09/24/1984
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CLEARWATER DOWNTOWN DEVELOPMENT BOARD
SUITE 1100 0 600 CLEVELAND STREET 0 OLEARWATER, FLA. 33515 0 PHONE 461-9318
Comments From The September 24, 1984
Meeting Of The Downtown Development Board
Before the resignations of Mr. Carley and Mr. Cope were accepted by the
Board, a discussion of the reasons for the resignations of these two
Board members was initiated by Rose Phifer. She remarked that they both
were good people and intelligent men and we lost them for practically
the same reasons) because they feel that they're just not getting anywhere
and it takes too long to get anything off the ground. The following is
an account of the remarks delivered at that meeting.
Bomstein: Subsequent to the resignations, a meeting had taken place
between myself) Joe McFate, Jim Carpenter and Tony Shoema~er. I had) at
that time, informed Tony of these resignations and discussed the future
of the Board. I feel that "nothing came out of it" and I sympathize with
Mr. Carley and Mr. Cope.
My message to Tony was basically that the Board exists without authority
to carry out what it has been charged to do and as long as the responsibility
for the redevelopment of downtown lies with this Board and the authority lies
with the C.R.A.) which is the City Commission) that no significant action
is going to occur. Furthermore, if we (the Board) do not have the ability
to make progress in downtown redevelopment, then we should not continue to
collect taxes from the property owners.
The fact is) that so many of the accomplishments of this Board are
intangible - t~e implementation of zoning laws) Tax Increment Financing)
'Declarations of Blight and Industrial Revenue Bonds, etc. which in other
~ cities take place without a special tax district. When you get right down
.
to the commitment and execution of the redevelopment effort, the Board has
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been impotent. Both Mr. Carley and Mr. Cope expressed to me personally
that they felt I had given it my best shot while being chairman for the
past two years. While we have exp~essed a lot of optimism, we have not
experienced a lot of forward significant steps, and I have come, to realize
that there are not many forward significant steps that the Board can do;
and until such time there is a total commitment at the city level, both
adm.inistratively and with the elected official s) I do not see any hope
for this Board in the future to do any more than we have done for the
past ten years, and that's to continue to promote and ask the City to help.
But the real accomplishments are far and few between.
Probably the construction of the bandshell came as a result of this
Board and it propabiy is one of the few tangible things we can claim) as
well as the plantings along the 400 block of Cleveland Street) but I don't
think this kind of accomplishment warrants a taxing district.
I told Tony that my opinion) and not necessarily the opinion of the
Board, was that the responsibility we are charged with would be better
carried. out if it were a city responsibility. I have felt that when this
Board comes.,to the .City with a request) that it almost isas if an out~ide
group is coming to them and asking for a donation to our cause. The requests
of the D.D.B. are not acted upon in the same manner as a staff request would
.be. If the fun~tions of the O.D.B. were taken by a city staff person, then
the city would have hired that person) and the City Commission would, as
..they usually do, listen to that staff report and accept it for the responsibility
they have charged them with and give them the authority to act. The D.D.B.
should not be regarded as an outside institution by City Hall; but clearly
there is a verey distant line of communication. Most recently this has been
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exemplified by the Parking Garage that we instituted almost 9 months ago
on Garden Avenue, and have submitted the plans to the City several weeks
ago with still no reply.
The items that are priority level to U5- - are
not priority level to the City.
Now is the time to balance those scales.
It weighs heavy on me as
Chairman of the Board, when people like Mr. Carley and Mr. Cope resign.
I understand their feelings) and perhaps what they are saying is a
message to the City as sincere citizens who have worked hard for something
and feel like they are needlessly spinning their wheels with no ability to
move forward.
Both resignations said that they hoped that this would be a
strong message to the City that a commitment is needed, and I agree and
hope the message gets through that way.
.
Thompson:
Bomstein:
What was the response of the City Manager?
There was nothing significant in the way of a response from the
City Manager.
