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02/13/1997 ., ' ..~' -, .' , . , , CITY COMMISSION SPECIAL WORKSESSION CITY OF CLEARWATER February 1 3, 1997 Present: Rita Garvey J. B. Johnson Robert Clark Ed Hooper Karen Seel Elizabeth M. Deptula Kathy S. Rice Bob Keller Pamela K. Akin . Scott Shuford Pamela Skyrme Cynthia E. Goudeau . M. Kathryn Diana Mayor/Commissioner Vice-M ayor /Commissioner Commissioner Commissioner Commissioner City Manager, Deputy City Manager Assistant City Manager City Attorney Central Permitting Direc~or {arrived 12:01 p.m.1 Director Organizational & Employee Development City Clerk Assistant City Clerk a~ t~-.h;.4 Also present: Alan Bomstein 'Steve Fowler Mark Klein David Stone Roger Woodruff Nancy Aft Creative Contractors Fowler & Associates Klein & Heuchan Citizens Bank Collliers Arnold Clwr. Coalition of H.D.s (arrived11:50 a.m.) The Mayor called the meeting to order at 11 :07 a.m. at the Harborview Center for the purpose of strategic planning/economic development. Assistant City Manager Bob Keller stated the team, consisting of the City Commission and Senior Management, have put together a vision statement. Major projects and decisions that need to be addressed relate to the downtown area (CRA district) and include the east end property, library, bridge and the old Chamber of Commerce building. He said the team decided to not move forward without consulting the key stakeholders. He encouraged discussion without walls. A key economic development decision requiring attention is the 17-acre east end property. Also, he expressed a need to address the non- profit area (west endl. He hoped today's meeting would provide a free exchange of ideas on what to do with the east end property and ways to get it done. Pam Skyrme facilitated the meeting asking the Commission to share and coinmunicate their visions. Commissioner Hooper said he would like the City to be something everyone is proud of; to have a downtown that is bustling and active with an emphasis on fun. He felt a strong anchor is necessary to do the east end project. The bisecting of the Pinellas Trail could be a focal point. He said whatever is decided about the bluff and the bridge that it be done right. .\..) msw02a97 1 02/13/97 .. ...., .. . "",.. Mayor Garvey believed the City should be conservatively dynamic and start taking bold steps. She stressed having businesses of the mind. She saw a need for more activities and festivals, a place to have fUn. There is a need to maintain and preserve the environment and the quality of life. The decisions forthcoming will affect the future of Clearwater 20-30 years from now. ~ Commissioner Seel envisioned Clearwater as a business friendly city in a redevelopment mode, a sparkling place to live where all could prosper with an emphasis on education and technology. She believed Clearwater should continue to be tourist driven and proactive versus reactive. Commissioner Johnson said the downtown needs to be resurrected. He saw condominiums and businesses on Cleveland Street. He felt the Harborview Center would be the only remaining building on the bluff, possibly with a garage. He saw the need to work with the business leaders in downtown, to be user and business friendly. He considered the Scientologists a problem. He said whatever we do should benefit Clearwater. He felt assets, such as the harbor and the bluff, can help make Clearwater a great City. Deputy City Manager Kathy Rice said she was amazed that the vision in the community is the same as the City's. Mark Klein, Klein & Heuchan, thought everyone here today had the same vision. He believed we had a great foundation, that we just needed to get it together. He looked at turning the east end parcel into a technology park resulting in a great number of jobs. This in turn would create growth and the need for retail and housing. He believed it incumbent on the City to offer incentives to locate in the area. David Stone, Citizens Bank, thought the best use of the east end property would be a tech center, an incubator type of concept. He felt the bluff was the most underutilized asset in the City and could be a major draw for downtown. He envisioned a festive marketplace with a marina at the foot of the bluff. He also envisioned the City Hall. property, along with the Calvary Baptist Church property, as a hotel/convention center. He thought the community would support a people-friendly use of the bluff. Clearwater needs to be a clean, safe, vibrant place all can cherish, embrace and celebrate. He said the City's role is to create the plan, infrastructure and incentives. The private sector will make it happen. l~ msw02a97 2 02/13/97 , I I I ~ I I ~ Steve Fowler, Fowler & Associates, noted everyone has been looking at the downtown for the last 30 years, however, nothing has happened. The Commission now saying they are going to start making decisions speaks loudly. He believed the City did not need to be in the development business. The City needs to be providing incentives and infrastructure. Alan Bomstein, Creative Contractors, noted the implementation of parking on Cleveland Street has not stimulated business