08/13/2012
COMMUNITY REDEVELOPMENT AGENCY MEETING MINUTES
CITY OF CLEARWATER
August 13, 2012
Present: Chair/Trustee George N. Cretekos, Trustee Paul Gibson, Trustee
Doreen Hock-DiPolito, Trustee Bill Jonson, and Trustee Jay E.
Polglaze.
Also Present: William B. Horne II - 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 1:48 p.m. at City Hall.
2. Approval of Minutes
2.1 Approve the minutes of the May 14, 2012 CRA meeting as submitted in written
summation by the City Clerk.
Trustee Bill Jonson moved to approve the minutes of the May 14, 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 Approve the Memorandum of Agreement between the CRA and Clearwater
Downtown Events, Inc, a 501(c) 4 Not-for-Profit Corporation, for the provision of
a schedule of Blast Friday events in the Cleveland Street District; approve a
$75,000 grant to Clearwater Downtown Events, Inc. to underwrite a portion of
the expanded Blast Friday Program, and authorize the appropriate officials to
execute same.
CRA staff and the Clearwater Downtown Events, Inc., volunteer group have had
discussions concerning a mutual desire of the group, and CRA staff, to continue
the expanded and improved the Blast Friday event so that each event provides a
draw approaching the highly successful Miracle on Cleveland Street in December.
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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; and, 2) provide our 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; 3) expose additional potential
restaurant/retail customers and investors to the Cleveland Street District through
attendance at District events.
With the state of the economy and the status of the new residential buildings in
downtown, the two major attractors to accomplish the CRA objectives delineated
above are: 1) the Capitol Theatre and 2) the 4th Friday events. The Capitol
Theatre has expanded program offerings and, the CRA staff and the 4th Friday
volunteer group wish to see the increased frequency and quality of the 4th Friday
events started in the 2011 season continued and improved in the 2012 season.
Last year, Clearwater Downtown Events, Inc., proposed a business concept to
restructure and enhance their program operations, including a management and
production agreement with Ruth Eckerd Hall, with a financing plan based upon, in
part, a CRA grant of $75,000 and a Downtown Development Board grant of
$50,000. The remainder of costs was through sponsorships and/or Ruth Eckerd
hall participation. The attached Agreement and Program Budget extends this
agreement for the 2012-2013 program year. The intent of the model is for the
Clearwater Downtown Events group to leverage the production and marketing
expertise and capacity of Ruth Eckerd hall to materially enhance the quality and
attendance at the events. Downtown Events, Inc. would continue to have overall
responsibility for the Blast Friday series and be responsible for the grant
administration.
The first year of operation was encouraging and the parties wish to extend the
agreement for an additional year, particularly in light of the fact that the Capital
Theatre is projected to be closed for renovations for some portion of the 2012-
2013 season, leaving the Blast Friday event as the only regular, large-attendance
event to draw people to the Cleveland Street District. The Memorandum of
Agreement extends the Blast Friday program for an additional year and provides
for a $75,000 grant appropriation from the CRA Redevelopment Fund to partially
fund the $ 183,548 budget for 2012-2013 season.
CRA staff recommends approval of the Memorandum of Agreement and approval
of $75,000 to fund the CRA contribution.
Trustee Jay Polglaze moved to approve the Memorandum of Agreement between the
CRA and Clearwater Downtown Events, Inc, a 501(c) 4 Not-for-Profit Corporation, for
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the provision of a schedule of Blast Friday events in the Cleveland Street District;
approve a $75,000 grant to Clearwater Downtown Events, Inc. to underwrite a portion of
the expanded Blast Friday Program, and authorize the appropriate officials to execute
same. The motion was duly seconded and carried unanimously.
3.2 Provide direction whether the Board desires staff to prepare for Board
consideration at this time an RFP for development of the CRA property known as
the Prospect Lake parcel.
At the time of the economic collapse in 2008, and the subsequent dissolution of
the Miles development agreement for construction of a mixed- use project on the
Prospect Lake parcel, the CRA Board directed staff, after considerable
discussion, not to re-issue an RFP (Request for Proposal) at that time. Due to
economic conditions in the housing and finance markets the Board believed it was
not the optimum time to maximize the development potential of the property. The
Board instructed the Executive Director to defer further discussion until evidence
of market recovery and qualified developer expressions of interest were
manifested to maximize the prospect of a successful development going forward.
Recently, staff has begun to see renewed interest by the development community
in properties in the CRA, including the Prospect Lake site. Preliminary discussions
have taken place, which indicate those expressing interest could likely perform, if
chosen by RFP process. Staff thus seeks Board direction as to whether the Board
feels it is timely and appropriate to prepare a draft RFP for Board consideration in
the near future and, if so desired, what the desired form of development the Board
seeks on the site.
The CRA has subsequently acquired the former St. Vincent de Paul Thrift Store
site, which would be included in a new RFP.
A Letter of Interest from one prospective developer has been provided, so the
Board can receive a sense of the level of interest and developer qualifications
likely to be evidenced in response to an RFP at this time.
A concern was expressed regarding building a residential project backing up to the
street. It was suggested the project should maximize the allowed density and retain a
retail interface with Cleveland Street.
Trustee Jay Polglaze moved to direct staff to prepare an RFP for Board consideration
for the development of the CRA property known as Prospect Town Lake. The motion
was duly seconded and carried unanimously.
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4. Other Business
CRA Executive Director Rod Irwin said Downtown Manager Courtney Orr was leaving
the City and returning to her home state of Indiana. She was thanked for her service
and wished well.
It was requested that an update on completing the sidewalks in the Downtown Plan be
provided at a future meeting.
5. Adiourn
The meeting was adjourned at 2:14 p.m.
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