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01/13/2025 Community Redevelopment Agency Meeting Minutes January 13, 2025 City of Clearwater Main Library- Council Chambers 100 N. Osceola Avenue Clearwater, FL 33755 m ap ® e Meeting Minutes Monday, January 13, 2025 1 :00 PM Main Library - Council Chambers Community Redevelopment Agency Page 1 City of Clearwater Community Redevelopment Agency Meeting Minutes January 13, 2025 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, 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 The meeting was called to order at 1:00 p.m. 2. Approval of Minutes 2.1 Approve the minutes of the December 16, 2024 CRA meeting as submitted in written summation by the City Clerk. Trustee Teixeira moved to approve the minutes of the December 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 Kathleen Beckman inquired on the status of filling the vacancy for the Economic Development Director position. 4. New Business Items 4.1 Present January Business Spotlight: Ice Cold Air Discount Auto Repair Ice Cold Air Discount Auto Repair as the first recipient of the Business Spotlight Program. With over five decades of operation, Ice Cold Air Discount Auto Repair has become a cornerstone of our local business community. The owner plays an integral role in daily operations, working on-site six days a week to ensure exceptional service and customer satisfaction. Page 2 City of Clearwater Community Redevelopment Agency Meeting Minutes January 13, 2025 Beyond their business efforts, Ice Cold Air Discount Auto Repair exemplifies community commitment. Notably, they recently partnered with Toys for Tots to bring joy to local children in need. The business also prioritizes customer education, empowering clients with knowledge about vehicle maintenance and long-term care. STRATEGIC PRIORITY: 2.1 Strengthen public-private initiatives that attract, develop, and retain diversified business sector. 3.1 Support neighborhood identity through services and programs that empower community pride and belonging. CRA Specialist Julia Baltas provided a video presentation. 4.2 Amend the Loan to Grant Agreement with 949 Cleveland Street, LLC for the property at 943 Cleveland Street, to extend the agreement through July 15, 2025, 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. 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. Page 3 City of Clearwater Community Redevelopment Agency Meeting Minutes January 13, 2025 On December 4, 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. On April 15, 2024, the CRA Trustees approved 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. On November 14, 2024, the applicant requested a sixth extension; after securing a sushi and raw bar operator earlier this year, they unfortunately lost that tenant due to unforeseen financial constraints. However, they found and secured a new tenant who is committed to launching their business in the cafe space. The new tenant has signed the lease and paid the deposit. One of the key delays is electrical power to the cafe space, which is essential for the tenant to begin their preparations. Electrical work in the space has now been completed and been assigned a Duke Energy Designer. They were provided with a time of 2-10 weeks to have power on at the cafe and estimate being fully operational by March 2025. While Cleveland Street Market did not sustain direct physical damage from either Hurricane Helene or Hurricane Milton, the dual impact of these storms has significantly delayed their project's timeline due to resource shortages and infrastructure challenges. Given the unforeseen delays caused by the hurricanes, power restoration challenges, and tenant transition, Staff recommends amending this grant for six months to allow for the final completion date to be July 15, 2025. CRA staff has reached out to the business owner; Roy Harris and he feels confident he can be open prior to the deadline. Staff will be working directly with the Regional Manager of Cleveland Street Market to make sure they follow their timeline. APPROPRIATION CODE AND AMOUNT: Funding for this grant has been encumbered in 3887552-R2003 Economic Development- City STRATEGIC PRIORITY: 2.1 Strengthen public-private initiatives that attract, develop, and retain diversified business sectors. 2.2 Cultivate a business climate that welcomes entrepreneurship, inspires local investment, supports Eco-friendly enterprises, and encourages high-quality and high-quality job growth Page 4 City of Clearwater Community Redevelopment Agency Meeting Minutes January 13, 2025 Trustee Mannino moved to amend the Loan to Grant Agreement with 949 Cleveland Street, LLC for the property at 943 Cleveland Street, to extend the agreement through July 15, 2025, 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. 