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HomeMy WebLinkAbout07252007CRAcm~~ HOME OF PELICAN ISLAND COMMUNITY REDEVELOPMENT AGENCY (CRA) (CITY COUNCIL) MINUTES WEDNESDAY, JULY 25, 2007 - 5:30 P.M. CITY COUNCIL CHAMBERS 1225 MAIN STREET, SEBASTIAN, FLORIDA Mayor Coy called the Community Redevelopment Agency Meeting to order at 5:30 p.m. 2. The Pledge of Allegiance was recited. 3. ROLL CALL Members Present: Mayor Andrea Coy Council Member AI Paternoster Council Member Dale Simchick Council Member Eugene Wolff Members Absent: Vice Mayor Sal Neglia -excused Staff Present: City Manager, AI Minner City Attorney, Rich Stringer City Clerk, Sally Maio Deputy City Clerk, Jeanette Williams Chief of Police, Jim Davis 4. APPROVAL OF MINUTES - 6/27/07 Meeting Mayor Coy noted that the minutes had been revised to add the roll call. The 6/27/07 minutes were approved with addition of the roll call on a voice vote of 4-0. 5. BUSINESS A. INDIAN RIVER DRIVE/MAIN STREET DESIGN PUBLIC INPUT i. Joseph W. Schulke, P.E. Presentation (project description) Joe Schulke, Schulke, Stoddard and Bittle, introduced his staff and addressed City Council on the proposed plan. Community Redevelopment Agency Meeting July 25, 2007 Page Two He exhibited his presentation on an overhead for the benefit of Council and the public (this packet is a permanent record on file in the Office of City Clerk). He exhibited two alternate designs (which are also included in the packet) and said he will be seeking consensus on location of parking for the Chamber of Commerce. Chris Morehart, Land Design South, described a conceptual plan which included specialty paving and creating a Heritage Memorial Park idea. He asked for input on these ideas and the area around the Jordan Park. Bill DeMonde, Land Design South, addressed City Council and discussed the idea of preserving the Hardee Oak and creating "an arrival" to the riverfront with special paving and lighting. He said he was excited about the opportunity to work with Council and the public to provide a good project. The City Manager said Mr. Schulke summed everything up well and now sought direction from Council and the public. ii. Public Input Chuck Lever, Sebastian, said he had studied both boat ramps, and said some boats alone are 32 feet, said more than two spots can be added. Damien Gilliams, 1623 US 1, said he is having a hard time with the whole project; this is not the highest and best use of this property. He said he thinks the Chamber of Commerce should be by the City Hall complex to open up more parking. He suggested three story parking west of Indian River Drive as they are doing in Melbourne, Jensen Beach or Jupiter CRA Districts. Mr. Paternoster asked if they were doing three stories for boat trailers and Mr. Gilliams said no but for their district parking. He said the plan shows backing out onto Indian River Drive, and causing problems with backing up US 1. He said the City is developing this around an oak tree instead of needs of community. He said this looks like a site plan for the Chamber of Commerce, the plan is cutting into Jordan Park, buffering Sullivan's property, and time was not taken to study this. Joe Scozzari, Sebastian, agreed with Mr. Gilliams that the Chamber should move near City Hall. He said the plan is beautiful but it is dedicated to the boaters and Chamber of Commerce, and asked about other people. He wanted to know what the City was going to spend to upgrade `the shack' called the Chamber of Commerce. Mayor Coy said the Chamber has a lease with the City and is in the process of renovating the building at their own cost. 2 Community Redevelopment Agency Meeting July 25, 2007 Page Three The City Clerk read a letter from Beth Mitchell, Executive Director for the Chamber of Commerce, on behalf of the Board of Directors (attached). The City Manager said if the City installs more parking spaces, further regulations would apply as to the use of the ramp. He said now would be a good time to talk about additional land such as the Pelican Pub and northwest corner of US 1 because the City could buy property but potentially delay the project. Mr. Schulke addressed public concerns about the length of parking spaces noting that a larger length has been accommodated for in the plan, that there are actually five additional parking spaces to be added to 24 and a possibility of more adjacent to the Chamber. He noted that the County engineers preferred the proposed traffic plan to what the City has have now, and as to buffering that is just being a good neighbor. iii. Council Mr. Paternoster said the focus is the boat ramp, and asked about backing up in plan 1 where the sidewalk parallels the curb. Mr. Schulke said a few connection points should be provided and pointed them out on the overhead. He offered to move the sidewalk further away from the curb or perhaps adding nautical rope in the landscaping. Mr. Paternoster asked if the northern entrance was inbound and outbound. Mr. Schulke said it is to be outbound only but he was contemplating both to accommodate a turn around but was concerned larger boats might not make the turn. Mr. Paternoster asked if the rest room area might provide more room. Ms. Simchick said she preferred Alternate #2; does not want to reduce the parking in Jordan Park; noted people will straddle two spots and asked if cement blocks will separate the spaces; and would like to block off the north entrance with a turn around. She said the Chamber of Commerce is equal to a visitor center, they are putting money into the building, wants them right there in the heart of the City, agree with finding more real estate including property across from old Vickers Hardware for parking. She does not want to block the water view on Main Street with anything and noted the Hardee Oak is an historic tree and some saplings should be taken to continue the tree's history. She said she received a call from Lisanne Monier and Ruth Stanbridge who said David Roach of Florida Inland Navigational District would move the old train station to the Heritage Memorial Park otherwise it will go to the Archie Smith Fish House location. Mr. Wolff asked what the cost was, and Mr. Schulke said it was projected to be $1.9 million including $175,000 contingency and $300,000 for signalization. 