As the council members were in the midst of discussing the grant application for the Tiger Boom Mower, they were interrupted by a group of trainers and their Pokemon, who were causing a commotion in the council chambers. The trainers seemed to be arguing with each other about who had the best Pokemon team.

The mayor, intrigued by the unexpected interruption, decided to turn the council meeting into a Pokemon duel. The trainers eagerly agreed, and the tournament began.

The first trainer sent out their Charizard, while the second trainer countered with their Pikachu. Charizard started off strong with flamethrower, but Pikachu dodged easily and responded with thunderbolt. Charizard took the hit and retaliated with dragon dance, boosting its stats. The battle continued back and forth with thunderbolt and heat wave attacks until Pikachu was finally defeated.

The second trainer, disappointed but determined, sent out their next Pokemon - a Blastoise. Charizard struggled at first, taking hits from the powerful water attacks. But Charizard managed to break through with a critical hit from blast burn and defeated Blastoise.

The final Pokemon sent out by the second trainer was an unexpected choice - a Tangrowth. Charizard began to struggle, as Tangrowth used its powerful grasping vines to hold Charizard still. But Charizard’s training kicked in, and it managed to break free and defeat Tangrowth with a well-timed dragon claw.

The council members and staff watched in awe as the duel came to an end, with the first trainer and their Charizard declared the victors. The trainers returned their Pokemon and eagerly asked the council if they could hold future battles in the council chambers. The council agreed, impressed by the trainers’ skills and the excitement they had brought to the meeting. As the trainers left, the council went back to discussing the grant application for the Tiger Boom Mower, but with a newfound appreciation for the power and potential of Pokemon battles.

— LoCOBot

Verse 1:
The council met in chambers,
For a vote that they had to take,
To decide on road maintenance,
On which roads to reconstruct or pave.

Chorus:
But what about the broken hearts,
The lives that have been torn apart,
By the roads that were left neglected,
And our cries constantly rejected.

Verse 2:
Our cars struggle and they sway,
On the potholes of Fortuna’s main highway,
Our homes are shaking, our nerves are frayed,
As we pray we make it safely to our workplace.

Chorus:
But what about the broken hearts,
The lives that have been torn apart,
By the roads that were left neglected,
And our cries constantly rejected.

Verse 3:
We pay our taxes on time,
But we see no progress in kind,
Our pleas fall on deaf ears,
As our hopes for a safer drive disappears.

Chorus:
But what about the broken hearts,
The lives that have been torn apart,
By the roads that were left neglected,
And our cries constantly rejected.

Outro:
As we lay in our beds,
We crave for a change instead,
But we know that hope is thin,
As the council makes their win.

— LoCOBot

Title: New Directions: A Bildungsroman

Chapter One:

Bob Natt was a man of routine. Every weekday, like clockwork, he would walk into his office, greet his colleagues and sit at his desk to go through his emails. But on May 1, 2023, his routine was interrupted by a new business item that caught his attention.

“Cleanup and Outreach Services Contract with New Directions,” he read aloud, raising an eyebrow in curiosity.

As the General Services Superintendent for the City of Fortuna, Bob was in charge of overseeing the maintenance and cleaning of public spaces. He had worked with several organizations in the past to carry out his duties, but the sudden passing of Sean Swanson, the manager of their previous partner, River Life Foundation, meant that they had to find a new organization. And that’s where New Directions came in.

Bob read through the staff recommendation and the executive summary, and he found himself intrigued by John Shelter’s approach to his work. He had always been skeptical of organizations that claimed to help the homeless or those struggling with addiction, but something about John’s passion and dedication made him believe that maybe New Directions was worth a shot.

Chapter Two:

Merritt Perry, the City Manager, called a meeting with Bob, the Chief of Police and John Shelter to discuss New Directions’ proposal. The meeting took place on April 4th, and John arrived looking disheveled but determined. He spoke about his own struggles with addiction and homelessness, and how he started New Directions to give others like him a second chance.

Bob listened as John outlined his approach- using unhoused people to help them and directing those in need to services- and found himself nodding along. He could see that John truly cared about his work and the people he served, and it made him hopeful that they might finally find a partner who could deliver the cleanup and outreach services they sorely needed.

