03/17/2008
COMMUNITY REDEVELOPMENT AGENCY MEETING MINUTES
CITY OF CLEARWATER
March 17, 2008
Present: Frank Hibbard Chair/CRA Trustee
Carlen Petersen CRA Trustee
John Doran CRA Trustee
George N. Cretekos CRA Trustee
Paul Gibson CRA Trustee
Also present: William B. Horne II City Manager
Jill S. Silverboard Assistant City Manager
Rod Irwin Assistant City Manager/CRA Executive Director
Pamela K. Akin City Attorney
Cynthia E. Goudeau City Clerk
Patricia O. Sullivan Board Reporter
The Chair called the meeting to order at 1:31 p.m. at City Hall.
To provide continuity for research, items are in agenda order although not
necessarily discussed in that order.
2 - Approval of Minutes
2.1 Approve the minutes of the March 3, 2008 CRA meeting as submitted in written summation
by the City Clerk.
Trustee Petersen moved to approve the minutes of the Community Redevelopment
Agency meeting of March 3, 2008, as recorded and submitted in written summation by the City
Clerk to each Trustee. The motion was duly seconded and carried unanimously.
3 - Community Redevelopment Agency Items
:
3.1 Pursuant to CRA RFP 10-08, and the recommendation of the Selection Committee, award a
contract for Retail Recruitment and Marketing Services for Downtown Clearwater to
ERA/Downtown Works of Washington, D.C. in the amount of $ 145,000, plus out-of-pocket
expenses not to exceed $20,000, and authorize the Executive Director to execute the Contract
for Services on behalf of the CRA.
On January 14, 2008, the Clearwater CRA (Community Redevelopment Agency)
approved the release of a RFP (Request for Proposals) for retail recruitment and marketing
services for the Cleveland Street District. The objective of these services is to support and
enhance the existing retail base within the Cleveland Street District.
Specifically, the RFP delineates the following services to be provided by the consultant:
1) Develop a Strategy for Retail Recruitment and Repopulation of the retail spaces in the
Cleveland Street District, consistent with the “Café Society” vision and market characteristics; 2)
Develop a marketing and leasing plan to implement the retail strategy; and 3) Assist and
counsel the CRA with retail contacts and negotiations with property owners/retail prospects.
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These services will support the overall strategy for downtown revitalization, which is: 1)
implement infrastructure improvements; 2) attract residential development; and 3) create a
“destination.” The RFP marks the next step in the CRA’s program for downtown revitalization
which to-date has included the Downtown Market Study, Façade Design Analysis creating the
“Café Society,” revised Façade Improvement Program and Sidewalk Furniture Grant Program,
and Downtown Branding.
Proposals were sought from qualified firms with relevant expertise within downtown/
urban revitalization districts. Approximately 20 such firms were mailed the RFP, as well as the
RFP being posted on the International Downtown Association’s Web site on January 23, 2008,
and the City of Clearwater’s Web site on January 15, 2008. In addition, the RFP was advertised
in the St. Petersburg Times on January 21, 2008.
By the February 13, 2008, RFP deadline, seven firms responded: 1) Thomas Point
Associates, Inc. (Annapolis, Maryland); 2) Urban Marketing Collaborative (Toronto, Ontario); 3)
ERA/Downtown Works (Washington, D.C.); 4) Strategonomic Global Network (Frederick, MD);
5) H. Blount Hunter (Norfolk, VA); 6) Buxton Community ID (Fort Worth, TX); and 7) Talbot
(Toronto, Ontario).
On February 22, 2008, a Selection Committee met to assess the written proposals to
select the firms that most closely met the objectives of the CRA as delineated in the RFP. The
selection criteria used were the following: 1) Understanding of issues and approach sought in
the Cleveland Street engagement and 2) Directly related qualifications and experience in the
type of retail services delineated in the RFP, and particularly, in urban redevelopment
environments. The Selection Committee consisted of: 1) Rod Irwin, CRA Executive Director; 2)
Geraldine Campos Lopez, Director, Economic Development and Housing; 3) Courtney Orr,
Downtown Manager; and 4) Carol Warren, Director, Commercial Sales, Colliers Arnold.
The Selection Committee short-listed three proposals, which best met the selection
criteria, based upon response to the RFP. The selected firms were invited for oral presentations
on March 6, 2008, to further demonstrate their qualifications to the Selection Committee. The
firms invited included: 1) Economics Research Associates/UrbanWorks, Washington, D. C.; 2)
Thomas Point Associates, Inc., Annapolis, Md.; and 3) Urban Marketing Collaborative, Toronto,
Ontario, Canada. Subsequent to the interviews, and after further due diligence and clarification,
the Selection Committee recommended that the CRA award a contract to ERA/UrbanWorks,
subject to successful negotiation of a contract for services consistent with their proposal.
The major determinants of the decision were: 1 Strong, current and successful
experience with the type of downtown retail strategy and recruitment effort envisioned for the
Cleveland Street District; 2) A practical, “hands on” approach to the engagement that minimizes
duplication of work already completed by the CRA; and 3) A strong emphasis on developing in-
house capacity for the client to facilitate continuation of a successful recruitment effort after the
conclusion of the consultant engagement. Staff recommends the CRA approve the
recommendation of the Selection Committee.
CRA (Community Redevelopment Agency) Executive Director Rod Irwin said the
company will use existing CRA research. ERA/Downtown Works’ fee was reduced by $5,000,
as Downtown Manager Courtney Orr will serve as the project’s recruitment coordinator.
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Midge McCauley, principal of ERA/Downtown Works, said she will perform two-thirds of
the work on this contract, with her assistant and staff handling the rest. One staff member is
experienced with the historic tax credit process.
She reported the forgivable loan program, which worked well in downtown St. Louis, is
helpful in getting early deals done. Of more than 90 new downtown St. Louis businesses, no
more than eight received forgivable loans. She said the process is lengthy and could take a
year or two before the first deal is made. She said the location of parking should encourage
people to walk from one place to another.
Ms. McCauley said ERA/Downtown Works will determine which downtown property
owners support the program and then work with those landlords to populate stores. Others will
get on board once progress is evident. She said the optimal retail mix would be great local
tenants and a few national brands, with one-fourth to one-third being unique restaurants. She
said once people come to dine, other retail will come. Retail needs include home furnishings
and accessories, apparel, and services. She said a movie theater would not bring shoppers,
but may attract some diners. She said people are looking for small pedestrian-friendly streets.
She said a department store is an attribute for downtown. She said redevelopment of the
Harborview Center property could be tied in if it features street front uses.
Carol Warren was thanked for her efforts.
Trustee Doran moved that pursuant to CRA RFP 10-08, and the recommendation of the
Selection Committee, to award a contract for Retail Recruitment and Marketing Services for
Downtown Clearwater to ERA/Downtown Works of Washington, D.C. in the amount of
$145,000, plus out-of-pocket expenses not to exceed $20,000, and authorize the Executive
Director to execute the Contract for Services on behalf of the CRA. The motion was duly
seconded and carried unanimously.
4 - Other Business
5 - Adjourn
The meeting adjourned at 1 :58 p.m.
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Chair
Community Redevelopment Agency
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Community Redevelopment Agency 2008-03-17
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