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11/02/2015 City of Clearwater City Hall 112 S. Osceola Avenue Clearwater, FL 33756 u�� p4 n G' Meeting Minutes Monday, November 2, 2015 1 :00 PM City Hall Chambers Community Redevelopment Agency Page 1 City of Clearwater 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 Coordinator To provide continuity for research, items are listed in agenda order although not necessarily discussed in that order. 1. Call To Order — Chair Cretekos The meeting was called to order at 1.05 p.m. 2. Approval of Minutes 2.1 Approve the minutes of the October 12, 2015 CRA meeting as submitted in written summation by the City Clerk. Trustee Hamilton moved to approve the minutes of the October 12, 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 an Agreement between the Community Redevelopment Agency and the TAFFIE, LLC-Technical Arts Facility for Innovation and Entrepreneurship, a Florida corporation, to provide monthly educational programs to support technology-focused entrepreneurship and small business development in the CRA in the amount not to exceed $25,000 for Fiscal Year 2015-2016, and authorize the appropriate officials to execute same. The Provider will provide a Monthly Educational Program at TAFFIE, located in Page 2 City of Clearwater the CRA area at 1499 Gulf to Bay Boulevard, Clearwater. TAFFIE's Monthly Educational Program includes topics not otherwise available within the CRA and is part of a collaborative, coordinated initiative to deliver services to pre-venture individuals, startup and small- to medium-size businesses. In consideration for TAFFIE's monthly educational programs, the CRA will pay the TAFFIE a fixed price of$2,083.33 for each event. Payment will be made in quarterly payments in an amount not to exceed $6,250.00 and will be made on January 1, 2016, May 1, 2016, July 1, 2016, and October 1, 2016, following receipt of TAFFIE's quarterly report (Exhibit B). Support for these technology-based entrepreneurship and small business development programs is provided by the Community Redevelopment Plan, Economic Development Strategic Plan, Urban Land Institute Advisory Services Panel Report (ULI Report), and Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) establishing a partnership by and between the CRA, City of Clearwater, Florida Small Business Development Center at Pinellas County, Clearwater Regional Chamber of Commerce and TAFFIE. The plans, report and MOU state the following • Community Redevelopment Plan (2004) - o Objective 1 E: "A variety of businesses are encouraged to relocate and expand in Downtown to provide a stable employment center, as well as employment opportunities for Downtown residents." • Economic Development Strategic Plan (2011) • Goal 1, Strategy 1.2, Action 2: "Support the development and attraction of software firms to Clearwater. • Goal Four: Business Development: Support an entrepreneurship and innovation ecosystem and collaborate with regional partners to market Clearwater to target industries. • Urban Land Institute Advisory Services Panel Report ("ULI Report") (2014) o Recommends the city "attract and support new entrepreneurial small businesses by investing in a technology innovation center or business incubator." • MOU (2015) o Encourages the parties to support collaborative and coordinated approaches to serve pre-venture, startup and small business enterprises in the City of Clearwater and the greater Clearwater area. Staff recommends approval of the agreement. APPROPRIATION CODE AND AMOUNT: Funding for this agreement provided by CRA funding code 388-94868 Page 3 City of Clearwater Technology District Incentives. As of August 31, 2015, the balance in this fund is $255,400. Steve Allen spoke in support and said TAFFIE has been working with the CRA over the past year and fostering a co-op network of 70 local businesses in the community. Elaine Mann spoke in support and said a TAFFIE member was awarded a $32 million government contract for their services. Trustee Jonson moved to approve an Agreement between the Community Redevelopment Agency and the TAFFIE, LLC-Technical Arts Facility for Innovation and Entrepreneurship, a Florida corporation, to provide monthly educational programs to support technology-focused entrepreneurship and small business development in the CRA in the amount not to exceed $25,000 for Fiscal Year 2015-2016, and authorize the appropriate officials to execute same. The motion was duly seconded and carried unanimously. 4.2 Provide direction on whether or not the Board wishes to enter into a Memorandum of Agreement between the CRA and Clearwater Downtown Events, Inc, a 501© 4 Not-for-Profit Corporation, based upon the program proposal from Ruth Eckerd Hall, for the provision of a schedule of Blast Friday events in the Cleveland Street District for the 2015-2016 season, determine an appropriate level and type of grant support for the Blast Friday season, if any, and authorize the appropriate officials to execute same. At the time the CRA Board considered funding for the 2014-2015 season of Blast Friday, the Board provided guidance to staff that the existent format was not, in the Board's opinion, accomplishing the economic impact and retail attraction/assistance anticipated. The Board advised staff that a revamping of the program would be