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08/19/2002 (2) ,'.. <::'("".:':I'~",'",,"'~;"":I" ,"",;": .~,",' ,.,., ":", ',: :'\,' '.' ','".., ~;,",:, '~,~,,'.:':.'~., ,;,.~,I':", ~~~.","~':.''''':..,:l'.'.~ ~",:, ~. ,.t. ij: \' , ," " '" , . ',. ,'!'r.F' ' ~,,' ......"1,, , , " " . ~\~ :...,; COMMUNITY. REDEVELOPMENT AGENCY MEETING CITY OF CLEARWATER August 19,2002 Present: Brian J. Aungst Hoyt P. Hamilton William C. Jonson Frank Hibbard Chair/CRA Trustee CRA Trustee CRA Trustee CRA Trustee Absent: Whitney Gray CRA Trustee , Also present: William B. Horne II Garry Brumback Ralph Stone ' Pamela K. Akin Cynthia E. Goudeau .Patricia O. Sullivan City Manager Assistant City Manager CRA Executive Director/Assl. City Manager City Attorney , City Clerk Board Reporter , The Chair called the meeting to order at 9:11 8.m: at City Hall. , To provide continuity for research, Items are in agenda order although not , necessarily discussed in that order,. ' ITEM #2 - Approval of the Minutes Trustee Hamilton moved to approve the minutes of the regular meeting of June 17, 2002, as recorded and submitted in written summation by the City Clerk to each 'Trustee. The motion was duly seconded and carried unanimously ITEM #3 - Presentation - Downtown StrateQic Proqram CRA (Community Redevelopment Agency) Executive Director/Assistant City Manager Ralph Stone reviewed the Downtown-Gateway Strategic Action Program. A , partnership of the CRA, DDB (Downtown Development Board), Main Street Committee', and Greater Clearwater Chamber of Commerce participated in walking and van tours and brainstorming sessions to Identify short- and long-term items and develop a program matrix. Current fiscal, year downtown projects, such as the new Main Library, Town Lake, Memorial Causeway Blidge, Publix, Laura Street Townhomes, Balk Development. etc., total $128.8-mlllion in public/private investment. ' Plans for Year 1 include assisting the private sector with re'development strategies for the Calvary parcels, the Arnold/AmSouth super-block, and Cleveland , Street properties and updating the Downtown redevelopment plan. The CRA district, which has been proposed to expand to the Gateway, will feature wayfindlng slgnage and streetscape. The Downtown/Bluff parking study, recently completed, indicated current downtown parking Is adequate, but relocating parking from the bottom of the bluff will be a challenge. The City Manager's Vision Fund Is flna'ncing $37,000 In downtown' streetscape maintenance, to Include repainting benches and light poles, repaving Ft. Harrison Avenue, and landscape maintenance three times weekly. Private mcr0802 1 08/19/02 , +' ~i""~":"~-.""'" ..,,, .> ,~...~ '. ,. ,.... ~." ~ ~\Jo' ~ ,'" ...~ ~ ., ,-,'~, ..-,..otqnl....I,;o;...t,;,r, ,> ~ c,,;. ,..... ,.,.,; ,'.., :' ,',I..~",""";:. ',,', I ::':, :ll;~",,",,~,~ ~~'.', ,',...: "':' ...' .., ',. "..:/ .: .",;, ':', ,L:I',~'ll: ""l', ',.: ""+"~ ',I.',',', ':"l,"",.' ',:~'1,:. ~ , 1" ~ H ">'1-'01) :+">i~( y Improvements Include recent approval of 2 fac;ade grants, two restaurants opening in June, and landscaping Improvements. Plans are to market downtown residential 'opportunities, retail and office space, and offer financial Incentives. An annual report to the eRA, DDB, and Main Street partners is planned. Landscaping on Cleveland Street !?oon will feature fall colors. Work with the Police Department and private sector is ~eveloplng strategies related homeless Issues. Also planned are support of Phase II of a Guideway and evaluations of a bluff marina, model block. crosswalks, and multip,lex opportunities. Plans for Year 2 include identifying a parking garage location. Myrtle Avenue reconstruction, Plnellas Trail connection, and on-street parking enforcement Also' planned is defining marketable properties, identifying developable sites, assisting developers with land assemblage; scheduling a storefront workshop, and providing a quick response team. Connections will be developed between the City, County, downtown businesses, and downtown churches. Regarding Main Street. plans are to ' create a theme for retail slgnage, create a downtown publication, and assist with the reactivation of a merchants' association. Also planned are participation in Charter Review. creation of a design for the bluff, and establishing downtown as a destination and