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10/29/2018 Community Redevelopment Agency Meeting Minutes October 29, 2018 City of Clearwater City Hall 112 S. Osceola Avenue Clearwater, FL 33756 m ap ® e Meeting Minutes Monday, October 29, 2018 9:00 AM Council Chambers Community Redevelopment Agency Page 1 City of Clearwater Community Redevelopment Agency Meeting Minutes October 29, 2018 Roll Call Present 5 - Chair George N. Cretekos, Trustee Doreen Caudell, Trustee Bob Cundiff, Trustee Hoyt Hamilton, and Trustee David Allbritton Also Present—William B. Horne 11 — City Manager, Jill Silverboard — Deputy City Manager, Micah Maxwell —Assistant City Manager, Pamela K. Akin — City Attorney, Rosemarie Call — City Clerk, Nicole Sprague — Official Records and Legislative Services Coordinator, and Amanda Thompson — CRA Executive Director. 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 9:18 a.m. at City Hall. 2. Approval of Minutes 2.1 Approve the minutes of the October 1, 2018 CRA Meeting as submitted in written summation by the City Clerk. Trustee Caudell moved to approve the minutes of the October 1, 2018 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 Downtown Parking Study Presentation - Kimley Horn Consultants Kimley Horn Representative David Taxman provided a PowerPoint presentation. In response to questions, Mr. Taxman said progressive development standards do not require parking as they can be cost restrictive for Page 2 City of Clearwater Community Redevelopment Agency Meeting Minutes October 29, 2018 some projects. This market driven model allows the private sector to determine the number of parking spaces needed. CRA Executive Director Amanda Thompson said the City is assuming the developer will construct the number of parking spaces needed to meet their use and attract tenants. Mr. Taxman said the lender may require a minimum number of parking spaces. Another option to consider is for the City to build a parking garage and provide parking to support development. The county public parking spaces are not advertised or strictly enforced. He said the County is experiencing issues with overnight parking and they do not want to tow the vehicles. Mr. Taxman said the County should provide signage when the parking is available to the public and advising vehicles will be towed outside of the time period. He said the City has wayfinding signage for public parking through the Downtown core but signage at the parking garage is not easily identifiable. He suggested making on-street parking more expensive. Deputy City Manager Jill Silverboard said staff is looking at smart parking solutions that will allow individuals to find available parking spaces on their mobile devices. In response to questions, Mr. Taxman said shared mobility is the future in transit and will eventually reduce demand for parking and require garages be built for adaptive reuse. Currently, there is a surplus of parking spaces in Downtown, the future demand analysis may show some deficit but it will identify when planning should begin to build a parking garage. He recommended that the City's parking policy keep up with technology. He said the stakeholders meeting held last week identified that daytime parking is becoming an issue. the 3 vehicles per 1000 sq. ft. standard is insufficient, the stakeholders identified they need 8 vehicles per 1000 sq. ft. There is adequate public parking throughout Downtown to serve the typical user. Ms. Thompson said there enough surplus parking that can be managed as shared parking, staff will have to work with the property owners to provide some relief. Mr. Taxman said valet parking along Cleveland Street is a good idea as it provides the most convenient form of parking. Discussion ensued with comments made that shared parking and parking convenience for retail and office must be defined. 4.2 Approve the extension of a lease agreement between the Community Redevelopment Agency (CRA) and Water's Edge Commercial Group, LLC, a Florida Limited Liability Page 3 City of Clearwater Community Redevelopment Agency Meeting Minutes October 29, 2018 Company, for the premises located at 331 Cleveland Street No. 2502, and authorize the appropriate officials to execute same. The CRA began a lease with Water's Edge Commercial Group, LLC on June 1, 2017 to use approximately 2,000 square feet of first-floor retail space located in the ground floor of Water's Edge Condominiums as an Artist Workshop/Exhibit Space and public education space for Imagine Clearwater. The retail space, branded as Second Century Studios, has assisted in implementation of downtown redevelopment goals by providing increased cultural programming to generate foot traffic in downtown and engaging the public in the Imagine Clearwater plan. To date, the space has hosted Bazaar Art Collective, an arts