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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2012-06-06 CRA Board Regular Meeting Minutes MINUTES OF MEETING CITY OF DANIA BEACH COMMUNITY REDEVELOPMENT AGENCY WEDNESDAY, JUNE 6, 2012 — 6:00 P.M. 1. Call to Order/Roll Call Chairman Flury called the meeting to order at 6:00 p.m. Present: Chairman: Patricia A. Flury Vice-Chairman: C. K. "Mac" McElyea—arrived at 6:04 p.m. Board Members: Anne Castro Walter Duke Bobbie H. Grace CRA Executive Director: Jeremy Earle City Attorney: Thomas Ansbro CRA Secretary: Louise Stilson 2. CRA Updates Ana Zeinieh, Economic Development Manager, provided an update of the Merchant Assistance meeting held this morning, and spoke about the diverse group in attendance, cross-promoting, and upcoming events. Board Member Grace spoke about the meeting and commended staff for their efforts. Director Earle noted the US-1, Phase I soft digs are underway after some delays and those north of Dixie Highway should be completed by June 22, 2012; the same date by which concrete demolition south of Dixie Highway to Sheridan Street should begin. Director Earle provided an update on the status of the neighborhood projects: Phase I of Dania Beach Heights, from Dixie to Sheridan, will be finished first and then Phase II will begin. He commented on the positive results of the pavers, traffic circles, and contractor. 90% of the trees have been planted in College Gardens and more crosswalks have been installed. Field adjustments will continue to be made with some of the trees and necessary punch list items will be done. The contractor for Sun Garden Isles is working diligently, utility issues had to be dealt with, and there will likely be a project cost savings of $20,000.00-$40,000.00 as a result of finding a better way to do certain things. He noted an additional costs savings of approximately $8,000.00 will be realized for US-1, Phase 1. Director Earle reported that there are people who want to team with us on the Community Garden, specifically, Teina Phillips, Program Director, Broward Regional Health Planning Council, and Michael Madfis, local architect and urban farmer, and they have approximately $25,000.00-$35,000.00 to contribute. The goal is for this to be a phenomenal garden and the green annex will be worked into the program to be a national model for how community gardens/urban farms should be created and run. Board Member Grace clarified this would be a partnership with the City, community and businesses, including restaurants. Ms. Phillips said her group is the only recipient of a CDC grant to do work called "TOUCH", "Transforming Our Community's Health", and noted they are working with us because we have all the elements required to make the project work. She gave a brief explanation of the materials provided to the members. Mr. Madfis responded to Board Member Castro regarding the business model followed, and described two projects selected for an award related to sustainable agriculture. Board Member Castro requested copies of the business models referred to and suggested an educational component be included. Ms. Phillips said the school district, the hospitals, and early learning childcare centers are included in the partnership, noting that application for a grant has been made for a farmers market component. Director Earle advised the immediate grant funds available must be expended by the end of September. Board Member Castro motioned to approve Director Earle entering into an agreement with Broward Regional Health Planning Council and getting the community garden underway; seconded by Board Member Grace. The motion carried unanimously. Director Earle noted he is working on a preliminary agreement with the developer of the City Center project and explained it would be a non-committal agreement. Board Member Grace commented on the Dania Beach Heights and College Gardens pavers, and questioned the intent for the Sun Garden Isles project. Director Earle responded this project will have similarly pleasing pavers. She asked if the additional funds resulting from cost savings could be used for improvements to the three projects and Director Earle responded in the affirmative, noting it is the Board's decision. 3. Presentations There were no presentations on this agenda. 