4.3 Authorize the City of Clearwater Community Redevelopment Agency (CRA) Executive Director to enter into negotiations with the Clearwater Urban Leadership Coalition (CULC) for the leasing of certain real property owned by the CRA located at 1325 N. Martin Luther King, Jr. Avenue along with certain properties owned by the City of Clearwater (City) located at 1321 N. Martin Luther King, Jr. Avenue, 1317 N. Martin Luther King, Jr. Avenue, and 1106 Tangerine Street to CULC. The purpose of this item is to select CULC as the recommended respondent for Letters of Interest 01-25 (LOI) and to authorize the CRA Executive Director to enter into negotiations with CULC to prepare a lease and operation agreement for the development and use of certain adjacent parcels located within the North Greenwood Community Redevelopment Agency boundaries. The City is the owner of the parcels located at 1321 N. Martin Luther King, Jr. Avenue, Clearwater, FL 33755; 1317 N. Martin Luther King, Jr. Avenue, Clearwater, FL 33755; and 1106 Tangerine Street, Clearwater, FL 33755 (collectively the "City Parcels"). The CRA is the owner of the parcel located at 1325 N. Martin Luther King, Jr. Avenue, Clearwater, FL 33755 (CRA Parcel). All four of these parcels will be subject to the lease and operation agreement for a unified project. The City and CRA jointly issued the LOI for the lease and development of the City Parcels and the CRA Parcel as a mini outdoor mall/shipping container village. The parcels collectively have a total land area of 0.347 acres and are within the North Greenwood MLK Corridor. The City and CRA received one response to the LOI being the proposal from CULC. The LOI review committee (Committee) read the proposal and evaluated the project budget, a financial strategy, and a plan of redevelopment of the City Parcels and CRA Parcel. CULC is proposing to accommodate no less than fifteen businesses to occupy this space. In the event the parties can come to agreement on a lease and operation agreement, CULC will receive $500,000.00 from the CRA for this project. Certain points to be discussed with CULC in relation to the lease and operation Page 5 City of Clearwater Community Redevelopment Agency Meeting Minutes January 13, 2025 agreement include: • A potential 5-year initial lease with renewal options, with CULC responsible for all utilities, property taxes, building insurance, and maintenance. • Potential deferment of rent until a Certificate of Occupancy is issued, after that rent will be adjusted to a rate acceptable to both the City and the CRA. • CULC must obtain liability insurance acceptable to the CRA and City. • The CRA's participation in vetting businesses that will lease space within the development. • A requirement that CULC submit quarterly reports on the project's progress and milestone for the next quarter. • CULC's potential partnership with M1 Containers, the design-build firm behind the Krate at the Grove project in Wesley Chapel, to oversee the construction of container-based spaces. • The CRA will provide up to $500,000 in funding for eligible expenses directly related to the project, such as the purchase of containers, construction, design, and permitting, with disbursements tied to verified project milestones. CRA funds will not be used for any purposes prohibited by state statutes governing their use. The proposed project meets the requests outlined in the LOI and the Committee recommends selecting CULC as the winning respondent and authorizing the CRA Executive Director to enter into negotiations for the preparation of a lease and operation agreement. Trustee Cotton moved to extend the speaking time for Glorida Campbell to ten minutes. The motion was duly seconded and carried unanimously. Ms. Campbell spoke in support. In response to questions, Ms. Campbell said the Coalition intends to hire staff for the property management, leasing, and marketing needs. She said the Coalition is fundraising $500,000 towards the staffing efforts. Trustee Teixeira moved to authorize the City of Clearwater Community Redevelopment Agency (CRA) Executive Director to enter into negotiations with the Clearwater Urban Leadership Coalition (CULC) for the leasing of certain real property owned by the CRA located at 1325 N. Martin Luther King, Jr. Avenue along with certain properties owned by the City of Clearwater (City) located at 1321 N. Martin Luther King, Jr. Avenue, 1317 N. Martin Page 6 City of Clearwater Community Redevelopment Agency Meeting Minutes January 13, 2025 Luther King, Jr. Avenue, and 1106 Tangerine Street to CULC. The motion was duly seconded and carried unanimously. 4.4 Cleveland Street Activation and Mobile Vendors Initiative Update. The Cleveland Street Activation and Mobile Vendors Initiative is the CRA's plan to reinvigorate the 400-500 blocks of Cleveland Street from Osceola Avenue to Garden Avenue. This initiative will address four focus areas, which are: 1. Mobile Vendors 2. Special Events 3. Public Art and Pop-ups 4. Streetscape and Placemaking The CRA will work across city departments and engage our community stakeholders to develop programs to address each of our focus areas. These enhancements will be rolled out throughout the year. Key Projects • Opportunities for Mobile Vending through Special Events Through coordination with Special Events Department look for ways to increase opportunities for vendors to operate on Cleveland Street. • Mobile Vendors Seasonal Program Through community partnerships establish opportunities