HomeMy WebLinkAbout2025-05-13 CRA Board Regular Meeting Agenda Packet
AGENDA
COMMUNITY REDEVELOPMENT AGENCY
REGULAR MEETING
TUESDAY, MAY 13, 2025 - 6:00 PM
ANY PERSON WHO DECIDES TO APPEAL ANY DECISION MADE WITH REGARD TO ANY MATTER CONSIDERED AT THIS
MEETING OR HEARING WILL NEED A RECORD OF THE PROCEEDING, AND FOR SUCH PURPOSE MAY NEED TO ENSURE
THAT A VERBATIM RECORD OF THE PROCEEDING IS MADE WHICH RECORD INCLUDES THE TESTIMONY AND EVIDENCE
UPON WHICH THE APPEAL IS TO BE BASED.
LOBBYIST REGISTRATION IS REQUIRED. PRIOR TO ENGAGING IN ANY LOBBYING ACTIVITIES, WHETHER OR NOT
COMPENSATION IS PAID OR RECEIVED IN CONNECTION WITH THOSE ACTIVITIES, EACH LOBBYIST SHALL FILE WITH THE
CITY CLERK AN ANNUAL REGISTRATION STATEMENT AND PAY AN ANNUAL TWO HUNDRED FIFTY DOLLARS ($250.00)
REGISTRATION FEE FOR EACH PRINCIPAL OR EMPLOYER. REGISTRATION FORMS ARE AVAILABLE ON THE CITY WEBSITE:
WWW.DANIABEACHFL.GOV. (ORDINANCE #2012-019; AMENDED BY ORDINANCE #2019-019)
IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE AMERICANS WITH DISABILITIES ACT, PERSONS NEEDING ASSISTANCE TO PARTICIPATE IN
ANY OF THESE PROCEEDINGS SHOULD CONTACT THE CITY CLERK'S OFFICE, 100 W. DANIA BEACH BOULEVARD, DANIA
BEACH, FL 33004, (954) 924-6800 EXTENSION 3624, AT LEAST 48 HOURS PRIOR TO THE MEETING.
IN CONSIDERATION OF OTHERS, WE ASK THAT YOU:
A. PLEASE TURN CELL PHONES OFF, OR PLACE ON VIBRATE. IF YOU MUST MAKE A CALL, PLEASE STEP OUT INTO THE
ATRIUM, IN ORDER NOT TO INTERRUPT THE MEETING.
B. IF YOU MUST SPEAK TO SOMEONE IN THE AUDIENCE, PLEASE SPEAK SOFTLY OR GO OUT INTO THE ATRIUM, IN
ORDER NOT TO INTERRUPT THE MEETING.
DECORUM POLICY FOR MEETINGS OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS OF THE DANIA BEACH COMMUNITY
REDEVELOPMENT AGENCY OF THE CITY OF DANIA BEACH, FLORIDA:
INDIVIDUALS WHO WISH TO MAKE ANY “CITIZEN’S COMMENTS” UNDER THAT PORTION OF THE CRA BOARD AGENDA,
OR WHO OTHERWISE WANT TO ADDRESS THE CRA BOARD, MUST FIRST BE REGISTERED WITH THE CRA SECRETARY
(CLERK) (FORMS ARE AVAILABLE OUTSIDE OF THE CITY COMMISSION CHAMBER AND MUST BE GIVEN TO THE CLERK
BEFORE THE MEETING). OTHERS WHO WANT TO ADDRESS THE CRA BOARD ON ANY MATTERS MUST FIRST BE
RECOGNIZED BY THE CHAIR. ALL SUCH PERSONS MUST USE THE PODIUM IN THE COMMISSION CHAMBER. NO MORE
THAN ONE PERSON AT A TIME MAY ADDRESS THE CRA BOARD FROM THE PODIUM. COMMENTS ARE ONLY TO BE MADE
TO THE CRA BOARD AND ARE NOT TO BE DIRECTED TO THE AUDIENCE OR CRA STAFF.
NO INDIVIDUAL SHALL MAKE ANY SLANDEROUS OR UNDULY REPETITIVE REMARKS, OR ENGAGE IN ANY OTHER FORM
OF BEHAVIOR THAT DISRUPTS OR IMPEDES THE ORDERLY CONDUCT OF THE MEETING, AS DETERMINED BY THE CHAIR.
