Jul 02, 2024 Community Redevelopment Board

[CALL TO ORDER]

[00:00:04]

THE CRB TO ORDER. ROLL CALL, PLEASE. CHAIR. COMPANY HERE. VICE CHAIR. BRECHBILL HERE.

BOARD MEMBER JACOBUS. BOARD MEMBER. HAWKINS HERE. BOARD MEMBER. MCCHRYSTAL. BOARD MEMBER. NOBLE AND BOARD MEMBER. MOSER HERE. OKAY. CAN WE STAND FOR THE PLEDGE, PLEASE? I PLEDGE ALLEGIANCE TO THE FLAG OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA AND TO THE REPUBLIC FOR WHICH IT STANDS . ONE NATION UNDER GOD, INDIVISIBLE, WITH LIBERTY AND JUSTICE FOR ALL. CAN I GET A

[APPROVAL OF MINUTES]

ALL IN FAVOR? AYE OKAY. CHAIR CHAIR, COULD WE GET AN APPROVAL OF THE AGENDA, PLEASE? SKIPPED

[APPROVAL OF AGENDA]

[COMMENTS BY BOARD MEMBERS (Non-Agenda Items)]

WELL, IF YOU CAN BUILD 60 UNITS ON A PIECE OF PROPERTY, ALL OF A SUDDEN A $3 MILLION BUILDING ON THAT PROPERTY BECOMES INSIGNIFICANT AGAINST $100 MILLION PROJECT. AND THAT'S HOW WE LOSE EXISTING STOCK AND GAIN GET A LARGE DEVELOPMENTS. AND SO I WOULD LIKE TO BRING THAT UP FOR A SECOND. LET ME JUST ASK, HAVE WE NOT JUST DONE A CODE FOR A OR DOWNTOWN FOR EAST STUART, FOR THE CREEK DISTRICT? IT WAS JUST FOR THE CREEK DISTRICT AND THE EAST STUART, BUT WE DO HAVE THE URBAN DISTRICTS THAT WE HAVEN'T UPDATED, AND I THINK, IS THAT WHAT YOU'RE ASKING TO BRING THAT BACK? URBAN DISTRICTS ZONING, RIGHT? YEAH, YEAH, I CAN ASK. WE CAN WORK WITH THE DEVELOPMENT DEPARTMENT, HAVE ANY OVERLAYS? NO, IT'S JUST THE FIVE URBAN DISTRICTS. OKAY, OKAY.

THANK YOU. ALL RIGHT, ANY OTHER COMMENTS BY BOARD MEMBERS SEEING NONE. OKAY. FOR NOW, IS PROPERTY

[2. HEIRS' PROPERTY ASSISTANCE PROGRAM RESOLUTION No. 09-2024 CRA; A RESOLUTION OF THE COMMUNITY REDEVELOPMENT AGENCY OF THE CITY OF STUART, FLORIDA, APPROVING IMPLEMENTATION AND ADMINISTERING OF THE HEIRS’ PROPERTY ASSISTANCE PROGRAM FOR PROPERTIES LOCATED WITHIN THE COMMUNITY REDEVELOPMENT AREA; PROVIDING AN EFFECTIVE DATE; AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES.]

[00:05:01]

