02/28/2006
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ENTERPRISE ZONE DEVELOPMENT AGENCY BOARD MEETING MINUTES
CITY OF CLEARWATER
February 28, 2006
Present:
Bob Kinney
Isay Gulley
Ralph Emmanuelli
Bob Fernandez
Capt. Anthony Holloway
Brian Schuh
Absent:
Cheryl Wade
Rick Rosa
Kristin Dailey
Also Present: Leslie Dougall-Sides
Diane Hufford
Brenda Moses
Chair
Vice-Chair - arrived 1 :09 p.m.
Board Member
Board Member
Board Member/Police Department - departed 1 :05 p.m.
Board Member
Board Member
Board Member/Com. Response Team
Board Member
Assistant City Attorney
Economic Development Coordinator
Board Reporter
The Chair called the meeting to order at 1 :00 p.m. at City Hall, followed by the Pledge of
Allegiance.
To provide continuity for research, items are in agenda order although not
necessarily discussed in that order.
. 3 - Action Items
a) Approval of Minutes - November 8,2005
Member Schuh moved to approve the minutes of the regular meeting of November 8,
2005, as submitted in written summation to each board member. The motion was duly
seconded and carried unanimously.
b) Meeting Schedule - May 23,2006 & August 22,2006
Economic Development Coordinator Diane Hufford reported the EZDA (Enterprise Zone
Development Agency) meetings for May 23 and August 22,2006 will be held in Room #222 at
City Hall.
4 - Staff Comments - Discussion of Proposed Bill (PCB EDTB-06-01)
Ms. Hufford reviewed key elements of Committee Bill EDTB 06-01, which would impact
the Enterprise Zone Program. The bill would: 1) Extend the expiration date for Florida Statute
subsections that were not extended in 2005; 2) Revise the method to determine if a business
has created a new job; 3) Reinstates the one sales tax refund application limitation per parcel
on building materials unless the property's ownership changes; 4) Requires written notification
to all property owners and businesses that may be excluded from an Enterprise Zone by a
proposed boundary amendment; and 5) Provides property owners the opportunity to apply for
the building materials sales tax refund through December 31,2007, if the property is within an
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area not re-designated as a result of an ineligible poverty rate or other provisions. In response
to a request, Ms. Hufford said Item #4 above does not affect Clearwater. Regarding Item #5,
approximately 17 projects in the census track block groups were not included in the recent zone
re-designation. Those projects in the downtown/CRA (Community Redevelopment Agency)
district consist of 587 fee simple market rate housing units with some mixed use. She
anticipated applications for the building materials tax refund could total $2,935,000.
5 - Anne Foaartv. Economic Develooment Proaram Coordinator. Downtown Manaaer
Economic Development Program Coordinator Anne Fogarty said she also serves as the
Main Street Program Coordinator. The Main Street Program, a national and state program
designated in 1998, is volunteer-based and deals with downtown revitalization and historic
preservation. Clearwater's program is funded by the DDB (Downtown Development Board) and
CRA and is a partnership of the City, Chamber of Commerce, Clearwater Historical Society,
DDB, residents, civic leaders, and businesses. Additional property owner participation is
encouraged. She reviewed Downtown projects and ways the program tries to help businesses.
In response to questions, Ms. Fogarty said in addition to CRA money, stormwater and utility
funds will be used for street projects. Parking lost due to Station Square remodeling would be
replaced by the Garden Street garage and Cleveland Street spaces.
It was suggested that Assistant Housing Director Howie Carroll be invited to a future
meeting to address affordable housing issues. It was felt the term affordable housing is
misleading and should be referred to as workforce housing which identifies its target market. A
collaboration of organizations is needed to retain the County's labor force as costs rise for
insurance, land, and property taxes, which challenge low- to moderate-income families.
6 - Public comment - None.
7 - Adiournment
The meeting adjourned at 1 :53 p.m.
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