This CRA Board Meeting was conducted utilizing Communications Media Technology. Some Staff members were present in the Commission Chambers while others were present via the Zoom application to respect the social distancing guidelines.

 

ELECTED OFFICIALS PRESENT IN CHAMBERS:

Shirley Groover Bryant, Presiding Officer

Sheldon Jones, Chair

Brian Williams, Vice Chair

Tamara Cornwell

Harold Smith (Not Present)

Tambra Varnadore

 

STAFF PRESENT IN CHAMBERS:

Mark Barnebey, City Attorney

Xavier Colon, Interim CRA Director

Jim Freeman, City Clerk

Mohammed Rayan, Public Works Director

Scott Tyler, Chief of Police

Cassi Bailey, Assistant City Clerk

Penny Johnston, Executive Assistant

 

STAFF PRESENT ELECTRONICALLY:

Todd Williams, Information Technology (IT) Consultant

 

 

 

 

1.       Mayor Bryant called the meeting to order at 7:45 pm.

 

 

 

 

2.    CRA BOARD AGENDA APPROVAL

 

 

MOTION:                   Ms. Cornwell moved, Mr. Williams seconded, and the motion carried 4-

0 to approve the September 12, 2022 CRA Board Agenda.

 

 

 

 

3.    PUBLIC COMMENT

 

None

 

 

 

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September 12, 2022

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4.    CONSENT AGENDA

 

a. Minutes: 08/22/2022

 

 

MOTION:                   Ms. Cornwell moved, Mr. Williams seconded, and the motion carried

4-0 to approve the Consent Agenda as presented by Staff.

 

 

 

5.       RESOLUTION 2022-02 CRA FY 2023 BUDGET

 

Mr. Jones questioned the part time positions salary listed in the Budget. Mr. Colon responded that it is for 4 intern positions. Mr. Jones also questioned the Interim CRA Director salary increase. It was clarified that it was the 8% COLA.

 

 

MOTION:                   Ms. Cornwell moved, Mr. Williams seconded, and the motion carried

4-0 to adopt Resolution 2022-02.

 

 

6.       CRA PROPERTY PARKING (X. COLON)

 

Mr. Colon reminded the Board that this is a continuation from the Workshop.

 

The following individuals spoke against closing the properties for temporary parking use:

·         Julie Brown

·         Jimmy Lake

·         Elaine Johnson

·         Rod Griffon

·         Lynn Meier

·         Nelson Hernandez

 

  Mayor Bryant spoke on the property and the history of the land. She also clarified closing the lots for remediation, not permanently.

 

  Mr. Colon re-iterated the action he is requesting. He would like to set a date for closing the temporary parking on these properties.

 

  Mr. Williams expressed his opinion. He referenced the current Ordinance. He feels that Staff needs to follow the Ordinance. He does not believe there is any action that needs to be taken by the Commission. He agrees that there needs to be additional boat parking. However, he has a fiduciary responsibility to the citizens in the City of Palmetto to make sound decisions. He wants county residents to advocate to the County for additional parking and boat ramps as well.

 

  Commissioner Cornwell would like signage to be put up to “park at your own risk” and state that the parking is temporary.

 

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September 12, 2022

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MOTION:                   Ms. Varnadore moved to allow the City/CRA staff to regrade all

properties in the City or CRA to make them safe and set a deadline for

the allowance of temporary parking at 440 10^th Ave W and 834

Riverside Dr. W until the properties are sold. Mr. Jones seconded the

motion. The motion failed 2-2. (Mr. Williams and Ms. Cornwell voted

nay.)

 

Ms. Cornwell asked for discussion of the motion after Mr. Jones seconded. She wanted clarification on what Ms. Varnadore meant by all the properties. Ms. Varnadore clarified that she means all the owned properties in the City and CRA. They need to be taking care of all the properties. Discussions continued between the Commissioners.

 

 

  After the vote, Commissioner Jones and Cornwell opined about what they would like to see before moving forward. Discussions continued between the Commissioners and Mr. Rayan.

 

          MOTION                Ms. Varnadore moved to allow CRA staff to make all properties

safe and allow them to regrade and make temporary parking at 440

10^th Ave W and 834 Riverside Dr. W until the properties are sold.  Mr.

Jones seconded, and the motion carried 3-1. (Mr. Williams voted nay)

 

 

7.       CRA DIRECTOR’S COMMENTS

 

Mr. Colon gave an update on Connor Park. The opening will be pushed back to February of next year. There will be discussions for future plans on CRA Vacant properties forthcoming. In November they should have the Women’s Club construction documents to share with the Board. Updates on CRA staffing and future projects were also briefly mentioned.

 

Mayor Bryant mentioned that Mr. Colon, Mr. Rayan, and herself, have been in contact with the FDOT regarding moving forward with the Multi-Modal Corridor.

 

   Ms. Varnadore questioned the church sign on the property at 440 10^th Ave W being removed. Mr. Colon responded that it will be removed in the near future.

 

 

8.         CRA PRESIDING OFFICER’S COMMENTS

 

  Mr. Jones questioned the property behind Primo. Mr. Colon responded that they are still going through the surplus process with that property.

 

 

9.    CRA BOARD MEMEBERS’ COMMENTS

 

 Ms. Cornwell spoke on the rebranding she witnessed in another City she recently visited. They used bees to indicate the properties that the CRA was assisting with. She suggested we could use

 

 

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September 12, 2022

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the Seahorse on businesses that we are helping in our CRA area. She opined it would be a great idea to help with rebranding and advertising the projects we are assisting.

 

  Mr. Williams mentioned the property Mr. Jones discussed. He stated that there is an unpaved parking lot that needs to be looked at.  

 

 

 

Mayor Bryant adjourned the meeting at 8:53 pm.