05/14/2012 COMMUNITY REDEVELOPMENT AGENCY MEETING MINUTES
CITY OF CLEARWATER
May 14, 2012
Present: Chair/Trustee George N. Cretekos, Trustee Doreen Hock-DiPolito,
Trustee Paul Gibson, Trustee Bill Jonson, and Trustee Jay E. Polglaze.
Also Present: William B. Horne 11 - City Manager, Jill S. Silverboard - Assistant City
Manager, Rod Irwin - CRA Executive Director/Assistant City Manager,
Pamela K. Akin - City Attorney, Rosemarie Call - City Clerk, and Nicole
Sprague - Official Records and Legislative Services Coordinator.
To provide continuity for research, items are in agenda order although not
necessarily discussed in that order.
1. Call to Order— Chair George N. Cretekos
The meeting was called to order at 1:04 p.m. at City Hall.
2. Approval of Minutes
2.1 Approve the minutes of the January 9, 2012 CRA Meeting as submitted in
written summation by the City Clerk.
Trustee Bill Jonson moved to approve the minutes of the January 9, 2012 CRA Meeting
as submitted in written summation by the City Clerk. The motion was duly seconded
and carried unanimously.
3. CRA Items
3.1 Provide direction on goals and strategies outlined in the East Gateway Vision
Plan Implementation Matrix to be included in Five-Year Action Program for Fiscal
Year 2012-2017.
On January 9, 2012, city staff and the vision plan consultants (Gensler and Social
Compact) presented the East Gateway Vision Plan to the CRA Board. After the
presentation, the CRA Board approved the overall concept of the vision plan and
tasked staff with creating an implementation matrix.
The attached East Gateway Vision Plan Implementation Matrix outlines the
overarching goals and strategies and includes cost estimates, timelines, and staff
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recommendations. Some of the proposed goals have no funding requirements,
other than staff time.
Through input from the community, data collected from the market/economic
analysis, and recommendations from the consultant, staff has identified the
following goals and strategies as the most important for discussion and
implementation purposes:
• GOAL 1: District Development
Strategy 1: Relocate social service programs to consolidated countywide
location
Strategy 2: Create and maintain a safe and secure environment throughout the
corridor development, neighborhoods, and activity areas
• GOAL 2: Create a Vibrant Market
Strategy 1: Focus on business development to support local institutions
Strategy 2: Encourage and support restaurant and shopping destinations
Strategy 3: Support the establishment of businesses that generate frequent visits
• GOAL 3: Zone I (West Commercial Anchor)
Strategy 1: Actively seek interest in the redevelopment of the former Economy
Inn property
Strategy 2: Assemble property for ease of development for LIMA campus
opportunities/major district parking facility
• GOAL 4: Zone II (Corridor Development)
Strategy 1: Initiate Streetscape Phase III
• GOAL 5: Zone III (Open Space)
Strategy 1: Develop the Stevenson Creek drainage basin
• GOAL 6: Zone IV (Festival Core)
Strategy 1: Create landscape and parking plans on city's right-of-way on
Cleveland Street (east of Hillcrest Ave)
• GOAL 7: Branding Strategy
Strategy 1: Create a branding vision to unlock the potential of the East Gateway
District
• GOAL 8: Policy/Recommendations
Strategy 1: Review the policies and procedures governing the East Gateway
District for recommended changes
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During the March 22, 2012 East Gateway Stakeholder Advisory Group (SAG)
meeting, the SAG members provided their feedback on the proposed goals and
identified Goal 1 (Soup Kitchen and community policing), Goal 3 (former Economy
Inn), Goal 4 (Streetscape Phase III), and Goal 8 (overlay district concept) as their
top priority items for implementation.
The main project that needs Council's direction is the funding timeline for
Streetscape Phase III (Goal 4). Currently, $6M in Penny for Pinellas III has been
allocated for this project beginning in Fiscal Year (FY) 2016-2017 with full funding
by 2018-2019. The consultants and the community recommend an earlier funding
scenario in order to continue the efforts, accomplishments, and progress of the
City of Clearwater and the East Gateway community in achieving the
neighborhood's revitalization goals. Allocating Penny for Pinellas III funding to this
project in FY 2014-2015 will continue the momentum, provide the needed on-
street parking and infrastructure improvements, and most likely reduce the overall
project cost. This goal will need to be discussed further as part of the overall
Penny for Pinellas III discussion, as accommodating this change will require
realignment of other projects within the Penny III schedule. This goal was
identified as the most important by the community during the two-day vision plan
charrette workshop that took place in September 2011.
The vision plan implementation comes at a perfect time, as the East Gateway
Five-Year Action Program will conclude in September 2012. Staff needs Council's
direction on priorities for the East Gateway District for the next five (5) fiscal years
in order to finalize the Five-Year Action Program for FY 2012-2017 by September
2012.