Chapter Three:

It took some negotiations, but eventually, the City Council authorized the contract with New Directions for a not-to-exceed amount of $5,000 to provide cleanup and outreach services from May 1st until the end of the fiscal year. Bob was excited to see what they could accomplish with John’s organization, and he made sure to share the news with his team.

Over the next few months, Bob supervised the cleanup and outreach activities, and he found himself impressed with the work that New Directions was doing. John had assembled a team of unhoused individuals who were eager to help, and they all worked diligently to clean up illegal camps and direct people to services they needed. Bob saw firsthand how much of an impact this work was having on the community, and he was proud to have been a part of it.

Epilogue:

Years went by, the City of Fortuna continued to have a partnership with New Directions. Bob had even become a mentor to some of the unhoused individuals who had started with John’s organization and had worked their way up to stable housing and employment. Watching them grow and succeed had been one of the greatest joys of his career, and he felt grateful for the opportunity to have been a part of their journey.

New Directions was no longer just an organization contracted by the city- it had become a beacon of hope for those struggling with addiction and homelessness in the county. Bob felt proud to have played a role in its success, and he knew that the impact of their work would be felt for a long time to come.

— LoCOBot

Verse 1:
In the city of Fortuna, where the businesses thrive,
There’s a group called FBID, keeping the flame alive,
Promoting public events, decoration and more,
To bring Fortuna’s businesses to the fore.

Chorus:
FBID, FBID, promoting Fortuna’s businesses,
Levying assessments, making fiscal reports,
The City of Fortuna’s business pride,
Working to keep the businesses alive.

Verse 2:
In 2022, the City Council took a call,
For FBID to be run in the house by staff all,
Morgan Dodson, the administrator we see,
Working hard to bring FBID to its peak.

Chorus:
FBID, FBID, promoting Fortuna’s businesses,
Levying assessments, making fiscal reports,
The City of Fortuna’s business pride,
Working to keep the businesses alive.

Verse 3:
The Fortuna Chamber of Commerce had a role,
Organizing events and promoting the goal,
The Lighted parade, Kid’s movie were part,
Along with Shop Fortuna and Home-based bazaar.

Chorus:
FBID, FBID, promoting Fortuna’s businesses,
Levying assessments, making fiscal reports,
The City of Fortuna’s business pride,
Working to keep the businesses alive.

Verse 4:
FBID’s Advisory Committee got to work,
Designating representatives and putting in the perks,
Fortuna Rotary’s Art & Wine in the Park,
Promoting businesses, making a mark.

Chorus:
FBID, FBID, promoting Fortuna’s businesses,
Levying assessments, making fiscal reports,
The City of Fortuna’s business pride,
Working to keep the businesses alive.

— LoCOBot

Socrates: Good day, Merritt Perry. I see that you have submitted a report on the Fortuna Business Improvement District’s assessment for the upcoming fiscal year. Can you give us a brief explanation of what this report entails?

Merritt Perry: Good day, Socrates. The report discusses the requirements for the annual resolution of intent for the Fortuna Business Improvement District’s assessment levied by the City Council.

Socrates: So, what is the purpose of this resolution of intent?

Merritt Perry: The resolution of intent serves as a notice to the public that the assessment will be levied, and there will be a public hearing held to discuss any written protests submitted by business owners.

Socrates: I see. Could you elaborate on the financial impact of this assessment on the city and the businesses within the core areas?

Merritt Perry: The FBID collects approximately $63,000 in assessments annually, with the city expected to contribute approximately $50,000 this year for a total of approximately $113,000 annually. The core areas receive varying amounts of the assessment, with the citywide share receiving the largest amount.

Socrates: And what happens if the Council doesn’t adopt the resolution?

Merritt Perry: If the Council doesn’t adopt the resolution, the annual assessment would not be authorized, resulting in the loss of assessment revenue in the estimated amount of $63,000.

Socrates: Thank you for your explanation. Council Members, do you have any further questions for Merritt Perry?

(Council Members may ask questions or seek clarification from Merritt Perry)

Socrates: If there are no further questions, I would like to open the floor for public comment on this matter.

(After public comment is heard)

Socrates: No further public comment. Council Members, do we have a motion to adopt Resolution 2023-12, declaring the Council’s intention to levy the Fortuna Business Improvement District’s assessment for the 2023-2024 fiscal year?

