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HomeMy WebLinkAbout06092010CRACity Council Present: Mayor Richard H. Gillmor Vice -Mayor Jim Hill Council Member Andrea Coy Council Member Eugene Wolff Council Member Don Wright CITY CAF HOME OF PELICAN ISLAND COMMUNITY REDEVELOPMENT AGENCY (CRA) (CITY COUNCIL) MINUTES WEDNESDAY, JUNE 9, 2010 5:00 PM CITY COUNCIL CHAMBERS 1225 MAIN ST, SEBASTIAN, FL 1. Mayor Gillmor called the CRA Meeting to order at 5:00 p.m. 2. The Pledge of Allegiance was recited. 3. ROLL CALL Staff Present: City Manager, Al Minner City Attorney, Robert Ginsburg City Clerk, Sally Maio Deputy City Clerk, Jeanette Williams MIS Senior Systems Analyst, Barbara Brooke -Reese 4. APPROVAL OF MINUTES May 12, 2010 Meeting MOTION by Ms. Coy and SECOND by Mr. Wolff to approve the May 12, 2010 minutes passed on a voice vote of 5 -0. 5. NEW BUSINESS A. Brandon Schaad, Outlier Planning Facilitation of CRA Master Plan Workshop The City Manager introduced Brandon Schaad. Mr. Schaad said he was going to ask Council and the public to brainstorm some capital improvement projects for the CRA and put dollar figures to the items. Community Redevelopment Agency Meeting June 9 2010 Page Two He briefly outlined the history of the CRA noting Council has recognized the need to update the plan. He said the revenue for capital improvement projects is $250,000- $300,000 per year and some of the projects they might consider are funding for the FSL Grant program, burying the utility lines, CAVCORP improvements, median landscaping, US 1 bump outs, gateway treatments, underground stormwater drainage, and a business analyst position. He said the City is obligated to fund a $150,000 match for Stan Mayfield Working Waterfront Grant. B. Public /Council /Staff Planning Session Mr. Schaad asked for capital improvement ideas without thinking about monetary constraints: Council Ideas Ms. Coy said uniform, canopied landscaping. Mr. Hill said uniform signage, paved roads, landscaping, streetscaping US 1. Mayor Gillmor said improving CAVCORP and the streets adjoining to CAVCORP to facilitate extra parking for events; streetscape Cleveland and Coolidge with on street parking. Mr. Wright said the Working Waterfront Project, and the Archie Smith Fish House. Mr. Wolff said the gateways that would tie into the landscaping to give a sense of entering into the district. Public Ideas Lisanne Robinson said streetscaping US 1, including parking designation, bump outs, landscaping, and uniform signage to define the district. Ms. Robinson noted the Board of Directors of the Sebastian River Fine Arts and Music Foundation has tentatively agreed to put up to $10,000 for sculptural signage for the district. Donna Keys said she would like to combine the concept streetscaping with burying utilities or moving them back to the railway. She asked that the procedure to implement any proposed US 1 improvements with FDOT be outlined at the end of the meeting. The City Manager said depending on what is prioritized, the improvements should be designed by an engineer and submitted to FDOT. Discussion followed on maintenance responsibility of the US 1 amenities. Louise Kautenburg suggested the development of some kind of easily recognizable emblem indicating the CRA district. Mr. Schaad suggested this would fall into a signature facade concept and suggested calling it distinguishing features. Mr. Wright pointed out there are four entryways into the district. Mr. Hill said all of these ideas will help distinguish the district. Mr. Wright said they need a plan as to here's where we are here's where we are going, bringing everything together. 2 Community Redevelopment Agency Meeting June 9 2010 Page Three Ms. Keys said homes are being built on the east side of Indian River Drive which was never supposed to happen and they block the expansive view. Ms. Coy said she had never heard of a decision to not building on the east side. The Growth Management Director said when there is a (property) lot that is on both sides of Indian River Drive, in most cases building is prohibited on the east side of the road but there was an analysis completed of the lots that can be built on. She said most of the them do not have enough buildable land but they can be filled. The Growth Management Director added that Council did take steps to reduce the height along the riverfront, and about a year ago, the code was revised to identify a uniform measuring point. Mr. Wolff said government should respect private property rights and it would be hypocritical for the City to develop the Dabrowski property and then turn around to tell someone they can't build as they wish. Mayor Gillmor said they had two or three assessments of the Dabrowski and two of the assessments indicated the highest value was residential. Ms. Coy said tax abatements could be offered for not building on the east side. Mayor Gillmor asked if that fell under