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HomeMy WebLinkAbout04122006 CRA aTY Cf HOME OF PELICAN ISLAND COMMUNITY REDEVELOPMENT AGENCY (CRA) (CITY COUNCIL) MINUTES MEETING WEDNESDAY, APRIL 12,2006 - 5:30 P.M. CITY COUNCIL CHAMBERS 1225 MAIN STREET, SEBASTIAN, FLORIDA 1. Mayor McCollum 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 Nathan McCollum Vice-Mayor Brian Burkeen Council Member Andrea Coy Council Member Sal Neglia Council Member AI Paternoster Staff Present: City Manager, AI Minner City Attorney, Rich Stringer City Clerk, Sally Maio Deputy City Clerk, Jeanette Williams Growth Management Director, Rebecca Grohall MIS Systems AnalysUAV Tech, Melanie Astle 4. APPROVAL OF MINUTES -10/26/05 No minutes were in packet and will be on the next agenda. 5. NEW BUSINESS A. Main Street & Indian River Drive Improvement Proiect (City Manaaer Transmittal) The City Manager reiterated his report in the agenda packet noting that the ideas are conceptual only and that they can be changed or nothing at all done if that is what Council desires. He said it was only his intention to look at all avenues and potentials out there. Community Redevelopment Agency (CRA) April 12, 2006 Page Two He further recommended public workshops be incorporated into the design process. He then introduced Steve Bearing and Peter Jones, Neel-Schaeffer who presented the conceptual plans to Council. Mr. Jones presented a power point program (see attached) demonstrating the subject areas, citing issues of angled parking in front of the Chamber of Commerce, boat trailer parking across the street, the intersection of Main St. and Indian River Drive, the undefined nature such as lack of landscaping, indifference to pedestrians, lack of definition in Jordan Park, and lack of clarity in the view of the River. He said his first task was to look at opportunities for landscaping, boat ramp access, trailer parking and circulation; and that the question arose "what if the boat ramp was not there", which opened up a whole new way of looking at enhancements to this area. He said if moved, it would make sense to move it to the existing ramp at the Yacht Club and possibly relocating the clock tower. Steve Bearing, Engineer, described probable costs for Option 1 at $870,000 and Option 2 at $1,930,000, which he said were a rough estimate. The City Manager threw out the cost of $1 ,000,000 and $2,000,000 and explained the design cost would be 10% of project cost or $200,000; which would be funded through CRA funds which stand at approximately $700,000 but some of this money has been earmarked (annual CRA income is $400,000). He noted there are two allocations for this year, $75,000 for riverfront improvements and $75,000 for landscaping improvements to total about $192,000 so some money has been earmarked for this project. There is also $132,000 that has not been spent or allocated in CRA funds which can be applied to design. Ruth Sullivan, Indian River Drive, suggested keeping the ramps the City has and not closing Main Street boat ramp, utilizing Jordan Park for parking for boat trailers, and keeping Sebastian Boulevard and the clock tower where they are. The City Attorney responded that the angled parking was removed because previous Councils have felt it was safety concern. The parking then was relocated to the south of the Chamber which would impede the view. The east was considered, however that is the City's first historic park and the last open vista to the Indian River. He further explained that there is simply not enough land to accommodate the needed spaces for vehicle use to put parking and a ramp on the north side. Eugene Wolff said it would be shortsighted to close the Main Street boat ramp, though expanding the Yacht Club ramp made sense. He said he would like to see an accident report from the Chief on the angled parking to see if there is a safety issue and did not see any solutions to the pedestrian indifference in the presentation. He questioned the motivation for the urban design and reflecting pools, and questioned how much time was spent on sight to determine what the bottlenecks were. Damien Gilliams, concurred with Mr. Wolff in everything he said, stating the City needs three, four boat ramps, and said there are people in Tallahassee who can do things for the City. Side II, Tape I, 6:18 pm 2 Community Redevelopment Agency (CRA) April 12, 2006 Page Three He said the City should move the Chamber to municipal complex. He said there will be an uproar if the City shuts down Main Street ramp or CR512. He agreed with putting in extra ramps at the Yacht Club and suggested the City should have put ramps rather than piers at Good Guys and could consider purchasing the old Wal-Mart property for parking for which the City can charge. Carolyn Corum, said she was concerned with the elimination of the Main Street boat ramp, and said the Attorney was talking like a planner and not an attorney. The City Manager said he was seeking direction to move into a design phase or if Council is not ready to make a decision, they can make that decision tonight. Mr. Paternoster said he would not support closing any boat ramps, and suggested putting an additional ramp near the twin