CRA Board Members Present:

Shirley Groover Bryant, Presiding Officer

Tambra Varnadore, Chair

Jonathan Davis, Vice Chair

Tamara Cornwell

Harold Smith

Brian Williams

 

Staff Present:

Jeff Burton, CRA Director

Mark Barnebey, City Attorney

Jim Freeman, City Clerk

Mohammed Rayan, Public Works Deputy Director

Scott Tyler, Chief of Police

Amber LaRowe, Assistant City Clerk

 

 

Mayor Bryant opened the CRA Board meeting at 7:19 p.m.

 

 

1.  CRA BOARD AGENDA APPROVAL

 

Motion:     Mr. Williams moved, Mr. Davis seconded, and the motion carried 5-0 to approve the March 18, 2019 CRA Board Agenda.

 

 

2.  PUBLIC COMMENT

No comment.

 

 

3. CONSENT AGENDA APPROVAL

            A. Minutes: December 3, 2018 and March 4, 2019                                                                          

            B. 301 Extended Stay Incentive Agreement                                                                                     

           

Motion:           Mr. Williams moved, Mrs. Cornwell seconded, and the motion carried 5-0 to approve item 3.A. of the March 18, 2019 CRA Board Consent Agenda.

 

3.B. 301 Extended Stay Incentive Agreement Discussion:

Mr. Burton explained that this agreement and program is similar to that of the recent Convention Center Hotel Incentive Agreement that the Board approved on August 6, 2018. He reminded the Board that this incentive may offer up to 80 percent of the increment revenue derived from this redevelopment, paid for as it is collected by the CRA. This means that the CRA does not front the funds before they are collected.

 

Attorney Barnebey stated that this new agreement supersedes the previous approved agreement. Mr. Burton stated that the actual agreement will be brought forward for the Board’s approval.

 

Mr. Williams would like a stipulation that the agreement will be approved when the developer of this property contributes their share of the grant funding for the proposed traffic light at Canal Road and U.S. 301.

 

Motion:     Mr. Williams moved, Mr. Davis seconded, and the motion carried 5-0 to approve 80 percent payment of the estimated increment created form the hotel redevelopment on the property located at 1550 U.S. 301 North, not to exceed $1,932,000 subject to entering into an agreement with the CRA which shall include rescission of the prior approved CRA Agreement on this property.

 

 

4.  CRA DIRECTOR’S COMMENTS               

Mr. Burton informed the Board that the Slick’s and Grower’s contracts were signed last Friday. He is working with Cardno for a contract to include the properties into the voluntary property cleanup agreement with the State. He will be working towards the Environmental Protection Agency for a cleanup grant in January 2020. The CRA also applied for an assessment grant with Manatee County and will know if awarded within the next few month. This will be used for remediation of the properties. He is working on a plan for security, lighting, light painting, and temporary parking; these will be short term solutions to clean it up and encourage downtown parking.

 

In regards to demolition of the buildings, Mr. Burton stated that he does not see anything being torn down until fall of 2020. He will be preparing a statement within the next few months to distribute to the residents informing them of the plans.

 

Mr. Williams suggested a mural could be placed on the western wall of Slick’s to highlight the plans to come.

 

Mr. Burton informed the Board that students from University of South Florida will be doing a survey in City neighborhood over the next couple of weeks and he will place an article in the newspaper to explain what is going on. Mr. Williams encouraged the students to have some sort of City/CRA credentials and he is willing to go out with them to encourage responses from residents.

 

On the April 1^st Agenda, Mr. Burton plans to discuss the Taylor Fulton Properties. He has had the 17 duplexes appraised and the property owners are willing to hold the note for the CRA. The CRA then can make payments as redevelopment occurs on these properties. He plans to have a prototype pocket neighborhood on a few units.

 

There will be a Florida Redevelopment Association housing training in May; Mr. Burton asked for the Board members to send their requests, if they would like to go, to the CRA by the end of next week.

 

At the next Workshop the realtors from SVN will be present to discuss what has been going on with the vacant property on Riverside Drive.

 

 

5.  PRESIDING OFFICER’S COMMENTS

Mayor Bryant discussed the recent attendance at the Heritage Day event held last Saturday; the Citrus Sign was a huge hit.

 

Mr. Davis also attended the Heritage Day at the Historical Park and echoed Mayor’s comments.

 

Attorney Barnebey reminded Mr. Burton that there are restrictions on parking lots in the downtown and he asked that Mr. Burton review those before developing parking at Slick’s/Grower’s.

6.  CRA BOARD MEMBERS’ COMMENTS

 

 

Mayor Bryant adjourned the meeting at 7:56 p.m.