12/13/1993
COMMUNITY REDEVELOPMENT AGENCY
Minutes
December 13, 1993
The City Commission, meeting as the Community Redevelopment Agency, met in regular session at City Hall, Monday, December 13, 1993 at 1:10 pm, with the following members present:
Arthur X. Deegan, II Chairperson
Rita Garvey Vice-Chairperson
Richard Fitzgerald Trustee
Sue Berfield Trustee
Fred Thomas Trustee
Phil Henderson Ex-officio Trustee
Also Present:
Peter Gozza Executive Director
Al Galbraith City Attorney
Jacquie DeGroy Acting Secretary
Absent:
Lillian Trickel Ex-officio Trustee
2. Approval of Minutes
Trustee Garvey moved to approve the minutes of the October 21, 1993 and November 29, 1993 meetings. The motion was seconded and carried unanimously.
3. Financial Report
A motion was made, seconded and unanimously approved to accept the October Financial Report, with the exception that the administrative expenditure of $7508 be adjusted in the variance
column.
4. Unfinished Business
a) Main Street
Peter Gozza reported that he has met with Citizens Bank and First Union Bank and that a low interest loan program has been established for exterior/interior renovations on businesses
within the CRA district. Mr. Gozza is meeting with other banks as well. The City Attorney is drafting a contract that will be used for facade grants. This will be presented for CRA
board approval.
5. New Business
a) Economic Development Incentives
Chairperson Deegan recommended the board consider the option of economic incentives for developers or commercial firms to locate or expand in Clearwater. Peter Gozza is researching
other cities' major project incentive programs and will report on it when completed. Peter Gozza will construct a list of current downtown city incentives.
b) Sunbank Purchase
City Attorney, M.A. Galbraith, reviewed the documents submitted. Trustee Berfield moved to approve Resolution 93-5, the motion was seconded and carried unanimously. Trustee Thomas
move to approve the following documents: Option to Purchase Agreement, Second Amendment to Development Agreement, Easement for Crosswalk, Easement Agreement with Community Redevelopment
Agency, Easement Agreement between the CRA and the Atrium of Clearwater, Amendment to Maintenance and Operation Agreement, Escrow Agreement all relating to the sale of the Sunbank building,
motion was seconded and carried unanimously.
6. Executive Director Verbal Reports
a) Community Development Corporation
Legal description for the proposed CDC has been prepared. Sample bylaws have been requested from the State of Florida Community Affairs Department. Application for a Planning Grant
will be filed by the deadline of April 1, 1994.
b) CRA Office Site Selection
Peter Gozza has looked at other rental property. CSX RR site will continue to be pursued but is not a high priority at this time.
c) Clerical Charges
A motion was made, seconded and unanimously approved to submit the bill to the Downtown Development Board for clerical charges for the month of October. Phil Henderson, DDB Chairperson,
concurred with this motion.
d) Dave & Buster's Campaign
Due to demographics, Dave & Buster's Entertainment Centers have elected not to locate in downtown Clearwater. However, because the demographic charts do not include the number of
employees working in Clearwater and also the number of tourists visiting Clearwater, Mr. Gozza is initiating a letter-writing campaign with the hopes of changing the minds of Dave &
Buster's management. Letters written by the management of major Clearwater employers and the major hotels will indicate the number of employees and hotel guests, along with their average
age, and will encourage Dave & Buster's to, again, consider Clearwater as a location for their entertainment center. The Chamber of Commerce endorses this idea and will work with Mr.
Gozza to achieve the goal. Trustee Garvey recommended that marketing reports from Clearwater and Countryside mall be submitted, also.
Trustee Thomas stated that another entertainment center investor has indicated an interest in the third floor of the Maas building and will be in town to review this option.
e) Adopt-A-Planter
Many of the downtown merchants/businesses have elected to maintain the Cleveland Street planters when planted with flowers. Plaques will be placed on the planter indicating the respective
merchant.
6. Other Trustee Business
Trustee Garvey moved to approve that the CRA have the same meeting schedule as the City Commission, that being, not to have meetings the first week in July and the third week in December.
The motion was seconded and passed unanimously.
Trustee Garvey asked when the provisions of the new Downtown Development ordinance would go into effect. This will be discussed at the City Commission meeting on December 16, 1993.
Trustee Berfield questioned whether Clearwater would participate in the
Florida Power tradeshow. Peter Gozza will investigate further and make a recommendation.
Ex-officio member, Phil Henderson, stated that Mary Devine of the Central Area Council endorses the volunteer committees of the Main Street concept under the guidance of Peter Gozza
and Judi Hackett.
Clerical support for the Main Street Committees will be an issue addressed at the joint meeting of the CRA/DDB in January. Until a decision is made, clerical support will continue
under the direction of Judi Hackett.
Ex-officio member, Phil Henderson, referencing the new Downtown Development ordinance, requested the paragraph that refers to who is eligible for election to the Downtown Development
Board be changed to read as originally proposed. Trustee Thomas disagreed and deferred this decision to the City Commission at the
second reading of the ordinance on December 16, 1993.
Chairperson Deegan publicly thanked the volunteers that put together the "Holiday Traditions in Downtown Clearwater" festival on Saturday, December 4, 1993.
Trustee Garvey thanked those who were responsible for the Holiday Parade on Friday, December 10, 1993.
7. Adjournment
Meeting was adjourned at 2:15 pm.
Chairperson
Attest:
Secretary