Loading...
01/19/2016 Community Redevelopment Agency Meeting Minutes January 19, 2016 City of Clearwater City Hall 112 S. Osceola Avenue Clearwater, FL 33756 e Meeting Minutes Tuesday, January 19, 2016 9:00 AM City Hall Chambers Community Redevelopment Agency Page 1 City of Clearwater Community Redevelopment Agency Meeting Minutes January 19, 2016 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, 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— Chair Cretekos The meeting was called to order at 10:36 a.m. at City Hall. 2. Approval of Minutes 2.1 Approve the minutes of the December 14, 2015 CRA meeting as submitted in written summation by the City Clerk. Trustee Jonson moved to approve the minutes of the December 14, 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 Revised Facade Improvement Program Guidelines to provide design assistance of$4,000 and two financial incentives to be matched dollar-for-dollar by applicant (1) up to $10,000 in grant funding and (2) up to $25,000 of zero interest loan funds per application. On September 4, 2007, the CRA approved the Cleveland Street District Facade Improvement Program. The Facade Improvement Program creates incentives for property owners and businesses on Cleveland Street to improve the appearance of their businesses and properties. It was hoped that this Page 2 City of Clearwater Community Redevelopment Agency Meeting Minutes January 19, 2016 program would foster and encourage investment and pride in building facades along Cleveland Street and add to the Cafe District envisioned in a revitalized downtown Clearwater. While staff widely marketed this program after CRA adoption, there was little interest in the program during the recession. However, property owners are now interested in making investments to their buildings. Staff wants to encourage more program use and be responsive to the increased interest. In summary, the fagade program matches dollar-for-dollar, the improvements made by the property owner or tenant. All funds will be used to further the goals of the Cafe District concept and must be applied to improvements that: (a) effect immediate improvement to the storefront area of the building including signage, lighting, entryways, windows and other cosmetic or structural work associated with the first floor where customers interact directly with the building, (b) are in concert with first floor fagade improvements as described in (a) above but that also may extend vertically to the upper areas of the fagade. Isolated building improvements that are not directly connected to improvements at the street level fagade are not allowed. All funds to be disbursed by the CRA on a reimbursement basis upon completion of the improvements and final inspections needed to satisfy permit requirements. On November 30, 2015, the CRA Board put the program on hold in order for staff to evaluate and update the program parameters and ensure consistency with current plans and objectives for CRA Board review and approval. The following program issues have been identified: • Architect's design fees were set at the 2007 rate and need to be updated. • A new Request for Information is necessary to update the Architects List for the Design Services portion of the program. • The timeframe for approval of loans do not take into consideration the CRA monthly meeting schedule. • The loan repayment terms need clarification in the guidelines and application. • There is no schedule to allow for updates to the program. Staff recommends the following updates: • Set architects fees to reflect a flat rate of$4,000 per address. • Solicit new architects list. • Clarify the approval process as follows. If the applicant is requesting a loan, the item will be brought to the next available CRA meeting and the CRA Executive Director will provide a Notice to Proceed or denial within fifteen days of CRA Board approval. • Set repayment terms for loans: an interest rate of zero (0.00%) repayable in fifteen years, upon sale of the property, or upon default according to the Mortgage and Note. Page 3 City of Clearwater Community Redevelopment Agency Meeting Minutes January 19, 2016 • Review program parameters in three years. In response to questions, Economic Development and Housing Director Geri Campos Lopez said the fagade program is purely voluntary, the property owner would apply for the grant for fagade design services. Ms. Campos Lopez reviewed the proposed changes to the fagade program. One application per address is permitted. Staff recommends the zero percent interest rate as an incentive for property owners. Staff prefers that the program is available to as many property owners as possible as an incentive and reason staff recommends the zero percent. Trustee Hamilton moved to approve the Revised Facade Improvement Program Guidelines to provide design assistance of $4,000 and two financial incentives to be matched dollar-for-dollar by applicant (1) up to $10,000 in grant funding and (2) up to $25,000 of zero interest loan funds per application. The motion was duly seconded and carried unanimously. 4.2 Amend the Community Redevelopment Agency (CRA) Rules to provide the option to appoint a CRA Executive Director who does not also serve as an Assistant City Manager. The CRA Rules were approved by the CRA on March 4, 2002. Rule 2 stipulates that the Executive Director will be the Assistant City Manager and will report directly to the City Manager. In order to give the CRA the option of appointing a separate CRA Executive Director, Rule 2 is amended to read: "The Executive Director shall be the Assistant City Manager or a Director who reports directly to the City Manager and/or Assistant City Manager and to the Agency and make recommendations as to how CRA programs and funding should be executed." Trustee Jonson moved to amend the Community Redevelopment Agency (CRA) Rules to provide the option to appoint a CRA Executive Director who does not also serve as an Assistant City Manager. The motion was duly seconded and carried unanimously. 4.3 Appoint Economic Development and Housing Director Geraldine Campos-Lopez as the Interim Executive Director of the Community Redevelopment Agency. Page 4 City of Clearwater Community Redevelopment Agency 5. Adjourn Meeting Minutes January 19, 2016 The previous Executive Director, Assistant City Manager Rod Irwin, retired in December 2015. A recruitment effort is ongoing for his replacement. Appointing Ms. Campos -Lopez as the Interim Executive Director will permit the current CRA efforts to continue. Trustee Hock - DiPolito moved to Appoint Economic Development and Housing Director Geraldine Campos -Lopez as the Interim Executive Director of the Community Redevelopment Agency. The motion was duly seconded and carried unanimously. The meeting adjourned at 10:48 p.m. — Ct./Witt CrAt oS Chair Attest Community Redevelopment Agency oA.L.: City Clerk City of Clearwater Page 5