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11/03/2008COMMUNITY REDEVELOPMENT AGENCY MEETING MINUTES CITY OF CLEARWATER November 3, 2008 Present: Frank Hibbard Carlen Petersen John Doran George N. Cretekos Paul Gibson Also present: William B. Horne II Jill S. Silverboard Rod Irwin Pamela K. Akin Cynthia E. Goudeau Patricia O. Sullivan Chair/CRA Trustee CRA Trustee CRA Trustee CRA Trustee CRA Trustee City Manager Assistant City Manager Assistant City Manager/CRA Executive Director City Attorney City Clerk Board Reporter The Chair called the meeting to order at 1:16 p.m. at City Hall. To provide continuity for research, items are in agenda order although not necessarily discussed in that order. 2 - Approval of Minutes 2.1. Approve the minutes of the September 15, 2008 CRA meeting as submitted in written summation by the City Clerk. Trustee Petersen moved to approve the minutes of the Community Redevelopment Agency meeting of September 15, 2008, as recorded and submitted in written summation by the City Clerk to each Trustee. The motion was duly seconded and carried unanimously. 3 - CRA Items 3.1. Approve conceptual plan for Phase II of Cleveland Street Streetscape. authorize staff to establish a new capital project 315/388-92275, Downtown Streetscape Phase II in the amount of $4,028,925 by: transferring $1,574,000 from CRA project 388-92269, Downtown Streetscape, to the new capital project 388-92275, Downtown Streetscape - Phase II; transferring $636,000 from City project 315-92269, Downtown Streetscape; recognizing $196,000 of HUD grant proceeds; and, transferring $1,622,925 from Central Insurance Fund reserves, to be replaced by CRA funds as thev become available over the next two to three fiscal vears as proarammed in the CRA Six-Year Plan Frank Bellomo, of Bellomo-Herbert & Company, and Economic Development & Housing Director Geri Campos Lopez reviewed the concept plan. Creating a pedestrian-friendly downtown environment, coupled with significant entrance and directional signage, is a key element of the Downtown revitalization strategy detailed in the Clearwater Downtown Redevelopment Plan. The City retained Bellomo-Herbert and Company, Landscape Architects in August 2002 to develop a Master Streetscape and Wayfinding Program for Downtown (including the expanded CRA (Community Redevelopment Agency) area). The first phase of Community Redevelopment Agency 2008-11-03 the implementation of the plan was completed in December 2007 with the Cleveland Street Streetscape from Osceola to Myrtle avenues. The $10 million construction project was funded from Penny for Pinellas, the CRA trust fund, a FDOT (Florida Department of Transportation) grant, and utility funds. The goals for the first phase of Cleveland Streetscape were accomplished: 1) enhance the pedestrian environment; 2) invite residents and visitors to Downtown; and 3) encourage private development. The next phase of the streetscape program is imperative to the continued success of increasing redevelopment opportunities in the Downtown. With the development of the 1100 Cleveland Street building (The Strand), the development agreement with the Crum Services building site (former IMR/CGI), and the availability of the Prospect Lake Redevelopment Site, Phase II of the Cleveland Street Streetscape is a critical infrastructure project that will continue to encourage and facilitate the City and CRA's redevelopment goals. The conceptual plan for Cleveland Street Phase II continues the look and feel of the first phase of the Cleveland Streetscape, but with a less intense, and therefore less expensive, treatment. Streetscape features will include: 1) Asphalt milling and resurfacing of the travel lanes and on-street parking spaces on both sides of the street; 2) New concrete curbing to create new medians/traffic separators in the middle of the roadway with new landscaping; 3) New wide sidewalks made of specialty concrete and pavers to improve and enhance the pedestrian space. Pavers will be limited to the corners and mid-block; concrete will make up the sidewalk with a paver banding; 4) New crosswalks at all intersections to improve the appearance and safety for pedestrians; 5) Amenities such as benches and trashcans will be included. The type of benches will be evaluated and only be located on the corners; 6) Landscaping will include the signature medjool palms on the corners and mid-block, with street trees (crape myrtles) in between; 7) The existing overhead electrical line will be removed; 8) The existing span-wire signals at M.L. King and Missouri will be replaced with decorative mast arm signals; 9) The proposed streetlights in Phase II will be the same except they will have single heads. They will support banner arms and will have electrical outlets for seasonal lighting, just like in Phase 1 (Making this change will reduce the monthly costs to Progress Energy by as much $1,000); and 10) This project also will provide public art funding (up to 1 % of the construction costs). The project is estimated to cost $4,028,925 inclusive of design and construction. The City has received a $196,000 appropriation from the federal government to begin the design portion of this project (estimated at $306,477). The estimated schedule: 1) Complete Design - May 2009; 2) Complete bid and Council award - August 2009; 3) Start Construction - September 2009; and 4) Complete Construction - September 2010. Phase II has been designed to have lower per-foot costs than Phase I. Mr. Bellomo said additional width for sidewalks could be taken from travel lanes or the median. Ms. Lopez said 13-foot