AND BASED ON THE RESEARCH, IT THE COST CAN VARY FROM CASE TO CASE, BUT WE ESTIMATED ABOUT 1500 TO $303,000 PER CASE. AND UPON APPROVAL OF THIS PROGRAM BY THE CRB AND THEN THE CRA, WE WILL GO OUT TO OBTAIN, PROPOSALS FROM QUALIFIED PROVIDERS OF LEGAL SERVICES TO ASSIST PROPERTY OWNERS GAIN CLEAR TITLE, THE CRA WILL BE RESPONSIBLE FOR MANAGING THE PROGRAM AND REVIEWING THE APPLICATIONS. IF WE FIND THAT THE APPLICANT APPLICANT IS QUALIFIED, WE WILL PASS THAT APPLICATION TO THE LEGAL FIRM THAT'S BEEN SELECTED TO HELP THE APPLICANT, AND IT WILL BE AT NO COST TO THE HOMEOWNER, CURRENTLY, IT'S NOT IN THE BUDGET. SO I AM BUDGETING ABOUT $25,000 FOR THE PROGRAM IN THE NEXT YEAR'S BUDGET. SO YOU WILL SEE THAT IN AUGUST OR SEPTEMBER WHEN I PRESENT THE CRA BUDGET, YOU'LL SEE A LINE ITEM THAT SAYS HEIRS PROPERTY ASSISTANCE PROGRAM, SO TODAY WE'RE JUST LOOKING FOR FEEDBACK ON THE PROPOSED HEIRS PROPERTY ASSISTANCE PROGRAM AND ALSO RECOMMENDATION TO THE CRA TO APPROVE RESOLUTION NUMBER ZERO NINE DASH 2024 CRA FOR THE IMPLEMENTATION OF THE HEIRS ASSISTANCE PROGRAM, DO WE HAVE ANY QUESTIONS? AARON, DO YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS, I DON'T HAVE ANY QUESTIONS, BUT I, I MEAN, I COULD SHARE A COMMENT, MY FAMILY RECENTLY JUST HAD TO GO THROUGH WITH SOMETHING LIKE THIS. AND WE ENDED UP SPENDING AROUND FIVE GRAND TO GET A FEW PROPERTIES, PASSED DOWN TO THE RIGHTFUL PEOPLE. AND YOU KNOW, I THINK THIS IS A GREAT IDEA. I THINK THIS IS A GREAT PROGRAM, ESPECIALLY FOR LONG TIME RESIDENTS. YOU KNOW, IT'S NOT EVERYONE IS AS SAVVY WHEN IT COMES TO LEGAL MATTERS, ESPECIALLY PEOPLE, LIKE MY FATHER. HE WAS YOU KNOW, HE WAS A LABORER. HE WORKED ON THE BRIDGE OUT THERE AS A CONSTRUCTION WORKER. HE WAS NEVER, YOU KNOW, HE NEVER HAD A FULL EDUCATION. SO I THINK THAT THIS IS A GREAT, RECOMMENDATION FOR, YOU KNOW, THE PEOPLE THAT KIND OF HELPED SUSTAIN THIS CITY, BUILD THIS COMMUNITY. I THINK THIS IS A GOOD IDEA. YEAH DEFINITELY, I THINK THIS IS THE BEST PROGRAM WE'VE DONE IN THE CITY IN A LONG TIME. YOU KNOW, FOR A LONG TIME WE'VE HAD A PROBLEM WITH WITH SOME PEOPLE GETTING WEALTHIER AND SOME PEOPLE NOT. AND THE WEALTH IN THIS COUNTRY IS GENERATED THROUGH LAND AND PROPERTY, I KNOW, BUT I'M TELLING YOU THIS, YOU KNOW, IT'S JUST JOKINGLY I KNOW, I KNOW YOU WERE, BUT BUT I'LL I TAKE THAT INTO CONSIDERATION. BUT NO, WE'VE, WE'VE WE HAVE BEEN WE'VE GENERATED WEALTH OVER THE YEARS BY OWNING BY OWNING REAL ESTATE. AND EAST STEWART IN GENERAL, AND OTHERS IN PARTICULAR, HAVE BEEN LEFT OUT OF THAT WHOLE PROCESS. SO WHEN INTEREST RATES WERE 2, THEY COULDN'T BORROW AGAINST

[00:10:03]

THEY CONTRIBUTE TO THE TIF REVENUE. SO WE HAVE TO MAKE IT AVAILABLE TO EVERYBODY. SO PEOPLE WHO LIVE IN THE CRA, SOME OF US I DON'T LIVE IN THE CRA, BUT OTHERS DO. THEY DON'T. THEY NO LONGER HAVE TO HIRE A PRIVATE ATTORNEY, EVEN THOUGH THEY CAN AFFORD IT, AND THE CITY'S GOING TO PICK IT UP IF THEY DON'T HAVE A WILL AND IT'S BECOMES A STATE PROPERTY. YES, THEY WOULD QUALIFY FOR THE PROGRAM. I THINK THIS IS A GREAT PROGRAM FOR PEOPLE IN EAST STUART. I THINK IT'S A GREAT PROGRAM FOR PEOPLE TO TRY TO KEEP THEIR PROPERTIES. BUT I DON'T THINK IT'S A GREAT PROGRAM THAT SHOULD BE FOR EVERYONE, REGARDLESS OF HOW MUCH THEY MAKE OR HOW MUCH THEIR INCOME IS. I MEAN, THAT'S TO ME, THAT'S A RIP OFF OF THE TAXPAYER, EVEN THE TAXPAYER AND THE CRA. SO UNLESS WE CAN DECIDE HOW WE CAN LIMIT IT TO THE PEOPLE THAT ACTUALLY NEED IT, WE'RE GOING TO BE USING $3,000 FOR, SAY, TO SOMEONE WHO HAS $3,000, AND THAT WOULDN'T BE A PROBLEM. I DON'T, I, YOU KNOW, UNLESS WE CAN SOMEHOW LIMIT IT TO THE PEOPLE THAT ACTUALLY NEED IT, I THINK THIS BECOMES A REAL HANDOUT. OH, I THINK IT MIGHT BE FAIR TO ASSUME THAT IF A PERSON, IF YOU CAN AFFORD A PROBATE, YOU MIGHT ALREADY MOST LIKELY HAVE A WILL MADE, YOU KNOW, I MEAN, I KNOW, YOU KNOW, DEATH CAN COME FOR ANYONE AT ANY TIME, BUT FOR A LOT OF PEOPLE, IT'S A PLANNED, PLANNED OUT THING, ESPECIALLY IF YOU ALREADY HAVE THE MONEY. SO IF SOMEONE HAS A WILL, THEY DON'T HAVE TO GO THROUGH THE PROBATE. IT JUST GETS PASSED DOWN AUTOMATICALLY, AND THEN I DID HAVE ANOTHER QUESTION ABOUT WHETHER OR NOT IT WOULD BE HOMES. IS IT IS THIS

[00:15:04]

THEY HAVE MULTIPLE OWNERS AND NOT NECESSARILY THEY HAVE TO LIVE HERE. OKAY YOU KNOW, I THINK PART OF THE THING, TOM, IS THAT, WITH THE AMOUNT OF MONEY THAT WE'RE PROVIDING, I KNOW WHAT YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT. YOU'RE LOOKING AT IT FROM THE WEALTH STANDPOINT, BUT I'M LOOKING AT IT FROM THE AMOUNT OF MONEY THAT WE'RE PROVIDING AND THE MAXIMUMS THAT WE HAVE THERE.

