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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2012-05-02 CRA Board Regular Meeting Minutes MINUTES OF MEETING CITY OF DANIA BEACH COMMUNITY REDEVELOPMENT AGENCY WEDNESDAY, MAY 2, 2012 — 6:00 P.M. 1. Call to Order/Roll Call Chairman Flury called the meeting to order at 6:04 p.m. Present: Chairman: Patricia A. Flury Vice-Chairman C.K. "Mac" McElyea Board Member: Walter Duke CRA Executive Director: Jeremy Earle City Attorney: Thomas Ansbro CRA Secretary: Miriam Nasser Absent: Board Member: Anne Castro Board Member: Bobbie H. Grace Vice-Chairman McElyea motioned to excuse the absence of Board Member Castro and Board Member Grace; seconded by Board Member Duke. The motion carried unanimously. 2. CRA Updates Director Earle introduced Kathleen Weekes as the new CRA Administrative Coordinator. Director Earle noted that all three neighborhood projects have begun. He advised they are still removing trees in the Dania Beach Heights area and they are also marking the roadways. In the College Gardens area they have already planted new trees and roadway work is in progress. Director Earle indicated that we had issues in the Sun Garden Isles area regarding some abandoned utilities, however we have made some field adjustments and are moving forward. He asked City Attorney Ansbro to provide an update on the US Landscape Project Phase II. City Attorney Ansbro noted that staff issued Green Construction Technologies with a limited Notice to Proceed to perform the soft digs. They advised it would take 65 days to do the work and 25 days to submit the report of their findings. Chairman Flury noted that at the April 10 Commission meeting, the Green Construction representative said it would take three weeks. City Attorney Ansbro explained that they are in the process of obtaining a bond which is limited to this specific work. He added work should start any day. Director Earle noted that Green Construction will bring the contracts tomorrow and once they are fully executed work will start on Monday. He confirmed for Chairman Flury that the 65 days is the full window for the notice; however, they will try to move for the 6-8 weeks Mr. Erwin originally mentioned at the Commission meeting. Board Member Duke noted that Director Earle had sent an email regarding an investigation by the Inspector General regarding College Gardens and Dania Beach Heights. He asked if we had any more information on this matter. Board Member Duke further questioned if it was their role to get involved. Director Earle noted we do not have all the details. The Office of the Inspector General is doing an investigation on these two projects; however, they will not tell us anything else. He indicated they are currently focused on Broward County. Director Earle said he spoke with County Administrator Bertha Henry and they are in the same situation. He confirmed for the Board that nothing has changed and we are moving forward with the projects. Director Earle further advised that Shirley Santiago should be back next week and in the meantime he is in charge of CRA construction administration. Chairman Flury reiterated what she already told Director Earle earlier today, that we should not be calling everyone and getting them involved in something when we do not know what it is about. She remarked that the Inspector General's Office can do what they want. Let them do their work, and wait for the outcome. Chairman Flury would like to see the borings begin next week. She further asked if there is a set date for completion of the neighborhood projects. Director Earle noted he should have the schedules by the end of the week, which he will forward to the Board. 3. Presentations There were no presentations on this agenda. 4. Consent A eg nda Items Removed from Consent Agenda: #4.4, #4.5 4.1 Minutes: Approve minutes of April 4, 2012 CRA Board meeting 4.2 Travel Requests: None Minutes of Regular Meeting 2 Dania Beach Community Redevelopment Agency Wednesday,May 2,2012—6:00 p.m. 4.3 Adopt Revised CRA By-Laws Board Member Duke motioned to approve the Consent Agenda, with the exception of Items #4.4 and #4.5; seconded by Vice-Chairman McElyea. The motion carried unanimously. 4.4 Approve Work Authorization No. 6 — Community Garden Survey for Calvin Giordano &Associates Board Member Duke noted everyone is excited about the community garden. He thought the amount of $8,570.00 was too high for preparing a survey on a community garden. Board Member Duke questioned if we could look for someone else who would give us a better price. Director Earle noted the survey includes the community garden and a portion of West Dania Beach Boulevard where the cul-de-sac does not connect with this road. He added that some residents said they wanted to have the roadway open, and this was important to get a cost to present to the Commission. Chairman Flury noted Public Services Director Orlando had some ideas and asked if he was involved in this process. Director Earle responded in the negative. Chairman Flury would like for staff to get together before we move any further. Director Earle noted the survey for the community garden goes from NW I" Street to West Dania Beach Boulevard. He pointed out that we need to know exactly where the boundaries are; also there are multiple owners on both sides, therefore a title search was also included in their cost. Board Member Duke noted this was still a lot of money. He asked Director Earle for a suggestion. Director Earle noted that for the work they have done, it is a good price. He further noted that this matter has been discussed several times and he is now requesting approval to pay Calvin Giordano for work that has been completed. Chairman Flury noted that we have to stop this from happening and remarked that staff cannot spend money without the Board's approval. Board Member Duke stated he will not approve the price quoted for the job; however, we have an obligation to pay Calvin Giordano. Minutes of Regular Meeting 3 Dania Beach Community Redevelopment Agency Wednesday,May 2,2012—6:00 p.m. Chairman Flury clarified that we are not voting to move the item, but only for approval to pay Calvin Giordano for the work done. She suggested skipping the item. 4.5 Approve CRA Financial Requests Director Earle noted that