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08/29/2005 . . . COMMUNITY REDEVELOPMENT AGENCY MEETING MINUTES CITY OF CLEARWATER August 29,2005 Present: Frank Hibbard William C. Jonson Hoyt P. Hamilton Carlen Petersen John Doran Bob Fernandez Chair/CRA Trustee CRA Trustee CRA Trustee CRA Trustee CRA Trustee Ex-Officio Member Also present: William B. Horne II Garry Brumback Rod liNin Gerri Campos Pamela K. Akin Cynthia E. Goudeau Mary K. Diana City Manager Assistant City Manager Assistant City Manager/CRA Executive Director Economic & Housing Development Director City Attorney City Clerk Assistant City Clerk The 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. Approval of Minutes - August 15, 2005 Trustee Hamilton moved to approve the minutes of the August 15, 2005, meeting, as recorded and submitted in written summation by the City Clerk to each Trustee. The motion was duly seconded and carried unanimously. Community Redevelopment Agency Items: 1 Approve the proposed third quarter budqet amendments to the FY 2004/05 CRA Operatinq budqet and authorize the appropriation of the entire unused balance of the CRA Trust Fund budqet for FY 2004/05 that is remaininq at year end (September 30. 2005) to the Downtown Redevelopment Proiect Fund. A review of the CRA (Community Redevelopment Agency) projected revenues and expenditures at third quarter indicate the following proposed budget amendments are necessary to align projected revenues to actual revenues received through third quarter. TIF (Tax Increment Financing) revenues decreased by $7,297. Preliminary TIF projections used for FY (Fiscal Year) 2004/05 CRA Budget were incorrect. Other Revenues are being increased by $92,000 to reflect a transfer from the DDB (Downtown Development Board) of $85,000 to pay for two contracts issued by the CRA for a Clearwater Downtown Market Study and Cleveland Street Fac;ade Design Analysis. The increase also includes additional revenues received from the Station Square Parking Lot as staging for the Station Square project has not begun and the CRA continues to receive income from the parking lot. Community Redevelopment Agency 2005-08-29 1 . Other Operating Expenses Line Items increased overall $98,884 including the two major contracts totaling $85,000 referenced above and $13,750 for one half of the Clearwater Auto Site property taxes that were paid on the leased portion of the property. Transfer Out Line Items are proposed to be amended as follows: 1) 590800 - Clearwater Automotive Project - Property Taxes decreased by $11,000 as the taxes were paid from the Operating Expense iineitem 543600; 2) 590800 - Restricted County TIF Funds- decreased by $3,475. Decreased to match the decrease in TIF funds referenced above; and 3) 592400 - Redevelopment Projects Fund increased $294. The increase in revenues not offset by the increase in expenditures is being moved to this fund. Economic Development & Housing Director Geri Campos reviewed the amendments. In response to a question, Ms. Campos said the former owners will pay half of the auto site property taxes. She distributed the history of the fa9Clde grant program and reported that $25,000 is left in the account. Opposition was expressed to using fa9Clde grant funds for signage. Trustee Doran movedtu authorize the appropriation of the entire unused balance of the CRA Trust Fund budget for Fiscal Year 2004/05 that is remaining on September 30,2005, to the Downtown Redevelopment Projects Fund 315-94714. The motion was duly seconded and carried unanimously. . 2 Adopt the preliminarv FY 2005/06 Community Redevelopment Aaency budaet and authorize the CRA Executive Director to approve professional services contracts of $25.000 or less provided sufficient funds are available within the amount budaeted for such contracts. The 2005 Estimates of Taxable Value for the CRA District increased 10; 1 %; therefore, Tax Increment Revenues increased $491,600 from the previous year to approximately $1,642,149. Details of the proposed budget: 1) Revenues and Transfers: a) Rental Income is being decreased $8,000 due to pending redevelopment of the Station Square Parking Lot site that will eliminate all parking revenues paid to the CRA; b) Other General Revenue is being decreased by $85,750 from previous year. The line item was increased at 3rd quarter last year to include a transfer from the DDS to the CRA of $85,000 to cover the expenses related to two studies for the downtown; and c) DDS Administration reflects a $1,965 increase (4%). This change is contingent upon approval of an Inter-local agreement between ~he DDS and CRA for the administration of the DDS; . 