKE SURE I WAS CLEAR. IS THERE A CAP ON THE NUMBER OF TREES THAT CAN BE REMOVED FROM ONE INDIVIDUAL'S PROPERTY OR. YEAH. SO AS LONG AS ALL OF THOSE TREES, IF THERE ARE 1 TO 2 TREES, THERE ISN'T A NECESSARILY CAP. BUT IF THOSE TREES ARE DEEMED AS HAZARDOUS, DEAD OR DYING, THEN THOSE CAN BE ASSESSED AND REVIEWED. OKAY. ALL RIGHT. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. 
          COUNCILWOMAN ZIEGLER. THANK YOU. THANK YOU FOR YOUR PRESENTATION. ACTUALLY, MY QUESTION WAS ALREADY ANSWERED BY COUNCIL MEMBER HEMMING. I'M SORRY, CUMMINGS, BUT IT WAS GREAT TO SEE YOU. I WAS I WAS LIKE, OH, MONEY, WHETHER MONEY, WHETHER YOUR NAME SOUNDS SO FAMILIAR. I WAS LIKE, OH, IT'S YOU. SO ANYWAY, BLAST FROM THE PAST. ALRIGHT, WELL, THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR COMING TO EASTPOINTE AND THIS IS A GREAT PROGRAM. THANK YOU. THANK YOU, COUNCILMAN ATKINS. YES, I JUST WANTED TO FOLLOW UP. COUNCIL MEMBER MARTIN ROGERS JUST TALKED ABOUT THE EVENT. I'VE BEEN INITIALLY TALKING WITH MR. MONEY. WHETHER WHETHER ABOUT HAVING MONEY WORTHY. YES. THANK YOU ABOUT HAVING AN EVENT FOR THAT VERY REASON. FOR THOSE THAT HAVE CHALLENGES DIGITALLY TO APPLY SO THAT WE CAN PROVIDE THOSE RESOURCES TO THEM. AND SO WE WILL SET THAT UP. AND INDIVIDUALS COULD COME HERE. SO WE'LL GET THAT DATE SET UP. AND THEN ONCE THAT'S ALL CONFIRMED THEN WE WILL MAKE THAT ANNOUNCEMENT. BUT I JUST REALLY WOULD LIKE FOR AS MANY EASTPOINTE RESIDENTS AS POSSIBLE, AGAIN, A CITY OF VERY MATURE TREES ALL OVER. AND THIS IS A GREAT OPPORTUNITY. TREES ARE VERY EXPENSIVE TO COME DOWN, SO THIS IS A WONDERFUL OPPORTUNITY. I DID NOT WANT OUR CITIZENS TO MISS IT. SO THANK YOU. ABSOLUTELY. THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR YOUR PRESENTATION AND THE WORK THAT YOU'RE DOING TO HELP MOVE OUR CITY FORWARD. THANK YOU, THANK YOU. NEXT, WE WILL HAVE A PRESENTATION BY 
          [Items XI.5. & XIV.7.]
COUNCILWOMAN MARTIN ROGERS, THE EPC, CVB WORLD SOCCER PRESENTATION. THANK YOU, MADAM MAYOR. THEY NEED NO INTRODUCTION. I'D LIKE TO INTRODUCE THE EASTPOINTE CONVENTION AND VISITORS BUREAU. THIS ORGANIZATION PLAYS A KEY ROLE IN PROMOTING OUR CITY, SUPPORTING LOCAL BUSINESSES AND DRIVING TOURISM THAT STRENGTHENS OUR ECONOMY. THEIR WORK HELPS SHOWCASE EASTPOINTE AS A DESTINATION. NOT JUST A PASS THROUGH, AND WE APPRECIATE THE IMPACT THEY CONTINUE TO MAKE IN OUR COMMUNITY. GOOD EVENING MAYOR. COUNCIL MEMBERS. 
          COUNCIL MEMBER MARTIN ROGERS I SEE ON HERE IT SAYS WORLD CUP, BUT JUST WANT TO BE CLEAR, WE WERE ALSO ASKED TO DO AN UPDATE AND THEN FIFA. IS THAT CORRECT UNDERSTANDING? YES, YES OKAY. 
          JUST WANTED TO MAKE SURE OKAY. BECAUSE IT ONLY SAID FIFA WORLD CUP ON HERE. SO I JUST WANT TO MAKE SURE WE'RE WE ARE PREPARED TO DO THE UPDATE AS WELL. SO ARE WE GOING TO DO. WITH THE. 
          HOW WITH THE PRESENTATION YOU'RE GOING TO DO. YOU'RE DOING ONE ALL IN ONE. WE HAVE 15 MINUTES FOR THE PRESENTATION. YOU THINK THAT WILL BE ENOUGH IF I THINK THE UPDATE ALONE WAS 15, I BELIEVED THAT YOUR ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT DEPARTMENT WAS HERE AS WELL. THAT WOULD BE ABLE TO SPEAK WITH WHICH WE CAN CONTINUE ON AND THEN HAVE THEM JOIN US. OH, I SEE AGENDA ITEM NUMBER SEVEN. YES. IS THERE A MOTION TO WE WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT THERE'S SPACE. SO WE'RE GOING TO MOVE TO HAVE THE 15 MINUTES FOR YOUR PRESENTATION AND AN ADDITIONAL 15 MINUTES TO INCLUDE THE THE THE QUESTION. YES. OKAY. GREAT. SO WE'RE MOVING THE DO YOU HAVE A SECOND SECOND. ANY DISCUSSION. OKAY. SO ALL THOSE IN FAVOR, ALL THOSE OPPOSED BY SEVEN. SO WE'LL BE MOVING OKAY. NUMBER SEVEN AGENDA ITEM WILL BE AN COMBINED WITH NUMBER FIVE OF THE PRESENTATION OKAY OKAY. SO WE'LL BE SPEAKING VERY QUICKLY AND ADHERENCE TO YOUR TIME. 
          THANK YOU SO MUCH AGAIN FOR HAVING US. I AM HERE TODAY WITH MY BOARD MEMBERS. OF COURSE, THE HONORABLE MAYOR PATSY JO HILLIARD, MY CHAIRMAN, MR. NEAL SHAW, AND MY VICE CHAIR, MR. CHARLES JOHNSON. THANK YOU. SO WE WANTED TO COME BEFORE YOU TODAY TO JUST DO AN UPDATE FROM WHERE WE LEFT OFF ON LAST YEAR. AND OF COURSE, WE'VE BEEN WORKING WITH FIFA AS WELL. BUT JUST REAL QUICKLY, WE JUST WANTED TO REMIND AND STATE WHAT OUR MANTRA IS IN THE CITY OF EASTPOINTE THAT IF YOU BUILD A PLACE WHERE PEOPLE WANT TO VISIT, YOU'LL BUILD A PLACE 
          [01:25:04]
WHERE PEOPLE WANT TO LIVE. AND IF YOU BUILD A PLACE WHERE PEOPLE WANT TO LIVE, YOU'LL BUILD A PLACE WHERE PEOPLE WANT TO WORK. AND IF YOU BUILD A PLACE WHERE PEOPLE WANT TO WORK, YOU'LL BUILD A PLACE WHERE A BUSINESS WANTS TO BE. AND IF YOU BUILD A PLACE WHERE BUSINESSES WANT TO BE, THEN WE'LL BE RIGHT BACK TO BUILDING A PLACE WHERE PEOPLE WANT TO VISIT. AND IT ALL STARTS WITH THE VISIT. AND THAT VISIT DOES NOT HAPPEN WITHOUT US AT THE EASTPOINTE CVB. SO WE'LL START WELL QUICKLY AS JUST A REMINDER OF WHAT IS A DMO. AND THAT IS JUST A DESTINATION MARKETING ORGANIZATION, A NONPROFIT ENTITY AND OFTEN GOVERNMENT BACKED, RESPONSIBLE FOR PROMOTING A CITY, A REGION OR COUNTY TO INCREASE TOURISM AND ECONOMIC IMPACT. AND THIS IS IN ACCORDANCE WITH US TRAVEL ASSOCIATION AND OUR OR PURPOSE IS OF COURSE, TO BE, AS A CVB, CHARGED WITH THE BRANDING AND PROMOTING OF A DESTINATION AND TO ATTRACT VISITORS, SERVING AS A CENTRAL HUB OF A LOCAL TOURISM ECONOMY. THE FUNCTIONS THAT WE ALSO FALL INTO PLAY WITH IS TO LEAD THE TOURISM, MARKETING AND PROMOTION THROUGH CAMPAIGNS, WEBSITE AND SOCIAL MEDIA. BRANDING IS A VERY INTEGRAL PART OF WHAT WE DO. 
          WE'RE HERE TO GIVE A VERY GOOD IMAGE AND PERCEPTION OF THE CITY OF EASTPOINTE FOR MEETINGS, GROUP LEISURE AND BUSINESS TRAVEL. IF YOU WILL SEE BELOW JUST SOME SAMPLES OF THE BRANDING. AGAIN, BECAUSE OF THE GREAT WORK OF BRANDING OUT OF EASTPOINTE CVB, WE WERE APPROVED BY THE NBA TO CO-BRAND WITH THEM FOR THE ALL STAR, THE HBCU ALL STAR LAST YEAR. SO I THINK THAT'S A BIG WIN WHEN A BRAND IS BIG AS THE AS THE NBA ALLOWS YOU TO CO-BRAND WITH THEM. AND I KNOW WE'VE BEEN HEARING A LOT ABOUT THINGS THAT THE CVB SHOULD DO OR NOT DO, OR WHERE THESE HOTEL MOTEL TAXES COME FROM. SO I JUST WANTED TO CLEAR UP SOME OF THE COMMON MISCONCEPTIONS AND HOW WE ARE FUNDED. SO THE CVB FUNDING IS DERIVED FROM HOTEL MOTEL TAX, OTHERWISE KNOWN AS THE HMT FUNDS. THEY ARE NOT RESIDENTIAL TAXES. HMT IS REVENUE GENERATED FROM OVERNIGHT HOTEL STAYS COLLECTED BY THE CITY, AND A RESTRICTED PORTION IS DISTRIBUTED TO THE CVB FOR MARKETING AND PROMOTIONAL PURPOSES, AND THE CHART BELOW FROM THE DEPARTMENT OF COMMUNITY AFFAIRS. YOU'LL SEE WHERE THERE'S TCT, THAT IS, TOURISM CONVENTIONS AND TRADE SHOWS. THAT IS THE FIRST 2% THAT IS ALLOCATED TO WHO WE ARE A 500 1C6. WE'RE NOT STATE. WE'RE NOT A STATE DEPARTMENT. WE'RE NOT A STATE AUTHORITY. 
          WE'RE NOT STATE CREATED CVB BUT A 500 1C6. THEN THERE'S AN ADDITIONAL 1.5% OUT OF THE 8% IN TOTAL. THAT, AGAIN IS ALLOCATED ONLY TO 500 1C6, WHICH IS US. SO THAT IS THREE AND A HALF IN TOTAL. THERE'S ANOTHER 1.5% THAT COULD COME TO THE CVB. HOWEVER, DURING THE IMPLEMENTATION STAGES OF THE CVB, IT WAS AGREED BY THE MEMBERS THAT THAT ADDITIONAL 1.5% WILL GO TO THE CITY, KNOWN AS TOURISM PRODUCT DEVELOPMENT. SO THAT 1.5 GOES TO THE CITY. 
          THAT COMES TO A TOTAL OF 5%. RESTRICTED, ABSOLUTELY RESTRICTED, THAT WE CAN ONLY USE FOR PROMOTIONAL PURPOSES, AND THAT THE CITY WILL USE THEIR 1.5 FOR TOURISM DEVELOPMENT. THEN THERE IS THE UNRESTRICTED PORTION OF 3%, WHICH IS GOES AGAIN TO THE CITY FOR THEIR GENERAL FUND EXPENDITURES. AND THAT IS THE TOTAL OF THE 8% OF THE HOTEL MOTEL TAX. THIS IS JUST A GLANCE OF THE OPERATING BUDGET OF THE CVB, AND THE AMOUNT THAT'S COLLECTED ANNUALLY. I DO HAVE MY FINANCE MANAGER HERE. THERE'S ANY QUESTIONS, BUT JUST A QUICK OVERLOOK OF HOW WE ALLOCATE THE FUNDS THAT WE RECEIVE FROM THE CITY, OPERATIONS, SALARIES AND PAYROLL AND SALES AND MARKETING. I WANT TO BRING TO YOUR ATTENTION THAT 53% OF OUR BUDGET IS SPENT ON MARKETING, WHICH THROUGH DCA AND BEST PRACTICE, IT IS RECOGNIZED THAT THE BULK OF OUR MONEY GOES TO MARKETING AND SALES, BUT THAT WE ARE WELL BELOW OVER 20% IN OPERATING COMPARED TO SOME OF THE OTHER CVBS AND DMOS OUT THERE. USUALLY IT'S UP TO 40% IN SALARIES AND PAYROLL. SO JUST WANT TO SHARE WITH YOU THAT HOW LITTLE WE ARE UTILIZING IN THE OPERATION SIDE, BUT YET PUTTING OUT SO MUCH ON THE ACTUAL MARKETING AND BRANDING. DM DMO OVERVIEW REAL QUICKLY DEFINING TCT AGAIN, THAT IS THE TOURISM, TRAVEL CONVENTIONS AND TRADE SHOWS. AND THAT IS AGAIN FOR THE NON SECTOR NONPROFIT ORGANIZATION WHICH WE ARE 500 1C6 AND OUR PRIMARY RESPONSIBILITIES OF WHICH ARE TO ENCOURAGE TRAVELERS TO VISIT OUR DESTINATION AND ENCOURAGE 
          [01:30:03]
MEETINGS AND EXHIBITIONS IN THE AREA. TOURISM CONVENTIONS AND TRADE SHOWS. AGAIN THE PURPOSE, SAME THING PLANNING AND CONDUCTING AND PARTICIPATING IN PROGRAMS OF INFORMATION PUBLICITY DESIGNED TO ATTRACT AND ADVERTISE TOURISM CONVENTIONS AND TRADE SHOWS. SO WHEN WE MAKE DECISIONS ON WHAT WE ARE PROMOTING, THE PROGRAMS THAT WE GET INVOLVED WITH, IT'S NOT JUST BY CHOICE, BUT BY THE MANDATE THAT WE ARE GIVEN THROUGH DCA TO BE GOOD STEWARDS OF THE HOTEL MOTEL TAX DOLLARS. SO AGAIN, ONLY PROGRAMS OF INFORMATION, PUBLICITY AND ATTRACTING VISITORS THROUGH ADVERTISING CONVENTIONS AND TRADE SHOWS. THANKS. AND AGAIN, HERE'S JUST SOME EXAMPLES OF THE TPD DOLLARS WHICH THE CITY RECEIVES. AND OF COURSE WHAT QUALIFIES OF TPD. AND I KNOW YOU GUYS HAVE THIS SLIDE ALREADY, AND AS A RESULT OF THAT, AND IN LINE WITH THE DCA'S MANDATE, THE EASTPOINTE CVB WAS ESTABLISHED AND THIS WAS OUR MISSION TO MOVE FORWARD. I JUST WANTED TO GIVE A QUICK, HIGH LEVEL VIEW OF HOW WE GOT STARTED. WE DIDN'T HAVE A HAND OVER OF A DMO. THIS WAS STARTED FROM SCRATCH. WHEN I SAY FROM SCRATCH, MEANING GROUND ZERO, HAVING TO SET UP BANK ACCOUNTS, BYLAWS, ARTICLES OF INCORPORATION, WE DIDN'T HAVE AN OFFICE. WE DIDN'T HAVE STAFF UNTIL LATE MARCH INTO APRIL. WE DIDN'T HAVE AN OFFICE FOR A YEAR. SO WE WERE JUST OPERATING WHILE STILL PRODUCING, WORKING, ADVERTISING AND DOING ALL THE THINGS NECESSARY TO IMPLEMENT TO HAVE US WHERE WE ARE TODAY. 
          SO WITH A REAL GOOD UNDERSTANDING THAT THAT FIRST YEAR IN 2023 WAS STRICTLY IMPLEMENTATION FROM GROUND ZERO, STARTING FROM SCRATCH, BUT STILL BEING RECOGNIZED WITHIN THE INDUSTRY AND MAKING A REALLY GOOD HEADWAY IN THE FOOTPRINT. SOME OF THE MARKETING THAT WE'VE DONE HERE, YOU CAN SEE THE HBCU ALL STAR CLASSIC AND SOME OF THE PROMOTIONAL ITEMS. THERE'S MR. SPIKE LEE HOLDING UP OUR TOWEL. EASTPOINTE AND MOREHOUSE, ONE OF THE PARTNERS THAT WE HAVE, WHICH WAS REALLY EXCITING, TOP LEFT, IS JUST KIND OF WHAT WE LOOK LIKE WHEN WE SHOW UP AT A TRADE SHOW AND REPRESENT EASTPOINTE, AMONG ALL THE OTHER 80 CVBS AND THE THOUSANDS OF CVBS THROUGHOUT THE NATION. AT THE VERY BOTTOM RIGHT IS THE TOURISM DAY AT THE CAPITOL. AGAIN, EASTPOINTE WAS SELECTED OUT OF ALL THE CVBS IN GEORGIA TO PRESENT THE PRESENTATION, CHECK FROM THE GOVERNOR AND BE INTERVIEWED WITH 11 ALIVE. AND THERE'S A PICTURE WITH THE GOVERNOR AND OUR EASTPOINTE REPS. AND ALL THAT HAPPENED BECAUSE OF OUR RELATIONSHIPS WITH THE GOVERNOR'S OFFICE. SO MORE MARKETING RIGHT HERE TO TAKE A REAL GOOD LOOK AT. THE BIGGEST THING WE ARE PROUD OF HERE IS THE PUBLICATION AND THE WRITING OF A BOOK CALLED THE 50 THINGS TO DO IN EASTPOINTE. WE DID A SOFT LAUNCH LAST YEAR AT THE NATIONAL TRAVEL AND TOURISM WEEK. THAT WAS A HUGE DEAL. WE'RE VERY PROUD OF THAT. WE'LL BE DOING A MAJOR LAUNCH COMING SOON. YOU ALL WILL BE INVITED AGAIN AS WE INVITE YOU GUYS EVERY SINGLE YEAR TO CELEBRATE NATIONAL NATIONAL TRAVEL AND TOURISM WEEK, WHICH IS WHERE WE CELEBRATE THE IMPORTANCE OF TRAVEL AND TOURISM AND HOSPITALITY TO OUR DESTINATION AND EXACTLY WHAT IT MEANS FOR THE CITY OF EASTPOINTE. WE USUALLY HAVE ALL OF OUR HOTEL PARTNERS OUT AND WE DEBUTED WHAT WE CALL NOT WHAT WE CALL WHAT IS A MARKETING HUB. IF YOU SEE IN THE PICTURE DOWN TO THE FAR RIGHT MIDDLE, THAT IS AN ELECTRONIC HUB THAT FOR THE FIRST TIME EVER, A CVB HAS PRODUCED AND MADE AVAILABLE TO ALL OF OUR HOTELS SO WE CAN BETTER COMPETE AND SHARE INFORMATION WITH THE VISITORS TO EASTPOINTE. THEY CAN JUST USE A QR CODE AND KNOW EXACTLY WHAT'S HAPPENING IN THE CITY. PLUS, THE HOTELS CAN COMMUNICATE TO THE VISITORS THROUGH THAT AS WELL. JUST SOME SAMPLES OF OUR ADVERTISING AND PUBLISHING. WE HAVE A BILLBOARD CAMPAIGN. WE HAVE FOUR ELECTRONIC BILLBOARDS THROUGHOUT THE CITY IN SOME VERY STRATEGIC LOCATIONS. AND, YOU KNOW, THAT'S SOMETHING THAT HELPS US TO PROMOTE AS WELL. JUST A QUICK SAMPLE OF SOME OF THE ADS THAT YOU MAY SEE OUT IN DIFFERENT PUBLICATIONS REPRESENTING THE CITY OF EASTPOINTE. THIS IS THE BRAVES YEARBOOK TO THE RIGHT. GEORGIA ENTERTAINMENT ON THE LEFT. WE ARE CAMERA READY CITY. SO WE'RE ALWAYS PARTICIPATING WITH GEORGIA ENTERTAINMENT WHEREVER THEY TRAVEL. PRESS RELEASES. 
          THERE ARE TONS OF PRESS RELEASES ALL OVER OUR WEBSITE. YOU CAN VISIT AND SEE THAT. 
          ALWAYS TALKING ABOUT THE GOOD NEWS OF EASTPOINTE AND THE WORK THAT WE'RE DOING, AND HOW WE'RE PROMOTING THE CITY AS A VIABLE DESTINATION FOR MEETINGS, CONVENTIONS AND LEISURE TRAVEL AS WHERE THE WORLD MEETS. WE'VE ALSO BEEN THE WINNER TWO YEARS IN A ROW, 24 AND 25 WITH CONVENTION SOUTH, WHICH IS A LEADING INDUSTRY PUBLICATION, AND TWO YEARS IN A ROW. I THINK IT'S A BIG DEAL THAT WE'RE RECOGNIZED AMONG ALL THE CVBS IN THE SOUTHERN STATES AS ONE OF THE BEST CVBS IN THE SOUTH, SO MORE SAMPLES OF TV AND MEDIA 11 ALIVE IN THE BOTTOM RIGHT. 
          YOU'LL SEE WE HAD A FULL SEGMENT ON ATLANTA AND COMPANY. WE HAD THE PRODUCERS CAMERAS, THE WHOLE SHEBANG WAS OUT IN EASTPOINTE FOR A DAY FILMING, AND THEN THEY PRODUCED, OF 
          [01:35:03]
COURSE, THE SEGMENT ATLANTA COMPANY ON EASTPOINTE. IT'S LISTED ON OUR WEBSITE IF YOU'D LIKE TO TAKE A LOOK AT IT. IT WAS A GREAT PRODUCTION AND VERY PROUD OF THAT. TO THE TOP. I'LL JUST BACK ONE SECOND TO THE TOP LEFT. ESSENCE MAGAZINE DECIDED TO WELL, I WAS SELECTED TO HAVE A FIRESIDE CHAT WITH THE GLOBAL ECONOMIC FORUM, ACTUALLY ON FIFA AND TOURISM AND THE ECONOMIC IMPACT THAT THAT WOULD HAVE ON DESTINATIONS. SO THAT WAS SOMETHING RATHER GOOD FOR A NATIONAL MAGAZINE TO SELECT EASTPOINTE TO SPEAK ON THAT TOPIC. AND AGAIN, WITH THE BRAND STATEMENT OF WHERE THE WORLD MEETS, WE DO GET A LOT OF CALLS AND INTEREST BECAUSE WE'RE LOCATED NEXT TO THE WORLD'S BUSIEST AIRPORT, AND BECAUSE OF THE WORK THAT WE'RE DOING IN THE RECOGNITION THAT WE'RE RECEIVING, WE GET THE CALLS FROM THE NATIONAL PUBLICATIONS. MEDIA AND RADIO AND TV. I HAVE SOME QUICK SAMPLES THAT ALL 30S, AND I'D LIKE TO SHARE THAT WITH YOU, JUST TO SEE HOW WE ARE BEING PRESENTED IN THE TV AND RADIO DIRECTION. NEWS THIS MORNING IS SPONSORED IN PART BY EASTPOINTE EASTPOINTE WHERE THE WORLD MEETS. ALL ACCESS PASS IS SPONSORED BY VISIT EASTPOINTE. CASA ES SU CASA. MAKE EASTPOINTE YOUR HOTEL STAY FOR THE WORLD GAMES 26. EASTPOINTE WHERE THE WORLD COMPETES. THIS WAS VERY LARGE. EASTPOINTE ALL ACCESS PASS IS SPONSORED BY VISIT EASTPOINTE. CASA ES SU CASA MAKE EASTPOINTE YOUR HOTEL STAY FOR THE WORLD GAMES 26 EASTPOINTE WHERE THE WORLD COMPETES. JUST WANTED TO SAY REAL QUICKLY THIS IS WHAT WAS PLAYED DURING THE WINTER OLYMPICS AND EVERY TIME A GOLD MEDAL, SILVER MEDAL, MEDALS WERE COUNTED, EASTPOINTE WAS REPRESENTED ON THE MEDAL COUNT AND THEN FOR THE CLOSING CEREMONIES AND ALSO OTHER SPOTS. 
          THE SECOND SPOT WAS FEATURED. NEXT, EAST POINT, GEORGIA IS READY AS THE WORLD GAMES ARRIVES IN ATLANTA. NATIONS, BANDS AND CULTURES WILL GATHER HERE TO CELEBRATE COMPETITION ON THE GLOBAL STAGE. LESS THAN FIVE MINUTES FROM THE ATLANTA INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT, EASTPOINTE OFFERS CONVENIENT HOTELS, VIBRANT RESTAURANTS AND EASY ACCESS TO THE ACTION. IT'S A CITY BUILT TO HOST WITH A SPACE, ENERGY AND HOSPITALITY TO WELCOME THE WORLD WHEN THE GAMES BEGIN. MAKE YOUR STAY PART OF THE EXPERIENCE. THESE POINTS WHERE THE WORLD COMPETES. 
          WE ARE SO PROUD OF THIS COMMERCIAL. THIS IS WHAT WAS PLAYED DURING THE CHRISTMAS HOLIDAYS THROUGH THE BASKETBALL GAMES, AND ALSO AGAIN AT THE CLOSING CEREMONY OF THE OLYMPICS HERE ON NBC. THIS IS A COMMERCIAL THAT WAS PRODUCED IN-HOUSE AND AGAIN SHOWN ON WSB. 
          AND 11 ALIVE WILL BE PRODUCING SOME MORE COMMERCIALS AS WE MOVE FORWARD TO FIFA. THIS IS WHAT WE CONSIDER OUR FIFA COMMERCIAL. IT IS UNDER THE BRAND CAMPAIGN OF MI CASA ES SU CASA. OF COURSE, OUR HOME IS YOUR HOME. SPEAKING TO EVERYBODY AND WELCOMING THEM TO WHERE THE WORLD COMPETES, WHICH IS ALSO THE BRAND THAT WE CREATED JUST FOR FIFA. THERE ARE 220 COUNTRIES IN THE WORLD. DEMOCRACY. MAYBE THERE'S MAYBE THERE'S 25 COUNTRIES THAT HAVE MORE THAN $47 BILLION IN REVENUE. THEN IT REALLY BLOWS HARD COPY ALL I CAN NAME A BUNCH OF COUNTRIES THAT ARE HOUSEHOLD NAMES THAT ARE WAY BELOW OUR GDP. SO THAT WHOLE AREA AT THIS POINT IS A GOAL BECAUSE OF THE BUSIEST AIRPORT IN THE WORLD, BETWEEN MIDTOWN AND THE AIRPORT IS THE NEXT GOAL LINE FOR ATLANTA, BUT THE ENTIRE SOUTH ASIAN. ALL OF YOU ARE VERY FAMILIAR WITH HIM AS WELL. ARE THE EASTPOINTE CONVENTION AND VISITORS BUREAU, THE CDP FOR THE STATE OF GEORGIA. EASTPOINTE IS A DIVERSE AND WELCOMING CITY. 
          RICHMOND IS HOME TO BLACK ARTS IN AMERICA, WAS RECENTLY FEATURED IN FORBES MAGAZINE, ARCTIC CHANGE, AND BALLET DANCE COMPANY, WHO IN JANUARY RECEIVED THE GOVERNOR'S AWARD FOR THE ARTS AND HUMANITIES. EQUALLY HAS GREAT PROXIMITY TO THE AIRPORT, AND THAT'S WHY THEY'RE KNOWN AS EASTPOINTE, WHERE THE WORLD MEETS. DETROIT, WHERE THE WORLD MEET AGAIN. WE ARE EASTPOINTE, WHERE THE WORLD MEETS. AND WITH ALL THAT SHARED, WE ARE ALSO KNOWN FOR SOME OF ITS POPULAR RESTAURANTS, LOTS OF SEAFOOD RIGHT ON VIRGINIA AVENUE. I'M SURE SOME OF YOU HAVE ALREADY BEEN THERE. THUMBS UP DINER, ASK PIZZERIA, LOUISIANA BISTRO, AND ONE OF OUR NEWEST RESTAURANTS EAT MY BISCUITS. YOU GOT TO GIVE IT A TRY. OKAY. AND THAT WAS THE GOVERNOR'S CONFERENCE ON TOURISM. AND JUST TO SHOW THAT WE ARE MAKING A DENT IN THE INDUSTRY, THERE ARE SOME SLIDES ON SALES, BUT IF YOU WANT TO GO AHEAD AND MOVE TO THE FIFA, THEN WE CAN DO THAT. OH WAIT, SO IS THIS A DIFFERENT PRESENTATION OR WERE YOU 
          [01:40:08]
FINISHED WITH YOUR PREVIOUS PRESENTATION? WE DO HAVE A FEW MORE SLIDES TO GO. OKAY. SO ON THE UPDATE A MOTION TO GIVE YOU ABOUT TEN MORE MINUTES, IF THAT'S FINE WITH EVERYBODY. 
          SECOND. THEY HAVE THEY HAVE THEY HAVE THE ADDITIONAL 15 ALREADY ADDED IN. BUT I THOUGHT THAT THAT ADDITIONAL WAS FOR OKAY. OH SO WE CAN USE SOME OF THAT TIME. WE'RE GOING TO DO THE ADDITIONAL 15 THAT WE VOTED ON. AND THEN WE'LL GO TO THE OKAY OKAY OKAY. SO GO AHEAD OKAY. THANK YOU. AGAIN. THE GEORGIA GOVERNOR'S CONFERENCE ON TOURISM. AND THIS IS THE CEO OF BRAND USA, THE CEO THAT ACTUALLY SPEAKS ON BRANDING FOR THE ENTIRE UNITED STATES. AND JUST WANTED TO REITERATE THAT WHEN WE DO DO PROGRAMS, AGAIN, IT IS FROM DATA DRIVEN AND THE EXPERTISE. CAN YOU GO FORWARD, PLEASE? AND AGAIN, JUST TO SHOW THAT WHEN THEY DID THE PRESENTATIONS FOR BRAND USA, THEY SPOKE TO GEORGIA. AND WITH NORTH AMERICA AND CANADA BEING THE NUMBER ONE. SO AGAIN, WHEN YOU SEE CANADA THAT WE'RE DOING BUSINESS WITH TORONTO, IT IS BECAUSE OF THE DATA AND THE ASK BY THE GOVERNOR THAT WE GO AFTER INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS. 
          NEXT PLEASE. AND AGAIN HERE JUST SHOWING THAT THE DIFFERENT COUNTRIES AND WHERE CANADA LIES IN THAT SOME INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS. WE HAD THE FIRST LADY OF LIBERIA STAY IN EASTPOINTE, THE PRESIDENT OF THE AMERICAN CHAMBER OF COMMERCE FOR GAMBIA, THE FIRST LADY OF GHANA, AMBASSADOR FOR THE DIASPORA AFFAIRS OF GRENADA, CEO OF A LARGE TECH COMPANY FROM INDIA. 
          BECAUSE OF THE DATA CENTER BEING BUILT HERE IN EASTPOINTE, HE WAS REFERRED TO COME PAY US A VISIT. WE ALSO HAD A VISIT FROM A THE LARGEST REAL ESTATE MARKETING FIRM IN DUBAI, WHICH IS SOBA, BECAUSE THEY HEARD THAT WE WERE IN NEED OF A CONFERENCE CENTER AND WANTED TO COME TALK ABOUT THAT AS WELL. WE ALSO DID THE EASTPOINTE NIGHT AT THE RAPTORS AND GOT REALLY GOOD REVIEWS AND RECOGNITION FOR DOING SO. AND NEXT PLEASE REAL QUICK. 
          ATLANTA'S EASTPOINT CONVENTION AND VISITORS BUREAU TONIGHT, OUR HALFTIME ENTERTAINMENT, THREE LEGENDS AND HIP HOP AND R&B GRAMMY WINNERS AND NOMINEES MAKE SOME NOISE FOR YOU, Y'ALL. 
          MONO AND MONTELL JORDAN. IT'S GOING TO BE PHENOMENAL. IF YOU'RE NOT HERE, MAKE SURE YOU GET THE INSPO. FOR YOUR. NEXT. NEXT. OKAY, THAT THAT WAS REALLY GREAT. WHEN YOU GET A GRAMMY AWARD WINNER TO CHANGE HIS SONG TO REPRESENT YOUR BRAND, I WOULD SAY THAT WAS PRICELESS. AND IT WAS HUGE. IT WAS A SOLD OUT GAME OVER. I FORGET THE NUMBER. OH MY GOD. 
          BUT BASKETBALL TEAM, THAT'S THE ONLY BASKETBALL TEAM IN KANSAS WITH OVER 200 MILLION PEOPLE WATCHING ALL AT THE SAME TIME. AND IT WAS ALL EAST POINT. WE HAD HALFTIME AND WE HAD TIME OUT, SO THAT WAS GREAT. WE MOVED ON TO PARTNER WITH DELTA AND THE AIRPORT, IN THE INTERNATIONAL AFFAIRS AT HARTSFIELD AND THE INTERNATIONAL AFFAIRS OFFICE OF ATLANTA, TO CELEBRATE THE NONSTOP FLIGHT FROM GHANA TO ATLANTA. THAT'S BECAUSE WE WERE WORKING WITH THEM TO TRY TO GET SUPPORT FOR FIFA AND OUR CITY MANAGER, THE MAYOR AND OUR CHAIRMAN WAS IN ATTENDANCE TO THAT AS WELL. SO AS A OFFICIAL SPOKESPERSON FOR THE CITY, THE MAYOR HAD ACCOMPANIED US ON A LOT OF THESE PROGRAMS. AND, MAYOR CHAPMAN, WE'RE HOPING THAT WE'LL HAVE YOU TO CONTINUE BEING THE SPOKESPERSON ALONG WITH US WHEN WE GO TO ENTERTAIN SOME OF THESE INTERNATIONAL FOLKS AND LARGE GROUPS AND MEETINGS AS WELL. THIS IS OUR PATSY, JOEL HILLIARD, HERE SPEAKING WITH THE MINISTER OF SPORTS FOR GHANA. AND HE'S ALSO THE HEAD FOR FIFA AFRICA TO THE TOP MIDDLE. I JUST WANTED TO SHOW REAL QUICK THAT THIS WAS A HUGE GLOBAL CONFERENCE THAT WAS HAPPENING AROUND THE WORLD. THEY SELECTED EAST POINT TO DO THE KICKOFF AND THEIR GLOBAL PRESS CONFERENCE AT THE FOUR POINTS. JUST PLEASE TAKE A NOTE OF ALL THE OTHER COUNTRIES THAT WERE INVOLVED. BUT AGAIN, THEY CHOSE EAST POINT FOR THE KICKOFF. THIS WAS PUBLISHED IN THE LONDON DAILY, AND THEY DID A PRESS RELEASE THAT WENT AROUND THE WORLD AND TO ALL THOSE COUNTRIES, RECOGNIZING EAST POINT AS THE NEW GATEWAY AND GLOBAL DESTINATION FOR TRAVEL, TOURISM AND BUSINESS. SOME OF THE SPONSORSHIPS AGAIN NEXT, THIS ONE PARTNERSHIP AND SPONSORSHIP I WANTED TO TALK TO AND WE'RE ALMOST DONE HERE, BUT THIS IS VERY IMPORTANT. THIS IS MEETING PLANNERS INTERNATIONAL. THESE ARE THE FOLKS THAT CHOOSE WHERE LARGE GROUPS, MEETINGS AND CONVENTIONS GO. THIS IS AN ORGANIZATION WITH 70 PLUS CHAPTERS AROUND THE WORLD WITH OVER 60,000 MEMBERS. THEY ACCOUNT FOR $26 BILLION IN REVENUE FOR MEETINGS AND CONFERENCES. THERE'S 400 MEMBERS IN THE GEORGIA CHAPTER. 
          THEY'VE BEEN IN GEORGIA SINCE 1978, 48 YEARS, BUT THEY HAD NEVER BEEN TO THE AIRPORT 
          [01:45:04]
MARKET. THIS CVB WAS ABLE TO PARTNER WITH THEM. WE'VE HAD THEM HERE IN EASTPOINTE THREE TIMES IN A YEAR AND A HALF, BRINGING ALL THAT ATTENTION AND BUSINESS TO EAST POINT. SO WE'RE HAPPY ABOUT THAT. WE DID AN EDUCATIONAL SESSION ON HUMAN TRAFFICKING WITH THE DEPUTY ATTORNEY GENERAL FOR FULTON COUNTY. WE ALSO HAD THE THAT WAS A QUEEN MOTHER FROM GHANA. 
          AND OF COURSE, WE HAD THE POLICE CHIEF AT ONE OF THESE SESSIONS SPEAK ON THE PANEL AS WELL AS THE MAYOR DOING OUR WELCOME COMMUNITY OUTREACH. WE'VE PARTNERED A LOT WITH DIFFERENT SECTIONS OF THE CITY HERE. WE WORK WITH ARTS AND CULTURE. WE PARTNER WITH THE POLICE FOUNDATION, CAMP WITH THE KIDS AGAIN, WITH BEING MANDATED TO DO PROGRAMS OF INFORMATION. WE CREATED A HOSPITALITY DAY FOR THAT CAMP TO SPEAK TO CHILDREN ON THE OPPORTUNITIES WITHIN THE INDUSTRY, AND JUST HELPING THEM TO BECOME GOOD STEWARDS AND CITIZENS WITHIN THE CITY OF EAST POINT. WE CREATED A FAMILY REUNION SHOWCASE. WE HAD THIS CALLED THE COOKOUT EDITION. THIS HAPPENED AT THE IMPACT CHURCH WHERE WE SPOKE TO THE RESIDENTS AND ANYBODY THAT REGISTERED ON HOW TO PLAN YOUR FAMILY REUNION. WE PARTNERED WITH, AS YOU CAN SEE, REPRESENTATIVES ON ALL FACETS OF A FAMILY REUNION. WE HAD TRANSPORTATION. WE HAD CHARLOTTE FROM PARKS AND REC, WE HAD THE OWNERS FROM THIS IS IT. WE HAD MELANIE FROM ATLANTA UTILITY WORKS, AND WE HAD ONE OF OUR HOTEL MEMBERS AS WELL, TRADE SHOWS AND CONFERENCES. AGAIN, JUST SOME OF THE THINGS THAT WE'VE ATTENDED. SAME THING HERE. AND THIS IS THE END OF OUR YEAR WITH OUR CLOSING AND WRAP UP, WHERE WE UNVEILED THE LOGO FOR EASTPOINT, WHERE THE WORLD COMPETES FOR FIFA. AND SALES CAN FLY THROUGH THIS SECTION IF YOU DON'T MIND. OKAY, SO WE WE WERE THE FIRST CVB TO ACTUALLY DO THIS. WE PUT ON BECAUSE OF THE AMOUNT OF TURNOVER IN IN THE SALES DEPARTMENTS OF SEVERAL HOTELS. 
          WE DECIDED TO PUT TOGETHER AN EDUCATIONAL SERIES AND WE HAVE THEM RECORDED. SO IF THEIR FUTURE TURNOVER DOES DOES OCCUR, THEY CAN ALL LOG BACK IN. AS YOU CAN SEE, THERE'S SOME OF THE IDEAS HERE. COLLABORATING WITH EXPLORER GEORGIA, FIFA ACTIVATIONS, PARTNERING WITH GOVERNMENT PLANNERS. WE TALK ABOUT NATIONAL TOURISM. ONE OF THE THINGS WE WE DO HAVE A FLIER THAT GOES OUT, A NEWSLETTER THAT GOES OUT EVERY SINGLE MONTH. ONE OF THE THINGS THAT WE DO TRY TO TEACH THEM IS ALSO HOW TO USE THEIR OWN SYSTEMS TO BE ABLE TO TRACK THE GROUPS THAT WE'RE PUTTING IN SO THAT WE CAN HAVE THE DATA THAT WE'RE GOING TO SHOW NEXT. I WANTED TO HIGHLIGHT IN 24 THROUGH 25, WE HAD 171 LEADS. OUT OF THOSE, 26 OF THEM BOOKED, 87 WERE TURNED DOWN. YOU'LL SEE THE REASON IN A LITTLE BIT. THERE IT GOES. WE WERE TURNED DOWN BECAUSE OF LACK OF MEETING SPACE AND MEETING FACILITIES. IN THAT THE ROOM NIGHTS THAT WERE LOST TOTALED BACK ONE 121,000 ROOM NIGHTS THAT WERE LOST, $10 MILLION IN HOTEL REVENUE THAT WAS LOST. THAT TRANSLATED TO 825,000 IN TAX FUNDS THAT WERE LOST. TOTAL ECONOMIC IMPACT TO THE CITY, INCLUDING THE RESTAURANTS AND OTHER PARTNERS, WOULD BE $12 MILLION THAT WAS LOST. CONTINUE ON. AS YOU CAN SEE HERE IN THE BLUE, IT'S INSUFFICIENT MEETING SPACE. THAT'S WHY IT WAS LOST. AND WE JUST WANTED TO HIGHLIGHT THAT EVEN THOUGH OUR HOTELS HAVE SQUARE FOOTAGE, YOU'LL SEE IT'S A LIMITED AMOUNT OF SQUARE FOOTAGE FOR A LOT OF THE LARGER SHOWS THAT WOULD LIKE TO BE ABLE TO COME IN. SO WE'RE WE'RE DEALING WITH WHAT WE CAN DEAL WITH NEXT. I WANTED TO SHOW YOU THIS IS HOW WE TRACK. THIS IS FROM OUR OWN CRM SYSTEM AND HOW WE TRACK. WE HAVE REDACTED THE LEADS. THIS IS A VERY COMPETITIVE MARKET, CVBS AND DMOS. SO THE ONES THAT ARE REDACTED ARE MEETINGS THAT ARE DEFINITELY BOOKED. AND WE WOULD LIKE TO BE ABLE TO KEEP THEM IN EASTPOINT. SO THAT'S WHY IT'S NOT THERE. BUT AT THE SAME TIME, WE CAN MEET WITH ANY ONE OF YOU GUYS INDIVIDUALLY OR HOWEVER YOU GUYS DECIDE TO COME. IF YOU GUYS DON'T WANTED TO SEE SOME OF THIS INFORMATION MORE DIRECTLY, THEN THAT'S SOMETHING THAT'S AVAILABLE ALSO REDACTED IN THESE AREAS AS WELL. BUT YOU CAN SEE FROM THE CRM, TRACKING IS A BIG DEAL FOR ME AS A CHAIRMAN AND AS A HOTEL OWNER. I WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT THE DATA IS THERE AT ALL TIMES. SO THIS IS THE DATA THAT SUPPORTS THE NUMBERS. THIS IS THE DATA THAT SHOWS WHAT WE WANT AND WHAT WE WERE, WHAT WE UNFORTUNATELY LOST. GO AHEAD. 
          SALES ACTIVITY JUST AS OF THIS YEAR. SO WE'RE TALKING SINCE SINCE TILL YESTERDAY 48 LEADS. 
          FIVE OF THEM. WE BOOKED 25. WE LOST. SO AGAIN JUST IN TWO MONTHS WE'VE LOST 25 BECAUSE OF 
          [01:50:04]
THE SAME THING. INSUFFICIENT MEETING SPACE. THAT TRANSLATES TO $2 MILLION APPROXIMATELY. 
          AND JUST IN TWO MONTHS, 167,000 IN TAX FUNDS THAT WERE ALSO LOST. SAME THING. HERE YOU CAN SEE THE LARGE BLUE SECTION IS THE INSUFFICIENT MEETING SPACE IS THE MAJORITY OF THE REASON. 
          THAT'S IT FOR THIS. AT THIS POINT, IF IT'S OKAY, I'D LIKE TO BRING UP PATSY. IS PATSY HILYARD HERE TO BE ABLE TO SPEAK? YOU HAVE TIME? YEAH. OKAY. YES, MADAM MAYOR, MEMBERS OF COUNCIL, IT'S REALLY AN HONOR FOR US TO BE HERE TODAY. I WANT TO SAY FIRST, WELCOME TO THE CITY OF EASTPOINT. INTERNATIONAL CITY COMMUNITY OF THE FUTURE. LET ME SAY IT AGAIN. 
          WELCOME TO EASTPOINT INTERNATIONAL CITY. COMMUNITY OF THE FUTURE. THIS IS WHAT I USED TO SAY EVERY TIME I MET, ALL DURING THE TIME THAT I WAS MAYOR, FOR EVERY MEETING. SO YOU SEE, NOW WE'RE TALKING ABOUT WHERE THE WORLD MEETS. SO THEY THEY'VE ADDED A LITTLE BIT ON THAT. THEY KNOW THAT'S IMPORTANT. BUT I WANT TO APOLOGIZE FOR READING WHAT I WANT TO SAY TO YOU, BUT I WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT I SAY WHAT I PLAN TO SAY, AND I DON'T WANT TO FORGET IT. AFTER I RETIRED FROM THE CITY OF EASTPOINT IN 2006, I DID NOT ASK OR ACCEPT ANY POSITION WITH THE CITY UNTIL NOW, WHEN I AGREED TO SERVE ON THE CONVENTION AND VISITORS BUREAU BOARD. THIS WORK IS IN MY BLOOD. PROMOTING EASTPOINT IS WHAT I DID EVERY DAY AS MAYOR, AND IT IS WHAT I'M STILL DOING COMMITTED TO DOING TODAY, WHICH I ALREADY SEE IN OUR CURRENT MAYOR AS THE CORE OF HER OWN MISSION. WE ARE A CITY OF ABOUT 30,000 PEOPLE, BUT I NEVER SAW EASTPOINT AS JUST A SMALL SUBURB OF ATLANTA. I ALWAYS CALLED IT THE CITY OF EASTPOINT INTERNATIONAL CITY COMMUNITY OF THE FUTURE. I TRAVELED ALL OVER THE WORLD TALKING ABOUT THIS CITY, USING THIS RELATIONSHIPS THAT I HAD BUILT TO BRING ATTENTION AND OPPORTUNITY HERE. FORMER ATLANTA MAYOR BILL CAMPBELL USED TO JOKE THAT HE HAD TO WATCH OUT BECAUSE MAYOR PATSY JO HILLIARD IS HERE TRYING TO ANNEX ATLANTA INTO EASTPOINT, BECAUSE HE SAW HOW HARD WE WORK TO PROMOTE OUR CITY BEYOND ITS BORDERS. MY COMMITMENT TO TOURISM AND PROMOTION OF EASTPOINT IS WELL DOCUMENTED. WE WENT OUT AND ACTIVELY RECRUITED PEOPLE TO COME HERE. THAT WORK HELPED BRING PROJECTS LIKE CAMP CREEK MARKETPLACE AND OTHER MAJOR INVESTMENTS TO THE CITY OF EASTPOINT. WE DID IT RIGHT AWAY AND IT HELPED TRANSFORM OUR CITY. I SEE THIS BUREAU AS AN EXTENSION OF THAT SAME WORK AND THAT THAT'S WHY I TAKE THIS ROLE SO SERIOUSLY. I KNOW THERE HAS BEEN SOME TALK THAT I'M ON THIS BOARD ONLY AS A FIGUREHEAD. IF YOU BELIEVE THAT, THEN YOU DO NOT KNOW MY HISTORY WITH THE CITY OF EAST POINT. YOU DO NOT KNOW HOW WE BROUGHT DEVELOPMENT HERE, HOW HARD WE WORK TO BUILD RELATIONSHIPS, AND HOW DEEPLY I CARE ABOUT THIS COMMUNITY. I SERVED 13 YEARS AS MAYOR. AS MAYOR WENT THROUGH ATTEMPTS TO A CHALLENGE AND EVEN RECALLED MY SERVICE. AND I HAVE NEVER BEEN PART OF ANYTHING OTHER THAN LAWFUL ETHICAL EFFORTS ON BEHALF OF THE CITY I LOVE. I WOULD NEVER SUPPORT ANYTHING ILLEGAL OR IMPROPER, AND I WOULD NOT PUT MY NAME OR REPUTATION ON IT. I ALSO THINK THERE IS SOME CONFUSION OR DISAGREEMENT WITH A COUPLE OF COUNCIL MEMBERS ABOUT THE WORK OF THIS BUREAU. I WATCHED THE RECORDING OF A PRESENTATION AT A RECENT MEETING. THE AND THE GROUP APPEARED TO BE PROPOSING TO DO THE SAME THINGS THAT WE ARE ALREADY DOING, AND THAT WE HAVE BEEN REPORTING TO YOU THAT WE ARE DOING SOMEWHERE. THERE IS A DISCONNECT, AND WE NEED TO CLEAR IT UP NOW SO THAT WE ARE ALL ON THE SAME PAGE MOVING FORWARD. WE HAVE THREE NEW COUNCIL MEMBERS AND WE NEED EVERY ONE OF YOU FULLY ENGAGED IN THIS WORK AND IN THIS VISION FOR EASTPOINT, AS OF TODAY, NO FORMAL QUESTIONS OR CONCERNS HAVE BEEN PRESENTED TO OUR BOARD BY THIS COUNCIL. HOWEVER, I UNDERSTAND THERE HAVE BEEN PRIVATE CHATTER AND SOME DISPARAGING COMMENTS VERBALIZED. IF YOU HAVE A PROBLEM WITH THIS BOARD OR WITH ME, I AM ASKING YOU TO BRING IT INTO THE OPEN SO THAT WE CAN ADDRESS IT DIRECTLY AND PROFESSIONALLY. THAT IS HOW GOOD GOVERNMENT OPERATES. FROM MY HISTORY. I KNOW WHAT THE DIVISION LOOKS LIKE AND I KNOW HOW IT CAN CRIPPLE AN ORGANIZATION AND A CITY LIKE OURS. BEFORE YOU KNOW IT, YOU REACH THE END OF YOUR NEXT TERM AND HAVE VERY LITTLE TO SHOW FOR IT, BECAUSE THE BIGGEST THINGS YOU WILL ACCOMPLISH DEPEND ON EVERYONE'S 
          [01:55:04]
SUPPORT. THEY CANNOT SUCCEED WITHOUT THAT SUPPORT, YOU ARE ALL WILL FIND A WAY TO WORK TOGETHER. IF YOU LISTEN TO ANYTHING I HAVE TO SAY, PLEASE WAKE UP EVERY MORNING AND BEFORE YOU GO TO BED AT NIGHT THINKING ABOUT WAYS WE ALL CAN WORK TOGETHER TO MOVE THIS CITY FORWARD. SOMETIMES THAT IS HARD BECAUSE IT MAY REQUIRE US TO TEMPORARILY PUT INDIVIDUAL IDEAS AND AGENDAS ON THE BACK BURNER, BUT THAT IS WHAT OUR COMMUNITY STAKEHOLDERS DESERVE. 
