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06/15/2020Monday, June 15, 2020 9:00 AM City of Clearwater Main Library - Council Chambers 100 N. Osceola Avenue Clearwater, FL 33755 Main Library - Council Chambers Community Redevelopment Agency Meeting Agenda June 15, 2020Community Redevelopment Agency Meeting Agenda 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. 1. Call To Order 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. 3. Citizens to be Heard Regarding Items Not on the Agenda 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. 5. Director's Report 6. Adjourn Page 2 City of Clearwater Printed on 6/14/2020 Cover Memo City of Clearwater Main Library - Council Chambers 100 N. Osceola Avenue Clearwater, FL 33755 File Number: ID#20-7798 Agenda Date: 6/15/2020 Status: Agenda ReadyVersion: 1 File Type: MinutesIn Control: Community Redevelopment Agency Agenda Number: 2.1 SUBJECT/RECOMMENDATION: Approve the minutes of the May 18, 2020 CRA Meeting as submitted in written summation by the City Clerk. SUMMARY: APPROPRIATION CODE AND AMOUNT: USE OF RESERVE FUNDS: Page 1 City of Clearwater Printed on 6/14/2020 Community Redevelopment Agency Meeting Minutes May 18, 2020 Page 1 City of Clearwater City of Clearwater Main Library - Council Chambers 100 N. Osceola Avenue Clearwater, FL 33755 Meeting Minutes Monday, May 18, 2020 9:00 AM Main Library - Council Chambers Community Redevelopment Agency Draft Community Redevelopment Agency Meeting Minutes May 18, 2020 Page 2 City of Clearwater To ensure public safety and comply with the Governor's Safer at Home order in response to the COVID-19 virus, the Clearwater City Council will hold a public meeting on Monday, May 18, 2020 at 9:00 a.m. using communications media technology. Pursuant to Executive Order No. 20-69, issued by the Office of Governor Ron Desantis on March 20, 2020, municipalities may conduct meetings of their governing boards without having a quorum of its members present physically or at any specific location, and utilizing communications media technology such as telephonic or video conferencing, as provided by Section 120.54(5)(b)2, Florida Statutes. Rollcall Present 5 - Chair Frank Hibbard, Vice Chair David Allbritton, Trustee Hoyt Hamilton, Trustee Kathleen Beckman, and Trustee Mark Bunker 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 and Amanda Thompson – CRA Executive Director To provide continuity for research, items are listed in agenda order although not necessarily discussed in that order. Unapproved 1. Call to Order – Chair Hibbard The meeting was called to order at 9:00 a.m. 2. Approval of Minutes 2.1 Approve the March 16, 2020 CRA Meeting Minutes as submitted in written summation by the City Clerk. Trustee Hamilton moved to approve the March 16, 2020 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 Karen Flaherty submitted an eComment regarding the road improvement in the East Gateway and police patrol, which was read into Draft Community Redevelopment Agency Meeting Minutes May 18, 2020 Page 3 City of Clearwater the record by the City Clerk (see page16). Jerry Maguire said he moved to Clearwater in 1970 and expressed concerns regarding Scientology. 4. New Business Items 4.1 Approve amendments to The Ring, LLC grant agreement and authorize the appropriate officials to execute same. The Community Redevelopment Agency trustees approved a development agreement on October 30, 2017 with The Ring Workspaces, LLC (grantee) to establish a co-work space at 600 Cleveland Street (One Clearwater Tower). The CRA’s investment of $600,000 in the project was contingent on specific environmentally friendly building standards, the provision of parking, construction timelines, performance reporting and office space for the city’s “Clearwater Business SPARK” program among other requirements. The CRA trustees amended the development agreement on January 14, 2019 to remove the requirement for an outdoor terrace and update annual reporting requirements. The Ring Workspaces, LLC opened in April 2019 and has reached 100% occupancy with 144 members as of March 2020. After a year of operations, the grantee has requested the following changes to the grant agreement for the SPARK membership: 1. Relocation from Private Office 210 to Private Office 205, from a 4 -desks office to a 1-desk office respectively.  2. Unlimited use and access on a first-come-first-served basis to The Ring “Main Conference Room” on the Third Floor of One Clearwater Tower. 3. 30 hours/month conference room bookings for the Ring Multi-Media, Senses, Zen Conference Rooms (Multi-Media room fits up to 50 people for larger meetings). 4. The proposed changes have been approved by SPARK administrator Audra Aja and will allow SPARK to better serve their clients through increased privacy for individual meetings and increased space for Clearwater Business SPARK partner workshops. The grantee still has an obligation to operate the co-workspace through 2024. That obligation is backed by a performance mortgage on the site located at 630 Laura Street and the performance mortgage will reduced by 20% for each year of operation as a co-workspace.  The Ring remains an exciting investment in support of downtown redevelopment goals to attract high tech businesses and activate the downtown core. It contributes to building a positive brand for downtown as a unique co-workspace designed to support a high level of health and well-being. Draft Community Redevelopment Agency Meeting Minutes May 18, 2020 Page 4 City of Clearwater In response to question, The Ring representative Janelle Branch said CDC guidelines have been implemented throughout the workspace. The layout change reduced the capacity; areas that previously had 12 seats now only have 4 seats, allowing the 6-ft. social distance guideline. She said desks have been separated, allowing 6 ft. in between each desk. The city-rented office space for SPARK will only have one desk; when the group meets, it is recommended they use one of the larger conference rooms. Trustee Hamilton moved to approve amendments to The Ring, LLC grant agreement and authorize the appropriate officials to execute same. The motion was duly seconded and carried unanimously. 