1. CRA BUDGET AMENDMENT #02-2025 - MEMORIAL PARK IMPROVEMENTS PHASE 4 (RC): RESOLUTION No. 15-2024 CRA; A RESOLUTION OF THE BOARD OF COMMUNITY REDEVELOPMENT AGENCY (CRA) OF THE CITY OF STUART, FLORIDA, AUTHORIZING BUDGET AMENDMENT #02 TO THE FISCAL YEAR (FY) 2025 CRA BUDGET; APPROPRIATING AND AUTHORIZING THE EXPENDITURE OF FUNDS FOR MEMORIAL PARK IMPROVEMENTS PHASE 4; PROVIDING FOR CONFLICTS; PROVIDING FOR SEVERABILITY; PROVIDING FOR AN EFFECTIVE DATE, AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES.

[1. CRA BUDGET AMENDMENT #02-2025 - MEMORIAL PARK IMPROVEMENTS PHASE 4 (RC): RESOLUTION No. 15-2024 CRA; A RESOLUTION OF THE BOARD OF COMMUNITY REDEVELOPMENT AGENCY (CRA) OF THE CITY OF STUART, FLORIDA, AUTHORIZING BUDGET AMENDMENT #02 TO THE FISCAL YEAR (FY) 2025 CRA BUDGET; APPROPRIATING AND AUTHORIZING THE EXPENDITURE OF FUNDS FOR MEMORIAL PARK IMPROVEMENTS PHASE 4; PROVIDING FOR CONFLICTS; PROVIDING FOR SEVERABILITY; PROVIDING FOR AN EFFECTIVE DATE, AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES.]

PADGETT, WOULD YOU LIKE TO READ THAT FOR US? RESOLUTION NUMBER 15 DASH 2024 CRA, A RESOLUTION OF THE BOARD OF COMMUNITY REDEVELOPMENT AGENCY, ALSO KNOWN AS THE CRA OF THE CITY OF STUART, FLORIDA, AUTHORIZING BUDGET AMENDMENT NUMBER TWO TO THE FISCAL YEAR 2025. CRA BUDGET APPROPRIATING AND AUTHORIZING THE EXPENDITURE OF FUNDS FOR MEMORIAL PARK IMPROVEMENTS.

PHASE FOUR PROVIDING FOR CONFLICTS, PROVIDING FOR SEVERABILITY, PROVIDING FOR AN

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EFFECTIVE DATE AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES. DO WE HAVE A PRESENTATION BY. WE DO. WOULD THAT BE YOU, MR. MARTIN? THAT WOULD BE ME TODAY. SO THE REASON I CHOSE THIS PICTURE IS BECAUSE THIS IS ACTUALLY WHAT MEMORIAL PARK LOOKED LIKE IN 2007. THIS IS A CEMENT DITCH THAT WENT ACROSS THIS WAY. AND THEN IT INTERSECTED WITH ANOTHER CEMENT DITCH THAT WENT ACROSS AND AROUND THROUGH HERE. THIS WAS ACTUALLY THE MEMORIAL AREA. AND THEN YOU CAN SEE THE BANDSHELL THERE AND THE SHUFFLEBOARD COURTS, PARKING, THE RACQUETBALL COURTS AND TENNIS COURTS. UP UNTIL AND THEN THERE WAS A LITTLE CEMENT PAD THERE WHERE THE STAGE IS. BUT UP UNTIL ABOUT 2007, MEMORIAL PARK WAS LITERALLY UNUSABLE. IT WAS SO BAD THAT WHEN KIWANIS WERE ORIGINALLY AWARDED KIWANIS PARK, THE CITY MANAGER OF THE CITY TOLD THEM THEY COULD HAVE ANY ANY PARK IN THE CITY THAT THEY WANTED, AND THEY PICKED KIWANIS PARK OVER MEMORIAL PARK BECAUSE IT FLOODED SO BAD THAT LITERALLY MORE THAN SIX MONTHS A YEAR WAS UNUSABLE. IN ADDITION TO THAT, THE ORIGINAL EARLY DAYS OF THE WATER TREATMENT PLANT BEFORE IT HAD DAMPERS AND OTHER THINGS TO PREVENT YOU FROM ENJOYING THE FRAGRANCE FROM THE AREA, MADE IT EVEN WORSE. SO IT WAS LITERALLY A SWAMP FOR THE FIRST 95 YEARS OF THE CITY'S EXISTENCE. IN 2007, AFTER SOME DISCUSSION, THE CITY CREATED A GROUP CALLED THE FRIENDS OF MEMORIAL PARK AND ONE OF THE CITY COMMISSIONERS, MARY HUTCHINSON, WAS A KIND OF LEADING THE WAY. THEY HAD MULTIPLE PUBLIC HEARINGS AND PUT TOGETHER KIND OF A LONG TERM REDEVELOPMENT PHASE OF THE PARK. ONE OF THE REASONS WHY IS BECAUSE ARTS FEST WAS REGULARLY BEING HELD IN THE PARK, BUT THERE WERE SEVERAL TIMES THAT IT WOULD GET FLOODED OUT AND THAT THE WATER WAS SO DEEP IN MEMORIAL PARK THEY COULDN'T EVEN DO IT. SO THE PARK IS APPROXIMATELY NINE ACRES IN SIZE AND IT'S RIGHT NEXT TO THE MARTIN COUNTY COURTHOUSE AND THE STUART WATER PLANT. THE FRIENDS OF MEMORIAL PARK INTENTION WAS TO CREATE A PLAN, AS THE PLAN WENT ON. AND AS RECENTLY AS 2009, AS THEY WERE DOING IT, YOU CAN SEE HERE IT'S BETTER ANGLES OF THE CEMENT RUN THINGS, AND THEY WERE LITERALLY LIKE THREE FEET DEEP AND THEY WOULD EVERY TIME IT RAINED, THEY WOULD FILL WITH WATER. THE PROBLEM IS THEY STILL COULDN'T MOVE ENOUGH WATER OUT. SO ALL OF THIS AREA THROUGH HERE WOULD BE COMPLETELY UNDERWATER AND THIS WOULD BE WET TO LIKE SLOSHING SPONGE FEEL. THIS ALSO WAS UNDERWATER. THE FRIENDS OF MEMORIAL PARK PUT TOGETHER A GIANT MASTER PLAN THAT ALSO INCLUDED IMPROVEMENTS TO THE STREETSCAPE OUTSIDE OF IT, AND IT WAS A MULTIFACETED, MULTI-MILLION DOLLAR EXPENSE.

THIS IS WHAT THE PARK WOULD LOOK LIKE AFTER A RAIN. AND THIS IS NOT AFTER A HURRICANE. THIS IS WHAT IT LOOKED LIKE EVERY SAT EVERY SUMMER AFTERNOON. YOU CAN SEE LIKE THE WATER LINES FROM WHERE THE RAIN AND WATER IS REALLY LIFTED UP TO. IT WAS A VERY COMMON OCCURRENCE FOR THE PARK. IT WOULD BE UNUSABLE. OKAY, THIS WAS WHAT THE FRIENDS MEMORIAL PARK WERE IDENTIFIED WITH AS WHAT THEY SHOULD REDEVELOP. THEY GOT TOGETHER AND THEY PUT TOGETHER A REDEVELOPMENT PLAN. AND HERE IT IS. THE PLAN INCLUDED A SPLASH PAD UP HERE WHERE THE BANDSHELL IS AS WELL AS THE DESIGN, AND THEN THE BIG MEMORIAL, WHICH IS RIGHT HERE. AND THEN ULTIMATELY AN AMPHITHEATER AND A PERFORMING ARTS AREA DOWN AT THIS END. DURING THE COURSE OF TIME AS IT MOVED FORWARD AFTER 2010, IT WAS ALL CONDITIONED ON FUNDING. BUT WHAT THEY DID IS THEY BROKE IT INTO MULTIPLE PHASES. AND AS YOU CAN SEE, NUMBER ONE, THE MAIN ENTRANCE VETERNS VETERANS MEMORIAL, AND THIS IS KIND OF PAGINATED WRONG, BUT ONE WAS THIS MAIN AREA AND THEN THE NUMBER TWO IS THE TOT LOT AND PLAYGROUND AND RESTROOM AREA THAT WAS GOING TO BE ADJACENT.

THE RESTROOM ENDED UP GETTING CHANGED AS WELL. THREE SAYS THE CHILDREN'S PLAY AREA AS WELL.

FOUR IS THE AMPHITHEATER, OUTDOOR SEATING, FIVE IS A PUBLIC RESTROOM WHICH IS HERE.