Carpenter:
Mr. Shoemaker said he would be out of town.until the 26th and
.
that he would give the Parking Garage project priority at that time when
he returned.
I think there needs to be an improvement in the lines of communication. I
read Tony Shoemaker the duties) as outlined in the new ordinance, of the
Exec. Director of the O.O.B., and told Tony that if I had to measure my
performance based on this criteria, I would have to measure relatively low
because if any of you have a copy of that ordinance you will see that I am
to advise) coordinate) act as a catalyst) a number of things with the C.R.A.,
and as Qf this date, I have never had a meeting with the C.R.A. as an agency.
There is a great difference in what they say should happen and what actually
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takes place on a day to day basis.
I'm optimistic about the future of a
good line of. communication) and we can start working together as a team,
and like Alan said if we cannot work together as a team then we need to
restructure.
Phifer:
Over the past years) we have had some fine men as Board members)
\"
and just looking back over the past 5 years) has there been any or even
one past Board me[~er return to attend a meeting after he has left?
Most
of these people who have served on the Board have been brainy) responsible,
good citizens, and hold good responsible jobs - I think if you had a reunion
of them, you certainly wouldn't get them to attend.
If this is going to
continue, are we going to continue "spinning our wheels" and spending the
taxpayers money for nothing?
Bomstein:
I would hope not and I would hope the City would recognize that;
.
and you are absoluteiy correct - you're talking about the likes of Charlie
Galloway, Leon H~mmock, Joe Cornelius) Bronson Thayer and on and on) some
very successful busi~essmen who have served on this Board and as Chairmen
of this Board those same businessmen were able to take business' and build
enormous successes out of them, but were unable to make any progress here.
This exemplifies the problem of the basic structure of this Board and the
inability.to accomplish significant accomplishments.
The function is. more
massive than a Board of taxpayers from a d~fined district - - the function
is a municiple function.
A $70,000 or $80)000 budget base is not significant
enough today to be able to carry forth a major redevelopment effort, and
there is no additional financial support coming forth from the City; worst
than that, there is no physical and moral commitment; there is a moral
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commitment) but not an active physical commitment from the City.
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When the C.R.A. was formed) I helped the Exec. Director draft the By~Laws
of the C.R.A.) originally the Exec. Director of the 0.0.8. was designated to
be the Exec. Director of C.R.A. and originally the structure of the C.R.A.
was to be comprised of others than the City Commission. Tony and the City
Commission at that time baa ked at that idea
mainly Tony) and Tony said
that he would be Exec. Director of the C.R.A. and that the City Commission
would sit as the C.R.A. The C.R.A. is where the power lies - C.R.A. has all
the authority - if the C.R.A. does not have leadership either amongst itself)
or its Exec. Director (the City Manager), and I'm not criticizing Tony because
he has a lot more to worry about than being Exec. Director of the C.R.A., but
without that leadership) nothing is going to happen at that level and this
Board doesn'~ have the authority that the C.R.A. has.
It is a very frus-
.
trating thing) and what we are seeing, Obviously, is the culmination of 10
years of fruitless effort of a lot of serious people who have been unable to
get this activity rolling in a forward direction
Thompson: The selection of candidates from the Nominating Committee for the
new Board members is difficult because the competent business people see the
fruitless efforts and the frustration of the present Board members such as
Mr. Carley and Mr. Cope. Maybe now's the time to do something and face the
issue with the City that we can't function anymore under these present
conditions and maybe the Board should disband.
I don't know.
I do know
that we have problems and these resignations are beginning to focus in, and
we have had a lot of excellent people on this Board and we're just spinning
our wheels.
.
Charles: Maybe we should have a reunion of all these past Board members
and everyone put their heads together and come up with a workable solution)
and then approach the City in a group meeting for discussion.
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Bomstein: That is a good thought.
Phifer: Bob, How do you feel?
