To view the entire meeting, visit https://youtu.be/tMHLF8PB5tc.
Note: There will be a joint City-County meeting at 5 p.m. on Thursday, June 24 at the Convention Center to discuss 911 and the outdoor sports and recreation complex.
Remote Workers Incentive Program
One of the Paducah Board of Commissioners’ priority action items is the development of a remote workers incentive program. Business Development Specialist Kathryn Byers provided an overview of a proposed program with a goal of attracting to Paducah approximately 40 full-time remote workers from 100 miles or more outside Paducah by offering the following incentives:
- Relocation expenses
- Internet access
- Community connections through tickets to cultural amenities, memberships to professional networks, a membership at Sprocket, and classes at local higher education institutes
- City of Paducah payroll tax waiver for a 12-month period
The City has allocated $100,000 for the incentives and marketing with the goal to reach workers in the following cities: Atlanta, Georgia; Austin, Texas; Charlotte, North Carolina; Chicago, Illinois; Houston, Texas; and Louisville, Kentucky. The plan is to present a final draft of the proposed incentives in July and implement the program in August.
Plan to Repurpose Robert Cherry Civic Center
The Paducah Board of Commissioners discussed the future of the Robert Cherry Civic Center located at 2701 Park Avenue. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the City closed the facility more than a year ago. Since that time, Mayor Bray says the City has been looking at repurposing the Civic Center since the facility operates at an annual loss of more than $35,000. On a related note, the Parks and Recreation Department and the Senior Center are in a building on H.C. Mathis Drive that is expensive to maintain with utility costs around $100,000 per year. As a solution, the City is looking at renovating the Civic Center to provide office space for the Parks Department and a banquet hall for the public. Mayor Bray emphasized that this is a decision of economics. The next step is to receive a cost estimate for proposed Civic Centerrenovations. The Senior Center is also reviewing other buildings that would be more economical for its operations.
Downtown Street Closure for Outside Dining
The Board approved a municipal order authorizing the City Manager to temporarily close the street on the west side of historic Market House to allow for outside dining. The City closed that portion of Market House Square last year which was well received by businesses and citizens. The City will offer the program again this year beginning this week with the street closure to remain in place until late this year.
Resolution Declaring Intent to Reimburse for City Block Public Expenditures
The Board approved a resolution declaring the intent for the City to reimburse itself for $3 million in expenditures related to the public portion of the City Block project located in the parking lot at 2nd Street and Broadway. This is the formal financial commitment for the City’s portion of the project which will include parking, green space, and a promenade. The next step is to submit a formal written letter of commitment to Weyland Ventures as required within our current agreement. Weyland is finishing the project’s design.
Grant Applications
- Approval to accept the 2020 CDBG Coronavirus Grant in the amount of $200,000 on behalf of Four Rivers Behavioral Health CenterPoint Recovery Center.
- Approval to apply for the 2021 CDBG Grant in the amount of $200,000 for the CenterPoint Recovery Center.
Additional Meeting Information
- Boards and Commissions:
- Reappointment of Vickie Brantley and appointment of Mary “Mag” Wells-Vallejo to the Paducah-McCracken County Senior Citizens, Inc.
- Reappointment of William Cox, Mark Davis, and Bryan Carner to the Paducah Area Transit System.
- Municipal orders approved for the Pay and Position Schedule and Job Grade Schedule for city personnel.
- Municipal order approved for the payment to Clean Earth, Inc. for household hazardous and electronic waste collected during April’s Spring Clean Up Day.
- Ordinance approved for the second amendment to the lease agreement with Cremation Society of Paducah.
- Ordinance approved for a budget amendment for the current fiscal year in the amount of $2.9 million. These funds will be used as matching funds for the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Floodwall Rehabilitation Project.
- Ordinance approved for the fiscal year 2022 budget. The City’s fiscal year begins July 1.