THAT'S A PRETTY SMALL ESTATE. I MEAN, YOU'RE TALKING $3,000 IS A PRETTY SMALL STATE, AND THAT'S WHY I SAY IT'S IMPORTANT THAT WE FOCUS ON THE PROPERTY, LET ME JUST ASK THE QUESTION. SO DO YOU HAVE A CAP OF $3,000 PER APPLICANT THAT WAS BASED ON MY RESEARCH, I'M ONLY ASKING BECAUSE IF THAT'S THE CASE, THEN I WOULD BE MUCH MORE LIKELY TO VOTE FOR THIS. AND TO RECOMMEND A VOTE FOR IT. IF THERE'S A $3,000 CAP. SO WE CAN PUT A CAP. BUT IF WE FIND THAT SOME OF THESE ARE COSTING US $4,000, I WILL HAVE TO BRING IT TO THE BOARD. AND BECAUSE I WOULDN'T WANT TO STOP THE PROCESS JUST BECAUSE IT IS COSTING A LITTLE MORE, AND I THINK THAT WOULD BE ALL RIGHT TOO. BUT, AGAIN, MARK, YOU HAVE A POINT, BECAUSE IF IT'S ONLY GOING TO COST ABOUT $3,000, THEN WE KNOW IT'S GOING TO THE PEOPLE THAT REALLY CAN'T AFFORD IT. RIGHT AND SO I WOULD BE OKAY WITH THAT. I'M JUST VERY LEERY OF GIVING A FREE FOR ALL WHERE ANYONE WHO HAS, WHO DOESN'T FEEL LIKE PAYING THEIR FAIR SHARE JUST DECIDES, OKAY, WELL, WE HAVE A PROGRAM IN THE CITY, AND THE CITY'S NOT USING INCOME VERIFICATION OR ANYTHING ELSE. IT COULD BE A HALF MILLION DOLLARS, RIGHT? NO. AND THAT'S WHY I MENTIONED IT AND ALL THAT. I THINK WE NEED TO FOCUS ON THE END PRODUCT BEING TITLE INSURANCE, BECAUSE NOT EVERYTHING NEEDS TO BE PROMOTED TO PROBATED TO GET THE TITLE CLEARED, THE CITY MAY BE ABLE TO STEP IN AND SOME OF THOSE CASES AND ASSIST WITH THE TRANSFER AND THE CLEANING OF THE TITLE, AND IT MAY NOT HAVE TO GO THROUGH THE COURT SYSTEM AT ALL. SO ALL I'M SAYING IS THAT I, I THINK THAT THE FOCUS AND I AGREE WITH YOU, TOM, BUT THE FOCUS HERE, IF IT STAYS ON REAL ESTATE AND CLEARING THAT TITLE AND ALLOWING THAT THAT WEALTH TO TRANSFER THE PROBATE ISSUE WILL BECOME LESS OF AN ISSUE BECAUSE NOT EVERYTHING NEEDS TO BE PROBATED. WELL I, I'M NOT SO SURE I CAN AS RIGHT TODAY APPROVE THIS OR VOTE FOR AN APPROVAL. BUT WHAT I CAN DO IF IT'S ALL RIGHT WITH THE REST OF THE BOARD AND WE NEED TO GET THIS IN THE BUDGET, I THINK IT SHOULD GO IN THE BUDGET AT $25,000. I JUST THINK WE NEED TO FLESH OUT WHO'S GOING TO BE ELIGIBLE, HOW WE DO THIS. BUT I THINK WE SHOULD SAY FOR THE CRA BUDGET, WE WILL PUT $25,000 IN AND THEN WE CAN COME BACK AT OUR NEXT MEETING OR EVEN THE MEETING AFTER THAT AND FLESH OUT HOW WE'RE GOING TO ADMINISTER THE PROGRAM, BECAUSE WE'RE ALWAYS CHANGING PROGRAMS. LOOK AT THE BURKE. WE CHANGE IT LIKE ONCE A YEAR. SO I JUST FEEL IT'S A VERY IMPORTANT PROGRAM. I LIKE THE PROGRAM. I JUST DON'T WANT TO GIVE PEOPLE A FREE RIDE. SO IF WE MAX IT TO $3,000 PER PROPERTY , THEN WOULD THAT HELP RESOLVE THE ISSUE TODAY? AS FAR AS WHO'S ELIGIBLE, I KNOW THE CITY MANAGER OR THE CITY ATTORNEY, ALWAYS HAS MENTIONED THAT THE PROGRAMS THAT THE CRA OFFERS HAS TO BE ELIGIBLE TO EVERYBODY IN THE CRA. IT CANNOT BE LIMITED.