installation, Plasti-Plast, by national artist Amy Landesburg, two Clearwater employee arts shows and most recently the Florida Center for Creative Photography. Second Century Studios will continue to play a key role in the CRA's 18-month strategy by providing a space for public art programming, hosting targeted networking events for private investors and supporting "pop-up retail" businesses to increase opportunities for shopping in downtown. These activities support building a positive brand, attracting housing and encouraging private investment. Also, the studio fills a space on highly visible downtown corner that is difficult to lease due to the lack of guaranteed parking. Future activities in Second Century Studios include: • Temporary installations by Seahorse Gallery, located on Clearwater Beach, featuring the art of Jim Warren and Dick Zimmerman as well as daily programs (October 13-November 16, 2018) • Holiday Vendor Market (November 17 - December 31, 2018) • "Dreams of Dali", a virtual reality exhibit, by The Dali Museum (January - June 2019) • Pop up retail and art exhibitions (July-November 2019) • Holiday Vendor Market (November - December 2019) The original lease agreement had a term of six months, with two six-month extensions, which is set to expire on November 1, 2018. The agreement had a monthly rental rate of$1,425.24 and the CRA was responsible for all utility and build out costs. The CRA wishes to extend the lease to a new end date of January 31, 2020 at the same rental rate and other terms of the agreement. After January 31, 2020, staff anticipates this retail space will return to use by the private market. APPROPRIATION CODE AND AMOUNT: Funding for this agreement is available in CRA project 94885, ULI Implementation. Page 4 City of Clearwater Community Redevelopment Agency Meeting Minutes October 29, 2018 Trustee Cundiff moved to approve the extension of a lease agreement between the Community Redevelopment Agency (CRA) and Water's Edge Commercial Group, LLC, a Florida Limited Liability Company, for the premises located at 331 Cleveland Street No. 2502, and authorize the appropriate officials to execute the same. The motion was duly seconded and carried unanimously. 4.3 Adopt the Community Redevelopment Agency (CRA) 18-month strategy that outlines the CRA's work program from November 2018 through March 2020. In early 2018, the CRA Trustees adopted a new Clearwater Downtown Redevelopment Plan which outlined a vision and goals to increase the attractiveness of downtown as a place to live, work and play. Within the Plan, Chapter 4: Plan Implementation contains four sections. The CRA section outlines the specific role of the CRA in downtown revitalization. The Funding Sources section contains all the identified and potential sources of revenue for implementation as well as tax increment projections for the CRA districts. The Incentives section provides information on available incentive programs for the downtown area as well as a framework for establishing new incentive programs. The Capital Improvement Program and Policy Implementation Projects section lists planned improvements and their costs for the entire downtown plan area as well as each character district. With the adoption of the 2018 Clearwater Downtown Redevelopment Plan, the CRA trustees established an operational framework and a capital improvements budget for the next 5-10 years. A recommended next step is to adopt a more detailed implementation strategy for the next 18 months to leverage existing city leadership that will be in place until March 2020 and focus on activities that will support sustainable economic development in downtown. The proposed 18-month strategy focuses on four objectives: • Creating and sharing authentic, positive stories about Downtown Clearwater • Beginning construction on Imagine Clearwater • Permitting 600 housing units • Attracting $100 million dollars of private investment Each objective includes a list of activities that will support meeting the objective and are aligned with the 2018 Downtown Plan. CRA staff will report on these Page 5 City of Clearwater Community Redevelopment Agency Meeting Minutes October 29, 2018 objectives to the CRA Trustees monthly beginning in December 2018. APPROPRIATION CODE AND AMOUNT: Future CRA expenditures are identified and approved as part of the annual budgeting process. Trustee Allbritton moved to adopt the Community Redevelopment Agency (CRA) 18-month strategy that outlines the CRA's work program from November 2018 through March 2020. The motion was duly seconded and carried unanimously. 