04/14/2008
COMMUNITY REDEVELOPMENT AGENCY MEETING MINUTES
CITY OF CLEARWATER
April 14, 2008
Present: Frank Hibbard Chair/CRA Trustee
John Doran CRA Trustee
George N. Cretekos CRA Trustee
Paul Gibson CRA Trustee
Absent: Carlen Petersen 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
Brenda Moses Board Reporter
The Chair called the meeting to order at 1:38 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 17, 2008 CRA (Community Redevelopment Agency)
meeting as submitted in written summation by the City Clerk.
Trustee Doran moved to approve the minutes of the Community Redevelopment Agency
meeting of March 17, 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 Approve the East Gateway District Five-Year Action Program and FY 07-09
Implementation Work Plan.
The East Gateway District was established as part of the Community Redevelopment
Area in 2002. In 2004, the East Gateway Character District was created through amendments
to the Clearwater Downtown Redevelopment Plan. In late 2005, the East Gateway Task Force
was formed to identify strategies to effect positive change in the neighborhood. The Task Force
is comprised of City staff from an array of departments. In 2006, the CRA initiated a
neighborhood planning effort for the East Gateway District to create a comprehensive,
community-based action program.
With the help of a consultant, the Task Force convened focus groups and held
neighborhood meetings in 2006 to solicit input from residents, business owners, community
leaders and social services organizations on neighborhood needs, values and preferences.
Through the process, goal statements and action items were formulated and serve as the basis
for the East Gateway District Five-Year Action Program.
Community Redevelopment Agency 2008-04-14 1
The overarching goals of the program are to engage the community in its
implementation; achieve neighborhood stability; establish a unique and positive identity; and
attract reinvestment in private property. The action items focus on five central themes that
emerged during public process–Safety and Security; Business Environment; Neighborhood
Appearance; Economic Growth and Housing; and Hispanic Community Integration.
In 2007, a neighborhood meeting was held to obtain feedback on the draft East Gateway
District Five-Year Action Program. The program’s action items were refined based on further
public and Task Force input.
The final step in the development of the program involved Task Force assessment of the
action items relative to implementation (e.g., fiscal/operational impacts and timeframe for
completion). The action items were then organized under one of two timeframes over the five-
year program period – Years 1 and 2 or Years 3, 4 and 5 – based primarily on neighborhood
priorities, staff resources and funding resources.
Relative to funding commitments for the East Gateway District Five-Year Action
Program, this CRA action addresses resource allocations for FY 07/08 and FY 08/09 action
items only. Resource allocations for latter year action items (FY 09/10 and FY 11/12) will be
addressed by the CRA on an annual basis in conjunction with the CRA budgeting process
(beginning next fiscal year).
In most cases, the action items will be accomplished with existing operational resources
and department budgets (see details in the Impact Assessment & Tracking report). However,
the following action items represent key cost items:
Action Item S.1:
Supplemental Police patrols (funding not identified)
??
Action Item S.4:
Streetlights (funding identified)
??
Action Item N.2:
Façade and Building Lot Improvement Program (funding identified)
??
Action Item N.6:
“Five Points” Gateway Feature (funding identified)
??
Action Item H.7:
Multi-cultural Celebrations (funding identified)
??
Director of Economic Development & Housing Geri Campos-Lopez said a
comprehensive approach is needed to chip away at the issues in this area. She said the
program can change as circumstances change. She said this neighborhood revitalization effort
has no quick fix, as it takes time and commitment from the City and stakeholders.
Community Development Coordinator Tammy Vrana reviewed the action items. She
said many of the items are under way or have been completed and funding has been identified.
However, funding needs to be identified for the additional police patrols requested by the
community. Staff will present semi-annual and annual progress reports to the CRA Trustees.
She said the area has a lot of potential and can be transformed.
Police Chief Sid Klein said existing Police Department staff can not provide the
additional patrols needed. He recommended the CRA fund the additional patrols, which would
be added to the existing CHIP bicycle team. Officers funded by the CRA could only patrol the
CRA district.
Discussion ensued and it was felt the only way the additional police patrols could be
added is by using CRA funds. It was noted systemic issues such as the locations of the Soup
Community Redevelopment Agency 2008-04-14 2
Kitchen and CHIP need to be addressed. It was suggested, because the majority of the
additional police presence is to address homeless issues, the County should help support the
effort. Concern was expressed regarding $1.5 million being allocated for the "gateway feature."
It was suggested a Penny for Pinellas project priority discussion be scheduled.
Ms. Campos-Lopez said when the project was previously discussed, it was felt that the
gateway feature would enhance the entrance to Downtown and encourage visitors to travel
through the downtown area prior to going to the beach. Ms. Campos said the streetscape and
gateway feature have not yet been designed.
It was felt that additional discussion is needed regarding this item.
Trustee Doran moved to continue Item 3.1 to May 13, 2008. The motion was duly
seconded and carried unanimously.
4 - Other Business - None.
5 - Adjourn
The meeting adjourned at 2:25 p.m.
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