Loading...
HomeMy WebLinkAbout02-19-2019 Minutes 401. FIFTY Ocoee WEST CRA COMMUNITY REDEVELOPMENT AGENCY REGULAR MEETING Ocoee Commission Chambers 150 North Lakeshore Drive Ocoee,Florida February 19, 2019 MINUTES 5:00 p.m. I. Roll Call and Determination of Quorum CRA Chair Grogan called the Community Redevelopment Agency Board to order at 5:00 PM in the Commission Chambers of City Hall. City Clerk Sibbitt called roll and declared a quorum present. Roll Call: Chair Grogan, Vice-Chair Firstner, Member Wilsen, Member Johnson, Member Duncan and Member June. Absent: Member Oliver Also Present: City Manager Frank, Assistant City Manager Shadrix, City Attorney Cookson, and City Clerk Sibbitt. II. Public Comments -None III. Approval of Minutes of the November 20,2018, CRA Regular Meeting Member Wilsen, seconded by Member Duncan, moved to approve the CRA Regular Meeting Minutes of November 20, 2018, as presented. Motion carried 6-0 with Member Oliver absent. IV. Staff Led Presentation& Discussion A) Staff, Administrative Assistant Deputy Development Services Director/CRA Administrator Corless announced a revised agenda has been placed before the Board in order to include an added item regarding CRA related legislative proposals that have been recently submitted. She continued by advising that in their CRA Regular Meeting 2-19-2019 Page 1 packet she provided an updated staff directory which correctly identifies the new chair and vice- chair as well as the new CRA Administrative Assistant, Gilda Shaw. B) Budget Update Deputy Development Services Director/CRA Administrator Corless updated the Board on the CRA final numbers for their budget. She shared that as they did not spend as much as they had estimated they would spend last fiscal year there was an additional $413,144.72 which was added to their increment, thus bringing the total final CRA revenue to $3,151,592.72. It was further explained that any additional funds that were in excess to the balance brought forward from the FY 2017-2018 would be placed into the capital projects account. During their meeting in November, the Board approved a capital line item of$2,222,348; however, the updated budget now reflects $2,635,492.72. Deputy Development Services Director/CRA Administrator Corless shared there are three-line items in the budget this fiscal year: On-going Projects, New Projects, and Acquisition/Incentives; of which they are seeking a motion from the CRA Board to allow staff to move the additional $413.144.72 in order to reallocate the funds between the On- going Projects and Acquisition/Incentives. Member Wilsen, seconded by Vice-Chair Firstner, moved to approve the distribution of the additional $413,144.72 to reallocate between on-qoinq projects and acquisition/incentives, as recommended by staff. Motion carried 6-0 with Member Oliver absent. Deputy Development Services Director/CRA Administrator Corless updated the Board on the expenditures through the 1St Quarter advising that staff has been extremely busy this year as the total amount of encumbered contractual services and encumbered capital already exceeds what they spent the entire FY 2017-2018. C) Annual Report Deputy Development Services Director/CRA Administrator Corless updated the Board on the Annual Report which will be provided to the board members by the end of the week. The report provides a continued thematic/"graphic family" approach and includes content that was provided in the past, some of which is required by State Statute. In addition, the report highlights thirteen businesses that were added to the CRA,which includes new construction,as well as the UF Cancer Clinic in Target Area 3. She further indicated that staff has begun developing the existing business profiles. The West Orange Cinema, and their business profile, is highlighted in this annual report. Staff will continue to work on getting a quarterly basis recognition and work on their outreach programs. D) Grant Support Services Deputy Development Services Director/CRA Administrator Corless shared staff has enlisted the services of a grant specialist to assist in developing a research document and grant calendar that will allow them to put packages together based on the different types of grants. Grant types include transportation, parks and recreation, urban designing, and economic development and marketing. When the board reconvenes in May, staff will have the grant calendar ready for them to proceed with those opportunities. CRA Regular Meeting 2-19-2019 Page 2 E) Update on Current Projects Deputy Development Services Director/CRA Administrator Corless updated the Board on the following current projects: Wellness Park — The FDOT Quick Claim Deed is on consent agenda for tonight's City Commission Meeting as they have received all the paperwork back from FDOT. Once approved by the City Commission, then staff will be able to move forward with the development of the Wellness Park on City property. A few items the Board should be alerted to: (1) The fence around the retention pond will cost $35,120. (2) There will also be a cost for the additional survey and park design program for which they will apply for a grant. The cost of the park design program is estimated between $1.5 and $1.8 million and the CRA will need to have the additional funds to assist them in their TIF (Tax Increment Financing) dollars. Deputy Development Services Director/CRA Administrator Corless answered Board questions with regard to placement of fence around the retention pond,and parking for the citizens. She advised the fencing will be placed on the slope around the wet retention pond. Slope changes may occur based on the design, and the chain link fence may eventually be replaced with a decorative fence. On-street parking will be provided for citizens and the City will also be working with the neighboring businesses to allow shared parking during the weekends. Phase 2—Old Winter Garden Road—Design has been completed and continues the same design of the Old Winter Garden median landscape from Maguire Road to Blackwood Avenue.This phase covers the portion from S. Blackwood Avenue to Hempel Avenue. Due to the length of the median more plant material will be added bringing the cost to $207,851.50. That price includes incorporating the concrete noses. City staff will be taking this item before the Commission in March with hopes to begin installation in April. N. Blackwood Avenue Streetscape — Roadway design is underway including integration of a possible roundabout at Montgomery Road. Design information will be brought back before the Board in May. SR 50 Median Landscape Project— There was a delay in the FDOT review over the holidays; however, plans are at final the review stage, and bid documents are ready for final approval. City staff is in hopes to bid this out in March. S. Bluford Avenue Corridor Study—City staff will be meeting with GAI, Community Solutions Group to discuss the conceptual streetscape design from Old Winter Garden Road north to Orlando Avenue. Issues being reviewed will include how the City can improve the pedestrian/bike facilities and enhance streetscape, including underground utility to be consistent with the Downtown Streetscape. Another critical issue being reviewed is how to provide a safe route to school from the City Center. The estimated cost for this corridor improvement is between$2.5-$3 million(not including sewer). Member Johnson shared concerns regarding the portion of Orlando Avenue to Delaware Street not being included in the conceptual streetscape. Deputy Development Services Director/CRA CRA Regular Meeting 2-19-2019 Page 3 Administrator Corless answered there will be a streetscape profile provided by staff to incorporate that section. She further explained the S. Bluford Avenue Corridor Study is being funded by CRA dollars which puts a limitation on how far she can go with her study but the streetscape profile can be used for the areas from Orlando Avenue up to Delaware Street.Assistant City Manager Shadrix explained the intention of staff is that during the City budget process to budget the portion of Bluford Avenue that is not funded by the CRA. Member Johnson shared he feels that while there is construction being competed, now is the time to see if something can be done using the current budget funds. Assistant City Manager Shadrix advised that would have to be addressed by the City Commission through a budget amendment. Inspection and Maintenance Programs —Weekly inspections are being conducted by the CRA Team. They have been working closely with Public Works Department in identifying all the streets that are within the CRA and creating a list of tasks to be completed from a maintenance standpoint, as well as meeting with Code Enforcement to help with some issues they have encountered. The maintenance of SR 50 is still in process under the maintenance contract and staff will add other medians and right-of-ways within the CRA to that contract amount in the next budget year. F) Property Assembly & Acquisition Deputy Development Services Director/CRA Administrator Corless updated the Board on the following: Acquiring Property—This line item was added this fiscal year as a new budget item so staff could start focusing on whether there are other properties within the CRA that would fit under the redevelopment plan as it relates to property assembly. The Community Redevelopment Plan, in sections 3.2.1 and 3.6.2, addresses the ability of the CRA to acquire property for several different purposes such as the elimination of blight property or for economic redevelopment revitalization. Acquiring private property gives CRA control over the type of development to be built by the private sector through an RFP process. Funding Methods—When acquiring property, alternative funding methods should be considered. Acquiring does not necessarily mean purchase, and should be leveraged through Private Dedications, Public/Private Partnerships, Payment Plans with Owners over periods of time, Loans —City or Bank, and Bonds. Possible Opportunities—There are properties that do not fall under the realms of the Target Areas but are opportunities for the CRA, for example: • Roper Property — 10 acres (Maguire south of Story Road) purchase price approximately $3.2 million. If the Roper Property is acquired by the CRA then staff could control the type of development by the Master Plan and seek a developer through an RFP Process. Additionally, the