During the meeting, the committee engaged in a discussion about the incorporation of coastal resiliency and emergency preparation policies into the Comprehensive Land Use Plan. This included mapping for risk assessment, infrastructure resilience, building standards, and risk financing. The debate extended to the appropriate language to be used in the policy, as well as the level of service for hurricane evacuation and the impact of hurricane shelters on new development.

A significant portion of the meeting revolved around the role of the city’s civil defense coordinator and whether it should be distinct from the emergency manager role. Additionally, the committee discussed the transportation element of the city’s comprehensive plan and the coordination with adjacent or responsible governments regarding level of service standards for state and county facilities.

The topic of floating solar facilities garnered attention as members debated the feasibility and impact on coastal land and aesthetics. The idea of using alternative locations for solar panels, such as Walmart roofs or parking areas, was also discussed. Despite the debates, the committee decided not to move forward with the floating solar panel initiative at this time.

Updating the city’s capital improvements plan to align with the comprehensive plan was another focal point, with discussions emphasizing long-term budgeting. The committee deliberated on the new requirement to adopt a property rights element, focusing on balancing the rights of property owners with the implications for future land use plans. The shift from voluntary to mandatory dispute resolution processes in the intergovernmental coordination element was reviewed, with the committee looking to adjust policies and objectives accordingly.

The committee also underscored the importance of public education and involvement in conservation and coastal management. Proposals were made to rename the comprehensive plan to the “2035 Port Richey Comprehensive Plan” to reflect future projections and to update post-disaster redevelopment plans with input from the building department.

A debate arose over the appropriate timeframe for updating the city’s comprehensive plan, with opinions divided between a 10-year cycle and longer options, such as 15 or 20 years. The balance between the costs of updating the plan and the need to keep the city’s vision current was a point of contention. Furthermore, the need for a detailed water treatment work plan was discussed, with the idea of possibly replacing the current plan with a more detailed future plan.

The committee also received updates on the survey for the Cody River Landing project. Discussions around increasing survey participation through methods such as water bills and Nixel alerts were held, with concerns about the level of detail and privacy in the survey being noted.

Finally, in an effort to improve internal controls, the use of IP addresses and MAC addresses for network monitoring was debated. The committee members considered the uniqueness of MAC addresses and their effectiveness in tracking devices. Additionally, the layout for a workshop room was discussed, including various activity stations and the idea of integrating bicycle helmet fittings and giveaways as part of the outreach for the long-range transportation plan.