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HomeMy WebLinkAbout09-29-10 Minutes CRA (approved) be center of ofGood Lit,L1Lt, COMMUNITY REDEVELOPMENT AGENCY (CRA) BUDGET HEARING/BOARD MEETING Ocoee Commission Chambers 150 North Lakeshore Drive Ocoee, Florida September 29,2010 MINUTES 5:58 p.m. CALL TO ORDER CRA Board Chairman Vandergrift called the Community Redevelopment Area Board together at 5:58 p.m. in the Commission Chambers of City Hall. City Clerk Eikenberry called roll and declared a quorum present. Roll Call: Member Hood, Member Wilsen, Chairman Vandergrift, Member Keller, Member Corless, Member C. Johnson and Vice-Chair R. Johnson Also Present: City Manager Frank, City Attorney Rosenthal, City Clerk Eikenberry, CRA Administrator Russ Wagner and Development Services Director Shadrix. I. Designation of Chair and Vice-Chair Member Keller, seconded by Member Wilsen, moved to appoint Chair Vandergrift and Vice-Chair R. Johnson. Motion carried unanimously. H. Approval of Minutes of the October 6,2009 Regular Board Meeting and the June 8, 2010 Joint Meeting with the Ocoee Planning& Zoning Commission Member Wilsen, seconded by Member Keller, moved to approve the minutes with a correction to show Member Wilsen as present at the meeting. Motion carried unanimously. Development Services Director Shadrix made brief remarks on the information that is going to be presented in the budget and upcoming projects of the Community Redevelopment Agency. HI. Presentation—Events Center Feasibility Study C.H.Johnson Consulting,Inc. Charlie Johnson, of C.H. Johnson Consulting of Chicago, IL gave a presentation on the market study of building an event center in Ocoee and how it will economically benefit the city. He suggested starting with a 15,000-20,000 square foot exhibition hall which could be used for banquets, small concerts, trade-shows, etc. He further projected the venue to host approximately 400 events yearly, attracting about 130,000-150,000 people yearly; thus increasing economic growth in Ocoee. A specific site for this project has not been identified; however, the CRA target areas lend themselves to be supportive of a project of this volume. Working in conjunction with Orange County will help the city tap into the hospitality taxes being collected which will defer funding for a project of this volume. He explained now that the initial market study has been CRA Meeting Page 2 of 5 September 29, 2010 performed, the next step is to estimate site location, budget, size, cost estimate and daily operations. Member C. Johnson arrived at 6:08 p.m. Member C. Johnson inquired how the market study projected the number of events and attendance. Charlie Johnson stated they use the current market for the area and immediate surrounding area, types of events, financials of other facilities and case study coupled with the area economy and environment. Chair Vandergrift inquired about the hospitality tax and if the city would be responsible for paying that if they built an event center. Charlie Johnson commented that the hotels/motels are already paying the tax. Chair Vandergrift inquired how many people would it take to operate the facility. Charlie Johnson responded that there may be 10-20 core employees within the building; however, there may be up to 75 people working on a given day as contractors. Chair Vandergrift inquired about the 30-40 acres of land use needed. Charlie Johnson suggested maybe 6-10 acres of land for the facility. Chair Vandergrift inquired of CRA Administrator Wagner the action he is seeking from the board. CRA Administrator Wagner stated this could be the centerpiece project with the right partners at the right time. A project of this nature could be a catalyst for economic growth in the area. There is money that has been allocated in the budget for phase two of the market study analysis, and he suggested the City move forward over the next year. Member Hood commented that the only thing the City could use to attract people is a cost advantage. Member R. Johnson commented on how to move the city forward in the future is to stir economic growth. Member C. Johnson inquired if this was part of the redevelopment plan or was this something that will be added. CRA Administrator Wagner stated this idea of mixed use and multi-use development has always been an integral part of the redevelopment plan. Member C. Johnson suggested enumerating this project in the CRA, and further inquired if there has been any public dialog surrounding this project. Development Services Director Shadrix commented that they will look into amending the development plan, and they have been involved in focus groups discussing projects of this nature. CRA Administrator Wagner stated they have not involved the general public, but as they move forward into the second phase they can advertise and solicit public opinion. Member Corless said the Community Redevelopment Plan may not have identified an events center in the CIP as a line item, however, we did speak to creating a cultural center and opportunity to bring the community together within the CRA to help facilitate opportunities to promote the community venues and subsequently economic development; there are goals and objectives that support it but she agrees with Member C. Johnson that we should take a look at modifying the capital plans in the future. Chair Vandergrift inquired if we adopt this into the budget will the stated amount include staff and how will the project be funded and a reminder that the city is at half the income of what they had last year. CRA Administrator Wagner stated the next step in the feasibility analysis study is to determine funding. Mayor Vandergrift said the CRA is at half the income we were at last year; we may need to wait and see where we are going. IV.Budget a) Review of FY 2010/2011 Budget CRA Administrator Wagner made mention that the main component of the budget in 2009/10 was to develop a marketing plan and website. He stated they have been successful thus far in developing their marketing strategy and introducing the Ocoee passion flower as the emblem which will be used in market strategy by utilizing a play on words with the emblem. With focus on marketing and developing a city image, the CRA is promoting a progressive city, a modern up to date city with hassle free development programs. 