SIX IS THE OFF STREET, SO YOU CAN SEE THIS IS CUT INTO THE PARK AND THERE WERE PARKING SPACES DIAGONALLY CUT IN HERE. IN THE ORIGINAL PLAN. AND THEN SEVEN WAS JUST LANDSCAPING DOWN THE CENTER OF THE ROAD. SEVERAL OF THE ITEMS WERE CHANGED OVER TIME BASED UPON PUBLIC INPUT, ONE OF THEM BEING THE SPLASH PAD. THE SPLASH PAD. THE. WHAT WAS SURPRISING IS THE NUMBER OF PEOPLE THAT REALLY WANTED TO SAVE THE BANDSHELL. THE BANDSHELL BECAME THE HOLY GRAIL,

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AND SO IT WAS. DO NOT TOUCH THE BANDSHELL. AS A RESULT, WHAT ULTIMATELY HAPPENED WAS GOING BACK TO MR. GRECO'S COMMENTS, THE PUBLIC MEETINGS AND HEARINGS RESULTED IN THE SPLASH PAD OR WATER FEATURE BEING MOVED TO THE GUY DAVIS PARK AND AS PART OF THAT PLAN WE'VE BEEN WORKING ON WITH TY DA. IN ANY EVENT, THE GOOD NEWS IS THAT IN 2010, THE FRIENDS OF THE STEWART HAD GOT THEIR PROJECT TOGETHER AND STARTED DOING THE DESIGN OF THE NEW PROJECT. AND IN 2011, YOU COULD SEE IT WAS WELL UNDER CONSTRUCTION AND A GIANT WATER FEATURE WAS DESIGNED SO THAT IT COULD MANAGE THE DRAINAGE ALL THE WAY DOWN THROUGH HERE, AS WELL AS IN HERE. AND IT STARTED CONSTRUCTION. AS YOU CAN SEE, NOBODY TOUCHED THE BANDSHELL. ULTIMATELY, WHEN IT WAS COMPLETED, IT HAD THIS FULL WATER FEATURE DRAINAGE SYSTEM THAT NOT ONLY WORKED TO MAKE THE PARK DRY, BUT IT ACTUALLY FILTERED THE WATER TO MAKE SURE THAT IT WASN'T GOING THROUGH THE CEMENT DRAINAGE HALL RIGHT INTO THE ROADS DRAINAGE SYSTEM AND RIGHT OUT INTO THE RIVER. BUT INSTEAD GAVE IT A CHANCE TO PERCOLATE INTO OUR SURFICIAL AQUIFER. IT ALSO BECAME THE NEW HOME OF THE VETERANS MEMORIAL, WHICH YOU ENTER RIGHT OFF OF EAST OCEAN BOULEVARD. IT IS NOW USED 12 MONTHS A YEAR, BOTH DAY AND NIGHT, BY RESIDENTS. THE REVITALIZATION PROJECT PUT THIS UNDERUTILIZED PARK AND REALLY MADE IT A BEAUTIFUL AREA THAT OFFERS SOMETHING FOR EVERYONE, AND THERE'S BEEN NUMEROUS EVENTS SINCE THEN. THIS IS THE KIND OF FINISHED VERSION OR AERIAL VERSION YOU CAN SEE IN THIS PICTURE. THERE'S NO PEDESTRIAN IMPROVEMENTS, THERE'S NO CROSSWALK HERE. THE BATHROOM ISN'T THERE. SO IT HAS THESE PHASES WERE DONE. THEY I DON'T KNOW WHAT JUST HAPPENED. I JUST DON'T KNOW. WHAT DID THEY DO. SO IT'S LIKE 12 I THINK YOU WERE RIGHT. OKAY. RIGHT THERE. THAT'S GOOD. SO IN ANY EVENT, AS EACH AS EACH PHASE WOULD COME THROUGH, WE WOULD TRY TO GET THE FUNDING AND FIGURE IT OUT. AND OBVIOUSLY WE GOT THE FUNDING FOR THIS PHASE AND DID IT, BUT WE COULDN'T DO THE BATHROOM. WE COULDN'T DO THE STREETSCAPES, AND WE COULDN'T DO OTHER MATTERS. AND THEN WE GOT FUNDING FOR THE COMMEMORATIVE PLAQUES.

AND IF YOU LOOK, I, YOU CAN SEE HERE IT'S ONE, TWO, THREE, FOUR, FIVE, SIX ALL THE WAY THROUGH THE 13. AND HERE ARE THE DIFFERENT PLAQUES IDENTIFIED THAT HAVE ALL BEEN ADDED ALL THE WAY AROUND THE MEMORIAL. IT RECEIVED THE REVITALIZATION PROJECT, RECEIVED FAA FSA'S OUTSTANDING ACHIEVEMENT AWARD IN JUNE OF 2012. BECAUSE OF THE TRANSITION AND AS WELL AS THE MEMORIAL, THE FINAL PHASE OF MEMORIAL PARK, WHICH IS WHY WE'RE HERE TONIGHT, IS AND WHEN I SAY FINAL PHASE, IT WAS THE FINAL PHASE OF THE VISION OF THE FRIENDS OF MEMORIAL PARK THAT WERE IDENTIFIED AND PUT IN PLACE BACK IN 2007, EIGHT, NINE AND TEN. OBVIOUSLY, THESE PHASES HAVE BEEN SWITCHED AROUND A BIT AND THE COMMISSION HAS THE AUTHORITY TO DO ADDITIONAL THINGS. BUT THE VISION THAT WAS ADOPTED BY THE BOARD IN 2009 AND PURSUED, THIS WOULD BE THE FINAL PHASE OF IT. I HAVE IT THIS IS THE ACTUAL BLUEPRINT MODEL OF IT. THIS IS OVERLAID OVER THE PARK TO SHOW WHERE IT IS. THIS IS THE BATHROOM THAT CURRENTLY EXISTS IN THE PARK. AND RIGHT HERE IS WHERE THE MEMORIAL PORTION. THIS IS THE COURTHOUSE RIGHT HERE. AND THIS IS THAT CEMENT STAGE THAT'S CURRENTLY THERE. IT WOULD CONSIST OF A STAGE RIGHT HERE THAT'S GOT A COVERING. THIS WOULD BE KIND OF AN ELEVATION SO THAT THERE'S A LITTLE HILL HERE. THESE ARE PARK BENCHES UNDERNEATH TRELLISES AND A WIDE TEN FOOT WIDE ENTRY. AND THEN TEN FOOT WIDE PATH ALL THE WAY AROUND THE PARK, TYING INTO THE REST OF THE PARK SO THAT WE CAN DO EVENTS THERE, SUCH AS ARTS FEST. BUT ALSO IF THE GREENMARKET EVER WANTED TO BE THERE, YOU COULD PUT THE TENTS ON EITHER SIDE OF IT AND HAVE A BIGGER PLACE. AND OBVIOUSLY UTILIZE WELLS FARGO AS WELL.

THIS IS WHAT THE STAGE AND COVER IS GOING TO LOOK LIKE. SO THIS IS THE BACK OF THE STAGE. THAT'S AN ADA REQUIRED RAMP. GET UP. THERE'S STAIRS ON EACH SIDE. THE THIS IS THE SIDE VIEW. THAT WOULD BE THE BATHROOM THE STAGE AREA. AND THE BUILDING. AND THEN THIS IS THE AWNING. IT'S AN ALUMINUM AWNING THAT CAN WITHHOLD, I BELIEVE 100 AND 100 MILE PER HOUR WINDS. BUT IT'S ALSO COLLAPSIBLE. SO IN THE EVENT OF A HURRICANE IT CAN BE TAKEN DOWN KIND OF LIKE WE DO WITH THESE SUNSHADES OVER HERE. IT ALSO WORKS AS A REFLECTOR FOR THE PROJECTION OF MOVIES AND OR

