04/15/2024 Community Redevelopment Agency Meeting Minutes April 15, 2024
City of Clearwater
Main Library- Council Chambers
100 N. Osceola Avenue
Clearwater, FL 33755
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Meeting Minutes
Monday, April 15, 2024
1 :00 PM
Main Library - Council Chambers
Community Redevelopment Agency
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City of Clearwater
Community Redevelopment Agency Meeting Minutes April 15, 2024
Roll Call
Present 5 - Chair Bruce Rector, Trustee Ryan Cotton, Trustee Michael ManNino,
Trustee David Allbritton, 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 Rector
The meeting was called to order at 1:00 p.m.
2. Approval of Minutes
2.1 Approve the minutes of the March 18, 2024 CRA Meeting as submitted in written
summation by the City Clerk.
Trustee Cotton moved to approve the minutes of the March 18, 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
Kathleen Beckman congratulated the newly elected Trustees,
encouraged the City to include a line item in the general fund for North
Greenwood CRA operations, and suggested the City post a CRA
dashboard online as soon as possible.
4. New Business Items
4.1 Amend the Loan to Grant Agreement with 949 Cleveland Street, LLC for the property at
943 Cleveland Street, to extend the agreement to July 15, 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
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City of Clearwater
Community Redevelopment Agency Meeting Minutes April 15, 2024
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.
On January 19, 2021, the CRA trustees approved an amendment to the grant
agreement for an extension to March 1, 2022, due to construction delays and
the COVID-19 Pandemic.
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.
On December 4th, 2023, the CRA Trustees approved a fourth extension to
January 31, 2024 due to unexpected conditions, specifically the necessity for a
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 applicant is requesting a fifth extension; the previous request for an
extension was motivated by the necessity to provide the applicant's newest
tenant with the opportunity to design the space according to their vision and
needs. However, during the work, the applicant encountered unexpected
challenges regarding the electrical infrastructure. Upon further examination, it
has come to the applicant's attention that the electrical feed to the space is
undersized, necessitating a complete update to the electrical feed to the main
breaker to support the required power for the establishment. Addressing this
issue has prolonged the applicant's timeline for completion, and they are
currently working diligently to rectify the situation.
The applicant has been working with the city building department throughout this
process, and they are confident that they will obtain a permanent Certificate of
Occupancy by July 15, 2024. In the interim, they are actively pursuing a
Temporary Certificate of Occupancy, which will allow them to furnish the space
and commence staff training while the applicant finalizes the permanent
electrical upgrades.
Staff recommends amending this grant for three months to allow for the final
completion date to be July 15th, 2024.
APPROPRIATION CODE AND AMOUNT:
Funding for this grant has been encumbered in 3887552-R2003 Economic
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City of Clearwater
Community Redevelopment Agency Meeting Minutes
Development- City
April 15, 2024
In response to a question, CRA Executive Director Jesus Nino said an
extension was provided through July in case the improvements were not
completed by June.
Trustee Teixeira 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 July 15, 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.
5. Director's Report
Mr. Nino introduced the CRA staff and said starting next month, staff will
include updates for the North Greenwood CRA. Staff is working on a new
webpage design that will include a dashboard. He said staff has developed a
communications plan and a flyer regarding the North Greenwood Citizens
Advisory Committee. Mr. Nino reviewed recent and upcoming events.
In response to a question, Senior CRA Manager Anne Lopez said she
met with the new owners of 530 Cleveland Street last week. She said the
owners own Grahame's Gourmet Cafe. Ms. Lopez said they discussed the
repairs needed in the space and the applicable CRA grant programs
currently available.
6. Adjourn
The meeting adjourned at 1:14 p.m.
Attest
City of Clearwater
Chair
Community opment Agency
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