NO INDIVIDUAL MAY SPEAK DIRECTLY TO OR ADDRESS THE CHAIR, BOARD MEMBER OR CRA STAFF: COMMENTS ARE TO
BE ONLY DIRECTED TO THE CRA BOARD AS A WHOLE. NO CLAPPING, APPLAUDING, HECKLING OR VERBAL OUTBURSTS
IN SUPPORT OF OR OPPOSITION TO A SPEAKER OR HIS OR HER REMARKS SHALL BE PERMITTED. NO SIGNS OR PLACARDS
SHALL BE PERMITTED IN THE COMMISSION CHAMBER.
IF ANY PERSON’S CONDUCT AS DETERMINED BY THE CHAIR IS FOUND TO BE DISRUPTIVE OR INTERFERES WITH THE
ORDERLY CONDUCT OF THE MEETING, THE PERSON MAY BE ASKED BY THE CHAIR TO LEAVE THE COMMISSION
CHAMBER; IF THE PERSON DOES NOT LEAVE AND THE CONDUCT PERSISTS, THE CITY POLICE DEPARTMENT WILL BE
REQUESTED TO ESCORT THE INDIVIDUAL FROM THE COMMISSION CHAMBER.
ALL CELLULAR TELEPHONES ARE TO BE SILENCED DURING THE MEETING. ALL PERSONS EXITING THE COMMISSION
CHAMBER SHALL DO SO QUIETLY. (RESOLUTION #2020-CRA-006)
1. CALL TO ORDER/ROLL CALL
2. CITIZENS' COMMENTS
Addressing the Commission: A thirty (30) minute "Citizen Comments" period shall be designated on the agenda for citizens and
interested persons to speak on matters whether or not scheduled on that day's agenda. Individuals wishing to speak on a matter
not included on the "Public Hearing" section of the agenda, which matter pertains to an item before the City Commission which
requires a decision of the City Commission, may do so by signing in and submitting a form to that effect with the City Clerk prior
Agenda – Community Redevelopment Agency
Tuesday, May 13, 2025 - 6:00 PM
Page 2 of 2
to the meeting. Speakers at Public Hearings shall also submit such a form. Each speaker shall be limited to 3 minutes for his or
her comments. If more than ten (10) speakers express a desire to speak, the Commission shall determine on a meeting by meeting
basis whether to (a) extend the time allotted for citizen comments to accommodate all speakers, or (b) whether to limit the number
of speakers or amount of time per speaker. A speaker's time shall not be transferable to another speaker.
3. ADMINISTRATIVE REPORTS
1. Administrative Report
4. PRESENTATIONS: None
5. CONSENT AGENDA
1. Minutes: April 8, 2025 CRA Board Meeting Minutes
2. Travel Requests: None
6. PROPOSALS AND BIDS: None
7. DISCUSSION AND POSSIBLE ACTION: None
8. INFORMATION ITEMS: None
9. BOARD MEMBER COMMENTS
10. ADJOURNMENT
City of Dania Beach
Memorandum
DATE: 5/13/2025
TO: Chair and Board Members
FROM: CRA Executive Director Candido Sosa- Cruz, ICMA-CM
SUBJECT: Administrative Report
1. CRA INITIATIVES
Commercial Façade Grant: Director Chen met with the owner of a new business in Dania Beach
who specializes in making pastries and fine chocolates at 38 S Federal Hwy. Director Chen
provided a detailed program summary, an application form, and met with her to make sure she
understood how the program works and answered her questions. She wants to add a walk-up
service window and some café seating on her frontage along SW 1stAve. The business owner is a
tenant in the tenant at the property, and she will discuss her desired improvements with her
landlord/building owner. She feels she has a chance to receive their support.
Home Beautification Program: On Saturday, April 26, Rebuilding Together pressure washed and
painted the house and replaced the landscaping at 288 NW 13th Ct.
Safe At Home Program: Rebuilding Together has completed one Safe At Home improvement at
the Tier 1 level (less than $1,000). They have completed the qualification due diligence for an
additional 10 houses and will schedule these qualified houses for the improvements to be
installed – all are Tier 1 projects. To be qualified for the Safe At Home Program, at least one of
the following conditions must be met:
• Age: The homeowner, specifically, is at least sixty (60) years old;
• Physical/Mental: The homeowner or a permanent resident of the property is verified as
having a physical or mental disability.
• Income: The homeowner meets HUD qualifications of a low- (80% AMI) to moderate-
income (120% AMI) household.
• Veteran: The homeowner or a permanent resident of the property is an active or retired
veteran of a branch of the U. S. military.
Rebuilding Together is conducting the due diligence qualifications for another 30 houses – all
Tier 1 projects.
