MINUTES OF THE SARASOTA COMMUNITY REDEVELOPMENT AGENCY SPECIAL MEETING OF APRIL 25, 2016 PRESENT: Community Redevelopment Agency: Chair Willie Charles Shaw, presiding, Vice Chair Suzanne Atwell, Members Liz Alpert, Susan Chapman, and Shelli Freeland Eddie, Executive Director Thomas Barwin, Attorney Robert Fournier, and Secretary Pamela Nadalini Downtown Community Redevelopment Agency Advisory Board: Chair Michael Beaumier, Vice Chair Mark Huey, Members Kenneth Bailey, Valerie Buchand, Lynn Robins, Drayton Saunders, Javier Suarez, Jr., and Paul Thorpe, Jr. Newtown Community Redevelopment Agency Advisory Board: Chair Ernie DuBose, Vice Chair Mary Colleen McGue, Members Deanie Bergbreiter, John Deppisch-DeVaughn, Joe Hembree, Mark Huey, Terrill Salem, and Mary Simmons Mack ABSENT: Downtown Community Redevelopment Agency Advisory Board: Member Tony Souza Newtown Community Redevelopment Agency Advisory Board: Member Fredd "Glossie" Atkins The meeting was called to order by Chair Shaw at 6:00 p.m. INVOCATION: Secretary Nadalini PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE: Vice Chair Atwell 1. PRESENTATION AND DISCUSSION RE: REMAINING COMMUNITY REDEVELOPMENT AGENCY FUNDING AND DETERMINATION OF PRIORITIES (AGENDA ITEM I-1) Chief Planner Steven Stancel, Neighborhoods, Redevelopment and Special Projects Division, and General Manager Lorna Alston, Newtown-North Sarasota Redevelopment Division, Neighborhood and Development Services (NDS) Department, came before the Community Redevelopment Agency (CRA) and the Downtown and Newtown Community Redevelopment Advisory Agency Boards (CRAABs). Mr. Stancel stated that the Downtown area of the CRA is anticipated to sunset with the possibility of no further deposits of County Tax Increment Fund (TIF) revenue into the Redevelopment Trust Fund after the 2016 tax year; that the Newtown area of the CRA will continue through the year 2047 but without County TIF revenue; that expending the remaining TIF funds to achieve the maximum benefit for both the Downtown and Newtown areas is important; that the current meeting was requested to review current project funding and specific priority projects as identified by the Downtown and Newtown CRAABS as priorities; and referred to the spreadsheet entitled "Community Redevelopment Agency Proposed Project Funding" included in the Agenda backup material on the Chamber monitors which lists the following: Column 1 2015 - 16 Project Budget as of April 12, 2016 Column 2 Revised Allocations/Completed Project Remaining Funding Column 3 Difference/Remaining Funding Column 4 Proposed Adjustments Column 5 Total Proposed CRA Funding Book 3 Page 31838 04/25/16 6:00 P.M. Book 3 Page 31839 04/25/16 6:00 P.M. Mr. Stancel stated that the following projects have been identified as priorities by the Downtown and Newtown CRAs: Downtown Fruitville Road Improvements Downtown Transportation (Circulator) Cultural Park/Bayfront 20/20 Newtown Newtown Conservation Historic District Project Newtown Rehab-Historic Homes - $50,000 per home Newtown Land Assemblage for Future Development Newtown Business Development Martin Luther King, Jr., Way (MLK) Beautification = Business Incentives Martin Luther King, Jr., Way (MLK) Retail and Professional Support Program Mr. Stancel stated that additional revenues of $335,623 from the sale of the Pad Lite site adjacent to the State Street Parking Garage as well as excess from the Debt Service payment have been included and were divided equally between the Downtown and the Newtown CRAs; that $1,200,896 is recommended for reallocation for the Downtown CRA; that $1,641,278 is recommended for reallocation for the Newtown CRA; that the reallocations can be changed by the Commission if desired. Mr. Stancel continued that the recommendation for the Downtown CRA is to reallocate $1,200,896 to the Fruitville Road Improvements Project; that the largest amount of the reallocation is $763,000 from the Wayfinding Signage Project which is being scaled back to $642,000 with funding from the Local Option Sales Tax (L.O.S.T.), also called the Penny Sales Tax Il; that with the reallocation from the TIF funds, the total proposed funding from the CRA for the Fruitville Road Improvements Project is $3,365,750; that the Wayfinding Signage Project will be discussed during the Capital Improvement Plan (CIP) process and will include essential gateway signs, the creation of a City telephone application and electronic kiosks; that the Fruitville Road Improvements Project was preliminarily estimated at $9.8 million which does not include any replacement of water or sewer lines; that the funding from the CRA represents approximately one-third of the total cost of the project; that the project can be phased; that additional funding from the CRA may be available in the future; that Mobility