11/18/2008
COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT BOARD MEETING MINUTES
CITY OF CLEARWATER
November 18, 2008
Present: Nicholas C. Fritsch Chair
Thomas Coates Vice Chair
Dana K. Tallman Board Member
Frank L. Dame Board Member
Doreen DiPolito Board Member
Richard Adelson Board Member
Norma R. Carlough Acting Board Member
Absent: Jordan Behar Board Member
Also Present: Gina Grimes Attorney for the Board
Leslie Dougall-Sides Assistant City Attorney
Michael L. Delk Planning Director
Gina Clayton Assistant Planning Director
Patricia O. Sullivan Board Reporter
The Chair called the meeting to order at 1:00 p.m. at City Hall, followed by the Invocation
and Pledge of Allegiance.
To provide continuity for research, items are in agenda order although not
necessarily discussed in that order.
C. APPROVAL OF MINUTES OF PREVIOUS MEETING: October 21, 2008
Approval of the October 21, 2008 minutes was continued to December 16, 2008.
D. LEVEL THREE APPLICATION: (Item 1)
1. Level Three Application
Case: Amendments to the Clearwater Downtown Redevelopment Plan
Applicant: City of Clearwater, Planning Department.
Request: Amendments to the Clearwater Downtown Redevelopment Plan making minor
amendments to support a performing arts theater in Downtown and to add policies and
strategies supporting community policing innovations, as well as establishing community
policing innovations as a program eligible to be supported by tax increment financing.
Neighborhood Associations: Country Club Addition; East Gateway; Harbor Oaks; Hillcrest; Old
Clearwater Bay Neighborhood Association; Mediterranean; Pierce 100 Condominium
Association; Skycrest Neighborhood Association and Clearwater Neighborhoods Coalition.
Presenter: Gina L. Clayton, Assistant Planning Director.
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See Staff Report: Exhibit 4 Amendment to Downtown Plan 2008-11-18
Assistant Planning Director Gina L. Clayton reviewed proposed amendments.
Community Development 2008-11-18 1
With concern expressed regarding area crime, foot patrols in the East Gateway area were
recommended as a fourth method to boost the effectiveness of increased police visibility. It was
stated that foot patrol interaction with the public and business owners would help decrease crime.
It was felt that the vagrant situation in downtown needs to be corrected instead of penalizing the
public by installing benches without backs. Ms. Clayton said the plan does not limit police patrol
methods. Concern was expressed that budget constraints may limit patrol opportunities.
Consensus was to encourage foot and bicycle patrols in downtown and the gateway to
increase personal contact.
Consensus was that the intent of Strategy 20 was to support a downtown location for a
movie theater and/or performing arts center.
Member Dame moved to recommend approval of Case: Amendments to the Clearwater
Downtown Redevelopment Plan based on the evidence and testimony presented in the
application, the Staff Report and at today's hearing, and hereby adopt the Findings of Fact and
Conclusions of Law stated in the Staff Report with a recommendation that Strategy 20 be
revised to support a downtown location for a movie theater and/or performing arts center. The
motion was duly seconded and carried unanimously. The Board members also recommended
that City Council consider the use of foot patrols as part of its community policing efforts used in
the Downtown and East Gateway.
E. CHAIR ITEM: (Item 1)
A Cents of Place
The Chair reviewed TBARTA (Tampa Bay Area Regional Transportation Authority)
efforts to develop area mass transit. All are invited to the public workshop on November 20,
2008, in St. Petersburg and to participate in TBARTA's online survey.
PowerPoint Presentation
Discussion ensued with concerns expressed that the public may not have sufficient time
to develop a PowerPoint presentation and suggestions that the board be provided copies of
presentations. It was recommended that presenters be provided a copy of City PowerPoint
guidelines.
Consensus was to permit PowerPoint presentations that are submitted to staff for review
before 5:00 p.m. on the Thursday prior to meetings. Established time limits will remain in effect.
Presenters will be required to arrive 45 minutes before meetings start to load the PowerPoint,
review the system's operation, and provide 10 hard copies for distribution to board members
and staff.