IT'S NOT TRUE, SIR. THAT'S HOW HE'S ALWAYS EXPRESSED IT TO ME. SO. WELL, HE'S RIGHT HERE. HE'S THE CITY ATTORNEY, CITY ATTORNEY. NOW, I'VE NOT HAD THE OPPORTUNITY TO EXPRESS THAT, BUT I GUESS IT KIND OF DEPENDS, I TO SAY, INCOME LIMITATIONS PROBABLY DO SOMETHING ON THAT. BUT MY, MY CONCERN IS THAT COULD OPEN UP, YOU KNOW, ALL KINDS OF PROBLEMS TO THE PACKAGE FOR A SECOND.

JUST STAY FOR A MINUTE, YOU KNOW, TO, YOU KNOW, THE APPLICATION ITSELF. OH, THE APPLICATION ITSELF. YEAH. CAN YOU JUST MAKE A COMMENT REALLY QUICK ON THE INCOME

[00:20:18]

THEY'RE GOING TO SAY YES ON IT. AND IT'S AN APPLICATION FOR ASSISTANCE. AND WHAT HAPPENS IF YOU DON'T TELL A TRUTH ON AN APPLICATION? IF WE IF WE WANT TO REALLY GET TOUGH ON IT. WHAT IF WE LIMITED IT? I'M SORRY. I WANTED TO SAY, WHAT IF INSTEAD WE CAME UP WITH A LIMIT BASED ON THE VALUE OF THE PROPERTY? BECAUSE, LIKE YOU WERE SAYING EARLIER, YOU KNOW, IF THE PROPERTY'S SAY, $1 MILLION VALUED PROPERTY, YOU KNOW, YOU'VE GOT TO HAVE THE MONEY TO PAY THE TAXES ON THAT. YOU'RE TELLING ME YOU DON'T HAVE 5000, $10,000 FOR A PROBATE OR A WILLN THE VALUE OF THE PROPERTY THAT MAKES SENSE THERE TO THAT WOULD BE GOOD. THAT'S A GOOD IDEA.

YEAH. A VALUABLE PROPERTY. SO $250,000 FOR THE PROPERTY. I WOULD PREFER TO LOOK AT SOME DATA AND COME BACK TO THAT. I'M NOT SURE, I, I'LL JUST SAY JUST FROM LOOKING AT ZILLOW TODAY, THAT THERE ARE HOMES IN EAST STEWART, SELLING FOR 280 THAT ARE TINY. SO I THINK 250 MIGHT BE A LITTLE LOW. SO WE PUT FOUR I DON'T HAVE I JUST WANT TO HAVE SOMETHING SO THAT, I THINK YOU SHOULD FOCUS ON THE COST OF THE TITLE POLICY, BECAUSE THAT'S GOING TO BE TIED TO THE REAL ESTATE. BUT THAT PROCESS THEN, THEN THEY DON'T HAVE PEOPLE DON'T HAVE TO GO BECAUSE OTHERWISE THEN WE'RE GOING TO HAVE TO ASK PEOPLE TO GO OUT AND GET AN APPRAISAL TO DETERMINE WHAT THE PROPERTY'S WORTH BEFORE WE COME BACK IN HERE, WE USE THE PROPERTY APPRAISER. YEAH WELL, YEAH. BUT IT'S KIND OF THAT'S IT. THAT'S THE PROPERTY APPRAISER. I'M FINE WITH THAT.

WE DON'T HAVE TO GET AN APPRAISAL. AND I'M NOT SO SURE WE WANT TO SPEND MONEY ON TITLE INSURANCE. I MEAN, THAT'S GOING TO COST ABOUT $1,000. SO AUTOMATICALLY YOU'VE JUST TAKEN $1,000 OUT OF THE LEGAL BILL. SO I, YOU KNOW, I WOULD HAVE NO PROBLEM IF WE SAID $400,000. I JUST WANT TO MAKE SURE IT GOES TO THE PEOPLE THAT ACTUALLY CAN'T NOT ONLY AFFORD PROBATE, BUT THEY'VE BEEN FOOLING AROUND, ESPECIALLY IN EAST STEWART, FOR YEARS. AND IT'S GENERATIONS. AND WE HAVEN'T HAD CLEAR TITLE. AND THIS WAY THEY GET CLEAR TITLE. BUT I JUST DON'T WANT TO RIP OFF EVERYONE ELSE. AND I WE HAVE 46 PROPERTIES. IT'S PRETTY EASY ENOUGH FOR ME TO FIGURE OUT WHAT THE VALUE OF THOSE PROPERTIES ARE AND COME UP WITH A NUMBER, BASED ON THE MAXIMUM, YOU KNOW, VALUE OF THE PROPERTY THAT I FIND ON THAT LIST. IF I FIND THAT THE IT'S ABOUT 350, THEN I'LL JUST USE THAT NUMBER AS A MAX NUMBER BECAUSE THAT'S, THAT'S OF COURSE, THE PROPERTY THAT, THAT THE ATTORNEYS, IF THEY DO THE TITLE INSURANCE, THEY'RE GOING TO GET PAID SOMETHING. I MEAN, THAT'S, THAT'S A LOT OF THEM THAT'S, YOU KNOW, THEY WOULD MAKE THE MONEY.

