MINUTES
CRA ADVISORY BOARD MEETING
MAY 29TH, 2025
2:30PM
BOARD MEMBERS PRESENT IN CHAMBERS:
David Washington, CRAAB Chair
Randy Iaboni, CRAAB Vice-Chair
John Bessey
Tracey Washington
STAFF PRESENT IN CHAMBERS:
Rowena Young-Gopie, CRA Director
Jenny Silverio, CRA Administrative & Compliance Coordinator
Marisa Powers, CRA Attorney
Ed Johnson, CRA Consultant
1. Chair Washington called the CRA Advisory Board meeting to Order at 2:33 pm with a moment of silence followed by the Pledge of Allegiance.
2. Vice Chair Iaboni moved, Mr. Bessey seconded, and the motion passed 4-0 to approve the May 29th, 2025, CRA Advisory Board Agenda.
3. Public Comment:
4. CONSENT AGENDA:
Vice Chair Iaboni moved, Mr. Bessey seconded, and the motion passed 4-0 to approve the Consent Agenda with the removal of item (b) for discussion.
a. Minutes April 3 and May 1, 2025.
b. KMB Amended Agreement
Vice Chair Iaboni inquired how the executed agreements are tracked. Mrs. Young-Gopie responded that all agreements are entered into Laserfiche. Mr. Iaboni responded he was good with that.
Chair Washington commended Keep Manatee Beautiful for their work within the city.
Vice Chair Iaboni would like to see in Article VI, Termination Section, a disclaimer that includes verbiage to include “sole and absolute discretion and without penalty” to help prevent any questioning if they have the authority to terminate. Mrs. Powers responded she is good with the language included in the agreement as written.
MOTION: Mr. Bessey moved, Ms. Washington seconded, and the motion passed 4-0 to recommend that the CRA Board approve the amended agreement between Keep Manatee Beautiful and the Palmetto Community Redevelopment Agency (CRA), with the agreement becoming effective as of the date of CRA Board approval.
5. SUNSHINE, PUBLIC RECORDS, AND ETHICS TRAINING PERSENTATION: (Marisa Powers, CRA Legal)
Mrs. Powers discussed the presentation included with the agenda packet.
6. CRA Directors Comments
Riverside Drive Parcel Update – Mrs. Young-Gopie thanked the CRAAB members for their participation with the Riverside parcel. She informed the members the proposals were scored by the CRA Board on May 19th and are included on the June 2nd CRA Board agenda to vote for the top-ranked development proposal. The agreement will be returned to the CRA Advisory Board for review before going back to the CRA Board for a final vote.
Mrs. Young-Gopie advised there is a new CRA Advisory Board member, Hector Garcia DeLaTorre, who will attend his first meeting July 31, 2025.
7. CRA Advisory Board Member Comments
Chair Washington commended Mrs. Young-Gopie and her staff for presenting material to assist with making a logical and rational recommendation to the CRA Board. Mr. Washington shared he has full confidence in the material presented with to make recommendations.
8. Adjourned the meeting at 3:35pm.
