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.
ELECTED OFFICIALS PRESENT
IN CHAMBERS:
Dan West, Presiding Officer
Scott Whitaker, Chair
Harold Smith, Vice-Chair
Tamara Cornwell
Sunshine Joiner
Brian Williams
STAFF PRESENT IN CHAMBERS:
Mark Barnebey, City Attorney
Jim Freeman, City Clerk
Mohammed Rayan, Public Works Director
Scott Tyler, Chief of Police
Rowena Young-Gopie, CRA Director
Cassi Bailey, Assistant City Clerk
Ed Johnson, CRA Independent Consultant
Penny Johnston, Executive Assistant
STAFF PRESENT ELECTRONICALLY:
Todd Williams, Information Technology (IT) Consultant
1. Mayor West called the meeting to order at 8:23 pm.
2. CRA BOARD AGENDA APPROVAL
MOTION: Mr. Williams moved, Mr. Whitaker seconded, and the motion
carried 5-0 to approve the January 6, 2025 CRA Board Agenda.
3. PUBLIC COMMENT
Betty Sailes Rhodes spoke on the Lincoln Park sign and asked why it hadn’t been put up yet. Ms. Young-Gopie answered that they should have this done soon. Hopefully by the end of the month. Ms. Sailes Rhodes wanted to know who regulates the lights at the basketball courts at Lincoln Park. It was answered, the County.
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4. SELECTION OF CRA CHAIR/VICE-CHAIR
Mr. Williams nominated Scott Whitaker as CRA Chair.
The Board voted 5-0 to elect Mr. Whitaker as CRA Chair.
Mr. Williams nominated Harold Smith as CRA Vice-Chair.
The Board voted 5-0 to elect Mr. Smith as CRA Vice-Chair.
5. CONSENT AGENDA
a. Minutes: 10/21/2024, 11/18/2024, 12/02/2024
b. Consultant Agreement-Edward Johnson, Community Solutions, Inc
c. Software Subscription Sole Source Agreement-Benevate, LLC DBA Neighborly Software
MOTION: Ms. Joiner moved, Mr. Williams seconded, and the motion carried
5-0 to approve the Consent Agenda as presented by staff.
6. UNSOLICITED PROPOSAL 2ND PUBLIC HEARING FOR REENVISION PALMETTO, LLC
Ms. Young-Gopie gave a recap of the proposal. This is the 2nd public hearing on this item. The first public hearing was on December 2, 2024.
Mr. Dubois shared an updated PowerPoint, which was included in the Minutes. He discussed the individual parcels and their plans for each. Sites 1,2, and 3 would start immediately. There will be further discussions as to which economic class they want to serve. Site 4 is an apartment complex proposed to be a 4-5 story building with surface parking. Site 5 will have more community amenities to serve site 4. A senior living facility was discussed. They’re asking for the donation of the land. This will generate a lot of revenue in taxes back to the City. He fully understands the issue of sewage.
Mayor West opened the Public Hearing at 8:48 pm.
Mr. Williams questioned the property on 4th Avenue (301 7th Avenue W). He didn’t think that property is ready where it is located to support the size of the building they’re proposing. He’s not ready to approve that property as part of the deal. Mr. DuBois spoke on the apartment complex. Mr. DuBois didn’t have a problem with them removing this property from the deal. Mr. Williams asked about other federal funding sources. It wouldn’t affect the City’s tax base for these properties.
Herman Cadena, Construction by Cadena, spoke about a building project he wanted to do with his company.
Mr. Williams requested they allow an additional 2 minutes for Mr. Cadena to speak. There was a consensus to allow.
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Mr. Barnebey asked which properties he was talking about. Mr. Cadena answered the properties at 619 11th Street W., 602 11th Street W., 607 11th Street W., and 709 4th Avenue W. Mr. Cadena asked them not to approve those properties as part of ReEnvision’s project.
Mr. Williams asked for clarification on whether they pull those 4 parcels out. Mr. Barnebey answered it depends on ReEnvision’s desire and the Board’s desire to move forward with other proposals.
Mr. DuBois responded that the type of project Mr. Cadena is proposing is the same type of building materials he is planning to use. Mikkel Scott, Vice-President from ReEnvision, also noted they plan to serve first responders. They first met with Mr. Johnson in April. They had a unanimous vote from the CRA Advisory Board, CRAAB, to move forward. They’ve had public comments from the community. They’ve had a very sincere and transparent process. He thinks it was inappropriate for Mr. Cadena to come forward at this time and propose to do the same thing they’ve been planning all along.
Mr. Cadena spoke again and said that the materials he will be using are not the same.
Ms. Sailes Rhodes said they need to do things the right way, like Gray and ReEnvision did. She wants ReEnvision to get to do their proposed project.
Mr. DuBois questioned procedurally how things are being done. A member of the CRAAB is now wanting to propose a plan. It is up to the Board to make a decision on how they want to proceed.
Mr. Smith asked for clarification on the property Mr. Williams discussed earlier. It was answered that the address was 301 7th Ave West. Mr. Smith asked Mr. Freeman what staff recommended. Mr. Freeman deferred to CRA Director Ms. Young-Gopie.