4.2 Approve a design by Klar and Klar architecture for a dynamic public plaza space at the intersection of Cleveland Street and Gulf to Bay Boulevard 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 III 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. Draft Community Redevelopment Agency Meeting Minutes May 18, 2020 Page 5 City of Clearwater APPROPRIATION CODE AND AMOUNT: Funds are available in CRA Project cost code 3887552-94895, Gateway Mercado, to fund this design. CRA Executive Director Amanda Thompson and Klar & Klar representative Tim Knowles provided a PowerPoint presentation. In response to questions, Mr. Knowles said the structural engineer and Tencel fabric structural engineer have been engaged. The plaza structure will be wind rated per the building code; the fabrics will not flop around. He said Omni design is working on the Tencel fabrics and is also working on the bandshell project. Ms. Thompson said the proposed wall with mosaics will be adjacent to the strip commercial center and will have a fenced area. She said the entire intersection will be redone. Mr. Knowles said the planters will be spaced to create a barrier from vehicular traffic. Comments were made that the renderings provided gives the appearance the plaza will be located at the beach. It was suggested the renderings should depict the actual surroundings. It was suggested that solar be used for the perimeter lighting and picnic tables be incorporated. Staff was directed to provide pricing and maintenance information for the Tencel fabrics. Ms. Thompson said the CRA will not be staffing this space 24-7 and will rely on partners to activate the space. Staff does not want to set up an environment that encourages illicit activity and sets up a barrier for others who may not feel welcome or safe. One eComment opposing Item 4.2 was received and read into the record by the City Clerk (see page 17). Trustee Hamilton moved to continue Item 4.2. The motion was duly seconded and carried unanimously. 4.3 CRA Two-Year Strategy Discussion The CRA Trustees adopted an 18-month strategy to guide implementation of the 2018 Downtown Redevelopment Plan that ended in March 2020. CRA Trustees will discuss recommendations for a new two-year strategy to continue Draft Community Redevelopment Agency Meeting Minutes May 18, 2020 Page 6 City of Clearwater redevelopment efforts from 2020-2022. CRA Executive Director Amanda Thompson provided a PowerPoint presentation. Discussion ensued with comments made that diversity of experience in Downtown is needed, that the closing of the 400 and 500 blocks of Cleveland Street has received positive feedback, and that the 500 and 600 blocks on Cleveland Street need to improve in order to continue the downtown connection. In response to questions, Ms. Thompson said community policing is an allowable use for CRA funds because it is an enhancement of policing on top of the base level of service. Approximately $100,000 is spent on community policing through an interlocal agreement with the City for enhanced policing in the Downtown Gateway and Prospect Lake areas. The City Manager said the enhanced community policing was in response to concerns raised by CRA residents and businesses who felt they were not getting enough policing and felt the CRA should be responsive. In response to a suggestion, it was stated that the enhanced community policing was a result that many residents outside of the CRA felt the Downtown and East Gateway receive special treatment and a policy decision was made to use CRA funds for the additional service. In response to a question, the City Attorney said the City could have a voluntary form for business tax receipts that gathers demographics; staff has not looked into if requiring demographic information is allowed. Comments were made that it would be nice to have a workforce housing project on the Old Clearwater Automotive MLK site or the Royal Palm Economy Inn site, to work towards another Waters Edge caliber project in the Downtown core, to obtain one more destination restaurant partner in the Downtown who is known in the community and to consider a movie theater or an improv theater in Downtown. One comment opposing Item 4.3 was received and read into the record by the City Clerk (see page 18). 4.4 Approve a grant agreement with Chestnut and Myrtle, LLC in the amount of $500,000 to incentivize the construction of new rental housing as part of a mixed-use development at Draft Community Redevelopment Agency Meeting Minutes May 18, 2020 Page 7 City of Clearwater 708 Chestnut Street and authorize the appropriate officials to execute same. The CRA received an incentive request from Chestnut and Myrtle, LLC for $750,000 to renovate an existing blighted building at 708 Chestnut Street to create a mixed-use development with 5,425 square feet of commercial space,14 apartment units and 17 parking spaces. The proposed project would result in a significant renovation of a dilapidated building on a highly visible corner in downtown. The 2018 Downtown Redevelopment Plan provides five questions that serve as a policy framework for considering incentive requests. Staff has considered each of those questions when forming a recommendation. 1. Is the request compliant with Federal, State and Local laws? Yes, grants to support the construction of housing developments are legal uses of CRA funds. 