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03/03/2003COMMUNITY REDEVELOPMENT AGENCY MEETING CITY OF CLEARWATER March 3, 2003 Present: Brian J. Aungst Chair/CRA Trustee Whitney Gray CRA Trustee Hoyt P. Hamilton CRA Trustee William C. Jonson CRA Trustee Frank Hibbard CRA Trustee Also present: William B. Horne II City Manager Garry Brumback Assistant City Manager Ralph Stone CRA Executive Director/Asst. City Manager Pamela K. Akin City Attorney Cynthia E. Goudeau City Clerk Patricia O. Sullivan Board Reporter The Chair called the meeting to order at 9:00 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 Jonson moved to approve the minutes of the regular meeting of February 18, 2003, as recorded and submitted in written summation by the City Clerk to each Trustee. The motion was duly seconded and carried unanimously ITEM #3 - Approve $37,968.13 payment to URS Corporation for remediation activities in connection with Property B 901-927 Cleveland Street, Clearwater, Florida, (Mediterranean Village) and authorize the transfer of funds from 315-94714 Downtown Redevelopment to 181-99986 Mediterranean Village Project account. The City has committed to certain remedial actions on Property B 901-927 Cleveland Street (Mediterranean Village Project) pursuant to the BSRA (Brownfields Site Rehabilitation Agreement) entered into between the City and FDEP (Florida Department of Environmental Protection) on July 26, 2001. To achieve compliance with the BSRA agreement, contracts were approved on November 16, 2000, June 21, 2001, and November 21, 2001, with the URS Corporation totaling $522,019 for preparation of necessary remedial services. City payment to date of $484,050.87 has been paid from funds available from the State and Federal Brownfields Program. Currently, additional Brownfields funds are not available for this project. This request is for the CRA (Community Redevelopment Agency) to pay the $37,968.13 balance due to URS Corporation, which will complete their contract responsibilities. In response to a question, CRA Executive Director Ralph Stone anticipated additional future costs, related to the agreement with the Mediterranean Village developer to continue work to clean the site. Staff is working to achieve compliance with FDEP, which could require additional monitoring. CRA funds are allocated to Downtown projects. Mr. Stone said this project is a valid use of those funds, which total between $600,000 and $700,000. Trustee Gray moved to approve a $37,968.13 payment to URS Corporation for remediation activities in connection with Property B 901-927 Cleveland Street, Clearwater, Florida, and authorize the transfer of funds as requested. The motion was duly seconded and carried unanimously. ITEM #4 - Approve $30,000 for legal counsel (Akerman Senterfitt & Eidson, P.A.) for ongoing environmental legal advice for property B 901-927 Cleveland Street, Clearwater, Florida, (Mediterranean Village) and authorize the transfer of funds from 315-94714 Downtown Redevelopment to 181-99986 Mediterranean Village Project account. On March 7, 2002, the City Commission approved an Interlocal Agreement between the City and CRA regarding the Brownfields site known as Dimmitt Chevrolet Property B (Mediterranean Village) to facilitate the proposed redevelopment of the site. The City has committed to certain remedial actions on the property pursuant to the BSRA entered into between the City and FDEP on July 26, 2001. To date approximately $69,000 in State Appropriations funding has been paid to Akerman, Senterfitt & Eidson P.A. These services provided Brownfields environmental legal counsel representation to URS Corporation and the City of Clearwater. Currently, no additional State Appropriations funds are available for legal fees for this project. Funding authorization now is requested for $30,000 for legal fees to complete the required actions of the BSRA, including payment of $9,054.77 for legal services rendered through January 2003. Mr. Stone said this fund balance may not finalize environmental legal counsel review for the project. High costs are related to reuse of the contaminated site for residential, rather than commercial purposes. The City Attorney said the City is working to develop a plan that meets State requirements and is acceptable by the State. Trustee HIbbard moved to approve $30,000 for legal counsel (Akerman Senterfitt & Eidson, P.A.) for ongoing environmental legal advice for Property B 901-927 Cleveland Street, Clearwater, Florida, (Mediterranean Village) and authorize the transfer of funds as requested and that the appropriate officials be authorized to execute same. The motion was duly seconded and carried unanimously. ITEM #5 - Approve the CRA allocation of $34,476.40 as a shared payment for a consulting contract with Wade-Trim Engineers, Inc. in the amount of $98,504 to determine the feasibility and permitting process associated with the future design and development of a City marina located at the east end of the Memorial Causeway in Downtown Clearwater. A key element associated with the economic development strategy for Downtown Clearwater, is the strategic positioning of prime private and publicly owned redevelopment parcels located west of Osceola Avenue, as a future destination entertainment, recreation, retail and residential environment. The development of a municipal marina at this location not only would enhance redevelopment opportunities for the whole downtown core and planned development of a future waterfront park; but it also would provide a major linkage between downtown and the Clearwater beaches and its wealth of visitors and residents. A downtown municipal marina also would provide Clearwater residents with a much need ancillary source of additional boating slips, and help alleviate a current average waiting period of 18 months for such a slip. The consulting team includes Wade-Trim for engineering design and development costs, Fowler, White, Boggs & Banker (Tallahassee) for legal due diligence on State and Federal regulations, and Delta Seven, Inc., an environmental consulting company. The $98,504 consulting fee is a shared cost between the Marina & Aviation Department (50%, $49,252), CRA (35%, $34,476.40), and DDB (Downtown Development Board) (15%, $14,775.60). In response to a question, Mr. Stone said the proposed contract will identify if a project to construct a downtown marina is a “go” or “no go.” At that point, a full blown permitting process must be undertaken. If it is determined that a marina can be constructed, Mr. Stone estimated the project could be completed within four years. A copy of the sea grass study will be distributed to the City Commission. Trustee Jonson moved to approve the CRA allocation of $34,476.40 as a shared payment for a consulting contract with Wade-Trim Engineers, Inc. in the amount of $98,504, to determine the feasibility and permitting process associated with the future design and development of a City marina located at the east end of the Memorial Causeway in Downtown Clearwater. The motion was duly seconded and carried unanimously. ITEM #6 - Executive Director (Assistant City Manager) Verbal Reports – None. ITEM #7 - Other Business – None. ITEM #8 - Adjournment The meeting adjourned at 9:18 a.m.