          I DO NOT UNDERSTAND WHY THE WORK WE ARE DOING, THE WORK I CARE ABOUT SO DEEPLY, AND WHICH I KNOW IS A RECIPE FOR SUCCESS, HAS BECOME A POINT OF DIVISION FOR SOME OF YOU. WE NEED TO FIX THAT. MY APOLOGIES FOR BEING SO DIRECT, BUT IT CONCERNS ME DEEPLY THAT WE ARE TWO MONTHS INTO THIS NEW COUNCIL, AND WE DO NOT YET HAVE THE FULL BENEFIT OF ALL OF YOUR IDEAS AND YOUR SUPPORTS FOR THIS EFFORT. WE HAVE A MAYOR WHO IS PREPARED TO LEAVE. WE HAVE A COUNCIL MEMBER WITH STRONG VOICES WHO CARE ABOUT THIS CITY, AND WHO ARE WILLING TO DIVE INTO THE ISSUES. WE HAVE A STRONG EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR AND AN ACTIVE PRESIDENT AND COMMITTED BOARD MEMBERS, SOME OF WHOM MAY MOVE A LITTLE SLOW LIKE ME, OR QUACK A LITTLE WHEN WE SPEAK. I'M NOT TALKING TO YOU, CHARLES, BUT WE ARE SERIOUS ABOUT THIS WORK, AND WE BELIEVE WE CAN MAKE A DIFFERENCE. BUT WE CANNOT DO IT WITHOUT YOU. I AM ASKING YOU TO STAND WITH US, TO TRUST OUR INTENTIONS, AND TO LET THIS WORK FOR YOU AND FOR THE PEOPLE OF EASTPOINT. WE DO NOT NEED TO GO BACK TO OLD FIGHTS AND OLD DIVISIONS OR OLD ORGANIZATIONS. 
          WE NEED TO MOVE FORWARD. AND IF THERE ARE ISSUES, LET'S PUT THEM ON THE TABLE. HERE IS HOW YOU BUILD TRUST WITH OTHERS AND WITH THE PUBLIC. GOOD GOVERNMENT ONLY WORKS IF WE WORK TOGETHER. SO I ASK YOU, LET US TURN THE CORNER. LET US PUT ASIDE YESTERDAYS DISAGREEMENTS. IN MY VIEW, ONE OF THE STRONGEST BENCHES THIS CITY HAS EVER SEEN. WE CANNOT AFFORD TO LOSE THIS OPPORTUNITY. WE ARE NOT GOING TO GET MANY MORE CHANCES TO MAKE EASTPOINT WHAT IT IS SUPPOSED TO BE, AND TO CONTINUE THE GROWTH THAT WE STARTED MANY YEARS AGO. THANK YOU AGAIN FOR GIVING US THIS AUDIENCE THIS EVENING, AND GOD BLESS YOU AS YOU CARRY OUT THE WORK OF THE CITY. THAT'S GOOD. THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME, MAYOR. YES. THANK YOU. THANK YOU ALL FOR YOUR COMMENTS AND YOUR PRESENTATION FOR THAT. WE'RE GOING TO GO TO ANY COUNCIL COMMENTS AT THIS TIME. AND. COUNCIL MEMBER MITCHELL YES, THANK YOU FOR THE COMPREHENSIVE PRESENTATION. I DID HAVE A COUPLE OF QUESTIONS ABOUT THE SALES, IF YOU WOULD. SURE, I BELIEVE I MEAN, I KNOW YOU WERE TRYING TO GO A LITTLE FAST, BUT THERE WAS A SLIDE, I BELIEVE, WHEN. YES. SO THIS IS WHAT I KIND OF HAD QUESTIONS ON. SINCE WE DON'T HAVE SUFFICIENT MEETING SPACE, I'M KIND OF CURIOUS HOW THAT AFFECTS ONE. IT MAY BE THE SLIDE BEFORE THIS ONE. I BELIEVE YOU SAID WE WENT OUT FOR FIVE AND AND WE LOST 25. THERE WE GO I THINK I THINK IT'S THE NEXT ONE. YES. THIS ONE. COULD YOU EXPLAIN THIS ONE AGAIN? I KNOW YOU WENT BY KIND OF FAST AND IT KIND OF EXPLAINED WHAT MIGHT BE THE CAUSE OF THIS. SURE. SO THIS ONE WAS THROUGH THE END OF YEAR 2025. WE WERE ABLE TO THROUGH OUR TRAVELS, TRADE SHOWS AND THE THE TCT, WHAT WHAT IT'S INTENDED FOR CONVENTIONS AND WORKSHOPS THAT WE ATTEND, WE WERE ABLE TO ACHIEVE 171 THAT WERE BONA FIDE LEADS THAT WERE INTERESTED IN COMING TO EASTPOINT. THESE ARE NOT JUST LOCAL. THESE ARE EVERYWHERE, INCLUDING INTERNATIONAL LEADS THAT SHOWED COMMITMENT. IT WAS SOMETHING ELSE THAT I WITNESSED MYSELF TO BE ABLE TO GO INTERNATIONALLY AND HAVE INTERNATIONAL ORGANIZATIONS SHOW A TRUE COMMITMENT TO COME TO EASTPOINT. THEN, AS WE DID THE DUE DILIGENCE FOR THEIR GROUP, WE REALIZED THAT THERE WASN'T ENOUGH OR SUFFICIENT MEETING SPACE. THERE'S 58 OF THEM WERE TENTATIVE OR THEY'RE STILL CURRENTLY WERE IN PROGRESS. WE DID BOOK 26 OF THOSE GROUPS TO COME IN AND STAY AT OUR LOCAL HOTELS, BUT IT WAS THE 87 THAT WERE LOST AND TURNED DOWN. THAT'S SORT OF WHAT I WANTED TO FOCUS OUR ATTENTION ON. AND THE REASON WHY IT WAS THE INSUFFICIENT 
          [02:00:02]
MEETING SPACE. AND SO THE MARKETING I KNOW IN THE EARLIER SLIDE, IN THE FIRST PRESENTATION, I THINK THERE WAS ABOUT 1.5 SPENT ON MARKETING AND SALES. IS THAT CORRECT? THAT WAS THE VERY FIRST LOT. I MEAN, THE VERY FIRST PRESENTATION. IT WAS THE IT WAS THE PIE CHART. IT WAS THE PIE CHART. IT WAS THE THE YEAH, THE BUDGET. I THINK IT WAS 2.5 ALTOGETHER. ONE OF THE ABOUT 40% OF THAT WAS SPENT ON SALES AND MARKETING. THERE WE GO. 
          RIGHT HERE. YES. SO IF I MIGHT HAVE MISHEARD YOU, DOES SALARIES COME OUT OF THIS PORTION OF IT AND TRAVEL? SO YEAH, ONE OF THE THINGS THAT I WAS SPECIFICALLY PROUD OF I'M A BUDGETS, I'M A NUMBER, I'M AN ANALYTICS GUY AS A HOTEL GUY. AND THAT'S WHY I WANTED THIS JOB TO BE ABLE TO SHOW SOME LEVEL OF ACCOUNTABILITY. I'LL TELL YOU THAT ON FROM WHAT I'VE SEEN AND THE ORGANIZATIONS THAT I'VE TALKED TO, OTHER CVBS AVERAGE, AROUND 40% OF THEIR BUDGET GOES TO SALARIES AND PAYROLL. WE WERE PARTICULARLY PROUD TO SHIFT THAT DOWN TO 27% AND MOVE THE REST OF THAT PIE. THAT OTHER 13% WENT TO SALES AND MARKETING, WHICH IS WHAT WE REALLY NEEDED HERE. SO YEAH, THAT THAT WAS THE THAT WAS THE THE SHIFT THAT WE WANTED TO HIGHLIGHT BECAUSE WE ARE NOT AT THAT 40% IN INTERNAL OVERHEAD. OKAY. HOW MUCH IS THIS. IT'S I'M GOING TO MISS THAT. ALSO HOW MUCH OF THIS I SEE. IT'S ABOUT 1.2 GO TOWARDS SALARY. 
          YOU KNOW HOW MUCH 672,000 GOES TOWARDS SALARY. OH I SEE IT I SEE IT OKAY. YES I THINK THAT'S ONE OF THE THAT'S COMBINED SALARY OBVIOUSLY. BUT COOL. AND HOW ABOUT YOUR OPERATING BUDGET. 
          IS THAT SOMETHING TOTALLY DIFFERENT OR SO THE OPERATING BUDGET THERE IS THE PORTION IN BLUE 489,000. THAT'S RIGHT. AT 20%. ARE WE ABLE TO SEE LIKE KIND OF WHAT GOES INTO THAT LIKE FINANCIALS OR ANYTHING LIKE THAT? YES, WE HAVE WE HAVE SUBMITTED ALL OF OUR FINANCIALS TO THE CITY ALREADY. IN FACT, THERE WAS AN EMAIL NOT TOO LONG AGO THAT EVEN I SENT OUT THAT HAD FOUR YEAR ENDING FINANCIALS, BUT MORE THAN HAPPY TO SHARE THE SAME THINGS. IT'S IT'S ALL IN THE OPEN. AND THAT'S ONE OF ONE OF THE MAIN CHARGES THAT I WANTED TO DO WHEN WE FIRST WHEN I WAS ASKED TO FORM THE CVB AND COMPARED TO MY HISTORY, AGAIN, MY HISTORY, I STARTED WITH MY FIRST HOTEL IN EASTPOINTE IN 1998. SO THE PRIOR, OUR PREDECESSOR DMO WAS THERE FOR SEVEN YEARS AS WELL. BUT ONE OF THE THINGS THAT I WANTED TO BE ABLE TO SEE WAS JUST MORE ACCOUNTABILITY INTO THAT. AND SO THAT'S WHERE THAT'S WHERE THAT COMES IN. BUT WE'D BE MORE THAN HAPPY TO SHARE THAT WITH YOU. AWESOME. I MEAN, THAT'S ALL MY QUESTIONS THAT I HAVE. 
          SURE. YEAH. THANK YOU. YES, YES. THANK YOU, THANK YOU. COUNCILWOMAN. COMING. THANK YOU FOR YOUR PRESENTATION. SO I DO HAVE A COUPLE OF QUESTIONS. I KNOW, MR. SHAW, YOU TALKED ABOUT THE POTENTIAL BUSINESS THAT WE DID LOSE BECAUSE WE DIDN'T HAVE SUFFICIENT ENOUGH MEETING SPACE. SO I KNOW AT THE END OF THE DAY, THE THING WOULD BE A LARGER HOTEL, CORRECT? WITH MORE CONVENTION SPACE OR SO. WHAT DO WE NEED HERE IN EASTPOINTE SO THAT THOSE NUMBERS, SO THAT WE CAN TREND IN A DIFFERENT DIRECTION WITH REGARDS TO NOT LOSING SO MANY POTENTIAL GROUPS THAT COME INTO THE CITY? THERE'S MORE THAN ONE WAYS TO SORT OF SKIN THAT CAT. 
          IT'S NOT NECESSARILY JUST A LARGER HOTEL WITH A CONVENTION CENTER. OF COURSE, THAT WOULD BE NICE FUNDING FOR THAT HOTEL AND SO ON. IT'S IT'S THAT'S A THAT'S SORT OF THE LONG GAME. 
          THERE ARE IDEAS. FORMER MAYOR HAD IDEAS. WE WERE I WAS ON PHONE CALLS WITH HER AND MARTA. 
          AND I THINK SOME OF YOU GUYS MIGHT KNOW ABOUT THAT. AND WE WERE TRYING TO RESURRECT SOMETHING THERE. BUT I I'M MORE CONCERNED ABOUT SOMETHING MORE TANGIBLE, SOMETHING QUICKER. 
          THERE WAS A POINT WHERE THERE WAS A VERY VIABLE BUILDING THAT'S HERE IN EASTPOINTE THAT COULD HAVE BEEN PURCHASED BY EASTPOINTE TO BE THE CONVENTION AND VISITORS. I MEAN, I'M SORRY, THE THE CONVENTION OR CONFERENCE CENTER THAT'S SERVING EASTPOINTE, THAT THAT'S ONE EXAMPLE. I WOULD SUGGEST THAT THEIR LOWEST HANGING FRUIT IS TO REPURPOSE AN EXISTING BUILDING THAT WOULD SORT OF KIND OF BE ABLE TO ACCOMMODATE. WE'RE NOT ASKING FOR SOMETHING THAT'S NOTHING LIKE THE GICC, NOTHING THAT BIG, BUT SOMETHING THAT COULD ACCOMMODATE MAYBE 300, 350 TO UP TO 500 PEOPLE FOR MAYBE A SIT DOWN DINNER, IF THAT WAS THAT NUMBER WAS ACHIEVABLE. OUR OUR LOST BUSINESS WOULD HAVE BEEN A FRACTION OF WHAT WE ACTUALLY HAD RIGHT NOW. BUT WE WERE SPEAKING PERSONALLY. I DID PUT A LOT OF MONEY INTO HOTEL MOTEL TAX, RIGHT UNDER $3.5 MILLION IN THE PAST WITH THE PREVIOUS DMO. AND AGAIN, I DON'T HAVE 
          [02:05:03]
ANY JUDGMENT ON THAT ORGANIZATION NOR THE PEOPLE WHO RUN THAT ORGANIZATION. I JUST KNOW THAT A LOT OF WHAT THEY WERE BOOKING, BECAUSE THEY'RE REPRESENTING SO MANY CITIES. 
          RIGHT. AND SO AND SO BECAUSE THEY REPRESENT SO MANY CITIES, A LOT OF THAT BUSINESS, AND THEY WERE ABLE TO CAPTURE ANYTHING AND FUNNEL IT OVER TO THE JISC. ONE OF MY FRUSTRATIONS IS AN EASTPOINTE BUSINESSMAN PUTTING SO MUCH TAX INTO THOSE COFFERS WERE THAT THE BENEFIT OF IT WAS RECEIVED INTO COLLEGE PARK. AND SO THAT'S WHY WE WANTED I WAS I SPOKE UP WITH THE FORMER MAYOR AND I SAID, YOU KNOW, I THINK THE DISMISSAL OF THAT ONE ORGANIZATION THAT REPRESENTS SO MANY CITIES AND, YOU KNOW, HATS OFF TO THEM. I THINK THEY JUST GOT CITY OF SOUTH FULTON. I THINK THEY MIGHT BE PICKING UP FAIRBURN. IT'S JUST AS A HOTEL OWNER AND AS A BUSINESS GUY WHO'S IN EASTPOINTE, I WANTED AN ORGANIZATION THAT REPRESENTS EASTPOINTE, SOMEBODY THAT WOULD FIGHT. RIGHT. JUST SOME FOCUSED HERE. AND IT WAS SO HAVING THE OPPORTUNITY TO START IT WAS ONE THING, HAVING THE OPPORTUNITY. IF YOU GUYS HAVE EVER STARTED AN ORGANIZATION TO START IT WITH THE EXPERTISE LEVEL OF DOCUMENTATION, FOUNDATIONAL DOCUMENTATION AND HAVING SYSTEMS IN PLACE AND CHECKS AND BALANCES IN PLACE, AND EVEN CANDIDLY, IT'S MY ONE OF MY GREATEST PLEASURES. MY ONE OF MY GREATEST PROFESSIONAL PLEASURES TO THIS DAY IS WORKING WITH MISS FRANCOIS. HONESTLY, THERE'S NOT MANY PEOPLE WHO CAN TAKE ME TO SCHOOL ON A LOT OF THIS STUFF. SHE DOES REPEATEDLY BECAUSE SHE IS SO GOOD AT WHAT SHE DOES. AND I'VE SEEN THAT LOCALLY. I'VE SEEN THAT NATIONALLY, I'VE SEEN THAT INTERNATIONALLY, AND WE'RE BLOWN AWAY. I MEAN, EVEN LITTLE THINGS, EVEN THE, THE, THE, THE HBCU, THE LADIES, LADIES IN FILM LAST WEEK THAT HAPPENED IN LOS ANGELES. SHE ATTENDED AND IT WAS JUST SOME THERE'S ALWAYS SOMETHING THERE THAT I JUST ALWAYS LEARNED. THE THE MAIN PRESENTATION PANEL THAT WAS THERE. HERE SHE WAS WITH OUR EAST POINT PEGS UNDER THE CHAIRS, REPRESENTED INTERNATIONALLY AND NATIONALLY AND SYNDICATED ON MANY, MANY DIFFERENT JUST JUST CNN, OPRAH NETWORK, ALL OF THOSE. IT'S JUST ALWAYS THERE IN EACH ONE OF THESE ORGANIZATIONS. THAT'S THE ROI THAT I WANTED TO BE ABLE TO SEE, TO TRY TO BE ABLE TO MARKET THIS AND PROMOTE THIS CITY. IT'S JUST WE NEEDED TO HIT THAT HOME RUN AND HAVE A FACILITY TO WHERE WE CAN ACTUALLY HOST THESE PEOPLE AND NOT BE ABLE TO LOSE SOME OF THESE VERY, VERY PRESTIGIOUS GROUPS. OKAY. SO UNDERSTAND THAT. AND I DO KNOW THAT SHE IS EVERYWHERE. SO THE THING IS, WHEN WE COME TO TRY TO BRING THAT BUSINESS, I MEAN, BECAUSE THE WHOLE THING IS LIKE HEADS AND BEDS. CORRECT. SO I KNOW WE DON'T HAVE A CONVENTION CENTER HERE. THE CLOSEST ONE IS THE ONE THAT THEY HAVE IN COLLEGE PARK. SO EVEN AND I DON'T KNOW WHAT YOUR MARKETING STRATEGY IS WHEN IT COMES TO STUFF LIKE THAT, BUT EVEN BECAUSE WE DON'T HAVE A CONVENTION CENTER HERE, I KNOW THERE IS LIKE THE THOSE EVENTS THAT ARE AT THE CONVENTION CENTER THAT'S COMING UP. IF WE JUST TARGET OURSELVES BECAUSE WE HAVE A TON OF HOTELS THAT ARE LESS THAN FIVE MINUTES FROM 5 TO 10 MINUTES AWAY FROM THE FROM THE CONVENTION CENTER, IF WE'RE MARKETING THAT WAY. I MEAN, I KNOW IT'S NOT HERE, WE AREN'T HOSTING THE EVENT, BUT BECAUSE WE'RE RIGHT BY BECAUSE I THINK, LIKE, YOU GOT YOUR SPORTS THAT'S COMING UP THIS WEEKEND AND YOU'RE LOOKING AT ANYWHERE FROM 10 TO 20,000 CHEERLEADERS THAT'LL BE HERE, THAT WILL BE HERE WITH THEIR PARENTS. AND I KNOW FOR WHAT IT IS THAT COLLEGE PARK HAS, THEY CAN'T POSSIBLY HOUSE ALL OF THOSE KIDS THAT WILL BE HERE FOR CHEER SPORTS. YOU GOT THE NATIONAL COLLEGE FAIR ON THE EIGHTH. GROOMED, WHICH IS SOME BIG DOG GROOMING THING ON THE 15TH, THE 13TH THROUGH THE 15TH. BUT THERE ARE A TON OF DIFFERENT EVENTS THAT ARE HAPPENING THERE. SO WHAT ARE WE DOING TO MARKET OUR HOTELS HERE? TO HAVE PEOPLE TO COME AND STAY AT THE HOTELS HERE, PRESS THE BUTTON PLEASE. JUST WANTED TO SPEAK TO THAT AND RESPOND TO YOUR QUESTION. FIRST OF ALL, WE DO UTILIZE SOMETIMES THE GICC WHEN IT IS AVAILABLE. OUR SALES DIRECTOR, WE HAVE A GOOD RELATIONSHIP WITH THEM AS WELL. SO IF IT IS THAT WE CAN GET THE ROOMS. SO THE MARKETING STRATEGY THERE AND FOR SALES IS THAT IF I HAVE A LARGE GROUP AND IT'S SALES IN MY AGREEMENT WILL BE THAT YOU BOOK OUT ALL MY EAST POINT ROOMS FIRST, AND THEN THE OVERFLOW CAN GO INTO THE SURROUNDING CITIES. AND I HAVE NO PROBLEM WITH USING THE GICC IN ORDER TO CAPTURE THOSE HOTEL ROOMS AND KEEP THE HOTEL MOTEL TAX IN EAST POINT. AND THAT'S AS BEST THAT WE CAN DO FOR RIGHT NOW. ALTHOUGH WE DON'T WANT TO GIVE THE CONFERENCE CENTER BUSINESS AS WELL, BUT IT'S BETTER GETTING SOMETHING THAN NOTHING. SO IF I CAN KEEP THE HOTELS HERE, WE DO THAT. AND THEN WE OF COURSE ALLOW THE MEETING TO HAPPEN AT THE GICC. IN REFERENCE TO CHAIR, WE'RE VERY INNOVATIVE IN THE WAY WE ALSO WORK AROUND SOME OF 
          [02:10:02]
THE ISSUES OF NOT HAVING SPACE. WE'RE HOSTING AND WON THE BID FOR THE BLACK CHAIR COMPETITION TO HAPPEN IN EAST POINT, WHICH WILL BE HAPPENING THIS WEEKEND HERE AS WELL, WE PARTNERED WITH TRI-CITIES HIGH SCHOOL. THERE WAS NOT A RELATIONSHIP THERE BEFORE, BUT WE WERE ABLE TO FOSTER THAT AND NOW WE CAN USE THEIR FACILITIES INSTEAD OF NOT HAVING THAT SPACE, BECAUSE WE ALSO WORK WITH PARKS AND REC HERE AS WELL. BUT PARKS AND REC DIDN'T HAVE THE AMOUNT OF SPACE AVAILABLE. SO WE NOW HAVE THAT RELATIONSHIP WITH TRI-CITIES. WE WON THAT GROUP. THEY'LL BE HERE THIS WEEKEND. THAT WILL BE OVER 700 PEOPLE WITH ALL OF OUR HOTELS. AND AS A RESULT OF THAT AND THE RELATIONSHIP, THEY'RE GOING TO GIVE US THE RFP FOR THE CHAMPIONSHIPS FOR 2027. AND WE ALSO HAVE A PARTNERSHIP WITH MOREHOUSE. AND THAT PARTNERSHIP WITH MOREHOUSE ALLOWS US SOMETIMES AS WELL, FACILITIES ON THAT CAMPUS IN ORDER TO KEEP THE ROOMS UNTIL WE BUILD A CONFERENCE CENTER. AND JUST A LITTLE NOTE OF INFORMATION, THE REASON WE'RE STILL PUSHING SO HARD WITH THE MARKETING AND THE BRANDING ASSOCIATIONS BOOK 3 TO 5 YEARS IN ADVANCE. SO WE'RE HOPING IF WE CAN STILL MAKE A NAME FOR OURSELVES AND BE OUT THERE AND BE RELEVANT, THAT WITHIN THE 3 TO 5 YEARS WE WILL HAVE A CONFERENCE CENTER AND THOSE GROUPS ARE READY. WE CAN ACTUALLY BOOK THEM NOW. SO WITH THE HOPES OF WHAT PARKS AND REC IS DOING WITH THE MULTIPLEX, WE CAN START BUILDING ON THAT. AND WE'VE ALREADY PARTNERED WITH CHARLOTTE. I'VE TAKEN HIM TO A TRADE SHOW WITH ME FOR SPORTS, AND THAT'S WITHIN THE SPORTS MARKETING NICHE, AND WAS ABLE TO INTRODUCE HIM TO THAT MARKET SO THAT WE CAN START BUILDING AND START BOOKING FOR THAT FACILITY AS WE EXPECT IT TO BE ON GROUND. OKAY. AND ANOTHER THING I KNOW, SINCE I'VE BEEN ON COUNCIL, I WAS ALWAYS AND WE TALKED ABOUT THE CVB, I CAN'T ALWAYS HAVE THE IMPRESSION THAT YOU GUYS ARE SORT OF LIKE AN ARMS LENGTH ORGANIZATION THAT WE COULDN'T JUST SORT OF LIKE CALL AND HEY, WE'D LIKE TO SEE THIS OR SEE THAT OR WHATEVER. I MEAN, I KNOW WE CAN HAVE SOME SUGGESTIONS ON SOME THINGS, BUT I JUST LOOK AT LIKE THE LOCAL, LIKE WE SAY, THE LOW HANGING FRUIT, BECAUSE, I MEAN, I'VE HAD CONVERSATIONS BEFORE ABOUT, I KNOW YOU HAVE THESE FOR THE BOXES. THEY'RE ALL OVER THE CITY OF ATLANTA. THE WHAT? SORRY. THEY'RE CALLED BOXES. 
          THE RECTANGULAR, THE TALL STANDING BOXES. THEY'RE DIGITAL ADVERTISEMENT BOXES. OH, YES. 
          AND I KNOW YOU HAD MENTIONED BEFORE, I THINK THERE WAS SUPPOSEDLY ONE THAT WAS HERE. 
          THERE WAS ONE HERE FOR A WEEK AS A SAMPLE. WE NOW HAVE ALL OF THEM LOCATED AND ALL OF OUR HOTELS. SO WE DO HAVE THEM. SO I THINK IT WOULD BE GOOD LIKE ON THE STREETS, MAJOR INTERSECTIONS LIKE THEY HAVE IN THE CITY OF ATLANTA. I CAN SEND YOU SOME PICTURES OF THEM, BUT THEY'RE CALLED BOXES. SO WHEN YOU HAVE IT AT THE INTERSECTION OF CLEVELAND AND SYLVAN ROAD, CAMP CREEK MARKETPLACE, WHEN YOU COME OFF DOWNTOWN EAST POINT, WHICH IS GOOD FOR LOCAL BUSINESSES HERE, THAT ARE THINGS THAT THE CITY IS PUTTING ON LOCAL BUSINESSES, THAT GIVES THEM AN OPPORTUNITY TO DO SOME MARKETING AS WELL. I THINK I EVEN SENT YOU SOME INFORMATION BEFORE AT THE BAGGAGE CLAIM FOR THE AT THE AIRPORT. RIGHT. THE, THE THE AIRPORT SITUATION, WE HAVE MET AS WE SHOWN HERE WITH THE DIRECTOR OF MARKETING AT THE AIRPORT. SO WE'RE IN CURRENT COMMUNICATIONS WITH THEM. THEY HAD A HUGE TURNOVER AND WITH THEIR NEW CEO THINGS WERE STILL BEING PUT IN PLACE. BUT WE HAVE MET AND WORKING WITH THEM, ESPECIALLY FOR UPCOMING WORLD CUP. OKAY. SO I GUESS THAT'LL BE THAT'LL TAKE CARE OF LIKE AT THE BAGGAGE CLAIM BECAUSE THAT WAS THAT ALL OF THAT. OKAY. ALL OF THAT. AND I KNOW AND I DON'T KNOW WHAT THE RELATIONSHIP WAS OR WHAT HAPPENED. BUT YOU SPEND THE DISTRICT I'VE CALLED AND I JUST SORT OF INQUIRED ABOUT SPENDING DISTRICT. BUT WE HAD THE VELODROME HERE AND I DON'T I MEAN, I KNOW IT USED TO SPIN THE DISTRICT USED TO COME THROUGH EAST POINT, BUT I KNOW IT HITS UNION CITY. IT HITS EIGHT HAPEVILLE AND COLLEGE PARK. AND I THINK IT WOULD BE GREAT IF IT CULMINATED HERE, BECAUSE WE DO HAVE THE VELODROME. SO THOSE ARE THE THINGS I MEAN, WHEN WE LOOK AT, I JUST KNOW FOR ME ON COUNCIL, WHEN I LOOK AT, I MEAN, I SEE YOUR TRADE SHOWS, I SEE THE MAGAZINES, I SEE ALL THAT STUFF. BUT WHEN I LOOK AT WHAT'S HAPPENING HERE IN THE CITY OF EAST POINT, I KNOW WE SAY, WELL, YOU KNOW, WHERE THE WORLD MEETS. 
          AND THE THING IS, WE NEED TO BRING STUFF IN, BECAUSE I ALWAYS TELL EVERYBODY I SAID, EVEN WHEN I WAS CAMPAIGNING, PEOPLE SHOULDN'T HAVE TO DRIVE THROUGH EAST POINT TO GO WHEREVER IT IS THAT THEY NEED TO GO. THIS NEEDS TO BE THE DESTINATION WHERE PEOPLE STOP. 
          SO I KNOW IT'S GOING TO BE AN EFFORT WITH YOU GUYS COLLABORATING WITH OUR ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT DEPARTMENT, BECAUSE, I MEAN, WE NEED TO BRING THESE BUSINESSES HERE. YES. THE THE GENTLEMAN HERE, HE SPOKE ABOUT THE AUDITORIUM. THOSE ARE THE THINGS AND THAT PART, THAT FUNDING THAT COMES THROUGH. TPD AND I JUST LOOKED BACK AT HIM BECAUSE WE'VE PARTNERED WITH THEM WITH BELL ETHNIC ON MORE THAN ONE OCCASION, AND WE'VE HAD THEM FEATURED ON TELEVISION AND IN AN ENTIRE SEGMENT ON EAST POINT AND THE EFFORTS AND WHAT THEY'RE DOING HERE. WE PARTNERED WITH THEM ALSO. THEY HAD THE NATIONAL DANCE COMPETITIONS IN THERE ON THE BOARD OF IT. WE WANTED TO WE WOULD HAVE HAD THE BID AND HAD IT HERE. THEY LITERALLY HAD TO TAKE THAT PROGRAM TO PORT OF SANFORD IN DEKALB BECAUSE OUR AUDITORIUM WASN'T READY. BUT 
          [02:15:03]
THE TPD FUNDS THAT ARE COLLECTED, AND I DON'T KNOW REALLY HOW THAT EXCHANGES HANDS WHEN IT COMES IN OR WHATEVER, BUT THOSE ARE THE FUNDS THAT WE NEED TO TO BUILD THAT, TO BUILD THAT AUDITORIUM. AND THAT'S A LOW THAT'S THE LOW HANGING FRUIT THAT WE HAVE HERE WITH THE CITY OF EAST POINT. BECAUSE AND I WILL JUST I'M JUST BEING HONEST. WELL, CORRECT ME, PUT ANOTHER ROOF ON ON AUDITORIUM BECAUSE I DO I ALWAYS GET THAT REPORT. BUT THOSE TPD FUNDS, THEY NEED TO BE USED FOR THAT. I EVEN JUST SAT AND I DID A AND I WISH I COULD PULL IT UP. I'M SURE I PROBABLY COULD, BUT I DID A REIMAGINE I, I ACTUALLY WENT INSIDE THE AUDITORIUM, TOOK PICTURES OF IT, PUT IT IN CHATGPT AND IT THROUGH AND IT WHAT IT COULD BE. AND I HAD IT TO REIMAGINE IT, JUST LOOKING LIKE A SMALLER VERSION OF A FOX THEATER. YEAH. AND IT'S BEAUTIFUL. BUT THOSE ARE THE THINGS THAT WE NEED TO MOVE ON THAT I WOULD LIKE TO SEE HERE IN THE CITY OF EAST POINT, WE AND ONE MORE THING, AND THEN I'LL BE DONE. SO WE TALK ABOUT THOSE THINGS THAT WHAT QUALIFIES AS TPD. AND ONE OF THOSE THINGS IS THE WAYFINDING SIGNAGE THAT'S HERE. THAT'S SOMETHING THAT THE CVB IS RESPONSIBLE BECAUSE I KNOW SHILOI CAME IN AND THEY DID A I'M SORRY, DIRECTOR PINKERT CAME IN AND THEY DID A PRESENTATION ON THOSE WAYFINDING SIGNS AND WITH A CRAZY AMOUNT. BUT IF THAT'S SOME STUFF HERE THAT THEY CAN BE TAKEN CARE OF THROUGH THE, THE CVB, BECAUSE THAT THAT'S WHAT THE TPD FUNDS. THAT'S OKAY. SO I THINK I THIS MIGHT BE A MISUNDERSTANDING TPD TOURISM PRODUCT DEVELOPMENT. YES. THE CITY RECEIVES THAT FUND. SO THE CITY CAN USE THAT FOR WAYFINDING, NOT THE CVB. LIKE I SAID I DON'T KNOW HOW TO FILE. I DON'T KNOW HOW IT'S DIVVIED OUT AND HOW IT DROPS INTO THOSE BUCKETS. BUT I'M JUST SAYING THOSE THINGS THAT I SEE THAT WE NEED HERE IN THE CITY. I AGREE, I ABSOLUTELY AGREE WITH YOU. AND BACK TO THE THE LOW HANGING FRUIT OF THE AUDITORIUM. RIGHT. IT'S MY UNDERSTANDING, BECAUSE WE WORKED WITH THE PREVIOUS CITY MANAGER THAT THAT'S ALREADY BUDGETED FOR AND APPROVED TO GO AHEAD AND RENOVATE AND GET THAT GOING. AND THAT'S WHAT WE UNDERSTOOD. OKAY. ALL RIGHT. THANK YOU. I'M SORRY. DON'T WANT TO CUT I JUST WANT TO BE MINDFUL OF TIME. SO IT'S OKAY I JUST WANT IF WE CAN IF YOU WANT TO DO SOMETHING THAT WE CAN EXCHANGE SOME INFORMATION AND WE CAN TALK. 
          BECAUSE I KNOW WE'RE TRYING TO BE MINDFUL OF TIME. SO YES, THAT WOULD BE AMAZING OKAY. 
          GREAT. WE'D LOVE THAT OKAY. FOR ALL OF YOU. WE WOULD LOVE THAT. WE WOULD LOVE AS MANY CONVERSATIONS AS WE COULD HAVE OKAY. YEAH. THANK YOU I YIELD, MADAM MAYOR. THANK YOU. OKAY. 
          THANK YOU GUYS. AND WE LET'S SEE. WE HAVE COUNCILMAN MITCHELL COMING AND COUNCILWOMAN HEMMING. YES. GOOD EVENING. THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR THE PRESENTATION. I HAVE A COUPLE OF QUESTIONS ON THE SLIDE THAT COUNCILMEMBER MITCHELL IS ASKING ABOUT THOSE 26 OPPORTUNITIES BOOKED. CAN YOU TELL ME THE THE MONETARY VALUE AND HOW THAT SPILLS OVER TO SOME OF THE ANCILLARY BUSINESSES? SO I KNOW THAT THEY'RE BOOKING THE HOTELS, BUT THEN ARE THEY ARE IS THERE ALSO ENCOURAGEMENT TO UTILIZE OUR OTHER BUSINESSES THAT ARE ESTABLISHED IN THE CITY? OH YEAH. ABSOLUTELY. ONE OF THE GREATEST THINGS IS ACTUALLY THE ELECTRONIC BOARD THAT THIS THAT THE CVB WAS ABLE TO PROCURE. IT'S IT'S INTERESTING TO HAVE A DIGITAL, BUT IT'S THE FIRST TIME I'VE EVER SEEN IT AS A HOTELIER TO BE ABLE TO HAVE A DIGITAL BILLBOARD INSIDE. I MEAN, WE'VE SEEN A MONITORS TO BASICALLY SAY THAT THE, YOU KNOW, THE SMITH WEDDING IS IN THIS BALLROOM. I'VE SEEN THAT BEFORE, BUT SOMETHING TO BE ABLE TO PROMOTE EVERYTHING IN THE CITY AND HAVE ADVERTISEMENTS RUNNING RIGHT THERE DIGITALLY, RIGHT THERE IN THE BALLROOM. WE DO. WE'RE WE'RE BIG PROPONENTS. OBVIOUSLY, MY HOTELS ARE BIG PROPONENTS OF KEEPING EVERYTHING IN EAST POINT AS WELL. AND SO, YEAH, WE DO THAT. THAT IS WHERE THAT ANCILLARY INCOME DOES COME INTO PLAY IS BECAUSE WE'RE TRYING TO WE'RE TRYING TO LIFT UP THE EVERYTHING FROM THE RESTAURANTS TO THE BAKERIES TO THERE'S JUST THIS PERFECT LITTLE TRIFECTA BETWEEN BUSINESS AND HOTELS AND RESTAURANTS THAT REALLY, REALLY FACILITATE. AND THAT'S NOT JUST FOR TOURISTS THAT COME IN. REMEMBER, WE HAVE CORPORATE GROUPS THAT COME IN CONSTANTLY AND STAY IN THIS LOCATION BECAUSE OF ITS PROXIMITY IN SOUTH ATLANTA AND SOUTH TO TO THE AIRPORT AS WELL. BUT YES, WE DO. WE DO CROSS PROMOTE AS MUCH AS POSSIBLE. DO YOU HAVE THE METRICS TO BE ABLE TO DEMONSTRATE, YOU KNOW, WITH THESE 26 BOOK, LIKE YOU HAVE THESE SLIDES THAT HAVE THE ECONOMIC, THE ESTIMATED TOTAL ECONOMIC IMPACT OF THE CITY. SO IN JUST KNOW THAT'S THE LOST. THAT'S THE LOST BUSINESS. I'M CURIOUS IF YOU IF YOU WANTED TO OH IF SO THOSE THE REALLY BUSY SLIDE THAT SHOWS OUR CRM THAT THERE YOU GO RIGHT HERE. SO THIS IS THE HARD CORE DATA THAT WE'RE GOING OFF OF. AND ONE OF MY CHARGES WHEN I CAME IN TO FORM A, A CVB THAT WAS DIFFERENT FROM OTHER CVBS AND DMOS IS OTHER CVBS AND DMOS WILL CONSTANTLY TALK ABOUT THE, THE AMOUNT OF BUSINESS THAT THEY HAVE TO COME IN AND HOW MANY THE POTENTIAL BOOKINGS THAT THIS ONE WILL BRING IN. 
          FOR ME, I'M A BUSINESS GUY. I CARE ABOUT THE ACTUALIZED ROOMS, NOT THE AMOUNT OF BOOKS. IF THEY SAY THEY'RE BRINGING IN 500 AND THEY ONLY PICK UP 40 ROOMS, I'M MORE CONCERNED ABOUT 
          [02:20:05]
THOSE, YOU KNOW. WHY DID THAT HAPPEN? HOW DO WE PREVENT THAT FROM HAPPENING? HOW DO WE WORK WITH OUR HOTELS TO TRACK? YOU'LL BE AMAZED AT JUST THE LEVEL OF TALENT AND THE LABOR POOL TURNING OVER AT HOTELS. IT'S A IT'S A CONSTANT GAP TO GET THEM TO TRACK THEIR OWN BUSINESS. SO WE HAVE THE PROFESSIONALISM BETWEEN OURSELVES AND OUR DIRECTORS OF SALES TO BE ABLE TO HELP BRING THOSE CORPORATE IDS INTO TRACKABLE SYSTEMS AND INTO CRM SYSTEMS, SO WE CAN ACTUALLY SEE AND QUANTIFY THAT DATA. COUNCILWOMAN HEMMING, I THINK WHAT YOU'RE ASKING, WHAT YOU MAY NOT SEE CLEARLY HERE IN THE BLUE LINE WITHIN THE CRM, THERE'S A ECONOMIC CALCULATOR, ECONOMIC IMPACT CALCULATOR FOR EVERY GROUP THAT COMES IN. SO IT WILL TELL US WHAT THAT WILL BRING IN TO THE CITY AS AN ANCILLARY BUSINESS THROUGH RESTAURANTS AND EVERYTHING ELSE RETAIL, RETAIL SOME. AND SAY IN FISCAL YEAR 26, WE SPENT $1.5 MILLION IN MARKETING. AND THAT NETTED US WHATEVER, MILLIONS OF DOLLARS IN REVENUE THAT WILL TELL YOU THAT. OKAY. YES. SO THAT IS A NUMBER I'D BE INTERESTED IN, BECAUSE THEN WE CAN, YOU KNOW, DEMONSTRATE FOR A PERSON WHO'S NOT A HOTEL HOTELIER, I DON'T KNOW WHAT 26 BOOKS MEANS, BUT IF YOU TELL ME THAT THAT BROUGHT $5 MILLION, THAT'S A DIFFERENT SOUND TO MY EARS. SO THAT'S THE NUMBER I'M LOOKING FOR. MY NEXT QUESTION IS RELATED TO SORT OF OPPORTUNITIES TO PARTNER. SO I AM NEW TO COUNCIL, AND AS A RESIDENT I WATCHED AND PREVIOUSLY THERE HAD BEEN A MY UNDERSTANDING AND I THINK COUNCIL MEMBER CUMMINGS TAPPED ON THIS A LITTLE BIT. THERE HAD BEEN A BIT OF A RESISTANCE OR DISTINCTION, I THINK, BETWEEN HOW CVB PARTNERED WITH THE CITY, BUT IT SOUNDS LIKE THERE'S A BIGGER OPPORTUNITY TO PARTNER NOW THAT YOU ALL ARE INTERESTED IN. SO COULD YOU TALK A LITTLE BIT ABOUT WHAT YOUR EXPECTATIONS LOOK LIKE TO PARTNER WITH COUNCIL, AND THEN WHAT YOUR EXPECTATIONS LOOK LIKE TO PARTNER WITH THE CITY MANAGER AND OTHERS? I'VE ALREADY HEARD THE THE MAKINGS OF IT, BUT JUST THREAD THE LINE A LITTLE MORE CLEARLY. I'M GOING TO TURN THIS OVER TO CHANTAL. ONE OF THE ONLY THINGS THAT I WILL SAY IS I STILL DON'T KNOW THE RULES AS TO HOW MANY OF YOU I CAN MEET WITH AT THE SAME TIME BEFORE IT STARTS SOMETHING ELSE, AND A CASCADE THAT I DON'T WANT TO. I DON'T WANT TO BE ON THE BAD SIDE OF ANYTHING. I'M AS MANY OF YOU THAT WOULD COME TO THE TABLE THAT'S LEGAL FOR YOU GUYS TO COME TO TABLE BEFORE SOMETHING ELSE HAPPENS. WE'RE WE'RE SO OPEN AND READY. WE HAVE BEEN SINCE THE VERY BEGINNING. AND SO THIS IS NOT A NEW OPENNESS FROM OUR END. WE'VE BEEN OPEN THE ENTIRE TIME. WE WERE JUST WE WE'D WELCOME THAT INTERACTION MORE AND MORE AND MORE. WE ARE NOT GOING TO SHY AWAY FROM IT. I PROMISE YOU. I THINK THE MISCONCEPTION IS PROBABLY WHAT THE CVB CAN DO, WHICH IS WHY I KIND OF STARTED WITH THAT SLIDE, BECAUSE IT'S NOT EXACTLY WHAT WE CHOOSE TO DO, IT'S WHAT WE'RE MANDATED TO DO. SO AS LONG AS ANYTHING THAT YOU GUYS ARE INTERESTED IN IS A PART OF PROMOTIONS, MARKETING INFORMATION, THEN THAT'S WHERE WE CAN SUPPORT YOU AND BE A PART OF TO ENHANCE WHATEVER PROJECTS THAT YOU'RE WORKING ON AND ENABLE THAT TO BE, YOU KNOW, PUBLICIZED OR PUT ON IN A IN A MORE EXCITING WAY. SO AS LONG AS IT'S ALONG THOSE LINES, WE'LL HERE FOR THAT. AND THAT'S WHAT WE'VE ALWAYS SAID. SO I THINK MAYBE THAT'S PROBABLY NOT THE UNDERSTANDING OF EXACTLY HOW MUCH AND WHERE WE CAN ASSIST MAY HAVE BEEN AN ISSUE, BUT NOT AT ALL. PARTNERING. WE DO IT ALL THE TIME. WE DID IT WITH ARTS AND CULTURE. WE DO IT WITH ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT. WE DO IT WITH PARKS AND REC. SO WE'RE HERE FOR THAT. OKAY. AND THEN THIS IS MY LAST QUESTION AND I'LL YIELD OR IT'S REALLY A STATEMENT. SO I HAVE ADOPTED A LEGISLATIVE MISSION STATEMENT. AND PART OF THAT LEGISLATIVE MISSION STATEMENT IS TO RAISE THE COLLECTIVE SELF-ESTEEM OF EASTPOINTE. AND I SHARED THIS WITH YOU IN PRIVATE, SO I JUST WANT TO SHARE IT ALSO PUBLICLY, AS A PERSON OBSERVING SOME OF THE IMAGERY THAT'S PUT OUT, I HEAR WHAT YOU'RE SAYING, THAT YOU'RE FIVE YEARS AHEAD OF US, RIGHT, AS A CITY, BECAUSE YOU HAVE TO ATTRACT BUSINESS THAT IS WANTING THE FUTURE FIVE YEAR OLD OR THE FUTURE FIVE YEAR OLD. 
          EASTPOINTE. RIGHT? THAT'S NOT THE WORD I'M TRYING TO SAY, BUT YOU GET WHAT I'M TRYING TO SAY. 
          OKAY, SO MY POINT IS, AS A PERSON WHO LIVES HERE, SOMETIMES THERE DOES FEEL LIKE A DISCONNECT BETWEEN WHAT IS MARKETED AND WHAT MY DAY TO DAY LIVED EXPERIENCE IS. SO I THINK THE THINGS THAT YOU CAN DO TO HELP EDUCATE THE CITY, HELP THE COMMUNITY UNDERSTAND, I MEAN, THERE'S A BLACK CHEER COMPETITION COMING HERE. I WOULD HAVE LOVED TO HAVE THAT CELEBRATED FROM THIS DAIS AND OTHER PLACES SO THAT PEOPLE CAN SEE THE RETURN SO THAT THEY UNDERSTAND, OH, WHEN WE GO OUT AND ATTRACT A GROUP AND WE'RE DEMONSTRATING A CITY THAT LOOKS MAYBE SLIGHTLY BETTER, I GUESS WHAT I'M TRYING TO SAY WITH WHAT YOU'RE CURRENTLY EXPERIENCING, RIGHT. THERE'S A GAP IN WHAT WE EXPERIENCE AND WHAT WE'RE SEEING MARKETED. AND SO THE WAYS THAT YOU CAN CLOSE THAT GAP IN EDUCATION, I THINK WOULD REALLY HELP QUITE A BIT. 