1 CRA Meeting Page 3 of 5 September 29, 2010 A few projects from 2009/10 will carry over into the 2010/11 budget year. An example of those projects will be the Blackwood Avenue Project and the development of a signature look for Ocoee through redesigning the street signs, landscape and lighting specific to Ocoee. He referred the board to the handouts for project specifics. Rolling into the budget discussion CRA Administrator Wagner stated the revenues have decreased due to the tax value decrease; however, there was a significant amount of carry over so the budget for 2010/11 is comparable to 2009/10 with a little less than $1,000,000 available. CRA Administrator Wagner stated the new position would be a staff member out in the field interacting hands-on with the public and field staff. Chair Vandergrift interrupted to ask if the board had any specific questions regarding the budget. Member C. Johnson asked about specific funding by the CRA of form base code, multi model transportation mobility plan, etc; if they were part of the CRA or city wide in which the CRA will be contributing partial funding. CRA Administrator Wagner stated the form-based code will initially apply on to the CRA, but it needs to be defined better from the special overlay plan. The form-based code could be used in other areas of the city over time. The multi-modal plan is solely geared to the CRA, but can be used by other areas of the city. Chair Vandergrift requested that we become the first CRA with a green initiative, and to purchase a hybrid vehicle under $25,000. He further requested televised coverage of the CRA meeting to be paid out of the budget as a separate line item. Chair Vandergrift moved to adopt the resolution and budget taking into account his suggestion to purchase a hybrid vehicle and have television coverage for the meeting. Attorney Rosenthal read the title of Resolution 2010-001. Chair Vandergrift solicited comments from the audience, and there were none. Chair Vandergrift moved to adopt the resolution and budget to include line items for television and purchase of a green vehicle. Discussion ensued regarding the budget and if any line items needed to be adjusted. Chair Vandergrift, seconded by Member Keller, moved to approve the resolution and budget; with money from contingency to pay for television coverage and the purchase of a hybrid vehicle. In reviewing uniform line item Member C. Johnson inquired as to the uniforms. CRA Administrator Wagner stated the line item is for shirts and hats. Member Hood inquired who hires for the CRA. Attorney Rosenthal advised that the employee would be considered a regular city employee; therefore, the city will do the hiring as there is an agreement between the city and Ocoee Community Redevelopment Agency. Chair Vandergrift asked if there was any further discussion on the motion. Discussion ensued as to what was the original motion. Chair Vandergrift stated his motion was to adopt the resolution for the budget with the hybrid vehicle and televising of the meetings. Attorney Rosenthal reiterated the original motion. Member Wilsen inquired if it was necessary to act upon a budget adjustment for a hybrid vehicle if money was already allocated in the budget for a vehicle. Attorney Rosenthal stated the question is the type of vehicle allocated in the budget. Discussion ensued as to the type versus cost of vehicle allocated in the budget. Member R. Johnson inquired if CRA Administrator Wagner was the CRA Specialist and if someone would be hired into the position. CRA Administrator Wagner stated he was not; however, a new position has been budgeted and he gave a brief description of the job responsibilities. Member R. Johnson opposed creating a new position for an individual to perform based upon the current job responsibilities stated. Further he questioned hiring someone for a job CRA Administrator Wager is already performing. The board continued to discuss the need for a new position and its intent. Chair Vandergrift mentioned how Winter Garden has CRA Meeting Page 4 of 5 September 29, 2010 individuals employed to find and apply for grants that would aid the City in development. Member Wilsen reiterated how the job responsibilities of this position differ from those of the Winter Garden employee. Member Hood stated how the salary amount for the position is excessive to the job responsibilities. Chair Vandergrift said they could amend the motion to remove the position. Member C. Johnson inquired if there was more information that staff could share about exactly what the intent is for that position. Member R. Johnson asked to revisit the position at another CRA meeting. Member Keller inquired about moving the allocated funds into the contingency fund and conducting a follow-up meeting to determine how to use the funds. Chair Vandergrift moved to amend the motion to include moving the $54,750 budgeted for new personnel into contingency. Discussion regarding amending the motion ensued. It was determined that $54,750 in the budget for personnel services will be moved to contingency as a line item pending further review and the acquisition of a job description for the specialist position. Member Keller, seconded by Member Wilsen, moved to amend the previous motion, further adding to move $54,750 from personnel services to contingency as a line item under operating expenses; pending a iob description for the CRA Specialist position and approval at a later date. Member Hood then suggested that if the budgeted expense for additional personnel was moved to contingency, then the vehicle purchase should also be moved to the contingency fund. Member Hood, seconded by Member Wilsen, moved to amend the amendment to the amendment to the previous motion to include $25,045 of capital outlay of budgeted expense for the purchase of a new vehicle in the contingency fund. Motion passed unanimously. Member Keller, seconded by Member Wilsen moved to approve the amendment as amended to move $54,750 from personnel services to contingency as a line item under operating expenses; pending a job description for the CRA Specialist position and approval at a later date and to include $25,045 of capital outlay of budgeted expense for the purchase of a new vehicle into the contingency fund. Motion passed unanimously. Chair Vandergrift, seconded by Member Keller moved to approve the resolution with the Exhibit "A" budget information reflecting the amendments previously voted upon by the Community Redevelopment Agency. Motion passed unanimously. V. ADJOURNMENT The meeting adjourned at 7:10 p.m. CRA Meeting Page 5 of 5 September 29, 2010 APPROVED: Attest: Beth Eikenberry, Secretary S. Scott Vandergrift, Chair