the purview of redevelopment. Theresa Tolle, Baystreet Pharmacy, said they should look to see if all of the priorities have been accomplished from the original master plan to include the unfinished items as well. Mayor Gillmor said they are on board with a lot of the things in the master plan /charrette and some of the things they can't do because the land doesn't exist anymore. Mr. Hill said the whole idea is to find a direction, noting the capital improvement program was prioritized and then they shifted gears. He said the City Manager needs a clear plan so he isn't engineering projects that they don't have money to do. He said the whole process is to adjust the master plan, prioritize the projects, achieve a method of accomplishing the plan while looking at the whole picture. Mr. Wright said a lot of their discussion ties into the previous workshop where areas were recognized as unrealistic such as commercial development, and they need to provide a better environment for the business community to be more successful. Mr. Wolff suggested they start with their shopping list, noting a lot of businesses can't wait a couple of years for a large monetary project. Ms. Kautenburg said they should not try to make people want what Council wants, but listen to the people who have a vested interest in the district. She briefly outlined the demise of the Community Redevelopment Advisory Community as the CRA and noted the gateway was a priority about seven years ago which haven't been done yet. Mr. Wolff agreed that maybe they should contact the top 20 business people to find out the District needs. 3 Community Redevelopment Agency Meeting June 9 2010 Page Four Mr. Hill said the City Council shouldn't be the CRA but rather it should be business owners in the community. The City Manager called for a point of clarification that the City Council has always been the CRA board. Mr. Wright said the FSL has been successful and they probably need to move in towards appointing business people to the Board. Ms. Coy agreed with an advisory board, but limit the board to seven members that are not political appointees The City Manager pointed out F.S.163 allows Council to be the board plus two more business members. Mr. Wright said that might be a good interim step. The City Manager gave them the following three options as provided by Statutes: A. Council be the CRA board B. Council and two citizens C. Divest yourselves completely Mayor Gillmor asked if they can set up a board that has spending authority. The City Attorney said he rather not put restrictions on them and what ever Council comes up with he will tell them how to get there and if it wasn't possible, make changes for next year. Mr. Wolff said a board of district members will have different agendas and asked who would speak for the whole CRA noting only representatives from Capt. Hiram's attend meetings. Mr. Wright suggested sending out a district survey. Ms. Coy suggested holding a workshop but Council stay home. Mr. Wolff said that would be a good idea for 30 -40 people but only five will show. Mr. Hill said he is not opposed to surveying but noted everyone is agreeing on the same things and they just need to package the priorities. Tom Collins, Capt Hiram's, said he agreed with Mr. Hill, that Council needed to get the agreed on items done and people aren't attending because they don't know about the meetings. He suggested roadway signage to let people know a scenic highway is approaching or shopping district. Ms. Robinson said mailers are great with a return, stamped envelope. Ms. Keys cited the streetscape enhancements in the current master plan. Richard Martin said Council needed to prioritize, apply a cost, and set up performance measurement system as the business owners in attendance are looking for a start and finish to the items discussed. Mr. Schaad handed out stickers labeled 1 -5 and asked people in attendance to put the #5 sticker on their first prioritized project, #4 sticker on their second project and so forth during a five minute break. Ms. Coy said her priorities might change once she knows about cost. 4 Community Redevelopment Agency Meeting June 9 2010 Page Five Richard ATTEST: Sally A. Maio, M City Clerk The City Manager said financial blocks could be shifted around, but tonight money is not the issue, he would like to see projects and goals. Mayor Gillmor called for a recess at 6:10 p.m. and reconvened the meeting at 6:30 p.m. All members were present. Mr. Schaad went over the results. (see tally sheet attached) Ms. Coy said some of the Indian River County Commissioners have indicated there is left over monies in the Land Acquisition Committee to improve the Archie Smith house and she urged the City to go after it. Mr. Wright suggested making that a non -CRA project. 6. Being no further business, Mayor Gillmor adjourned the meeting at 6:33 p.m. Approved at the 7 /28//0 CRA meeting. r, Mayor 5