Book 62 Page 35045 10/22/13 2:00 P.M. MINUTES OF THE JOINT SPECIAL MEETING OF THE CITY COMMISSION OF THE CITY OF SARASOTA AND THE SARASOTA BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS OF OCTOBER 22, 2013 PRESENT: City of Sarasota Commission: Mayor Shannon Snyder, Vice Mayor Willie Shaw, Commissioners Suzanne Atwell, Paul Caragiulo, and Susan Chapman, City Manager Thomas Barwin, City Attorney Robert Fournier, and City Auditor and Clerk Pamela Nadalini Sarasota Board of County Commissioners: Chair Carolyn Mason, Vice Chair Charles Hines, Commissioners Joseph Barbetta, Nora Patterson, and Christine Robinson, County Administrator Randall Reid, and County Attorney Stephen DeMarsh ABSENT: None The meeting was called to order by the Sarasota Board of County Commissioners (BCC) Chair Mason at 2:00 p.m. PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE: BCC Commissioner Barbetta BCC Chair Mason welcomed the City Commissioners, City Staff, and members of the public 1. OPEN TO THE PUBLIC (AGENDA ITEM 1) The following people spoke: David Munro, City resident and boater, displayed on the monitors photographs and graphics of statistics of the depth of Big Pass, and indicating SRQLidar.com has excellent information regarding the depth of Big Pass. Peter van Roekens indicating soundings have been conducted at Big Pass for 12 years, previous proposals have been made to dredge Big Pass, a dredge of Big Pass has been proposed, and an independent peer review has not been conducted regarding the current proposal but should be. Jeff Birnbach, past Commode of the Sarasota Yacht Club and Board Member of Sarasota Bay Watch, indicating neither organization supports nor opposes the dredging of Big Pass but both believe an independent peer review is important and should be conducted. Lourdes Rameriz, President of the Coalition of Neighborhood Associations (CONA), indicating an evaluation of Sarasota 2050 has no benefit to the community, six Resource Management Areas (RMAs) are identified in Sarasota 2050, only one section of Sarasota 2050 is being reviewed which is the Village/Open Space RMA, the majority of the County's residents live in the five RMAS not being reviewed, the development community has indicated the Village/Open Space RMA does not generate enough revenue to allow for development, the fiscal neutrality provision has been a burden to developers, the greatest push has come from developers outside of Sarasota County. Jono Miller indicating the barrier islands have been studied for 40 years, no particular position concerning the dredging of Big Pass is advocated, the sand dredged at Big Pass is part of a system, the cost for the project is estimated at over $22 million, a coherent strategy for the beaches on the Gulf Coast should be developed, the funds cannot be found to do everything desired for the beaches, and a comprehensive, coherent strategy should be developed. Rob Patten indicating a number of technical questions and concerns regarding the Lido Key Renourishment Project exist. 2. PRESENTATION AND UPDATE ON THE LIDO BEACH RENOURISHMENT PROJECT (AGENDA ITEM 2.A) Laird Wreford, Coastal Resources Manager, Sarasota County, and City Engineer Alexandra DavisShaw, City of Sarasota, came before the Commissions. Mr. Wreford stated that City Staff will be providing an overview of the proposed Lido Beach Renourishment Project; that the presentation is informational and for dissemination. Ms. DavisShaw stated that Lido Beach has been hit with several storms recently; that in 1988 and 1989, Lido Beach was hit with significant storms; that the Jersey barriers were installed at the time to provide protection for the beach and roadway; that Coastal Planning Engineering (CPE) was hired to develop a long-range plan for Lido Beach to preserve the infrastructure; that the City also worked with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (Corps) to determine if any projects would be an eligible beach restoration project for Federal funding; that the Corps has determined Lido Beach is critically eroded and viable as a Corps project and eligible for Federal funding; that participating with the Corps is important as a 50-year project with regular renourishments will result; that 64 percent of the project will be funded with Federal funds; that the balance will be split between a grant from the State and Tourist Development Tax funds; that as a Federal project, 100 percent of any project required as a result of a declared disaster based on funding allocated by Congress; that public meetings have been scheduled as follows: D 5:00 p.m., December 5, 2013, at the St. Boniface Church D 9:30 a.m., December 6, 2013, at the Harley Sand Castle D Breakfast meeting of the Boaters' Association on December 7, 2013 Virginia Haley, Executive Director, Visit Sarasota County, and Dr. Walter Kalges, President of Research Data, came before the Commissions. Ms. Haley stated that Lido Beach is important to the economic health of the entire community; that the information is important in applying for any Federal funding. Dr. Kalges gave a PowerPoint presentation displayed on the monitors indicating the importance and economic value of Lido Beach, an analysis of surveys conducted with Sarasota commercial lodgings, the significance of Lido Beach on Sarasota's economy, the average daily impact of visitors to Lido Beach and the area, a profile of visitors to Lido Beach, visitors' home origins, average length of visitors' stay, visitors' satisfaction and plans to return, and internet usage. Milan Mora, Project Manager, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, came before the Commissions and displayed a PowerPoint presentation on the monitors which included an overview of the hurricane and storm damage reduction project for Lido Key, the 2002 Feasibility Study, the project plan of placement, source and retention features, the size and location of the project, the impact on Siesta Key, and the effect on navigation and recreation. Discussion ensued concerning previous peer reviews, alternatives for sand borrow areas, impacts from the alternatives, the Sarasota Inlet Management Plan, the amount of sand previously deposited on Lido Beach, impact of wave action on the area, initial construction and following renourishment projects, shoreline protection, and preservation and protection of Lido Beach. 