06/21/2011 2011 Business Task Force Meeting Minutes
CITY OF CLEARWATER
June 21, 2011
Present: David Allbritton, President of David Allbritton, Building Contractor Inc.
Brian Aungst, Jr. (Chair) & Attorney at MacFarlane, Ferguson & McMullen
Alan Bornstein, Creative Contractors Inc.
Joe Burdette, Construction program manager w/various projects in city.
Katie Cole, Attorney at Johnson &Pope
Alan Ebbert, Frenchy's Restaurants Operation Manager
Steve Fowler, Architect, Fowler Associates Architects, Inc.
Gene Gillespie, President of Sand Key Civic Assoc. & Gillespie & Assoc.
Jeff Kronschnabl, Instructor with St. Petersburg College (retired from city)
Robert Longnecker, Manager of Clearwater Jolley Trolley
Robert Pergolizzi, Principal at Gulf Coast Consulting, civil engineers, etc.
Absent: Steve Engelhardt, Hallmark Development Inc.
Mark Klein, Klein & Hutchens Real Estate
Shelley Kuroghlian, President of Clearwater Neighborhoods Coalition
Alex Plisko, (Vice-Chair) Architect in Clearwater since 1978
Duane Schultz, Code Enforcement Board
P.J.Shah, Cumbey and Fair, Inc.
Chair Aungst called the meeting to order. He called the groups' attention to a listing of all the
non-final recommendation they have talked about and agreed on. He asked if anyone had any
changes to the minutes from June 9, 2011. David Allbritton moved to pass the minutes with the
spelling of his last name corrected. The motion passed unanimously.
Chair Aungst asked if everyone had the email that Member Burdette had sent to City Clerk
Rosemarie Call, copies were provided for everyone at the meeting. Discussion followed
regarding Plan review, permitting and inspections as to the bullet points in the email. The group
discussed the idea of an "applicant advocate" to guide a project through the whole process of
permitting, planning and review with the City.
Business Task Force 2011-06-21 1
Private versus commercial plan reviews were discussed. The group discussed the State of
Florida laws permitting applicants to utilize private inspectors and plan approvals and discussed
whether the City should give applicants who utilize private resources a discount. The group also
discussed whether such a discount would lower the City's revenues and adversely impact the
taxpayers.
A question was asked about what kind of product the group would present to the City Council.
Chair Aungst stated that after the public's input the group would meet to talk about what they
learned from the public and that he would put together a final report, maybe 20 pages, for the
group to go over before a presentation to the Council. He also stated that he thought that would
be sometime in August.
Inspection fees and permit fees were discussed by the group and whether the City would benefit
from the fees charged. Policy versus philosophy in how the department is run was discussed as to
whether an "advocate" hired by the city or whether planners would undertake this role. Member
Burdette stated that there was no "point of contact" to call to see where you were in the process
and that would be important to have a point of contact.
Members brought up the fact that inspectors would come to the site and have to go back to their
office to write up their inspection report and should have wireless capability with technology to
immediately write it up on site and it would be posted.
Motion was made to approve altered language of the Plan review, permitting and inspections
bullet points and the members all voted and said "aye".
Chair Aungst then opened the discussion by the group regarding bullet points on general code
change suggestions. The density reserve was discussed as to parking and the Code requirement,
also the "wedding cake" look and the Beach by Design plan.
Chair Aungst interrupted the discussion to state that Member Kronschnabl had to leave the
meeting and that he would talk about vacant or abandoned property. Member Kronschnabl
presented information on properties in the area which are up and the challenges these properties
brought to the cities. Water, sewer and trash are among these problems. Florida ranks third in
the nation for vacant properties. Squatters are commonplace. Some cities have a vacant property
ordinance and what, if anything, should the City of Clearwater do to address these problems.
Various members brought up the fact that the City sends out notices to owners of vacant
properties that have fallen into disrepair, but many have disregarded the letters or notices and
done nothing. Chair Aungst suggested an additional bullet point to "develop a more aggressive
policy to identify abandoned buildings and prosecute code violations, including more use of
Business Task Force 2011-06-21 2
demolition as an ultimate enforcement measure." Discussion ensued regarding violations and
demolition and other municipalities' enforcernent. The group wa.r�ted more definition and
minimum standards, as the existir�g standards are not tough enough.
Discussion returned to the "Code suggestions" from Member Burdette's e-rnail. The "wedding
cake" effect was discussed and setbacks. Member Gillespie made a suggestian as to another
bullet point. Language was suggested as, "Cansider reestablishing setback requirements in
Beach by Design to avoid `canyon effect'.
Members began discussing "smart codes" and cities that had adopted them and how could
Clearwater use them, citing business corridors. Member Cole rnade a suggestion as to language
for a bullet for noncon�orming use of property. "Review the nanconforming/conforming
structure provisions of the cade and its application on existing buildings and new tenants".
Chair Aungst stated that the next meeting would be held on July 12, 2011 a�nd that the rneeting
would be a posted public meeting, including a presentation by Michael Delk and the time and
place to be announced.
Meeting Adjourned at 7:06 pm.
Attest:
Soard Reporter
Business Task Force 2011-06-21
air
Business Task Force
[e3