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INFORMATION. ON THE SCREEN YOU CAN SEE AN EXAMPLE OF ONE RIGHT HERE. THAT'S KIND OF WHAT IT WOULD LOOK LIKE. THIS IS HOW IT WOULD LOOK FROM ABOVE. NOW IN THE FINAL DRAWINGS AND IT'S I MENTIONED HERE THAT IT'S 28FT TALL, JUST BECAUSE THAT LOOKS LIKE IT'S PRETTY HIGH. BUT THE COURTHOUSE RIGHT NEXT DOOR TO IT IS 45FT TALL, AND THE WATER TREATMENT PLANT IS ABOUT 30FT TALL. BEHIND IT ANYWAY, SO IT WON'T BE AT ALL OUT OF OUT OF PLACE. THIS IS THE FINAL PHASE OR PORTION OF THE PARK, AND ESSENTIALLY WHAT WE'RE HERE FOR TONIGHT IS THAT AND SOME BACKGROUND ON IT THAT HAPPENED OVER THE COURSE OF THE LAST COUPLE OF YEARS IN 2021, I BELIEVE IT WAS WHEN THE ARPA FUNDS FIRST CAME OUT. THE COMMISSION AND THE CITY MANAGER APPROVED AND AUTHORIZED FUNDS FOR THE PARK. IT WENT TO DESIGN THE DESIGN ULTIMATELY GOT APPROVED AND AUTHORIZED IT WENT OUT TO BID LAST WHILE DAVID DYAS WAS STILL CITY MANAGER, BUT THEN CAME IN SOMETIME AFTER I WAS ACTING CITY MANAGER AND THE PERSON THAT WAS SELECTED FOR THE BID WANTED AN ADDITIONAL $150,000 BECAUSE HE DIDN'T KNOW THERE WERE ARPA FUNDS INVOLVED, EVEN THOUGH 16 PAGES OF THE 32 PAGE DOCUMENT MENTIONED THE ARPA FUNDS BEING INVOLVED. ANYWAY, WE SPENT A LONG TIME TRYING NOT TO GET SUED BECAUSE WE DIDN'T WANT TO SAY, OKAY, WE'RE GOING TO GO SOMEWHERE ELSE AND VIOLATE PROCUREMENT. TOOK ABOUT A YEAR TO GET THAT RESOLVED, AND THAT PUTS US IN A VERY TIGHT SQUEEZE BECAUSE IT WENT THE SAME THING. IT WENT BACK OUT TO BID. THE BIDS ARE IN. WE'VE GOT THE LOW BIDDER. BUT IF WE DON'T ISSUE A PO IN DECEMBER OF 2024, WE HAVE TO SEND THE ARPA FUNDS BACK. SO ARPA IS PAYING ABOUT 1,000,005. THE CRA REQUESTS THAT WE HAD BEFORE THE CRA BOARD TONIGHT IS A 1,078,000, APPROXIMATELY. THAT'S THE BALANCE OF WHAT IS NECESSARY. AND THE REASON FOR THAT IS WE HAD BACK IN THE EARLY 2000, THERE WAS AN IMPACT FEE CALLED MUNICIPAL IMPACT FEES, AND IT WAS INTENDED FOR MUNICIPAL INFRASTRUCTURE. AND IN FACT, THERE'S AN AGENDA ITEM FROM JUNE OF 2008 THAT SAYS THE MUNICIPAL IMPACT FEE SHOULD BE USED FOR MEMORIAL PARKS REDEVELOPMENT. WELL, WE STOPPED COLLECTING THE MUNICIPAL IMPACT FEE DURING THE DOWNTURN IN THE ECONOMY WHEN WE WERE TRYING TO MAKE IT SO THAT BUSINESSES COULD AFFORD TO MOVE FORWARD, AND IT WAS JUST AN ADDITIONAL EXPENSE. SO THE COMMISSION VOTED NOT TO CONTINUE COLLECTING IT. AND AS A RESULT, THAT FUND WAS DORMANT. BUT THERE WAS 146,000 AND CHANGE IN THE ACCOUNT FOR IT. SO IN SPEAKING WITH JOE, THE FINANCE DIRECTOR, WE PUT THAT MONEY TO THIS SO WE CAN CLEAR THAT OUT. AND DON'T HAVE TO AUDIT IT, DON'T HAVE TO CARRY THE ACCOUNT FORWARD. WE'RE NOT COLLECTING THOSE IMPACT FEES ANYMORE ANYWAY. IN ADDITION TO THAT, THE LAST TIME WE HAD A HALF CENT SURTAX OR INFRASTRUCTURE SURTAX, AS YOU KNOW, THE CITY PURCHASED THE COMPLETION OF HANEY CREEK, ABOUT 52 ACRES, TO MAKE IT A PRESERVE WITH THE COUNTY AND THE COUNTY ALSO BOUGHT A BUNCH OF LAND OUT WEST AND THEN ALSO BOUGHT DID THEIR WATER PARK. WE HAD $33,000 LEFT IN THE ACCOUNT FROM THAT SURTAX THAT NEEDED TO BE SPENT EITHER ON THE RECREATIONAL FACILITY OR ON PRESERVATION LAND. NOT A LOT OF PRESERVATION LAND IN STEWART WORKING TOWARD THE RECREATIONAL FACILITY. IT WAS EITHER GOING TO BE GUY DAVIS OR MEMORIAL PARK, WHICHEVER ONE CAME FIRST. AND IN LIGHT OF THE FACT THAT THIS NEW SURTAX HAS JUST BEEN ADOPTED BY THE REFERENDUM, IT SEEMED PRUDENT TO WASH THAT OUT SO THAT THERE'S NOT TWO SURTAX ACCOUNTS OR SO THAT THEY'RE NOT COMMINGLED. SO THERE'S NO QUESTION ABOUT IT. USE THAT $33,000 TO PAY IT OFF AND GET RID OF IT. AND THEN FINALLY IT LEADS US TO THE MATCHING FUNDS THAT ARE APPROXIMATELY $1 MILLION OF THE CRA. JOLIE IS IN THE BACK ROOM, BUT THE CRA HAS THE FUNDING AVAILABLE TO PAY IT. IT JUST WASN'T BUDGETED BECAUSE AT THE TIME WE DIDN'T KNOW IF IT WAS GOING TO GO FORWARD BECAUSE OF THE DISPUTE WE WERE HAVING WITH THE BIDDING ISSUE AS IT RELATED TO LAST YEAR. SO WE NEED A BUDGET AMENDMENT AND THEN AT THE CITY COMMISSION MEETING IN THE EVENT THAT THE BUDGET AMENDMENT HAPPENS, THIS AFTERNOON, THERE'S ALSO A CITY COMMISSION MEETING FOR THE COMMISSION TO AWARD THE BID TO THE LOWEST BIDDER TO MOVE FORWARD ON IT. BUT I WANTED TO DO THE PRESENTATION DURING THIS MEETING BECAUSE THAT'S WHERE THE

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MONEY IS. DO ANY OF THE BOARD MEMBERS HAVE ANY QUESTIONS FOR MR. MARTEL, HAVING NOT BEEN REALLY PART OF IT, BUT BEEN AT SOME OF THOSE PARK MEETINGS? AND I KNOW EULA WAS THERE AND I GUESS YOU WERE THERE AND IT'S BEEN A LONG, DRAWN OUT SAGA. I'M SURPRISED MARY ISN'T HERE JUST TO, YOU KNOW, TO HAVE A FULL TIME. YEAH, I KNOW APOGEE, BUT THE FACT OF IT IS, IT'S REALLY IT'S A IT'S A GREAT OPPORTUNITY FOR THE CITY TO FINISH A REALLY GOOD PROJECT. AND IT'S GOING TO MAKE THE PARK PERFECTLY COMPLETE. I MEAN, FROM THE DRIVING PAST, IT AND SEEING THE FINISHED PRODUCT. AND WHEN YOU HAVE ARTS FEST AND YOU HAVE OTHER EVENTS IN IT, IT'S REALLY GOING TO BE NICE. MR. CHAIR, WE CAN FINALLY HAVE A PLACE WHERE WE CAN HAVE A CONCERT. WE CAN HAVE THINGS AND WILL BE UNDER AND IT WON'T BE LIKE IT'S HAPHAZARD. WE USUALLY BORROW THE COUNTY STAGE, RIGHT? WE JUMP UP ON THAT PLATFORM AND IT HASN'T. IT'S WHEN WE WHEN WE TALK TO PERFORMERS, THEY'RE VERY CONCERNED ABOUT THEIR INSTRUMENTS AND THEIR EQUIPMENT, AND IT REALLY DIDN'T HAVE ANY PROTECTION FROM THE WEATHER. SO WE NEEDED TO BUILD THE STRUCTURE BEHIND IT. AND IT ACTUALLY HAS A BATHROOM THAT'S GOING TO BE BUILT IN AS PART OF THE STAGE, WITH AN AIR CONDITIONED ROOM BEHIND THE STAGE THAT OBVIOUSLY WE CAN LOCK WHEN IT'S NOT BEING USED, BUT THEN WHEN IT IS BEING USED, YOU CAN TURN THE AIR CONDITIONING ON IF SOMEONE'S PERFORMING AND SOMEONE ELSE IS WAITING TO PERFORM, THEY CAN BE INSIDE. AND RIGHT NOW, IF SOMEONE'S PERFORMING AND THEY HAVE TO GO TO THE BATHROOM, THEY LITERALLY HAVE TO WALK THROUGH THE CROWD UP TO THE BATHROOM THAT'S AT EAST OCEAN BOULEVARD AND USE THE FACILITIES. AND THEN WALK BACK TO THE BATHROOM. BUT MORE IMPORTANTLY, IF IT REALLY STARTS TO RAIN OR ANYTHING THEIR EQUIPMENT IS AT IS AT RISK. THERE'S NOTHING TO GET IT OUT OF THERE OR TO HELP THEM. SO IF YOU WANT TO, IF SOMEBODY ELSE WANTS TO MAKE THE MOTION ANY OTHER QUESTIONS OF I JUST HAVE A QUESTION. SO IT SAYS HERE THAT THE CRA FUND BALANCE IS 1,000,078. BUT I NOTICED THAT THE ACTUAL TOTAL COST OF IS 2,000,005 57 THAT'S WHAT I SAID. 1,000,005 IS ARPA FUNDS. OH, OKAY. THANK YOU. THAT WAS MY QUESTION. ARE THE SURTAX AND 146,000 IS THE MUNICIPAL IMPACT FEES THE ONE OF THE. CAN I MAKE A COMMENT OR JUST REMEMBER, YOU KNOW, I'VE BEEN FOLLOWING THIS ON AND A LONG TIME AS WELL. AND YOU KNOW, THE CITY HAS DONE A REALLY GOOD JOB OF PROVIDING THE ARTS AND ENTERTAINMENT. BUT WHAT WE'VE MISSED AND FRANKLY, THE REASON FORT PIERCE HAS MORE OF IT AND OTHERS IS WE DON'T HAVE A VENUE THAT'S LARGE ENOUGH TO SEAT ENOUGH PEOPLE TO AFFORD TO BRING IN MAJOR ENTERTAINMENT. THAT'S THE REASON LYRIQUE DOESN'T HAVE ANY HIGHER ENTERTAINMENT. THEN THEY ALL THEY CAN AFFORD IS ABOUT 2020 5000 WITH THEIR SEATING CAPACITY. AND THIS, I THINK, IS STILL GOING TO BE WHAT, 2 OR 3000? IT WILL SEE IT. I MEAN, IT'S OBVIOUSLY NOT GOING TO HAVE FIXED SEATING. SO IT'S WHATEVER YOU COULD STAND IN EIGHT ACRES I SUPPOSE. BUT THAT'S THE MEMORIAL PORTION OF IT. IT'S OFF TO THE SIDE I WOULD GUESS. IT'S PROBABLY MORE LIKE 1500 TO 2000 AND 2 TO 3, BUT LIKE, YOU KNOW, I HAVEN'T DONE THE MEASUREMENT TO SEE WHAT IT IS. AND I KNOW THAT BACK IN 2010, LUCIDO AND ASSOCIATES LITERALLY DID A DISTRIBUTION AND SHOWED LIKE IF THERE WERE SEATS, WHAT IT WOULD LOOK LIKE, BUT I CAN'T REMEMBER WHAT THE NUMBER WAS. AND I THINK THAT'S GOING TO BE I THINK THAT'S GOING TO BE A GREAT THING FOR THE CITY FROM A CULTURAL STANDPOINT, BECAUSE WE DO HAVE THAT GAP IN BETWEEN AND MOST OF OUR ENTERTAINMENT LOCALLY IS A LOT OF IT IS ALL PRIVATELY FUNDED, EITHER THROUGH OTHER PEOPLE WHO SPONSOR EVENTS AND, AND ENTERTAINMENT OR THROUGH THE LYRIC, WHICH IS A NONPROFIT AGENCY. SO, I MEAN, IT'S I THINK IT'S A REALLY GOOD PROGRAM FOR THE CITY. AND THE LAST THING I'LL MENTION, THOUGH, IS, IS TO MAKE SURE WE TAKE A LOOK AT JUST A COUPLE MINOR THINGS HOW WE CAN ENCLOSE IT AND KEEP PEOPLE OUT. SO IT'S THE DESIGN HAD BEEN APPROVED BY THE CRA AND THE CITY COMMISSION BEFORE IT WAS APPROVED AND SENT TO BID. BEFORE I WAS CITY MANAGER, SO I'M NOT WE CAN'T ADJUST THE DESIGN OR WE VIOLATE THE PROCUREMENT. SO WE'RE IT IS WHAT IT IS. WELL, IT JUST MIGHT BE IF YOU JUST MIGHT LOOK AT IT, SEE EVEN WITH IT HOW IT IS SOMETHING THAT WE MAY HAVE TO DO LATER. BUT I MEAN LIKE AS BRINGING IN SOME ENTERTAINMENT PUT TEMPORARY FENCING. YEAH, I'VE HAD TO BRING FENCING IN, BUT I'M JUST. THAT'S ALL I'M SAYING, JUST MAKING SURE THAT WE'VE GOT IT. BUT ANYWAY, I APPRECIATE THAT. SO, CHRIS, DO YOU WANT TO SAY ANYTHING? NO.