2. Is the request aligned with the 2018 Downtown Redevelopment plan? Yes, the construction of new rental housing is a high priority in the downtown plan and CRA strategy. The proposed project meets several policies and objectives in the 2018 Clearwater Downtown Redevelopment Plan including: Policy 18: The design of all projects in Downtown shall incorporate pedestrian-scale elements that create and maintain an inviting pedestrian environment Policy 5: Buildings and developments should be people oriented Policy 6: Support shared parking for mixed uses Objective 4A: Encourage redevelopment that contains a variety of building forms and styles Objective 1F: Allow for a variety of residential densities and housing types to provide for a range of affordability and mix of incomes consistent with the Character Districts Objective 1G: Continue to utilize a variety of incentives to encourage the construction of new residential uses to locate Downtown 3. Has the private sector attempted to implement without incentives? The current economy does not support the construction of new multi-story housing without public subsidy. In the past twenty years, every multi-story housing development has benefited from City and/or CRA subsidy. The amount of subsidy has ranged from $354,000 to $1.9 million. Without this incentive, the applicant will renovate the existing building to create a one-story office building and surface parking lot or will demolish the building and place the land up for sale. 4. What is the expected return on investment from a financial and public benefit perspective? The applicant has proposed to renovate and expand the current building for Draft Community Redevelopment Agency Meeting Minutes May 18, 2020 Page 8 City of Clearwater a total project costs of $3.3 million, including $750,000 that has already been spent to purchase the property. The current property is blighted and has been vacant for decades. The 2019 Municipal Taxable Value is $602,200 which generates $7,346 in City/County/DDB revenue to the CRA. The proposed CRA grant of $500,000 is 15% of the total project costs or $35,714 per housing unit. Under state housing guidelines (SHIP) program, the maximum contribution is $45,000 for renovating units. New construction contribution limits are higher, and developers typically receive a development fee of 12%. Increased downtown residents are critical to supporting local businesses and providing additional foot traffic on nights and weekends. This project would serve as a model for other single-story commercial properties in the CRA that would benefit from renovation and adding residential units. Although this is not income restricted housing, it provides an affordable  rental option that downtown sorely needs. There are only two apartment complexes in downtown, The Nolen and APEX 1100, which charge $1.60-$1.80 per square foot. The proposed project will be closer to $1.50 per square foot. 5. Does the site have adequate utilities and infrastructure to support the request? Yes, there are adequate utilities to serve this site as well as multiple points of vehicular and pedestrian access. As outlined in the grant agreement, staff recommends a grant of $500,000 for 14 apartment units contingent on construction of Exhibit B. The project must receive a Certificate of Occupancy within 24 months of the signed grant agreement. The housing units must remain apartments for a minimum of five years. The grantees have provided a restricted deed and personal guarantee as well. APPROPRIATION CODE AND AMOUNT: Funds are available in the Downtown Redevelopment Fund, CRA project code 3887552 94714 for this grant. Applicant representative Brian Aungst said the proposed project is an opportunity to activate and rejuvenate a blighted property in the downtown core. The project also incentivizes more affordable housing that will serve the workforce. He said the economy does not support construction of multi-family housing in Downtown without a subsidy. In the last 20 years, there has been no multi-family development in downtown that has not either received city grant funding, FHA affordable housing tax credits and/or CRA grants. He said the city subsidies ranged from $354,000 to $1.9 million. The tax credit program is highly competitive and highly Draft Community Redevelopment Agency Meeting Minutes May 18, 2020 Page 9 City of Clearwater litigious; the Madison Point project was in litigation for over 1.5 years with a project in Largo. He said when the City agrees to invest in affordable housing that goes for fair housing tax credits, it is a multi-year process with no guarantee. He said the Trustees are being asked to approve $500,000 for a project that is in excess of $3.3 million with a guarantee that it will be built. He said he shared a proposed amendment to the agreement and restrictive use agreement to require the applicant to maintain the 17 on-site parking spaces and a minimum of 8 off-site parking spaces that will be within 350 ft. of the property. He said agreements in principle from neighboring land owners have been obtained; these spaces could be used for residents, customers or employees of the retail establishment or complex. CRA TIF funds are not ad valorem tax dollars; these funds are the incremental increases of the tax dollars paid by downtown property owners, which are the funds being used to incentivize the applicant. Mr. Aungst said there is $1.5 million available in CRA TIF for other projects. The applicant will be required to provide evidence that the requested $500,000 is being invested into the building and to maintain the 14 units as rental units for a minimum of five years, to include the parking spaces. He said the project is located in the southern portion of the downtown core; the corridor is highly trafficked coming off the beach. The proposed mixed-use residential project will compliment the future PSTA stop anticipated at the former Tampa Bay Times building. In response to a concern, the City Attorney said DDB members are elected officials of the DDB, not the City. There is no legal relationship between the DDB and the CRA. In response to questions, Mr. Aungst said the agreement requires the rental units and parking be maintained