11/02/2022s
CLEARWATER DOWNTOWN DEVELOPMENT BOARD MEETING
November 2, 2022 — 5:30 PM — City Council Chambers
1. Call to Order. Chair Morfopoulos called the meeting to order at 5:30 pm.
In attendance:
Chair Paris Morfopoulos
Vice Chair Keanan Kintzel
Shahab Emrani
Ray Cassano
Terri Novitsky
Ex officio Member Mark Bunker
Ex officio Member Lina Teixeira
CRA Assistant Director Matthew Jackson
CRA Business Assistance Administrator Howard Smith
CRA Public Relations and Programs Manager Eric Santiago
CRA Programs Specialist Anne Lopez
DDB Attorney Elise K. Winters
Absent: Treasurer Festus Porbeni
Secretary Caitlein Jammo
2. Minutes of the October meeting
2.1. Upon motion duly made by Member Cassano, seconded by Member Emrani, and carried
unanimously, the minutes of the October 5, 2022, meeting were approved.
3. Citizens to be heard regarding items not on the agenda. None.
4. New Business Items
4.1. September 2022 Financial Statement. Upon motion duly made by Member Emrani,
seconded by Member Novitsky, and carried unanimously, the September 2022 financial
statement was approved.
4.2. Imagine Clearwater update. Kris Koch, discussed his new position as Downtown Core
General Manager with the restructured City of Clearwater Parks & Recreation Department.
His responsibilities include programming for the area from Crest Lake Park to Coachman
Park and management of the amphitheater through the agreement with Ruth Eckerd Hall. He
commented on large events coming to downtown, parking and transportation for those
events, and street musicians/buskers outside of the events to create a cohesive experience
within Downtown. He gave an overview of programming for Imagine Clearwater and plans
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to support funding needs for events in Coachman Park. He invited the DDB to contact him
for an on-site tour.
4.3. Hispanic Outreach Center (HOC) Dinner with Santa funding request in an amount not
to exceed $5,500 as requested and as recommended by staff. Eric Santiago reviewed the
application and introduced Virginia Obando of the HOC to provide additional information
and respond to questions. Upon motion duly made by Member Kintzel, seconded by
Member Emrani, and carried unanimously, the funding request for HOC's Dinner with
Santa in an amount not to exceed $5,500 was approved.
4.4. Tiny Paws Daycare LLC "A Very Canine Christmas" pet parade funding request in
an amount not to exceed $9,450 as requested and as recommended by staff. Mr. Smith
reviewed the application and introduced Amy Kirkpatrick of Tiny Paws to provide
additional information and respond to questions. Upon motion duly made by Member
Emrani, seconded by Member Cassano, and carried unanimously, the funding request for
Tiny Paws Daycare LLC "A Very Canine Christmas" pet parade in an amount not to exceed
$9,450 was approved.
4.5. Party Pirates on the Rocks flotilla event funding request, $30,502.34 requested and
$26,352.34 recommended by staff. Mr. Smith reviewed the application and introduced
Stacy Myers of Party Pirates and Jake Postorino of Timeless Entertainment to provide
additional information and respond to questions. Upon motion duly made by Member
Cassano, seconded by Member Novitsky, and carried unanimously, the funding request for
Party Pirates on the Rocks flotilla event in an amount not to exceed $26,352.34 was
approved.
4.6. Community Redevelopment Agency (CRA) Holiday Extravaganza funding request of
$25,000.00, as requested and as recommended by staff. Ms. Lopez introduced the issue,
including tree lighting November 30 and snow on Cleveland Street. Upon motion duly made
by Member Kintzel, seconded by Member Emrani, and carried unanimously, the funding
request for CRA Holiday Extravaganza in the amount of $25,000 was approved.
4.7. Update on DDB grant funding application process. Mr. Smith introduced Attorney
Winters who spoke on two matters:
The grant for Halloqueen was approved for a partnership of Casey Gilger and Jessica
Veguez who have now formed Pinellas Girl Gang LLC. Upon motion duly made by
Member Kintzel, seconded by Member Cassano, and carried unanimously, the assignment
of the Halloqueen funding grant by the partnership to Pinellas Girl Gang LLC was
approved.