Fees, L.O.S.T. funds and gas taxes with the potential for utilizing grants and Federal or State funds. Mr. Stancel stated further that Staff is proposing as a priority project a Downtown Transportation Circulator which will be an on-demand electric vehicle transport service as part of a Phase One Downtown Transit Circulator System which could be quickly implemented prior to the next season; that a private transportation service could be identified to establish a pilot project providing free transportation Downtown, utilizing electric vehicles of approximately six seats and responding via a telephone mobile application in a five- to ten-minute timeframe; that the concept would be to provide a one- to two-year subsidy to the company with a mandate the provider would be able to sustain the system after the pilot program is over with no further subsidies from the City; that currently, such a system is being run in Delray Beach, Florida, very successfully with approximately 14,000 riders a month; that currently, Aspen, Colorado, is seeking a similar service as well as the Downtown Tampa Partnership. Mr. Stancel displayed on the Chamber monitors a photograph of the type of vehicle contemplated which seats five passengers plus the driver, is handicapped accessible and is road approved; and stated that advertising is displayed on the doors which is what commonly pays for the service; that the vehicles in Delray Beach, Florida have small iPads on the back of the seat which display advertising. In response to a question from Vice Chair Atwell asking on which roads the vehicles are allowed to go and the speed limit, Mr. Stancel stated that the six-seat vehicles can go on all roads; that the speed limit is 35 miles per hour. Mr. Stancel stated that the proposal is for six to nine vehicles and to issue an Invitation to Negotiate (ITN), allowing maximum flexibility to negotiate. In response to a question from Chair Shaw asking if the vehicles would have doors on the side, Mr. Stancel stated not necessarily as air conditioning is an issue; that people may prefer to have the doors on the sides during certain times of the year. Mr. Stancel stated that the project cost is anticipated at $548,000 of which $434,787 would come from TIF funds with an additional $113,000 from the City's Transit Development Fund; that the third priority for the Downtown CRAAB is the Cultural Park Master Plan; however, funding is not currently available; that potential funding would be additional funds from the CRA, Mobility Fees, L.O.S.T. funds, gas taxes, grants, etc., which could be applied to the Bayfront 20/20 Plan. In response to a question from Chair Shaw asking if acceptance of the Proposed Project Funding does not mean the items which have not yet come to the Commission are approved, Mr. Stancel stated that is correct. Mr. Stancel stated that the Downtown CRAAB identified other projects but had to prioritize as funding is not available for all projects; that specifically the Storefront Façade Program is something in which the Downtown CRAAB is very interested; that other projects of interest are Main Street improvements, public/private partnerships, and on-going marketing programs. In response to a question from Member Chapman asking if the Downtown CRAAB considered any testimony from Emergency Management Service (EMS) personnel in selecting the Fruitville Road Improvements Project as the No. 1 Priority, Mr. Stancel stated no; that no presentations have been received on any of the recommendations, and Downtown CRAAB Member Beaumier stated that with all the development in the Rosemary District, the Downtown CRAAB reached consensus to identify mobility and the ability to get people back and forth across Fruitville Road is important, as the Commission has already authorized funds to conduct a study which is on-going at this time and was the first step in the Fruitville Road Improvements Project, and Downtown CRAAB Member Suarez stated that the last presentation concerning the subject indicated different options for the Fruitville Road Corridor; between Downtown and the Rosemary District; that the determination was for funding whatever project would be developed in the future, and not identified a specific project. Mr. Stancel stated that the projected $9.8 million cost of the Fruitville Road Improvements Project is the higher alternative with roundabouts; that even the cost of keeping four lanes is $9.5 million; that funds will have to be set aside and decisions are yet to be made. In response to a question from Member Freeland Eddie asking if there is any connection between the transportation circulator and parking at the State Street Parking Garage to encourage people to continue to park Downtown has been discussed and if vehicles will be available during Special