for five years after the certificate of occupancy is issued; after the 5-year period, and grant agreement and restrictive land use agreement terminate and the property will be unencumbered by any agreement. Ms. Thompson said to keep in mind that the applicant is not an affordable housing agency but private developers who are not in the business of filing income requirements that are state or federally mandated. She the CRA is getting 14 units at $35,000 per unit; the CRA could not construct a housing unit for $35,000. Mr. Aungst said the applicant is not a housing authority and he was not sure the applicant could legally restrict residency based on income; the units will be subject to the fair housing act. The project offers no amenities that would be anticipated in a luxury condo. He said the rent will be approximately $1.50 per square foot. He said the outparcel to the west is owned by the individual who owns the Walgreens; the parcel is not for sale. He said the Draft Community Redevelopment Agency Meeting Minutes May 18, 2020 Page 10 City of Clearwater developers have significant credit resources; there is no loan or mortgage on the property as it was purchased with cash. At this point, the budget is conceptual and the developers are not going to invest significant funds for something the City does not want; if the CRA does not want the project, they will go to plan B. He said the project will be concrete block construction; the smallest residential unit will be 560 sq. ft. and the largest unit will be 1,044 sq. ft. Assistant City Manager Michael Delk said the parking requirement in the Downtown area was eliminated from the city code. The proposed project would not be approved in a suburban general area because it would not meet the parking requirement. Concerns were expressed that the timeframe restricting the rental units and parking spaces is too short, that 14 apartments will not energize the downtown. It was stated that the project is not perfect but should attract future investment and good use of CRA funds. In response to a question, Ms. Thompson said the project will not go to CDB but building permit. If the applicant chooses to sell the property, staff wanted to ensure the CRA funds would be used for the residential units no matter who owns the property for a reasonable amount of time. She said a $45,000 annual income would be expected to spend $13,500 in rent annually; the applicant anticipates charging a $1,125 monthly rent. In the downtown environment, shared parking is the best solution and a compatible use. Ms. Thompson said there will be need for some type of office use because not all will be able to work from home; after COVID, some larger companies may keep a percentage of their employees working remotely. At this point, the downtown towers are almost 100% occupied. One individual opposed limiting the restrictive use agreement to five years and suggested increased the timeframe to 20 years. The City Attorney said the development agreements with Waters Edge, Station Square and Residence Inn varied from a 10-year to 20-year term. The term was not an issue because, for example, Waters Edge was a condominium that will not convert to another use. Staff can request the applicant for a longer period legally, whether the applicant finds that acceptable is a different issue. Trustee Hamilton moved to approve a grant agreement with Chestnut and Myrtle, LLC in the amount of $500,000 to incentivize the construction of new rental housing as part of a mixed-use development at 708 Chestnut Street, to include the amendment Draft Community Redevelopment Agency Meeting Minutes May 18, 2020 Page 11 City of Clearwater regarding the parking spaces, and authorize the appropriate officials to execute same. The motion was duly seconded and carried with the following vote: Ayes: 3 - Chair Hibbard, Vice Chair Allbritton and Trustee Hamilton Nays:2 – Trustee Beckman and Trustee Bunker 4.5 Approve the Community Redevelopment Agency’s COVID-19 Recovery Program and authorize the appropriate officials to execute same. The purpose of this request is to establish CRA Trustee approval of a comprehensive approach to mitigate the negative economic impact of the COVID 19 pandemic on businesses and residents in the CRA area. The proposed collection of programs is designed to provide short term and long-term support to small businesses and to support the ongoing engagement of Clearwater residents with downtown. Many of these activities were already part of the CRA’s approved FY 2019-2020 budget and have been shifted from in-person to virtual activities or moved up in the implementation timeline because of the urgent nature of the COVID 19 crisis. Direct Business Assistance Staff recommends participating in the City of Clearwater Back to Business Grant and Professional Services Program developed by the Economic Development Department. CRA funds may be used to support businesses located the CRA. The proposed budget contribution is $250,000. If approved, this will require an amendment to the 2018 Downtown Redevelopment Plan before funds can be transferred. As our community and downtown businesses recover as a result of the COVID-19 outbreak, it is important to remind our residents and visitors that downtown is “back in business” once social distancing restrictions are lifted or adjusted. The CRA proposes a variety of promotional campaigns throughout the remainder of 2020 and potentially into 2021 to highlight this new reality and as we strive to foster a vibrant, resilient and connected downtown. Among these initiatives includes a six-month traditional advertising campaign and targeted media pitch in local media outlets, as well as a paid social media campaign highlighting Downtown Clearwater restaurants and retail that are back open for business. In addition, the CRA will develop a photo and video campaign with a marketing provider featuring local businesses and