03/30/2009
COMMUNITY REDEVELOPMENT AGENCY MEETING MINUTES
CITY OF CLEARWATER
March 30, 2009
Present: Frank Hibbard Chair/CRA Trustee
Carlen Petersen CRA Trustee
John Doran CRA Trustee
George N. Cretekos CRA Trustee
Paul Gibson CRA Trustee
Also present: William B. Horne II City Manager
Rod Irwin Assistant City Manager/CRA Executive Director
Pamela K. Akin City Attorney
Cynthia E. Goudeau City Clerk
Rosemarie Call Management Analyst
The Chair called the meeting to order at 10:46 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 17, 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 17, 2009, 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 contract with Streetsense Consulting, LLC, of Bethesda, Maryland for development
of Cleveland Street District retail design guidelines, pursuant to RFP 06-09 and
recommendation of the selection committee, in an amount not to exceed $42,000, including
optional work and reimbursable expenses, as delineated in the Professional Services contract.
The Request for Proposals (RFP #06-09) for development of retail design guidelines for
the Cleveland Street District in downtown Clearwater was formally released by the Clearwater
Community Redevelopment Agency (CRA) on January 5, 2009, with a submittal deadline of
February 4, 2009. Specifically, the RFP calls for a comprehensively illustrated design guideline
manual to help guide the Cleveland Street District retail development. The manual will serve to
set better infill standards and overall higher quality design standards for Downtown Clearwater.
These services will support the overall strategy for downtown revitalization, which is: 1)
implement infrastructure improvements; 2) attract residential development; and 3) create a
“destination.” These services will provide additional detail to the retail component within the
existing downtown design guidelines and support the Cleveland Street Façade Design Analysis
and Cleveland Street District Retail Strategy.
Community Redevelopment Agency 2009-03-30 1
The RFP was advertised on the City’s Web site, in local newspapers and through
electronic mailing to select architectural firms. Sixteen firms from across the nation submitted
proposals in response to the RFP. On February 13, 2009, a Selection Committee met to
evaluate the written proposals and identify finalists who most closely met the objectives of the
CRA for Retail Design Guidelines for the Cleveland Street District as delineated in the RFP.
The Selection Committee consisted of: 1) Rod Irwin, CRA Executive Director; 2)
Geraldine Campos Lopez, Director, Economic Development and Housing; 3) Michael Delk,
Planning Director; and 4) Courtney Orr, Downtown Manager. The Selection Committee
identified six firm proposals, which appeared to best meet the selection criteria based upon a
rating formula in the RFP. The Selection Criteria used was as follows: 1) Expertise in retail
design (30%); 2) Qualifications of firm and key personnel (20%); 3) Project management
experience and capabilities; 4) Previous performance and experience with similar
projects/references (20%); 5) Technical approach to project (20%); 6) Completeness of
proposal; and 7) Cost quoted (10%).
The top six firms were invited to make formal, detailed, in-person presentations to the
Selection Committee on March 3 and 4. The six short-listed firms were: 1) Cooper Carry, Inc.;
Atlanta, GA; 2) Gensler; Tampa, Florida; 3) Kiku Obata & Company; St. Louis, The motion was
duly seconded and carried unanimously.; 4) RTKL Associates Inc.; Dallas, TX; 5) Shook Kelley;
Charlotte, NC; and 6) Streetsense Consulting, LLC; Bethesda, MD. Subsequent to the
interviews, and after further due diligence and clarification, the Selection Committee
unanimously recommended that the development team headed by Jon Eisen of Streetsense
Consulting, LLC of Bethesda, MD be recommended to the CRA for designation as the preferred
firm for creating retail design guidelines for the Cleveland Street District, subject to successful
negotiation of contract terms.
The major determinants of the decision were: 1) Directly related qualifications and
experience with drafting retail design guidelines as delineated in the RFP, and particularly, in
urban redevelopment environments such as the Cleveland Street District; 2) Technical
approach to project most compatible with CRA objectives for the project; 3) Thorough
understanding of the scope of work and needs for the Cleveland Street District in downtown
Clearwater; and 4) Qualifications of firm and key personnel. As part of their scope of work,
Streetsense Consulting, LLC will provide a Retail Design Guidelines manual that encompasses
storefront, signage, and lighting guidelines. Examples of storefront style and type, materials,
entry doors, awnings, signage, color, lighting, graphics, storefront zones, and other similar
elements will be addressed. At the option of the CRA, Streetsense can develop illustrative
schematic designs for up to two storefronts on Cleveland Street.
Streetsense representative Jon Eisen reviewed the firm’s successes with urban
redevelopment and mixed-use development projects across the nation. The firm will focus on
storefront guidelines along Cleveland Street. The branding of Cleveland Street only works if
users buy-in, which requires an education element. Mr. Eisen said the City’s sign codes could
use some revamping.
Community Redevelopment Agency 2009-03-30 2
It was stated that the contract was being paid for by the CRA and the objective is to
provide retail design guidelines along Cleveland Street that stay within the City’s vision and
incentive programs.
Trustee Doran moved to approve contract with Streetsense Consulting, LLC, of
Bethesda, Maryland for development of Cleveland Street District retail design guidelines,
pursuant to RFP 06-09 and recommendation of the selection committee, in an amount not to
exceed $42,000, including optional work and reimbursable expenses, as delineated in the
Professional Services contract. The motion was duly seconded and carried unanimously.
The CRA recessed from 11:37 a.m. to 11:43 a.m.
3.2 Presentation of the East Gateway District Annual Progress Report, April 2009.
The East Gateway District Five-Year Action Program was approved by the CRA on May
13, 2008. The Action Program calls for periodic monitoring and evaluation of progress in the
East Gateway to ensure that the neighborhood vision is continually strived for and neighborhood
assets are protected and enhanced. The East Gateway Task Force is the responsible entity for
implementing the Action Program. The Task Force is comprised of staff from the following City
departments: Development & Neighborhood Services; Economic Development & Housing;
Engineering; Parks & Recreation; Planning; Police; Public Communications; and Solid
Waste/General Services.
The East Gateway District Annual Progress Report, April 2009, provides an overview of
the past year’s progress and accomplishments such as: 1) Regular and productive meetings of
the East Gateway Task Force for collaboration on neighborhood issues and opportunities; 2)
Expanded community policing unit that is improving safety and security in the neighborhood and
building public trust; 3) Organization of the East Gateway Stakeholder Advisory Group and East
Gateway Business & Neighbors Association, providing greater opportunity for community
engagement and grassroots problem solving; 4) Planning and orchestration of two community
celebrations: East Gateway Back to School event and Sunday Ciclovía (rescheduled); and 5)
Improving the appearance of the neighborhood by addressing littering and code violations. The
Report also draws attention to less positive neighborhood indicators (declining property values
and homeownership rate) as well as implementation activities for the coming year.
CRA Executive Director Rod Irwin said the program now was very defined, engaging
stakeholders. Incidents of crime and code violations increased due to engaged community
reporting more issues.
4 - Other Business – None.
Community Redevelopment Agency 2009-03-30 3
5 - Adjourn
The meeting adjourned at 11 :46 a.m.
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