02/12/2024 Community Redevelopment Agency Meeting Minutes February 12, 2024
City of Clearwater
Main Library- Council Chambers
100 N. Osceola Avenue
Clearwater, FL 33755
m
ap
® e
Meeting Minutes
Monday, February 12, 2024
1 :00 PM
Main Library - Council Chambers
Community Redevelopment Agency
Page 1
City of Clearwater
Community Redevelopment Agency on 2024-02-12 1:00 PM
Meeting Time: 02-12-24 13:00
eComments Report
Meetings
Community Redevelopment Agency on
2024-02-12 1:00 PM 13:00
02-12-24 10 1 0 1 0
Sentiments for All Meetings
The following graphs display sentiments for comments that have location data. Only locations of users who have commented
will be shown.
Overall Sentiment
■ suppor()%;
■
Oppose( 00%)
■ Neutr00%)
No F+esponsesO%i
Community Redevelopment Agency on 2024-02-12 1:00 PM
02-12-24 13:00
Agenda Name ;,g Oppose
4.1 ID#24-0151 Approve the Fourth Amendment (Amendment) to
Agreement for Development and Purchase and Sale of Property between
the Community Redevelopment Agency of the City of Clearwater (CRA),
the City of Clearwater (City), and Archway Clearwater Gardens, LLC
(Archway); and authorize the appropriate officials to execute same.
1
0 1
0
Sentiments for All Agenda Items
The following graphs display sentiments for comments that have location data. Only locations of users who have commented
will be shown.
Overall Sentiment
■ Suppore04,0
▪ opposeu00%1
▪ Neutral{0%)
No Response
Agenda Item: eComments for 4.1 ID#24-0151 Approve the Fourth Amendment (Amendment) to Agreement for Development and
Purchase and Sale of Property between the Community Redevelopment Agency of the City of Clearwater (CRA), the City of
Clearwater (City), and Archway Clearwater Gardens, LLC (Archway); and authorize the appropriate officials to execute same.
Overall Sentiment
• Suppo-n4C^'i<i
▪ Oppese{ 100%)
▪ Neutra0°0
Nc Respo,nse,, n..;i
Kathy Flaherty
Location:
Submitted At: 12:59pm 02-11-24
No TIF funds for Developers
CaII, Rosemarie
From: Kathy Flaherty <kathyipad68@icloud.com>
Sent: Monday, February 12, 2024 5:22 PM
To: Call, Rosemarie
Cc: City Council; Eliseo Santana; Jared Leone; Poirrier, Jennifer; Nino, Jesus
Subject: Re: Updated - Mercado Design to be approved is Racist in origin
This is going to be attached to todays CRA minutes correct?
On Feb 7, 2024, at 12:47 PM, Kathy Flaherty <kathyipad68@icloud.com> wrote:
Use this one instead sorry for the confusion I made some changes.
Subject: Mercado Design to be approved is Racist in origin
Rosemarie,
Please attach the following email to the CRA meeting Minutes to be held on 2/12/24.
Please confirm this will be done.
Thank you.
I see the CRA Trustees are putting the final nail into the coffin of the Hispanic Civic Core
that was approved by the CRA Trustees in 2017 and announced in the Tampa Bay Times
the next day.
<2YDBM LW I U M I6TI RQPAY4DVT77I. jpg>
Mercado and festival plaza for Clearwater's
East Gateway moves forward
tampabay.com
On 2/12/2024 CRA Trustees will, for the fourth time, consider constructing something
in this space.
On the agenda is an item to approve a useless, racist based project they refer to as
Mercado improvements. When in fact, it is a charade to cover up the FACT that the
some folks in the CRA, the City and the DDB have all worked to cancel and diminish the
approved 2017 Hispanic Street Market Project -and still are.
1
Here is the agenda-
<2805_A_Community_Redevelopment_Agency_24-02-12_Meeting_Agenda.pdf>
Here is the link to the agenda item.
https://clearwater.legistar.com/LegislationDetail.aspx?ID=6506964&GUID=BB827316-
8E20-4FD1-9285-F59167A1C168
My comments on this are -
The CRA is planning to spend @ $800,000.00 for building a non functioning shade
structure in the Eastgate that nobody wants! The CRA has used County TIF funds for the
this project too.
When the umbrella type thing was first presented to the CRA Trustees last year, Mayor
Hibbard asked about rain protection from the structure and was told by the CRA staffer
that it wasn't designed for protection or to promote gatherings underneath it.