3 Community Redevelopment Agency Meeting July 25, 2007 Page Four Mr. Wolff asked if this includes the restroom, and Mr. Schulke said it does not. He said he is not in favor of the project but is willing to keep an open mind and acquiesce to a more safe boating area. He said it is quite like the emperor's clothes to call this the heart of Sebastian because it is just a parking lot. He said Alternate #2 has some merit, liked the staging areas, said people don't play fair anymore and dinghy's will take the wider spaces. He said if the Chamber lease says the City provides 12 spaces to Chamber, the City should provide as close as possible, whether or not you agree with current Chamber administration Chamber. He suggested softer parking such as mulch, agreed to getting saplings from the Hardee Oak but agreed it has seen better days and there should probably be a plan B for a fountain or something else there. He asked about the new innovative landscape design features, low cost maintenance, reflecting an old palm oak hammock, and how would it be unique to Sebastian. Mr. Schulke said the idea is to de-emphasize the parking with a low hedge and thinner, higher palm trees to keep the view, with the renovated Chamber, and Heritage Memorial Park it could be nice entrance to this area of City. Mr. Schulke said impervious parking could be done for the Chamber. He said the reason Main Street was realigned is because the Hardee Oak is important to some people, but it does look at it as though it could be gone and be replaced with something else. Bill DeMonde, said it would be intent to use native materials, use accent planting and adhere to xeriscape principles for low maintenance. Mr. Wolff pointed out that in terms of three story parking garage, he believed Mr. Gilliams meant this to be west of U.S. 1. The City Manager read remarks from Mr. Neglia which included reviewing a report from Parks and Recreation; concern for baffle boxes, retention areas; maintaining natural vegetation along the shoreline; no parking in Jordan Park; reaffirm the fees along US 1 would be saved; the FIND grant; did not want to see train station at the location; and would like information from a meeting with Mr. Schulke and SJRWMD held on July 9th which might necessitate different permitting. Mayor Coy said this is an excellent project and wants it to move forward. She said this project could be added to later on. She said Mr. Schulke is addressing Council's goals. She said she would like to see this one way traffic within the parking area, because it would be difficult to maneuver larger vehicles two way. She said she likes Alternate #1 but realizes that people don't park realistically. She would like to see Jordan Park with maximized but kept natural and agrees the Hardee Oak needs a "Plan B." 4 Community Redevelopment Agency Meeting July 25, 2007 Page Five Mr. Schulke said he would like to provide another plan incorporating some ideas received tonight. Mr. Wolff was in favor of waiting to buy additional property. Ms. Simchick favored waiting but thought both could happen. Mayor Coy asked Council if they wanted to put this project on hold to see about buying property and Council did not want to do that. Mr. Schulke invited Council to contact him if they have any additional ideas or comments. 6. Being no further business, Mayor Coy adjourned the Community Redevelopment Agency Meeting at 7:02 p.m. Approved at the 8 / 2 2 / 0 7 Community Redevelopment Agency meeting. Andrea Coy, Mayor ATTE ~~ ~~~ Sa A. Maio, C -City Clerk ~~ ~~~ i~vr~i~ ~ CHI-C AMBEI~OFCOMG~VfEf~~E :r July 23, 2007 ~ ~ ~= The Honorable Mayor Andrea Coy and Council Members Simchick, Neglia, Paternoster and Wolff ~~ ~' City of Sebastian c,n 1225 Main St. c~ Sebastian, Florida 32958 Re: Indian River Dr./Main St. Improvement Project, CRA Public Workshop Dear Mayor Coy and Council Members: The Board of Directors of the Sebastian River Area Chamber of Commerce would like to express full support for the Indian River Dr./Main St. Improvement Project. The Chamber is enthusiastic with the proposal, which would improve the area in a number of ways. The proposed improvements, while perhaps not yet finalized, will provide benefits to the community, residents, boaters, and visitors to the central riverfront area and retail businesses within the CRA district. By creating a sense of the "heart" of Sebastian, with safer boating facilities, and parks and open space, with an unobstructed view to the Indian River Lagoon, the City would be fulfilling the mission statement of the CRA, and vastly improving one of the City's most valuable resources, the riverfront. This project will provide more public access with usable green space, improved parking, historical features and other amenities that potentially will draw people to the downtown Sebastian area. It should be noted that the City of Sebastian originally created the CRA as a means to ensure that the downtown and surrounding vicinity would develop with a coherent community vision, and to encourage reinvestment throughout the CRA. Council members have recently expressed strong support for economic development in our community as a method of increasing the City's tax base and increasing revenues beyond the ad valorum tax base. Infrastructure improvements within the CRA are specifically designed to help accomplish the Councils long term goals. As a side note, it is easy to remember the public discussions in 1995 when that Council contemplated the installation of a sidewalk along Indian River Drive. [t is fair to say that that public works project almost single handedly transformed the public access to the waterfront, and clearly improved our resources to the benefit of the entire community. We believe the proposed Indian River Dr./Main St. Improvement project will have the same positive impact upon our community and we are asking you to support it. Thank you for your consideration. S Very truly your Beth L. M tchell Executive Director 700 MAIN STREET • SEBASTIAN, FL 32958 PHONE: (772) 589-5969 • FAX: (772) 589-5993 www.SebastianChamber.com Email: InfoC~SebastianChamber.com