S ti ff:
I am sitting here asking myself why I am here or anyone is here. We
needed a quorum - but quite honestly) if it wasn't for the fact that we can
have some impact on the parking garage, I would be gone. I have really
considered resigning myself. I see it (parking garage) as one last parting
gesture) so to speak) the old saying - you're not going forward) but going
backward.
I will have the entire 2nd and 3rd floors of the Colony Bldg.
vacant as of Dec. 1 and that's not the only reason) but one of the reasons
is parking. They have heard me say for a long time that we1re working on
a parking garage - they finally said "We're ready to move on".
critical issue and if it wasn't for the fact of having an impact on the
It is a
parking garage) I wouldn't be here.
Dr. Brown: As a property owner here) I feel you have done an excellent
job, especially in the past few years, and that your Board is necessary.
You are trying your best and it isn't time to quit. I feel that if the
obstacle is fighting City Hall - let's fight them. I'm sorry to have to
say that, but I think that's what we are all thinking. Maybe it's like a
western town where one man owns the City and if you don't agree then you
either sellout or get out - - and I'm not ready to get out. I would rather
fight these problems we have. Every city would love to be in our situation)
to have the tax base that we have - They're all trying to get it - but I
think our City Manager has been around too long we need new blood there --
if he can't a~ree with us, maybe we need some common ground or a neutral
'arbitrator to agree with us.
Haworth:
I would like to go back to Sam Cassella's original idea to have
the Exec. Director of O.O.B. be the Exec. Director of C.R.A.
If \'/hat
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you say about Tony Shoemaker being too busy to devote the time necessary,
.and I think Jim Carpenter is an excellent man - do you think we could push
that tl,rough? That would shift the balance back and give the Board new life.
Bomstein: .There's merit in that. I think the message back to City Hall is
that we sort of have a concensus that we cannot functionally operate sucess-
fully and that we need City Hall to take a position on what direction they
want to take this Board. This Board is here as a result of a State Law
that subsequently) by home-rule, became a City Ordinance; we are thusly
created by City Ordinance and I look to the City to solve the problem. If
the commitment to redevelop downtown is herei and 10 years of futile effort
indicate ~hat the Board is not the vehicle to do it, I would ask the City
to restructure a vehicle that would; and whether that restructuring involves
. .
the C.R.A. or the dismantling of the O.O.B., appointment of someone at City
Hall leve1--I:made a:.comment to Tony) I think it's a valid conment and I
will share it with you - that St. Petersburg has a man on staff named John
Habgood who .is one of their community development people, and his jqb is
redev.elopment of downtown and that is all John Habgood does, and he does
a heck of a good job. He is a City Staff person and has an appropriate
depa~tment and. budget to go along with his divisional status and that's~
wh~t gets action going in St. Petersburg. D.l.C.O. is, in St. Petersburg, a
private group) somewhat like Clearwater Progress, there to come in and foot
the bill when t~ey want to take a trip to view downtowns in other places, or
pay the bill when they fly in a developer) wine and dine them, that sort of
thing. O.I.C.O. is a public relations effort more than anything else. The
City is serious about it and they nave a staff committed. to it.
Tampa has a very major staff in the D.D.A. that is totally funded by
City of Tampa p'lus private contr'ibutions. I said to Tony that these
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~ cities have bitten that bullet of making it a municipal function, more
than just flag waving. Everyone of our City Commissioners serving on the
commission today ran on thein campaigns stating that they were supportive
and in favor of redevelopment of downtown Clearwater. Each Commissioner
made that or similar statements during the campaign) yet that commitment
does not go much deeper than a moral commitment; we need to turn that moral
commitment into a real physical commitment on behalf of the City. It is an
issue that needs a hard commitment behind it.
I accept all of your suggestions, including a reunion) (except there
has been informal reunions because when they see me) they talk about the
O.O.B. and the frustration is relatively widespread). I don't agree,
Dr. Brown, that we need to fight City Hall) I think the problem has been
over the years) that t~ere has been a misconception that City Hall and the
GIt O.O.B. were fighting or not on the same course. We don't need to fight
City Hall - we need to work with City Hall to gain the commitment of City
Hall because there's no way in the world that we are going to overcome
them by fighting to succeed. We need City Hall to overcome us) in effect,
and envelop us and allow what needs to happen) happen. We need City Hall to
make a commitment and I don't think fighting is the way to get that commitment.
