11/29/2022CLEARWATER DOWNTOWN DEVELOPMENT BOARD MEETING
November 29, 2022 — 2:00 PM — Main Library, Board Room
1. Call to Order. CRA Assistant Director Matt Jackson called the meeting to order at 2:00 pm.
In attendance:
Chair Paris Morfopoulos
Vice Chair Keanan Kintzel
Secretary Caitlein Jammo
Treasurer Festus Porbeni
Shahab Emrani
Terri Novitsky
CRA Assistant Director Matthew Jackson
CRA Business Assistance Administrator Howard Smith
CRA Programs Specialist Anne Lopez
CRA Public Relations and Programs Manager Eric Santiago
CRA Special Events Specialist Vickie Shire
DDB Attorney Elise K. Winters
Absent: Ray Cassano
2. Overview of the meeting — Howard Smith.
The Mission Statement and Work Plan would be moved to the end of the agenda to accommodate
late arrivals.
3. Legal Matters — Elise Winters. The DDB is a special taxing district. Its members are elected
officials. Ex officio members can't vote and are not required by statute or otherwise. Based on an
agreement to increase the flow of information between the City and the DDB, they are
voluntarily appointed by the City and voluntarily accepted by the DDB. They are members of the
City Council, public officers, and subject to the same rules governing the DDB members. There
are serious consequences for failure to comply with laws and regulations affecting public
officers. Issues regarding conflict of interest, public meetings, and public records were briefly
touched upon. Members were reminded to contact her with questions rather than go forward in
uncertainty.
There was discussion regarding topics brought up in meetings that are outside of the DDB'S
purview. The Chairperson has the right to state that a topic is outside the DDB purview and
return the discussion to the topics at hand or move on to the next item.
4. Style Guide, DDB Logo — Howard Smith. Mr. Smith presented various examples of logos, their
specific styles and colors (Starbucks, Linkedln, PayPal) for the Board to consider in the redesign
of their logo. The new logo will be available in different formats (including .pdf, .png, .jpg, and
.eps) and stylized for different uses (brochures, memos). Colors will become standard.
5. Discussion of Items for the Work Plan - Howard Smith
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5.1. Grant Funding. Mr. Smith noted that he did a five-year review of grants in 2020, and
funding was more diverse this past year than ever. Discussion included ideas to attract new
requests and incentivize interest. Consistent communication was stressed as a key element in
this goal. Member Porbeni suggested bragging more on DDB successes. Member Kintzel
suggested a DDB website to be updated regularly by a paid administrator, including an
annual report for tax payers / DDB shareholders, and a survey of business owners.
Discussion included funding of for-profit events, noting for example that VIP section costs
are above event fees. DDB funding normally covers City costs (permitting, security, road
closings) and receipts are reimbursed as actual costs are turned in. Attorney Winters
suggested adding to the contract a final report of income from the event, where the funds
were spent to create the event, and any profit made to aid in future funding decisions of
repeat or similar events.
Mr. Jackson suggested funding should be used as an incubator for new/smaller events.
Funding should require a before event marketing plan, and an after event report. When an
event is able to support itself, funding should be discontinued to allow the same opportunity
for other groups.
Mr. Smith was tasked with creating an application in Spanish.
5.2. Vote yes or no on the following to include in updated Work Plan.
• Survey of property owners and local businesses. Yes.
• Establish a recognition award program for businesses in the district. Yes.
Chairman Morfopoulos made note of the business achievement awards at the Capitol
Theater co-sponsored by the CDP.
• Funding of events in Coachman Park / Imagine Clearwater. Yes, IF that event is in
line with DDB goals. Mr. Smith noted that Kris Koch, City Parks & Recreation, is now
managing special events in the area from Crest Lake Park to Coachman Park so
communication and cooperation with the City will be easier than ever.
• Fund services contracts:
Marketing. Yes. Does not include business grants. Is a marketing effort within the
downtown footprint. Mr. Smith suggested a digital search and algorithms for its focus.
Eric noted that little to no imagery of the current downtown exists so there are costs
associated with creating that content.
Event planning. Yes — with Vickie Shire, CRA Special Events Specialist.
6. Budget.
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6.1. The increment. Ms. Lopez reviewed the details, noting the DDB keeps 5% of the taxing
district increment annual increase and gives 95% to the CRA per the Interlocal Agreement.
6.2. Budget amendment. In January, Ms. Lopez will present an amendment to bring unspent
and non -distributed funds from the 2021-2022 budget into the 2022-2023 budget. Funds
granted by the DDB in 2021-2022 will be paid out on the standard reimbursement basis as
receipts continue to be submitted.
Discussion included reviews of current grants to ensure timely payment, and a time limit on
submission of receipts. A policy could be added to the funding agreement.
Ms. Lopez stated that she is revising the monthly financial report to include a real-time
status of all current grants, receipt and payment status, and final amount paid out on each
grant.
7. Break -Out Groups. Three groups were created to work within 20 -minute sets on the following
topics.
7.1. Mission Statement.
7.2. Work Plan.
7.3. Business Assistance.
Ms. Lopez recorded and reviewed results of each. Items will be presented at the following DDB
meeting.
8. Review of future action items.
8.1. DDB website
8.2. DDB annual report
8.3. DDB funding FAQs page, "How to ..."
9. Adjourned at 6:59 p.m.
Approved:
Date Secreta
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