11/14/1994 COMMUNITY REDEVELOPMENT AGENCY
Minutes
November 14, 1994
The City Commission, meeting as the Community Redevelopment Agency, met in regular session at City Hall, Monday, November 14, 1994 at 1:00 pm, with the following members present:
Arthur X. Deegan, II Chairperson
Sue Berfield Vice-Chairperson
Richard Fitzgerald Trustee
Rita Garvey Trustee
Fred Thomas Trustee
Also Present:
Betty Deptula City Manager
Peter Gozza Executive Director
Pamela Akin City Attorney
Elise Winters Ex-officio Trustee
Phil Henderson Chamber of Commerce
Bill Schulte Chamber of Commerce
Jacquie DeGroy Recording Secretary
Absent:
David Stone Ex-officio Trustee
2. Approval of Minutes
A motion was made, seconded and unanimously carried to approve the minutes of October 17, 1994.
3. Financial Statements - August & September 1994
Peter Gozza reviewed the submitted financial statements. The excess revenue of $874,087 represents the $610,000 from the sale of the Bilgore property and the carryover from the 1993-94
budget. Of the $874,087, $150,000 is designated for the Harborview Center exterior; $40,000 for the DDB facade matching grant program; $50,000 for the downtown plan; $50,000 for the
zero interest loan program; approximately $20,000 for the downtown beautification program and $20,000 for the architectural grant program. The final taxable value figure from Pinellas
County is $306,120 which is down from the preliminary figure of $322,119. The interest earnings on investments and debt reserve reflected on the August and September statement are more
of a "timing" nature and are periodically adjusted. The $610,000 proceeds from the sale of the Bilgore will be held in reserve until the Park Street Garage issue is resolved. A more
detailed financial statement reflecting actuals for the 1994-95 budget will be available
in December. A motion was made, seconded and unanimously carried to receive the August and September 1994 financial statements.
4. Unfinished Business
Hanson-Taylor proposed calendar - Mr. Gozza reviewed the tenative schedule in preparing the redevelopment plan. The CRA Board's attendance at three of the sessions would be greatly
appreciated:
The Issues Workshop on November 30, 1994
The Visual Preference Survey findings on January 25, 1995
The Presentation on January 28, 1995
The CRA Board members may be scheduled (if necessary) for the "Key Interview" portion of the Issues Workshop. These interviews will be conducted after the November 30th workshop.
Plans are being made to produce a video (with the City's Community Outreach department) that will be used to survey the television viewing audience regarding the downtown plan. Mr.
Gozza reported that Vision Cable has agreed to run the 30 minute program, three times a week from December 12th through December 30th. There will be no charge for this service.
The CRA Board will continue to be updated on this issue.
Park Street Garage - Mr. Gozza reviewed the issue indicating the City does not feel that the Mackey appraisal was done in compliance with the requirements of the Option Agreement, therefore
the City contracted to have an additional appraisal performed. Since there is a substantial difference between the two appraisals, the City advised Mr. Mackey of the results and suggested
that "possibilities be explored in resolving this matter without the risk, cost and time delay associated with protracted litigation." The City Attorney, Pam Akin, agreed with this
course of action.
5. New Business
CRA Downtown Plan Issues Workshop Memo - There were no additions to the list of those invited from the CRA board at this time.
6. Executive Director Verbal Reports
Mr. Gozza reported that two new restaurants will be opening in the downtown area - the Cajun Grill Express and Elena's Cafe. He also announced the addition of a new vendor in Station
Square Park, Cafe de Paris, and the opening of a new business, The Thinkables.
7. Other Trustee Business
As an ex-officio member of the Downtown Development Board, Chairperson Deegan requested that DDB Chairperson, Elise Winters, recap for the CRA Board, the events of the 1994-95 DDB board
election up through the special DDB meeting. Ms. Winters summarized: Two DDB members had be appointed (by Ms. Winters) as the nominating committee. Their initial report had been delayed
by two weeks because they were not ready to submit a report. Two questions were raised about the nominating process: 1). Is the nominating committee required to accept all names entered
for nomination? After research by Ms. Winters, it was indicated that the board does not have to accept all nominations. Further, nominations may be submitted by the DDB Board members
or from the meeting floor. The DDB Board may reject the nominating committee's report. 2). Is the nominating committee required to submit two names for each seat available? Two names
are not required.
Seven names were submitted by the nominating committee for the two seats available, one was rejected because the candidate did not meet the district minimum qualifications.
The preliminary count of the ballots indicated that Joe Alexander and Joyce Baskin were the election winners. However, there were 20 questionable ballots that had to be accepted or
rejected by the DDB at a procedural canvass of the ballots meeting. 17 ballots were rejected.
Three ballots were unanimously accepted by the DDB Board - one which should not have been raised as "questionable" and two for an omission error committed on the part of the notary.
As a result of accepting two ballots, the election outcome was changed and the winners were Joe Alexander and Kate McCullough. Ms. Baskin was defeated by one vote.
After the meeting, a concern was raised that state election laws had been violated by accepting those two ballots. Ms. Winters contacted the legal department at the division of elections
board in Tallahassee. Ms. Hightower advised Ms. Winters that "as long as there was substantial compliance the board had the discretion to accept those ballots". (Boardman vs. Gustava)
A memo had been sent expressing concern regarding "politicking" prior to the election. At a special meeting of the DDB called to review the events of this election, the board voted
5-2 to accept the election results.
At the special meeting of the DDB, both ex-officio's (Deegan and Berfield) had been asked their opinion on the situation. They recommended that due to the "politicking" allegations and
the alleged incorrect procedures used by the DDB that a new election should be held. The recommendation was not upheld by the DDB on a 5-2 vote to not hold a new election.
There was a lengthy discussion involving the politicking allegations, conflict of testimony, voter registration, multiple ownership affidavits, number of voters registered, number of
ballots received, the DDB's voting procedure change, low voter turnout, etc. Trustee Thomas expressed concern over "a significant cloud of ethics" associated with the DDB and their
recent election.
This issue will be continued at the following City Commission meeting of November 14, 1994.
Per Chairperson Winters, Jesse Goodman and Terry Schmidt will be placed on the agenda for the next DDB meeting as soon as additional information is received from them.
8. Adjournment
Meeting was adjourned at 1:50 pm.
Chairperson
Attest:
Secretary