Community Redevelopment Agency Regular Meeting March 12, 2013

Transcription

1 Community Redevelopment Agency Regular Meeting March 12, 2013 The Community Redevelopment Agency (CRA) and the US 1 Corridor Community Redevelopment Agency of the City of Titusville, Florida met in regular session in the Council Chambers of City Hall, 555 South Washington, on Tuesday, March 12, 2013 Call to Order/Determination of a Quorum Chairman Jim Tulley called the meeting to order at 5:30 pm Present were Chairman Jim Tulley, Vice-Chairwoman Martha Long and Members, Christi Anderson, Kathleen Burson, Walt Johnson, Curt Leady, and Rita Pritchett Also present were Executive Director Mark Ryan and Community Redevelopment Agency (CRA) Attorney Richard Broome Invocation/Pledge of Allegiance Chairman Tulley asked for a moment of silence and then led the entire assembly in the Pledge of Allegiance to the Flag Approval of Minutes Member Burson moved to approve the minutes of the regular Community Redevelopment Agency (CRA) meeting on February 14, 2013, as submitted Vice-Chairwoman Long seconded the motion The motion carried unanimously Special Recognitions and Presentations - None Old Business - None New Business 1

2 Chairman Tulley declared the Downtown Community Redevelopment Agency meeting in recess and called to order the meeting of the US 1 Corridor Community Redevelopment Agency He advised that the CRA was now acting as the US 1 Corridor Community Redevelopment Agency consisting of the five (5) members of the City Council: Chairman Jim Tulley, Vice-Chairwoman Martha Long, Member Kathleen Burson, Member Walt Johnson, and Member Rita Pritchett Fiscal Year Annual Report for the US1 Corridor Community Redevelopment Agency - Executive Director Ryan stated that included in the agenda package was the Fiscal Year Annual Report and Financial Statement for the US 1 Corridor Community Redevelopment Agency He advised that the CRA had been stagnant and there had been no movement in the financial statements due to the values of the property Therefore, there were zero balances in the account It was a mandatory requirement that the US 1 Corridor Community Redevelopment Agency act upon the Fiscal Year Annual Report Member Johnson moved to approve the Fiscal Year Annual Report and Financial Statement for the US 1 Corridor Community Redevelopment Agency and approve transmittal to the taxing entities, as recommended Member Pritchett seconded the motion The motion carried unanimously Chairman Tulley adjourned the US 1 Corridor Community Redevelopment Agency meeting and called the Downtown Community Redevelopment Agency back to order Fiscal Year Annual Report for the Downtown Community Redevelopment Agency Redevelopment Planner Peggy Busacca advised that the Florida Statutes required the CRA to file an Annual Report of its activities and financial statements for the preceding year The report included a financial statement setting forth its assets, liabilities, income and operating expenses at the end of the fiscal year She highlighted the Annual Report FY that was included in the agenda packet that included as followed: US 1 Corridor Streetscape Plan Capital Improvement Projects Julia Street Parking Lot Overhead Entrance Sign 2

3 Indian River Bike Repairs Downtown Banners Marina Sidewalk Connections Main Street Streetscape Downtown Commercial Beautification Program Downtown Events and Marketing Downtown Stormwater Development Plan Historic Preservation Property Survey Update Budget Vice-Chairwoman Long asked when the Request for Proposal (RFP) for the Stormwater Master Plan would be released Redevelopment Planner Busacca advised that the RFP should be released in the next few weeks and she would notify the CRA once it was released Vice-Chairperson Long asked whether the RFP for the new Historic Preservation Officer had been released Redevelopment Planner Busacca advised that the RFP for the new Historic Preservation Officer had been released and she would provide a copy to Vice-Chairwoman Long Member Anderson advised that on page 12 of the Annual Report, that was included in the agenda packet, there was a typo Where it was written in the amount of 90,000 to the program there should be a dollar sign before 90,000 Member Pritchett stated the Annual Report that was included in the agenda packet was very well written and presented She asked for the report to be posted on the City s web page to be viewed by the citizens Redevelopment Planner Busacca advised that it would be posted on the City s web page Vice-Chairwoman Long moved to approve the Fiscal Year Annual Report and Financial Report for the Downtown Corridor Community Redevelopment Agency and approve transmittal to the taxing entities, as recommended Member Anderson seconded the motion The motion carried unanimously Commercial Beautification Grant Dr Brian Baker, 600 S Hopkins Avenue Redevelopment Planner Busacca advised that this was a request for the Commercial Beautification Grant for Dr Brian Baker's dental office, located at 600 S Hopkins Avenue in the of amount of $14,198 3

4 The eligible project improvements included the following: Sand finish stucco and paint exterior of building New signage on door and pole sign, refurbish base of sign Install new rain gutters Replace windows, remove rotten wood doors and backfill with concrete block Replace awnings Patch cracks in driveway, apply new texture and paint Installation of security lighting, including rewiring to current code and new exterior electrical outlet Installation of new landscape planters, trellises and landscape materials Installation of exterior plumbing for irrigation, including two 50-gallon rail barrels with drip system Total Cost of eligible expenses = $46,08900 The applicant qualified for grant reimbursement funds in the amount of $23,04450 Due to the limitation of available funds, staff requested approval of the grant reimbursement funds for the existing property located at 600 S Hopkins Avenue in the amount of $14,198 for exterior improvements that included signage, gutters, exterior building finish, awnings, security lighting, new windows and doors, electrical and plumbing improvements, and landscaping Vice-Chairwoman Long asked the applicant were the property at 300 S Hopkins Avenue was located and whether the building was leased Dr Brian Baker, applicant, provided the location of the property and advised that he owned the property Vice-Chairwoman Long moved to approve funding for the Commercial Beautification Grant for Dr Brian Baker's dental office located at 600 S Hopkins Avenue in the amount of $14,198, as recommended Member Burson seconded the motion The motion carried unanimously Special Events Grant Advisory Committee Executive Director Ryan advised that in October of 2012, the CRA adopted the Special Events Grant program and created the Special Events Grant Advisory Committee There were three (3) applications on file for consideration for the committee Pat Bell, Reva Harris and Tami Leliuga Shriver had expressed their willingness and desire to serve on this committee Ms Bell was a member of the Code Board, and Ms Shriver served as 4