It is a token to the Hispanic community and I suspect to the Pinellas County
Commissioners, who approved the delayed 2017 Mercado Project in 2012 and
then again in the 2018 City Development Plan. Instead of promoting a Street Market
Area the CRA is building a useless structure that nobody in the community wants.
The Mercado or the Street Market area is not listed in the Special Events Ordinances
that was updated late last year. You can't rent it.
<Special Events Ordinance 05.16.pdf>
This is umbrella structure is for an area that Parks and Recs does not even recognize as a
Park, but instead considers a Vacant Lot, as shown below in email an from Parks and
Recs Director Art Krader, aka "Arti".
Parks and Recreation Special Events Division will be responsible for handling the special
events held in this space as well as a rental program for the Mercado space.
We are working to put the final touches on how this might work.
As far as the Mercado space goes it is designed to be a public gathering place or plaza
and not considered as a park.
Of course, Parks and Beautification will be responsible for the maintenance of this
space.
I will have Ellen Ayo, my assistant, send you the correct emails for the other Parks and
Recreation Board members.
2
Arti
The Assistant City Manager, Micheal Delk, who has been in charge of this project since
2019, when asked why the Hispanic Market was denied the use of constructed Street
Market area wrote -
On Dec 19, 2023, at 11:39 AM, Delk, Michael
<michael.delk@myclearwater.com> wrote:
The Mercado was designed and constructed to be a focal point or
centerpiece to the east Gateway area community. The City acquired
privately owned property in order to assemble the space necessary to
accommodate this public space and redesign the intersection of the two
roadways.
The mercado was not built for any specific purpose intending to close
streets. As with any street closure, it will be evaluated in the context of
special event process review. Public safety and mobility are reviewed
for appropriateness. The city's investment in the area is not yet
completed pending a review of the cost to build out the remaining
infrastructure of the mercado space. We hope to resolve this issue and
move to completion after the new year.
Michael L. Delk, AICP
Assistant City Manager
It's not supposed to be anything!
So let's see why the CRA folks want to do this - it's cause the CRA has gotten caught in
diverting the Eastgate funds and resources to Developers and Downtown interest
groups. The changed the Economic Opportunity zone and are using future community
TIF payments to fund developers.
The funds that were supposed to go to the Eastgate Action Plan, a plan for economic
and infrastructure improvements are now going to the pockets of developers and all the
communities projects have been discarded.
The Hispanic and overall Eastgate Community was never consulted on the new
designed Mercado project. The Mercado name was replaced with Festival Core and this
new project was presented without any notice to the Community at a Cleveland
Streetscape Construction update Meeting on August 30, 2022.
<maxresdefault.jpg>
3
Festival Core 8/30 Presentation- plan not
Mercado for Hispanic Community done for
others
youtu.be
All actual community meetings were blocked by the CRA and Trustee Lina Texieria. I
asked Trustee Lina to hold a Community meeting to discuss this change in name and
purpose and was told it was not allowed because of a State Law banning mailings for
City projects.
Here's an email from the CRA Staff explaining the Law Lina used to say there couldn't be
any mass community meetings.
On Sep 13, 2022, at 1:07 PM, Jackson, Matthew
<Matthew.Jackson@myclearwater.com> wrote:
Thank you for the clarification. After I sent the email I ran into
council member Teixeira and she clarified that she is researching
Florida legislature specific to mailer information. I believe it is
more specific to the referendum but can provide more
information once received.
Also, I found the Mercado sign and thank you again for the
information.
Sincerely,
Matt Jackson
Assistant Director 1 Community Redevelopment Agency
The only outreach to the community was done by the CRA staff that put up two tables
outside the local laundry mat with a survey that did not even have the name Mercado
on it. Attached are the surveys . The CRA staff used the surveys for a Festival Core to
show the Hispanic Community's support for the diminished project.
<Survey Responses Festival Core Shade Structure.pdfV2.pdf>
Nobody in the community has even seen these plans.
The President of a National Hispanic Organization had to go before the City Council to
get the Mercado name back.
