Community Redevelopment Agency Regular Meeting

Transcription

1 Community Redevelopment Agency Regular Meeting The Community Redevelopment Agency (CRA) of the City of Titusville, Florida met in regular session in the Council Chamber of City Hall, 555 South Washington Avenue, on Tuesday,. Call to Order/Determination of a Quorum Chairman Jim Tulley called the meeting to order at 5:30 p.m. Present were Chairman Jim Tulley, Vice-Chairman Walt Johnson, and Members Christi Anderson, Matthew Barringer, Curt Leady, Martha Long, and Rita Pritchett. Also present were Executive Director Scott Larese and Community Redevelopment Agency (CRA) Attorney Richard Broome. Invocation/Pledge of Allegiance Chairman Tulley asked for a moment of silence and then led the entire assembly in the Pledge of Allegiance to the Flag. Approval of Minutes Vice-Chairman Johnson moved to approve the minutes of the special Community Redevelopment Agency (CRA) meeting on February 10, 2015, as submitted. Member Barringer seconded the motion. The motion carried unanimously. Special Recognitions and Presentations -None Old Business Downtown Restroom Facilities Executive Director Larese advised that over the last year, the CRA discussed constructing a restroom facility in downtown, and in 2014 set aside $67,000 to construct a one-stall restroom at a yet to be determined location. Staff was seeking direction as to whether to proceed with the construction of the restroom facility. [1]

2 Chairman Tulley advised that during discussion with Executive Director Larese, it was mentioned to possibly utilize the restroom construction as part of a trail head project. Executive Director Larese advised that it might be beneficial to put a restroom within the envisioned structure where the trails would all come together in the Downtown area. It would also assist in generating excitement for the trails coming to Titusville, preparing the Downtown area for the influx of potential bicyclists passing through the City, and would provide the restroom facilities that the Downtown area had been seeking. Member Pritchett asked where the restrooms would be located. Development Services Director Peggy Busacca advised that staff discussed using an existing storefront rather than construct a new building. The storefront would also include additional amenities such as a welcome center for the trails, store, etc. Member Anderson stated she would like the restroom facility to be near the Pritchard House, Parrish Theater and closer to the Julia Street Parking Lot. Vice-Chairman Johnson advised that staff previously provided the CRA a list of things that needed to be completed in the Downtown, but there was not enough money to complete all of them. He stated that he did not feel it was necessary at that time to spend money to build a restroom facility and incur the cost of ongoing maintenance when there were other things needed in the Downtown. He advised that he felt there would be a need for restroom facilities in the future and the CRA would need to be ready when that time came. Member Long advised that she supported a restroom facility now and as discussed the location should be on property the City currently owned on the northeast corner of Pine Street. She also supported having two locations that would house public restrooms to assist in accommodating the influx of potential bicyclists. She advised that if staff provided a better plan for a restroom than the one included in the agenda package, she would be interested in reviewing it. Debbie Schuler stated that she liked the discussion at the meeting and that there was a need for a public restroom and the process should begin now. She commented on the Downtown Public Restrooms Survey of the Downtown Merchants and advised that she was glad that the CRA was receiving input. She stated that the Pine Street location would be a perfect location for the restrooms. Lynn Altif stated that she was in favor of a restroom facility and thanked the CRA for the discussion. She advised that there was a need for a restroom facility and that the CRA needed to be pro-active, not reactive. She asked the CRA to take the restroom facility seriously. Thomas Altif stated that he was in favor of restrooms for the Downtown and also supported a restroom facility at the head of the bike trail. [2]

3 Kathleen Burson stated that in the past, there had been a lot of discussion on a restroom facility and advised that she previously submitted a report regarding the current state of downtown bathroom design. The report included the Portland Loo that was the forerunner of a compact restroom design. The design was for one purpose, to get in and get out. There were no mirrors or porcelain fixtures that could be vandalized and it was designed for one person. The location for the facility was for the southwest corner of the Julia Street Parking Lot and the cost was approximately $60,000 that was already in the budget. It was proposed to go out to an architect to design a facility for Titusville s character. Member Leady asked whether the possibility of leasing space on Julia Street for the restroom location had been explored. Executive Director Larese advised that at that time it had not been explored, but would be, if desired. Vice-Chairman Johnson advised that he would be interested in receiving from the Downtown merchants on their feelings regarding a Portland Loo type facility. Member Long advised that she would be interested in staff providing a plan for two potential loos, one on the northeast corner of Pine Street and southwest corner Julia Street and to also include a time line. Member Barringer advised that he was in favor of pursuing a restroom facility and that he supported staff s design and selections for the restroom facility. Member Pritchett moved to direct staff to move forward, provide a financial perspective on the locations discussed that included the northeast corner of Pine Street, the southeast corner of Julia Street, and the vacant storefronts in the Downtown. She also stated that some members were in favor of a loo, but she was not and would also like to see a private type structure for the restroom facility and to include a time line to start the project. Vice- Chairman Johnson seconded the motion for discussion. Vice-Chairman Johnson offered a friendly amendment to the motion to include, staff would provide the CRA any additional ideas, suggestions or locations for consideration. Member Pritchett accepted Vice-Chairman Johnson s friendly amendment. Member Long asked for clarification as to what staff would provide to the CRA. She thought she heard the CRA was looking for a cost for the loo and recommended that the locations discussed included a bike trail facility. Chairman Tulley advised that he did not think Member Pritchett s motion was that extensive. [3]