leaders, highlighting why business leaders have chosen to open in downtown, why they’ve chosen to stay, and how they’re meeting the needs of our community. The proposed budget is $25,000. Draft Community Redevelopment Agency Meeting Minutes May 18, 2020 Page 12 City of Clearwater The CRA will partner with local restaurants to leverage its advertising efforts by providing Clearwater residents vouchers to dine at downtown bars and restaurants. The CRA’s voucher program will promote Downtown Clearwater’s ongoing revitalization as a dining destination by providing $20 vouchers for use by residents at local restaurants, cafés and bars within a specified period of time. The restaurant/bar will collect the voucher and submit to the CRA for reimbursement at half the value ($10). The CRA will maintain financial records of submitted invoices and payments to food establishments with sufficient evidence and documentation to meet accepted accounting procedures. The proposed budget is $25,000 which will provide 1,250 meals in downtown establishments. In the next 6-9 months, staff recommends establishing a zero to low interest revolving loan fund that can be used by small businesses to establish or expand their operations in downtown. The budget impact is TBD. If approved, this will require an amendment to the 2018 Downtown Redevelopment Plan. Community Engagement & Public Space Improvements Creative placemaking, or the integration of arts and urban design, is an important tool in connecting residents to downtown and to each other. With social distancing requirements, staff anticipates that it will be several months before large scale public events will be safe or even desirable to attend. The CRA will continue to build on its public arts initiatives and programs to provide new murals, new performance options and streetscape enhancements so that downtown will become an even more beautiful place for enjoying walks, outdoor gatherings and fun, free entertainment. The 2018 Clearwater Downtown Redevelopment Plan principles call for downtown to be a vibrant place for public expression, to enable the arts and to create a more socially resilient community by connecting neighborhoods to downtown. As our community adjusts to expectations and requirements for social distancing in the COVID-19 era, the CRA is thinking about how we meet arts and entertainment needs within this new reality. The CRA proposes a series of virtual and social distance-friendly cultural programming through 2020. Activities would include online performances, self-guided and virtual art tours, and wellness programs that highlight downtown’s assets and partner with local leaders and artists. Ex’s: A self-guided art tour of downtown’s Sculpture 360 program; a virtual happy hour performance via Facebook Live with a local guitarist; a Zoom meeting yoga session or author discussion. The proposed budget is $25,000. Staff proposes to work with the Cultural Affairs Coordinator to identify 2-4 sites for new murals throughout the CRA with a proposed budget of $50,000. The CRA Trustees and the DDB directed staff to issue an RFP for the Cleveland Street Lighting Project in January 2020. This project will be a Draft Community Redevelopment Agency Meeting Minutes May 18, 2020 Page 13 City of Clearwater combination of up-lighting and 3D projection mapping on the trees and select building on Cleveland Street from Osceola Avenue to Missouri Avenue. It will be a living work of art that will attract visitors to walk up and down Cleveland Street. Staff recommends establishing a project budget of $300,000 with a $50,000 contribution from the Downtown Development Board. Funding for these programs is outlined below: • $250,000 Participation in the City Back to Business Program funded from CRA CIP ULI Implementation 3887552- 94885 • $50,000 “Back in Business” and Restaurant Promotion Campaign funding from CRA CIP Downtown Events and Activities 3887552-94889 • $50,000 Artist Public Works Mural Program funding from CRA CIP Downtown Events and Activities 3887552-94889 • $25,000 Online Performance Series funding from CRA CIP Downtown Events and Activities 3887552-94889 • $300,000 Cleveland Street Lighting Project funding of $250,000 from CRA Streetscape and Trails CIP R1901 and $50,000 contribution from the Downtown Development Board • $TBD Zero interest revolving loan fund for small business In response to questions, CRA Executive Director Amanda Thompson said the operating budget includes funds for a utility infrastructure study; staff is working with Engineering and Public Utilities to identify the consultant. Staff will structure a grant program to build the infrastructure improvements if directed after presenting the completed study. One comments in opposition was received and read into the record by the City Clerk (see page 18). In response to a question, Ms. Thompson said the DDB funds are from the DDB district and the CRA receives an increment of that which is then returned back to the DDB, less CRA staff administrative fee. All of the grant programs are applied to the entire CRA area. An individual in the East Gateway with a business opportunity is eligible to apply for CRA grant. The Trustees recessed from 10:54 a.m. to 11:09 a.m. Trustee Hamilton moved to approve the Community Redevelopment Agency’s COVID-19 Recovery Program and authorize the appropriate officials to execute same. The motion was duly seconded and carried unanimously. 4.6 Small Business Presentation Presentation from small businesses in the Community Redevelopment Agency area on their experience during COVID 19 and their plans for recovery as Draft Community Redevelopment Agency Meeting Minutes May 18, 2020 Page 14 City of Clearwater shelter in place orders are modified. CRA Executive Director Amanda Thompson said representatives of the businesses in Downtown wanted to share how the COVID shutdown impacted their businesses. Kara Lynn said the shutdown impacted the restaurants in Downtown, with several that closed. She said she was able to stay open for 2.5 days out of the week but had to cut staff in half. She was grateful for the assistance CRA will be providing, which will help her get back on track. She the closure of the 400 and 500 blocks of Cleveland Street has been well received and had provided hope for the downtown restaurants open. She said one of the biggest challenges is getting attractions that will bring people to Downtown. 