12/01/2025 Community Redevelopment Agency Meeting Minutes December 1, 2025
City of Clearwater
Main Library- Council Chambers
100 N. Osceola Avenue
Clearwater, FL 33755
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Meeting Minutes
Monday, December 1, 2025
1 :00 PM
Main Library - Council Chambers
Community Redevelopment Agency
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City of Clearwater
Community Redevelopment Agency Meeting Minutes December 1, 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, Alfred Battle —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 1:44 p.m.
2. Approval of Minutes
2.1 Approve the minutes of the November 17, 2025 CRA meeting as submitted in written
summation by the City Clerk.
Trustee Teixeira moved to approve the minutes of the November
17, 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 Approve funding in an amount not to exceed $80,000 for the Art Oasis Mural Festival
in the North Greenwood CRA and authorize the appropriate officials to execute same.
In 2024, the city/CRA hosted Clearwater's first Art Oasis Mural Festival. The
name reflects the idea that, while Clearwater can sometimes feel like an "art
desert," concentrated public art can transform a neighborhood into an oasis of
creativity. Last year's festival successfully delivered seven new murals across
the Downtown and East Gateway neighborhoods.
This year, the Arts and Cultural Affairs Division is requesting funding to bring
the same initiative to the North Greenwood CRA. Murals will be offered to local
businesses, property owners, and selected City-owned structures. An
application process will be available for property owners, or businesses with
property owner approval, who wish to host a mural.
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City of Clearwater
Community Redevelopment Agency Meeting Minutes December 1, 2025
For this iteration, staff hopes to add a new component that was not previously
possible: a culminating neighborhood celebration to honor the new artworks
and officially close the festival. This will be produced and paid for by Arts and
Cultural Affairs Division.
This festival will bring together regional artists, residents, and businesses to
create murals that beautify the neighborhood while enhancing community pride
and connection.
Purpose of the Festival
• Support neighborhood revitalization and increase foot traffic to local
businesses.
• Help establish North Greenwood as a cultural destination within
Clearwater.
Artist & Design Selection Process
Clearwater will conduct an open call for artists (currently open). The
highest-scoring applicants, with preference for regional artists, will form the top
10 pool. Business owners will review artist portfolios and select their preferred
artist, who will then design a mural specifically for their building. Selection
operates on a first-come, first-served basis, giving early applicants the widest
selection of artists.
The CRA funds the artist commissions, which include materials, labor, and
on-site storage. Property owners receive a professionally created mural at no
cost, an investment that would typically range from $5,000 to $20,000,
depending on scale. Completed murals will be added to the City's public art
map to help draw visitors and increase foot traffic.
This item was brought forward to the North Greenwood Citizen's Advisory
Committee at their September 3, 2025, meetings and was approved for
recommendation.
APPROPRIATION CODE AND AMOUNT:
Funds are available in cost code 3897552-R2405- Public Art & Culture, to fund
this program.
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.
In response to a question, Arts and Cultural Affairs Manager Amber
Brice said one unveiling for all three pieces, inviting all artists, business
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City of Clearwater
Community Redevelopment Agency Meeting Minutes December 1, 2025
owners, and the public to the one event. She said it is hard to schedule an
unveiling for murals. CRA Assistant Director Anne Lopez said the $80,000
funding is only for the murals.
Trustee Allbritton moved to approve funding in an amount not to
exceed $80,000 for the Art Oasis Mural Festival in the North
Greenwood CRA and authorize the appropriate officials to execute
same. The motion was duly seconded and carried unanimously.
4.2 St. Petersburg College Management Consulting Services Pilot Program Final
Presentation.
Dr. Andy Rojas, Professor at St. Petersburg College (SPC), will present the
final report of the pilot Management Consulting Services Project conducted in
partnership between the City of Clearwater and SPC. Dr. Rojas will also
introduce his student junior business consultants to the CRA Trustees for
acknowledgment of their participation and contributions to the project.
On July 7, 2025, staff introduced a new partnership between the City of
Clearwater and the College of Business at St. Petersburg College to launch a
pilot Management Consulting Services Program. This initiative was designed to
strengthen local business performance while enhancing student professional
development through hands-on consulting experience.
The program officially commenced on October 1, 2025, and provided pro bono
consulting services to the Clearwater Urban Leadership Coalition. The
consulting team was composed of SPC business students enrolled in an
intensive 8-week Management Consulting course, under the supervision of Dr.
Andy Rojas, a professor with over 25 years of consulting experience across
multiple industries.
DELIVERABLES TO PARTICIPATING BUSINESSES:
• A co-branded, comprehensive business report
• SWOT analysis
• Industry and competitive research
• Tailored strategic growth plan customized with insights to improve
operations and identify competitive advantages
STRATEGIC PRIORITY:
2.1 Strengthen public-private initiatives that attract, develop, and retain a
diversified business sector
2.3 Cultivate a business climate that welcomes entrepreneurship, encourages
investment, and supports high-quality job growth
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City of Clearwater
Community Redevelopment Agency
Meeting Minutes December 1, 2025
2.5 Facilitate partnerships with educational and research institutions to
enhance workforce development opportunities
3.1 Support neighborhood identity through programs that empower community
pride and belonging
Dr. Rojas and students provided a PowerPoint presentation.
In response to questions, Dr. Rojas said the data revealed six
restaurants were needed to create a destination. The ten -crate project
does not include a retail component right now. It is envisioned that each
crate houses a restaurant.
4.3 Downtown Revitalization
A monthly opportunity for CRA Trustees to exchange ideas and address
downtown related topics and priorities.
5. Director's Report
5.1 Director's Report
6. Adjourn
CRA Executive Director Jesus Nino provided a PowerPoint presentation.
The meeting adjourned at 2:11 p.m.
Chair
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City of Clearwater