3. STATUS REPORT FROM THE DOWNTOWN COMMUNITY REDEVELOPMENT AREA (CRA) EXTENSION STUDY COMMITTEE AND DISCUSSION ON CRIME STATISTICS IN DOWNTOWN SARASOTA (AGENDA ITEM 2.B) City Manager Barwin stated that CRAS have provided important economic development tools to cities and counties throughout the State; that the Downtown CRA has experienced significant success; that the current Downtown CRA is scheduled to sunset in 2016 unless extended; that the CRA is a strategic tool Book 62 Page 35046 10/22/13 2:00 P.M. Book 62 Page 35047 10/22/13 2:00 P.M. which should be carefully analyzed; that the City and County Commissions agreed to appoint a Joint Study Committee to consider a possible extension; that a status update will be provided. Andrew Dorr, Chair of the Downtown Community Redevelopment Area (CRA) Extension Study Committee, and Deputy City Manager Marlon Brown, City of Sarasota came before the Commissions. Mr. Dorr stated that the Downtown CRA Extension Study Committee (Committee) was formed in March 2013 by the City and County Commissions and began meeting in June 2013 for a seven-month effort to study the CRA, provide a cost-benefit analysis, report on best practices, and develop a recommendation and referred to a PowerPoint presentation displayed on the monitors. Mr. Dorr continued that the Committee focused on three key areas: 1) fact-finding, 2) analysis, and 3) developing recommendations, and continued the PowerPoint presentation displayed on the monitors which included expenditures and revenues of the CRAs, the 2012/13 budget, Interfund transfers, example projects, public/private partnerships, current projects, streetscape projects, the Cultural Park Master Plan, formerly called the Cultural District Master Plan, the development of opportunities, the decision tree being utilized, the possible length of any extension of the CRA, the establishment of the Newtown CRA, guidelines for use of the Tax Increment Financing (TIF) funds, the Newtown Redevelopment Plan, the Newtown Redevelopment Office, the transfer of Downtown TIF funds to the Newtown area, the amounts transferred for use in the Newtown area. Mr. Dorr stated that a report concerning the use of Downtown TIF funds in the Newtown area will be provided the Commissions. Mr. Dorr referred to a document entitled, "Crime Risk Methodology 2013," a release by Applied Geographic Solutions (AGS), which is included in the Agenda backup material, and stated that the crime index in certain zip codes in Downtown Sarasota is very high in comparison to other geographic areas in the Country, and significant work remains in the Downtown and Newtown CRAs. City Manager Barwin stated that crime or the perception of crime is extremely important to the image of the Cultural Coast. Deputy Police Chief Stephen Moyer, Sarasota Police Department, came before the Commissions and stated that the study only considered Part I crimes which are the most serious crimes; that the crime index indicates the statistics of smaller cities are based on what the crime index would be if the population were 100,000 which can be misleading; that the study reviewed crime data from 2005 through 2010; and provided crime statistics for 2012 to 2013. Deputy Police Chief Moyer stated further that a continued reduction in crime is demonstrated and described the zone structure of the Sarasota Police Department. Detective Ron Roberson, Sarasota Police Department, came before the Commissions, referred to slides of maps displayed on the monitors, and indicating crime and quality of life statistics for 2012 and 2013 to date. 4. UPDATE ON ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT EFFORTS IN THE CITY OF SARASOTA (AGENDA ITEM 2.C) Norman Gollub, Downtown Economic Development Coordinator for the Greater Sarasota Chamber of Commerce, came before the Commissions and read a prepared statement indicating Downtown as the heart of the community, the accounting of City and County governments for 35 percent of employment, the commercial vacancy rate of 13.08 percent, the renovation of vacant retail space, the promotion of the Downtown area, the impact of malls outside the Downtown area on the Downtown, the necessity for a collaboration to develop a common message, vagrancy and homelessness as the prime concerns, the active role of the Sarasota Police Department in addressing the homeless issue, the operating hours of retail stores, the requirement for a clean and safe environment, economic development on North Tamiami Trail, and the Cultural Park Master Plan, formerly called the Cultural District Master Plan, and development of the area along the Bayfront. Discussion ensued concerning new rental apartment construction, the Urban Design Studio, density in Downtown, the expiration of the Downtown Residential Overlay District (DROD), changes in density, changes in the City's Comprehensive Plan, the development of a form-based code, potential sites for development of affordable housing, legislative