THEN I'LL MAKE A MOTION. I'D JUST LIKE TO MAKE ONE COMMENT. I HAVEN'T SAID ANYTHING, MR. KEMP.

I'M SORRY. BOARD MEMBER. CLARK, PLEASE. YOU MENTIONED ABOUT THE SEATING. I FORGOT THE DESIGN.

IT'S BEEN SO LONG. BUT YOU AND THE COUNTY, WE ALWAYS BORE THE COUNTY BLEACHERS. BUT THAT MEANS

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THAT WE'RE GOING TO HAVE PERMANENT BLEACHERS. THEN. NO, NO, IT'S STILL GOING TO BE SOME FORM OF SEATING. THERE'S GOING TO BE NO. SO IF YOU LOOK WHAT WHAT LUCIDO AND ASSOCIATES DID IS LITERALLY ADDED SEATS ALL THE WAY THROUGH, ACROSS AS IF IT WAS SET UP AS A FULL EVENT. I CAN FIND THAT DOCUMENT. I'LL EMAIL IT TO EVERYBODY AFTER THE MEETING. THE ONLY PERMANENT SEATING THAT'S HERE RIGHT NOW IS THIS IS A TRELLIS THAT'S ABOVE THIS AREA, AND THERE'S ONE, TWO, THREE, FOUR BENCHES THERE AND ONE, TWO, THREE, FOUR BENCHES ON THE OTHER SIDE. SO THAT'S THE ONLY PERMANENT SEATING AS IT RELATES TO THE VIEW. THIS IS GOING TO BE A MODIFIED HILL SO THAT IT'S GOING TO BE CREATED SO THAT IF THERE'S PEOPLE HERE AND PEOPLE STANDING HERE WILL BE, YOU KNOW, 2 OR 3FT ABOVE THEM, IT'S A FLOOR. SO JUST AN INCLINE. IT'S NOT ANYTHING MAJOR, BUT IT BUT IT'LL BE ENOUGH TO ELEVATE THEM ABOVE THE PEOPLE IN FRONT OF THEM. SO THEY CAN SEE IT. YEAH. AGGRESSIVE. THAT'S A PERFECT EXAMPLE. IT'D BE A PERFECT PLACE TO ASSASSINATE A PRESIDENT. AND SO. AND THEN THE THIS BOARDWALK IS A TEN FOOT WIDE PAVED BOARDWALK THAT'S GOING TO TIE IN. AND YOU CAN SEE RIGHT HERE, LIKE WHERE THE OTHER BOARDWALK ALREADY IS.

DO YOU SEE, LIKE THE LINE THERE. AND THEN THE OVER THE WIDTH OF IT THAT INCREASES RIGHT THERE.

YOU CAN SEE WHERE IT KIND OF EXPANDS OUT. AND THE PURPOSE FOR THAT IS WE WANTED IT TO BE AT LEAST TEN FEET WIDE SO THAT IT'LL BE ABLE TO SUPPORT TRUCKS. AND SO THERE'LL BE A GATE HERE UP AT EAST OCEAN BOULEVARD THAT CAN BE OPENED, THE GATE CAN BE OPENED, AND A TRUCK WILL BE ABLE TO DRIVE THROUGH, DRIVE AROUND THIS. SEE THAT THERE'S A BACK IN HERE. THIS IS DESIGNED SO IT CAN PULL IN, UNLOAD, LOAD EVERYTHING ONTO THE STAGE, AND THEN IT CAN LITERALLY PULL OUT AND PULL BACK OUT AND GET BACK OUT OF THE PARK. WE CAN ALSO DO THAT FOR ARTS FEST AND FOR GREEN MARKETS AND OR ANY OTHER EVENTS THAT MIGHT TAKE PLACE IN THE PARK, SO THAT YOU CAN DO A ONE WAY THING WHEN PEOPLE ARE LEAVING AND LITERALLY FLOW. EVERYBODY IN AND OUT. BUT THERE'S BEEN A LOT OF DISCUSSION AND EFFICIENCIES, AND THEY MET WITH THE ARTS COUNCIL, THEY MET WITH MARTIN COUNTY, AND THEY MET WITH THE COURTHOUSE, AND OBVIOUSLY THEY HAD THE PUBLIC MEETINGS AND THEY, YOU KNOW, WENT OVER A LOT OF THESE DETAILS OVER THE COURSE OF THE LAST 14 YEARS BECAUSE THAT'S HOW LONG IT'S BEEN IN THE MAKING. ANY OTHER QUESTIONS? BOARD MEMBER CLARK. NO, I'M WILLING TO SECOND THE MR. KEMP'S MOTION. IF HE FINISHED MAKING IT, I DON'T THINK HE STARTED IT. I THINK I'LL MAKE A MOTION TO APPROVE. BOARD MEMBER COLLINS HAS A QUESTION OR TWO. I WAS GOING TO SAY IS, THANK YOU FOR BRINGING THIS FORWARD. YES, MIKE, IT'S BEEN A LONG TIME. AND YOU WERE A COMMISSIONER WHEN IT ALL BEGAN, A LONG TIME. I ACTUALLY WOULD HAVE BET MONEY IT WASN'T GOING TO HAPPEN. BUT MARY AND THE GROUP, THAT IT SOUNDS LIKE A MUNICIPAL PROJECT, I'D ONLY LIKE TO COMMENT THAT THAT WE DID CONSULT WITH JIM TROSKY, WHO IS A PROFESSIONAL MUSICIAN, AND THAT WAS A VERY STRONG COMPLAINT FROM MUSICIANS ABOUT BEING ABANDONED OUTSIDE. YEAH. SO THIS IS TERRIFIC. AND THE GOOD THING IS THAT THEIR EQUIPMENT, YEAH, THEY DON'T CARE SO MUCH ABOUT THEMSELVES, BUT THEIR GUITAR OR THEIR ACTUAL AMP IS LIKE, DON'T DON'T MESS WITH MY STUFF. WELL, THOSE ARE A COUPLE THOUSAND EXTRA SEATS. MAKE A DIFFERENCE TO THEM. YEAH, THAT HELPS TOO.