a prerequisite for the Board to consider future funding of a "Blast Friday-type" program. Specific changes suggested by the Board included: • A festival, rather than purely musical event, format; • Extension of the event the length of Cleveland Street, from Osceola to East ; • More varied musical program to appeal to a broader demographic; • Inclusion of Food Truck components; • Incorporation of Cleveland Street businesses, allowing them to better realize benefit of the events. CRA staff, the Clearwater Downtown Events, Inc., the volunteer group Page 4 City of Clearwater managing the Blast Friday for the CRA, Ruth Eckerd Hall and Downtown Development Board representatives had discussions concerning a mutual desire of the group to continue the Blast Friday consistent with the CRA Board's direction. The program schedule and budget were adjusted accordingly in response to those discussions. They represented a significant redirection of the thrust of previous Blast Friday programs and included many, but not all, the components delineated by the CRA Board as a condition for future grant funding consideration. The proposed program schedule for 2015-2016 is consistent with those changes. However, due to continuing losses incurred by Ruth Eckerd Hall in producing the Blast Friday program, Ruth Eckerd Hall has indicated the request for an increase in CRA and DDB funding to $100,000 and $25,000 respectively, instead of the $75,000 and $ 17,500 received for the 2014-2015 season. The DDB approved the $25,000 grant request, subject to CRA favorable action to continue the Blast Friday series. As an alternate, Ruth Eckerd Hall has suggested an option could be to reduce the number of events from seven to five, which would allow CRA financial support to remain at $75,000. In requesting the increased financial support, Ruth Eckerd Hall has also delineated a group of fees/charges that the city imposes on the events and has suggested that if they could receive relief from these fees up to $25,000, they could likely hold the CRA grant request to the current level. These fees have been an issue in the past, and City sponsorship has reduced the amounts in the past. Several options are available to the Board: 1) Approve the $100,000 grant request to be paid from CRA funds for the proposed seven event series; 2) Approve the $100,000 grant level, with the $25,000 increase being absorbed by the General Fund as subsidy-of- services and the $75,000 to be paid from CRA funds; 3) Approve the current grant level of$75,000 to be paid from CRA funds , with a revised five event series; 4) Discontinue financial support of Blast Friday; 5) Direct staff to pursue additional discussions with DCE and REH to develop an alternate Blast Friday construct, with no 2015-206 series. In the context of the current ULI effort, staff believes discontinuance of Blast Friday at this point would be detrimental to the perception of redevelopment. CRA staff also believes a reduction in the number of events would also create the perception of diminished commitment to the redevelopment effort. Absorption of fees/charges by the General Fund, after the city budget has been adopted and without full review of the ramifications would be ill advised. Page 5 City of Clearwater Approval of the $100,000 grant from CRA funds and the Memorandum of Agreement may be the most advisable course for 2015-2016 seasons, with a subsequent comprehensive examination of the purpose, objectives financing and expected outcomes of a continued Blast Friday initiative, particularly in the context of the ULI Report implementation, preceding any further funding consideration by the CRA. Staff awaits Board direction and will be prepared to answer any questions you may have at the CRA meeting. Representatives of Downtown Clearwater Events and Ruth Eckerd Hall will also be available. In response to questions, CRA Executive Director Rod Irwin said the closure of Ft. Harrison was positive but required the applicant to incur additional costs. There were expectations for additional events at the 500 1600-block that were not **formalized?* Miracle on Cleveland, Baseball Night, and the car show were successful events. Mr. Irwin said since 2008 the contract has been with Ruth Eckerd Hall due to their significant resources with the community. Blast Friday has been funded by the CRA at$75,000, the Downtown Development Board (DDB) at$18,500, and balance via event sponsorships. Clearwater Downtown Events has requested a $25,000 increase, the DDB has approved the request contingent upon an approved CRA funding match. The City Manager said if there is any intent for the City to support the events in any way and absorb costs, staff will capture the associated costs in the Special Events funding agenda item for council approval. Mr. Irwin said absorbing costs via sponsorship can be considered in the next budget cycle. Discussion ensued with a suggestion made to have the merchant association take a lead in an event. Councilmember Jonson moved to amend substitute five events at $75,000. Motion failed for lack of a second. Trustee Hock-DiPolito moved to enter into a Memorandum of Agreement between the CRA and Clearwater Downtown Events, Inc, a 501©4 Not-for-Profit Corporation, based upon the program proposal from Ruth Eckerd Hall, for the provision of a schedule of Blast Friday events in the Cleveland Street District for the 2015-2016 season, determine an appropriate level and type of grant support for the Blast Friday season, if any, and authorize the appropriate officials to execute same. The motion was duly seconded and carried by the following vote: Page 6 City of Clearwater Ayes: 4 - Chair Cretekos, Trustee Hock-DiPolito, Trustee Polglaze and Trustee Hamilton Nays: 1 - Trustee Jonson Motion carried. 