economically viable place with development opportunities visible from the bridge. , 'Plans for Year 3 include design of an amphitheater, removal of industrial properties, consideration of Station Square Park development, public art projects, , identification of development opportunities and strategies for key real estate, initiation of a Drew Street corrIdor study, and the evaluation of alleys for pedestrian connection and long range options related to the Harborvlew Center. The three-year matrix will define a work program and funding, network, advocate, and celebrate. Participants will Include the City Commission, eRA, City management. DDS, Main Street Committee, Greater Clearwater Chamber of Commerce, property owners, tenants, and citizens. The project begins now. In response to a question, Mr. Stone said FY 2002/03 is year one for the program. The Planning Department will develop a redevelopment plan by combining an updated downtown plan, with the plan to expand the CRA to the Gateway, and the Periphery Plan. Public Works staff works daily with FOOT (Florida Department of Transportation) to fine tune the construction wayfinding program. Frank Bellemo, the City's consultant recommends the plan weave the historY of the area into downtown to define the unique character of the community. In response to a question, he will Identify the fac;ade grants. Staff was complimented on their efforts. It was recommended the downtown plan be interfaced with nearby neighborhoods. , , In response to a question regarding the guideway, Mr. Storie said staff will review economic details, ridership projections, and rough cost estimates. There may be an opportunity for this project to serve as a demonstration for Pinellas Courity, which is Involved In a major Investment study on mass transit. He said 'it is important to keep estimates related to the project fresh as the guideway may connect with proposed high- mcr0802 , ,2 08/19/02 ,'l/itI.f:~iF~Ji" r. ,~~" ~':. .'. '!,'.r \...,'~~.:..' H': "., , .' I '~I'" \ TC : ~ C . -1;.: .... >..,. '" , ...., 'I.' ..~... ' :,' '" '" : 0, ""\:, I'..;",,: ,. . :, },,'~.' .,:' ,',......, ",.,,:~'~:, ;~" , "", '..,::':, ",'ill ',.'... ',"', "". ;.,' .'~~' ,~",',) ,'. ,.,,':'. ,~: .''':,:':~ ",I. . ,", ~ . ,~, ...,............ \ , " ......~,tt.~ (,) speed rail service In the future. He estimated the sea grass study, related to a downtown marina, will be completed by the end of the month. ITEM #4 - Approve release of consent of sale restriction on propertv known as Atrium bulldinQ and retaining certain restrictions on the transfer of the property. On July 14, 1983, the City entered into a development agreement with the Clearwater Redevelopment Agency and J.K. Financial Corporation regarding certain property in the City. Section 11 (c), sentence 1 of this agreement states that property conveyed pursuant to the agreement will not be sold without the consent of the City or Agency. The City consented to the conveyance of the property to BSF III-B, LLC in the . Third Amendment to the Development Agreement. On March 25.2002, BSF III-B, LLC conveyed the property to the Wilder ,Corporation. On April 18, 2002, the City Commission consented ta, confirmed, and ratified the sale of the property to Wilder Corporation. Wilder Corporation's Lender. ' American Express, will not close the loan on the property with the current restriction in place. Wilder Corporation is reques,ting that the restriction requiring the City and Agency's agreement to any sale of the property be released. The remaining restrictIons of paragraph 11 (c) will remain. , In response to a question. the City Attorney said the City will receive no compensation for this action. Mr. Stone said the agreement allows the property to be sold and provides assurance the property will not become tax exempt. In response to a recommendation. Mr. Stone opposed linking public use of the parking garage with this action, noting security and liability issues may be of concern. It was reported the subject parking garage Is open to the public on weekends. In response to a question, Mr. Stone said the property owner has not indicated an intent to sell. The subject release was recommended by the mortgage company when the owner refinanced the property. Commissioner Hamilton moved to approve the release of consent of sale restriction on