04/28/2025 Community Redevelopment Agency Meeting Minutes April 28, 2025
City of Clearwater
Main Library- Council Chambers
100 N. Osceola Avenue
Clearwater, FL 33755
e
Meeting Minutes
Monday, April 28, 2025
1 :00 PM
Main Library - Council Chambers
Community Redevelopment Agency
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City of Clearwater
Community Redevelopment Agency Meeting Minutes April 28, 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, 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.
Council observed a moment of silence in remembrance of the life lost in
last night's ferry boat accident.
2. Approval of Minutes
2.1 Approve the minutes of the March 31, 2025 CRA meeting as submitted in written
summation by the City Clerk.
Trustee Teixeira moved to approve the minutes of the March 31,
2025 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 Present April Business Spotlight to Chiang Mai Thai and Sushi Bar.
Chiang Mai Thai & Sushi Bar as the fourth recipient of the Business Spotlight
Program.
As one of the longest-standing establishments in the downtown corridor,
Chiang Mai Thai & Sushi Bar has been a cornerstone of the local dining scene
for decades. Now guided by the next generation of ownership, the restaurant
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Community Redevelopment Agency Meeting Minutes April 28, 2025
continues to honor its culinary roots while embracing new opportunities to
engage with the community.
Most recently, Chiang Mai Thai & Sushi Bar brought regional attention to
Downtown Clearwater through a featured Lao New Year cooking segment on
Bay News 9. This platform not only highlighted the restaurant's cultural
heritage but also helped shine a light on the diverse and thriving small
business community in the downtown area.
Looking ahead, Chiang Mai Thai & Sushi Bar is committed to deepening its
role in the cultural and economic vibrancy of Downtown. With plans to
participate in and host future events, the restaurant remains dedicated to
celebrating Southeast Asian culture and fostering a sense of connection
among residents and visitors alike.
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 Tasha Hadley provided a video presentation.
4.2 Approve recommended changes to the North Greenwood Residential Grant Program
and authorize the appropriate officials to execute same.
Staff recommends updating the North Greenwood Residential Grant Program
with the proposed outlined changes below to improve customer service,
enhance clarity, and remove barriers for applicants. These updates aim to
create a smoother grant process for all stakeholders. On April 7, 2025, these
recommended changes were presented to the North Greenwood Community
Advisory Board and received approval to proceed to the CRA Trustees for
consideration
Recommended Changes:
• Add language to allow community service hours waived, be added back
to the total grant amount, not to exceed $20,000 (Page 2, under section
3)
o To provide clarity to the language of the grant program.
• Remove 12 months and add 36 (Page 4, under Eligibility Criteria)
o For the purposes of this application, the total CRA grant value
that an Owner has received over such period shall be the
combined value, in the 42 36-month period immediately
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Community Redevelopment Agency Meeting Minutes April 28, 2025
preceding the submission of an application for this program -
This helps ensure that more residents in the North Greenwood
Community have a fair opportunity to benefit from available
funding.
STRATEGIC PRIORITY:
1.5 Embrace a culture of innovation that drives continuous improvement and
successfully serves all our customers.
3.1 Support neighborhood identity through services and programs that
empower community pride and belonging.
Trustee Allbritton moved to approve recommended changes to the
North Greenwood Residential Grant Program and authorize the
appropriate officials to execute same. The motion was duly
seconded and carried unanimously.
4.3 Approve recommended changes to the North Greenwood Commercial Grant Program
and authorize the appropriate officials to execute same.
Staff recommends updating the North Greenwood Commercial Grant Program
with the proposed outlined changes below. These updates aim to create a
smoother grant process for all stakeholders. On April 7, 2025, these
recommended changes were presented to the North Greenwood Community
Advisory Board and received approval to proceed to the CRA Trustees for
consideration
Recommended Updates:
• Add language to allow community service hours waived, be added back
to the total grant amount, not to exceed $75,000 -to provide clarity to
the language of the grant program. (Page 4, under Community Service
Credit)
• Remove the requirement for certain CPTED improvements to be
approved by the Police Department. (Page 5, under Exterior
Improvements, #14)
• Remove language under ineligible for assistance: "Improvements
covered under the City's Fagade Improvement Program." (Page 6,
under ineligible for assistance, #2)
o This change allows applicants greater flexibility in accessing
funding for a broader range of eligible projects, reducing
barriers and streamlining support for property enhancements
• Remove the provision requiring grants exceeding $30,000 to be
approved or denied by the Trustees. (Page 6, section 6, #2)
• Add language stating that for grant funding up to $75,000, the CRA
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Community Redevelopment Agency Meeting Minutes April 28, 2025
Director will approve or deny the application.