AND WITH THE SUN AS WELL. YEAH. THE SHADE OF THE, THE PITCH OF THE SHADE OF THE STAGE. AND THE COURTHOUSE PUTS THAT STAGE BASICALLY IN THE SHADE FOR MOST OF THE AFTERNOON, LIKE PAST 130 OR 2. IT'S IN THE SHADE, WHICH IS GREAT. THE CHAIR WILL NOW ENTERTAIN A MOTION ON THIS ITEM.

I'LL MAKE A MOTION TO APPROVE. SECOND. WE HAVE A MOTION BY BOARD MEMBER CAMPAIGN AND A SECOND BY BOARD MEMBER CLARK. IS THERE ANY PUBLIC COMMENT ON THIS ITEM? SEEING NONE. TWO THUMBS UP. ARE THERE ANY COMMENTS BY. I THINK WE'RE READY FOR A ROLL CALL. SEEING NONE, I THINK WE'RE READY FOR A ROLL CALL. INDEED. BOARD MEMBER COLLINS. YES. BOARD MEMBER JOBY. YES. BOARD MEMBER.

PENNY. YES. BOARD MEMBER. CLARK. YES. BOARD MEMBER. BRECHBILL. YES. BOARD MEMBER. READ. YES.

CHAIR. YES. THANK YOU. MR. BAGGETT, WILL YOU READ ITEM TWO FOR OUR CONSIDERATION, PLEASE?

[2. BUSINESS IMPROVEMENT REIMBURSEMENT GRANT PROGRAM GUIDELINES (RC): RESOLUTION No. 12-2024 CRA; A RESOLUTION OF THE BOARD OF THE COMMUNITY REDEVELOPMENT AGENCY OF THE CITY OF STUART, FLORIDA, AUTHORIZING AN AMENDMENT TO THE BUSINESS IMPROVEMENT REIMBURSEMENT PROGRAM (BIRP) CRITERIA, EVALUATION MATRIX, AND CLARIFICATION TO PROGRAM GUIDELINES; PROVIDING FOR CONFLICTS; PROVIDING AN EFFECTIVE DATE; AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES.]

RESOLUTION NUMBER 12, DASH 2020 4CRAA RESOLUTION OF THE BOARD OF THE COMMUNITY REDEVELOPMENT AGENCY OF THE CITY OF STUART, FLORIDA, AUTHORIZING AN AMENDMENT TO THE BUSINESS IMPROVEMENT REIMBURSEMENT PROGRAM, ALSO KNOWN AS BURP CRITERIA EVALUATION MATRIX AND CLARIFICATION TO PROGRAM GUIDELINES PROVIDING FOR CONFLICTS, PROVIDING FOR AN EFFECTIVE DATE AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES. WE HAVE A PRESENTATION FROM STAFF. YES. JORDAN. YES.

THANK YOU. GOOD AFTERNOON. CRA BOARD MEMBERS JORDAN PINKSTON, CRA PROGRAM MANAGER FOR THE RECORD. AS YOU'RE AWARE, THE INTENT OF THE BUSINESS IMPROVEMENT GRANT PROGRAM IS TO FURTHER THE CRA PLAN OBJECTIVES TO ELIMINATE BLIGHT AND ASSISTING PROPERTY AND BUSINESS

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OWNERS IN THE REDEVELOPMENT OF EXISTING BUILDINGS, SITE IMPROVEMENTS IMPROVE PROPERTY VALUES BY CREATING AN ESTHETICALLY ATTRACTIVE FRONTAGE THAT IS INVITING IMPROVED VISITOR EXPERIENCE AND STIMULATE PRIVATE INVESTMENT WITHIN THE CRA. TO GIVE YOU A BRIEF HISTORY, THE PROPERTY IMPROVEMENT GRANT PROGRAM WAS LAUNCHED IN 2009 TO ENCOURAGE VISIBLE EXTERIOR IMPROVEMENTS TO THE COMMERCIAL AND RESIDENTIAL PROPERTIES IN THE CRA. THE GRANT PROGRAM PROVIDED A MATCHING GRANT OF UP TO $4,000 PER PROPERTY, AND THE GRANT WAS ELIGIBLE FOR IMPROVEMENTS SUCH AS WINDOWS, DOORS, SIGNAGE, LANDSCAPING, ROOFING, ARCHITECTURAL STREETSCAPE, PARKING LOTS, AND DECORATIVE SHUTTERS, AMONGST OTHER IMPROVEMENTS. THE PROGRAM HAD A SUCCESSFUL APPLICATION RATE INCLUDING SIGNS, AWNINGS, NEW WINDOWS, LANDSCAPING AND ARCHITECTURAL DESIGNS. THE PROGRAM WAS AMENDED IN 2016 AND 2017, AND RENAMED TO THE BUSINESS IMPROVEMENT REIMBURSEMENT PROGRAM, OR BURP, WHAT WE CALL IT TODAY. THE PROGRAM PROVIDED A REIMBURSEMENT GRANT OF UP TO $10,000 PER PROPERTY TO MATCH PRIVATE FUNDS. THE GRANT WAS AVAILABLE TO COMMERCIAL BUSINESSES FOR EXTERIOR IMPROVEMENTS THAT ENHANCE THE PROPERTY, WITH IMPROVEMENTS INCLUDING WINDOWS AND DOOR REPLACEMENTS, DECORATIVE SHUTTERS, SIGNAGE, LANDSCAPING AND STREETSCAPES.

ARCHITECTURE AND EXTERIOR. FACADE IMPROVEMENTS WERE CONSIDERED ON A CASE BY CASE BASIS, AND THE PROGRAM WAS AMENDED AGAIN IN 2018 TO REPLACE ELIGIBLE EXTERIOR IMPROVEMENTS FROM EXTERIOR SIGNAGE TO REPLACEMENT OF NON-CONFORMING CONFORMING POLE SIGNS TO CONFORMING FREESTANDING OR MONUMENT SIGNS TO ENCOURAGE AND PROVIDE FINANCIAL SUPPORT AND BRING EXTERIOR SIGNAGE INTO COMPLIANCE WITH THE CITY'S LAND DEVELOPMENT CODE. AT THE DIRECTION OF THE BOARD. THE PROGRAM WAS SIGNIFICANTLY, SIGNIFICANTLY AMENDED IN 2021 TO ENCOURAGE COMMERCIAL PROPERTY OWNERS TO UPGRADE LANDSCAPING ON PRIVATE PROPERTY AND BRING THE COMPLIANCE TO THE CITY'S LAND DEVELOPMENT CODE, WHERE FEASIBLE, AND MANY OF THE PROPERTIES WITHIN THE CRA WERE CONSTRUCTED PRIOR TO THE ADOPTION OF THE CODE. ALSO IN 2021, THE EVALUATION MATRIX WAS AMENDED, FURTHER ENCOURAGING PROPERTY OWNERS TO PROVIDE LANDSCAPE IMPROVEMENTS AS PART OF THE OVERALL SITE IMPROVEMENTS AND RESTRICT FUNDING FOR IMPROVEMENTS SUCH AS REPLACEMENT OF WINDOWS AND DOORS, REPLACEMENT OF EXISTING AWNINGS, EXTERIOR PAINTING, LIGHTING, AND DECORATIVE SHUTTERS. OVER THE YEARS, THE BURP HAS ONLY HAS NOT ONLY BENEFITED FROM COMMERCIAL BUSINESSES LOCATED WITHIN THE CRA, BUT IN CONJUNCTION WITH OTHER PROGRAMS AND PROJECTS, OUR DEPARTMENT OFFERS AND HAS HELPED THE CRA MEET OUR MISSION, WHICH IS TO PLAN FOR A SUSTAINABLE ECONOMIC FUTURE WHILE PROTECTING AND ENHANCING THE UNIQUE CHARACTER OF THE CITY. THIS PROGRAM HAS PROVIDED LOCAL BUSINESSES WITH THE CRA, WITH SOME FINANCIAL RELIEF FOR IMPROVEMENTS SUCH AS CURB STOPS, RESURFACING, RESTRIPING, MURAL MURAL PRESERVATION AND ENTRYWAY IMPROVEMENTS, PAVERS, BENCHES, MONUMENT SIGNS, AWNINGS, AND THE LIST GOES ON. THAT'S JUST TO NAME A FEW. IT IS IMPORTANT TO NOTE THAT THE MAJORITY OF THESE IMPROVEMENTS WERE NOT CONTINGENT ON MEETING A LANDSCAPE REQUIREMENT PRIOR TO 2021. THE CITY HAS FUNDED 43 BUSINESSES AND INVESTED 300,000 TO PROPERTY OWNERS. OWNERS UNDER THIS PROGRAM, WITH A 40% RETURN ON INVESTMENT. THIS CALCULATION DOES NOT ACCOUNT FOR SURROUNDING PROPERTIES THAT ULTIMATELY WOULD HAVE APPRECIATED PROPERTY VALUES, AS WELL, DUE TO NEIGHBORING IMPROVEMENTS. OVERALL, THE BURP HAS GENERATED OVER 120,000 IN TIF FOR THE CRA AND HAS CONTRIBUTED TO OVER THE 20 PERCENTAGE AVERAGE INCREASE IN TIFF REVENUE OVER THE PAST FIVE YEARS. THIS ITEM WAS PRESENTED TO THE CRB ON JUNE FOURTH, 2024, AND THE COMMUNITY REDEVELOPMENT AGENCY ON JUNE 24TH, 2024. THE BOARD DISCUSSED AND DELIBERATED REGARDING THE BURP GUIDELINES AND SUGGESTED REMOVING THE LANDSCAPE REQUIREMENTS, RESTRICTIONS FOR AWNING REPLACEMENTS AND BROADENING THE OVERALL SCOPE OF ELIGIBLE IMPROVEMENTS. THE BOARD ALSO RECOMMENDED CREATING A SEPARATE LANDSCAPE PROGRAM THAT WOULD FOCUS ON BRINGING COMMERCIAL PROPERTIES INTO COMPLIANCE WITH THE LAND DEVELOPMENT CODE, WHERE FEASIBLE, AND WOULD BE OFFERED YEAR ROUND. STAFF HAS DEVELOPED A SEPARATE COMMERCIAL PROPERTY LANDSCAPE IMPROVEMENT PROGRAM THAT WILL ADDRESS LANDSCAPING AND IRRIGATION, WHICH WILL BE DISCUSSED IN THE NEXT AGENDA ITEM ON THE PROGRAM IS DESIGNED TO SUPPORT REVITALIZATION EFFORTS AND REDUCE BLIGHT AND IMPROVE THE APPEARANCE OF BUILDING FACADES THAT HAVE AN IMPACT ON VALUE ON THE PROPERTY AND MARKETABILITY OF SURROUNDING AREA. STAFF HAS MADE AMENDMENTS TO THE AGREEMENT THAT REFLECT THE INTENT OF THE PROGRAM'S MISSION, WHICH HAS BEEN SUCCESSFUL IN THE YEARS PAST. THE CRA WILL CONTINUE TO DO OUTREACH EFFORTS TO PROMOTE THE PROGRAM, INCLUDING DISTRIBUTING NEWSLETTERS, DISTRIBUTING FLIERS, LOCAL BUSINESSES, MAILING POSTCARDS, AND SOCIAL MEDIA OUTLETS SUCH AS TWITTER, FACEBOOK AND INSTAGRAM. THE GRANT PROVIDES FUNDING FOR A COMPREHENSIVE ENHANCEMENTS TO A BUILDING'S FACADE. A FACADE IS DEFINED AS A PRINCIPAL FACES OF A BUILDING THAT IS ON A PUBLIC STREET. ELIGIBLE PROJECTS WILL