piers. He said he would like to absorb this before he gives an opinion. Mr. Neglia said he did not support closing Main Street ramp, nor did he support closing Sebastian Boulevard. He said he would like to see improvements to enable better use of the Main Street ramp and would need more time to review the material and think about it. Mayor McCollum said he did not support parking in the Candy Cane park because it has been there longer than the ramp and was dedicated as a park. He said when the twin piers were built, DEP told the City was not getting new ramps and he had no doubt the Florida legislature would not support a new ramp. He said he was concerned with the impact to Indian River Drive traffic if the City expanded the use of boat ramps noting people from out of town are using the ramps; and suggested it might be time to charge non-residents for parking. In regard to the Riverview Park area, he would like to address parking as the last concern because people can always park on the grass and that way park amenities can be paid for and addressed first. Mr. Burkeen said he could not fathom closing the Main Street boat ramp and asked how this design took boat traffic off Indian River Drive. He said there is room for enhancement to the Yacht Club such as improvement flows, beautification, possibly razing the building and said he needed more time to absorb some of this. Ms. Coy said she does not favor closing the Main Street ramp, because the City has not been provided an alternative. She expressed disappointment in that the option Council seemed to favor is in black and white as opposed to colored designs presented by Neel-Shaffer. She said she would like to see more colored renderings of options for the Main Street ramp and suggested the City move in this direction. Ms. Coy said it would be better for her to have the renderings in front of her to follow, and did not support the Yacht Club renderings due to lack of parking if the City increases the number of ramps. Ms. Coy clarified that money is still earmarked to landscape the triangle area of the CRA. The City Manager pointed out the Beall's parking lot could not be purchased with CRA funds. 3 Community Redevelopment Agency (CRA) April 12,2006 Page Four ON a MOTION by Ms. Coy, staff was directed to come back with additional alternatives to the uncolored Main Street option using the current ramp. The City Manager requested that Ms. Coy put a dollar figure on her motion, noting he had gotten additional conceptual plans out of Neel-Schaeffer and could not expect them to do further conceptual designs at no cost. Ms. Coy said if Neel-Schaeffer could give Council three more options she would authorize up to what they spent so far - $4,850, noting it should be kept under $5,000. The MOTION DIED for lack of a second. Mr. Paternoster asked that renderings be provided to Council prior to the scheduled meeting. Mayor McCollum said he would support the cost to $2,500. The City Manager said he had authority up to $15,000 but would not spend that amount. A new MOTION was made by Ms. Coy and SECONDED by Mr. Neglia to have staff to get with planners to redo renderings of Main Street boat ramp improvements in color with narrative attached; delivered to Council ahead of the meeting. The motion carried on a roll call vote of 5-0. Mr. Burkeen clarified for the record, that the City Manager has the authority to spend up to $15,000 but would make an effort to keep it to $2,500 and the City Manager said that is what he hoped for. Mayor McCollum asked Council if they agreed that parking should be addressed as a last concern. Council concurred with the Mayor. The City Manager said that put in question what improvements Council would like to see on the south side. He stated there has been a lot of time and money spent on ideas for the south side and staff felt the parking was needed. He said there has been money appropriated for a portable band shell and he was directed to begin the RFP process. The Mayor requested the (John Dean) south side renderings be brought back to Council next week for another review. B. Facade. Sign & Landscape Grant Application (Growth ManaQement Transmittal. Grant Information and Application) The City Manager reiterated his report to Council in the agenda packet, and said the review committee would be him, the Growth Management Director, and the Chamber of Commerce Director. The CRA would then review the applications. Mr. Neglia requested that Mr. Paternoster be included on the selection committee because he is the Chamber's liaison. Damien Gilliams stated high school kids could have designed the Main Street boat ramp in a contest. The Mayor asked Mr. Gilliams to speak on the landscaping program. 4 Community Redevelopment Agency (CRA) April 12,2006 Page Five Mr. Neglia asked if the timeframe for a certificate of occupancy could be shortened to six months and the City Manager explained how they arrived at the one year timeframe to accommodate the bigger projects. On a MOTION by Mr. Burkeen and a SECOND by Ms. Coy staff was directed to proceed with the program. 6. Being no further business, Mayor McCollum adjourned the Meeting at 6:58 p.m. Approved at rJf 4/26/06 CRA Meeting. ~a~r a~ '- 5