5. Director's Report – None. 6. Adjourn The meeting adjourned at 11:43 a.m. Chair Community Redevelopment Agency Attest City Clerk Draft Cover Memo City of Clearwater Main Library - Council Chambers 100 N. Osceola Avenue Clearwater, FL 33755 File Number: ID#20-7796 Agenda Date: 6/15/2020 Status: Agenda ReadyVersion: 1 File Type: Action ItemIn Control: Community Redevelopment Agency Agenda Number: 4.1 SUBJECT/RECOMMENDATION: 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. SUMMARY: 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 III 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. 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. Page 1 City of Clearwater Printed on 6/14/2020 FUNCTIONAL LONGEVITY OF PTFE DURABILITY Teflon® -coated fiberglass structures have been in use for almost 30 years, but many people continue to wonder what the actual lifespan might be. The answer to this frequently asked question, from a technical standpoint, is that we do not have sufficient scientific data to project beyond 30 years. This is based on a wide body of data on the strength retention of SHEERFILL® fabrics over the last 30 years. A combination of accelerated weathering tests, long term exposure on test racks and samples from installed buildings indicate that strength retention is well above design safety factors for strength loss. After 20 years of actual use in the field in all types of climates around the world, no loss of translucency, yellowing degradation of the coating or loss of self-cleaning has been observed. This is consistent with the proven basic physical characteristics of inertness and excellent weather resistance of Teflon® composite. Structures are designed around the strip tensile or breaking strength of the fabric. Other properties such as flexural resistance and tear resistant are also important. In the critical area of strip tensile strength, the SHEERFILL® data collected to date shows a maximum of 30% strength loss and a leveling off at that value over time. With nearly 30 years of actual installed performance, SHEERFILL® fabrics show no loss of dirt shedding, translucency, white color or other aesthetic characteristics. Actual structural strength retentions have proven the safety factors in use to be conservative. On the basis of the above we feel very confident of life spans in excess of 30 years with much longer periods of time a distinct possibility. MAINTENANCE SHEERFILL® membranes require virtually no maintenance other than periodic inspections or if necessary an occasional wash down of the surface. Because the fabric panels are heat sealed together in the factory, there is no opportunity for leakage if the structure is a single integrated unit. The need for interior maintenance is also reduced since the underside acts as a finished surface. And this surface will never require painting. The possible need for access to the exterior surface of the fabric is a consideration that should be addressed in the design phase. Tensioned fabric will easily support a man, but the location of tie-off points should be explored. CLEANING SHEERFILL® Architectural Membrane, typically requires no cleaning after installation. However, situations may exist where the self-cleaning properties of the fabric cannot be fully realized. These conditions would include areas that have little yearly rain or congested metropolitan areas where airborne soot, dust and oil particles are constantly being deposited on the fabric. To clean SHEERFILL® membrane that has become dirty, care should be taken in the choice of cleaning solution and method of loosening the dirt for removal. The only recommended soap for the cleaning operation is MURPHY’S OIL FUNCTIONAL LONGEVITY OF PTFE SOAP® Household Cleaner. Because of its excellent cleaning properties, only one third (1/3) of a fluid ounce per gallon of water is needed (one (1) cup soap per twenty-four (24) gallons of water). To loosen the dirt, only soft nylon bristled brushes should be used. FUTURE REPLACEMENT The ability to enact repairs or replace a fabric panel without the necessity of completely closing off the space below is an attribute that is important to high traffic applications such as malls or airports. Birdair maintains engineering and patterning information for all completed projects, which allows us to quickly fabricate a replacement panel, should this become necessary. In general, the replacement of a panel or bay of fabric is accomplished by tensioning the fabric over top of the existing area to be replaced. The fabric is then heat sealed or mechanically clamped to the existing structure and the old panel is then removed. Using this procedure, either a single panel or the entire fabric structure can be replaced with minimal disruption of the activities going on below the area. POSSIBLE EFFECTS OF AIRCRAFT FUEL/EXHAUST The possibility of damage occurring to the SHEERFILL® Architectural Membrane as the result of exposure to aircraft fuel or exhaust is minimal. The Teflon® coating on the fabric is inert and as such does not react when it comes in contact with a substance such as the aircraft fuel or exhaust mentioned above. If fuel is inadvertently dropped on the fabric roof it may require cleaning as described elsewhere in this report. The acceptability of this material for airport related structures are evidence of its performance capabilities and durability. Airport applications utilizing SHEERFILL® Architectural Membrane