05/13/2019
Community Redevelopment Agency Meeting Minutes May 13, 2019
City of Clearwater
Main Library - Council Chambers
100 N. Osceola Avenue
Clearwater, FL 33755
Meeting Minutes
Monday, May 13, 2019
9:00 AM
Main Library - Council Chambers
Community Redevelopment Agency
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City of Clearwater
Community Redevelopment Agency Meeting Minutes May 13, 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 II – City Manager, Jill Silverboard – Deputy City
Manager, Micah Maxwell – Interim CRA Executive Director,
Pamela K. Akin – City Attorney, Rosemarie Call – City Clerk and
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 9:18 a.m. in Council Chambers at the
Main Library.
2. Approval of Minutes
2.1 Approve the April 15, 2019 CRA Meeting Minutes as submitted in written summation by
the City Clerk.
Trustee Allbritton moved to approve the April 15, 2019 CRA Meeting
Minutes 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
Bill Jonson thanked the CRA for sponsoring the Florida Orchestra's Pops
in the Park program; the Orchestra was able to use the same stage and
equipment set up as the one used in Tampa. He expressed concern
regarding closing the Garden Avenue Parking Garage to hourly
parking during weekday hours, which takes away a local retail parking
option during the day.
Karena Morrison encouraged all to visit the Shop Local for Good
storefront and invited all to visit the 600-block of Cleveland Street during
the May 31st Blast Friday event.
4. New Business Items
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Community Redevelopment Agency Meeting Minutes May 13, 2019
4.1 Approve the purchase of surplus real property owned by the City of Clearwater, located at
115 S. Martin Luther King Jr. Ave, with a purchase price of $300,549.11 and authorize
the appropriate officials to execute same.
In October 2003, the City of Clearwater acquired the subject property via
Warranty Deed, as recorded in O.R Book 13185, Page 1820. et. seq., Public
Records of Pinellas County, Florida.
An independent appraisal was performed on the property on April 18, 2018 by
Jim Millspaugh and Associates. The appraisal report determined that the fair
market value of the property is $415,000.00.
At the April 4, 2019 council meeting, the Council approved the declaration of
surplus real property to be purchased by the Community Redevelopment
Agency in the amount of $300,549.11. The City Finance Director and the CRA
Director have mutually agreed to the purchase price as said purchase price will
make the City whole as to its investment in the property.
APPROPRIATION CODE AND AMOUNT:
Funds are available in CRA capital improvement project 3887552-94714, to
fund this purchase.
Trustee Polglaze moved to approve the purchase of surplus real
property owned by the City of Clearwater, located at 115 S. Martin
Luther King Jr. Ave, with a purchase price of $300,549.11 and
authorize the appropriate officials to execute same. The motion was
duly seconded and carried unanimously.
4.2 Approve the purchase of surplus real property located at the southwest Corner of
Cleveland St. and S. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Avenue, legally described as the North
282.5 feet of the East 50 feet of Block 5, according to the plat of Sarah McMullen’s
Subdivision, as recorded in Plat Book 1, Page 41, Public Records of Pinellas County,
Florida; together with all that part of the West 90 feet of the East 110 feet of the Northwest
¼ of the Northwest ¼ of Section 15, Township 29 South, Range 15 East, which lies
between Eastwardly projections of the North and South Boundaries of the part of said
Block 5 thus defined, less and except any road rights-of-way, with a purchase price of
$346,782.89; and authorize the appropriate officials to execute same.
In August 2018, the City of Clearwater acquired the .73-acre unimproved lot via
a multi-property land swap.
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City of Clearwater
Community Redevelopment Agency Meeting Minutes May 13, 2019
An independent appraisal was performed on the property on March 21, 2018 by
Jim Millspaugh and Associates. The appraisal report determined that the fair
market value of the property is $640,000.00.
At the April 4, 2019 council meeting, the Council approved the declaration of
surplus real property to be purchased by the Community Redevelopment
Agency in the amount of $346,782.89.
CRA and city staff recommends, the CRA purchases the property from the City
with a sales price of $364,782.89. The City Finance Director and the CRA
Director have mutually agreed to the purchase price as said purchase price will
make the City whole as to its investment in the property.
APPROPRIATION CODE AND AMOUNT:
Funds are available in CRA capital improvement project 3887552-94714,
Downtown Redevelopment Fund, to fund this purchase.
Trustee Cundiff moved to approve the purchase of surplus real
property located at the southwest Corner of Cleveland St. and S. Dr.
Martin Luther King Jr. Avenue, legally described as the North 282.5
feet of the East 50 feet of Block 5, according to the plat of Sarah
McMullen’s Subdivision, as recorded in Plat Book 1, Page 41, Public
Records of Pinellas County, Florida; together with all that part of the
West 90 feet of the East 110 feet of the Northwest ¼ of the
Northwest ¼ of Section 15, Township 29 South, Range 15 East,
which lies between Eastwardly projections of the North and South
Boundaries of the part of said Block 5 thus defined, less and except
any road rights-of-way, with a purchase price of $346,782.89; and
authorize the appropriate officials to execute same. The motion was
duly seconded and carried unanimously.