THAT'S HOW THEY MAKE THE MONEY ON CLOSING. SO I THINK THERE WILL BE A NUMBER OF ATTORNEYS THAT WITHIN THOSE PRICE RANGES WE'RE TALKING ABOUT WILL BE WILLING TO DO THIS WORK JUST TO DO THE TITLE INSURANCE AND SO I JUST MENTIONED I THINK THAT'S A REAL PLUS. SO IT'S 3000. I MEAN THIS IS THE WAY I HEAR $3,000 PER APPLICANT FOR VALUE OF THE PROPERTY VALUE OF THE PROPERTY WITHOUT WHATEVER PENALTY DOES. THAT WAY IT MOVES ALONG. RIGHT. AND IF I NEED TO ADJUST IT BASED ON WHAT I FIND, CAN I ADJUST IT AND PRESENT IT TO THE CRA? OKAY, I CAN SAY THAT THE CRB RECOMMENDED 300, BUT BASED ON WHAT I FOUND, THAT'S FINE. OKAY. THAT'S FINE. AND IF THAT'S OKAY WITH THE BOARD, THEN I'LL LOOK FOR A MOTION TO RECOMMEND THIS TO THE. SO A MOTION BY MARK A SECOND. WE ALSO HAVE A MAXIMUM OF $3,000 PER PROPERTY IS OKAY. SECOND, SECOND BY AARON. DO YOU WANT TO YOU WANT TO DO A ROLL CALL? BOARD MEMBER HAWKINS, YEAH . I'M SORRY. YES. BOARD MEMBER

[00:25:07]

[3. PRESENTATION OF THE APPLICATIONS FOR THE BUSINESS IMPROVEMENT REIMBURSEMENT PROGRAM FOR FY 2024]

GOOD AFTERNOON. CRB BOARD MEMBERS JORDAN PINKSTON, CRA PROGRAM MANAGER FOR THE RECORD, THE COMMUNITY REDEVELOPMENT AGENCIES BUSINESS IMPROVEMENT GRANT PROGRAM IS AN INCENTIVE PROGRAM DESIGNED TO ENCOURAGE VISIBLE EXTERIOR IMPROVEMENTS TO THE EXISTING COMMERCIAL PROPERTIES AND ENCOURAGE PRIVATE INVESTMENT WITHIN THE CRA. THE PROGRAM PROVIDES A REIMBURSEMENT GRANT OF UP TO $10,000 OF PUBLIC FUNDS PER PROPERTY TO MATCH PRIVATE FUNDS TO PAY FOR THE DESIGN AND COMPLETION OF PROPERTY IMPROVEMENTS. FUNDS ARE APPROPRIATED ANNUALLY BY THE CRA. THE PROJECTS ARE EVALUATED BASED ON FOUR CATEGORIES, INCLUDING OVERALL VISUAL IMPACT OF THE PROPERTY AND PROPOSED IMPROVEMENTS. HOW THE PROJECT RELATES TO URBAN STREET AND IMPROVES PEDESTRIAN WALKABILITY, PRIVATE INVESTMENT TO GRANT REQUEST RATIO, AND IMPROVEMENTS THAT HELP TO PRESERVE THE HISTORIC BUILDING. THE PROGRAM AIMS TO ENCOURAGE SHADE OVER PEDESTRIAN WALKWAYS, IMPROVE CONDITIONS FOR WALKING AND PEDESTRIAN ACTIVITIES, AND WE RECENTLY AMENDED THE PROGRAM GUIDELINES TO ENCOURAGE BUSINESSES TO VOLUNTARILY UPGRADE LANDSCAPING AS PART OF THE OVERALL IMPROVEMENTS, THE CRA DOES PUBLIC OUTREACH TO ENCOURAGE THE BUSINESSES TO APPLY FOR THE PROGRAM. OUTREACH EFFORTS INCLUDE AN ELECTRONIC NEWSLETTER TO THE CITY, CONTACT LIST, DISTRIBUTING FLIERS TO LOCAL BUSINESSES, MAILING POSTCARDS TO BUSINESS OWNERS, SOCIAL MEDIA PLATFORMS SUCH AS TWITTER, FACEBOOK AND INSTAGRAM.