4.4 Approve a time limited, grant program for tenants in the Community Redevelopment Agency (CRA) area that have permitted or opened food/drink businesses operating on nights and weekends, that received a Certificate of Occupancy or were under active construction after January 1, 2018 and authorize the appropriate officials to execute same. The Community Redevelopment Agency (CRA) is recommending approval of a time-limited Food and Drink Tenant grant program as part of the CRA's 18-month strategy to share positive stories about downtown, attract new housing and encourage private investment into downtown. The CRA's goal is to enhance downtown's ability to serve as a restaurant destination and to serve existing employees/residents in downtown by providing more food and drink options that are open on nights and weekends. In August 2018, the CRA Trustees ended the Anchor Tenant Incentive program and directed CRA staff to work with tenants to develop solutions to that would support existing food and drink businesses that opened or began construction while the Anchor Tenant program existed, but due to a variety of factors were not eligible to participate in the Anchor Tenant program. From July to September 2018, CRA staff has held numerous individual meetings, two focus groups and conducted an online survey with existing food and drink tenants in downtown and potential tenants who have indicated they would consider establishing a business in downtown. Based on the feedback received, the proposed grant program is designed for current food and drink tenants, who are open on nights and weekends, that received a Certificate of Occupancy or were under active construction after January 1, 2018. Key elements of the grant program include: • This is a one-time, limited grant opportunity for tenants. The application Page 6 City of Clearwater Community Redevelopment Agency Meeting Minutes October 29, 2018 period will open from November 1- December 15. The CRA trustees will be asked to award grants in February 2019. • The food and drink business must be open at a minimum from Wednesday - Saturday from 5:00pm to 10:00pm to be eligible for the grant. • The business must be located within the CRA area. • There is a distinction between full service restaurants and bars. • Full service restaurants are eligible to be reimbursed for improvements made to the building for 35% of their costs up to $100,000. They must provide a legal and financial performance guarantee that they will remain in operations for 5 years. • Bars are eligible to be reimbursed for improvements made to the building, fixtures and furnishings. All eligible expenses will be 100% reimbursed up to a $30,000 maximum. They must provide a legal guarantee that they will remain in operation for 2 years. The proposed grant program balances the legal requirements for the use of CRA funds, meets the goals of the downtown redevelopment plan and addresses the tenants' primary concerns. It provides support to those businesses that have already invested in downtown this year and support for the completion of investment that are underway. APPROPRIATION CODE AND AMOUNT: Funding is available in the Opportunity Fund 388-94893. In response to questions, CRA Executive Director Amanda Thompson said the timeframe begins when the grant is awarded. There is currently $1.3 million available in the opportunity grant. There is $100,000 available in the facade improvement program. Trustee Hamilton moved to approve a time limited, grant program for tenants in the Community Redevelopment Agency (CRA) area that have permitted or opened food/drink businesses operating on nights and weekends, that received a Certificate of Occupancy or were under active construction after January 1, 2018 and authorize the appropriate officials to execute same. The motion was duly seconded and carried unanimously. 4.5 Approve a time-limited grant program for property owners to support the establishment of new food and drink businesses that are open on nights and weekends in the Downtown Core and Prospect Lake districts and authorize the appropriate officials to execute same. Page 7 City of Clearwater Community Redevelopment Agency Meeting Minutes October 29, 2018 The Community Redevelopment Agency (CRA) is recommending approval of a Food and Drink Property Owner grant program as part of the CRA's 18-month strategy to share positive stories about downtown, attract new housing and encourage private investment into downtown. The CRA's goal is to enhance downtown's ability to serve as a restaurant destination and to serve existing employees/residents in downtown by providing more food and drink options that are open on nights and weekends. There is a total grant budget of$1 million for all the food and drink grant programs combined. In August 2018, the CRA Trustees ended the Anchor Tenant Incentive program and directed CRA staff to work with property owners and tenants to develop solutions that would support the establishment of new food and drink businesses in downtown. From July to September 