Community Development 2008-11-18 2
Holiday Luncheon
The December 16, holiday luncheon is scheduled at 11 :00 a.m. at Greektown Grille,
1230 Cleveland Street. Community Pride has requested donations of food and Publix gift cards.
F. ADJOURN:
The meeting adjourned at 1 :52 p.m.
t(~~~~
Chair
Community Development Board
Community Development 2008-11-18
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EXHIBIT 4 AMENDMENT TO DOWNTOWN PLAN 2008-11-18
CDB Meeting Date: November 18, 2008
Case Number: Downtown Plan Amendments
Ord. No.: 8014-09
Agenda Item: D 1
CITY OF CLEARWATER
PLANNING DEPARTMENT
CLEARWATER DOWNTOWN REDEVELOPMENT PLAN AMENDMENTS
STAFF REPORT
REQUEST: Amendments to the Clearwater Downtown Redevelopment Plan
INITIATED BY: City of Clearwater Planning Department
BACKGROUND INFORMATION:
On May 13, 2008 the Community Redevelopment Agency (CRA) approved the East
Gateway District Five-Year Action Program. The Action Program responded to public
input on the issues of drug dealing, prostitution and street crime by including an action
item for an increased police presence in the East Gateway. As Florida Statutes allow for
the use of tax increment financing (TIF) funds for community policing innovations, the
CRA entered into an Interlocal Agreement with the Police Department on August 27,
2008 to provide for additional police presence beyond current activity levels. The Tax
Increment Financing Section of the Clearwater Downtown Redevelopment Plan needs to
be revised to recognize that TIF is a source of funding for additional community policing
innovations. The Planning Department is also recommending that minor amendments be
made to the Plan to support the location of a performing arts theater in Downtown.
The Community Development Board is reviewing the proposed amendments in its
capacity as the Local Planning Agency and is requested to make a recommendation
regarding the amendments to the City Council. The CRA is requested to make a
recommendation to the City Council regarding the amendments to the Plan. Once the
City Council approves these amendments, they will be submitted to the Board of County
Commissioners for approval as amendments to the Redevelopment Plan. They will also
be submitted to the Pinellas Planning Council and the Countywide Planning Authority for
approval as amendments to the Special Area Plan governing Downtown.
Community Development Board – November 18, 2008
4th Downtown Plan Amendments - Page 1 of 4
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EXHIBIT 4 AMENDMENT TO DOWNTOWN PLAN 2008-11-18
ANALYSIS:
Five amendments are proposed to the Plan and are contained in Exhibit A attached to
Ordinance No. 8014-09. One amendment revises the land use/redevelopment plan while
four amendments relate to downtown strategies and tax increment financing. Below is a
summary of each amendment.
1. Amendment 1 – Insert new policy in Chapter 3 Land Use/Redevelopment Plan,
Goals, Objectives and Policies Section on page 54 of the Plan (page one of Exhibit A
of proposed ordinance).
A new policy supporting the continuation of community policing innovations in the
Downtown is proposed. The proposed policy notes that the program should continue
to focus on a variety of strategies that increase police visibility and reduce
opportunities for crime. Strategies outlined in the policy are consistent with those
outlined in Florida Statutes Chapter 163 and are currently employed by the
Downtown Bike and C.H.I.P Teams.
2. Amendment 2 - Amend Strategy 20 in Chapter 4 Plan Implementation and add new
Strategy 21 on page 218 of the Plan (page one of Exhibit A of proposed ordinance).
Strategy 20, located in the Plan Implementation section of Chapter 4, supports city
efforts to attract a movie theater to Downtown. The proposed amendment would
expand this strategy to also market Downtown as a prime location for a performing
arts theater. Due to the benefits such a facility would have on Downtown
revitalization efforts, the proposed strategy also supports the City providing
development assistance for a performing arts theater.
Proposed amendment two also provides for a new Strategy 21 which supports
community policing innovations in the CRA.
3. Amendment 3 – Amend Table 7 Summary of Public Strategies in Chapter 4 Plan
Implementation on pages 222-233 of the Plan (page two of Exhibit A of proposed
ordinance).
This proposed amendment revises Table 7 which summarizes the public strategies to
be employed within the Downtown. Existing Strategy 20 is proposed to be expanded
to include a performing arts theater as discussed above and a new Strategy 21 is
proposed regarding community policing innovations as discussed above. The
remaining strategies will be renumbered.
4. Amendment 4 – Amend the third paragraph of the Tax Increment Revenue
Projections Section and the corresponding summary table in Chapter 4 Plan
Implementation on page 255 of the Plan (pages two – three of Exhibit A of proposed
ordinance).