We need more voters that want to see it happen..
Stiff: We don't have that many voters downtown -- downtown has no votes.
.
Garvey: There are lots of things I would like to say in reply) but I
won't do it - some are good and some bad. First of all) I think it is
important when you are talking about communication, we shouldn't have to
communicate with you through the paper or by us coming here. When have you
actually scheduled a meeting with the commissioners and sat down with
and really said this is what we want to see happen and this is the
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ordinance that needs to be changed? With communication) I have no problem
at all, lets get together and do it) but I shouldn't always have to come
here to do that. I know I haven't been to the D.D.B. for a number of months)
because frankly this is not a good time for me; obviously that is when the
family demands the most. As far as communication, I think it is important
that we do) but if we can come here, you also can come to us.
My perception of the O.D.B., is in fact, a special interest group
advisory group which I think is important, because you have contact with
owners of property that we wouldn't have. There are an awful lot of property
an
owners here that need help, and if you, as the property owners representative)
can't convince them to do something, what can we do? So) there is that com-
munication that you have with the property owners that we'wouldn't otherwise
~ have. I think from that angle, it is important that you continue. As far
as support from the City, I think we have---with J.K. Financial we have
suppor.ted,.we're going through condemnation. We are not doing nothing) we're
trying with the resources we have.
Even if you were the C.R.A., there is only so much money - you couldn't
do any more than we are. Unless you have ideas you haven't shared with us)
what can we do at this time with $80,000 in the C.R.A. fund? You can"t do a
major community project for that kind of money. There must be something that
we need to do or some more talking on what you need to be accomplishing and
are not) or what we need to accomplish and are not. I know you've mentioned
the parking garage, but) this time of the year is budget time and priorities
come; the budget is the first priority and that is what gets put off.
Maybe Jim Carpenter should work as Executive Director of C.R.A. - it's
a're~sonable thing to think about. That would take some of the responsibilities
away from City Staff, indirec~lY putting on City Staff. That might
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c:> accomplish it - I don't know. I've also asked at least two weeks ago or more)
asked the City Manager to get with the Downtown Development Board to see if
they would start enforcing or identifying properties that are under our
property maintenance ordinance we have passed; need to have some work done
on them. That I would see as a perfect function of the D.D.B. right now. If
you could identify those properties that don't meet those standards, and I
believe either the Chairman of the D.D.B. or the Exec. Director is one of the
.
3 people that makes determination. Have you gotten direction on that?
Bomstein: We've done the same thing you have done and that is - we have
requested the City Manager to get that rolling. The ordinance itself sets
up the committee and the responsibility for getting the first committee
moving and puts that responsibility with the City. A year ago, Rose and I
and some other Board'members sent Tony about a 5 page list of downtown
properties that are a problem and we informally went through that motion, so
it's easy to do.
Thank you Commissioner Garvey for being here. I want to comment editorally
that you're the first Commissioner who has been here since February of this,
year. In March, Commissioner Berfield who was appointed as the City's represen-.
tative to this Board) stopped coming because Mayor Kelly was going to appoint
herself and then she and Tom Bustin decided that there was some sort of conflict;
that the City should not be represented on this Board, and an opinion was
expressed at the time, by the Mayor, that she would rather be able to attend
the Board meetings in an unofficial capacity than in an official capacity.
Unfortunately for us she has attended in neither capacity; that has hurt
because there is no question that the link with City Hall has suffered in the
last 8 or 9 months and there've been inuendos to me that the City Hall has
withdrawn their support from the Board) and that was done by design at
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the time they took that representative off this Board, and although I
didn't feel it was done by design, the effect has really been somewhat
of a loss of that link.
