06/03/2019 Community Redevelopment Agency Meeting Minutes June 3, 2019
City of Clearwater
Main Library- Council Chambers
100 N. Osceola Avenue
Clearwater, FL 33755
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Meeting Minutes
Monday, June 3, 2019
9:00 AM
Main Library - Council Chambers
Community Redevelopment Agency
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City of Clearwater
Community Redevelopment Agency Meeting Minutes June 3, 2019
Roll Call
Present 5 - Chair George N. Cretekos, Trustee Bob Cundiff, Trustee Hoyt Hamilton,
Trustee David Allbritton, and Trustee Jay Polglaze
Also Present— William B. Horne 11 — City Manager, Micah Maxwell —Assistant City
Manager, Michael Delk - Interim 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 9:00 a.m. in Council Chambers at the
Main Library.
2. Approval of Minutes
2.1 Approve the minutes of the May 13, 2019 CRA meeting as submitted in written
summation by the City Clerk.
Trustee Allbritton moved to approve the minutes of the May 13,
2019 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
Kathleen Beckman said she is an engaged resident who is proud of the
city and the people who work here. She asked that City Council and all
advisory boards serve the needs of the residents and what they want in
development, which includes more options in affordable housing and
solutions to the City's traffic and parking challenges. Residents want
to be safe and to protect our natural resources, it is crucial to keep the
environment and sustainability in mind when making decisions as it
impacts the City's economic vitality.
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City of Clearwater
Community Redevelopment Agency Meeting Minutes June 3, 2019
4. New Business Items
4.1 18-Month Strategy Presentation - Amanda Thompson, CRA Director
Trustee Allbritton departed Chambers at 9:24 a.m. and returned at 9:27
a.m.
CRA Executive Director provided a PowerPoint presentation.
In response to questions, Ms. Thompson said the current landlord tenant
program will expire September 30, staff is focused on marketing the
grant program until it is completed before launching a new grant
program. Staff has learned it requires a lot of work for new businesses to
open their doors. Staff has received three grant requests, the grant request
for 1100 Cleveland Street will be presented to the Trustees next month.
Ms. Thompson said nine spaces were pre-qualified for the landlord
tenant program. Downtown's perceived risky environment for new
restaurants is related to lack of foot traffic, perception of the City's
permitting process and the cost of buildout. She said in the past, the
Downtown would attract tenants with little capital to invest in their
business. Showing progress on Imagine Clearwater, providing property
owners with grant funding and holding events in Downtown is helping new
tenants see that the risk to invest in Downtown in lessening. Staff
remains in contact with the five grants applications that were extended
through September 30, she said the Nolen and Station Square remain
interested in the grant.
Discussion ensued with comments made that more focus is needed
on parking that is available during the evenings via wayfinding signs and
continuous communication and that staff should encourage the Downtown
Partnership and Chamber of Commerce to encourage potential tenants
to invest in Downtown. It was suggested that staff at the next meeting
provide a status update on the five outstanding grant applications.
Ms. Thompson said the focus group conducted last summer with the tenants
and property owners identified the need to increase foot traffic. The focus
group was more interested in the City increasing foot traffic because a city
grant would only address one year, increasing foot traffic would address the
later years.
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City of Clearwater
Community Redevelopment Agency Meeting Minutes June 3, 2019
5. Director's Report — None.
6. Adjourn
Attest
City Clerk
The meeting adjourned at 9:48 a.m.
City of Clearwater
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