4.3 Accept ULI Priority (P) Project Quarterly Progress Report for the period July 16, 2015 through October 16, 2015, as well as the cumulative expenditure report since Fall 2014. Staff committed to the CRA Board, as a part of the ULI Advisory Panel Report Implementation activities that the Board would be provided with quarterly updates on the status of Priority (P) implementation items, as well as a compilation of total expenditures to date on ULI Report activities across all funding sources. The expenditures report is inclusive of all expense, on an accrual basis, since last fall. Projects Update: To summarize, the status of the 13 Priority (P) projects are as follows: 5 Projects completed: • TIF Bonds Examination • Create Stakeholder Advisory Group • Development Parcel Marketing • Boost Downtown Library to Support Redevelopment • Attract Incubator/Support Entrepreneurial Ecosystem 6 Projects on schedule: • Comprehensive North Marina Master plan • Master Development plan for Bluff/Coachman/Waterfront • Enhance Gateways to Downtown/East Gateway • Mercado in East Gateway • Review Downtown Design Guidelines • Use Harbor B ridge as Aesthetic Gateway 2 Projects Delayed: • Comprehensive Boating Plan for Clearwater Harbor • Comprehensive Branding Initiative In addition to the council-designated priority projects, two additional ULI projects have been addressed : 1) Create a Water Taxi/Ferry Service (ULI 4), with the City facilitating this project with access/egress improvements in the amount of$24,185; and 2) Ensure Environmental Integrity of Clearwater Harbor(ULI 2), with Marine and Aviation successfully obtaining the Clean and Page 7 City of Clearwater Resilient Marina designation from the Florida Department of Environmental Protection, acknowledging appropriate policies and safeguards are in place to ensure the environmental integrity of Clearwater harbor. Expenditure Update: With respect to the financial expenditure report, on an accrual basis, $ 576,861 has been spent on ULI projects since September and through October 16. The largest percentage of that expenditure has come from General Fund Reserves: $ 374,004. The balance has come from departmental general fund budget allocations, CRA operating budget allocations and/or the recently-established CRA ULI Project Account. The preponderance of expenditures/commitments to date are attributable to four projects: 1) North Marina Master Plan,$ 97,372; 2) Library STEM Center build out and staffing, $177,509; 3) Comprehensive Boating Plan, $59,975: and 4) Entrepreneurial Ecosystem Support, $100,000. Staff has provided a spreadsheet delineating expenditures by ULI Project category and funding, as well as delineating charges/commitments against the $500,000 General Fund account for ULI. Beginning with the next quarterly report, a similar sheet will be provided for the $1,000,000 CRA ULI Project Account. C urrently, there is a $99,600 charge to fund the Library-STEM Interlocal Agreement pending posting by Finance. The ULI Implementation Team will be available at the November 2, 2015 CRA meeting to answer any questions on program status or expenditures. CRA Executive Director Rod Irwin provided a PowerPoint presentation on ULI quarterly accomplishments. In response to a question, Mr. Irwin said funding for the branding and original ULI study was excluded from the quarterly report as funds were expended prior to the September 2014 start date. Planning and Development Director Michael Delk provided a PowerPoint presentation on the Bluff Master Plan. A suggestion was made to have more frequent reporting cycles. Trustee Jonson moved to have monthly status reports. The motion failed for lack of a second. In response to questions, Mr. Irwin said the information provided by staff indicated that the interlocal agreement with the library was approved for $99,600. Mr. Delk said the community outreach for the Bluff Master Plan would begin in March, the consultant will begin working immediately. Mr. Irwin said the bridge aesthetic recommendations could cost more or less than Page 8 City of Clearwater $300,000, staff is still working FDOT to determine what may be permissible. Public Communications Director Joelle Castelli provided a PowerPoint presentation regarding the City's branding efforts. The Trustee recessed from 1.44 p.m. to 2.34 p.m. In response to questions, Ms. Castelli said staff is waiting for the wayfinding sign suggestions from the consultant. The logo will be adopted by all departments and be the identifiable element with the community. Ms. Castelli said the consultant will provide specifics on where the new logo will be used. The city seal will be used on official documents. Trustee Polglaze moved to accept report Accept ULI Priority (P) Project Quarterly Progress Report for the period July 16, 2015 through October 16, 2015, as well as the cumulative expenditure report since Fall 2014. The motion was duly seconded and carried unanimously. 