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08/12/2019 Community Redevelopment Agency Meeting Minutes August 12, 2019 City of Clearwater Main Library - Council Chambers 100 N. Osceola Avenue Clearwater, FL 33755 Meeting Minutes Monday, August 12, 2019 9:00 AM Main Library - Council Chambers Community Redevelopment Agency Page 1 City of Clearwater Community Redevelopment Agency Meeting Minutes August 12, 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, Micah Maxwell – Assistant City Manager, Michael Delk - 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 9:16 a.m. in Council Chambers at the Main Library. 2. Approval of Minutes 2.1 Approve the July 15, 2019 CRA Meeting Minutes as submitted in written summation by the City Clerk. Trustee Cundiff moved to approve the July 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 – None. 4. New Business Items 4.1 18-month CRA plan Updates - Amanda Thompson, CRA Director CRA Executive Director Amanda Thompson provided a PowerPoint presentation. In response to questions, Ms. Thompson said representatives from the 1100 Apex Building communicated that the project should be completed by early September; the work must be completed by October 30 to comply with the grant. The project's delay has been associated with a Page 2 City of Clearwater Community Redevelopment Agency Meeting Minutes August 12, 2019 tough labor market. She said the weekly schedule will begin with 200 laborers on staff and end with 70. The tough market may be associated with better pay opportunities. The Mercado remains part of the CRA's overall strategy and will be addressed once the streetscape is finalized and the architect provides three design concepts that align with the streetscape. After staff review, the design concept will be shared with the community and will be used to identify partnerships. She anticipates implementing the project plan when the streetscape construction begins. Staff has met with a Downtown property owner who raised concerns with the planters on the 500-block on Cleveland Street. This block does not have any street trees but planters that take up the same amount of space as the trees. Ms. Thompson said the property owner declined the offer she provided to meet with the tenant to discuss the possibility of shifting the planters. The property owner did not want to share tenant information. The CRA's strategy identifies the need for more affordable housing, which provides the 24-7 pedestrian activity that supports the local businesses. She said the former Fire Station 45 on Pierce Street requires at least $1 million to rehabilitate for any use. In the current market, it is not economically feasible for the facility to have an office or retail use because it will require so much upfront investment. Ms. Thompson said when the Letter of Interest for adaptive reuse was issued for the Fire Station, one response for a non-profit art center was received. The Community Garden, which was the former Economy Inn site, is a wonderful community engagement program. She said the planting beds are full, there are plenty of participants and surrounding properties are being renovated. Staff did not receive a response when the Request for Proposals for housing on that site was issued. Developers have suggested that townhomes would be more appropriate for the site, which is not dense enough to support the retail and restaurant market in the area. Ms. Thompson said the current housing market for the site is soft and suggested an urban farm may be a possibility. Staff is working with the Sustainability Coordinator to determine if a temporary urban farm is possible until a housing project could be pursued. 4.2 Approve a CRA Loan to Grant Agreement for 412 Cleveland Street and supporting documents and authorize the appropriate officials to execute same. At the October 29, 2018 CRA meeting, the Trustees 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 the Community Redevelopment Agency (CRA) area. Page 3 City of Clearwater Community Redevelopment Agency Meeting Minutes August 12, 2019 On November 30, 2018, Mainstreet Clearwater Development LLC submitted their pre-qualification form with a list of building improvements for preliminary grant approval to convert their retail space into a restaurant. Property owners must commit, at a minimum, to matching the CRA’s grant funding dollar for building improvements that will be maintained for a minimum of five years. Eligible interior and exterior building improvements that were submitted included; HVAC system, grease trap, hood system, kitchen, bar, bathrooms, floors, walls, lighting, finishes and walk in wine cooler. Mainstreet Clearwater Development LLC secured an eight-year lease with Starson LLC for Roxy’s, a food and drink business that will be open nights and weekends and submitted their full application on March 1, 2019. On March 29, 2019, the application was reviewed by an internal staff committee that included the Interim CRA Director, Planning Director, Building Official and Assistant City Attorney according to the following criteria: Consistency with the goals of the Downtown Redevelopment Plan. Feasibility of the proposed scope of services and timeline. Ability to provide an experience that does not exist in Downtown presently. Ability to meet the legal and financial requirements of the grant program. The committee found that the application met the criteria and recommends approval of the application in the amount of $238,110.41. The CRA approved the full application at the April 15, 2019 meeting subject to the Borrower executing a loan-to-grant agreement with related security securing the promises contained in that agreement. The applicant subsequently executed both the agreement and the related security on July 22, 2019. APPROPRIATION CODE AND AMOUNT: Funds are available in CRA project 3887552-94893, Opportunity Fund. Trustee Hamilton moved to approve a CRA Loan to Grant Agreement for 412 Cleveland Street and supporting documents and authorize the appropriate officials to execute same.  The motion was duly seconded and carried unanimously. 5. Director's Report Page 4 City of Clearwater Community Redevelopment Agency 6. Adjourn Attest Meeting Minutes August 12, 2019 The meeting adjourned at 9:37 a.m. City of Clearwater —eortcfW4* Chair Community Redevelopment Agency Page 5