Economic Development and Housing Director Geri Campos Lopez provided a
PowerPoint presentation.
In response to questions, Ms. Campos Lopez said the property in the festival core
rendering is a privately owned property; the consultant assumed that the City could
acquire the property. The Engineering Department has identified some funds to
continue the sidewalk improvements in the East Gateway District as part of the annual
sidewalk program. Economic Development Coordinator Ekaterini Gerakios said there
will be three sidewalks (i.e., Hillcrest Avenue, Evergreen Avenue and Park Street) under
construction during June and July. Ms. Campos Lopez said staff is focused on using
CRA dollars to implement the plan; the Cleveland Streetscape Phase III project was
identified in Penny III funds. Staff has not identified a funding source for the open
space/recreation space and is not asking for the funds to be allocated any time soon.
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Staff was directed to provide a one-page grid of the 5-year plan that identifies the
proposed CRA and Penny funds to be used.
In response to concerns, Ms. Campos Lopez said Ultimate Medical Academy (UMA) is
looking to expand and does not have sufficient parking in the current footprint. LIMA is
hoping the City could facilitate a discussion with neighboring property owners regarding
leasing additional parking spaces. Rental housing rehabilitation remains part of the
department's stabilization plan; there are not many funding sources for rental rehab as
there are for home ownership.
Two individuals spoke in support and one individual supported the City pursuing an arts
and crafts marketplace, similar to Tlaquepaque Village in Sedona, Arizona.
There was consensus for staff to pursue items listed in the implementation plan, except
for the streetscape items, and prepare the 5-year action plan, which will be presented in
August.
3.2 Amend the operating budget at mid-year for the Community Redevelopment
Agency for fiscal year 2011/12 and adopt Resolution 12-01.
Amendments to the revenues of the Operating Budget reflect a decrease of
$28,846 in TIF received for fiscal year 2011/12 based upon final receipts for the
TIF proceeds from Pinellas County, the City of Clearwater, and the Downtown
Development Board. Other revenue amendments for fiscal year 2011/12 reflect an
adjustment to the original adopted budget for the Clearwater Auto Tax Credit
proceeds. These funds were unexpectedly received in September 2011 during the
previous fiscal year. Operating expenditure amendments at mid-year include the
decrease of$2,532 from Payment from Other Agencies- DDB to reflect the
adjustment to the budgeted revenue to actual TIF receipts. In addition, budgeted
amendments in the capital fund reflect the increase in the amount of$413,555.34
for the Clearwater Auto Tax Credit, which was posted to this project in period 12
of fiscal year 2010/11. This is offset by a decrease of$26,314 due to the reduction
in tax increment receipts in the operating fund for the fiscal year. There is a
$2,586 increase in the East Gateway Project to recognize miscellaneous
revenues received for sponsorships for the East Gateway Hispanic Festival. Also,
there is a $3,000 increase in the Economy Inn Demolition Project for the
miscellaneous revenues received for the temporary use of the site.
Staff is also recommending establishing a new project called Technology District
Incentives, 388-94872, and transferring $200,000 from project Downtown
Redevelopment, 388-94714, for this purpose. The Technology District concept
was outlined in the Economic Development Strategic Plan that was presented to
the City Council in November 2011 as an implementation action item. Staff will
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bring forward the specifics of program components at a later CRA meeting. This
approval establishes the project in the CRA budget
In response to a question, CRA Executive Director Rod Irwin said staff is currently
analyzing the availability of broadband/fiber and infrastructure issues that would inhibit
or support technology companies. The Technology District Incentives program would
work with companies interested in relocating to Clearwater.
Trustee Jay Polglaze moved to amend the operating budget at mid-year for the
Community Redevelopment Agency for fiscal year 2011/12. The motion was duly
seconded and carried unanimously.
Resolution 12-01 was presented and read by title only. Trustee Paul Gibson moved to
adopt Resolution 12-01. The motion was duly seconded and upon roll call, the vote
was:
"Ayes": Chair George N. Cretekos, Trustee Paul Gibson, Trustee Doreen Hock-
DiPolito, Trustee Bill Jonson, and Trustee Jay E. Polglaze.
"Nays": None.
4. Executive Director (Assistant City Manager) Verbal Reports
4.1 Executive Director Verbal Reports
Environmental Manager Ed Chesney said the Town Pond is a stormwater facility, which
is being modified in two phases. The alum sediments will be dredged from the bottom
of the pond and pumped into geotubes for dewatering. The material will be hauled off.
Mr. Chesney said staff expects the project to last 4-6 months.
5. Other Business – None.
6. Adjourn
The meeting was adjourned at 2:10 p.m.
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