04/13/2015 - Special Meeting Community Redevelopment Agency Meeting Minutes April 13, 2015
City of Clearwater
City Hall
112 S. Osceola Avenue
Clearwater, FL 33756
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Meeting Minutes
Monday, April 13, 2015
6:00 PM
Re ULI with Downtown Development Board (DDB), Clearwater
Downtown Partnership (CDP) and Regional Chamber of Commerce
Main Library - 100 N. Osceola Ave., Room A/B
Community Redevelopment Agency
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City of Clearwater
Community Redevelopment Agency Meeting Minutes April 13, 2015
Present 5 - Chair George N. Cretekos, Trustee Doreen Hock-DiPolito, Trustee
Jay E. Polglaze, Trustee Bill Jonson, and Trustee Hoyt Hamilton
Also Present — Dennis Bosi — Downtown Development Board (DDB), Paris
Morfopolous - Downtown Development Board, Brian Aungst, Jr. —
Clearwater Regional Chamber, Carol Hague — Clearwater Regional
Chamber, William Sturtevant— Clearwater Downtown Partnership
(CDP), Grant Wood — Clearwater Downtown Partnership, Jill
Silverboard —Assistant City Manager, Rod Irwin - CRA Executive
Director/Assistant City Manager, Pamela K. Akin - City Attorney,
Rosemarie Call - City Clerk, Nicole Sprague - Official Records and
Legislative Services Coordinator, Anne Fogarty France — Downtown
Manager
To provide continuity for research, items are listed in agenda order although not necessarily
discussed in that order.
1. Call To Order - Trustee Cretekos
The meeting was called to order at 6:00 p.m. at the Main Library.
Chair Cretekos welcomed all and said staff will provide a progress update
on the Urban Land Institute (ULI) recommendations. The joint meeting was
called in an effort to work towards a mutual goal in addressing the issues
raised by the ULI for the Cleveland Street, the East Gateway, and Old
Clearwater Bay districts.
DDB Chair Paris Morfopolous supported the City Council's position on the
ULI recommendations and thanked staff for their efforts in moving the
ULI initiatives along.
CDP Chair Bill Sturtevant said the CDP has reviewed the ULI
recommendations, as well as the priority recommendations submitted by
staff, and will share CDP's efforts in pursuing these initiatives later in the
evening.
Clearwater Regional Chamber President/CEO Carol Hague said the Chamber
supports the Bluff Master Plan recommendation.
3. Citizens to be Heard Regarding Items Not on the Agenda — None.
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City of Clearwater
Community Redevelopment Agency Meeting Minutes April 13, 2015
4. New Business Items
4.1 Overview of Process and Priority (P) Work Program - Rod Irwin, CRA Executive
Director
CRA Executive Director Rod Irwin provided a PowerPoint presentation
that outlined ULI recommendations, priorities endorsed by the City
Council, staffs progress on priority implementation, and next steps
for the implementation process (see page 6).
5. Public Comment
Jack Mortimer, Joseph Corvino, and Jim Isanik supported staff pursuing the
low-hanging fruit priorities, with bold decisions made sooner than later, with
one individual supporting demolishing the Harborview Center and another
urging Council not to wait for the Clearwater Marine Aquarium (CMA).
David Lillesand and Sara Mullins supported including residents in the public
participation process.
Lisa Mansell supported the Church of Scientology's recent retail
strategy study, which identified high quality restaurants, quick service
restaurants, entertainment, and unique boutiques as favorable
businesses.
Keith Bennet questioned the status of the CMA's proposed lease of City Hall
property for a new aquarium.
It was stated that the CMA has until June 15 to submit a proposed
lease. The CMA has been working on their financing requirements,
which the City is not involved with.
6. CRA/DDB/CDP/Chamber Discussion
In response to a concern, Mr. Irwin said the implementation process
includes active participation by residents. ULI identified three main
components: taking advantage of a successful beach to get tourists into
Downtown on the third day, drawing on the Capitol Theatre as a regional
attraction, and creating an organic city through housing, where people live
and play.
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City of Clearwater
Community Redevelopment Agency Meeting Minutes April 13, 2015
Mr. Morfopoulos said the DDB has not met to discuss the ULI
recommendations, as the findings were released after the Board's last
meeting. The DDB has discussed the need to enhance wayfinding signs
at the gateways to Downtown and update the sign ordinance so that it is
more relevant to the concerns of the local merchants and businesses.
The Board has nominated Craig Rubright to participate in the
downtown design guidelines review process. It was requested that the
active downtown residents, businesses, and merchants be consulted
and included in the discussion. He expressed concerns with the
proposed eighteen-month timeframe. Regarding the Bluff, the location
for parking is critical, pedestrian traffic through downtown is important.
Mr. Sturtevant said the CDP is focusing on the signage expansion, as
well as parking and land use. CDP member Grant Wood said the CDP is
encouraged with the progress made so far but has expressed concerns
regarding the lack of priority for Coachman Park Master Plan initiatives.
It was suggested that urgency be given to code related issues (i.e.,
parking, signage, land use) and attracting new businesses to downtown.
Clearwater Regional Chamber of Commerce Executive Board Chair Brian
Aungst, Jr. said private sector involvement is needed now. To attract the
private sector, the City needs to ensure the regulatory conditions, the
downtown master plan, the Community Development Code, and the
economic development and planning incentives are consistent with the
desired private sector investment. The Chamber supports the long term
Master Plan for the Bluff as a priority that will take time because it must be
done right and include the residents. Mr. Aungst said the Bluff should be an
active open space with minor commercial space, attracting residents and
tourists.
Council discussion ensued with comments made that the community
needs to work together as the City cannot do it all, the CMA will soon
have a decision, the incubator initiative is almost completed, that a
catalytic opportunity for downtown is needed, and that focus is needed
on recent successes in downtown (i.e., incubator, recording studio, all retail
space in 600-block of Cleveland Street is leased). Support was expressed to
have the necessary incentives in place in order to attract desired private
sector investment. It was suggested that the Pinellas County Commission be
invited to the next meeting.
7. Next Steps
In response to concerns, the City Attorney said staff needs to know what
the private sector wants; if it is not allowed by city code, it cannot be
done unless the code is amended. Temporary sandwich boards were
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City of Clearwater
Community Redevelopment Agency Meeting Minutes
8. Adjourn
Attest
City Clerk
City of Clearwater
April 13, 2015
permitted by city ordinance. There may be items that can be done in
downtown that cannot be done elsewhere in the city. The City Attorney
said code amendments will take time to develop.
In response to questions, Mr. Irwin said Planning and Development is
receptive to addressing concerns raised regarding the Cleveland Street
district, for instance flexing down the on -site parking for retail. Staff is
receptive to reviewing suggestions that can be implemented administratively.
Assistant City Manager Jill Silverboard said the character districts in the land
development code are highly permissive as to use. The Florida Building
Code, which include fire and building standards, is not within the City's
purview and cannot be changed.
Chair Cretekos thanked all in attendance for their participation and said
staff will schedule the next joint meeting in the Summer.
The meeting adjourned at 7:54 p.m.
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