• Add language to state this grant program can be used as Owner Equity
to satisfy the Owner Funding requirements of other city-managed
financial assistance programs. (Page 7, #12)
o This change enhances applicant leverage by allowing CRA
grant funds to be used as Owner Equity toward meeting funding
requirements for other city-managed financial programs, thereby
increasing access to broader financial resources.
• Updated Notary
• Updated the Project Detail Budget form
• Additional Formatting
These updates will improve customer service, enhance clarity, and remove
barriers for applicants.
STRATEGIC PRIORITY:
1.5 Embrace a culture of innovation that drives continuous improvement and
successfully serves all our customers.
3.1 Support neighborhood identity through services and programs that
empower community pride and belonging.
Trustee Mannino moved to approve recommended changes to the
North Greenwood Commercial Grant Program and authorize the
appropriate officials to execute same. The motion was duly
seconded and carried unanimously.
4.4 Approve the 2024 Annual Financial Statement.
Presentation of the fiscal year 2024 Annual Financial Statement by external
auditors.
STRATEGIC PRIORITY:
1.1 Provide evidence-based measurement tools to continually guide municipal
performance and promote accountable governance.
Auditor John Brielmaier provided a PowerPoint presentation.
Trustee Cotton moved to approve the 2024 Annual Financial
Statement. The motion was duly seconded and carried
unanimously.
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Community Redevelopment Agency Meeting Minutes April 28, 2025
4.5 Discuss or schedule an Executive Session for active litigation.
The City Attorney said the request for the Executive Session is related
to the Crumm litigation. He said the City has been dismissed from the
matter but the CRA remains as the only defendant. Per Florida Statutes,
the session can only be attended by the Trustees, the City Attorney, the
City Manager, and outside counsel. The private session has been
scheduled for May 21, 2025 at 4:00 p.m.
4.6 Downtown Revitalization.
A monthly opportunity for CRA Trustees to exchange ideas and address
downtown-related topics, and priorities.
STRATEGIC PRIORITY:
2.1 Strengthen public-private initiatives that attract, develop, and retain
diversified business sectors.
2.3 Promote Clearwater as a premier destination for entertainment, cultural
experiences, tourism, and national sporting events.
5. Director's Report
CRA Executive Director Jesus Nino said communication efforts with
business stakeholders regarding the upcoming construction continues.
Public Communications is developing a communications strategy. As
part of the activation efforts for the 400 and 500 blocks of Cleveland
Street, staff is working with Parks and Recreation to incorporate the
same type of lighting at Coachman Park. He said letters will be sent to
property owners adjacent to the uneconomic remainder parcels this
Friday to see if they are interested in acquiring the properties. The
vetting process for the residential surplus properties by internal
departments will be completed by this Friday. He said a Request for
Letters of Interest for the ten residential parcels will be advertised on
May 8, 2025. He said staff is looking at partnering with the Downtown
Development Board to implement a decorative European-type umbrellas
for the Downtown businesses to bring some uniformity to the area. Mr.
Nino reviewed recent and upcoming events.
In response to questions, Mr. Nino said the communication strategy
Public Communications is working on will include parking information.
He said staff is considering a "freebee"service to shuttle Downtown
visitors to/from parking sites.
Clearwater Arts Alliance representative Betsy Walch said the Sculpture
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Community Redevelopment Agency Meeting Minutes
6. Adjourn
Attest
April 28, 2025
360 program has been rebranded to the Clearwater Sculpture Series.
She said the organization did not receive enough funding for one
complete rotation. The rebranding will allow the series to go beyond
Cleveland Street in the future. The new program will be in place through
October 7, 2026. Ms. Walch provided a PowerPoint presentation of the
current installment.
The meeting adjourned at 1:38 p.m.
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