          I THINK ONE OF THE WAYS THAT THAT GAP CAN CLOSE IMMEDIATELY IS THROUGH YOUR COMMUNICATIONS 
          [02:25:01]
DEPARTMENT, BECAUSE WE'RE ALL WORKING FOR THE SAME GOAL AND REFERRAL MARKETING THE CITY, AND WE'RE PUTTING THE WORD OUT TO NATIONWIDE AND INTERNATIONAL. WE HAVE TO BE ABLE TO SHARE THAT SAME MESSAGE THROUGH THE CITY AS WELL. AND WE'VE TRIED TO DO THAT AND MET WITH THEM ON DOING THAT. BUT I THINK, AGAIN, THERE WAS A MISUNDERSTANDING OF WHO WE ARE AND WHAT WE'RE RESPONSIBLE FOR. WE ARE HERE TO ATTRACT VISITORS AND MARKET TO THEM. BUT AT THE SAME TIME, EVERYTHING THAT WE DO FOR EASTPOINTE HAS TO BE A BENEFIT FOR THE RESIDENTS THAT LIVE HERE AS WELL. SO IF WE'RE GOING TO PROMOTE THE CITY AS WHERE THE WORLD MEETS, THEN WE'RE HOPING THAT THE INFRASTRUCTURE WILL COME UP TO PAR FOR THAT TO THE FIVE YEARS, AS YOU WERE SAYING, ANY OF THE BEAUTIFICATION, ANYTHING. AND THE GROUPS THAT WE BRING, WE'RE EXPECTING THAT THEY WILL LEAVE A TRAIL THAT WOULD BE SUPPORTIVE AND A BENEFIT TO THE CITY AS WELL, ESPECIALLY LIKE FIFA COMING. I'M GLAD YOU MENTIONED COMMUNICATIONS AND I JUST WANT THIS. MADAM DEPUTY CITY MANAGER, I KNOW THAT WE'RE IN THE PROCESS OF LOOKING FOR A COMMUNICATIONS DIRECTOR, BUT SOMETHING THAT I REALLY ADMIRE ON SOME OTHER SURROUNDING CITIES WEBSITES. WHEN YOU GO TO THE WEBSITE, IT'S ALMOST LIKE A VISITOR LANDING PAGE IN SOME WAYS. AND YOU MENTIONED THE 50 THINGS TO DO IN EASTPOINTE. I WAS SITTING HERE COUNTING LIKE, CAN I RATTLE OFF THE 50 THINGS TO DO IN EASTPOINTE? AND SO THAT IS A TANGIBLE BENEFIT THAT THE RESIDENTS SHOULD BE ABLE TO EXPERIENCE NOW, RIGHT? WHICH IS THERE ARE PEOPLE WHO LIVE HERE AND THEY SPEND THEIR MONEY ELSEWHERE. AND I WOULD LOVE FOR PEOPLE TO SPEND THEIR MONEY HERE IN THE CITY. AND SO IF YOU HAVE AN ASSET LIKE 50 THINGS TO DO IN EASTPOINTE, THAT SHOULD BE LIKE ALMOST THE LANDING PAGE OF THE CITY OF EASTPOINTE. NOT A SEPARATE JOB. YEAH. NO, IT WILL BE. WE DID A SOFT LAUNCH AT NATIONAL TRAVEL AND TOURISM WEEK, AND THAT'S WHY WE CALLED IT THAT. JUST BECAUSE IT WAS NATIONAL TRAVEL AND TOURISM, WE WE WANTED TO LET OUR PARTNERS KNOW THAT IT WAS THERE, BUT WE ARE ABOUT TO DO A FULL CAMPAIGN AND RELEASE THAT. AND THAT ABSOLUTELY SHOULD BE SOMETHING NOT JUST SHARED BY THE CVB OR THE CVB SITE, BUT FOR THE CITY AND THE RESIDENTS AS WELL. THAT TOOK A YEAR IN THE MAKING AND RESEARCHING AND PUTTING TOGETHER TO WRITE THAT BOOK. THANK YOU. I YIELD, MADAM MAYOR. OKAY. THANK YOU, COUNCILMAN FREELY. WHAT DID YOU SAY? YOU SAID COUNCILWOMAN. OH, I'LL ANSWER TO WHATEVER. THANK YOU. 
          I JUST HAD SOME QUESTIONS ABOUT THE THE ISSUE OF THE LEADS VERSUS ACTUAL BOOKINGS AND THE SPACE ISSUE. SO IT SOUNDS LIKE YOU CAN GO TO THE GICC. SOMETIMES YOU HAVE RELATIONSHIPS WITH MOREHOUSE TO ACCESS LARGER SPACES. SO I GUESS I'M CURIOUS IF THERE ARE IF THE IF ANOTHER DMO IS ABLE TO MEET THESE THE REQUIREMENTS OF THESE POTENTIAL BOOKINGS, WHY AREN'T WE ABLE TO BY SIMPLY GOING TO THESE OTHER FACILITIES WITH LARGER SPACE? SINCE YOU'VE SAID THAT'S AN OPTION. FIRSTLY, OUR MISSION IS TO KEEP THE TAX MONEY WITHIN THE CITY OF EASTPOINTE BECAUSE THAT'S WHAT WE WERE MANDATED TO DO. THAT IS A LAST RESORT. SO UPON AVAILABILITY, THAT IS AN OPTION. BUT THERE'S NOT ALWAYS AVAILABILITY AT THE GICC OR MOREHOUSE. THEY HAVE THEIR OWN PROGRAMS, BUT THEY WOULD DO THAT AS A COURTESY, AS A PARTNERSHIP. SO WE KIND OF GET LIKE THE LEFTOVERS. AND ANOTHER REASON WHY WE LOSE BUSINESS FOR LACK OF SPACE IS SOME OF THE HOTELS, LIKE THE SONESTA, OUR BIGGEST PROPERTY, AND THEY MAY HAVE SOME REALLY GOOD SPACE, BUT BECAUSE OF THE LACK OF SPACE, IT'S ALWAYS BOOKED. SO THEN WE ALSO LOSE THE BUSINESS BECAUSE OF AVAILABILITY. AND SO FOLLOW UP ON THAT. GIVEN THE REALITIES OF THE SPACE THAT'S AVAILABLE, I CAN'T REMEMBER WHAT THE NUMBER WAS, BUT THE THE TURNDOWNS WERE LIKE THREE TIMES THE AMOUNT OF BOOKINGS. ARE WE ARE WE PITCHING TO THE WRONG PEOPLE? I MEAN, IT SEEMS LIKE WE SHOULD BE PITCHING FOR WHAT WE CAN ACCOMMODATE. SO WHY DO WE HAVE SO MANY TURN DOWNS? ARE WE ARE WE PITCHING THE WRONG PEOPLE AGAIN? IT'S NOT THE WRONG GROUP. WE HAVE TACTICS AND MARKETS THAT WE GO AFTER. BECAUSE OF OUR PROXIMITY TO THE AIRPORT AND OUR HISTORY. WE'VE ALSO JUST DONE A RESEARCH TOURISM STUDY THAT YOU GUYS WILL BE GETTING THE RESULTS OF SOON, WHICH SPEAKS TO THE SAME THING. WE KNOW THE MARKETS, THE THE RESEARCH SHOWS THAT WE'RE ON THE RIGHT TRACK FOR THE MARKETS THAT WE GO AFTER. BUT IF WE GO AFTER THAT BUSINESS, THERE'S EVEN A NICHE CALLED SMALL MARKET MEETINGS. WE FALL EVEN BELOW THAT, BUT WE STILL GO AFTER THE SMALL MARKET MEETINGS, LIKE I MENTIONED BEFORE. AND WE'RE NOT GOING TO NOT GO AFTER THE BUSINESS BECAUSE WE WANT TO BE ABLE TO SAY, CAN WE GET YOU TWO YEARS FROM NOW? CAN I BOOK YOU FOR TWO YEARS? SO I HAVE TO GO TO 
          [02:30:02]
THAT TRADE SHOW AND COMPETE. THERE'S 80 CVBS IN THE STATE OF GEORGIA. WE'RE ALL GOING AFTER THE SAME BUSINESS. WHEN WE GO TO A TRADE SHOW, IT'S NOT ONLY US, BUT IT'S ALSO NEW YORK, VEGAS, EVERYBODY, FLORIDA, YOU NAME IT, EVERY OTHER STATE. BUT WE TRY TO STAY WITHIN OUR NICHE AND KNOWING THE SIZE OF THE GROUP THAT WE CAN GO AFTER. WHEN WE GO TO A TRADE SHOW, WE SELECT MARKETS. WE ALSO SELECT SIZE. SO NO, WE'RE NOT GOING AFTER BUSINESS THAT WE KNOW WE CAN'T HOLD. BUT AGAIN, LACK OF SPACE ALSO MEANS LACK OF AVAILABILITY DURING THE TIME. 
          MAYBE THAT THAT GROUP WANTS THAT SPACE. ALSO OUR OUR OUR LARGEST HOTELS ARE 4500FT■!S. 
          EVEN SMALL MARKET MEETINGS STILL REQUIRE 10,000FT■!S, SOMETHING LIKE THAT. THAT'S EVEN SMALL MARKET. WE'RE NOT TALKING ABOUT 50 OR 100,000 SQUARE FOOT VENUES, BUT SOMETHING, SOMETHING TO THAT ORDER. SO OURS IS ALMOST SMALLER THAN SMALL. BUT AT THIS, AS FAR AS WHAT OUR AVAILABILITY IS AND WE'RE GETTING WHATEVER WE CAN. BUT THIS IS ALSO A VERY COMPETITIVE MARKET. WE'RE CASTING A VERY WIDE NET, BUT OUR NET IS THEN FOCUSED BY DATA, AND THAT'S WHERE WE COME IN TO SORT OF FOCUS ON FEEDER MARKETS AND FOCUS ON THE RIGHT WORKSHOPS. I ALWAYS I ALSO SIT AS THE TREASURER OF THE CITY HERE FOR THE FOR FOR THE AIRPORT KIDS. AND THAT'S SORT OF THAT'S MY THING HERE AND THERE. WHERE ARE WE NOT GETTING ROI? WHERE DID WE NOT GET ROI THIS YEAR? AND CAN WE CUT THAT WHERE WE DIDN'T GET THE ROI AND TRY AND REFOCUS? BUT WE'RE USING OUR DATA AND THE DATA THAT'S BEING PROVIDED TO US AND THE INDEPENDENT STUDIES THAT WE'RE TRYING TO DO, WHICH WE WILL AVAIL TO YOU AS SOON AS IT'S DONE. WE'VE BEEN WAITING ON IT OURSELVES. AND THEN THAT WILL SHOW YOU WHAT YOU KNOW, WHAT, WHAT CAN BE. THANK YOU. AND MY NEXT QUESTION IS SORT OF PITCHING INTERNATIONAL VERSUS DOMESTIC. THERE SEEMS TO BE A LOT OF FOCUS ON INTERNATIONAL, WHICH I FIND A LITTLE CURIOUS, PARTICULARLY GIVEN THAT OVER THE LAST YEAR TRAVELED TO THE UNITED STATES INTERNATIONALLY, HAS DROPPED FOR VARIOUS POLITICAL REASONS, BUT IS IS THERE A SPECIFIC FOCUS ON INTERNATIONAL? AND THEN I HAVE A COUPLE QUESTIONS ABOUT THIS GLOBAL ENTREPRENEURSHIP FESTIVAL THAT YOU HIGHLIGHTED. OKAY. THAT ALSO IS A MISCONCEPTION BECAUSE WE ABSOLUTELY GO AFTER DOMESTIC BUSINESS. THAT'S WHAT OUR TRADE SHOWS LEAD US TO. WE JUST CAME BACK FROM OUR CMA, WHICH WAS IN FLORIDA, AND WE PARTNERED WITH ALL THE GEORGIA CVBS. WE HAD A GEORGIA ROLE THAT WAS ALL DOMESTIC. AND YOU'RE ABSOLUTELY RIGHT. THE VISITATION AND NUMBERS IN INTERNATIONAL HAS DECLINED, ESPECIALLY SINCE WITH TARIFFS. SO WITH THAT IN MIND, WE'VE ALSO HAD TO SHIFT OUR FOCUS ON WHERE WE'RE MARKETING, HOW WE'RE MARKETING. BUT AT THE SAME TIME, NOT BECAUSE THERE'S TARIFFS AND AT THE HIGHER LEVEL, WHICH YOU HAVE TO UNDERSTAND, WE'VE HAD MEETINGS WITH THESE DCA. THE DCA, SORRY, DMA, DESTINATION MARKETING INTERNATIONAL ON PANELS WHERE WHAT THE WORLD IS SEEING AT THAT LEVEL IS TOTALLY DIFFERENT TO WHAT WE'RE SEEING AS TRAVEL AND TOURISM ON THE GROUND LEVEL. WE'RE STILL KEEPING PARTNERSHIPS WITH THE PEOPLE WE KNOW AND THE PARTNERS THAT WE HAVE, AND ENCOURAGING THEM TO DO TRAVEL AS WELL. AND IT'S NOT POLITICALLY INCLINED. THERE'S GOING TO BE A DROP. WE'RE GOING TO SEE THAT BECAUSE THAT'S JUST WHAT IT IS. BUT AT THE SAME TIME AS INDIVIDUAL PLANNERS AND TRAVEL INDUSTRY, WE'RE NOT GIVING UP ON THAT PORTION OF THE BUSINESS. THANKS. AND SO THIS GLOBAL ENTREPRENEURSHIP FESTIVAL, AS I UNDERSTAND IT, AS YOU'VE SAID MULTIPLE TIMES THIS EVENING, YOUR FOCUS IS ON TOURISM AND VISITORS. CORRECT. SO ENTREPRENEURSHIP SEEMS A LITTLE BIT DIFFERENT THAT I COULD SEE AS ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT POTENTIALLY, WHICH IS NOT IN YOUR WHEELHOUSE. OKAY. SO I JUST HAVE SOME SPECIFIC QUESTIONS. I KNOW THAT ON THE GLOBAL ECONOMIC GLOBAL ENTREPRENEURSHIP FESTIVAL WEBSITE, WE'RE LISTED AS A SPONSOR OR PARTNER. COULD YOU TELL ME A LITTLE BIT ABOUT WAS THERE A FINANCIAL COMMITMENT? AND AND AGAIN, WHAT IS THE RATIONALE FOR THAT SORT OF ASSOCIATION? OKAY. SO LET ME GO INTO A LITTLE MORE DETAIL, THE TITLE AND NAMES OF TRADE SHOWS AND CONFERENCES HAS NOTHING TO DO WITH THE PEOPLE COMING HERE. GLOBAL ENTREPRENEURSHIP IS A PROGRAM. SO THE AMOUNT OF PEOPLE THAT ATTEND THAT WHICH IS BY THE THOUSANDS, THE REASON WE PARTICIPATED AND HAD THEM HERE TO DO THE PRESS CONFERENCE IS BECAUSE THEY'RE LOOKING TO DO AFRICA MEETS AMERICA. AND DOING THAT CONFERENCE RIGHT HERE IN EASTPOINTE. AND ONE OF THE THINGS THAT WE TALKED ABOUT 
          [02:35:01]
WAS, AGAIN, UTILIZING THE SPACE OF ANOTHER FACILITY, BUT GETTING ALL OF OUR HOTELS FILLED FIRST WITH THE ROOM NIGHTS. SO IT'S NOT THAT IT'S A ENTREPRENEURSHIP FESTIVAL THAT HAS NOTHING TO DO WITH WHO WE ARE AND WHO THEY ARE. IT'S THE NUMBER OF PEOPLE THAT THEY'RE GOING TO BRING FOR THAT CONFERENCE. THERE'S FINANCIAL CONFERENCES THAT COME HERE THAT WE MAY SUPPORT, NOT BECAUSE WE'RE INTO FINANCE, BUT THE AMOUNT OF PEOPLE WITHIN THAT FINANCIAL ASSOCIATION WE DO. IT COULD BE A MEDICAL ASSOCIATION, IT COULD BE ANY SUBJECT MATTER. 
          BUT IT'S THE SHEER NUMBER OF GROUP NUMBERS OF PEOPLE COMING TO THE CITIES, WHY WE'RE EVEN HAVING ANY TYPE OF RELATIONSHIP WITH THEM. RIGHT. AND SO TELL ME MORE ABOUT THE THE PARTNERSHIP OR SPONSORSHIP. OKAY. THAT WAS NOT A PARTNERSHIP. THAT WAS A SPONSORSHIP. AND THAT WAS AGAIN, BECAUSE THEY AGREED TO GIVE US THE RFP TO BRING ONE OF THOSE PROGRAMS TO EASTPOINTE AND FULFILL THE OBLIGATIONS OF PREPARING OUR HOTELS TO HOST. 
          WHAT WAS THE COST OF THAT SPONSORSHIP PACKAGE? I BELIEVE THAT WAS $20,000 SPONSORSHIP, 20,000. OKAY. AND SO WHEN WHEN YOU'RE PITCHING AND WHEN YOU'RE LOOKING FOR THESE LEADS, ARE WE TYPICALLY SPENDING $20,000 PER PITCH? NO. BECAUSE THAT WOULD THAT WOULD BE A LITTLE ASTOUNDING TO ME. IT WOULD BE. AND THAT'S WHY HERE THAT'S NOT WHAT WE DO IN THIS SITUATION. 
          THAT ONE WAS BECAUSE OF THE SHEER MAGNITUDE OF THE GROUP AND THE AS I SHARED ONLINE, THE DIFFERENT COUNTRIES THAT THAT WAS INVOLVED WITH GLOBALLY. AND WHEREVER THEY WENT, THEY TOOK EASTPOINTE WITH THEM. THE AMOUNT OF MARKETING THAT WE RECEIVED FROM THAT, I'LL JUST GIVE YOU AN EXAMPLE FOR ONE FULL PAGE AD IN THE GEORGIA WHAT'S IT CALLED? EXPLORE GEORGIA IS $19,000 FOR A FULL PAGE AD. SO JUST TO PUT THINGS IN PERSPECTIVE. SO THE MARKETING OUT OF THAT SPONSORSHIP THAT WE RECEIVED GLOBALLY, WE DIDN'T HAVE TO TRAVEL TO NEW YORK, TOKYO, TORONTO, ALL THOSE PLACES. BUT EVERY PRESS CONFERENCE THEY DID, EASTPOINTE WAS A PART OF THAT. AND WE WERE ABLE TO GET RECOGNITION AND PRESS ON EASTPOINTE AS WELL. AND, YOU KNOW, WE WERE LIKE TOP BILLING ON THAT. WE WERE ON THERE STEP AND REPEATS IN THEIR BROCHURES AND, YOU KNOW, EVERYWHERE. AND THERE WERE ARTICLES WRITTEN FOR EASTPOINTE AND THAT, LIKE I SAID, WAS MORE VALUED THAN $20,000. AND JUST FOR INFORMATION, EVERYTHING THAT WE DO AT THE CVB IS HIGHLY, HIGHLY NEGOTIATED. EVERYBODY KNOWS MY REPUTATION AS A NEGOTIATOR. I'VE NEVER PAID FOR ANYTHING FULL PRICE. SO IF YOU DO SEE SOMETHING THAT WE'VE GOTTEN INVOLVED WITH, PLEASE BELIEVE THAT CHANTAL NEGOTIATED THAT DOWN TO THE VERY BONE IN MY STAFF, AND MY CHAIRMAN CAN ATTEST TO THAT. AND SO IN A SITUATION LIKE THAT WHERE YOU'VE INVESTED $20,000, HOW DO YOU MEASURE THE FINANCIAL RETURN ON THAT INVESTMENT? HOW CAN YOU IS THAT A NUMBER YOU CAN PRODUCE OR. WELL, WHAT I JUST EXPLAINED, FIRST OF ALL, THAT WAS FOR MARKETING NUMBER ONE. THE SECOND PART OF THAT WILL BE WHEN THEY BRING THE BUSINESS TO EASTPOINTE AND WE GET THOSE REUNITES. BUT UPFRONT AS A SPONSOR, AS WE SPONSOR MANY OTHER THINGS, THERE'S A SPONSOR PACKET. SO YOU'RE PAYING FOR A BOOTH, YOU'RE PAYING FOR A FULL PAGE AD, YOU'RE PAYING FOR WEBSITE, YOU'RE PAYING FOR ALL THE ASSETS THAT COME ALONG WITHIN THAT SPONSORSHIP. SO WE'VE RECEIVED THOSE. BUT THE SECONDARY PART TO IT WOULD BE THAT ORGANIZATION BRINGING THE BUSINESS TO EASTPOINTE, AND THAT WOULD BE THE WIN. DO WE HAVE ANY ACTUAL. RESULTS OF THOSE TYPE? I'M SORRY OF THE PEOPLE BRINGING BUSINESS HERE AS A RESULT OF THAT SPONSORSHIP. 
          DO WE HAVE ANYTHING AT THIS POINT? WHAT WE'RE LOOKING FOR IS NOT PEOPLE, JUST PEOPLE AT THE CONFERENCE. WE'RE LOOKING TO HAVE THE ACTUAL CONFERENCE HELD HERE IN EASTPOINTE. YES. 
          AND WOULD WE BE ABLE TO ACCOMMODATE IT PLACE WISE WHEN IT DOES COME? I'M THIS IS WHAT I'M SAYING. THEY THEY BOOK BUSINESS YEARS IN ADVANCE. SO I THINK THIS YEAR THEY'RE DOING EGYPT. SO EASTPOINTE WILL BE LOOKED AT FOR LIKE 2028 OR 2027. BUT WE HAVE THE RFP AND THE ASSURANCE THAT THEY ARE GOING TO BRING THIS TO EASTPOINTE. IF WE HAVE THE MULTIPLEX BY THEN. 
          I'VE TALKED TO A LOT ALREADY ABOUT THAT. HE'S A HE SHARED WITH ME THE PLANS ON THE MEETING SPACE WITHIN THE ROTUNDA WHEN YOU COME IN, THAT WILL BE ABLE TO ACCOMMODATE THAT. SO WE ARE IN CONVERSATIONS WITH THAT. OKAY. THANK YOU. AND REMEMBER THERE THERE ARE EVEN WHEN WE CAN'T ACCOMMODATE, WE DO HAVE A GOOD PARTNERSHIP WITH THE GICC. THE ONLY THING IS WE WE SET IT UP CONTRACTUALLY TO WHERE THEY'RE OBLIGATED TO THE EASTPOINTE HOTEL ROOMS FIRST AND THEN OVERFLOW. GO THAT WAY. IT DOESN'T WORK THAT WAY. ON THE RECEIVING END BEING A HOTEL, I'LL TELL YOU THAT WE ARE THE BENEFICIARIES OF ONLY OVERFLOW 
          [02:40:04]
FOR THE MOST PART FROM THE ICC. BUT NOW IT'S THE FIRST. IT'S THE FIRST BOOKINGS THAT I'VE SEEN IN ALL OF THESE 28 YEARS, THAT WE'RE GETTING BOOKINGS THAT CONTRACTUALLY OBLIGATE LARGE ORGANIZATIONS TO THEIR ROOMS IN EASTPOINTE FIRST, AND THEN THE OVERFLOW GOES ELSEWHERE. THAT'S NEVER HAPPENED BEFORE. ALL RIGHT. THANK YOU. NEXT WE HAVE COUNCILMAN ADKINS AND THEN COUNCILWOMAN DOCTOR MARTIN ROGERS. ALL RIGHT. THANK YOU SO MUCH, MADAM MAYOR. THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR YOUR PRESENTATION. I JUST HAVE A FEW QUESTIONS. MISS FRANCOIS, YOU WENT OVER ALL OF THE MARKETING EFFORTS. THERE'S RADIO, THERE'S TELEVISION, THERE'S SPONSORSHIPS, THERE'S MAGAZINES, PREP WORK AND ALL OF THOSE THINGS. SO WITH ALL OF THE MARKETING THAT IS DONE, IS THERE A SLIDE OR ANY DATA? I KNOW THAT MR. SHAW TALKED A LOT ABOUT DATA THAT TRANSLATES INTO WE DID THESE THINGS, AND THEN THIS IS HOW MANY HEADS AND BEDS WE GOT, BECAUSE UNDERSTANDING THAT ALL OF YOUR FUNDING COMES FROM HMT, JUST IT WOULD BE HELPFUL FOR ME TO KNOW BECAUSE I DON'T REALLY WATCH TELEVISION, BUT PEOPLE SAY, OH, EASTPOINTE WAS ON THE I SEE IT IN THE NEWS, OR MY GODMOTHER SAY IT'S IN THE MORNING TIME AND THAT THOSE THINGS. AND SO IT'D BE GREAT TO KNOW WE'RE DOING THESE THINGS TO PROMOTE EASTPOINTE. AND AS A RESULT, THIS IS HOW MANY HEADS AND BEDS WE GOT SO THAT WE CAN SEE WHAT THE TRENDS ARE, WHAT'S IMPACTFUL AND WHAT'S WORKING. WE WILL GET NUMBERS FROM THE MEDIA HOUSES ONCE THESE ADS RUN. 
          SO LIKE FROM WSB 11 ALIVE, WE'LL GET THOSE. BUT TO BE ABLE TO SAY BECAUSE OF THIS AD, YOU GOT THIS MANY ROOMS WOULD BE KIND OF NEAR IMPOSSIBLE. IT IS FOR AWARENESS MARKETING, BUT IT WILL SPEAK TO THE NUMBER OF PEOPLE THAT WAS EXPOSED TO EASTPOINTE AND FOUND THE MESSAGE THAT WE HAVE OR 19 NOW BRANDED HOTELS AND THE AVAILABILITY AND THE ACCESSIBILITY TO DOWNTOWN AND WHERE WE ARE AND THE LOCATION AND OUR RESTAURANTS AND ALL OF THE TOURISM PRODUCTS THAT WE HAVE HERE. BUT WE USE ALSO THE ECONOMIC IMPACT CALCULATOR WITHIN OUR CRM TO KIND OF HELP BRING THOSE NUMBERS TOGETHER. SO THAT'S THROUGH RESEARCH. AND WHAT DO YOU CALL IT? NOT ALGORITHM. I FORGET WHAT YOU CALL IT THROUGH SOCIAL MEDIA. 
          SORRY. YEAH. SO I GUESS MY QUESTION ANALYTICS, MY QUESTION IS A LITTLE DIFFERENT. NOT QUITE AS GRANULAR AS THE RESPONSE. SO FOR INSTANCE WHEN YOU STARTED ONE OF YOUR TELEVISION ADS. SO LET'S SAY YOU STARTED RUNNING THOSE IN JANUARY OF 2025. DID YOU SEE AN UPTICK IN HEADS IN BEDS? DID YOU SEE AN UPTICK OR WAS IT A DECREASE? I'M JUST TRYING TO FIGURE OUT. I KNOW WE CAN'T KNOW EXACTLY, BUT I'M JUST TRYING TO RADIO, TELEVISION, PRINT ADS, ALL OF THOSE THINGS. AND THIS IS HOW OUR HEADS AND BEDS ARE TRENDING. AND THERE COULD BE A CORRELATION, NOT A 1 TO 1, BUT A CORRELATION, WHICH IS JUST WHAT I'M TRYING TO FIGURE OUT. SO. COMPLICATED QUESTION, COMPLICATED ANSWERS. BUT ONE OF THE THINGS THAT I COULD SIMPLIFY IS LET'S TALK ABOUT NOW VERSUS BEFORE. SINCE THE HOTEL MOTEL TAX WAS IMPLEMENTED, I JUST WANT WANTED ALL OF TO BRING THIS TO EVERYONE'S ATTENTION. THIS IS AN THIS IS A BIT HIGHER OF A HOTEL MOTEL TAX THAN OTHER JURISDICTIONS CARRY. EVEN OTHER AIRPORT JURISDICTIONS CARRY 8% IS VERY HIGH. I KNOW THIS, I'VE BEEN IN 32 MARKETS WITH DIFFERENT HOTELS THAT I'VE OWNED, AND BEFORE WE HAD THIS HIGH HOTEL MOTEL TAX AND FOR TEN YEARS I WAS PAYING 8% AND OUR NAME WAS NOWHERE. AND THAT WAS MUCH MORE FRUSTRATING THAN NOW HAVING THE OPPORTUNITY TO ACTUALLY GAIN BUSINESS, HAVING THE OPPORTUNITY. MARKETING'S A FICKLE THING BECAUSE YES, YOU'RE PUTTING MONEY TOWARDS SOMETHING, SPONSORSHIPS AND SO ON. SAME THING. I GO THROUGH THE SAME BILLS OF THE CITY, AND I'M LOOKING AT THESE SPONSORSHIPS THAT WE PAY AS THE CITY AND SEEING THESE NUMBERS. AND YOU KNOW WHAT THE NUMBERS OF TEN YEARS AGO AND 15 YEARS AGO ARE JUST GONE. THEY'RE FRACTIONAL COMPARED TO WHAT PEOPLE ARE CHARGING FOR THESE THINGS THESE DAYS. SO EVEN WHEN WE PAY A $20,000 IN TECHNICALLY THAT WAS A $50,000 MEMBERSHIP, SHE JUST NEGOTIATED 30 DOWN TO PAY 20 TO WHERE WE CAN GET SOME GOLD LEVEL AND SO ON AND SO FORTH. BUT BEFORE GOING BACK TO WHAT YOU WERE SAYING, WE DIDN'T HAVE ANY SHOWING EAST POINT SPECIFIC. IT WAS A PREVIOUS DMO THAT MARKETED FOR OTHER CITIES AS WELL. AND IT'S JUST THE WAY THAT BUSINESS WORKS. EVEN ON THE BACK END, YOU CAN TRY AND YOU CAN PUT IN SOMETHING THAT SAYS FOR HIGHLIGHTS FOR CITIES. BUT, YOU KNOW, THE EVEN THE THE STAFF AT THE GICC UNDERSTANDABLY SO. THEY HAVE A, YOU KNOW, THEY THEY WOULD LIKE TO KEEP THOSE THINGS IN THE COFFERS OF COLLEGE PARK. THEY'RE INCENTIVIZED TO DO SO AS WELL. SO IT'S HARD TO COMPETE IN THAT MARKET. BUT FOR TEN YEARS TO IF YOU IF YOU THINK ABOUT THIS FOR THE SEVEN YEARS THAT THE PREVIOUS DMO EXISTED, JUST MY HOTELS ALONE I 
          [02:45:07]
IT WAS $3.5 MILLION OF MY TOP LINE REVENUE THAT WENT TO HOTEL MOTEL TAX, AND I SAW NOTHING FOR IT. WE DIDN'T SEE ANYTHING IN ANY OF THE HOTELS THAT I'VE BUILT HERE. AND THESE ARE HILTON HOTELS, SO IT'S NEGLIGIBLE MEAN FRACTIONS OF A PERCENT THAT WE SAW BACK. NOW, FOR THE FIRST TIME I AM SEEING BOOKINGS, I AM SEEING INTEREST, I AM SEEING IN DIFFERENT MARKETS THAT SUDDENLY WE'RE KNOWN EAST POINT TO BE ABLE TO BE RECOGNIZED AS ONE OF THE BEST CVBS IN THE ENTIRE NATION. TWO YEARS RUNNING BY ONE OF THE MOST PROMINENT CVB AND DMO PUBLICATIONS. THAT WAS SOMETHING. YES, THERE IS A BIT OF A CHALLENGE SAYING, OKAY, YOU KNOW WHAT I HATE ALL THIS LOST BUSINESS TO, BUT WHAT DO WE WHAT DO WE DO? WE CAN'T. WE WE WE STILL HAVE TO GO OUT THERE AND WE STILL HAVE TO MARKET. WE STILL HAVE TO TRY TO GET AS MANY AS WE CAN. THERE'S ALSO A FALLOUT PERCENTAGE THAT WE ALSO, AGAIN, WE MAYBE WE CAN'T GET THE 50,000 PEOPLE IN THERE, BUT JUST THROUGH OUR MARKETING EFFORTS, WE END UP HAVING 15, 20 CONVERSATIONS AT THE SAME SHOW THAT YIELD OTHER ANCILLARY RESULTS THAT DO END UP BOOKING HERE, RIGHT? PLEASE. THE REASON I'M ASKING THE QUESTION IS BECAUSE THE CITY, AS A FIDUCIARY, WE GET A PERCENTAGE OF THE HNMT. SO I'M TRYING TO FIGURE OUT, BASED ON YOUR MARKETING EFFORTS. AND TO YOUR POINT, MR. SHAW, THOSE MARKETING EFFORTS WERE NOT HAPPENING SPECIFICALLY FOR EASTPOINTE BEFORE. SO I'M TRYING TO FIGURE OUT IF THOSE MARKETING EFFORTS, IF THAT'S PUSHING HEADS TO OUR BEDS. YES. ARE WE GROWING? THAT'S WHAT I'M TRYING TO FIGURE OUT AND WHAT THAT IS MONTH OVER MONTH OR YEAR OVER YEAR, SO THAT WE'LL KNOW THAT THOSE MARKETING EFFORTS ARE WORKING, BECAUSE IT ACTUALLY ALSO BRINGS DOLLARS TO OUR GENERAL FUND, WHICH WE IN TURN WILL USE FOR A NUMBER OF THINGS. AND SO THAT'S WHAT I'M TRYING TO FIGURE OUT. A MORE DIRECT ANSWER I COULD SAY IS THE NUMBER OF LEADS WILL SPEAK TO THAT, BECAUSE THE NUMBER OF LEADS SPEAKS TO HOW HAVE WE PUT THE NAME OF EAST, BUT THE AWARENESS. SO PART OF OUR MARKETING STRATEGY OF COURSE, FIRST, FIRSTLY IS AN AWARENESS CAMPAIGN. WE'RE STILL IN THE AWARENESS STAGE BECAUSE WE'RE ONLY REALLY TWO YEARS IN. SO WE'RE STILL IN THAT AWARENESS STAGE OF GETTING THE NAME, THE BRAND, THE PRODUCT, THE FOOTPRINT. WE'VE DONE A GREAT JOB SO FAR BASED ON THE ACCOLADES THAT WE'VE RECEIVED AND THE BUSINESS COMING IN. SO BUT THAT STILL IS THAT PORTION OF IT. BASED ON WHAT WSB AND 11 ALIVE WILL GIVE BACK TO US. THEY WILL SHOW US WHAT KIND OF FOOTPRINT WE HAD IN THAT MARKET, HOW MANY PEOPLE, AND THEN WE CAN TAKE THAT DATA AGAINST. OKAY. WELL, THIS MONTH, WHILE THIS PROGRAM WAS RUNNING, WE HAD THIS MANY LEADS. AND THAT'S WHAT WE'RE WORKING ON NOW THROUGH OUR CRM TO BE ABLE TO GIVE US THAT TYPE OF INFORMATION. SO I THINK THAT MIGHT ANSWER A LITTLE BIT. ANOTHER WAY TO LOOK AT IT, AN EXAMPLE IS THAT IN THE INDUSTRY, SAY, THIS TRADE SHOW THAT WE JUST WENT TO OUR CMA, IT IS KNOWN AND BEST PRACTICE AND UNDERSTOOD YOUR FIRST TIME AT A TRADE SHOW. YOU'RE NOT GOING TO GET RFPS AND GET AN ROI. THAT IS JUST FOR AWARENESS AND GETTING YOURSELF INTRODUCED TO THAT MARKET. THE SECOND TIME YOU'RE EXPECTED NOW TO GO HAVE MEETINGS, MAYBE GET SOME LEADS, BUT BY THE THIRD TIME YOU'RE ATTENDING, THAT'S WHEN WE EXPECT TO GET RFPS COMING BACK. SO I GUESS BASICALLY IN THE SAME WAY WE LOOK IN APPROACHED OUR MARKETING. SO WE'RE IN THE AWARENESS PHASE. BUT LUCKILY FOR US, WE'RE GETTING BUSINESS AND PENETRATING THE MARKET AT THE SAME TIME. THANK YOU. OH I'M SORRY COUNCILMAN. CONTINUE. I'M NOT YIELDED QUITE YET. SO THE OTHER QUESTION I HAVE, I KNOW THAT YOU'RE WORKING. AND WHEN I THINK OF CONVENTION AND VISITORS BUREAUS, OBVIOUSLY THE HEADS AND BEDS. BUT THEN WHAT DO PEOPLE DO IN EASTPOINTE? SO RESTAURANTS AND OTHER BUSINESSES, WHAT IS THAT RELATIONSHIP LIKE? MAKING SURE THAT THEY ARE ALSO AWARE OF WHAT'S COMING SO THAT THEY CAN BE PREPARED IF THEIR RESTAURANTS OR OTHER BUSINESSES AND WE CAN PROMOTE THOSE THINGS. ALSO, AGAIN, AS A FIDUCIARY, GOING TO SALES TAX, MAKING SURE OUR RESTAURANTS ARE STRONG, ALL OF THOSE THINGS. EXACTLY. I JUST WANTED TO SAY THIS AT ONE POINT, I WAS INCREDIBLY PROUD. SHE'S ONLY HAD ONE THING EVER FROM ME, AND THAT ONE THING WAS OVER A YEAR LONG PROJECT THAT SHE DIDN'T TELL ME SHE WAS WRITING THE BOOK. SO SHE IS THE AUTHOR OF THE 50 THINGS TO DO IN EASTPOINTE. WE USED NATIONAL. SHE USED NATIONAL COMPARATOR GUIDES AND TO TO CREATE SOMETHING LIKE THIS. SO THAT WAS ONE OF THE FIRST THINGS TO BE ABLE TO DO TO CROSS PROMOTE EVERYTHING. I THINK I'M INCREDIBLY PROUD TO, TO, TO COUNCILWOMAN'S CUMMING'S POINT, THE FACT THAT WE HAVE A VALID ROOM, I DON'T THINK PEOPLE REALIZE HOW INSANELY RARE THAT IS TO BE ABLE TO PUSH ON THAT. AND IT'S TO ME, IT'S A LITTLE SAD BECAUSE I DON'T THINK THAT EVEN A LOT OF THE BIKING COMMUNITY UNDERSTANDS THAT IT'S HERE RIGHT NOW, BUT BEING ABLE TO TOUCH ON ALL OF THESE THINGS, BEING ABLE TO TAKE OUR FIRST 
          [02:50:04]
STEP WITHIN, WITHIN, REALLY IT WAS ONE AND A HALF, ONE YEAR THAT WE WERE OPERATIONAL AS A CVB IS WHEN SHE QUIETLY STAYED UP AT NIGHT UNTIL THREE IN THE MORNING WRITING A BOOK FOR ABOUT FOR THE BETTER PART OF A YEAR. JUST SO WE HAVE SOMETHING THAT WE CAN THEN CROSS PROMOTE IN THERE. THERE IS RESTAURANTS AND THERE ARE OTHER THINGS THAT WE ARE POINTING TOWARDS IN THEIR AMAZING, AMAZING ARTS. BUT THEN THERE'S ALSO AMAZING RETAIL AND WHAT IS TO COME WITH AMAZING RETAIL AS WELL, AND THOSE OPPORTUNITIES TO COME. IF YOU TAKE A LOOK AT THE SLIDE THAT'S UP RIGHT NOW, WHEN WE GO TO TRADE SHOWS, YOU'LL SEE THE SLIDE THAT SAYS RETRO MEETS RETRO EATS WHERE THE WORLD SLEEPS. SO WE ACTUALLY SPEAK TO OUR RESTAURANTS, WE SPEAK TO THE TOURISM PRODUCTS. WE'RE PARTNERS WITH ALL OF OUR TOURISM PRODUCTS WITHIN THE CITY BLACK ART IN AMERICA, THE ARTS EXCHANGE, ETHNIC, THE RESTAURANTS. WE DO A PROMO EVERY YEAR WITH THE RESTAURANTS, WE DO A RESTAURANT CRAWL. WE DO DIFFERENT THINGS TO HELP PROMOTE THE RESTAURANTS ONGOING. EVERY MAGAZINE WE DO, WE DO ADS, WE DO PROMOS, AND EVERY SHOW THAT WE GO TO. IF YOU CAN SEE SOME OF THE PROMOTIONAL ITEMS THERE, IT'S PROMOTING THE ACTUAL BUSINESSES IN EASTPOINTE. OKAY, MY THIRD QUESTION, MR. SHAW, YOU ACTUALLY WENT TO IT BECAUSE I WAS GOING TO PIGGYBACK ON COUNCILMEMBER COMING ABOUT THE VELODROME. IT IS VERY RARE THAT ONLY ABOUT 27 IN THE ENTIRE COUNTRY. AND SO I WAS GOING TO ASK, WHAT LEVEL OF MARKETING ARE WE DOING TO ATTRACT PEOPLE TO EASTPOINTE BECAUSE IT IS SO RARE AND THERE ARE SO FEW OF THEM IN THE COUNTRY. YEAH, WE'VE MET WITH THE VELODROME FROM DAY ONE, AND LAST YEAR WE DID SOME THINGS WITH THEM. WE ALSO MARKET THEM AS WELL. SO DOING OUR SPORTS AND ESPECIALLY ACTUALLY NOW WITH FIFA, WE JUST HAD A CONVERSATION YESTERDAY ON HOW POTENTIALLY WE COULD USE UTILIZE THAT SPACE DURING THE CELEBRATIONS. BUT THEN WE HAVE TO TAKE INTO CONSIDERATION THAT IT'S ALSO WITHIN A NEIGHBORHOOD. SO WE'D HAVE TO GET WITH, YOU KNOW, THE RESIDENTS AND THE LEADERS OF THAT NEIGHBORHOOD TO KIND OF SEE HOW THAT WOULD AFFECT THAT. NOW, WE DID DO PRESENTATIONS TO THE COMMUNITY REGARDING FIFA AS WELL. ALL RIGHT. THANK YOU. OH, AND THERE IT IS RIGHT THERE. IT'S IN THE GEORGIA FUND GUIDE. IT'S IN ALL OF OUR ADVERTISING. YOU'LL SEE IT THERE I SEE IT. THANK YOU I YIELD. ALL RIGHT, COUNCILWOMAN MARTIN ROGERS AND THEN COUNCILWOMAN CARDWELL, I JUST WANTED TO SAY THANK YOU ALL SO MUCH FOR YOUR PRESENTATION. I REALLY ENJOYED IT. MY FIRST OBSERVATION OR MY FIRST QUESTION WAS GOING TO BE TALKING TO YOU. I WANTED YOU TO TELL US ABOUT THE IMPACT THAT YOU HAVE ON BUSINESSES AND HOW YOU PARTNER WITH THEM. SO YOU ALL DISCUSS THAT ONE. BUT WHAT I WANTED TO SAY WAS TO COUNCIL MEMBER CUMMINGS POINT, I THINK THAT WE SHOULD HAVE A BRAINSTORMING SESSION. I THINK THAT THE CVB SHOULD PROBABLY COME BEFORE COUNCIL AT LEAST THREE TIMES A YEAR, JUST TO LET US KNOW, SO THAT WE ARE ALL ON THE SAME PAGE WITH GOAL SETTING, WITH EXPECTATIONS, WITH WHAT'S GOING ON IN THE CITY. BECAUSE TO DOCTOR HEMMING'S POINT ABOUT THE CHEERLEADING IN TRI CITIES, I WOULD HAVE LIKE TO KNOWN THAT MYSELF AS WELL. BUT I DO THINK THAT WE SHOULD HAVE A BRAINSTORMING SESSION JUST TO SEE. AND IS COUNCIL MEMBER CUMMINGS SAID IT. WE HAVE IDEAS TOO. I DON'T KNOW HOW YOU ALL COULD GO ABOUT MARKETING THOSE IDEAS, BUT WHAT I WOULD LIKE TO SEE IS A COLLABORATIVE EFFORT WHERE WE COME TOGETHER AND SAY, THESE ARE OUR GOALS, THIS IS WHAT WE'RE TRYING TO DO BY 2027, BECAUSE IN TWO YEARS, THE SUPER BOWL IS GOING TO BE HERE. YEAH WE WELCOME THAT. YEAH. SO I MEAN I WOULD LIKE FOR US TO PROBABLY SIT DOWN IN THESE ARE THE EXPECTATIONS OF THIS COUNCIL. YOU LET US KNOW HOW YOU CAN HELP US. AND NOT TO BELABOR THE POINT, BUT I WANTED TO SAY THAT THE OTHER THING IS THE COMMUNICATION PIECE. I THINK THAT YOU SHOULD PROBABLY EMAIL COUNCIL WHEN YOU HAVE THINGS. I MEAN, IT COULD BE A ONE PAGER. IT COULD BE, HEY, CVB HAS CHEERLEADING CAMP 202 IN TOWN OR WHATEVER IS HAPPENING. THAT EAST POINT IS GOING TO BE MARKETED. CAN YOU JUST SHOOT MAYOR AND COUNCIL AN EMAIL AND OUR COMMUNICATIONS DEPARTMENT SO THAT THEY CAN ALSO PUT IT OUT? MY OTHER QUESTION, I DON'T KNOW IF I WILL BE PERMITTED TO ASK THIS, BUT HOW OPEN IS THE CVB TO PRIVATE PUBLIC PARTNERSHIPS? I KEEP HEARING A LOT OF TALK ABOUT LOST REVENUE AND HOW WE NEED A SPACE TO ACCOMMODATE 300 TO 500 PEOPLE. I WOULD LIKE US TO EXPAND ON PRIVATE PUBLIC PARTNERSHIPS, BUT ONE SECOND, I DO WANT TO SAY THAT DUE TO A TRAGEDY IN MY COMMUNITY, I DID HAVE TO GO TO THE FOUR POINTS SHARED IN ON CAMP CREEK, AND I DID SEE THE KIOSK PIECE, BUT ALSO AS I VISITED THREE OUT OF THE. WE HAVE THREE HOTELS IN 
          [02:55:03]
CAMP CREEK THAT ARE IN EAST POINT. TWO OF THEM DO HAVE REALLY SMALL MEETING ROOMS. THEY'RE NOT EVEN AS LARGE AS THIS SPACE HERE WITH NO WINDOWS. SO HOW DO WE GET OUT? WELL, I CAN ASK THAT ONLINE, BUT OUR NEXT HOTEL ADVENTURE, WHAT DO WE DESCRIBE THAT WE WANT IN THE HOTEL FOR ACCOMMODATING FOR ACCOMMODATING THIS 300 TO 500? BECAUSE THREE HOTELS IN CAMP CREEK FOUR POINT SHARED AND IS THE ONLY ONE THAT CAN PROBABLY HOLD 3 OR 400 PEOPLE. BUT GOING BACK TO MY ORIGINAL QUESTION, WAS THE PRIVATE PUBLIC PARTNERSHIP. AND THEN WHAT IS THE ASK IS WE THINK ABOUT BECAUSE I THINK A BIG A BIG ISSUE IS ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT. 
          YES, TO SOME DEGREE WE HAVE TO TO SOME DEGREE, WE HAVE TO TAKE OWNERSHIP THAT THESE ARE THE THINGS THAT WE NEED. HOW DO WE GET THERE? LIKE WE NEED ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT? BECAUSE I'M JUST GOING TO SAY THIS ON THE RECORD. I WAS DOWN IN COLLEGE PARK THIS WEEKEND AT THRIFT CON. BUT INSIDE THAT CENTER THEY HAD THRIFT CON, THEY HAD A TEACHER'S JOB FAIR, AND THEN THEY HAD A BLACK HISTORY PROGRAM GOING ON AT THE SAME TIME. HOW DO WE I WANT TO TALK ABOUT ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT THAT BRINGS THAT TYPE OF FACILITY TO EASTPOINTE, WHERE WE CAN DO ALL OF THOSE THINGS AS WELL. BUT I JUST LIKE YOU TO ELABORATE ON THE PUBLIC PRIVATE PARTNERSHIP PORTION. SO THAT'S A GREAT QUESTION. AND SO THAT IS ONE OF THE THINGS THAT I FOCUS ON AS A DEVELOPER AS WELL. I'M ACTUALLY HAVE SEVERAL THINGS THAT ARE SORT OF KIND OF CHURNING RIGHT NOW IN DIFFERENT LOCATIONS BASED OFF OF PUBLIC PRIVATE PARTNERSHIPS. THIS IS WHERE CITIES HAVE ALREADY PUT TOGETHER CERTAIN THINGS. I'VE WORKED WITH UNIVERSITIES, I WORK WITH CITIES. I'M RIGHT NOW BEING I DON'T DON'T TAKE THIS AS SOMEWHAT BEING COURTED BY A FEW UNIVERSITIES WITHIN THE WITHIN THE CITY HERE, THE GREATER ATLANTA CITY. I'VE BEEN CONTACTED BY KNOXVILLE, NASHVILLE, PITTSBURGH TO BE ABLE TO DO THESE PUBLIC PRIVATE PARTNERSHIPS. SO I AM THAT DEVELOPER, ALSO A CREATIVE SOLUTION FINDER DURING DEVELOPMENT. YES, CONSTRUCTION AND DEVELOPMENT IS ACTUALLY MY FORTE, BUT AT THE SAME TIME, IT'S REALLY APPLYING AND FINDING THE RIGHT SOLUTION THAT THESE MUNICIPALITIES OR THAT THESE COLLEGES WOULD ACTUALLY LIKE TO BE ABLE TO FIND, FINDING WHAT THAT SOLUTION IS. 