property know as the Atrium building and retain certain restrictions on the transfer of the property. The motion was duly seconded and carried unanimously. ITEM #5 - Adopt the proposed FY 2002/03 Communltv Redevelopment Aaencv budaet , The 2002 Estimates of Taxable Value for the CRA District increased 2.5%; therefore, Tax Increment Revenues Increased $44,522 from the previous year. The details of the proposed budget are: 1) Operatlng Revenues - Other Revenues - Rental Income reflects a $6,000 increase as recommended by the Parking Facilities Manager using the formula-based agreement for the Station Square Parking lot as to the amount of revenue the Parking System Is to pay to the eRA; 2) Transfers In - DDB Administration reflects a $1,747 Increase (4%). This change is contingent upon the approval of an Inter-local agreement between the DDB and eRA for the administration of the DDS; 3) Other Operating Expenses; a) Professional Services - reflects an increase , of $40,000 in anticipation of the approval of the eRA boundary expansion Into the Gateway area that will increase the need for various professional services; b) Pavments , to Other Aaencles - DDS has Increased $3,521 to equal to the TIF dollar amount the DDB pays to the CRA; 4) Transfers Out - a) General Fund - Administrative reflects an mcr0802 3 08/19/02 '.\ '..~,... ','.',....~..'.~_"j;lo-"~.I'.".~ +"'_ .,. : I.' ~~ ~.c 'I ~'. :,_~~ ~ "..,I'I",,'...,..,.:"~:,:,' ~,' .f',....',' ;:' ""~'".'),.'.,':'..:',,..~ ~,'..,'. ....'".,4~),~' '\"., I, ..,'~,.,. " :'~ ,':,,;' ~.':',"',..t',."l.~..~.: , , ~ ) ~, J ,,:J ',' " I" ."~ ........~:# , ',-', ~ ,'~ Increase of $12.812. This Is due to salary Increases for the 2.5 positions funded by the CRA; b) Parkinq Fund. Saturdav Downtown, and ParklnQ Fund - Harborvlew both decreased $15.000 and $6,360 respectively. These expenditures were required during the period of time that the Parking System was paying off revenue bonds. The bonds are 'now satisfied and these funds are no longer necessarY; c) Parklnq Incentive Fund reflects an Increase of $21,360. The funds previously earmarked for Harborview and Downtown Saturday parking are being used to fund a Parking Incentives Program for downtown redevelopment and Investment; d) Economic Development Incentive Fund has been decreased $94,492. This fund currently has adequate resources and does not require 'additional funding at this time; e) IMR Landscaping Fund reflects a decrease $11.882. The IMR Development Agreement required a three-year commitment and FY02/03 Is the last 'year of this commitment; f) Mediterranean Vlllaoe Project Fund reflects an'$85,483 increase. The $115,483 will be used to fund the second year commitments to pay Impact and permit fees associated with Phase 2 of the project as , 'outlined in the Development Agreement; g) Cleveland Street Maintenance Fund is a new project fund opened in FY01/02. $10,000 has been earmarked to pay for a change out of plant material In the planters along Cleveland Street and other maintenance needs that may arise In FY02/03; and h) Redevelopment Proiects Fund reflects an Increase of $,1.647. This fund Is used for redevelopment projects within the eRA boundaries. ' Concern was expressed budget expenses for,staff are higher than for downtown improvements. Mr. Stone said staff expenses make .up one-fourth of the budget. He said the benefit of staff commitments 15 significant. Without staff. a consultant would need to be hired: In response to a question, Mr. Stone said the IMR agreement required the City for three years to use the increment generated by the firm to landscape the vIcinity near IMR. The subject funds have been set aside. It was recommended the funds be used as a match with FDOTfor landscaping the right-of-way. Commissioner Jonson moved to adopt the pro'posed FY 2002103 Community Redevelopment Agency budget. ,The motion was duly seconded and carried unanimously. ITEM #6 - Executive Director (Assistant City Manager) Verbal Reoorts - None. ITEM #7 - Other Business - None. , ITEM #8 - Adiourn T~e meeting adjourned at 10:01 a.m. Chair Community Redev Attest: () " ,~ 1: c~i~(~. t... /~.. ~ mcr0802 4 08/19/02 "1 j~ ~,lt~:";""'~'''J.I'I'~_ ~""'l "::~"..(.:v...;.r, 'I, '~..~". ,'- ,.c" ~, c' If ;" ~;'>' ,<l;'. /I~j\ ':'. ;:,i\-\I~ I-}af.i,;,'::c-;.~,C\l 0,", . " ":."'" )..~II</i {~-:H.~/+< ': "