<maxresdefault.jpg>
9-15 Hispanic Community support for the
Mercado, expects and waiting for space since
2011
4
youtu.be
Here's the Council reaction to getting caught
<maxresdefault.jpg>
9-15 CRA Director Jennings saying Always
Mercado plan changed 8-30 presentation Lina
helped plan
youtu.be
This design and attempt to change the name was done with the purpose of diminishing
the Mercado space and the Hispanic Community. The City and CRA staff even set up a
Shill Neighborhood group to wipe it out.
What the CRA Trustees are being asked to approve is a design for a "gathering space"
for the Downtown Gateway Business Neighborhood Group. A group established in
2021, propped up by the City/DDB/CRA to show no interest in the 2017 approved Street
Market Project. This is what that group wanted and got.
<IMG_0671.PNG>
This Shade Structure addition represents waste and fraud.
NOBODY EVEN WANTS A SHADE STRUCTURE!
The real community WANTS A STREET MARKET AREA WITH A SMALL PARK that was
approved in 2017, and has been built.
The real reason for this horrible project is to cover up the fact that it's origins are based
on racism.
The Council \ CRA changed the Economic zones so the Street Market Area would not be
promoted. It's not in the 2045 plan.
Also why is the CRA all of a sudden willing to spend funds? They were not willing to pay
extra in 2022 when the plan became infeasible and canceled by the Trustees.
<maxresdefault.jpg>
5-16 Save Mercado no paving
youtu.be
It's because they got caught in their scam to screw over the Eastgate community and
the the larger Hispanic Community by taking their funds, taking away a street market
area, and trying to kill the Hispanic themed park.
They still are. This is part of it.
5
So I suggest that instead of constructing a shade structure that is designed to Not to
provide shade or rain protection, change the Downtown Economic Zones back and
admit that the Street Market area is built and promote that and most important, not
pay any greedy developers the Eastgate community's TIF funds.
The only reason the CRA Trustees are moving forward with this is to prove they are
doing something for the the community, to show they are not the RACIST group that
they actually are. This is in fact, a project that is harmful to the community.
Its purpose is to deny the Hispanic Community its Civic Core as envisioned and
approved in 2017.
<PPS Presentation 09-05-2017.pdf>
I ask that the Hispanic Community stand up and and say no to this charade.
Kathy Flaherty,
Eastgate Property and Business Owner
IR 111 TO
6
Community Redevelopment Agency Meeting Minutes February 12, 2024
Roll Call
Present 5 - Chair Brian Aungst Sr., Trustee Mark Bunker, Trustee David Allbritton,
Trustee Kathleen Beckman, and Trustee Lina Teixeira
Also Present: Jennifer Poirrier— City Manager, Michael Delk—Assistant City
Manager, Daniel Slaughter—Assistant City Manager, David Margolis
— City Attorney, Rosemarie Call — City Clerk, Nicole Sprague — Deputy
City Clerk, and Jesus Nino — 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 Aungst
The meeting was called to order at 1:00 p.m.
2. Approval of Minutes
2.1 Approve the minutes of the January 16, 2024 CRA meeting as submitted in written
summation by the City Clerk.
Trustee Beckman moved to approve the minutes of the January
16, 2024 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
Kathy Flaherty expressed concerns with the Festival Core. She said the
area was supposed to be a marketplace in the core of the East Gateway
District.
4. New Business Items
4.1 Approve the Fourth Amendment (Amendment) to Agreement for Development and
Purchase and Sale of Property between the Community Redevelopment Agency of the
City of Clearwater (CRA), the City of Clearwater (City), and Archway Clearwater
Gardens, LLC (Archway); and authorize the appropriate officials to execute same.
Archway Clearwater Gardens, LLC has requested a modified schedule of
various milestones in the Agreement for Purchase and Sale of Property, as
Page 2
City of Clearwater
Community Redevelopment Agency Meeting Minutes February 12, 2024
amended (Agreement), between the CRA, the City and Archway. Archway has
been awarded project-based vouchers for this project from the Clearwater
Housing Authority. For consistency with the voucher program, Archway is
required to complete a subsidy analysis with the United States Department of
Housing and Urban Development (HUD). While Archway has submitted all
required documentation, the timing of HUD's response may require a later
closing date which will require a shift in other milestones as well.