Elaine Johnson agreed that sewage was a big issue. She agreed we need some of these developmental projects. She thinks a member of the CRAAB should not be able to come up with a proposal now and this should not be allowed to set a new precedent.
Lisa Cadena spoke about the RFP process they had already gone through. Ms. Young-Gopie clarified the events that led to this point. Ms. Young-Gopie further explained that they are in the middle of an advertised public hearing process. Discussions continued regarding the unsolicited proposal process.
619 11th St West – PID#2651700003
602 11th St West – PID#2655600109
607 11th St West – PID#2651100006
800 5th Ave West – PID#2793500059
709 4th Ave West – PID#2794300059
401 6th St West – PID#2798300159
301 7th Ave West – PID# 3105300109
Mayor West closed the Public Hearing at 9:23 pm.
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Mr. Barnebey further explained what led to this situation. This property was put out for RFP for mixed use development and the CRA Board decided it should be used for residential only. At the time, he recommended they reject all offers and go back out to RFP. That didn’t happen. Then, ReEnvision submitted an unsolicited proposal, the Board directed them to move forward, and we are now in the middle of the public hearing process.
Mr. Smith and Mr. Barnebey left the meeting at 9:25 pm and returned at 9:27 pm.
Ms. Young-Gopie provided staff findings, which were made part of minutes.
Mr. Williams thought they were in an uncomfortable position. He thinks they have an obligation to hear Mr. Cadena’s entire proposal.
Dr. Cornwell questioned when Ms. Young-Gopie was first contacted by Mr. Cadena. She answered the week before Christmas. At that point we were already within the public hearing timeframe. She then asked if there were other properties available in the CRA that would fit Mr. Cadena’s needs. It was answered, not at the moment. Ms. Young-Gopie said the only other contact she had with Mr. Cadena was regarding his membership on the CRAAB.
Mr. Whitaker asked for staff’s opinion. Ms. Young-Gopie gave her opinion on doing the right thing and going through the correct process. To her, it was a conflict of interest that they move forward with Mr. Cadena’s idea. Mr. Cadena stated tonight that he wanted to be on the CRAAB for his personal interest. She doesn’t think it is in the best interest of the public. Staff’s point of view is they shouldn’t penalize ReEnvision. Reenvision has done everything they were supposed to do. Ultimately, it is up to the Board. Mr. Whitaker asked how they would pull the 7th Avenue property out of the proposal. It was answered that they can do it within the motion.
Ms. Joiner stated that it was not an easy position for them to be in. She felt that they didn’t have enough information to move forward with Mr. Cadena’s request. She loved what ReEnvision had proposed. She hoped Mr. Cadena could find another property to move forward with his project.
Mr. Smith stated that he had a conflict of interest and would need to recuse himself from the discussion and vote of this item. Mr. Smith filled out Form 8B Memorandum of Voting Conflict after the meeting and it was made part of the minutes.
Dr. Cornwell opined that she was concerned with some of the larger units, however, she believed ReEnvision went through the correct process. She wants to have further discussions on the timeline for building these projects.
MOTION: Dr. Cornwell moved to approve the ReEnvision Palmetto, LLC Unsolicited Proposal, which includes the investment of six (6) parcels of land; specifically determining that the Unsolicited Proposal is in the public interest because:
1. It benefits the public in the ways discussed during the second public hearing.
2. The financial structure of and the economic efficiencies achieved by the proposal as discussed during the second public hearing.
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3. The qualifications and experience of the private entity that submitted the proposal and such an entity’s ability to perform the project as discussed during the second public hearing.
4. The project’s compatibility with regional infrastructure plans as discussed during the second public hearing.
5. The CRA Board has discussed any public comments given during the second public hearing and provided a statement that explains why the proposal should proceed and addresses such comments during the second public hearing.
The CRA Board further directs City Staff to publish in the Florida Administrative Register a report including all statutory required information and to direct staff to provide agreements for review and approval by this Board at a future meeting.
This includes all properties proposed in the agenda except 301 7th Avenue West.
Ms. Joiner seconded, and the motion carried 4-0. (Mr. Smith abstained)
Mr. Williams asked if there was still the opportunity to go to Mr. Cadena if they deny the contract with ReEnvision. Mr. Barnebey stated that they will still have to approve the contract with ReEnvision. If they decide to deny it, they will have to start the process over. Dr. Cornwell agreed with Ms. Joiner that it was an unfortunate situation for the Cadena’s.
Mr. Dubois thanked them for moving forward. He spoke on HUD rent rates. Dr. Cornwell reiterated that they need to work with Public Works on the needs for the wastewater treatment plant, WWTP.
7. CRA DIRECTOR’S COMMENTS
8. CRA PRESIDING OFFICER’S COMMENTS
No additional comments.
9. CRA BOARD MEMEBERS’ COMMENTS
No additional comments.
Mayor West adjourned the meeting at 9:52 pm.
Minutes approved: MARCH 10, 2025
JAMES R. FREEMAN
James R. Freeman
City Clerk