03/16/1998 COMMUNITY REDEVELOPMENT AGENCY MEETING
CITY OF CLEARWATER
March 16, 1998
Present: J. B. Johnson Vice-Chair/CRA Trustee
Robert Clark CRA Trustee
Karen Seel CRA Trustee
Bob Keller Assistant City Manager/CRA Director
Michael J. Roberto City Manager
Kathy Rice Deputy City Manager
Pamela K. Akin City Attorney
Cynthia E. Goudeau City Clerk
Brenda Moses Board Reporter
Absent: Rita Garvey Chair/CRA Trustee
Ed Hooper CRA Trustee
The Vice-Chair called the meeting to order at 9:08 a.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 Seel moved to approve the minutes of the February 17, 1998, meeting 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. Approve the amended First Quarter FY 97/98 budget and authorize the appropriation of the entire balance remaining in the CRA Trust Fund as of September 30, 1998, for previously approved
redevelopment projects and those to be identified in the redevelopment plan.
The revenue budget has been amended to reflect changes in amounts already received or amounts expected to be received. The expenditure budget has been amended to reflect changes in
operational costs expected to be incurred. State Law requires the DDB (Downtown Development Board) to pay their share of the tax increment revenues to the CRA. The last 2 years the
CRA returned the funds to the DDB in exchange for specific services. It is recommended the funds not be returned to the DDB due to the potential of creating the Downtown Alliance.
The budget reflects the removal of the payment to the DDB under operating expenditures to the Miscellaneous Redevelopment Project Fund. It is also recommended that CRA trustees authorize
the appropriation of the entire balance remaining in the CRA Trust Fund as of September 30, 1998, for redevelopment projects that have been previously approved and those which will be
identified in the redevelopment plan.
Downtown Manager Diane Smith said the major changes to the operating budget is under the Tax Increment Revenue category, which was less than expected. An accounting transfer was
made to the parking garage fund, additions made to the professional services line item, advertising and equipment rental line items were decreased, and transfers out for the parking
fund have been amended. She recommended the CRA not reimburse the balance of remaining funds in the CRA Trust Fund pending the formation of the Downtown Alliance. In response to a
question, she said funds for miscellaneous redevelopment projects are not allocated to specific projects.
It was requested this matter be brought before the DDB before a final decision is made. It was noted the DDB has budgeted the routine transfer of funds for the last 3 years. Last
year it was done under a resolution of the CRA, directing the money be used for specific projects. In response to a question, Assistant City Manager/CRA Director Bob Keller said DDB
late payments involve staffing issues and should be forthcoming. A $7,000 payment was a result of development of the Atrium building. The CRA and DDB agreed to reimburse a portion
of the cost over time.
Trustee Seel moved to continue Item #3a. The motion was duly seconded and carried unanimously.
ITEM #4 - Assistant City Manager Verbal Reports
Ms. Smith said the Mainstreet program is scheduled for April 22, 1998, at 6:00 p.m. Three Mainstreet managers from other cities will give presentations. She said 250 people attended
the Brown Bag Lunch concert series in Station Square Park the first week.
ITEM #5 - Other Business - None.
ITEM #6 - Adjournment
The meeting adjourned at 9:20 a.m.