Loading...
01/09/2023 Community Redevelopment Agency Meeting Minutes January 9, 2023 City of Clearwater Main Library- Council Chambers 100 N. Osceola Avenue Clearwater, FL 33755 m ap ® e Meeting Minutes Monday, January 9, 2023 1 :00 PM Main Library - Council Chambers Community Redevelopment Agency Page 1 City of Clearwater Community Redevelopment Agency Meeting Minutes January 9, 2023 Rollcall Present 5 - Chair Frank Hibbard, Trustee Kathleen Beckman, Trustee Mark Bunker, Trustee David Allbritton, and Trustee Lina Teixeira Also Present: Jennifer Poirrier— Interim City Manager, Michael Delk—Assistant City Manager, David Margolis — City Attorney, Rosemarie Call — City Clerk, Nicole Sprague — Deputy City Clerk, and Dr. Jaye Matthews — 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 1:00 p.m. 2. Approval of Minutes 2.1 Approve the minutes of the November 14, 2022 CRA Meeting as submitted in written summation by the City Clerk. Trustee Allbritton moved to approve the minutes of the November 14, 2022 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 Discuss active CRA grants. Presentation and discussion regarding active CRA grants including subject properties, grant status, funds expenditure and remaining funds in each grant program. CRA Assistant Director Matt Jackson provided a PowerPoint presentation. In response to questions, Mr. Jackson said The Nolen will not be eligible to receive the remaining grant funds if an extension is not submitted by March 1, 2023. The Nolen will have to come back in February to request an extension for the cafe portion. He said The Nolen is aware of the deadline. Mr. Jackson said the business renovation grant is very Page 2 City of Clearwater Community Redevelopment Agency Meeting Minutes January 9, 2023 successful and staff would like to allocate grant funds that are not being used towards the business renovation grant program. There was trustee consensus to provide Scorpion Hall Brewing a 2 to 4-week deadline for them to update staff on the project related to the $500,000 vacancy grant. It was suggested the letter be sent via certified mail. In response to a question, Mr. Jackson said communication with the Immersive Museum has been lagging, staff has not been provided any of the requested information related to project progress. There was trustee consensus to require the Immersive Museum provide staff with information related to the project's submission of building timeline by February 21, 2023. Mr. Jackson requested direction on the white box grant program. He said the business renovation grant is very successful and provides grantees $100,000. Staff recommends terminating the white box grant program as it is similar to the business renovation grant and only provides up to $50,000. In response to questions, Mr. Jackson said individuals have utilized the white box grant program. Grantees who were approved for a white box grant want to terminate their grant in order to pursue a business renovation grant, such as Papa Johns. Emily's is working with staff on a grant but it has not been submitted an application yet. Trustee Beckman moved to terminate the white box grant program. The motion was duly seconded and carried unanimously. 4.2 Recommend approval of Resolution 23-01 to the City Council that adopts the North Greenwood Community Redevelopment Area Plan. The purpose of a Community Redevelopment Plan is to address the unique needs of the targeted area and includes the overall goals for redevelopment in the area, as well as identifying specific projects. The North Greenwood Community Redevelopment Area Plan (CRA Plan) establishes policies and strategies that guide future actions and projects of the city's Community Redevelopment Agency. The plan includes strategies designed to promote the improvement of North Greenwood's social and physical conditions within the future 20-year planning horizon. They are intended to minimize negative Page 3 City of Clearwater Community Redevelopment Agency Meeting Minutes January 9, 2023 impacts of gentrification and displacement with a focus on the most vulnerable populations who are low-income people of color. There was extensive engagement and outreach done to build consensus and provide a better understanding of community needs and the marketplace to guide development of the CRA Plan. Through the public engagement process six overriding goals were identified and the implementation strategies in the CRA Plan are organized by these goal topics, which include: Public Safety, Mobility, Poverty Reduction, Housing Availability, Quality of Life, and Invest in Youth. These implementation strategies have two primary sources of funding- Tax Increment Financing (TIF) and American Rescue Plan Act Funds (ARPA). Tax increment financing projections have been calculated for the CRA using the 2021 property tax value as the base year for the CRA; however, the intent is to base the CRA on the 2022 property tax value when it is available. TIF projections for the CRA assumed city and county millage rates would remain constant, property value would increase 3% each year, and there would be $100 million in development in the Old Bay District (accounted for in years 6-12). Based on these assumptions, it is projected that the CRA could generate approximately $30 million in tax increment over the next 20 years. Additionally, City Council approved $5 million in ARPA funding to go towards implementation of the CRA Plan. This funding must be allocated by the end of 2024 and spent by the end of 2026. People- and place-based strategies were identified and organized in the CRA Implementation Table in Chapter 4 of the CRA Plan by goal topics and include the estimated cost, funding source(s), and timeline for execution and who will lead the project or strategy. The Community Development Board, in its capacity as the Local Planning Agency, reviewed the proposed North Greenwood Community Redevelopment Area Plan at a public hearing on December 20, 2022, and unanimously recommended approval of Resolution No. 23-01 to City Council. However, after the meeting of the Community Development Board, the city received comments from Pinellas County staff that required changes to the CRA Plan before it is presented to the City Council. The changes include a correction to the county millage rate, which resulted in an update to Table 11 TIF Projections and Appendix C Tax Increment Projection. Appendix E TIF Expenditures was added to address several County staff comments and includes a narrative covering how the projects and strategies connect to the Finding of Necessity Study and that the city will not incur debt as a result of this CRA. Appendix E also includes tables that were created from the existing Tables 14 and 15 to show only items funded by TIF dollars and specifically identify which projects and strategies that will be funded by County TIF dollars. The total projected TIF increment as well as the total proposed TIF expenditure