4. Consent Agenda Items Added to Consent Agenda: #4.6 Minutes of Regular Meeting 2 Dania Beach Community Redevelopment Agency Wednesday,June 6,2012—6:00 p.m. Items Removed from Consent Agenda: #4.3 4.1 Minutes: Approve minutes of May 2, 2012 CRA Board Meeting 4.2 Travel Requests: Request for Ana Zeinieh, Economic Development Manager, to attend the Florida Economic Development Council (FDEC) Conference in Orlando, Florida, from June 27-29, 2012 (Estimated cost$941.81) 4.3 Approve Economic Development Strategic Blueprint Chairman Flury spoke about her disappointment with the report in general and stated she does not want to approve something that says we will provide rent assistance; the City is not prepared for this. She felt the bigger issue is to create the structure that allows businesses to be successful and although she is not against the plan, she will not vote for it as there are elements she opposes. Board Member Castro questioned if we had to do everything in the plan. Director Earle confirmed that we did not and said it is simply a framework for what we would need or like to do over the next five years. He noted that any financial items would need CRA Board or City Commission approval. Board Member Castro asked if this plan provides more specificity relative to state law requirements than the overall CRA plan and Director Earle responded in the affirmative. While in some cases the CRA plan speaks in terms of general ideas and themes, this plan goes into detail and gives us the ability to focus on those things that have to be voted on by the Board. Board Member Grace asked if the rent subsidy could be removed. Board Member Duke questioned the cost and purpose of the study. Economic Development Manager Zeinieh explained $25,000.00 was expended to look at our current resources and the City as a whole, our demographics, types of businesses and industries, potential industries, and methodologies in order to develop a strategic plan to move the City forward. Board Member Duke said the elements are not binding and some we have no control over. The study actually confirms that we are on the right track. Board Member Duke motioned to approve the study, excluding financial commitments by the City without the CRA Board's approval; seconded by Board Member Castro. The motion carried on the following 3-2 Roll Call vote: Minutes of Regular Meeting 3 Dania Beach Community Redevelopment Agency Wednesday,June 6,2012—6:00 p.m. Board Member Castro Yes Vice-Chairman McElyea No Board Member Duke Yes Chairman Flury No Board Member Grace Yes 4.4 Approve Community Garden Survey 4.5 Approve Fagade and Exterior Grant Program Addendum 4.6 College Gardens — Consultant Change Order — Approval of an additional $3,000.00 for Witkin Hults Design Group Board Member Castro motioned to approve the Consent Agenda,with the addition of Item #4.6, and with the exception of Item #4.3; seconded by Board Member Grace. The motion carried unanimously. 5. Proposals and Bids There were no proposals on this agenda. 6. Discussion and Possible Action Director Earle provided an update on the Pirates Inn property, noting the developer has proposed a one-story development, but is willing to do a two-story fagade. The development will have restaurants, retail and a bank, which is a vital component in the financing of the project. The developer is speaking with Community Development and will apply for a text amendment with a drive-through for the bank, the language for which will be written so that it will not be carte blanche for other drive-throughs. Board Member Duke noted that the consensus in the community favors ground floor retail, parking, and 2-4 floors of office space. He does not see a one-story strip retail or a high rise on this property. Vice-Chairman McElyea favored going with something decent to put us on the map, noting there are three blocks to work with. Board Member Grace said this would be an opportunity to do things like Best Buy, Starbucks, a couple of boutiques, and a shoe store. She felt there may be problems with the drive-through for the bank. Board Member Castro said she has no preference, the market should be left to make the decision, and she will not micromanage the developers. It is uncertain what the mix of tenants will be, but Minutes of Regular Meeting 4 Dania Beach Community Redevelopment Agency Wednesday,June 6,2012—6:00 p.m. if the developer brings a worthwhile project forward, she would rather see something move than miss this opportunity. Chairman Flury said the development we are looking at is probably an underutilization of the space and spoke about why there is not yet a building at this location. At this point in time, she favors anything that looks decent and while it would be nice to have the larger development, she would like to see something, rather than nothing, get done. 7. Adjournment Chairman Flury adjourned the meeting at 6:36 p.m. ATTEST: COMMUNITY REDEVELOPMENT AGENCY CA 7q'Ld'— A!��9� — LOUISE STILSON, CMC PATRICIA A. FLURY CRA SECRETARY CHAIRMAN—CRA Approved: July 31, 2012 DANIA BEACH COMMUNITY REDEVELOPMENT AGENCY Minutes of Regular Meeting $ Dania Beach Community Redevelopment Agency Wednesday,June 6,2012—6:00 p.m.