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HomeMy WebLinkAbout1535814 - MINUTES - CRA MINUTES OF MEETING DANIA BEACH COMMUNITY REDEVELOPMENT AGENCY TUESDAY, MARCH 14, 2017 — 6:00 P.M. 1. Call to Order/Roll Call Chairman James called the meeting to order at 6:00 p.m. Present: Chairman: Tamara James Vice-Chairman: Bill Harris Board Members: Chickie Brandimarte Bobbie H. Grace Marco A. Salvino, Sr. Executive Director: Rachel Bach City Attorney: Thomas Ansbro CRA Secretary: Louise Stilson 2. Citizen Comments There were no citizen comments at this meeting. Chairman James advanced Item#4, Presentations. 4. Presentations 4.1 Dania Beach 2017 Arts and Seafood Celebration Poster Unveiling Director Bach introduced Henriette Arnold. Henriette "Kitte" Arnold unveiled the artwork she designed for this year's Arts and Seafood Celebration. 3. Administrative Reports 3.1 CRA Executive Director Report Director Bach reviewed the memo that was included in the agenda packet. 3.2 2017 Arts and Seafood Celebration Update Director Bach reviewed the information that was included in the agenda packet. She noted the Spin Doctors have been confirmed as our national act. 5. Consent Agenda Items Removed from Consent Agenda: #5.3, #5.4 5.1 Minutes: Approve Minutes of February 14, 2017 CRA Board Meeting 5.2 Travel Requests: None Board Member Grace motioned to approve the Consent Agenda, with the exception of Items #5.3 and 95.4; seconded by Board Member Brandimarte. The motion carried unanimously. 5.3 Approve the Commercial Property Improvement Grant Application for Xiao Xia He, on behalf of Rainbow Investment Realty, 242 South Federal Highway, in an amount not to exceed $10,000.00 Board Member Salvino confirmed this was the last facade grant for this fiscal year. Chairman James questioned the application process. Board Member Grace motioned to approve the Property Improvement Grant; seconded by Vice-Chairman Harris. The motion carried on the following 5-0 Roll Call vote: Board Member Brandimarte Yes Vice-Chairman Harris Yes Board Member Grace Yes Chairman James Yes Board Member Salvino Yes 5.4 Authorizing RMA, LLC to prepare a Market Analysis for the Downtown and City Center, in an amount not to exceed $8,000.00 Board Member Salvino questioned why we would pay additional funds for RMA since we have already spent$80,000.00 for them to do our promotion and advertising. Director Bach explained the funds have already been allocated for the current contracts; they are only asking for permission to use the funds. We want to do a market analysis because a priority of the Board was to move forward with the Downtown Master Plan. Board Member Salvino asked to table this until the next meeting as he has an issue with what is going on in the CRA. Minutes of Regular Meeting 2 Dania Beach Community Redevelopment Agency Tuesday,March 14,2017—6:00 p.m. Chairman James questioned what would happen if this is tabled tonight. Director Bach explained the options if the Board wants to re-evaluate the strategy to move forward with the Downtown Market Plan; ask RMA to do it under our existing contract, or we can solicit bids from three market analysis companies. Board Member Salvino noted he has questions with our contract with RMA and the Executive Director. Vice-Chairman Harris asked if our Economic Development Department or Finance Department could conduct the market analysis. Director Bach responded generally you want someone with real estate background, and we do not have the software necessary to conduct the analysis. We are trying to generate some projections and want to update the numbers from the 2015 CRA Plan update. Vice-Chairman Harris questioned if the MPO or Fort Lauderdale Alliance could provide the information and perhaps save us the money. Director Bach noted they will be getting that information from the Alliance, but it is raw data and is not a specific analysis of the downtown and surrounding areas. Board Member Salvino motioned to table the Market Analysis for the Downtown and City Center, until the next CRA Board meeting; seconded by Board Member Brandimarte. The motion carried on the following 5-0 Roll Call vote: Board Member Brandimarte Yes Vice-Chairman Harris Yes Board Member Grace Yes Chairman James Yes Board Member Salvino Yes 6. Proposals and Bids There were no proposals on this agenda. 7. Discussion and Possible Action There were no discussion items on this agenda. 8. Board Member Comments Board Member Salvino spoke of the funds expended by the City on the Arts and Seafood Celebration. He said there are ways to do it in order to break even; it should not cost the taxpayers $80,000.00 for the event. Minutes of Regular Meeting 3 Dania Beach Community Redevelopment Agency Tuesday,March 14,2017—6:00 p.m. Board Member Salvino said we should hire our own Executive Director. He does not know what we are getting for our money with RMA and thinks an employee could do more for less money than what we pay them. Board Member Grace concurred with Board Member Salvino on both items. We have so much talent in Dania Beach, and we could pool our resources and do the event in-house. We should not just be breaking even; we should be making a profit. As long as we do it properly and orderly, she does not care whether we hire the director from within or retain Director Bach under the umbrella of the City. Board Member Brandimarte commented we do not need a Director. We should hire Director Bach and put her on our payroll; we do not need RMA. She added she has a problem with a vendor getting two large spaces at the festival, particularly because their seafood prices are high. In response to Board Member Brandimarte, Director Bach confirmed the Board pays $156,000.00 for her as Executive Director, $20,000.00 for supplemental services, $80,000.00 for marketing and special events, and $25,000.00 for the City Center RFQ. Vice-Chairman Harris questioned why the person Director Bach mentioned who does the analysis could not perform the analysis for the Downtown and City Center. Director Bach noted she is not asking for additional money; funding would come from the $20,000.00 already in the contract. Chairman James questioned the cost of the Arts and Seafood Celebration. Director Bach responded we spend $175,000.00 and we typically bring in $85,000.00. This year we will make less due to the change in the alcohol sales law. She noted we want to bring options to the Board after the event, to explore moving the event to another entity. We are not receiving any funds from the food vendors this year because we sold the food vendor registrations and the bar to the food concessionaire who is paying us $20,000.00 to handle it. Chairman James commented we need to hire someone to brand and market the City of Dania Beach, not leave it up to the CRA to do. Board Member Brandimarte felt we should put the Arts and Seafood Celebration under the direction of the City. Chairman James noted we have part-time employees who have been with the City for 10 years, who should be hired full-time. If we do this, they can spend time on some of our events and we will not to have to pay someone else. Board Member Grace questioned that the City cannot sell alcohol at the event. Minutes of Regular Meeting 4 Dania Beach Community Redevelopment Agency Tuesday,March 14,2017—6:00 p.m. Director Bach responded that the last legislative session passed a law that prohibits us from profiting from alcoholic beverages. Board Member Salvino noted the point he was making is that perhaps we could do things differently next year and try to make the celebration more profitable. 9. Adj ournment Chairman James adjourned the meeting at 6:51 p.m. ATTEST: COMMUNITY REDEVELOPMENT AGENC 1 ,6' X, -,0 A rLOUISE STILSON, CW �� TAMARA JAM S CRA SECRETARY CHAIRMAN— Approved: May 9, 2017 �AKIA RVACIS Minutes of Regular Meeting 5 Dania Beach Community Redevelopment Agency Tuesday,March 14,2017—6:00 p.m.