for small businesses to serve as reoccurring vendors and during seasonal markets. • Development of new Special Events Through community partnerships establish new event opportunities to allow for vendors, entertainment, and the arts. • Public Art Development of new public art installations and pop-up art installations. • Streetscape Enhancements Develop enhancements to improve gateway identification signage, banners, expanded lighting, and other beautification elements. • Placemaking Enhancements Develop placemaking enhancements to activate public spaces. Budget Total Estimated Proposed Budget: $500,000 Page 7 City of Clearwater Community Redevelopment Agency Meeting Minutes January 13, 2025 Funding Sources: CRA Contribution: $200,000 DDB Contribution: $300,000 Allocations: Partnership and Program Coordination: $50,000 Mobile Vendors and Special Events: $150,000 Arts and Entertainment Enhancements: $100,000 Streetscape Enhancements: $200,000 CRA GOALS AND OBJECTIVES Goal 1 - People Goal (page 46) Objective 1 E: Maintain Cleveland Street as Downtown's Main Street which is valued for its historic character and pedestrian scale. Objective 1 H: Maintain, activate and program parks, plazas and recreational areas. Objective 1 J: Recognize and celebrate the unique features of Downtown neighborhoods. Goal 2 -Accessibility Goal (page 46) Objective 213: Strengthen Cleveland Street, Osceola and Fort Harrison Avenues as local, pedestrian oriented streets. Identify other local streets to be reinvigorated with active ground floor uses. Objective 2H: Support temporary techniques that improve the street environment such as murals, temporary planters, sharrows, bike lanes and painted intersections until permanent improvements are made. (page 47) Goal 3 -Amenity Goal (page 47) Objective 3F: Promote the visual and performing arts. Objective 3G: Create and activate space to work as signature destinations, including civic plazas, markets and retail gathering places that promote economic growth for Downtown. Page 8 City of Clearwater Community Redevelopment Agency Meeting Minutes January 13, 2025 CRA Division Manager Eric Santiago reviewed recent developments for the Cleveland Street activation and mobile vendors initiative, which is aimed at reinvigorating the 400-500 blocks. He said staff continues to create opportunities for retail vendors and small businesses to operate within this area. Established storefront businesses will be provided opportunities to participate in seasonal markets and special events. He said staffs long-term goal for the mobile vendors is to help them transition into permanent storefronts, if they desire. He said staff continues to work with the Downtown Development Board and Parks and Recreation to establish recurring events that feature vendors and entertainment, making Cleveland Street a destination for locals and visitors. Staff will be introducing new public art and temporary pop-up installations to beautify the street and engage the community. Mr. Santiago said staff continues to work with other departments and community stakeholders to implement streetscape enhancements, such as signage, placemaking, and lighting. New lighting was installed in the center median to the oak trees in the 400-500 blocks. He said staff is working with Public Communications and The BayCare Sound to develop new decorative street pole banners. The last day for prospective artists to submit designs for the Clearwater Arts Alliance's Call for Sculptures is January 15, 2025. He said the Alliance will award three grants to feature in the center medians of the 400-500-600 blocks. In response to questions, Mr. Santiago said staff is working with Saint Petersburg College to implement an educational seasonal market that compliments the college calendar. The intent is not to compete with the Market Marie. Mr. Nino said staff is working on the mobile vendor details; vendors will be a combination of food trucks and push carts. Mr. Santiago said staff is working with Legal to determine potential code amendments to address permissible options and a defined review process. 4.5 Downtown Revitalization Updates In response to a comment, the City Manager said staff at the last meeting provided a presentation that identified city-owned properties. She said staff is developing a plan for the properties and will provide an update at the next meeting. 5. Director's Report Mr. Nino said staff has branched out to other departments to ensure there Page 9 City of Clearwater Community Redevelopment Agency 6. Adjourn Attest L. L/ ao01 u., City Clerk City of Clearwater Meeting Minutes January 13, 2025 is a "all hands-on deck" approach to Downtown. Staff has developed a draft RFP/Call for Development Concepts for the Main Library, which is currently being reviewed. He said he has tasked staff with researching organizations in the arts and culture arena nationwide that have experience activating similar spaces. Mr. Nino said the RFP/Call for Development will be shared with these organizations. The meeting adjourned at 2:11 p.m. Chair Communit ='` o tORP,*ATF 46OR '. 0 f =�i SV'• SEAL :16°� OJ 'iithPCOR IOP, �`�` ' Page 10 ent Agency