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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2025-02-11 CRA Board Meeting Minutes DANIA BEACH COMMUNITY REDEVELOPMENT AGENCY REGULAR MEETING MINUTES TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 11, 2025 – 5:30 P.M. 1. Call to Order/Roll Call Chair Ryan called the meeting to order at 5:30 p.m. Present: Chair: Joyce L. Davis Vice-Chair: Marco A. Salvino, Sr. Board Members: Lori Lewellen Luis Rimoli A. J. Ryan, IC Executive Director: K. Michael Chen City Attorney: Eve Boutsis CRA Secretary: Elora Riera, MMC 2. Citizen Comments None. 3. Administrative Reports 3.1 Administrative Report Executive Director Chen presented his administrative report that was provided to the Board in their packets. He touched on the following topics: - Workshop on March 13th at 5:30 p.m. - Economic Development within the CRA - BRAVO visits presented by Business Manager Krystal Permanan Some discussion ensued regarding the BRAVO visits and suggestions for the different businesses and visitor engagement. - The PATCH o Fruitful Fields o Love our Nation 4. Presentations Minutes of Regular Meeting Dania Beach Community Redevelopment Agency Tuesday, February 11, 2025 – 5:30 p.m. 2 4.1 South Florida Community Land Trust, Mandy Bartle, President and CEO President and CEO Mandy Bartle introduced herself and provided a presentation on what a community land trust is and how it can keep a community affordable. She answered questions form the Board. 4.2 Love Our Nation, Ovrill Dwyer Co-Founder/Executive Director Co-Founder Ovrill Dwyer provided a presentation on the different opportunities that Love Our Nation provides to the children. 5. Consent Agenda 5.1 Minutes: - January 14, 2024 CRA Board Meeting 5.2 Travel Requests: None. Board member Ryan made a motion to approve the consent agenda. The motion was seconded by Board member Lewellen which carried unanimously on voice vote. 6. Proposals and Bids There were no proposals on this agenda. 7. Discussion and Possible Action 7.1 CRA Vision and Direction Board member Rimoli introduced the item. He stated that while he has seen the tremendous amount of consistent qualifiable accomplishments within the city over the past five or 10 years, those accomplishments have come from the vision and direction of the city manager's office and the current and past commissions. The one thing that he has not seen on a consistent basis is the constant and quantifiable accomplishments and vision and direction from the CRA. Board member Rimoli commented on some of the CRA guiding principles and goals listed on the website. He does not feel that they are getting an adequate return on tax payer dollars that are being funded by the City to the CRA. He believes that there are a tremendous amount of effort that could be eliminated by the merging of City resources in the CRA and thus saving taxpayer dollars. Board member Rimoli made a motion to move the CRA under the direction of the City Manager’s office. Chair Davis commented that after tonight's meeting with the two presentations, how someone could think that the CRA is not making significant strides. She understands that Executive Director Chen has been without staff and now that he does have the staff he is able to do things that he was unable to do before. Minutes of Regular Meeting Dania Beach Community Redevelopment Agency Tuesday, February 11, 2025 – 5:30 p.m. 3 Chair Davis asked how many meetings Board member Rimoli had with Executive Director Chen prior to bringing this item forward and Board member Rimoli responded that he has had one meeting with Executive Director Chen but he has been a witness as a resident on many CRA meetings over the past five years. Board member Rimoli asked if there has been one significant business that was brought in by the CRA because he does not believe that there is one. Chair Davis stated that it is the board’s responsibility to be the leaders of the CRA and to provide that direction and to ensure that they are providing the guidance and a significant timeline and allow sufficient time for new staff for new management to do the job that they were hired to do. Board member Rimoli clarified that he is not suggesting to eliminate the CRA. His intention is to have more oversight on a daily basis. The Board has an obligation to the taxpayers to have more oversight to where the money is being spent. There has been so much progress that has been done within the city with quantifiable results and the Board has not seen that and he believes that the CRA needs more resources so that efforts and resources are not duplicated. Board member Lewellen commented that part of being a leader is making difficult decisions like this and doing what is best for the community and for the CRA. It has been a while since anything significant has taken place. She recalls making this suggestion a couple of years ago because she has seen it done in other municipalities. Board member Lewellen seconded the motion. Executive Director Chen provided a list of accomplishments from fiscal year 2024. Chair Davis requested to allow Executive Director Chen to finish his accomplishments at the next CRA meeting given that it was time to begin the Commission meeting. Vice Chair Salvino disagreed with postponing the discussion and commented that meetings go over time and is requesting that the item and meeting be continued and the Commission meeting should be delayed. Board member Ryan commented that it is the job of the CRA to assist businesses and make Dania Beach attractive for businesses. He touched on some of the accomplishments from the CRA such as the façade grants, Rebuilding Broward and the PATCH. He likes that the CRA is separate from the City and doesn’t feel that efforts are being duplicated. He does not agree with moving the CRA under the City. Vice Chair Salvino stated that Board member Rimoli’s intention is to combine efforts. The CRA has struggled some and there is some sight of growth, but it has taken too long. He commented on the guidelines being provided to Executive Director Chen and there being times where questions were not answered on agenda items and the Art and Seafood Festival being taken over by the City. He feels that this would be a positive move for Executive Director Chen and his staff to be under the City administration. He feels that it is the right move at this time. Minutes of Regular Meeting Dania Beach Community Redevelopment Agency Tuesday, February 11, 2025 – 5:30 p.m. 4 City Attorney Boutsis commented that if the motion passes, she will bring back a resolution at the next CRA meeting and speak with Executive Director Chen regarding moving under the City Manager and discussing his contract. The motion carried 3-2 on roll call vote with Board member Lewellen, Board member Rimoli and Vice Chair Salvino voting yes and Board member Ryan and Chair Davis voting no. 8. Information Items Board member Lewellen, Board member Rimoli and Vice Chair Salvino deferred their comments to the Commission meeting. Board member Ryan and Chair Davis thanked the presenters. 9. Board Member Comments There were no board member comments. 10. Adjournment Chair Davis adjourned the meeting at 7:10 p.m. ATTEST: COMMUNITY REDEVELOPMENT AGENCY ELORA RIERA, MMC JOYCE L. DAVIS CRA SECRETARY CHAIR – CRA Approved: March 11, 2025