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08/18/2003COMMUNITY REDEVELOPMENT AGENCY MEETING CITY OF CLEARWATER August 18, 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 9:10 a.m. at City Hall. To provide continuity for research, items are in agenda order although not necessarily discussed in that order. 2 - Approval of Minutes Trustee Hibbard moved to approve the minutes of the July 14, 2003, meeting, as recorded and submitted in written summation by the City Clerk to each Trustee. The motion was duly seconded and carried unanimously. 3. Downtown Plan Trustee Hamilton moved to continue Item 3 to September 2, 2003. The motion was duly seconded and carried unanimously. 4. Approve the conceptual design for the Downtown Waterfront Marina, as prepared by Wade-Trim, Inc. The City Commission approved a Work Order with Wade-Trim, Inc. on March 6, 2003 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. Wade-Trim recently has completed the initial analysis and conceptual design for the proposed marina on the Downtown Clearwater waterfront. The work effort included examination of: 1) submerged land ownership; 2) policy, planning, and regulatory documents; 3) municipal planning goals; and 4) coordination with the Coachman Park Redevelopment Plan. The conceptual design provides: 1) upwards of 149 slips; 2) a mix of slips reflecting a market survey, to include permanent, short-term, and day slips, and ferry and water taxi access; 3) mooring for 25-foot to 70-foot vessels; 4) utilities to each slip including sanitary sewer, potable water, electric, and cable; 5) wave attenuation for safe harborage; 6) wide boardwalks and architectural features to complement conceptual plans for Coachman Park and Bluff Plan; 7) FDOT (Florida Department of Transportation) bridge maintenance needs; and 8) expanded Drew Street fishing pier with bait sales. The plan avoids the need for dredging and minimizes impacts to sea grass beds. The cost for design, permitting, and construction of the marina is estimated at $5-million. David Gildersleeve, of Wade-Trim, reviewed the proposed project. The project will cause a small impact on sea grass beds. FDOT (Florida Department of Transportation) will not allow anything to be connected to the new Memorial Causeway Bridge and requires that a maintenance access remain. The City controls 700 feet of submerged land and an agreement would be reached regarding the area not currently under control of the City. Based on Pierce 100 resident concerns, the proposal locates slips 85- to 90-feet from the condominium. Short-term slips will be in the north basin to be less disruptive to Pierce 100 residents. He recommended the marina have 138 slips. A ferry to the beach can be accessed by a promenade, built on the old bridge’s piling and half the size originally planned. The slips will be approximately 70 feet from the Intracoastal. The exact location of the Intracoastal will be determined at a later date. Wave attenuators will be built into the concrete floating dock system. Extending the Drew Street pier also will help attenuate waves. The project’s time frame has been extended to add time at the front end for a referendum. Staff is working on funding, which they feel is achievable. Time has been budgeted to obtain necessary variances to the setback from the channel. Discussion ensued regarding commercial use of the Downtown marina, with suggestions that sunset cruises would attract people to Downtown, that limited and controlled commercial uses should be permitted, and that fishing boats should not be allowed. It was stated the ambiance of the Downtown marina is important. The City Attorney said as the landlord, the City can choose its tenants. Marine & Aviation Director Bill Morris stated a strong lobby at the existing Marina wants commercial activity at the Downtown marina. While a ferry service from the Downtown waterfront to the beach has not been successful in the past, he envisioned Downtown redevelopment will attract visitors from the beach. Mr. Morris expressed concern commercial uses would increase lighting and foot traffic past transient vessels and reduce the marina’s ambiance. In response to a question, he recommended no more than six commercial vessels be permitted. Concern was expressed commercial vessels carry many customers, who require parking spaces. Assistant City Manager/CRA Executive Director Ralph Stone said parking needs would need to be considered. The City Manager suggested accommodating commercial activity might be out of sync with the non-commercial activity people want. It was suggested activities that require additional Police activity be prohibited. A request was made for cash flow estimates and models regarding Downtown marina use. Mr. Morris said commercial boats and mega yachts generate fuel sales. Currently, there is little room for mega yachts to dock. The fuel dock at Seminole boat ramp is privately run. Adding City fuel dock services there could be a problem due to sea grasses, possible dredging needs, and ambiance concerns by abutting condominium development. It was requested all fuel dock options be explored. Mr. Morris expected a lack of fuel sales at the Downtown marina would not be a problem if slips are limited to private use. He said competitive prices offered at the City marina could encourage use by vessels mooring at the Downtown marina. Due to pending environmental regulations, the fuel docks at the City marina may need to be replaced with floating fuel tanks. Mr. Morris suggested making one slip available to City marina businesses to pick up and drop off customers at the Downtown marina. Discussion ensued with concerns expressed that loud boats and parasail boats would cross the Intracoastal to reach the Downtown marina and pick up passengers, pushing significant boat traffic into a small area. It was suggested one boat at a time could be permitted. Mr. Morris said hours of operation could be established, noting minimum wake zones already exist between Pierce 100 and the Seminole boat ramp. He said it will be difficult to determine a good location for this slip, as it will generate significant foot traffic. One resident opposed commercial traffic and noise at the Downtown marina. In response to a question, the City Attorney said no privately operated facilities are proposed for the Downtown marina. Pending charter revisions may recommend allowing this development below the bluff’s 28-foot line without a referendum. In response to a question, Mr. Gildersleeve said the science of wave attenuation has changed, with systems now built into floating docks. That issue will be addressed in the permit process. It was suggested the next discussion be at a City Commission meeting as it is a Citywide issue. Trustee Gray moved to approve the conceptual design for the Downtown Waterfront Marina, as prepared by Wade-Trim, Inc. with the understanding additional information regarding limited commercial use and related parking issues, possible City fuel sales at Downtown marina and Seminole Ramp, Intracoastal depth study information, and detail regarding wave attenuation will be provided. The motion was duly seconded and carried unanimously. 