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INCLUDE REPLACEMENT, REPAIR, OR ADDITION OF AT LEAST TWO OF THE FOLLOWING BUILDING FACADE MATERIALS OR ELEVATION ENHANCEMENTS. EXTERIOR ARCHITECTURAL AMENITIES EXCLUDING ANY OUTDOOR DINING PROGRAM ESTABLISHMENTS. EXTERIOR LIGHTING, AWNINGS AND CANOPIES.

DECORATIVE FENCES, PARKING LOTS, DRIVEWAYS AND STREETSCAPES. EXTERIOR CLEANING AND PAINTING.

REPLACEMENT OF IMPACT OR NON-IMPACT ENERGY EFFICIENT WINDOWS AND DOORS. SIDEWALKS ON PRIVATE PROPERTY. REPLACEMENT OF WALL AIR CONDITIONING UNITS ON A BUILDING TO ENERGY EFFICIENT CENTRAL AIR CONDITIONING SYSTEM. REPLACEMENT OF NON-CONFORMING POLE SIGNS TO CONFORMING MONUMENT SIGNS. DUMPSTER ENCLOSURES, ARCHITECTURAL OR ENGINEERING LANDSCAPE SERVICES, OR DESIGN WITH A MAXIMUM OF 500 STAFF. DOES RECOMMEND THAT FOR EXTENSIVE STREETSCAPE IMPROVEMENTS THAT THE APPLICANT ALSO UTILIZE THE COMMERCIAL LANDSCAPE IMPROVEMENT PROGRAM, AND IT'S IMPORTANT TO NOTE THAT ALL ENHANCEMENTS MUST BE LOCATED ON PRIVATE PROPERTY AND COMPLY WITH ZONING AND BUILDING CODES. ANY ELIGIBLE EXPENSE INCURRED PRIOR TO THE EXECUTION OF THE AGREEMENT OR WORK PERFORMED WITHOUT THE REQUIRED PERMITS WILL NOT BE ELIGIBLE FOR REIMBURSEMENT. AFTER AN APPLICATION IS SUBMITTED, STAFF WILL REVIEW IT FOR COMPLETENESS AND SCORE WITH THE EVALUATION CRITERIA. STANDARDS SHOWN ON THE SCREEN. GRANT APPLICANT APPLICATIONS MUST SCORE A MINIMUM OF 50 POINTS TO BE CONSIDERED FOR FUNDING. A SCORE OF 50 OR MORE POINTS DOES NOT GUARANTEE FUNDING, HOWEVER, AND ALL FUNDING IS CONTINGENT ON THE REMAINING FUND AVAILABILITY ON OCTOBER 1ST, 2024. THE CRB WAS PRESENTED THE PROPOSED AMENDMENTS TO THE BURP, AND THE BOARD RECOMMENDED APPROVAL TO IMPLEMENT THE REVISED PROGRAM GUIDELINES. OTHER ITEMS DISCUSSED AT THE MEETING WERE TO CREATE A LOAN PROGRAM FOR BUSINESSES TO PURCHASE OR IMPROVE THEIR PROPERTY, AND PHASE OUT LANGUAGE THAT PROMOTES ASPHALT PARKING LOTS TO ENCOURAGE PERVIOUS SURFACES. ON NOVEMBER 5TH, 2024, STAFF PROVIDED AN UPDATE TO THE CRB REGARDING THE POTENTIAL FOR THE CRA FUNDED BUSINESS LOAN PROGRAM STAFF LET THE BOARD KNOW THAT THEY HAD MET WITH THE CITY MANAGER AND CITY ATTORNEY, AND MANY FACTORS WERE DISCUSSED SUCH AS LOAN QUALIFICATIONS, BANK PARTICIPATION, PUBLIC RECORDS, FINANCIAL INFORMATION, INTEREST RATE, PROPERTY LIENS, AND FUNDING ALLOCATION. BUT CURRENTLY, WE JUST SIMPLY DO NOT HAVE THE RESOURCES TO MANAGE A PROGRAM OF THIS STATURE. STAFF THEN SUGGESTED ALTERNATIVES TO THE BURP PROGRAM AS A WAY TO FURTHER ASSIST BUSINESSES WHO WOULD LIKE TO IMPROVE THEIR FACADES. IT WAS PREVIOUSLY MENTIONED BY THE CRB THAT WE COULD INCREASE THE MATCH AMOUNT AND OVERALL BUDGET TO THE BURP PROGRAM. THERE ARE OTHER CITIES AND COUNTIES IN FLORIDA THAT OFFER SIMILAR PROGRAMS TO BURP, WHICH SUPPORT FACADE IMPROVEMENTS AS PART OF THEIR AS PART OF ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT INITIATIVES. SOME MUNICIPALITIES OFFER A LARGE FINANCIAL MAXIMUM MATCH AMOUNT, WHILE OTHERS PROVIDE A HIGHER PERCENTAGE MATCH. STAFF PRESENTED MARTIN COUNTY'S PROPERTY IMPROVEMENT PROGRAM TO THE CRB AS A POSSIBLE EXAMPLE, WHICH USES A 80 OVER 20 FORMULA. THE CRA WOULD PROVIDE 80% OF THE PROJECT COST AS A REIMBURSEMENT, UP TO THE MAX OF 20,000 PER PROPERTY TO SUPPLEMENT PRIVATE FUNDS AND PAY FOR THE DESIGN AND CONSTRUCTION OF THE IMPROVEMENTS. SO, FOR EXAMPLE, IF A PROJECT COST 25,000, THE CRA WOULD PAY MAXIMUM OF 20,000, MAKING THE OWNER'S RESPONSIBILITY ONLY 5000. ON NOVEMBER FIFTH, 2024, THE CRB MOTION TO APPROVE RESOLUTION NUMBER 12 DASH 2024 CRA TO AMEND THE BURP GUIDELINES WITHOUT ANY FUNDING CHANGES. AT THIS TIME, STAFF WOULD LIKE TO OPEN FOR DISCUSSION AND REQUEST A MOTION BE MADE TO APPROVE RESOLUTION NUMBER 12. DASH 2024 CRA TO AMEND THE BURP GUIDELINES. DO ANY OF THE BOARD MEMBERS HAVE QUESTIONS FOR JORDAN? COMMISSIONER CLARK. JORDAN I KNOW THAT SOMETIMES WE'VE HAD PROBLEMS WITH PEOPLE GETTING THE MONEY. THEY'VE SAID IT'S NOT ENOUGH TO DO WHAT THEY WANT OR WE'VE HAD WE HAVEN'T HAD ENOUGH APPLICANTS OR WHATEVER, BUT I HOPE THAT THIS ONE WILL. WE'VE TALKED TO PEOPLE IN THE COMMUNITY, AND YOU'VE HAD YOU THINK THAT WE'LL BE ABLE TO GET SOME USE OUT OF THIS, DOING IT THIS WAY. YES, MA'AM. EVERY YEAR WE ALMOST EVERY YEAR WE MAX OUT AND WE HAVE ENOUGH APPLICATIONS FOR THE AMOUNT WE FUND FOR THE PROGRAM ANNUALLY. HOWEVER, WE I THINK THAT SEPARATING OUT THE LANDSCAPE WILL HELP. OKAY. YEAH, WE HAD SOME IRRIGATION THING. BOARD MEMBER. YOU. NO PROBLEM. I HAVE A QUESTION BECAUSE IT'S MY UNDERSTANDING THAT THE ASPHALT IMPERVIOUS SURFACE IS VERY SUCCESSFUL AND IT'S JUST A SUGGESTION, NOT A REQUIREMENT FOR THE LOAN PROGRAM. YES. I DON'T KNOW WHAT THE COST DIFFERENCE IS BETWEEN REGULAR ASPHALT AND THE PERVIOUS ASPHALT, BUT I KNOW THAT ONE SEEMS TO CERTAINLY TAKE CARE OF QUITE A BIT OF FLOODING IN THOSE AREAS. SURE. AND THAT WAS MENTIONED OBVIOUSLY BY THE CRB. I THINK THE OVERALL CONSENSUS WAS LET'S LET'S CHANGE THE GUIDELINES NOW AND SEE HOW IT GOES. AND THEN IF WE NEED TO