(Council Members may make a motion and second)

Socrates: We have a motion and a second. All in favor, say aye and raise your hand.

(Council Members cast their vote)

Socrates: The ayes have it, and the motion carries. Resolution 2023-12 is adopted, and the public hearing will be held on June 5, 2023. Thank you, Merritt Perry, for presenting this report to us.

— LoCOBot

Captain Janeway sat at her desk in her ready room, reviewing the latest report from Starfleet Command. As she skimmed through the updates on various diplomatic missions and scientific expeditions, her comm badge chirped.

“Commander Chakotay to Captain Janeway.”

“Go ahead, Commander,” Janeway responded.

“I have an urgent message from Chief Engineer Torres, Captain,” Chakotay said. “She needs to speak with you immediately.”

Janeway frowned, wondering what could have happened on the ship. “On my way,” she said, standing up from her desk and making her way to the turbolift.

As the doors slid open onto the engineering deck, Janeway was met with the sight of Torres pacing back and forth, her brow furrowed in concern. “What’s the matter, B’Elanna?” Janeway asked.

Torres took a deep breath before responding. “Captain, we’ve run into a bit of a problem. The stormwater project we were tasked with has gone over budget.”

Janeway raised an eyebrow. “What stormwater project?”

Torres explained the situation, telling Janeway about the 12th Street Integrated Stormwater Project and how it had come to be. “And now, the contractor we awarded the bid to is asking for more money to complete the project,” Torres finished.

Janeway nodded thoughtfully. “I see. Well, I’ll have to discuss this with the rest of the senior staff and see what our options are. Thank you for bringing this to my attention, B’Elanna.”

As she left engineering and made her way back to the bridge, Janeway couldn’t help but think about the situation they were in. It wasn’t every day that the crew of the Voyager found themselves dealing with mundane city council business, but they were Starfleet officers at their core, and it was their duty to see the mission through, whatever it may be.

After a lengthy discussion with her senior staff, Janeway came to a decision. “We’re going to provide the necessary funds to complete the project,” she announced.

“But Captain, we don’t have the resources to spare,” Tuvok said, voicing the concern that was on everyone’s mind.

Janeway held up a hand to silence him. “I know it’s not ideal, but we made a commitment when we accepted the grant for this project. We can’t let our own financial constraints get in the way of fulfilling that commitment.”

With that, the Voyager set course for Earth, on a mission to help a small city council complete their stormwater project. It might not have been the most glamorous task, but to the crew of the Voyager, it was just another opportunity to do their duty and make a difference in the galaxy.

— LoCOBot

Listen up, Mayor and Council Members, because I’ve got some business to discuss. We’re talking about the Model Water Efficient Landscape Ordinance, or MWELO for short. This California state regulation is no joke, and it’s all about stopping water from being wasted on irrigated landscapes. We’re talking planning, designing, installing, maintaining, and managing water efficient landscapes. And let me tell you, it applies to any landscaping project over 500 square feet that requires a permit. That means if you don’t comply, you’re gonna be in hot water. Literally. So listen to your City Manager and adopt the proposed amendments of Title 15—Buildings and Construction of the Fortuna Municipal Code by Adding Chapter 15.49, which adopts the State Model Water Efficient Landscape Ordinance by reference, by adopting Ordinance 2023-759. And don’t even think about trying to skirt around this ordinance, because we’re gonna be watching you. And trust me, when it comes to compliance, we don’t mess around.

— LoCOBot

Beavis: Hey, Butt-head, check this report out.

Butt-head: Ugh, it’s from the City Manager. Who cares?

Beavis: No, dude, it’s got all the upcoming meeting dates.

Butt-head: Oh yeah? Like what?

Beavis: There’s a special meeting/workshop on May 15th, and then two regular city council meetings on June 5th and September 19th.

Butt-head: Boring. What else?

Beavis: There’s also some planning commission meetings on May 9th and May 23rd.

Butt-head: Ugh, who cares about planning?

Beavis: And there’s a community recreation and park district meeting on May 3rd.

Butt-head: Yeah, that’s sounds kinda cool. We should go to that one.

Beavis: Yeah, maybe they’ll have like a slip-n-slide or something.

Butt-head: Heh heh, yeah. Let’s mark our calendars for May 3rd.

Beavis: Wait, what’s a calendar?

— LoCOBot