I appreciate your comments and your being here - your comments are
all very valid. One remark I would like to make, is in terms of the line
of communication--maybe this is a mistake on our part--but Jim has always
been of the feeling that his first line of communication should be with
Tony) and to that extent, I get copies of all the mail that goes out of
the D.D.B. office. Jim writes Tony a plethora of letters, the responses
to which are minute, in comparison to the requests that are made. There
is a very strong line going in our direction and it's a very wefrk line
coming back. There are occasions when, in frustration, I get a copy of a
letter that Jim sends directly to the Mayor. Why the Mayor, except she
.
has the honorary title.
It mayor maybe shouldn't go to others.
I thi nk
when. it goes to the Mayor, copies are sent to the rest of the Commissionars.
The letters usually begin with "I have talked to Tony about this several
times, but" that's the general nature of it.
In my opinion there's been a low priority - in terms of the priorities
of City Government and City Staff level, the downtown has not been high on
that list and we have not been successful in getting it higher. If anything)
it has dropped a few notches in the last year or so.
Garvey: 'My communication was more Board members to Board members, not Exec.
Director to Management. We need to understand what your problems are.
McFate: Alan; this Board has known for a number of years, the liaison
assigned to this Board has been the Planning Department, which is a part
of this office. That's the reason you yell for me to come to your meetings
If you don't send me copies of that correspondence, it gets into the
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manager's. office with all the rest of the mail
and takes just as )ong to
get out of there as it does things out of your office to your Board members.
I've t91d you that before.
The par~ing garage is just another good example of that.
'As for
correspondence) it takes 2 days in transit from City Hall to my office.
You need ;to send me a copy or call me about it if you want faster action.
A staff m~eting is set for October 3 to discuss the parking garage.
It's
not all the City's fault - the Board has known this.
If you choose to ignore
it) then don't complain 'because it takes a long time to get an. answer.
Carpenter:
Joe, I send 3 copies of the material that I send to Tony with
a side note to please distribute to your staff as you see approp.'iate. If
he doesn't think you're appropriate) that's not my fault.
live learned one
.
thing that any communication that comes out of my office is going to everyone
of the Commissioners) the Mayor, Joe McFate the City Manager and the Planning
Department - so this will never be a complaint again.
McFate:
It's not a complaint, only an explanation of why it takes so .10ng.
Carpenter: I can't accept that.
Bomstein: It, was at our meeting with Tony a week ago where you brought that
up and from that. point forward Jim has been instructed to copy you on everything.
Stiff:
I th~nk' that is indicative of priorities being assessed as far as how
quick correspondence gets out.
Garvey:
Bob) you've got to realize how much mail comes .in.
.
Stiff:
Sure) but you've got to realize how important downto~n should be to
the City of Clearwater as a whole.
You mentioned that this is budget
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time and nothing much has happened on the parking garage, but how long have
we had $300,000 plus dollars in that parking fund--from the Transit Authority)
and its been promised as replacement parking from the very day that it was
taken) and if not for our screaming and shouting nowt things wouldn't be
happening right now. That money is sitting in the fund, and my understanding
it's not even drawing interest for our benefit, but for the City's benefit.
That's really indicative of priorities.
McFate: What do you mean by our money?
S ti ff:
It was money that was earmarked to replace parking. It's not even
going to be used for downtown parking is it? it's City money and City interest
but it's our problem - the parking.
...
..
Garvey: We're not talking $300)000 for a parking garage.
Bomstein: That's right - we're talking $800,000 or $900,000 for a parking
garage.
Garvey: Somewhere or another there has to be a source of funding.
.
Bom~tein: We have already discussed that with Tony and have worked out a
preliminary scenario of how that would happen) but we cannot take the ball
and run with it, as that is City-owned land and it would take some ,"authority"
to operate the. garage. Basically the scheme we came up with was to use the
City's $300,000 as a downstroke) and go out and commercially finance the
balance of it - the debt service on which would be paid for by the revenues
of the parking garage. On paper the concept looks like it can be done.