          AND THEN INTERNALLY BETWEEN THAT SOLUTION OWNERSHIP IS ONE THING. WHO WANTS TO OWN WHAT, WHO WANTS TO PARTICIPATE? BUT ALL OF THAT, WE CAN'T JUST BE PIE IN THE SKY WISHFUL THINKERS. 
          ALL OF THAT ENDS UP LEADING INTO A CONVERSATION AS TO HOW IS IT, HOW IS IT GOING TO BE FUNDED. AND AND THAT'S WHAT LENDERS AND BANKS ARE LOOKING FOR RIGHT NOW. WHO'S BRINGING THE MONEY TO THE TABLE? AND SO HOW A LOT OF THESE THINGS DO FIZZLE OUT INTO A MANNER WHERE THERE'S A LOT OF PUBLIC INTEREST, BUT THEN THEY WANT MORE PRIVATE AND PRIVATE AND PRIVATE EQUITY TO COME IN. AND THAT'S A DIFFERENT STORY ALTOGETHER THAN THE IT STARTS TO LOSE THE PARTNERSHIP FIELD THERE. AND THEN IT JUST FEELS LIKE, OKAY, I'M JUST GETTING A LOT OF INVESTORS TO COME IN AND, AND DO SOME WISH THAT A CITY WANTS TO DO. BUT AND I'LL TAKE THIS TO GO TO YOUR FIRST, FIRST THING THAT YOU SAID. FIRST OF ALL, WE WELCOME COMING HERE. 
          THAT'S NO PROBLEM. THREE TIMES A YEAR, LIKE YOU SAID, THAT'S NO PROBLEM. BUT THIS IS NOT THE FORUM TO THROW SPAGHETTI AT THE WALLS. SO I WOULD REALLY GOING BACK TO WHAT I SAID BEFORE, WHATEVER'S LEGAL FOR YOU GUYS, WE WOULD LOVE TO KNOW. WE WOULD LOVE TO WE WOULD LOVE TO BE ABLE TO COMMUNICATE BECAUSE THIS IS THE ONLY WAY THIS WHEEL IS GOING TO START REALLY TURNING TO, TO TO LET YOU KNOW WHAT WE'RE WORKING ON, TO LET YOU KNOW WHAT WE'VE LOST OUT ON, TO SEE WHERE YOU GUYS MIGHT BE ABLE TO MAKE UP THE DIFFERENCE AND FEEL THAT THERE'S SOME EITHER POLITICAL OR COMMUNITY ACTION THAT MIGHT DERIVE AND MIGHT YOU KNOW WHAT I MEAN? IF IT TAKES TWO YEARS, IT TAKES TWO YEARS, AND WE HAVE TO WE THERE'S A SAYING THAT I SAID, WE HAVE TO RUN A LOT OF HORSES AT ONE TIME. WE DON'T BET ON ONE HORSE. SO IF THERE'S 18 THINGS THAT WE GOTTA KEEP GOING, THAT'S FINE. WE CAN WE CAN SORT OF SEGREGATE OUR MINDS AND KEEP 18 THINGS GOING. BUT WHEN THERE WAS PARTNERSHIP AGAIN, WHEN I GOT A LITTLE EXCITED BEFORE, WHEN THE PREVIOUS MAYOR SAID, YOU KNOW, MARTA WAS INVOLVED AND SUDDENLY I'M ON PHONE CALLS WITH MARTA ABOUT THESE PUBLIC, PRIVATE TYPE THINGS AS WELL. I SAW SOME INITIAL MOMENTUM GOING. 
          IT DID FIZZLE OUT, UNFORTUNATELY. I WISH THAT THERE WAS MORE, BUT ON THE DEVELOPMENT ASPECT, I'M HERE. I'VE BEEN HERE 28 YEARS. I'M HERE FOR YOU GUYS TO BE ABLE TO TALK TO AND THINK THROUGH THE DEVELOPMENT PIECE ON THIS, TO FIGURE OUT HOW WE CAN DO IT. 
          I'M JUST AS A CONSULTATION. THIS IS NOT EVEN THERE'S NO CHARGE TO TALK TO ME. WELL, I'LL, I'LL, I GUESS GET WITH MY COLLEAGUES. BUT I DO THINK THAT WE DESERVE ALL OF US DESERVE LIKE A SPECIAL CALL MEETING OF SOME SORT OR SOME SORT OF WORK. I DON'T KNOW WHAT THE APPETITE 
          [03:00:04]
OF COUNCIL IS, BUT I WOULD JUST FOR MY OWN EDIFICATION. RIGHT. HOW DO WE MOVE FORWARD IN? I'M MORE. I WANT TO SEE PUBLIC. PRIVATE. YEAH. I WANT TO THINK OUTSIDE OF THE BOX. I THINK WHAT YOU ALL ARE DOING WITH OUR MARKETING IS PERFECT, BUT IF THERE IS OPPORTUNITY FOR ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT. YEAH, THOSE ARE THE CONVERSATIONS THAT I THINK THAT WE COULD HAVE IN GOING ON TALKING ABOUT I KNOW MISS. SHANTEL FRANCE, FRANCOIS. YES, I KNOW THAT SHE HAS TRAVELED OUT OF THE COUNTRY. I WOULD LIKE TO SEE A SOMETHING FOR EASTPOINTE THAT DOES GET HEADS AND BEDS. PEOPLE GO DOWN TO NEW ORLEANS JUST TO BE DOWN IN NEW ORLEANS AND IT'S PACKED OUT. IT'S A JAZZ FESTIVAL THAT'S HAPPENING THERE. ATLANTA JAZZ FESTIVAL IS GOING TO BE HAPPENING IN ATLANTA SOON. LIKE, I WOULD LIKE TO SEE OUR CITY JUST TURN A PAGE ON WHAT WE OFFER AND JUST ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT. SO THANK YOU SO MUCH. I'LL YIELD BECAUSE THE HOUR IS GETTING LATE, BUT I WILL WORK WITH MY COLLEAGUES TO SEE WHAT IS BENEFICIAL SO THAT WE CAN ALL JUST SIT DOWN COLLECTIVELY WITH WHAT WE WANT TO SEE IN DATE. THANK YOU. MAY I, MAY I REPLY TO THAT OR NO THAT'S OKAY. WE GOT SHE WENT TO MISS CALDWELL'S GOING AND THEN YOU CAN GO OKAY. COUNCILWOMAN CALDWELL, THANK YOU. I'LL TRY TO BE QUICK. I JUST WANTED TO SAY A COUPLE OF THINGS. FIRST AND FOREMOST, THANK YOU FOR COMING OUT. YOU ALL HAVE A VERY UNIQUE CHALLENGE OF CAPTURING THE CULTURE OF THE CITY, CURATING A FIVE STAR EXPERIENCE. 
          WHILE WE, AS CITY COUNCIL, DEVELOP THE CITY IN IN A WAY THAT MEETS THAT FIVE STAR EXPERIENCE AND WILL SECURE MORE BUSINESSES, I ALSO JUST WANTED TO SAY I'VE PERSONALLY WORKED WITH ACCOUNT BASED MARKETING COMPANIES, AND SO I DEFINITELY UNDERSTAND THE STRATEGY AND HOW LONG IT TAKES TO NOT ONLY JUST TAP SOMEONE AND DRIVE AWARENESS OF EASTPOINTE, BUT THEN EDUCATE THEM ON HOW EASTPOINTE IS A GOOD OPTION AND THEN, YOU KNOW, SHOW PROOF OF THAT. IT IS A IT'S A IT'S A STEP BY STEP PROCESS. AND IT IS IT IS CAN BE A LONG PROCESS. I THINK WHAT COUNCIL MEMBER ATKINS WAS ASKING FOR A LITTLE BIT EARLIER MAY BE SOMETHING TO KIND OF SHOWCASE. THERE'S A NUMBER OF CHANNELS THAT YOU CAN UTILIZE TO TO TAP AND DRAW AWARENESS TO, TO EASTPOINTE, EACH OF THOSE CHANNELS AND MAYBE HOW MUCH YOU'RE PUTTING INTO THOSE CHANNELS. IT'S NEVER GOING TO BE A 1 TO 1. WE SPENT THIS IN THIS CHANNEL AND THEREFORE WE GOT THIS BACK. IT'S A COMBINATION OF ALL OF THOSE CHANNELS, AND YOU SHOULD BE USING ALL CHANNELS IN ORDER TO, YOU KNOW, TAP INTO THAT AUDIENCE AND DRIVE AWARENESS. 
          THE LAST THING I'LL SAY IS THIS. IT SOUNDS LIKE FROM ALL OF THE CONVERSATION, THERE'S A GREAT OPPORTUNITY HERE. YOU ALL ARE WANTING TO PARTNER WITH US. THERE'S SOME THINGS THAT WE WANT AND WANT TO SEE FROM THE PARTNERSHIP. I THINK AS COUNCIL, WE MAY NEED TO COME TOGETHER, COME TOGETHER AND DEFINE WHAT THAT IS AND WHAT THAT LOOKS LIKE SO THAT WE CAN COME BACK. 
          AS COUNCIL MEMBER DOCTOR MARTIN ROGERS JUST MENTIONED WITH HERE'S OUR GOALS, HERE'S WHAT WE WANT TO SEE, HERE'S HOW WE WANT TO PARTNER. SO IT SOUNDS LIKE THERE'S A GREAT OPPORTUNITY FOR US TO DO THAT. AND I'LL I'LL YIELD. FOR DISCUSSION OR QUESTIONS FROM COUNCIL. NO. OKAY. THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR YOUR PRESENTATION AND THE WORK THAT YOU DO. I'M EXCITED ABOUT WHAT WE'RE ALL GOING TO BE ABLE TO ACCOMPLISH TOGETHER. AND THANK YOU. THAT'S GOOD. THANK YOU. FORWARD TO IT. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. YES WE CAN IF WE COULD BRING UP THIS THIS IS AN OPPORTUNITY. IF YOU WANTED TO BLEND IT STRAIGHT INTO THE CONVERSATION AND BRING UP, IT'S YOUR CALL. WHATEVER YOU GUYS SUGGEST. THAT'S THE NEXT ITEM ON THE AGENDA. SURE. 
          OKAY. SO JUST. WOULD YOU LIKE US TO STICK AROUND WITH MISTER ROGERS? YES. ALL RIGHT. WE'LL MOVE ON TO THE ITEM SEVEN COUNCIL DISCUSSION AND POSSIBLE ACTION ON THE WORLD SOCCER GAME PLAN FOR 2026, PRESENTED BY ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT. COUNCIL. ALL WHILE THEY. OH, THIS IS 
          [03:05:06]
THERE. THAT. OH, OKAY. OKAY. YES, MA'AM. YES, BECAUSE IT'S A PUBLIC MEETING. WE WILL SAY NO MICROPHONE HERE. I CAN HOLD IT UP. OKAY. WHILE THEY'RE LOOKING FOR THE PRESENTATION, WE JUST WANTED TO SHARE SOME OF THE BRANDING THAT WILL GO THROUGH THE CITY FOR FIFA. HASN'T BEEN LAUNCHED, BUT WE WANTED YOU TO BE THE FIRST TO SEE WHAT THAT WOULD LOOK LIKE. THE BANNERS. 
          COULD YOU TELL THEM WHAT THEY WHAT THEY ARE AS WELL? THE BANNERS AND THE FLAGPOLES. 
          PLEASE? GOOD EVENING, MAYOR AND COUNCIL. MICHAEL ROGERS, DEPARTMENT OF ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT. YOU HAVE HEARD A LOT OF THE MARKETING EFFORTS, PROMOTIONAL ADVERTISING EFFORTS BY THE CVB. AND I'M GOING TO TO TALK WITH YOU ABOUT THE PLANS FOR THIS YEAR'S WORLD CUP. OF COURSE. WE'VE BEEN MEETING WITH THE CVB. WE HAD A GREAT MEETING, COMPREHENSIVE MEETING LAST WEEK DISCUSSING SOME OF THESE PLANS. AND SO CHANTELLE AND I WILL BASICALLY TACKLE THIS TOGETHER. 
          SO JUST AS A QUICK RECAP, I SENT SOME INFORMATION TO YOU. YOU SHOULD HAVE RECEIVED INFORMATION IN YOUR INFORMATION PACKETS OVER THE WEEKEND ABOUT THE THE PROPOSAL FOR THE GAMES AND OF COURSE THE THE COST THAT IS INVOLVED AS WELL WITH THIS. SO JUST BRIEFLY, WE ARE LOOKING AT OF COURSE, EIGHT GAMES IN THE CITY OF ATLANTA STARTING JUNE 15TH, 18TH, 21ST, 24TH, 26TH, JULY 1ST, THE SEVENTH AND JULY 15TH. SO THREE GAMES WILL BE PLAYED OUTSIDE OF THE STATE OF GEORGIA THAT WILL OCCUR ON JUNE 12TH, 19TH AND THE 25TH OF JUNE. AND OF COURSE, THE THE THE GAMES WILL OPEN ON JUNE 11TH AND OF COURSE, CLOSE ON THE 19TH. SO WHAT WE'VE TALKED ABOUT IN TERMS OF WHAT WE WOULD DO IN HOSTING ACTIVITIES HERE IN THE CITY OF EASTPOINTE REGARDING THAT TIME FRAME, WE WOULD START OUT WITH FIVE EVENTS, AND I'LL RECAP THIS BRIEFLY JUNE 15TH, JUNE 27TH, JUNE 28TH, JULY 1ST, AND OF COURSE, JULY 4TH. ON THE 15TH WE HAVE A KICKOFF MEDIA LAUNCH. NOW, THIS WOULD TAKE PLACE WITH RESPECT TO THE STEPS OF CITY HALL. IT WOULD BE HOSTED AND CONDUCTED BY THE CDB ON ON THE 27TH. THIS WOULD BE A LARGE EVENT. THIS IS THE DAY THAT WE WOULD THE CITY OF ATLANTA WOULD HOST EIGHT OF THE GAMES. AND OF COURSE THIS WOULD BE AT THE COMMONS. WE WILL LABEL THIS OR TITLE IT THE INTERNATIONAL VILLAGE CARNIVAL AT THE COMMONS AS WELL. ON THE 28TH, IT WOULD BE A WATCH PARTY AT THE COMMONS AND OF COURSE ON THE 20 ON THE FIRST IT WOULD BE ANOTHER WATCH PARTY AND WE'RE CALLING THAT OUR CULTURE DAY IN THE COMMONS, BEAUTIFICATION AND PLACEMAKING ENHANCEMENTS. AND THE 4TH OF JULY, OF COURSE, WOULD BE OUR 250TH CELEBRATION OF THE THE BIRTH OF THE COUNTRY. BASICALLY, THIS EVENT WOULD INVOLVE THE BIRTHDAY EVENT. OF COURSE, THE SOCCER VIEWING AND A A WATCH PARTY WITH FIREWORKS CAPPING OFF THAT EVENING ITSELF. SO SOME OF THE THINGS THAT WE'VE TALKED ABOUT SPECIFICALLY IN TERMS OF WHAT YOU CAN EXPECT IS A HOSTING THESE EVENTS AT THE THE COMMON SITE, IT WOULD INVOLVE A LARGE VARIETY OF FOOD TRUCKS, FOOD VENDORS, BUSINESS INFORMATION BOOTHS AND MERCHANDISE VENDORS. LARGE SCALE INTERNATIONAL VILLAGE TWO TWO LARGE TENTS AND VISITING COUNTRIES REPRESENTED LARGE STAGE WITH SOUND SYSTEM. 
          VARIETY OF LARGE, MEDIUM AND SMALL ENTERTAINMENT ACTS AT THE AT THE SITE AS WELL. VIP TENT NICELY CATERED, AIR CONDITIONED FOR HOSTING DIGNITARIES AND SPECIAL GUESTS INCLUDING AN INTERNATIONAL GUEST, LARGE FAN ZONE AREA, INFLATABLES, SOCCER RELATED ACTIVITIES, GAMES FOR FAMILY AND THE KIDS, TWO LARGE LED SCREENS FOR WATCHING THE GAMES ON SITE, ONE ON STAGE AND GAMES WOULD START BASICALLY AT 5 P.M. AND OF COURSE 7:30 P.M. AND THESE OF COURSE, THOSE GAMES THAT WOULD BE PLAYED OFF SITE AS WELL AS THE GAMES THAT WOULD BE PLAYED IN DOWNTOWN. OF 
          [03:10:03]
COURSE, THIS THIS INFORMATION, AS I MENTIONED, INCLUDES THE ANNUAL 4TH OF JULY CELEBRATION THAT AGAIN WOULD TAKE PLACE AT THE COMMONS, THE GATHERING AREA, THE FIREWORKS OF COURSE, BE ON THE OTHER SIDE OF THE TRACKS THERE. IN TERMS OF THE THE THE WAGON WORKS FACILITY. AND OF COURSE, YOU KNOW, WE'D HAVE AN ALCOHOL BOOTH WITH A VARIETY OF DRINKS FOR PEOPLE TO, TO PURCHASE. AND OF COURSE, YOU KNOW, WE HAD TO MAKE SOME ASSUMPTIONS HERE AS WELL IN TERMS OF PUTTING THIS TOGETHER, ASSUMING THAT CATERING FOR VIP AND ICE AND THAT SORT OF THING FOR THE EVENTS WOULD BE DONATED OR BEING IN-KIND KIND OF SPONSORSHIP. ALSO VENDOR FEES IN TERMS OF THOSE FOOD TRUCK VENDORS, MERCHANDISE VENDORS THAT WE WOULD HAVE, THE ASSUMPTION IS THAT WE WOULD COLLECT AND GENERATE ABOUT $16,000 IN. THIS, OF COURSE, IS BASED ON PRIOR EXPERIENCE WITH THE WEDNESDAY WIND DOWN. ALSO THE ASSUMPTION OF SPONSORSHIP SPONSORSHIPS. AT LEAST 15,500 BASED ON AGAIN PRIOR WEDNESDAY WIND DOWN EVENTS AND EXPERIENCES. OF COURSE, THERE IS A BUDGET CHANGE REGARDING THE THE REVENUE STREAM WE TALKED ABOUT NOT INCLUDING AN ADMISSIONS FEE. SO THAT WOULD ELIMINATE THE ASSUMPTIONS OF $60,000 THAT WE HAD PLACED IN THERE. FOR THAT, THERE IS A CONTINGENCY FEE OF ABOUT 10% OVERALL FOR IN YOUR INFORMATION ON THE SPREADSHEET, AND I'LL TALK ABOUT THAT MOMENTARILY. 
          BUT THAT WOULD ALLOW US TO DO SOME OF THESE OTHER THINGS THAT I JUST MENTIONED. AGAIN, OF COURSE, THE FIVE DAYS THAT WE ARE PLANNING, AND OF COURSE, THERE ARE SOME THINGS THAT THE CVB, OF COURSE, WOULD BE TAKING CARE OF HOSTING NEWS MEDIA, KICKOFF LAUNCH AT CITY HALL THAT I REFERENCED EARLIER ON THE 15TH, SHOWCASING THE MAYOR WITH PROCLAMATION. AS A RESULT OF THAT, MARKETING AND ADVERTISING OF THE EVENT AND ON VARIOUS PLATFORMS, TV, RADIO, BILLBOARDS, SOCIAL MEDIA, ETC. PROVIDING MULTIPLE LIVE REMOTE SPOTS AT THE FESTIVALS JUNE 15TH TO 27TH, 28TH AND OF COURSE JULY 1ST. ADDITIONAL LIVE REMOTE AT CAMP CREEK, FOR EXAMPLE, AS WELL AS SOMETHING THAT WE THREW IN ALSO TO MAKE IT MORE FESTIVE AND ENGAGING FOR FOR PEOPLE TO ATTEND, PROVIDING THE PARTICIPATING COUNTRIES WITH FLAG REPRESENTATION. CVB WOULD TACKLE THAT. WE WOULD, OF COURSE, DEAL WITH THE POLES AND THAT SORT OF THING IN TERMS OF MAKING SURE THAT THEY'RE INSTALLED AND THE THE MATERIAL NEEDED FOR THAT. CREATING AND PLACING A UNIFIED QR CODE IN THE HOTELS AS WELL, WHEREAS SOMEONE COULD JUST TAKE THEIR CAMERA POINT TO THE QR CODE. AND OF COURSE IT WILL AGAIN INFORM THEM OF ALL OF THE THINGS GOING ON IN THE CITY OF EASTPOINTE AND OF COURSE, WHERE THEY ARE TAKING PLACE, PROVIDING THE PROMOTIONAL AND DECOR IN THE VIP TENT AROUND THE VARIOUS EVENT SITES. AND SOMETHING, AGAIN, THAT THE CVB WOULD TAKE CARE OF COORDINATING POSTING VARIOUS ACTIVITIES ACCORDING OCCURRING THROUGHOUT THE CITY. ON THE MAIN LANDING PAGE FOR THE QR CODE. EPC, CDB, I SHOULD SAY WORLD CUP BRANDED PROMOTIONAL ITEMS AS WELL. AND THEN OF COURSE, JUST THE OVERALL JOINT PARTNER PROMOTIONS WITH SOCCER IN THE STREET ITSELF IS ANOTHER ENTITY THAT WE WE'VE BEEN MEETING WITH AND HAVE DISCUSSION THAT YOU WANT TO CHIME IN ON SOMETHING BEFORE I CONTINUE. CONTINUE. OKAY. ALRIGHTY. SO IF WE COULD GO TO THE OTHER TAB THERE. OKAY. SO THIS GETS INTO SOME OF THE COST THAT YOU ALSO RECEIVED IN YOUR PACKET. SO AGAIN THE YES. SO THE BIG THE BIG DAY WOULD BE JUNE THE 27TH. THAT OF COURSE IS THE DAY THAT AGAIN CITY OF ATLANTA WILL HOST FOUR GAMES STARTING I THINK AROUND 12 NOON. 
          AND OF COURSE THESE GAMES WOULD GO ON THROUGHOUT THE EVENING. THIS IS SOMETHING THAT, AGAIN, A TIME FRAME THAT WE WOULD HAVE WATCH PARTY THAT WOULD BASICALLY STRETCH THROUGHOUT THE ENTIRE DAY. BUT JUST SOME OF THE THINGS THAT I ALREADY MENTIONED, I WON'T I WON'T GO BACK OVER THROUGH ALL OF THESE, BUT YOU HAVE SOME VARIOUS PRICE POINTS THERE THAT WOULD GIVE YOU AN IDEA OF THE COST IN TERMS OF LED SCREENS, STAGE, THE TENTS, THE CATERING, THE INTERNATIONAL VILLAGE PARTICIPATION WITH RESPECT TO THE THE PARTICIPATING CULTURAL HUBS THAT WE'RE CALLING IT IN TERMS OF THE, THE, THE, THE COUNTRIES REPRESENTING THOSE TEAMS THAT WOULD BE PLAYING DURING THAT TIME. AND OF COURSE, YOU KNOW, WHETHER THEY'RE 
          [03:15:05]
PLAYING IN HERE IN, IN THE CITY OF ATLANTA OR OUTSIDE, THE FACT THAT THEY ARE PART OF THAT WHOLE GAME CONFIGURATION. WE WANT THOSE COUNTRIES REPRESENTED HERE IN THE CITY OF EAST POINT, SO THAT BY FLAG, OF COURSE, SO THAT EVERYBODY KNOWS THAT THEY ARE, IN FACT WELCOME AND THAT WE ARE A VERY, VERY WELCOMING AND INVITING CITY FOR THEM TO PARTICIPATE. AND OF COURSE, YOU KNOW, THERE'S A PIECE HERE, OBVIOUSLY, THAT WE WOULD BE PARTNERING WITH WITH RESPECT TO THE EAST POINT MAIN STREET ASSOCIATION. SO IF YOU LOOK TOWARDS THE BOTTOM THERE, YOU'LL SEE SOME THINGS THAT THEY WOULD BE, OF COURSE, PROVIDING BARRICADES AND FENCING FOR PERIMETER AND CROWD CONTROL WITH WITHIN THE EVENT SITE ITSELF. BUSINESS COMMUNITY VENDING VILLAGE. THEY WOULD DEAL WITH TRADITIONAL STYLE PORTA POTTIES, ADA PLUS REGULAR HAND WASHING STATIONS, CLEAN CLEANING, 14 PORTA POTTIES TOTAL THAT WOULD BE LOOKING AT AND THEN OF COURSE VIP EXPERIENCE TENTS PROFESSIONALLY SET UP 30 BY 30, 30 BY 40 WITH AIR CONDITIONED FANS, LIGHTS, WEIGHTS AND WEEKLY RENTAL. SO SOME OF THESE THINGS OBVIOUSLY ONCE WE GET THE TENTS IN KICKING THIS EVENT OFF, THEY WILL BE HELD OVER UNTIL 4TH OF JULY BECAUSE THAT'S WHERE EVERYTHING WOULD CULMINATE AS A WRAP UP. IN TERMS OF THE THE EVENTS THAT WE THAT WE ARE LOOKING AT PROMOTING AND HAVING BE A PART OF THIS. SO SOME ADDITIONAL BEAUTIFICATION, PLACEMENT, PLACE, MAKING ENHANCEMENTS. WE'RE DOING OUR EATS AND BEATS MUSIC SERIES THAT WOULD BE TAKING PLACE AT OZ PIZZA. THIS WOULD BE DURING THE COURSE OF THE 24 DAYS IN JUNE AND JULY IN THEIR COURTYARD. AND THAT WOULD, OF COURSE, BE OPEN TO EVERYONE. PROFESSIONAL LITTER PICKUP EVERY OTHER DAY THROUGHOUT THE CITY SO THAT AGAIN, THIS IS ALL A PART OF THE ENHANCEMENT AND BEAUTIFICATION WELL KEPT TO DO ENVIRONMENT FOR THE CITY. AND OF COURSE, THE THE THE CITIZENS THAT LIVE HERE IN EAST POINT, AS WELL AS THOSE THAT WOULD BE VISITING ADDITIONAL PLANNERS FOR BEAUTIFICATION THROUGHOUT THE CITY AS WELL ON EVENT SITE 25 PLANNERS. SO WE'RE WE'RE GOING TO BE SPRINKLING AND PLACING ADDITIONAL PLANNERS THROUGHOUT THE CITY. YOU'LL SEE A LOT OF THAT RIGHT NOW, BUT WE HAVE MORE THAT WE WOULD BE BRINGING TO THE FOLD. OF COURSE. GATEWAY IMPROVEMENT RESURFACE WATER FOUNTAIN AT TAYLOR AVENUE AND WASHINGTON ROAD. WE WOULD DO SOME PAINT OR TILE MOSAIC, MOSAIC. AND OF COURSE WE'RE TALKING ABOUT IN THE INTERSECTIONS MAJOR INTERSECTIONS. WE WOULD HAVE STREET MURALS THAT WOULD ALSO BE PART OF OUR EFFORTS. THE STREET ART COURSE, YOU KNOW, LOOKING AT MODERN TAYLOR AVENUE FOUNTAIN, WASHINGTON, AT CAMP CREEK, VIRGINIA AVENUE, HIGHWAY 166, OFF RAMP HEADLAND AS WELL. AND SO THERE MIGHT BE SOME OTHER SPOTS THAT WE COULD LOOK OUT, LOOK AT DURING THIS TIME BETWEEN NOW AND THAT TIME. BUT THIS IS JUST AN IDEA OF THE SITES THAT WE'VE OBVIOUSLY TALKED ABOUT. AND LOOKING AT PRESENTING COMMEMORATIVE EASTPOINTE SOCCER BALL DESIGN COMPETITION AND SALE FOR TOURISTS, THAT WOULD BE ANOTHER WAY OF OF REALLY CREATING ENGAGEMENT AND INTERACTION FOR OUR CITIZENS, PEOPLE TO REALLY WRAP AROUND THIS EVENT, GET EXCITED ABOUT IT, BE ENTHUSIASTIC ABOUT IT, BUT ALSO BE PARTICIPANTS IN THIS EFFORT. AND THEN, OF COURSE, IF YOU LOOK FURTHER DOWN, THERE'S THE CONTINGENCY FOR ALL ITEMS LISTED ABOVE. STANDARD 10% ASSUMPTION THAT COST IS $38,098. AND THEN OF COURSE, IF YOU LOOK AT THE SUBTOTAL OF 269 $269,825, AND YOU LOOK AT THE SUBTOTAL REGARDING THE ADDITIONAL OPTIONAL BEAUTIFICATION AND PLACEMENT ENHANCEMENTS THAT I JUST MENTIONED. THAT PIECE IS 11 $111,150. YOU LOOK AT THE THE ASSUMPTION FEE IN THERE OF THE CONTINGENCY FEE OF $38,098. THAT COMES TO A TOTAL OF $419,073. NOW, YOU LOOK FURTHER DOWN. WE HAVE THE CURRENT MAIN STREET ASSOCIATION FEE BUDGETED FOR CONTRACT AMOUNT FOR 4TH OF JULY AT $85,000. THAT'S PART OF THE CURRENT BUDGET THAT WE'RE IN RIGHT NOW. AND THEN OF COURSE, THE $25,000 FOR THE FIREWORKS. THAT BRINGS US TO 110. AND AT 40 ADDITIONAL THOUSAND DOLLARS THAT WE'VE ALSO BEEN ABLE TO FIND WITHIN OUR MAIN STREET BUDGET, THAT'S 150, $50,000. YOU TAKE THAT FROM THE 419. AND FURTHER DOWN, 
          [03:20:07]
WHEN YOU LOOK AT THE VENDOR FEES. AND AGAIN, THESE ARE POTENTIAL REVENUES. RIGHT AT THE VERY END THAT I TOUCHED ON A FEW A LITTLE BIT EARLIER, $16,000 WITH RESPECT TO VENDOR FEES, ALCOHOL FEES BASED AT ABOUT TWO $2 PER DRINK, ASSUMING THAT WE WOULD SELL SOMEWHERE BETWEEN 2000 AND 3000 DRINKS, THAT COMES TO A TOTAL OF 5000 POTENTIAL SPONSORSHIPS OF 15,500. WE FEEL THAT WE COULD WE COULD CERTAINLY GET THAT BASED ON, AGAIN, PAST EXPERIENCES WITH THE WEDNESDAY WIND DOWN. AND THEN, OF COURSE, POTENTIAL IN-KIND SPONSORSHIPS, DONATIONS, VIP TENTS AND DONATIONS OF ICE AND ICE CELLS TO VENDORS, $5,750. THAT TOTAL REVENUE IS $42,250. SO IF YOU ADD ALL OF THAT UP AND YOU SUBTRACT IT FROM THE OVERALL COST OF 419, 400, $19,073, IT WILL GIVE YOU $226,823, WHICH IS WHAT THE MAXIMUM AMOUNT IS, IS WHAT WE WOULD BE ASKING THE CITY TO PUSH FORWARD OR TO APPROVE. AND THAT, OF COURSE, IS BASED ON THE INFORMATION THAT WE PROVIDED TO YOU BACK IN ON FEBRUARY 9TH. I BELIEVE IT WAS THE WORK SESSION WHERE YOU ORIGINALLY GOT THIS INFORMATION. SINCE THAT POINT, WE'VE BEEN ABLE TO MEET, AS WE DID LAST WEEK, AND MAKE SOME SOME SMALL MODIFICATIONS TO IT. BUT THIS IS BASICALLY THE ASK. AND BECAUSE OF TIMING, IF WE'RE GOING TO MAKE A REAL EARNEST EFFORT IN TERMS OF HOSTING THESE ACTIVITIES FOR THE YEAR, IT'S WE WOULD NEED A DECISION SO THAT WE CAN GET TO WORK, AND THAT'S ALL. AND WE'LL TAKE ANY QUESTIONS THAT YOU MIGHT HAVE. 
          OKAY. THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR YOUR PRESENTATION, DISCUSSION. COUNCIL MEMBER MITCHELL. AND. 
          COUNCILMEMBER MITCHELL AND COUNCILMEMBER HARTMAN. COUNCILMEMBER. COUNCILMAN. ALL RIGHT. THANK YOU. ONCE AGAIN. THANK YOU FOR YOUR PRESENTATION. I WAS LOOKING AT THE FIGURE FOR POTENTIAL SPONSORSHIPS BECAUSE I KNOW WE JUST HAD A GREAT PRESENTATION ON NETWORKING. AND AND, YOU KNOW, BUILDING RELATIONSHIPS. HAVE WE GOT ANY SPONSORSHIPS YET? I KNOW WE SPENT PROBABLY, WHAT, ONE, 1.5 ON MARKETING AND THINGS OF THAT NATURE. SO I WAS CURIOUS. WE WE DON'T HAVE ANY YET, BUT WE'VE BEEN VERY INSTRUMENTAL AND AND SEEKING SPONSORS FOR THE OPPORTUNITY TO BE A PART OF THIS VERY TYPE EVENT. AND AGAIN, A LOT OF THAT IS HINGES ON OUR EXPERIENCE WITH RESPECT TO HAVING WORKED WITH AND WORKED ON WEDNESDAY. WIND DOWN, A LOT OF THOSE SPONSORSHIPS WOULD COME REALLY IN THE IN THE IN THE 11TH HOUR IN SOME CASES. 
          BUT WE FEEL VERY OPTIMISTIC THAT WE'D BE ABLE TO AT LEAST GET THAT AMOUNT OF FUNDING WITH RESPECT TO POTENTIAL SPONSORSHIPS OF 15,500 DOLLARS. OKAY. AND I THINK I HEARD YOU CORRECTLY. SO YOU WERE EXPECTING 16 FROM VENDORS? THAT'S CORRECT. THAT WOULD BE APPLICATION FEES OF THOSE TRUCK VENDORS, MERCHANDISE VENDORS WHO WANTS TO PARTICIPATE HAVE A PRESENCE AT THE EVENT ITSELF. AND THIS IS STANDARD. THESE ARE STANDARD FEES THAT WE COLLECT FROM ALL VENDORS. WHENEVER WE DO AN EVENT SUCH AS 4TH OF JULY, TASTE OF EASTPOINTE, THAT SORT OF THING. OF COURSE, OBVIOUSLY WEDNESDAY WIND DOWN EXPERIENCES AS WELL. SO I STILL BELIEVE WE'RE PROBABLY GOING TO BE SHORT ABOUT 220 600. I MEAN, WHICH WE'RE GOING TO BE SHORT ABOUT 226. OKAY. WHAT IS THE STRATEGIES FOR IF I'M READING THIS CORRECTLY? ADDITIONAL FUNDS NEEDED FROM GENERAL FUND TO PRODUCE THIS OPTION. DO WE HAVE ANY OTHER STRATEGIES ON HOW I KNOW YOU MENTIONED WE'RE NOT SELLING TICKETS OR I GUESS WE'RE NOT SELLING MERCHANDISE OR YES, WE WE WE ELIMINATED THE 60,000 POTENTIAL IN TERMS OF TICKET SALES. AND OF COURSE, A LOT OF THAT HAD TO DO WITH THE FACT THAT THE CITY ITSELF HAS NEVER CHARGED AND PASSED. I MEAN, THAT COULD CHANGE, BUT WE'VE NOT HAD A HISTORY OF DOING THAT. AND SO WE WOULD CERTAINLY BE LOOKING AT, YOU KNOW, REVENUE GENERATED FROM ALCOHOL SALES, VENDOR SALES. 
          [03:25:03]
AND OF COURSE, WE CAN MITIGATE THOSE, THOSE, THOSE, THOSE COSTS BY, AGAIN, SPONSORSHIP AND IN-KIND DONATIONS FROM FOOD VENDORS THAT WE WOULD GET TO PROVIDE CATERING SERVICES AND FOOD TO, TO THE VIP TENT AS WELL AS OUR VOLUNTEER TENTS, BECAUSE I KNOW WE HAVEN'T CHARGED IN THE PAST, AND IT HASN'T ALWAYS BEEN THE BEST RETURN ON INVESTMENT FOR CERTAIN EVENTS TO SAY, YOU KNOW, WEDNESDAY WIND DOWN AND THINGS LIKE THIS. WE HAVEN'T CHARGED IN THE PAST AND WE HAVE THOUSANDS OF PEOPLE OUT THERE, YOU KNOW, ALWAYS WAS NOT THE BEST RETURN ON INVESTMENT. SO WHO, I GUESS, WHO WOULD MAKE THE FINAL DECISION, EVEN IF IT'S LIKE A NOMINAL FEE. TO NOT CHARGE TO YOU? OH, CERTAINLY. THAT WOULD BE THE, THE DECISION OF THE, OF THE COUNCIL. YEAH. IF YOU SO DESIRE TO DO THAT. BUT WE YOU KNOW WE WERE LOOKING AT YOU KNOW, A SCENARIO WHEREAS WE PRESENTED MID LAST MONTH A THREE AUCTION OPTION TIER. YOU KNOW TIER NUMBER ONE WAS THE CHEAPEST TIER NUMBER TWO WAS MID-RANGE. AND OF COURSE TIER NUMBER THREE WAS THE MAX. AND SO WHAT WE PRESENTED HERE TODAY IS THE MAX OF WHAT WE WOULD DO. 
          SO IN OTHER WORDS, THAT WOULD GIVE US NOT ONLY A ONE DAY KIND OF EVENT, BUT IT WOULD GIVE YOU THE FIVE DAYS THAT I MENTIONED. SO YOU WOULD BE LOOKING AT, AGAIN, A KICK OFF OF THE 15TH. 
          THE 27TH, OF COURSE, THE 28TH AND JULY 1ST AND JULY 4TH. I KNOW SOME SOME CITIES OFFER THINGS LIKE THREE DAY PASSES, YOU KNOW, YOU MIGHT HAVE ACCESS TO A RESTAURANT OR YOU MIGHT GET A DISCOUNT. YOU MIGHT GET LIKE A BEER OR SOMETHING. I'M NOT SURE IF WE THOUGHT OF ANYTHING LIKE THIS, BECAUSE WE PROBABLY WILL HAVE PEOPLE COMING AROUND, YOU KNOW, FROM ALL OVER THE WORLD. KIND OF LIKE IF YOU THINK ABOUT THE OLYMPICS, I KNOW IT'S NOT THE OLYMPICS, BUT KIND OF HOW THEY WERE STILL PASSES TO DIFFERENT EVENTS. YOU MAY HAVE. LIKE I SAID, I WOULDN'T TOTALLY BECAUSE I STILL THINK WE'RE SHORT A COUPLE HUNDRED THOUSAND, EVEN WITH, YOU KNOW, THE OPTIONS WE'RE SEEING NOW. AND I THINK. OKAY, IN ALCOHOL SALES, HOW WOULD THAT WORK? SO SO ONE OF THE SCENARIOS IS THAT WE WOULD YOU WOULD PURCHASE TICKETS AND, YOU KNOW, THE CITY COULD COLLECT AGAIN BETWEEN THE THE VENDOR AND OURSELVES, WE WOULD CREATE AN AGREEMENT OF WHAT THE PRICE POINT WOULD BE. NOW OF COURSE, WE ARE SUGGESTING, FOR EXAMPLE, $2 PER DRINK. AND SO THE CITY WOULD COLLECT $2 FROM EVERY DRINK THAT WOULD BE SOLD. AND SO BUT THE THE TICKET SALES METHODOLOGY WOULD BE THE SYSTEM THAT WE PUT IN PLACE FOR THAT. OKAY. ALL RIGHT. THANK YOU. SURE. COUNCIL COUNCILMAN ATKINS. 
          YES. THANK YOU. THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR YOUR PRESENTATION. I'M GLAD THAT YOU MENTIONED SOCCER IN THE STREETS, BECAUSE IT IS AN ASSET THAT WE HAVE DOWNTOWN. I SEE THAT IN ONE OF YOUR LINE ITEMS, NUMBER 31 WE TALKING. IT'S SPEAKING TO EATS AND BEATS. AND MY QUESTION IS HAS THERE BEEN ANY THOUGHT ABOUT REIMAGINING THAT ENTIRE EXPERIENCE. SO HERE YOU SPECIFICALLY TALK ABOUT THE OZ COURTYARD. IT'S ONLY SO BIG. WE'RE TALKING ABOUT THE WORLD CUP. SO FIRST OF ALL, I DON'T THINK IT'S GOING TO ACCOMMODATE ALL THE PEOPLE THAT WE WILL BE EXPECTING OR THAT WOULD BE THAT WOULD BE COMMENSURATE WITH THE AMOUNT THAT YOU'RE ASKING THE COUNCIL TO APPROVE. SO HAS THERE BEEN DISCUSSIONS AND MAYBE THERE WERE. AND THE DECISION WAS NOT TO DO IT TO MAKE A PORTION OF MAIN STREET, PARTICULARLY WHERE THE MARTA STATION IS A PEDESTRIAN THOROUGHFARE, WHERE THERE WHERE WE ARE BENEFITING NOT ONLY OZ PIZZA, BUT ALL OF THE RESTAURANTS, BECAUSE MANY OF THEM HAVE SUFFERED DUE TO THE CONSTRUCTION ON MAIN STREET. THIS WOULD BE ONE WAY TO DRIVE BUSINESS TO THOSE RESTAURANTS. 
          THIS WOULD BE A COMPLETELY DIFFERENT EXPERIENCE. BY HAVING A STAGE SET UP SO THAT YOU CAN DINE OUTSIDE AND YOU CAN ENJOY THE MUSIC. BUT IF WE'RE JUST GOING BACK TO OZ PIZZA IN A VERY SMALL, CONFINED COURTYARD, WHAT WOULD BE DIFFERENT AND WHY WOULD WE THEN WANT TO SPEND THESE DOLLARS FOR THAT? I CAN SPEAK TO THAT A LITTLE BIT. I'VE BEEN HAVING MEETINGS WITH SOCCER IN THE STREETS FOR OVER A YEAR, AND JUST MET AGAIN WITH THE CEO ON SATURDAY. THEY ARE IN PARTNERSHIP WITH NORFOLK SOUTHERN, WHO HAS GIFTED THEM SOME ACREAGE ACROSS THE BRIDGE, AND THEY HAVE ABOUT 151 ACRE OVER THERE THAT THEY'RE GOING TO BE DEVELOPING AND TURNING INTO SOCCER FIELDS FOR THE WORLD CUP AS WELL. SO SOME OF THE THINGS. IN ENVISIONED IS 
          [03:30:02]
STARTING OFF AT OZ PIZZERIA, JUST FOR THE ESTHETICS AND GETTING PEOPLE TO THAT PARTICULAR SPOT AND THEN MOVING THEM OVER TO THE NEW LOCATION. NOW, I THOUGHT MACEIO HAD MENTIONED IN HERE THAT THE BIGGER PART OF ALL OF THIS WOULD BE HELD AT THE COMMONS. 
          SO IN THE LARGER SCALE, IN NUMBERS AS SIMILAR TO MAYBE WHAT WEDNESDAY WIND DOWN MAX WOULD HAVE BEEN, SO POSSIBLY UP TO 40,000 WOULD BE ABLE TO ACCOMMODATE IN THAT AREA AT THE COMMONS. AND THEN ALSO HAVE ACTIVATIONS HAPPEN THROUGHOUT THE CITY. SO BY NO MEANS WOULD WE WANT TO JUST HAVE EVERYTHING HAPPENING RIGHT THERE ON MAIN STREET AT OZ, BUT ALSO UTILIZE PARKS AND REC. ALSO UTILIZE, AS I MENTIONED, THE NEW LOCATION WE'RE DOING FILMING WITH SOCCER IN THE STREETS NEXT WEEK AND WSB TV FOR DESTINATION DISCOVERED THEY'RE GOING TO BE TALKING ABOUT THE IMPACT OF SOCCER RIGHT HERE IN EAST POINT. WITH THE SOCCER IN THE STREETS, THE EAST POINT YOUTH AND ONE OF THE YOUTHS THAT CAME OUT OF THE PROGRAM ACTUALLY IS PLAYING FOR ATLANTA UNITED AND IS NOW ON LOAN WITH CHELSEA. SO HE WILL BE A PART OF FIFA. AND WE'RE GOING TO TELL THAT STORY THROUGH THE MEDIA. YES. I GUESS MY QUESTION IS, SO WE'RE SPECIFICALLY TALKING ABOUT ONE BUSINESS IN DOWNTOWN, AND THERE'S AN OPPORTUNITY TO SUPPORT A NUMBER OF BUSINESSES DOWNTOWN. AND I KNOW THAT MR. LADAPO TALKED ABOUT THE SPACE ACROSS THE PEDESTRIAN BRIDGE. RIGHT. THEN I WOULD WONDER WHAT RESTAURANTS WE COULD SUPPORT. 
          OTHER BUSINESSES. IN MY MIND, ALSO, AS A FIDUCIARY, I'M THINKING, HOW DO WE SUPPORT BUSINESSES TO MAKE THEM STRONG, GET MORE SALES TAX SO THAT WE CAN ALSO PUT MORE MONEY INTO OUR COFFERS AND CREATE A GREAT EXPERIENCE FOR THOSE WHO WILL BE COMING HERE. SO IF WE'RE JUST STILL TALKING ABOUT OZ PIZZA, AND WE ARE NOT TALKING ABOUT NO, NO FOR THIS PARTICULAR LINE, ITEM 31, IT SPECIFICALLY SAYS OSPI SOMETHING I'VE HEARD ABOUT THE FIVE DIFFERENT EVENTS. I HEARD ABOUT THE COMMONS AREA AND ALL OF THOSE THINGS. BUT I'M ZEROING IN ON THIS PARTICULAR ONE BECAUSE WE DO EAT SOME BEETS, AND I THOUGHT THAT THIS WOULD BE A GREAT OPPORTUNITY TO REIMAGINE THAT AND EXPAND THAT FOR THIS BIG EVENT, SO THAT WE CAN SUPPORT AS MANY BUSINESSES AS POSSIBLE IN CREATING AN EXPERIENCE ALONG MAIN STREET. 
          SO AS PEOPLE GET OFF THE MARTA STATION, THERE ARE NO VEHICLES. IT'S ALL PEDESTRIAN. THERE'S A STAGE, THERE'S MUSIC, RESTAURANTS HAVE TABLES OUTSIDE, PEOPLE CAN EAT OUTSIDE, ALL OF THOSE THINGS. AND THAT'S REALLY THE QUESTION. AND I DON'T KNOW IF AND I STATED, I DON'T KNOW IF YOU'VE THOUGHT OF THIS. WE HAVE AGAINST IT. WE HAVE. AND I'VE ACTUALLY TALKED TO AARON ABOUT THAT AND EXPANDING AND TALKING ABOUT THE CONSTRUCTION THAT'S HAPPENING NOW. AND ON THE RED BRICK SIDE TO HAVE ACTIVATIONS HAPPENING ALONG THAT SO THAT ALL THE BUSINESSES ON MAIN STREET WOULD BE INVOLVED. AND JUST HAVING AN EXPERIENCE ALONG THAT STREET. 
          NOW, ACCORDING TO MASON CITY, THEY'D HAVE TO TALK TO, OF COURSE, COUNCIL, POLICE AND PLANNING TO KIND OF BLOCK THAT AREA AND BE ABLE TO CELEBRATE, AS YOU MENTIONED, JUST GETTING OFF OF MARTA AND BEING ABLE TO BE IMMERSED IN THE EXPERIENCE. YES, COUNCILMAN, YOU'RE EXACTLY RIGHT. WE ARE CERTAINLY LOOKING AT A SPRAWLING KIND OF SCENARIO I USED. AND WE OF COURSE, HAVE OZ PIZZA IDENTIFIED, JUST BECAUSE THAT'S ONE OF THE VENUES THAT WE'VE BEEN USING THAT PEOPLE ARE FAMILIAR WITH. BUT WE WANT TO EXPAND ON THAT. AND IT WOULDN'T JUST BE THEM. A MATTER OF FACT, WE'RE IN CONVERSATIONS WITH ATLANTA. UTILITY WORKS AS WELL. WHO WOULD LIKE TO BE PART OF THAT ONGOING KIND OF ACTIVITY. AND SO WE DO WANT THAT TO BE A REACH NOT JUST IN ONE SPOT, BUT WITH SPRAWL ALONG MAIN STREET FROM LIKE, SAY, WASHINGTON, IF YOU CAN GET ALL THE WAY DOWN TO WEST CLEVELAND AVENUE AND OF COURSE, STREETS IN BETWEEN AS WELL. THANK YOU. MY OTHER QUESTION IS ABOUT THE ALCOHOL BOOTH AND THE FACT THAT WE'VE HAD A BREWERY TO LOCATE IN THE CITY OF EAST POINT. ARE THERE CONVERSATIONS WITH ARCHES BREWERY TO BE THE VENDOR THERE? SO AGAIN, THEY'RE PROVIDING THAT BEER AND WE'RE GETTING SALES TAX, BUT WE'RE ALSO GETTING A PORTION OF THOSE SALES. AND SO I JUST WANTED TO ASK THAT QUESTION. YES. AND OF COURSE THAT'S WHY WE'VE BEEN IN TOUCH WITH ATLANTA UTILITY WORKS, WHICH IS WHERE ARCHES BREWERY IS LOCATED. OKAY. YES. AND I SEE THAT THERE'S ALSO GOING TO BE ACTIVATIONS AT CAMP CREEK MARKETPLACE. THE OTHER ASSET THAT WE HAVE IN THE CITY OF EAST POINT IS A GEORGIA SOCCER PARK, WHICH IS ALSO IN WARD D, SO IS THERE ANY CONNECTION WITH THE ACTIVITIES THAT IS HAPPENING IN WARD D WITH THE SOCCER PARK OR ANY OF THOSE THINGS? THERE WILL BE. WE JUST NEED TO GIVE THAT FLESH IT OUT AND GIVE IT A LITTLE BIT MORE THOUGHT. BUT THE ONE REASON WHY IT'S ON HERE IS BECAUSE WE DO WANT TO ENGAGE AND BRING THAT THAT PART OF THE CITY INTO THIS WHOLE MIX. OKAY. I THINK THOSE ARE MY QUESTIONS. 