downtown. Onstreet parking adds ambiance except during season and spring break. He felt the City might want to think about not parking on Cleveland Street during those gridlock periods. He noted at night the parking spaces are full due to the Scientologists taking courses at the Gehma Building. He said with the toaring down of the Annex the world has started knocking on the door. He said vacant property is more attractive noting there are many dilapidated vacant buildings in the downtown. He suggested the City look at getting rid of them especially in the 500/600 block of Cleveland Street. He recommended staff inventory, evaluate and determine what incentives can be offered to tear them down. Mr. Bombstein was not in favor of residential use or an entertainment complex on the east end. He supported a retail use, but did not feel the tract was large enough to attract a serious retail developer unless the Stone Buick property was added. He said development is back and encouraged the Commission to go forward again with RFPs for the east end without any preconceived uses. ,.O"fl) : '.I;_~' Roger Woodruff, Downtown Development Board and Collier's Arnold agreed with Messrs. Stone and Klein regarding the east end and Calvary Baptist Church properties. He agreed with tearing down some of the old dilapidated buildings in downtown but wanted to see the post office and Capitol Theater buildings remain. He said the location of the bridge is important, but did not feel Cleveland Street was wide enough to handle the traffic that would be generated. He did not envision Cleveland Street as a traffic count type environment. He said dividing the bluff and putting major traffic on Cleveland Street is not a good idea. He hoped the dreamers would out shadow the dream killers. Bob Keller said he is excited by what he has heard today. He noted his bias toward "industries of the mind.1/ He envisioned an industrial park plus -- things really being made there. He found a need for an institutional or prime driver anchor. He hated to see any "big box" effect. He felt there might be some possibilities for the new interactive entertainment/retail uses. He noted people would rather stay on this side of the causeway than go to Tampa. He said if we decide on a job orientation direction, it needs to be a private/public venture with a specific developer. The downtown needs an anchor and the rest will fill in. Now, there is no reason to go downtown. He noted Futanics and the Fly Fishing businesses are destination places. He mentioned getting a cluster of house related retail to build around existing businesses. He did not want to see downtown torn down. He said his priority is the east end property. Mayor Garvey asked to include the entire area from Missouri Avenue to Greenwood/Cleveland to Court in talks about the east end project. She said one cannot assume the 17 acres will fit with other things in that block. She felt locating the bridge south of Pierce 100 would open up the bayfront as a festive area and bring people downtown. ~ msw02a97 3 02/13/97 The meeting recessed from 12:06 p.m. to 12:20 p.m. "~ Mr. Bomstein did not agree retail could be supported with festivals. He said retail has to be synergistic enough within itself to be an attraction like Hyde Park. Mr. Klein noted Hyde Park was not originally successful. It was a growing process. A developer has to take the risk of building without an anchor, not the City. He said the City needs to provide for a common retention area. Discussion ensued in regard to the dilapidated buildings in the downtown attracting cheap retail businesses. It was noted a large percentage of these businesses would not be viable if downtown is revitalized. Mention was made of the concept of virtually giving away a few parcels to create a magnet. Discussion ensued in regard to renovating buildings downtown versus tearing them down. It was noted many of them have been remodeled so many times they have lost their charm and are not salvageable. 0"." , " A recommendation was made to perform an inventory on buildings downtown to determine the worthiness of saving them and to base incentives on that. It was noted there are incentives for rebuilding especially in an enterprise zone. A question was raised regarding whether there would be another opportunity to do an enterprise zone program in the downtown. Mr. Keller indicated there is a lot of encouragement from elected officials in Tallahassee to try again and it will take political skill to get back in the "cue." There was" discussion regarding offering incentives such as giving land with reverter clauses, no taxes, providing jobs, leasing and/or selling land, deferring paym'ents, in order to attract businesses and devel9pers. 