Events, Mr. Stancel stated that the possibility of utilizing the garages as charging stations for the electric vehicles was discussed; that the parking garages could act as the hub for the transportation circulator which would be available during Special Events; that the desire is to maintain flexibility for Special Events and extended hours, and Member Freeland Eddie stated that the Sarasota County Area Transit (SCAT) routes related to Downtown traffic have changed and should be considèred. Ms. Alston stated that the Newtown CRAAB held a meeting on February 9, 2016, to prioritize the projects and reallocate funds as necessary based on the importance to the Newtown area; that the reallocations and the allocation of the addition revenue available based on the best use for the community are: Project Adjustment Fredd "Glossie" Atkins Park $385,623 Newtown Conservation Historic District Project $155,655 Newtown Rehabilitation of Historic Homes $50,000 per home $200,000 Newtown Land Assemblage for Future Development $310,000 Newtown Business Development $205,000 Martin Luther King, Jr., Way (MLK) Beautification - Business Incentives $80,000 Martin Luther King, Jr., Way (MLK) Retail and Professional Support $305,000 Program Book 3 Page 31840 04/25/16 6:00 P.M. Book 3 Page 31841 04/25/16 6:00 P.M. Ms. Alston stated that the Fredd "Glossie" Atkins Park is an important gateway project for the community; that with the Dr. MLK Streetscaping Project, changing the entranceway for the community is important; that Staff worked with the Urban Design Studio (UDS) and the community to determine the best look and the best projects to activate the park to become an economic development stimulus for the community; that the Newtown Conservation Historic District Project will be coming before the Commission for review at the May 2016, Regular Sarasota City Commission Meeting with the completion of Phase One of the Project; that strong recommendations to continue to Phase Two was received and will include markers, the creation of an educational component, and a review of historic properties for renovation and rehabilitation work; that the Newtown CRAAB recommended four homes be selected for rehabilitation at a cost of $50,000 each; that the Newtown Rehabilitation of Historic Homes Project in association with the Conservation Historic District Project could be an extremely important economic stimulus for the Newtown area with an emphasis placed on the historic history of the area, creating a destination for people to restore the area. In response to a question from Vice Chair Atwell asking for the number of existing historically designated homes in the community, Ms. Alston stated none; that a number of homes are historically acknowledged but not designated, and Newtown CRAAB Member DuBose stated that the final Historical Preservation Report is awaited and will provide recommendations of which homes will be of the most value to restore. Ms. Alston stated that recognizing the historical significance is part of the Newtown CRA Plan; that Staff provided the Newtown CRAAB a list of privately-owned properties which would be good consideration for assembling and having some control in the development of the properties; that whoever controls the land controls the economics of development. In response to a question from Vice Chair Atwell asking the difference between land assemblage and land banking, Newtown CRAAB Member DuBose stated that the land assemblage is to provide an option to leverage a total development and to approach someone willing to invest in a public/private partnership in the Dr. MLK, Jr. Corridor; that the land assemblage is not just about land banking, Ms. Alston stated that the distinction is also the Newtown CRAAB will have a more immediate use of the land rather just banking the land for speculative opportunity. Ms. Alston stated that the Newtown CRAAB thought the consideration of small businesses and development of small businesses on the Dr. MLK, Jr. Corridor is important sO funds were reallocated for the Newtown Business Development Project to provide loans, grants, or an incentive package; that the Dr. MLK, Jr. Way Beautification - Business Incentives Project is for future landscaping and improvement of the Dr. MLK, Jr. Corridor and for some additional costs encountered; that the streetscaping project is approximately 95 percent complete. In response to a question from Downtown CRAAB Member Buchand asking if the streetscaping project includes the cost of the busted waterlines, Ms. Alston stated that a major cost was moving the light poles which was not included in the original project; that other unexpected incidental costs were also incurred; that the new: signs along the entire Dr. MLK, Jr. Corridor were an additional cost. In response to a question