          [03:35:03]
THANK YOU. ALL RIGHT, COUNCILWOMAN CUMMINGS. THANK YOU. MADAM MAYOR. I KNOW YOU TALKED ABOUT AN ACTIVATION AT CAMP CREEK MARKETPLACE. WHAT EXACTLY WILL YOU BE DOING THERE? THAT WOULD BE SIMILAR TO WHAT WE DO FOR THE NATIONAL TRAVEL AND TOURISM. HAVING THE FOOD TRUCKS OUT AND CELEBRATING AND PROBABLY DOING A A SHOWING. IF WE'RE ABLE TO DO THAT, WE'LL HAVE TO GET ALL OF THOSE APPROVALS FROM CAMP CREEK. BUT WE'VE GOTTEN THAT IN THE PAST WITH DOING ACTIVATIONS THERE. SO IT'D BE SOMETHING SIMILAR TO WHAT WE DO FOR NATIONAL TRAVEL AND TOURISM WEEK, AND AGAIN, INCLUDING THE BUSINESSES WITHIN EAST POINT, TO BE ABLE TO SHOWCASE THERE IN THE PARKING LOT. AND COULD YOU SCROLL BACK DOWN THE DATES FOR THE EVENTS THAT THAT'S ON HERE? YES. OKAY. SO HOLD ON. SO ON THE 15TH, WHICH IS ACTUALLY THE THAT'S THE FIRST DAY OF THE GAMES THAT'S GOING TO BE YOU SAID A KICKOFF MEDIA LUNCH. SO OUR BIG DAY I GUESS KIND OF I CALL IT THE FAN EXPERIENCE. THAT'S GOING TO BE ON JUNE 27TH. YES. 
          AND THE 27TH. AND THE IS THERE SOMETHING AND THE 28TH. SO WILL THIS STUFF BE. SO WE'LL BE DOING PRETTY MUCH WE'LL DO THE SAME THING ON BOTH DAYS THAT SATURDAY AND SUNDAY. SO THE SATURDAY WOULD BE AGAIN THE THE ACTUAL GAMES THAT ARE TAKING PLACE DOWNTOWN. THERE WILL BE FOUR FULL GAMES THAT AGAIN WOULD START LIKE AROUND 12 NOON AND RUN THROUGHOUT THE DAY. AND OF COURSE WE WOULD COMBINE THAT WITH, AGAIN, FAN WATCH PARTY. THAT WOULD BE HAPPENING AT THE COMMON SITE. AND THEN OF COURSE ON THE, ON THE, THE, THE, THE, THE FIRST, FOR EXAMPLE, THAT WOULD BE AGAIN, ONE OF THOSE SITUATIONS OR I SHOULD SAY THE THE 28TH, THAT WOULD BE JUST A STANDARD WATCH PARTY. NO GAMES DOWNTOWN, FOR EXAMPLE, WOULD BE GOING ON THAT DAY, BUT WE WOULD HAVE THE WATCH PARTIES TAKING PLACE AT THE AT THE COMMON SITE. AGAIN, THIS WOULD BE SOMETHING FOR PEOPLE. IT WOULD BE IT WOULD BECOME A DESTINY FOR THEM TO COME HERE. WE WOULD HAVE THE INFRASTRUCTURE IN PLACE BECAUSE IT WOULD BE A MULTI-DAY RENTAL. SO IT WOULD GIVE US SOMETHING TO DO. WE COULD HAVE A DJ MUSIC. THE PLAN IS TO HAVE DJ MUSIC PLAYING THROUGHOUT THE THE COURSE OF THE DAY, TO GIVE IT AN AMBIANCE THAT WOULD ATTRACT PEOPLE, CREATE AWARENESS AND OF COURSE GENERATE INTEREST FROM THAT POINT. SO THEY WOULD WANT TO COME OVER AND OF COURSE ON THE SAME DAY I'M ON THIS, OTHER DAYS WE WOULD DO A SIMILAR THING. SO YOU'D BE TALKING ABOUT THE FIRST OF, OF, OF JULY AS WELL, THE 28TH. AND OF COURSE, THE JULY 4TH WOULD BE A WRAP UP KIND OF A, A PINNACLE THAT WE WOULD BRING EVERYTHING TO, TO A POINT IN TERMS OF THE ACTUAL CELEBRATION. BUT AGAIN, THE THE INFRASTRUCTURE WOULD BE IN PLACE TO, TO TAKE ADVANTAGE OF IT BECAUSE WE DIDN'T WANT TO DO JUST A ONE DAY OR TWO DAY RENTAL IF WE COULD HELP IT, BUT PUT IN OTHER DAYS WHERE WE COULD MAXIMIZE ON THE OPPORTUNITY AND THE OFFERINGS TO THE TO THE CITIZENS. OKAY, SO JULY 1ST AND I THINK I LEFT MY, MY PLANNER, BUT I WROTE DOWN THE TIMES THAT THESE EVENTS ARE TAKING PLACE. SO I THINK THERE ARE LIKE 2:00 I THINK 1:00 12, STUFF LIKE THAT. SO JULY 1ST IS ON A WEDNESDAY. SO WE I DON'T KNOW IF PEOPLE ARE TAKING OFF AND I'M NOT GOING TO WORK TODAY BECAUSE THEY'RE PLAYING, BUT WE JUST WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT WE'RE MINDFUL OF THAT AND THAT WE DON'T. YOU KNOW, WE WANT TO GET THE MOST BANG FOR OUR BUCK FOR WHATEVER IT IS THAT WE DO. SO I JUST A SUGGESTION ON THOSE DAYS, LIKE THROUGHOUT THE WEEK, I THINK THE 27TH AND 28TH IS GREAT TO DO. YOU KNOW, THE FAN EXPERIENCE AND ALL WHERE WE'RE REALLY, YOU KNOW, GO ALL IN. BUT ON THOSE OTHER DAYS, LIKE COUNCIL MEMBER ATKINS WAS SAYING THAT WE GO LOOK TO OUR LOCAL BUSINESS, YOU KNOW, THE BUSINESS OWNERS AND YOU KNOW, THOSE DIFFERENT RESTAURANTS. YOU HAVE UTILITY WORKS, EVEN EAT MY BISCUITS. THERE'S CHAIRS. ODDS PIZZA HOST WATCH PARTIES THAT I THINK, YOU KNOW IT WON'T BREAK THE BANK SO MUCH. BUT LIKE I SAID ON THOSE DAYS, THOSE ARE DAYS THAT MOST PEOPLE ARE AT SCHOOL. I MEAN, I'M SORRY, AT WORK. WORK. SO I DON'T KNOW IF WE'RE GOING TO I MEAN, YOU KNOW, THAT PEOPLE ARE TAKING OFF TO WATCH THESE GAMES LIKE THAT. YOU'RE RIGHT ABOUT THAT. AND THAT'S WHY WE STRATEGICALLY CHOSE THE 27TH TO BE THE HEAVIEST DAY ON THAT SATURDAY. RIGHT. AND THE DAYS THAT YOU MENTIONED THAT ARE LIKE WITHIN THE WEEK AND COULD BE SLOWER BECAUSE WE'RE EXPECTING HOPEFULLY FOR THE VISITORS TO COME OUT AND HAVE SOMETHING FREE TO BE ABLE TO ATTEND AND ACCESSIBLE. SO THE CVB HAS ALREADY BEEN IN CONTACT 
          [03:40:04]
AND CONTRACTED WITH MEDIA TO HAVE LIVE REMOTES. SO THE CALL TO ACTION WILL ALREADY BE OUT IN THE MEDIA AND THEN THE MEDIA WILL BE ON SITE AS WELL. SO FOR THE CAMP CREEK EVENT PER SE, WE'LL HAVE LIVE REMOTE THERE WITH THE RADIO STATIONS. AND ALREADY WE'VE PARTNERED WITH A, I DON'T WANT TO SAY RIGHT OUT TO SHARE WITH THE PUBLIC ON WHAT THAT IS, BUT IT'S A SPECIAL EVENT WITH ONE OF THE PROGRAMMERS THAT IS FIFA RELATED THAT WILL BE AT ONE OF OUR RESTAURANTS DOING THE LIVE REMOTE FROM THERE. SO AGAIN, GETTING THE EASTPOINT BUSINESS DIRECTLY INVOLVED ON MAIN STREET. AND THAT WAS MY NEXT QUESTION. AS FAR AS MAKING SURE THAT WE'RE PROPERLY MARKETING THIS EVENT BECAUSE HAPEVILLE IS DOING SOMETHING, COLLEGE PARK IS DOING SOMETHING. CITY OF SOUTH FULTON. YEAH. SO LIKE I SAID, I DON'T WANT EASTPOINT TO BE THE PLACE THAT EVERYBODY DRIVES THROUGH TO GET TO WHERE IT'S AT THAT THEY WANT TO GO. 
          SO AS FAR AS LIKE WITH THE MARKETING DO, IS THERE A MARKETING PLAN, A STRATEGY IN PLACE FOR. THERE'S ABSOLUTELY A MARKETING PLAN. WE HAVE THAT HERE TO SHOW TO YOU TODAY. 
          WE'VE HAD OUR PLAN IN PLACE SINCE TWO YEARS AGO. WE'VE ACTUALLY HAD TO CAPTURE OUR SPOTS IN MEDIA TWO YEARS AGO TO BE ABLE TO GET THE PRIME SPOTS THAT WE HAVE RIGHT NOW. SO WE HAVE A FULL MARKETING PLAN IN PLACE. WE HAD A BIGGER PLAN, BUT BECAUSE WE WERE ASKING FOR A COMMITTEE TO BE FORMED SO WE COULD SIT TOGETHER, AS YOU GUYS HAVE MENTIONED BEFORE, AND BE ABLE TO TALK THIS THROUGH AND SEE EXACTLY WHAT THE CITY WAS HAVING. WE'VE BEEN MEETING WITH ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT EVERY SINGLE WEEK SINCE OCTOBER, BUT THEN WE WERE TOLD THAT TO PUT FIFA ON PAUSE. SO A LOT OF THE PARTNERS THAT WE HAD THAT COULD HAVE POTENTIALLY HAD BEEN SPONSORS, WE'VE LOST THOSE BECAUSE THEY'VE MOVED ON TO OTHER DESTINATIONS. SO WE WERE WORKING HARD SINCE 2023 FOR FIFA, AND WE HAD THE PRESENTATIONS WHERE WE'VE COME FORTH BEFORE AND PRESENTED ON THIS, SO WE'VE HAD A PLAN IN PLACE. WE STILL DO, AND THIS IS WHY WE SAT TOGETHER WITH MACEIO AGAIN, TO TRY TO NOW GET THE BIGGEST IMPACT FOR THE LEAST AMOUNT OF INVESTMENT. WE ARE REALLY BEHIND THE CLOCK ON THIS. I KNOW EVERYBODY TALKS ABOUT DEKALB, BUT I WANT TO JUST SAY WHY DEKALB IS ABLE TO DO WHAT THEY DID. THEY ACTUALLY APPLIED FOR GRANTS, AND THEY DID THAT YEARS AGO AND RECEIVED $8 MILLION ATTACHED TO THIS FIFA EVENT. SO I WANT TO MAKE SURE FOR SOMETHING LIKE THE SUPER BOWL COMING NEXT THAT WE TAKE ADVANTAGE. SO MEETING AS WE JUST DISCUSSED, TO BE ABLE TO PLAN AHEAD WITH, YOU KNOW, MAKE SURE THAT WE DON'T MISS OUT ON THAT. BUT THAT'S WHY THEY'RE ABLE TO DO SO MUCH. OKAY. AND I KNOW WE TALKED ABOUT YOU KNOW, THE THE THE LED THE BIG LED SCREENS AND THE THE INFLATABLES AND ALL OF THAT. I'M SURE PROBABLY A LOT OF STUFF IS ALREADY RENTED OUT BECAUSE OTHER PEOPLE HAVE ALREADY GOTTEN IT. SO DO WE EVEN HAVE ENOUGH TIME? AND I MEAN, I, I WANT US TO BE REALISTIC WITH THIS BECAUSE I DON'T WANT US TO, YOU KNOW, WHERE WE END UP PULLING BACK. THANK YOU. YEAH. WE ARE WAY BEHIND THE CLOCK. YES. AND I'VE ASKED MACEO AND AARON TO PLEASE MAKE SURE. AND I THINK THEY'VE ALREADY TRIED TO SECURE AND MAKE SURE THAT WE HAVE THOSE THINGS BOOKED. OKAY. AND I GUESS THIS QUESTION WILL BE TO WELL, THERE'S NOBODY IN FINANCE, BUT PERHAPS THE DEPUTY CITY MANAGER CAN ANSWER THIS QUESTION WITH REGARDS TO FUNDING. SO THE SO THE ASK IS ABOUT $226,000. YES. CORRECT. THAT'S CORRECT. SO DO WE I MEAN DO WE HAVE THESE FUNDS AVAILABLE? I MEAN, ARE WE EVEN ABLE TO OR DO WE NEED TO SPEAK WITH SOMEBODY IN FINANCE? I MEAN, I JUST NEED TO KNOW. I DON'T BELIEVE THAT THESE FUNDS HAVE BEEN EARMARKED, HOWEVER, AND I DON'T SEE MISS CARTWRIGHT HERE TONIGHT. IS SHE HERE? IF SHE CAN COME, SHE WOULD BE IN A BETTER POSITION TO. OKAY. GIVE YOU A SOLID ANSWER. ALL RIGHT. 
          THANK YOU. OTHER THAN THAT, MADAM MAYOR, I YIELD IF SHE CAN. OKAY. THANK YOU, COUNCILWOMAN CUMMINGS. AND WE NEXT, WE HAVE COUNCILWOMAN ZIEGLER AND THEN COUNCILWOMAN HEMMING. THANK YOU. 
          I'M. I GUESS I'M JUST FEELING REALLY FRUSTRATED BECAUSE, YOU KNOW, WE'RE AT THE NINTH HOUR. 
          11TH HOUR, WHATEVER HOUR YOU WANT TO CALL IT. 25TH HOUR. AND WE HAVEN'T DONE ANYTHING. AND WE'VE TALKED ABOUT SPONSORSHIPS. EVERY TIME THIS PRESENTATION HAS COME IN FRONT OF US, WE WE HAVE TO BE FIDUCIARY, RESPONSIBLE WITH WITH OUR TAX MONEY. WE HAVE TO BE WE CAN NO LONGER HAVE EVENTS THAT ARE COMPLETELY FREE. WE HAVE DISCUSSED THIS. AND SO TO SEE THE LINE ITEM TAKEN OUT TO. FOR CHARGING FOR ADMISSION, I DON'T. CAN YOU EXPLAIN WHY? YES. SO 
          [03:45:10]
WELL GO AHEAD. JUST FROM THE EXPERIENCE IN MARKETING AND EVENT PLANNING AND I'M NOT SURE THIS IS DEFINITELY UP TO COUNCIL HOW YOU WANT TO HANDLE THIS. BUT I'M JUST SAYING FROM OUR EXPERIENCE IN THE INDUSTRY, IF YOU'RE GOING TO CHARGE FOR AN EVENT, YOU WOULD HAVE TO UP THE ACTUAL ACTIVATIONS THAT YOU'RE PUTTING OUT, BECAUSE WHAT IS GOING TO ATTRACT A VISITOR TO PAY TO COME TO EASTPOINTE AS OPPOSED TO GO TO A FREE EVENT DOWNTOWN OR FREE EVENT IN SOUTH FULTON, OR FREE EVENT IN HAPEVILLE, THEY'RE NOT GOING TO COME AND PAY TO EASTPOINTE WHEN THEY CAN GET THAT SAME EXPERIENCE SOMEWHERE ELSE FOR FREE. SO IF YOU DO WANT TO CHARGE, THEN YOU'RE GOING TO HAVE TO SPEND A WHOLE LOT MORE THAN 200,000 IN ABLE TO PENETRATE AND UP THE ACTUAL ACTIVATION. AND THAT IS FROM ABSOLUTE EXPERIENCE. SO I CAN'T TELL YOU WHY IT WAS TAKEN, BUT I CAN TELL YOU SOME OF THE REASONING THAT I WOULD SEE. AND YOU ALSO WILL LOSE ATTENDANCE ONCE YOU START CHARGING AUTOMATICALLY. YOU'VE LOST 20% OF THE ATTENDANCE. SO IT ACTUALLY MORE YEAH, MORE THAN THAT. BUT THAT'S WHAT'S EXPECTED. IS THERE ANY REASON WHY WE DON'T HAVE A SPONSOR AT THIS POINT IN TIME? HAVE WE CONTACTED ANYBODY. HAVE WE HAVE HAVE PEOPLE JUST TOLD US NO OR OR HAVE WE JUST NOT INITIATED? I CAN'T SPEAK FOR MYSELF, BUT I'M JUST SPEAKING TO THE INDUSTRY. AGAIN, IF YOU WANT SPONSORS, YOU HAVE TO HAVE SOMETHING THAT THE SPONSOR IS PAYING FOR. SO YOU WOULD HAVE HAD TO ALREADY HAVE A PROGRAM IN PLACE AND A PACKAGE TO SHARE WITH THAT SPONSOR, TO BE ABLE TO HAVE THEM BE A PART OF OR PARTNER OR PARTICIPATE. I KNOW WE HAD A LOT OF PARTNERS LINED UP, AND AGAIN, WE'VE BEEN PLANNING SINCE 2024 AND REQUESTING EVERY SINGLE TIME TO HAVE A FIFA COMMITTEE PUT TOGETHER. WE MET WITH THE CITY MANAGER, WE DID PRESENTATIONS TO HIM. WE'VE BEEN DOING THIS FOR TWO YEARS AND THERE WAS NO MOVEMENT THEN. WE WERE TOLD LAST MONTH THAT FIFA PLANS NEEDED TO BE PUT ON HOLD, SO WE WERE LEFT IN A ROCK AND A HARD PLACE ON OUR SIDE. SO AGAIN, THE PARTNERS THAT WE WERE TALKING TO AND HAD AVAILABLE, THAT PROBABLY COULD HAVE HAVE ALREADY MOVED ON TO OTHER DESTINATIONS BECAUSE OF THE NON MOVEMENT OF WHAT WAS HAPPENING HERE. BUT AS IT RELATES TO WHAT MACEIO WAS TALKING ABOUT, I THINK HE'S BANKING ON MAYBE THE SPONSORS THAT YOU'VE BEEN USED TO FOR YOUR OTHER PROGRAMS THAT YOU MIGHT BE ABLE TO TAP INTO, AND EVEN THOSE THEY'RE GOING TO ASK, WELL, WHAT AM I? WHAT AM I SPONSORING? THAT'S THAT'S CORRECT, COUNCILWOMAN. WE WE HAVE WE HAVE RELATIONSHIPS THAT WE'VE COURTED OVER THE YEARS. AND WE WOULD REFER TO SOME OF THOSE RELATIONSHIPS FOR THOSE COMPANIES THAT THAT HAS PARTICIPATED IN SOME OF OUR EVENTS IN PAST YEARS. AND SO WE WOULD SIMPLY BE REACHING OUT TO THEM AGAIN, IN ADDITION TO POTENTIAL SPONSORS THAT SHANTEL OR THE CVB WOULD BRING TO THE FOLD AS WELL. OF COURSE, AGAIN, WE WE GOT THIS AT LEAST ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT, GOT THIS ASSIGNMENT LAST OCTOBER. AND ON THE 6TH OF OCTOBER, I WAS ASKED TO GIVE A PRESENTATION ON IDEAS THAT WE COULD HAVE PRESENTED HERE TO THE COUNCIL. THAT WAS A WEEK LATER, WHICH WAS OCTOBER 13TH. I PRESENTED IDEAS AND IT CHANGED TO A PLAN AT THAT TIME. 
          BUT WE DIDN'T HAVE A PLAN IN PLACE BECAUSE I HADN'T HAD A CHANCE TO ACTUALLY REACH OUT TO THE COMMUNITY. WE DID FOLLOW UP WITH TWO IMMEDIATE NOVEMBER 6TH AND NOVEMBER 13TH COMMUNITY OUTREACH MEETINGS, WHICH WAS A DIRECT REQUEST FROM THE COUNCIL AT THAT TIME. AND THOSE WERE VERY SUCCESSFUL BECAUSE WE WERE ABLE TO GARNER A LOT OF INFORMATION FROM THE THE CITIZENS, OF COURSE, THAT CVB PARTICIPATED IN THAT. AND I THINK YOU WERE AT ONE OF THOSE MEETINGS AS WELL. AND, OF COURSE, WE APPRECIATE THE INFORMATION THAT YOU YOU PROVIDED. BUT WE TOOK THAT INFORMATION. WE COMPILED IT, WE CAME BACK. AND OF COURSE, ON NOVEMBER, ON DECEMBER THE 9TH, WE HAD A MEETING AT THE CVB TO TALK ABOUT THAT INFORMATION AS WELL. WE PRESENTED THAT TO TO THE CITY MANAGER. OF COURSE, THE WHOLE EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE OF THE CVB WAS THERE AT THAT TIME, AND I THINK YOU WERE YOU COULD MAKE THAT MEETING. BUT, YOU KNOW, WE, WE, WE SCHEDULED THAT AS WELL. AND THEN OF COURSE, TOP OF THE YEAR. WE GOT STARTED WITH PRESENTING AGAIN SOME OF THE INFORMATION THAT YOU'VE GOTTEN IN THE PAST. AND SO THIS IS WHERE WE ARE. WE ARE WE ARE EAGER, ABSOLUTELY EAGER TO GET STARTED WITH SOMETHING. 
          BUT WE WE DO NEED YOUR HELP. WE DO NEED YOUR HELP IN TERMS OF JUST A DECISION THAT WE WILL 
          [03:50:07]
PUT OUR ACTIONS IN MOTION TOWARDS SOME OF THESE THINGS THAT WE'VE BEEN TALKING ABOUT AND SOME OF THE THINGS THAT, QUITE HONESTLY, I GUESS WE WOULD ALL LIKE TO SEE IN TERMS OF KNOWING WHAT IT IS THAT WE WOULD MARKET PRODUCT WISE TO NOT JUST THE COMMUNITY, BUT TO THE WORLD. I MEAN, BECAUSE WE NEED TO GET THAT INFORMATION OUT. AND I KNOW THAT SHANTEL AND HER TEAM, THE CVB, WOULD LOVE TO HAVE THAT INFORMATION AS WELL, TO REALLY PUT OUT TO THE WORLD SO THAT WE START GENERATING THE KIND OF AWARENESS THAT WE WANT FOR THE CITY OF EAST POINT. OKAY. AND AND IT SOUNDED LIKE THERE WAS SUPPOSED TO BE THAT YOU HAD SOME INTEREST IN DOING FORMING A COMMITTEE, BUT WE I DON'T THINK WE EVER HEARD ABOUT THOSE EFFORTS. I ACTUALLY HAVE SLIDES HERE THAT SHOW THAT WE PRESENTED TO CITY COUNCIL SINCE 2425, REQUESTING THOSE THAT COMMITTEE BE PUT IN PLACE. AND WE CONTINUE TO REQUEST THAT. 
          AND EVEN WITH THE NEW CITY MANAGER, WE REQUESTED THAT AND THERE WAS NO ACTION. SO WE'VE ACTUALLY BEEN PUT ON HOLD. AND AS YOU SAY, IT IS VERY FRUSTRATING BECAUSE WE HAVE PUT ACTION IN PLACE SINCE 2023 AND 24 UNTIL THIS DATE. THIS IS HOW WE'VE BEEN ABLE TO HAVE OUR ADVERTISING IN PLACE, BECAUSE WE SECURED THOSE SPOTS A YEAR IN ADVANCE. I PRESENTED TO WHERE I TALKED ABOUT THE PRESIDENT EVEN CREATING A COMMITTEE HIMSELF AND WARNING THE WHOLE UNITED STATES THAT WE WERE BEHIND THE CLOCK. AND THAT WAS IN 24, 25 OF APRIL. AND I BROUGHT THAT PRESENTATION TO CITY COUNCIL. WITH THE URGENCY OF US NEEDING TO ACT. AND THAT DIDN'T HAPPEN. OKAY. OKAY, I YELLED. I HAVE NOTHING POSITIVE TO SAY ABOUT THAT. OKAY, SO, COUNCILWOMAN HEMMING. THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE FOR SO LONG. IT'S 10:22 P.M. YOU'VE BEEN STANDING SINCE ABOUT 840 WHEN THIS PRESENTATION FIRST STARTED WITH CVB. SO LET'S FIRST ACKNOWLEDGE THAT AND I HOPE THAT WE'RE GETTING CLOSE. I THINK I HEARD YOU, MISTER ROGERS, SAY THAT YOU NEED A DECISION. HERE'S WHAT I NEED. AS PART OF THE DECISION MAKING BODY, I NEED TO BE ABLE TO TELL PEOPLE WHO VOTED FOR ME HOW THIS IS GOING TO BENEFIT THEM IN THE SHORT TERM AND THE LONG TERM. I DON'T WANT A LONG WINDED ANSWER. I JUST WANT TO KNOW IF WE APPROVE THIS AND WE AGREE TO ADD AN ADDITIONAL $226,000, HOW IS THE COMMUNITY GOING TO BENEFIT? THAT'S MY FIRST QUESTION. I WANT A SIMPLE, DIRECT ANSWER. NOT NOT A DISSERTATION. I WOULD SAY THE COMMUNITY AT LARGE WILL BENEFIT THROUGH WHAT WE CALL PLACEMAKING. WE HAVE AN UNDERSERVED AREA RIGHT NOW. THE COMMONS THAT WE DO USE PERIODICALLY. BUT WHAT IS GOING TO DO IS TRANSFORM THAT WHOLE AREA INTO A VERY VIBRANT SOCIAL GATHERING COMMUNITY. CONNECTED VISITORS. SOCIAL ACTIVITY THAT'S GOING TO CREATE CONVERSATIONS AND OF COURSE, AGAIN, ALLOW THE CITY TO GENERATE INCOME JUST FROM PEOPLE BEING NOT ONLY EXPOSED, BUT JUST BEING PRESENT. OKAY, THIS IS FOR MISS FRANCE, FRANCOIS AND MR. SHAW, THE PEOPLE WHO ARE ALREADY GOING TO BOOK HOTELS IN EASTPOINT BECAUSE THEY WANT TO BE IN THE AREA, BUT MAYBE THEY DON'T WANT TO GO TO ATLANTA OR ATLANTA IS FULLY BOOKED. DO I NEED. DO WE NEED TO SPEND THIS MONEY TO ACCOMPLISH YOUR GOALS? WHICH ARE HEADS AND BEDS? SO THERE'S ONLY SO MANY SEATS AT MERCEDES-BENZ STADIUM. THERE'S THE HOTELS DOWNTOWN CAN ACCOMMODATE ENOUGH FOR THOSE SEATS. RIGHT NOW, IT'S THE SAME QUESTION THAT WAS BEING ASKED. AND FROM ALPHARETTA TO MILTON TO DUNWOODY TO EVERYWHERE ELSE ON THE SOUTH SIDE AS WELL. AND YOUR PREVIOUS QUESTION IS ALSO WHAT IS THE ROI FOR THE COMMUNITY? AND PART OF ME, AS THE CONSULTANT IN ME WOULD WANT TO SAY AS AN OBSERVATIONAL, LIKE, WHAT EXACTLY ARE YOU GUYS LOOKING TO SEE AS WELL? BECAUSE WE HAD THE WE WE NOT A TIT FOR TAT. IT WAS WE'D, WE'D GONE SO FAR AS TO DISCUSS HAVE THIS DISCUSSION WITH 10 OR 11 ACTUAL AMBASSADORS TO THE UNITED STATES FOR REPRESENTING DIFFERENT COUNTRIES. THIS IS WHAT WE WERE THINKING OF WHEN WE FIRST CAME UP WITH THIS VILLAGE TYPE IDEA TO DO IN THE 
          [03:55:05]
COMMONS, BUT IT IT IS A RHYME AND A REASON TO AGGREGATE THE COMMUNITY. IT DOES BLEND THE BUSINESSES TOGETHER. NOW, I'M NOT GOING TO GET INTO THE POLITICS OF WEDNESDAY WIND DOWN, BUT AT THE SAME TIME, THERE'S 30 TO 40,000 PEOPLE THAT CAME INTO THE COMMUNITY. I GUESS YOU CAN ARGUE, YOU KNOW, WAS THERE AN ROI? WAS THERE A BENEFIT? SOME PEOPLE MIGHT SAY YES. SOME PEOPLE MIGHT SAY NO. SO IT'S SORT OF THAT SOLUTION THAT WE ARE TRYING TO PROVIDE. BUT KNOWING THAT SO MANY CITIES ARE USING THIS TO BE ABLE TO HAVE ACTIVATIONS TO BRING AND COAGULATE THE CITY AND THE PUBLIC AND THE YOUTH AND EVERYONE ELSE TOGETHER. AND WE HAVE THE SPACE, WE HAVE THE BUSINESSES THAT ARE INTERESTED. YEAH. AS FAR AS HOTELS GO, SURE. 
          YES, WE'RE GOING TO WE'RE GOING TO GET AN UPTICK OF JUST THE OVERFLOW AND THE DISPLACEMENT OF WHAT WOULD HAPPEN IN DOWNTOWN. I THINK THAT THERE ARE SOME PEOPLE THAT MIGHT HAVE, MIGHT HAVE HAD SOME LOFTIER IDEAS, EVEN IN HOTEL OWNERSHIP, THAT WE'RE GOING TO GET $500, $600 RATES. I DIDN'T EVER THINK THAT THAT WAS POSSIBLE OR PLAUSIBLE. THE SUPER BOWL IS A FANTASTIC EVENT. AND YEAH, YOU MIGHT PICK UP ONE, TWO, THREE ROOM NIGHTS, BUT IT'S A ONE NIGHT EVENT AND THAT'S ABOUT IT AND IT'S OVER. AND THIS WAS AN OPPORTUNITY TO HAVE RECURRING, I GUESS, EVERYTHING, WHETHER IT'S THE COMMUNITY, COAGULATION, RECURRING BUSINESSES, RECURRING. 
          PARDON ME FOR TWO MONTHS. YEAH. FOR FOR TWO MONTHS TO TO FOR TWO MONTHS IS WHAT SHE SAID TO TO HAVE RECURRING DATES WHERE WE COULD ACTUALLY UTILIZE. AND ACTUALLY THERE'S AN ECONOMIES OF SCALE TO THAT IN THE FACT THAT WE HAD 4 OR 5, SIX DATES TO BE ABLE TO, TO, TO CAPITALIZE ON WHEN WE PULL SPONSORSHIPS. IT'S NOT JUST FOR ONE NIGHT FOR A WEDNESDAY WIND DOWN OR ONE NIGHT FOR A SUPER BOWL OR A WATCH PARTY OR SOMETHING LIKE THAT. THIS COULD BE A PACKAGE THAT'S SOLD FOR MULTIPLE NIGHTS AT THE SAME TIME, BUT I WOULD I WOULD SAY IT'S MORE OF AN OPPORTUNITY COST OF NOT DOING SOMETHING. THEN WHERE ARE WE EXACTLY WITH THE BUSINESSES AND THE EVERYONE ELSE IN THE AREA? WHAT? YOU KNOW, IT'S JUST SORT OF KIND OF GONE TO WASTE TO HAVE A REPETITIVE EVENT THAT IS GARNERING MORE AND MORE INTEREST YEAR OVER YEAR. THE FACT THAT WE HAVE A SOCCER IN THE STREETS, THE FACT THAT WE HAVE THESE FACILITIES, WE ONE OF THE ONLY FACILITIES THAT HAVE SOCCER FACILITIES DOWNTOWN. 
          THAT'S CRAZY WHEN YOU LOOK AT EVERYONE ELSE AROUND ATLANTA. SO TO SORT OF NOT CAPITALIZE ON THAT AND REMEMBER THAT THERE ARE PEOPLE THAT ARE STILL TRAVELING HERE NOW, I'LL GIVE YOU THE BAD AND THE GOOD. THERE WAS A YOU KNOW, IF WE WEREN'T WHERE WE ARE WITH OUR FEDERAL ADMINISTRATION, THERE WAS A LOT OF TALK OF PEOPLE COMING IN FOR 10 TO 15 NIGHTS OF LENGTH OF STAY, NOT NECESSARILY IN ONE CITY, BUT SOMEONE FROM BRAZIL COULD COME IN HERE. THEN THEY WOULD GO TO LA, THEY MIGHT GO TO DALLAS, THEY MIGHT DO. AND SO THERE'S A CUMULATIVE PICKUP. 
          RIGHT NOW. THE TALK IN HOTEL CONFERENCES IS SIMPLY THIS THERE IS ENOUGH IN THERE IS ENOUGH INTEREST DOMESTICALLY TO SELL OUT ALL OF THE TICKETS AND ALL OF THE STADIUMS. UNFORTUNATELY, DOMESTIC TRAVEL ONLY ONLY GARNERS 2 TO 3 NIGHTS WORTH OF LENGTH OF STAY THEY'RE IN. THEY GO TO THEIR GAME. THEY MIGHT STAY ONE OR 2 OR 3 NIGHTS AND THEN THEY'RE GONE. SO WE'RE ALREADY SUFFERING ENOUGH AS HOTELS TO NOT HAVE THOSE EXTENDED STAY PERIODS. BUT AGAIN, I'LL JUST GO BACK TO THE FACT THAT I FEEL IT WOULD BE A LITTLE BIT OF A LOST OPPORTUNITY TO HAVE A REPETITIVE EVENT IF IT WAS $226,000 FOR A ONE NIGHT EVENT, THAT WOULD BE SOMETHING. AND I'D HAVE THE SAME CONCERN. BUT WHAT WE PAID FOR WEDNESDAY WIND DOWN VERSUS THIS, COVERING THIS OVER 4 OR 5 DIFFERENT NIGHTS WITH MULTIPLE ACTIVATIONS. THIS TO ME HAS A BETTER ROI OVERALL. AGAIN, NOT DENIGRATING THE WHAT WAS AND THE WEDNESDAY WIND DOWN, BUT IT WAS SOMETHING TO HAVE A POPULATION OF 30,000 PEOPLE PULLING IN AN ATTENDANCE OF 30 TO 40, 35 TO 40,000 PEOPLE. AND SO I THOUGHT THAT THERE WAS SOME LEVEL OF COMMUNITY FEEL THERE. I, I DO WISH THAT I DO WISH THAT WE WOULD HAVE BEEN ABLE TO TALK ABOUT ALL OF THESE. 
          EVEN FOR ME AS A BUSINESS GUY, I LOOK AT THE ALCOHOL SALES AND I'M LIKE, WOW, THAT'S IT. 
          THAT'S ALL WE'RE GOING TO DO. BECAUSE I SAW THAT AS A MASSIVELY MISSED OPPORTUNITY. 
          WHEN OTHER PEOPLE ARE CHARGING 15 TO $20 PER DRINK OR PER BEVERAGE, EVEN IF IT'S A BEER, THEN THAT SEEMED LIKE A MISSED OPPORTUNITY TO ME AT ALL OF THE PAST WEDNESDAY. WINE DOWNS. 
          THERE'S ONLY ONE SPOT, SO HERE WE HAVE A CHANCE TO BE ABLE TO GET IT RIGHT. UNFORTUNATELY, 
          [04:00:02]
WE'RE AT THE WE'RE YOU KNOW, YES, WE'RE IN THE 11TH HOUR. THE QUESTION IS DO WE NOT DO ANYTHING? DO WE DO SOMETHING? IF WE DO SOMETHING, THEN CERTAINLY LET'S LET'S ACT QUICKLY. LET'S DECIDE HOW YOU KNOW, THIS 226 GOES OVER SEVERAL DIFFERENT DAYS. AND PERSONALLY, TO ME, I DON'T WANT TO SPEAK OUT OF TURN, BUT I'M JUST SAYING, HEY, YOU KNOW WHAT? WE CAN TRY FOR MORE THAN 15,500 IN SPONSORSHIP. WE JUST NEED SOMETHING TO. WE JUST NEED. 
          THAT'S WHY WE'VE LOST ALL OF OUR COMMITMENTS. WE DON'T HAVE THE THING TO BE ABLE TO PROMOTE. 
          SO IF WE'RE TURNED LOOSE, THEN WE'LL DO EVERYTHING WE CAN TO MAKE YOU GUYS PROUD AND GIVE. 
          GIVE YOU AS MUCH AS WE CAN. OKAY, SO THIS IS A COMMENT AND I'M GOING TO YIELD AFTER THIS BECAUSE I HOPE THAT WE ARE AT THE POINT OF SOMEONE DECIDING OR THE MOVER, SOMEONE NEEDS TO MOVE IF THIS IS WHAT WE'RE GOING TO DO. BUT HERE'S WHAT I'LL SAY. I APPRECIATE THE THE PERSPECTIVE OF WHAT WE GAIN AS A COMMUNITY, BUT I REALLY HOPE THAT WE DO THE EFFORT TO DO THE MARKETING WITHIN EASTPOINTE. IF YOU'RE TELLING ME THAT I SUPPORT THIS AND IT'S GOING TO BENEFIT THE PEOPLE, I WANT EVERY CHILD IN EASTPOINTE TO KNOW THAT SOCCER IS AN OPTION OF A SPORT THEY CAN PLAY, AND IT HAS INTERNATIONAL AND GLOBAL OPPORTUNITIES CONNECTED TO IT. 
          THERE NEEDS TO BE SOMETHING. AGAIN, AS I SHARED BEFORE, THAT MAKES PEOPLE FEEL PROUD AND INCREASES THEIR SELF-ESTEEM ABOUT OUR CITY AND THEN ALSO ABOUT THE OPPORTUNITIES. SO IF I'M GOING TO SUPPORT THIS, I NEED THAT COMMITMENT FROM YOU ALL. THE OTHER THING THAT I'LL JUST SAY IS, I THINK THE REASON WHY THERE'S SO MUCH CONCERN ABOUT THIS EVENT AND HOW WE'RE GOING TO SPEND IS BECAUSE YOU'VE YOU'VE NAMED A REALLY IMPORTANT ELEPHANT. WE HAVE SPENT A LOT OF MONEY IN EVENTS OVER YEARS, AND THERE'S A LOT OF DEBATE ON WHETHER OR NOT THAT PROVIDES A TANGIBLE VALUE AND TO WHOM. AND SO I'VE SEEN DATA THAT FOR SOME OF OUR EVENTS, ONLY 40% OF THE PARTICIPANTS COME FROM WITHIN THIS CITY. AND YOU'RE ASKING ME TO SPEND TAXPAYER DOLLARS TO BENEFIT VISITORS THAT MAY COME FROM OTHER COUNTRIES, THAT MAY COME FROM OTHER CITIES. I WANT TO KNOW THAT IF WE'RE GOING TO SPEND EASTPOINTE DOLLARS, EASTPOINTE PEOPLE BENEFIT FIRST AND FOREMOST. SO COUNCIL MEMBER ATKINS AND I APPRECIATE EVERYTHING YOU SAID, MISS FRANCOIS, ABOUT MAKING SURE THAT THERE'S THE LIVE DEMOS HAPPENING. SO PEOPLE GO TO CAMP CREEK AND SPEND THEIR DOLLAR AT T.G.I. FRIDAY, OR WHEREVER IT IS TO WATCH THE GAME THERE. ATLANTA BREWERY. EXCUSE ME, THE BREWERY NEEDS TO BE THE ONLY THE ONLY VENDOR FOR ALCOHOL. OKAY? WE NEED TO MAKE SURE THAT OUR EASTPOINTE BUSINESSES AND TAXPAYERS AND RATEPAYERS BENEFIT THE MOST FROM THIS, NOT ANYBODY ELSE. SO THAT'S WHAT I'LL SAY. I'LL STOP THERE. I APPRECIATE THE TIME AND EFFORT, MR. ROGERS. SINCE I'VE BEEN ON COUNCIL, I'VE SEEN YOU PRETTY MUCH AT EVERY ONE OF MY MEETINGS. SO I KNOW THAT YOU HAVE PUT A LOT OF ENERGY AND EFFORT. I JUST NEED TO FEEL CONFIDENT AND I DON'T FEEL CONFIDENT RIGHT NOW. BUT IF YOU CAN PROMISE ME THAT THE VALUE. I JUST DON'T SEE IT HERE YET. 
          BUT IT'S GOING TO VALUE BENEFIT THE PEOPLE HERE IN EASTPOINTE. YOU CAN HAVE MY SUPPORT, BUT IF THE BENEFIT GOES TO THE OUT-OF-TOWN PEOPLE WHO WON'T EVER SPEND ANOTHER DOLLAR IN THIS CITY, AND I'VE JUST SPENT $419,000 OF TAXPAYER MONEY, THAT'S GOING TO BE A REALLY, REALLY HARD THING FOR ME TO SQUARE. SO I DON'T NEED A RESPONSE. I JUST NEED A COMMITMENT. AND IF ONE OF MY COLLEAGUES IS GOING TO MAKE A MOTION TO ADOPT THIS OR WHATEVER, WE SHOULD VOTE AND MOVE ON. BUT JUST BEATING THIS HORSE IS NOT A PRODUCTIVE USE OF TIME ANYMORE, I YIELD. THANK YOU. AND JUST FOR THE RECORD, COUNCILWOMAN, IT'S 226, 823, NOT 419. WELL, IT'S $419,000 TOTAL. AND I DO WANT TO NOTE FOR THE RECORD THAT THAT DOES NOT INCLUDE OVERTIME. I SAW YOUR NOTE AND YELLOW. IT DOESN'T INCLUDE OVERTIME. SO THERE'S PROBABLY ADDITIONAL COSTS THAT ARE NOT REFLECTED HERE. RIGHT. SO IF WE'RE SUPPORTING THIS WE NEED TO UNDERSTAND THE BUDGET IMPACT. SURE. AND WE NEED TO EITHER DECIDE OR NOT. BUT WE JUST CAN'T CONTINUE DOING THIS FOR ANOTHER HOUR. OKAY OKAY. 
          ALRIGHT. CAN NEXT WE HAVE COUNCILWOMAN CALDWELL AND THEN COUNCILWOMAN COUNCILMAN FRIEDLI. 
          SORRY. SO I'LL TRY TO BE QUICK, BUT A COUPLE OF THINGS THAT CAME TO MIND. I AGREE WITH A LOT OF WHAT WAS SAID. FROM WHAT I SEE IN MY SEAT, JUST BEING HERE FOR TWO MONTHS, THERE'S BEEN A LOT OF DECISION PARALYSIS UP HERE, RIGHT? LIKE THEY NEED A DECISION IN ORDER TO UNDERSTAND HOW TO MOVE FORWARD. SO AS COUNCIL MEMBER HEMMINGS JUST MENTIONED, WE HAVE TO GIVE THEM A DECISION. OTHERWISE WE'LL BE IN THE SAME PLACE ANOTHER WEEK. ANOTHER MONTH, HOWEVER LONG. THE OTHER THING I WANTED TO SAY ABOUT ROI, IT'S NOT ALWAYS REALIZED IN A 
          [04:05:05]
DOLLAR VALUE AHEAD OF TIME. SO THERE'S THINGS LIKE POTENTIAL TOURISM LIFT. PEOPLE CAN COME BACK TO THE CITY AND SPEND SALES TAX WITH US. IT BRINGS PEOPLE BACK INTO HOTELS AND RESTAURANTS. IT GENERATES SMALL BUSINESS REVENUE. IT GIVES ENTREPRENEURS ACCESS TO JUST NEW CUSTOMERS IN GENERAL. BUT THE BIGGEST THING IS IT COULD ALSO BRING IN FUTURE INVESTMENT. 
          LIKE WHEN PEOPLE COME TO OUR CITY AND SEE THAT THERE'S OPPORTUNITIES TO INVEST. IT COULD BRING THAT. BUT THE BIGGEST THING IS IT ALSO BRINGS ON COMMUNITY PRIDE AND ENGAGEMENT. SO SOME OF THOSE THINGS DON'T HAVE A DOLLAR AMOUNT ASSOCIATED WITH IT. I, I DO THINK LIKE WHAT YOU MENTIONED, WE JUST NEED TO MAKE A DECISION. THIS WAS ONE OF THE THREE OPTIONS PRESENTED. IT MAY HAVE BEEN NICE TO SHOW ANOTHER OPTION JUST IN ITS TOTALITY, SO THAT WE COULD SEE TWO SIDE BY SIDES, ONE A LITTLE BIT MORE COST EFFECTIVE, BECAUSE IT SOUNDS LIKE COST IS, YOU KNOW, A SORE TOPIC. AND IT'S DEFINITELY TOP OF MIND FOR EVERYONE. SO JUST SEEING ANOTHER OPTION TO COMPARE MAY HAVE BEEN NICE, BUT I DO THINK WE NEED TO COME UP WITH A DECISION TONIGHT. COUNCILMAN. COUNCILWOMAN FREELY. OKAY, THANKS. JUST HAVE A QUESTION UNRELATED TO THIS PROPOSAL FOR THE CVB IN YOUR GENERAL MARKETING, HOW ARE YOU TARGETING SOUTH AFRICA, SPAIN AND SAUDI ARABIA PARTICULARLY? OKAY. WE HAVE VERY DETAILED MARKET ON MARKETING ON THAT. AND WHAT I WILL SAY UP FRONT IS WE'VE ALREADY PARTNERED WITH A NATIONAL ADVERTISER THAT WILL TARGET THOSE AREAS. BUT BECAUSE OF THE COMPETITIVE NATURE OF THE MARKETING AND THE BUSINESS THAT WE WE DON'T WANT TO GIVE THE EXACT DETAILS OF WHAT WE WILL BE DOING. BUT WE ARE WITH THE OFFICIAL FIFA SPONSOR, OR I SHOULD SAY, FIFA PARTNER WILL BE ADVERTISING ON BEHALF OF EAST POINT IN THOSE MARKETS. 
          AND THAT'S ALREADY IN PLACE. OKAY. AND SO THAT STARTED OBVIOUSLY SINCE THE MATCHES WERE ANNOUNCED. YES, YES. SO WE HAVE THAT AGREEMENT AND YOU KNOW EXACTLY WHO IT IS. AND WHEN YOU SEE IT YOU'LL UNDERSTAND. BUT IT IS THERE ARE ACTUAL FIFA PARTNER. RIGHT. 
          OKAY. THANK YOU. AND THEN JUST ONE COMMENT. WE'RE TALKING ABOUT $226,000 THAT WERE NOT PREVIOUSLY BUDGETED. WE DO NOT HAVE THIS MONEY IN THE BUDGET. WE WOULD HAVE TO HAVE A BUDGET AMENDMENT. WE WOULD HAVE TO HAVE SOMETHING I CANNOT VOTE TO COMMIT $226,000, THAT WE HAVE NO PLAN OF WHERE THIS MONEY IS COMING FROM. WHY DON'T WE DO THAT? YIELD. ARE YOU DONE? OKAY. 
