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HomeMy WebLinkAbout05-16-06 Minutes CRA COMMUNITY REDEVELOPMENT AGENCY (CRA) BOARD MEETING Ocoee Commission Chambers 150 North Lakeshore Drive Ocoee, Florida May 16,2006 I CALL TO ORDER MINUTES 6:00 p.m. Mayor Vandergrift called the Regular Meeting of the eRA Board to order at 6:00 p.m. in the Commission Chambers of City Hall. Roll Call: Chair Vandergrift, Vice Chair Anderson, Member C. Johnson, Member Keller, Member Hood, Member Corless, Member Johnson Also Present: City Manager Frank, Assistant City Manager Croteau, Community Development Director Wagner, City Clerk Eikenberry, Attorney David Cardwell, and Tom Kohler. I. The Redevelopment Plan Asst. City Manager Croteau introduced Community Development Director Wagner. Mr. Wagner reviewed the findings from the Local Planning Agency (LPA), the Ocoee Planning and Zoning Commission at their last regular meeting. He said they received a copy of the complete Plan and heard an overview presentation at the meeting. He said they verified that it was consistent with the Comprehensive Plan. Some discussion occurred on the following: impact to surrounding areas, tax increment financing and how much the city would receive, types of improvements, how to spur economic development, the widening of Highway 50, how the enclaves will be incorporated into the City over time, and how the streetscape will be created. The LP A voted unanimously that the Redevelopment Plan is consistent with the City's Comprehensive Plan. Board Member Hood. seconded bv Board Member Keller. moved to approve the CRA Redevelopment Plan as reviewed bv the LPA. and to forward the Plan to the Commission for approval. Motion carried 7-0. Assistant City Manager Croteau advised that once the Plan is approved by the Commission it will be forwarded to the Orange County Board of Commissioners for their review and approval on May 23, 2006. Board Member Johnson confirmed that it is on the County's agenda for May 23, 2006. II. CRA Trust Fund Assistant City Manager Croteau said the first reading of the ordinance for the CRA Trust Fund is on the Commission Agenda tonight. It establishes the CRA Trust Fund, provides information on the administration of the fund, and establishes the base year for the incremental financing. Asst. City Manager Croteau read the title of the ordinance that will be heard by the Commission later this evening. The second reading and Public Hearing will be before the Commission on June 6, 2006. III. Select Next Meeting Date and Time Assistant City Manager Croteau advised that we need to schedule the next meeting date and time, which should probably be after July when the trust fund is set up and the CRA is fully established. At that meeting we would like to talk about the Interlocal Agreement between the CRA and the City of Ocoee, the CRA by-laws, and about doing overlays for some of the Highway 50 districts. Consensus of the Board was to hold the next meetina on Auaust 1. 2006. at 5:30 p.m. prior to the Commission Meetina. IV. New Business Attorney Cardwell advised that the legislation we discussed at the previous meeting did pass and the Bill was signed on May 11, 2006, which says that you cannot use eminent domain to acquire property for redevelopment and then convey it to a private person. Property can still be condemned if it is for a public project such as a road. The legislature has effectively taken the option of eminent domain away from CRAs. He said that the League of Cities and the Florida Redevelopment Association have been looking at what alternatives may be available. There are some cases pending and we are waiting to see how the courts respond to those. There are also a few cities who wanted to challenge the existing law. The other Bill that passed, House Bill 1583 is sitting on the Governor's desk waiting for signature, which primarily addresses CRAs in non-charter Counties. We have a commitment from the incoming Chair of the House that there will be no CRA legislation considered next year. Attorney Cardwell said that one of the alternative options is foreclosure due to Code Enforcement Violations, but that is much more difficult that eminent domain. Chair Vandergrift suggested if we have to use eminent domain we can use that land for a college campus, a police station, or a park and it will be a "public use." Board Member Johnson said we need to look at alternatives that would bring money into the CRA. Assistant City Manager Croteau said we will be forwarding copies of the By-Laws for the members to review before the August 1,2006 meeting. Tom Kohler will be here to answer any questions for the Commission tonight. She reminded them to have their pictures taken at 6:45 p.m. The meeting adjourned at 6:30 p.m. APPROVED: Attest: