10/12/2015 Community Redevelopment Agency Meeting Minutes October 12, 2015
City of Clearwater
City Hall
112 S. Osceola Avenue
Clearwater, FL 33756
e
Meeting Minutes
Monday, October 12, 2015
1 :00 PM
City Hall Chambers
Community Redevelopment Agency
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City of Clearwater
Community Redevelopment Agency Meeting Minutes October 12, 2015
Roll Call
Present 5 - Chair George N. Cretekos, Trustee Doreen Hock-DiPolito, Trustee
Jay E. Polglaze, Trustee Bill Jonson, and Trustee Hoyt Hamilton
Also Present—William B. Horne — City Manager, 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
Coo rd in ator
To provide continuity for research, items are listed in agenda order although not
necessarily discussed in that order.
1. Call To Order
The meeting was called to order at 2:03 p.m. at City Hall.
2. Approval of Minutes
2.1 Approve the minutes of the August 31, 2015 CRA meeting as submitted in written
summation by the City Clerk.
Trustee Hamilton moved to approve the minutes of the August 31,
2015 CRA meeting as submitted in written summation by the City
Clerk. The motion was duly seconded and carried unanimously.
3. Citizens to be Heard Regarding Items Not on the Agenda — None.
4. New Business Items
4.1 Approve the Interlocal Agreement with the Downtown Development Board (DDB) to
provide personnel, administrative and management services during Fiscal Year
2015-2016 in the amount of$65,317 and refund the Community Redevelopment
Agency (CRA) tax increment fee of$173,273.
Florida Statutes 163.387 requires all taxing authorities, which includes the
DDB, to make an annual appropriation in an amount equal to the incremental
increase in the ad valorem revenue within the CRA area. The DDB's increment
payment is $173,273 according to the Pinellas County Property Appraiser's
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Community Redevelopment Agency Meeting Minutes October 12, 2015
office. In a spirit of cooperation to further the downtown redevelopment plan,
the CRA Trustees executed the first Interlocal Agreement in Fiscal Year
1999-2000 to provide personnel, administrative and management services to
the DDB and to refund the difference between the increment payment and the
management fee. This is the seventeenth fiscal year that the CRA would enter
into the agreement.
Pursuant to Florida Statute 163.01, the CRA and DDB can enter into this
agreement in which the DDB agrees to perform certain responsibilities and
functions including funding projects and programs consistent with the
downtown redevelopment plan. The intent of this agreement is for the DDB and
the CRA to work collaboratively on projects and programs that further
downtown goals and objectives. The management of the DDB by CRA staff
enables the CRA and the DDB to utilize the public dollars more efficiently.
The agreement also outlines the DDB's commitment to financially support the
construction, operation and maintenance of the boat slips, docks, boardwalk,
promenade and related facilities that were constructed on the Downtown
Waterfront. The DDB has made yearly contributions of$50,000 since April
2007. The intent of the DDB is to contribute up to $50,000 a year for 10 years
for a total not to exceed $500,000. This is the last year for of this contribution
to the operation and maintenance of the boat slips, docks, boardwalk,
promenade and related facilities.
The DDB shall pay the CRA$65,317 for the services agreed to in the Interlocal
Agreement.
The DDB approved the Interlocal Agreement at their meeting on August 5,
2015.
Economic Development and Housing Director Geri Campos Lopez said
this will be the last year the City will receive the DDB's commitment to
the downtown boat slips. The DDB approved the agreement on August
5, 2015.
Trustee Jonson moved to approve the Interlocal Agreement with
the Downtown Development Board (DDB) to provide personnel,
administrative and management services during Fiscal Year
2015-2016 in the amount of$65,317 and refund the Community
Redevelopment Agency (CRA) tax increment fee of $173,273. The
motion was duly seconded and carried unanimously.
4.2 Approve an Interlocal Agreement between the Clearwater Community Redevelopment
Agency (CRA) and the City of Clearwater to provide CRA funding in Fiscal Year
2015-2016 in the amount of$99,600 to underwrite activities in the Clearwater Main
Library that support community learning in the areas of Science, Technology,
Engineering and Math, entrepreneurship and small business growth and development
pursuant to the recommendations of the Urban Land Institute report on economic
enhancement of the downtown Clearwater area and authorize the appropriate officials
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Community Redevelopment Agency Meeting Minutes October 12, 2015
to execute same.
The Clearwater Main Library is a partner in the Clearwater Business Spark!
ecosystem of organizations working to support the development of
entrepreneurship and small business startup in the downtown Clearwater area.
This partnership was prompted by the ULI report recommending public/private
partnerships to encourage business growth in this area. The Main Library has
a prominent position in the CRA area, and will provide education and training in
the Business and STEM areas through research opportunities, STEM maker
space areas, classes and tutorials and meeting accommodation. The CRA
funding will pay one staff member to oversee these functions, assist with
additional library hours to make the facility available when needed by the
business community and provide educational and training opportunities.
Funding will be from the CRA budget.
In response to questions, Library Director Barbara Pickell said a majority
of the space will be on the third floor, behind the computer area. The
space will encompass a computer lab and a recording studio. Economic
Development and Housing Assistant Director Denise Sanderson said
Economic Development staff will facilitate the program implementation.
Each partner is operating independently from one another and coordinating
program delivery and services through Clearwater Business SPARK's
Executive Committee and Advisory Board.
