02/17/2009COMMUNITY REDEVELOPMENT AGENCY MEETING MINUTES
CITY OF CLEARWATER
February 17, 2009
Present:
George N. Cretekos
Carlen Petersen
John Doran
Vice-Chair/CRA Trustee
CRA Trustee
CRA Trustee
Absent: Frank Hibbard
Paul Gibson
Also present: William B. Horne II
Jill S. Silverboard
Rod Irwin
Pamela K. Akin
Cynthia E. Goudeau
Rosemarie Call
Chair/CRA Trustee
CRA Trustee
City Manager
Assistant City Manager
Assistant City Manager/CRA Executive Director
City Attorney
City Clerk
Management Analyst
The Chair called the meeting to order at 8:35 a.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 February 2, 2009 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 February 2, 2009, as recorded and submitted in written summation by the
City Clerk to each Trustee. The motion was duly seconded and carried unanimously.
3 - Community Redevelopment Agency Items:
3.1 - Approve a parking agreement between the Clearwater Community Redevelopment Agency
and Baldwin Connelly Group, LLC to pay the cost of additional parking needed (not to exceed
$48,600) for the company's relocation to downtown Clearwater
In January of 2008, three highly respected and locally based insurance agencies joined
forces to expand services available to their clients and to provide growth opportunities for their
colleagues. The three firms include Carlisle Fields, Nichols Insurance, and Baldwin Connelly
Group. Carlisle Fields has served Pinellas County for over three decades and specializes in
automobile, homeowners and business insurance. Nichols Insurance is a nationally ranked
health insurance agency that specializes in all types of employee benefits for individuals and
businesses with 1 to 50 employees. Baldwin Connelly Group serves both individuals and
businesses and focuses on areas of Commercial Risk Management, Employee Benefits and
Community Redevelopment Agency 2009-02-17
Private Insurance for high net worth individuals. The combined agencies currently have seven
offices, including Tampa, Brandon, Ft. Lauderdale and four in Pinellas County. The companies
will be combining their four Pinellas County offices and will be headquartered in 13,000+
square-feet in the Bank of America office building at 600 Cleveland Street in downtown
Clearwater, creating 55 high-wage jobs.
Unfortunately, the Bank of America office building does not have enough parking spaces
to accommodate all the employees in this company. The Bank of America building has a
parking ratio of 2.7 spaces per 1,000 square-feet of leaseable space. In today's market, office
space demands ratios in the 4.0 to 6.0 spaces per 1,000 square-feet. This trend toward higher
parking ratios is having a negative impact on the competitiveness of older office properties,
especially in downtown areas, since they cannot compete with newer, suburban properties. An
incentive is needed to offset that competitive disadvantage and allow this important relocation to
the Downtown.
The Baldwin Connelly Group, LLC needs an additional 30 parking spaces to meet
employee needs. For this reason, the company is requesting economic assistance from the
CRA (Community Redevelopment Agency) to cover the cost of parking not offered in the lease.
The Economic Development Incentive Fund was established to attract companies with high
wage job opportunities to the Downtown Business District. The projects are evaluated based on
wage levels, capital investment, economic impact, and commitment to the community. The
Fund currently has approximately $143,736.
Staff recommends that the CRA assist Baldwin Connelly Group, LLC by providing a
grant effective March 1, 2009 to pay the cost of 30 parking spaces in the Garden Avenue
Garage for 36 months for the following reasons: 1) Location of a downtown company
headquarters; 2) Creation of 55 high-wage jobs (average wage is $56,500) by March 1, 2009
within the CRA business district; and 3) Baldwin Connelly Group, LLC commitment to a 126-
month lease effective February 1, 2009 in the CRA business district.
The total commitment from the CRA over the three years will be $48,600. The CRA will
pay the City Parking System for the cost of providing the 30 parking spaces at $45 per space for
36 months. This parking incentive will be conditional upon confirmation of 55 full-time
employees at its downtown location verified by a notarized letter from a partner of Baldwin
Connelly Group, LLC and confirmed by payroll reports. Employment verification is required
semi-annually.
In response to questions, Economic Development and Housing Director Geri Campos
Lopez said occupancy level at the Garden Avenue parking garage is not at 100% everyday.
Funds used are from the CRA, not the general fund.
Trustee Doran moved to approve a parking agreement between the Clearwater
Community Redevelopment Agency and Baldwin Connelly Group, LLC to pay the cost of
additional parking needed (not to exceed $48,600) for the company's relocation to downtown
Clearwater. The motion was duly seconded and carried unanimously.
4 - Other Business - None
Community Redevelopment Agency 2009-02-17 2
5 - Adjourn
The meeting adjourned at 8:43 a.m.
Attest:
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Community Redevelopment Agency 2009-02-17
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Chair
Community Redevelopment Agency
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