MINUTES OF THE SARASOTA CITY COMMISSION WORKSHOP OF JANUARY 30, 2023 PRESENT: Mayor Kyle Scott Battie, presiding, Vice Mayor Liz Alpert, Commissioners Erik Arroyo (arrived at 9:02 A.M.), Jen Ahearn-Koch, and Debbie Trice, City Manager Marlon Brown, Deputy City Attorney Michael Connolly, and Deputy City Auditor and Clerk Lori Rivers ABSENT: City Attorney Robert Fournier, and City Auditor and Clerk Shayla Griggs The meeting was called to order by Mayor Battie at 9:01 A.M. 1. DISCUSSION RE: BLUE-RIBBON COMMITTEE TO DETERMINE THE VIABLE AND FINANCIALLY SUSTAINABLE OPTIONS FOR FUTURE REUSE, PURPOSE, OWNERSHIP AND/OR OPERATION OF THE VAN WEZEL PERFORMING ARTS HALL (AGENDA ITEM I-1) City Manager Brown thanked the Commission for accommodating today's discussion and stated that this is a follow-up from a previous discussion regarding the Blue-Ribbon Committee (Committee) to find ways for repurposing the Van Wezel Performing Arts Hall (VWPAH); that the desire is for a free-for-all discussion to share thoughts and ideas about the composition of this Committee and number of members; that Staff will return back before the Commission with a proposed Resolution drafted by the City Attorney's Office which will have a sunset date since this is an ad-hoc Committee and requested Charles Daniel "Dan" Bailey Jr., Attorney, from the Law Firm of Williams, Parker, Harrison, Dietz, and Getzen to come before the Commission to address questions. Commissioner Trice stated that sessions held by the Sarasota Alliance for Historic Preservation, Inc. and The Historical Society of Sarasota County were attended and provided a brief overview and voiced concerns regarding the Agreement signed by the Commission from the Sarasota Performing Arts Center (SPAC) Foundation as follows: Agreement is light on information and/or analysis Cheryl Mendelson, Chief Executive Office, SPAC Foundation promised more analysis would be forthcoming which has not come out in nine months Group of concerned citizens has been performing their own analysis and the concern is the analysis is based on sketchy information since the SPAC Foundation and the City did not provide much factual information to base an analysis Premature to set the mission of the Commission on repurposing rather than to do the analysis to determine whether VWPAH should be repurposed Question posed by Commissioner Ahearn-Koch was addressed by Commissioner Trice. Deputy City Auditor and Clerk Rivers left and returned to her seat at 9:06 A.M. Executive Director Mary Bensel, VWPAH, came before the Commission to address questions. Question posed by Vice Mayor Alpert to Commissioner Trice was addressed, and Vice Mayor Alpert stated that the belief is an analysis of VWPAH has been done many times. Discussion ensued regarding whether an analysis is necessary for VWPAH as follows: City has an Engineering Report and Economic Analysis of what is necessary to make VWPAH profitable and attract shows Difficulty in booking shows due to lack of seats and acoustics Distress from touring the VWPAH (dressing rooms are terrible and stage not large enough) Requested and the Deputy City Auditor and Clerk provide to the Commission printed material entitled "Past, Present & Future of the Van Wezel Performing Arts Hall" Group of concerned citizens has rebutted the VWPAH issues mentioned in the Karins Blue. Ribbon Committee & Aforable/Attainable. Housing Workshop 1- 01/30/23 Engineering Report (Report) Contradictions in the Report which is being used by the SPAC Foundation and concerned citizens to support differing claims City has not entertained spending money and doing something this grandiose has never occurred Commission's responsibility, spending money, use of Staff's time, and 1000 percent positivity this is a necessity City Manager Brown stated that this conversation is to focus on the SPAC; however, if the Commission prefers to revisit whether a new SPAC is needed, then today's discussion needs to be placed on hold. Mayor Battie concurred with feeling distressed after touring the VWPAH and stated that the City is growing but is caught up in nostalgia and history; however, the moment any renovations are made, such as being out of the flood zone and up to code then the historical significance is lost and referenced the Report. Discussion ensued about whether the VWPAH can be repairedrestored as follows: Proven evidence the VWPAH cannot be repaired has not been seen End of the Report indicates approximately $50 million to bring to a State of the Art status Desire to discuss potential repairs with other engineering firms Belief is other options are being explored in terms of decreasing the price and visiting other State of the Art Performing Art Centers Question posed by Commissioner Trice to the City Manager asking what Karins Engineering was asked to study was addressed by the City Manager who requested the Executive Director of VWPAH to indicate their years of experience which was addressed. Commissioner Arroyo proposed to appoint a body consisting of five individuals with unique qualitications to serve on the Committee and discussion ensued as follows: Selections should be done similarly to the Charter Review Committee appointments, whereas each Commissioner appoints two members Committee should consist of neutral experts The need for people who have enough knowledge to ask the right questions of consultants who are hired and