07/19/2006
BROWNFIELDS ADVISORY BOARD MEETING MINUTES
CITY OF CLEARWATER
July 19, 2006
Present: Joyce Gibbs Chair
Wallace Smith Board Member
Ryley Hunter Board Member
Jamie Blackstone Board Member
Patrick O’Neil Board Member
Absent: Karen Fenton Vice-Chair
William Sherman Board Member
Chris Rattray Board Member
David Jaye Board Member
Also Present: Leslie Dougall-Sides Assistant City Attorney
Diane Hufford Economic Development Coordinator
Patricia O. Sullivan Board Reporter
The Chair called the meeting to order at 6:12 p.m. at City Hall, followed by the Pledge of
Allegiance.
To provide continuity for research, items are in agenda order although not
necessarily discussed in that order.
4 – Action Items
a) Introduction of new members: Jamie Blackstone, Resident and Patrick O’Neil, TBRPC
(Tampa Bay Regional Planning Council)
.
b) Approval of Minutes– 2-15-06
Member Hunter moved to approve the minutes of the regular meeting of February 15,
motion
2006, as recorded and submitted in written summation to each member. The was duly
carried
seconded and unanimously.
c) Schedule next meeting
. Discuss meeting semi-annually.
While the Brownfields Advisory Board had much initial business, Economic Development
Coordinator Diane Hufford recommended that the board now meet twice a year, as needed.
Consensus was to change the meeting schedule to twice annually.
Economic Development & Housing Director Geri Campos recommended scheduling a
meeting late in the year to discuss affordable housing and provide updates regarding the former
Clearwater Auto site.
5 - Presentation
Brownfields Advisory 2006-07-19 1
Ms. Campos reviewed the Cleveland Street streetscape project and distributed related
postcards and maps. The project is designed to create a pedestrian-friendly environment and
will be a catalyst for downtown development and redevelopment. The first phase, anticipated to
last 18 months, was begun in June and is 8% complete. The project will widen some sidewalks,
and install new seating, plants, lighting, palm trees along the sidewalks, oak trees in the
medians, and parallel parking. Project costs, originally projected to be $4-million, are contracted
at $8.9 million. Value engineering removed the Station Square Park from the project. The park
will be redeveloped once the abutting condominium development is complete and no longer
uses the park for staging. Monthly newsletters and events, scheduled hardhat meetings, and
press releases update residents and businesses on project progress. Future efforts will attract
restaurants and improve façades.
Staff is reviewing the removal of handicapped parking from the Post Office area, which is
causing hardship. It was questioned if the sidewalks will be wide enough for rollerblades,
Segways, and bicycle traffic. Assistant City Attorney Leslie Dougall-Sides reported that state
law permits Segways on sidewalks in Florida. A bicycle path master plan is being developed.
Cleveland Street is not wide enough for designated bicycle lanes. It was recommended that
Downtown be tied to the new bridge, which is attracting walkers and bicycle traffic.
Ms. Campos recommended that board members review the July 2006 issue of Maddux
Business Report, which highlights Clearwater.
6 - Staff Report
a) Successful Demo Party March 1, 2006, for former Clearwater Auto Project
.
Ms. Hufford reported the event was well attended.
b) City Council approval July 20, 2006, lowest bid for environmental demolition, debris,
and soil removal to Jamson Environmental for the sum of $218,491.2. Minority and Davis
Bacon requirement
.
Work is expected to begin immediately at the Clearwater Auto project site after
tomorrow’s anticipated City Council approval of the contract.
c) Contract for supplemental Brownfields site assessment activities to TBE $73,830
.
The contract has been issued for the Clearwater Auto project site.
d) Engineering contract to oversee project - $50,100
.
The CRA (Community Redevelopment Agency) is using the revolving loan fund to pay
up to $350,000 to clean the Clearwater Auto project site. Once the project is sold, that money
will be returned to the fund for use on other Brownfield projects. Additional funds may be
needed to cleanup the site if serious problems are discovered. Once a cleanup plan has been
developed, staff will issue a RFP (Request for Proposals) to accomplish the work. FDEP
(Florida Department of Environmental Protection) must approve the site for development before
construction can begin on a mixed-use project that includes affordable housing. Ms. Hufford
estimated the cleanup may be completed in 18 months.
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e) Ninth annual Brownfields State Conference October 24-27,2006, Hyatt Regency,
Miami, Florida: "A Decade of Brownfields Redevelopment in Florida Past, Present, and
Future. "
AND
f} Entry for Poster Contest
Staff will enter a poster featuring City departments and partners involved in the
Clearwater Auto project.
g) Grant Funds and Expiration
All grant funds are encumbered and the revolving loan fund is nearly exhausted. Staff
will apply for additional grants, which have become harder to obtain.
7 - Public Comment
Member O'Neil reviewed TBRPC (Tampa Bay Regional Planning Council) efforts to
develop workforce housing projects, one in Pasco and one in Manatee County.
Assistant Director of Housing Howie Carroll will be invited to the next Brownfields
meeting.
In response to a question, Ms. Campos said no initiatives are available for Myrtle Street
development. The City is focusing its efforts on affordable housing, the downtown core, Town
Lake, the Gateway, and north and south Greenwood.
8 - Adiourn
The meeting adjourned at 7:00 p.m.
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Brownfields Advisory 2006-07-19
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