They have identified two houses that need more extensive repairs/improvements – Tier 2 project
($1,000 - $3,999). These projects take longer to qualify as the cost of improvements is more
technical and these properties will require the pre-approval of the CRA Executive Director,
before the repairs/improvements can be done.
2. PATCH
Harvest Celebration – New Raised Beds: On March 31, the PATCH celebrated the first harvest
season from the new raised beds. Mayor Davis, Vice-Mayor Salvino, Commissioner Rimoli, and
Commissioner Ryan attended the event and welcomed the people who attended. They also
received a new $15,000 grant donation to the PATCH from the Spirit Charitable Foundation.
The raised beds and redevelopment of the PATCH were funded by generous donations from
Invitation Homes ($53,835) and Spirit Charitable Foundation ($25,999) and were recognized for
their generosity at the event. The Dan Marino Foundation attended and assisted with the setting
up for the event.
Special thanks to Cassi Waren and the Parks & Recreation Department for their assistance with
this event.
Programs/Activities: Summer Fresh Food Box Program:
In expectation of being able to run an extended growing season in the raised beds, the PATCH
will try to offer the Fresh Food Box Program from late May to August.
▪ Weekly seasonal veggies: $20 per box.
▪ SNAP/EBT Card: 50% discount
▪ Dania Beach residents: 10% discount
▪ Dania employees: 10% discount.
PATCH Value-Added Produce Project: The PATCH, with support from TFF, is reestablishing
this project to create infused oils and dried seasonings from the herbs and vegetables produced in
the garden into value-added products for sale to the community and use as giveaways for
PATCH events: “Earth-To-Table System”.
Fruit Trees: The PATCH will plant small-sized fruit trees such as Moringa, Jackfruit, and
Passion Fruit vines in some of the raised beds and around the periphery of the Garden. The idea
is to expand our summer crops with fruit, which tends to do well in the summer heat, and provide
some shade on the raised beds to extend the growing season for some of the vegetables.
General Operation/Performance: During April, the PATCH harvested 300 pounds of produce,
including eggplant, lettuce greens, mustard greens, carrots, tomatoes, and herbs. The sale of
these crops generated $397,70 of revenue. Over 200 seedlings were transferred to the raised
beds. These were varieties of squash, which are more resistant to the upcoming summer heat.
3. ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT
Summary Report
Dania Beach’s location near the Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport (FLL) and
Port Everglades positions it as a key destination for visitors traveling through the region.
Recognizing that both the airline and cruise industries utilize Visit Lauderdale as a key resource
to promote local attractions to passengers—many of whom stay in Dania Beach hotels—it was
important to engage with Visit Lauderdale to explore collaborative opportunities that support and
highlight our local businesses.
As part of these efforts, a reintroduction was facilitated between Visit Lauderdale and the Casino
at Dania Beach to share updates on the recent enhancements, including expanded dining options
and the addition of monthly shows. The aim is to support the casino’s efforts to increase visitor
traffic by featuring these new attractions on the Visit Lauderdale website. Discussions between
Visit Lauderdale and the casino’s team are currently underway.
Additionally, recognizing that Visit Lauderdale’s Dine Out Lauderdale initiative highlights
Greater Fort Lauderdale’s diverse dining scene while promoting tourism, supporting the
hospitality industry, and boosting local economic activity, it was important to inform them of
new restaurant openings in Dania Beach. Visit Lauderdale was made aware of several new
establishments, including Lucky Fish and Sirocco, and introductions were facilitated with the
business owners to explore opportunities for featuring these restaurants under the Dania Beach
section of the Visit Lauderdale website as notable dining destinations.
According to the city’s Business Tax Receipt (BTR) listing, 21 new businesses were reported in
Dania Beach in March 2025, including some renewals. Within the CRA District, two non-home-
based businesses, which are not renewals, were identified: Nati Bakes From Scratch and
Supreme Electric LLC. Nati Bakes From Scratch has shown interest in the Commercial Façade
Grant and is currently reviewing program materials to determine next steps.
New Business Listing Report - March 2025
• Total New Businesses Citywide: 21
• New Businesses in CRA District[1]: 2
1. Nati Bakes From Scratch (38 S Federal Hwy, #11) – Start Date 03/24/2025: Owner
Natalia Tapia discovered the available space for lease near Grandpa’s while dining there
and, recognizing the opportunity and ideal size of the location, decided to establish her
bakery. The business specializes in high-end croissants, cake pops, and fresh fruit and
pistachio pastries, with a signature focus on alfajores, a traditional Argentinian favorite.