4.4 Provide authorization to issue the Request for Proposals (RFP) for the Bluff/Coachman Park Master Plan. At its meeting of July 13, 2015, the CRA approved the project template for the Bluff/Coachman Park Master Plan. A Request for Proposals (RFP) for this Master Plan has been drafted. The RFP incorporates a public engagement plan, market study, cost estimates, and implementation strategy as components of the project scope. Staff is requesting your concurrence with, and authorization for the Bluff/Coachman Park Master Plan RFP to be issued. In response to questions, Planning and Development Director Michael Delk said Finance advertises the RFP. Purchasing Manager Alyce Benge said the RFP will be published in the newspaper and on the City's website, as well as distributed via a vendor database. Mr. Delk said staff worked with the consultant to draft the plan objectives. Staff intends that the plan benefit the entire community. Discussion ensued with support expressed for staff to proceed with the RFP process. It was suggested that staff provide the Trustees with a link to the RFP. Trustee Jonson moved to reword last plan objective to read, " Create Page 9 City of Clearwater opportunities for waterfront events to benefit downtown businesses, downtown residents, and the city as a whole." The motion was duly seconded. Concerns were expressed the RFP addresses the scope of work in the downtown area. Upon the vote being taken, Chair Cretekos and Trustee Jonson voted "Aye"; Trustees Polglaze, Hock-DiPolito, and Hamilton voted "Nay." Motion failed. Trustee Jonson moved to add an objective to develop a unified vision for the waterfront and the Bluff area. Motion failed for lack of a second. Trustee Jonson moved to add an objective to become a recreational destination for Clearwater residents, both who live in downtown and throughout the city. Motion failed for lack of a second. In response to questions, Mr. Delk said the negotiations for a final scope of work will be critical and will include the public engagement plan. The consultant's anticipated schedule of activity is approximately 12 to 15 months. The Trustees recessed from 3:14 p.m. to 3:20 p.m. Mr. Delk said staff is unsure the project can be completed within 9 months. There are several projects underway at the same time. The objective is to bring all of these planning efforts together in a manner that can be incorporated successfully into the downtown development plan. Staff anticipates completing the project by Spring 2017. It was suggested that respondents to the RFP be given extra points if proposal can be completed within nine months. Trustee Jonson moved to provide an RFP respondent extra points if proposal can be completed within 9 months **or early?** Motion failed for lack of a second. Trustee Polglaze moved to provide authorization to issue the Request for Proposals (RFP) for the Bluff/Coachman Park Master Plan. The motion was duly seconded and carried unanimously. Page 10 City of Clearwater 4.5 Approve Amendment to ULI 12 Priority (P) Work Program, Reconsider Downtown Design Guidelines, to expand the scope of work to include an update and reformatting of the Downtown Redevelopment Plan to incorporate ULI related implementation projects, programs, and strategies; update character districts; incorporate contents of the Downtown zoning district from the Community Development Code; create minimum standard development; and update design and signage guidelines in the Downtown Redevelopment Plan area. The Planning and Development Department began work on ULI #12 Priority Work Program to "Reconsider Downtown Design Guidelines" by organizing and meeting with a downtown stakeholder group to provide feedback. After discussions with stakeholders and meetings with the group, it became increasingly clear that the outcome of original scope of work was not going to satisfy the stakeholder's fundamental concerns. While this priority work program item was created to meet the desire to address potentially quick implementation items from the ULI Report, it was not going to address the underlying issues identified by the group as any amendment to the Downtown Redevelopment Plan is a complicated and lengthy process requiring approvals from multiple agencies. Planning and Development staff believes that an update/reformat of the entire Plan is needed this juncture to: 1) Meet the needs of downtown stakeholders; 2) Provide a comprehensive review of the underlying issues and streamline the process; 3) Create the vehicle to incorporate and implement the various studies underway. Planning and Development is proposing an expansion of the scope of the ULI Priority Item "Reconsider Downtown Design Guidelines and Sign Regulations" to include an update and reformatting of the Downtown Clearwater Redevelopment Plan. The proposed changes described below will streamline and simplify the City's Downtown Redevelopment Plan while accommodating several major objectives which have been identified as important to enhancing opportunity for future economic development in the downtown plan area. This approach affords an opportunity to successfully integrate all ULI-related work, studies, and projects into the downtown planning document as appropriate, and in some cases, as