07/13/1998 COMMUNITY REDEVELOPMENT AGENCY MEETING
CITY OF CLEARWATER
July 13, 1998
Present: Ed Hooper Vice-Chair/CRA Trustee
J. B. Johnson CRA Trustee
Robert Clark CRA Trustee
Karen Seel CRA Trustee
Bob Keller Assistant City Manager/CRA Director
Michael J. Roberto City Manager
Pamela K. Akin City Attorney
Cynthia E. Goudeau City Clerk
Gwen Legters Board Reporter
Absent: Rita Garvey Chair/CRA Trustee
The Vice-Chair called the meeting to order at 1:06 p.m. at City Hall.
ITEM #2 - Approval of Minutes
Trustee Johnson moved to approve the minutes of the regular meeting of June 15, 1998, and the special meeting of June 18, 1998, 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) Authorize submittal of an application to the Main Street Program of the Florida Department of State, Division of Historical Resources, Bureau of Historic Preservation
The Main Street application is an immediate action item identified in One City. One Future. to help Clearwater meet the challenges of bringing economic revitalization to downtown.
The Main Street program provides training and technical assistance to communities for downtown revitalization. The program’s four point approach to revitalization addresses design,
organization, economic restructuring, and promotion. The program will provide a vehicle for the CRA (Community Redevelopment Agency), DDB (Downtown Development Board), Clearwater Chamber
of Commerce Central Area Council, DMCA (Downtown Clearwater Merchants Association), and the CBDA (Clearwater Beautification and Development Association) to work together to achieve goals
for downtown.
Assistant City Manager Bob Keller said prestige and recognition are added advantages of participation in this public/private partnership. The application process is very competitive
and support is needed to move forward. In response to questions, Mr. Keller said the City would lose no authority, but would gain $10,000, a stronger working relationship with downtown
organizations, and impetus to make historically significant improvements. The program did not apply to larger cities until recently.
Trustee Seel moved to authorize submittal of an application to the Main Street Program of the Florida Department of State, Division of Historical Resources, Bureau of Historic
Preservation, 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 said a “Celebration Downtown” campaign has been kicked off to make Clearwater better than ever, and celebrate downtown improvements. In order to be competitive, a main street
must be clean, safe, and exciting. The DDB is funding some improvements through return of the tax increment. He thanked those who have made such improvement possible.
Downtown Manager Diane Smith announced two new businesses, Liquid Blue and Cigar Central, will open July 17, 1998.
ITEM #5 - Other Business
Trustee Seel was pleased to see Florida Power is offering matching facade grants. Mr. Keller said Clearwater is the first city of greater than 20,000 population in which Florida Power
has tried this program.
ITEM #6 - Adjournment
The meeting adjourned at 1:17 p.m.