2018, CRA staff has held numerous individual meetings, focus groups and conducted an online survey with existing commercial property owners in downtown and potential tenants who have indicated they would consider establishing a business in downtown. Based on the feedback received, the proposed grant program sets up a partnership between the CRA and the commercial property owner to identify building improvements that will make their space "restaurant ready." Key elements of the grant program include: • There is a pre-qualification period from November 1 to December 1, 2018. During this time, the property owner submits a list of building improvements and the total cost of those improvements to the CRA for preliminary grant approval. • The CRA will establish a preliminary grant approval amount that will provide for reimbursement of the owner's building improvement expenses by 50% up to a maximum grant of$250,000. Rental subsidy is not an eligible grant expense. • Once pre-qualified, property owners will have 90 days to find an eligible tenant and submit a full grant application. The tenant must be open, at a minimum, Wednesday - Saturday from 5pm-10pm. • Pre-qualification will begin November 1, 2018, preliminary grant amounts will be established in December 2018 and property owners will have until March 1, 2019 to secure a tenant and submit a full application. Grants must be approved by the CRA Trustees and will be awarded on a first come, first served basis. The proposed grant program balances the legal requirements for the use of CRA funds, meets the goals of the downtown redevelopment plan and provides a partnership opportunity for property owners who wish to invest in their buildings to attract restaurants and bars. APPROPRIATION CODE AND AMOUNT: Funding is available in Opportunity Fund 388-94893 Page 8 City of Clearwater Community Redevelopment Agency Meeting Minutes October 29, 2018 In response to a question, CRA Executive Director Amanda Thompson said four landlords have expressed an interest in the proposed program. Applicants would have 30 days to express interest and identify investment amount and 90 days to find a tenant One individual supported a program that incentivizes the tenant. Discussion ensued with concerns expressed that the proposed plan does not offer much flexibility and that the proposed plan was not shared with all of Council. Ms. Thompson said the only parameters included are 1) food and drink establishments, opened nights and weekends and 2) a $250,000 maximum grant. The property owner sets how much will be invested in their building. If the owner does not see value in improving their building, this program will not work for them. She said the program is designed for property owners who want to make improvements to their building to attract these types of uses. If by December 1 no property owners pre-qualify, the program goes away and staff starts all over with another tactic. Staffs priority is to improve the perception of the CRA's market. A concern was expressed that the proposed program does not help big restaurants that want to come into the area. Support was expressed to pursue a tiered program that allows many businesses to apply. Trustee Cundiff moved to table Item 4.5 (until after Item 4.6). Motion failed for lack of a second. Trustee Caudell moved to approve a time-limited grant program for property owners to support the establishment of new food and drink businesses that are open on nights and weekends in the Downtown Core and Prospect Lake districts and authorize the appropriate officials to execute same. The motion was duly seconded and carried by the following vote: Ayes:4 - Chair Cretekos, Trustee Caudell, Trustee Hamilton and Trustee Allbritton Nays:1 - Trustee Cundiff Page 9 City of Clearwater Community Redevelopment Agency 4.6 Tiered Incentive Idea Discussion Meeting Minutes October 29, 2018 The Trustees recessed from 10:48 a.m. to 10:54 am. Joseph Corvino presented a PowerPoint presentation. In response to a question, CRA Executive Director Amanda Thompson said staff was provided a copy of the information two weeks ago. 5. Director's Report 5.1 Update on Holiday Extravaganza - Madai Gutierrez 6. Adjourn Attest City Clerk City of Clearwater Recreation Specialist Madai Gutierrez reviewed the featured events scheduled from November through December as part of the Holiday Extravaganza. Featured events will include family themed movie nights, a holiday concert, merchant events and carnival. In response to questions, Ms. Gutierrez said staff is finalizing the main event flyer and will share the flyer and event calendar with local partners. The flyer should be finalized within ten days. The movies will be held at Station Square Park. The meeting adjourned at 11:13 a.m. eOrk.k.r\cr At o) Chair Community Redevelopment Agency Page 10