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07/31/1989CLEARWATER DOWNTOWN DEVELOPMENT BOARD July 31, 1989 Members present: Tyler Grady, Chairman C. David Carley, Member Terry Flowers, Member Charles Finegan, Member Mary Vaughn, Member Rita Garvey, Ex-Officio Member Absent: Tom Thompson, Vice-Chairman John Homer, Member Lee Regulski, Ex-Officio Member Also present: Michael Wright, Assistant City Manager, Community Services Jerry Sternstein, Economic Development Director Betty Deptula, Administrative Services Director Mary K. Diana, Secretary to the Board Guests: Barsion Albert Elaine Lupo Teresa Barney, St. Petersburg Times Kip Scharlow, Pinellas County The Chairman called the meeting to order at 5:30 P.M. and the following items were discussed: Approval of the June 26, 1989 Minutes. Mr. Carley moved to approve the minutes of June 26, 1989, as submitted. The motion was duly seconded and carried unanimously. Approval of the June 30, 1989 Financial Statement. Mr. Finegan moved to approve the June 30, 1989 Financial Statement. The motion was duly seconded. Mr. Finegan pointed out that due to $20,174.23 being refunded to the tax collector on July 6, 1989, the Operating Cash balance of $83,050.14 will be reduced by that amount. In response to a question, it was indicated the Operating Cash balance as of July 6, 1989, will be $62,875.91. Upon the vote being taken, the motion carried unanimously. Proposed 1989-90 Operating Budget. Mr. Sternstein, Economic Development Director, reviewed the proposed expenditures. A question was raised regarding the $8,300 Community Redevelopment Agency (CRA) payment, and it was indicated this was a projected figure based on an estimate of what 1 mill of taxes would generate. The Chairman questioned the need for $10,000 to be identified specifically for the Downtown Clearwater Association (DCA). Mr. Finegan indicated he wanted to provide for the proposed projects of the DCA and was responsible for the $10,000 being so designated. DDB approval will be required for DCA requests. In response to a question, it was indicated the $120,000 is allocated to the Promotional Program and funding for Jazz Holiday or other promotional activities has not been specifically budgeted. Discussion ensued regarding calculation of residual funds, and in response to a question, it was indicated the $2,400 transferred to the CRA is based upon the 1/4 mill the DDB levied for the fiscal year. Mr. Finegan stated the DDB has been billed for $2,800 of the unemployment payment, which is to be paid in August, with the remaining $2,400 to be billed before the end of the 1988/89 fiscal year. In response to a question, Mr. Wright indicated he did not anticipate the $30,000 budgeted for publicity in the 1988/89 budget being spent and it could be transferred into the next budget year. Discussion ensued regarding the Funding Sources in the Preliminary Budget. In response to a question, Ms. Deptula, Administrative Services Director stated the property appraiser provides the information as to downtown taxable value, and that 1 mill represents a dollar per thousand of value. She said that by using the taxable value generated from the 1 mill, less the allowable discount of 5 percent and an average of 10 percent for doubtful collections, you can come up with a realistic figure as to what will be collected from levying a certain millage rate. In response to a question, it was indicated, historically, doubtful collections have averaged 21 percent, and it is estimated that in the future, 15 percent would be a good average. Mr. Carley stated the bulk of the proposed budget would go toward the promotion of downtown. He indicated the balance of the expenditures in the preliminary budget are in line with past budgets and he would like to set the millage rate higher than 0.8250 in order to provide a contingency fund for events that might be beneficial for downtown. A question arose as to whether the Promotional Program includes supporting the Jazz Holiday. Mr. Wright indicated this was the decision of the DDB as they are the budgetary source. Mr. Flowers distributed the Downtown Clearwater Association's (DCA) request for appropriation of $15,125 for FY 1989/90. Discussion ensued regarding this request and a question arose as to whether or not the DCA would be contributing any of these funds. It was indicated the monies that the DCA receives from dues and cash on hand are dedicated to projects and it is not the intent of the DCA to have 100 percent funding from the DDB. Discussion ensued in regard to the $120,000 designated for the Promotional Program and it was indicated it is difficult to determine what the exact figure should be as there have not been any proposals from the ad agencies. Concerns were expressed regarding use of these funds and whether the DDB should be the sole funding source. The Chairman indicated the CRA has provided funds for the DCA and he felt the DDB should receive CRA funding also. He indicated the need to have funds available for advertising publications outside of Florida that target specific companies or expansion programs. In response to a question regarding the amount of funding impacting the advertising agency's campaign, Mr. Wright indicated the DDB has to determine what they want to spend to market downtown. It was again stated there needs to be a contingency fund that allows the DDB to participate in unanticipated programs to promote downtown. Consideration of a 1 mill tax was requested. Elaine Lupo, representing the Ritz Restaurant, indicated there is a need to beautify and correct problems that currently exist and then start an advertising campaign to promote downtown. She felt the money should be used to help the owners of existing buildings to hang on so they could promote their own businesses. She complained regarding Jazz Holiday and the paver bricks along Cleveland Street. Albert Barison, owner Ritz Restaurant, expressed concern regarding the drunks, use of drugs, and prostitution in the downtown area. He also expressed concern regarding the high property taxes. A comment was made that the DDB is a probationary Board and needs to show the downtown property owners that it will make progress over the next twelve months and caution should be used in the amount of tax proposed. Mr. Carley moved to revise the preliminary budget to reflect a millage rate of 0.9000 for the coming year and that the additional monies generated by the higher rate be added as a contingency line item. Motion was duly seconded. Upon the vote being taken Members Carley, Finegan, Flowers and Vaughn voted "aye." Chairman Grady voted "nay." Motion carried. Mr. Finegan clarified the motion stating the preliminary budget will remain as is, the proposed millage will go up to 0.9000, and the extra income generated over the $128,530 will be moved into the expenditures as a contingency. A question arose as to whether or not the DCA's request for $10,000 will be lumped into total promotion, and it was indicated it would stay as a separate line item. In response to a question as to where citizens may take their grievances, it was indicated they will be handled through Mr. Sternstein's office. Mr. Wright indicated that a publication will be forthcoming showing the appropriate people to contact inside the City of Clearwater. A question arose in regard to the Halcyon Report and it was indicated that enforcing certain aesthetics standards for a particular area is very difficult. Mr. Sternstein indicated it is difficult to have uniformity in an older downtown area because it is built on diversity. He indicated the need to capitalize on this diversity and the need to encourage infrastructure improvements, the overlay of the downtown. He also said there has not been a recent survey of the downtown businesses indicating the kind of market being serviced. Mr. Wright stated he is anticipating a meeting of the CRA shortly as MAS One is ready to go to contract and the budget needs to be established for next year. A joint meeting between the CRA and DDB is scheduled for the downtown promotional presentations for August 21, 1989, at 3:00. (This meeting was canceled due to the unavailability of one of the ad agencies.) The Chairman requested that Ms. Vaughn work with the Economic Development Director to identity out-of-state publications to promote downtown. He also indicated a need to check into public television networks. He requested Mr. Thompson to provide an update on land use in downtown to identify certain properties that might be utilized for showcases or for publicity. He requested Mr. Sternstein provide a status report regarding his plans for downtown redevelopment. He also requested to be able to review the CRA's budget. Discussion ensued in regard to various options available to advertise and promote the downtown area. Ex-Officio Member Garvey requested, if possible, DDB members provide information from their companies about a significant event that took place in Clearwater in the last 75 years. The meeting adjourned at 6:50 P.M.