          COUNCILMAN? YES. THANK YOU AGAIN. SO THAT'S KIND OF MY CONCERN. THAT'S WHY WE BROUGHT UP ACTUALLY CHARGING EARLIER. I KNOW THOSE A LOT OF THOSE EVENTS ARE SPONSORED AND A LOT OF THAT STUFF THEY DO, THEY DO CAN THEY CAN AFFORD TO HAVE A FREE EVENT AND WITHOUT USING TOO MUCH TAXPAYER DOLLARS, IF ANY, IN SOME INSTANCES. SO I KNOW IT'S JUST IT'S THERE A CHEAPER OPTION. WELL YES, SIR. I MEAN, YOU KNOW, WE WE CAN GO BACK TO THE THREE INITIAL OPTIONS THAT WERE PROPOSED ABOUT THREE WEEKS AGO. OKAY. I MEAN, SO MY MY WHOLE THING IS I JUST THINK IT'S THE PHILOSOPHY BEHIND IT. SO LIKE I SAID, WE HAVE WEDNESDAY WIND DOWN. IT MIGHT THEY DIDN'T CHARGE HAD A WHOLE BUNCH OF PEOPLE OUT THERE. BUT WE ALSO LOST A LOT OF MONEY AND PROBABLY SPENT EIGHT. SO, YOU KNOW, 800, $900,000 ON AN EVENT WITH NO, NO RETURN. I HAVE A SUGGESTION THAT DOESN'T INCLUDE LIKE OVERTIME AND OTHER OTHER REALIZED COST. SO I WOULD RATHER HAVE LESS PEOPLE AND THEY ACTUALLY PAY. I WAS GOING TO SAY, I HAVE A SUGGESTION IF THE COST AND THE BUDGET, LIKE I SAID, HAS NOT BEEN PREPARED. AND IF WE'RE COMPARING OURSELVES TO OTHER CITIES, OTHER CITIES HAVE BEEN PLANNING FOR YEARS AND THEY'VE ALREADY PUT ASIDE THEIR BUDGET, WHICH IS WHY THAT'S ABLE TO HAPPEN. I WOULD SUGGEST LIKE REMOVING MAYBE SOME OF THESE AND JUST GO WITH THE ITEMS THAT YOU ALREADY HAVE BUDGETED. AND AS YOU MENTIONED, IF YOU CAN'T GET EVERYBODY AT LEAST CAPITALIZE ON THE PROGRAMS YOU ALREADY HAVE BUDGETED AND KIND OF USE THAT AS, YOU KNOW, THE CELEBRATION. YEAH. OR ANY WAY WE CAN CUT COSTS, LIKE I THINK IT WAS LIKE 15,000 FOR FLAGPOLES I SAW SOMEWHERE OR 
          [04:10:05]
SURE, YOU KNOW, WE MIGHT GO UP A PERCENTAGE ON WHAT WE GET FOR BEER OR, YOU KNOW, WHAT KIND OF NICKEL AND DIMED OR LIKE I SAY, WE CHARGE YES FOR THAT. AND AND I THINK THE OTHER ISSUE WE'RE KIND OF GOING TO RUN INTO IS SECOND, WITH THE LACK OF MEETING SPACES, OUR DOWNTOWN REALLY DOES NOT HAVE THE INFRASTRUCTURE. WE HAVE PROBABLY ABOUT 3 OR 4 RESTAURANTS, PROBABLY 100 PEOPLE MAX, THAT CAN FIT IN THERE. I'M NOT SURE WHAT HOW WE CAN, YOU KNOW, WE WANT TO HELP THEM OUT, BUT AT THE SAME TIME, YOU DON'T WANT TO BREAK ANY KIND OF FIRE CODES OR ANYTHING LIKE THAT. SO THAT KIND OF LIMITS CERTAIN THINGS. I KNOW YOU, YOU MENTIONED FOOD TRUCKS AND MONEY COMING IN FROM THAT. I GET THE IDEA. BUT TO A CERTAIN EXTENT, I JUST I THINK WE HAVE TO COME. WE'RE GOING TO HAVE TO AGREE ON THE PHILOSOPHY BEHIND THIS BEFORE WE CAN VOTE ON IT. COUNCILMAN, WHAT CAN WE DO? YOU NEED A RESPONSE. BACK TO YOUR QUESTION. IS IT A QUESTION? OH, NO. I MEAN, I MEAN, I WAS KIND OF TALKING TO EVERYONE. SO I KNOW WE WANT TO MOVE FORWARD ON THIS, BUT I THINK WE HAVE MIXED OPINIONS ON THE PHILOSOPHY BEHIND SOME OF THIS STUFF. WHAT. SO THAT'S THAT'S A GENERAL STATEMENT. 
          OKAY. DO YOU WANT TO YIELD OR DO YOU HAVE. YEAH. YOU CAN GO AHEAD. YEAH OKAY. I'M GOING TO GO TO DOCTOR MARTIN ROGERS. AND THEN THAT WILL CONCLUDE CONCLUDE THE FIRST ROUND OF QUESTION AND DISCUSSION. IF WE, THE COUNCIL HAS AN APPETITE TO CONTINUE TO DISCUSS THIS, THEN WE CAN GO TO THE SECOND ROUND. AND SO AFTER THIS, IF WE'LL JUST AFTER THE DOCTOR LATONYA MARTIN ROGERS, THEN WE'LL BE GOING BACK INTO ROUND TWO. ALRIGHT. I JUST LIKE TO POINT OUT THAT I'VE HEARD A COUPLE OF THINGS IN. THE FIRST THING BEING WHEN WILL COUNCIL TAKE SOME ACCOUNTABILITY AND RESPONSIBILITY? WE ALL KNOW THAT THE WORLD SOCCER GAMES WERE COMING. SHE PRESENTED BACK IN 2024 AND ASKED FOR A COMMITTEE. I REMEMBER HER COMING HERE ASKING US FOR THAT. WE HAVE A CITY ADMINISTRATOR. I REMEMBER COUNCIL MEMBER CUMMINGS STARTING ASKING BACK IN, I WANT TO SAY MAYBE 2024, WHAT ARE WE DOING FOR THE SOCCER GAMES? WHAT ARE WE DOING FOR THE WORLD SOCCER GAMES? I ALSO REMEMBER SENDING A COMMUNICATION TO YOU BACK IN NOVEMBER, AND YOU GAVE ME A RUNDOWN OF WHAT HAD BEEN, WHAT WAS BEING DONE BY THE CVB TO LEAD UP TO THIS. SO I'D LIKE TO JUST PIGGYBACK ON WHAT MY COUNCIL MEMBER SAID, LIKE DECISION PARALYSIS. I MEAN, I THINK AT SOME POINT WE SHOULD ALL TAKE ACCOUNTABILITY, ACCOUNTABILITY? ACCOUNTABILITY AS TO WHAT ROLE DID WE PLAY IN THIS AND HOW DID WE GET HERE? HOW DID WE GET HERE? I MEAN, SHE HAS CLEARLY STATED SHE'S BEEN PLAYING PLANNING FOR THIS FOR TWO YEARS, SOME KIND OF WAY. THEY WERE ADVISED, OH, YOU CAN CANCEL THAT. BUT BY WHOM? EVERYTHING TAKES A VOTE OF COUNCIL IN ORDER FOR IT TO BE DONE. THE OTHER THING THAT I WANTED TO ASK, AND THIS WAS A POINT OF CLARIFICATION, OR FOR THE DEPUTY CITY MANAGER, WE HAVE TPD FUNDS. DO YOU KNOW HOW MUCH IS IN THAT ACCOUNT AND CAN THIS BE UTILIZED FOR THE $226,000, OR IS THAT A QUESTION FOR LEGAL DEPARTMENT? UNFORTUNATELY, I DO NOT HAVE THE FINANCES ON HOW MUCH IS IN THAT ACCOUNT. IS THE FINANCE DIRECTOR HERE? I KNOW THAT YOU DID GO CHECK AND NO, SHE IS NOT HERE AND THE CITY MANAGER IS ALSO OUT AS WELL. WHEN WE NEED TO MAKE A DECISION ON SOMETHING THIS IMPORTANT, MAY I SPEAK, COUNCILWOMAN? SO I HAVE BEEN TEXTING THE FINANCE DIRECTOR, AND WE FINALLY HAVE A NUMBER. 
          AND I EXPLAINED TO HER THAT THE COUNCIL NEEDS TO KNOW WHAT SHE. WHAT WE CAN DO IS DETERMINE THE ANSWER TO YOUR QUESTION AND FIND OUT AND GIVE YOU AN ANSWER NEXT WEEK AT THE WORK SESSION AS TO HOW MUCH MONEY WE HAVE, HOW WE CAN ALLOCATE THE MONEY, WE CAN GO FORWARD WITH IT. I JUST WILL ROUND IT UP AND SAY THE 250. SO THAT WAS WHAT DIRECTOR CARTWRIGHT AND I, WE'VE BEEN TALKING ON THE PHONE. SO IF THIS IF WE CAN PUT A PIN IN THIS UNTIL NEXT MONDAY, WE SHOULD BE ABLE TO COME BACK AND GIVE YOU A SOLID ANSWER. I'M SORRY. I WAS GOING TO ALSO JUST OFFER UP IF THE ONE THING THAT WE DO HAVE BUDGET BUDGETED FOR THIS YEAR IS THE 4TH OF JULY EVENT. SO IF YOU WERE TO JUST LOOK AT THAT ONE EVENT, WE COULD WRAP AS MUCH AS WE CAN OF THIS INTO IT AND IT IS BUDGETED FOR, BUT IT WOULD JUST BE ONE DAY. OKAY. THANK YOU. I WANT TO 
          [04:15:14]
HOPEFULLY GET US CLOSER TO A DECISION. SO I'D LIKE TO GO AHEAD AND MAKE A MOTION THAT WE APPROVE THE WORLD SOCCER GAME PLAN 2026, NOT TO EXCEED THE BUDGET OF $250 $250,000. SORRY. 
          RIGHT. SO THAT'S MY MOTION. IS THERE A SECOND? SECOND? ANY DISCUSSION? DISCUSSION? YEAH. 
          OKAY. SURE. GO AHEAD. AND THIS IS WITH THE PLAN AS IS WITH NOT CHARGING AND WITHOUT TRIMMING ANY FAT OFF OF IT I GUESS. YEAH. AND I THINK WE JUST SAID WE HAVE 250. SO I THINK THERE'S STILL MIGHT BE A LITTLE SHORT. ANYWAY. SO I THINK WE MIGHT HAVE TO CUT IT SOMEWHERE IF WE DO CONTINUE DOWN THIS ROUTE. OKAY. I YEAH. THANK YOU. YES. THANK YOU I AM I AM VERY CHALLENGED TO SUPPORT THIS THIS EVENING. I AM GOING TO ALSO JUST ECHO THE SENTIMENTS OF MY COLLEAGUE, COUNCIL MEMBER HEMMING, FOR AN EVENT LIKE THIS. THERE HAS BEEN A LOT OF DISCUSSION AROUND THIS, NOT ONLY JUST SPECIFICALLY OR IN ISOLATION OF THE WORLD CUP, BUT WE HAVE ACTUALLY TALKED ABOUT THIS, ABOUT THE FACADE GRANT PROGRAM, BECAUSE WE TALKED ABOUT PARTICULARLY LOCATING ALL OF THOSE DOLLARS IN DOWNTOWN SO THAT WHEN THE WORLD CUP CAME, WE WOULD HAVE A THEMATIC APPEARANCE AND THOSE THINGS WOULD BE UPGRADED AND UPDATED SO THAT WE WERE PUTTING OUR BEST FOOT FORWARD FOR VISITORS WHO WOULD COME HERE. SO THOSE ARE DOLLARS THAT HAVE ALSO BEEN SPENT. I HAVE NO IDEA WHAT'S HAPPENING WITH THAT. I DON'T KNOW, I DON'T IT DOESN'T LOOK LIKE FACADES HAVE BEEN IMPROVED OR ANY OF THOSE THINGS. I DON'T KNOW WHAT THE SCHEDULE IS FOR THAT. WE'VE ALSO TALKED ABOUT THIS BECAUSE WE REALLY WANTED TO SHOWCASE OUR DOWNTOWN. WE WERE VERY CONCERNED ABOUT THE CONSTRUCTION THAT'S HAPPENING ON MAIN STREET AND CLEVELAND AVENUE AND EAST POINT STREET, UNDERSTANDING THAT THERE WAS GOING TO BE THIS HUGE EVENT AND THAT GEOGRAPHICALLY, WE ARE LOCATED BETWEEN THE WORLD'S BUSIEST PASSENGER AIRPORT AND THE STADIUM WHERE THESE GAMES WILL BE PLAYED. AND WE HAVE THE BENEFIT OF A MARTA STATION RIGHT IN OUR DOWNTOWN. AND SO WE WERE GIVING SCHEDULES ABOUT WHEN THAT WOULD BE COMPLETED. THOSE THINGS ARE NOT COMPLETED. SO THOSE ARE ALSO DOLLARS THAT WE'RE SPENDING FOR THIS. I DON'T HAVE AN APPETITE FOR PLANTERS. I DON'T HAVE AN APPETITE FOR ANY OF THOSE THINGS. I NEED REAL LEGACY GIFTS AND INFRASTRUCTURE FOR THIS CITY. WE COME HERE AND WE'RE ASKING TIME AND TIME AGAIN TO SPEND DOLLARS, IN ESSENCE, FOR A PARTY. THE CITIZENS FIT THE BILL AND THEN THE THE DATA COMES BACK AND THE THE PEOPLE WHO ATTEND THOSE EVENTS MOSTLY ARE NOT EVEN EASTPOINTE RESIDENTS. AND WE'RE STILL LEFT WITH INFRASTRUCTURE THAT COULD BE IMPROVED, WAYFINDING THAT COULD BE IMPROVED, A NUMBER OF THINGS. I ALSO TALKED ABOUT HOW OUR BUSINESSES ARE SUFFERING ON MAIN STREET BECAUSE OF THE CONSTRUCTION. THIS IS AN OPPORTUNITY TO FIGURE OUT HOW WE DO A NUMBER OF THINGS AND SUPPORT THOSE BUSINESSES BECAUSE WE INCLUDE WE WE RECEIVE SALES TAXES FROM THEM. WE SHOULD ALSO BE ABLE TO TALK ABOUT THEM AS AMENITIES TO GET PEOPLE TO COME DOWNTOWN. BUT IF WE DON'T SUPPORT THEM AND WE'RE DOING CONSTRUCTION AND STREETS ARE BLOCKED OFF AND THEY'RE COMPLAINING AND ALL OF THOSE THINGS, THIS IS AN OPPORTUNITY TO FOLD A NUMBER OF THINGS INTO THIS. BUT IF THE IF THE ASK IS GIVE US $230,000 TO DO THIS, I DON'T KNOW WHAT OUR LEGACY GIFT IS. AND THERE'S A NUMBER OF OTHER WAYS THAT WE'VE SPENT MONEY THINKING THAT WE WERE PREPARING OURSELVES FOR FIFA. I'M A NO. AND THAT'S NOT JUST SAY THAT I DON'T WANT TO SUPPORT THIS. I AM VERY DISAPPOINTED BECAUSE WE'VE HAD CONVERSATION OVER CONVERSATION AFTER CONVERSATION ABOUT A NUMBER OF THINGS, BECAUSE THESE THINGS ARE NOT IN ISOLATION. THE DOTS HAVE TO BE CONNECTED, BECAUSE IF WE'RE ABLE TO SUPPORT THOSE RESTAURANTS, THAT EVEN HELPS OUR CONVENTION AND VISITORS BUREAU TO TALK. WE DON'T WANT THOSE RESTAURANTS TO JUST SURVIVE. WE WANT THEM TO THRIVE. HOW ARE WE HELPING THEM? I'M JUST NOT CONVINCED I DON'T SEE IT. AND THIS IS A CONVERSATION THAT'S HAPPENED OVER AND OVER AGAIN. CAN I SAY SOMETHING? COUNCIL MEMBER? I'M OPEN TO ADJUSTING THE COST. I 
          [04:20:14]
THINK WE NEED TO DECIDE YES OR NO. AND THEN WE NEED TO BE WE NEED TO PROVIDE SOLUTIONS. 
          RIGHT. I HEAR EVERYTHING THAT COUNCIL MEMBER ATKINS IS SAYING, BUT THIS IS NOT THE TIME TO TALK ABOUT ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT. THREE MONTHS BEFORE THE WORLD SOCCER CUP COMES HERE, THOSE CONVERSATIONS SHOULD HAVE BEEN SHOULD HAVE TAKEN PLACE A LONG TIME AGO. AT THIS POINT, WE ARE DECIDING IF WHEN PEOPLE GET OFF THE TRAIN, IF OUR LIGHTS ARE GOING TO BE OUT AND WE'RE GOING TO BE QUIET AND OUR BUSINESSES GET NOTHING. SO IF THERE'S A DOLLAR AMOUNT THAT WE NEED TO KIND OF DISCUSS AND DECIDE UPON, I THINK WE SHOULD. BUT IT IS GOING TO BE A HUGE AND EVEN BIGGER MISSED OPPORTUNITY IF WE DON'T ACCEPT ANY OF THIS ADDITIONAL BUSINESS COMING TO EAST POINT BECAUSE OF ECONOMIC PLANS, DEVELOPMENT PLANS THAT DIDN'T TAKE PLACE YEARS AGO. 
          THANK YOU. ANY MORE QUESTIONS? ALL RIGHT. SO WE'RE IN ROUND TWO. COUNCILMAN MITCHELL AND THEN COUNCILWOMAN ZIEGLER. I'M GLAD THAT, YOU KNOW, PEOPLE ARE KEEPING OPEN MINDS, BUT THIS MAY BE WORTH HASHING THIS OUT IN THE WORK SESSION, BECAUSE IF THIS FAILS TODAY, THEN THAT'S TWO MORE MONTHS THAT WE HAVE TO WAIT. EITHER WE CAN WAIT A WEEK OR IT SEEMS LIKE IT MIGHT NOT PASS TONIGHT. SO THAT'S JUST SOMETHING TO CONSIDER. AND I THINK THAT'S A PERFECT VENUE TO TALK ABOUT THESE LITTLE THINGS AND KIND OF WORK THAT OUT. WHAT ARE YOUR AND COUNCILWOMAN ZIEGLER, THANK YOU. I'M JUST GOING TO SAY WE HAVE TO GET OUR PRIORITIES RIGHT IN THE CITY. 
          IT IS A MUST. AND BUT AND IN ONE OF THE MANY PRESENTATIONS THAT WE HAD, WE HAD EAST POINT POWER COME HERE TO TELL US THAT IF EVERY SINGLE HOTEL WAS FULL PLUS MADA, THEY DON'T KNOW IF THEY CAN KEEP THE LIGHTS ON. SO THAT'S THE REALITY OF THE SITUATION. I WOULD MUCH RATHER SPEND THIS MONEY BECAUSE WE HAVE NO PLAN, I MEAN, OR THE THE PLAN IS NOT A GOOD ONE AND WE'RE JUST KIND OF FIGURING OUT, AS IT IS IT TO BE HONEST, IT'S TAKEN A LONG TIME TO HAVE YOU ALL COME HERE. IT'S VERY FRUSTRATING. AND I MEAN, AT THIS POINT, I WOULD MUCH RATHER SPEND A QUARTER OF $1 MILLION ON OUR INFRASTRUCTURE FOR POWER THAN SPENDING IT ON ANOTHER PARTY THAT HAS NO ROI. FIRST OF ALL, COUNCILMAN ADKINS, I SHARE YOUR FRUSTRATION I HAVE FOR 28 YEARS, AND I'LL BE HONEST WITH YOU, I HAVEN'T SEEN THAT LEVEL OF TO BE ABLE TO START AND CLOSE PROJECTS IN ALL 28 YEARS THAT I'VE BEEN HERE, I WAS MY SEWER TAP FEES WERE INCREASED 29,000% TO PAY FOR EPA MANDATES TO THE WATER AND SEWER INFRASTRUCTURE. IN 2009, I FELT INFRASTRUCTURE. I LOSE POWER LIKE IT'S GOING OUT OF STYLE AT THE HOME TOO. AND I HAD THE ABILITY TO TAP INTO GEORGIA POWER MAINS. I CHOSE NOT TO. AT MY LAST DEVELOPMENT WHEN I BUILT THE HILTON GARDEN INN, I DID, AND I HAD 100% UPTIME FOR YEARS. HERE. I DON'T ONE BLIP AND YEAH, IT COULD COME RIGHT BACK ON IN TWO SECONDS, BUT 36 OF MY SYSTEMS INTERNALLY HAVE RESET AND IT'S A PROBLEM. BUT MY MY THING IS AND I'M NOT LOOK YOUR DECISION EITHER WAY THIS IS SORT OF THE PERFECT STORM TO HAVE A MULTI-DAY EVENT. IF WE WANTED TO GIVE BACK TO THE BUSINESS COMMUNITY AND BE ABLE TO EARN, WE'RE LOOKING AT THE COST. I GET IT, YOU GUYS GET SALES TAX, YOU GUYS GET HOTEL MOTEL TAX, YOU GET, YOU KNOW, THE RESTAURANTS AND RETAIL EVERYBODY ELSE MAKES OUT WITH A LITTLE BIT AND THAT'S FINE. MAYBE AT SOME POINT OR ANOTHER IT'S A NET WASH. I DON'T SEE, HONESTLY, WITH 28 YEARS OF EXPERIENCE, IF WE DON'T DO THIS, FINE. NO PROBLEM. BUT I DON'T SEE YOU GUYS SOLVING THOSE OTHER PROBLEMS THAT YOU WERE TALKING ABOUT EITHER. OKAY. THANK YOU. YEP. ALL RIGHT. COUNCIL, THERE'S A MOTION STILL IN NOW WHAT? HE OKAY. GO AHEAD. SO WHAT I'M JUST SAYING IS THAT WE HAVE TO GET OUR PRIORITIES STRAIGHT. AND, YOU KNOW, JUST LIKE LIKE THAT INSTANCE YOU JUST DESCRIBED WHERE, YOU KNOW, OKAY, THE, YOU KNOW, YOUR WHOLE HOTEL LOST POWER FOR, LET'S JUST SAY TWO SECONDS AND MAYBE NO ONE EVEN COULD HAVE NOTICED IT, BUT IN REALITY, IT COMPLETELY ALL YOUR SYSTEMS HAD TO BE REBOOTED. THAT IS A HUGE DISRUPTION TO YOUR BUSINESS. WE HAVE TO GET OUR PRIORITIES 
          [04:25:04]
STRAIGHT, AND HAVING AND HAVING THIS PARTY WITH NO ROI WHERE WE HAVE BEEN. I HAVE PERSONALLY TRIED TO CONTACT PEOPLE. EXCUSE ME, I THINK THAT'S SOMEONE ELSE. OKAY. AND I'VE BEEN TOLD TO TAKE IT OFF THE AGENDA BECAUSE WHAT YOU ALL ARE DOING IS TOO CONFIDENTIAL. I DON'T KNOW HOW IT'S CONFIDENTIAL TO START PLANNING OUT DIFFERENT, YOU KNOW, GENERAL THINGS BECAUSE, LIKE, ALL THESE THINGS SHOULD HAVE BEEN TALKED ABOUT AND PLANNED ABOUT A LONG TIME AGO. 
          COUNCILWOMAN ZIEGLER, WE'VE BEEN MEETING WITH YOUR CITY MANAGER. WE'VE BEEN MEETING WITH ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT. WE'VE DONE PRESENTATIONS TO THE COMMUNITY. SO WE WANT TO DO BE CLEAR THAT WE HAVE BEEN SHARING THIS INFORMATION FOR A VERY LONG TIME. WE HAVE NOT BEEN ASKED TO COME TO CITY COUNCIL, JUST AS WE WERE ASKED. NOW WE ARE HERE TODAY. WE HAVE BEEN ASKING FOR THAT COMMITTEE. YOU SPECIFICALLY HAD ASKED US TWICE TO BEAT. WE MADE SURE TO MAKE THAT TIME AVAILABLE AND HAD THAT MEETING TO MEET WITH YOU. TO GO OVER ALL OF THIS IN DETAIL. WE AGAIN DID IT WITH THE CITY MANAGER ON MULTIPLE TIMES. SO WE DO HAVE TO BE CLEAR THAT BY NO MEANS HAS THE CVB NOT BEEN MEETING SHARING WITH ALL THE DEPARTMENT HEADS OF THE EXACT PLANS IN DETAIL BECAUSE WE WANTED TO GIVE THEM DETAIL SO THEY WOULD HAVE A BENEFIT AND A BETTER SCOPE OF WHAT COULD BE DONE. WE CAN'T DECIDE THE CITY'S BUDGET. WHAT WE DID WAS CREATE A PLAN TO ASSIST IN MAKING THIS A GREATER IMPACT FOR THE CITY. ALL WE COULD DO IS PLAN FOR OUR MARKETING, PLANNING, PROMOTING. BUT WE NEED A EVENT TO PROMOTE. 
          SO WE WOULD DEPENDING ON THE CITY TO COME UP WITH THAT. AND WHEN WE SAW NO ACTION, WE LITERALLY CREATED A PLAN FOR THE CITY AND SHARED THAT WITH YOUR CITY MANAGER AND EVERY OTHER DEPARTMENT ON A WEEKLY BASIS. I HAVE A MUCH DIFFERENT VERSION OF THAT BECAUSE I HAD A PHONE CALL WITH YOU, MR. SHAW, AND YOU TOLD ME TO TAKE IT OFF THE AGENDA AND NOT HAVE IT ON THE AGENDA AGAIN, BECAUSE YOU YOU WERE CONCERNED ABOUT HAVING YOUR IDEAS STOLEN. MA'AM, I'VE NEVER ONCE SPOKEN TO YOU ABOUT ANYTHING WITH AN AGENDA. I WAS ON THE RECEIVING END OF YOU NOT SHOWING UP ON DECEMBER 11TH, WHEN WE HAD A SPECIAL, SPECIAL MEETING WITH. CAN WE JUST FOR ONE SECOND, PLEASE, EVERYONE? COUNCILWOMAN ZIEGLER, DO YOU HAVE ANY ADDITIONAL COMMENTS AT THIS TIME? OKAY. DOES ANYONE ELSE ON COUNCIL HAVE AN ADDITIONAL COMMENT AT THIS TIME? I DO. OKAY. WHAT ROUND ARE WE ON? OKAY. YOU'RE ON. THIS IS YOUR SECOND ROUND SO GO AHEAD. 
          AND I AM SO GLAD TO HEAR THAT WE SHOULD GET OUR PRIORITIES STRAIGHT. BUT I STILL DON'T HEAR ANYONE. WE HAVE A CITY MANAGER. THAT COUNCIL DIRECTS TO DO THINGS FOR US. THESE. THE CVB WAS SCHEDULED TO COME TO A MEETING ON MARCH 16TH, MARCH 16TH. AND IT WAS, AND IT WAS BY THE CITY MANAGER. AND NO ONE IS GOING TO EVEN BE HERE ON MARCH 16TH. SO WHEN WE TALK ABOUT PRIORITIES, WE NEED TO TALK ABOUT WHAT ROLE EVERYONE HAS PLAYED IN THIS, WHAT ROLE I PLAYED IN IT, EVERYONE UP HERE, WHAT ROLE DID WE PLAY IN THIS? AND NOW WE'RE AT THE 11TH HOUR, GOING BACK AND FORTH WITH THE CVB. LIKE, I MEAN, YEAH, WE DO NEED TO GET OUR PRIORITIES STRAIGHT. BUT THE OTHER THING I WANTED TO SAY IS THIS WE'RE TALKING ABOUT THIS, BUT JUST LAST WEEK IT WAS ON THE AGENDA TO GIVE A BUSINESS $30,000. ONE BUSINESS IN DOWNTOWN EAST POINT. 
          LIKE WE TALK ABOUT PRIORITIES. AND THE ATLANTA I THINK IT WAS THE ATLANTA CID WAS BEFORE US. 
          THEY WANTED $17,000 FOR ROOSEVELT HIGHWAY. AND THAT WE TALK ABOUT PRIORITIES. AND WE HAD A BUDGET PRESENTATION THAT SAID THE WATER AND SEWER DEPARTMENT WAS $10 MILLION SHORTFALL. INCORRECT. LIKE SO. YEAH, LET'S GET OUR PRIORITIES IN ORDER AND LET'S SIT DOWN AND POSSIBLY GET ON THE SAME PAGE AND REALLY DEAL IN TRANSPARENCY AND ACCOUNTABILITY. LIKE THE ONLY THING THEY ARE ASKING IS FOR SOME MONEYS. AND WE STILL DON'T HAVE A CLEAR CUT ANSWER TONIGHT ABOUT HOW WE MOVE FORWARD. IF THIS IS A MISSED OPPORTUNITY FOR EAST POINT, THEN IT'S A MISSED OPPORTUNITY. THE RESIDENTS ARE GOING TO SUFFER. EAST POINT IS GOING TO SUFFER. THE RUMOR MILL IS ALREADY OUT THERE. YOU HAVE ONE PERSON SAYING THIS, ONE PERSON 
          [04:30:07]
SAYING THAT, LIKE, WHEN ARE WE GOING TO GET ON THE SAME PAGE? I THINK WE'VE BEEN TALKING ABOUT THIS FOR FOUR HOURS. EITHER WE ARE GOING TO MOVE FORWARD OR WE'RE NOT. WE'RE TALKING ABOUT TAKING THIS TO A WORK SESSION. WHO IS GOING TO SIT IN A WORK SESSION UNTIL, WHAT, 1 OR 2:00 IN THE MORNING? I MEAN, WE ALL HOLD SOME CULPABILITY IN THIS IN WHAT HAS TRANSPIRED HERE, AND THERE'S NO NEED OF POINTING THE FINGERS AND POINTING THE FINGERS. WHEN THEY SAID THEY'VE MET WITH THE CITY ADMINISTRATOR. SO I YIELD WHATEVER EASTPOINTE OR WHATEVER THE WILL OF THE COUNCIL IS, IS FINE WITH ME. BUT LET'S NOT BE SO SELF-RIGHTEOUS, OKAY? PLEASE. 
          THANK YOU, THANK YOU. AND I JUST WANTED TO ASK WE I ALSO SENT OVER A RECOMMENDATION FOR A CONSULTANT ON EVENT PLANNING THAT COULD DO SOME SCALABILITY FOR US, JUST TO SEE WHERE WE COULD GO AND WHAT THE PLANS AND THINGS WOULD BE. I BELIEVE THAT I SHARED THAT WITH MR. MR. MACEO, I SENT THE INFORMATION OVER TO YOU OR IT WAS ALSO MAYBE. I'M SORRY. I'M. DID YOU GET THAT INFORMATION? I BELIEVE IT WAS WITH THE ASSISTANT TO THE CITY MANAGER. OH, OKAY. 
          WELL, I HADN'T RECEIVED IT FROM HER YET. I DON'T CHECK MY EMAILS TO MAKE SURE. OKAY, SO I'M GOING TO GO AHEAD AND WRAP THIS UP AND IS THERE THE MOTION WAS ON THE FLOOR TO APPROVE THE BUDGET. IS THERE A SECOND? THERE WAS A SECOND WAS COUNCIL MEMBER COMMENTS MADE? A SECOND MOVE WAS HAVING TO MAKE A SECOND COUNCIL MEMBER COMMENTS MADE. THE SECOND COUNCILMEMBER CALDWELL MADE THE MOTION. OKAY. COUNCILWOMAN, DO YOU HAVE ANOTHER DISCUSSION ITEM? I HAVE AN AMENDMENT. YOU VOTE, YOU'RE VOTING. I HAVE A FRIENDLY AMENDMENT, A MOTION. SO IF COUNCIL MEMBER CALL, I WILL ACCEPT. I WANT TO AMEND HER MOTION TO APPROVE THE PLANS AS PROPOSED. THE ADDITIONAL SPENDING NOT TO EXCEED $100,000 AND THE SOURCE OF FUNDS NEEDS TO COME FROM THE PREVIOUSLY APPROVED COUNCIL EVENTS COMMITTEES SPENDING BUDGET. I DON'T HAVE THE PRECISE NAME, SO MAYBE THE DEPUTY CITY MANAGER OR SOMEONE CAN TELL ME THE PRECISE NAME. BUT THIS PLAN THAT THEY HAVE, WE APPROVE IT. THE ADDITIONAL FUNDS NOT TO EXCEED $100,000, AND IT NEEDS TO COME FROM THE ALREADY APPROVED COUNCIL COMMITTEES AND EVENTS BUDGET. DO YOU ACCEPT MY FRIENDLY MOTION AMENDMENT? YES. THANK YOU. ALRIGHT, SO THE MOTION ON THE FLOOR IS NOW TO. SECOND, SECOND. OH GO AHEAD. I'M SORRY. COUNCILWOMAN. 
          COUNCILMAN MITCHELL, DOES IT STILL STAND? NO, I'M. I'M IN FOR DISCUSSION. ALRIGHT. COMING. 
          DOES IT. SO YOU SECOND THE AMENDMENT. OKAY. SO WE SECOND THE AMENDMENT. IS THERE ANY ANY FURTHER DISCUSSION. YES. OKAY. COUNCILOR. SO EVEN THAT'S WHY I SAID IT MIGHT BE WORTH TALKING ABOUT BECAUSE EVEN IN THIS SCENARIO WE HAVE TO CUT $126,000. AND IN EVEN IN AN EVENT BUDGET, DO WE HAVE THE MONEY TO ALLOCATE FROM THERE? AS I UNDERSTAND FROM THE LAST PRESENTATION IN THAT $943,000, THERE WAS STILL 400 AND SOME $40,000 THAT HAD NOT BEEN SPENT. 
          ONE OF THE EVENTS THAT WE'VE NAMED SEVERAL TIMES TONIGHT WAS OVER BUDGET BY $92,000. SO I DON'T DO BASIC MATH VERY WELL, BUT THERE IS SOME FUNDS THAT ARE STILL EXISTING. THOSE EVENTS INCLUDED BASKETBALL GAMES, JAZZ FESTIVAL. THERE WERE MULTIPLE EVENTS THAT WERE IN THAT BUDGET. AND SO THE REASON WHY I'M MAKING THE AMENDMENT TO ONLY ALLOW UP TO $100,000, THEY WILL HAVE TO FIGURE OUT WHERE THOSE CHANGES COME FROM. BUT THAT WAY THE MONEY IS ALREADY APPROVED IN THE BUDGET, AND WE DON'T HAVE TO FIND ADDITIONAL REVENUE OR FUNDS TO HAVE IT. I APPRECIATE WHAT MR. SHAW AND OTHERS HAVE SHARED ABOUT THE MISSED OPPORTUNITY. I STILL THINK THAT THIS IS NOT A PERFECT ANSWER, BUT I AM HOPING THAT WE CAN GET TO A REASONABLE DECISION TONIGHT. I DON'T THINK THAT THIS IS A PERFECT SOLUTION, BUT MY MY HOPE AND MY EXPRESSION TO MY COLLEAGUES IS OUR FRUSTRATIONS ARE NOT GOING TO BE ANSWERED BY THIS ONE VOTE. HOWEVER, WE CAN USE THIS ONE VOTE TO MAKE THE MOST OUT OF THIS PARTICULAR SITUATION. SO I DO BELIEVE THE MONEY EXISTS. MISS DEPUTY CITY MANAGER IS 
          [04:35:08]
CONFIRMING THAT WITH THE FINANCE DIRECTOR. BUT IT'S 11:00 AND WE DON'T HAVE A DECISION. AND IF WE DON'T HAVE A DECISION, THEN WE NEED TO LET LET THESE PEOPLE GO ARREST. 
          THIS ISN'T YOU KNOW, IT'S GOING TO HOLD UP THE PROCESS EVEN MORE IF THIS FAILS. SO THAT'S WHY I SAY IT'S IT'S AT LEAST TWO MONTHS BEFORE WE CAN PREVAILING CAN RECONSIDER. OKAY. 
          OKAY. SO LIKE I SAID, WE CAN RUSH THROUGH IT TONIGHT AND THEN WE WON'T HAVE A WHOLE NOTHER SITUATION. SO AND THEN LIKE I SAID, WE HAVE TO MAKE SURE THIS MONEY IS THERE BECAUSE I'M NOT POSITIVE ON WHAT YOU'RE REFERRING TO. AND YOU KNOW, WHAT'S THAT GOING TO TAKE AWAY FROM SOMETHING THAT'S ALREADY BEEN PLANNED OR WE DON'T KNOW HOW THAT MIGHT AFFECT SOME OTHER EVENTS, BUT. DO WE WANT I THINK WE NEED TO BE POSITIVE BEFORE. BUT I YOU I DON'T KNOW YOU OKAY. OKAY. SO WE'RE AT THE POINT WHERE WE CAN WE CAN DISCUSSION. GO AHEAD. 
          THANK YOU. I AGREE, COUNCIL MEMBER HEMMING THAT THE MONEY MAY BE THERE. HOWEVER WE DON'T KNOW WHAT DOLLARS ARE ALLOCATED TO OTHER EVENTS. SO TO COUNCILMEMBER MITCHELL'S POINT, THERE'S A JUNETEENTH EVENT. THERE'S A NUMBER OF EVENTS. SO IF WE VOTE TONIGHT TO SPEND THOSE DOLLARS, THEN WE GOT TO FIGURE OUT WHERE WE'RE GETTING THE MONEY FROM FOR THOSE OTHER EVENTS. SO YES, THERE MAY HAVE BEEN AND I DON'T KNOW WHAT THAT NUMBER IS. I HONESTLY DO NOT KNOW WHAT THAT NUMBER IS, BUT THERE WERE A NUMBER OF EVENTS THERE. SO THAT JUST IN MY MIND, WE'RE STILL SPENDING, WE'RE NOT REALLY PLANNING, AND WE'RE NOT TRYING TO UTILIZE THESE DOLLARS IN A WAY THAT ALSO WILL BEST SERVE THE CITY AND OUR CITIZENS. SO ARE WE. SO TO THE CITY ATTORNEY, YEAH, YOU CAN ASK A QUESTION TO THE CITY. IS THERE A WAY THAT WE CAN JUST TO TAKE IN CONSIDERATION WHAT COUNCIL MEMBER ATKINS AND COUNCIL MEMBER MITCHELL ARE SAYING, THAT WE CAN SAY YES IF THIS, LIKE IF THE MONEY IS THERE, IF THE MONEY ISN'T THERE, THEN OBVIOUSLY WE WOULD NEED TO RETRACT THE MOTION OR WHATEVER IT IS. BUT IS THERE A WAY THAT WE CAN SAY, YES, WE WANT TO MOVE FORWARD IF THESE NEXT THINGS ARE IN PLACE? I GUESS YOU CAN COUCH YOUR LANGUAGE AS A CONTINGENCY. I THINK THE WHAT COUNCILMAN MITCHELL IS SAYING IS THAT IF YOU DON'T HAVE THE SUPPORT FOR THE FRIENDLY AMENDMENT AND THE OVERALL MOTION TONIGHT, YOU WILL BE PROHIBITED FROM BRINGING THIS BACK FOR 60 DAYS. AND SO IF IT'S THE WILL OF THE MAJORITY OF YOU TO NOT VOTE YES FOR YOUR MOTION, MY RECOMMENDATION IS TO PUT THIS OFF UNTIL THE NUMBERS CAN BE. ACHIEVED OR RETRIEVED RATHER FROM THE CITY MANAGER'S OFFICE THROUGH FINANCE. SO TO RETRACT THE MOTION, IF IF THERE IS A SENTIMENT THAT IT WILL NOT GET MAJORITY SUPPORT, THEN THAT WOULD BE BEST. I THINK WE HAVE TO TAKE IT ALL BACK THERE A MOTION TO DO. WE HAVE TO HAVE A MOTION TO RETRACT. DO YOU HAVE TO SECOND THE MOTION TO HOLD ON FOR A SECOND, PLEASE? CITY MANAGER, CITY ATTORNEY, ONCE SHE RETRACTS THE MOTION, IS IT DEAD AT THAT POINT, OR DO WE HAVE TO HAVE A VOTE ON THAT? NO, YOU DON'T WANT TO VOTE. THE VOTE IS GOING TO TRIGGER THE PROHIBITION FOR BRINGING IT BACK. OKAY. SO WE CAN BRING. 
          OKAY, SO YOU ARE RETRACTING YOUR MOTION, AND I WANT TO MAKE A MOTION THAT WE WE CONFIRM THE FUNDS. LIKE I WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT THERE'S ACTION ON THAT PIECE BY THE NEXT WORK SESSION SO THAT WE CAN MAKE A DECISION ON THIS. I THINK WE WILL TREAT THIS AS WE TREAT IT. COUNCILMAN, COUNCILWOMAN ROGERS'S EARLIER ISSUE THAT TO PUT IT ON THE WORK SESSION WITH THE NOTATION THAT IT'S AN EMERGENCY. SO WE'RE EXPECTING DISCUSSION AND A VOTE AT THE WORK SESSION BECAUSE VOTES ARE NOT NORMALLY DONE AT THE WORK SESSION, BUT WITH THE NOTATION THAT IT IT'S AN EMERGENCY ITEM, WHICH IT IS GIVEN THE TIMELINE OF GETTING THIS, THESE THINGS PROCURED, THAT YOU WOULD PUT IT ON A WORK SESSION TO GET THE UPDATE FROM FINANCE, WHICH WON'T REQUIRE A MOTION. I THINK IT'S IT'S JUST A PUTTING IT ON THE WORK SESSION. SO WE WE HAVE TO. SO 
          [04:40:07]
HOW DO I TAKE THIS BACK. YOU ALREADY YOU ALREADY TOOK THIS BACK OKAY. YOU WANT TO JUST MAKE SURE THAT THIS ITEM OKAY IS MOVED TO THE WORK SESSION? YES. OKAY. AND THEN IT WILL BE AN EMERGENCY. MADAM CITY CLERK, WE'RE MOVING. THIS ITEM IS GOING TO THE NEXT WORK SESSION, AND THEN IT WILL BE AN EMERGENCY SITUATION WHERE WE WILL HAVE TO MAKE A VOTE INSIDE OF THAT MEETING. AND I WILL GO OVER TO. SO WE. COUNCILWOMAN MARTIN ROGERS, DO YOU HAVE A QUESTION? NO. ALL RIGHT. THANK YOU FOR YOUR PRESENTATION. THANK YOU. YOU DON'T HAVE ANYTHING, SIR? MADAM MAYOR. YEAH, I HAVE A QUESTION FOR THE CITY ATTORNEY. WEREN'T WASN'T THERE A MOTION ON THE FLOOR? WHAT I HEARD WAS THAT THE MAYOR ASKED THAT WHETHER OR NOT COUNCILWOMAN CALDWELL WAS RETRACTING HER MOTION, AND I THOUGHT THAT THAT WAS A POSITIVE. YES, YES. OKAY. DID I MISS DID I MISS SOMETHING? NO, I JUST HEARD ABOUT MOVING IT TO NEXT WEEK, BUT WHATEVER. THAT'S FINE. YES. THERE WAS NO VOTE ON THAT MOTION. SHE'S RETRACTING HER MOTION. SECONDS. THEN FAIL. NO ACTION. OKAY. WE HAVE ITEM NUMBER EIGHT. IF. YOU'RE IN FOR 
          [XIV.8. Council Discussion and Possible Action on Vendor, Mansfield Oil, from Omnia (#159331) Cooperative Agreement]
WHAT? TO MAKE A MOTION FOR ITEM NUMBER EIGHT. OH, GO AHEAD. COUNCIL DISCUSSION AND POSSIBLE ACTION ON VENDOR MANSFELD OIL IN FROM OMNIA COOPERATIVE AGREEMENT AT THIS TIME. MADAM MAYOR, I'D LIKE TO MAKE A MOTION TO APPROVE THE VENDOR. MANSFIELD OIL AND OMNIA NUMBER 159 331 COOPERATIVE AGREEMENT IN THE AMOUNT OF $965,000. THAT'S NOT OKAY. IS THERE A SECOND? ANY DISCUSSION? THERE'S NO NO SECOND, NO SECOND, SECOND. OKAY. IT'S A SECOND. ANY DISCUSSION? ALL THOSE IN FAVOR I HAVE DISCUSSION OKAY I HAVE DISCUSSION AS WELL. YEAH I, I'M NOT SURE I DON'T KNOW WHAT THIS IS. COUNCIL MEMBER MARTIN ROGERS AND YOU SAID THE AMOUNT IS 900 AND HOW MANY THOUSAND. IT'S NINE. IT'S $965,000. IF WE GO AHEAD TO OUR AGENDA PACKET, IT IS FOR GASOLINE FOR OUR FLEET SERVICE. I'M SORRY. IT IS ITEM NUMBER NINE. OH, SORRY. HI. 
          YES. COUNCIL DISCUSSION AND POSSIBLE ACTION ON A VENDOR. MANSFIELD OIL FROM COOPERATIVE AGREEMENT FOR GASOLINE AND DIESEL. I WOULD JUST FOR THE SPEAKER. I THINK HE'S HERE FROM FLEET SERVICES. IS THAT CORRECT? YES, SIR. OKAY. SO THIS 965,000, HOW DOES THAT COMPARE TO PREVIOUS YEAR OR IS THIS BETTER OR ARE THEY GOING UP OR WHAT ARE WE LOOKING AT HERE. WELL, I'M ANTICIPATING THE FUEL PRICES TO GO UP. WE NEVER KNOW WHICH WAY THEY'RE GOING, ESPECIALLY SINCE WE'RE HAVING A WAR RIGHT NOW. SO WE DON'T KNOW WHICH WHICH WAY THE PRICES ARE GOING TO GO. BUT I DON'T PLAN TO EXCEED THE THE NT THAT WE HAVE ON THE PACKET. WHAT WERE OUR ACTUALS FOR THE LAST FISCAL YEAR? SO IN 24 WE SPENT 500,000 WAS BUDGETED FOR GASOLINE AND 235,000 FOR DIESEL, WHICH BROUGHT IT TO 100, $735,000 FOR 24 AND 25. SO FOR BOTH 24 AND 25. YES, SIR. OKAY. AND SO THE AMOUNT OF 965 IS A GUESSTIMATE OF OR PROJECTION. YES. MAZEPIN, IN THIS UPCOMING FISCAL YEAR. YES SIR. THAT'S CORRECT OKAY. AND THAT IS BASED ON I MEAN THE WAR I KNOW WE'VE GOT SOME WARS IN THE MIDDLE EAST. YES SIR. SO I JUST ADDED ABOUT 15% TO OUR 500,000. JUST TO HOPEFULLY THAT WE DON'T EXCEED THAT. SO THAT'S HOW I CAME UP WITH THE NUMBER. 
          I JUST INCREASED IT. JUST A GUESSTIMATION PERCENTAGE OKAY. YES SIR. THANK YOU FOR THAT. 
          AND ALSO WITH THE TAKE ON POLICY AND THE FLEET INCREASING, OUR FUEL IS OUR FUEL USAGE IS GOING UP. SO SO DO WE HAVE MORE EMPLOYEES TAKING VEHICLES HOME? I WOULD SAY YES, MA'AM. AND. 
