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06/15/2020 Community Redevelopment Agency Meeting Minutes June 15, 2020 City of Clearwater Main Library- Council Chambers 100 N. Osceola Avenue Clearwater, FL 33755 e e Meeting Minutes Monday, June 15, 2020 9:00 AM Main Library - Council Chambers Community Redevelopment Agency Page 1 City of Clearwater Community Redevelopment Agency Meeting Minutes June 15, 2020 Citizens wishing to provide comments on an agenda item are encouraged to do so in advance through written comment. The City has established the following three options to ensure public comment for a virtual meeting: 1) eComments via Granicus - eComments is integrated with the published meeting agenda. Individuals may review the agenda item details and indicate their position on the item. You will be prompted to set up a user profile to allow you to comment, which will become part of the official public record. The eComment period is open from the time the agenda is published. Comments received during the meeting will become part of the official record, if posted prior to the closing of public comment. The City Clerk will read received comments into the record. 2) Email — Individuals may submit written comments or videos to ClearwaterCRA@myclearwater.com. All comments received by 5 p.m. the day before the meeting (June 14) will become part of the official record. The City Clerk will read received comments into the record. 3) Council Chambers -Additionally, like any other council meeting, the public may provide public comment at the Main Library, Council Chambers, 100 N Osceola Avenue. Due to COVID-19, all speakers desiring to appear in person will be subject to all applicable emergency measures in place to prevent the further spread of COVID-19. Speakers who appear in person will be subject to screening for symptoms of COVID-19. Any persons exhibiting any symptoms of COVID-19 will not be permitted to enter council chambers but will be able to participate through the remote options described above. Individuals with disabilities who need reasonable accommodations to effectively participate in this meeting are asked to contact the City Clerk at (727)562-4092 or rosemarie.call@myclearwater.com in advance. Rollcall Present 5 - Chair Frank Hibbard, Trustee David Allbritton, Trustee Hoyt Hamilton, Trustee Kathleen Beckman, and Trustee Mark Bunker Also Present— William B. Horne 11 — City Manager, Micah Maxwell —Assistant City Manager, Michael Delk - Assistant City Manager, Pamela K. Akin — City Attorney, Rosemarie Call — City Clerk 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 Hibbard The meeting was called to order at 9:06 a.m. in Council Chambers at the Main Library. Page 2 City of Clearwater Community Redevelopment Agency Meeting Minutes June 15, 2020 2. Approval of Minutes 2.1 Approve the minutes of the May 18, 2020 CRA Meeting as submitted in written summation by the City Clerk. Trustee Hamilton moved to approve the minutes of the May 18, 2020 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 a design by Klar and Klar architecture for a dynamic public plaza space at the intersection of Cleveland Street and Gulf to Bay Blvd to be incorporated within the larger Cleveland Street Streetscaping Phase III project. The purpose of this item is to request that the CRA Trustees approve the final design, "Scheme C," for the Mercado/Festival Plaza public space in the Downtown Gateway neighborhood. The plaza will be integrated into the Streetscape Phase II I construction work that will begin this fall. There is an established project budget of$500,000 from County TIF funds to build the plaza. Staff hosted two neighborhood meetings on February 27, 2020 with a total of 30 attendees. Klar & Klar Architects presented three concept designs for the Festival Plaza and solicited feedback from attendees. An online survey including the concept designs was conducted as well with a total of 17 responses. When asked which concept respondents preferred, there was an even split between the three options with a desire to choose colors and a design that would be memorable. Respondents also requested to see more color options, to provide built-in activities (like chess), to provide more shade, more landscaping and sustainability features. Residents also requested a fountain or sculpture that honored the story and people in the Downtown Gateway. At the March 16, 2020 CRA meeting, the CRA Trustees directed staff to select the design that best reflected the Mexican heritage of the neighborhood and to prepare more color options. Based on this feedback, staff directed Klar& Klar to further develop the design for "Scheme C" to incorporate the trustees' and residents' suggestions. The final design is a contemporary version of the type of