Getting to the point of execution is very frustrating, particularly for the
Board members here who operate businesses and know that if this situation
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arose in their business) that it would have been handled and done long
ago.
If an opportunity like that presents itself to me) I would act on
it, and I woul d probably have a garage comp1 eted today.
Garvey:
I was just talking to the architect for the branch library and he
said it would take 6 months longer because we have to have every detail
delineated before bids are let and you have to realize that as a private
development you don't have to do that.
Stiff:
We realize that.
If the Board had more authority we could lease
the land from the City and go out and build something like that.
There '..oJas
a point last year when Tony said lido you think people want to pay $40 a
month for parking?"
I went out and got from my own building 50 commitments
.
to pay $40 a month.
Phifer:
O.K.
I'll give you a "for instance"
the First National Bank
hav~ opened up all of their lots now and they are spreading out.
The last
time I heard) that was happening over a period of 5 days
they've got 16
on the waiting list
that's how crucial it is.
Peltz has advertised to
let their customers know they were giving them parking at their new location
on Cleveland Street.
Bomstei n:
Without belaboring the issue) I would like to have a motion to
accept the resignations of the 2 Board members.
.
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Stiff made a motion) seconded by Nichols and the motion was carried. The
resignations were accepted. It was the concensus of the Board to send to the
City Ha'l elected officials and the administration the discussion that has taken
place here; to circulate it to them so that they can benefit from our thoughts
and perhaps stimulate them to respond appropriately to our needs and our problems.
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CLEARWATER DOWNTOWN DEVELOPMENT BOARD
MINUTES
.
SEPTEMBER 24, 1984
5:15 P.M.
MEMBERS IN ATTENDANCE
Alan Bomstein, Chaitman
Rose Phifer
Robert Stiff, Jr.
Charlie Nichols
James Carpenter, Executive Director
Lou Aldrich, Executive Assistant
NON-MEMBERS IN ATTENDANCE
I
Paula Harvey
Joe McFate
Brent Gaw
Bill Matson
Richard Haworth
Brenda Nixon
Commissioner Garvey
Karen Whi tl ey
Pete Woodham
Dr. Paul Brown
Charles Finton
Bob Thompson
Sara Charles
Mr. & Mrs. Ogd
.
The Public Hearing on the 1984/1985 Downtown Development Board Budget began
at 5:20 p.m. There was no public input at this second and final hearing.
Bob Stiff made a motion to approve the budget, Rose Phifer made a second
motion and the motion was approved. The 1984/1985 Downtown Development Board
Budget was approved.
Charlie Nichols was introduced and welcomed as the newly elected Board member.
The Downtown Development Board meeting was called to order at 5:30 p.m. The
Minutes of the August 27 meeting were approved as well as the Financial
Statement of August 31 )1984.
Chairman Bomstein read the Letter of Resignation from Richard Cope. Pursuant
to the reading of that letter and prior to acceptance of Mr. Cope's resignation,
a lengthy discussion took place. The transcription and distribution of that
discussion has been completed.
At the end of that discussion, the Board members accepted, with regrets, the
re~ignations of David Carley and Richard Cope.
Jim Carpenter discussed the balance due the City of $18,060 on the construction
of the bandshel1. Jim stated that in discussions with the city officials, they
were i.nterested in the Board's views on usinq TIF funds to pay for this.
Commissioner Garvey stated that the City would like the Board1s opinion on the
spending of TIF funds when they effect the downtown area. Rose Phifer said that
she did nort approve;:of using TIF funds for this.
.
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Alan Bomstein said that he would like to. make a formal request now for the
City to contribute $18,000 to the bandshell in the form of eliminating that
debt and if they do not then we will continue to ask for contributions. Joe
McFate stated that $10)000 had been earmarked from eRA for a park project.
After much discussion the issue was not resolved completely and it was stated
that the Board is not in a position to make a recommendation as to the
appropt.jate..use of TIFf.unds and suggested that city staff get with DDS staff to
decide a reasonable solution for all.
