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08/14/1996 - 5:50 PM - Downtown Partnership MeetingDOWNTOWN PARTNERSHIP BOARD CITY OF CLEARWATER August 14, 1996 Present: Rita Garvey Mayor/Chair, Downtown Partnership Elizabeth Deptula City Manager Karen Seel City Commissioner/Vice Chair CRA Judi Hackett Downtown Development Board Kathy S. Rice Deputy City Manager/Interim CRA Director Brenda Moses Board Reporter Absent: Elise Winters Downtown Development Board J. B. Johnson Commissioner, City of Clearwater Joyce Baskin Downtown Clearwater Association Ron Stuart Greater Clearwater Chamber of Commerce 1. Call to Order: Mayor Rita Garvey called the meeting to order at 5:40 p.m. at City Hall, Clearwater. In order to provide continuity for research, the items will be listed in agenda order although not necessarily discussed in that order. 2. Approval of Minutes Due to the absence of a quorum, no action was taken, and general discussion ensued. 3. Update of Sign Lottery It was noted the sign lottery event was not restricted to businesses only. Six applications were received. Only one application came from a non-business organization. 4. Status of Reconstitution Information from City Clerk, Cyndie Goudeau was discussed regarding CRA (Community Redevelopment Agency) legislation to exempt the DDB (Downtown Development Board) from paying the TIF (Tax Increment Financing). FLC (Florida League of Cities) indicated the FLC and the FRA (Florida Redevelopment Association) would oppose both total exemption of DDBs and the reopening of the window for application for exemption. The redevelopment director of Daytona Beach said they too, would oppose both efforts. Daytona Beach has both a CRA and DDB. The DDB pays the CRA the TIF. 5. Economic Development Director The status of this issue has not changed. A report is expected from the consultant early next week or by the end of the next week. Background and reference checks should be completed by September 1, 1996. 6. Trolley Tours “Shop Hop” This project is in the development stage. Marketing efforts are ongoing to reach out to the community to encourage them to come downtown. Balloons at stores, poster contests for kids and other activities are planned. The shop hop and the poster contest should be a big success. It was suggested contacting the Dunedin Fine Arts Center and Florida Gulf Coast Center, which both have good connections, especially with schools. It was noted sign codes must be observed. Should balloons prove a less viable method of advertising, another method will need to be implemented. In order to attract people to the event, festive advertising is necessary. 7. 3-D Model The 3-D model is coming along, and is approximately 9 feet 2 inches by 4 feet 2 inches. It is in a wood parameter box with rose colors and blue acrylic water. Aerial view photos were taken of buildings in the City, and experiments are being done in reference to suggested bridge locations and other projects. It was noted the suggestion Rich Baier provides will be the preferred alignment for the new bridge. A three dimensional look will be effected. September 6, 1996, the display will be set up in the Commission Chambers, with 8 illustrations of 8 key projects. The illustrations will include the proposed new library, proposed new Winn Dixie, the waterfront, an illustration with the marina and one without it, the 2 big retail projects on Osceola and Cleveland, a streetscape view of the Cleveland Street corridor, and the lake. Models will be removable and movable to allow experiments such as moving the library or other buildings to different locations. The models are to scale which makes it easier to envision the amount of space each model would require. It was noted older people preferred the library be located on the east end, but younger people prefer it on the bluff. Students felt Coachman was an important place for large public gatherings, and felt no other space was large enough in downtown for such gatherings. The 3-D model will be partially finished in September, and should be finalized in October. Foamboard will be used to represent current buildings in one color, and new proposals will be represented by another color. 8. Members’ Report Ms. Hackett said design seminars are ongoing and will be televised by Time Warner beginning August 26, 1996. There are four seats open for the DDB. There are 2 incumbents, Glenn Warren and David Stone. Lillian Trickel is running again. Fran Briskman with Prime Services, Jack Kirsman with Renegade Cafe, Myrna Garcia-Haag, whose family owns the Clearwater Towers Building, and Les Spits are other candidates. Discussion ensued regarding a common visual image for the City. Ms. Hackett distributed color samples of logos. Various colors were reviewed. Mayor Garvey suggested the City’s Graphics Department personnel experiment with different colors before a decision is made. Ms. Hackett indicated using 4-color logos would be more expensive than 2-color logos. 9. New Business No new business was discussed. 10. Other Partnership Business No other partnership business was discussed. 11. Adjournment The meeting adjourned at 6:10 p.m.