4 Member Pritchett advised that she felt it should be included that staff would provide all the information at one time rather than having to send staff back for additional information. Executive Director Larese advised that staff would provide two courses of action; 1) The loo; and 2) The structure currently drafted with the site locations. Member Long advised that in addition to the loo and the hard structure restroom, a separate project was recommended, which was the bike trail facility. Chairman Tulley recommended to keep the bike trail facility separate and to possibly make an additional motion in respect to the bike trail facility. Executive Director Larese highlighted the direction as two courses of action. The first course of action was the current one that was drafted in the report with location sites and expenses. The second course of action was the loo and to complete research and use the same course of action in development of the loo as the current one drafted in the report with location sites, to determine cost of site location. Member Pritchett advised that the motion was for staff to come back with some price analysis of the locations that were provided in the discussion, the cost to move into an existing building, and the price of that building. She stated that the CRA really needed to know what they were deciding on with the cost benefit analysis. Chairman Tulley asked whether Member Pritchett s motion included a minimalist type of restroom facility to alleviate Vice-Chairman Johnson s concerns regarding maintenance, etc. of the restrooms. Member Pritchett advised that as discussed, it was meant to include a minimalist type of restroom facility. Executive Director Larese advised that there were now three courses of action: Storefront restroom facility independent of the trail head bike facility; the loo concept; and the standalone hard structure already designed. Chairman Tulley asked for confirmation that Member Pritchett was requesting three (3) courses of action. Member Pritchett advised that yes she was requesting the three (3) course of action as stated by Executive Director Larese. Vice-Chairman Johnson s second held. Member Anderson asked whether the motion was for single or double restroom. [4]

5 Member Pritchett advised that the motion was for the double restrooms. Executive Director Larese advised that as part of the stand-alone structure, options for both the single and double restroom would be provided to the CRA. The motion carried unanimously. Special Event Funding Policy - Development Services Director Busacca provided a powerpoint presentation on CRA Funding of Special Events in the CRA District as followed: CRA Funding of Special Events Purpose of Special Event Grants Current Special Event Guidelines Historical Funding of Events Funding History Special Event Grants Funding Option Cost of City Services Other Funding Options Member Leady asked how special event grants increased investment in the CRA. Development Services Director Busacca advised that the special event grants provided a marketing tool to showcase opportunities in the Downtown. Debbie Shuler stated that special event grants were a marketing tool. It allowed people to see that things were happening in the Downtown and that the City was behind the growth, etc. She advised that roads did not need to be closed for all special events and asked that the CRA look at allowing the road closure budget to be used for advertisement and other expenses. Ms. Shuler requested that the CRA not eliminate the special event grants. Member Anderson asked Ms. Shuler what was fair regarding the special event grants. Debbie Shuler stated that everyone should have the same rules. Vice-Chairman Johnson stated that he believed the attendance was low at some of the special events due to the lack of advertisement and that marketing for the events needed to be reviewed. Member Long moved to accept the per diem option with an eight (8) percent budget max, as presented. Member Pritchett moved to second the motion. The motion carried unanimously. [5]

6 New Business Law Enforcement and Emergency Services Costs for Special Events Member Barringer moved to table item 8A - Law Enforcement and Emergency Services Costs for Special Events to the April 14, 2014 regular CRA meeting. Member Pritchett seconded the motion. The motion carried unanimously. Fiscal Year Annual Report and Financial Report for the Titusville Community Redevelopment Agency Executive Director Larese advised that the recommended action was to review and approve the Fiscal Year Annual Report and Financial Report for the Titusville Community Redevelopment Agency and approve transmittal to the taxing entities. Member Long moved to approve the Fiscal Year Annual Report and Financial Report for the Titusville Community Redevelopment Agency and approve transmittal to the taxing entities, as recommended. Vice-Chairperson Johnson seconded the motion. The motion carried unanimously. Petitions and Requests from the Public Present Debbie Shuler asked for the status of the lighting in the Julia Street Parking Lot. Development Services Director Busacca advised that the bid for lighting had gone out three (3) times. A design build was being reviewed and a second meeting was planned. The money was there and staff hoped to get the project started soon. Executive Director s Report Executive Director Larese submitted a written report. Executive Director Larese advised that the remaining items were informational only. [6]

7 The meeting adjourned at 6:35 p.m. [7]