.
The parking garage plan was reviewed by Jim Carpenter and a history of events
between city, prospective contractors and himself. He stated that at this
time he is looking for future meetings with Tony~ city staff and whoever wants
to attend these meetings. Bob fhompson suggested the long term leasing of
the property in question with air rights from the City. Alan remarked that
that is exactly what the Board wants from the City and is probably the easiest
way with the operation of the garage to be decided. Jim Carpenter read a letter
that he had submitted to Tony which needed to be acknowledged. Commissioner
Garvey stated that Tony did not have enough time to acknowledge the many
questions on the letter. Alan made the remark that if this had happened in
St. Petersburg the letter would have made way to the proper people and action
initiated. Not the case in our city staff. The DDB has the parking garage as
#1 priority and the city has it #54. The scales are unbalanced once again.
Joe McFate offered his assistance for prompter action and both Alan and Jim
thanked him and agreed that he had always been there when called upon. Jim
reiterated that the line of communication between him and Joe had been good
in the past and was optimistic for the future.
Joe McFate gave report on J.K. Financial and said that the City is still trying
to negotiate with Jannelli out of court.
Alan discussed the Bayfront Proposal and said there would be a 2nd public hearing
and the date for the referendum would be set by the Commission. The Bayfront
committee is planning a brochure and slide presentation are now being given.
There will be a strong increase of exposure in the month of November after the
general elections.
Mr. Ogd stated that perhaps the outstanding debt on the bandshell could be
incorporated into the Bayfront Proposal.
Brenda Nixon made suggestions for the Causeway beautification. She suggested
that since the Causeway appears to be in sections) that in lieu of spending
whatever amount is determined on the new landscaping why not contact several
local nurseries and request their participation in donating a section of the
Causeway as a IIshowcasell for their business. She feels that as a tax payer~ the
amounts being discussed for this project are high enough to cause concern and
that her suggestion could be an alternative. Brenda also suggested that the
old Sand Castle Motel could possibly~ after acquisition, be leased out to various
clubs or individuals for weddings) reunions, special occasions,etc. in lieu of
demolishing the entire structure.
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Brenda announced and introduced her. new ssociate that has offered his time
and talents to help her with the concert series. She commented that the fact
that the DDB was sponsoring the concerts was a great accomplishment. There was
a total of 72 concerts this spring with rain-outs) 0 no-shows and only 1
withdraw - A very successful year indeed A Halloween party is being planned
for everyone.
Brenda was presented a plaque of appreci tion from the DDB and a gift with
many thanks for her time and efforts to ake these concerts successful.
Paula Harvey stated that, in speaking strictly for herself, that one of the
reasons Brenda has been successful is du to her optimistic attitude. She
said she also is optimistic. She has pr mised the DDB that she would attend
their meetings and she has because she f e1s it is important that the City
be represented and that she is consisten . in advising Tony and staff of the
DDB's discussions at these meetings. Sh states that she is concerned and
committed but on the other hand does not necessarily have the authority to
change some of the problem situations. he expressed her interest in the DDB and
wanted to make sure we understood her co cern and her position. She understands
that the manager cannot see everyone no latter how important it may be. Her
suggestion is that when time projects ar pressing, come to her and to Joe
because that is what they are there for. They have access to the manager and
are willing and able to provide their se'lvices to the DDB. She would also
appreciate the DDB's input into the planning.
Alan said that he appreciated the fact tJat she had attended their meetings
and that the DDB would certainly take ad antage of her offer and thanked her.
Alan also reported that Jim Carpenter, L u Aldrich and himself attended a
video-conference that took place in Larg It was well done and handled in
a professional manner. An interesting c mment was what doesn't work is the
predestrian mall and there are no predes rian malls in the U.S. now that are
dOing well. Also) that no one big proje t is the turn-around for the.downtown.
They stated that the only thing that kee s the projects going is a strong
municipal on-going effort.
The meeting adjourned at 7:15 p.m.
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