4.3 Approve the purchase of surplus real property located at the Southwest Corner of
Prospect Avenue and Park Street, legally described as Tract 3 of the Plat Mediterranean
Village in the Park, as recorded in Plat Book 125, Pages 44-46 of the Public Records of
Pinellas County, Florida, with a purchase price of $260,000 and authorize appropriate
officials to execute same.
In July 1999, the City of Clearwater acquired, via a HUD grant (Grant), the
.41-acre property along with 3 other parcels to utilize in the Prospect Lake
Project for Stormwater utilities.
The City was able to complete the Prospect Lake Project on less land than
originally expected, resulting in excess land being encumbered by the Grant
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City of Clearwater
Community Redevelopment Agency Meeting Minutes May 13, 2019
restrictions. To free up the land for redevelopment, the prorated portion of the
Grant needed to be reimbursed to HUD. The City has reimbursed HUD a net
expenditure of $82,774.68 for this property and is now free of any HUD
restrictions or obligations.
At the April 4, 2019 council meeting, the Council approved the declaration of
surplus real property located at the Southwest Corner of Prospect Ave. and
Park Street to be purchased by the Community Redevelopment Agency in the
amount of $260,000 per the appraisal report.
The CRA’s intent is to issue a Request for Proposals to seek redevelopment
opportunities for the site.
APPROPRIATION CODE AND AMOUNT:
Funds are available in CRA capital improvement project 3887552-94714,
Downtown Redevelopment Fund, to fund this purchase.
It was stated that it would be helpful if staff would provide budgetary
impact information when purchasing property.
In response to questions, Interim CRA Executive Director Micah Maxwell
said the CRA is purchasing property from the City Council. The City
either purchased or swapped the property and the CRA is now buying the
property. The property will be combined with other properties for
redevelopment purposes. The CRA funds are received from the Tax
Increment Financing. Transferring the property to the CRA provides
additional redevelopment alternatives and incentives for developers moving
into the Downtown.
Trustee Hamilton moved to approve the purchase of surplus real
property located at the Southwest Corner of Prospect Avenue and
Park Street, legally described as Tract 3 of the Plat Mediterranean
Village in the Park, as recorded in Plat Book 125, Pages 44-46 of the
Public Records of Pinellas County, Florida, with a purchase price of
$260,000 and authorize appropriate officials to execute same. The
motion was duly seconded and carried unanimously.
4.4 Amend the time-limited CRA Food and Drink Grant Program for property owners to
extend the program to September 30, 2019 for those who pre-qualified for the program
and authorize the appropriate officials to execute same.
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
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City of Clearwater
Community Redevelopment Agency Meeting Minutes May 13, 2019
more food and drink options that are open on nights and weekends.
In October 2018, the Community Redevelopment Agency (CRA) approved 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.
In December 2018, nine applications were received and were pre-qualified.
Once pre-qualified, property owners had 60 days to find an eligible tenant who
was open, at a minimum, Wednesday through Saturday from 5 to 10 p.m.
At the end of February 2019, three property owners, representing six
applications, advised that it was too tight timeline to secure tenants and
requested additional time. One property owner stated that they are unable to
participate.
There was a total grant budget of $1 million for all food and drink grant
programs. In February 2019, the CRA approved four grants to the Food and
Drink Grant for tenants and one grant for Food and Drink Grant for property
owners was approved on April 15, 2019. A balance of $520,493.52 remains in
the Opportunity fund.
Staff is recommending amending the Food and Drink Property Owner grant
program to extend the program’s end date to September 30, 2019 for those who
have pre-qualified to allow property owners additional time to secure tenants.
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
Trustee Allbritton moved to amend the time-limited CRA Food and
Drink Grant Program for property owners to extend the program to
September 30, 2019 for those who pre-qualified for the program and
authorize the appropriate officials to execute same. The motion was
duly seconded and carried unanimously.
5. Director's Report
Interim CRA Executive Director Micah Maxwell said the Dreams of Dali
Virtual Reality Experience at Second Century Studios has had more than
2,100 visitors since January. Evaluation results of the exhibit will go out at
the end of June. He said over 90% of survey respondents have been
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City of Clearwater
Community Redevelopment Agency
6. Adjourn
Meeting Minutes May 13, 2019
favorable about the exhibit and Downtown. He encouraged all to visit the
exhibit, now through June 30.
Staff was directed to provide the evaluation results to the Dali
Museum Director.
The meeting adjourned at 9:32 a.m.
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City of Clearwater