incentives for rental properties, options for development of various types of housing. County Administrator Reid stated that with the agreement of the Commissions, the next presentation will be Agenda Item 2.E, the City to City Nashville Visit, followed by Agenda Item 2.D, Sarasota 2050. BCC Chair Mason stated that hearing no objections, Agenda Item 2.E will be presented followed by Agenda Item 2.D. 5. PRESENTATION ON THE TAKEAWAYS FROM THE "CITY TO CITY NASHVILLE VISIT" (AGENDA ITEM 2.E) Steve Queior, President of the Greater Sarasota Chamber of Commerce, came before the Commissions and stated that a group of 31 City and County residents made a visit to Nashville, Tennessee, as part of the Inter-City Visit Program; that Inter-City Visit Program is a best practice; that the improvements at some of the cities visited are impressive; that Sarasota has invested Tourist Development Taxes in baseball and rowing facilities; that the achievements in Nashville are impressive; that the demonstration of six- and seven-story buildings developed in Nashville is a good example; that Nashville developed more jobs than any other city in the County and retains 60 percent of the college graduates in the area; that the branding of Nashville is as The Music City; that four areas are carrying strong energy upon the participants return: 1) entrepreneur centers, 2) desirable real estate, 3) branding the community and 4) talent for tomorrow partnerships; that the cradle-to-career program of Charleston, South Carolina, is another excellent example of best practices. Discussion ensued concerning future destinations for the Inter-City Visit Program, the number of building permits issued in the City, participation in the Inter-City Visit Program by representatives of the northern and southern areas of the County, the difficulties of Nashville in managing the homeless issue, instiling the desire for Investment in the City and the County, public safety and quality of life, the importance of economic investment, the ability of young people to live anywhere, career paths for young people, and the possibility of visiting a city which would have the same or similar government structure. In response to a question from Commissioner Chapman asking if the inter-City Visit was noticed and if minutes were taken, Mr. Queior stated that prior to the Inter-City Visit trip legal advice was sought; that staff was advised the Inter-City Visit Program is based upon research and is not a publicly noticed activity and notes were taken. The Commissions recessed at 4:26 p.m. and reconvened at 4:33 p.m. 6. STATUS REPORT ON THE SARASOTA 2050 RESOURCE MANAGEMENT AREA (RMA) PLAN (AGENDA ITEM 2.D) Allen Parsons, Manager of Long Range Planning Division, Sarasota County, came before the Commissions, referred to his October 22, 2013, memorandum to the BCC included in the Agenda backup material indicating the scope of work and timeline of the review of Sarasota 2050 and a PowerPoint presentation displayed on the monitors and including the 1975 Land Use Plan and Thoroughfare Plan for Sarasota County, the 1981 Apoxsee Future Land Use Map, the 1989 Future Land Use Plan, the current Future Land Use Plan, the background of Sarasota 2050, and the Resource Management Areas (RMAs) in Sarasota 2050 of: 0 Urban/Suburban 0 Economic Development D Rural Heritage 0 Agricultural Reserve n Greenway E Village Open/Space Mr. Parsons continued with the PowerPoint presentation indicating the focus of the evaluation of Sarasota 2050 is Book 62 Page 35048 10/22/13 2:00 P.M. Book 62 Page 35049 10/22/13 2:00 P.M. the Greenway and Village Open/Space RMAS, the reason for the Sarasota 2050 policy as continued growth and economic development with the three tenets of Open Space, New Urbanism and Fiscal Neutrality, the concept of the transfer of development rights, the facilities and services analyzed for fiscal neutrality, the timing of revisiting Sarasota 2050, a data summary of residential building permits from 2005 to the present, conservation lands and open space standards, the County's review of Sarasota 2050, and the upcoming schedule for review of Sarasota 2050 as follows: November 7, 2013 - Public Hearing of the County Planning Commission November 20, 2013 - Public Hearing of the Sarasota Board of County Commissioners Discussion ensued concerning collaboration with the cities in the County, the Council of Governments, the involvement of City Planning Staff in the development of Sarasota 2050, the current involvement of municipal Planning Staffs and Planning Boards, the policies of the Urban/Suburban RMA, the effect of Sarasota 2050 on infill and density in urban areas, the engagement of the municipalities in the review of Sarasota 2050, the impact of fiscal neutrality on municipalities, the implementation of planning alliances, and the interaction of cities with the County. 7. OPEN TO THE PUBLIC (AGENDA ITEM 3) The following people spoke: Kafi Benz indicating Sarasota 2050 was a compromise, the dialogue should be reopened if changes are proposed, the proposed changes will negatively affect municipalities and the villages and hamlets. Cathy Antunes indicating the map for total potential housing units does not include the municipalities, the long- term implications of any changes to Sarasota 2050 should not be ignored. Gerry Swormstedt indicating the three tenets of Sarasota 2050 should be maintained. 8. ADJOURN % SFA BCC Chair Mason adjourned the Joint Meeting of the Sarasota Board of County Commissioners and the Commission of the. City of Sarasota of October 22, 2013, at 5:09 p.m. 7 SHANNON SNYDER, MAYOR ATTEST: A - 0Og A PAMELA NADALINI, MBA, CMC CITY AUDITOR AND CLERK