5. Adopt the proposed FY 2003/04 Community Redevelopment Agency budget. The 2003 Estimates of Taxable Value for the CRA (Community Redevelopment Agency) District increased 5.3%; therefore, Tax Increment Revenues increased $99,342 from the previous year to approximately $939,891. As funds available from the DDB (Downtown Development Board), Economic Development Department, General Fund, and CRA are used more effectively to cover administrative costs, the City is able to decrease administrative expenses in the CRA Other Operating Expenses line item budget and direct them to the Downtown Redevelopment Fund for capital improvement projects within the CRA area. Proposed budget details: A) Operating Revenues: 1) Other Revenue - Rental Income - $5,000 decrease due to pending redevelopment of Station Square Parking Lot site. Parking rental estimated for first six months of budget year as new development project may begin mid-year 2004 and 2) Transfers In - $1,817 (4%) increase for DDB Administration. Change contingent upon approval of Interlocal agreement between the DDB and CRA for administration of the DDB: B) Other Operating Expenses – Line items in this category are decreased/increased to reflect actual prior year expenditures, except as noted: 1) Other Contractual Services - $3,000 decrease; 2) Advertising - $6,500 decrease; 3) Other Promotional - $22,500 decrease; 4) Printing and Binding - $2,500 decrease; 5) Employee Expense: a) Travel - $5,000 decrease and b) Auto Allowance - $1,000 decrease – this line item is being eliminated; 6) Office Supplies - $500 decrease; 7) Operating Supplies - $500 decrease; 8) Memberships & Subscriptions - $2,000 decrease; 9) Training and Reference - $2,500 decrease; 10) Principal Payment for Loan - $16,941 increase; 11) Interest Payment for Loan - $17,601 decrease due to additional payment toward principal in 2002 from sale of Phase I land to Mediterranean Village and reduction of interest rate on loan from 6% to estimated 3%, the current cash pool rate; and 12) Payments to Other Agencies - DDB - $8,539 increase equal to TIF (Tax Increment Financing) dollar amount the DDB pays the CRA: C) Internal Service - Line items in this category are decreased/increased to reflect actual prior year expenditures, except as noted: 1) Document Reproduction - $1,500 decrease; 2) Postal Service - $800 decrease; 3) Print Shop - $1,500 increase; and 4) Building & Maintenance Variable - $1,900 decrease – this line item is being eliminated: and D) Transfers Out: 1) General Fund – Administrative - $1,821 increase. A 4% salary increase was added to this line item for the 2.5 CRA funded positions; increase is offset by decrease of intern position funded in 2003 and not funded in 2004; 2) Parking Incentive Fund - $21,360 decrease. This fund has adequate resources and does not require additional funding at this time; 3) IMR (CGI) Landscaping Fund - $121,829 decrease. IMR development agreement required a 3-year commitment and FY (Fiscal Year) 2002/03 was the last year of that commitment; 4) Mediterranean Village Project Fund - $115,483 decrease. Third and final year of commitments, estimated at $63,940, to pay impact and permit fees associated with Phase II of the project as outlined in the Development Agreement to be budgeted in FY 2004/05 CRA Budget; 5) Façade Improvement Grant Fund - $15,000 increase reflects actual prior year expenditures; and 6) Redevelopment Projects Fund - $378,831 increase. This fund is used for redevelopment projects within CRA boundaries. In response to a question, Mr. Stone said the parking incentive fund is for use to attract businesses interested in locating Downtown by absorbing half of their parking fees for a year or two. DDB’s increased promotion and activity with Main Street, has decreased the CRA’s need to budget for advertising. The CRA did not budget promotional activities during the bridge’s construction, as Cleveland Street could not be closed for festivals. It was stated a $5,000 façade improvement grant is of little value to business owners and more should be made available. Mr. Stone said businesses have used façade grants for cosmetic improvements, to improve signage, and provide limited window treatments, such as awnings. He suggested the grants could be doubled to $10,000 to provide more “punch” but recommended delaying increases to the size of façade grants until the streetscape program is completed. It was recommended at least one major improvement on Cleveland Street be encouraged. Mr. Stone said all available redevelopment money is being directed to the streetscape project, on Cleveland Street between Osceola and Myrtle, and budgeted at $4-million. It was suggested private enterprise should take care of its own façade improvements. Trustee Jonson moved to reallocate $50,000 from the redevelopment fund to increase the façade improvement fund to $80,000. The motion was duly seconded. It was felt the primary focus and priority should be the streetscape. It was suggested historical grants might be available for this use. It was suggested the façade grant program be re-addressed once the streetscape is underway. Upon the vote being taken, Trustee Jonson voted “Aye”; Trustees Gray, Hamilton, and Hibbard and Chairman Aungst voted “Nay.” Motion failed. Trustee Gray moved to adopt the proposed FY 2003/04 Community Redevelopment Agency budget. The motion was duly seconded. Trustees Gray, Hamilton, and Hibbard and Chairman Aungst voted “Aye”; Trustee Jonson voted “Nay.” Motion carried. 6 - Executive Director (Assistant City Manager) Verbal Reports - None. Mr. Stone invited residents to help celebrate the fifth anniversary of the Main Street program at 5:30 p.m. on August 22, 2003 at Station Square Park. 7 - Other Business Trustee Jonson reviewed downtown redevelopment efforts in Kissimmee, Florida. He suggested a copy of their alternative building code for Downtown be obtained and analyzed to see how it might work in Downtown Clearwater. He noted their incentive program for converting office back to residential. 8 - Adjournment The meeting adjourned at 10:29 a.m.