12/04/2023 Community Redevelopment Agency Meeting Minutes December 4, 2023
City of Clearwater
Main Library- Council Chambers
100 N. Osceola Avenue
Clearwater, FL 33755
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Meeting Minutes
Monday, December 4, 2023
1 :00 PM
Main Library - Council Chambers
Community Redevelopment Agency
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City of Clearwater
Community Redevelopment Agency Meeting Minutes December 4, 2023
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 Anne Lopez— Interim CRA 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, Sr.
The meeting was called to order at 1:00 p.m.
2. Approval of Minutes
2.1 Approve the minutes of the October 16, 2023 CRA Meeting as submitted in written
summation by the City Clerk.
Trustee Beckman moved to approve the minutes of the October 16,
2023 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 Approve the proposed 2024 Community Redevelopment Agency Board meeting
schedule and adopt Resolution 23-03.
Staff has prepared the proposed schedule for the City of Clearwater Community
Redevelopment Agency meeting for calendar year 2024.
The CRA board meetings will be held monthly in the City Council Chambers,
100 N. Osceola Avenue. These meeting will begin promptly at 1:00pm prior to
city council work sessions.
The meeting schedule will be posted on the city's website, with separate
meeting notices provided by the City Clerk's Office.
If there is no action for the board to consider at a scheduled meeting, staff will
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City of Clearwater
Community Redevelopment Agency Meeting Minutes December 4, 2023
recommend the meeting be cancelled. Changes to the dates may be required
to accommodate the needs of board members and/or staff.
APPROPRIATION CODE AND AMOUNT: N/A
Resolution 23-03 was presented and read by title only.
Trustee Bunker moved to approve the proposed 2024 Community
Redevelopment Agency Board meeting schedule and adopt
Resolution 23-03. The motion was duly seconded and upon roll call,
the vote was:
Ayes: 5 - Chair Aungst Sr., Trustee Bunker, Trustee Allbritton, Trustee Beckman
and Trustee Teixeira
4.2 Approve recommended changes to the Downtown Gateway Business Economic
Recovery Grant Program and authorize appropriate officials to execute same.
On June 12, 2023, CRA Trustees approved the Downtown Gateway Business
Economic Recovery Grant Program to provide a one-time economic recovery
grant to assist business owners/tenants located in the Downtown Gateway that
suffered an economic loss directly related to the Cleveland Streetscape Phase
III project.
This grant program was originally set up solely for businesses located on Gulf
to Bay Blvd. Staff has found that there were many businesses that were
suffered financial loss due to the construction but did not meet the minimum
criteria that was discussed at the June 12, 2023, meeting.
Staff is recommending the following changes to the program guidelines:
• Extending this grant program to all businesses on Cleveland Street and
Gulf to Bay in the direct areas of the Cleveland Streetscape construction
• Businesses must either have been established prior to 2020 to set a
financial baseline; or
• If not established prior to 2020 the business must prove a year-to-year
financial loss in revenue during the time of construction.
• The deadline to apply for this grant program is March 31, 2024
APPROPRIATION CODE AND AMOUNT:
Funds are available in project R2003, Economic Development -city.
In response to a question, Interim CRA Executive Director Anne Lopez
said the grant program was directed to the business directly impacted by the
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City of Clearwater
Community Redevelopment Agency Meeting Minutes December 4, 2023
streetscape construction at Cleveland Street and Missouri Avenue. Staff
has received ten grant applications, one grant has been awarded.
She said some of the applications were for businesses that were not
established during the established timeframe.
Trustee Teixeira moved to approve recommended changes to the
Downtown Gateway Business Economic Recovery Grant Program
and authorize appropriate officials to execute same. The motion
was duly seconded and carried unanimously.
4.3 Amend the Loan to Grant Agreement with 949 Cleveland Street, LLC for the property at
943 Cleveland Street, to extend the agreement to January 31, 2024, for building
improvements to implement the CRA Food and Drink Grant Program and authorize the
appropriate officials to execute same.
At the October 29, 2018, Community Redevelopment Agency (CRA) meeting,
the trustees approved a time limited grant program for property owners to
support the establishment of new food and drink businesses that are open on
nights and weekends in the Downtown Core and Prospect Lake districts of the
CRA.
On February 18, 2020, the CRA trustees approved the applicant's proposal for a
loan to grant in the amount of$187,632.50 for 949 Cleveland Street, LLC to
build out a vacant storefront and establish a coffee and dessert shop that will
serve hot and cold drinks along with a wide selection of desserts. The total
project cost is $375,265.00.
The applicant planned to complete construction by February 18, 2021, and due
to the COVID-19 pandemic, construction was delayed. CRA Trustees approved
an extension to March 1, 2022.
On February 14, 2022, the CRA Trustees approved a second extension to
March 1, 2023, due to the continued effects of the COVID-19 pandemic delaying
progress as well as the applicant not being able to secure a general contractor
until late 2021.
On February 13, 2023, the CRA Trustees approved a third extension to
December 31, 2023, due to requirements with replacing the roof including
structural engineered drawings, permitting, procurement and a subsequent
installation.
The applicant is requesting a one-month extension of the grant for 943
Cleveland Street due to unexpected conditions, specifically the necessity for a
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City of Clearwater
Community Redevelopment Agency Meeting Minutes December 4, 2023
roof replacement before the build out work can begin. There was also a
complication with the previous prospective tenant for the cafe space who
withdrew their lease. The applicant has since acquired a new leaseholder.
The general contractor for this location has targeted a turnover to owner date in
the middle of January but would like the extension through January 31, 2024, so
that the tenant can complete their buildout.
Staff recommends amending this grant for one month to allow for the final
completion date to be January 31, 2024.
APPROPRIATION CODE AND AMOUNT:
Funds for this grant are available in 3887552-R2003 Economic Development
City
Trustee Allbritton moved to amend the Loan to Grant Agreement
with 949 Cleveland Street, LLC for the property at 943 Cleveland
Street, to extend the agreement to January 31, 2024, for building
improvements to implement the CRA Food and Drink Grant Program
and authorize the appropriate officials to execute same. The motion
was duly seconded and carried unanimously.
4.4 Discuss requesting an Attorney General Opinion. - City Attorney Margolis
City Attorney staff would like direction from CRA Trustees on requesting an
opinion from the Attorney General's Office regarding:
1. TIF rebate for projects not involving affordable housing.
2. Ability to spend TIF generated in one district in a different district within
the same CRA.
The City Attorney requested permission to send a letter to the Attorney
General's Office requesting guidance on 1) the ability to spend tax
increments in a district that were generated in another district, and 2)
under what circumstances can the CRA offer a tax rebate or refund to
projects not involving affordable housing.
In response to a question, the City Attorney said the Trustees would
determine how the tax increment is spent as part of the budgeting
process. The budget is staff led but the Trustees would approve,
disapprove, or modify the proposed budget.
There was Trustee consensus for the City Attorney to seek guidance from
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City of Clearwater
Community Redevelopment Agency
Meeting Minutes December 4, 2023
the Attorney General's Office.
5. Director's Report
Ms. Lopez said staff has revamped the Holiday Perks program, thanked
staff and those who attended the tree lighting event, and wished all a
Happy Holidays.
6. Adjourn
The meeting adjourned at 1:14 p.m.
Attest
City Clerk
City of Clearwater
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