2023 Commission Priorities Update
Assistant City Manager Michelle Smolen presented a mid-year report on the work underway on the 2023 Commission Priorities. After holding strategic planning sessions on February 24 and March 10, the Board determined 10 Commission Priorities and five Continuous Improvement items. To read the full report, visit Commission Priorities.
The following are Commission Priorities with a few highlights:
- Bike Lanes & Trails – The City has received the National Park Service – River, Trails, and Conservation Assistance Program Technical Assistance Grant which will be used to further the design of the Greenway Trail and urban bike extensions. The kickoff with the National Park Service is scheduled for September.
- City Facilities – The Robert Cherry Civic Center renovation project is underway and scheduled for completion in late December. Plus, the City has set aside more than $2 million in a capital improvement fund for city facility renovations and new construction. Mayor George Bray said, “For the longest time, the City has had a program to set aside funds for the replacement of vehicles but has not focused on the long-term needs of our facilities. This $2 million is a signal that the City is committed to current and future facilities.”
- Community Growth – The City has contracted with MakeMyMove for remote worker recruiting assistance.
- Downtown – The BUILD grant project is working toward a goal of finishing the design this year and soliciting a construction contract with construction to begin in Spring 2024. The public amenities for the City Block project are under construction with the hotel foundation to begin later this summer.
- Housing – The City-County comprehensive plan project is underway with more than 300 community members so far engaged in providing input. An online survey will be launched soon to gather additional community input.
- Minority Inclusion – The City is recruiting for a Diversity Specialist who will work with the recently repopulated Paducah Human Rights Commission.
- Neighborhoods – The Paducah Police Department has held 14 neighborhood meetings so far to gather public feedback. The City has created an informational business card to be distributed during the neighborhood meetings.
- Quality of Life – In May, the City launched a Mental Health Awareness Campaign. Also, the City launched a beautification and code awareness social media campaign.
- Revenue Equity – The Finance Department is proactively seeking non-compliant businesses and recruiting for a revenue technician position.
- Southside Enhancements – The Planning Department finalized a package of Southside residential and business incentives.
The following are Continuous Improvement items with a few highlights:
- 911 Radio Equipment Upgrade, Governance, and Revenue – The City and County are working through finalizing a contract with Communications International for the radio and tower improvement project. The City and County are exploring a parcel fee on property tax bills as a funding source.
- City/County Outdoor Sports Complex – The project is designed with the team preparing construction documents to place the project out to bid this fall. The request for proposals for the relocation of the dog parks is expected to be released as early as this month.
- Continue Efforts to Improve Operational Efficiencies in the Development Process and Throughout All City Departments – Several departments have implemented measures to improve efficiency including the addition of GPS routing on solid waste trucks and the conversion to Microsoft 365.
- Protecting Key Historical and Cultural Resources – Rhodes Heritage Group is finalizing recommendations for preserving and stewarding key historical and cultural resources including the Hotel Metropolitan, Columbia Theatre, Stuart Nelson Park, and the Oscar Cross House.
- Stormwater – The Buckner Lane Bridge Replacement Project is completed which enlarged the bridge’s hydraulic opening over Crooked Creek along with the installation of an improved box culvert under Oakcrest to reduce the times Crooked Creek tops the roadway.
Robert Cherry Civic Center Contract Update
The Board approved a Municipal Order for a contract modification with Midstates Construction for the Robert Cherry Civic Center Renovation Project. Due to manufacturing delays, this modification adds 45 days to the contract with a completion date of December 28. In March, the Board approved the contract with Midstates to repair the facility following a traffic crash in 2022 that caused a vehicle to significantly damage the building and to rehabilitate the community center area and provide office space for the relocation of the Parks & Recreation Department’s administrative employees. The Civic Center also will serve as an emergency operations center when needed.
Property at 2301 McCracken Boulevard
After meeting in Executive Session, the Board approved a municipal order authorizing the sale of the property located at 2301 McCracken Boulevard in Commerce Park to Newgen Ventures, LLC for $3 million. This facility is the former TeleTech building that opened as a call center in 2014. In 2013, the City, County, and Greater Paducah Economic Development (GPED) each provided funding toward the building’s construction. Funds from the sale of the property to Newgen Ventures will more than cover the remaining principal on the 2013 General Obligation Bond used for the project.
Greater Paducah Economic Development Annual Update
Greater Paducah Economic Development (GPED) President and CEO Bruce Wilcox provided an annual report of GPED’s activities. Wilcox said the organization, which has various funding partners including the City, County, and investors, worked 40 different prospects in the past year. Wilcox said there is an unprecedented interest in our community. In the report, Wilcox provided a variety of economic indicators and statistics including that over the past three years GPED has been directly involved in the addition of 1025 jobs (direct and indirect job growth). He added that for every $1 in investment in GPED, there is a $35 return on the investment with the local job and company growth. Regarding economic development leads, Wilcox says 43 percent are from the State with 22 percent from site selectors and 35 percent from direct recruiting by GPED.
Additional Meeting Information
- Mayor Bray presented a proclamation to Charter Senior Living of Paducah representatives proclaiming August 8 as Charter Senior Living Day. This new personal and memory care facility is located at 2201 New Holt Road. A ribbon cutting will be Thursday at 4:30 p.m.
- The Board reappointed Gayle Kaler and appointed Micky Carman to the Paducah Planning Commission.
- Municipal Order approved for a Fleet Maintenance Service Agreement between Paducah’s Fleet Division and the Melber Volunteer Fire Department. Fleet will provide maintenance services to Melber’s vehicles at hourly rates.
- Municipal Order approved for the purchase of solid waste dumpsters.
- Municipal Order approved authorizing a contract with Ray Black & Son for renovations to the Hotel Metropolitan Purple Room. An African American Cultural Heritage Action Fund grant is being used to fund the project.
- Ordinance approved for a construction contract modification with Pace Contracting, LLC for the Floodwall Pump Station No. 2 Project. This modification reduces the contract amount by $10,000.
- Ordinance approved for a construction contract modification with Jim Smith Contracting, LLC for the Buckner Lane Bridge Replacement Project. This modification reduces the contract amount by $74,320.
- Ordinance introduced to approve the fiscal year 2024 budget for the Section 8 Housing Choice Voucher Program.
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