5 an alternative member on the Planning & Zoning Commission Attorney Richard Broome advised that serving on those boards and Special Events Grant Advisory Committee was not a conflict Ms Harris was not serving on any City board Chairman Tulley stated this was a seven (7) member committee and there were three applicants He asked whether the committee would be able to function if a fourth member was appointed CRA Attorney Broome advised that as long as there were four (4) members present, which would be a majority, the board would be able to function Vice-Chairwoman Long moved to appoint Pat Bell, Reva Harris and Tami Leliuga Shriver as members of the Special Events Grant Advisory Committee with terms to expire on December 31, 2013, as recommended Member Johnson seconded the motion The motion carried unanimously Commercial Beautification Grant MPB Partnership, 1021 S Washington Avenue Redevelopment Planner Busacca advised that a request was received for the Commercial Beautification Grant for property located at 1021 S Washington Avenue The original amount requested was $108,75583, a total cost of the eligible expenses Improvements included the following: Pressure wash exterior, apply bonding agent and apply new stucco finish and paint to exterior Replace windows and doors Replace roof, fascia, soffit, gutters and downspouts Security lighting Landscaping Due to the amount of funding available, staff requested approval of the requested grant reimbursement funds for the existing property located at 1021 S Washington Avenue in the amount of $35,802 for exterior improvements including new roof, gutters, soffits, exterior building finish, security lighting, new windows and doors, and landscaping Proposed improvements that were deemed not eligible for reimbursement were those related to expansion of the structure, that included removal and reconstruction of the east exterior wall and expansion of the slab Micah Loyd, contractor, stated that improvements to the building would include new trusses added to the building He advised that the property had the potential to have very 5

6 good curb appeal due to its orientation to US 1 and he felt the CRA Grant Program had helped the applicant to realize more of that potential Chairman Tulley requested that after the fact data be provided when this type of grant projects were completed to assist in having better knowledge on the return investment on the City s tax dollars going back into the community That would assist in understanding what the CRA was getting back as a result of investing that money and it could be reported back to the citizens Member Johnson moved to approve the Commercial Beautification Grant submitted by MPB Partnership for property located at 1021 S Washington Avenue in the amount of $35,802, as recommended Member Burson seconded the motion The motion carried unanimously Special Events Grant Request Sea Turtle Festival Executive Director Ryan advised that this grant request was for funding events at the Sea Turtle Festival on June 15 and 16, 2013 Brevard County and the Canaveral National Seashore played an important role in the survival of several sea turtle species, and the purpose of the festival was to provide educational and cultural opportunities to enhance awareness and understanding of those protected species Events within the CRA would include lectures, art and educational displays, live acoustical music, children's games and activities and an art social Activities on the Seashore would include turtle walks, beach clean-up and Junior Ranger program The grant request was for $1,400 for promotions, banner (to be used also in future years), and portable toilets Under the FY contract with Main Street Titusville, Inc, the cost of the Sea Turtle Festival was $3,400 Member Pritchett asked CRA Attorney Broome whether the funds from the CRA were still available for the Sea Turtle Festival CRA Attorney Broome advised that as long as the funds were used in the CRA to promote the redevelopment and the CRA versus the Sea Turtle Festival itself, that yes the funds were still available Member Anderson stated that the CRA would be funding all but $300 of the projected budget for the Sea Turtle Festival as shown on the CRA Special Events and Promotional Assistance application Redevelopment Planner Busacca advised that Member Anderson was correct, but there would be vendors at this event and that money would be taken in and utilized for the next 6

7 year s event The intent was that the event would become self-sufficient and hopefully the grant request for next Sea Turtle Festival would be greatly reduced or there would be none at all Member Anderson advised that the CRA seemed to fund a lot of portable toilets and recommended the CRA consider getting public bathrooms Vice-Chairwoman Long recommended the Titusville Marina as a venue for the Sea Turtle Festival Member Burson moved to approve the grant request for $1,405 for promotions, banner, and portable toilets for the Sea Turtle Festival, as recommended This was based on the Sea Turtle Festival Itemized costs that was included in the agenda packet Member Anderson seconded the motion Chairman Tulley advised that there was one citizen sign-up card Leslie Peters stated that she was an Interpretive Park Ranger and worked for the Canaveral National Seashore She thanked the CRA for allowing the Canaveral National Seashore to hold the Sea Turtle Festival and advised that the Canaveral National Seashore wanted to assist in promoting the Downtown with the Sea Turtle Festival The motion carried unanimously Petitions And Requests From The Public Present - None Executive Director s Report Executive Director Ryan submitted a written report and highlighted as followed: Capital Projects in the Downtown: Julia Street Parking Lot Indian River Bike Repairs Main Street Streetscape (Palm Avenue to Indian River Avenue) Ongoing Projects: Amtrak Station Planning & Development Downtown Commercial Beautification Program 7

8 Historic Preservation Board Chairman Tulley requested that the CRA staff take pictures whenever a CRA project was completed and then forwarded the pictures to the Greater Titusville Renaissance to be posted on their website The meeting adjourned at 6:15 pm 8