BOOK 2 Page 1597 04/14/05 3:00 P.M. MINUTES OF THE SPECIAL SARASOTA COMMUNITY REDEVELOPMENT AGENCY MEETING OF APRIL 14, 2005, AT 3:00 P.M. PRESENT: Chair Richard F. Martin, presiding, Vice Chair Mary Anne Servian, Members Danny Bilyeu and Lou Ann R. Palmer, Executive Director Michael A. McNees, City Attorney Robert M. Fournier, and Secretary Billy E. Robinson ABSENT: Member Fredd "Glossie" Atkins The meeting was called to order by Chair Martin at 3:02 p.m. INVOCATION/PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE: City Auditor and Clerk Robinson 1. PRESENTATION OF UNITED STATES FLAG FLOWN OVER THE UNITED STATES CAPITAL BUILDING AND SUBSEQUENTLY TAKEN ON THE ROAD ON SECURITY CONVOYS THROUGHOUT THE SUNNI TRIANGLE Captain Stephen Skelton of the Charlie Company, 701st Main Support Battalion, 1st Infantry Division Company (Charlie Company) presented the United States flag to the City in appreciation for adopting the Charlie Company and to Florida Women in Government for supplying over 125 boxes in Operation Shoebox to the soldiers of Charlie Company. (FTR 3:07) 2. APPROVAL OF MINUTES Chair Martin noted CRA consensus to approve the minutes of the Special Community Redevelopment Agency Meeting of April 4, 2005. (FTR 3:08) 3. PRESENTATION AND DISCUSSION RE: PLAZA VERDI PROJECT Redevelopment Specialist Karin Murphy presented the status of the Plaza Verdi project. Ali Ebrahimi, President of the Ersa Grae Corporation (Ersa Grae), as the Applicant, and Susan Danis, Executive Director of the Sarasota Opera, provided an update of the termination of the agreement between the Golden Apple Dinner Theater and Ersa Grae, the status of the agreement between the Sarasota Opera and Ersa Grae, and an alternative plan for the Plaza Verdi project including the Sarasota Opera. In response to a question from Vice Mayor Servian, City Attorney Fournier stated that the proposal is not the original plan which the CRA oreviously eliminated from consideration but a modified version of the expanded plan. The following persons spoke: Carl Meyer, Robert Lincoln, Tony Souza, John Harshman, Bob Turoff, Roberta MacDonald-Turoff, and Dick Sheldon. In response to a comment by Commissioner Bilyeu, City Attorney Fournier stated that the difference between the value of the property and the cost to build parking spaces will be the contribution of the Tax Increment Financing (TIF) fund, which is included in the Term Sheet, and City Manager McNees stated that Administration should review whether to reconsider costs prior to considering any renegotiation of costs. In response to a request for clarification from Mayor Martin, Redevelopment Specialist Murphy stated that the Administration's: recommendation is to approve the modified plan. A motion was made by Member Palmer, seconded by Member Bilyeu, and carried by a 3-1 vote, with Vice Chair Servian voting no, to approve a modified version of the Plaza Verdi project as presented with direction to the Administration to consider if a new assessment of present land value and construction costs should be made with a report back to the CRA. (FTR 4:58) Chair Martin noted CRA consensus to defer consideration of an additional parking level in the Plaza Verdi project until questions regarding the legal repercussions of an additional parking level are resolved. (FTR 5:05) 4. CITIZENS' INPUT CONCERNING CRA TOPICS (FTR 5:05) No one signed up to speak. 5. OTHER MATTERS/ADMINISTRATIVE OFFICERS (FTR 5:05) 6. ADJOURN Chair Martin adjourned the meeting at 5:05 p.m. Rukw dlerhe RICHARD F. MARTIN, CHAIR ATTEST: Rillw E Ret BILLY E. ROBINSON, SECRETARY BOOK 2 Page 1598 04/14/05 3:00 P.M.