covered plaza found in traditional squares in Mexico. It provides a flexible event space, ample shade, places for landscaping to be added and vibrant colors. Due to high maintenance costs, it was not possible to provide a fountain. In lieu of a fountain or sculpture, staff is proposing to hire an artist to work with the community to create a mosaic wall that tells the stories of the people of the Downtown Gateway once the plaza is constructed. Page 3 City of Clearwater Community Redevelopment Agency Meeting Minutes June 15, 2020 Update May 27, 2020 -At the request of the CRA Trustees, the Engineering Department has prepared two images that place the proposed design into Google street view to show how the pavilion will appear in the neighborhood. Note this does not incorporate the full streetscape improvements. It was not possible to show those within the requested deadline and budget. APPROPRIATION CODE AND AMOUNT: Funds are available in the CRA project cost code 3887552-94895, Gateway Mercado, to fund this design. CRA Executive Director Amanda Thompson provided a PowerPoint presentation. She said staff will work with Duke Energy regarding the available solar lighting options during the construction/bid phase. In response to question, Ms. Thompson said bollards will be installed along the edge to prevent vehicular traffic. The design includes planters and colored pavement. Planters will also be included in the design. CRA staff will find partners in the community to provide programming. Staff is considering hiring an artist to work with the community on a mural/mosaic/tile wall that is representative of the community. She said community leaders will have a key to access the stored furniture when they are ready to activate the space. Ms. Thompson said there is a provider that serves populations experiencing homelessness one block away from the plaza. It is not ideal to have any one population dominate the space, permanent furniture would encourage groups to congregate. The construction budget is $500,000, streetscaping includes planted trees and planters. She said the pavilion structure and design was taken from plazas in Mexico. The roadway pattern will be reduced to two travel lanes, there will be bicycles lanes, on-street parking, and widened sidewalks. The on-street parking will be alternating throughout. Ms. Thompson said each of the planters also act as a bench, the eight large planters are wide enough to sit on. Staff is trying to balance the space for users who requested a wide-open space for various types of events and for the event partners who need to program the space with a stage and seating. In response to a concern, the City Manager said homelessness is a continuous management challenge for staff. The space will be set-up and operated as described and adjustments will be made to ensure all have access to the space and an opportunity to enjoy it, which may require additional maintenance costs. Staff will work with the homeless population to ensure they understand staffs expectations. Page 4 City of Clearwater Community Redevelopment Agency Meeting Minutes June 15, 2020 Trustee Allbritton moved to approve a design by Klar and Klar architecture for a dynamic public plaza space at the intersection of Cleveland Street and Gulf to Bay Blvd to be incorporated within the larger Cleveland Street Streetscaping Phase III project. The motion was duly seconded and carried unanimously. 5. Director's Report 6. Adjourn CRA Executive Director Amanda Thompson said, in terms of the 2 -year Strategy discussion that will continue in August, staff will need direction on the park's anticipated programming. The staffs approach will be different if the Trustees envision a downtown entertainment district versus a place to live if employed within five miles, or a mixture of both. She said the kinds of programming and partnerships staff will target will be based on that. Ms. Thompson said the CRA normally funds $100,000 towards Blast Friday events and given the COVID-19 pandemic, staff is beginning to think about future events and how they can be held while meeting social distancing requirements. Ruth Eckerd Hall is not open to modifying the current agreement as it outlines a model that ensures a quality event that covers the cost. Staff was directed to schedule a discussion on the future of Blast Fridays. Ms. Thompson said the restaurant voucher program launches July 1, 2020; 1,669 residents have signed up to receive vouchers. The program has been very popular despite no advertising. She said ten restaurants are participating in the program. The meeting adjourned at 9:30 a.m. ��mnnm�u T air Attest °••Ao� T mmunity Redevelopment Agency U4'Ciktethk-- �ft.COR* PORATE 00, City Clerk -�%SEAL)2I IIIiFl owar"„.���� tow Page 5 City of Clearwater