05/12/1997 COMMUNITY REDEVELOPMENT AGENCY MEETING
CITY OF CLEARWATER
May 12, 1997
Present: Rita Garvey Chair/CRA Trustee
J. B. Johnson CRA Trustee
Robert Clark CRA Trustee
Ed Hooper CRA Trustee
Karen Seel CRA Trustee
David Stone Ex-Officio Trustee
Bob Keller Assistant City Manager/CRA Director
Elizabeth M. Deptula City Manager
Cynthia E. Goudeau City Clerk
Patricia O. Sullivan Board Reporter
The Chair called the meeting to order at 1:03 p.m. at City Hall.
To provide continuity for research, items are in agenda order although not necessarily discussed in that order.
ITEM #2 - Approval of Minutes
Trustee Hooper moved to approve the minutes of the meetings of March 17, 1997, as recorded and submitted in written summation by the City Clerk to each Trustee. The motion was duly
seconded and carried unanimously.
ITEM #3 - New Business
a) Mid-year FY 1996/97 budget
The budget was amended to reflect changes: 1) revenue budget - amounts received or expected to be received and 2) expenditure budget - operational costs primarily due to location changes
and CRA office management. As reflected in the original budget, the CRA cannot fund its current expenses, including an approximate $225,000 annual contribution to the debt service fund,
from current operating revenues and must use funds acquired in previous years to fund redevelopment efforts.
Two bond issues are outstanding: 1) 1987 issue to be paid in full in current fiscal year and 2) 1986 issue, related to the Park Street Parking Garage, to be paid in full at time garage
is sold. The Redevelopment Project in the Capital Improvement Fund, funded from excess funds available in the CRA, has an available balance of $926,382.46. Staff recommends the CRA
Trustees authorize adjusting the transfer in of funds available in the Redevelopment Project at year-end to the actual amount needed to fund current year operations, and is estimated
at $141,851.
Trustee Hooper moved to approve the mid-year budget for Fiscal Year 1996/97 and authorize that the actual transfer in of funds available in the Redevelopment Project be adjusted at
year-end to the actual amount needed to fund the current year operations. The motion was duly seconded and carried unanimously.
b) Approve DDB (Downtown Development Board) Interlocal agreement
Florida Statute 163.387 requires all taxing authorities to make annual appropriation in an amount equal to the incremental increase in ad valorem revenue within the CRA area. The DDB
(Downtown Development Board) is a taxing authority within the CRA (Community Redevelopment Agency) area and is not statutorily exempt from making such payments to the CRA. The DDB paid
the FY (Fiscal Year) 1996/97 tax increment of $22,741.66 to the CRA. In exchange for the promotion of downtown, the CRA paid to the DDB an amount equal to the FY 1995/96 tax increment
payment. Agreement between the CRA and DDB states the DDB is to provide services for the CRA during FY 1996/97: 1) Pinellas Trail grand opening initiatives; 2) retail recruitment; 3)
beautification/clean-up; and 4) monthly publication of the Right Downtown newspaper. Staff believes the DDB’s continual efforts to promote and market downtown justifies the $22,471.66
CRA payment to the DDB.
Assistant City Manager Bob Keller noted the agreement identifies DDB responsibilities which are consistent with the DDB’s short term agenda. In response to a question, the City Manager
said this additional revenue will not cause the CRA to pay more into the debt service this year.
Trustee Johnson moved to approve the Interlocal Agreement with the DDB in which the DDB agrees to perform certain responsibilities and functions consistent with and in furtherance of
the Downtown Redevelopment Plan in exchange for payment of $22,471.66 and that the appropriate officials be authorized to execute same. The motion was duly seconded and carried unanimously.
ITEM #4 - Assistant City Manager Verbal Reports
Mr. Keller introduced Diane Smith who has updated the downtown space inventory. A web page is being developed. Ms. Smith and Deputy Police Chief Paul Maser developed an inventive
solution to address parking problems at the new restaurant, Taste of Italy. Residual funds from the DDB will be used for facade improvement. Ms. Smith has revamped regulations in conjunction
with the DDB and Central Permitting. The regulations are simpler, faster, and allow City initiated projects to move forward smoothly. Mr. Keller reported the original proposal to raise
private sector funds to maintain the downtown planters was never pursued. Complaints have been received the annuals have become unsightly. He recommended replacing them with perennials.
Consensus was to replace the annual flowers in the downtown planters with perennials.
Mr. Keller stated the proposed alliance between the CRA and DDB is moving forward. The City Attorney is working with outside counsel on the agreement. At their last meeting, the DDB
considered operating as if the agreement is in place. The City is looking at ways to assume the DDB’s administrative functions. Staff has received a serious offer by an outside organization
to take over publication of Right Downtown. The DDB is interested in reviewing City recommendations. CRA Trustee approval is required before staff takes over any DDB administrative
functions, supervises the work plan, or contracts with the outside non-profit organization to publish Right Downtown. Plans are to continue using the Tampa Tribune as printer. The
City will receive no compensation during this interim period. Mr. Keller recommended limiting these uncompensated services to May through September 1997.
Ex-Officio Trustee David Stone said if the DDB approves the agreement, they will terminate their contract with Judi Hackett and her assistant. He requested a copy of the legal document
for review. It was noted some DDB members had expressed reluctance in pursuing the alliance until
the process to elect DDB members is developed. Mr. Stone agreed that was one unresolved detail. He noted the DDB previously had signed off on the alliance plan. He noted a reluctance
to terminate Ms. Hackett’s consultant arrangement before the alliance is in place. The City’s good intent was noted by its offer to provide services gratis for four months.
Trustee Seel moved to instruct staff to move forward to take over DDB administration duties for the four-month period ending September 30, 1997. The motion was duly seconded and carried
unanimously.
ITEM #5 - Other Business
In response to a question, Mr. Keller said he had not spoken with the broker regarding the color advertisements in the newspaper marketing the Dimmitt S. Ft. Harrison property.
In response to a question, Mr. Keller estimated $17,000 remains in the CRA budget for facade improvement. He noted the need for architectural assistance.
ITEM #6 - Adjournment
The meeting adjourned at 1:28 p.m.
_______________________________________
Chair
Community Redevelopment Agency
Attest:
_____________________________________________
Board Reporter