Community Development Board – November 18, 2008
4th Downtown Plan Amendments - Page 2 of 4
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EXHIBIT 4 AMENDMENT TO DOWNTOWN PLAN 2008-11-18
Amendment four adds community policing as a program within the CRA that will be
funded through tax increment financing. The summary table of the CRA programs
and initiatives is also proposed to be amended to include community policing
innovations. A total of $1 million dollars is estimated to be the cost of this program
over the next five - seven years. This amendment also clarifies that community
policing innovations can only be funded through City TIF revenues.
5. Amendment 5 – Amend the Tax Increment Revenue Projections Section in Chapter 4
Plan Implementation on page 259 of the Plan (pages three – four of Exhibit A of
proposed ordinance).
The City has provided a community policing presence in Downtown since 1998.
Proposed Ordinance No. 8014-09 outlines the history of those efforts and a summary
of the unique issues the City faces in the CRA. The amendment sets forth the intent
community policing innovations and notes the importance of reducing crime in the
CRA to improve the quality of life in the CRA. The amendment is written broadly to
apply to the entire CRA in the event City Council and CRA want to provide a higher
level of community policing service beyond the East Gateway Character District.
The program is proposed to be on-going with a cost over the next five – seven years
at a maximum of $1 million dollars.
CONSISTENCY WITH COMPREHENSIVE PLAN
Please find below a selected list of objectives and policies from the Clearwater
Comprehensive Plan that is furthered by the proposed amendments to the Clearwater
Downtown Redevelopment Plan.
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Objective 2.1 – The redevelopment of blighted, substandard, inefficient and/or
obsolete areas shall be a high priority and promoted through the implementation of
redevelopment and special area plans, the construction of catalytic private projects,
city investment, and continued emphasis on property maintenance standards.
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Policy 2.1.8 – The City shall continue to support and implement approved community
redevelopment area plans, such as the Downtown Redevelopment Plan adopted in
2004.
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Policy 2.1.10 – Clearwater will continue to support the tax increment financing
program and redevelopment efforts of the downtown area through activities of the
economic development office and actions of the City Commission as the Community
Redevelopment Agency.
The proposed amendments to the Clearwater Downtown Redevelopment Plan primarily
focus on community policing innovations as a public strategy in the CRA. A higher level
of community policing innovations is an investment in the future health of the CRA and
will assist in reducing blighting influencing within the area. The use of TIF to fund a
higher level of community policing presence in the CRA is an appropriate use of such
Community Development Board – November 18, 2008
4th Downtown Plan Amendments - Page 3 of 4
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EXHIBIT 4 AMENDMENT TO DOWNTOWN PLAN 2008-11-18
funds. The proposed amendments therefore support existing objectives and policies of
the Clearwater Comprehensive Plan.
SUMMARY AND RECOMMENDATION
:
The proposed amendments to the Clearwater Downtown Redevelopment Plan are
consistent with the Comprehensive Plan. Proposed Ordinance No. 8014-09 makes minor
amendments regarding the City’s desire to attract theaters to Downtown and provides for
policies and strategies supporting community policing innovations in the CRA, as well as
using tax increment financing as a funding source for increased levels of community
policing activities.
Based on the above analysis, the Planning Department recommends the following action
on the request:
APPROVAL
Recommend of Ordinance No. 8014-09 which amends the Clearwater
Downtown Redevelopment Plan.
Prepared by Planning Department Staff:_______________________________________
Gina L. Clayton, Assistant Planning Director
ATTACHMENTS:
Ordinance No. 8014-09
Exhibit A of Ordinance No 8014-09
\\ms5a\pds\Planning Department\Downtown Plan Update\4th Amendment to Downtown Plan - Community
Policing\CDB Staff Report\4th Amendment to Downtown Plan - Staff Report.doc
Community Development Board – November 18, 2008
4th Downtown Plan Amendments - Page 4 of 4
o Clea~ater
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Going Green with less paperwork
TO:
Community Development Board Members
FROM:
Robert Tefft, Development Review Manager
SUBJECT:
DATE:
Agenda Items for November 18,2008
November 12, 2008
cnB packets being distributed on contain the following items:
Agenda
THREE APPLICATION (Item 1)
1. Case: Amendments to the Clearwater Downtown Redevelopment Plan - Level Three
Application
CHAIR ITEM (Item 1)
1. A Cents of Place
Signature:
Date:
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