for each year over the first ten years is included in the tables. The Community Redevelopment Agency has the authority and responsibility to make a recommendation on the proposed North Greenwood Community Redevelopment Area Plan to the City Council. The Council has the authority for the final decision on plan adoption. Page 4 City of Clearwater Community Redevelopment Agency Meeting Minutes January 9, 2023 Planning Division Manager Jayme Lopko provided a PowerPoint presentation. In response to questions, Ms. Lopko said privately-owned streets are driveways, there are two or three in the city. The rehabilitation of existing single-family homes was a highlight from the engagement response. She said there are strategies to develop new housing, focusing on infill and small scale. Tables 14 and 15 list the monies set aside needed to accomplish the identified strategy. She said the only funding source that is set in stone is the TIF. The one-time emergency assistance line item could be used for items a low-income household would need to get to work or get a child to school. The one-time emergency assistance funds can only for citizens, not non-profits or businesses. If Citizens Advisory Committee members are elected, the CRA staff would hold the election. Ms. Lopko said three of the nine-member South St. Petersburg CRA are appointed by the Board of County Commissioners. CRA Executive Director Jaye Matthews said she could pull best practices from the Baltimore CRA and bring back to the Trustees. In response to questions, Ms. Lopko said the Trustees need to determine the number of members that will comprise the Citizens Advisory Committee and determine if the members will be appointed or elected. The City Attorney said the plan identifies a 5-member advisory board, three of which will be elected by the voters in the area and two appointed by the City Council. He recommended the Trustees take the time to talk about the membership and discuss the County's request to increase the membership and to determine what the county commission feels comfortable pursuing. He said the redevelopment plan does not specify any stipends for the advisory board members. Ms. Lopko said if Council approves the plan, the next step would be to take the plan to the Board of County Commission for approval. The City Attorney said council can make alterations before Thursday. The item before the Trustees is to approve a redevelopment plan which is materially different than the one presented today. He said the governance structure in the presentation is not the same governance structure articulated in the plan. Planning and Development Director Gina Clayton said if the Trustees are not comfortable with elected members and prefer the members be appointed, staff recommends directing staff to implement the change before the council meeting. Ms. Lopko said the staggered terms and the stipend can be addressed when the bylaws are created. Ms. Clayton said the stipend would come from CRA funds. Ms. Lopko said the County has requested to increase Page 5 City of Clearwater Community Redevelopment Agency Meeting Minutes January 9, 2023 the membership to seven, with two appointed by the county. Staff did not want to see prospective residents interested in serving on the committee to be a detriment because they work, the small stipend could offset their ability to serve. The City Attorney said stipends are not given to current advisory board members. The stipend could be paid through the CRA as an administrative cost, he raised concerns with potential tax issues. Ms. Lopko said since the trust fund will require two readings, approval the plan can be delayed to February 2, 2023 without it impacting the county approval. Ms. Clayton said if the County Commission does not approve the plan by May, the TIF will not go into effect for another year. One individual spoke in support and stated that the steering committee did not request the stipend. She said the stipend was added to cover some of the campaign costs associated with running an election. She expressed concerns with increasing the citizen advisory committee to seven as it will be difficult to find five individuals willing to serve. The St. Petersburg CRA has difficulty filling seats for their 9-member board. Trustee Beckman moved to recommend approval of Resolution 23-01 to the City Council that adopts the North Greenwood Community Redevelopment Area Plan and change the governance to appoint five members, three by City Council and two by Pinellas County, with staggered terms and no stipend to be included in the bylaws. The motion was duly seconded and carried unanimously. 5. Director's Report CRA Executive Director Jaye Matthews reviewed a recent article in the Business Observer about Downtown Clearwater. Special Events Coordinator Vickie Shire provided a PowerPoint presentation regarding the recent events and community partnerships for the 2022 Holiday Extravaganza. Dr. Matthews reviewed upcoming events and said staff is evaluating the CRA grants to determine what is working and the requirements needed to revamp the grants program. She will meet business owners on Thursdays in February to seek their feedback and suggestions. Staff is working on programming Station Square Park this Spring. She said some of the furniture will be stored away as it is not fully utilized at all times. Staff is working collaboratively to program the Pinellas Trail. Trustee Beckman expressed concerns with a citizen's complaints related Page 6 City of Clearwater Community Redevelopment Agency Meeting Minutes 6. Adjourn Attest January 9, 2023 to overflowing dumpsters near drains that should be addressed by code enforcement and requested consideration to instruct Solid Waste to conduct daily trash pickups. Trustee Beckman said there was a suggestion for the Market Marie to have an electronic sign near Myrtle Avenue to direct attendees to Station Square Park. It was stated that sign would be located on Myrtle and Court Street (SR 60) and would require the Florida Department of Transportation to approve. Trustee Beckman questioned the activity on the comer of Martin Luther King, Jr. Avenue and Gulf to Bay Boulevard; she noted a large sign depicting potential development. In response to questions, Deputy Police chief Michael Walek said the homeless count is conducted once a month. Kathy Hamm, the Department's Police Social Services Specialist, uses all available resources. He said he would get additional information regarding the definition for a new subject and where the funds are being received to provide assistance. CRA Assistant Director Matt Jackson said 60 S. Washington project has been resubmitted with significant changes noted in the sources of funds. The project was not ready to move forward today. The meeting adjourned at 2:30 p.m. ,\``acv EL W M -ii QEA R ..;4 �� CORPORATE 'r . 115 SEAL ;gg so so fliorntr City of Clearwater tinair Community Redevelopment Agency Page 7