'A suggestion was made to solicit input from active developers. Discussion ensued in regard to whether an RFP should be prepared. It was indicated the development community is active again. It was felt more attention should be given to the aesthetics of downtown; more green less gray. It was noted there many rusting poles throughout downtown creating a run down appearance. A suggestion was made to meet with viable developers one on one to help develop an RFP. It was felt that timing is important; to not start, then wait a year. Discussion ensued regarding what type of marketing studies, land preparation, etc. should be done before the City goes out for an RFP. It was felt the fuel farm should be removed. It was indicated the message should be "don't be bothered by code constraints" as the City has the flexibility to help if its for the good of the City. ,I I .~' , " ". msw02a97 4 02/13/97 , , I t l J r I . '. Discussion ensued regarding the Sunshine Mall being more suitable for a technology park rather than retail and for the City to be part of that. ~ Discussion ensued in regard to expanding the 17-acre parcel as it might be advantageous to own the entire area. A question was raised as to how difficult it would be to obtain more property if needed and/or to have an option with an agreed upon price. Concern was expressed the City may be held hostage to higher prices than a private developer. It was felt what is on the western portion would be a concern to anyone willing to invest money. Ms. Skyrme summarized the discussion which covered the need to upgrade the infrastructure, provide an inventory of downtown properties and offer incentives for development. She noted there had also been discussion regarding the bluff and how it could enhance the entire downtown area. Suggestions were made to put out an RFP to see what comes in regarding use. There was some discussion regarding the City's condemnation powers. It was noted some businesses can not relocate easily. Discussion ensued in regard to developing the bluff requiring a referendum and the reluctance of individuals coming in and developing a plan. A question was raised how specific referendum language has to be. The City Attorney believed it did not have to be specific to a project. It was felt a well executed project is easier to market to the public. '~1'. ,,;;"(.,,;1 A question was raised if the library would fit in with the development of the east end parcel. Commissioner Johnson envisioned an art center and library on the east end property to show the public the Commission is committed to building up downtown. Commissioner Seel felt a technology center would be better on that property, partially a cultural center. ' A question was raised regarding the 90,000 square feet being proposed for the library. The City Manager indicated this number is for planning purposes and includes meeting rooms and room for the public. Mr. Bomstein felt a commercial use would be more beneficial to the east end than a library; however, was not opposed to it. There was discussion regarding the east end property also fronting on Missouri Avenue. It was believed Missouri Avenue is currently ripe for new development. Cited developments were Walgreens, Albertsons and Barnett Bank. Mr. Keller noted nobody has come to the City looking for anything on Missouri Avenue and felt the private market was actively at work. i'.,,::~ W Commissioner Seel asked if a survey of downtown was part of the grant and it was indicated it is and may be modified to include viability analysis. It was felt to be important msw02a97 5 , 02/13/97 I, f. f , I I c ,~ '! ~ to expand the survey to include the North and South Ft. Harrison area buildings such as , Peace Memorial and some store fronts. " Discussion ensued in regard to what kind of an incentive package should be offered to get developers to consolidate the area and steer higher quality development on South Fort Harrison. A question was raised as to what is being planned for the Alternate 19 corridor and it was indicated nothing at this time. The group finished by giving their thoughts about today's session. There were positive comments made and everyone thought it was very successful in providing dialogue between the City and major stakeholders in the downtown. Discussion ensued in regard to meeting in the near future and getting a list of other attendees. Meeting recessed from 1: 1 0 p.m. to 1: 15 p.m. At this time the City Clerk and downtown business representatives left the meeting. Central Permitting Director Scott Shuford reviewed the land development code revision process. A Steering Committee was formed and chaired by Assistant City Manager Bob Keller. Members of the committee represented business, homeowner, technical and broad range community interests. He distributed a handout listing the committee's guiding principles in driving the code. ,,.s:Ii,\ , \i.!.