during the past months we have spent more money than anticipated in certain categories of the CRA budget. He stated this is just a re-allocation of funds and confirmed that no funds are coming from the City Commission budget. Board Member Duke reviewed each item on the report provided in the agenda backup. Board Member Duke motioned to allocate the remaining $20,000.00 to Weiss Serota in order to continue negotiations with the new developers; and to reduce the $40,000.00 encumbrance from Moskowitz, Mandel, Salim and Simowitz to $25,000.00; seconded by Vice-Chairman McElyea. The motion carried unanimously. Board Member Duke asked for an update on the developer's agreement. Director Earle noted he had a meeting at the law offices of Weiss Serota and the negotiation session lasted about two hours, at which time they were tasked to provide us with the list of items that they want to include in the developer's agreement; however they are still working on this matter. He confirmed for Board Member Duke that he communicated with them towards the end of last week. Board Member Duke noted that in their initial conversation they were proposing up to 1,000 units in their plan, and asked for clarification. Director Earle noted they would like to allocate 800-1,000 units in the downtown area; however, this would be an interesting challenge, since it would exceed our zoning requirements. He further stated that a more realistic number would be 400-500 units in terms of legal permissibility and marketing demand; therefore density would be something to bring to the table when we reconvene our negotiations. Board Member Duke questioned the proposed height. He also asked if there would be any additional structures. Director Earle responded that the maximum height would be 14 stories. He indicated that we are trying to prepare a very flexible developer's agreement. Once the proposed developer's agreement has been approved by the Commission, they will go back and put real numbers and engineering plans to the things they want. Director Earle added this could take a long time. Chairman Flury asked the status of the Pirates' Inn property. Director Earle noted he has met with a few developers in the past few weeks. All developers want a one-story retail structure, mainly because of market conditions. He advised other Minutes of Regular Meeting 4 Dania Beach Community Redevelopment Agency Wednesday,May 2,2012—6:00 p.m. z.., Approve Dir-eeter- Ear4e neted that dth-ing the past mefAhs we have spen4 mer-e fneney than anlieipated-in Main sateger-ies ef the GRA budget. Heated this is just a fe l fie f funds a eenfifmed that fie fund . - from the City cenifflission budget. Bear-l Member-Duke reviewed eae ;to,.,., e the r eA pr-e.,idea i the agenda t.,.,,>>u Board MembeF Duke motioned to all N+ h $20.�000 nn to WeissSeFOR in 4 the remaining developers;or-deF tO eontinue negotiations with the new and to r-eduee the 1 Moskowitz, 000.00 eneumbFftHee from Salim and Simewitz to 1 • 1 seeonded by 4.5 Approve CRA Financial Requests Corrected Minutes approved by CRA Board on September 5, 2012 Director Earle noted that during the past few months we have spent more money than anticipated in certain categories of the CRA budget, specifically: Contractual Services, General Professional Services and Legal Services. He stated this is a re-allocation of funds within the CRA budget and confirmed that no funds are coming from the City Commission budget. Board Member Duke reviewed each item provided in the agenda backup. Board Member Duke motioned to approve the item; seconded by Vice-Chairman McElyea. The motion carried unanimously. Board Member Duke asked for an update on the developer's agreement. Director Earle noted he had a meeting at the law offices of Weiss Serota and the negotiation session lasted about two hours, at which time they were tasked to provide us with the list of items that they want to include in the developer's agreement; however they are still working on this matter. He confirmed for Board Member Duke that he communicated with them towards the end of last week. Board Member Duke noted that in their initial conversation they were proposing up to 1,000 units in their plan, and asked for clarification. Director Earle noted they would like to allocate 800-1,000 units in the downtown area; however, this would be an interesting challenge, since it would exceed our zoning requirements. He further stated that a more realistic number would be 400-500 units in terms of legal permissibility and marketing demand; therefore density would be something to bring to the table when we reconvene our negotiations. Board Member Duke questioned the proposed height. He also asked if there would be any additional structures. Minutes of Regular Meeting 4 Dania Beach Community Redevelopment Agency Wednesday,May 2,2012—6:00 p.m. developers want to put a CVS pharmacy, however, he has told them this is not what the residents would want. Board Member Duke asked how many developers have approached him on this property. Director Earle responded he has met with three developers and they all want a one-story structure. He clarified that there are restrictions on drive-through businesses in the City center. Director Earle advised that whoever purchases the property would need to have a curb cut on US 1 into that site, which would involve FDOT. He confirmed they are all experienced developers who have done very nice projects. Board Member Duke would like Director Earle to bring those offers for discussion and input by the Board in a public manner, rather than one-on-one. This would probably help him move this matter along. Director Earle noted that most developers do not want everyone to know what they are negotiating. Chairman Flury asked Director Earle to bring the concept to the Board. 5. Proposals and Bids There were no proposals on this agenda. 6. Discussion and Possible Action There were no discussion items on this agenda. 7. Adjournment Chairman Flury adjourned the meeting at 6:30 p.m. ATTEST: COMMUNITY REDEVELOPMENT AGENCY o� - '3 ata-At�� �Aq__ LOUISE STILSON, CMC PATRICIA A. FLURY CRA SECRETARY CHAIRMAN—CRA Approved: June 6, 2012 Minutes of Regular Meeting 5 Dania Beach Community Redevelopment Agency DANIA BEACH Wednesday,May 2,2012—6:00 p.m. COWAUM"lisoavELopmaw 110�1IC