Attorney Winters also reviewed the status of last year's Downtown Clearwater Merchant's
Association, Inc. ("DCMA") grant which included funding for a contract between the
DCMA and Catalyst Tampa Bay, Inc. ("Catalyst") to create and execute a marketing plan.
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The DDB is unable to pay the Catalyst invoices because no written contract was entered into
between DCMA and Catalyst, no marketing plan was presented to the DDB, and the
invoices presented were insufficient to justify payment. Without a contract in place, Catalyst
did provide substantial services within the intention of the grant. Before the DDB can make
any payment, corrected invoices with supporting documentation must be submitted. Even
after that is done, the DDB will have to consider approval of revised requirements under the
grant and payment in the subsequent budget year before payment, if approved, can be made.
DCMA and Catalyst, with advice from CRA staff, are working to provide the necessary
invoices and documentation.
Mr. Smith reviewed the funding process that follows submission of an application for
funding. Additional discussion will take place at the DDB Work Session on a date to be
determined.
5. Old Business
5.1. Update on DDB election. Ms. Lopez reviewed the details of the election and announced the
names of those elected: Chiara Zaniboni (155 votes); Keanan Kintzel (152 votes); and
Shahab Emrani (151 votes).
5.2. CRA update. Mr. Jackson announced that newly hired CRA Director Dr. Jennifer "Jaye"
Matthews will begin December 5, 2022. The next CRA quarterly meeting will take place
November 16, 2022, at 9:00 am; all stakeholders are invited. He noted that Ms. Shire is
programming several smaller events in Station Square Park around the larger events to
activate that area and encouraged everyone to participate when possible. He gave special
thanks to the CRA staff for their continued dedication and professionalism.
6. Chair's Report.
• Clearwater Sangria Festival - November 5, noon -11 pm at Cleveland Street and Garden
Avenue
• The Big Cleanup Clearwater - November 7-12, visit thebigcleanupclearwater.com to
register and to learn more about clean-up sites across the city
• Food Truck Thursday - November 10, 11:30 am -2:00 pm at Station Square Park featuring
Cal's Soul Food and Forge Wood Fire Pizza
• The Market Marie - November 12, 10 am -2 pm at their new location: Cleveland Street and
Garden Avenue
• Bottoms Up Block Party - November 19, 1-7 pm at Cleveland Street and Garden Avenue
• City of Clearwater Tree Lighting Ceremony - November 30, 6-8:30 pm. Kick off the
holiday season in Station Square Park
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• Holiday Extravaganza. Visit downtownclearwater.com/holidays to see the full
Holiday Season Guide and learn more about special events, activities, performances,
decorations, and other festive offerings.
• Daydreaming: Niki Butcher's Hand Painted Photography — open through February 24,
2023, at the Clearwater Public Library. Free to the public.
Details and full calendar of events at www.downtownclearwater.com .
7. Board Members to be heard
Member Cassano is very happy that, for the second month in a row, the DDB has funded four
projects to help bring people downtown. Thanks to the CRA staff for their dedication.
Member Emrani is happy to see the progress from last year's holiday season, including the
number of events funded. Thanks to the CRA staff.
Member Kintzel was very impressed with the amount of people at the salsa festival and the
prospect of its expansion.
Member Novitsky said it's great to see downtown turning into a place that people want to come
to. She and looks forward to a bright future.
Ms. Teixeira stated that the Mayor has spearheaded an effort for the City Council to educate the
community on the upcoming referendum issues, "Salsa in the District was a feast for the senses"
and a glimpse of what downtown Clearwater should be. She enjoyed the many offerings of the
Day of the Dead events. She thanked the Hispanic community for their vibrancy and the
communication of their culture.
Mr. Bunker asked all to vote "yes for Clearwater".
8. Adjourned at 7:03 p.m.
Approved:
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