          [04:45:10]
HOW DOES ONE QUALIFY FOR THAT. MY QUESTION WOULD BE IF. WELL, IT'S IT'S MOSTLY POLICE PUBLIC SAFETY. SO THE TAKE HOME POLICY REALLY CLAMPS DOWN ON OUR REPAIR COST. SO THAT'S HOW THE TAKE ON POLICY REALLY CAME INTO EFFECT FOR THE CITY. BECAUSE BEFORE WE HAD TO TAKE ON POLICY, THEY WERE JUST THE CARS WERE ON THEIR EXTREME DUTY 24 HOUR, SEVEN DAYS A WEEK. SO THEY'RE NOT THEY'RE NOT UNDER EXTREME DUTY ANYMORE. BUT WITH THE TAKE ON POLICY, IT DOES INCREASE THE FUEL USAGE. OKAY. SO WE'RE SAVING ON THE WEAR AND TEAR. IS THAT WHAT YOU'RE SAYING? YES, SIR. WE'RE SAVING ON THE WEAR AND TEAR. WE'RE WE'RE SPENDING MORE ON THE FUEL. YES. AND WHAT WHAT ARE THOSE SAVINGS THAT INFORMATION I DON'T HAVE. OKAY. ARE YOU. THANK YOU. YOU'RE WELCOME. COUNCILMAN. FREELY. I'M SORRY, SIR, I DIDN'T GET YOUR NAME. MY NAME IS ALPHONSO LINDSEY. I'M THE FLEET SUPERINTENDENT. THANK YOU. YEAH, I HAD SOME OF THE SAME QUESTIONS. COUNCIL MEMBER ATKINS, I JUST WANTED TO KNOW A LITTLE BIT MORE ABOUT IT. I ALSO WANTED TO RESPECT THE FACT THAT YOU SAT HERE UNTIL 11:00 AT NIGHT AND WANTED YOU TO BE ABLE TO COME TO THE PODIUM BEFORE WE TAKE ACTION. SO THANK YOU. YOU'RE WELCOME. ANY MORE DISCUSSION? ALL THOSE IN FAVOR? ALL THOSE OPPOSED? THANK YOU. THAT MOTION PASSES. NO. HE'S NEXT. OKAY, SO WE'RE MOVING ON TO ITEM NUMBER NINE. THE COUNCIL DISCUSSION AND POSSIBLE 
          [XIV.9. Council Discussion and Possible Action on Maintenance Facility Camera Upgrades Vendor Pro Logicits Funding Source Capitol Improvements NTE 31,746.04]
ACTION ON MAINTENANCE FACILITY CAMERA UPGRADES, VENDOR PRO LOGISTICS FUNDING SOURCE CAPITAL IMPROVEMENTS. MOTION. IS THERE A SECOND DO WE IS THERE A SECOND? I'M GOING TO MAKE THE MOTION. I'D LIKE TO MAKE THE MOTION TO APPROVE THE MAINTENANCE FACILITY. CAMERA UPGRADES FOR THE VENDOR. PRO LOGISTICS. THE FUNDING SOURCE IS CAPITAL IMPROVEMENTS IN T FOR $31,746.04. IS THERE A SECOND? THANK YOU. ANY DISCUSSION? COUNCILWOMAN? COUNCILMAN? NO. HE'S IN. COUNCILMAN. BREATHING. YEAH. COULD YOU JUST TALK A LITTLE BIT ABOUT WHAT THIS ITEM IS? YEAH, SURE. SO WE HAVE 16 CAMERAS AT THE FLEET. I'VE DISCOVERED ABOUT FIVE BLIND SPOTS, ESPECIALLY AROUND THIS TIME OF THE YEAR WHEN IT GETS WARM. WE HAVE VISITORS LATE AT NIGHT, AND THEY LIKE TO SHOP AROUND THE YARD. SO ADDING THESE CAMERAS AND CHANGING OUT OUR NVR SYSTEM WILL HELP US GET ALERTS WHEN THE YARD IS BEING VIOLATED AT NIGHT. AND WE'RE GOING TO GET RID OF THOSE BLIND SPOTS WHERE THEY LIKE TO HIDE. 
          SO WE'LL BE ABLE TO HAVE BE A LITTLE BIT MORE VIGILANT ON THE YARD ABOUT PROTECTING OUR ASSETS. OKAY. SO JUST FOR THE THE LISTENING PUBLIC, THIS IS A SECURITY MEASURE TO PROTECT OUR FLEET. YES, SIR. IT'S LOCKED UP. YEAH. THE WHOLE THE NOT JUST WELL, THE WHOLE COMPOUND. YES. 
          OKAY. THANK YOU. COUNCILWOMAN MARK ROGERS. OKAY. ALL THOSE IN FAVOR? ALL THOSE OPPOSED? THE 
          [XIV.10. Fleet Motor Pool Council Discussion and Possible Action on Vendor, Hardy Family Ford, from State Contract # 99999-001-SPD0000183-0004, for (2) F-150 Model Years 2026 and (1) Ford Explorer Model Year 2026. NOT TO EXCEED: $125,695 FUNDING SOURCE: CIP Vehicles]
AYES HAVE IT. THANK YOU. AND THEN WE'LL MOVE ON TO ITEM NUMBER TEN. FLEET MOTOR POOL COUNCIL DISCUSSION AND POSSIBLE ACTION ON THE VENDOR. HARDY FAMILY. FORD FROM STATE CONTRACT 99999-001 SPD 0000183-000442 F-150 MODEL YEAR 2026 AND FORD EXPLORER MODEL 2026 NOT TO EXCEED $125,695. FUNDING SOURCE CIP VEHICLES. IS THERE A MOTION? SO MOVED. 
          SECOND, ANY DISCUSSION? ALL THOSE IN FAVOR? AYE. ALL THOSE OPPOSED? THANK YOU SIR. THANK 
          [XIV.11. Council Discussion and Possible Action on Downtown Business Support Funding for DDA]
YOU FOR YOUR TIME. OKAY. COUNCIL DISCUSSION AND POSSIBLE ACTION ON DOWNTOWN BUSINESS SUPPORTING FUNDING FOR DDA. MADAM MAYOR, I'D LIKE TO MAKE A MOTION TO OPEN THE FLOOR FOR 
          [04:50:04]
DISCUSSION AND POSSIBLE ACTION ON. THE DOWNTOWN BUSINESS SUPPORT FUNDING FOR DDA. SECOND, IT'S BEEN MOVED IMPROPERLY. SECOND, IS THERE ANY DISCUSSION? DISCUSSION? GO AHEAD. YES. I WOULD JUST LIKE TO SAY AT THIS TIME, I KNOW THAT THE HOUR IS GETTING LATE. WE RECEIVED OUR AGENDA PACKETS ON SATURDAY. THAT IS WHY I AM WORKING DILIGENTLY TO ENSURE THAT WE GET OUR INFORMATION IN A TIMELY FASHION. I HAVE NOT HAD THE OPPORTUNITY TO REVIEW THE DOWNTOWN BUSINESS RECOVERY GRANT, BUT ONE THING THAT I DO I DID NOTICE ABOUT WHAT WE READ WAS I DIDN'T SEE I WANTED MORE OUTREACH SO THAT ALL BUSINESSES WOULD BE ABLE TO APPLY FOR THIS AND WHAT THAT LOOKS LIKE. SO I DO THINK THAT IT IS ALMOST 12 MIDNIGHT. I WOULD LIKE TO PUT THIS ON THE WORK SESSION AGENDA SO THAT I KNOW THAT I NEED TIME TO PROPERLY VET THE APPLICATION MATERIALS. THAT'S JUST MY SUGGESTION, BUT IT IS WHATEVER THE WILL OF COUNCIL IS. BUT I HAVEN'T HAD TIME TO PROPERLY VET THE MATERIALS. THANK YOU. IS IT THE. I STILL WOULD LIKE TO OPEN THE FLOOR FOR DISCUSSION AND POSSIBLE ACTION. YOU WERE STILL IN DISCUSSION. 
          YOU CAN GO, OH, YOU'RE IN DISCUSSION ON THE MOTION TO OPEN THE FLOOR FOR DISCUSSION. 
          I THINK WE NEED AN ALL IN FAVOR I SO THEN IT CAN BE DISCUSSED. OKAY. ALL IN FAVOR. AYE. ALL THOSE OPPOSED AYES HAVE IT. GOOD EVENING, MADAM MAYOR AND CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS. BEFORE YOU TONIGHT IS A REQUEST TO AUTHORIZE $30,000 IN FUNDING TO THE DOWNTOWN DEVELOPMENT AUTHORITY TO ESTABLISH AN EASTPOINTE DOWNTOWN BUSINESS RECOVERY FUND. AS YOU ALL KNOW, OVER THE PAST YEAR, OUR DOWNTOWN BUSINESSES HAVE BEEN IMPACTED BY AN INFRASTRUCTURE INVESTMENT THAT WE'VE DONE ALONG THE MAIN STREET CORRIDOR, WHICH IS REDUCED ACCESS, LIMITED VISIBILITY, AND EXTENDED CONSTRUCTION TIMELINES BEYOND WHAT WE EXPECTED. AND THIS PROGRAM IS DESIGNED TO HELP SHOW SUPPORT FOR THOSE SMALL BUSINESSES. WE HAD A LIST OF CONCERNS FROM YOU ALL AT THE FEBRUARY 9TH WORK SESSION, AND WE BELIEVE THE DEVELOPMENT AUTHORITY HAS EMBRACED ALL THOSE RECOMMENDATIONS YOU'VE HAD AND ACTUALLY DESIGNED A PROGRAM THAT'S IN YOUR PACKET THAT ADDRESSES THOSE. WE HAVE THE BOARD CHAIR, SONIA BOOKER FROM DDA HERE WHO CAN TALK IN MORE DETAIL ABOUT THE PROGRAM. SO I'M GOING TO ASK HER TO COME ON UP AND SHARE SOME INFORMATION ABOUT HOW THEY TOOK IN THE FEEDBACK THAT YOU ALL GAVE AND DESIGNED THIS PROGRAM TO SUPPORT THE BUSINESSES. GOOD EVENING. MY NAME IS SONIA BOOKER. I'M THE CHAIR OF THE DDA, AND I AM GLAD TO BE WITH YOU ON THIS HOUR. AND YOU KNOW, I WAS SITTING OUT THINKING AS I WAS WAITING TO COME UP AS A BUSINESS OWNER, AS A SMALL BUSINESS OWNER MYSELF, THAT I WOULD HOPE THAT SOMEONE WOULD WAIT TO MIDNIGHT TO PRESENT MY CASE AS A SMALL BUSINESS. AND SO THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR STAYING THE COURSE AND OPENING UP THE FLOOR FOR THIS, BECAUSE I THINK THAT IS EXTREMELY IMPORTANT THAT THE BUSINESSES THAT HAVE BEEN IMPACTED, THEY HAVE REAL ECONOMIC IMPACT TO THEIR BUSINESS. I MEAN, TO THE POINT WHERE THEY'RE GARNERING, YOU KNOW, RADIO AND TV AND TIKTOK AND EVERYTHING ELSE ABOUT HOW THIS HAS COST THEM AS MUCH TO LOSE AS THEIR PENSION BY INVESTING IN A BUSINESS AND BELIEVING IN BRINGING A BUSINESS TO EASTPOINTE, AND THEN TO HAVE SEVERAL COMPLAINTS OVER THE LAST SIX MONTHS, IN PARTICULAR FOR A CONSTRUCTION THAT THEY THOUGHT WOULD BE DONE BY NOW. AND NOBODY THOUGHT THAT IT WOULD INTERRUPT THE BUSINESSES THAT MUCH. AND SO I REALLY FEEL THAT, YOU KNOW, AS IT WAS BROUGHT TO DDA, WE CALLED A SPECIAL CALLED MEETING. 
          WE ARE ALL VOLUNTEER MEMBERS THAT SERVE ON THE DDA, BUT WE ARE BUSINESS OWNERS AND PEOPLE WHO UNDERSTAND WHAT IT'S LIKE TO BE IMPACTED. AND SO WE CALLED A SPECIAL MEETING TO GO THROUGH THE CONCERNS THAT COUNCIL HAD PUT BEFORE THE TEAM. AND WE WORKED THROUGH A PROGRAM SIMILAR TO SOMETHING THAT HAPPENED IN ANOTHER ADJACENT CITY, WHERE THEY DID A CONSTRUCTION PROJECT THAT INADVERTENTLY IMPACTED A COMMUNITY OF BUSINESSES, AND THEY WERE ABLE TO REMEDY IT. NOW, YOU DO HAVE INFORMATION WHERE THE CITY OF ATLANTA, THE CITY OF EASTPOINTE, HAS COME FORWARD AND SAID, WE WILL PUT UP $30,000, BUT WE CAN'T GIVE THAT MONEY DIRECTLY TO THE BUSINESSES THAT IT WILL HAVE TO GO THROUGH THE DDA. SO WE WOULD HAVE TO DESIGN A PROGRAM TO INTAKE THOSE FUNDS TO BE ABLE TO DISPERSE THEM OUT 
          [04:55:01]
IMMEDIATELY. SO THE PROGRAM THAT YOU HAVE IS A QUESTIONNAIRE THAT PEOPLE GO IN AND THEY FILL OUT. IT DOES HAVE SOME THINGS THAT THEY HAVE TO CHECK, LIKE THEY HAVE TO HAVE BEEN IN BUSINESS A YEAR AT LEAST BEFORE THE CONSTRUCTION BEGAN, SO THAT THEY CAN SUBMIT THEIR FINANCIALS SHOWING THE IMPACT FROM YEAR OVER YEAR. THEN THEY HAVE WE HAVE A 21 DAY PROCESS THAT WE WILL OPEN THE THE FLOOR FOR THEM TO FILL OUT THE APPLICATIONS, AND THEN WE WILL WORK WITH SOME VOLUNTEERS TO. THEN WE FORMED A COMMISSION TO BE ABLE TO GRADE THOSE APPLICATIONS, AND THEN TO BE ABLE TO EXPEDITE GETTING THE $30,000 OF FUNDING THAT WE HAVE ALLOTTED, WHICH IS NOT, YOU KNOW, A LOT. BUT WHAT'S GOING TO HAPPEN IS WHEN WE START TO OPEN UP AND RECEIVE THOSE APPLICATIONS, WE SHOULD BE ABLE TO SEE THE BIGNESS OF THE PROBLEM AND BE ABLE TO IDENTIFY OTHER WAYS THAT WE CAN ASSIST BUSINESSES, WHETHER THERE'S, YOU KNOW, REDUCED IN TAXES OR THEY HAVE, YOU KNOW, FEES COMING UP THAT THEY HAVE TO PAY APRIL 1ST. SO IT'S A LOT OF OTHER WAYS THAT WE CAN OUR BOARD IS COMMITTED TO ASSISTING AND PUTTING TOGETHER. BUT I THINK WHAT'S IMPORTANT IS THERE'S $30,000 THAT'S BEEN COMMITTED, AND WE PUT TOGETHER A PROGRAM THAT WE DEFINITELY FEEL WILL BE ABLE TO GET THAT BALL ROLLING FOR THOSE BUSINESSES. SO THANK YOU FOR HEARING ME. AND. YES, THANK YOU FOR YOUR PRESENTATION. I WAS JUST GOING TO SAY I HAVE A COUPLE CONCERNS. SURE. I GUESS THE FIRST ONE WOULD BE TO. MADAM CITY ATTORNEY. WOULD THIS SOMETHING LIKE THIS BE CONSIDERED GRATUITOUS? NOT WITH THE APPROACH THAT IS BEING PROFFERED. WHICH IS THE MONEY GOING TO THE DDA? IF THE CITY WERE TO DO IT THEMSELVES AND GIVE THE MONEY DIRECTLY TO THE BUSINESS, IT WOULD BE. AND I'M SORRY, I'M LOOKING THROUGH THIS AS WE SPEAK. DOES IT SAY WHERE THE MONEY IS COMING FROM? THE 30,000 IS COMING FROM? YES, YES. SO THERE'S A RESOLUTION THAT OUR YES, IT DOES SAY THAT IT'S COMING FROM THE CITY FUNDS AND IT'S GOING INTO THE DDA ACCOUNT. 
          AND OUR ATTORNEY, OUR ATTORNEY, LANGFORD, WAS ABLE TO PUT TOGETHER A RESOLUTION THAT'S ALSO INCLUDED THAT WOULD BE ABLE TO EASE THOSE FUNDS FOR PASSING THROUGH AND ALLOW THE DDA TO BE ABLE TO DISTRIBUTE THOSE FUNDS. IF IF I CAN. COUNCILMAN MITCHELL, WHAT WAS JUST PASSED OUT IS THE BUDGET AMENDMENT OKAY DRAFTED THAT PROVIDES THAT THE FUNDS WILL BE COMING. SOME OF THE MONEY WILL BE COMING FROM ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT DEPARTMENT, AND THE BALANCE WOULD BE COMING FROM THE CITY MANAGER'S OFFICE BUDGET. AND DOES IT HAVE A WAY ON HOW YOU SELECT THE BUSINESS THAT YOU WOULD LIKE TO PROVIDE THESE FUNDS TO? BECAUSE I CAN SEE THE SETTING A BAD PRECEDENT. SO SAY IF THEY'RE DOING STREET WORK AND ANOTHER BUSINESS, SAY, HEY, I LOST $100,000. THEY YOU KNOW, THEY'RE WORKING ON MY STREET FOOD. YES. SO THE APPLICATION IS ATTACHED OF THE QUESTIONS THAT THEY HAVE TO FILL OUT. AND THEN THEY HAVE TO SHOW PROOF OF THE ACTUAL LOSS. THERE IS A SCORING COMPONENT THAT WE WOULD TAKE ON THE BACK END TO MAKE SURE THAT THAT PROCESS IS FAIR FOR THE FUNDS THAT WE HAVE TO BE ABLE TO ALLOCATE. AND HOW WOULD WHO WILL MAKE THE FINAL DECISION ON WHO GETS THE MONEY? OR OUR BOARD COMMITTEE, BASED OFF OF THE SCORING PROCESS THAT WE WOULD HAVE IN PLACE? IT WOULDN'T BE ARBITRARY. THE DDA YES. SO I'M ASSUMING YOU WOULD VOTE ON SOMETHING LIKE THIS. 
          CORRECT. I JUST I WOULD LOVE TO HELP BUSINESSES. IS THERE ANY OTHER FUNDING SOURCE OR IS THERE ANY GRANT MONEY OUT THERE THAT Y'ALL CAN EXPLORE? OH MY GOODNESS. WOULD YOU LIKE TO SPEAK TO THAT? OKAY. THROUGH YOU MADAM MAYOR, TO THE REST OF THE COUNCIL. YES. SO IN TERMS OF FUNDING SOURCES, I THINK DDA IS COMMITTED TO EXPLORING ALL OPPORTUNITIES FOR FUNDING, WHETHER IT'S PRIVATE FOUNDATIONS, SPONSORSHIP DOLLARS, OTHER FUNDS THAT THE CITY MAY HAVE OTHER WAYS TO PROVIDE SOME INCENTIVE, AS THE CHAIRPERSON MENTIONED. BUT I THINK TONIGHT THE GOAL IS THAT 30,000 TO GET THAT OUT INTO THESE BUSINESSES AND AND ONE IN GOOD FAITH TO SHOW THE CITY'S BEHIND THEM AND SUPPORTING THEM IN THIS. BUT ALSO, I THINK IT'LL BUILD A MUSCLE THAT WILL LAST THAT DDA CAN CONTINUE TO USE AS MORE RESOURCES COME IN. 
          SO I KNOW YOU SAID EARLIER THERE WAS SOME QUALIFICATIONS. IS THIS BUSINESS? HAVE YOU HAVE YOU ALREADY CHOSEN A BUSINESS THAT YOU WANT TO GIVE THIS TO? NO. THEY WOULD HAVE TO APPLY. 
          THEY WOULD HAVE TO COMPLETE THE APPLICATION FROM A PRESCREENING PROCESS TO MAKE SURE THAT THEY HAVE BEEN IN BUSINESS, THAT THEY ARE IN GOOD STANDING. YOU KNOW, THOSE THINGS THAT ARE 
          [05:00:03]
ALREADY OUTLINED ON THE APPLICATION. IT IS A EVEN THOUGH YOU'RE SEEING IT IN A PAPER FORM, IT'S JUST A CLICK ON THE COMPUTER AND WE'LL BE ABLE TO SEND OUT THE ANNOUNCEMENT TO OPEN UP THE CONVERSATION FOR THE BUSINESSES. AND IT DOES DETAIL THE THE DISTRICT THAT IT INCLUDES, THAT YOUR BUSINESS HAS TO BE WITHIN. OKAY. AND IS THIS THIS IS JUST A ONE TIME THING OR DO YOU PLAN ON GETTING MORE MONEY? WOULD YOU PLAN ON GETTING MORE MONEY AND MORE INCENTIVES? WE ACTUALLY WOULD LIKE TO ACCUMULATE THIS WITH THE SUMMER REVITALIZATION PROGRAM FOR DOWNTOWN, WHICH, YOU KNOW, EVEN SOME OF THE WORLD CUP STUFF COULD DO. BUT, YOU KNOW, WHAT IT DOES IS IT SHOWS THE BUSINESSES THAT WE ARE WORKING AS FAST AS WE CAN, BECAUSE I DON'T KNOW IF YOU ARE AWARE AND PROBABLY ONCE WAS PRESENTED BEFORE THE AMOUNT OF PHONE CALLS THAT ARE COMING INTO THE CITY AND THE AMOUNT OF TIMES THAT THIS IS LIKE A REPEATED CONVERSATION FROM THE BUSINESSES, THEY'RE REALLY, REALLY HURTING. SO IF IT'S IF IT'S JUST GET IT STARTED TO SAY WE'RE ACKNOWLEDGING WE'RE WORKING TO GET MORE FUNDS, WE'RE GOING FROM A RECOVERY EFFORT TO HOPEFULLY REVITALIZATION EFFORT, AND WE'LL BE ABLE TO TAP MORE SOURCES FOR MORE FUNDING WOULD BE DEFINITELY THE THE PLAN. HAVE YOU THOUGHT OF OTHER MEANS LIKE TAX CREDITS OR. ABSOLUTELY. 
          YEP. ALL OF THOSE SOMETHING THAT WE KIND OF CONTROL BUT I'M NOT SURE IF. YEAH. SO WE WOULD LIKE TO PRESENT MORE IN A WORK SESSION. I THINK THE REASON THAT THIS BECAME SUCH A SPECIAL, URGENT MATTERS, BECAUSE THE CITY DID PUT UP $30,000 THAT THEY SAID, WE WILL START BY GETTING THIS GOING. AND SO I THINK THAT THAT'S WHY THAT'S BECOME SUCH A URGENT PART TO DEAL WITH THE THE 30,000. BUT TO YOUR QUESTION, COUNCILMAN MITCHELL, YES, LIKE, WE'VE PUT A LOT OF THINGS OF INCENTIVES AND REDUCED UTILITY BILLS AND JUST ALL KIND OF THINGS THAT WE CAN DO TO SHOW THAT WE'RE, YOU KNOW, COMING AT THIS. BUT I THINK, YEAH, IT'S JUST A MATTER OF APPROVING A PROGRAM THAT ALLOWS THE $30,000 HAS BEEN ALLOCATED TO HAVE A FUNCTIONAL WAY TO GET TO THE BUSINESSES WITHIN THE NEXT 30 DAYS. THE PROCESS WILL BE A 21 DAY PROCESS THAT WE OPEN THE WINDOW, AND THEN AFTER THAT, WE CLOSE IT AND WE GO INTO A SEVEN DAY REVIEW SCORING, AND THEN WE WOULD BE MAKING REQUESTS TO GET THE THE PAYMENTS OUT. SO I'M SURE. YES. WHEN YOU SAY THE CITY DO YOU HAVE IS IT A PERSON OR WAS IT. YES. SO CITY MANAGER OKAY. YEAH. WELL YEAH. THE CITY CITY MANAGER HAS ALLOCATED $30,000 FROM THE CITY FUND TO GO INTO THE DOWNTOWN DEVELOPMENT AUTHORITY'S ACCOUNT TO BE ABLE TO DISTRIBUTE. I'M ASSUMING YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT THE GENERAL FUND. OKAY. YEAH. I DON'T KNOW WHETHER. YES, YES, YES, YES, THOSE TWO ACCOUNTS LISTED ON THE ORDINANCE YOU JUST GOT. OKAY. OKAY. I'M DONE. 
          I'M SORRY. GO AHEAD. I ACTUALLY THINK THAT'S IT, BUT THANK YOU, THANK YOU. GOOD QUESTIONS. 
          ALRIGHT. COUNCILMAN. FREELY. THANK YOU. ONE OF MY QUESTIONS WAS ANSWERED WITH COUNCIL MEMBER MITCHELL'S QUESTION ABOUT IT SAYS HERE ABOVE RESIDENTS ABOVE REFERENCED LINE ITEM SHALL BE TRANSFERRED TO THE EAST POINT, BLAH BLAH BLAH AS A ONE TIME CAPPED APPROPRIATION. SO. BUT IT SOUNDS LIKE THE PLAN IS TO REPLENISH THIS IN PERPETUITY SOMEHOW. OR I THINK THAT'S THAT'S GOING TO, OF COURSE, BE THE AND THROUGH YOU, MAYOR TO THE COUNCIL, THAT'S GOING TO BE THE WILL OF THIS BODY OF OF HOW YOU ALL WANTED TO CONTINUE TO SUPPORT. I THINK DDA IS GOING TO TRY TO GET MORE FUNDS INTO THIS PROGRAM NO MATTER WHAT, WHETHER THERE'S OUTSIDE SOURCES AND THEN AS, AS THE CHAIRPERSON JUST WAS RECOMMENDING HAVING A FOLLOW UP WORK SESSION. AND JUST TO TALK ABOUT SOME OF THE OTHER THINGS THAT THE CITY COULD POTENTIALLY INCENTIVIZE THAT AREN'T CASH THERE, LIKE FEE WAIVERS AND UTILITY DISCOUNTS. SO, YEAH. OKAY. YEAH. I MEAN, I WOULD CERTAINLY BE SUPPORTIVE IF DDA GOES OUT AND FINDS WAYS TO CONTINUE TO FUND THIS. THAT'S GREAT. I HAVE MUCH MORE OF AN APPETITE FOR THAT THAN THE CITY PUTTING THIS MONEY IN. ALSO, IT I ASSUME THIS IS VERY SPECIFIC TO THE MAINSTREET CONSTRUCTION PROJECT, WHICH ACCORDING TO THE SCHEDULE, IT'S NOT OVER. IT'S NOT RUNNING OVER. IT'S NOT SUPPOSED TO BE DONE UNTIL MARCH. CORRECT. SO I KNOW PUBLIC WORKS IS IN HERE. 
          [05:05:05]
AND AGAIN THROUGH YOU, MAYOR, TO THE REST OF COUNCIL, FROM MY RECOLLECTION AND MY RESEARCH, THE PROJECT GOT A NOTICE TO PROCEED IN JANUARY OF 2025, AND IT WAS A 365 DAY PROJECT. AND SO THEY WERE SUPPOSED TO BE COMPLETE. AND YOU CAN SAY FEBRUARY TO BE SAFE, BUT IT SHOULD HAVE BEEN COMPLETE BY NOW. AND THERE'S BEEN UNEXPECTED DELAYS. AND I THINK I KNOW I'M NOT GOING TO SAY, I THINK WHEN MY COLLEAGUE KARDELL CAME AND PRESENTED, HE TALKED ABOUT SOME OF THE REASONS OF THOSE DELAYS. HE TALKED ABOUT LABOR, HE TALKED ABOUT UTILITY NEEDING TO BE MOVED. I DON'T KNOW IF Y'ALL REMEMBER THAT PRESENTATION HE GAVE ON WHY THERE WAS A DELAY, BUT HE PRESENTED THAT TO YOU ALL ON WHY THERE WAS A DELAY. AND I THINK IN THAT PRESENTATION, MAYBE I'M MISREMEMBERING. I THOUGHT HE SAID THAT THE COMPLETION DATE WAS MARCH OF 26, BUT YEAH, MAYBE. YEAH, MAYBE AFTER THE DELAY HE WAS SAYING NOW BECAUSE OF THESE DELAYS, NOW WE'RE PROJECTED TO BE MARCH, BUT IT WAS SUPPOSED TO BE 365 DAY PROJECT. IT WAS NOTICED TO COMMENCE WAS IN JANUARY. OKAY. AND SINCE THIS ASK IS SPECIFIC TO THE MAIN STREET CONSTRUCTION, HOW BETWEEN WASHINGTON ROAD AND WARE AVENUE, HOW MANY BUSINESSES ARE THERE ON MAIN STREET? WHAT'S THE UNIVERSE OF? YEAH, I CAN LOOK TO MY ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT COLLEAGUE TO GIVE YOU JUST A I KNOW THAT'S BEEN SOMETHING THEY'VE TALKED ABOUT AND DDA HAS ACTUALLY TALKED ABOUT AS WELL. BUT I'LL INTRODUCE MY COLLEAGUE MISS RHONDA APPLEBEE, TO KIND OF TALK ABOUT THE SCOPE OF DOWNTOWN. HI, RHONDA APPLEBY, ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT DEPARTMENT FROM WASHINGTON ROAD TO WHERE THERE ARE AT LEAST I WANT TO SAY ABOUT TEN. SO WE'RE LOOKING AT FROM CVS RIGHT TO, WELL THEN YOU GOT THE COMMENTS. BUT FROM CVS TO IT'S REALLY WEST CLEVELAND. YEAH WEST CLEVELAND RIGHT. SO AND THEN YOU GOT THE CIRCUMFERENCE RIGHT. SO YEAH AT LEAST TEN. THE POINT OF MY QUESTION IS HOW DID WE ARRIVE AT $30,000. LIKE EVEN IF WE'RE GUESSTIMATING THAT IT'S TEN BUSINESSES BETWEEN WASHINGTON AND WEST CLEVELAND. HOW DID WE ARRIVE AT 30,000? AND WHAT IF EVERY ONE OF THOSE BUSINESSES APPLIES? WHAT DO WE HOW HOW'S THAT GOING TO WORK, FRANK, I THINK YEAH, I THINK IT WAS WITH THE CITY MANAGER COULD FIND THAT HE THOUGHT WAS PALATABLE. I THINK HE YEAH. YEAH, I THINK AND I THINK A PART OF NOW THE CHARGE FOR DDA AND US IS TO TRY TO FIND MORE RESOURCES BECAUSE WE I DO BELIEVE THE NEED WILL BE GREATER. BUT I THINK AGAIN, TO THE POINT THAT THIS WILL BE A GREAT SHOW, THAT THE CITY IS SUPPORTIVE OF THESE SMALL BUSINESSES. BUT I BELIEVE THAT'S JUST WHAT THE CITY MANAGER WAS ABLE TO EASILY IDENTIFY WITHIN ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT AND THE CITY MANAGER'S BUDGET. OKAY. ALL RIGHT. AND COULDN'T WE JUST HAVE DDA WRITE A CHECK FOR $3,000 TO EACH BUSINESS? I MEAN, IF WHO'S NOT GOING TO ASK FOR SOME FREE MONEY. YEAH, YEAH, YEAH. SO I THINK THE CHAIRPERSON CAN SPEAK TO HOW THEY'RE THINKING ABOUT APPROACHING THIS, BECAUSE THAT IS ONE APPROACH THEY COULD TAKE IF THEY GET, YOU KNOW, YOU KNOW, TEN APPLICANTS. BUT I THINK ONE THING THAT I HEARD IN THE DISCUSSION THAT WHEN I ATTENDED THE DDA MEETING WAS, YOU KNOW, SOME BUSINESSES HAVE A MUCH HIGHER EXPENSES PER MONTH, A MUCH HIGHER REVENUE, AND SOME BUSINESSES MAY HAVE MUCH LESS, AND A LITTLE BIT CAN GO A LONG WAYS WITH THEM. SO I DON'T KNOW IF YOU WANT TO SPEAK TO KIND OF HOW YOU THOUGHT ABOUT MAYBE BREAKING DOWN THE AWARDS, BUT. RIGHT. AND JUST ONE BEFORE THAT. 
          I MEAN, OBVIOUSLY THE BOTTOM LINE IS LOST REVENUE. IF IF THEY CAN PROVE LOST REVENUE. SO. 
          I WOULD THINK THAT WE WOULD HAVE TO BE THEY WOULD HAVE TO BE ABLE TO SHOW LOST REVENUE OF SPECIFIC AMOUNTS. SO ANYWAY, I'LL LET YOU ANSWER. AND SO THEY WOULD HAVE TO SHOW LOST REVENUE. AND THEN WE WOULD HAVE KIND OF A THRESHOLD OF IF YOU LOST $30,000, THEN YOU'RE GETTING THE HIGHER END OF OVER THE $5,000 MARK. BUT THEN SOMEONE WHO LOST LESS THAN $5,000 OR IS UNDER THE $1,000 MARK, YOU KNOW, SO THAT PART OF IT, YOU KNOW, BUT I CAN SAY WE'VE HAD AT LEAST 8 TO 10 BUSINESSES THAT HAVE SHOWN VERY HIGH INTEREST, THAT HAVE REACHED OUT AND HAVE LAUNCHED, LIKE MORE OF A FORMAL COMPLAINT ABOUT THE PROBLEM. SO. OKAY. 
          THANK YOU. I'M SORRY. COUNCIL. I'M SORRY. DID YOU HAVE ANOTHER QUESTION? YEAH. OKAY. DO YOU HAVE A SENSE FROM THOSE COMPLAINTS? WHAT'S THE DOLLAR AMOUNT THAT THEY'RE CLAIMING THEY'VE LOST BECAUSE IS THIS GOING TO ADDRESS IT OR IS IT A BAND AID? SO COUNCILMAN, IT'S 
          [05:10:03]
DEFINITELY NOT GOING TO ADDRESS LIKE SOME OF THE TOP TIER ONES. WE'VE SEEN AS MUCH AS 20, $30,000. BUT WHAT IT WOULD DO IS TO START TO GET THE TRACTION GOING OF GOODWILL THAT WE'RE LOOKING AT THIS, WE'RE DISPERSING WHAT WE HAVE, AND WE'RE WORKING TOWARD GETTING MORE FUNDS AND FINDING MORE WORKING WITH THE COUNCIL AND TO FIND MORE SOURCES OF REVENUE, EVEN IF IT BECOMES SOME LOW INTEREST THINGS THAT WE EXPLORE IN THE NEXT FEW MONTHS OF THROUGH DCA, THAT THEY'RE LOW INTEREST REVITALIZATION EFFORTS. AND SO, YOU KNOW, THOSE KIND OF THINGS THAT THE DDA CAN LOOK AT FROM A LONG TERM. BUT THIS IS JUST KIND OF LIKE, WHY LET MONEY SIT THAT WAS ALLOCATED, NOT GET TO THE BUSINESSES. IF $1,000 CAN KEEP SOMEBODY, KEEP THEIR DOORS OPEN IN THE NEXT 30 DAYS. SO THAT'S THE THOUGHT PROCESS. CAN I MAKE ONE QUICK COMMENT ON THAT? I KNOW ONE OF THE THINGS YOU ALL HAVE TALKED ABOUT IS ACTIVATING YOUR BOARDS AND COMMISSIONS AND, AND WE'VE TALKED ABOUT I'VE HEARD COMMENTS FROM UP HERE THAT I'VE AGREED WITH AROUND WHAT WOULD IT LOOK LIKE FOR EASTPOINTE TO HAVE AN INVEST ATLANTA OF OUR BODY THAT'S DOING PROVIDING RESOURCES TO SMALL BUSINESSES? SO I THINK THIS HELPS TO, AS WAS MENTIONED, BUILD A MUSCLE WITH WITH THE DDA. IT ALSO. YOU KNOW, STARTS TO SHOW THAT GOODWILL TOWARDS BUSINESSES. AND ONE OF THE THINGS THAT THE CHAIRPERSON THEY TALKED ABOUT AT DDA IS THAT FUTURE PROGRAMS THAT THEY DESIGNED MAY NOT ALL BE GRANTS. SO AS SHE JUST MENTIONED, THERE'S PROGRAMS THROUGH DCA. IT MIGHT BE A LOW INTEREST LOAN. SO THEY'RE LOOKING AT THIS VERY COMPREHENSIVELY. I THINK THE GOAL FOR TONIGHT WAS TO GET THE 30,000 MOVING INTO THESE BUSINESSES AND THEN COME BACK TO YOU ALL TO TALK ABOUT THE LONG TERM STRATEGY THAT SHE MENTIONED FOR REVITALIZING THIS DOWNTOWN CORRIDOR. ALL RIGHT. 
          THANK YOU, COUNCILMAN. ARE YOU FINISHED WITH YOUR OKAY, WE WILL NOW MOVE ON TO COUNCILWOMAN CALDWELL AND THEN COUNCILWOMAN ATKINS. THANK YOU. ONE OF MY QUESTIONS WAS ANSWERED WITH COUNCIL MEMBER FREELY. I KIND OF WANTED TO KNOW WHERE HOW WE GOT TO THE POINT OF $30,000, BUT I WANTED TO KNOW, IS THERE A WAY THAT WE CAN PUT A MAX MAXIMUM AWARD IN PER BUSINESS TO MAKE SURE THAT THERE IS ENOUGH TO POTENTIALLY GO AROUND SHOULD SOMEONE ACTUALLY APPLY? THAT'S ONE. LOOKING AT THE INFORMATION YOU MENTIONED MEASURABLE LOSS. I DIDN'T SEE THE APPLICATION, BUT I DID SEE SOMETHING REFERENCING MEASURABLE LOSS. I WANTED TO KNOW WHAT ARE YOU COMPARING THAT TO. SO IS THAT OVER THE LAST SIX MONTHS, IS THAT COMPARED TO THE PREVIOUS MONTH? IS THERE A CERTAIN PERCENTAGE YOU'RE LOOKING FOR BECAUSE THE LOSS COULD BE 1%. IT COULD BE 25, 50%. SO LIKE WHAT WHAT ARE WHAT ARE YOU ACTUALLY MEASURING. 
          AND LIKE WHAT DOCUMENTATION ARE THEY GOING TO PROVIDE TO VERIFY THIS LOSS TAX RETURNS. POINT OF SALE REPORTING. YEAH. SO THOSE THEY WILL HAVE TO PROVE THE FINANCIAL LOSS THROUGH A QUICKBOOKS A POINT OF SALE LIKE SOME FORM THAT COMPARES YEAR OVER YEAR. SO IT HAS TO BE OVER THAT EXACT TIME. THE CONSTRUCTION STARTED IN JANUARY 2025. SO THEY WOULD HAVE HAD TO HAVE BEEN IN BUSINESS A YEAR BEFORE THAT AND THEN BE ABLE TO SHOW WHERE THAT REVENUE LOSS COMPARATIVE TO THE YEAR PRIOR. AND IS THERE A CERTAIN LIKE PERCENTAGE OF A LOSS THAT YOU'RE LOOKING FOR OR WHAT ARE NOT NECESSARILY BECAUSE A LOSS TO THEM IS A LOSS, BUT THEN WE JUST LOOK AT THE AMOUNT BEING ALLOCATED TO FIT THAT LOSS. THE SMALLER LOSSES GET, THE SMALLER AMOUNTS AND THE LARGER LOSSES GET, YOU KNOW, A HIGHER TIER. WHAT WE'RE HOPING IS THAT LIKE, YOU KNOW, OBVIOUSLY EVERYBODY WON'T APPLY THEN EVERYONE WON'T BE ABLE I MEAN, YOU KNOW, YOU JUST DON'T KNOW. BUT WHAT THAT'S ALSO GOING TO DO IS GOING TO A LOT OF INTEL WHEN WE START TO GET THE APPLICATIONS TO SEE ARE THESE PEOPLE ARE THEY ARE THE BUSINESSES REALLY PROVEN THIS OUT? AND WHAT HOW MUCH DO WE NEED TO, YOU KNOW, LEVEL UP TO LIKE HOW MUCH MORE FOR LIKE HOW BIG A PROBLEM THIS IS. AND THEN DO WE NEED TO GET A FUND THAT LOW COST LOANS THAT START TO ADDRESS THIS. BUT IT'LL START TO REALLY INFORM US. BUT JUST BASED ON THOSE PERCENTAGE OF LOSSES, THAT'S HOW WE'LL DECIDE THAT BUSINESS GETS $1,000. THIS BUSINESS MIGHT GET 5000. WE KNOW WE HAVE THE POT OF 30,000. THAT'S WHY WE'RE GOING TO WAIT AND LOOK AT EVERYTHING WHEN ALL THE APPLICATIONS COME IN AND THAT CLOSES THAT, THEN BE ABLE TO GO THROUGH THE SCORING AND ALLOCATE THE FUNDS ACCORDINGLY. SO MY RECOMMENDATION WOULD STILL BE TO HAVE A MAXIMUM AWARD PER BUSINESS, BECAUSE I WOULD HATE FOR ONE BUSINESS TO GET 30,000 JUST BECAUSE OF WHATEVER THEY'RE WE CAN'T DO THAT. YEAH, RIGHT. BUT WE SO I WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT THAT'S WRITTEN. SO IT'S UNDERSTOOD. AND THEN OR EVEN CLOSE TO THE 30,000. I WOULD ALSO RECOMMEND ADDING IN SOME TYPE OF LOSS MEASURE, BECAUSE A 1% LOSS 
          [05:15:05]
DOESN'T WARRANT, YOU KNOW, MAYBE TO RECEIVE SOME FUNDING. SO I WOULD SAY AT LEAST HAVE A TIERED APPROACH TO THAT. AND THEN, I MEAN, I'M COMFORTABLE WITH YOU ALL. AND THANK YOU ALL FOR CREATING THIS PROCESS AND TAKING THE TIME OUT TO PUT IT TOGETHER. YOU KNOW, I'M COMFORTABLE WITH REVIEWING AND FOR YOU ALL TO MAKE RECOMMENDATIONS, BUT I WOULD LIKE THE FINAL APPROVAL TO LIVE WITH COUNCIL. SO YOU'RE SAYING THE FINAL APPROVAL ONCE WE COME BACK WITH THE SCORED APPLICATIONS TO SAY THIS IS HOW MUCH THIS BUSINESS IS GETTING AND THEN HAVE THAT TO BE APPROVED? YEAH. AND SO I THINK I'LL LEAN ON COUNCIL MEMBERS THAT ARE, THAT WERE HERE BEFORE. BUT I BELIEVE THERE WAS SOMETHING ALONG THOSE LINES WITH THE FACADE GRANT LIKE IT STILL CAME BEFORE COUNCIL FOR THE FINAL APPROVAL BEFORE ANY MONIES WERE RELEASED. SO I JUST WOULD WANT US TO BE IN THE KNOW. SURE. AND POSSIBLY HAVE THE ABILITY TO MAKE IMPACT BEFORE SOMETHING BEFORE IT ACTUALLY GOES OUT. I THINK THAT'S FINE. 
          I MEAN, THAT'S A, THAT'S A, THAT'S A CONVERSATION ATTORNEY LIKE, AND THEIR ATTORNEY ATTORNEY QUESTION. YEAH. ALL RIGHT. FIRST CHURCH AND STATE OR TO KEEP THE PROGRAM SEPARATE THAT IT DID NOT BECOME A COUNCIL OR CITY DECISION THAT IT WAS A BOARD THAT WAS PUT TOGETHER AS A UNBIASED COMMITTEE. THAT'S JUST LOOKING AT THE SCORE OF, YOU KNOW, WHO GETS WHAT BASED ON THE MEASURABLE THINGS AND WHAT THEY WERE ABLE TO PROVE. YEAH. YOU KNOW, THE PURPOSE OF PUTTING IT INTO THE DDA IS KIND OF SO THAT YOU THERE'S NO, NO VIEW OF YOU HAD ANY INFLUENCE ON THIS. HEY, WE PROVIDED THE MONEY TO DDA. WE TRUSTED THEIR PROCESS. WE DID. IT WASN'T THERE WASN'T ANY LOBBYING EFFORT FOR A BUSINESS TO GET IT THROUGH AN ELECTED OFFICIAL. SO THIS KIND OF REMOVES YOU ALL FROM THAT AND PROTECTS YOU, HONESTLY PROTECTS YOU ALL FROM THAT. THAT PART OF THE PROCESS. I WOULD AGREE WITH THAT. THAT'S SAY THAT AGAIN, THAT WAS THE WHOLE POINT OF COUNCIL MEMBER MITCHELL'S QUESTION ABOUT THE GRATUITY. 
          AND I THINK WE DISCUSSED THIS AT THE LAST MEETING WHEN IT WHEN IT CAME UP, THAT THIS WOULD NOT BE A COUNCIL DECISION, IT WOULD BE TOTALLY UP TO THE DDA TO CREATE THE PROGRAM, WORK THE PROGRAM, AND THEN AWARD THE GRANT AS THEY SEE FIT. OKAY. WELL, THE OTHER WE CAN MAKE PROPOSALS AS FAR AS WHAT WE WOULD LIKE TO SEE. SO THOSE TWO THINGS I STILL WOULD LIKE TO SEE, AND I KNOW WE TOOK INTO ACCOUNT IN OUR PROGRAM THE LAST SET OF THINGS THAT YOU BROUGHT BACK FROM THE COUNCIL THAT THEY WANTED TO SEE IT BE THINGS LIKE UNBIASED APPROACH. AND WE HAD ABOUT TEN THINGS THAT CAME OUT OF THAT MEETING THAT WE YEAH, THEY CAN DEFINITELY TAKE THESE RECOMMENDATIONS LIKE THEY TOOK THE LAST ONES THAT HELPED DESIGN THIS ONE. SO I SEEN IT. 
          CHAIRWOMAN TAKING SOME NOTES HERE. YEAH. THE MEASURABLE. YEAH. YEAH ABSOLUTELY. YES. 
          THANK YOU, MADAM MAYOR. MISS BOOKER, THANK YOU FOR YOUR PRESENTATION. MR. WHITFIELD. 
          THANK YOU FOR YOUR SUPPORT. AND YOU ALSO, MISS APPLEBY, I KNOW THE HOUR IS LATE, BUT I KNOW THIS IS ALSO VERY IMPORTANT. I REALLY JUST HAVE JUST REVIEWING YOUR PROGRAM GUIDELINES, AND I DO AGREE WITH THOSE PROGRAMS SUGGESTIONS THAT COUNCILMEMBER CALDWELL HAS MENTIONED. I ALSO HAVE ONE ALSO FOR CONSIDERATION. I SEE HERE NUMBER FIVE, UNDER ELIGIBILITY REQUIREMENTS FOR PARTICIPANTS, IT SPEAKS TO MAINTAINING A VALID BUSINESS LICENSE. THIS OTHER ISSUE IS SOMETHING THAT CAME UP DURING THE FACADE GRANT PROGRAM. ONE OF THE AWARDEES WAS ACTUALLY BEHIND IN THEIR PROPERTY TAXES. SO I WOULD LIKE TO SEE SOME STIPULATION IN TERMS OF ELIGIBILITY REQUIREMENT THAT SPEAKS TO IF THE BUILDING OR THE BUSINESS SPACE IS OWNED BY THE APPLYING BUSINESS, THAT THEIR PROPERTY TAXES MUST BE CURRENT. I DON'T THINK THAT WE NEED TO START GIVING OUT MONEYS IF THE BUILDING OR THE PROPERTY TAXES ARE IN DEFAULT, BECAUSE WE USE THOSE DOLLARS TO FUND A WHOLE BUNCH OF THINGS IN THE CITY. AND SO I WOULD LIKE FOR THE DDA TO CONSIDER THAT. OKAY. AND THEN THE OTHER THING THAT I WOULD ASK OUR ATTORNEY, THIS IS BASED ON PART OF THE CONVERSATION FROM COUNCIL MEMBER FRIEDLI. WHEN MR. HALL CAME BEFORE HERE, I SPECIFICALLY REMEMBER ASKING QUESTIONS ABOUT HOW WE SORT OF GOT HERE. THERE WERE COMPLAINTS ABOUT THE CONTRACTOR NOT SHOWING UP FOR WEEKS, AND THAT HAS DELAYED THE CONSTRUCTION ON THESE PROJECTS. AND SO MY QUESTION IS TO THE ATTORNEY, BECAUSE I DO NOT KNOW TO THE EXTENT OF CLAUSES INCLUDED IN OUR CONTRACTS THAT DEAL WITH CONTRACTOR NEGLIGENCE, BECAUSE I BELIEVE THAT WE'RE HERE THIS EVENING BECAUSE OF CONTRACTOR NEGLIGENCE. BUT I ALSO BELIEVE THAT WE AS A CITY, SHOULD HAVE BEEN ON TOP OF THOSE CONTRACTORS TO MAKE SURE THAT THEY WERE MEETING THE LETTER OF THOSE CONTRACTS, INCLUDING SCHEDULING BUDGETS AND ALL OF THOSE THINGS. AND SO BECAUSE OF THOSE OVERRUNS, WE HAVE HAD 
          [05:20:02]
BUSINESSES TO SUFFER BECAUSE OF THAT. AND WE'RE TRYING TO MAKE THEM WHOLE AND TRYING TO MAKE SURE THAT WE ARE KEEPING BUSINESSES IN DOWNTOWN. I MADE A COMMENT DURING THAT MEETING THAT IT WILL BE SHAME, A SHAME FOR US TO HAVE NEW STREETS, NEW SIDEWALKS, AND THE BUSINESS IS GONE BECAUSE THEY'VE GONE OUT OF BUSINESS. SO I'M HOPING THAT THIS LITTLE AMOUNT IS ABLE TO GO A LONG WAY IN SUSTAINING THOSE BUSINESSES, SO THAT WE HAVE AMENITIES DOWNTOWN THAT CAN BRING PEOPLE DOWNTOWN. BUT FOR YOU, THE ONLY PIECE THAT I WOULD LIKE FOR TO TO BE CONSIDERED IS THE PROPERTY TAX PIECE. AND THE OTHER QUESTION IS REALLY FOR THE CITY ATTORNEY. 