include: Year Completed San Jose de Los Cabos Intl. Airport 2001 Los Cabos, Mexico Orlando International Airport 2001 Phases I and II 1999 Orlando, FL Jacksonville International Airport 2001 Phases I, II and III 1997 Jacksonville, FL 1991 Palm Springs International Airport 1999 Palm Springs, CA Denver International Airport 1993 Main Terminal - Denver, CO Jacksonville International Airport 1991 Jacksonville, FL Royal Saudi Air Force Peace Shield 1991 Al Karaj Airbase, Saudi Arabia Miami Airport 1985 North Terminal - Miami, FL Hangar One, Tampa Airport 1981 Tampa, FL The Haj Terminal 1981 Jeddah, Saudi Arabia FUNCTIONAL LONGEVITY OF PTFE Riyadh International Airport 1981 Riyadh, Saudi Arabia FIRE RATING All SHEERFILL® fabrics are Class A for spread of flame and have smoke generation values less than 10, in accordance with ASTM E108 “Standard Methods of Fire Tests of Roof Coverings” and ASTM E84 “Standard Methods of Test of Surface Burning Characteristics of Building Materials”. All SHEERFILL® fabrics pass for substrate compliance and are defined as non- combustible; in accordance with ASTM E136 “Standard Test Method for Behavior of Materials in a Vertical Tube Furnace at 750 Degrees Celsius”. As a result of the fire resistance of SHEERFILL® fabrics, they can be used in virtually all types of construction. MECHANICAL PERFORMANCE OPERATING COST An accurate projection of the costs associated with using a SHEERFILL® Architectural Membrane glazing system, as opposed to glass skylighting or conventional roofing, is not possible, without a complete mechanical systems analysis. But there are some general conclusions that can be drawn about the operating cost of a fabric roof system. These conclusions include: • The thermal performance or heat loss of a fabric roof will be comparable to glass skylighting, but neither fabric nor glass can approximate the thermal performance of an insulated conventional roofing system. • Lighting costs can be significantly decreased by utilizing a fabric or glass skylight. But a translucent fabric skylight offers significant interior lighting to a structure without introducing excessive heat gain. This is illustrated by considering that on a bright clear day on June 21st at noon is approaching 10,000 fc outside. With a 10%T product the light intensity on the • inside of the skylight would be approximately 1,000 fc. An overcast day on the 21st of December at noon is approaching 2,000 fc and using the same %T will yield 200 fc. In most single story structures this will provide more light than artificial lighting design levels. Most shopping mall common areas are illuminated to 1.5 to 2.0 watts per sq. ft. or roughly 25 to 40 foot- candles. • The main features of SHEERFILL® Architectural Membrane that produce low cooling requirements are the low shading coefficient and low amount of reradiated heat due to low absorption. • In applications where cooling load is the dominant energy requirement, such as a retail mall, SHEERFILL® Architectural Membrane’s low solar gain gives it a significant advantage over glass skylighting. • A comparative energy consumption analysis of SHEERFILL® Architectural Membrane vs. conventional insulated roofing systems demonstrate favorable performance in cooling conditions. Much of this energy performance data can be viewed in the table included as Attachment E. THERMAL PERFORMANCE FUNCTIONAL LONGEVITY OF PTFE SHEERFILL® membrane skylights have thermal resistance values (U-Factors) comparable to glass or other glazing systems. A single membrane is roughly equivalent to R-1 (U = 1 BTU/sq. ft./degree F/hr.). Fully sealed double membrane roof systems are roughly R-2 (U = .5 BTU/sq. ft./degree F/hr.). A table displaying the actual values is included as Attachment A. For retail malls, cooling loads typically far outpace thermal performance in level of importance. CONDENSATION The potential for the formation of condensation within a structure is a function of the range in temperatures and humidity for the area and the air movement of the structure. The presence of a liner in a fabric structure plays a significant role in the expected frequency of condensation. The liner has the desirable effect of adding insulation to the roof and therefore saves energy and creates a more comfortable space. The effect of this is to cause the outer fabric to be colder during heating seasons (and therefore less heat loss from the building). The decision to utilize a liner in a fabric structure should be based on a number of considerations that includes: a desire for increased thermal performance, achieving a specific, usually lower, light transmission level, better acoustical properties, or for aesthetic or design reasons. If the decision is made to include a liner, the design should incorporate a drainage system. If condensation forms on he underside of the exterior fabric it will run down the liner into the drainage system and out of the structure. In addition, consideration should be given to introducing HVAC treated air between the fabric layers as a way of minimizing or possibly eliminating condensation. This has been used quite successfully on the Sherway Gardens Mall in Toronto, Ontario. VENTILATION Decisions regarding the ventilation of a fabric structure are governed by local building codes and the mechanical considerations and requirements of the individual design. SOLAR GAIN SHEERFILL® Architectural Membranes produce significantly lower cooling requirements than conventional glass skylights. This superior performance is a result of low solar transmission, ranging from 7% to 24%, and low solar absorption, ranging from 10% to 18% for single membranes. The net result is a product with a very low shading coefficient and a low amount of reradiated heat due to low absorption. Low shading coefficients can be achieved with highly tinted glass (black reflective glass has a shading coefficient of .18) but the solar absorption increases