11/29/2010
COMMUNITY REDEVELOPMENT AGENCY MEETING MINUTES
CITY OF CLEARWATER
November 29, 2010
Present: Chair/Trustee Frank Hibbard, Trustee George N. Cretekos, Trustee John
Doran, Trustee Paul Gibson, and Trustee Bill Jonson.
Also William B. Horne II - City Manager, Jill S. Silverboard - Assistant City
present: Manager, Rod Irwin - Assistant City Manager, Pamela K. Akin - City Attorney,
Rosemarie Call - City Clerk, and Patricia O. Sullivan - Board Reporter.
To provide continuity for research, items are in agenda order although not
necessarily discussed in that order.
1. Call to Order - Chair/Trustee Frank Hibbard
The meeting was called to order at 9:04 a.m. at City Hall.
2. Approval of Minutes
2.1 Approve the minutes of the September 20, 2010 Community Redevelopment
Agency Meeting as submitted in written summation by the City Clerk.
Trustee Bill Jonson moved to approve the minutes of the September 20, 2010 CRA
Meeting as submitted in written summation by the City Clerk. The motion was duly
seconded and carried unanimously.
3. CRA Items
3.1 Approve the Memorandum of Agreement between the Community
Redevelopment Agency (CRA) and Ruth Eckerd Hall, Inc. Inc, a Florida Not-for-
Profit Corporation, for the provision of an expanded and enhanced schedule of
programming at the Capitol Theatre in the Cleveland Street District until facility
renovations begin; approve a $148,000-per annum appropriation to Ruth Eckerd
Hall, Inc. to underwrite the cost of the expanded, interim program schedule;
approve a modification to the previously-approved CRA contribution schedule for
the Capitol Theatre reconstruction to fund the grant for interim programming and
authorize the appropriate officials to execute same.
CRA staff and Ruth Eckerd Hall have had discussions concerning a mutual desire
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of the group, to expand and improve the programming and use of the Capitol
Theatre to further the goals of both organizations during the period before
reconstruction of the Capitol Theatre begins.
Program offerings at the Capitol Theatre have to date produced 18 sellouts in 32
performances, exceeding projections of demand for the facility and generating
significant private rental and event requests that could not be accommodated
under terms of the Memorandum of Understanding between the City and Ruth
Eckerd Hall. Both the CRA and Ruth Eckerd Hall believe additional programming
could be successful if the necessary resources were available to meet
performance opportunities and community demand.
The CRA staff objectives are to 1) support existing retail business viability in a
period of economic downturn by creating larger crowds to create dining and retail
demand for businesses in the Cleveland Street District; 2) provide retail
recruitment efforts with a better customer base to encourage new
retailers/restaurateurs with the confidence to locate in the Cleveland Street District
during the current economic downturn; and 3) expose additional potential
restaurant/ retail customers and investors to the Cleveland Street District through
attendance at District events.
Ruth Eckerd Hall objectives are to increase exposure, customer base and interest
in the Facility as they approach the requisite fundraising campaign for capital and
endowment funds to support future operation of the renovated facility.
Additionally, development of a strong customer base during the pre-renovation
period will help attendance at the renovated facility.
Ruth Eckerd hall has submitted a proposal to increase performances from the
current 36 performances annually to 100 performances annually, with 52 of them
live, self presented events and the remaining 48 either films or third party rentals.
The funding requested totals $ 148,000 per year, which includes the requisite
staff to operate, manage and promote an enhanced program schedule, as well as
$ 5,000 in one-time funds for projection equipment necessary for film showings.
The latter would be of such a quality that it could be used in the post-renovation
theatre.
The Memorandum of Agreement memorializes the discussions and provides for a
$148,000 appropriation each of the next 3 fiscal years, or until renovations
commence, whichever comes first. The source of funds would be from the
Redevelopment Fund.
However, in order to maintain sufficient Redevelopment Fund balances over the
next several years, and to cushion the fund balances against any further drop in
tax receipts during that period, staff is also recommending a restructuring of the
current CRA funding commitment of $1,000,000 for the Capitol Theatre
renovations. Staff proposes a reduction of $148,000 from the commitment in each
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year that the temporary funding is utilized.
For example, the anticipated $500,000 contribution for renovations in Fiscal Year
2012/2013 would be reduced to $352,000 and the balance rolled forward. This
would continue until the entire $1,000,000 is contributed to the renovation project.
Based upon the delay in the fundraising/renovation schedule to date, Finance and
Budget believe there would be no detrimental effects upon the renovation project
by this restructuring. Payment would likely be completed in three fiscal years
rather than two.
Based upon the positive impact of this programming change has had downtown
businesses and the anticipated effect on the future success of the renovated
Capitol Theatre, CRA staff recommends approval of the Memorandum of
Agreement.
Support was expressed for the plan to increase programming and lengthen the City's
schedule of payment as the theater has gained momentum and a following in
downtown.
In response to a question, Ruth Eckerd Hall Executive Director Robert Freedman said
tools are in place to begin fundraising activities as soon as economic conditions
improve.
Trustee John Doran moved to approve Memorandum of Agreement between the
Community Redevelopment Agency (CRA) and Ruth Eckerd Hall, Inc. Inc, a Florida
Not-for-Profit Corporation, for the provision of an expanded and enhanced schedule of
programming at the Capitol Theatre in the Cleveland Street District until facility
renovations begin; approve a $148,000-per annum appropriation to Ruth Eckerd Hall,
Inc. to underwrite the cost of the expanded, interim program schedule; approve a
modification to the previously-approved CRA contribution schedule for the Capitol
Theatre reconstruction to fund the grant for interim programming and authorize the
appropriate officials to execute same. The motion was duly seconded and carried
unanimously.
3.2 Authorize transfer of $1,799,927.37 from project 388-92275 to the City’s project
315-92275 for the Community Redevelopment Agency’s portion of the Cleveland
Street Streetscape Phase II construction project.
In November 2008, the Community Redevelopment Agency (CRA) approved the
conceptual plan for Phase II of the Cleveland Street Streetscape. Engineering,
Economic Development and the City's consultant, Bellomo-Herbert, worked
closely to develop the construction drawings for this project. The final conceptual
design was discussed and approved by the City Council on May 17, 2010. Nine
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start following award of contract, shop drawing review, and mobilization (January
2011). Construction is anticipated to take up to twelve months, and will be done in
two phases. Each phase will take up to six months. Phase one will be from
Missouri Avenue westward through the intersection of Martin Luther King Jr.
(MLK) Avenue. Phase two will be from the west side of MLK Avenue to Myrtle
Avenue. Upon completion, the landscaping, irrigation and site furnishings will be
maintained by Parks and Recreation. The sidewalks and roadway improvements
will be maintained by Public Services.
In response to questions, Engineering Director Mike Quillen said Progress Energy will
install streetlights via a separate contract. Landscaping was reduced significantly from
the original plan. The Community Redevelopment Agency will pay a portion of
landscaping maintenance costs.
Trustee George N. Cretekos moved to authorize transfer of $1,799,927.37 from project
388-92275 to the City's project 315-92275 for the Community Redevelopment Agency's
portion of the Cleveland Street Streetscape Phase II construction project. The motion
was duly seconded and carried unanimously.
4. Other Business - None.
5. Adjourn
The meeting was adjourned at 9:20 a.m.
Chair
Community Redevelopment Agency
Attest
aA
City Clerk
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