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ENCOURAGE PERVIOUS SURFACING IN THE FUTURE, WE CAN ADDRESS THAT AS NEEDED. I MEAN STAFF ALWAYS HAS THEIR RECOMMENDATIONS WHEN THESE APPLICATIONS COME IN ANYWAY. SO WE CAN ALWAYS STRONGLY ENCOURAGE IT. BUT IT WON'T PUSH ANYONE AWAY IF WE MIGHT BE PART OF THE POINT SYSTEM. MR. CHAIR OR BOARD MEMBER? I'M SORRY. I'M SORRY, COMMISSIONER. JOB. ARE YOU DONE? YES. I'M SORRY. YES. I MEAN, BOARD MEMBER. WE HAVE CHANGED THIS PROGRAM ALMOST YEARLY SINCE IT CAME INTO EXISTENCE. ONLY SO THAT WE COULD WORK WITH THE APPLICANTS. SO I AM SURE THIS WILL NOT BE THE FINAL ITERATION OF THIS PROGRAM. NO. I'M SURE ANY CHANGES NEEDED WITH ANY OF THESE TYPES OF PROGRAMS. THANK YOU. ANY OTHER QUESTIONS? MR. CHAIR, IF THERE ARE NO OTHER QUESTIONS, I'D LIKE TO MOVE FOR RESOLUTION NUMBER 12. DASH 2024 FROM THE CRA. WE HAVE A MOTION BY BOARD MEMBER CLARK. I'LL SECOND. A SECOND BY BOARD MEMBER CAPMANY. IS THERE ANY PUBLIC COMMENT ON THIS ITEM? MADAM CLERK. MAYOR RICH, I HAVE SOME QUESTIONS. CERTAINLY FOR JORDAN.

IS THIS AN 8020 OR 5050? THEY BECAUSE YOU SAW THAT THE CRB, I BELIEVE YOU MENTIONED WAS 8020.

THAT'S WHAT THEIR RECOMMENDATION WAS. BUT SO THE REASON THE REASON THAT STAFF BROUGHT THAT FORWARD WAS AS AN ALTERNATIVE TO A POTENTIAL LOAN PROGRAM THAT WAS REQUESTED FOR STAFF TO RESEARCH. NO, THIS IS GOING TO BE MAINTAINED AT A 5050 LIKE IT CURRENTLY HAS BEEN. OKAY. SO IT'D BE MAINTAINED HOW IT HAS BEEN IN THE PAST. BASICALLY, THERE'S NO LOAN PROGRAM THAT'S A PART OF THIS OR IT'S A GRANT 5050 MATCHING AND THAT'S IT. YEAH. SO APPLICANTS APPLY AND THEY RECEIVE A 50% MATCH OF WHAT IS SPENT UP TO $10,000. SO IT'S STILL A LOAN PROGRAM THAT WE CAP OUT AT 10,000. NOW LOOKING BACK HISTORICALLY WHERE IT'S CHANGED FROM 4 TO 10,000, DID THAT CHANGE BECAUSE MAYBE THERE WASN'T ENOUGH APPLICANTS. I THINK IT WAS ACTUALLY OPPOSITE.

IT WAS OPPOSITE. SO THEY OKAY. SO NOW IT'S CHANGED BECAUSE THERE'S LESS APPLICANTS. SO WE CAN HAVE MORE FUNDS FOR EACH APPLICANT. AND THEY'RE KIND OF REQUIRING A MORE EXTENSIVE TO MEET LAND DEVELOPMENT CODE REGULATIONS, IMPROVEMENTS SO AS TO ALLOW THEM TO MEET ALL OF THE CHECKBOXES. TO CLARIFY, IT'S NOT A LOAN. NO, I MEAN, NO, THEY DON'T HAVE TO PAY US BACK. NO, THEY DON'T PAY US BACK. THAT WAS DISCUSSED ORIGINALLY, THOUGH. THEY THEY. OKAY, SO THE SORRY FOR ANY CONFUSION. THE CRB HAD REQUESTED US LOOK INTO A LOAN PROGRAM AND INSTEAD OF GOING THAT ROUTE, IT WAS DIRECTED TO STAFF BY THE CITY MANAGER AND CITY ATTORNEY THAT MAYBE WE JUST SUGGEST RESTRUCTURING THE CURRENT BUSINESS IMPROVEMENT GRANT PROGRAM. HOW MANY APPLICANTS DID WE GET LAST YEAR THAT APPLIED LAST YEAR? TOTAL. BECAUSE WE HAD TWO GRANT CYCLES.

WE HAD NINE. WE ACTUALLY HAD TO UP FUNDING AND DO A BUDGET AMENDMENT BECAUSE WE HAD TOO MANY. ALL RIGHT. THAT'S IT. THANK YOU. OKAY. SEEING NO OTHER QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS FROM THE BOARD. ROLL CALL PLEASE. YEAH. PUBLIC COMMENT. YES. THE PUBLIC COMMENT. AND THERE WAS NONE.

BOARD MEMBER CLARK. YES. CHAIR. RICH. YES. BOARD MEMBER. JOB. YES. BOARD MEMBER. COLLINS. YES.

BOARD MEMBER. BRECHBILL. YES. BOARD MEMBER. READ. YES. BOARD MEMBER. PENNY. YES. MR. CHAIR.

MR. JACKET WILL YOU READ ITEM THREE FOR OUR CONSIDERATION? SURE. COULD I JUST MAKE ONE COMMENT RELATIVE TO THAT LAST ITEM? I DIDN'T WANT TO MAKE IT PRIOR TO THE VOTE, BUT WE'VE ALREADY VOTED ON IT. I KNOW, THAT'S WHY I'M JUST. ALL I WANT TO SAY IS I STILL THINK AS, AS A AS A COMMITTEE, WE NEED TO LOOK FURTHER INTO INTO THE LOAN PROGRAM. IT'S GOING TO AFFECT WHAT'S BEING BUILT IN TOWN. IT'S ALREADY AFFECTING WHAT'S BEING BUILT IN TOWN BECAUSE YOUR SOURCE OF FUNDS DETERMINES WHAT YOU DO, AND YOU KNOW, IF YOU CAN'T GET RESIDENTIAL FUNDS AND ALL YOU CAN GET IS COMMERCIAL FUNDS, YOU'RE GOING TO DO COMMERCIAL. SO THE LENDING PROGRAM, I THINK IS A SIGNIFICANT THING. AND I THINK WE AND I KNOW IT TAKES SOME ADMINISTRATION, BUT THERE'S PEOPLE OUT THERE THAT WILL ADMINISTER THAT. SO ANYWAY, I'M JUST SAYING I THINK AS A COMMITTEE WE SHOULDN'T LET THAT DIE NECESSARILY. I THINK YOU SHOULD WORK WITH STAFF AND PERHAPS BRING FORWARD AN ITEM FOR CONSIDERATION. ONE OF THE REASONS WE ARE CONCERNED ABOUT THE LENDING, ONE OF THE REASONS WE ARE CONCERNED ABOUT THE LENDING PROGRAM WAS SUNSHINE. IF WE'RE GOING TO BE VETTING SOMEONE'S APPLICATION AS SOON AS THEY SUBMIT THEIR TAX RETURN TO US AND SOMEONE DOES A PUBLIC RECORDS REQUEST FOR ALL THEIR

