09/28/1993 - Special
COMMUNITY REDEVELOPMENT AGENCY
September 28, 1993
The City Commission, meeting as the Community Redevelopment Agency, met in
special
session at the Main Library, Tuesday, September 28, 1993 at 9:34 A.M., with the following
members present:
Arthur X. Deegan, II Chairperson
Rita Garvey Vice-Chairperson
Richard Fitzgerald Trustee
Sue Berfield Trustee
Fred Thomas Trustee
Phil Henderson Ex-officio Trustee
Absent:
Lillian Trickel Ex-officio Trustee
Also Present were:
Peter Gozza Executive Director
Michael J. Wright City Manager
Milton A. Galbraith, Jr. Attorney
Cynthia E. Goudeau Secretary
The meeting was called to order at 9:34 a.m.
ITEM II. - Welcome Peter Gozza, Executive Director
The CRA members welcomed Mr. Gozza.
Trustee Thomas felt they should establish ground rules on how to work together.
Phil Henderson, representing the Downtown Development Board (DDB), stated he was
happy Mr. Gozza was here and that a working relationship was needed between the DDB and the
CRA. He stated they hope to hire a DDB consultant to work hand in hand with Mr. Gozza.
ITEM III. - Provide direction to Mr. Gozza
Chairperson Deegan questioned if the other CRA members would agree to ask Mr. Gozza
to have measurable objectives for the remainder of the fiscal year by the first meeting in
November. There was general agreement regarding this. Mr. Gozza indicated he felt this could
be accomplished.
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Chairperson Deegan explained the CRA and the City are engaged in a package of things.
He requested one of things Mr. Gozza undertake is to research and explain how the CRA can do a
Main Street program, at least within the first few blocks of the downtown area. He suggested this
be discussed with other groups such as the DDB.
Trustee Thomas requested the City Attorney and City Manager also be allowed to welcome
Mr. Gozza. Both the City Attorney and the City Manager offered words of welcome.
Trustee Fitzgerald stated he felt one of the most important things Mr. Gozza would be
working on is to improve communication between the different groups working to redevelop
downtown. Mr. Gozza indicated there are five other communities in the state that have a CRA and
a DDB. He is requesting mission statements from them and information on how they work
together.
Vice-Chairperson Garvey questioned whether or not there was any way CRA staff could be
shared with the DDB so the DDB would not spend all its money on staff.
Trustee Thomas felt the CRA and/or City should start billing the DDB for services provided.
He had no problem with sharing as long as they were charged appropriately.
Vice-Chairperson Garvey questioned how much the City Commission has charged the
CRA for services to the CRA.
Chairperson Deegan stated this was brought up approximately a year ago and no
conclusion was reached as there was some concern regarding the amount of effort to keep track
of the time. He stated the principal service provided to the DDB is to have a secretary to handle
the minutes and the election.
Mr. Henderson indicated this would be discussed at tonight's DDB meeting and they
recognize they need to pay for services.
The Secretary indicated Mr. Gozza is to hire a staff person who will, among other things,
assist him in doing minutes for the CRA.
Chairperson Deegan stated it needed to be made clear in the interviews of the potential
staff person that they may have a dual role; CRA and support to the DDB.
Vice-Chairperson Garvey asked the City Manager estimate how much time is spent by city
staff on CRA work.
Trustee Berfield expressed a concern that before a decision is made to share the secretary
with the DDB, that Mr. Gozza be allowed to ascertain whether or not he will be willing to do this.
Vice-Chairperson Garvey stated there were two issues, payment for the service and
whether or not Mr. Gozza will be able to share the secretary based on the work that he has to do.
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Trustee Fitzgerald stated he has reservations as he remembers when he first came to the
City, the DDB spent all their money on administrative staff costs and had no other funds to help in
the downtown area. He stated he did not want it to get to that position again.
Mr. Henderson indicated they understand the concern and that in the past few years the
majority of DDB expenditures have gone to the advertising agency. He stated last year funding to
the agency was cut in half and they are not in the budget this year. What is in the budget, is to
hire a consultant and secretarial staff. He stated the DDB agrees it would not want to spend all of
its money on staff.
Mr. Gozza indicated he needed an understanding of what charges are assigned to the
CRA, the DDB and other groups.
Chairperson Deegan indicated there will be joint meetings between the DDB and CRA in
order to work this out. He questioned if it was agreed that the City Manager is to come up with an
estimate of time and expense of staff time being provided for the CRA; Mr. Gozza to determine
the time he needs for his staff and the DDB to determine what they will need for support and what
they are willing to pay. There was general agreement.
Mr. Henderson requested the joint meeting take place within the next thirty days in order
for the two agencies to map out a joint strategy. It was agreed this should be calendared in the
near future.
Trustee Thomas requested there be a structure of how the CRA works with Mr. Gozza,
recommending the Chair be the focal point of communication.
Vice-Chairperson Garvey stated she felt this was a given, but it needed to be understood
the Chair can not give direction or make decisions.
It was agreed that the Chairperson would be a point of referral for the Executive Director
but that formal decisions would continue to be made by the group.
ITEM IV. - Purcell letter - welcoming new businesses
A letter was sent by an individual expressing concerns that there had been a favorable
news article regarding the opening of the Pat Lokey store in downtown Clearwater and that similar
attention had not been paid to a business which opened on N. Ft. Harrison.
Vice-Chairperson Garvey stated she asked for this be agendaed as she felt the point was
valid and there was a need for a mechanism to welcome new businesses. It was indicated this
should be a function of the CRA Executive Director. Consensus was to provide this direction to
the Executive Director.
Trustee Thomas explained the potted plant referred to in the letter which he had sent to
Ms. Lokey had been sent by him to Ms. Lokey as an old friend, not just as a person opening a new
business in downtown.
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Mr. Gozza questioned his ability to purchase some needed items for his office. It was
indicated this would be worked out with the City Manager.
ITEM V. - Adjournment:
The meeting adjourned at 10:04 A.M.
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