          YOU SAID YOU SAID EVERYTHING THAT WE SAID IN OUR IN OUR MEETINGS THAT, YOU KNOW, THAT THERE PROBABLY IS SOME TYPE OF OVERRUN OR NEGLIGENCE OR SOMETHING THAT HAS HAPPENED AND EVEN THE CITY HAVING TO COME IN AND PUT UP 30,000 THAT, YOU KNOW, MAYBE IT'S FROM CONTRACTORS OR SOMETHING, BUT ALSO, YOU KNOW, I'LL ANSWER THE PART THAT YOU HAVE, YOU KNOW, FOR ME, AS WE STARTED GETTING THE PRELIMINARY COMPLAINTS IN AND WE CAN SHARE THOSE AS WELL, YOU KNOW, A LOT OF THEM WERE LIKE, I DON'T HAVE MONEY TO PAY MY LIQUOR LICENSE. THAT'S COMING UP. I DON'T HAVE BECAUSE MY, MY REVENUE IS SO SUPPRESSED. SO IN THE APPLICATION WE SAID, WELL LIST EVERYTHING THAT YOU'RE BEHIND ON SO THAT WE KNOW AND WE CAN KIND OF TAKE THAT INTO ACCOUNT. BUT YEAH, IT WAS LIKE SOME MONIES ARE KIND OF CHANGING HAND. AND I KNOW, LIKE YOU SAID, THE CITY NEEDS TO OPERATE, BUT THEY'RE LIKE, WE'RE NOT GETTING THE BUSINESS TO PAY IT. AND THEN, YOU KNOW. SO YEAH. SO TO YOUR CONCERN, WE DEFINITELY MAKE SURE THAT WE KNOW IF THERE IS SOMEBODY BEHIND. AND IF WE DO MAKE A AWARD, IT'S BECAUSE THEY NEEDED IT TO PAY THAT FROM, YOU KNOW, SOMETHING HAPPENING. SO THAT'S I DIDN'T THINK ABOUT THAT POINT, BUT THAT'S VERY FAIR. THANK YOU FOR BRINGING THAT UP. THANK YOU THEN. AND COUNCILMAN ATKINS, I CAN HAVE MR. HALL PULL THAT CONTRACT OR MR. LAWRENCE PULL THAT CONTRACT TO SEE WHAT TYPE OF PROVISIONS WERE ALLOTTED THEREIN FOR ANY TYPE OF DELAYS, NEGLIGENCE THAT WEREN'T AS A RESULT OF ANYTHING ON THE CITY'S DOING OR ANY ACTS OF GOD, THOSE TYPE OF THINGS, AND SEE IF WE HAVE ANY CAUSES OF ACTION. AND I'M JUST THINKING GLOBALLY FOR ANY OF THOSE CONTRACTS OF A SIMILAR NATURE. IF WE CAN HAVE SOME TYPE OF CLAUSE IN THERE SO THAT WE'RE NOT LEFT HOLDING THE BAG. THANK YOU, I YIELD. COUNCILWOMAN MARTIN ROGERS, THANK YOU. AND AGAIN, THANK YOU FOR YOUR PRESENTATION. I BELIEVE WE SAID WE KNEW WHERE THE MONEY WAS GOING TO COME FROM IN THE BUDGET. BUT ALSO, I THINK THAT SINCE WE DO OWN OUR OWN ELECTRICITY, I BELIEVE I MENTIONED THIS AT THE LAST MEETING. WHAT ABOUT UTILITY CREDITS? AND ALSO WATER CREDITS IS BEING A PART OF THIS DDA ASSISTANCE? AND WHAT IF IN A YEAR FROM NOW, THE DDA CAN'T FIND FUNDS? SO I'D LIKE FOR US TO TALK ABOUT THAT FOR A LITTLE BIT. BUT MY OTHER MY OTHER OBSERVATION IS. WHAT WAS THE OUTREACH TO PARTICIPANTS LOOKS LIKE. AND THEN NUMBER SIX, YOU ONLY HAVE TO STAY IN THE DEFINED DOWNTOWN DISTRICT AFTER YOU GET THE MONEY FOR SIX MONTHS. THEY SHOULD BE REQUIRED TO STAY A YEAR. LIKE I THINK THAT THAT'S FAIR. AND THEN WHAT PARAMETERS DO YOU HAVE IN PLACE FOR A BUSINESS THAT MAY HAVE RECEIVED THE FACADE GRANT FUNDING, AND THAT MAY ALSO BE OPENING UP ANOTHER LOCATION ELSEWHERE? SO THROUGH YOU, MADAM MAYOR, TO THE REST OF THE COUNCIL. SO A COUPLE THOUGHTS ON THAT. ONE IS I THINK THAT'S WHY THE CHAIRPERSON WAS MENTIONING COMING BACK FOR A WORK SESSION TO LOOK AT THOSE OTHER KIND OF LOW HANGING FRUIT THAT WE CAN CONTROL, LIKE UTILITIES AND, AND WATER, AND HOW WE MIGHT BE ABLE TO DO SOMETHING TO HELP WITH THAT. AND THEN WHAT WAS THE OTHER QUESTION YOU HAD? THE OTHER ONE WAS. THE STAYING IN THE CITY. OH, THE SIX MONTH PIECE. YEAH. 
          YEAH, THE SIX MONTH PIECE SHOULD BE A YEAR. YOU CAN TAKE AT LEAST A YEAR. YEAH. I THINK COUNCIL COUNCILWOMAN ROGERS, I THINK THAT THAT WOULD BE FINE. I'LL TAKE THAT BACK TO THE GROUP. WE DEFINITELY WANTED SOME CLAUSE. WE DIDN'T WANT TO GIVE THE MONEY IN THEIR CLOTHES TOMORROW. SO THAT WAS DEFINITELY LIKE JUST SOMETHING TO SAY AT LEAST SIX MONTHS OR THERE'S SOME TYPE OF RESTITUTION OR SOMETHING THAT WOULD HAVE TO BE SOME PENALTY PAYBACK OR SOMETHING. BUT JUST LOOKING AT SOME OF THE ONES THAT HAVE SENT THEIR FINANCIALS AND SENT THEIR KIND OF DISTRESS, WE'RE HOPING DEFINITELY, LIKE YOU SAID, THAT THEY'RE ABLE TO WEATHER THROUGH OVER THE NEXT FEW MONTHS. SO AND THEN WHAT IF A BUSINESS, AS I STATED, RECEIVED FACADE GRANT FUNDING? DOES THIS STILL MAKE THEM ELIGIBLE AS WELL? SO I'D SAY, 
          [05:25:05]
YEAH, AT SOME POINT, HEY, YOU RECEIVED THIS. SO I DON'T KNOW WHO CAN SPEAK TO THE FACADE. I DON'T KNOW ABOUT THAT. I DON'T I DON'T THINK AGAIN, THESE ARE THINGS THAT YOU THAT THE CHAIRPERSON CAN TAKE BACK TO HER GROUP. BUT I DON'T THINK THAT THAT WOULD NECESSARILY RELATE TO THIS ISSUE ABOUT THIS CONSTRUCTION. IF WHAT I'M HEARING IS CORRECTLY, THAT, HEY, IF YOU GOT FACADE MONEY, THEN MAYBE YOU'RE NOT ELIGIBLE FOR THIS, IF THAT, IF THAT'S WHAT I'M HEARING, THAT'S WHAT YOU'RE HEARING. YEAH. I DON'T THINK THAT. WELL, ONE MAYBE CAN SPEAK TO IF ANY OF THESE BUSINESSES DOWNTOWN GOT SOME OF THE FACADE MONEY BECAUSE I ACTUALLY ONE OF THE BUSINESSES WAS SAYING I GOT APPROVED FOR THIS, BUT IF I AIN'T GOT A BUSINESS, I DON'T EVEN WANT THAT. YOU KNOW, THAT WAS ONE OF THEM. I SAID. SO IT ALMOST IS THE FLIP. IF WE CAN HELP KIND OF ASSURE THEM, YEAH, WE GOT YOUR BACK. GO AHEAD AND GO FOR THAT. I THINK IT'S WE, WE KIND OF LEAD BECAUSE WHEN I DID THE DIVISION OF IT'S ABOUT 35 BUSINESSES DOWNTOWN. AND WHEN I DID THE MATH ON THE $30,000, THAT'S ABOUT A LITTLE OVER $900 FOR EACH BUSINESS AND $0.09. I'M JUST SAYING I WOULD LIKE TO KNOW WHAT YOUR OUTREACH WILL LOOK LIKE IF YOU'RE GIVEN THESE FUNDS, LET'S SAY, FOR THIS YEAR. LIKE WHAT DOES IT LOOK LIKE FOR NEXT YEAR? WHAT DOES IT LOOK LIKE FOR ADDITIONAL BUSINESSES? SO I YIELD AT THIS POINT YOU HAVE ONE MORE. WHAT'S TO TO YOU, MADAM MAYOR? THAT'S WHERE THIS EXTRA WORK SESSION, I REALLY HOPE BACK TO YOUR VISION ABOUT HOW DO WE GET A INVEST THAT LANTA FOR EASTPOINTE. I THINK THAT'S A PART OF THAT CONVERSATION. SO I THINK THAT'S THAT'S WHY WE WANT TO COME BACK AFTER THIS. COUNCILWOMAN HENNING. MADAM CITY ATTORNEY, I HAVE A PROCEDURAL QUESTION. 
          SHOULD COUNCIL HAVE AN APPETITE TO APPROVE THIS PROGRAM TONIGHT? WHAT WE WOULD BE VOTING ON IS AN ORDINANCE TO CHANGE THE BUDGET. IT DOES NOT SEEM THAT THIS TITLE FITS THE ASK OF US. 
          SO IF YES, GO AHEAD. THE AGENDA. THE AGENDA TITLE DOES NOT FIT THE ASK THE AGENDA TITLE MENTIONS THE PROGRAM, BUT THE ASK OF US IS A BUDGET AMENDMENT. IS THAT THE RESOLUTION? COUNCIL DISCUSSION AND POSSIBLE ACTION ON DOWNTOWN BUSINESS SUPPORT FUNDING FOR DDA? I THINK IT DOES THIS. YOU WOULD BE FUNDING THE DDA FOR THIS DOWNTOWN BUSINESS. I THINK YOU CAN GET THERE. YES. THIS WOULD BE A BUDGET AMENDMENT THAT IF YOU DO INCLINE TO APPROVE IT, IT WILL REQUIRE THE WAIVER OF THE FIRST READ AS WELL, OR IT WILL HAVE TO COME BACK FOR A SECOND READ AT THE NEXT REGULAR MEETING, NOT THE NINTH AND NOT THE 16TH, BUT APRIL. SO IF YOU DON'T WAIVE THE FIRST READ, YOU WON'T BE APPROVING THIS UNTIL APRIL. AND AND I GUESS MY SECOND QUESTION TO YOU RELATED TO THIS IS WE'RE HAVING TWO CONVERSATIONS, ONE ABOUT HOW WE WANT TO ESTABLISH THIS PROGRAM AND FUND IT. AND THEN WHAT I'VE HEARD FROM YOU, DESCRIBED AT LEAST TWICE, IS THAT WE HAVE TO AUTHORIZE SOME AUTONOMY TO DDA, BECAUSE IF WE INTERFERE WITH THE PROCESS, THEN WE VIOLATE THE GRATUITIES CLAUSE, WHICH IS WHY WE'RE GOING DOWN THIS ROAD IN THE FIRST PLACE, IS TO LET AN INDEPENDENT AGENCY DESIGN AND IMPLEMENT THIS PROGRAM. IS THAT CORRECT? THAT IS ACCURATE. BUT I WILL ADD THAT IF YOU DON'T THINK THE PROGRAM FURTHERS THE INTEREST OF THE CITY, RIGHT, LIKE IT'S YOUR MONEY. SO IF YOU DON'T THINK THE PROGRAM IS WHERE IT NEEDS TO BE FOR YOU TO PUT YOUR DOLLARS BEHIND IT, THEN OBVIOUSLY THAT YOU WOULD EITHER HELP THEM GET A PROGRAM NOT WHERE YOU ARE VOTING FOR WHO GETS IT AND ALL OF THAT, OR MAKING SOME DETERMINATION AS TO WHICH BUSINESSES QUALIFY. BUT IF YOU'RE GIVING SOME SUGGESTIONS, SOME PARAMETERS, AS HAS BEEN DONE TO HELP GET THE PROGRAM TO SOMETHING THAT YOU'RE WILLING TO FUND, THINK ABOUT THE FIFA. WE JUST WENT THROUGH ALL OF THE ITERATIONS OF THAT. THEN YOU YOU WOULD FUND IT, BUT IF IT DOESN'T MEET THAT, THEN YOU WOULDN'T. SO WE WOULD NEED TO SEE THAT CODIFIED IN THE RESOLUTION, THE DRAFT RESOLUTION THAT'S ATTACHED. SO THAT WHEN WE'RE MAKING THESE SUGGESTIONS WE'RE LANDING THEM SOMEWHERE. SO IF WE HAD AN APPETITE TO PASS THIS, WOULD IT BE THAT WE PASS THE BUDGET AMENDMENT AND THEN ALSO REQUIRE THAT THE DDA AMEND THIS RESOLUTION THAT THEY HAVE DRAFTED AS AN EXAMPLE OF WHAT THEY PLAN TO ADOPT THEMSELVES? WE WOULD MAKE OUR CHANGES IN THAT DOCUMENT, BECAUSE THAT DOCUMENT IS THEN GOING TO GOVERN THE ADMINISTRATION OF THE PROGRAM. I THINK YOU DO IT IN THE REVERSE. I THINK YOU GET THEM TO BRING YOU A PROGRAM 
          [05:30:06]
THAT YOU'RE WILLING TO FUND FIRST. AND IF YOU DON'T HAVE IT TONIGHT, RIGHT, BECAUSE RESPECTFULLY, MADAM CHAIR, FOR THE DDA CAN'T COMMIT TO CHANGING WHAT IS ALREADY BEEN ADOPTED BY HER BOARD. RIGHT. SHE WOULD NEED TO TAKE IT BACK TO THE BOARD. SO IF YOU'RE NOT READY TO FUND WHAT THEY'VE PRESENTED TO YOU TONIGHT, THEN I RECOMMEND YOU GIVE SUGGESTIONS SO THEY CAN BRING YOU BACK SOMETHING THAT YOU ARE READY TO FUND, CODIFIED IN THE RESOLUTION. SO PROCEDURALLY, HER BOARD WOULD NEED TO ADOPT THIS RESOLUTION WITH THESE CHANGES IN IT. BRING US BACK THE ADOPTED RESOLUTION IF THEY WANT THE THE MONEY. AND THAT'S THE SENTIMENT OF THIS BOARD, I WOULD SAY YES, THAT THEY WOULD NEED TO BRING YOU BACK SOMETHING YOU'RE WILLING TO FUND. SO MISS BOOKER, WITH THAT, I WOULD RECOMMEND THAT YOU UPDATE THE RESOLUTION TO INCLUDE THE MINIMUM REQUIREMENT AND THE LANGUAGE AROUND HOW FOLKS WOULD HAVE TO REIMBURSE THE CITY SHOULD THEY THEN DECIDE TO LEAVE. I WOULD RECOMMEND THAT YOU INCLUDE THE INFORMATION AROUND THE ELIGIBILITY CRITERIA. I DO REALLY SUPPORT THE TIERED SYSTEM. SO I HEARD YOU MENTION MAYBE THERE'S LIKE A $5,000 AND MAYBE ON DOWN TO A 1000. GET THE DETAILS OF THAT TOGETHER AND HAVE IT MAYBE AS AN APPENDIX TO YOUR RESOLUTION, SO THAT WE KNOW WHEN WE THAT THE RESOLUTION COVERS ALL OF THESE QUESTIONS THAT HAVE BEEN RAISED. AND THEN WE CAN, IF THE WILL OF THE BODY IS, WE CAN SUPPORT THE PROGRAM AND MOVE FORWARD. I WOULD ALSO RECOMMEND THAT IF WE'RE IF YOU'RE NOT PREPARED TO DO THIS TONIGHT AND IT'S GOING ON FOR NEXT WEEK, REMEMBER WE DON'T HAVE THAT THIRD MEETING THAT WE MAKE THIS AGAIN LIKE WE'VE DONE WITH SOME OTHER ITEMS. MAKE IT AN EMERGENCY VOTING ITEM FOR NEXT WEEK SO THAT THE DDA DOES NOT HAVE TO WAIT A FULL CYCLE BEFORE THEY CAN MOVE ON. ROLLING OUT THEIR PROGRAM. YEAH, THAT THAT WOULD BE MY REQUEST THEN THAT YOUR RESOLUTION HAS ALL AS APPENDICES THE APPLICATION WITH THE RECOMMENDATIONS YOU'VE HEARD FROM COUNCIL. THE RESOLUTION BODY ITSELF SHOULD HAVE A CLAUSE THAT SAYS SOMETHING LIKE, YOU KNOW, WE'RE GOING TO CAP IT AT CERTAIN AMOUNTS BASED ON CRITERIA, SO THAT THESE CONCERNS ABOUT MAYBE ONE BUSINESS GETTING ALL OF THE FUNDS IS AVOIDED IN THE DESIGN OF THE PROGRAM. YOU MIGHT NOT NEED TO SPECIFY THE LIMITS, BUT YOU SHOULD BE ABLE TO SAY THERE'S A TIERED SYSTEM AND NO ONE BUSINESS WILL EXCEED MORE THAN X AMOUNT OF THE FUNDS TOTAL. AND THEN I WOULD ASK YOU TO PUT IN THE WHEREAS CLAUSE OF YOUR RESOLUTION. I THINK IT'S THERE, I THINK I READ IT, BUT MAKE SURE THAT IT'S THERE THAT THIS IS A ONE TIME ESTABLISHED FEE FUND FROM THE CITY AND THAT THERE'S NOT AN EXPECTATION OF FUTURE FUNDING FROM THE CITY FOR THIS PROGRAM. ALL OF THAT IN ONE RESOLUTION WITH THE APPENDICES. AND I THINK WE MIGHT GET CLOSER TO AN OUTCOME THAT YOU DESIRE. I YIELD, MADAM MAYOR. THANK YOU. COUNCILWOMAN MARTIN ROGERS, I WAS JUST GOING TO ASK, CAN WE JUST GIVE OUR. I WAS JUST GOING TO REQUEST IF WE COULD JUST PROVIDE OUR RECOMMENDATIONS TO MR. WHITFIELD. AND THEN HE SHARED WITH THE BOARD FOR THAT TO BE INCLUDED. I KNOW THAT WOULD BE EASIER FOR ME. THE LITTLE SUGGESTIONS THAT I HAD, BECAUSE I KNOW IT MIGHT HAVE BEEN A LOT FOR YOU TO CAPTURE THIS EVENING, BUT I'M WILLING TO JUST PROVIDE THAT TO YOU AND THEN IT COMES BACK TO US. IS THAT APPROPRIATE FOR YOU ALL? I THINK I THINK TWOFOLD. ONE, YOU KNOW, THE WAY THAT WE GOT TO WHERE WE GOT TODAY WAS WE LOOKED AT THE FEBRUARY 9TH WORK SESSION. WE LOOKED AT THE TRANSCRIPT FROM THE AND LOOKED AT EVERY CONCERN THAT COUNCIL RAISED IN THAT MEETING. AND SO WHEN DD HAD THEIR DDA HAD THEIR MEETING, THEY LITERALLY WENT THROUGH THE FIRST CONCERN, WHICH WAS THE PERCEPTION OF A SINGLE BUSINESS GETTING THE ASSISTANCE. WHAT IS YOUR MITIGATION FOR THAT NEXT CONCERN WAS DEFINING A PROGRAM FRAMEWORK FOR THE STRATEGY. WHAT IS THE POLICY? THEY THEY DESIGNED THAT VERIFYING FINANCIAL IMPACT. THEY THEY COMMITTED TO THAT AND THEIR RESOLUTION AND AND THEIR PROGRAM DESIGN. SO WE LITERALLY WENT THROUGH SO TWO THINGS ON THAT. ONE IS THESE BUSINESSES ARE WAITING. SO I JUST WANT TO BE SENSITIVE TO THAT. YOU KNOW I, I GET THE CALLS AS WELL. IT'S PROBABLY RHONDA AND OTHERS AND YOU ARE GETTING THEM AS WELL. SO I KNOW THE SENSE OF URGENCY. I APPRECIATE THE CITY ATTORNEY'S RECOMMENDATION OF TRYING TO MOVE IT UP TO NEXT WEEK. SO YES, YOU CAN PROVIDE IT IN WRITING, BUT WE ALSO JUST GOT YOUR FEEDBACK ON THE RECORD HERE, AND WE'RE GOING TO WATCH THE TRANSCRIPT AND USE THE TRANSCRIPT AS A GUIDE FOR FOR ANY RECOMMENDATIONS. AND SO I WOULD SAY THE BIGGEST ITEM IS 
          [05:35:03]
LIKE 12 MONTHS. I THINK THAT WE SPOKE TO ALMOST ALL THE OTHER CONCERNS ABOUT CRITERIA AND PREREQUISITE AND ALL OF THOSE THINGS. AND THEN I WOULD HAVE TO CALL A SPECIAL ORDER TO TRY TO A SPECIAL MEETING TO TRY TO GET OUR BOARD BACK TOGETHER, WHICH DOES NOT MEET UNTIL MARCH 18TH. SO IT WAS OUR HOPE THAT THIS WOULD GO FORWARD SO THAT WE CAN START TO OUR 21 DAY CLOCK OF JUST LEAVING IT OPEN TO ADVERTISE THAT WE HAVE THIS, YOU KNOW, IN PLAY, AND THEN TO BE ABLE TO HAVE SOMETHING GOING OUT IN APRIL, IF IN FACT, I MIGHT HAVE USED UP A LOT OF FAVORS WITH SPECIAL CALL MEETINGS. AND SO WE PROBABLY WILL NOT BE PREPARED FOR SEEMS TO BE LIKE TWO ITEMS THAT HAVE BEEN REQUESTED THAT ARE NOT IN BUT IN THE RESOLUTION, WHAT IT STATES. ONE OF THE THINGS THAT OUR ATTORNEY WAS VERY CAREFUL ABOUT IS IT STATED THAT WE WOULD DESIGN A PROGRAM. SO IT DID NOT SAY THIS IS THE PROGRAM, AND SHE SHE DID THAT AND LEFT THOSE PARAMETERS SO THAT WE CAN TAKE THIS AND BE ABLE TO PUT IN THE DDA WOULD BE DESIGNING A PROGRAM TO HELP TO GET THE FUNDS OUT OF THE $30,000. SO THE PROGRAM IS NOT ALL LINED OUT. WE GAVE YOU THE INFORMATION. AND SO IF WE GO IN AND CHANGE THE APPLICATION ON THE BACK END NOW TO SAY YOU HAVE TO STAY FOR 12 MONTHS BECAUSE THEY'LL HAVE TO SIGN TO THAT. SO WHATEVER WE CHANGE IN. SO IT'S NOT RIGHT NOW THAT THE PROGRAM STAYS THAT THERE HAS NOT GONE OUT. SO IT HASN'T HIT THE YOU KNOW. YEAH. OF OF US HAVING TO DO ANYTHING DIFFERENT. 
          SO WE CAN JUST MODIFY THOSE THINGS WITH THE PROCESS THAT WE HAVE. THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR YOUR EXPLANATION, COUNCILMAN ATKINS. YEAH, I THINK THAT YOU MAY HAVE ANSWERED MY QUESTION. 
          MY MY QUESTION WAS GOING TO BE AROUND THE TIME SENSITIVITY OF THIS. AND IF YOU WERE ABLE TO ACHIEVE A QUORUM BEFORE NEXT MONDAY SO THAT IT COULD COME BACK AND THE IMPACT THAT IT WOULD HAVE ON THE FURTHER IMPACT THAT IT WOULD HAVE ON THE BUSINESSES, AND I THINK YOU JUST RESPONDED TO THAT. AND SO IT'S THE PREFERENCE WOULD BE FOR US TO TAKE ACTION THIS EVENING. AND KEEP IN MIND, IF THERE'S NOT ENOUGH SUPPORT, THEN IT'S TWO MONTHS. SO I JUST WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT WE ARE HELPING THE BUSINESS. I DON'T WANT US TO TAKE ANY ACTION THAT IS GOING TO FURTHER HINDER OR HURT THE BUSINESSES. AND I HEAR YOU, IT'S JUST TWO THINGS THAT YOU NEED TO HAVE INCLUDED. BUT PULLING THAT QUORUM TOGETHER TO BE ABLE TO DO THAT COULD BE A CHALLENGE. YEAH. JUST ONE ONE QUICK COMMENT. JUST, YOU KNOW, WE PULLED A SPECIAL MEETING TOGETHER. WHAT DAY WAS THAT? WAS THAT LAST THURSDAY? LAST THURSDAY? YES. AND YOU KNOW, PULLING LITERALLY ONE OF THE BUSINESS COMES IN WITH THEIR GLOVES FROM THE KITCHEN TO COME INTO THE MEETING BECAUSE THEY'RE LIKE, YO, THESE ARE BUSINESS FOLKS THAT WE'RE ASKING TO COME INTO THIS. SO I JUST WANT US TO BE SENSITIVE TO THE FOLKS THAT WE'RE TRYING TO SERVE AND HELP. BUT I DO THINK, LIKE SHE MENTIONED, THESE, THESE REQUESTS CAN BE BROUGHT TO THE GROUP. BUT YOU'RE. WELL, YEAH. AND I DID GET A TEXT MESSAGE. THERE WAS A STRUGGLE TO GET THE QUORUM. YOU WERE SHORT ONE PERSON AND HAD TO WAIT. WE WERE SHORT ONE PERSON TO DO THAT, AND THAT BUSINESS OWNER AND I GOT THE TEXT MESSAGE LAST WEEK THAT YOU WERE STRUGGLING TO GET A QUORUM. AND JUST SO THAT, YOU KNOW, WE DO, BECAUSE WE HAVE THE BUSINESS OWNERS, DIRECT BUSINESS OWNERS, THEY'RE NOT ON THE COMMITTEE TO SELECT AND BE SELECTED AS A BUSINESS OR HAVE ANY WAY OF BEING ON THE BOARD AND BEING, YOU KNOW, BIASED TO THEIR NEED. 
          THEY HAVE TO SUBMIT AN APPLICATION. AND WE HAVE A THREE PARTY COMMITTEE THAT'S ALREADY LOOKING AT IT BASED ON OUR SCORING CRITERIA, JUST TO AVOID ANY TYPE OF BIASES. ALL RIGHT. THANK YOU SO MUCH COUNCIL. SO DO WE HAVE A MOTION. WE DON'T HAVE A MOTION. WE IS IT ARE WE MOVING THIS TO THE NEXT WORK SESSION. OR DO WE HAVE A. AND MADAM MAYOR, COULD I MAKE ONE POINT OF CLARIFICATION ON THE SPECIAL MEETING? I THINK THAT IS NEXT WEEK. WE WERE STILL WANTING TO TALK ABOUT OTHER ITEMS LIKE, YOU KNOW, WE'RE JUST TALKING ABOUT THE $30,000 RIGHT NOW. SO WE DO WANT TO BE ABLE TO BE A PART OF A WORK SESSION IN TERMS OF A BIGGER WIN, BUT THIS ITEM IS JUST AROUND THE $30,000 FOR THAT QUESTION. THAT'S LIKE A COUNCIL. IF THEY AT THIS POINT, IT SOUNDS LIKE IT'S GOING TO A WORK SESSION FOR NEXT WEEK. AND 
          [05:40:08]
IS THAT THE WILL OF THE COUNCIL FOR IT TO GO TO THE WORK SESSION? I'M SORRY. I THINK SHE'S IN BEFORE DOCTOR JIMENEZ AND BEFORE ME. YEAH, I, I'M PREPARED TO MAKE A MOTION, BUT SO HERE'S A MOTION I'LL MAKE. I WOULD MAKE THE MOTION TO. AMEND THE BUDGET TO REFLECT THIS TRANSFER TO DDA FOR THE $30,000 FROM THE ITEMS THAT ARE SPECIFIED IN THE ORDINANCE THAT WE GOT. HOWEVER, DDA WOULD NOT BE AUTHORIZED TO SPEND ANY OF THAT MONEY UNTIL THEY CAME BACK TO US WITH THE FINAL PRODUCT AND PLAN, AND IT WOULD ONLY BE UPON A VOTE OF THIS COUNCIL THAT YOU ALL COULD THEN BEGIN RECRUITING FOR THE PROGRAM AND SPENDING THE MONEY. SO THAT WOULD BE THE MOTION THAT I'M MAKING THIS EVENING. COUNCILMAN ATKINS. YEAH, I'M GOING TO SECOND A MOTION BECAUSE I WANTED TO MOVE FORWARD ALSO. BUT QUESTION TO THE MADAM ATTORNEY. SO THE ORDINANCE IS ONE THING IS MOVING THE MONEY, BUT DO WE HAVE TO HAVE THE STIPULATIONS BECAUSE THE PROGRAM IS A PART OF THE RESOLUTION. AND IF WE'RE NOT, THE RESOLUTION WAS APPROVED BY THERE. GOTCHA. SO THIS IS YOUR RESOLUTION. SO WE DON'T NEED TO DO THIS. IT WAS JUST IN OUR PACKET. WE JUST NEED TO DO THIS PIECE HERE. YOU KNOW WHAT THEY WANT TO DO FOR FUNDING. THE ONLY ACTION THAT YOU WOULD BE TAKING WAS TO APPROVE THE ORDINANCE TO FUND THEIR PROGRAM. TRACKING COUNCIL MEMBER HEMMING TO ACHIEVE WHAT YOU JUST SAID WILL REQUIRE YOU TO MAKE A MOTION TO WAIVE THE FIRST READ. OKAY. I'M GOOD. OKAY. THAT'S FINE IF I HAVE SOME ONE MORE PERSON. BUT BUT HERE'S THE OTHER THING IS IF THEY CAN'T SPEND THE MONEY YET UNTIL YOU VOTE AGAIN, MIGHT AS WELL WAIT AND VOTE. OKAY, IS THERE A FURTHER OKAY, SO WE ARE GOING TO MOVE. I, I'M JUST MAKING THAT RECOMMENDATION. OBVIOUSLY IT'S UP TO THIS BODY TO WAIT OR NOT WAIT, BUT I JUST WAS MAKING THAT RECOMMENDATION OKAY. SO I THINK WE MOVE IT OKAY. SO WE HAVE WE WE HAVE A NOT A MOTION BUT WE HAVE A APPETITE TO MOVE THIS AGENDA ITEM TO THE WORK SESSION. NO, WE HAVE A MOTION. THE MOTION HASN'T BEEN WITHDRAWN. OKAY. ALL RIGHT. SO IS THERE A SECOND TO WHAT IS THE MOTION ON THE FLOOR? I MOVE THAT WE WAIVE THE FIRST READING FOR THE ORDINANCE BY THE CITY COUNCIL OF EAST POINT, GEORGIA, TO AMEND THE BUDGET FOR FISCAL YEAR ENDING JUNE 30TH, 2026, TO PROVIDE FOR AN EFFECTIVE DATE AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES, BE IT ORDAINED BY THE MAYOR AND COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF EAST POINT, AND IS HEREBY ORDAINED BY THE AUTHORITY OF THE SAME. SECOND, SECOND, SECOND. ANY DISCUSSION? YES. GO AHEAD. COUNCILMAN. SO THIS CAME UP DURING THE LAST MEETING WHERE THE CITY MANAGER ASKED, COULD WE JUST PUT THE FUNDING TO THE SIDE? AND WE ALL SAID, NO, WE WANT TO SEE THE PROGRAM FIRST AND WE'RE PRESENTED WITH THE PROGRAM TODAY. IT'S A GREAT START. BUT IF I'M BEING COMPLETELY HONEST, ONE OF THE THE CONCERNS IS THAT THIS ALL STARTED FROM ONE BUSINESS. AND ONE OF THE THINGS THAT SHOULD HAVE BEEN IN HERE IS THAT THERE IT COULD BE CAPPED AND THAT IT WAS FAIR FOR MULTIPLE BUSINESSES TO POTENTIALLY APPLY FOR THIS. AND THAT'S WHAT'S MISSING FROM TODAY. I THINK IF YOU WOULD HAVE HAD THOSE THINGS IN THERE, IT WOULD HAVE BEEN A LOT EASIER TO APPROVE THIS. AND AS COUNCIL MEMBER HEMMINGS MENTIONED, WE WANT THIS TO BE A PART OF THE DESIGN. SO THERE IS NOT A QUESTION ABOUT WHERE THE MONEYS ARE GOING, HOW THEY'RE BEING ALLOCATED, AND IF IT'S FAIR. WELL, I THINK THAT OH, I'M SORRY, I THINK HEMMING IS IN BEFORE. SO I GUESS MY QUESTION ALSO TO COUNCIL IS WHAT IS THE RUSH. AND I DO UNDERSTAND THAT YOU ALL NEED QUORUM, BUT THIS IS A SENSE OF URGENCY. AND YOU'VE PUT A LOT OF WORK INTO THIS. AND SO IF, IF, IF THAT SENSE OF URGENCY IS THE SAME FOR YOU ALL AS IT IS FOR US, THEN I WOULD HOPE THAT YOU'D BE ABLE TO COME TOGETHER SOONER THAN LATER IN ORDER FOR US TO BE ABLE TO MAKE THIS DECISION AND GET RELIEF TO BUSINESSES THAT NEED IT AS SOON AS POSSIBLE. THE THE ONE. THANK YOU FOR THAT. AND THROUGH YOU, MADAM MAYOR, TO TO COUNCILMAN COUNCILWOMAN CALDWELL, THE ONE THING I WOULD ASK THOUGH IS. 
          [05:45:04]
FOR, FOR A LOT OF CLARITY ON WHAT THAT ADDITIONS ARE. SO I KNOW THE CHAIRPERSON JUST TOOK NOTES ON SOME OF THE THINGS SHE HEARD. AS I SAID BEFORE, WE'LL GO THROUGH THE THE TRANSCRIPT. 
          BUT WHAT I DON'T WANT TO HAPPEN IS WHAT JUST HAPPENED, WHICH WE LOOKED THROUGH THE TRANSCRIPT, LOOKED AT EVERY CONCERN, AND THEN ADDRESSED ALL THOSE AND THEN BOOM, ANOTHER ONE. BUT TO YOUR POINT, I AND I TOTALLY RESPECT HEY, HERE WERE TWO GLARING THINGS THAT WERE CONCERNS THAT Y'ALL HAD. ONE IS THAT ONE WOULD GO TO ONE BUSINESS. AND THOUGH WE KNOW THAT'S NOT GOING TO HAPPEN, IT'S NOT WRITTEN ANYWHERE, YOU KNOW. SO POINT WELL TAKEN FOR SURE. SO I JUST BUT I GUESS THE CLARITY ON WHAT THOSE ADDITIONS ARE, WE KNOW THAT WHEN IT'S SUPER CLEAR TO MAKE SURE WE GET A VOTE FROM DDA, THIS MONEY WILL BE CAPPED OR WILL NOT ALL GO TO ONE BUSINESS OR THE 80% OR WON'T GO TO ONE BUSINESS, ETC. BUT IT'S WE JUST NEED A LOT MORE CLARITY SO THAT WHEN THAT GROUP MEETS, IT'S LIKE, HERE ARE THE THREE THINGS WE NEED Y'ALL TO APPROVE SO THAT WE CAN GET IN AND OUT. OKAY, COUNCILWOMAN HEMMINGS AND COUNCILMAN ATKINS, IT SOUNDS LIKE YOU GUYS NEED SOME MORE CLARITY ON THIS. I'LL AMEND MY MOTION, BUT HERE'S THE CONCERN THAT I'M EXPERIENCING. WE WILL TALK AGNOSTICALLY ABOUT THE DETAILS OF THE PROGRAM AT THE NEXT WORK SESSION, AND THAT WE WILL BE IN THE SAME BOAT THAT WE'RE IN NOW, WHICH IS SIMILAR TO THE CONVERSATION THAT WE JUST HAD ABOUT FIFA. SO I'M GOING TO USE LANGUAGE YOU USED EARLIER ABOUT DECISION PARALYSIS. I AGREE, AND I'M HAPPY TO AMEND MY MOTION TO MAKE SURE THAT IT ADDRESSES THAT POINT, THAT THESE FUNDS COULD NOT BE USED TO FUND ANY ONE SINGLE BUSINESS, AND THAT THE FUNDS WOULD BE CAPPED AT SOME THRESHOLD, FOR EXAMPLE. SO NO MORE THAN 10%, I DON'T KNOW, 30%. I DON'T KNOW WHAT THE NUMBER IS, BUT NO MORE THAN 30% OF THESE FUNDS COULD BE ALLOCATED TO ANY ONE BUSINESS. 
          BUT I DON'T KNOW THAT THE SPECIFICS. I DON'T FEEL CONFIDENT THAT. I'M GOING TO I'M GOING TO AMEND MY MOTION. OKAY. THANK YOU. SO I HAVE A QUESTION. IS IT IS THE IS THE CHALLENGE HERE ABOUT THE FACT THAT WE'RE NOT SEEING THINGS APPLES TO APPLES BECAUSE IT SEEMS AND WHAT I'M ASKING IS IF THEY'RE IF, IF, IF REVENUE WAS DRIVING AND THEY MISSED THAT BECAUSE OF THE STREET ALLOCATIONS AND THINGS LIKE THAT, IS THAT I MEAN, HAS OTHER OPTIONS BEEN EXPLORED LIKE MARKETING DOLLARS, LIKE CAN WE MARKET FOR THEM AND THINGS LIKE THAT WAS JUST ONE OF MY QUESTIONS THAT I HAVE, LIKE HAVE OTHER ALTERNATIVES? I HEAR ATLANTA, BUT IT SOUNDS LIKE INVEST ATLANTA WAS IN FRONT OF THE EIGHT BALL AND WE'RE BEHIND THE EIGHT BALL BECAUSE WE'RE TRYING TO REMEDY SOMETHING THAT DID NOT GO WELL IN THE CITY OR SUPPOSEDLY. AND I ALSO KNOW THAT WE DID HAVE SOME MEDIA COVERAGE ON THIS AS WELL. AND SO FROM THAT MEDIA COVERAGE, DO WE SEE ANYTHING THAT HAS HAPPENED TO BENEFIT THE BUSINESS ANYWAY? AND I KNOW THERE'S BEEN A TREMENDOUS AMOUNT OF COMMUNITY OUTREACH AND COMING INTO THE CERTAIN BUSINESSES AND SO ON. THOSE ARE JUST MY QUESTIONS. YOU DON'T HAVE TO ANSWER THAT NOW. OKAY. PLEASE DON'T. ACTUALLY YOU CAN, YOU CAN. I'LL DEFER TO COUNCIL FOR THE REST OF THEIR QUESTIONS. AND THEN WE CAN GO FROM THERE. YES. SO SO THE MOTION ON THE MOTION ON THE FLOOR IS FOR FIRST READ. AND IT'S BEEN SECONDED. AND SO WE CAN'T EVEN MOVE ON THE MAIN MOTION UNTIL THAT IS UNTIL THAT IS DISPOSED OF. AND I DO AGREE WITH COUNCILMEMBER HEMMING. AND I ALSO THINK THAT WE CAN MOVE THIS FORWARD, BECAUSE THE MOTION CAN BE MADE WITH A STIPULATION THAT IF THESE PROVISIONS ARE NOT INCLUDED, THEN DDA MUST RETURN EVERY SINGLE DOLLAR BACK TO THE CITY OF EASTPOINTE. AND THEN THAT WAY WE CAN VOTE ON THIS AND WE CAN MOVE FORWARD, AND WE CAN HELP THE BUSINESSES THAT ARE HURTING. AND OUR ASSURANCE IS THAT IF YOU DO NOT INCLUDE THAT IN THE PROGRAM, THEN YOU WOULD HAVE TO BE ON THE HOOK TO PAY THOSE $30,000 BACK TO THE CITY OF EASTPOINTE. SO I THINK THAT THAT WOULD ACHIEVE EVERYTHING. BUT THE MOTION ON THE FLOOR IS TO WAIVE THE FIRST READ. LET'S GET A VOTE ON THE MOTION TO WAIVE THE FIRST READ. THEN THE SECOND MOTION NEEDS TO INCLUDE THOSE THINGS AS ARTICULATED BY COUNCIL MEMBER HEMMING. AND AGAINST. YOU HAVE A SECOND TO READ THE FIRST READING. YOU GOT ONE, YOU GOT ONE. DO WE HAVE IT? WE HAVE A SECOND TO WAIVE THE FIRST READ. OKAY. ANY DISCUSSION? ALL THOSE IN FAVOR? AYE. ALL THOSE OPPOSED? OKAY. 
          NOW, DO WE HAVE A MOTION TO AMEND THE BUDGET? UNTIL WHAT IS IT? UNTIL. AND DDA WILL SEND THE MONEY. WHAT IS THIS? IF YOU CAN, IF YOU CAN READ OR COUNCIL MEMBER HEMMING OR ATKINS, IF YOU GUYS CAN RESTATE THOSE THREE STIPULATIONS. I HEARD TWO FROM COUNCIL MEMBER HEMMING AND THEN ONE FROM ATKINS. WITH THE RETURN OF THE MONEY TO ADOPT IT. NOW THAT THE FIRST READ HAS BEEN WAIVED. 
          [05:50:40]
A MOTION TO ADJOURN. NO. 
          OKAY, MADAM MAYOR, I'M READY TO MAKE A MOTION. COUNCILWOMAN HAMMOND, BEAR WITH ME. I'M GOING TO DO IT VERY SLOWLY. AND WITH THE HELP OF MY COLLEAGUES, I MOVE TO ADOPT THE ORDINANCE PRESENTED TO US THAT WOULD MOVE, THAT WE JUST WAIVE THE FIRST READING FOR, THAT WOULD MOVE THE $30,000 TO FUND THE PROGRAM DESCRIBED TONIGHT WITH THESE THREE CONDITIONS, IF THESE THREE CONDITIONS ARE NOT MET, DDA WILL BE RESPONSIBLE FOR REIMBURSING THE CITY THE FULL $30,000. THE THREE CONDITIONS ARE. YOU ALL NEED TO DEFINE A PERCENT LOSS AS A PROGRAM CRITERIA. NUMBER TWO, YOU NEED TO CLEARLY SPECIFY A CAP OF THE MAXIMUM AWARD TO ENSURE THAT. A CAP PER BUSINESS FOR THE AWARD. AND THE THIRD CONDITION IS THAT THE CITY THE BUSINESS MUST STAY IN OPERATION FOR 12 MONTHS, OR THEY WOULD BE REQUIRED ON SOME SCALE TO REPAY. 
          PERCENTAGES BACK TO THE TO DDA SHOULD THEY LEAVE BEFORE THE 12 MONTHS. AND YOU ALL CAN DEFINE WHAT THAT SCALE LOOKS LIKE SECOND BEFORE YOU. SECOND, CAN I RECOMMEND THAT THE RECOMMENDATIONS. RIGHT. YES. GIVE THEM THE AUTONOMY TO DECIDE WHAT THAT LOOKS LIKE. SO A YOU KNOW, YOU GET THE 30,000, YOU WON'T YOU WILL HAVE TO PAY IT BACK. IF YOU DON'T ADDRESS CAPS LOSS AND RECOUPING FUNDS. SHOULD THE BUSINESS LEAVE WITHIN 12 MONTHS. YES, I THINK THAT HAS A LITTLE LESS. INFLUENCE ON THEIR PROGRAM. YES. THAT YOU REALLY ARE ONLY FUNDING. OKAY, LET ME RESTATE MY MOTION. THIS IS THE REAL MOTION, I PROMISE. I MOVE TO ADOPT THE ORDINANCE THAT WE JUST WAIVED THE FIRST READING THAT MOVES THE MONEY FROM THE DEFINED BUCKETS TO THE DDA. TO FUND A PROGRAM, THE PROGRAM MUST ADDRESS LOSS CAP, MAXIMUM CAPS TWO A BUSINESS, AND SOME SCALE SOME SCHEDULE FOR RETURNING FUNDS TO DDA. SHOULD THEY LEAVE THE CITY BEFORE 12 MONTHS. IF THOSE THREE CONDITIONS ARE NOT MET, DDA WOULD THEN BE REQUIRED TO REIMBURSE THE CITY FOR THIS. FOR THIS PROGRAM TOTAL 30,000, TOTALING $30,000. YES. SECOND. ALRIGHT. ANY DISCUSSION? ALL THOSE IN FAVOR? AYE. ALL THOSE OPPOSED? MOTION CARRIES. NUMBER 12. ALL RIGHT. SO NOW WE HAVE THE POSSIBLE ACTION TO APPLY 
          [XIV.12. Council Discussion and Possible Action to Apply for the 2026 AARP Community Challenge Microgrant]
FOR A 2026 AARP COMMUNITY CHALLENGE MICRO GRANTS FROM THE FIRE DEPARTMENT. GOOD EVENING, SIR. HOW YOU DOING, MADAM MAYOR AND COUNCIL, I'D LIKE TO MAKE A MOTION. THAT WE APPROVE THE FIRE DEPARTMENT APPLYING FOR THE 2026 AARP COMMUNITY CHALLENGE MICRO GRANT. IS THERE A SECOND? SECOND? ANY DISCUSSION? I THINK THAT WE SHOULD ALLOW THE FIRE CHIEF, SHOULD HE DESIRE TO JUST GIVE SOME HIGHLIGHTS. HE STAYED HERE TILL 1225, AND HE CAN BE AS 
          [05:55:05]
BRIEF AS LONG AS HE'D LIKE, BUT I THINK IT'S A LITTLE. YES. NO PROBLEM. HOW YOU DOING, MADAM MAYOR AND COUNCIL. JUST WANTED TO LET YOU KNOW THIS IS THE AARP COMMUNITY CHALLENGE GRANT AND WHAT IT WOULD AFFORD US THE OPPORTUNITY TO DO IS TO HELP SENIORS. A LOT OF TIMES IN OUR COMMUNITY, SENIORS FALL AND HAVE INJURIES FROM SLIPPING OUT OF THE SHOWER IN THE BATHROOM. 
          SO IT'LL PROVIDE US THE OPPORTUNITY, SHOULD WE GET IT TO BE ABLE TO PUT GRAB BARS IN THEIR SHOWER AREAS? THE GRANT HAS NO MATCH. ITS MAXIMUM OF $2,500. DON'T HAVE TO PAY ANYTHING UP FRONT OR PAY ANYTHING BACK. AND I'M ASKING IF WE CAN APPLY FOR THE GRANT AND SHOULD WE WIN IT, RECEIVE THE MONEY AS WELL. THANK YOU. I WANT TO ADD TO MY MOTION THAT YOU APPLY AND RECEIVE THE MONEY. YES, MA'AM. THANK YOU. SECOND, IT STILL STANDS. YEAH. ALL. ALL IN FAVOR? AYE. THOSE OPPOSED THE AYES HAVE IT. THANK YOU, THANK YOU, THANK YOU, THANK YOU FOR WAITING. THANK YOU FOR WAITING. I ALSO WANTED TO ADD I'M IN. I KNOW THAT WE'RE DONE. 
          BUT ON THE AGENDA WE SKIP COMMITTEE REPORTS. COMMITTEE REPORTS. IT'S ALL. WE DID. OKAY, AWESOME. OKAY. IS THERE A MOTION? OKAY. NOPE. GOT EXECUTIVE SESSION. DO WE HAVE ANY ITEMS FOR EXECUTIVE SESSION? OKAY. CITY CITY ATTORNEY WIGGINS HAS ONE. I HAVE ONE THING. I'M SORRY. I'M SORRY. PERSONNEL. YEAH, BECAUSE WHEN IS YOUR BUDGET OKAY, OKAY. I'M SORRY IF COUNCIL WOULD INDULGE ME. I WAS GOING WE SKIPPED THE COMMITTEE REPORTS DURING THAT TIME. I WAS GOING TO MAKE A MOTION TO HAVE DEPARTMENT HEADS REPORT OUT THEIR EXPENDITURES TO THE BUDGET AND FINANCE COMMITTEES STARTING TOMORROW. I DON'T KNOW WHAT THAT LOOKS LIKE. 
          NOT TOMORROW, BUT TO HAVE THEM REPORT OUT THEIR BUDGETS TO THE BUDGET AND FINANCE COMMITTEE. 
          THAT A MOTION. THIS IS THE MOTION SHE DID. MOTION. OKAY. I'M SORRY. WITHDRAW. GREAT. 
          [XV. EXECUTIVE SESSION]
OKAY. NOW DOES ANYONE HAVE ANY OTHER EXECUTIVE ITEMS? COUNCILWOMAN?
* This transcript was compiled from uncorrected Closed Captioning.