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FINANCIAL DOCUMENTS, WE'RE GOING TO HAVE TO GIVE THEM UP. AND THEN THE SECOND THING WAS, IF A PERSON BORROWED $50,000 FROM THE CRA, BUT THEY HAD A $600,000 FIRST MORTGAGE AND THEY DEFAULTED ON THE 50. WE'D HAVE TO PAY OFF THE $600,000 TO SECURE THE 50. SO IT WOULD BE A REAL FINANCING THING, AND WE WOULD PROBABLY FALL UNDER SOME BANKING REGULATIONS. THAT WOULD BE A LOT MORE COMPLICATED THAN WE COULD MANAGE AT THE CURRENT TIME. OKAY. MR. I'M LIKE, MR. BURKE, WILL I'M GOING TO LOOK INTO WHAT PEOPLE IN WEST PALM OR SOME OTHER PLACES DO ON THAT LOAN PROGRAM FOR, FOR SURE. JUST TO SEE IF THERE'S ANY POSSIBILITY. I HEAR YOU. I HEAR YOU. WE'RE READY FOR YOU. MR. OKAY. I WOULD JUST LIKE TO SAY ONE THING FOR ME PERSONALLY. I WOULD LIKE TO SEE US MOVING AWAY FROM THIS KIND OF THING AND JUST FOCUS ON BEING A GOVERNMENT AND NOT BE GIVING MONEY AWAY. I VOTED YES RELUCTANTLY BECAUSE THIS IS WHAT WE DO. BUT I WOULD LIKE TO SEE US NOT LOANING PEOPLE MONEY, NOT FUNCTIONING LIKE A BANK. AND JUST FOCUS ON ESSENTIAL SERVICES WOULD BE MY PERSONAL $0.02. NOW WE'RE READY FOR REBECCA. THANK YOU. BOARD

[3. COMMERCIAL LANDSCAPE IMPROVEMENT REIMBURSEMENT GRANT PROGRAM GUIDELINES (RC): RESOLUTION No. 13-2024 CRA; A RESOLUTION OF THE BOARD OF THE COMMUNITY REDEVELOPMENT AGENCY OF THE CITY OF STUART, FLORIDA, ESTABLISHING A COMMERCIAL PROPERTY LANDSCAPE IMPROVEMENT MATCHING GRANT PROGRAM WITHIN THE COMMUNITY REDEVELOPMENT AREA; PROVIDING AN EFFECTIVE DATE; AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES.]

MEMBER. RESOLUTION NUMBER 13, DASH 2024. CRA A RESOLUTION OF THE BOARD OF THE COMMUNITY REDEVELOPMENT AGENCY OF THE CITY OF STUART, FLORIDA, ESTABLISHING A COMMERCIAL PROPERTY LANDSCAPE IMPROVEMENT MATCHING GRANT PROGRAM WITHIN THE COMMUNITY REDEVELOPMENT AREA, PROVIDING AN EFFECTIVE DATE AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES. DO WE HAVE A PRESENTATION BY STAFF JORDAN TOO? GOOD AFTERNOON. CRA BOARD MEMBERS JORDAN PINKSTON, CRA PROGRAM MANAGER FOR THE RECORD.

TODAY, STAFF WOULD LIKE TO DISCUSS THE PROPOSED GUIDELINES FOR THE NEW COMMERCIAL LANDSCAPE IMPROVEMENT REIMBURSEMENT GRANT PROGRAM. THE CITY OF STUART COMMUNITY REDEVELOPMENT AGENCY COMMERCIAL LANDSCAPE IMPROVEMENT PROGRAM IS AN INCENTIVE PROGRAM DESIGNED TO ENCOURAGE IRRIGATION AND VISIBLE EXTERIOR LANDSCAPE IMPROVEMENTS TO THE COMMERCIAL BUSINESSES AND THE CITY OF STUART. CRA AREA TO MEET THE STUART'S LAND DEVELOPMENT CODE REQUIREMENTS. COMMERCIAL BUSINESSES ARE ESSENTIAL TO THE FABRIC OF DOWNTOWN STUART, AND FOR THE PAST 15 YEARS, THE CRA HAS OFFERED BUSINESSES FINANCIAL RELIEF FOR IMPROVEMENTS MADE THROUGH THE PROGRAM. BUT OVER THE YEARS, PROGRAM INITIATIVES SHIFTED AND GUIDELINES AND EVALUATION MATRIX MATRIXES WERE AMENDED TO ENCOURAGE UPGRADES OF LANDSCAPING AND TREES TO PROMOTE SHADE, WALKABILITY AND BRING BUSINESSES INTO COMPLIANCE WITH THE CITY'S LAND DEVELOPMENT CODE. STAFF AND BUSINESS OWNERS HAVE FOUND IT INCREASINGLY DIFFICULT TO FUND FACADE AND BUILDING IMPROVEMENTS, ALONG WITH THE ADDITIONAL LANDSCAPE REQUESTS FOR THE PROGRAM. THE CRB AND CRA SUPPORTED STAFF TO IMPLEMENT A SEPARATE PROGRAM FOCUSING ON GRANT ASSISTANCE FOR BUSINESS OWNERS TO PLAN TO DO SIGNIFICANT LANDSCAPE IMPROVEMENTS. THE COMMERCIAL LANDSCAPE IMPROVEMENT GRANT PROGRAM, OR CLIP CAN BE USED IN CONJUNCTION WITH BURP OR COULD BE APPLIED FOR INDEPENDENTLY.

THE CRA RECOGNIZES THAT MANY PROPERTIES WITHIN THE CRA WERE CONSTRUCTED BEFORE THE ADOPTION OF THE CITY'S CURRENT LANDSCAPE CODE, AND THIS HAS LEFT THE CRA WITH MANY COMMERCIAL PROPERTIES THAT HAVE LITTLE, IF ANY, ESTHETIC APPEAL. IT IS THE INTENT OF THE CRA TO RECTIFY THIS SITUATION BY ENCOURAGING ALL ELIGIBLE APPLICANTS TO UPGRADE LANDSCAPING ALONG THE PERIMETER OF A COMMERCIAL PROPERTY THAT ABUTS THE PUBLIC RIGHT OF WAY, AND INTERIOR PARKING LOT LANDSCAPING TO ENHANCE THE VISIBLE APPEARANCE OF THE PROPERTY AND PROVIDE SHADE ALONG STREETS TO IMPROVE WALKABILITY AND PROMOTE ECONOMIC VITALITY. IF THERE ARE SITE LIMITATIONS, THE APPLICANT MAY CONSIDER PLANTING SHADE TREES WITHIN THE CITY'S RIGHT OF WAY ADJACENT TO THE PROPERTY, AND THIS MAY INCLUDE, BUT NOT LIMITED TO, ASPHALT REMOVAL, PLANT MATERIALS, NATIVE PLANTS, AND SHADE TREES. FOR THIS PROGRAM, IRRIGATION IS A REQUIREMENT FOR REIMBURSEMENT. THE CRA HAS ALLOCATED 25,000 OF CRA TIFF FUNDING FOR FISCAL YEAR 2025 TO BUDGET FOR THIS PROGRAM. THE GRANT PROGRAM PROVIDES A REIMBURSEMENT OF UP TO $5,000 OF PUBLIC FUNDS PER PROPERTY TO MATCH PRIVATE FUNDS TO PAY FOR THE DESIGN AND COMPLETION OF THE LANDSCAPE IMPROVEMENTS. THE COMMERCIAL LANDSCAPE IMPROVEMENT PROGRAM SHALL PROVIDE A 50% MATCH GRANT REIMBURSEMENT FOR ANY ELIGIBLE LANDSCAPE IMPROVEMENTS. UP TO $5,000, WHICH ARE CONSISTENT WITH, AND FURTHER IMPLEMENT THE CITY OF STUART REDEVELOPMENT PLAN AND LAND DEVELOPMENT CODE. FUNDS MAY BE USED FOR ONE OR MORE OF THE FOLLOWING TYPES OF ENHANCEMENTS.

LANDSCAPING AROUND BUILDINGS AND LOT PERIMETERS FOR BUFFERS. PARKING LOT ISLANDS. GREEN SPACE. LANDSCAPING COULD INCLUDE NATIVE PLANTS AND SHADE TREES WHERE FEASIBLE. INSTALLATION OF IRRIGATION SYSTEMS, DEMOLITION AND REMOVAL OF ASPHALT CONCRETE IMPERVIOUS SURFACES TO ADD LANDSCAPE AREAS. BUT THE FOLLOWING IS NOT ELIGIBLE FOR FUNDING ON ITS OWN, BUT MAY BE FUNDED AS PART OF A MORE COMPREHENSIVE LANDSCAPE IMPROVEMENT. DECORATIVE WALLS.

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