Operations are designed around a walk-up window facing First Avenue, with custom
cake orders also available. Ms. Tapia expressed enthusiasm about being located across
from City Hall, allowing her to benefit from increased foot traffic during city-hosted
events. She is also planning to expand her offerings to include coffee and other
beverages. Marketing efforts are currently focused on Instagram
(@natibakesfromscratch). The business is presently in the inspection phase.
2. SUPREME ELECTRIC LLC (1340 Stirling Rd, 4A&B) – Start Date 3/20/2025:
Owner Lucas Hernandez, previously employed in the electrical supply industry in the
surrounding area, chose to establish his own business in Dania Beach. Recognizing the
strong local demand for electrical supplies and his existing familiarity with the market,
Mr. Hernandez committed to remaining in the city. His business model is customer-
facing, offering a counter-service setup where contractors can purchase the electrical
materials needed for their projects. In addition, he is developing a website to support
future expansion into online sales. The business is currently in the interior construction
phase.
[1] New Business in CRA District refers only to businesses that are not home-based.
DANIA BEACH COMMUNITY REDEVELOPMENT AGENCY
REGULAR MEETING MINUTES
TUESDAY, APRIL 8, 2025 – 6:00 P.M.
1. Call to Order/Roll Call
Chair Ryan called the meeting to order at 6:00 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: Candido Sosa-Cruz
City Attorney: Eve Boutsis
CRA Secretary: Elora Riera, MMC
2. Citizen Comments
None.
3. Administrative Reports
Executive Director Sosa-Cruz provided a brief summary of the kay points that were discussed
individually with the Board members regarding the CRA priorities and expectations.
3.1 Administrative Report
Executive Director Sosa-Cruz explained that he has met and spoken with the Board to discuss
what their priorities were for the CRA and provided insight on what those priorities were.
Department Director Chen presented his administrative report that was provided to the Board in
their packets. He touched on the following topics:
- CRA Annual Report
- Harvest celebration
- Dan Marino Foundation
- Nova Southeastern University hosted a Market Day & Medicinal Garden Workshop
- Love Our Nation Earth 2 Table Senior Fruit & Veggie Distribution drive
Minutes of Regular Meeting
Dania Beach Community Redevelopment Agency
Tuesday, April 8, 2025 – 5:30 p.m.
2
- General operation/performance
CRA Business Manager Krsytal Permanan provided the exonomic development report which
touched on the following topics:
- Business retention
- Business attraction
- New businesses
-
4. Presentations
There were no presentations.
5. Consent Agenda
Board member Lewellen made a motion to approve the consent agenda. The motion was
seconded by Vice Chair Salvino which carried unanimously on voice vote.
5.1 Minutes: March 11, 2025 CRA Board Meeting
Approved on consent.
5.2 Travel Requests: None.
5.3 RESOLUTION NO. CRA-2025-______
A RESOLUTION OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS OF THE COMMUNITY
REDEVELOPMENT AGENCY (“CRA”) OF THE CITY OF DANIA BEACH, FLORIDA,
AUTHORIZING THE ACCEPTANCE OF A FIFTEEN THOUSAND DOLLAR ($15,000.00)
GRANT FROM THE SPIRIT CHARITABLE FOUNDATION TO THE DANIA BEACH
PATCH; PROVIDING FOR CONFLICTS; FURTHER, PROVIDING FOR AN EFFECTIVE
DATE.
Approved on consent.
6. Proposals and Bids
There are no proposals on this agenda.
7. Discussion and Possible Action
There are no discussion and possible action items.
8. Information Items
There are no information items.
Minutes of Regular Meeting
Dania Beach Community Redevelopment Agency
Tuesday, April 8, 2025 – 5:30 p.m.
3
9. Board Member Comments
Board member Lewellen deferred her comments to the Commission meeting.
Board member Rimoli deferred her comments to the Commission meeting.
Board member Ryan thanked staff and is looking forward to future.
Vice Chair Salvino commented that the City should try working to get our name back on the
airport and Executive Director Sosa-Cruz commented that they can look into it.
Chair Davis thanked the staff and is looking forward to working in a positive direction.
10. Adjournment
Chair Davis adjourned the meeting at 6:28 p.m.
ATTEST: COMMUNITY REDEVELOPMENT
AGENCY
ELORA RIERA, MMC JOYCE L. DAVIS
CRA SECRETARY CHAIR – CRA