10/15/2007
COMMUNITY REDEVELOPMENT AGENCY MEETING MINUTES
CITY OF CLEARWATER
October 15, 2007
Present: Frank Hibbard Chair/CRA Trustee
Carlen Petersen CRA Trustee
John Doran CRA Trustee
George N. Cretekos CRA Trustee
Paul Gibson CRA Trustee
Also present: William B. Horne II City Manager
Joe Roseto Interim Assistant City Manager
Rod Irwin Assistant City Manager/CRA Executive Director
Pamela K. Akin City Attorney
Cynthia E. Goudeau City Clerk
Brenda Moses Board Reporter
The Chair called the meeting to order at 1:51 p.m. at City Hall.
To provide continuity for research, items are in agenda order although not
necessarily discussed in that order.
2- Approval of Minutes
Trustee Petersen moved to approve the minutes of the Community Redevelopment
Agency meeting of September 17, 2007 as recorded and submitted in written summation by the
motion carried
City Clerk to each Trustee. The was duly seconded and unanimously.
3 - Community Redevelopment Agency Items
:
3.1 Approve Cleveland Street District Façade Improvement Program loan documents, (1)
Financial Incentive Contract and (2) mortgage and note in the amount of $31,020 for the
property located at 534 Cleveland Street.
On September 17, 2007, the CRA (Community Redevelopment Agency) approved the
$31,020 loan for the property located at 534 Cleveland Street. The loan documents have been
finalized for CRA review and approval.
As background, on September 4, 2007, the CRA approved the Cleveland Street District
Facade Improvement Program. The Façade Improvement Program creates incentives for the
property owners and businesses on Cleveland Street to improve the appearance of their
businesses and properties. It is hoped that this program will foster and encourage investment
and pride in building façades along Cleveland Street and add to the Café District envisioned in a
revitalized downtown Clearwater.
Jon Heneghan, the property owner at 534 Cleveland Street, applied for a Cleveland
Street Façade Improvement Program Financial Incentive. As part of the application process,
the property owner provided an itemized list of expenses for the building, with eligible façade
improvements totaling $82,040. The program matches improvements dollar-for-dollar and the
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CRA staff recommended covering half of those expenses for a total of $41,020. The CRA
Executive Director approved a $10,000 grant leaving the balance of $31,020 as a zero interest
(0%) loan to be paid upon sale of the property.
Mr. Heneghan is already underway with building renovation and restoration of the
"Telephone Exchange Building”. He has expended over $250,000 in removing the stucco
panels that covered the original brick building. He anticipates that the final cost of renovating
the exterior and interior of the building will be in excess of $400,000. The timeframe for
completion of the exterior is December 2007.
As described in the Façade Program Guidelines, the loan will be secured by a mortgage
and note on the property to be repaid upon sale of the property. The grant was disbursed to the
property owner for improvements already completed. Once the additional eligible improvements
are completed and the requisite mortgage and note are executed, the loan will be disbursed. As
a stipulation of the loan, the property owner will maintain the façade improvements as approved,
in good condition, for a period of five (5) years from completion.
Trustee Doran moved to approve the Cleveland Street District Façade Improvement
Program loan documents, (1) Financial Incentive Contract and (2) mortgage and note in the
amount of $31,020 for the property located at 534 Cleveland Street. The motion was duly
seconded.
It was remarked that one of the agreements states that the property will not be
homesteaded. However, there still can be residential uses.
Upon the vote being taken, the motion carried unanimously.
3.2 Presentation of Florida Main Street Awards
Clearwater’s Main Street Joint Venture received four awards from Secretary of State,
Kurt S. Browning, in Kissimmee at the annual Florida Main Street Conference awards dinner, on
September 13, 2007. Prizes were awarded to districts statewide at the event. Downtown
Clearwater was designated a Main Street Community in 1998. Since its inception, volunteers
have logged more than 10,000 hours with a value exceeding $50,000 for events and projects to
promote merchants, conduct surveys, and provide façade design assistance for downtown
buildings. It is a partnership of volunteers, local businesses, the Clearwater Downtown
Development Board and stakeholders who support Clearwater’s Main Street Community
designation.
The Outstanding Retail Sales Promotion Honor Award was received for the Buy 1 Get 1
Free Promotion.
Merit Awards included: 1) Nancy Beckmann, the Outstanding Local Florida Main Street
Program Supporter for her work with the Clearwater Main Street Joint Venture; 2) Outstanding
Private-Public Partnership for the Downtown Farmer’s Market sponsored by CRA and
Downtown Development Board; and 3) Outstanding Sign/Display Project for Business
Identification Signs sponsored by the Downtown Development Board.
The Mayor thanked everyone for their partnership.
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4 - Other Business - None.
5 - Adjourn
The meeting adjourned at 1 :55 p.m.
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