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09/30/1980 " ',1\.', .,', : .":;' ~ , " , ., . ", . I., " \'.1 ,- '"1',, ' . : , , ,1 ,';Jil , . CLEARWATER DOWNTOWN DEVELOPMENT BOARD MEETING a, I"~ .":.l' ,!" ,.,. September 30, 1980 MEMBERS IN ATTENDANCE A. Bronson Thayer, Chairman Aaron Bilgore, Vice Chairman Robert H. Sti ff, Jr'. Leon Hammock Dale Warren Rose Phifer NON-MEMBERS IN ATTENDANCE Sam Casella, Executive Director J. D. Sheeler Joe Greenwald Chuck Al bury Ann Weathers Marie Meginley " , , , Mr. & Mrs. Arlos Ogg Bill Matson Raymond L. Parri David Kurland Don Mains Charles Finton The regular meeting of the Clearwater Downtown Development Board was called to order at 3:00 p.m. by Vice Chairman, Mr. Bilgore, in the temporary absence of Chairman, Mr. Thayer. The meeting began with an invocation by Mr. Ogg and the introduction of guests. The first item on the agenda was the committee reports. Mrs. Phifer suggested that a drive be instituted in an endeavor to get new merchants to join the free parking program inasmuch as downtown Clearwater will be losing some of its contributors, and that the Downtown Development Board should set an example and contribute to the free parking. Mrs. Phifer al so suggested that the Downtown Development Boar'd members each contribute $5.00 towards the grand opening of the public library on October 19th, and that money to be used towards the purchase of a plant or flowers. The Board was in agreement with the contribution for the grand opening. Mrs. Phifer stated that at the merchants meeting, a resolution was passed about the noise and disruption in downtown Clearwater. They decided that they will pass a resolution and send it to the City and to the Press in an attempt to get the laws already on the books enforced. Mr. Stiff made a motion to go on record that the Board does not believe that the disturbances are good for downtown Clearwater, but will support the police in their efforts to enforce the laws. The motion was seconded by Mrs. Phifer. A vote was taken and the motion was passed unanimously. Mrs. Phifer raised the matter of the unsightly conditions of the alleys. Mr. Casella read a letter received from Harrison Robertson on September 16. In this letter he states that he is directing the solution of this problem be handled by his agent, John Chesnut. It was agreed that a letter would be drafted and sent to the City concerning Mr. Kessler's property, since Mr. Kessler has not responded to written requests for improvement. Mr Casella also read a letter from R. J. Ayres, Building Director, regarding . . , '.,' i '. , \ ':::~, .' ':':'. i!,",~:,;:, -" ~ :. _1._;',1, . iT.} ". ", , .. "...:/., . .; . .:~ I' .,.';",1."" ,I " , ." <, ': ,,' , ' . .1.,. ,',' .; ",;'\ :.,...-' " .! " "':' '.'.1 ., ~.- t' ',' . . ~:.,. . · It.,;) " ( C:. "~" "~., ' , . . \.' ~ "-,' ' , , ( :, ' , ,! :, -2- . hazardous conditions at the southeast corner of Cleveland Street and Garden Avenue, specifically, a broken window. In the letter, Mr. Ayres stipulated that the condition had been corrected. According to Mrs. Phifer and Mr. Hammock, the condition still exists. It was then decided that a letter would be sent to Mr. Ayres on the hazardous conditions still existing. The next item on the agenda was the report of the Nominating Committee - Marie Meginley, Chairman; members, Ken Smith and Ann Weathers. The Nominating Committee nominated the following candidates: David Zabel, Maas Bros.; Pat Yagel, Trickels; Joe Greenwald, Budget Rent-A-Car, Rose Phifer, incumbent Board member. Raymond L. Parri, Attorney, was nominated from the floor by David Kurland. Mrs. Phifer made a motion to close the nominations which was seconded by Mr. Hammock. A vote was taken and the motion was passed unanimously. Mr. Casella presented the following reports: 1. Response from Attorney, Jim Smith, regarding the Sunshine Law. According to Mr. Smith's letter, a memorandum of law must be furnished by either the City's attorney or the DDB's attorney. The Board decided not to proceed with the matter. 