sidewalks in front of outdoor cafes in the downtown are working well. In response to questions and concerns, Mr. Bellomo and Ms. Lopez discussed design issues and the beauty and benefits of medjool palms. Due to their high cost, consensus was to use a much less expensive variety of palm. This design will address concerns that trees and clutter not block pedestrian movement on the sidewalks. Tree species were chosen to avoid pavement upheaval. Fixture spacing and wattage levels will be designed to ensure that lighting is sufficient. Locations will be set aside to incorporate the budgeted $39,000 of public art. It Community Redevelopment Agency 2008-11-03 2 was stated the design also needs to incorporate the City's commitment to landscape the wall behind the Mediterranean Village condominiums. Discussion ensued regarding benches. Mr. Bellomo said benches encourage a pedestrian environment. It was recommended that benches be added later, when they are needed, and that their design discourage use by the homeless. Support was expressed for the installation of colored concrete instead of pavers due to lower material and maintenance costs. In response to a concern that parades could not be held on Cleveland Street after these changes, it was suggested another parade location be used. Mr. Irwin said the project will serve multiple functions beyond that of a standard sidewalk. TIF (Tax Increment Financing) funds must be used for redevelopment. Ms. Lopez reviewed project costs and proposed funding. The Bellomo-Herbert & Company design is estimated to cost $306,000. City Engineer Mike Quillen said that figure includes the City's capitalized labor. Finance Director Margie Simmons reviewed use of the Central Insurance Fund for this project. The CRA will refund that fund's investment. It was suggested there are other uses for CRA funds and that Phase II could be postponed. Ms. Lopez said commitments have been made to the Strand and IMR, but there is no specific time line. Mr. Quillen said Phase II will not require significant infrastructure reconstruction as Phase I had. Staff will report on costs to underground electrical lines and provide estimates for Phase III costs. One person spoke in support of the project's long-term advantages. Trustee Cretekos moved to approve the conceptual plan for Phase II of Cleveland Street Streetscape, authorize staff to establish a new capital project 315/388-92275, Downtown Streetscape Phase II in the amount of $4,028,925 by: transferring $1,574,000 from CRA project 388-92269, Downtown Streetscape, to the new capital project 388-92275, Downtown Streetscape - Phase II; transferring $636,000 from City project 315-92269, Downtown Streetscape; recognizing $196,000 of HUD grant proceeds; and, transferring $1,622,925 from Central Insurance Fund reserves, to be replaced by CRA funds as they become available over the next two to three fiscal years as programmed in the CRA Six-Year Plan. The motion was duly seconded and carried unanimously. 4 - Other Business - None. 5 - Adjourn The meeting adjourned at 2:25 p.m. Chair Community Redevelopment Agency Attest: City Clerk Community Redevelopment Agency 2008-11-03 3 was stated the design also needs to incorporate the City's commitment to landscape the wall behind the Mediterranean Village condominiums. Discussion ensued regarding benches. Mr. Bellomo said benches encourage a pedestrian environment. It was recommended that benches be added later, when they are needed, and that their design discourage use by the homeless. Support was expressed for the installation of colored concrete instead of pavers due to lower material and maintenance costs. In response to a concern that parades could not be held on Cleveland Street after these changes, it was suggested another parade location be used. Mr. Irwin said the project will serve multiple functions beyond that of a standard sidewalk. TIF (Tax Increment Financing) funds must be used for redevelopment. Ms. Lopez reviewed project costs and proposed funding. The Bellomo-Herbert & Company design is estimated to cost $306,000. City Engineer Mike Quillen said that figure includes the City's capitalized labor. Finance Director Margie Simmons reviewed use of the Central Insurance Fund for this project. The CRA will refund that fund's investment. It was suggested there are other uses for CRA funds and that Phase II could be postponed. Ms. Lopez said commitments have been made to the Strand and IMR, but there is no specific time line. Mr. Quillen said Phase II will not require significant infrastructure reconstruction as Phase I had. Staff will report on costs to underground electrical lines and provide estimates for Phase III costs. One person spoke in support of the project's long-term advantages. Trustee Cretekos moved to approve the conceptual plan for Phase II of Cleveland Street Streetscape, authorize staff to establish a new capital project 315/388-92275, Downtown Streetscape Phase II in the amount of $4,028,925 by: transferring $1,574,000 from CRA project 388-92269, Downtown Streetscape, to the new capital project 388-92275, Downtown Streetscape - Phase II; transferring $636,000 from City project 315-92269, Downtown Streetscape; recognizing $196,000 of HUD grant proceeds; and, transferring $1,622,925 from Central Insurance Fund reserves, to be replaced by CRA funds as they become available over the next two to three fiscal years as programmed in the CRA Six-Year Plan. The motion was duly seconded and carried unanimously. 4 - Other Business - None. 5 - Adjourn The meeting adjourned at 2:25 p.m. ~~I~~ Chair Community Redevelopment Agency 3