understand the information Belief is five individuals are not sufficient If the Commission can agree to the qualifications of individuals then they could be appointed similarly to Advisory Board appointments Hire a performing arts company as an advisor and not as a voting member Staff draft a list of qualifications for the Commission to review at a future Commission Meeting Ms. Bensel stated that the Commission may want to appoint someone who can discuss repurposing the VWPAH on the Committee. Mr. Bailey spoke to the topic and provided a brief overview of the New Life Community Initiative Committee which assisted the School Board of Sarasota County with selecting an appropriate use for the historic Sarasota High School. Discussion ensued regarding the following: First task of the Committee is to engage a structural engineer Committee should not be confined to only City residents since the VWPAH is a regional facility Staff will return at a Regular Sarasota City Commission Meeting with all of the Blue. Ribbon Committee & Afordable/Atuinable Housing Workshop 2- 01/30/23 qualifications based on what was heard today for Commission decision The belief is the recommendation is to also have a Steering Committee which will be determined by the Committee Financial sustainability of SPAC and/or VWPAH Operational and financial analysis will be done on the new SPAC Sea level rise will be reviewed VWPAH was not in the positive until Ms. Bensel came aboard Ms. Bensel and the City Manager visited other new PACS which all cost under approximately $100 million As the City grows greenspace is becoming more valuable Do not want the SPAC Foundation to be encouraged to leave the City Commission is reminded the Sarasota Orchestra currently has a 70-year lease and originally was supposed to be a part of The Bay Belief is the City has done a great job in creating and preserving greenspace DISCUSSION RE: AFFORDABLE HOUSING OPTIONS STIMULATE AND INCENTIVIZE CREATIONICONSTRUCTION OF MORE ATTAINABLE HOUSING IN THE CITY OF SARASOTA (AGENDA ITEM II-2) City Manager Brown requested and Director Steven Cover and Manager of Long-Range Planning David Smith, Planning Department, came before the Commission. City Manager Brown stated that this is a free for all conversation regarding affordable housing and presented. Discussion ensued regarding the Commission's thoughts about a number of apartments coming into the City and how to move affordable housing forward more quickly, as follows: Commission has done everything possible to spread affordable housing throughout the City Concerns were voiced based on the January 17, 2023, Regular Sarasota City Commission Meeting, regarding whether the Commission is really accomplishing affordable housing When Developers ask for a Rezone the Commission should request 10, 15, or 20 units for affordable housing There is a social responsibility to the community-atlarge and not only for the Commission but also for the Developers Inability to regulate the housing market and the City is handicapped by the State Proposal is for the City to purchase land, have a Developer build housing units, hire a property management company and for the City to receive a check Community Land Trusts Request made by Commissioner Trice for Staff to discuss Community Land Trusts was addressed by Mr. Cover and the City Manager. Question posed by the Vice Mayor was addressed by the City Manager. Discussion continued regarding how to move affordable housing forward more quickly. City Manager Brown requested the Deputy City Attorney to address when Rezonings are granted for private Developers can the City request or mandate some type of affordable housing was addressed and the Deputy City Attorney read a portion of Florida State Statute 166.04151 - Affordable Housing into the record. Question posed by Commissioner Trice was addressed by the Deputy City Attorney. Blue. Ribbon Committee & AfordablelAllainable. Housing Workshop -3- 01/30/23 Mr. Smith spoke to the topic and stated that the belief is there may be some Affordable Housing Legislature forthcoming from the State in 2023. Commissioner Ahearn-Koch spoke to the topic and stated that the desire is for Inclusionary Zoning to be included in the conversation as the Commission continues to discuss affordable housing. City Attorney Fournier arrived at 10:24 A.M. Discussion ensued regarding the following: Inclusionary Zoning InDeed Program which provides Restricted Workforce Housing in Aspen, Colorado Exclusionary policies preventing affordable housing Should be looking to infill single-family neighborhoods with missing middle units rather than building large complexes Adding to the stock/inventory of housing units also helps with the affordability, supply and demand Having some commercial activities around the neighborhoods and walkability Many different types of living in the City and single-family neighborhoods make up more than 50% of the tax base Development has an impact to the Level-ol-Service and neighborhoods Planners should be looking on a neighborhood-by-neighborhood basis, have a balanced approach with public input, and do what is best City Manager Brown thanked the Commission for the open discussion. 2. ADJOURN (AGENDA ITEM 2) Mayor Battie adjourned the Sarasota City Commission Workshop of January 30, 2023, at 10:44 A.M. Blue. Ribbon Committee & Afordable/Attainable. Housing Workshop 4- 01/30/23