CRA has not had much movement north of SR 50 as it relates to the industrial light/manufacturing mix use components outside the Target Areas. Deputy Development Services Director/CRA Administrator Corless advised staff is seeking a motion from the CRA Board to have an appraisal on the Roper Property and develop recommendations regarding the possible acquisition. CRA Regular Meeting 2-19-2019 Page 4 Member Johnson, seconded by Member June, moved to have CRA staff proceed with an appraisal on the Roper Property and develop recommendation regarding the possible acquisitions to bring forward to a future meeting. Motion carried 6-0 with Member Oliver absent. • Target Area 1 — South of SR 50 west of Maguire Road and north of the Turnpike. CRA staff has specifically identified the extension of Old Winter Garden Road through Target Area 1 as well as the need to have a master stormwater system for the entire target area.This would allow the urban development pattern they are seeking for Target Area 1 as this has not been achieved yet.Deputy Development Services Director/CRA Administrator Corless advised that staff is seeking consensus to allow them to procced with meeting with property owners with the intent to seek dedication of right-of-way for Old Winter Garden Road Extension as well as investigate mechanisms that would allow staff to work with property owners in the developing of the stormwater system within Target Area 1. Member Wilsen clarified that the extension of Old Winter Garden Road is the section at the light at Maguire Road and across Maguire Road. Deputy Development Services Director/CRA Administrator Corless answered in the affirmative. She further added the extension is critical to redevelop that section of Old Winter Garden road properly. Consensus of the CRA Board was to have staff procced with seeking dedicated Right-of-Way for Old Winter Garden Road; and further investigate mechanisms to create a master stormwater system with the Target Area 1 property owners.Member Duncan shared this seems like a great plan but that it would be difficult to implement with all the property owners. Deputy Development Services Director/CRA Administrator Corless explained they recently had preliminary discussions with one of the larger parcel property owners in that area and there seems to be an interest for further discussion. G) Strategic Transportation Funding Program Deputy Development Services Director/CRA Administrator Corless advised when they take a look at the CRA and Redevelopment Plans they also consider the roads within the CRA. CRA road improvements also include the extension of Old Winter Garden Road, Bluford Avenue, N. Blackwood Avenue, Maguire Road, and Marshall Farms Road. The TIF dollars cannot fund the needed transportation improvements and the infrastructure improvements they have within the CRA. CRA staff has been working with the City on the Strategic Transportation Funding Program, and has requested a proposal from S&ME to put together the projects and identify potential funding that they can seek from a State Federal level to assist with getting the projects implemented. Staff has proceeded with seeking approval from the City Commission to allow a lump sum of$100,000 for which$60,000 will be funded from CRA and$40,000 from Development Services.Vice Chair Firstner inquired if the S&ME study is strictly for the roadways mentioned.Deputy Development Services Director/CRA Administrator Corless advised it would be for the City at large. { H) Outreach Program Deputy Development Services Director/CRA Administrator Corless announced they are looking to host an Open House in April/May 2019 to showcase projects. Annual Reports for FY CRA Regular Meeting 2-19-2019 Page 5 17/18 will be distributed to many of the business owners that the CRA staff has had the opportunity to speak with. I) Legislative Alert Deputy Development Services Director/CRA Administrator Corless announced two legislative proposals were submitted last week that significantly and negatively impact CRAs. House Bill 9 (Lighthouse Point) and Senate Bill 1054 (Lee—Plant City)places further limitations on CRAs including limiting the use of TIF dollars. CRA staff will follow both the FRA and the League of Cities regarding their positions on these bills. Deputy Development Services Director/CRA Administrator Corless advised staff request authorization for the CRA Administrator to submit the CRA's position to the legislators that these bills would be unreasonably detrimental to our CRA. Chair Grogan shared he would like to add to that request and also have the City Commission support our CRA's position. Consensus of the CRA Board was to request authorization for CRA Administrator to submit the CRA's position to the legislators that these bills would be unreasonably detrimental to our CRA. V. Board Comments Chair Grogan commented that it is pretty exciting to see from conception to where they are now. Member Duncan shared that he is really excited to work with the CRA on the road improvements from Old Winter Garden Road to Hempel Drive. ADJOURNMENT The meeting was adjourned at 5:43p.m. Attest: APPROVED: WLA.) elanie Sibbitt, Secretary Chair CRA Regular Meeting 2-19-2019 Page 6