Clearwater Gardens affordable housing development, located at 1250 Cleveland
Street, was selected by Florida Housing Finance Corporation (FHFC) for a 9%
Tax Credit award. The project will provide for 52 one-bedroom and 29
two-bedroom units for a total of 81 units. 30 units will be reserved for
households earning up to 80% of Area Median Income (AMI) as determined by
HUD, 31 units will be reserved for households earning up to 60% AMI, and 20
units will be reserved for households earning up to 30% AMI. Archway is
coordinating with the Clearwater Housing Authority to receive 20 project-base
vouchers. The developer will continue the operation of the community garden
located on the property.
The First Amendment to the Agreement dated February 14, 2022, provided
Archway additional time to apply for tax credit funding under multiple Florida
Housing Finance Corporation's housing development programs. The Second
Amendment dated September 19, 2022, provided for an additional $3,000,000
loan from the CRA and it increased the City's local government contribution
from $75,000 to $610,000, also in the form of a loan. Other accommodations
were made in the Second Amendment assuming Archway would secure 4% tax
credit financing, but this did not occur. The Third Amendment extended several
milestones in the Agreement.
With the Fourth Amendment, staff is recommending many of the same
milestones modified with the Third Amendment to be extended further.
Proposed modifications are outlined below. Archway is optimistic that they will
achieve the modified milestones in advance of what has been proposed and no
further extensions will be necessary.
Section Category Current Proposed
4.05(b)Building Permits 3/1/2024 6/1/2024
4.05(c)Commence Construction 4/1/2024 7/1/2024
4.05(d)50% Construction Completion 1/1/2025 4/1/2025
4.05(e)100% Construction Completion 10/1/2025 1/1/2026
4.05(f) Begin Pre-Leasing 8/1/2025 11/1/2025
4.05(g)Lease Up Complete 1/1/2025 4/1/2026
6.10 Closing Date 3/15/2024 6/15/2024
7.02(a)Commence Construction 4/1/2024 7/1/2024
7.02(b)Commence Vertical Construction 10/1/24 1/1/2025
Page 3
City of Clearwater
Community Redevelopment Agency Meeting Minutes February 12, 2024
The City is a party to the agreement only as it relates to sections 3.07 and 15.18
of the Agreement. Section 3.07 of the Agreement required Archway to grant
and deliver to the City, its heirs, successors, licensees, or assigns, a perpetual
exclusive easement over the area existing as a community garden, solely for
use as a community garden. The Amendment requires Archway to execute a
declaration of restrictive covenant, instead of a perpetual easement, restricting
the use to a community garden for the benefit, use, and enjoyment of the public.
This change eliminates the need for the City to procure, manage, or contract
with future operators and users of the community garden. Archway will take on
this responsibility. Section 15.18 commits the City to a contribution of$610,000
to the project in the form of a deferred loan. This amount is considered the
Local Government Areas of Opportunity funding commitment and is required for
a project application to receive the maximum amount of basis points. Section
15.18 is not affected by the amendment.
APPROPRIATION CODE AND AMOUNT:
Funds are available and allocated in R2010 Housing- County
In response to questions, CRA Executive Director Jesus Nino said the
item before the Trustees is the timeline by three months. The community
garden is located on property owned by Archway. Archway President Brett
Green said the garden will remain and the Clearwater Community Gardens,
Inc. will continue to operate the garden. He said Clearwater Community
Garden, Inc. will be executing a new lease soon.
One individual spoke in opposition.
Trustee Bunker moved to approve the Fourth Amendment
(Amendment) to Agreement for Development and Purchase and
Sale of Property between the Community Redevelopment Agency
of the City of Clearwater (CRA), the City of Clearwater (City), and
Archway Clearwater Gardens, LLC (Archway); and authorize the
appropriate officials to execute same. The motion was duly
seconded and carried unanimously.
4.2 Approve the transfer of Community Redevelopment Agency tax increment financing (TIF)
funds from CRA project 388-C2105, Mercado-Downtown Gateway of$770,178.63 and
388-C2002, Community Engagement, of$384,583.98 to the City of Clearwater capital
project 315-C2105, Mercado-Downtown Gateway for the completion of the Mercado
capital improvement project and authorize the appropriate official to execute same.
Page 4
City of Clearwater
Community Redevelopment Agency Meeting Minutes February 12, 2024
On May 20, 2021, Council approved a contract to Gibbs and Register to
construct the Cleveland Street Streetscape Phase III (16-0003-UT) project. The
Mercado design was not complete, and not included in the contract.
On October 17, 2022, Council approved the shade structure and turf design
concepts for the Mercado public space at the intersection of Cleveland St. and
Gulf to Bay Blvd.