IT IS IMPORTANT TO NOTE THAT THE APPLICANTS HAVE BEEN FINDING IT INCREASINGLY DIFFICULT TO MEET THE MINIMUM APPLICATION REQUIREMENTS FOR THIS PROGRAM. THEREFORE, STAFF EXTENDED THE DEADLINE TWICE THIS FISCAL YEAR TO TRY TO ACQUIRE MORE VIABLE APPLICATIONS. THE CRA RECEIVED A TOTAL OF NINE APPLICATIONS. OF THOSE, ONLY FOUR APPLICATIONS ARE ELIGIBLE TO BE CONSIDERED FOR FUNDING FOR FISCAL YEAR 2024. NONE OF THE APPLICATIONS ACTUALLY MET THE MINIMUM POINT REQUIREMENTS FOR FUNDING. HOWEVER, AFTER WORKING EXTENSIVELY WITH THE APPLICANT, STAFF FEELS COMFORTABLE MOVING FORWARD WITH EACH OF THE FOLLOWING APPLICATIONS TO OFFER FINANCIAL SUPPORT AND FUNDING THESE BUSINESS IMPROVEMENTS, AND WITH THAT, THE FIRST APPLICANT IS THE HOME BUILDING LOCATED ON SEVEN THROUGH 15 SOUTHEAST OSCEOLA STREET, THE APPLICANT IS REQUESTING GRANT ASSISTANCE FOR REPAVING AND RESTRIPING THE PARKING LOT. THE TOTAL ESTIMATED IMPROVEMENT COST WILL BE $24,825. THE EXISTING PARKING LOT IS CRACKING IN MULTIPLE LOCATIONS, AND THE STRIPING IS ALMOST NONEXISTENT. THE PROPOSED RESURFACING WILL INCLUDE LEVELING BASE ROCK, A CONCRETE POUR RESTRIPING, AND A FEW CURB STOPS. OH, SORRY, NEW CURB STOPS . THE PROPOSED IMPROVEMENTS QUALIFY FOR FUNDING UNDER OUR PROGRAM GUIDELINES. THE IMPROVEMENTS WILL HAVE VISUAL AND URBAN STREET AND ECONOMIC IMPACT. THE PROPERTY IS IN THE OLD HISTORIC DOWNTOWN DISTRICT AND IS A HIGH PRIORITY AREA FOR THIS PROGRAM. THE PROPERTY IS ADJACENT TO THE OLD DOWNTOWN UNDERGROUNDING IMPROVEMENT PROJECT, AND IS A CONTRIBUTING HISTORIC BUILDING TO THE HISTORIC DOWNTOWN DISTRICT DESIGNATION THAT THE CRA IS PURSUING. STAFF RECOMMENDS APPROVAL WITH THE FOLLOWING CONDITIONS. THE APPLICANT SHALL INSTALL LANDSCAPE SCREENING ON THE EAST SIDE OF THE PARKING LOT EXIT, AND THE APPLICANT SHALL INSTALL SCREENING TO COVER THE AIR CONDITIONING UNITS ON THE SOUTH SIDE OF THE BUILDING, FACING THE COLORADO IN. IT IS ALSO IMPORTANT TO NOTE THAT THERE IS A NEW MURAL GOING ON THAT ADJACENT WALL TO, THE NEXT APPLICANT IS THE KIDDY ACADEMY, LOCATED ON 400 SOUTHWEST SEVENTH STREET. THE APPLICANT IS REQUESTING GRANT ASSISTANCE FOR IMPROVEMENTS TO ENHANCE THE CURB APPEAL AND MEET NEW CODE REQUIREMENTS BY ADDING A MONUMENT SIGN. THE TOTAL ESTIMATED IMPROVEMENT COST WILL BE. $19,000 $219,259. THERE IS CURRENTLY NO SIGNAGE IN FRONT OF THE BUILDING. THE APPLICANT IS PROPOSING INSTALLATION OF A NEW CUSTOM DOUBLE SIDED STUCCO MONUMENT SIGN WITH ILLUMINATED LED LIGHT BOXES. THE SIGN FINISH MAKES THE MONUMENT IMPERVIOUS TO ROT. TERMITES AND MOISTURE FOR MAXIMUM DURABILITY. THE SIGN WILL BE CEMENTED INTO THE GROUND

[00:30:05]

IT IS IMPORTANT TO NOTE THAT THE APPLICANT'S PROPERTY IS ADJACENT TO THE MLK COMPLETE STREET COMPLETE STREET PROJECT. THIS PROJECT INCLUDES ELEMENTS THAT WILL CREATE SHARED USE PATHS FOR BOTH PEDESTRIANS AND BIKES, BICYCLISTS ON STREET PARKING, BIKE RACKS, HIGH VISIBILITY CROSSWALKS, A MID-BLOCK PLAZA AREA, STREET LIGHTS, AND LANDSCAPING, I HAVE INCLUDED A SNIPPET OF THE IMPROVEMENTS PROPOSED ON MLK IN FRONT OF THE PROPERTY. AND THESE PROPOSED IMPROVEMENTS QUALIFY FOR FUNDING UNDER OUR PROGRAM GUIDELINES. THE IMPROVEMENTS WILL HAVE A VISUAL, URBAN, STREET AND ECONOMIC IMPACT. THE PROPERTY IS IN A HIGH TRAFFIC VISIBLE AREA WITH A HIGH PRIORITY AREA FOR THIS PROGRAM AND AS MENTIONED, THE PROPERTY IS ADJACENT TO THE MLK COMPLETE STREET PROJECT AND WILL SERVE AS A CATALYST FOR REDEVELOPMENT ON THE CORRIDOR, AND STAFF RECOMMENDS APPROVAL. THE LAST APPLICATION IS WHOLESALE MULCH AND MORE.

LOCATED AT 120 1295 SOUTHEAST CUTOFF ROAD, DIXIE CUT OFF ROAD. THE APPLICANT IS REQUESTING GRANT ASSISTANCE TO IMPROVE CURB APPEAL FUNCTIONALITY OF THEIR PROPERTY AND TO INSTALL A NEW FENCE. THE TOTAL IMPROVEMENT COST IS $14,500. THE EXISTING FENCE IS 360FT, AND MOST OF THE FENCE BORDERS THE DIXIE CUT OFF ROAD. THE FENCE IS IN DISREPAIR AND IMPROVEMENTS ARE NEEDED. THE PROPOSED FENCE WILL INCLUDE A SIX FOOT PRIVACY FENCE WITH NEW BOARD ON BOARD, GALVANIZED POSTS AND EIGHT FEET ON THE CENTER, WHICH WILL ENSURE A MORE STABLE AND LONGER LASTING FENCE. THE IMPROVEMENTS WILL HAVE A VISUAL AND ECONOMIC IMPACT. THE PROPERTY IS LOCATED WITHIN THE GRANTS PRIORITY AREA, WITH THE FENCE ABUTTING ALONG DIXIE HIGHWAY. THE APPLICANT HAS ALREADY COMPLETED LANDSCAPING IN FRONT OF THE BUILDING. AS YOU SAW IN THE BILL, AND THE PROPERTY DOES NOT HAVE SIDEWALKS , SO NO SHADE TREES WOULD BE RECOMMENDED ALONG THAT ROAD.