2. A response from Ronald Schultz in regard to a letter written to him asking for an explanation of why our tax roll was changed from the beginning of this fiscal year to the end. Mr. Schultz replied that he ranoved the Oak Bluffs Retirement Center from the Clearwater Downtown tax roll for 1979 because it has homestead exemption. The Board raised several questions regarding the homestead character of this property and directed that the matter be given further consideration. It was noted that only a portion of the owners of this property appeared to be eligible for homestead exemption and only those owners eligible for homestead exemption would be eligible for exemption from the one mill levy. The Board raised another question as to whether or not all of the residents of Oak Bluffs are listed on ,the tax roll as owners; how many are involved and who they are. , 3. Mr. Casella read a letter from Elizabeth Haeseker, Assistant City Manager, concerning the sidewalk paving policy. A motion was made by Mr Bilgore that the Board recommend to the City that brick pavers be used in the downtown area whenever possible in accordance with the procedures established for the sharing of expense of materials and labor between the City and the property owners. The motion was seconded by Mr. Warren. A vote was taken and the motion was passed unanimously. 4. Mr. Casella reported on his IDEA annual meeting in Detroit, Michigan. He stated that the three key reasons for the success of the Detroit Economic Gro~th Corporation are: a) Leadershi p b) Coalition c) Community Attitude Mr. Casella summarized the various sessions he attended. 5. The next Executive Director report was a proposal to hold a seminar on November 22, 1980 on computer assisted feasibility studies as a tool for . ,.," , 'i;{"::'}"::/:~':::' 1,;. <:}~:::,::>.,",' . '. ~,,~ '. ~~. ",: ,..., ''',.' , ",.1, , f ,"'. (' . .',. " .:. . , I',' " , , ' 'i '; '.,,'. , " ,j .., "; ".',,: I,., ,., ':.', ,'.' ~~~,'~I1Il~~~~-I\'I.!ilil'lW'~~I~ '.,' . . '. - I -3- a 'if stimulating downtown Clearwater. If accepted, it will be done jointly by the Downtown Development Board and Mills & Jones Construction Company. After extensive discussion, Mr. Warren placed a motion on the floor for approval pending an indication that a sufficient number will attend. The motion was seconded by Mr. Bilgore. A vote was taken and the motion passed. Mrs. Phifer and Mr. Stiff abstained. 6. The final Executive Director report concerned the proposed lighting ordinance. According to this ordinance, the City would regulate the private use of lighting. Mr. Bilgore suggested that a letter be forwarded to the City Manager expressing the opposition of the Board. Mr. Warren made a motion to do so, seconded by Mr. Bilgore. The motion passed. It was agreed that the City's Energy Officer be invited to attend the next Board meeting on October 28th for further discussion. Mrs. Phifer brought up the subject of the Chick Smith property and what is being done about this property which entails 5 to 5~ acres of ground. Mr. Casella stated that letters were sent to various developers and persons on the mailing list who could be potential developers for this property and the realtor was encouraged to advertise to potential developers. Mr. Thayer suggested that the University of ,Florida Architecture School do a model of the development potential of the property. The next item on the agenda was the approval of minutes of August 26, 1980 and September 3, 1980. Mr. Warren made a motion for approval which was seconded by Mr. Bilgore. A vote was taken and the motion passed unanimously. . Approval of the financial statement of August 31, 1980 was next on the agenda. Mrs. Phifer felt that the $4,900 for the parking study be put on the budget report as an accounts payable item. After further discussion~ Mr. Warren placed a motion on the floor to place the $4,900 in a separate accounts payable category. The motion was seconded by Mr. Bilgore. A vote was taken and the motion passed unanimously. Mr. Warren moved to approve the financial statement, seconded by Mr. Bilgore. The motion passed. Don Mains gave a report on the progress of Jazz Holiday. He displayed a sample of a t-shirt which would be a plus for this event. The next item on the agenda was correspondence. Mr. Casella presented the following letters: 1. Announcement from the FDDA for an annual meeting at the Sheraton Sal Harbour which will take place Friday, October 24, 1980. 2. A letter from Richard Barrett of the Department of Community Affairs congratulating the Downtown Development Board for being presented with an award of merit. 3. A letter from Kent Moore, IDEA, congratulating the Board on the award of merit. . 4. A letter from Dave Healey extending his congratulations for award of mer it. 5. A letter from Nancy J. Hultquist from IDEA thanking Mr. Casella for sending the program for the Commercial Industrial and Institutional Project Development . ': '..' ", -----: - . ~ J' '.'," ; ,7)" \ ,~.-: ::::;, ;'~~~\',:/ ( . ,,' ,( " ., , \ ' ~.. , ' "\'''' '....'. , -. I . 1, . , . '"': ., r,' I'. ", .,'.' :'/'.' '0' , " '! . '. i:' .:"., . , ;, " ., , , " ~ ,;