On September 18, 2023, staff presented an overview to the CRA Trustees that
the change order pricing from Gibbs & Register was over budget. Staff
recommended allowing Gibbs & Register to complete the streetscape project
and get new pricing from another firm to construct the Mercado portion.
The City worked with Biltmore Construction under the CMAR, Continuing
Services contract, to bid and construct the Mercado in the amount of$930,929;
pursuant to Request for Qualifications (RFQ) #40-20, Construction Manager at
Risk (CMAR).
To reduce overall cost to the City, a PO will be issued directly to USA Shade
who was paid a deposit and designed and provided structure hardware under
the initial Gibbs & Register contract, hence impractical to bid.
APPROPRIATION CODE AND AMOUNT:
A mid-year budget amendment will transfer $770,178.63 from 388-C2105
Mercado-Downtown Gateway and $384,583.98 from 388-R2002, Community
Engagement, to the City of Clearwater capital project 315-C2105,
Mercado-Downtown Gateway to provide funds for the completion of the
Mercado capital improvement.
In response to questions, Mr. Nino said a ribbon cutting event may
coincide with National Hispanic Heritage Month as the project is
expected to be completed in September. City Engineer Tara Kivett said the
"sea walls"will be similar to the edge of Beachwalk, providing seating
areas along the edge of the planters and storage area on the east side. She
said there is no planned seating under the shade area.
One individual spoke in opposition.
Trustee Teixeira moved to approve the transfer of Community
Redevelopment Agency tax increment financing (TIF) funds from
CRA project 388-C2105, Mercado-Downtown Gateway of
$770,178.63 and 388-C2002, Community Engagement, of
$384,583.98 to the City of Clearwater capital project 315-C2105,
Mercado-Downtown Gateway for the completion of the Mercado
capital improvement project and authorize the appropriate official
Page 5
City of Clearwater
Community Redevelopment Agency Meeting Minutes February 12, 2024
to execute same. The motion was duly seconded and carried
unanimously.
Discussion ensued with comments made that many individuals have
complained about the lack of shade in Coachman Park and one
individual claims no one wants the shade structure in the Mercado area.
Assistant City Manager Michael Delk said staff worked with the
community and designed a project that included a shade structure. The
item is before the Trustees because additional funds are needed for the
shade structure. He said staff is not spending funds that were allocated to
another project. Staff is looking at a higher level of activation for the
Mercado area. Parks and Recreation is working on an activation plan that
includes two major annual street closures, initially. He said staff
anticipates the project will be completed by Summer. The City Manager
said CRA staff goes out regularly to communicate with the stakeholders
and seek feedback on proposed activities and road closures.
4.3 Approve a Business Lease Contract between the Community Redevelopment Agency
and the Clearwater Community Gardens, Inc for a community garden at 1277 Grove
Street to establish anew lease for the community garden and authorize the appropriate
officials to execute same.
The purpose of this request is to enter a new lease with the Clearwater
Community Gardens, Inc for a period of one year with two one-year renewals.
The Clearwater Community Garden and the Clearwater Community
Redevelopment Agency entered a three-year lease in 2015 for a community
garden in the Downtown Gateway neighborhood. The Clearwater Community
Garden group established and has maintained the community garden on Grove
Street since April 2015.
At the February 2020 CRA Meeting, the board approved a one-year lease with a
one-year renewal.
The lease of the community garden is tied to the development agreement for
Archway Gardens at 1250 Cleveland Street. At the time of closing the lease will
be assigned to Archway Gardens, LLC.
Trustee Allbritton moved to approve a Business Lease Contract
between the Community Redevelopment Agency and the
Clearwater Community Gardens, Inc for a community garden at
1277 Grove Street to establish anew lease for the community
Page 6
City of Clearwater
Community Redevelopment Agency
Meeting Minutes February 12, 2024
garden and authorize the appropriate officials to execute same.
The motion was duly seconded and carried unanimously.
5. Director's Report
Mr. Nino reviewed recent interactions with community stakeholders. He
said the Department's community engagement activities will continue.
CRA Sr. Division Manager Anne Lopez said the grand opening for the Food
Hall was postponed in order to firm up the last couple of items; staff will
advise once confirmed.
6. Adjourn
The meeting adjourned at 1:41 p.m.
Attest
City of Clearwater
Chair
Community Redevelopment Agency
Page 7