from Downtown CRAAB Member Buchand asking the reason the bumpy roads are not smoothed out as the streetscape progresses, Ms. Alston stated that the repaving is the last phase of the project and will happen soon. Ms. Alston stated that the last item on the priority list is the Dr. MLK, Jr. Way Retail and Professional Support Program; that the parameters are not fully defined; that an example is the Janie's Gardens Marketplace which still has some vacant sites. In response to a question from Downtown CRAAB Member Suarez concerning requirements regarding the percentage of clear glazing for opacity for retail which is important for visibility, Ms. Alston stated that opacity requirements are worth pursuing to achieve build-out; that opacity is the number one complaint received. In response to a comment from Downtown CRAAB Member Buchand indicating the understanding was funds from the CRA could not be used for build-out which has been a significant problem especially to get minorities business into the space, air-conditioning and plumbing should be installed in the buildings sO entrepreneurs could have a start, and people must spend $35,000 to $40,000 before making any money, Ms. Alston stated that such funding is part of the Newtown CRA Plan; that TIF funds can be used for the purpose; that the Newtown CRAAB was of the opinion proceeding to develop the site was important to make the site productive; that the building will be reviewed to determine how best to accommodate businesses, and Newtown CRAAB Member Hembree stated that a Developer has included a specific project in plans which will include installation of restrooms and air conditioning to make the space available to tenants as part of the rent; that the funds were thought of as starter funds for the entire Dr. MLK, Jr. Corridor; that the focus has been on the Janie's Garden Project; however, the intent was the funds would be available to create an opportunity for businesses to open or expand through the Dr. MLK, Jr. Corridor. Downtown CRAAB Member Buchand stated the retail space at Janie's Garden which has been empty for a significant period of time; that vibrancy for the entire Dr. MLK Corridor is desired; that the use of funds from the CRA would be of assistance in providing an opportunity for people to occupy the spaces at Janie's Garden. In response to a question from Member Chapman asking the reason some current projects are indicated as not eligible for reallocation, Mr. Stancel stated that the funds are already encumbered or are part of an agreement. A motion was made by Member Alpert, seconded by Vice Chair Atwell, and carried by a 5-0 vote to accept the Downtown and Newtown Community Redevelopment Agency Advisory Boards (CRAAB) Reports. In response to a question from Chair Shaw concerning the legal options for the City with the sunsetting of the CRA, Attorney Fournier stated that the recommendation is to discuss the legal options as a City Commission; that the Redevelopment Trust Fund was created in 1987 by Ordinance and must remain in existence as the City will continue collecting the tax increment from the Newtown area; that by State Statute the funds must be deposited into the Redevelopment Trust Fund but do not limit the amount which can be deposited into the Redevelopment Trust Fund which could be kept active and an amount appropriated and deposited as a budget issue on an annual basis. In response to a question from Chair Shaw referring to an April 26, 2016, letter from Alan Maio, Chair of the Sarasota Board of County Commissioners (BCC), and asking the options available, City Attorney Fournier stated that the letter received is a draft which was not included in the Agenda backup material; that too much should not be said at this time; that once a final letter is received, an item for discussion can be placed on the Agenda of a Regular Sarasota City Commission Meeting; that a contractual basis to enforce funding may be available; that other avenues may be possible. In response to a comment from Member Freeland Eddie indicating this is the appropriate forum to discuss the budget shortfall for the Robert L. Taylor Community Complex (RLTCC), Attorney Fournier stated that the discussion should occur as part of the budget process; that Staff may have some recommendations; that the understanding is the budget shortfall is the result of the expiration of the obligation under the Interlocal Agreement with the County. 2. CITIZENS' INPUT CONCERNING CRA TOPICS (AGENDA ITEM II) No one signed up to speak. Book 3 Page 31842 04/25/16 6:00 P.M. Book 3 Page 31843 04/25/16 6:00 P.M. 3. ADJOURN (AGENDA ITEM M Chair Shaw adjourned the Joint Special Community Redevelopment Advisory Agency Meeting at 6:48 p.m. SOTA € AQ 4 WILLIE CHARLES SHAW, CHAIR ATTESLO - M Nooo PAMELA M. NADALINI, SECRETARY