STAFF RECOMMENDS APPROVAL AND NOW STAFF IS SEEKING THE BOARD RECOMMENDATION AND A MOTION TO BE MADE WITH THIS FOR THE SUGGESTED FUNDING AMOUNT AND CONDITIONS FOR EACH APPLICATION.

OKAY THIS IS THIS YEAR OR NEXT YEAR, THIS YEAR'S WE HAVE THAT KIND OF MONEY. IT'S ON. WELL, THESE ARE MATCHES, SO IT'S UP TO $10,000. SO AS YOU SEE I UNDERSTAND. BUT WE HAVE 38. WAS IT 38,000 36,006 880. WE HAVE 50. WE STILL HAVE THAT SAME MONEY. YES. WE YEAH. WE NEVER THIS IS THE FIRST TIME WE'VE BROUGHT THESE APPLICATIONS FORWARD BECAUSE WE EXTENDED THE DEADLINE TWICE. SO WE STILL HAVE IT FROM LAST YEAR FROM OCTOBER. YEAH YEAH. YES. BUDGET OKAY.

[00:35:06]

DISCUSS WELL, I THINK THIS YOUR COMMENTS FROM THE LAST DISCUSSION, I WANT TO ADD, I WANT TO PUT ON THIS ONE BECAUSE SOME OF THESE PROPERTIES I MEAN, I THINK WE'RE JUST THROWING MONEY AT THEM BECAUSE WE'VE GOT COSTS UP THERE. BUT DOES THAT TRULY INCREASE VALUE? BECAUSE IF IT INCREASES VALUE, THEN THAT HELPS US IN THE CRA, RIGHT? BUT IF ALL WE'RE DOING IS SPENDING MONEY, THAT'S JUST SPENDING MONEY AND SO I'VE HAD A PROBLEM WITH THIS PROGRAM FOR A WHILE BECAUSE A LOT OF TIMES THERE'S NOT ENOUGH MONEY TO DO ANYTHING. AND ALSO PEOPLE ARE GOING TO DO IT ANYWAY. AND WE'RE JUST SUBSIDIZING THE COST. SO I KNOW THAT THAT'S NOT OUR PURVIEW RIGHT HERE. BUT I WANT TO MAKE THAT COMMENT BECAUSE I HAVE A PROBLEM, NOT NECESSARILY WITH THESE APPLICANTS, BUT WITH THE PROGRAM ITSELF. IF IT'S NOT INCREASING VALUE, NO MARK FOR THE LAST, I DON'T KNOW. WE'VE HAD THE PROGRAM, I THINK FOR ABOUT TEN YEARS, AND I'VE BEEN AGAINST IT EVERY FOR THE WHOLE TEN YEARS. HOWEVER IT IS PART, EVERYONE MEETS THE CRITERIA AND OUR JOB IS TO MAKE SURE THEY MEET THAT CRITERIA. AND IF WE HAVE THE MONEY IN THE BUDGET, OUR JOB IS TO REALLY APPROVE IT BECAUSE WE DON'T GET A SAY IN WHETHER THIS PROGRAM CONTINUES.

YOU DO ON THE CRA, AS DO I. BUT THE OTHER FIVE MEMBERS OF THE CRA WANT THIS PROGRAM. SO THIS PROGRAM IS THERE. AND SO I YOU KNOW, IT'S SILLY TO KEEP DISCUSSING SOMETHING THAT THE OTHER COMMISSIONERS WANT. WELL, IF IT INCREASES CURB APPEAL, IT INCREASES VALUE. IT MIGHT NOT INCREASE OR THAT VALUE MIGHT NOT SHOW UP ON THE PROPERTY APPRAISER SITE FOR A FEW YEARS.

BUT IT DEFINITELY INCREASES THE VALUE IN TERMS OF, YOU KNOW, IF SOMEONE WANTS TO GO AND SELL THIS. SO I YOU KNOW, I THINK THAT JUST TO SPEAK TO YOUR POINT, NO, AND I AGREE WITH YOU.