2) Operatina Expenditures: a) Professional Services decreased by $85,000. This line item was increased by $85,000 last year to pay for two studies for the downtown and is being returned to the normal budgeted amount; b) Advertising increased $4,500. This line item is being increased to cover additional advertising efforts that will be made during the Cleveland Streetscape Project and the C:earwater Automotive Project; c) Taxes line item increased by $1,250 to cover one half of the second year of taxes on the ClealWater Auto site leased land; d) Principal Payment for Loan and Interest Payment for Loan decreased overall by $3,962 - these Community Redevelopment Agency 2005-08-29 2 . . . two line items are budgeted in the event Phase II land sale to the Mediterranean Village Project has not occurred by the beginning ofthis budget year. Should the closing of this land sale occur prior to this budget going into effect on October 1, 2005, a third quarter amendment will include the elimination of both these line items as the loan will have been paid off in full; and e) Payments to Other Agencies - DDS increased $25,998 to equal the TIF dollar amount the DDS pays to the CRA; and 3) Transfers Out: a) General Fund - Administrative decreased $38,318; b) Restricted County TIF Funds increased $240,395; c) Mediterranean Village Project Fund decreased $63,960. The final year of Development Agreement commitment was paid in FY04/05; d) Fac;ade Improvement Grant Fund increased $20,000. The Cleveland Street Fac;ade Design Analysis and the Cleveland Streetscape Project will increase the need for the downtown businesses to improve their facades. It is expected that more fac;ade grants will be requested; and e) Redevelopment Projects Fund increased $299,708. This budget request also authorizes the CRA Executive Director to approve professional services contracts of $25,000 or less, provided sufficient funds are available with the amount budgeted for such contracts. Ms. Campos reviewed the proposed budget. She said $50,000 has been budgeted for fac;ade improvements and staff would bring forward a budget amendment should additional funds be needed. In response to a question, Finance Director Margie Simmons said the CRA receives all of the tax increment revenues. In response to a question, Ms. Campos said the downtown redevelopment plan includes mini-CIP (Capital Improvement Program) projects. It was felt future discussion on this issue would be useful. A request was made for the CRA annual report to include fund balances. The City Manager said the County wants the City to be more definitive on how TIF funds are used. Ms. Campos said the County limits TIF revenue expenditures to specific uses, which do not include fac;ade grants. In response to a question, Mr. Campos said CRA Executive Director approval of professional service contracts would be limited to those included in the line item budget. Trustee Hamilton moved to adopt the preliminary FY 2005/06 Community Redevelopment Agency budget and authorize the CRA Executive Director to approve professional services contracts of $25,000 or less provided sufficient funds are available within the amount budgeted for such contracts. The motion was duly seconded and carried unanimously. 3 Approve the appointment of Rod Irwin. Assistant City Manaqer. as the Executive Director of the Communitv Redevelopment Aqency (CRA). Per Florida Statues, CRA Trustees appoint the Executive Director of the CRA. Rod Irwin has assumed his position as Assistant City Manager for Economic and Community Development. Under the current Community Redevelopment Agency Rules, "The Agency shall Community Redevelopment Agency 2005-08-29 3 . approve the appointment of Executive Director whose presence is required at all Agency meetings. The Executive Director of the Agency shall be the Assistant City Manager and report directly to the City Manager and to the Agency and make recommendations as to how CRA programs and funding should be executed." Assistant City Manager Rod Irwin complimented Ms. Campos on her interim leadership. Trustee Jonson moved to approve the appointment of Rod Irwin, Assistant City Manager, as the Executive Director of the Community Redevelopment Agency (CRA). The motion was duly seconded and carried unanimously. Executive Director (Assistant City Manager) Verbal Reports - None. Other Business Ex-Officio Bob Fernandez said the DDB is anxious to work with the CRA and that the DDB (Downtown Development Board) budget is scheduled for approval at the next meeting. Adjourn The meeting adjourned at 9:36 a.m. -=I~~ ~~ ~r Community Redevelopment Agency . Attest: '~ . .~. ~.CityCI .. . Community Redevelopment Agency 2005-08-29 4