Trustee Polglaze moved to approve an Interlocal Agreement
between the Clearwater Community Redevelopment Agency (CRA)
and the City of Clearwater to provide CRA funding in Fiscal Year
2015-2016 in the amount of$99,600 to underwrite activities in the
Clearwater Main Library that support community learning in the
areas of Science, Technology, Engineering and Math,
entrepreneurship and small business growth and development
pursuant to the recommendations of the Urban Land Institute
report on economic enhancement of the downtown Clearwater area
and authorize the appropriate officials to execute same. The motion
was duly seconded and carried unanimously.
4.3 Schedule a Special CRA meeting on Monday, November 2, 2015 from 6:00 p.m.
through 8:00 p.m. at the Main Library.
The CRA Executive Director is requesting a Special CRA meeting to hold a
joint meeting with the Downtown Development Board, Clearwater Downtown
Partnership, and the Clearwater Regional Chamber of Commerce to discuss
ULI priorities.
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Community Redevelopment Agency Meeting Minutes October 12, 2015
In response to a question, CRA Executive Director Rod Irwin said he will
advise the groups that a meeting has been scheduled and request
feedback for items to place on the agenda.
Trustee Hock-DiPolito moved to schedule a Special CRA meeting
on Monday, November 2, 2015 from 6:00 p.m. through 8:00 p.m. at
the Main Library. The motion was duly seconded.
Ayes: 4 - Chair Cretekos, Trustee Hock-DiPolito, Trustee Polglaze and
Trustee Hamilton
Nays: 1 - Trustee Jonson
Motion carried.
5. Trustee Discussion Items
5.1 ULI Update regarding Stakeholders Meeting Agenda - Trustee Jonson
Trustee Jonson said he discussed with the City Manager regarding the
meeting structure of the quarterly ULI meetings and suggested that 1)
the expected outcome be people leave the meeting with a good feeling,
2) the meeting agenda include a celebration of task completions, 3)
discuss partnered sponsored events happening in Downtown, 4) update
on the CRA's refocus on the Bluff Master Plan priorities, 5) and share
status of what will happen next. He suggested that the PowerPoint
presentation be shortened and be provided in a written format. Trustee
Jonson suggested that information be provided on the activities related
to the Bluff and Coachman Park Master Plan. It was suggested that the
meeting room setup be revised so that all in attendance felt they were a
part of the discussion.
The City Manager said staff envisions the CRA Executive Director
highlight and summarize the strategic item changes, discuss the items
raised by the stakeholders, and seek public comment.
The Trustees recessed from 3:24 p.m. to 3:33 p.m.
Discussion ensued regarding an invitation to the Clearwater
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Community Redevelopment Agency Meeting Minutes October 12, 2015
Neighborhoods Coalition to attend the meeting and participate with the
other meeting groups.
Trustee Jonson moved to invite the president or vice president of
the Clearwater Neighborhoods Coalition to the quarterly ULI
stakeholders meeting. The motion was duly seconded and carried
unanimously.
5.2 CRA Funding for ULI - Trustee Jonson
Trustee Jonson said he missed the last CRA meeting but had discussed
his concerns regarding the ULI allocation with the City Manager. He
appreciated the Chair raising the concerns discussed with the City
Manager. Trustee Jonson read a transcript of the discussion held on
August 31, 2015.
In response to questions, CRA Executive Director Rod Irwin said the
consultant referenced at the meeting related to the development
consultants staff were investigating at the time. One of the ULI
recommendations included retaining an independent development
consultant, in addition to the master plan consultant. Staff is looking to
appropriate budget for those items that are in the CRA's scope to plan
how staff moves forward.
Trustee Jonson expressed a concern that staff create an unrealistic
expectation in the public and then run out of money, given the number of
items on ULI. The City of St. Petersburg spent $1 million for their plan
that excluded the Pier. St. Petersburg had an extensive community
outreach component. He suggested that staff provide a conceptual
budget for at least the next two years at the next ULI update.
CRA Executive Director Rod Irwin said staff has provided the Trustees
with 12 templates that identify the estimated costs as the initial roadmap,
including the Bluff Master Plan. The rest of the program is
undetermined at this point. For example, staff has discussed the
multimodal site with PSTA, who recently informed staff that there is no
funding for construction. Since it is identified as a ULI priority, staff may
later determine that the City cannot support the initiative if there is no
funding, which will cost more than $1 million.
5.3 Downtown Post Office - Councilmember Polglaze
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City of Clearwater
Community Redevelopment Agency
6. Adjourn
Attest
Meeting Minutes October 12, 2015
Trustee Polglaze requested consideration to request the United States
Postal Service (USPS) surplus the historic downtown post office site so
that the City can pursue a transfer of property for an adaptive reuse of
the site. The internet has forced USPS to reconsider its service delivery
model and organizational structure. The success of the Capitol Theatre
provides the downtown post office site incredible economic opportunity.
Discussion ensued with concerns expressed with requesting the
downtown postal office site be closed without identifying a new
downtown site and the negative impact it would have on the beach
residents if a new downtown site is not identified.
Support was expressed with a comment made that the City of Tampa
has repurposed a courthouse.
Trustee Polglaze moved to direct staff to draft a resolution for the
next CRA meeting requesting the downtown post office site be
declared surplus for the ability to adaptively reuse the site and that
there continue to be a downtown post office site. The motion was
duly seconded.
Ayes: 3 - Trustee Hock - DiPolito, Trustee Polglaze and Trustee Hamilton
Nays: 2 - Chair Cretekos and Trustee Jonson
Motion carried.
,1-4-cAteilt C.
City Clerk
City of Clearwater
The meeting adjourned at 3:42 p.m.
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