~dI Mr. Shuford said major changes included board consolidation. The Development Review Board would focus on development review and the members would have to meet specific qualifications. This board would provide "one stop shopping" for any type of development. The full range of development issues would be considered by this one board. He said the minor variance program will be expanded. He felt the minor revisions being proposed will result in about a 40% reduction of variances that would have to go to a board. He said a new concept is being proposed regarding performance zoning and use. Performance standards will be built into the code and if they are met, staff could sign off on those applications. This would result in a 60% reduction of conditional uses going to a board. The Planning Board will consider all the long range functions of planning and any major development projects. It will act as an advisory board not a final decision board. The revised code proposes to consolidate the calculations and collection of impact fees. Mr. Shuford said the City Attorney's office has given him a lot of leeway in putting the code in a language that is easier to understand. Certain words will be highlighted, such . as "incentives," to make it stand out. Differences from standard type codes will also be highlighted and will be explained. Photographs representative of desired developments in Clearwater will be included in the code. v msw02a97 6 02/13/97 ~ He said there will be one more staff meeting to run through different development scenarios. Applicants are being advised of the proposed revisions. The revised code will be coming to the commission for receipt and referral at its first meeting in March. The Planning & Zoning and Development Code Adjustment Boards will also be providing their recommendations. The Steering Committee will be meeting one more time for a status update. The revised code will be coming to the commission for action in April. In response to a question, Mr. Shuford indicated implementation of this code would not impact staff. Staff may have to be shifted to different functions due to moving towards a more designed oriented code. It was questioned whether we have staff on board to handle the changes. Mr. Shuford indicated he would be proposing shifting personnel with design qualifications. He said he would like to see more of the long range planning shift towards his department. A question was raised regarding how to change attitudes. Mr. Shuford said his staff has had extensive customer service training He said his counter is only fully staffed 10% of the time due to vacations, etc. and creates a problem. A new computer program will be coming on line in May and will provide a "state of the art" system far permitting purposes. Every application will come with a checklist for both staff and the applicant. Appropriate customer service training will be an important part of the rewrite. A question was raised regarding the number of members on the new boards. Mr. Shuford said he is recommending seven, ....lW,i\ 'o., '1:)1 Concern was expressed regarding current board members. Mr. Keller indicated that the Planning Board will create a need for task oriented ad hoc groups to deal with issues such as infi1l housing. It was suggested current board members not selected for the new boards be given first priority when board openings occur. A recommendation was made to combine the Beautification and Parks & Recreation Boards. There was discussion regarding an orientation program for advisory boards and now being a good time for its implementation. Mr. Shuford said the commission may want to consider paying board members as they will be putting in a lot more time. In response to a question, it was indicated the commission currently appoints the majority of board members. Discussion ensued regarding cities looking back at the highest and best use. of property and offering credits. Mr. Shuford said the City does offer credits for impact fees and for concurrency. He said the City goes back about 5 years if the property is razed. He said the current use is .usually the most intense. A question was raised as to whether the Community Response Team is stringently enforclng the code during this revision period. Mr. Shuford indicated they are relaxing in some areas. He said they have been very involved in the revision process. A question was ~) msw02a97 7 02/13/97 \ I < ! I 1 'fM1 ~ ' '\J'."~ Ilil . "'1;./4;'11 The meeting adjourned at 2:05 p.m. , , "".' T . . ...;'.... cd .~. ,..' I , , " ~ ,-' " " 'I !' ',' .... . . { ~., raised as to whether the appeal process should be changed and Mr. Shuford indicated the hearing officer process has worked well. In response to a question, Mr. Shuford said staff is recommending commission 'appeals go directly to a hearing officer. He said there will be a separate appeal process regarding design review. Mr. Shuford said the Development Review Board will regularly review the land development code and report to the commission. , There was discussion regarding the commissioners and management team presenting their vision statement to the employees. The City Manager said there will be a rehearsal at the strategic planning meeting on February 24, 1 997. " , " Referring to today's meeting with the downtown business people, Mr. Keller said another meeting should be scheduled soon wit~ the same group invited to today's meeting. He felt the City has received their marching orders. He suggested sending a letter from the commission to the attendees indicating the City has set a course and will be contacting them soon. ,Mr: Keller said the Ft, Lauderdale commission is anxious to meet and is working on establishing a new,date for the trip. , \ ::; , msw02a97 8 02/13/97 ! , \ I f l f t ,I I' .. ~ . . ' .' ~ . . ~ ~ \ . . ,\ / . ,', , " ','