CRA BOARD MEETING

December 4, 2017

7:00 PM

CRA Board Members Present:

Shirley Groover Bryant, Presiding Officer

Brian Williams, Chair

Jonathan Davis, Vice Chair

Tamara Cornwell

Harold Smith

CRA Board Members Absent:

Tambra Varnadore

Staff Present:

Mark Barnebey, City Attorney

Jeff Burton, CRA Director

Jim Freeman, City Clerk

Allen Tusing, Public Works Director

Scott Tyler, Chief of Police

Amber LaRowe, Assistant City Clerk

Mayor Bryant opened the CRA Board meeting at 7:53 p.m.

1. CRA BOARD AGENDA APPROVAL

Motion: Mrs. Cornwell moved, Mr. Williams seconded, and the motion carried 4-0 to approve the December 4, 2017 CRA Board Agenda.

2. PUBLIC COMMENT

None.

3. CRA BOARD CONSENT AGENDA

A. November 6, 2017 CRA Board Minutes

B. Resolution 2017-09 Edenfield Grant

C. Blalock Walters Legal Bills

D. Store Front Grant 2018-02 Seychelles Spa

E. Store Front Grant 2018-03 Palmetto Dental Center

Attorney Barnebey removed items D and E for discussion.

Motion: Mr. Williams moved, Mr. Davis seconded, and the motion carried 4-0 to approve the December 4, 2017 CRA Board consent agenda with the removal of items D and E.

Store Front Grant 2018-02 Seychelle’s Spa and Store Front Grant 2018-03 Palmetto Dental Center Discussion:

Attorney Barnebey mentioned that the Store Front Grant program discusses routine maintenance and repairs to the structure are not funded through the process. Mr. Burton clarified that both projects do not have routine maintenance and repairs in their application for request of funding.

Motion: Mr. Williams moved, Mr. Davis seconded, and the motion carried 4-0 to approve items D and E of the Consent Agenda.

4. CRA DIRECTOR’S COMMENTS

Mr. Burton stated that he has been consistently emailing updates to staff and the Board weekly.

He informed the Board that the contract with Esterline Landscape has been signed and the work along Haben Boulevard will begin as soon as possible. Attorney Barnebey stated that there is still discussion with the County to transfer the rights for their small portion of Haben Boulevard to the City; the County has given permission for their parcel to be landscaped along with the rest of Haben.

The project at 715 10^th Avenue West is on hold awaiting a report from Iaboni. Once the report is obtained, Mr. Burton will schedule individual meetings with the Board to address any thoughts and concerns they might have.

Mr. Burton informed the Board of the free Housing Workshop in Tampa on December 12^th and December 13^th. This Workshop is being held by the Florida Housing Coalition. If any staff or Board members are wishing to attend, please contact the CRA as soon as possible so reservations and hotel accommodations can be made.

In regards to the ADA dock at Riverside, Mr. Burton is waiting on final plans from the City’s contracted engineer.

There will be a meeting with the Environmental Protection Agency to discuss funding for additional cleanup on 505 5^th Street West. Mr. Burton has been in discussions with Southwest Florida Water Management District to apply for a grant to begin doing the work for pretreatment of stormwater that comes onto this property.

Due to the bids for the Palmetto Armory roof coming in over $100,000, the CRA has to go through the Request for Proposal (RFP) process. Mr. Burton is looking to receive a historical grant for the roof on this property.

Mr. Burton has a meeting scheduled on December 18^th with Manatee County to discuss the pool at Lincoln Park.

The incentives were approved at the last meeting for Detweiler’s Farmers Market and they are scheduled to open in May 2018.

Mr. Burton would like to schedule individual meetings with Board members to discuss their ideas for projects in the downtown area. Once information has been gathered, he would like to bring this discussion to a Board meeting for voting and the potential purchasing and selling of various properties.

Mayor Bryant signed voluntary tax credit cleanup applications which should allow the City/CRA to receive half the money that has been spent on brownfields through the state, as tax credits.

Mr. Burton is looking to potentially fill the part-time vacancy at the CRA. Mike Maholtz, who was with the Metropolitan Planning Organization, has retired and is looking for a possible part-time job. Mr. Burton would like to advertise this part time CRA position as it pertains to traffic analyzation and information and will be asking Mr. Maholtz to apply once the advertisement and job description are online.

5. PRESIDING OFFICER’S COMMENTS

6. CRA BOARD MEMBERS’ COMMENTS

Mayor Bryant adjourned the meeting at 8:09 p.m.

Minutes approved: January 8, 2018

James R. Freeman

City Clerk