I MEAN, THAT'S WHAT I'M SAYING. OH, SORRY. I WAS JUST GOING TO ALSO ADD THAT, I'M MAYBE NOT AS INTERESTED IN THE VALUE INCREASE, BUT IN USER COMFORT. SO IF YOU KNOW, A PATRON IN THE CITY FEELS MORE COMFORTABLE GOING BY ONE OF THESE BUSINESSES, THEY'RE MORE LIKELY TO SHOP HERE TO SPEND TIME HERE. AND SO THAT'S WHAT'S IMPORTANT TO ME. OKAY. NO I WAS JUST SAYING I AGREE WITH WHAT YOU'RE SAYING, AARON. AND IF IT DOES INCREASE VALUE, I DON'T I DON'T HAVE A PROBLEM WITH IT. I MEAN, I THINK THAT'S THE TYPE OF CRA'S GOAL SHOULD BE TO INCREASE VALUE ON PROPERTIES WITHIN THE CRA. THAT'S A GOOD THING FOR US BECAUSE BECAUSE IT'S MONEY COMING INTO OUR COFFER. I WON'T USE THE TERM I USE LAST TIME BECAUSE TOM GOT MAD AT ME, BUT, BUT ANYWAY, IT DOES BRING MONEY INTO THE COFFER. AND IN FACT, IF THAT WERE THE CASE, I WOULD SAY SPEND MORE MONEY. BECAUSE IF WE'RE PUTTING MONEY IN, THAT'S GOING TO DOUBLE THE VALUE OF SOMETHING. AND, AND THAT'S GOING TO COME TO US IN VALUE INCREASE WITHIN THE CRA, THEN THAT'S A GOOD THING. BUT BUT WHEN WE'RE, YOU KNOW, BUT WHEN WE'RE NOT OR WE'RE, WE'RE JUST FUNDING COSTS.

I HAVE A PROBLEM WITH IT. BUT BUT AS TOM SAID, YOU KNOW, THAT'S NOT THAT'S NOT MY DECISION. IT'S NOT OUR DECISION. SO I JUST WANTED TO DISCUSS IT. SO THERE IS SOMETHING THAT I'D BE HAPPY TO EMAIL THE BOARD ON. WE DO HAVE CALCULATIONS OF THE IMPROVEMENT COSTS THAT HAVE BEEN MADE OVER THE YEARS OF THE PROGRAM. SO, THERE'S DEFINITELY BENEFIT TO THIS, MOST OF THE APPLICANTS ACTUALLY MAX OUT THE MATCH AND GO ABOVE AND BEYOND THE MATCH, SO I'D BE HAPPY TO SHARE THAT WITH YOU. BUT YEAH, THE VALUES ASSESSED IN THIS SPREADSHEET. AND I MEAN, YEAH, THAT WOULD BE GOOD, ESPECIALLY TO MY COLLEAGUE TO. RIGHT. AND WE DO HAVE SOME APPLICANTS.

PRESENT IN THE ROOM, IF JUST SO YOU KNOW, THAT THEY'RE HERE, THEY ARE WELCOME TO SPEAK, BUT THEY'RE GETTING THEIR MONEY'S FROM WHAT I SEE. SO OKAY. YOU WANT TO SPEAK? SURE. COME ON UP, ELLEN. TELL ME. EXCUSE ME. MANGO AVENUE. I MOVED HERE IN 1973. IN THIS TOWN WAS A DUMP. GHOST

[00:40:02]

BEAUTIFICATION IS BEAUTIFUL. IT'S TO THE EYE WHEN PEOPLE DRIVE DOWN OUR STREET INSTEAD OF SEEING A BROKEN DOWN DRIVEWAY IN THAT, AND THEY SEE IT ALL FIXED, AND THE FLOWERS AND TREES AND WE LOVE FLOWERS AND TREES, IT'S WELL WORTH THE INVESTMENT. MAYBE YOU CAN SAY IT'S IMPROVING THE PROPERTY, BUT I FORGET WHICH ONE OF YOU SAID IT. WHEN IMPROVING THE PROPERTY, IT RAISED THEIR TAXES AND THEN THAT HELPS THE CITY. THANK YOU, THANK YOU. AND THAT YOUNG MAN OVER THERE, I, I WAS WITH HIS MOTHER THE OTHER DAY AND I CAN'T BELIEVE SHE'S YOUR MOTHER. SHE LOOKS GREAT.

OKAY. DO WE HAVE ANYTHING ELSE? GO AHEAD, OSCEOLA, THE ONE ON OSCEOLA STREET. THAT ONE'S ALSO GETTING ANOTHER MURAL, RIGHT? WE APPROVED THAT FOR. YEAH, WE DID. RIGHT. YES. THAT'S THAT'S. I DON'T REMEMBER THE NAME OF IT, BUT IT'S, THE FLASHBACK MURAL. AND THAT'S KIND OF WHY WE ALSO RECOMMENDED THE SCREENING THERE, BECAUSE WE DON'T WANT TO HAVE THIS BEAUTIFUL MURAL. AND THEN YOU SEE AIR CONDITIONING. RIGHT. OKAY, OKAY. ANYTHING ELSE? ANYBODY ELSE YOU WANT TO TAKE THE ROLL CALL, PLEASE? VICE CHAIR BRECHBILL, YEAH. BOARD MEMBER MOSER. YES, CHAIR. KENT.

PENNY. YES. AND BOARD MEMBER HAWKINS. YES. OKAY. DOES ANYONE HAVE ANYTHING ELSE FOR THIS BOARD? DO YOU HAVE ANYTHING ELSE FOR US, BOARDS OR NOT? OKAY. SEEING NONE. MOTION TO ADJOURN.

MOTION TO ADJOURN.

* This transcript was compiled from uncorrected Closed Captioning.