a legal imperative for CRA related projects and expenditures. Importantly, this is the vehicle which will enable the implementation of the East Gateway Vision plan, North Marina Area Plan, the Comprehensive Boating Plan and the Bluff/Coachman/Waterfront Plan. Lastly, it is important to remember that each time a special area plan is amended at least six months alone needs to be allotted for the review process both within and without the City. Character Districts The focus of this task is to re-examine the six Character Districts which make up the Downtown Planning Area and their relationship with the Community Page 11 City of Clearwater Development Code (CDC). The Character Districts work in tandem with the Design Guidelines guiding development and through use requirements, function, development patterns and intensity, density and height. The Design Guidelines ensure projects implement the goals, objectives and policies and Character District visions. Staff intends to remove the contents of the Downtown District from the CDC and incorporate them into each of the Character Districts. This will accomplish several goals: First, it will fulfill the stated obligation of the City, as specified as a one year goal from adoption of the Plan, to include minimum standard development design parameters within the Downtown Planning Area. Uses listed as a minimum standard development may be reviewed directly through the building permit or Business Tax Receipt process reducing review times from up to three months to days or even hours and eliminating application fees which generally start at$675. It has already been established that each of the Character Districts are unique with regard to pattern of development (both existing and desired) and mix of uses. Staff believes that the current D District regulations are overly broad and general in their scope to appropriately reflect the nuances of each character district. This approach will allow staff to clearly and predictably regulate uses by character district. This will allow staff to focus on the form-based component of development which consists of application of the Design Guidelines. Second, staff intends to re-examine the application of parking requirements in, at least, parts of the Downtown Planning Area. For example, it may make sense for overnight accommodations and residential uses to provide their own on-site parking but for most other uses to rely on the more than 2,000 public parking spaces which exist in the Planning Area especially in the Downtown Core. Finally, it will also simplify the entire process for both staff and applicant by accelerating and streamlining the review process and consolidating most of the regulations application to the Downtown Planning Area into one document: intensity of use, permitted and prohibited uses, Design Guidelines, development incentives will all be conveniently located in one document. Design Guidelines Staff will examine and update the Design Guidelines to remove redundancies, outdated and/or unclear pictures and images and incorporate compatible components of Streetsense. Sign Regulations Staff will examine and update the portion of the CDC addressing signage to allow additional flexibility in the Downtown Planning Area with regard to the types, number and area of signs. Staff believes that it may be appropriate for business owners to be able to divide their permitted overall signage area between several types of signs without a formal Comprehensive Sign Program Page 12 City of Clearwater review which costs $400 and can take a week or two for review. For example, a property owner would be able to include an attached sign, awning sign and an under awning hanging sign as a matter of right. In response to questions, Planning and Development Director Michael Delk said there are things staff can do to facilitate and incorporate Streetsense objectives but in the meantime staff needs to move East Gateway into the process. He said some Streetsense recommendations can be accomplished as regulatory ordinances and some things are required to be done in the Downtown Redevelopment Plan. A comment was made that the stakeholders have expressed a concern that the Downtown Design Guidelines were too narrow but combining it with the ULI implementation projects would broaden the project. Concern was expressed that Streetsense will be delayed and businesses will have to spend money through the Comprehensive Sign Program until the Downtown Redevelopment Plan is complete. Trustee Polglaze moved to approve Amendment to ULI 12 Priority (P) Work Program, Reconsider Downtown Design Guidelines, to expand the scope of work to include an update and reformatting of the Downtown Redevelopment Plan to incorporate ULI related implementation projects, programs, and strategies; update character districts; incorporate contents of the Downtown zoning district from the Community Development Code; create minimum standard development; and update design and signage guidelines in the Downtown Redevelopment Plan area. The motion was duly seconded and carried unanimously. Ayes: 4 - Chair Cretekos, Trustee Hock-DiPolito, Trustee Polglaze and Trustee Hamilton Nays: 1 - Trustee Jonson Motion carried. Page 13 City of Clearwater 5. Adjourn The meeting adjourned at 3:43 p.m. — CC,)rte nC,(\i'C Page 14 City of Clearwater