dramatically. The net result is heavy heat input from reradiation of the absorbed heat. The reason for SHEERFILL®’s low absorption is its high solar reflectivity, generally 70% or greater. This characteristic of the product is maintained throughout the life of the structure because of the self- cleaning nature of the Teflon® -coating. Comparative energy consumption analysis of SHEERFILL® vs. conventional insulated FUNCTIONAL LONGEVITY OF PTFE roofing systems demonstrate favorable performance in cooling conditions. ACOUSTICS INTERIOR CONSIDERATIONS Interior spaces are usually designated to have an overall noise criterion (NC), which prescribes the maximum permissible background noise level. The NC level varies from a low of approximately NC-20 in concert halls to a high of approximately NC-50 in sports facilities. Background noise is produced by exterior noise intruding into the structure (discussed below) and from mechanical systems, which are outside the scope of this discussion. Reverberation is a separate interior consideration. Reverberation time is directly proportional to room volume, and inversely proportional to absorption. Short reverberation times are necessary for good speech intelligibility. Small meeting rooms are seldom a problem, but larger enclosures such as fieldhouses, aquatic centers and stadiums are significantly more difficult to treat effectively. Generally, fabric roofs and skylights are virtually transparent to low frequency noise (up to 63Hz). Therefore, reverberation in those frequencies is well controlled. In large areas or areas requiring special treatment, the addition of an interior membrane of FABRASORB® should be considered. The NRC of the composite system is significantly higher than that of a single fabric cover and it contributes much more absorption than conventional rigid glazing. EXTERIOR - INTERIOR ATTENUATION One of the major advantages of a fabric structure, its lightweight construction, is a disadvantage when considering exterior - interior attenuation. Attenuation improves with increasing mass. Based on known or estimated STC ratings, we have estimated the dBA difference between the exterior and interior noise levels that each is capable of providing. SHEERFILL® or similar fabric - est. 10 dBA for a single layer of either SHEERFILL® I or SHEERFILL® II (the difference between them is max. 2dB); might achieve 15 to 20 dBA with two layers of the material spaced several inches apart. Single-glazed skylights - est. 25 dBA; double-glazed, if spaced well apart, up to 40 dBA. ACOUSTICAL CONSIDERATIONS - EXTERNAL AIRCRAFT NOISE During the development phase of the Denver International Airport, which has a 250,000 square foot tensile membrane roof, with a FABRASORB® Acoustical Membrane liner on the main terminal, the project team was obviously concerned with the possible impact of aircraft noise on the interior of the structure. The architect commissioned a study to be performed by acoustical consultants Shen Milson & Wilke, Inc. of New York. Their conclusion statement follows: “Our conclusion is that the proposed design satisfies the acoustic requirements for an airport type facility. The perceived aircraft noise will generally be of a low frequency character and will be clearly audible within the atrium on an intermittent basis. However, the noise is not expected to interfere with airport operations, nor be FUNCTIONAL LONGEVITY OF PTFE annoying or uncomfortable to the building occupants and will not interrupt normal conversation or the intelligibility of public address systems”. POSSIBLE EFFECTS ON RADAR Teflon® -coated fiberglass fabric was originally engineered to conceal and protect sensitive radar installations. The fabric has excellent dielectric properties and is electromagnetically transparent. But probably the clearest indication that the Teflon® -coated fabric does not adversely effect airport radar is the fact that the U.S. Federal Aviation Administration has requested that architects specify it into all new major airport control towers. FABRICATION AND INSTALLATION Birdair, Inc. has a single administrative and manufacturing facility located in Amherst, New York (near Buffalo). We typically perform project engineering, fabric design, fabric fabrication, purchasing of fabricated materials (structural steel, cables, aluminum clamping/hardware, glass skylights), quality assurance and project management from our Amherst facility. Birdair typically is involved early in the development process of a fabric structure. We offer value engineering suggestions for existing design schemes, details, budgeting and preliminary reaction load analysis. By working closely with the design architect and the architect’s structural engineer, we are able to maximize the efficiencies of a fabric roof, and reduce the chances of an interface problem. Typically at the time Birdair develops a proposal package for a project, a project management team is assigned. The team includes: a business development manager, who coordinates the pricing and technical support; a project manager, who develops the installation procedure, reviews the commercial considerations and oversees the construction; a project engineer, who analyzes the proposed scheme, develops details and provides a technical interface for the project structural engineer. Birdair maintains a staff of experienced and skilled installers that move from job site to job site installing the material described above. For projects being constructed in the U.S., Birdair typically assumes responsibility for the complete installation of the tensile membrane structure. In foreign markets where Birdair is less familiar with local customs, regulations and costing, we prefer to team with a local entity capable of supplying the proper construction equipment and skilled manpower. In this situation Birdair would offer experienced construction supervisors to guide the fabric structure installation.